50 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



Huge log fires, over which the sugar caldrons were boiled, 

 gave the appearance of a witch incantation to a spectacle in 

 which picturesquely-dressed Indians, rough backwoodsmen, and 

 their strangely-dressed wives and children took part. Eaised 

 on a few stones placed around the fires, the sugar kettles were 

 constantly tended by the women, while the men " bled " the 

 sugar maple trees, stuck into the wounds they made, cane pipes, 

 which drained the juice, and collected the maple sap into 

 vessels made by splitting up a " yellow poplar " into juice 

 troughs. Ten gallons of sap are required to make one pound 

 of fine-grained sugar, which in some instances is equal to the 

 finest make of candy. Such sugar sold in Kentucky, in the 

 time of Audubon, for as much as a dozen cents in scarce 

 seasons. 



Eacoon hunting was a pastime much enjoyed by Audubon, 

 and he has left plentiful records of his enjoyment of the 

 sport. He describes the hunter's visit to a homestead, and 

 the preparations for a racoon hunt. The cost of ammunitioa 

 was so considerable in the west, while the naturalist roved 

 about, that the axe was reckoned a cheaper implement than the 

 rifle to secure the prey. From the naturalist's journal the 

 following description is given, inspired by the writer's own 

 peculiar enthusiasm. The cabin is made comfortable by a huge 

 pile of logs laid across the fire ; the sweet potatoes are roasted 

 in the ashes; and when all is ready the hunters begin their 

 work. 



" The hunter has taken an axe from the wood pile, and 

 returning, assures us that the night is clear, and that we shall 

 have rare sport. He blows through his rifle, to ascertain that 

 it is clear, examines his flint, and thrusts a feather into the 

 touchhole. To a leathern bag swung at his side is attached a 

 powder-horn ; his sheathed knife is there also ; below hangs a 

 narrow strip of home-spun linen. He takes from his bag a 

 bullet, pulls with his teeth the wooden stopper from his powder- 

 horn, lays the ball on one hand, and with the other pours the 

 powder upon it, until it is just overtopped. Eaising the horn 

 to his mouth, he again closes it with the stopper, and restores 

 it to its place. He introduces the powder into the tube, springs 

 the box of his gun, greases the 'patch' over some melted 



