ich we had but
very little to shelter us as we had but few tents and the trees were
stripped of their leaves.

October 9, 10 and 11th. These three days we were employed in carrying
our batteaus, provisions and baggage over this long and difficult
carrying place. Some were employed in cutting and clearing a road, and
others in carrying. We had to go through swamps and quagmires--much of
the way knee deep in mud and water. We here left behind everything which
we did not deem absolutely necessary to our journey. Our pork we took
from the barrels and strung it on poles, leaving the barrels behind. In
the afternoon of the 11th, we launched our boats into a pool of
considerable extent, crossed over it, and encamped on the west side.

October 12 and 13. We carried our batteaus and baggage three quarters of
a mile to another pond, one mile over--then to a third, two miles
over,--Though the water was now very cold, we caught trout in these
ponds in great abundance.

Between these ponds we built a block-house, and gave it the name of Fort
Meigs, designed for our sick, in case they should return this way. We
viewed with much anxiety winter approaching--we had some snow squalls
through the day.

October 14 and 15th. These two days we were diligently employed in
carrying our batteaus, provisions, &c. to Dead river. Our hardships were
greater than on any preceding day--the land carriage was four miles; one
mile of which was a sunken marsh. Four men were assigned to each
batteau--under the weight of their loads they almost every step sunk to
their knees in mud, and were entangled in the low shrubbery. We arrived
at the bank of Dead river at 3 o'clock and proceeding one mile up said
river by sunset, took up our encampment for the night. On our right and
left were excessively high mountains, the summits of which were covered
with snow and ice. Could I have ascended to the top of one of these
mountains I thought I could have overlooked all creation. The land
between the mountains appeared to be very rich and fertile--wild grass
covered the ground, four or five feet in height, and served us a good
purpose for covering for the night.

October 16th. The water now being deep and dead, we betook ourselves to
our oars and rowed up 6 miles. The river is so remarkably still and
dead, that it is difficult to determine which way it runs. It is on an
average about 4 rods in width and the banks of it very steep.

October 17th. After passing o