The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-08
Padding OUR OWN CANOE.
"A Pleasant GUNNER Exploration on
Our Small Rivers and Bayous.

even at the hour 81 noon stroll down the leyee
| On the Algisfs eide Of the river was most
i agreeable one. From across the river foated
/ Tie rumblIng Of distant drays III the city, the
footing of steamboat whistles. and all noise and
hustle Of commerce.. On the bank on which the
reporter stood there was little to disturb the
quiet. save now aud then the ehfrup Of the
calkers' malleta as they drove the oakum into
the seams OF some worn ship on the docks. II
sounded like an orchestra OF erickets, clear and
not t1nmusical. The old Mississippi rufTlsd d
little by q passing breeze. licked around the
RATS u old spars lying alongside The bank and
now md then the smell Of boiling pitch attested
the fact that the chip carpenter WAS hard ct
work patching ~ some battered huIls that had
weathered The gales Of the Mexican gulf Rusty
anchors. that had long since retired from ser.
| vice and were now holding on to the earth their
| last long hold. were scattered about In a de.
| lightful disorder. and beachsd shrouda and
| splintered bowsprits lay afrsotionately close,
as Ii stilllelinging to their old sea- farinR DOM.
panions. the anchors. It recalled
QUILTS DOCK,
on the Thames. with fts museum Of antiduated
remnants of what were once my gallant ship
80 bold" Passing along. now Jumping over
broken masts and dissolute oapstans that like
deerepit politicians, had long ago forgotten
how to turn. the reporter came nearer the boat
building shops where John Mahoney and
Ooean put up their fast racing yachts, Sitting
eo ton q % a1aaY aT n hg
vidnal Of about thirty -eght. with jauntys traw
bat on bis head and pleasant face that gave
nside o t. III sopt b ssR 81 one
pocket IF which peaped D red bandana hand
ksrchfef. fitted neatly ACROSS a pair Of broad
sassa 81 q ees LIZ H.. az DLeay as g.
pair Of pants Sid of the yawi and stood un.
nea I'D set e asEed az fdn some
what Of 9 stranger over here, would gon BE- kind
builder2 I've been looking for one, but haven't
found him YETI the reported suggested john
Mahonsy. but stated that the canoes used here
were the pirogues dug out from the Oh press
"That's not what want exaetlv.' aald the
stranger; have made ssvera, trips Il Cana
a. Ra hob s,A ah IL NW b ss
you probably have heard OF the
ROD ROY CANOE
of Mcdregor, iii which he made 20 many long
Journeys down the rivers OF Europe-well.
The reporter suggested that no one here had
INDUCED IN this sport, md 1t would be q novelty
to hnr builders to I'M make one without drawings
prepared with Drawings y and 0 small model; Az
Tre q are wonaTona 5 lille river. ss
this State which offer d delightful field to 4
quiet student Of nature. and intend to enjoy
mem s i Adreb Utaa
tual Introduction followed.
u. Ny canoe. with which penetrated most OF
Of tho lakes, was more like the kayak OF the
Esuutmaux than canoe proper. its length
Was about hlteen teeI, with q. great deal Of
make her
SAFE IN ROUGH WATER.
She was two feet two inches wide and had a
eioekyi. where sat rubber canvas enyer
water that might be shipped on her decks, and
1t required very heavy sea to, hurt her. Nv
stc., which cooked With an alcohol lamp were wers
kept below"
aBut how about your sleeping accommoda-
Uh. carried them With ne" said Mr.. q. II
could run the nose Of my boat into 9 bank:
stretch myself out on the bottom OF her. draw
until morning, THAT'S the kind 81 boat | want
Rep. What rivers and bayous do you propose
g: There, whole summers amusement in
THE BoauE cHrTTo.
rising above Franklinton, Washington parish.
IL u Ps ing ReR e o assa
the most exquisite strerms i'd this Or any other
State. II all have heard Of 1t be- true. It IL as
Il rings msrrlly over Its bed Of pearly white
along gently. 1ts banks are shaded with the
giant magnolia. the oak. gum and cottonwood.
and its course. Is through beautiful rolling
country sometimes and then through prairie
tations aud number Of country stores. Then
there is
THE PEARL,
OF which oil have heard. propose to start
and paddle down II to the gulf. The purity Of
BANKS. he weird lille islands il II, and the
deep and awe-insptring sWamps make 1t an El.
dorado for the student Of nature and the artist.
! have heard descriptions 81 the glorious sun
sets there and the glori.s OF i,s tropical wealth
its waves. and then az they fall back from the
banks the sea OF prairie varies the picture.
Then
THE TANa1PAHoA.
will start from the. station on the Jackson
road OF that name, and come Gown tts circutous
wlndinRs 10 its mouth. 1t is said to be q very
landscape. studies. You see. In q canoe can
start far above steamboat navigation and enjoy
aye Thf i The
60 where everybody has been before. but 10 q
Rob Roy you 20 whore nobody has. You carry
your boarding and lodging with you and are
independent.
Then there are the
ANTE AND TIcKFAw
rivers. Few know anything about them from
their head waters. They come down and flow
into Lake Maurepas. Boats run up certain
distance. and beyond that they are known only
ny name.
Now there's
THE BodUE FALAYk,
that goes by Covington. Above that town will
have new unex plored world to myself. Some-
times padding through the thick underbrnsh.
and sometimes gliding smoothly in pleasant
renches.
II nothing prevents. look forward to my
trip
DOWN BAYOU LAFoURcHE
from Donaldsonville to the sea with the fondest
anticipAtiops. Longfellow. In his Evangeline
has. excited by his brilliant painting curiosity
to thread those dreamy bayons where the for
est primeval" still shakes its messy beard at he
sleeping water beneath, and day melts into
night without even the restless breathing Of a
twilight
Our newly-made acquaintance went on. and
pictured some Of the scenes be had enjoyed
growing at times poetic Ia big descriptions. We
were almost converted into taking canoe trip
ourselves.
There Is no question but what he Is right con-
MAN,