AUDUBON JOURNAL 



Passed the St. Francis River the mouth of which at 

 this time appeared Closed by a Mud Barr — but the 

 people who Lived on the Point formed by that stream 

 and the Mississippi told us that there was plenty, and 

 that Keel Boats go up it 400 Miles, many settlements 

 on the banks the first about 1 5 miles — the Same people 

 told us that they had seen many Pelicans a few days 

 previous in Passing — saw some Old Blue Cranes on the 

 Trees but could not go within 1 50 yds of any of them 

 — a Little before we passed the Place called the Big 

 Prairie shot a Monstrous Turkey Cock, I think the 

 Largest I every saw; it appears considerably Larger 

 than one I weighed that was over 31 lb — My anxiety 

 to have it Made Me Miss — the Big Prairie is a Toler- 

 able sized Plantation rather higher than usual on 

 this River, about J of a Mile Back — the Land rises in 

 Gentle Hills, and when told is extremely Rich there, 

 I first saw the Mississippi Kites K ascending in the 

 Steam Boat Paragon in June 1819 — Bought some De- 

 licious Sweet Potatoes at J Dollar pr Bushel the Squater 

 assured me that a few Weeks previous, the Pelicans 

 were so numerous that Hundreds where often in sight 

 on a Barr below this Place — people very sickly — 

 Landed on the Tennessee Shore about 7 Miles from 

 the Settlement of the Hills, the Wonderfull fleet still 

 about 4 miles a head, our Comodores had a Meeting, 

 the result was that We should Start one hour before 

 day and run down the D^ Rascals — 



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