FOREST. AND STREAM. 



307 



png the seashore of the town, and many fine dwellings 

 ;and on its salt covered suburbs. Here the place was 

 lied with refugees from Hayti and St. Domingo. What 

 M muscular fellows they were — their skins quite dark, 

 Vith Arab features, and long coarse hair, glossy and black. 

 H'vEany of them had taken part in the fierce struggle which 

 Vas raging in their unhappy country against the Spaniards. 

 \)ne of them told me he had killed in battle three Spanish 

 Officers with his sword. Said he: "My English young 

 <|vriend, Spaniards bloody cowards; they cut your throat in 

 tffite dark; they like to grind knife and feel the edge, but 

 I hey cannot stand the swordsmanship of my countrymen." 

 Kit Turk's Island I sold the balance of my cargo, and pur- 

 chased anchors, spars, and wrecked coffee. I also received 

 ion board some gold and silver — over one thousand pounds 

 sterling— to be delivered .by me to sundry merchants in 

 Nassau. 



I now weighed anchor, homeward bound ; the day was 

 ysultry, and accompanied by heavy thunder showers. To- 

 wards night the weather threatened ill, and we took shelter 

 in a place called East Cayco Harbor. Here the speckled 

 ,'mosquitoes drew the blood from our necks and faces most 

 thoroughly, and many was the thick skinned negro who 

 groaned under their weight. Here we obtained two barrels 

 of beautiful fish of many varieties. 



Again we weighed anchor, and with a glorious breeze, 

 about four points free, flew on towards the Bahamas, and 

 made a call at Rum Cay, where we took aboard some pas- 

 sengers, and four days after this we passed Cat Island, or 

 better known abroad as St. Salvador. "We are told that 

 Columbus first saw it in 1492, but how he got to it without 

 dashing against some of the other islands to windward of 

 it I don't know. Perhaps he had a pilot on board like my- 

 self, that kept him clear of the rocks. This long snake- 

 like island is the most valuable fruit growing district of the 

 Bahamas, and exports pineapples, bananas, and oranges 

 to the United States. During my stay in the Bahamas I 

 always "went in" for plenty of watermelons, bananas, 

 sugar apples, sappadillis, and guavas. I have often seen a 

 bunch of bananas weighing over a hundred pounds. 



The most curious little resident I ever met with in the 

 West Indies was the soldier crab. Its limbs are remarkably 

 small, and it handles them with all the machinery of a well 

 ribbed umbrella. When frightened it silently stows away 

 its limbs, lays low, and keeps cool. I am told that every 

 year they march down to the sea by thousands to spawn 

 and change their shells. I have heard of their being used 

 in Jamaica for soups, but in the Bahamas they- are not con- 

 sidered fit for human food. 



Two days more and we sighted NewProvidence, having been 

 absent about forty days. We sailed through the eastern pas- 

 sage, and handsomely glided past the massive old forts, and 

 were soon at anchor abreast of this beautiful city of trees ; 

 but its glory was departing, for Fort Sumpter had hauled 

 down the stars and bars, our friend Uncle Sam had con- 

 quered his brother, and peace reigned again the Union ; but 

 empty warehouses and well -filled graves stood as monu- 

 ments in New Providence to account for some of the nett 

 proceeds of the sum total of the "Yankee war" and yellow 

 fever. 



"TURKEY SHOOTS." 



• 



Editor Forest and Stream : — 



Who of us, country-reared and with sporting proclivities 

 but recall with pleasure those days when, word previously 

 given out, or more often a notice in irregular characters, 

 (suggesting strongly that "the schoolmaster was abroad") 

 posted up on the door of the bar-room or grocery store set- 

 ting forth that on a certain day, (generally Thanksgiving or 

 some day just before or between the holidays), there would 

 be "a Turkey shoot" at the corners, or at some well-known 

 tavern. How the announcement used to arouse our juvenile 

 enthusiasm! Then were rifles looked to, bullets cast, 

 patches cut, and all the minutiae of arrangements made for 

 the match. The crack shots for miles around would be sure 

 to be on hand, and many that were not shots at all, for 

 there would be other fun always connected with "a shoot." 



