THE BARBICUE. 347 



city. A new face was soon put oil my affairs, by his in 

 troducing me to a gentleman who would take charge of 

 my camping effects and attend to their sale ; to this gen 

 tleman I had already had a letter of introduction, kindly 

 sent me by Mr H. Campbell, but which at the time of my 

 arrival I could not find. From him, Mr Carbry, whose 

 family I believe was of Irish descent, I received the most 

 kind attention, as well as rather a superfluous caution, 

 considering the experience I had had, not to place much 

 faith in anybody. It gave me great pleasure then to lend 

 my mare Sylph to Mr Campbell, who rode and was de 

 lighted with her, and being left more at liberty, my 

 effects all on sale, I once more turned my attention to 

 the adjacent wilds. 



While at my window, or at the door in the street at 

 night, I had more than once heard large flocks of wild 

 geese in their flight along the adjacent river, and as at 

 this time several sharp frosts occurred, though the sun at 

 noonday was still intensely hot, I began to make inquiries 

 as to the haunts of the various sorts of fowl. Having been 

 called on by the mayor of St Joseph, who was to me a 

 most kind, attentive, and hearty friend, Mr Jefferson 

 Thompson, that gentleman invited me to a drive in his 

 carriage, behind a very nice pair of chestnuts, to witness 

 what in those regions is called a " barbicue." The occa 

 sion of this barbicue^or roasting of an ox and some sheep 

 in the open air whole and for all comers, was to collect 

 the people of the division of the State to vote a rate, as 

 far as I understood it, to meet the expenses of a railway 

 (the Flat river Railway, I believe) then in course of con 

 struction. Of course there were parties for and against 

 the costly speculation, my friend, Mr Jeff. Thompson, 

 being a leader in its favour. 



