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
The sky had been very gloomy the whole of this day; it became more and
more so as the evening approached, and the seamen foretold that before
morning there would be a dreadful storm. At no time a friend to the
watery element, I immediately formed the resolution of passing the night
on shore; accordingly having got the boat manned after dinner, I took
with me my servant, and landed at the head of the bay on the eastern
side of the point. Here being left to ourselves, we pitched our tent by
moonlight, under the shelter of one of the steep sand hills; and having
kindled a large fire in the front of it, laid down, and were soon lulled
to repose by the hollow roar of the wind amidst the tall trees of the
surrounding forest. Not so my companions, who visited me at an early
hour the next morning, and lamented sorely that they had not accompanied
me on shore. There had been a tremendous sea running in the lake all
night; the wind had shifted somewhat to the southward, and Point
Abineau, in consequence, affording but little protection to the vessel,
she had rolled about in a most alarming manner: one of the stancheons at
her bow started by her violent working; the water came pouring in as
from a pump; a scene of confusion ensued, and the sailors were kept
busily employed the greater part of the night in stopping the leak. The
vessel being old, crazy, and on her last voyage, serious apprehensions
were entertained lest some worse accident should befal her before
morning, and neither the crew nor the passengers felt themselves at all
easy until day-light appeared, when the gale abated. We amused ourselves
this morning in rambling through the woods, and along the shores of the
lake, with our fowling pieces. On the strand we found great numbers of
gulls, and different birds of prey, such as hawks, kites, &c.; here also
we met with large flocks of sand larks, as they are called by the people
of the country, in colour somewhat resembling the grey lapwing; their
walk and manner also are so very similar, that, when on the ground, they
might be taken for the same bird were they but of a larger size; they
are not much bigger than a sparrow. In the woods we fell in for the
first time with a large covey or flock of spruce partridges or
pheasants, as the people call them in this neighbourhood. In colour,
they are not much unlike the English partridge, but of a larger size,
and their flesh differs in flavour little from that of the English
pheasant. They are different in many respects both from the partridge
and pheasant found in Maryland and in the middle states, but in none
more so than in their wonderful tameness, or rather stupidity. Before
the flock took to flight I shot three birds singly from off one tree,
and had I but been acquainted with the proper method of proceeding at
the time, it is possible I might have shot them all in turn. It seems
you must always begin by shooting the bird that sits lowest on the tree,
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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