AUTHOR:
Bartram, William (1739-1823)
TITLE-PAGE
TRANSCRIPTION: TRAVELS | THROUGH | NORTH
AND SOUTH CAROLINA, | GEORGIA, | EAST
AND WEST FLORIDA, | THE CHEROKEE COUNTRY, | THE
EXTENSIVE TERRITORIES OF THE MUSCOGULGES | OR CREEK CONFEDERACY,
| AND THE COUNTRY OF THE CHACTAWS. | CONTAINING
| AN ACCOUNT OF THE SOIL AND NATURAL PRODUC- | TIONS
OF THOSE REGIONS; | TOGETHER WITH | OBSERVATIONS
ON THE MANNERS OF THE INDIANS. | EMBELLISHED WITH COPPER-PLATES.
| [rule 30 mm.] | By WILLIAM BARTRAM. | [rule 30
mm.] | THE SECOND EDITION IN LONDON. | [double rule 45
mm.] | PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED BY JAMES AND JOHNSON, | 1791.
| LONDON: | REPRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, IN
ST. PAUL’S CHURCH-YARD. | [rule 9 mm.] | 1794.
COLLATION:
24 x 16 cm. 8º: a4 b8 B-2L8 [$4 signed]
pp. [i]-xxiv, 1-520, [8]
CONTENTS:
p. [i]. Title page. p. [iii]. Contents. Part 1. p. viii. Introduction. p. 1. Chapter
I. The author embarks at Philadelphia, arrives at Charleston. p. 4. Chap. II.
Embarks again for Georgia and arrives at Savanna. Proceeds southward and arrives
at Sunbury. Observations on the town, harbour, and island of St. Catharine, its
soil and productions. Account of the establishment of St. John’s district,
and midway meeting-house. Description of a beautiful fish. Proceeds for the river
Alatamaha, description of a tremendous thunderstorm. p. 16. Chap. III. Crosses
the river at Fort Barrington and arrives at St. Ille. Passes the frontier settlements
and meets an hostile indian. Crosses the river St. Mary and arrives at the trading-house,
account of the country thereabouts, its natural productions, of the lake Ouaquaphenogaw,
said to be the source of the river St. Mary. Returns to the Alathamaha and thence
to Savanna. p. 28. Chap. IV. Sets off from Savanna to Augusta, one hundred sixty-five
miles North-West from the sea coast. Describes the face of the country, the river
Savanna, the cataracts and village of Augusta. Congress with the Indians at St.
Augusta. The village of Wrightsborough on Little River. Monuments of an ancient
Indian town on Little River. Buffaloe Lick. Begins the survey of the New Purchase.
High proof of Indian sagacity. Returns to Savanna. p. 47. Chap. V. The author
leaves Brought island and ascends the Alatamaha. Night scene. A tempest. Description
of the river. Ruins of an ancient fortification. Indian monuments at the Oakmulge
fields. Creeks, account of their settlement in Georgia. Part 2. p. 55. Chap. I.
Sets off from Savanna to East Florida, proceeding by land to the Alatamaha. Descends
that river to Frederica on the island of St. Simon’s. Describes the island
and the city. p. 61. Chap. II. Leaves Frederica for the lower trading-house on
St. Juan’s. Passes through and describes the sound, &c. p. 68. Chap.
II. Leaves Amelia Island and arrives at the Cowford, on the river St. Juan’s.
Proceeds up the river alone in a small canoe; suffers by a gale of wind in crossing
the river, is hospitably entertained at a gentleman’s house, where he refits
and sails again. Describes fort Picolata. Various productions, viz. Magnolia grandflora,
Tillandsia usneadscires, floating fields of the Pistia straiotes, the river and
country, touches at Charlotteville. Arrives at the lower trading-house. p. 95.
Chap. IV. Proceeds farther up the river. Passes by Mount Hope, and comes to at
Mount Royal. Describes the mount, Indian highway, &c. Beautiful landscape
of the country and prospect of the lake. Enters Lake George. Description of the
lake. Forced by stress of weather to put into the beautiful isle Edelano, description
of the island, ancient Indian town, mount and highway. Crosses over the lake and
arrives at the upper trading-house. p. 112. Chap. V. Provides for continuing his
voyage higher up the river, engages an Indian to assist in navigating his bark,
and sets sail, the Indian becomes tired and requests to the set on shore. Encamps
at a delightful orange grove. Continues again alone up the river: description
of the Palma Elata; enters the Little lake and comes to camp at an orange grove.
