ac Mould all the Way.... Mr. Prevost has built a Log House,
lined with rough Boards, of one story, on a Cove, which forms
the Head of Lake Otsego. He has cleared 16 or 18 acres round
his House and erected a Saw Mill. He began to settle only in
May last.... The Capt. treated us elegantly. He has several
Families seated near him....

"16th. We proceeded in Col. Croghan's Batteau, large and sharp
at each end, down the Lake,... The Water of greenish cast,
denoting probable Limestone bottom; the Lake is skirted on
either side with Hills covered by White Pines and the Spruce
called Hemloc chiefly. We saw a Number of Ducks, some Loons,
Sea-gulls, and Whitish coloured Swallows, the Water very clear
so that we descried the gravelly Bottom in one Part 10 or 12
Feet down. The rest of the Lake seemed to be very deep; very
little low Land is to be seen round the Lake. Mr. Croghan,
Deputy to Sir William Johnson, the Superintendent for Indian
Affairs, is now here, and has Carpenters and other Men at Work
preparing to build Two Dwelling Houses and 5 or 6 Out Houses.
His Situation [on the site of the Cooper Grounds, within the
present village of Cooperstown] commands a view of the whole
Lake, and is in that Respect superior to Prevost's. The site
is a gravelly, stiff clay, covered with towering white Pines,
just where the River Susquehannah, no more than 10 or 12 yards
broad, runs downward out of the Lake with a strong
Current.[31] Here we found a Body of Indians, mostly from
Ahquhaga,[32] come to pay their Devoirs to the Col.; some of
them speak a little English.... We lodged at Col. Croghan's.

"23rd. ... At Col. Croghan's ... being rainy, we staid here
all day.

"24th. It rained again. The Elevated Hills of this country
seem to intercept the flying vapors and draw down more
moisture than more humble places.... With 3 carpenters felled
a white Pine Tree and began a Canoe.... Some Trout were caught
this Morng. 22 Inches long; they are spotted like ours with
Yellow Bellies, yellow flesh when boiled & wide mouths. There
are Two species, the Common & the Salmon Trout. Some Chubs
were likewise taken, above a Foot in length. The other Fish
common in the Lake & other Waters, according to Information,
are Pickerel, large and shaped like a Pike, Red Per