1114 
the sportsmans library, 
, . .» »„ rev,/ By Frederick Gerstaecker. 
Translated from the German- Loudou : Routlcdge and Co. 
A German sportsman, having exhausted the excitements 
of German sport, satiated with wild boars roebucks a fox 
or two, ami possibly a wolf in very hard weather, bethought 
him of trying his trusty rifle and finding a new sensa- 
tion among the more savage inhabitants of the forests and 
nrairios of the Par West. Herr Gerstaecker assures us that 
He went and' returned without the slightest intention of 
writing a book, but was persuaded by friends— as friends 
somehow always do persuade modest men -to correct 
his notes and give them to the press. This volume is the 
result of their entreaties, published first in Germany, thence 
translated, and presented to the English public by Messrs. 
Itouilcdge, in a very handsome shape, illustrated with many 
engravings by Harrison Weir, beautifully bound, and, let 
us add, wonderfully cheap. . 
The author avows in Ins preface that he has mingled with 
his narratives of sporting adventure sketches of the social 
condition of the Americans; that section of lus work, 
however, we shall passover, ns not belonging to this depart- 
ment of Tin. Field, and we purpose to direct attention 
exclusively to those portions of it describing the sports in 
which Herr Gerstaecker performed such prowess, according 
to his own story, and which will have a special interest for 
our readers, who will by their comfortable firesides sympa- 
thise with the toils and dangers of their brother sportsman 
from Germany. 
And, while reading, let them be thankful that the sport 
they arc partaking is enjoyed only in imagination, and not 
endured in the renlity, for, according to our author, hunting 
in the forests of the Far West is a very different tiling from 
hunting in the Black Forest. Hearken to his warning : - 
But should any inveterate sportsman, with an imagination 
heated by the description of these scones, excited by the 
dangors nod difficulties of tlic enterpiise, depart to the Far 
West, to experience similar adventures, let him remember, 
when wot, hungry, alone, and a prey to mosquitoes, be lies 
stretched in the untrodden forest, longing in vain for a fire, 
and for the society of men ; or when he lias been following 
the tracks of the deer for days together, without the chance 
of a single shot, until he can almost persuade himself that 
the tales he has read of wild sports iu the West are but 
myths existing only in the brains of the Indians; let him, I 
say, remember that I have, so far ns iu me lay, painted all 
this in its true colours, and that many an adventure which 
reads admirably on paper, is in reality the reverse of 
romantic. 
Here is an affecting story : — 
THE FAWNS. 
Towavds noon I came to the little river Sulphurfork, 
which I was obliged to wade through, after wauy vain 
attempts to find a shallow place, the water coming up to 
my chest. I began to despair of getting anything to eat, 
and, being thoroughly wet, I resolved to come soon to a halt, 
and dry inyself by a fire, when all at once I saw about fifty 
deer within shot, all quietly feeding, and taking no notice of 
me. For an instant I stood petrified ; then every fibre in 
my body beat and trembled with delight. The Buddenness 
of the sight had so excited me that I could not take aim, 
and I was obliged to wait to collect myself. It was a 
glorious sight, such a number of these noble animals to- 
gether ; I counted fifty-seven, and derived particular pleasure 
from the antics of two fawns, which made the most comical 
bouuds, and came very near me without any suspicion. 
Regret to kill such a beautiful innocent creature withheld my 
hand for some time, but hunger was not to be cajoled — I fired, 
and one of them fell without a cry. The effect of the report 
upon the herd was quite ludicrous — each of the hitherto 
unsuspicious animals became an image of attention, then 
fled udth immense bounds towards the thicket. As I did 
not move they stopped again, and began to feed, but not 
without frequently raising their heads to listen. The im- 
pression which the fall of his playfellow had produced on 
the othor fawn was very different. Far from flying he came 
nearer, Binolt the poor aniinnl as if he thought it was play, 
setting his fore-foot several times on the body of liis com- 
rade as if to induce him to get up. I had the other barrel 
still loaded, but thought it would be like murder to injure 
a hair of the little creature. 
As I stepped out from the bushes, the fawn Btared at me 
with astonishment in his large clear eyeB ; probably bo Rad 
never seen a man before. He then flew like the wind towards 
his dnm, but stopping now and then as if he expected his 
comrade. I quickly made a fire on the Bpot to roast my 
game, putting the greater part of the back and the brisket 
on sticks before the fire with hollow bark underneath to 
catoh the dripping for basting ; and a delicious meal was 
veiy soon the result of this simple proceeding. 
