34 AUDUBON 



ice was yet three feet deep near the mountains, and an 

 abundance over the whole of the mountains themselves. 

 They say they have made a good collection of robes, but 

 that Beavers are very scarce. This day has been spent 

 altogether in talking, sight-seeing, and enjoyment. Our 

 room was small, dark, and dirty, and crammed with our 

 effects. Mr. Culbertson saw this, and told me that to- 

 morrow he would remove us to a larger, quieter, and bet- 

 ter one. I was glad to hear this, as it would have been 

 very difficult to draw, write, or work in; and yet it is the 

 very room where the Prince de Neuwied resided for two 

 months, with his secretary and bird-preserver. The even- 

 ing was cloudy and cold ; we had had several showers of 

 rain since our bath in the bushes this morning, and I felt 

 somewhat fatigued. Harris and I made our beds up; 

 Squires fixed some Buffalo robes, of which nine had been 

 given us, on a long old bedstead, never knowing it had 

 been the couch of a foreign prince;^ Bell and Sprague 

 settled themselves opposite to us on more Buffalo skins, 

 and night closed in. But although we had lain down, 

 it was impossible for us to sleep; for above us was a 

 drunken man affected with a goitre, and not only was his 

 voice rough and loud, but his words were continuous. 

 His oaths, both in French and English, were better fitted 

 for the Five Points in New York, or St. Giles of London, 

 than anywhere among Christians. He roared, laughed 

 like a maniac, and damned himself and the whole crea- 

 tion. I thought that time would quiet him, but, no ! for 

 now clarionets, fiddles, and a drum were heard in the din- 

 ing-room, where indeed they had been playing at differ- 

 ent times during the afternoon, and our friend above 

 began swearing at this as if quite fresh. We had retired 

 for the night; but an invitation was sent us to join the 

 party in the dining-room. Squires was up in a moment, 

 and returned to say that a ball was on foot, and that "all 



^ Maximilian, Prince of Wied. 



