The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-04-02
VISIT TO A LOUISIANA SWAMI.

Louisiana swamps was only derived from
reading and hearsay, consequently the
opportunity Of II personal inspection
which was offered last week, was eagerly
embraced.
After merry ride of several miles,
past blooming fields and fragrant gar
lens, the scenery suddenly assumed
wild aspect, and further driving being
impossible, we penetrated on foot into
the depths of the forest. Here we could
almost imagine ourselves in IL primeval
wilderness, untrodden by the foot of
man. Giant trres-mighty sentinels Of
the grim forest fastness-reared aloft
their gnarled branches, laden heavily
with moss, that livery of time, which
clings about their sturdy limbs until life
itself is yielded to this insatiate parasite.
The impressive silence was broken
only by "Natnre's myriad voices" the
sleep inviting drone of great brown
winged bees, the chipping of countless in
sects, while ever and anon bright scarlet
plumed birds would spring tlame-like
from the tree tops, breaking into burst
of song that rose and throbbed in waves
of rapturons melody.
A sluggish stream was in sight, drag
ging its slow length along like some
noisome serpent, and on its bosom
rocked a tiny dug-out, the only kind of
vehicle which navigates these waters,
and is used for hauling the felled timber.
Embarking therein, we Aoated idly be-
tween the verdured banks. All the trop-
ical luxuriance of Southern forest was
lavished here; great masses of "]atanier'
mirrored themselves in tiny lily-blos-
somed pools, bright ferns waved idly in
the gentle breeze which stirred the bud
ding foliage and seemed to whisper Of
the coming Summer. Gaudy-hued flow
ers clasped with loving arms the dead
fallen trees, clothed them with new and
living beauty; wild shrubs brushed us
as we passed, leaving streams Of fra
GRANGE in our wake, and the towering
oaks threw dark, gruesome shadows,
their waving branches seeming to beckon
with gl,ostly fingers to the stray bits of
sunshine glinting down, making vivid
CLEANS of brightness OH the water which
dimp'ed back again in answering smiles.
Occasionally some great spotted snake
would rear its crested head, and glide
off with undulating motion, while the
merry laugh and monotonous blows of
the wood-cutter telling the mighty mon
arch of the forest, sounded startlingly
distinct.
And now navigation became more and
more difficult, matted underground i'm
pcded our progress, the blackberry bushes
grew thicker and threw their trailing
branches, laden with sharp thorns, across
tho way; tho sun shone 4 vivid globe of
fire in the distant West, while vigilant
owl hooted dismally from the darkness
of his home.
1t seemed fitting adjunct to the scene,
when burly six feet Of African human-
ity leaped from the banks and confronted
us. The weirdncss of the time, tho dy-
ing day, the impressive stiffness, all re-
called the tales told in hushing whispers
of the runaway slaves who took refuge
in these dismal swamps, and lived and
died far from the hannts Of man, leaving
but Il few bleaching bones as evidence
that Gods hantiwork had persisted here,
nnlonored and unsnng." While we
almost imagined ourselves living in that
time, and seemed to listen to the deep
baying of the pursuing hounds, our
dreams were dispclle.l by the sable midi
vidual himself, who spake cheerily,
Boss, needs dat dug ont to get home
in" We invited the Scncgambian to
embark, working ont his passage by
"poling;' so, hoated gayly through the
gathering twilight, waking tho rover
bcrating echoes with sweet old planta-
tion melodies.
Ere the hoIneward drive was over the
shadowy curtain Of the night had long
since enveloped Mother Earth in robes
of starry splcndor, while i'll the radiant
sky
Days last blush
Still lingered-with strange beauty, like |
the yellow flush
That haunts the ocean when the day goes
by.
Mayor Shakespeare vetoed the ordi-
nance adopted by the New Orleans Adj