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330 



AUDUBON 



sonal observation, live-oak hummocks are not quite so 

 plentiful as they are represented to be, and of this I will 

 give you one illustration. 



On the 25th of February, 1832, I happened to be far 

 up the St. John's River in East Florida, in the company 

 of a person employed by our government in protecting the 

 live-oaks of that section of the country, and who received 

 a good salary for his trouble. While we were proceeding 

 along one of the banks of that most singular stream, my 

 companion pointed out some large hummocks of dark- 

 leaved trees on the opposite side, which he said were 

 entirely formed of live-oaks. 1 thought differently, and 

 as our controversy on the subject became a little warm, I 

 proposed that our men should row us to the place, where 

 we might examine the leaves and timber, and so decide 

 the point. We soon landed, but after inspecting the 

 woods, not a single tree of the species did we find, 

 although there were thousands of large "swamp-oaks." 

 My companion acknowledged his mistake, and I contin- 

 ued to search for birds. 



One dark evening as I was seated on the banks of this 

 same river, considering what arrangements I should make 

 for the night, as it began to rain in torrents, a man who 

 happened to see me, came up and invited me to go to his 

 cabin, which he said was not far off. I accepted his kind 

 offer, and followed him to his humble dwelling. There 

 I found his wife, several children, and a number of men, 

 who, as my host told me, were, like himself, live-oakers. 

 Supper was placed on a large table, and on being desired 

 to join the party, I willingly assented, doing my best to 

 diminish the contents of the tin pans and dishes set be- 

 fore the company by the active and agreeable housewife. 

 We then talked of the country, its climate and produc- 

 tions, until a late hour, when we laid ourseWes down on 

 Bears' skins, and reposed till daybreak. 



I longed to accompany these hardy woodcutters to the 



