AUDUBON AND BOONE. 131 



and a stove, the latter of diminutive size, but smoky enough 

 to discomfit a host. We had adopted in a great measure the 

 clothing worn by the American fishermen on that coast, 

 namely, thick blue cloth trousers, a comfortable waistcoat, 

 and a pea-jacket of blanket. Our boots were large, round- 

 toe' d, strong, and well studded with large nails to prevent 

 sliding on the rocks. Worsted comforters, thick mittens and 

 round broad-brimmed hats, completed our dress, which was 

 more picturesque than fashionable. As soon as we had an 

 opportunity, the boots were exchanged for Esquimaux mounted 

 mocassins of seal-skin, impermeable to water, light, easy and 

 fastening at top about the midde- of the thigh to straps, which 

 when buckled over the hips secured them well. To complete 

 our equipment, we had several good boats, one of which was 

 extremely light and adapted for shallow water. 



No sooner had we reached the coast and got into harbor, than 

 we agreed to follow certain regulations intended for the gene- 

 ral benefit. Every morning the cook was called before three 

 o'clock. At half-past three, breakfast was on the table, and 

 everybody equipped. The guns, ammunition, botanical boxes, 

 and baskets for eggs or minerals, were all in readiness. Our 

 breakfast consisted of coffee, bread and various other materials. 

 At four, all except the cook and one seaman, went off in 

 different directions, not forgetting to carry with them a store 

 of cooked provisions. Some betook themselves to the islands, 

 others to the deep bays ; the latter on landing wandered over 

 the country, until noon, when laying themselves down on the 

 rich moss, or sitting on the granite rock, they would rest for 

 an hour, eat their dinner, and talk of their successes or dis- 

 appointments. I often regret that I did not take sketches 

 of the curious groups formed by my young friends on such 

 occasions, and when, after returning at night, all were engaged 

 in measuring, weighing, comparing and dissecting the birds we 

 had procured, operations which were carried on with the aid 

 of a number of candles thrust into the necks of bottles. Here 



