15th.—We arose early, and had a good day's journey: we passed these two days through thick bushes of briars and thorns; so that it was very difficult to get through. We crossed the creek Paquakonink; the land is very indifferent. At twelve o'clock we crossed the road from Venango to fort Duquesne. We went west towards Kushkushking, about sixteen miles from the fort. We went over a large barren plain, and made our lodging by a little run. Pesquitomen told us, we must send a messenger, to let them know of our coming, as the French live amongst them; he desired a string of wampum; I gave him three hundred and fifty. We concluded to go within three miles of Kushkushking, to their sugar cabbins,[1] and to call their chiefs there. In discourse, Mr. Bull told the Indians, the English should let all the prisoners stay amongst them, that liked to stay.
16th.—We met two Indians on the road, and sat down with them to dinner. They informed us that no body was at home, at Kushkushking; that one hundred and fifty, from that town, were gone to war against our party. We crossed the above mentioned creek; good land, but hilly. Went down a long valley to Beaver creek, through old Kushkushking,[2] a large spot of land, about three miles long; they both went with us to the town; one of them rode before us, to let the people in the town know of our coming; we found there but two men, and some women. Those, that were at home, received us kindly.
- ↑ Where they boil into sugar the juice of a tree that grows in those rich lands.—[C. T.?]
- ↑ Irvine says (Pennsylvania Archives, xi, p. 518) that the Indians termed all the land along Beaver and Mahoning creeks for twenty-five miles, Kuskuskies. Old Kuskusking was located between the mouths of Neshanock and Mahoning creeks on the Shenango, about where the town of New Castle, Lawrence County, now stands.—Ed.