On one occasion Herr Gerstaecker narrowly escaped the 
fate of Acteon — being made a dinner for his own dogs. 
He had 
A SWIMMING RACE WITH THE DOGS. 
After an hour or two the dogs started a young bcni-, and 
followed him iu full cry, but had uot gone far when they 
were stopped by the river l’Auguille, or, as they call it here, 
the Langec ; neither coaxing nor threats could induce them 
to take to the water, and Saint thought that if one of us 
swam over the dogs would follow, and that we should find 
the trail again on the other side. Saint could not swim, 
Uhl would not : so I threw off my clothes, and plunged iu. 
The river, which in summer ia very shallow, and hardly 
seems to flow, was now much swollen, and had overflowed 
its banks. As soon as I hud swum some distance, Saint 
began to cheer on the dogs, and I soon heard them spring 
into the water, one after the other, and follow me. I was 
swimming slowly with long strokes, and had reached about 
the middle of the river, when 1 heard two of the dogs close 
behind me, while Saint was still cheering them on from the 
bauk, as if to attack a bear. The two near me were barking 
furiously, aud the thought flashed.upou in© : suppose they were 
to Beize me i If only one had attacked me, all the rest would 
have joined, aud as they were strangers to me, if they bad 
fallen upon me I should have had no chance: so I began to 
Htriko out as hard and as f.isfc as I could to reach the shore. 
Everting myself for my life, I came nearer and nearer the 
bank, hut the excited dogs swam fluster still, and I beard the 
suorung of one of tLem close to mo when I felt the ground : 
in an instant I and the dogs were both ou shore, The 
danger was oyer uow. 
THE FIELD. 
Let us turn now to a very different adventure : — 
BEAR-SHOOTING. 
Bear-shooting in America differs according to the time of 
the year, and the habits of the animal. It was now late id 
the autumn, almost winter, so that they could be hunted 
with dogs. Well mounted, with not less than from four to 
about eight or ten dogs, the hunters seek in the thickest and 
most unfrequented parts of the forest the favourite 
haunts of the bear. The men ride slowly through the 
thorns and creepers, the dogs seeking in all directions till 
they find a fresh trail, or n bear breaks cover, when they 
follow up iu full cry. If the bear is fat he seldom runs fur, 
but takes to a tree, or shows fight; if there arc not dogs 
enough to master him, he knocks them over and continues 
his flight. If he takes to a tree, his fate is soon sealed by 
the rifle. 
We ha<l ridden along quietly for about an hour, when the 
dogs gave tongue, and started off, we after them as well as 
we could. My horse was an old hand at it, and I had 
nothing to do but to sit fast as he leaped the fallen trees, 
and try to avoid the creepers, which, however, often 
checked aud sometimes threw us. 
Keeping up with thedogs was out of the question. I had long 
lost sight of my companion ; I listened, and it appeared that 
the bear had turned to the left, towards the river ; could 
he reacli it, he was safe ; it was too cold for the dogs ; besides, 
they would hardly venture to swim, aud we also must have 
remained on the bank. 
I changed my course to cut him off, and luckily bit upon 
ono of the cattie tracks that cross the wood in all directions. 
Once clear of the thorns, we went at a good pace, and soon 
beard the pack approaching. Suddenly the horse swerved 
to one side with a snort, and the bear burst out of the 
thicket.. The moment he saw the horse, he stopped short 
and gave a deep growl. I hud sprung off, and the bear had 
hardly stopped, when my ball was iu bis shoulder. The 
pack was close upon him, aud he summoned all his strength 
to escape from the dogs ; but the wounded shoulder checked 
his pace, the dogs attacked him, and he rose on bis bind 
legs to oppose them. I could not venture a second shot for 
fear of injuring some of them, so charged him with my 
knife, and plunged it from behind the shoulder into his 
heart . this, with the furious bites of the dogs, soon ended 
liis life. 
Here is a sport the pleasures of which are known in 
England only to the poacher : — 
SHOOTING BY NIGHT. 
I was again passionately fond of shooting, and had capital 
sport. As my days were generally occupied, it was carried 
"O at night, as follows: the handle of a frying-pan is 
lengthened to about four feet by means of a narrow board ; 
the pan is filled with kindlera and set alight — then taking it 
on your shoulder, and your rifle in your hand, you are ready 
for sport. If alone, you must take a store of kindlera to 
replenish the fire. For the sake of a better aim, a small 
crutch is cut in the end of the wooden handle, to rest the 
rifle. The fire being kept behind your head, the eyes of 
the game will glow like balls of fire : the deer, accustomed 
to the frequent fires in the forest, are not alarmed. When 
first discovered, if at about 100 paces, the eyes will look 
like a single ball, but the two become distinct on a nearer 
approach, which the sportsman must make with as little 
noise as possible, and, if possible, against the wind. When 
near enough, he lays his rifle in rest, and aims betw-een the 
eyes, or, if he can distinguish the outline of the form, at the 
heart ; and he is generally sure of his game. 
