on the northern Hills bordering several small rivers the _Pinus abies
canadensis_, _Thuya occidentalis_, _Rhododendron maximum_ and also
_Magnolia acuminata_ in places where the soil is very rich: _Fagus
chinquapin_; clayey soil, ferruginous Quartz rocks, Slates rare and
lime Stones sometimes interveined with white Quartz; grey Squirrel
(forgot to mention that, in passing Abington, saw a Tortoise 8 inches
in diameter petrified in a black calcareous substance like the Rocks
abounding in the territory). Our day’s journey was _23 miles_.
The 23rd of November slept in the house of a German. During the night
my horses strayed away. Between Abington and With Court house[58]
among the Mountains _Abies canadensis_ and _Thuya occidentalis_.
Sunday the 24th, passed by With Court house and at about 18 Miles in
the steep Mountains observed _Pinus Strobus_, _Pinus foliis ternis_
(pitch pine), _Pinus foliis geminis_ ..., _Pinus abies canadensis_,
_Rhododendron maximum_, _Kalmia latifolia_, _Gaultheria procumbens_,
_Epigea repens_: In more arid places, _Fagus chinquapin_, _Fagus
castanea americana_, _Fagus sylvatica americana_, _Andromeda
arborea_, _Hypericum Kalmianum_. Among the damp rocks or those
watered by the streams; Rocks of silex and also of agate slightly
transparent.
From Seven Miles ford to With Court house 36 Miles.
The 25th crossed the ferry called Peper’s ferry[59] on the New
River and afterward crossed from the West to the East side of the
Alleganies; slept on a branch of James river called Catawba which
flows eastward while the New River flows West of the Mountains.
The 26th continued on my way to Botetort Court house _30 miles_.
The 27th passed by Botetort Court house[60] and by the south Branch
of the James River 12 miles from Botetort.
The 28th passed by Lexington[61] 40 miles distant from Botetort and
by the north branch of James river to one Mile from Lexington. _Thuya
occidentalis_, _Pinus Strobus_.
The 29th of November, remained in Mac Dowall’s house;[62] my horse’s
leg was so swelled that he could not walk.
The 30th journeyed _27 miles_.
Sunday the first of December 1793 passed by Stanton, a small and
rather flourishing town situate 120 Miles from Richemont and 75 Miles
from Botetort.[63]
The 2nd passed by Rockyham or Rockytown[64] 20 miles distant from
Stanton.
The 3rd passed by Woodstock,[65] another small town 37 Miles from
Rockytown. Between Stanton and Woodstock the country is mountainous,
the soil rather fertile, of a clayey nature, with calcareous rocks
called Blue limestone; _Quercus rubra_, _alba_; _Fagus chinquapin_
and _Pinus foliis geminis_, _conis squamis rigidis et aculeatis_.
Three miles before reaching that town, on the North of a Hill on
the road, _Thuya occidentalis_, _Pinus foliis geminis_, _Juniperus
virginiana_.
The 4th started from Woodstock, passed by Newtown.[66]
The 5th passed by Winchester,[67] 35 Miles from Woodstock, formerly
called Miller’stown.
The 6th passed by Charlestown[68] 22 Miles from Winchester. Passed by
Harspur ferry[69] across the Potomack river 8 miles from Charleston
and entered Maryland.
The 7th passed by Fredericktown[70] 20 Miles from Harspur ferry
(Potomack river) and 50 miles from Winchester.
Sunday the 8th passed by Woodberry and Littletown[71] 35 Miles from
Fredericktown.
The 9th passed by Hanover, formerly MacAllistertown[72] 42 miles from
Fredericktown and by Yorktown 18 Miles _from MacAllistertown now
Hanovertown_.
The 10th passed by the Susquehanna river and entered Pennsylvania
eleven miles from Yorktown.[73] Passed Lancaster 12 miles from Harris
ferry on the Susquehanna river and 24 miles from York.[74]
The 11th of December 1793 traveled 30 Miles.
Thursday the 12th, arrived in Philadelphia 66 miles from Lancaster.
The 13th visited Citizen Genet, Minister Plenipotentiary of the
French Republic.
The 14th Visited Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Rittenhouse[75] and ...
