Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-17

them IN what manner they are to dance;
after he has finished the best dancer
jumps up as one awaked out of sleep
and runs and jumps about ye ring in a
most comicle manner. He is followed
by We rest then begins there musicians
to llay; ye music is pot half of water
with deerskin stretch'd over it as
tight as it can and goard with soma
shott in it to rattle and piece of an
horses tail tied to it to make it look
6ne. Ye OF Q keeps rettliDg and ye 9TH
er drummiug all ye while ye Others is
darcing.
Friday March 25th, 174S. went up
to ye mouth of Patterson's creek and
there swan our horses oye,; got over
ourselves il canoe and R'avell'd up ye
following part of ye day to Abram
Johnstones Is miles from ye mouth
where we camped.
"S4terdsy March 25 Travelled up ye
creek to Solomon Hedges esqr., one of
his majestys justices of ye peace for ye
county of Frederick where we camped.
When we came to supper there was
neither cloth upon ye table nor
knife to eat with but as good luck
would have it we bad knives of our
own.
TUESDAY March Doth. This morning
went out and surveyed 500 acre of land
and went down to one Michael Stumps
on ye so fork of ye branch; on our way
shot two wild turkies.
Saterday April p. Last night was
blowing rainy night. Our straw catch
ed fire vt we were laying upon and
was luckily preserved by one of our
mel awaking.
Sonday April 80. Last night was much
more blostering night than ye former;
We had our tent carried quite of with
ye wind and was obliged TO lie ye latter
part Of ye night without covering.
Wednesday April Oh. Last night
was so intolerably smoky that we were
obliged all hands TO leave ye tent to ye
mercy of ye wind and fire. This day Oh
cur urney was caich'd in very
heavy rain; we got under straw house
until We worst Of it was over and then
continued our journey.
Thursday April 7tb. Rained sue
CeSSlNSlN dit ldSt bl9 thiS LSl t-ihS Z
one OF our men killed Wild turkie that
Wi sht 20 pounds. Slept in Cn:seI's
House which was ye first night had
slept in house since | Came 10 ye
branch.
Friday April n. We camp'd this
uight in ye woods near wild meadow
where YVES a large stack of hay;
after we had pitched our ten
and made very large fire. We pulled out
our knapsack il order to recruit ourselves
Every was hi, own cook, our spits wss fork
ed sticks, our plates was large chip as Tor
dishes we hal mono Sunday, April 10th,
We took our farewell Of We bran h and trav-
eld over lis and mounla rs to Coddys on
iireat acapehon about 40 mics. Mond Y.
April 11th, we Travelled from odys down TO
Ere ,erick Town NOW WinchesterJ where we
reached about = o'clock We dined in town
and then went TO Capt. Hites and lodged.
tuesday, April 18th, got over WINS Gap and
got as low as Wm. Vests in Fairfax county.
Is miles from ye top Of ye ridge" They
were now on the home stretch, and on the
18th reached their homes of belvoir and
Mount Vernon after an absence of thiltecn
months
The fore going extracts Sre only such por
tions of Wsshugton's journal rs serve to ac-
quaint us with some of the hardships ard
perils which beset the young surveyors in
their work in the Virginia wilderness hun
dred and fifty years ago.