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 8, 1833
Early in the morning, overcast sky. At seven thirty, −1°R [29.8°F, −1.3°C]; at noon, 1/2°R [33.1°F, 0.6°C]. In the afternoon we went to Fox Island with a resident of Harmony who wanted to dig for roots and a water plant at a pond deep in the forest. On the other side, near the Wabash ferry, about 400–500 paces from Harmony, the tall forest begins in sandy ground, which soon gives way, however, to black, rich forest soil. The entire forest is overgrown with dense tall cane, the stems of which, partially broken off or dangling over the trails, greatly annoy hunters. They not only tear articles of clothing but often injure hands and face.
In this cane we soon heard the bells of the cattle and horses, and our guide recognized his cows, which, though always out in the open, still recognized his voice and let themselves be patted by him. We followed the cattle paths and shot several woodpeckers; the squirrels eluded us. In these canebrakes it is very easy to go astray, and today we twice came back to the same spot. Our guide had wanted me to bring along a compass, but I forgot to do so.
After tramping for a long time on muddy little cattle trails in the cane of the lofty forest, we reached several dwellings a dwelling, moved down along its cornfields, and then, after a quarter of an hour in the tall timber, reached a hollow about a mile long in which there was water. This was the pond we were looking for.
Our guide, equipped with a hoe and a basket, sought the roots of a yellowblooming Nymphaea, which he wanted to use as a remedy for a facial tumor. While he was digging, we looked for birds, and near the corner of a cornfield found a whole flock of parakeets (Psittacus carolinensis), which flew about with a loud cooing call and perched on the high, white branches of Platanus trees. They darted about as swiftly as an arrow but soon disappeared in the tall forest. The bright green flock afforded a most delightful sight.
When our guide had collected his supplies, we turned back and, at a spot along this trail where a dead cow lay among the tall cane in the tall forest, found a gathering of several hundred turkey buzzards, which covered large white-bark Platanus or flew about in wide circles in the air. They were too high for the shotgun, and I did not have a rifle. Therefore, our shots were unsuccessful. Horses came up to us along the trail to get salt, which is said to be very beneficial for them, since the reeds they feed on produce much acid. I spent the evening at the home of Mr. Say because at our house the third dance started a short time ago and the big drum made a dreadful noise.