A question arose as to whether this people be not descendants of one of
the lost tribes of Israel, Col Hughes avowed the purpose of his visit
viz to make a journey overland to the but he was refered to the "old ma[n"]
who alone could give a reply. He was sent for in thre days made his appe-
arance, they are careful in answering questions in regard to their Coun[try]
and are jealeous of all foreigners they have never submitted to any
foreign Government although they are within the bounds of the
New Granadian Government they pay no tribute nor admit of any
allegiance whatever in trying to get some clue of their early history
the question was asked who lived here 400 or 500 years ago the reply
was "Tims Father." We asked a man [who] looked about 60 years of age
how old he was he replyed 121 years.
The following conversation
took place between the "Old man" (or Patriarch) & Col Hughes
Old man of America has much land far off on the pacific two much
days to ketch um by land too much days to catch em by water round Cape
Horn, wants to make a road nearer catch em quick wants old man to
send some faithful indians to escort him over the land to the Pacific
Old Man "Land not good, cant catch em there, better catch em by Cape
Horn, no make a road in Mandingo Country, God Almighty get vexed["]
"Huoo, Huoo Huoo, Huoo,["] repeated in groans by the Indians
Hughes 'Will you allow us to go across,["]
Old Man No. Huoo, Huoo, Huoo,
responded the Indians & the Council broake up
The foregoing is the account which the visiters give of the interview
with those Indians it is truly interesting many new things are
about to be brought to light truly
I took cars rode to Fall River & spent the night with Br Low 50 m
~ Sunday
20 Sunday I met in council with the saints in the morning communed
in the afternoon & preached in the evening laid hands upon 5 sick
~ Monday
21st Spent a part of the day fishing & caught but little held a
meeting at night spent the night with Br Low
~ Tuesday
22nd Took cars rode to Boston & spent the night at home I recieved
[FIGURE] 1 letter 2 New York Papers & one M. Star the Star contained a
letter from me. 75
~ Wednesday
23rd The St Louis fire has now ascertained to have burned 418
buildings Number of lives lost 20. Loss of Property $6,000,000
two thirds of the whole sale dry goods dealers & one half of the retail
commission & other stores of the city are burned out. There has
also been a great fire in Milwakie Mich also a great fire in
China. Many thousand houses burned, immens property destroyed
& many lives lost. The great Steemer Empire on the North River
was run into & sunk and about 30 persons drowned
The City of New Orleans is inundated with water and about being
washed away by the Missippi River breaking through the levy & runing
into the City lives are lost immens property destroyed & danger of
the whole City being washed into the Gulf of Mexico, truly calami-
ties are bursting upon this Nation & the Judgments of God are rest-
ing upon her I recieved 2 letters to day from Thomas MCKenzie &
[FIGURE] Phebe Wheeler.
A question arose as to whether this people be not descendants of one of
the lost tribes of Israel, Col Hughes avowed the purpose of his visit
viz to make a journey overland to the but he was refered to the "old man"
who alone could give a reply. He was sent for in thre days made his appearance, they are careful in answering questions in regard to their Country
and are jealeous of all foreigners they have never submitted to any
foreign Government although they are within the bounds of the
New Granadian Government they pay no tribute nor admit of any
allegiance whatever in trying to get some clue of their early history
the question was asked who lived here 400 or 500 years ago the reply
was "Tims Father." We asked a man who looked about 60 years of age
how old he was he replyed 121 years.
The following conversation
took place between the "Old man" (or Patriarch) & Col Hughes
Old man of America has much land far off on the pacific two much
days to ketch um by land too much days to catch em by water round Cape
Horn, wants to make a road nearer catch em quick wants old man to
send some faithful indians to escort him over the land to the Pacific
Old Man "Land not good, cant catch em there, better catch em by Cape
Horn, no make a road in Mandingo Country, God Almighty get vexed"
"Huoo, Huoo Huoo, Huoo," repeated in groans by the Indians
Hughes 'Will you allow us to go across,"
Old Man No. Huoo, Huoo, Huoo,
responded the Indians & the Council broake up
The foregoing is the account which the visiters give of the interview
with those Indians it is truly interesting many new things are
about to be brought to light truly
I took cars rode to Fall River & spent the night with Br Low 50 m
~ Sunday
20 Sunday I met in council with the saints in the morning communed
in the afternoon & preached in the evening laid hands upon 5 sick
~ Monday
21st Spent a part of the day fishing & caught but little held a
meeting at night spent the night with Br Low
~ Tuesday
22nd Took cars rode to Boston & spent the night at home I recieved
[FIGURE] 1 letter 2 New York Papers & one M. Star the Star contained a
letter from me. 75
~ Wednesday
23rd The St Louis fire has now ascertained to have burned 418
buildings Number of lives lost 20. Loss of Property $6,000,000
two thirds of the whole sale dry goods dealers & one half of the retail
commission & other stores of the city are burned out. There has
also been a great fire in Milwakie Mich also a great fire in
China. Many thousand houses burned, immens property destroyed
& many lives lost. The great Steemer Empire on the North River
was run into & sunk and about 30 persons drowned
The City of New Orleans is inundated with water and about being
washed away by the Missippi River breaking through the levy & runing
into the City lives are lost immens property destroyed & danger of
the whole City being washed into the Gulf of Mexico, truly calamities are bursting upon this Nation & the Judgments of God are resting upon her I recieved 2 letters to day from Thomas MCKenzie &
[FIGURE] Phebe Wheeler.
"Journal (January 1, 1847 – December 31, 1853)," May 20, 1849 - May 24, 1849, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 16, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/NkGN
