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
February 13, 1833
Early in the morning, dreary sky, ground covered with snow. There is still extremely fine snow; a raw wind as well. At seven thirty, 0°R [32°F, 0°C]. Later, dry, windy weather. We worked at home. At twelve o’clock, 1 1/5°R [34.7°F, 1.5°C]. At Mr. Say’s I discovered the title of a new work on North American Indians. In the afternoon we crossed over near the ferry with young Duclos and immediately saw a large flock of Anas rufitorques. When they flew away, one of them, which had been shot earlier, probably yesterday, remained lying on the ground.
We went up along the Wabash and suddenly came upon a band of wild turkeys, which, unfortunately, had caught sight of us too soon. They had come to the water to drink. We went as far as the Fox River and shot a duck, which we did not get, however, because we did not have a canoe. There was a nice sunset, which seemed to promise good weather. Later I went to Mr. Say’s, where I spent the evening. I received a letter from Mr. Volz in Pittsburgh, in which he notified me of the shipment of my four chests and suitcases with the steamboat John Nelson to Mr. Edward Tracy in St. Louis. The ground was already thoroughly frozen when I went home at ten o’clock.