FLORIDA KEYS. 313 



face of the water and its craggy bottom, to seek for curious shells in their 

 retreat seemed to him more pastime than toil. Not a Cormorant or 

 Pelican, a Flamingo, an Ibis, or Heron, had ever in his days formed its 

 nest without his having marked the spot ; and as to the Keys to which 

 the Doves are wont to resort, he was better acquainted with them than 

 many fops are Avith the contents of their pockets. In a word, he posi- 

 tively knew every channel that led to these islands, and every cranny 

 along their shores. For years his employment had been to hunt those 

 singular animals called Sea Cows or Marratees, and he had conquered 

 hundreds of them, " merely," as he said, because the flesh and hide 

 bring " a fair price," at Havannah. He never went anywhere to land 

 without " Long Tom," which proved indeed to be a wonderful gun, and 

 which made smart havoc when charged with " groceries," a term by 

 which he designated the large shot which he used. In like manner, he 

 never paddled his light canoe without having by his side the trusty ja- 

 velin, with which he unerringly transfixed such fishes as he thought fit 

 either for market or for his own use. In attacking turtles, netting, or 

 overturning them, I doubt if his equal ever lived on the Florida coast. 

 No sooner was he made acquainted with my errand, than he freely offer- 

 ed his best_services, and from that moment until I left Key West he was 

 seldom out of mv hearing. 



While the young gentlemen who accompanied us were engaged in 

 procuring plants, shells, and small birds, he tapped me on the shoulder, 

 and with a smile said to me, " Come along, I'U shew you something 

 better worth your while." To the boat we betook ourselves, with the 

 Captain and only a pair of tars, for more he said would not. answer. The 

 yawl for a while was urged at a great rate, but as we approached a point, 

 the oars were taken in, and the pilot alone skulling, desired us to make 

 ready, for in a few minutes we should have " rare sport," As we ad- 

 vanced, the more slowly did we move, and the most profound silence was 

 maintained, until suddenly coming almost in contact with a thick shrub- 

 bery of mangroves, we beheld, right before us, a multitude of pelicans. 

 A discharge of artillery seldom produced more effect ; — the dead, the dy- 

 ing, and the wounded, fell from the trees upon the water, while those 

 unscathed flew screaming through the air in terror and dismay. " There," 

 said he, " did not I tell you so ; is it not rare sport .?" The birds, one 

 after another, were lodged under the gunwales, when the pilot desired 

 the Captain to order the lads to pull away. Within about half a mile we 

 reached the extremity of the key. " Pull away," cried the pilot, " never 