Sunday the 15th; Recapitulation of the journey, namely:
From Danville to Lincoln 12 miles
From Lincoln to Crab Orchard 10
From Crab Orchard to Langford Station 10
From Langford to Modrell Station 28
Modrell to Middleton Station 28
Middleton to Cumberland Gap 24
Cumberland to Davisses Station 2
Davisses to Houlston 27
Houlston to Hawkin Court house 22
Hawkin to ... Amis 3
Amis to North Fork of Houlston 25
North fork to Carolina fork 31
From the fork to Abington formerly Washington
Court House in Virginia 15
From Abington to Seven Mile ford } 60[76]
From seven Mile ford to With Courthouse }
From With Court house to Peper ferry 33
From Peper ferry to Botetout Court house 50
From Boteton to James River South fork 12
From James river South fork to Lexington 28
From Lexington to Stanton 35
From Stanton to Rockytown 20
From Rockyham to Woodstock 37
From Woodstock to Winchester 35
From Winchester to Charleston 22
From Charleston to Harpur ferry or Potomack 8
From Potomack to Fredericktown 20
From Fredericktown to Littletown 35
From Littletown to Hanover formerly MacAlister 7
From Hanover to Yorktown 18
From York to Susquehanna, Harris ferry 11
From Susquehanna to Lancaster 12
From Lancaster to Philadelphia 66
---
Total 746 Miles
From Danville to Lexington 33 Miles
From Danville to Louisville[77] 84 “
The 30th Germinal in the 3rd year of the French Republic One and
Indivisible (Sunday 19th of April 1795 old style) started to go and
herborise in the high Mountains of the Carolinas and afterward to
visit the Western territories. Plants seen before arriving at Monk’s
corner: _Heuchera_ ..., _Vicia_ 2 species, _Smilax herbacea erecta_,
_Melampodium?_ ... _Polygonum necessaria_, _Silene Virginica_, _Phlox
lanceolata_ then in flower, _Valeriana_. Slept at 45 Mile House.
The 10th Floreal (20th of April,) around forty five Mile house,
_Valeriana_; 3 Miles before reaching Neilson’s ferry _Gnaphalium
dioicuin_, _Uvularia_? On the said 20th of April a new tree of the
Santee river, elm-leaved, _fructus muricati capsula muricata_, _semen
unicum subovatum_.[78]
These seeds were then almost ripe; _Celtis occidentalis_ flowers
...[79] and lower male flowers.
Slept 77 Miles from Charleston.
The 21st of April noticed on the Santee High-hills: Phlox with white
flowers and Phlox with pink flowers, two different species, very
small Phlox with lance shaped leaves; Saw in the neighborhood of
Monk’s corner _Lupinus hirsutus_ in flower. Dined with Dʳ ...; slept
at Statesboroug.
The 22nd passed by Cambden; five miles beyond, a new _Kalmia_; it was
not yet in flower. Slept 10 Miles beyond Cambden.
The 23rd of April passed by Flat rock, by Hanging rock Creek and
slept at Cane Creek, Lancaster county, in the house of a Mr May; my
horse strayed away during the night and following his traces it was
found that he had passed by Mr Lee’s.
The 24th I was obliged to look for him all day. Mr Lee also sent his
son and his negro to search for him. He procured me a Horse to go on
my quest and afterward invited me to lodge with him; he overwhelmed
me with civilities.[80]
The 25th, the horse came to Mr Lee’s house of his accord. Plants
on the creek: _Dodecatheon Meadia_, _Asarum Canadense_, _Claytonia
Virginica_, _Erythronium dens-leonis_.
Sunday 26th of April, started from Cane Creek, passed by Land’sford
on the Catawba river. But the real road is from Cane Creek, ask for
Colonel Crawford’s house or Plantation on the Waxsaw, then pass
MacClean Hands ferry on the Catawba; Thence straight to the Iron
works called Hill’s Iron Works operated by Colonel Hill.[81]
Thus from Cane Creek to Waxsaw ... Miles; From Waxsaw to Iron Works,
York county ...
The 27th passed Iron Works about 32 miles from Cane Creek.
The 28th passed by Armstrong[82] ford on the south branch of the
Catawba, 12 miles from Iron Works.
The same day passed by the dwelling of Bennet Smith where there is a
... Magnolia, 12 Miles from Armstrong ford.
The 29th passed by Lincoln,[83] 12 Miles from Bennet Smith’s and 36
miles from Iron Works.
Thursday 30th of April passed by the dwelling of Old man Wilson[84]
9 miles from Lincoln and 6 Miles from Robertson’s. Reached
Morganton[85] 30 Miles from Robertson.
