260 FKAMK Ft'l;ESTER\s FIKLD .SPOUTS. 



short, lic:n-y i]ounlo-l);in'f'!('(l '^un, way 30 iuclies in length, 12 

 guaoc, and at least nine poiiiuls weight, with a pair of giMjd 

 ren-iufli, smooth-hoi-ed pistols, all, af course, on the percussion 

 princi])le ; for I ]ierteftly agree with Mr. Siblev, that any man 

 who calls himself a sportsman, and uses a flint-lock gun, when 

 he can get a pei'cussion, "should lie cnnsidered a fit subject for 

 a commissi(ni dc linuitifo, and should forthwith be furnished with 

 a straight jacket, at the public expense." To these, if you 

 please, maybe added one of Colt's largest-sized revolvers — but 

 about this I would not care. To make the equipment abso- 

 lutely perfect, however, if late Grouse shooting or Wild-fowl 

 shooting were intended, a heavy double gun, such as I have 

 recommended for inland Duck shooting, will be found effective. 



Foi Eastern or English sportsmen, wishing to make their way 

 to the region of Elk. Buffalo, and Grizzly Bear, I consider the 

 best course to be this ; to take the lake steamboat to any of the 

 to^vns of Wisconsin, on Lake Michigan, ^nd thence strike west- 

 ward for Mendota and the mouth of the St. Peters, where, from 

 the gentleman so often named, he will obtain every lufinmatiou 

 and assistance he can need. All his arms, saddh'S, and bridles, 

 as well as good powder, should be carried with him ; as well as 

 a high-bred hunting horse, and dogs, if he decide on carrying 

 them with him ; horses, mules, wagons, and all stores for his ex- 

 pedition, he will readily obtain at his point of departure ; and. 

 if he is well found and well mounted, he will find no difficulty 

 in disposing of his stud and superfluous traps, barring accidents. 

 on the spot, previous to his return. As a general rule, the less 

 baggage he carry with him, the better he will get on ; for, in 

 the West, baggage will be found literally, what the old Romans 

 used to term it, impedimenta. Salt, coffee, flour, and sugai" — or, 

 better than flour, sea bread — are the main things he will require 

 in addition to blankets, a camp kettle, a tin cup or two, and am- 

 munition. 



There is no more deliglitfnl way tiiat I can imagine of pass- 

 ing a few months, for a young man of leisure, than such a trip 

 into the wilderness ; and if he time his movements, so as to be 



