Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-11-06

glistcning In the war parade-Or or. disves,cd Of all his plumes
and t~rappings, armed with his simple bow and culver, TO
plunge his steed amongst the flying herds OF bufaoes,
and with his sinewy bow, which he never bends in vain,
10 dive deep in life's fountain the wbizzing arrow. The
buffalo herds which always Craze upon these beautiful
pr"'Iies in countless numbers, eiord them abundance Of
meat; and 20 much is il preferred TO all oiherr that the deer,
me Elk and the antelope, sport upon the prairies IN herds
in the greatest SCcuiiiy, rs the Indians never kill them
unless they want their skin Tor a dress.
Whenever Mr.. M'Kenzie's ice-house is nearly empty
OF beet, lac starts with three or four men on horseback,
with two or three carts following at a distance, and often
times within view of the fort, il not, within a mile or tive,
they will ride amongst a band of them, and ina few min
utes kill 10. or ~ Of thcn, selecting the latest of the
herd. These scenes are exceedingly spirited aud beauti-
full, furnishing decidedly the finest subjects for the pencil
OF any sporting scenes in the world. The horses in this
country are all trained to it, aid know exactly how TO APP
proach The animal, without being guided by the bit. A
short, light gun is used for the purpose; the rider guides
his horse AT full speed, until he has selected the object OF
his prey; he directs his horse TO it, then drops his bride,
and the horse at full speed approaches the animal on the
right side, within eight or ten feet, when the shot is gen
orally given with such precision through the vital parts
OF the body, that he seldom runs more than a hundred
yards before he falls.
| rode in the midst of several of these scenes, rather TO
study than to slay. In one of them, however, finding my
horse had brought me so fairly along side OF a bull OF the
largest size, l caught, as my horse had, the enthusiasm OF
the chase, and with my double barrelled piece so disa-
bled him that he was Immediately left by the band. 1
halted, and saw my comrades sweeping over the prairies,
mingled in the midst of the herd, and leaving AT every
lew rods the dying victims on the plains. was willing
to stop the pursuit, for | found that / had luckily so disa.
bled my bull that he could make none, or but little all
vance upon me, although he was continually rising and
swelling himself with the most irightiul rage, and endea-
voring TO pitch upon me. Here was a scene for the pain
tor or the statuary, one worthy OF the sublime ideas Of
Michael Angelo. No the tiger nor the black named Lion
of Africa could have looked half so furious OF %frighiiul. 1
defy the world TO produce an animal in his looks so furi-
Gus and irightlul as the Buffalo Bull, when he is reused
into a rage, with his long shaggy name covering his shout
ders and falling to the ground. In this condition | drew
my sketch book from my pocket, and by riding towards
and around him, and exciting his fury, was enabled to-
catch the very attitudes and expressions that l wanted
Ia MARTY atnrpinr ~ laput .,,tl, gNna nrtat ~. -,
safety, and finding Ie dismonntcd and busily engaged
with this iniuriated gentleman before me-, standing Tor his
likeness, We're not a little surprised and amused. When
my series OF attitudes and expressions were finished, a
shot through his bead finished the scene.
The health and amusements Of this delightful country
render IT almost painful for me toleave ii. The atmosphere
is so light and pure that nothing like fevers or epidemics
has ever been known 10 prevail here: indeed it is proven
bal here that a man cannot die unless he is killed by the
Indians. Ii the Cholera should ever cross the Atlantic,
what a secure, and at the same time delightful refuge this
country would be for those who would be able TO reach it.
| shall commence descending the river in a few days in a
small boat, and shall stop some time at the Mandans and
Gros-ventres or Minatarec villages, 400 miles below this,
which are probably the mostintcrcsting villages OF Indians
which i shall see on the river. From those villages |
shall be able 10 give you some more interesting and
anusingdetails of manners and customs of these unciviized
and unchristianized sons of the West. Until then adieu.
Your friend and servant, GEORGE CATLlN
EAST FLoRIDA.-An exploring party who have been
engaged in examining that part of East Florida extending
from thirty miles south of Cape Roman to Charlotte har-
Dor, have furnished some interesting notices of the result
~ hhSh duOiS II dDItdISs HOUl IL lelNCf DuUnS1Gu III the
Charleston Courier, that the party were engaged from
June till October in their explorations during which time
the sea coast and two considerable rivers were examined.
One of the rivers, the Sinebdl, was traced for eighty
miles, sixty miles of which are supposed TO be ~navigabIe
Tor vessels oil light draft and steamboats,. The banks
OF the river are from four TO twelve feet high, above the
level OF the water-they descend perpendicularly. At
ter entering the mouth of the river, the water was found
OF equal depths in all parts, offering but few distractions
to NAVIGATION. This rivn- = - 49, no -
mocks, pine barrens, prairies, &c. In some of the prai-
ries, large quantities of white grapes of excellent flavor
and large size, as well as a species of Indigenous cotton,
were found. The river Mahaco-someumes called the
Carlos-was also explored for about seventy miles it was
considered nayigable to that distance. The stream is bold
and rapid, and in many places, at a distance OF fifty miles
from its mouth, is fifteen feet deep, The banks of this RI
yer were also studded with valuable tracts of land. live
oak, hammocks, pine barrens, cypress swamps, SC. An
immense quantity OF live oak timber, suitable for building
vessels OF all descriptions, was found on Ibis river.
The leading object OF the exploring party was the es-
adjustment OF a town or colony, and Sinebal Island was
selected for the purpose. The temperature is said to be
age OF So degrees, and very rarely sinking below 90 in
winter. The air is pure and eXhilaraiing, possessing a de-
gree oil lightness and buoyancy, of which words can con-
vey no adequate conception. There are no frosts; conse-
quenuy the sugar-cane may be cultivated without diff
entity, and to great advantage. Fine specimens Of cotton
have been produced in the same latitude, and fine lines
and cocoa-nuts have been produced al the Spanish fisheries.
The country is declared to he decidedly s~aiubrious.
The tract OF country explored abounds in game, deer
wIld tuTkies, &c. A species OF bis-peThaps the WOO,
ibis-measuring nearly five feetin height, was shot by The
exploring party. They also saw the rOseato spoon bill, Tho
nlmingo, %paroquets, &c. The water abounds in every va
riety OF fish, and oysters and clans orvery superior quail,
~. On the surrounding keys, turtle of various descrip.
lions may be taken.-Bdit. AMERICAN.