It is many years since we ran our eye along the tube at a 

 turkey, but we presume those things are conducted about 

 the same now a-da3 r s, varying in particulars perhaps in dif- 

 ferent localities. In one section of the country the bird is 

 secured in a box with only his head and neck exposed 

 through a hole on the top, and at a distance of eighty yards 

 the shooter must kill the bird "off hand," or at two hun- 

 dred yards and off hand, the bird being tied to a stake and 

 in full view, it is only required to draw blood to win the prize. 

 It could easily be seen wben a turkey was hit by it's flop- 

 ping or jumping up, but sometimes a turkey would move 

 even when the bullet came close, and only threw snow in 

 it's eyes, then if shooting at a long distance and the shooter 

 had a friend on the watch to rush up and examine the bird, 

 it gave occasion for fraud or thumbing, as they call it, i e, 

 drawing blood with thumb nail or a knife even, and claim- 

 ing the bird. Then often followed angry and sometimes 

 very vehement discussions. 



Up our way a dead rest was allowed and invariably pre- 

 ferred, the object being placed at a distance varying often 

 according to the timidity or meaness of the setter up of the 

 birds. I can recall the time when sixty rods, (measurement 

 then was always made by rods instead of yards), was con- 

 sidered fair; but as rifles reached a higher degree of ac- 

 curacy at long range with their globe sights and other im- 



provements, ninety or even one hundreds rods were not 

 considered out of the way. How well I remember the ex- 

 citement that was ereated when Hi. R , a celebrated 



turkey shooter of that region, brought on the ground his 

 new Ferris rifle, with it's globe sights and patent muzzle, 

 (new things in those days), and what exclamations of 

 wonder were uttered when Lance — who though but a boy 

 then, but known as a good shot, after having got his range 

 picked off seven of "old Pinto's" turkeys in succession. 



Old Pinto was a character in our parts, and known far 

 and near for his speculating propensities, and withal was 

 considered not over scrupulous in his business transactions, 

 being decidedly close and not disposed to give the boys as 

 they thought any more show than he could possibly help. 



The right thing to do was to have the turkey tied to the 

 end of a rail or short stake with a cord of a few inches, 

 giving the bird full play to stand erect and even to walk 

 around a little, and that, too, on or against rising ground, 

 in order that the shooter, when he missed or at the first 

 shooting, might see where his balls struck and arrange his 

 sights accordingly for his next shots. This of course, es- 

 pecially in a windy day, would be an advantage to the 

 shooters ; but at one hundred rods or more, they claimed it, 

 and it was considered right. 



But old Pinto could not often be so magnanimous, but 

 would not only have small hen turkeys, often speckled or 

 nearly white, and therefore difficult to be seen against the 

 snow, but would set them down half way behind the rail, 

 or as he once did, (and that created a big breeze among the 

 boys), tied his bird on top of a crockery crate; and more- 

 over, told us it was only ninety rods off when it was one 

 hundred and more. 



That turkey stood thirty-six shots and was then killed by 

 a hilarious hiccuping Hibernian, who never shot a rifle be- 

 fore in his life. He had come reeling out of the tavern, and 

 approaching Col. B., 'who was driving down his ball for his 

 tenth shot, he said: " Kurnel, be jabbers, yees promised 

 me a schot the day." The Colonel, as well as all of us, were 

 pretty mad, for the arrangement had been consented to 

 previously, that that turkey must be hit before any change 

 should be made. Turning around, the Colonel said: "Well 

 here, Jimmie, if you will kill that pigeon," (it was a small 

 speckled hen, not much larger than a pigeon, and being the 

 first bird, and that too on a crockery crate, none of the 

 boys had got the range), "you shall have all the whiskey 

 you can hold." 



Jimmie took the gun, and instead of lying down al full 

 length on *he slab, one end of which rested on the lower 

 board of the fence, the other on the ground, thus giving a 

 dead rest, he walked up to the fence and placing the barrel 

 on the top board, about breast high, after swaying about a 

 little, pulled the trigger, and to our utter amazement, he 

 shot that little bird through at the butt of the wings. 



