Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]Weld, Isaac
History
Travels through the states of North America, and the provinces of Upper and Lower Canada, during the years 1795, 1796, and 1797 [Vol. 2 of 2]
Weld, Isaac
Canada -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; United States -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
On the western side of Point Abineau the strand differs in no wise, to
appearance, from that of the ocean: it is strewed with a variety of
shells of a large size; quantities of gulls are continually seen
hovering over it; and during a gale of wind from the west, a surge
breaks in upon it, as tremendous as is to be seen on any part of the
coast of England. The mounds of sand accumulated on Point Abineau are
truly astonishing; those next to the lake, that have been washed by the
storms of late years, are totally devoid of verdure; but others,
situated behind them, towards the center of the point, seem coeval with
the world itself, and are covered with oaks of the largest size from top
to bottom. In general these mounds are of an irregular form; but in some
places, of the greatest height, they are so even and straight that it
appears as if they had been thrown up by the hand of art, and you may
almost fancy them to be the old works of some vast fortification. These
regular mounds extend in all directions, but chiefly from north to
south, which demonstrates that westerly winds were as prevalent formerly
in this part of the country as they are at the present day. I should
suppose that some of these mounds are upwards of one hundred feet above
the level of the lake.
The ground on the eastern side of the point is neither so much broken
nor so sandy as that on the opposite one, and there we found two farm
houses, adjoining to each of which were about thirty acres of cleared
land. At one of these we procured a couple of sheep, some fowls, and a
quantity of potatoes, to add to our store of provisions, as there was
reason to apprehend that our voyage would not be speedily terminated:
whilst the men were digging for the latter, the old woman of the house
spread her little table, and prepared for us the best viands which her
habitation afforded, namely, coarse cake bread, roasted potatoes, and
bear’s flesh salted, which last we found by no means unpalatable. The
haunch of a young cub is a dish much esteemed, and we frequently met
with it at table in the upper country; it is extremely rich and oily,
nevertheless they say it never cloys the stomach.
Towards evening we returned to the vessel, and the storm being much
abated, passed, not an uncomfortable night.
[Sidenote: BEAR HUNTING.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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