to speak of the Quakers in the nations, as a people
that did not go to war. Capt. Elliott has just ar-
rived from the Rapids, but nothing further has yet
transpired.

Had an interview with Elliott; he appears
much reserved. Our anxious state of suspense con-
tinues. Being apprehensive of the Indian embassy
to the commissioners, preventing the proposed trea-
ty, we wrote to Col. McKee, also a short epistle to
the Indians, to be in readiness to forward by the first
opportunity.

Here we observed a species of Indian slaves, call-
ed Pawneys, or Punins, who are captives, chiefly
taken by the Chipawas, from the Suez, (Sioux) or
Pawney nations. But it is sorrowful to think, that
in a British government so famed for liberty, they,
and a number of the African race, are held in bon-
dage during life.

This day, I walked out into the woods, a mile and
a half; when my further excursion was prevented
by swamps, bogs, and marshes. In my route, I found
stones in divers places, such as are observed on the
margin of the lake. The land in general is almost
sunk under water. My mind was strongly impress-
ed with a belief, that lakes Huron, St. Clair, Erie, and
Michigan were once united, and the tens of thou-
sands of acres, of low adjacent land, were all over-
flowed. By the breaking and wearing away of the
great falls, as mentioned before, the water has lower-
ed to the present surface: and as cultivation increases,
I have no doubt, the country will be improved by a
further diminution of the marvellous cataract. The
progress of population, at present, is obstructed, not
only by the wet, unhealthy state of the country, but