The Arkansas advocate., 1832-06-13

be eight millions, seven hundred and
twenty thousand bushels per day.
let Us now inspect their place of
nightly rendezvous. One of these GU
rlous roosting places on the banks of
ureen river in Kentucky, | repeatedly
visited. 1t was, as is always the case,
III portion of the forest where the
trees were Of great magnitude and
where there was little underwood: /
rode through ii upwards Of forty miles,
and crossing II IN different parts, found
! Its average breadth to be rather more
than three miles.-My first view OF it
was about a fortnight subsequent to
the period when they had made choice
OF 1t, and arrived there nearly two
hours before sunset. Few pigeons
were then to be seen, but great num-
Der of persons, with horses and wag-
ons, guns and ammunition, had already
established developments on the bor-
ders. Two farmers from the vicinity
OF Russelville, distant more than hum
dfed miles, had driven upwards Of
three hundred hogs 10 be tattened on
the pigt ons which were to be slaugn-
tered. Here and there, the people
employed in plucking and sailing what
had already been procured, were sit
ting III the midst of large piles Of these
birds. The dung lay several inches
deep, covering the whole extent fthc
roosting place, like bed of Snow
Many trees two feet in diameter, oh.
served were broken off at no great dis
lance from the ground, and the branch
IS Of i,is.siy OF the largest and tailesthad
gwen way, as il the forest had been
swept by a tornado. Every thing prov
ed to me that the number OF birds re.
sorting to this part Of the forest must
be immense beyond conception, As
the period of their arrival approached,
their foes anxiously prepared 10 receive
them. Some were furnished with iron
pots containing sulphur, others with
! torches OF pine knots, many with peles,
aud the rest with guns. The sun was
lost to our view, yet not a pigeon had :
arrived. Every thing was ready, and
all eyes were gazing on the clear sky.
which appeared III glimpscs amidst the
tall trees. Suddenly there burst forth
a general cry of "Here they Gomez
The noise they made. though yet dis
tapt, reminded me of a hard gale at sea.
passing through the ringing of a close
rceted vessel. Thousands were soon
knocked down by the pole men. The
birds continued to pour in, the fires
were lighted, and magnificent as well
as wonderful and most terrifying sight
presented itself The pigeons arriv-
ling by thousands, alighted every where,
one above another, until sel:a masses as
large as hogsheads were formed on the
branches all around. Here and there
the percles gave wa, under the weight
with a crash, and falling to the ground,
destroyed hundredsof the birds beneath,
i forcing down the dense groups with
which every stick was loaded. II was
/ a scene ofuproarand confusion. found
it quite useless to speak, or even shout
to those persons nearest to me. Even
the reports Of the guns were seldom
heard, and was made aware Of the
firing only by seeing the shooters re-
loading. No one dared venture within
the line OF devastation. The hogs had
been penned up in due time. the pick
ing up of the dead and wounded being
left for the next mornings employment.
The pigeons were constantly coming in,
and it was past midnight before per-
ceiyed decrease in the number Of
those which arrived.
The uproar continued all night; and
as was anxious TO know what distance
the sound reached, sent off a-man, ac-
customed to perambulate the forest,
who returned two hours afterwards, in
formed me he had heard it distinctly
when three miles distant from the spot.
Towards the approach Of day, the noise
in some measure, subsidized: long be-
fore objects were distinguishable, the
pigeons began to move in direction
4 quite different from that in which they
arrived the evening before, and at sun
rise, all that were able to fly, had disap-
peared. The bowling of the wolves
4 now reached our ears, and the foxes,
/ lynxes, caugars, bears, racoons, oIos-
sums and polecats, were seen shocking
! off, whilst eagles and hawks ofdifferent
|. species, accompanied by a-crsWd of
vuItures, came TO supplant them, and
enjoy their shares Of the spoil. Tide
PIP. 800 to 3224.
fo1;ob of 9th -Tha following ac.