334 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF 



hollow, I began to cut into it. But on making an open- 

 ing, I discovered that it was not in the place where the 

 honey lay ; so I went lower, cut another hole, and reached 

 the honey. Although it was cold and snow falling, the 

 bees poured out on me, and stung my face, hands, bosom, 

 and wherever they could touch my skin, until I was forced 

 to leave the hive, descend, and make a fire ; when up I 

 went again, put some fire into the hole, and blew the hot 

 smoke in among the bees, until they were strangled. The 

 poor little creatures had to yield, and let their long hard- 

 earned store be taken from them. I then commenced taking 

 out the honey, and letting it down to the ground by the 

 rope ; but when I got at it, I thought I might as well take 

 the whole out at once ; though the question arose as to 

 what I could put the honey in until I should send for it. 



Telling Mr. C. to spread down my buck's skin in a hol- 

 low of the ground, and stack the combs of honey on that, 

 I let down one bucketfull after another, until the skin would 

 hold no more ; when I was obliged to stop taking it out, 

 and leave the balance in the tree until the following day. 

 Mr. Cunningham having obtained a bucketfull of choice 

 combs for his wife, which was all she desired, each of us 

 went home. 



The following day I sent the boys out with a horse for 

 the combs ; and when the honey was pressed we had eight 

 gallons of a clean, pure article, exclusive of what was sent 

 to Mrs. Cunningham. This tree was among the best I ever 

 found in the woods. At different times I found three other 

 trees which yielded eight gallons and a half each, and one 

 which yielded twelve gallons ; but it must be remembered 

 that, in those days, a bee-hunter could seldom find a tree 

 containing such quantities, as the average was generally 

 from two to three gallons, and the quantity has much 

 diminished of late years. I am certain that this state- 

 ment will apply as a general rule ; for I have often disco- 