The 1st of May spent the day at Morganton and herborised in the
neighborhood.
The 2nd spent the day at Colonel Avery’s,[86] 4 miles from Morganton.
Sunday 3rd of May started for the Mountains; at a distance of 14
Miles from Burke is Wagely’s house.
The Lineville Mountains at whose foot this house is situated, abound
in _Magnolia auriculata_. They were then in flower. From Wagely’s to
Captain Young’s is 8 Miles.
The 4th of May left Young’s. The distance to Ainswort’s is 2 Miles
but by going to the right one reaches the foot of a very high
Mountain 3 Miles from Young’s. The summit is 5 Miles from Young’s.
From the summit of the Mountain at Young’s to Bright’s, called
Bright’s Settlement, the distance is 3 Miles and from Bright’s to
Davin Port’s 2 Miles, making 10 Miles in all from Young’s to Davin
Port’s.[87]
The 5th of May herborised in the vicinity of the dwellings of Davin
Port and Wiseman.
The 6th started for the Mountains, namely: Round [Roan] Mountain and
Yellow Mountain; Toe River flows between these Mountains. All the
_Convallaria_ were in flower as well as the _Podophyllum diphyllum_
and _umbellatum_.
Sunday 10th of May 1795 returned from the Mountains to the dwelling
of Davin Port.
The 11th herborised on the Mountains facing the dwelling. The
distance to the summit of the Bleue Ridges at the part called
Rompback is about 3 Miles; on the first Mountains are to be seen in
very great abundance the _Azalea foliis apice glandulosis_, _Azalea
lutea_. There is no other Azalea on the Hills surrounding the
dwellings of Davin Port and Wiseman but this yellow-flowered species.
That on the River banks is generally that with carnation flowers and
that with white flowers.[88]
The 12th ascended the summit of the Blueridges, _Rhododendron minus_
in flower, _Cypripedium Luteum_.
The 13th of May started to continue my journey. At Noon arrived at
the foot of Yellow Mountain 10 Miles. In the evening came to sleep at
the house of John Miller 12 Miles from the Mountain. Thus there are
22 Miles from Davin Port’s to Miller’s; at a distance of half a mile
one commences to cross Doe River.
The 14th followed and crossed Doe river 27 times. It is dangerous
when the waters are high. Slept at the house of Colonel Tipton,[89]
20 Miles from Miller’s.
The 15th passed by Johnsboroug[90] 10 Miles from Colonel Tipton’s
dwelling and 84 Miles from Burke Court house. Slept at the house
of Anthony Moore near Noleychukey river. During the night my horse
strayed away.
The 16th, Sunday 17th, & 18th were spent in searching for my horse.
The 19th bought another horse for the price of fifty Dollars from an
inhabitant of Noley Chukey river named ... Earnest, a neighbor of one
Andrew Fox. The _Magnolia tripetala_ abounds on the banks of Noley
Chukey.
Wednesday 20th of May, passed by Green Court house 27 Miles from
John’s Borough and the road to Kentuckey, taking the right hand and
passing by ... ferry on the Holston river. Continuing straight on the
road leads to Knoxville. By going to the left a little before Green
the road leads to Frenchbroad.[91] The distance from John Borough to
Green Court house is 27 Miles.
The 21st passed by Bull’s Gap 18 Miles from Green.[92]
The 22nd passed by Iron Works[93] 30 Miles from Bull’s gap. The
distance to the river called Houlston river is only four miles. Two
miles from Iron Works is a Rock of mineral, pieces whereof on being
crushed and reduced to powder dye cotton red; this mineral is boiled
etc.
The 23rd as my horse was injured I was obliged to remain a Mile from
Iron Works on Mossy Creek at the house of one Newman. Near his house
(½ mile) is to be found the mineral that I take to be Antimony.
Sunday 24th, arrived at Colonel King’s on the Houlston river at the
place called Macby ferry[94] 15 Miles from Iron Works.
