18 
FOREST AND STREAM 
were soon lost in pleasant dreams. In the morning, after 
a good hearty breakfast, Don Benito and myself took our 
guns and went out. Just its we entered the prairie, we 
came across some long-billed curlew, and soon had a fine 
bag of them. The flock did not fly far on account of the 
intense cold. After using the flock pretty well up, we went 
across to a small pond. We found it almost entirely frozen 
over. We secured two mallards, and in skirting around 
the pond we started some snipe and had some good sport 
for an hour. Leaving the pond we went for some white 
geese on the prarie; but they have been too shy for us to 
get a good shot. On retracing our steps we came across a 
small flock of curlew, and here Don Benito made a good 
shot with a Purdey C. F. B. L., No. 12. A curlew rose at 
fully eighty yards, and he fired. Don Benito not tkiuking 
ho had struck him, kept on ; but I being nearer, saw that 
he wa9 hit, and I watched his flight. He made for a belt 
of Umber about 400 yurds distant, and as he struck the 
edge, he fell, and I went and picked him up, and carried 
him to Don Benito, much to his surprise. We returned at 
2 P. M. with a pretty heavy load. Just before sunset we 
went out and shot a few small rabbits. The next day we 
started on a deer hunt. Dr. C and I went together. The 
Doctor took his stalking ponv. Wj went for a couple of 
miles without success, then just as we were nearing a pond 
we saw a flock of sandhill cranes coming over in our direc- 
tion. We both stooped down so os to attract less attention, 
and thereby to stand a chance of getting a better shot. 
The Doctor performed the manoeuvre all right, but I in my 
stupidity not taking In the situation at a glauce, popped 
down on a cactus. The cranes had to go, for I was busy, 
very busy, just then. The Doctor did not sympathize 
worth a cent. Confound such a country, where one needs 
to have his pants reinforced with sheet iron. Repairing 
damages, we started on, and soon entered a nopalericu, a 
thicket of immense cactus plants, where we routed up a 
drove of peccaries. I fired at one with a load of buckshot, 
but did not kill him ; another ran by, and I gave him the 
left, and rolled him over; then a young pie sprang up, and 
1 knocked him over with a charge of No. 3. A huge boar 
then crashed through the nopals, and I accelerated bis 
pace by a load of buckshot in the rear. Just then 'ye heard 
three shots close to us, and on going in that direction, we 
met Don Benito and Mr. E. They had not killed any 
deer, but had shot two peccaries out of the drove we started 
up. We separated and went on till dinner time, when we 
returned to camp, and found that one of our men had 
killed two does close to camp. After dinner I went out 
with Antonio (a Mexican) a good shot, and a man of the 
best and quickest sight 1 ever came across. W e were oddly 
mated for a bunt ; for Antonio could not speak a word of 
English, and I could not speak Spanish. A short distance 
from camp he pointed out a peccary, and I gave him the 
right, with buckshot ; the shot struck him fair and square; 
he ran a short distance, and then stopped. I theu took my 
Colt's navy, aud at fifteen yards plauted a ball iu his head; 
still he did not drop, aud I gave him another, and then an- 
other, and us he still stood up, Aulouio fired at him with a 
Winchester rifle, and even then it was several minutes 
before ho dropped. When he was dead we examined him, 
and found that every shot fired hud struck him. Some- 
times they are exceedingly teuacious of life, as will be seen 
by the above. We did uot come across any deer or turkey, 
and so returned to camp. Sunday coming on, we stayed at. 
camp, and spent the day reading aud smoking. The next 
day we shot some partridges around the camp, and in the 
evening Antonio and myself went out after turkeys, but 
only succeeded in bringing one back to camp. I crippled 
two, but thev got off in a thicket, and I had to give them 
up. That night a messenger came for the Doctor to return 
iu the morning, and wo all concluded to go back with him. 
