Volume II Part 15 (2/2)
'Those seas behold Round thrice an hundred islands rolled.
The trade wind played round us with balmy and refres.h.i.+ng sweetness; and, to give life and animation to the scene, we had a contest for the mastery between all the vessels of the fleet, while a deep interest was excited in favor of this or that vessel, as she shot ahead, or fell astern.
”About three o'clock in the afternoon, we arrived off the Bay of Honda.
The wind being light and no prospect of reaching Key West that night, it was agreed that we should make a harbor here. We entered a beautiful basin, and came to anchor about four o'clock. Boats were got out, and several hunting parties formed. We landed, and were soon on the scent, some going in search of sh.e.l.ls, others of birds. An Indian, who had been picked up somewhere along the coast by a Wrecker, and who was employed as a hunter, was sent ash.o.r.e in search of venison. Previous to his leaving the vessel, a rifle was loaded with a single ball and put into his hands. After an absence of several hours, he returned with two Deer, which he had killed at a single shot. He watched until they were both in range of his gun, side by side, when he fired and brought them down.
”All hands having returned, and the fruits of our excursion being collected, we had wherewithal to make an abundant supper. Most of the game was sent on board the largest vessel, where we proposed supping.
Our vessels were all lying within hail of each other, and as soon as the moon arose, boats were seen pa.s.sing from vessel to vessel, and all were busily and happily engaged in exchanging civilities. One could never have supposed that these men were professional rivals, so apparent was the good feeling that prevailed among them. About nine o'clock we started for supper; a number of persons had already collected, and as soon as we arrived on board the vessel, a German sailor, who played remarkably well on the violin, was summoned on the quarter-deck, when all hands, with a good will, cheerily danced to lively airs until supper was ready. The table was laid in the cabin, and groaned under its load of venison, Wild Ducks, Pigeons, Curlews, and fish. Toasting and singing succeeded the supper, and among other curious matters introduced, the following song was sung by the German fiddler, who accompanied his voice with his instrument. He is said to be the author of the song. I say nothing of the poetry, but merely give it as it came on my ear. It is certainly very characteristic:--
THE WRECKERS' SONG.
Come, ye good people, one and all, Come listen to my song; A few remarks I have to make, Which won't be very long.
'Tis of our vessel, stout and good As ever yet was built of wood, Along the reef where the breakers roar, The Wreckers on the Florida sh.o.r.e!
Key Tavernier's our rendezvous; At anchor there we lie, And see the vessels in the Gulf, Carelessly pa.s.sing by.
When night comes on we dance and sing, Whilst the current some vessel is floating in; When daylight comes, a s.h.i.+p's on sh.o.r.e, Among the rocks where the breakers roar.
When daylight dawns we're under way, And every sail is set, And if the wind it should prove light, Why, then our sails we wet.
To gain her first each eager strives, To save the cargo and the people's lives, Amongst the rocks where the breakers roar, The Wreckers on the Florida sh.o.r.e.
When we get 'longside we find she's bilged; We know well what to do, Save the cargo that we can.
The sails and rigging too; Then down to Key West we soon will go, When quickly our salvage we shall know; When everything it is fairly sold, Our money down to us it is told.
Then one week's _cruise_ we'll have on sh.o.r.e, Before we do sail again, And drink success to the sailor lads That are ploughing of the main.
And when you are pa.s.sing by this way, On the Florida reef should you chance to stray, Why we will come to you on the sh.o.r.e, Amongst the rocks where the breakers roar.
Great emphasis was laid upon particular words by the singer, who had a broad German accent. Between the verses he played an interlude, remarking, 'Gentlemen, I makes dat myself.' The chorus was trolled by twenty or thirty voices, which, in the stillness of the night, produced no unpleasant effect.”
ST. JOHN'S RIVER IN FLORIDA
Soon after landing at St. Augustine, in East Florida, I formed acquaintance with Dr. Simmons, Dr. Porcher, Judge Smith, the Misses Johnson, and other individuals, my intercourse with whom was as agreeable as beneficial to me. Lieutenant Constantine Smith, of the United States army, I found of a congenial spirit, as was the case with my amiable but since deceased friend, Dr. Bell of Dublin. Among the planters who extended their hospitality to me, I must particularly mention General Hernandez, and my esteemed friend John Bulow, Esq. To all these estimable individuals I offer my sincere thanks.
While in this part of the peninsula I followed my usual avocation, although with little success, it then being winter. I had letters from the Secretaries of the Navy and Treasury of the United States, to the commanding officers of vessels of war of the revenue service, directing them to afford me any a.s.sistance in their power; and the schooner ”Spark” having come to St. Augustine, on her way to the St. John's River, I presented my credentials to her commander Lieutenant Piercy, who readily and with politeness received me and my a.s.sistants on board.
We soon after set sail with a fair breeze. The strict attention to duty on board even this small vessel of war, afforded matter of surprise to me. Everything went on with the regularity of a chronometer: orders were given, answered to, and accomplished, before they had ceased to vibrate on the ear. The neatness of the crew equalled the cleanliness of the white planks of the deck; the sails were in perfect condition; and, built as the ”Spark” was, for swift sailing, on she went, gambolling from wave to wave.
[Ill.u.s.tration: TRINGA ALPINA, RED-BACKED SANDPIPER.
(Now Pelidna alpina pacifica.) FROM THE UNPUBLISHED DRAWING BY J. J. AUDUBON, NOVEMBER 24, 1831.]
I thought that, while thus sailing, no feeling but that of pleasure could exist in our b.r.e.a.s.t.s; but, alas! how fleeting are our enjoyments.
When we were almost at the entrance of the river, the wind changed, the sky became clouded, and, before many minutes had elapsed, the little bark was lying to ”like a Duck,” as her commander expressed himself. It blew a hurricane--let it blow, reader. At break of day we were again at anchor within the bar of St. Augustine.
Our next attempt was successful. Not many hours after we had crossed the bar, we perceived the star-like glimmer of the light in the great lantern at the entrance of the St. John's River. This was before daylight; and, as the crossing of the sand-banks or bars, which occur at the mouths of all the streams of this peninsula is difficult, and can be accomplished only when the tide is up, one of the guns was fired as a signal for the government pilot. The good man, it seemed, was unwilling to leave his couch, but a second gun brought him in his canoe alongside.
The depth of the channel was barely sufficient. My eyes, however, were not directed towards the waters, but on high, where flew some thousands of snowy Pelicans, which had fled affrighted from their resting-grounds.
How beautifully they performed their broad gyrations, and how matchless, after a while, was the marshalling of their files, as they flew past us.
On the tide we proceeded apace. Myriads of Cormorants covered the face of the waters, and over it Fish-Crows innumerable were already arriving from their distant roosts. We landed at one place to search for the birds whose charming melodies had engaged our attention, and here and there some young Eagles we shot, to add to our store of fresh provisions. The river did not seem to me equal in beauty to the fair Ohio; the sh.o.r.es were in many places low and swampy, to the great delight of the numberless Herons that moved along in gracefulness, and the grim Alligators that swam in sluggish sullenness. In going up a bayou, we caught a great number of the young of the latter for the purpose of making experiments upon them.
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