Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-08-04
MISC ELLA Y.
From Blackwood's Magazine for July.
THE PRAIRIE AND THE SWAMP,
AN ADVENTURE IN LOUISIANA.

AN ADVENTURE IN LOUISIANA.
1t was n suIlry September afternoon, in the year
49,. My friend Carleton and myself had been
three days wandering about the pruires and had
nearly filled our til boxes aud other receptaces
with specimens of rnre aud curious plants. But
we had not escaped paying the penalty OF our
zeal as naturalsls, IN the shape Of perfect rons-
ing from the sun, which had shot down its rays
during the whole time Of our rnmble, with an ar.
dor only to be appreciated by those who have Wis.,
tied the Louisiana praries. What made matters
worse our luie stone of wine had been early ex-
pended some Tallin, with which we had rcpen
ished our TASKS, had also disappeared; and the
wafer we Wet with besides being rare, contained
so much vegetable and animal matter, us TO be I'M
drinkable unless qualified in some manner. In
this dilemma, we came to halt under clump Of
hickory .rees, and despatched Martin, Cartoons
Acadlan servant upon voyage nj discovery. He
had assured us that we must ere long fall in with
some party Of Americans Cocho1 Yankees,
as he called lhenl-who, in spite of the hatred
borne them by the Acadians and Creoles, were
daily becoming more numerous in the country.
Alter waiting, IN anxious expectations of Mar
tins return, for full hour during which the air
seemed TO get more and more sultry my compan-
ion began to wax impatient. :" What can the tel-
low be about ?' cried he. "Give a blast on the
horn," he added, handing me the instrument; al
cannot sound it myself, Tor my tongue cleaves to
my palate from heat aud drought.
put the horn to my mouth and gave q blast.
Bit the tones emitted were not the clear, echo
awakening sounds that cheer and strengthen the
huner. They were dali aud short, as though the
air had lost all elasticity aud vibration, and by lis
weight crushed back the sounds nlo the horn. 1t
was warning OF some nscrutabe danger. We
gaZed around US, aud saw that others were not
wanting.
The spot where We had halted was on tie l.c
OF one of those pine forests that extend, almost
without interruption, from the hills of the Cote
Geee 10 the Opelousa mountains, and OF a vast
prairie, sprlnkled here and there with palmetto
fields, clumps OF trees, and broad patches thrush
wood, which appeared mere dark spccks Oh the
immense extent Of plain that lay before us, cover
ed with grass OF the brightest green, aud SO long
as to reach up 10 our horses shoulders. To the
right was a plantation Of palmeltos half Il mile
wide, and bounded by sor. OF creek, gully
the banks of which were covered with giganii,
- cypress trees. Beyond this, more prairie and
wood of evergreen oak 10 the east an impene
traI,e lhckot of magnolias, papaws, oak aud bear
trees-io the north, the pine wood before mention
ed.
Such was the rich landscape we had been sur
rounded by II short hour before. But now, OF
looking around, we found the scene changed an,
our horizon becams far more limited by risin.
clouds of blush gray vapor, which approached IL
rapidly from the wind quarter. Each momen
this fog appeared 10 become thicker The sun NJ
longer dsZzled our eyes when we gazed on il, bu
showed through the mist like pale red moon
the outline Of the forest disappeared, yelled from
our sight by masses Ut yapof; aud the air, which
during the morning, had been light and elastic, al
though hot, became each moment heavier an
more difficult TO inhale. The part OF The prarl
that remained visible, presented The appearance @
narrow, misty valley, incosed between Two ran
ges of gray mountains, which the fog represent
ed. AS we ga2ed around us aud behed thes
strange phenomenal, our eyes met, and we read i
each others couniennnce that embarrassment
which the brayest and most light hearted az
10 feel, when hemmed in by perils OF which the
cannot conjecture the nature.
"F- off your gum" said | TO Carleton.
START j as | spoke at the alteration in my ow
voice. The gun went off, bat the report was
il were, slihed by the compressed atmosphere.
did not even alarm some water fowl that wer
pIashing and hounderng in the creek few hun
dred PAGES from us.
Look at our horses exclaimed Carleton
"Ihey are surely gong mad" The animals wer
evidently uneasy at something. They pricked u
their ears turned half round, aud gazed vii
startled eye behind them; then strained with the
heads aud necks IN the opposite direction to III
vapor, snorting violently, and at last trying
break away from the trees 10 which they wei
tied. A short time previously they had appeate
much laIigued, but now they were all fire amt in
patience.
alt is impossible to remain here" said Carl
ton. b.
But whittier shall we go?"
"Wherever our horses choose to take u.s."
We united the animals and sprang upon then
But scarcely were we in the saddle when the
started off az a pace Ms frantic as If pack
wolves had been AT thelr heels; aud taking the d
reclion OF the creek, which ran between the pal
mello plantation and cypless wood, continued
long its banks at the same wild gaop. AS "
advanced, the creek began to widen in place
palneltos, cumps Of marsh reeds, and rush
showed themselves here and there. An unearl
Nv stiffness prevailed, only broken now and the
by the cry of wild goose and even that al
peared strange and unnatural in lis sound
"What can be the meaning Of this ~ erie
Carleton. 81 am burning with heat, and yet
lave not the slighles, moisture on my skin. A
these signs are incomprehensible. For GOO
sake sound the horn again."