voyage of the paper canoe-第59章
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presence； and dropped sluggishly into the water。 It would not be an exaggeration to say that we passed thousands of these dangerous reptiles while descending the Suwanee。 Raftsmen told me that when traversing lagoons in their log canoes； if a moccasin is met some distance from land he will frequently enter the canoe for refuge or for rest； and instances have been known where the occupant has been so alarmed as to jump overboard and swim ashore in order to escape from this malignant reptile。
The only place worthy of notice between Old Town Hammock and the gulf marshes is Clay Landing； on the left bank of the river； where Mrs。 Tresper formerly lived in a very comfortable house。 Clay Landing was used during the Confederate war as a place of deposit for blockade goods。 Archer； a railroad station； is but twenty miles distant； and to it over rough roads the contraband imports were hauled by mule teams； after having been landed from the fleet blockade…runner。
As the sun was sinking to rest； and the tree shadows grew long on the wide river's bosom； we tasted the saltness in the air as the briny breezes were wafted to us over the forests from the Gulf of Mexico。 After darkness had cast its sombre mantle upon us； we left the 〃East Pass〃 entrance to the left； and our boats hurried on the rapidly ebbing tide down the broad 〃West Pass〃 into the great marshes of the coast。 An hour later we emerged from the dark forest into the smooth savannas。 The freshness of the sea…air was exhilarating The stars were shining softly； and the ripple of the tide； the call of the heron； or the whirr of the frightened duck； and the leaping of fishes from the water； were the only sounds nature offered us。 It was like entering another world。 In these lowlands； near the mouth of the river； there seemed to be but one place above the high…tide level。 It was a little hammock； covered by a few trees； called Bradford's Island； and rose like an oasis in the desert。 The swift tide hurried along its shores； and a little farther on mingled the waters of the great wilderness with that of the sea。
Our tired party landed on a shelly beach； and burned a grassy area to destroy sand…fleas。 This done； some built a large camp…fire； while others spread blankets upon the ground。 I drew the faithful sharer of my long voyage near a thicket of prickly…pears； and slept beside it for the last time； never thinking or dreaming that one year later I should approach the mouth of the Suwanee from the west； after a long voyage of twenty…five hundred miles from the bead of the Ohio River； and would again seek shelter on its banks。 It was a night of sweet repose。 The camp…fire dissipated the damps； and the long row made rest welcome。
A glorious morning broke upon our party as we breakfasted under the shady palms of the island。 Behind us rose the compact wall of dark green of the heavy forests； and along the coast； from east to west； as far as the eye could reach； were the brownish…green savanna…like lowlands； against which beat； in soft murmurs； the waves of that sea I had so longed to reach。 From out the broad marshes arose low hammocks； green with pines and feathery with palmetto…trees。 Clouds of mist were rising； and while I watched them melt away in the warm beams of the morning sun； I thought they were like the dark doubts which curled themselves about me so long ago in the cold St。 Lawrence； now all melted by the joy of success。 The snowclad north was now behind me。 The Maria Theresa danced in the shimmering waters of the great southern sea； and my heart was light； for my voyage was over。
＇ Etext Editor： The book includes an advertisement for Bishop's previous book： A Thousand Miles' Walk Across South America； N。 H。 Bishop ＇
THE PAMPAS AND ANDES： A THOUSAND MILES' WALK ACROSS SOUTH AMERICA。 BY NATHANIEL H。 BISHOP。 12mo。 Cloth。 Illustrated。 Price； 1。50 Notices of the Work。
His Excellency Don Domingo F。 Sarmiento； President of the Argentine Confederation； South America； in a letter written to the author during 1877。 says： 〃Your book of travels possesses the merit of reality in the faithful descriptions of scenes and customs as they existed at that time。
〃It has delighted me to follow you； step by step by the side of the ancient and picturesque carts that cross the vast plains which stretch between the Parana River and the base of the Andes。 As I have written about the same region； your book of travels becomes a valuable reminder of those scenes； and I shall have to consult your work in the future when I again write about those countries。〃 〃Nathaniel H。 Bishop； a mere lad of seventeen； who； prompted by a love of nature； starts off from his New England home； reaches the La Plata River and coolly walks to Valparaiso； across Pampa and Cordillera； a distance of more than a thousand miles！ It is not the mere fact of pedestrianism that will gain for Master Nathaniel Bishop a high place among travellers； nor yet the fact of its having been done in the face of dangers and difficulties； but that； throughout the walk； he has gone with his eyes open； and gives us a book； written at seventeen； that will make him renowned at seventy。 It is teeming with information； both on social and natural subjects； end will take rank among books of scientific travel the only ones worth inquiring for。 One chapter from the book of an educated traveller （we don't mean the education of Oxford and Cambridge） is worth volumes of the stuff usually forming the staple of books of travels。 And in this unpretending book of the Yankee boy for its preface is signally of this sort … we have scores of such chapters。 The title is not altogether appropriate。 It is called 'A Thousand Miles' Walk across South America。' It is more than a mere walk。 It is an exploration into the kingdom of Nature。
〃Sir Francis Head has gone over the same ground on horseback； end given us a good account of it。 But this quiet 'walk' of the American boy is worth infinitely more than the 'Rough Rides' of the British baronet。 The one is common talk and superficial observation。 The other is a study that extends beneath the surface。〃 … Captain Mayne Reid。 〃Regarded simply as a piece of adventure； this were interesting； especially when told of in a tone of delightful modesty。 But the book has other recommendations。 This boy has an admirable eye for manners； customs； costumes； &c。； to say nothing of his attention to natural history。 The reader seems to travel by his side； and concludes the book with a sense of having himself trodden the Pampas； and mingled with their barbarous inhabitants。 So far as writing goes； this is the supreme merit of a book of travels。 Let those explore who not only see for themselves； but have the rare ability to lend their eyes to others。 Mr。 Bishop is one of the few who can do this； the graphic simplicity of his narrative is above praise。 Meanwhile； his personal impression is very charming。 The quiet patience with which he accepted all the hardships of his position without the slightest parade of patience； however is beyond measure attractive。 But the brave youth goes on quietly enduring what was to be borne； and not ever allowing his observation to be dulled by the infelicities of his situation。〃 Boston Commonwealth BOSTON： LEE & SHEPARD。 NEW YORK： CHARLES T。 DILLINGHAM。
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