It was an extraordinary chance shot, of course, but it was 

 a big thing, and Jimmie was the hero of the day. I don't 

 think it was a good thing for Jimmie, for with the treats 

 by all hands, it was the occasion of his taking in a very full 

 cargo before night. After that, of course, the crockery 

 crate was kicked one side, the birds were properly put up 

 and everything went off smoothly. 



All this time fun was going on in the bar-room. Those 

 who were not shooters, but were not the less anxious to 

 carry home a roaster, were trying their hands at the raffles. 

 Ah, with what intense anxiety the boys would watch the 

 turn of those deceiving dice ! Once we remember when the 

 big turkey was up, (an eighteen pounder), forty-six was 

 high, and had so stood for some time, when it came little 

 humpbacked Mike's turn, (Mike was the only son of the 

 washerwoman, "and she was a widow," and the Doctor had 

 given him a sixpence to try his luck). As his first raffle 

 proved to be three sixes, his next two fives and a four, 

 leaving fourteen to tie, with what eagerness we watched for 

 the result, and as the ivories rolled out two fives and a six, 

 what a shout went up, and then when little Mike trudged 

 off home with the turkey on his shoulder, nearly as large as 

 himself, it was a fit and satisfactory finale to the day's 



sport. Jacobstaff. 

 «♦♦*» 



A "WATCH ON THE RHINE." 



St. Barnabe, Canada, 1873. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



We had been told such marvelous stories about the abun- 

 dance of game here that we made up our minds that if we 

 once got started nothing would stop the slaughter but dark- 

 ness or lack of shooting material. Friday night we scoured 

 the town for guns, and laid in our stock of ammunition, 

 which, by the way, is a very important part of a hunter's 

 outfit. I calculate that our stock averaged about as well as 

 that of any party that has fitted out since the days of Dan- 

 iel Boone. It was near eight o'clock A. M. when we left 

 St. Barnabe and plunged into the mud and primeval for- 

 est. Our party consisted of Mr. Boloff, myself, two Ca- 

 nadian guides in full war paint, and two dogs. Immedi- 

 ately on striking the woods we threw ourselves into atti- 

 tudes ready for instant action, and I am sorry to say we 

 had no occasion to throw ourselves out of them, only as 

 the position became tiresome and obliged us to change 

 hands for a rest. In fact, we travelled from early morn 

 until two P. M. without seeing a living thing twice the size 

 of a June bug, and it was astonishing how fast I lost inter- 

 est in that raid after twelve o'clock. I begged one of the 

 guides to throw himself up and let us try him on the wing, 

 but he flatly refused. Nothing presented itself to relieve 

 the monotony but certain fluids, that suffered continually. 



At a quarter past two P. M., while sitting on a fallen 

 tree, I thought of my dream of the night before, and then 

 the mortifying fact dawned upon my benighted mind that 

 dreams always go by contraries. 



As it was then late, and we were about eight miles from 

 any living thing, we deemed it best to strike civilization as 

 soon as possible, and with this thought uppermost in our 

 minds we turned in the direction of St. Barnabe. I don't 

 know how the others felt, but I was growing savage. I 

 was determined to shoot something before I got home, and 

 when we were so near St. Barnabe that I knew where I 

 was, I left the party and went into business for myself, and 

 it came very near being a grave mistake. Shortly after we 

 separated, as I was making my way through an opening in 

 the woods, I was startled by hearing a loud grunt and some- 

 thing run. I was frightened. I thought of bears and 

 panthers, and a cold sweat fairly stood on my gun barrel. 

