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Isaac Coates Journal of Journeys to the Indian Country

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three miles, we came to a stream of water and there fixed things in order for lodging in the woods, which we got completed before night; and had a comfort-able night under a tent made of bushes, by a large fire. My companions said the place should be called Coats's Camp, which name I have no doubt it will go by. From Peter's Camp we immediately left the Tioga on our left hand, and ascended a great mountain called the Savage Mountain., which I take to be there same range with the Alleghany and Laurel Hill. It is a great height and breadth, being twenty miles across the ascent, and on the top until we came to the place we lodged, (which is thirteen or fourteen miles), to the worst road I have met with on this side the Genesee river, being very stony, rooty, and muddy; a great part of it covered with hemlock. 19th. The descent down the south side pretty good road, but steep until we came to Trout Run, nine miles from the block-house, then down said run six miles, in which distance we crossed it twenty-seven or twenty-eight times, and came to Charles Reeder's. Got oats and fed our horses, then left the main road, crossed the Lycoming and went seven miles over very poor, rough land to Moses Wilson's, a Friend at a place called Blooming Grove. Dined and proposed to stay all night. Rode these two days, fifty-two miles. 20th. First of the week. Rode two miles to Na-thaniel Pearson's where a small meeting of Friends is held by indulgence on the First- day of the week. Sat with them in their meeting and went home with Moses Starr to dine. Afternoon rode seven miles to the widow Harris's. The land and timber this day's ride, which was nine miles, appeared to me to be very poor until we came to the said Harris's, on the west branch of the Susquehanna, where there appears to be excellent land a considerable width from the river, and they have an extraordinary plantation for fertility with a beautiful descent from the house fac- ing the south. On taking a view of said farm and the buildings upon it, I was led to contemplate upon the great difference between the New England set-tlers in a new country and those from Maryland, having heretofore mentioned the industry, economy, and intrepidity of the former. This family emigat-ted from Maryland and appears in the house hold to be in affluent circumstances. Several sons, young men grown, and have been settled here, I suppose, twelve or fourteen years; have got a good deal of excellent land, cleared perhaps by the blacks, but they have no barn nor stable fit to put a horse into; but have ten or twelve hounds, a tame wolf, etc., and I expect spend much of their time in hunting; all of which had a tendency to increase my partiality in favor of the Yankees. But we are kindly enter-tained here; therefore it will not be proper to castany reflections on their economy. 21st. Rode from the widow Harris's to Wm. Ellis's, nine miles. On the way crossed the Loyalsock. Rested till evening, when twelve Friends appointed by Philadelphia Quarter came to Ellis's in order to attend the opening of a new Monthly Meeting at Muncy, next Fourth-day, the 23d of this month. Here we all lodged, being sixteen of us, they having plenty of room, good accommodations, and open, generous hearts. 22d. Went to get my mare shod. Returned to Ellis's and lodged. 23d. Attended the opening of the new Monthly Meeting at Muncy, where appears a considerable number of well concerned Friends. Said meeting held till near sunset. Lodged this night at our kind and hospitable friends, Wm. and Mercy Ellis's. 24th. Rode from Muncy to Catawissa, thirty miles, and lodged at Ellis Hughes's. The most of the way a very good road; passed by a number of pretty good plantations though a thin soil and a great deal of what I call poor mountain land, covered with barren oaks and small pitch pine. Soon after I left Ellis's, crossed Muncy Creek, a large stream; and a little before we came to Catawissa town, Fishing Creek, another large stream appeared on our left hand and emptied into the northeast branch of the Susque-hanna, which opposite to said town is about a quarter of a mile wide. We rode through it, [it] being a lit-tle more than belly deep. 25th. Stayed in the town and walked about with Ellis Hughes viewing the river and town, which contains about fifty houses, most of them not the most elegant. Near three o'clock, afternoon, James Cooper and myself set off, leaving the rest of our company who intend to attend the Monthly Meeting at Catawissa tomorrow, and rode fourteen miles to Ledingburg's, a Dutch tavern, the road being good over mountains of very poor land. 26th. Rode from Ledingburg's to Ricgh's, nine miles; fed our horses and got breakfast; to Pensinger's, eighteen miles, and dined; to James Star's, at Par-vin's, twenty miles, and lodged. This day's ride, forty-seven miles. The most of it good road over a poor mountain country. Crossed the Schuylkill at a forge in a gap of the Blue Mountains, and Maiden Creek, about a mile before I came to James Star's. James Cooper having parted with me two miles back, in order to go to John Star's, it felt very comfortable to be with these my old neighbors and beloved friends, James and Eleanor Star. 27th. First of the week. James Star accompanied me to Reading; attended Friends' meeting in that place, which is very small, six miles, and dined at John Jackson's, who accompanied me to my son-in-law's, Mark Hughes, seven miles, at Exeter. The pleasure I felt in meeting with my children was more sensible than easy to describe. [To be Continued.]