About eight in the evening, the wind lulled, we
struck our tents, and hurried on board. The lake
was smooth, and the moon shining. We went with
our oars, beautifully, about twelve miles. Suddenly
there appeared a cloud rising in the south-west,
which soon spread, and obscured the light of the
moon. It began to rain, with a heavy gale of wind,
and the scene was soon changed, from serenity and
calmness, into a foaming tempest. Our little fleet
got scattered — the swells became so great as to ren-
der oars useless. The water being shoal, and the
shore rocky, we durst not attempt to run in. Our
boatmen proposed to raise the mast, and hoist sail;
which, with great difficulty, from the beating of the
waves, and the extreme darkness, was effected. —
After which, our little bark ran violently before the
wind, rocking over the swells like a tub on the wa-
ter. But through the providence of Almighty pow-
er, about break of day, we got into the mouth of the
Oneida river, though several of our boats did not
arrive for some hours after. This lake is about thir-
ty miles long, and eight wide. In crossing which,
I underwent a close and searching baptism, not only
respecting the present embassy, but all the actions
of my life: for eternity appeared very near.

Being first day, we resumed our navigation
down the Oneida river about eighteen miles, to the
junction of the Seneca or Onondago river. It is
about as large as the Oneida; each perhaps three hun-
dred feet wide. At this place we met three families
of new settlers, who were glad to see us, as were
we to see them. Here also we met several Indians,
mostly young men and women, marvellously trim-
med with cut ears, ear-rings and nose jewels. --