hv_sansomj_letters_1796_050

crossroads to Canadarquai and Genesee A mile below as a Lake of half a mile in diameter, which has no visible inlet, yet the water is always fresh, and well stocked wi large and small Fish. It is very deep and has been sounded in some places with 40 fathoms of line without finding bottom. Lodged at the Painted Post, a small town two miles below the spot from which it takes its name, the grave of an Indian Sachem, marked by a high post, crudely painted with figur denoting the numbers by him taken captive or killed in battl Riding almost all day through mountainous and barren land we were agreeably relieve by the prospect of an extensive and well cultivated flat, though still surrounded with mountains resembling green walls of stupendous height. Next moring crossed and recrrossed the Tioga, and several of its branches, till about noon, when we crossed the Pennsylvania Line, rejoicing at the thoughts of home Lodged at the last house on that side of the Wilderness surrounding the Alleghany Mountains, 43 miles across, with but one house near the middle, and that inhabited by a Man whose general character is fierce and brutal, suspected of having killed a Pedlar who lodged here some months ago on his way through, and has never been heard of since. This Wretch we