Ninth month 19th [1803.]

Adam Hoops

's brother pro-
posing to go to Genesinguhta to get some seed wheat,
and the river being so low that we were doubtful
Halftown would be beset to convey us down in his ca-
noe, they kindly offered some of us a passage in their
canoe. Accordingly Thomas Stewardson, John Shoe-
maker, and George Vaux went with him, he having
two active young men to work it; and Isaac Bonsal
and myself took passage with Halftown and his son,
having an exceedingly pleasant ride down the river,
keeping in company all the way with the vessel
which our friends were on board of, and another
canoe with one man in it going to Pittsburg. We
sometimes sat up and sometimes lay down and slept
between two Indians navigating us, who appeared
very dexterous, and disposed to accommodate us in
every respect in their power. About twelve or fifteen
miles down from the Issua we stopped and dined at a
place called the Plum-Orchard, it being on or near
the upper end of the Indian reserve. I never saw
such a place before, it containing about forty or fifty
acres of exceeding rich land thickly set with trees
which are loaded with excellent fruit, and abundance
on the ground, now in full season. I have no doubt
but there is more than one hundred cart-loads of ex-
cellent plums on which we satiated our appetites for
that fruit and took some on board. Then sailed down
the river to the mouth of the Tusquiatossy, it being twen-
ty-one miles from Issua. There we struck up a fire,
pitched our tents and slept on the river-bank, the
number of the passengers our squadron contained be-
ing twelve. George Vaux hitherto being our cook hath
performed his office to suit our palates, and this even-
ing failed not in his skill. In the night an alarm was
sounded in our camp by a sentinel, under an appre-
hension of the near approach of a mortal enemy.
One of our company took the alarm and immediately
rose; the others believing it to be the effect of imag-
ination did not think it necessary to get up, which
ultimately proved to be the case.

20th.

Breakfasted early and pursued our voyage
four miles to the mouth of Tusquiatossy, being a
creek (though now quite dry) that runs down what
is called the Little Valley. Thence to Genesinguhta

,
where we met with our beloved friends, J. Taylor, J.
Thomas, and J. Swayne, the young men whom we
stationed there in order to improve the natives, John
Pennock also being there some time, improving some
of them in the smith- business. It was truly a very
satisfactory meeting, particularly to them, they being
so long from a sense of duty separated from their
friends and relatives. Many of the Indians came to
see us this afternoon and took us by the hand with
evident tokens of great joy, which is a clear indica-
tion that they are highly pleased with, and in good
measure sensible of our disinterested endeavor to
improve them in agriculture, mechanical arts, and
profitable civilization. We observed, as we sailed
down, the Indian reserve of land along the river to
be excellent; and when we came within fourteen or
fifteen miles of Genesinguhta, the settlements and