GREAT PINE SWAMP. 47 



of forming a wide circle round them by mounted Indians, 

 who gradually draw nearer and nearer to each other, 

 driving the horses before them, till their prey is within 

 reach of the lasso. The lasso is a long cord with a noose 

 at one end, which the Indians throw with wonderful pre- 

 cision. This is skillfully thrown round the necks of those 

 who are thought best worth taking ; and the Indians, 

 riding off with their struggling, prancing captives, soon 

 succeed in making them understand the value of obedi- 

 ence. They may kick, and plunge, and rear, and caper, 

 as they think proper ; but it is all of no use. Between 

 a powerful bit, tremendous spurs, and a rider who sticks 

 to his steed like wax, the noble animal is effectually sub- 

 dued, and henceforth must follow the bidding of another, 

 instead of his own. 



If there be but a solitary horse, or the hunters are 

 few, of course there is just a race for it, generally ending 

 in favor of the hunter ; who, it must be said, occasionally 

 receives a handsome kick or two from his captive. 



GREAT PINE SWAMP,* 



I LEFT Philadelphia, at four in the morning, by the 

 coach, with no other accoutrements than I knew to bo 



* Of all hunters, Audubon is the most interesting. He hunted with a 

 noble purpose; he saw 'with the eye, and described with the pen of an ar- 

 tist. This account of the Swamp is extracted from his Ornithological Bi- 

 ography. 



