EXCHANGING PORTRAITS FOR BOOTS. • 59 



purchase new ones. The naturalist was likewise without the 

 means ; but Audubon called upon a shoemaker, explained that 

 his friend was in want of shoes, had no money to pay for them, 

 but that if he chose he should have the portrait of himself and 

 his wife in return for two pairs of boots. The shoemaker was 

 satisfied with the proposal, and the portraits were sketched in a 

 couple of hours, after which the naturalist and his friend bade 

 the shoemaker good-bye, after being fitted with new boots. After 

 some stay in Natchez, Audubon left for New Orleans with his 

 friend Berthoud, in a keel boat belonging to the latter, but which 

 was taken in tow of the steamer. Not long after leaving, Audu- 

 bon discovered one of his portfolios, containing some drawings of 

 birds he prized highly, was missing. Full of chagrin, he could 

 only recollect that he had brought it to the wharf and had 

 placed it in the hands of a servant, who had evidently forgotten 

 to put it on board the keel boat. How to recover it was a 

 serious consideration. Letters were instantly despatched to 

 M. Gamier, M. Carre, and friends of Berthoud, to use their 

 utmost endeavours to recover the lost portfolio. After towing 

 as far as Bayou Sara, the steamer threw off the keel boat, and 

 with the aid of the current and the oars Audubon continued his 

 course to Baton Kouge, on the way to New Orleans. Large 

 flocks of beautiful ducks were passed in various eddies, and the 

 naturalist was amused by groups of negroes catching cat-fish in 

 the river or scooping out shrimps with their nets. 



" Nearing New Orleans, the country became perfectly level, and 

 from the embankments or levees we could see the great river 

 winding on for miles. The planters' houses became more visible 

 against groves of dark cypresses covered with hanging vine plants, 

 and odorous winds blew perfumes of the orange fiowers across the 

 stream down which the boat so lazily drifted. Landing on the 

 banks, I made my way to the swamps, and shot several beau- 

 tiful boat-tailed grakles and a whole covey of partridges. 

 Thousands of swallows in their winter home flew about us, 

 and the cat-birds mewed in answer to their chatterings. Doves 

 echoed soft notes through the woods, and the cardinal grosbeak 

 sat on the top branches of the magnolia, saluting us by elevating 

 his glowing crest. On the 6th of January, and when nearing 

 New Orleans, a sharp frost was felt which left some traces of 



