It  was  trying  to  be  left  alone  in  travelling  through  that
new  country.  I  had  heard  of  some  settlements  formed  by
persons  that  had  been,  or  were  members  of  our  Society,  and
I  felt  desirous  of  visiting  them ;  but  there  was  no  way  to
get  there,  except  through  unbeaten  tracks  or  Indian  paths,
thick  woods,  deep  muddy  soil,  and  several  creeks.  The
parting  with  my  companion  and  the  kind  family  of  Snyder's
was  solemn.  I  felt  my  engagement  arduous,  and  as  I  pro-
ceeded thus  alone  on  my  journey,  my  soul's  aspiration  often
was,  "  0  Lord  be  near  thy  poor  servant  to  direct  him  aright,
and  preserve  him  through  these  trackless  woods."

It  took  me  near  two  days  to  travel  about  thirty-two  miles
to  Matthew  Howard's,  a  descendant  of  Friends,  now  a  mem-
ber of  Parliament.  I  met  with  many  difficulties  through
the  woods,  deep  mud,  and  the  fall  of  the  timber  across  the
Indian  paths,  which  obliged  me  to  turn  aside  frequently,
Avhereby  I  missed  my  way.  The  sun  being  obscured,  I
directed  my  course  by  the  moss  on  the  trees  till  I  again
found   the   right   path.     Being   often    hemmed   in  by  many


^T.  30.]  1804.  91

trees  that  were  blown  down,  it  was  slow  work  to  carry  my
saddle  and  saddle-bag,  to  make  my  little  horse  jump  over  one
tree  after  another,  or,  when  coming  to  the  muddy  streams,  I
had  to  urge  him  through  them,  and  then  with  my  load  on  my
back,  to  seek  up  and  down  the  stream,  for  a  tree  blown  across
the  water,  on  which  I  could  walk  over  to  join  my  horse  again.
