36

34

unless where accumulated by storms or drifts
is about 30 Inches. It was here that we continued
journeying in a sleigh, which in fact is a similar conveyance
to that which we had employed from Boston
an old Hackney Coach open at the sides, with dirty
green curtains instead of panels deprived of its
wheels the body resting upon what they term runners
which are two long iron bars running parallel to the
perch turned up about a yard in front the end resembling
a pair of giant skaits rising up in front in
the same manner, and for the same purpose. These runners
are about 18 inches above the snow over which
it glides with great ease, on a smooth and level surface
without sinking deep. But when cahots from
the French cahoter, to jolt, a word which denotes how
ridges with deep furrows are formed in the snow
the motion is like the plunging in a boat against a
head sea, producing a sensation till one is accustomed
to it, somewhat like sea sickness, we took on board
as the yankee term getting into a carriage, two
American gentleman one of them was compelled to
get out, this sensation had so great an effect upon
him, he suffered for some hours fighting against the
nuisance produced by the cahots, he tried the outside
but he was every way as bad as when in, and ultimately
the poor man abandoned the coach altogether.

24th Febr 1841. We left Keene at 5 o clock in the morning onboard
the Sleigh, which came up to the door to receive
our luggage, to to my great disappointment we found