The variety of game is astonishing ; it ranges from bees 
to buffhloes and bears. We present a lively picture of 
BEE-HUNTING. 
As the weather turned out fine and warm in the after- 
noon, wc determined to hunt in the wood for a swarm of 
wild bees, which we had sought for in vain about six months 
before. We took some bait with us, and went to a spot about 
half a mile off. 
To induce bees to take bait in the fall of the year, the 
hunter looks out for a small open space in their neighbour- 
hood, and if he cannot find one lie must make a clearance 
with his knife and tomahawk, stick a branch upright in the 
ground, aud lay some leaves on it spread with a little thinned 
honey. The bees soon discover it, and when they have got as 
much of the honey as they cau carry, they rise in circles, which 
become larger and larger, till they attain a certain height ; then 
they dash off direct for their own tree, to deposit then- 
store in the general warehouse. The bee-hunter must take 
particular notice of the line of their flight, which requires a 
good eye ; and then carry his bait some two hundred yards 
further in that direction, when the begs will soon flock round 
it again. If when loaded they keep the same course, it is 
a sign that the tree is still iu that direction, and the bait 
must be carried further, until they fly the other way. Then 
the bee-liuuter will know that he lias passed the tree, and 
that it must, be between his present and his last station, and 
he is not long in finding it. When he comes near the tree, 
and the bees are at work, their unsteady zigzag flight will 
betray its proximity. 
The first time we moved our buit, the bees flew backward, 
so we knew we could not bo more than a hundred yards 
from their tree ; but the approaching night prevented our 
discovering it. Next morning, about ten o'clock, ns it began 
to get warm, we returned to our hunt, and in less than 
half an hour found the hole where the little labourers were 
passing in aud out. It was in a nearly decayed, not very large 
post-oak, a tree that prefers moist soils, though it also grow# 
on hills. It bears small and rather sweet acorns ; its wood 
is very durable, and will remain long in the ground without 
rotting. I rode hastily back to the house, for we had taken 
a horse with us for the chase, and returned with a pail, 
an axe, a knife, and a spoon. The tree soon fell under our 
blows — smoke was made — the bees stupified — an opening 
cut— aud a most beautiful sight for a bee-hunter presented 
itself, in a number of well-filled cells. We filled the pail 
with the best, ate as much as our stomachs would bear, set 
the tree on fire, that the bees might not lead us astray in our 
next hunt, and returned to the house. 
We conclude with a sketch of 
ALLIGATOR HUNTING. 
The heat in May, especially in the middle of the day, was 
oppressive ; but when the other whites had retired to take 
their siesta, I went with my rifle aud harpoon to the Bwamps, 
at a short distance from the river, to shoot alligators, which 
are to be found in incredible numbers in the warm stand- 
ing pools. What dreadful statements have been written 
about the formidable nature of these animals, and their 
fierce attacks on man ! I have always found them gentle, 
harmless creatures, and was very active in shooting them - 
However, soi 1 lost those I had shot, by their swimming 
a little way and then sinking, I took a harpoon with a 
twenty-feet line, aud, going up to the waist iu water, I 
placed myself under one of the many cypresses standing in 
the swamps, and awaited their approach, os they swam about 
slowly in the glowing mid-day heat, or sunned themselves 
un the bank. If one came within twelve or fifteen yards, I 
was sure of him. The best sport was when he wag , 
great powerful fellow, and I pulled one way as lie pulle.J 
the other. But as standing in the terrible heat of the sim 
did not suit me, I resolved to try torchlight, particularly as 
many of the Creoles told me that no one hiul ever attempted 
to shoot them by the light of a fire, it being supposed that 
the alligator was bolder and more dangerous at uight. So, 
on the next evening. I went to the place with rifle, fire-pan’ 
harpoon, and kindlera. The sight from the banks of the 
swamp was enchanting, and made me endure even mosquito 
bites with patience. The dark surface of the water, the im. 