The 25th crossed the ferry and arrived at Knoxville 15 miles
from Macby ferry, the residence of the Governor of the Western
territories, 110 Miles from Johnsborough.[95] Plants and Trees
of the Territory of Knoxville and of the neighboring country:
_Quercus prinus saxosa_; _Quercus prinus humilis_; _Quercus rubra_;
_Quercus proemorsa_; _Quercus tomentosa_; _Quercus pinnatifida_;
_Quercus alba_ ...; _Ulmus viscosa_; _Ulmus fungosa_; _Fraxinus_
...; _Diospiros Virginiana_; _Liquidambar styraciflua_; _Juglans
nigra_, _alba_ or _oblonga_, hiccory pignut. _Platanus occidentalis_;
_Nyssa aquatica_; _Fagus castanea americana_; _Fagus pumila_;
_Fagus sylvatica americana_; _Magnolia acuminata_; _Betula alnus
americanus_; _Cercis Canadensis_; _Cornus florida_; _Evonimus
latifolius_, _Evonimus Americanus_; _Podophyllum peltatum_;
_Jeffersonia_; _Sanguinaria Canadensis_; _Trillium sessile_.
Remained the whole week at Knoxville and herborised in the vicinity
while awaiting a sufficiently numerous caravan to pass through the
Wilderness.
Sunday 31st of May received notice that twenty five armed travelers
were on the point of arriving at Knoxville.
Monday 1st of June 1795, old style, the journey was again put off.
Thursday 4th of June started from Knoxville and slept 15 miles away
at captain Camel’s at the place called Camel [Campbell] station.
Friday the 5th, slept at the place called West Point on Clinch river,
a Post of soldiers guarding the frontiers of the territory,[96] 25
Miles from Camel station.
The 6th started and crossed the river in a Scow or ferry connected
with West point station. Our journey covered 10 miles. The Travelers
consisted of 15 armed men and more than thirty women and children.
Sunday 7th of June crossed the Mountains called Cumberland Mountains,
22 Miles.
The 8th continued our march in the Mountains 23 Miles. _Magnolia
petalis basi purpureis._[97]
Tuesday 9th of June 1795, alternately ascended and descended the
Mountains. In the bottom lands _Magnolia tripetala_ in abundance, 25
Miles.
The 10th arrived at the Cumberland River, 10 Miles, and slept beyond
the 20th Mile.
The 11th arrived at Blodsoe Lick or Blodsoe station,[98] 20 Miles.
120 Miles in all of the Wilderness.
Slept at this place where there is food for men and Horses.
Friday the 12th, came one mile to Colonel Winchester’s;[99] slept
there two nights to rest myself and my Horse.
Sunday the 14th herborised.
The 15th came to the house of a resident near Cumberland River, Mr.
Jackson;[100] soil fertile. Oaks, _Quercus prinus_: _Quercus rubra_,
_Quercus glandibus magnis_, _capsulâ includentibus_, called Overcup
White Oak.[101] _Quercus tomentosa_,[102] _Quercus praemorsa_. 25
Miles.
The 16th arrived at Nashville 12 Miles.
Total 197 Miles from Knoxville to Nashville, the capital of the
Cumberland Settlements on the Cumberland river.[103]
The 17th visited various persons, Daniel Smith,[104] Colonel
Robertson,[105] Captain Gordon, [G. M.] Deaderick, Dr White, Thomas
Craighead[106] etc. etc.
Herborised on the following days.
Trees of Nashville Territory:
_Quercus prinus_; _Quercus phellos latifolia_; _Quercus pinnatifida_;
_Quercus foliis lyratis subtus tomentosis calycibus maximis margine
laciniatis glandibus includentibus Vulgo_; Over cup White Oak;[107]
_Quercus rubra_; _Quercus tomentosa_; _Acer saccharum_, _Acer
negundo_, _Acer rubrum_; _Juglans nigra_, _oblonga_, _hiccory_:
_Platanus occidentalis_; _Liquidamber styraciflua_; _Ulmus viscosa
fungosa_;[108] _Carpinus Ostrya americana_; _Rhamnus Alaternus
latifolius_, _Rhamnus frangula?_[109] _frutex prunifer_; _Juniperus
Virginiana_. Banks of Cumberland river _Philadelphus inodorus_;
_Aristolochia siphotomentosa_;[110] _Mimosa erecta-herbacea_;
_Mirabilis_[111] _clandestina seu umbellata seu parviflora_; _Hypericum
Kalmianum grandiflorum_.[112]
Soil of Nashville clayey, rocky, limestone Rocks somewhat similar
to the Kentuckey formation, position of the Rocks horizontal,
occasionally Quartz Veins in the Rocks, abounding in marine
petrifactions.
