VU. SPORT IN NORTH AMERICA. 



that tliey prevented the waters of the lake from 

 freezing, by the constant motion which they caused 

 by swimming about. We soon obtained leave to 

 join the hunting party, and seated ourselves in the 

 after-part of the canoe, which was rowed by the 

 women, the men stretching themselves along the 

 bottom and finishing off quietly their interrupted 

 slumbers. On reaching the opposite shore, the 

 women fastened up the canoe and set to work 

 gathering nuts, whilst the men made their way to 

 the lake through a plantation of cotton, which 

 lasted the whole distance, and much impeded our 

 march. One must see these serried thickets, 

 growing in the marshy plantations of the States, to 

 have an exact idea of the difficulties with which the 

 sportsman has to contend in pursuit of his favourite 

 pleasure. To attempt to beat a path through them 

 would be ridiculous ; so you must make your waj' 

 as you can through the thinnest places. In this 

 way, with an occasional jump over muddy puddles 

 of uncertain depth, we reached the borders of 

 Mussel Shoal Lake. 



What a sight for the European sportsman ! Be- 

 fore me, I could see hundreds of snow-white swans, 

 some arching their graceful necks over their wings ; 

 others with their wings set, allowing the breeze to 

 impel them gently along, and all enjoying them- 

 selves in the rays of a magnificent sun. Directly 

 they perceived us, the swans fled to the other end 



