Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-10-19
COMO.
THE LAND THAT HUNTERS
DREAM ABOUT.
Especial to Virginlan- pilot.)

\SPeSioi 10 NlTBlnlan-tllOt.)
Como. HEREFORD Co, N. c.. Oct. 49,
Just to the east OF the pleasant village
OF Como is an immense forest OF over
lz,uU0 acres. This vast domain is but
sparsely inhabited. A few scattered
farms of small size are found in it. a
great deal of this forest is of virgin
growth. a vast deal of lumber has
been cut upon it. The giant pines. fit
for masts to ocean ships; the sturdy
oaks. century old. have fallen beneath
the strokes of the woodman's axe, and
as consequence the sunlight falls
where once was densest shade. Vast
stretches of the richest pasture land
wave their luxuriant vegetation. With
in the forests fertile bosom are spots
of EXTREMIST beauty. 1t is bounded on
the cast bX the Meherrin and on the
east by north by the broad and beauti-
full Chowan Both of these lovely
streams are excellent for fishing. The
black bass and the striped bass are in
these waters in immense numbers.
Antlered bucks and graceful does wan
der. almost unlimited and unmolested,
through it's extended savannas In the
sWanpy low grounds OF these streams
bruin makes his home-his growl is
OFTEN heard within the deep receSSes.
Coons innumerable and opossoms by
the thousands nightly prowl in search
OF food. Wild turkeys gobble in the
'''cA IL anu III lllc SUN anu QoiCN
eve around the isolated feeding pens
Tor hoSS, and are often seen in flocks
crossing the cultivated parts. SQuir-
refs laugh and chatter as they leap
from Dough to bough of the beautiful
beech and graceful hickory. Wolves
are skulkinS here, too, making the
night hideous with doleful cries, and in
It's more remote and sequestered parts
wild cattle roam at will.
Within 500 yards of Como the ground
abruptly sinks about twenty feet,
marking the beginning of this vast for
est. The village and the beautiful
farms. enclosing it on all siles, is locat-
eli upon a plateau noted for its health,
for cool. clear water and for wonder
full variety of pleasing landscapes of
soft Italian beauty. The farms around
form II noble plantation OF rich and
well cultivated fields. intersperscd with
belts of woodland. In these fields are
beautiful coverts for cartridges, while
the original growth affords protec-
ton from the cold blasts and singing
frosts of winters. Now, here is the
hunters ideal paradise! In light ca
noes the Isaac Waltons can skim the
placid streams and entice the bass to
his flash and dash to seize the glitter
ing fly pendent to his bob. Floating on
this gentle bosom he can see spots of
beauty worthy of the pallet and pencil
of Salvador Rosa. The names of these
streams arc Indian-Chowan. the beau
tiful; Meherrin. the turbid Indian
names are Americas antiquities
"'Their names are on your waters
You cannot wash them out"
TO give u faint conception of the
numberless cartridges that make these
fields and woodlands their homes and
haunts. my neighbour, Mr.. j. Is. Waugh
an. and his son Lillian shot last season
7u0 70 I'm Na htf fa,v
and but very few we'll trained dogs.
The past summer, especially in June
and July, was very dry. These months
are the birds nesting time. The young
of the partridge, when recently Matched,
are very delicate and rapidly destroyed
by excessive rains. The little covering
brides. when wet. are easily chilled
and die. Given IL months lease of life.
they become hardy, fly rapidly when
the patterinS rain is falling and has
lily seek their coVerts. The last season
Tor Matching and rearing their young
was especially propitiouS 10 the part
ridge, and as n result these fine birds
are here In exceedingly large coveys.
on some plantations the open. or
arabic. land recedes from the centre
fully In a circuit of 500 yards, and this
enables the sportsman to scatter the
coNcy and hunt the birds i'm detail
There is one good reason why these
piIuS are so numerous with us, viz,
The area OF small grain has, been largely
incrcased-peanuts abundantly raised
and they ae not hunted to any great
extent. Again, every one who owns Il
gun cannot kill these birds in their
quick AND rapid flight 1t requires n
steady nerve and quick eye to be-
come successful hunter. 1t is noble
sport. however, in the crisp, bracing.
yet balmy days of October and Novem-
Der. and indeed through our mild
Southern winters, to he a-ncld, when
every nerve is tingling. with a fine dog
OF high degree, making his tours and
detours through the tufted grass or
open moors.
The surrounding forest is ablaze now
with autumn beauty; the wind but lifts
the puff of the gun as 1t rolls it's death
cry the beautiful trained dog, with eye
7stc7r6ffffy fixed tttfa-ane foot pointed to-
wards the crouching bird. High on and
away flies the startled bird. Who would
not be in at such n death?