LUMBERMEN. 265 



tered gorges for themselves and cattle, and some poles 

 driven into the logs for bedsteads ; and thus equipped 

 and encamped, they lay siege to the pines. Teams 

 are made to work, and logs are drawn, where you 

 would say it was impossible for cattle to stand. A 

 great deal of land is bought of government solely for 

 the pine on it ; and after that is cut down, it is al- 

 lowed to revert back to the State to pay its taxes. 

 In the more central regions, however, there is 

 no timber cut, as it is impossible to get it out to mar- 

 ket : but as civilization extends, the interior of the 

 Empire State will, no doubt, be reached by roads, or 

 water navigation. 



Speaking of living, reminds me of an anecdote re- 

 lated to me by a professor of mathematics in one of 

 our colleges. Sent here for scientific purposes, he took 

 with him as a companion a younger brother who had 

 just graduated, and an old hunter, for a guide, cook, 

 and provider-general. Passing one day a clearing, in 

 which some fine peas were growing, they purchased a 

 small quantity to give relish to a dinner some time in 

 the forest. Not long after, being fatigued by a 

 hard forenoon's work, they pitched their camp on 



the borders of a lonely lake, and the professor said, 

 12 