At an early hour the next morning, we packed up our traps 
aud started back, but by an entirely different road, The 
morning was thick aud foggy. Dr, C, and myself rode in 
the buggy across the prairie where there was no road ; the 
buggy was good aud stroug, and away we rolled along, now 
and then going across a belt of woods, where we drove 
right over some tall sapliugs. On the route we shot some 
hawks without leaving our Beats. At ten o’clock the sun 
came out bright and clear, dispelling the fog. It was a 
pretty sight to see the herds of horses dashing off at full 
speed when startled by our approach. At one o’clock we 
hulled und lunched ; then Don Benito took the Doctor's 
place by my side, und wo rode on. At Laguna Largo we 
saw a great many ducks, and the Doctor shot several from 
his horse. Game was very abuudant here, deer, turkey, 
geese, ducks aud snipe, and we regretted very much that 
we had not placed our camp here, but as we were anxious 
to burry on, we did uot stop. Further along at a pond on 
our right, I saw three or four geese, aud getting out I took 
a shot, and brought down one, which Don Ramon dashed 
in on horseback to recover. It was different from any I 
bad seen, being dark reddish brown with bands across the 
breast. We crosseii the Arroyo Colorado at Morg. 
Barcklav’s ferry ; here the banks arc high, Mr. Barcklay’s 
house being on the bluff forty feet above the surface of 
the stream, yet lie assured ine that twice since he had 
lived there the Arroyo had been so much flooded that the 
water lmd entered his dwelling. The water here, sixty 
miles from the gulf, is as clear, deep green, and as salt as 
the ocean, uod abounds with eheepshoad, mullet and red 
fish. Mr. Burcklay uses liis rifle in place of a rod, shooting 
all liis fish instead of catching them. Dr. C. says Mr. 
Barclay has been talking for the last ten years about 
making him a net. If it takes that long to talk about it, 
what length of time would be required in its construction / 
He brought us some mi seal to drink, a liquor distilled from 
the maguey plant, aud strong enough to tickle the palalcof 
any extra copper fastened old toper that ever gloried over 
a kerosene shoot. About four o’clock be spied a flock of 
three or four sandhill cranes, feeding not far from the 
road. We drove by them to the shelter of some trees, and 
got out. Dr. C. and myself went ou the opposite side of 
the ravine from where they were feeding, and under the 
cover of some bushes crawled up to within forty-five or 
fifty yards of them. The Doctor fired with bis rifle while 
they were on the ground, and as they rose I gave them a 
charge of No. 4 ; the Doctor knocked his over, while mine 
was only badly wounded ; the others were bewildered, and 
were going to light again, when Dou Ramon dashed up on 
horseback aud frightened them off. We then went up, and 
Dr. C. began iu sport swearing at Don Ramon, telling him 
that had he nave kept still, we should have had one or two 
more. Don Ramon said : ‘‘Oh, yes, Doctoro !” Still the 
Doctor wont on swearing, when Don Ramon uucoilcd his 
lasso, and, putting spurs to his horse, threw the lasso over 
the Doctor's head, till just as it began to choko him good, 
he stopped his horse quick as a flash, and beean to laugh 
and joke the Doctor. The whole thing was done in a few 
seconds, and we all had a laugh at the Doctor for leaving 
off the evil habit of swearing at such short notice. As the 
sun began to wane, we struck into Palo Alto prairie, and 
a beautiful sight it was to see the rays of the setting sun 
gilding the vast sea of waving grass. What a sight it must, 
nave been years ago to see the countless herds of buffalo 
that once roamed over these vast plains. Their home now 
is towards the setting sun ; a few more years, and the 
march of civilization will have rolled over them, and they 
and the lords of the prairie will be known only in the 
legends of the past, while the same sun that lighted their 
wanderings will be gilding the spires of cities that have I 
risen like magic over their once happy hunting grounds. 
