Four-and-a-Half Months’ Stay in New Harmony
Description of the region – Natural history – Messrs. Say, Lesueur, and Owen – Hunting excursions in Indiana and Illinois – Wabash, Fox River – Illinois prairies – Albion – Black River – Mr. Bodmer’s trip to New Orleans
December 25, 1832
Early fog. At seven thirty, 3 1/2°R [39.9°F, 4.4°C]. People welcome Christmas by shooting in the streets. Mr. Owen visited us early and invited us to dine with him that afternoon at five o’clock. Later two nice prairie hens, a cock and a hen, were brought to me: very beautiful birds. At twelve noon, 6°R [45.5°F, 7.5°C]. The fog continues all day.
A crowd of people from Albion and vicinity gathered to attend the dance here in the house this evening. Our landlord frequently brings some of these strange guests up to us to show them the strange, marvelous creatures and their zoological collection. They step inside, shake hands with us, and leave their hats on their heads or take them off for a moment. To be sure, these guests are often a nuisance, but it is my policy to let them in and to show them these things, since often they are hunters and later occasionally send us interesting animals. Our landlord, Mr. Arthur, who lived a long time near Albion, is widely acquainted there.
Mr. Say was here today and saw the splendid eagle obtained yesterday (lengthwise it measures 2 feet, 8 inches, 6 lines, and at its greatest width 6 feet, 6 inches) as a young bald eagle (Aquila leucocephala), as a comparison of the two will probably show me. Since I did not feel very well, Mr. Bodmer conveyed my apologies to Mr. Owen. I spent the evening at home. Underneath me a wild dance had been raging since nightfall, with the large drum and several violins and pipes or flageolets creating an uninterrupted music that resounded in the ears, because the huge hollow kettledrum, too, did not remain silent for one moment. Because I have been listening to this noise beneath me for several hours, I will probably finally be able to fall asleep. Mr. Bodmer attended the dance for a while.