A Tour through North America by Patrick Shirreff

_Baffled in reaching the Western States-Buffalo-4th of July-Oneida Indians-Fort Erie-Early Marriages-David Baxter-Petersburgh-Separate from Companions-Musquittoes-Settlers around Dunville-Earing of Wheat-Dunville-Face of the Country-Notices of Nature-Breaking Fruit-trees-Bar-room Group-Junction with Companions-Visit a New Settler-Politicians-Hamilton-York._

As it was my intention to visit the Western States of the Union, my friends agreed to accompany me round the north side of Lake Erie, and cross over to Cleveland, proceeding down the Ohio canal and river, passing north, through Illinois and Michigan, east by Upper and Lower Canada, and to Britain by the St Lawrence. We could not get information regarding roads or conveyances at the Pavilion, which we left in a stage for Buffalo on the morning of the 3d July, to push our way in the best manner we could, having forwarded our heavy luggage to York. The day being fine, the drive was delightful up the banks of the Niagara; here a broad smooth flowing stream, divided by islands, and a few feet below the surrounding country. The river does not at any time overflow its banks, seldom varying ten inches in depth, a peculiarity arising from the lakes, through which the waters flow, acting as reservoirs. The soil is clay of good quality, badly fenced, without indication of recent improvements, and appearances did not bespeak wealth or industry in the inhabitants. At the village of Waterloo, we crossed the river in a four-horse ferry-boat, and after passing through a country of recently cleared and inferior soil, reached the Eagle tavern at Buffalo in time for dinner, served in a well-lighted room, 93 feet long, and crowded with company.