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 8, 1832
Early rain and heavy, dreary sky. It rained during the evening and all night long. At seven thirty, temperature of 4°R [41°F, 5°C]. Here in this country it is not easy to find a pleasantly warm room, because no one takes care to keep the wood dry. It is always left out in the rain, exposed to the weather, and is bought freshly cut. At noon no rain and at twelve o’clock, temperature of 4 3/4°R [42.7°F, 5.9°C], but a brisk wind makes the weather unpleasant.
Russel, the hunter, brought a live, tamed opossum, which sat on his shoulder. In the afternoon I went to the Cutoff River with Mr. Bodmer; there he crossed to Cutoff Island in a canoe and then went farther on to hunt. I returned and visited Mr. Lesueur, who still does not leave his room. On Cutoff Island Mr. Bodmer found a very large wild turkey, which had fallen into the brush, and brought back the plume from its breast. He killed several birds, including two Certhia familiaris and a Sitta carolinensis. We spent the evening at home.