Sunday 21st of June 1795, killed and skinned some birds.
Birds: Robin, Cardinal, _Tetrao_ (grouse), _Lanius Tyrannus_ rare,
Quantities of the Genus _Muscicopa_; few species of the Genus
_Picus_: Wild Turkeys. Quadrupeds: Musk-rat, Beaver, Elk, dwarf Deer,
Bears, Buffalos, Wolves, small grey Squirrels.
Minerals: soil clayey. Limestone Rocks always in a horizontal
position; impure Slate, flocks of schistus; Petrifactions of land and
fresh-water shells.
Monday 22nd of June 1795 (Old style) 4th of Messidor in the 3rd
year of the Republic, started from Nashville for Kentuckey; passed
by Mansko’s Lick,[113] 12 miles from Nashville; slept at Major
Sharp’s[114] 29 Miles from Nashville.
The 23rd crossed the Barren oaks and slept at [Drake’s] Creek. There
is no house in the interval. The Soil produces only black oaks. 30
Miles.
The 24th passed by Big Barren River. The man who keeps the Ferry is
well supplied with provisions.[115] The distance is 3 Miles from
[Drake] Creek.
Crossed the Barrens and slept on the ground without a fire and
without allowing my horse to graze at large through fear of the
Savages.
The 25th passed by Little Barren River, the first house 43 Miles from
Big Barren River. Afterward passed by Green River 6 Miles from Little
Barren River.
The 26th passed by Roland [Rolling] fork, head of Salt River, 30
Miles from Green River.
The 27th arrived at Danville 35 Miles from Roland old fork.
From Nashville to Danville, the oldest town in Kentuckey 117 Miles.
Sunday 28th of June rested.
The 29th skinned three striped Squirrels (_Sciurus striatus_)
The 30th herborised.
Wednesday 1st of July 1795 visited several residents.
The 2nd continued rain.
The 3rd put my old Collections in order.
The 4th
Sunday 5th of July[116]
Sunday 12th of July dined with the Governor of the State of
Kentuckey, Isaac Shelby.
Thursday 16th of July 1795 left Danville.
The 17th passed by Beardston forty three Miles from Danville.
The 18th arrived at Stanford’s near Man’s Lick.[117]
Sunday 19th remained to await my Baggage.
The 20th remained, and being obliged to stay, watched the Process of
manufacturing Salt. The Wells for getting the salt water are dug to
a depth of about ... feet. Muddy clay is met with to a depth of ...
feet. Then ... feet of slatey rock. When the rock is pierced the salt
water is found at a depth of more than ... feet. This slate burns
in the fire as if impregnated with bitumen or entirely made up of
that substance. Bones of those great marine bodies that are rather
frequently met with on the banks of the Ohio have been found in the
impure clay that was dug up to reach the slatey rock.
The 21st of July, arrived at Louisville, 40 Miles from Beardstown.
The 22nd and 23rd remained and herborised.
The 24th returned to Manslick, 16 Miles from Louisville.
The 25th returned to Louisville.
Sunday 26th of July herborised.
Plants in the neighborhood of Louisville: _Quercus cerroides_,[118]
_Quercus rubra_; _Quercus alba_; _Quercus prinus_; _Liriodendron_;
_Fagus castanea_, _Fagus sylvatica_; _Rhus foliis alatis dioique_;
_Hibiscus_[119] _foliis hastatis calyce exteriore lacinis subulatis
flore pallide roseo_.[120]
Saturday first of August made ready to leave for the Wabash and the
Illinois.
Sunday the 2nd I was invited to dine with a Frenchman named La
Cassagne,[121] a resident of Louisville for more than 15 Years.
Trees, shrubs and Plants of Louisville territory:
_Liriodendron tulipifera_; _Platanus occidentalis_; _Acer rubrum
foliis inferne argenteis_; _Fagus sylvatica americana_; _Quercus
rubra_; _Quercus alba_, _Quercus praemorsa_,[122] _Quercus prinus_,
_Quercus cerroides_;[122] _Tilia americana_; _Juglans nigra_,
_Juglans alba_, _Juglans hiccory_, (_Juglans pacane_ rare);
_Gleditsia triacanthos_, _Guilandina dioica_.
Sunday 9th of August 1795, started from Louisville and slept at
Clarksville,[123] two miles from Louisville on the opposite Bank of
the Ohio.
