Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-06-17
correspondence OF the Telegraph.
CANTON, Madison Co., Mi, }
Jan. Is, 1840.*


A few days have elapsed since my arriv-
here, in company with my friend DR.. P.
of New York. No ksincidents" occurred
o n our tour hither, except our losing our
way in the night, and the prospective conso-
lation of spending the night in the " intent
ed field" alias, in the midst Of a Mississip-
pi forest, with no other convenience"
for our bed than our saddles and /" riding
blankets" curtained by the wild drapery of
the wilderness.
We had arrived, about dark, through sew
eral miles Of deep forest on the banks of
Pearl River, which we were obliged to ford.
The dense forest, deepening and darkling,
approximate to the large streams, here with
It's thick underground of cane, jutted frown-
ingly over the rugged banks, seeming to stir
and enlife the spirit of gloom lowering upon
the dark waters. Knowing the water to be
deep from the circumstance that steamboats,
| ply many miles above, later in the season,
we fingered a little on the shore till we
found ourselves rapidly drawn into sympa-
thy with the sombre scene, and consequent
ly deemed ii best 10 screw up our courage
and plunge in. In steering our way as we'll
as possible to the opposite shore, our horses
scarcely escaped swimming, and ourselves
and our saddle-bags did not escape a pretty
thorough wetting. With this however We
very cheerfully put up, under the ~consola-
tion Of finding ourselves safely on the oppo-
site shore. 1t was now some eight or ten
miles to a public house where we expected
to find entertainment, and a majority of the
way a dark swamp forest. We pushed on
several miles, pursuing what we deemed the
most direct route, till, having passed sever
al roads, we began 10 suspect from our
course that we were out of our way. We
passed the borders of a plantation, but could
nowhere discover any house or " negro
quarter" at which we could make inquiry,
and so were obliged to pursue our way di-
reclly into the forest. We stopped occa-
~sionally to listen TO see if we could hear
signs of life and intelligence in any quarter,
but without avail, and began TO think seri-
ously of taking up Mississippi lodgings
among the trees. At this juncture we caught
the sound of horsemen at a distance on an
other road, and falling to hailing them stout
ly, we soon brought them to. They direct
ed US to follow them and they would put US
upon the correct route, to which we gladly
acceded, and after travelling four or five
miles farther, fell in with a miserable apol-
ogY for a tavern, styled a "house Of enter
tainment," meaning, | suppose, that all
poor unfortunates like ourselves, failing to
procure a better place, might, turn in, which
; at this time we were not 10th TO do, as it
was several miles yet to town where we
purposed putting up for the night, and al
J ready late in the evening. Our accommo-
! dating host and hostess furnished Us with a
plenty Of homely comforts for the night and
morning, and during the following day we
made our arrival here.
By the way, to a Mississippian, a lodging
: In the forest would scarce be deemed a dis
aster. He would have laid his head upon
his saddle, his pistols and bowie knife de-
posted beneath, and covering himself with
his riding-blanket, would have felt himself
E as much at home as if in a palace. l have
often. seen a traveller, either alone, or with a
single servant, anchor his " ~cariole " il the
midst of the forest-in mid-winter too, but
en- pdssqnt, not a New England winter
: "hobble " his horse, fasten down the cur.
1 tains Of his carriage, and go to sleep like a
wolf. GGcun a son govt, but the temper.
, allure of a New Workers. blood is hardly
: high enough TO relish that sport.
My friend, DR.. P, left here soon after our
i arrival, for Baton Rouge, La, so am left
a again to new conquests for acquaintance and
: soeaety-and perhaps enough has slready
: been achieved in that way, by virtue Of my
Mailed May ID.
sA--As&~a