102 RETURN TO MOBILE. [CHAP. XXVI. 



CHAP. XXVI. 



Return to Mobile. Excursion to the Shores of the Gulf of 

 Mexico. View from Lighthouse. Mouth of Alabama River. 

 Gnafhodon inhabiting Brackish Water. Banks of these 

 Fossil Shells far Inland. Miring of Cattle. Yellow Fever 

 at Mobile in 1839. Fire in same Year. Voyage from Mo 

 bile to New Orleans. Movers to Texas. Lake Pontchar- 

 train. A rrivul at New Orleans. St. Louis Hotel. French 

 Aspect of City. Carnival. Procession of Masks. 



Feb. 21. 1846. THERE had been some very cold 

 weather in the beginning of the month in the upper 

 country, the thermometer at Tuscaloosa having 

 been down as low as 17 Fahr. ; yet, on our return to 

 Mobile, we saw the signs of approaching spring, for 

 on the banks of the Alabama river the deciduous 

 cypress and cotton trees were putting out their 

 leaves, and the beautiful scarlet seed-vessels of the 

 red maple (Acer Drummondii) enlivened the woods. 



Once more at Mobile, I was impatient to see, 

 for the first time, the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, 

 and therefore lost no time in making an excursion to 

 the mouth of the Alabama river. I was fortunate 

 in having as my companion the Rev. Dr. Hamilton, 

 minister of the principal Presbyterian congregation, 

 who was well acquainted with the natural history of 

 this region. He drove me first to the lighthouse, 



