We made an excursion down the river in true Indian style.  Our party, consisting of four, equipped in a suitable manner, the weather being then delightfully warm, having stowed on board a canoe plenty of provisions, paddled down the Wabash.  The scenery on the banks of this river is picturesque.  The foliage in some places springs from the water’s edge, whilst at other points it recedes, leaving a bar of fine white sand.  The breadth of the Wabash, at Harmony, is about 200 yards, and it divides frequently on its course to the Ohio, forming islands of various degrees of beauty and magnitude.  On one of these, about six miles from Harmony, called the “Cut-off,” we determined on encamping.  Accordingly, we moored our canoe—­pitched our tent—­lighted our fire—­bathed—­and having acquired enormous appetites by exertion, commenced the very agreeable operation of demolishing our provisions.  We roamed about that and an adjacent island, until evening, when we returned to regale.  These islands are generally covered with “cane brakes,” and low brush wood, which renders it difficult to effect a passage across them.  Cotton-wood, beech, maple, hickory, and white oak, are the trees in greatest abundance.  Spice-wood, sassafras, and dittany, are also plenty.  Of these a decoction is made, which some of the woods-people prefer to tea; but it is not in general repute.  The paw-paw tree (annona triloba) produces a fruit somewhat resembling in taste and shape the fig-banana, but certainly much inferior to that delicious fruit.  We saw several deer in the woods, and some cranes upon the shore.  With smoking, &c., we passed the evening, and then retired—­not to bed, for we had none—­but to a right good substitute, a few dry leaves strewn upon the ground—­our heads covered by the tent, and at our feet a large fire, which we kept up the whole night.  Thus circumstanced, we found it by no means disagreeable.

We spent greater part of next day much after the manner of the preceding, and concluded that it would be highly irrational to shoot game, having plenty of provisions; yet I suspect our being too lazy to hunt, influenced us not a little in that philosophical decision.

Whilst at Harmony, I collected some information relative to the failure of the community, and I shall here give a slight sketch of the result of my inquiries.  I must observe that so many, and such conflicting statements, respecting public measures, I believe never were before made by a body of persons dwelling within limits so confined as those of Harmony.  Some of the ci-devant “communicants” call Robert Owen a fool, whilst others brand him with still more opprobrious epithets:  and I never could get two of them to agree as to the primary causes of the failure of that community.