A CURIOUS CASCADE NEAR THE CITY OF MEXICO. HERE is a pic ture of a cascade in Mexico, together with the basaltic rocks in its neighbourhood. It is at a place called Regla, 75 miles northeast of the city of Mexico, and 6,500 feet above the level of the sea. The real fall of the water is not more than twenty-five feet; but the size of the river, which is considerable, and the curious appearance of the rocks render it a place of great interest. On both sides of the ravine through which the water rushes, the basaltic columns rise to more than a hundred feet in height, and on them grow numerous tufts of the plant called cactus; as you will see by the engraving. The greater part of the columns are perpendicular; though some at a little distance from the falls are inclined. The whole as beautiful and as thickly settled as scene would remind one of Fingal's that around the falls of Niagara, nor are cave in Staffa, in the Hebrides Islands. the falls themselvesas grand and impoEvery traveller to the city of Mexico sing; but they are very remarkable in should visit this place. He will not, in- their appearance. deed, find the country around the falls A PERSIAN ANECDOTE. A person on whom a king had bestowed great favour, betrayed him, and had justly incurred his anger. He consulted one of the other courtiers about what he should do; who said, "If I were the king, I should put such an ungrate ful fellow to death." To which the king replied, "But as you are not the king, the safest way, perhaps, will be to do just the contrary. So I shall forgive him. For the more base his treachery, the more generous my pardon." 74 ABOUT THE LABRADOR SQUATTERS. MORE ABOUT THE LABRADOR SQUATTERS. PROCEEDING along the rugged indentations of the bay with my companions, I reached the settlement of another person, who, like the one before mentioned, had come to Labrador with the view of making his fortune. We found him after many difficulties; but as our boats turned a long point jutting out into the bay, we were pleased to see several small schooners at anchor, and one lying near a sort of wharf. Several neat looking houses enlivened the view, and, on landing, we were kindly greeted with a polite welcome from a man who proved to be the owner of the establishment. Instead of the rude simplicity of him of the rum cask, however, we found here the manners and dress of a man of the world. A handsome fur cap covered his dark brow, his clothes were similar to our own, and his demeanor was that of a gentleman. On giving my name to him, he shook me heartily by the hand, and on introducing each of my companions to him, he extended the like courtesy to them also. Then, to my astonishment, he addressed me as follows:-"My dear sir, I have been expecting you these three weeks, having read in the papers your intention to visit Labrador, and some fishermen told me of your arrival at Little Natasguan. Gentlemen, walk in." Having followed him to his neat and comfortable mansion, he introduced us to his wife and children. Of the latter The there were six, all robust and rosy. lady, although a native of the country, was of French extraction, and sufficiently accomplished to make an excellent companion. A smart girl brought us a luncheon, consisting of bread, cheese and port wine. Our host gave us newspapers from different parts of the world, and showed us his small but choice collection of books. He inquired after the health of the amiable Captain Bayfield of the royal navy, and the officers under him, and hoped they would give him a call. Having refreshed ourselves, we walked out with him, when he pointed to a very small garden, where a few vegetables sprouted out, anxious to see the sun. Gazing on the desolate country around, I asked him how he had thus secluded himself from the world. He had no relish for it, and although he had received a liberal education, and had mixed with society, he never intended to return to it. "The country around," said he, "is all my own, much farther than you can see. No fees, no lawyers, no taxes here. I do pretty much as I choose. My means are ample, through my own industry. These vessels come here for seal skins, seal oil, and salmon, and give me in return all the necessaries, and indeed comforts, of the life I love to follow; and what else could the world afford me?" I spoke of the education of his children. "My wife and I teach them all ABOUT THE LABRADOR SQUATTERS. Few birds, he said, came around him in summer, but in winter thousands of ptarmigans were killed, as well as great numbers of gulls. He had a great dislike to all fishermen and eggers, and I really believe was always glad to see the departure even of the hardy navigators who annually visited him for the sake of his salmon, seal skins, and oil. He had more than forty Esquimaux dogs; and, as I was caressing one of them, he said, "Tell my brother-in-law at Bras d'Or that we are all well here; and that after visiting my wife's father, I will give him a call." that is useful for them to know, and is in a house imported from Quebec, which not that enough? My girls will marry fronted the strait of Bell Isle, and overtheir countrymen, my sons the daugh- looked a small island, over which the ters of my neighbors, and I hope all of eye reached the coast of Newfoundland, them will live and die in the country." whenever it was the wind's pleasure to I said no more, but by way of compen- drive away the fogs that usually lay sation for the trouble I had given him, over both coasts. The gentleman, and purchased from his eldest child a beau- his wife, we were told, were both out on tiful fox's skin. a walk, but would return in a very short time, which they in fact did, when we followed them into the house, which was yet unfinished. The usual immense Dutch stove formed a principal feature of the interior. The lady had once visited the metropolis of Canada, and seemed desirous of acting the part of a blue-stocking. Understanding that I knew something of the fine arts, she pointed to several of the vile prints hung on the bare walls, which she said were elegant Italian pictures, and continued her encomiums upon them, assuring me that she had purchased them from an Italian, who had come there with a trunk full of them. She had paid a shilling sterling for each, frame