On the Mississippi. 7^ 



" Nearing New Orleans, the country became perfectly 

 Cevel, and from the embankments or levees we could see 

 the great river winding on for miles. The planters' 

 houses became more visible against groves of dark cy- 

 presses covered with hanging vine plants, and odorous 

 winds blew perfumes of the orange flowers across the 

 stream down which the boat so lazily drifted. Landing 

 on the banks, I made my way to the swamps, and shot 

 several beautiful boat-tailed grakles and a whole covey of 

 partridges. Thousands of swallows in their winter home 

 flew about us, and the cat-birds mewed in answer to their 

 chatterings. Doves echoed soft notes through the woods, 

 and the cardinal grosbeak sat on the top branches of the 

 magnolia, saluting us by elevating his glowing crest. On 

 the 6th of January, and when nearing New Orleans, a 

 sharp frost was felt which left some traces of ice, but at 

 the same time we had green peas, artichokes, and other 

 summer esculents on shore fresh from the garden." 



On arriving at New Orleans, Audubon was relieved 

 to find that the lost portfolio had been found, and was lo- 

 cated safely in the office of the ' Mississippi Republican ' 

 newspaper. He however found no work to do, and had 

 to live for some days in the boat he came with. The 

 money he had, not much, was stolen from him, and he 

 had not even as much as would pay a lodging he took in 

 advance. Amid all his difficulties he still kept wander- 

 ing to the woods, got additions made to his specimens, 

 and filled his portfolio with new drawings. Meeting an 

 Italian painter, Audubon explained his anxiety to have 

 work. The Italian introduced him to the director of the 

 theatre, who offered the naturalist one hundred dollars 

 per month to draw for him, but a fixed engagement could 

 not be entered upon. 



On the 13th of January he called upon Jarvis the 

 painter, who objected to his manner of painting birds. 



