388 AUDUBON 



the rate of something more than two miles an hour. How 

 fortunate it is for one to possess a little of the knowledge 

 of a true traveller ! Following the advice of a good and 

 somewhat aged one, we had provided ourselves with a 

 large basket, which was not altogether empty when we 

 reached the end of our aquatic excursion. Here and there 

 the shores of the river were delightful, the space between 

 them and the undulating hills that bounded the prospect 

 being highly cultivated, while now and then the abrupt 

 and rocky banks assumed a most picturesque appearance. 

 Although it was late in September, the mowers were still 

 engaged in cutting the grass, and the gardens of the 

 farmers showed patches of green peas. The apples were 

 still green, and the vegetation in general reminded us 

 that we were in a northern latitude. 



Gradually and slowly we proceeded, until in the after- 

 noon we landed to exchange our jaded horses. We saw a 

 house on an eminence, with groups of people assembled 

 round it, but there no dinner could be obtained, because, 

 as the landlord told us, an election was going on. So the 

 basket was had recourse to, and on the greensward we 

 refreshed ourselves with its contents. This done, we re- 

 turned to the scow, and resumed our stations. As usual 

 in such cases, in every part of the world that I have vis- 

 ited, our second set of horses was worse than the first. 

 However, on we went ; to tell you how often the tow-line 

 gave way would not be more amusing to you than it was 

 annoying to us. Once our commander was in consequence 

 plunged into the stream, but after some exertion he suc- 

 ceeded in regaining his gallant bark, when he consoled 

 himself by giving utterance to a volley of blasphemies, 

 which it would as ill become me to repeat, as it would be 

 disagreeable to you to hear. We slept somewhere that 

 night ; it does not suit my views of travelling to tell you 

 where. 



Before day returned to smile on the "Favorite" we 