The 10th we set out and arrived at Post Vincennes situate on the
Wabash River on Thursday the 13th of August in the evening.[124]
The distance is considered to be one hundred and twenty five Miles.
On the day of our arrival we crossed a River about 20 miles before
reaching Post Vincennes and although the Waters were then very low we
were on the point of making a Raft for the Country is not inhabited
along this Road. Of all the Journeys I have made in America in the
past 10 years this is one of the most difficult owing to the quantity
of Trees overturned by storms, to the thick brushwood through which
one is obliged to pass; to the numbers of Flies by which one is
devoured, etc.
The 14th, 15th and Sunday the 16th of August I was obliged to rest
having arrived almost ill. My horse, while trying to jump over the
trunk of a large fallen tree, fell and threw me a great distance and
I suffered for several days from an injury to the lower part of the
Chest on the left side because the trigger of my gun had struck there.
The 17th spent a portion of the day herborising on the banks of the
Wabash River.
I continued herborising on the following days.
The 18th of August 1795
List of Plants observed on the Wabash:
No. 1--_Verbena_[125] _urticifolia caule erecto_, _paniculis
divaricatis_, _bracteis flore brevioribus_, _floribus albis_.
No. 2--_Verbena_[126] ..., _caule erecto_, _paniculis fastigiatis
erectis_, _bracteis et calycibus pilosis_, _floribus purpureo-ceruleis_.
No. 3--_Verbena_[127] _caule erecto_, _paniculis rectis foliis ovatis_,
_tomentosis_, _duplicato-serratis_.
No. 4--_Verbena_ ...
No. 5--_Verbena[128] caule repente_, _foliis pinnatifidis_, _bracteis
longissimis_.
_Silphium perfoliatum_, _Silphium connatum_, _Silphium laciniatum_,
_Silphium grandifolium_, _Silphium trisoliatum_, _Silphium
pinnatifidum_. _Andropogon muticum_; _Holcus?_ ...; _Poa_ ...;
_Quercus cerroides Chêne frisé_, Overcup White Oak; _Quercus
latifolia Chêne à latte_ Ram’s Oak; _Quercus ... Polygonum aviculare
staminibus 5, Stylis 3_; _Polygonum aviculare majus staminibus 5,
Stylis 3_. _Trifolium? pentandrum majus_; _Trifolium? pentandrum
floribus purpureis_; _Sanicula_[129] _marylandica_ or [called] Racine
à Becquel by the Illinois French and Sakintépouah by the Pians[130]
Savages: A decoction of the root is a sovereign remedy for several
diseases and for long-continued venereal diseases.
Sunday 23rd of August 1795 started from Post Vincennes situated on
the Wabash River for the Illinois on the Mississipi. We journeyed six
Miles and camped on the bank of a Little River [Embarras]. I had no
other company than a Savage and his wife. I had hired the Savage for
ten Dollars and promised him two Dollars more to induce him to carry
all my baggage on his horse.
The 24th we made about 25 Miles; the Savage was ill and was obliged
to stop more than three hours before sunset.
The 25th crossed several Prairies. Observed a new species of
_Gerardia_.[131] Stalk commonly simple, oval leaves opposite one
another, sessile, axillary flowers purpurine flowers.
The 26th the Provision of meat was consumed. The Savage stopped very
early, finding a favorable spot for hunting. Moreover heavy Rain
fell about three o’clock in the afternoon. An hour after camping the
Savage came back laden with a Bear cub and with the two hams of
another and much older one. We boiled the kettle twice and had enough
to satisfy us. We roasted what remained.
The 27th the Savage killed two Stags. We halted very early to dry
the Skins and to eat, for the Savage and his wife ate five meals a
day. Moreover, they regaled themselves with the marrow of the bones
which they ate raw; for, being unable to carry away the meat, they
contented themselves with a piece of the animal’s loins.
The 28th of August 1795. Just as I was eager to see Game the 1st and
2nd day, so was I afraid to see it then owing to the waste of time.
I was all the more anxious to proceed that it rained every day. I
had already been obliged once to dry at a fire my baggage that had
been wet through especially four books of Botany and Mineralogy I had
with me, as I had been unwilling to expose them to the hazards of the
River and had sent by way of the Mississipi two Trunks containing
grey Paper, Powder, Lead, Alum, Boxes for collecting Insects, and
all the articles required for making Collections of Plants, Animals,
Insects and Minerals.