Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/271

 our horses, and set out from Williamsburg—the roads very good and level. About four of the clock we came to Mrs. Root's, 25 miles from Williamsburg, where we crossed York River to West Point. I reckon the river to be about one mile and a half over at this place. This river of York divides itself here, where we landed, into two rivers, the north branch called Mattapony River, and the south branch Pamunkey River. Both of these rivers are navigable for above forty miles from the place where they fork. At a quarter after five we mounted our horses, and rid about five miles farther, and came to one Mr. Austin Moor's house, upon Pamunkey River, where we were well entertained. We had good wine and victuals. We made this day in all, thirty-one miles and a half, the miles of the same length as those in England, and the roads good.

10''th. Sunday.—King William County.''—We remained here all this day. I went to see Mr. Moor's improvements in the marsh, where, by draining, he hath very good hay. We are very kindly received here. My horse is run away.

11th.—Not being in any hopes of finding my horse, I borrowed one of Mr. Moor. About nine of the clock we sent the horses over Mattapony River, in the boat, and at ten we took our leave of Mr. Moor and his wife, and went in a canoe, which is made of the body of a large tree that is about three feet in diameter, which they saw off about twenty feet long, and afterwards saw off a slab of it, and then dig it hollow. Six or eight men may go in one of these canoes. As we were going along the marsh, I saw the nest of a musk-rat This animal is about twice as big as a London rat, and the same color as a beaver. It lives both in the water and on the