262 



THE OOLOGIST. 



their headquarters there. Dogs, ser- 

 vants and horses were placed at the dis- 

 posal of the party, and they remained 

 with their kind host during the whole 

 of their stay in Charleston. This was 

 the character of the eminent Dr. Bach- 

 man. 



From Charleston the party sailed for 

 the Floridas, and after some delay, oc- 

 casioned by bad weather, put into a 

 harbor near St. Simond's Island, where 

 they were so fortunate as to meet Mr. 

 Thomas B. King, who, after replenish- 

 ing their store of provisions, subscribed 

 for a copy of the "Birds of America." 

 Soon after they were safely landed at 

 St. Augustine, where they commenced 

 their investigations. 



In April, through the influence of let- 

 ters from the Hon. Lewis M'Lean of 

 the Treasury Department and the 

 prompt assistance of Col. J. Pringle, 

 they went aboard the Revenue Cutter 

 "Marion" at Indiana Key, and were af- 

 forded impoi'tant aid by the Deputy 

 Collector, Mr. Thurston. Having ex- 

 amined every part of the coast, which 

 it was the duty of the commander of 

 the "Marion" to approach, the party 

 returned to Charleston, where they dis- 

 banded, Audubon bending his steps 

 eastward, being anxious to keep pace 

 with the birds during their migrations. 

 At Philadelphia Audubon was joined 

 by his family, and from there went on 

 to Boston. About the middle of August 

 they left their Boston friends and 

 journeyed eastward, and after a pro- 

 longed trip came in sight of Moose Is- 

 land. Leaving Moose Island they went 

 to Dennisville, where they made the ac- 

 quaintance of the estimable Judge Lin- 

 coln and his family. Having decided 

 to explore the provinces of New Bruns- 

 wick they proceeded to St. Johns, 

 where they were treated in a very kind 

 manner; and ascending the river of that 

 name reached Fredericktown, where a 

 week was spent. 

 At Fredericktown they embarked in 



an old tow-boat bearing the high-sound- 

 ing title of the "Favorite." As she 

 happened to be the only vessel around 

 she was indeed a "favorite. '' The old 

 vessel contained men of all descrip- 

 tions, from the wealthy farmer and 

 land-holder down to the meanest ped- 

 dler. The "Favorite" was commanded 

 by a person of rude manners and un- 

 couth appearance, on a par however 

 with the surroundings. Two cadaver- 

 ous looking nags were hitched to the 

 end of a long tow-line, driven by a half- 

 clad negi'o, who was urging them along 

 at the astonishing speed of some two 

 miles an hour. Gradually they pro- 

 ceeded, until, in the afternoon they 

 landed to exchange their weary 

 "steeds" for others which were in near- 

 ly as sorry condition. Audubon and 

 his party espied a house on a near-by 

 hill, surrounded by a group of people, 

 and upon enquiring if dinner could be 

 had, was told by the landlord , hat it 

 would be utterly out of the question as 

 an election was being held. They, how- 

 ever, managed to make out a comforta- 

 ble meal with what they had brought 

 with them for a lunch. The rotten old 

 tow-line gave way several times after 

 exchanging horses, and once in conse- 

 quence the commander of the "Favo- 

 rite" was plunged into the stream. 

 The only result was a good drenching, 

 which the able captain consoled him- 

 self for by a volley of oaths, such as on- 

 ly a sailor can articulate. They stop- 

 ped for the night and the following 

 morning before daybreak started again 

 on their way. Some rapids were reach- 

 ed, and every one glad to assist the old 

 boat leaped ashore and tugged away at 

 the tow-line of the crazy old float. 

 Some miles farther up they passed a 

 rather curious cataract formed by the 

 waters of the Pokioke. There Sambo 

 led his steeds up the steep bank, when, 

 lo! the whole party came tumbling 

 down like so many hogsheads of tobac- 

 co rolled from a store-house to the 



