144 ABUNDANCE OF GAME. 



clusters were large ; and the grapes, though 

 small, very sv/eet, and agreeably flavoured. 

 We often ate them in considerable quantities, 

 and sustained no inconvenience from them. 

 The Indians also eat them very voraciously. 



The chase furnished us with ample and pro- 

 fitable amusement. An abundance of deer, 

 large and small, are to be met with all over the 

 country, and geese, ducks, and cranes, on the 

 banks of the rivers. There was such a super- 

 fluity of game, that even those among us who 

 had never been sportsmen before, when once 

 they took the gun in their hands, became as 

 easrer as the rest. The sailors chased the deer 



o 



very successfully. 



When it grew dark, we kindled a large fire, 

 that our hunters, some of whom had lost their 

 way, might recover the camp. In the night 

 we were much disturbed by bears, which pur- 

 sued the deer quite close to our tents ; and by 

 the clear moonlight we plainly saw a stag 

 spring into the river to escape the bear ; the lat- 

 ter, however, jumped after him, and both swam 

 down the stream till they were out of sight. 



At sunrise, as the wind had fallen a little, 



