BEAR HUNTING IN ARKANSAS. 309 



paddles, though still going six or eight knots, to pick 

 mo up. 



BEAR HUNTING IN ARKANSAS, 



The following incidents occurred to Mr. Gerstaecher, 

 (whose narrative we have already quoted,) while he was 

 hunting and traveling in Arkansas. 



Arkansas was overrun at this time with a number of 

 bad characters, gamblers, drunkards, thieves, murderers, 

 who all thought that the simple-minded backwoodsmen 

 were easier to be cheated than the wary settlers in the 

 older states. This circumstance had given so bad a name 

 to Arkansas, that many thought all its inhabitants went 

 about armed to the teeth with pistols and bowie-knives ; 

 but I have traversed the State in all directions, and met 

 with as honest and upright people as are to be found in 

 any other part of the Union. 



On the 24th of October, two heavily laden carts ar- 

 rived, each drawn by one horse : they contained all sorts 

 of things useful for settlers. Their ownors are called 

 peddlers, and they -ask high prices for their goods, and 

 are said to make a good thing of it. S. bought only a 

 few trifles. 



S., having sold most of his cattle, decided on parting 

 with this farm, and removing to Oiltrove bottom. Our 

 contract having been dissolved by Uhl's departure and 

 my frequent sickness, was no longer to be thought of. 