Sight of alligators; a battle with them; great embarrassments with them; kills
one; vast assemblage of fish; description of the alligator and its nest, &c.
Describes the Carica papaya. A very curious bird. In danger of being taken napping
by a huge crocodile. The banks of the river admirably ornamented with festoons
and tapestry, the work of nature. Sepulchres of the ancients. A hurricane. Visits
a plantation on the banks of the Long Lake; description of the lake, a large sulphureous
fountain. Account of the founding and present state of New Smyrna, on the Musquitoe
river. Returns down the river. East Lake. Curious birds and a beautiful fish.
Leaves Cedar Point, touches at the isle of Palms; robbed by a wolf. Arrives at
Six Mile Springs. An account of that admirable fountain. Describes the Gordonia,
Zamia, Cactus opuntia, Erythrina, Cacalia, &c. Touches at Rocky Point. Arrives
again at the lower trading-house. p. 168. Chap. VI. Proceeds on a journey to Cuscowilla.
Describes the country and waters. Annona incana, Annona pygmea, Kalmia ciliata,
Empetrum album, Andromeda ferruginea, Rhododendron spurium, Pica glandaria non
cristata, Lanius, Lacerta, Snakes, Chionanthus, Andromeda formofissima, Cyrilla.
Encamps at the Halfway Pond. Describes the pond and meadows, a beautiful landscape.
Pilgrimage of fish. Describes various kinds of fish. Great soft shelled tortoise
and great land tortoise. Moral reflections and meditations. Leaves Halfway Pond
and proceeds. Situation, quality, and furniture of the earth. Arrives at Cuscowilla.
Reception from the Indian chief; his character. Siminoles predilection for Spanish
customs and civilization. India slaves, their condition. Departs for the Aluchua
savanna; description of the savanna. Siminoles on horseback. REturns to Cuscowilla.
A council and Indian fest. Description of the town and Cuscowilla lake. REturns
to the savanna. Glass snake. Makes the tour of the savanna. Vestiges of the ancient
Alachua. Orange groves, turkeys, deer, wolves, savanna crane. Arrives at the great
bason or sink. Description of the sink. Account of the alligators, incredible
number of fish; their subterranean migrations. Returns. Old Spanish highway. Indian
highway. Arrives again at the trading-house on St. Juan’s. Character and
comparison of the nations of the Upper Creeks, and Lower or Siminoles. p. 213.
Chap. VII. Sets out again on a journey to Talahosochte. Description of the Siminole
horse. Encamps at an enchanting grotto on the banks of a beautiful lake. Rocky
ridges and desert wilds. Engagement between a hawk and the coachwhip snake. Description
of the snake. Account of the country, grand pine forest. Encamps on the borders
of an extensive savanna. Description of the savanna crane. Comes upon the verge
of extensive savannas, lying on a beautiful lake. The expansive fields of Capola,
decorated with delightful groves. Squadrons of Siminole horses. A troop under
the conduct and care of an Indian dog. The fields of Capola a delightful region.
Ferruginous rocks, rich iron ore. Arrives at Talahasochte on the river Little
St. Juan’s. Describes the town and river. Indian canoes. Their voyages and
traffic. Indian voyage to Cuba. A fishing party and naval race. An excursion to
the Manatee spring. Description of an incomparable numphaeum. An account of the
Manatee. Crosses the river to explore the country. Spanish remains. Vast cane
wildernesses. Ancient Spanish plantations. Apalacean old fields. Returns to town.
White King’s arrival. A council and feast. Character of the king. Leaves
the town on researches, and encamps in the forest. Account of an extraordinary
eruption of waters. Joins his companions at camp. Entertainment by the White King
in Talahosochte. Contee, its preparation and use. Returns to camp. Great desert
plains. Entertainment with a part of young Siminole warriors. Various natural
wells and sinks; conjectures concerning them. Account of the Long Pond, and delightful
prospects adjacent. Returns to the trading-house on St. Juan’s. Embarrassments
of wild fowl tending their nests. Engagement with an alligator who surprised the
camp by night. Observations on the great Alachua savanna and its environs. Arrival
at the trading house. p. 250. Chap. VIII. The author makes an excursion again
up St. Juan’s to Lake George. Revisits Six Mile Springs and Illicium groves,
makes collections, and recrosses the lake to the eastern coast. That shore more
bold and rocky than the opposite. Coasts round that shore, touching at old deserted
plantations. Perennial cotton. Indigo. Unpardonable devastation and neglect of
the white settlers, with respect to the native orange groves. Returns to the trading-house.
p. 253. Chap. IX. Indian warriors, their frolic. Curious conference with the Long
Warrior. Ludicrous Indian farce relative to a rattle snake. Ware farce. p. 262.