No wonder the Indian fears that even the Islands of the 
Blest will some day be disturbed by the distant shriek of } 
the white man’s fire horse. At 6 P. M. we entered ( 
Brownesville, and put up our horses ; then Don Benito anil i 
myself crossed over to Matamoras. Ou arriving at the | 
house, we found the ladies just starting for the theatre to . 
see some Japanese jugglers. We did not care to go, aud 
so went to the barbers', got shaved up, and then took a ) 
hearty supper, and after it some Norwegian beer, and then 
some fine Havana cigars, aud at midnigut turned in. The 
next evening we went to see the Japanese, aud I was very 
much amused at the irrepressible gamins (these street Arabs 
are confined to no nationality), who were laughing at the 
Japs, nnd saying that they could do better. Two or three 
days after our return, we rode out after dinner three or 
four miles from town, on the Mexican side, to some ponds, 
and here I saw for the first time several varieties of the 
ibis, and also two or three loons that must have surely 
lost their reckoning. One of the ponds had a large number 
of tall and beautiful palms around its borders, which made 
a very pleasing feature iu the landscape. The number of 
water bens (similar to the blue peters of Virginia and 
North Carolina), that are found iu these ponds is nslouish- 
ine. Leaving the ponds after bagging a few ducks, we 
went into the chapparal after the small rabbits, where we 
bad some excellent sport for hulf an hour; knocking over 
some teu or twelve, besides four or five partridges. Re- 
turning by moonlight, enjoying the pleasant society of Don 
Benito’s wife, who had rode out in the carriage with us, 
was very delightful. Now and theu a pack of coyotes in 
full cry would dash past us ; and if our mules would have 
ouly stood lire, we should have given them a double barrel 
entertainment. We had agreed before my departure to 
take a trip of a day or twodo some large ponds near the 
Laguna Madre, where there were immense flocks of ducks 
feeding ; but owing to sickness in Don Benito’s family, we 
bad to give it up. The day before the time set. for my de- 
parture, Dr. C., Don Benito nnd myself went out in the 
evening on the American side of the Rio Grande, below 
Fort Brown, after partridges. At one place, we crossed a 
fence made of thorn bushes stacked up. I not being used 
to climbing such fences, broke down a small portion, and 
on getting into the field eucountered a Mexican, who begun 
talking pretty loud. Just theu Dr. C came up and spoke 
to him, and then turning around to me told me that the 
man was cursing me for breaking his feucc, and that he bad 
made it all right with him, So far as I was concerned it 
was all right, because I did uot understand a word that he 
had said ; but as far as my pants were concerned, it was 
all wrong, for the thorns lmd altered the set and style of 
them a good deal. Dr. C’s dog Rainbo made an artistic 
point at a bush, but on our going up we found that the dog 
was simply attitudinizing, for we failed to find any birds. 
If the Dr. ever sees that good “ stand for an artist, but uot 
for birds," he will remember it. The day was charming, 
and we had some good sport not ouly with the partridges 
but with the rabbits. The next day, bidding adieu to Don 
Benito’s family, I crossed over to Brownsville and rode 
with Don Benito and Dr. C. to the Ressaca Del Palma, to 
which point the track of the railroad from Point Isabel to 
Brownsville had been completed. Here bidding them 
good-bye, I jumped on a hand-car, propelled by two men, 
and was soon going at a fine rale of speed. 
Along the track we started up large flocks of ducks feed- 
ing In the roadside ditches. At the Laguna Madre we 
scared up immense rafts of geese and ducks, and a great 
many herons and cranes. While passing along over a high 
embankment thrown up to make the rond bed higher than 
the low flats, we met a man on horseback. How we were 
going to puss each other I could not see, for the embank- 
ment was high and narrow ; the rider, however, soon 
solved the difficulty by making the horse get off the track, 
and rear upon his land feet while we passed, aud when we 
passed be wheeled him around while be was still on bis 
hind feet. It was neatly und well done, but there are not 
many who can do it. Reaching Point Isabel, I went to the 
railroad warehouse, and after an hour or two took a sailboat 
across to Brazos Santiago, where the steamer was lying. 
