In 1766, Jonathan Carver, a veteran of the French & Indian War set off from Fort Michilimackinac(now the State of Michigan)..........Taking his orders from the famous Major Robert Rogers(Rogers Rangers fame), Carver's mission was to "explore the interior and unknown tracts of the Continent of America.....and make observations, surveys and draughts thereof"............In his 3 year(1766-68) sojurn, Carver traveled over 5000 miles of previously unexplored territory along the Great Lakes and Mississippi River..............Historians rate Carver's accounts as some of the most unbiased and full disclosed of the Colonial period...........His observations of Indian life and natural history are considered 2nd to none in their accuracy and insight!

JOHN CARVER'S JOURNAL ENTRIES-1766-68

-"The region around Green Bay abounds with fish, and in the fall with ducks, geese, brants, storks and teal...Turkeys and Partridges aplenty...........On the plains, the largest Buffalos of any in America"

"'Near the St. Francis River, many deer and caribou, some Elk, with abundance of beavers, otters and other furs"

"The Indians food consists of the flesh of bear, buffalo. Elk, deer, beaver and the racoon.........They ususally cook deer(which is dry) with bear(which is moist and juicy)

"Hunting is the principal occupation of the Indians............Scarcely any device which the ingenuity of man has discovered for ensnaring or destroying the animals that supply them with food and skins,is unknown to them"

"They hunt buffalo, elk, deer, moose, martin, beaver, caribou, bear, otter, etc"

"When they hunt for bears, they surround their dens(in Winter) in a circle of men.........advance toward the den opening.............arouse the sleeping beast, and then bring him down with bows or guns................The bears will seek to flee at the sound of dogs and men and only will make resistance when they are either extremely hungry or are wounded"

"They hunt buffalo fy forming a circle or square.........similar to how they hunt bear........and then they set the grass on fire, causing the buffalo to run from the flames into the awaiting hunters "

"In Northern climes, they take advantage of the the Elk when they fall through ice crusted terrain, arrows and bullets take down the animal"

"They use lakes to hem in deer and Elk and Moose.............One group of Indians stay in their canoes close into the land............The other group of Indians goes into the woods, let loose their dogs and chases the prey down to the water where the Indians shoot them dead"

"The Tyger of America(Lynx) resembles those of Africa and Asia, but is considerably smaller and less fierce..........They are free from spots......It seems seldom to be met with in this part of the world"

"The Black Bear is very numerous.....especially in the northern climes......less aggressive than those found in Russia or Greenland, unless wounded  or very hungry.....The sight of a man terrifies them and dogs put them to flight.....their flesh is the preferred of all Indians"

"The wolves are less ravenous than those found in Europe..........They will never attack a man except when they have accidently fed on the flesh of those felled in battle..In these parts, there are two kinds, one of which is of a fallow color, the other of a dun, inclining to black"

"There are two sorts of Foxes, which differ only in their color, one being reddish brown, the other gray.....

"The indian dogs resemble a wolf about the head......They are useful in hunting, and will attack the fiercest of game"

"The Cat of the Mountain is shaped like a house cat, but much larger(bobcats).The skin is beautified with black spots of different figures......This creature is nearly as fierce as a leopard, but will seldom attack a man"

"The buffalo, which their is amazing numbers of them in these parts is great food.........At the sight of a man or a dog, a whole herd will take off.

"The elk is a bit larger than the moose...........and both bigger than deer.......The Caribou is not as tall as the Moose, but similar in shape"

"The Carcajou(Cougar) is a terrible enemy to the deer, elk, moose and caribou.........He either attacks from concealment or climbs up in a tree and pounces on his victim.............If the attacked animal can throw off the Cougar and escape to the water, they have a chance of surviving as the cougar has a dislike of water"