Lost every Awl that we brought out

"[May] 14th.  When our Elk's skin was prepared we had lost every Awl that we brought out, and I made one with the Shank of an old Fishing hook, the other People made two of Horse Shoe Nailes, and with these we made our Shoes or Moccasins.  We wrote several of our Names with Coal under a Rock, & I wrote our names, the time of our comeing and leaving this place [Rockcastle River] on paper and stuck it to the Rock with Morter, and then set off" (Walker, 60).

Johnston, J S. First Explorations of Kentucky: Doctor Thomas Walker's Journal of an Exploration of Kentucky in 1750, Being the First Record of a White Man's Visit to the Interior of That Territory, Now First Published Entire, with Notes and Biographical Sketch ; Also Colonel Christopher Gist's Journal of a Tour Through Ohio and Kentucky in 1751, with Notes and Sketch. Louisville, Ky: J.P. Morton and Co, 1898. Print.

Most convenient for travelling in that country

"After this long digression on the culture of Indian corn, the grand staff of life throughout this continent, I shall proceed with an account of my journey to Kentucky; for my white savage and I set out from the fort early next morning.  I had procured rifles, ammunition, and Indian dresses for us both, which are by far the most convenient for travelling in that country; as also blankets to cover us as we should be obliged to sleep in the woods every night; besides bells for our horses, to enable us to hear them at a distance when they were turned loose to feed, and hobbles, or spancils, made of strong leather, and fastened on their legs, to prevent them from wandering out of our reach where we remained all night.  I myself was provided with pocket compasses before I came here, and had besides a very just idea of the geography of the country" (Smyth, 300-301).

Smyth, John F. D. A Tour in the United States of America: Containing an Account of the Present Situation of That Country, the Population, Agriculture, Commerce, Customs, and Manners of the Inhabitants ... with a Description of the Indian Nations, the General Face of the Country, Mountains, Forests, Rivers, and the Most Beautiful, Grand, and Picturesque Views Throughout That Vast Continent Likewise Improvements in Husbandry That May Be Adopted with Great Advantage in Europe. London: Printed for G. Robinson, 1784. Print.

Had it not been for the cane and the game

"Kentucky could never have been settled in the way that it was, had it not been for the cane and the game.  They could never have gotten their provisions out through the wilderness in safety, so much as would have been necessary to have made a beginning and their stock and themselves would have starved in the winter.  As it was, all they had to do was to keep the Indians from killing them; though they were sometimes very hard pressed to do this.  Otherwise, they had cane for winter and abundance of game for both summer and winter" (Draper MSS, James Wade Interview, 12cc11-41).

Draper, Lyman C. Draper Manuscript Collection: Series Cc; Kentucky Papers. Chicago: University of Chicago Library, Dept. of Photoreproduction, 1966. Archival material.

I can't conceive why they wear boots

"Wednesday, June 4th, 1777.  This being the anniversary of his Majesty's Birthday, at one o'clock Fort George , the Men of War and Ships in the Harbour fired a Royal salute.  In the evening Lord Howe gave a Ball to the Officers of the Navy and Army and their ladies.  At night the city was illuminated.  I observed it was not generally illuminated.  A number of Hessian Chasseurs or Yaugers arrived in green uniforms and boots, all armed with rifles.  I am told they are as expert with them as the Virginians, but they appear to me to be too clumsy for the Woods and too heavily clothed.  I can't conceive why they wear boots, they must be inconvenient and troublesome in this hot and Woody country.  Spent the evening with Mr. Furneval" (Cresswell, 230-231).

Cresswell, Nicholas. The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell, 1774-1777. New York: L. MacVeagh, The Dial Press, 1924. Print.

Took a blanket and lay out at nights

"Took a blanket and lay out at nights, sometimes in a hollow tree.  There use to be a good many large sycamores.  Get inside one of them, and sometimes tolerably warm.  In rainy weather elsewhere our blanket was stretched up on sticks and we lay under it.  Sometimes under a bank, in a place where we could not be seen far, we would build up a fire" (Draper MSS, Samuel McDowell Interview, 13cc218-225).

Draper, Lyman C. Draper Manuscript Collection: Series Cc; Kentucky Papers. Chicago: University of Chicago Library, Dept. of Photoreproduction, 1966. Archival material.

Cumberland Gap

With our feet towards the fire

"After travelling through an exceedingly rough country, and in extreme bad paths indeed, frequently without any, crossing several deep creeks, or water courses, we found ourselves at night beginning to ascend the Wart Mountain, which is upon the south-west side of Smith's River; and we allighted on an agreeable and convenient spot, near the side of a brook of water, to put up for the night, turning our horses out with their bells and hobbles on, to prevent our losing them.
We struck up and kindled a large fire, gathered leaves for us to lie upon, eat heartily of our jerked (or dried) venison, drank some brandy and water, (for we had brought a large stock along with us), wrapped ourselves up in our blankets, and lay down under a large tree, with our feet towards the fire; having traveled about 46 miles that day" (Smyth, 302-3).

Smyth, John F. D. A Tour in the United States of America: Containing an Account of the Present Situation of That Country, the Population, Agriculture, Commerce, Customs, and Manners of the Inhabitants ... with a Description of the Indian Nations, the General Face of the Country, Mountains, Forests, Rivers, and the Most Beautiful, Grand, and Picturesque Views Throughout That Vast Continent Likewise Improvements in Husbandry That May Be Adopted with Great Advantage in Europe. London: Printed for G. Robinson, 1784. Print.