The National tribune., 1900-02-08

"encompassing the whole Swamp" to use
his own words.
A wilderness the Dismal Swamp remains
to this day, and il is safe 10 say always
will, for il is said to be next 10 impossible
TO completely drain it. Even To this day
its deeper recesses are hardly known save
| to such untamed denizens as deer and
bear, and peculiar race of cattle that
have run wild and live upon the reeds and
berries. Hunters and others in search
of game. or curious to know what place
so weirdly and dismally named may be
like, penetrate the Swamp from Suffolk
by way of the Jericho Canal, or on the
eastern side through the Dismal Swamp
Canal.
Away from these two arteries stretch
thousands upon thousands of acres of
dense, tangled forest, usually covered in
most parts with water to the depth of one
or two feet, untraversed by waterways
and untraversable by foot In such vast
Businesses the black bear is at home, and he
does not let himself be seen if he can help
it. But in very severe Winters he is some
times driven from his haunts, and has been
seen by startled wayfarers even in the
outskirts of Portsmouth.
The Jericho Canals about two miles from
Suffolk. Here one can hire from an old
darky skiff built of juniper wood and
propelled by pole or paddle. Rowing by
oars would be useless, as the windings
are so tortuous and circuitous that very
often the bow is run ashore while the stern
can scarcely be seen. At first as one
advances the way lays through a COM
paratively open tract, which has evidently
been burnt over from time to time, and
which, therefore, has look utterly DESC
late and forlorn. The trees here are small
water-oaks, and also what are known as
COW oaks, sweet bay, holly, cotton gums,
short-leaf pine, and some juniper, or white
cedar.
Big cane, which the natives call reed,
grows everywhere, bending it's graceful
sprays over the dark water, or with stems
standing stiffly erect in great clumps. To
this bamboo more than to any other plant
the vegetation of the Dismal and other
Southern swamps owe their queer, peculiar
look. When in bloom this cane is said to
very much resemble the rare Towering of
bamboo in the vast jungles Of India. The
young stalks, which are used for making
pipe-stems, are cut and tied in sheaves by the
darkies, who usually earn 81 a day as
wages.
Many Towering shrubs can also be
found, mostly what are known as heath
worts, with large, shiny leaves. Most de-
lightful of all are said to be the pale pink
aZaleas, which are much sought for by
country people for the curious green swell
ing produced on its leaves by q certain
fungus growth. These can be eaten, and
are known as honey-suckle apples.
AS one puISutS Ills lazy way along
tortuous canal, the trees gradually became
taller, and the fringing cane more dense
The woodland voices that had been lifted
high ii the early morning sink to almost
whisper. The chorus chanting of the frog
dies away. Now and then the sweet notes
Of warbler reaches the ear high up in the
heavens At times a gray crane rises into
the air with its peculiar, discordant cry.
Ever and anon a blue heron will rise only
to see him disappear in fright down the
long, winding arcade before you.
Then you, glide into what is known
as the Black Gum Swamp, where the
straight columns Of the trees tower 100
feet or more, and the light is as soft as in |
cathedral; this continues for about two miles, |
and then one emerges upon the margin |
of Lake Drummond, being now inland |
about 10 miles. There is always some |
thing of ghost-like weirdness in the look |
of this forest -bordered sheet of water In
voluntarily ones eyes go searching for |
Tom Moore's mysterious maid who paddles
her white canoe.
The banks of this lake are fiat, so that 1t
looks much larger than it really is. 1t
would be thoroughly monotonOus land
scape were it not for the picturesque belt of
old cypress stumps that surround its mar
gin, almost disappearing at every high
water, but usually in plain view. Gnarled
and gray are these relics Of ancient forests
worn by years of weather and storm-dashed
water into a thousand strange, unearthly
orms.
One likes to picture in fancy the ma
estic, noble trees that must have once stood
n serried array like line Of battle about
his queer lake. A few are said to be still
living, small of girth above, but near the
water thick, ending into huge buttressed
,ase.
One of the most notable of these is known
" the residenters as "Samson's Maui;
1hy this name, | have been unable to as
ertain. To the branches Of these cypress
ling small wisps of Spanish moss, MAX
ng a most beautiful contrast to their gray
ides When it rains in the Dismal SWamD