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 22, 1832
In the morning, gloomy, overcast sky; at seven thirty, -5 1/4°R [ 20.2°F, -6.6°C]. After breakfast I went out [and] found a covey of [prairie] hens but did not shoot; saw a small mouse, which I could not get; shot a Picus villosus; and, when I returned at twelve o’clock, found a Falco velox, which had been brought to me. At twelve o’clock, -3°R [25.3°F, -3.8°C]. At this temperature the Wabash had deposited much ice along the banks. The Cutoff River was half frozen. On the Wabash today I saw people skating for the first time. Young people were playing ball in the street. For this they use a large leather ball. Mr. Bodmer had gone out at about eleven o’clock, since he had been told there were prairie hens in the vicinity. He came back and brought nothing with him. In the afternoon we went out again and saw the usual birds. On the Cutoff between the drifting ice floes were ducks, which flew up too soon. The ferry across the Wabash had difficulty getting through the ice floes. The wind was very cold during the evening; [apparently] it will get very cold tonight. After six o’clock we stayed home. Mr. Say visited us and stayed until nine o’clock.