Chap. X. Farther account of the rattle snake. Account and description of other
snakes and animals. Catalogue of birds of North America; observations concerning
their migration, or annual passages from north to south, and back again. p. 301.
Chap. XI. Visits an Indian village on the river. Water melon feast. Description
of the banqueting-house. Makes an excursion across the river; great dangers in
crossing; lands on the opposite shore. Discovers a bee tree, which yielded a great
quantity of honey Returns to the shore. Embarks for Frederica in Georgia; visits
the plantations down the river; enters the sound and passes through; arrives at
Frederica. Embarks again. Touches at Sunbury. Arrives at Charleston, South Carolina.
Meditates a journey to the Cherokee country and Creek Nation, in West Florida.
Part 3. p. 306. Chap. I. The author sets out for the Cherokee territories. Passes
through a fine cultivated country. Crosses Savanna river and enters the state
of Georgia. Dirca palustris. Cowpens. Civil entertainment at a plantation. Pursues
the road to Augusta, and recrosses the river at Silver Bluff. Account of Mr. Golphin’s
villa and trading stores, Silver Bluff, fort Moor, Augusta, Savanna river, mountains
of large fossil oyster shells. p. 318. Chap. II. Proceeds for fort James, Dartmouth.
curious species of Azalea. Crosses Broad River. Establishment of Dartmouth. Indian
mount, &c. crosses Savanna river. Violent gust of rain. Curious species of
Aesculus pavia. Town of Sinica. Fort Prince George, Keowe. Describes the country.
p. 331. Chap. III. Ocone vale. Monuments of the ancient town. Crosses the mountains.
Their situation, views, and productions. Rests on the top of Mount Magnolia. Description
of a new and beautiful species of Magnolia. Cascades of Falling Creek. Thunder
storm. Head of Tanasee. Vale of Cowe. Indian graves. Towns of Echoe, Nucasse,
and Whatoga. Nobly entertained by the prince of Whatoga. Arrives at the town of
Cowe. Makes an excursion with a young trader on the hills of Cowe. Incomparable
prospects. Horse-stamp. Discovers a company of Cherokee nymphs. A frolic with
them. Returns to town. p. 357. Chap. IV. Sets off from Whatoga to the Overhill
towns. Jore village. Roaring Creek. The author and his guide part. Surprised by
an Indian. Salute and part friendly. Mountainous vegetable productions. Arrives
on the top of Jore mountain. Sublime prospects. Atta-kul-kulla, grand Cherokee
chief. Gracious reception. Returns to Cowe. Great council-house. Curious Indian
dance. Returns and stops at Sinica. Arrives again at fort James, Dartmouth. List
of Cherokee towns and villages. p. 373. Chap. V. Sets off from Dartmouth to the
Upper Creeks and Chactaws country. Flat Rock. A curious plant. Rocky Comfort.
Ocone old town. Migration of the Ocones. Crosses the river. Fords the Oakmulge
at the Oakmulge fields. Stoney Creek. Great and little Tabosachte. New species
of Hydrangia. Crosses Flint river. Describes the country. Persecuted by extraordinary
heats and incredible numbers of biting flies. Hippobosca and Asilus. Extraordinary
thundergust. Crosses Chata Uche river. Describes the town Very large and populous.
Proceeds and arrives at the Apalachucla town. Visits the old town. Extraordinary
remains and monuments of the ancients. General face of the country and vegetable
productions. New species of Aesculus. p. 394. Chap. VI. Proceeds, and after three
days journey arrives at Tallase, on the Tallapoose river. Coloome, a handsome
town. Great plains. Further account of the country. Dog woods. Crosses the river
Schambe. Comes to Taensa on the east banks of the Mobile, thirty miles above the
city. French inhabitants. Passes down the river, arrives at the city of Mobile.
