Those Tricky Englishmen

Map of Delaware River (From: Wikimedia)

"In 1737, with English settlers advancing into Delaware Indian country and the Delawares grudgingly giving ground, a novel agreement was reached: The Indians would let white men inhabit the land along the Delaware River as far upstream as a man could walk in a day and a half. The Indians had in mind a normal pace; the whites did not. Thomas Penn, descendant of the founder of Pennsylvania, selected three young athletes, had them secretly reconnoiter a trail, and promised 5 [pounds] and 500 acres to the man who walked the farthest. Edward Marshall covered more than 65 miles in the allotted time--about twice the distance the Delawares had anticipated. They never forgot nor forgave the Englishmen's stratagem." (116) --Ronald M. Fisher, The Appalachian Trail