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64 The Planter & his family may evade this local disease by building their residence in the Prairie say a mile or two from the 'Timbers' as Mr Shepherd have done in this Prairie at a spot called Bonavista, others have followed his example. Returned to Matagorda and in crossing Boggy, the Ferryman Peter I found knew many of my acquaintances at Bayonne in France.

 The rest of the time I remained in Matagorda passed pleasantly indeed. & I shall ever cherish a grateful remembrance for unremitting attentions & Kindness -
  Some few years since there was a great fight between the first settlers about here & the Carancahua Indians, the indians were defeated with great slaughter; since then their numbers have considerably decreased.  [[crossed out:  have thus diminished  The Bow & Arrow, Spear, Tomahawk & Scalping Knife ? in their wigwams]]
  They do not like work,  they fish and hunt enough to support themselves & sell some, now & then they bring in a Panther skin or other Peltries in exchange for blankets or whiskey they now & then "appropriate" (steal is an ugly word) I saw some of them