Header img
Beyond Penn's Treaty

Travels in Some Parts of North America

Page out of 312

ning for the family apparel, which was very
decent. It was mostly prepared for the weaver
by her own household; and, whilst I was in the
house, a female weaver of the village, brought in
a piece of cloth made from yarn spun in this
family, which was such as would have done cre-
dit to any female in England. This reputable
Indian couple had four fine healthy children, who
sat by the fire; and, though of a copper colour,
their countenances were far from unpleasing.
Their names where Denis, Calvin, Cinthia, and
Celinda.

The schoolmaster of this Indian village, who
is paid by friends, introduced me to a chief of
the name of Hendricks

, with whom I had some
conversation; and we sat about an hour by the
fire-side of a pretty large family of Indians, where
it was pleasant to see the spinning-wheel go
briskly round. There were 16 or 18 Indians
round the fire; the older part of the family sat
on a bench in front, and the little Indians on the
ground on each side. The fire was made at the
end of the building, and the smoke found its way
through the roof, without the aid of a chimney.
The walls and roof were hung with ears of Indian
corn, and other winter provisions. It is difficult
to describe my feelings, on sitting down with an
Indian family in this way. In a sympathising