Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 4).djvu/161

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DESCRIPTION OF BACKWOODS
157

which, by the way, were the first plump Creatures I had seen in this Country. Then, as I told you before, I believed Virginia was peopled by Pharaoh's lean Kine, but these Quakers seem to come from the Land of Goshen, they looked like Christian People; they went directly to his Excellence, and Curiosity carried us all to the general Quarters. They came with Thanks to the General from the People of Pensilvania, for the great Labour he had gone through in advancing so far into the Wilderness for the Protection of his Majesty's dutiful Subjects. They acquainted him further, that they had been cutting Roads to meet him with a Number of Waggons loaded with Flour, Cheese, Bacon, and other Provision; though this was good News I did not half like it, I fear'd it would occasion our Stay, and prevent our marching back; besides it was ominous, your Cheese and your Bacon being the Baits that draw Rats to Destruction, and it proved but too true; this Bait drew us into a Trap where happy was he that came off with the Loss of his Tail only. This Evening we saw the Road and Waggons,