253 AUDUBON 



that accompanied us in our slow progress. The eddies 

 were covered with Ducks of various kinds, more especially 

 with the beautiful species that breeds by preference on 

 the great sycamores that every now and then present 

 themselves along our southern waters. Baton Rouge is 

 a very handsome place, but at present I have no time to 

 describe it. Levees now began to stretch along the river, 

 and wherever there was a sharp point on the shore, negroes 

 were there amusing themselves by raising shrimps, and 

 now and then a catfish, with scooping-nets. 



The river increased in breadth and depth, and the saw- 

 yers and planters, logs so called, diminished in number 

 the nearer we drew towards the famed city. At every 

 bend we found the plantations increased, and now the 

 whole country on both sides became so level and desti- 

 tute of trees along the water's edge that we could see 

 over the points before us, and observe the great stream 

 stretching along for miles. Within the levees the land is 

 much lower than the surface of the river when the water 

 is high; but at this time we could see over the levee 

 from the deck of our boat only the upper windows of the 

 planters' houses, or the tops of the trees about them, and 

 the melancholy-looking cypresses covered with Spanish 

 moss forming the background. Persons rode along the 

 levees at full speed ; Pelicans, Gulls, Vultures, and Car- 

 rion Crows sailed over the stream, and at times there 

 came from the shore a breeze laden with the delicious 

 perfume of the orange-trees, which were covered with 

 blossoms and golden fruits. 



Having passed Bayou Lafourche, our boat was brought 

 to on account of the wind, which blew with violence. 

 We landed, and presently made our way to the swamps, 

 where we shot a number of those beautiful birds called 

 Boat-tailed Grakles. The Mocking-birds on the fence 

 stakes saluted us with so much courtesy and with such 

 delightful strains that we could not think of injuring 