A little before sunset we cast loose and steamed across the 
bar ; it beiug full tide and no sea ou, we passed over very 
easily, and soon Brazos receded from our sight. The next 
evening we reached Galveston, and found orders for our 
steamer to go to Sabine to take on some live stock. Think- 
ing I would see more of the country, I concluded I would 
remain on the steamer instead of laying over at Galvestou 
for the mail steamer the next day. It was a conclusion 
that I only regretted once, and that once has been ever 
since. A few hours after leaving Galveston a dense fog 
shut in, nnd we bad to anchor for the night. The next 
morning, as soon as it cleared up, went into Saline Pass, 
and, taking u pilot on board, we steamed up to Saline 
through a most uninteresting country ; nothing but low 
flat lands for miles and miles. Arriving at Saline we found 
thnt the cattle, instead of being ready for us, were still on 
the prairie, some miles off. Several of us then went ashore 
to see the sight, a tiling that was achieved in a very few 
minutes, as Saline is a city somewhat smaller than New 
York. We returned to the steamer, took dinner, lounged 
uround decks aud once in a while tried our hands at fish- 
ing. Our efforts iu angling were not crowned with much 
success. If I had brought my guu aloug I could have 
passed the time pleasantly enough, for the marshes near the 
ship were covered with geese, ducks and snipe. In the 
evening, or rather after supper, several of us whiled away 
the time till ten p. m. playing euchre. The next morning 
several of us took a long walk iu the couutry, but did not 
see anything worthy of note. At noon our cHttle came 
down and we were speedily interested in watching their 
embarkation. It wus a perfect Babel of sounds, but' at last 
all were safely on board and we steamed away for 
Brashcar City. Here we bad to wait a couple ol hours for 
the train to New Orleans, und while wailing we did up the | 
sights. The place seemed to be all life, eighteen or twenty 
steamers were at tha warves loading and unloading, freight 
trains coming iu, emigrants lounging arouDd the streets 
awaiting departure of Texas steamers. At 2 p. m. our 
train was off, and at dusk I landed at Cassidy’s iu New 
Orleans. Stopping over here for two days so us to be 
present to witness Mardi Gras, I passed the time very 
agreeably in looking around the town. After enjoying 
hugely the grand pageants of the carnival in this Paris of 
America, I bade my friends good bye and securing a berth 
in a very comfortable sleeping car on a Northward bound 
train, I wus soon on my way to the loved ones at home and 
my frontier rambles were at an end. 8. H. W. 
ACROSS NEWFOUNDLAND. 
INTERIOR EXPLORATIONS — FLORA, FAUNA, AND GEOLOGI- 
CAL FORMATION. 
[ Continued from February 11$.] 
CHAPTER VIII. 
O CTOBER 30th.— Rain, snow, and wind, iu the early 
part of the day compelled us to stop and encamp. 
Wu shot a hare, the first we had killed; it was white, ex- 
cept the tips of the ears and tip of the tail, which always 
remain black. The bare of Newfoundland is the Arctic 
hare, Lcmus Arcticus. It sometimes weighs fourteen pounds 
and upwards. There is no other kind in the Island. The 
grouse, during severe snow storms at night, allow the 
snow to drift over them, and thus covered, obtain shelter. 
While in this situation a silver thaw sometimes comes on, 
and the incrustation on the surface becomes too thick for 
them to break through iu the morning, and immense num- 
bers of them perish by being in that manner enclosed. 
When we were croosing a lake on the ice my Indian fell 
through and with great exertion saved himself. While he 
was struggling my new friend Gabriel stood still and 
laughed; Joe did not look for assistance, nor did the other 
evince the least disposition to render any, although lie was, 
compared with my position ou the lake, near to him. 
Upon my remonstrating with Gabriel about his manifest- 
ing a want of feeling towards Joe, when perishing, Joe 
himself replied to me, “Master, it is all right; Indian rather 
die than live owing his life to another.” The other had 
acted in sympathy with the self-dependent sentiment. 
