History of the M.E. Church, Vol. IV - Media Sabda Org

to the people, and to go back to Natchez is to do nothing, as there was a sufficient supply of
preachers for that part; to leave my station without Mr. Asbury's direction was like death to me, and
to, stay here I could do nothing. But, by inquiring, I heard of a settlement of American people about
two hundred miles to the west and northwest. By getting a small boat, and crossing the lakes, I could
reach the Opelousas country; and, as I was left to think by myself; I thought this most advisable. I
accordingly, on the 17th day of December, shook off the dirt from my feet against this ungodly city
of New Orleans, and resolved to try the watery waste and pathless desert. I traveled fifty miles up
the Mississippi River, and crossed to a river that forces itself out of the Mississippi, and runs into
the sea in a southwest direction, down which river I traveled fifty miles, and then turned a western
course fifteen miles, through a cypress swamp, to the lake. Here the mosquitoes like to have eaten
up both me and my horse. A few Spaniards lived on this lake. I got two large canoes of them, and
built a plat form on them, on which I put my horse. I hired two of the Spaniards to go with me across
the lakes, for which I paid them thirteen dollars and a half; and, through the mercy of God, I had a
safe passage through four lakes and a large bay. I landed a little south of the mouth of the river
O'Tash. A few Frenchmen are living at the mouth of the river, and a few American families are
scattered along this bay and river. I have now three dollars left, but God is as able to feed me two
years on two dollars as he was to feed Elijah at the brook, or five thousand with a few loaves and
fishes I traveled up the west side of the river O'Tash eighty miles. A few families of Americans are
scattered among them, but I could not find two families together. I then passed through a small tribe
of Indians, and crossed the Vermillion River, which runs into the sea in a southwest direction. The
next day I reached the Opelousas country, and the next I reached the Catholic church. I was surprised
to see race paths at the church door. Here I found a few Americans, who were swearing with almost
every breath; and when I reproved them, they told me that the priest swore as hard as they did. They
said he would play cards and dice with them every Sunday evening after mass. And, strange to tell,
he keeps a racehorse; in a word, practices every abomination. I told them plainly if they did not quit
swearing they and their priest would go to hell together."
About twenty miles farther he found another settlement of American people. "They know," he
says, "very little more about the nature of salvation than the untaught Indians. Some of them, after
I had preached to them, asked me what I meant by the fall of man, and when it was that he fell. Thus
they are perishing for lack of knowledge, and are truly in a pitiable condition. I have to teach them
to sing, and in fact to do everything that is like worshipping God. I find it also very difficult to get
them to attend meetings, for if they come once they think they have done me a very great favor."
About thirty miles farther he found still another small settlement of English people, who were in
as low a state of ignorance as the others. "But," he says, "I get as many of them together as I can, and
preach Jesus Christ to them." "O, my God, have mercy on the souls of this people!" adds the
adventurous itinerant. "Every day that I travel I have to swim through creeks or swamps, and I am
wet from my head to my feet; and some days, from morning till night, I am dripping with water. I
tie all my 'plunder' fast on my horse, and take him by the bridle, and swim sometimes a hundred
yards, and sometimes farther. My horse's legs are now skinned and rough to his hock joints, and I
have the rheumatism in all my joints. About eighty miles from here, I am informed, there is a
considerable settlement of American people; but I cannot get to them at this time as the swamps are
swimming for miles; but as soon as the waters fall I intend to visit them. I have great difficulties in
this country, as there are no laws to suppress vice of any kind, so that the Sabbath is spent in