them; & having previously cut a
pole to carry in my hand to mea-
sure the depth of the stream & c.
I enter’d the river without much
fear, tho’ not without care; & found
our guide was mistaken in its depth
& well for us he was, for had it been as
deep as he expected no horse could
have stood before the stream; I got safe-
ly thro’ & my companions view’d me
with exercise of mind, & when they saw
me safely landed on the opposite shore
they follow’d & also arrived safe, with
gladden’d hearts; we then pursued
our journey with cheerfulness, down
the rich bottoms of said stream; a great
number of large beautiful poplars,
white oaks, pines, & black walnuts,
made their appearance, also some
fine natural meadows of good grass.