Year: 1877

were barefoot, the men were either too
lazy to put their shirts inslde their
pants or kept them outside that they
might the more readily dry on coming
out Of the water, and the beds were de-
void Of mosquito bars On
looking at the men and women
| could imagine their other skins were
nearly as impreviOus to the bite Of an
insect as the hide Of an alligator, but
remembering some Of our own expert
ence, could not avoid 8 feeling Of
pity for the little children who were
very numerous In every house. On
asking how they could sleep or even
live of nights without bars, we were
informed that when bedtime came
they made q smoke OF wood and COW
chips in the room, aud when the place


was once thoroughly smoked, the mos
quitoes came no more that night. With
some there might be some hesitation
as to the choice of evils. But mOsqui-
toes were possibly not 80 aWfully bad
on this island as some others. They
bothered US very little ashore even at
dusk, and we slept without bars both
nights we lay of II, but we were near
ly q mile from land.


Some Of the party had the pleasure
Of making the acquaintance of 4 coast
doctor, Joe Collier, Of Herring Bay.
He was about as odd looking speci'
men Of physician 90 1t has ever been
our Let to see. His sole garments con.
sisted Of q calico shirt with Aashy red


flowers, q pair Of blue cottonade pants,


and q well-worn straw hat. His hair


was red, the corners of bis mouth


stained with tobacco Juice, with a


rather unpleasant squint in the eye,


while his feet looked as though he lived


miles away from water. He had come


over to see very sick lady to whose


friends he gave, in very positive terms,


the assurance that she would be dead a.


q herring the next day He was called


in to see o sick child where we were


waiting till the cows we're MIXED, and


told US his practice extended over
circuit of twenty miIes over which he


ionrneyed in q little saii-boat. | think


never saw a doctor in all my life


whose services I would not prefer to he
of Herring Bay.


Fishing here was eLtremelj poor,


and even with three hauls OF the seil
we barely caught enough to eat. Fresh


oysters and crabs, however, were


abundant, ard these were deVoured
ravencusIy, We pulled up near noon
Tuesday, and steered tor Grants Pass
; bound for this city, A light adverse
wind fell upon US In the Pass and we
worried about there near. y two hours,


making less than that many miles. All
hands invoked breeze, aud the mate
famed the main sail with his hat. After
getting through the pass and heading
tor the city, VIC were treated to little
more breeze than we called for. A.
regular squall struck us when every
inch of canvass was stretched aud came
near capsising US, driving our little tut
on one side through the turbulent
/ waters, and making our skipper, who
is nervous little fellow, hop about
,, like popcorn in hot stiIeL Even
Col. Nelson became Spry and continued
80 until the extra sails were hauled
down. Altogether II was somewhat
exciting for half an hour, ard gave US
the worst tumbling up we have ct had
Atfve o'clock pm. we began to pass
the landmarks and buoys in Mobile
Bay, then the forts and lighthouse in


TO Mobile or Alabama river, along By
the saw-mills, the city front, tie dykes,
piling and old distractions, and at az
hour by sun tied up at the oyster
; wharf, after splendid run. in time for
the glorious Fourth, in celebrating
i: which some OF the party will no doubt


participate. | close my letter Just as
VIC are touching shore, 10 see crowd
OF sail vessels all centered here with
their articles Of traffic, IN anticipation
ofa large demand aud ready sale, al


big prices, to the crowds expected here


on the morrow. b. HIP
- s-n--A