mense cypresses standing in it, their moss waving in the 
night wind, the dark surrounding forest, the hooting of the 
owls, the melancholy croak of the bull-frog, I bad long been 
accustomed to ; but all iu the water was wild commotion, and 
when bolding the flame behind me, the shadow of tuy head 
was cast upon the flood, hundreds of glowing eyes shone 
from all parts of it like balls of red-hot iron. As I had only 
one hand free, I could not hold the rifle and harpoon at the 
same time ; so I fired at the head of the nearest, dropped 
the rifle, seized the harpoon, darted it into the animal at the 
distance of six or seven yards, and drew it by the line to 
the bauk. I had secured two in this way, when I saw a pair 
of larger eyes coming straight towards me ; I fired as before, 
and darted the harpoon into the wounded auimol, os he 
turned and showed the white of his belly. At the instant 
of darting the harpoon, I was standing close to the edge of 
the water, with the end of the line fastened to my right 
wrist. The alligator had hardly felt the barbed iron, when 
he darted off and dived, jerking me into the water before I 
had time to hold back. The pan fell out of my 
hand, and the fire was extinguished with a loud hiss. 
The liue was too securely fastened for mo to 
free myself, and I was twice dragged under water before I 
felt firm bottom, when, holding back with all my might, I 
succeeded iu stopping him, lie being somewhat exhausted by 
bis exertions aud loss of blood ; then pulling slowly and 
cautiously towards the bauk, gradually increasing the strain, 
he collected his remaining strength, and darted off, dragging 
me head under again ; but the water was uot more than 
four feet deep, and this time I bad less trouble in hauling 
the weakened animal to the shore. 
Wet through and through, and in total darkness, I bad 
fortunately left my matches, with the split wood, at the foot 
of a tree. I groped for and found my pan, and in a few 
minutes another bright flame rose flickering to the sky. 
The large alligator was about ten feet long, aud I could 
make no use of him ; for although the planters use the fat 
for then- cotton machinery, for which it is well adapted, it 
was too old to be eatable : the two first caught were three 
and four feet long ; I cut off their tails, and carried them 
home to eat. 
These are but fragments of the exciting sporting adven- 
tures in this volume, which we recommend to the regards 
of every sportsman. 
THE ©ARM 
TO THE READERS OF “ THE FIELD." 
As we propose for the future to devote a distinct depart- 
ment of The Field to this subject, a few words by way of 
introduction will be necessary. 
First, let us explain the design. It is our purpose to 
provide- information that will be useful to the amateur 
gardener. We shall not, therefore, occupy our columns 
with treatises on vegetable physiology and scientific botany, 
essays on the Woods and Forests' Commissioners, and 
such-like topics, which appropriately fill a large space in 
the Gardeners' Chronicle ; but we shall limit our Garden 
Intelligence to what may be termed practical gardening ; 
that is to sav, the information required by every person 
having a garden, however small, in whose cultivation lie 
takes an interest. Thus we shall make known to our coun- 
try readers new plants, new modes of training, new prac- 
tices in the garden, the times and seasons for the various 
operations, and how they may be conducted most efficiently 
and economically. 
We hope to receive in this department very extensive con- 
tributions from our readers having any experience of their 
own which might be usefully communicated to others. For 
this purpose, we shall open to them a column of Notes 
and Queries, where they may ask questions on topics 
upon which they desire information from practical ex- 
perienced readers, who will doubtless readily oblige them 
and ourselves by assisting the inquirer with a reply, which 
will be communicated through our columns. The judg- 
ment of the Editor of this department will *also be 
readily given to bond fide correspondents, sending their 
names as guarantees for that bond fide, but not for 
publication, and he will help them with explanations 
as to any flowers or fruits whose identity they may desire 
to ascertain. By omitting the matters not of real utility to 
the owner of a garden, we hope to be enabled to convey to 
our readers, every week, quite as much practical information 
ns they could obtain in the journals professing to be wholly 
devoted to horticulture, but of which the greater portion 
consists of subjects having no worth or interest for the prac- 
tical gardener, whether professional or amateur, but only 
for a few men of science. 
This, as well as some others of the departments about 
to be introduced in The Field, will necessarily take some 
time to be brought into full working; but we have explained 
the ultimate design towards which we shall steadily advance, 
and we ask our readers to promote it, by freely communi- 
cating with us upon all the subjects comprised within the 
department of The Garden. 
CARDENING FOR THE WEEK- 
As some of our renders may feel desirous of knowing tbe 
scope and design of the Horticultural Department of Tu£ 
Field, which we this week commence, a little explanation 
will be necessary. We need offer little apology, perhaps, 
for the endeavour to place sound Horticultural information 
