SW_JL1793_Page_058

some former wars, and were all destroyed. We passed the mouth of the Schoharie, and stopped about a mile higher up the river, on a beautiful bank, where we proposed to lodge. Here I saw a plough with two wheels, about eighteen inches dia-meter, just before the coulter. They are in general use in this neighbourhood, and appear to answer the end well. Their land is level, light and rich near the river. Their field peas are just coming up, and appear luxuriant, and beautiful. 11th. Had a fine wind, our little fleet hoisted their sails, which propelled the boats against the current at about four miles an hour, without the help of set-ting poles or oars. Passed the Canajoharie, and a mountain called the Nose, where is a remarkable cave, into which one of our boatmen said he enter-ed about five perches, but found so much wind issu-ing out of it, that he was afraid to proceed any fur-ther. The land in this day's rout, is very good. The settlers here were greatly distressed, about the year 1780, by the Indians and white people who were opposed to the principles of the revolution, and were influenced, and, in some instances, commanded, by John Johnson (son of Sir William) who took refuge with the British, and came on with a party of In-dians, &;c. into his old neighbourhood, burnt their houses, took off many prisoners, and others they killed. Where we breakfasted, the man of the house told us, his father and father-in-law were both killed by them, on the same morning. Where we dined, the woman's husband had been killed, in like man-ner. This day we passed several old fortifications, block houses, &;c. which appeared a weak defence:and breathing aspirations were raised, to become an