Short account of the city and fort Condé. Returns to Taensa, and proceeds
up the river as far as the entrance of the Chicasaw branch. Floating forests of
the Nymphaea Nelumbo. Visits the adjacent lands. Returns to Mobile. Goes to the
river Perdido. Continues on the Pensacola. Cordially received by governor Chester.
Some account of the town. Discovers a new and beautiful species of Sarracenia.
Returns to Mobile. p. 416. Chap. VII. Leaves Mobile for Manchac on the Mississippi.
Proceeds by water to Pearl Island. Kindly entertained by Mr. Rumsey. Describes
the island. Large crimson Plum. A delicate species of Mimosa. Passes Lake Pontchartrain.
Touches at the river Taensapaoa. Passes over Lake Maurepas. Proceeds up to Iberville.
Crosses by land to Manchac. Goes up the Mississippi. Settlements of New-Richmond.
White Plains. Curious muscle shells in the river. Crosses over to Point Coupé.
Spanish village and fortress. High cliffs opposite Point Coupé. Returns
to the Amite, thence down through the lanks, and founds back again to Mobile.
p. 438. Chap. VIII. Leaves Mobile on his return. Proceeds with a company of traders
for the Creek nation. His horse tires. Is in great distress. Meets a company of
traders, of whom he purchases a fresh horse. Illicium groves. Meets a company
of emigrants from Georgia. Great embarrassment at a large creek swollen with late
heavy rains. Arrives at the banks of the Alabama. Crosses it and arrives at Mucclasse.
Indian marriage. Serious reflections. Perilous situation of the trader of Mucclasse.
Sets off for Otasse. Describes the country contiguous to the Tallapoose river.
Plantations and towns. Coolome. Tuckabatche. Crosses the river and arrives at
Otasse. Rotunda and square. Black drink. Spiral fire. Sabbath or holy day to the
Great Spirit. Sets off with a company of traders for Georgia. Chehaw and Usseta,
Creek towns on the Apalachucla river, almost join each other, yet the inhabitants
speak two languages radically different. Arrives at the Oakmulge. Crosses the
river in a portable leather boat. Crosses the river Ocone. Head branches of Great
Ogeche. Arrives at Augusta. Takes leave of August and his friends their, and proceeds
for Savanna. List of Muscogulge towns and villages. Conjectures concerning the
rise of the Muscogulge confederacy. p. 465. Chap. IX. Short excursion in the south
of Georgia. Makes collections. Gathers seeds of two new and very curious shrubs.
p. 467. Chap. X. Proceeds for Charleston. Calls at a gentleman’s plantation.
Adoe. Tanier. Wild pigeons. After fruticosus. Leaves Charleston, proceeds on his
return home to Pennsylvania. Crosses Cooper river, nine miles above the city.
Long Bay. Reefs of rocks. Meets a gang of negroes. Passes the boundary-house.
Large savanna. Dionaea muscipula. Old towns. Brunswick. Wackamaw Lake. Carver’s
creek. Ashwood. Various vegetable productions. Cultivated vegetables. Describes
the face of the country on the banks of the North West and the adjacent lands.
Strata of the earth and soil. Rocks. Petrifactions. Ancient submarine productions,
&c. Leaves Ashwood, continues up the river. Vast trunks of trees with their
roots, and stumps of limbs with the bark on, turned into very hard stone. Rick-fish
creek. Cross creeks. The rise, progress, and present state of Cambleton. Curious
species of scandent fern. Deep river. Crosses Haw river. Meherten river in Virginia.
Cucurbita lagenaria. Curious species of Prinos. Alexandria. George town. Sudden
fall of snow. Extreme cold. Crosses the river Susquehanna upon the ice. River
Schuylkill. Arrives at his father’s house, within three miles of Philadelphia.
Part 4. p. 481. Chap. I. Persons, character, and qualifications of the Aborigines.
Most perfect human figure. Musogulge women. Women of the Cherokees. Arrogance
of the Muscogulges, yet magnanimous and merciful to a vanquished enemy. p. 492.
