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Article SCENES IN AMERICA. Page 1 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
SCENES IN AMERICA .
BY A NATIVE . IN one of the south-western sections of the United States of America , there is a large district of country called the Barrens;—so named , because the greater part ofthe earth is covered only with a species of tall coarse grass , interspersed with myriads of flowers and occasional clumps of dwarf oak , having the expressive name of Black Jack . The heavy forest trees appear only along the larger streams of water . The soil is generallof a
y reddish clay , covered by a few inches of dark mould from the decayed leaves and the burning of the long dry grass in the autumn . But this deposit is soon worn off the highways , and the red clay becoming exposed , makes a strong contrast with the green grass through which the road winds , revealing its course to the traveller , sometimes for miles a-head , as it passes over the eminences in the distance . On a hot afternoon in July , I was riding along one of these roads ; my
sweating horse moving heavily under me , whilst 1 was suffering intensely from the heat , notwithstanding-a large umbrella over my head . I could see for miles around me , and there was no sign of a habitation any where ; nothing met my gaze hut the pale blue sky over my head , the immense masses of white , fleecy , bright clouds piled up above the horrizon , and the sea of green grass spread out around me , over which arose the dancing appearance of the air , like that above a kiln . After travelling some miles under these circumstances , I perceived at the
distance of about half a mile to the left ofthe road , the tops of several trees , which seemed to rise but a few feet above the ground . I knew at a glance that they stood in one of those basins , or sinks , peculiar to this region ; and that I should find a cool refreshing shade , if not , as was very probable , the
mouth of a cave . I therefore bent my course through the grass to the spot ; my horse making his way as through a grain field , and nipping now and then some attractive herb much to the annoyance of my bridle hand . As I approached the basin my horse elevated his head , pointed his ears forward , first moving with increased animation , and then suddenly stopping . These movements gave me a little uneasiness , lest there should be some large wild animal in the thicket below ; I therefore stopped for an instant on the margin of the sink , and looked down into it to discover , if
possible , what had alarmed my faithful beast . The sink was about thirty yards in its greatest diameter , of an oval form , full forty feet deep at its centre , and was filled with beautiful trees and under-growth , almost alive with birds . As I perceived nothing which could account for my horse ' s alarm , I attempted to urge him down the sloping side of the basin ; but he pricked his ears and stood stiff in his tracks . I laid on the whip ; hut he wheeled suddenly round and dashed off some yards before I could pull him up . Fixing myself firmly in my saddle , and tightening my reins , I lashed the
alarmed animal again to the margin of the basin ; but no exertion could induce him to make one step down the declivity . While contending with him , and just as I was thinking of dismounting , I heard a voice cry out—'¦ " Get off , and lead him down . " I stared in the direction ofthe voice , but not being able to see the person , I called out in the tone and manner of that country— " Halloo , there !" " Get off ; get off ; " answered the voice in a very familiar way . " AVlicre are you ? " asked I . ' Here ; " replied the voice . Then the bushes began to crackle with the passage of some one through them ; and in a moment there emerged from
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
SCENES IN AMERICA .
BY A NATIVE . IN one of the south-western sections of the United States of America , there is a large district of country called the Barrens;—so named , because the greater part ofthe earth is covered only with a species of tall coarse grass , interspersed with myriads of flowers and occasional clumps of dwarf oak , having the expressive name of Black Jack . The heavy forest trees appear only along the larger streams of water . The soil is generallof a
y reddish clay , covered by a few inches of dark mould from the decayed leaves and the burning of the long dry grass in the autumn . But this deposit is soon worn off the highways , and the red clay becoming exposed , makes a strong contrast with the green grass through which the road winds , revealing its course to the traveller , sometimes for miles a-head , as it passes over the eminences in the distance . On a hot afternoon in July , I was riding along one of these roads ; my
sweating horse moving heavily under me , whilst 1 was suffering intensely from the heat , notwithstanding-a large umbrella over my head . I could see for miles around me , and there was no sign of a habitation any where ; nothing met my gaze hut the pale blue sky over my head , the immense masses of white , fleecy , bright clouds piled up above the horrizon , and the sea of green grass spread out around me , over which arose the dancing appearance of the air , like that above a kiln . After travelling some miles under these circumstances , I perceived at the
distance of about half a mile to the left ofthe road , the tops of several trees , which seemed to rise but a few feet above the ground . I knew at a glance that they stood in one of those basins , or sinks , peculiar to this region ; and that I should find a cool refreshing shade , if not , as was very probable , the
mouth of a cave . I therefore bent my course through the grass to the spot ; my horse making his way as through a grain field , and nipping now and then some attractive herb much to the annoyance of my bridle hand . As I approached the basin my horse elevated his head , pointed his ears forward , first moving with increased animation , and then suddenly stopping . These movements gave me a little uneasiness , lest there should be some large wild animal in the thicket below ; I therefore stopped for an instant on the margin of the sink , and looked down into it to discover , if
possible , what had alarmed my faithful beast . The sink was about thirty yards in its greatest diameter , of an oval form , full forty feet deep at its centre , and was filled with beautiful trees and under-growth , almost alive with birds . As I perceived nothing which could account for my horse ' s alarm , I attempted to urge him down the sloping side of the basin ; but he pricked his ears and stood stiff in his tracks . I laid on the whip ; hut he wheeled suddenly round and dashed off some yards before I could pull him up . Fixing myself firmly in my saddle , and tightening my reins , I lashed the
alarmed animal again to the margin of the basin ; but no exertion could induce him to make one step down the declivity . While contending with him , and just as I was thinking of dismounting , I heard a voice cry out—'¦ " Get off , and lead him down . " I stared in the direction ofthe voice , but not being able to see the person , I called out in the tone and manner of that country— " Halloo , there !" " Get off ; get off ; " answered the voice in a very familiar way . " AVlicre are you ? " asked I . ' Here ; " replied the voice . Then the bushes began to crackle with the passage of some one through them ; and in a moment there emerged from