Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1856-01-17
Here's enough for us all don't be afraid to

and called out: Come on, friends; take
YOUR seats around there's room here
"The one who seemed their chief stepped
forward and saluted me with gravity; then
approaching an angle of the rock, he placed
his gun against it, The rest all followed
his example, Notwithstanding that we still
retained our arms. Each also drew forth
his kife and pistols and placed them on the
rock. Then unbinding the sashes from
their waists, they unbuckled the broad lea
thern belt which held their cartridges, and
laid them carefully down together. Salut-
ing us again with the ordinary expressions
of politeness, they took up their places a.
round the viands, while we, having Of course
laid aside our guns, played the part OF hos
pitable hosts, and all fell to with a will like
men whose appetites had been thoroughly
developed by the keen mountain air.
"Two of our formidable guests were un-
dersized, but quite stout men. Their stout
ness did not, however, consist Of fat, but of
thick layers of powerful muscle. One of
these two had lost his left hand and the low
er half of his left forearm. There was also
an ugly scar over the outside corner of his
left eye, which appeared to have been made
by the passage of bullet.
ellis eyes were light-colored, but bright
and piercing; his nose large. His mouth
looked like a cash in his face, SO tightly
were the bloodless lips compressed, and his
somewhat protruding chin was covered with
a heavy black beard. His skin, like that of
all his band, from constant exposure to the
sun and wind, resembled dark bronze.
''Their dress was such as the men of the
country usually wear, breeches of cotton vel
vet, blue, green, or brown according to the
taste of the wearer sort of frock-coat of
the same, reaching almost to the knee ;
|heavy shoes, and woolen stockings an inch
thick cravat of black silk about the throat,
and broad belt of pliable leather at the
waist, the upper part forming a flap to cov-
er the lower, and protect from rain the car
tridges which were set closely, side by side,
in little tubes of brass, sewed fast to the lea
ther. A broad red sash held the pistols and
knife, and on their heads they wore the usual
lberretta, or cap of the country. This is knit
of strong, thick woollen stuff, and resembles
ia huge purse, with woollen tuft at either
end. When put on, one tuft is thrust in,
so as to make hollow, and it is thus pull
ed as far on the head as suits the convent
ence of the wearer, the other end hanging
down behind, or Oh the left side.
''The two shorter ones, it appeared, were
both chiefs, and called each other brother,
though they were not relatives. The rest
were tall, strong men, some Of them deeply
5 pitted with the small pox, and some of them
: bearing on their SCARED visages the indelli-
BILE marks of battle, or of broil.
d ssWhen the wild rage Of hunger was ap-
peased,' and sour souls had lost the desire
of eating and of drinking,' we talked OF
hunting, and each one told some story Of
, wolf hunts, of good shots, Of tumbling into
pits, of ancient excavations, whose mouths
were overgrown with bushes, and other haps
5 and mishaps of hunters life, all parties of
course avoiding the most distant allusion to
, the peculiar profession Of our guests.
'My intercourse with the countrymen Of
the interior had taught me that they almost
r all like pinch of good snuff: so pulling
out the large oblong black box, in which
usually carried a good supply to humor this
little weakness, offered it to our guests,
5 who appeared to enjoy the powdered weed.
Then, as I knew that half-confdences only
t do harm, in such case, [ pulled out my
l own little snuf-box of gold, and offered il
to them saying:
2 t'Try this; this is better still
"sNo, Signore, mile grazie, Ga thousand
: thanks, this is good enough for u.s.
+ And [ quietly put back the gold thai
glistened in their eyes, without the slightest
t movement ON their part.
t '''But,' said the one-armed chief, 'ex-
cuse me; has your Excellency any powder
to spare?
'''Oh, yes Here, bring out that large
flask of powder, and pour out half of it on
this piece of paper for our brave friends
| here.'.'
$50 said, so DONE Half of our reserve
, powder was made over to them, and it was
received with many thanks.
GAS the day was now coming to close
e we rose to depart. Onr mountain friends
S walked on along with us. quietly conversing.
AS we were passing over a small table land
!; one of the chiefs stopped and said:
1 " Come, let us fire at mark OF how
e many points is this powder of yoursY
l Il ought perhaps, explain to you that
e our mode of comparing the force of powder
is to put some of it in small brass tube
t which answers as charger. The inside Of
n this little tube is set with small brass points
!, at equal distances, and with newly purchas,
e ed powder we make several trials to find ou
what quantity of powder gives most force to
n the ball
!, Il told him it was of six points.
J.: "'Then it must he very good
d "'Ka .fratello msettermi la n,erca.' Go
brother, and make me target said he tc
/. II Monco, (the maimed.)