354 LOST DUCKS AND MUSK-EATS. 



While endeavouring to recover these winged ducks, 

 three blacks (slaves), who were cutting wood, came to 

 stare at us, so I offered them half a dollar each if they 

 would go into the water, and stand in it at given points 

 to help the dog ; but they shook their woolly heads in 

 horror, and said they would not go in there for any 

 amount of dollars. I was in the water up to my knees, 

 or as far as my boots would let me go, and I am sure no 

 part of the pond would have reached over the waist of a 

 short man. On receiving the refusal to go into the 

 water from the spokesman of the slaves, with the addi 

 tion that he would not go in for ten dollars, I replied, 

 " Hoorah for the slave, then; he's not in want of 

 money, however he may be of soap to wash him 

 white ! " this sally of mine was received by a shout of 

 laughter from the whites at the wood cart who were 

 looking on. 



Having toiled in vain after these ducks, I sat down on 

 the bank of the pond to refresh myself with an excellent 

 apple given me by my friend Davis, and while thus 

 employed asked Mr Shields what those things, grass- 

 cocks or little mounds of grass and rushes, were at inter 

 vals all over the pond. After some hesitation he replied 

 " that they were made by large ants." " That can't 

 be," I rejoined ; " for I know of no water ant, nor any 

 insect that would make such places in the middle of 

 ponds. They are made by some animal, and I suspect 

 the musk-rat." As to this my friend, with that little 

 notice of the natural history of their own country taken 

 by Americans, could give me no certain reply ; but on 

 joining Mr Davis, he confirmed my suspicions, and told 

 me that the Indians would often, out of one of these 



