CHAPTER IV. 



ARKANSAS, AND " DOWN RIVER " TO NEW ORLEANS. 



Wild turkeys Spring river Traces of earlier inhabitants of North 

 America An eagle Quack-doctors in Arkansas My unsuc- 

 cessful hunting-dog Little Red river German and Polish 

 settlers Hilger and Turoski Encampment of Indians Their 

 love for ardent spirits Little Kock Engagement as stoker on 

 board the " Fox" Unhealthiness of the stoker's avocations 

 Quarrel with the captain, and conclusion of the engagement 

 Night in the woods A panther Bear hunt Great Red river 

 Slave plantations Cruelty of the overseers towards the negroes 

 Large herd of deer Capture of a panther Dangerous en- 

 counter with a bear Excursion with an Indian tribe Their 

 mode of life Canoe travelling The Mississippi New Or- 

 leans Its appearance, and unhealthy situation. 



now in Arkansas. Game seemed to abound. 

 Flocks of wild turkeys filled the forests as thick as 

 partridges in Germany, and deer were equally plenti- 

 ful ; in one day I saw several herds of ten or twelve 

 head each. On the; 23rd I came to Spring river, so 

 named from the crystalline clearness of its waters. I 

 had intended to continue my journey on the following 

 morning, but my talkative hostess, among other 

 things, spoke of her husband, an old Pennsylvania!!, 

 who understood German, and who could give a great, 

 deal of information about Indian burial-places. Tin; 

 chance of hearing any thing ajjout the natives was a 

 strong magnet to my curiosity, so I decided to a \\ait 



(S3) 



