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Isaac Coates Journal of Journeys to the Indian Country

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turned with those who gave out; he made himself very merry with us when walking through the woods; said the Quakers were like little children learning to walk, and that we might now see some of the hard-ships the Indians had to pass through in their hunt-ing, only that it would not dor for them to stop and rest; but when he found I went on, said there was one hardy man amongst them. I think I never heard Thomas Stewardson complain or give out until this time. In the evening Blue Eyes came; was very glad to see us, but was sorry he had to go to Catta-raugus to see a sick daughter, so that he could not be at the council. Because he is a steady friend and pro- moter of our concern for the good of the natives, be-ng a chief who both by precept and example endeav-ors to lead them on in habits of sobriety and indus-try, and as he could not stay with us, we took the op-ortunity of opening to him some of the reasons of our coming here at this time, which was a proposal of our young men's moving off their land and set-tling near them on some of their own. He was wise enough to see the reason of the proposal; and al-though he saw and gave in to the propriety of it, yet appeared sorry, and he is a near neighbor; and said if they moved he would wait to see how they would do and then move near them. Truly the opportunity this evening with Blue Eyes had a tendency to pro-duce some very pleasant sensations in my mind, and I thought I could own him for, and really felt him near, as a brother. 22d. Fifth of the week. This being the day on which the young men hold their meeting, we sat with them, which I believe was a time of refreshment to us all. In the afternoon walked about viewing the improvements the Indians ahve made which are con-siderable. Several of them have a good deal of corn, and some have raised some wheat; but I think they have not improved in agriculture and industry equal to those up the river. We saw two of them threshingtheir wheat; but as they had not barn to put it in, it appeared to be somewhat damaged in the stack. I endeavored to put them upon building barns, which they promised to do. 23d. We all in company with Jacob Taylor, John Pennock and Joel Swayne, went down to Genesing-uhta, or Cornplanter's Village, nine and a half miles. Being eight of us having three horses, Jacob Taylor and myself walked all the way and back again, being nineteen miles. The others rode turn about. We ar-rived at the village about eleven o'clock and spent two or three hours in viewing the Indians' houses, corn-fields, and other improvements; and although we discovered fourteen shingled houses and abund-ance of corn, yet I think they have not improved four years past, equal to the Indians up the river. We dined at Cornplanter's upon the best venison I have eaten since I left home, Indian bread, butter, butter-milk, bears' fat and squashes. Some of our company were very desirous to return before dinner; but Jacob Taylor told them it would not do. They then sum-moned all the fortitude they could and sat down to dinner. Jacob Taylor, John Pennock, Joel Swayne, Thomas Stewardson, and myself at with good-will; the others did as well as they could. The old chief was very pleasant with us and made himself very cheerful, inquiring for Henry Simmons; said he was a man for his mind, and if he had not been a Quaker he would have made a very good war chief. Some time after dinner, we returned. J. Taylor, Thomas Stewardson, Isaac Bonsal, George Vaux and myself walked one or two miles near the river bank; the other three rode. On our way passed through abun-dance of good corn and beans, and by eight or ten houses, some of them very complete work, with stone chimneys. In one of them lives an old woman, half-sister of Cornplanter, with three or four sons. The poor old woman was rejoiced to see us; said she was thankful to the Good Spirit for preserving us in our long journey to see them, and also that He put it in our hearts to have compassion on them; and that shewas old and did not expect to be at the council to-morrow, but hoped the Good Spirit would preserve us. Truly the manner of her expression, the tears standing in her eyes, and the whole of her deport-ment, expression, and appearance had a tendency to enliven the affectionate feelings of my heart, and I could not help thinking she was as much the favorite of Him who sees not as man sees, as many who think themselves more polished. In about three miles' walking, Cornplanter, Conudiu, and about twenty or thirty more of the Indians overtook us on their way up to the council. I walked very pleasantly and cheer-fully with them. The old chief, Cornplanter, wanted me to ride his horse; but when I refused, he said I was a sachem. [To be Continued.]