Chapter I

The man in the moon[18]—preparations for departure—hints to travellers about packing their trunks[19]—straps, buckles, and bed-cords—case of pistols, _à la cockney_—five trunks, three bandboxes, a cocked hat, and a medicine chest, _à la Française_—parting advice of my two sisters—quere, why old maids are so particular in their cautions against naughty women—description of Powles Hook ferry-boats—might be converted into gun-boats, and defend our ports equally well with Albany sloops—Brom the black ferryman—Charon—river Styx—ghosts;—Major Hunt—good story—ferriage ninepence;—city of Harsimus—built on the spot where the folk once danced on their stumps, while the devil fiddled—quere, why do the Harsimites talk Dutch?—story of the Tower of Babel, and confusion of tongues—get into the stage—driver a wag—famous fellow for running stage races—killed three passengers and crippled nine in the course of his practice—philosophical reasons why stagedrivers love grog—causeway—ditch on each side for folk to tumble into—famous place for _skilly-pots_; Philadelphians call ’em tarapins—roast them under the ashes as we do potatoes—quere, may not this be the reason that the Philadelphians are all turtle-heads?—Hackensack bridge—good painting of a blue horse jumping over a mountain—wonder who it was painted by;—mem. to ask the _Baron de Gusto_ about it on my return;—Rattlesnake Hill, so called from abounding with butterflies;—salt marsh, _surmounted_ here and there by a solitary haystack—more tarapins—wonder why the Philadelphians don’t establish a fishery here, and get a patent for it—bridge over the Passaic—rate of toll—description of toll-boards—tollman had but one eye—story how it _is possible_ he _may_ have lost the other—pence-table, etc.[20]