fruit trees in blossom. Vegetation appeared about
as forward here as when I left home. It is an old
settled country: the inhabitants mostly the descen-
dants of Low Dutch emigrants, and generally, speak
that language, also, tolerable English. They say it
was settled before Schenectady or Albany; which
must be more than one hundred and twenty years.
One young woman told me, her father's great-grand-
father was born on the place where she then lived.
The banks of the river, in general, rise about twelve
or fifteen feet above the surface of the water, and
obscure, in a great measure, the pleasing prospect
of its fruitful margin from travelers who go in boats.

Our little fleet, consisting of eight boats,
worked by thirty men, exclusive of twelve passen-
gers, set out, and with great exertions, opposed the
rapids of the Mohawk for about sixteen miles, through
a champaign country. Passed by many banks and
points of land, memorable for having forts and for-
tifications, in time of war; particularly the old resi-
dence of Sir William Johnson, whose mansion house
is now in ruins — the lands confiscated, and in pos-
session of strangers. This estate was said to have
been obtained from the Indians by chicanery. Such
is the uncertainty of the most extensive worldly pos-
sessions, more especially when obtained through un-
righteous channels. This day we passed a rock pro-
jecting out of the bank of the river, whereon was
painted, with great ingenuity, in red colours, a ca-
noe with the representation of seven men in it.--
Which is said to be done annually, by Indians,
coming several hundred miles for that purpose, in
order to commemorate the slaughter of seven In-
dians, who went off from that neighbourhood in