included! I could give no answer to the good lady on the subject, but I felt glad to find that she possessed a feeling heart. One of her children had caught a siskin, and was tormenting the poor bird, when she rose from her seat, took the little fluttering thing from the boy, kissed it, and gently launched it into the air. This made me quite forget the tattle about the fine arts. Now, reader, his wife's father resided at the distance of seventy miles down the coast, and, like himself, was a recluse. He of Bras d'Or was at double that distance; but when the snows of winter have thickly covered the country, the whole family, in sledges drawn by dogs, travel with ease, and pay their visits, or leave their cards. This good gentleman had already resided there more thar twenty years. When our schooner, the "Ripley," arrived at Bras' d'Or, I paid a visit to Mr. the brother-in-law, who lived Some excellent milk was poured out for us in clean glasses. It was a pleas 76 AUDUBON'S VISIT TO THE LABRADOR SQUATTERS. ing sight, for not a cow had we yet seen sailed nearly round it; and, although no scholar, like him, too, he was disgusted with it. He held his land on the same footing as his neighbours, caught seals without number, lived comfortably and happily, visited his father-in-law and the scholar, by the aid of his dogs, of which he kept a great pack; bartered or sold his commodities, as his relations did, and cared about nothing else in the world. in the country. The lady turned the conversation on music, and asked if I played on any instrument. I answered that I did, but very indifferently. Her forte, she said, was music, of which she was indeed immoderately fond. Her instrument had been sent to Europe to be repaired, but would return that season, when the whole of her children would again perform many beautiful airs, for, in fact, any body could use it with ease, as when she or the children felt fatigued, the servant played on it for them. Rather surprised at the extraordinary powers of this family of musicians, I asked what sort of an instrument it was, when she described it as follows:"Gentlemen, my instrument is large, longer than broad, and stands on four legs, like a table. At one end is a crooked handle, by turning which round, fast or slow, I do assure you we make most excellent music." The lips of my young friends and companions instantly curled, but a glance from me as instantly re-composed their features. Telling the fair one that it must be a hand or gan she used, she laughingly said, "Ah, that is it; it is a hand organ, but I had forgot the name, and, for the life of me could not recollect it." The husband had gone out to work, and was in the harbor caulking an old schooner. He dined with me on board the Ripley, and proved to be also an excellent fellow. Like his brother-in-law, he had seen much of the world, having Whenever the weather was fair, he walked with his dame over the mosscovered rocks of the neighborhood; and during the winter, killed ptarmigans and carabous, while his eldest son attended to the traps, and skinned the animals caught in them. He had the only horse that was to be found in that part of the country, as well as several cows; but, above all, he was kind to every one, and every one spoke well of him. The only disagreeable thing about his plantation, or settlement, was a heap of fifteen hundred carcasses of skinned seals, which, at the time when we visited the place, in the month of August, notwithstanding the coolness of the atmosphere, sent forth a stench that, according to the ideas of some naturalists, might have sufficed to attract all the vultures in the United States. During our stay at Bras d'Or, the kind-hearted and good Mrs. daily sent us fresh milk and butter, for which we were denied the pleasure of making any return. AUDUBON. A PASSAGE FROM THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. CAPTURE OF ANNAWON, ONE OF KING PHILIP'S CAPTAINS. EVERY one has heard and read of the famous Philip, an Indian chief, who gave our ancestors in New England so much trouble. Now Philip had a very brave captain, an old man, whose name was Annawon. After Philip's death, Capt. Church found out by means of a friendly Indian, where Annawon, with a few brave and resolute warriors, had hid themselves, and he determined, if possible, to take them. Their hiding place is now in the south-easterly corner of the town of Rehoboth, about eight miles from Taunton green, a few rods from the road which leads to Providence, and on the southeast side of it. Within the limits of an immense swamp of nearly 3,000 acres, there is a small piece of upland separated from the adjoining dry ground only by a brook, which, at some seasons is dry. This island, as it might be called, is nearly covered with an enormous rock, which to this day is called Annawon's rock. Its south east side presents an almost perpendicular precipice, and rises to the height of 25 or 30 feet. The north-west side is very sloping and easy of ascent. A more gloomy and hidden recess than this is even now, although the forest tree no longer waves over it, could hardly be found. Capt. Church, with the aid of only half a dozen white men and a friendly Indian for a pilot, set out on his expedi 77 tion. Having travelled through swamps and thickets until the sun was setting, the pilot ordered them to halt. After resting here till it grew dark, they resumed their march. They had gone but a little way before they heard a noise which they took to be the pounding of a mortar. This convinced them that they were now near Annawon's retreat. Drake's In dian Biography says: "When they arrived near the foot of the rock, Capt. Church, with two of his Indian soldiers, crept to the top of it, from whence they could see distinctly the situation of the whole company, by the light of their fires. They were divided into three bodies, and lodged a short distance from one another. Annawon's camp was formed by felling a tree against the rock, with bushes set up on each side. With him lodged his son, and others of his principal men. Their guns were discovered standing, and leaning against a stick resting on two crotches, safely covered from the weather by a mat. Over their fires were pots and kettles boiling, and meat roasting upon their spits. |