Some of this is planted with corn, and produces abundantly : but in consequence of their being so much grass and other productions, •which cannot be gathered, the people are in the fall of ye year liable to a distressing fever -- much more malignant and dangerous than the common fever and ague. It is this season hitherto healthy -- none have the fever, excepting a few wlio have collected hay upon the marshes, near the mouth of Sandy Creek. In tho Lake there are large wiurows of sand, 5 miles in lengtli, on which there stands, here and there, a pine, and some other small trees, which makes the appearance from the land very picturesque. This town began to settle in '98 is called Mexico, or Ellisburgh; in the town of Mexico -- 9 miles square -- about 30 families-- is rapidly settling -- inhabitants very rough in general. An evidence of this country having been formerly settled, beyond what has been mentioned, is tliis -- European productions -- and such as would be left by an improved people, are found here -- as currants black and red, angelica, plantain, English pursely, high balms, peppermint, and indeed almost everything which is found od Connecticut river. There are in the marsh, hewn and square timbers which have

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MOHAWK AND BLACK RIVES COUNTEIES. 1141

been dug up many feet from ye surface, and where this people mow 1 A batteau has also been dug up from a considerable depth under the surface, half a mile from the lake in the marsh.