CHAP. XXIX.] PUMICE ON MISSISSIPPI. 145 



and numerous wild vines, and other climbers, on the 

 trees. At Bayou Liere, there was a dense growth 

 of a fan-palm (Chamcerops adansonia), from eight to 

 thirteen feet high, and a log-cabin thatched with its 

 leaves, affording good shelter from the heaviest rain. 

 On the ground were numerous land-crabs (Gelasi- 

 mus}, called here fiddlers, which ran into their holes 

 as we approached, and a few small lizards, and a frog 

 (Rana pipicus\ which, in the night, had so shrill and 

 clear a note, that we heard it two miles off. The 

 spring is so backward that few flowers are in bloom, 

 and we congratulated ourselves on escaping all an 

 noyance from musquitos. At the water s edge I 

 picked up several nuts of the Carya aquatica, and 

 many pieces of pumice as large as apples, which 

 must have come from the Rocky Mountains, and are 

 interesting, as reminding one of the fact, that vol 

 canic regions are drained by the western tributaries 

 of the Mississippi. But I could not find a single 

 empty land-shell, or helix, such as the Rhine and 

 many other rivers bring down, and am told that none 

 are met with buried in the recent deposits of the 

 delta. 



The storm of the preceding night had driven many 

 sea-gulls up the river, which now followed our 

 steamer, darting down to the water to snatch up 

 pieces of apple or meat, or whatever we threw to 

 them. After passing Fort Jackson, all trees disap 

 peared, except a few low willows. We then entered 

 that long promontory, or tongue of land, if such it can 

 be called, which consists simply of the broad river, 

 flowing between narrow banks, protruded for so many 



VOL. II. H 



