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
March 9, 1833
Early in the morning, bright, clear sunshine and beautiful blue sky. At seven thirty, 1°R [34.3°F, 1.3°C]. Wind arose, and it was also very warm. In Smith Barton’s work, I found language specimens of the Indians mentioned yesterday and excerpted from it the following short list:
| Words of the Piankishaw Language According to Smith-Barton, Written in English Orthography and to Be Pronounced Accordingly | |
|---|---|
| Child | Pappooz |
| Woman | |
| Morning | Wahpúnki |
| I | Nila |
| You | Kila |
| Additions according to the informants’ statements. | |
At twelve noon, 11°R [56.8°F, 13.8°C]. I crossed the Wabash and lay in wait for ducks. The weather was as warm as in May and remained that nice until evening. There were large numbers of ducks. Mr. Bodmer was sketching along the Fox River and shot a wood duck. In the evening, visit to Mr. Say. We talked about the various religious sects in the United States, of which there are a very large number, the names of which can be found in Darton’s Pocket Tablet of Christian Sects, London, W. Darton Jun., 58, Holborn Hill and Stower and Smallfield, Hackney 1816.