340 LIFE OF AUDUBON. 



the infant republic, and then left us for the seat of government 

 at Houston, seventy miles distant, on the steamer Yellow Stone, 

 accompanied by Captains Casto and Taylor, taking the Crusader 

 in tow. 



" April 26. Went ashore at Galveston. The only objects we 

 saw of interest were the Mexican prisoners ; they are used as 

 slaves ; made to carry wood and water, and cut grass for the 

 horses, and such work ; it is said that some are made to draw 

 the plough. They all appear to be of delicate frame and con- 

 stitution, but are not dejected in appearance. 



" April 27. We were off at an early hour for the island, two 

 miles distant ; we waded nearly all the distance, so very shallow 

 and filled with sandbanks is this famous bay. The men made 

 a large fire to keep off the mosquitoes, which were annoying 

 enough for even me. Besides many interesting birds, we found 

 a new species of rattlesnake, with a double row of fangs on each 

 side of its jaws. 



"April 28. We went on a deer-hunt on Galveston Island, 

 where these animals are abundant ; we saw about twenty-five, 

 and killed four. 



" April 29. John took a view of the rough village of Galveston, 

 with the Lucida. We found much company on board on our 

 return to the vessel, among whom was a contractor for beef for 

 the army ; he was from Connecticut, and has a family residing 

 near the famous battle-ground of San Jacinto. He promised 

 me some skulls of Mexicans, and some plants, for he is bumped 

 with botanical bumps somewhere. 



" Galveston Bay, May 1, 1837. I was much fatigued this 

 morning, and the muscles of my legs were swelled until they 

 were purple, so that I could not go on shore. The musk-rat is 

 the only small quadruped found here, and the common house- 

 rat has not yet reached this part of the world. 



" May 2. Went ashore on Galveston Island, and landed on a 

 point where the Texan garrison is quartered. We passed 

 through the troops, and observed the miserable condition of the 

 whole concern ; huts made of grass, and a few sticks or sods cut 

 into square pieces composed the buildings of the poor Mexican 

 prisoners, which, half clad and half naked, strolled about in a 

 state of apparent inactivity. We passed two sentinels under 



