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Travels in Some Parts of North America, in the Years 1804, 1805, & 1806, by Robert Sutcliff

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This morning I left Dother-ly's, and rode many miles through the woods, with- out seeing one habitation, or meeting one in- dividual. The land in general is of good quality, and the forest trees are mostly beech, hiccory, oak, a species of pine, called hemlock, and the sugar maple. From the last, considerable quantities of sugar are made; and I saw several sugar camps, fenced in, where the sap is collected in small wooden troughs, about two feet long, coarsely made with the hatchet, and capable of containing one or two gallons each. One of these troughs is placed at the foot of each tree, and above it a hole is pierced, with an inch and a half auger. In the hole is fixed a spout, about one foot long, made of the elder tree, with the pith taken out. As the sap is collected, it is carried to the boilers, which are fixed in the camp. Some farmers not only col-lect sufficient sugar and treacle for their own use, but have several hundred pounds weight to dispose of to the grocers. After travelling about 12 miles, I came to a habitation called Eldridge's Tavern. The situation of this inn was very soli- tary and romantic, in the midst of a very extensive forest. The mistress of the house told me that her husband and she had lately emigrated from London, where they had carried on business in Longacre, more than 14 years. In the course of this day I came safe to my relation's at Elklands, and found his family well.