ith
numerous log huts and other buildings of more pretensions below the tall
trees. It was the town of Newcastle, lately established. However, as
the wind was favourable, and the captain was anxious to reach his
destination, he declined staying there, but sailed on farther up the
river. Each reach of the stream presented some fresh views, greatly by
their beauty delighting the new comers. At length, two vessels were
seen moored off a town on the west bank, which the captain informed them
was the Swedish settlement of Upland. All eyes were directed towards
them. As they approached, the captain declared his belief that one of
them was the _John Sarah_, and in a short time the _Amity_ came to
anchor close to her. She had fortunately, when the hurricane came on,
by furling her sails in time, escaped injury, and had thus been able to
haul up, and gain the mouth of the Delaware. On proceeding up the
stream, however, she and the _Bristol Factor_, the other ship, had been
frozen up where they now were. There was a pleasant meeting of friends,
and all going on shore, offered up their thanks to Heaven together, for
their safe arrival and preservation from so many dangers. The village
off which the _Amity_ had brought up had been built by a number of
Friends, who had arrived in the country several years before. The site
they had chosen was a good one, and many believed that it would be the
future capital of the colony. The scene was very wild, albeit highly
picturesque. Many of the inhabitants of the new settlement, unable to
build houses, had dug caves in the banks of the river, in which they had
taken up their abodes, roofing over the front part with pieces of timber
and boughs. From early dawn till sunset the woodman's axe was at work
felling the tall trees. At night these were piled up, with the branches
and lighter wood beneath; huge fires being kindled as the most rapid way
of disposing of them. Primitive ploughs were at work between the stumps
of the trees, turning up the ground for receiving grain, both of wheat
and Indian corn, while the spade was also wielded by those preparing
gardens. Many languages were heard spoken, while the costumes of the
settlers were still more varied. The dusky forms of the Indians also
were to be seen collected round the settlers, with their painted faces,
their feathered head-dresses, and costumes of skin ornamented with
thread of various colours. Numerous sawpits had been fo