 I buttoned my coat around me to keep from shaking to 

 pieces, and cautiously moved away. In doing so I discov- 

 ered the cause of my unmanly agitation. It was standing 

 about five rods away, and was nothing more nor less than 

 a hog; but such a hog I never saw on hoofs before. He 

 looked as though he had just returned from an expedition 

 in search of Sir John Franklin, and had endured the pri- 

 vations and hardships of numerous Arctic winters. Why, 

 you could have cooked him bodily and he wouldn't have 

 produced enough grease to lubricate the balance wheel of a 

 Howard adjustment. The idea of being frightened by a 

 hog roused my indignation to such a pitch that I deter- 

 mined to teach his hogship a good lesson. Accordingly, I 

 levelled my Canadian stub twist in his direction and cov- 

 ered what I could with my sight, and then, without a word 

 of warning, I introduced to his notice about a quarter of a 

 pound of No. 8, backed up by a reasonable amount of pro- 

 jective material. To say that the swine was taken by sur- 

 prise doesn't express it. For about a minute I guess he 

 thought King William had made another forced march on 

 the Rhine. Eleven seconds later, hatless .and gunless and 

 senseless, I was ruminating on the mutability of human 

 calculations among the branches of a small oak, whither I 

 had taken myself rather suddenly to escape the fury of 

 that hog's onslaught. Looking at him from the tree, I 

 never for an instant doubted but what that hog's whole soul 

 was in the work before him. I never saw a more thorough- 

 ly interested specimen of hog anatomy in my life. He 

 peeled the bark off the tree with his tusks, and ploughed 

 deep furrows in the dirt and leaves directly under me. From 

 a base ball point of view, that porker did the finest bit of 

 fielding I ever saw. I thought of George Wright, Ros. 

 Barnes, and other noted players, but tlie hog suffered by 

 comparison. I tried to enter into conversation with him, 

 with the view of getting him to play in Boston next season, 

 but as near as I could make out, he was already engaged. I 

 didn't relish the idea of remaining in that tree long, for I 

 was bareheaded, and feared sunstroke; besides, 1 never 

 took mueh interest in the lumber trade. But deliverance 

 came from an unexpected quarter. It appears that when I 

 fired one of the dogs left the party and started in the direc- 

 tion of the sound, thinking, no doubt, I had discovered 

 game, and so I had. I would give all I possess in the world 

 to know what that dog's feelings were as he came upon the 

 scene and saw me up the tree and the hog standing guard. 

 I was completely overjoyed, and came near falling out of 

 the tree into the jaws of death, or the hog's. However, 

 the grunter now turned his attention to the new comer, and 

 I made up my mind that if that dog didn't want crape on 

 his front door in the morning ha had better leave me to my 

 fate, but the result clearly proved the truth of Bill's re- 

 mark, that "there are more things in heaven and earth 

 than are dreamed of in our philosophy." The dog seemed 

 to take in the situation at a glance ; he also noted that he 

 had got no slouch of a hog to deal with, and then com- 

 menced a series of movements between the two which for 

 grandeur of conception and rapidity of execution have had 

 no equal. The highest ambition of that dog at this partic- 

 ular moment seemed to be to get in the rear of the hog, and 

 the hog was just as anxious to keep his enemy in front, 

 and for me to describe the movements of the two in this 

 contest would require a volume as large as the corner-stone 

 of the new post office. I should think that fifteen minutes 

 had passed when the hog showed signs of distress, and he 

 was evidently contemplating one of those masterly retreats 

 that made McClellan's name so famous, when an unexpec- 

 ted movement on the part of the dog brought the idea to.a 

 head at once. The dog had been watching for the chance, 

 and when he caught the hog off his guard he made a light- 

 ning spring and fastened to one of the hog's ears, and that 

 settled the fate of Europe on that field. You could bear 

 that hog give vent to his injured feelings for miles as he 

 crashed through the woods, dragging the canine with him. 

 I lost no time in getting out of that tree, and gathering up 

 my hat and gun I commenced to put real estate between 

 me and the scene of the late conflict in a somewhat marvel- 

 ous manner. Before I got home the dog joined me, and he 

 seemed as modest and unconcerned about his victory as I 

 was in not sayiny anything about it when we arrived. I 

 don't care to go hunting here any more; it isn't a happy 

 pastime. From your unhappy Damon. 



—To the father of the family the Forest and Stream 

 offers the advantages of amusing many a leisure hour. All 

 rational sports are advocated. The ladies read and con- 

 tribute to^the Forest and Stream. The children can re- 

 ceive a pair of skates as a Prize. See Prize List. 



