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
January 6, 1833
Early in the morning, dreary overcast sky and some rain. At seven thirty, temperature of 10°R [54.5°F, 12.5°C]. I worked at home this forenoon. At twelve o’clock, temperature of 7 1/3°R [48.5°F, 9.2°C]. Early in the morning, I again had a fire made in my room. For my stomach [ailment], I let nails rust in water today, so that I could drink the water. Today I gave Mr. Lesueur a muskrat from the three that we received yesterday. In the afternoon, a short walk with Mr. Say, then a visit at his home. He showed me his shell collection and observed that he was missing the common European Ostrea edulis, which I shall send him.
Today we talked about cattle breeding in this region. It is still very primitive, for nowhere is there stable feeding, and during the harsh winter, the cattle have nothing to eat except dry corn leaves, which are soon consumed. As I have often seen, they gnaw on the cornstalks and even the bark of trees and the branches of fruit trees. That is why beef here is such poor quality. Farmers here plant neither clover nor other feed crops; they are intent only on raising Indian corn and pigs, which forage everywhere and, like wolves, devour all the dead animals lying around. In Pennsylvania the situation is entirely different, and therefore very good beef is usually available there. Pork, on the other hand, is said to be much better and more digestible in Indiana than on the other side of the Alleghenies. Very few sheep are to be seen in the region around Harmony; I have not noticed any goats at all. People have numerous geese and chickens but few tame ducks.
In the evening, a visit at the home of Mr. Lesueur. We talked about travel and various countries and, among other things, about Guilding’s home on St. Vincent, one of the West Indian islands, where one could see beautiful mountains all around through open windows only lightly covered with gauze. The windows had golden frames, and one believed one saw framed landscape paintings, until one noticed the movement of the clouds. Reports from New Orleans state that the area is now city is now completely free of disease.