October 31a/.— We travelled over hills aud across lakes 
about twenty miles, fording in that space two rivers run- 
ning north-easterly, and which are the main source 
branches of the river Exploits. This large river has there- 
fore a course of upwards of two hundred miles in one di- 
rection, taking its rise in the south-west angle of the Island, 
and discharging at the north-east part. The Indians are 
all excellent shots, and the two men now with me dis- 
played admirable skill in killing the deer at great distances 
and at full speed, with single ball. Nearly a foot of snow 
had recently fallen, which cast a monotonous sublimity 
over the whole country, and in a great measure concealed 
the characteristics of the vegetable as well as the mineral 
kingdoms. We encamped at night at the southern ex- 
tremely of what is said by my Indians to be the most 
southern lake of the interior frequented by the Red Indians, 
and through which was the main source branch of the 
River Exploits. At the same lake, the Micinacs and the 
Indians friendly with them commence and terminate their 
water excursions from and to the west coast. They here 
construct their first skin canoes upon entering the interior, 
or leave their old ones uDon setting off on foot for the sea 
coast. The distance to 8t. George’s Harbor is twenty-five 
miles or upwards, which part of the journey must be per- 
formed on foot, because no waters of any magnitude inter- 
vene. I named the lake in honor of His Majesty George 
the IV. 
November let .— For nearly twenty miles to the westward 
of George the Fourth’s lake, the country is very bare, 
there being scarcely a thicket of wood. During this day 
we forded two rapid rivulets running southwest to St. 
George’s Bay. Deer had hitherto passed us in innumerable 
straggling herds. But westward of George the Fourth’s 
lake, aud particularly as we neared the coust, very few 
were to be seen. While ascending a mountain, I felt my- 
self suddenly overcome with a kind of delirium, arising I 
supposed from exhaustion and excessive exertion, but fan- 
cied myself stronger than ever I was in my life. It is pro- 
bable, under that influence, that if the Indian who last 
joined had uot been present, I would have had a rencontre 
with my other Indium 
Iu the evening (1st November) about eighteen miles west 
of George the Fourth’s lake, from the summit of a snowy 
ridge which defines the west coast, we were rejoiced to get 
a view of the expansive ocean and St. George's Harbor. 
Had this prospect burst upon us in the same manner a 
month earlier, it would have created in my mind a thou- 
sand pleasures, the impression of which I was now too 
callous to receive; all was uow however accomplished, and 
I hailed the glauce of the sea ns home, and as the parent of 
everything dear. There was scarcely any snow to be seeu 
within several miles of the sea coast, while the mountain 
range upon which we stood, and the interior in the rear, 
were covered. This ran ge may be about two thousand 
feet above the level of the sea, and the snow-capped moun- 
tains in the north-east are higher. The descent was now 
very precipitous and craggy. A rapid river called Flat 
Bay River, across which we were to ford, or if swollen, to 
pass over upon raft, flowed at the foot of the ridge. It 
It threatened rain, aud the sun was setting; but the sight of 
the sea urged us onward, By sliding down rill courses, 
and traversing the steeps, we found ourselves with whole 
bones, but many bruises, at the bottom, by one o’clock on 
the following morning. We then, by means of carrying a 
large stone each ou our backs in order to press our feet 
against the bottom, and steadying ourselves by placing one 
end of a pole, as with a staff or walking-stiek, firmly upon 
the bottom on the lawn or lee side, to prevent the current 
from sweeping us away, step after step, succeeded in ford- 
ing the river, and encamped by a good fire, but supperles9, 
iu the forest on the banks of the river. 
November 2nd . — Upon the immediate banks of Flat Bay 
River, there is some good birch, pine, and spruce timber. 
The soil aud shelter are eveu so good here that the ground 
spruce (2 axus Canademue) bearing its red berries, consti- 
tutes the chief underwood, ns in the forests of Canada and 
Nova Scotia. In the afternoon we reached St. George’s 
harbor. The first houses we reached, two in number, close 
to the shore, belonged to Indians. They were nailed up, 
