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But a larger part by far of these buildings have floors made of puncheon. These are split from clean ash logs. They are about two inches thick & hewn so smooth as to answer their purpose & are jointed also with a common axe. & I recalled that in one unclear I came to a dwelling where they were repairing the floor. It was necessary for me to remain there during the night. All the old floor had been removed & two new puncheon or plank had been split from an oak log & brought to the house & laid down where the floor should be; but no axe had passed over them. The sides were just as smooth & as soft as when separated from the parent tree. I was therefore left to the alternative that night of laying down upon the earth or taking one of these and after some hesitation I chose to take my lodging on the softer side of one of these