Chap. II. Government and civil society. Constitution simply natural. The mico
or king presides in the senate. Elective. Yet mysterious. The next man in dignity
and power is the great war chief. Entirely independent of the mico. His voice
in council of the greatest weight concerning military affairs. The high priest
and person of consequence, and maintains great influence in their constitution
and councils of state. These indians not idolaters. They adore the Great Spirit,
the giver and taker away of the breath of life, with the most profound homage
and purity. Anecdote. p. 499. Chap. III. Dress, feasts, and divertisements. Youth
of both sexes are fond of decorations with respect to dress. Their ears lacerated.
Diadem plumes & c. Paint their skin. Dress of the females different from that
of the men. Great horned owl skin stuffed and borne about by the priests. Insignia
of wisdom and divination. Fond of music, dancing and routs. Different classes
of songs. Variety of steps in their dances. Sensible and powerful effects. Ball
play . Festival of the Busk. p. 509. Chap. IV. Concerning property, agriculture,
arts and manufactures. Private property. Produce of their agricultural labours.
Common Plantation. King’s cirb. Public treasury. Women the most ingenious
and vigilant in mechanic arts and manufactures. p. 512. Chap. V. Marriages and
funeral rites. Polygamy. Take wives whilst they are yet young children. Adultery.
Muscogulges bury their dead in a fitting posture. Strange customs of the Chactaws
relative to duties to the deceased. Bone house. Dirges. Feast to the dead. Methods
which the nurses pursue to flatten the infant’s skull and retain its form.
p. 517. Chap. VI. Language and monuments. Muscogulge language spoken throughout
the confederacy. Agreeable to the ear. Cherokee language loud. Pyramidal artificial
hills or mounts, terraces obelisks. High ways and artificial lakes. Chun yards.
Slave posts. p. [521]. Index. p. [527]. Directions to the binder.
ILLUSTRATIONS:
Opposite p. [i]. Frontispiece: Mico Chlucco the Long warrior, or King of the Siminoles,
Holloway sculp’t. Opp. p. 18. Plate I. Annona pygmea. Plate II. Annona grandiflora.
Opp. p. 153. Plate III. Ixia caelestina. Opp. p. 174. Plate IV. Great soft-shelled
tortoise. Opp. p. 175. Plate IV. Head of the great soft-shelled tortoise. Opp.
p. 380. Plate VI. Hydrangea quereifolia. Opp. p. 474. Plate VII. Andromeda pulverulenta.
BINDING: Black quarter buckram
binding, marbled paper boards.
NOTES:
First published in Philadelphia, 1791. Cf. Sabin (v. 1, p. 513) 3870. Pt. IV,
p. [479]-520 has half title: An account of the persons, manners, customs, and
government of the Muscogulges, or Creeks, Cherokees, Chactaws, &c. aborigines
of the continent of North America by william Bartram. Press figures. “‘Bartram
wrote with all the enthusiasm and interest with which the fervent old Spanish
friars and missionaries narrated the wonders of the new found world … he
neglected nothing which would add to the common stock of human knowledge’
- Field. ‘Unequaled for the vivid picturesqueness of its descriptions of
nature, scenery, and productions’ (Sabin)” - William Reese 1998 California
Book Fair list
“‘Only the title page was changed from the 1st edition.
Unequaled for the vivid picturesqueness of its description of nature, scenery
and productions.’ (Sabin 3870) ‘This book of travels is famous both
for its worth and for its associations with Wordsworth and Coleridge. Bartram
presented the American landscape, especially in its tropical aspects, to the earlier
romanticists, as Chateaubriand did to the succeeding generation. While Bartram
loved to parade his knowledge of botanical nomenclature, he leaves plenty of room
for a fascinating narrative of his journeys and a valuable description of Indian
life.’ (Cox ii, p. 164) Based on travels between 1773 and 1778, it is a cornerstone
of any American travel collection. Howes rates it as ‘superlatively rare.’”
— Horizon Books, catalogue no. 5
REFERENCES:
Howes B223 (“b”); Clark I: 197; Evans 23159; Sabin 3870; Coates, The
Plant Hunters, pp. 273-76; Vail 840; Streeter Sale 1088; Field 94; Pilling
301; Pritzel 447; Hunt 722.
PROVENANCE:
Dr. F. Boott. Boston Society of Natural History, January 30, 1845.
KEYWORDS:
1. Southern States. 2. Indians of North America--Southern States.
LOCATION:
F213.B285 1794
OTHER CALIFORNIA LOCATIONS:
Claremont College; UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library | |