voyage of the paper canoe-第21节
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striped bass； sheep's…head； weak…fish； and drum。 In the fall； bluefish are caught。 All of these； with oysters； soft crabs； and diamond…backed terrapin； offer tempting dishes to the epicure。 This recently isolated shore is now within direct railroad communication with Philadelphia and New York； and can be reached in nine hours from the former； and in twelve hours from the latter city。
From the Hommack to South Point is included the length of Sinepuxent Bay； according to Coast Survey authority。 From South Point to below the middle of Chincoteague Island the bay is put down as 〃Assateague；〃 though the oystermen do not call it by that name。 The celebrated oyster…beds of the people of Chincoteague commence about twenty miles south of the Hornmack。 There are two kinds of oysters shipped from Chincoteague Inlet to New York and other markets。 One is the long native plant the other； that transplanted from Chesapeake Bay： this bivalve is rounded in form； and the most prized of the two。 The average width of Sinepuxent was only a mile。 When I turned westwardly around South Point； and entered Assateague Bay； the watery expanse widened； between the marshes on the west and the sandy…beach island on the east； to over four miles。
The debouchure of Newport Creek is to the west of South Point。 The marshes here are very wide。 I ascended it in the afternoon to visit Dr。 F。 J。 Purnell； whose attempts to introduce the pinnated grouse and California partridges on his plantation had attracted the attention of Mr。 Charles Hallock； editor of 〃Forest and Stream〃； and I had promised him； if possible； to investigate the matter。 This South Point of Sinepuxent Neck is a place of historical interest； it being now asserted that it is the burial place of Edward Whalley； the regicide。
Early in 1875； Mr。 Robert P。 Robins found in a bundle of old family documents a paper containing interesting statements written by his great…great…grandfather； Thomas Robins； 3d； of South Point； Worcester County； Maryland； and dated July 8； 1769。 We gather from this reliable source that Edward Whalley left Connecticut and arrived in Virginia in 1618； and was there met by a portion of his family。 From Virginia he travelled to the 〃province of Maryland； and settled first at ye mouth of ye Pokemoke River； and finding yt too publick a place he came to Sinepuxent； a neck of land open to ye Atlantic Ocean； where Colonel Stephen was surveying and bought a tract of land from him and called it Genezar； it contained two thousand two hundred acres； south end of Sinepuxent； and made a settlement on ye southern extremity； and called it South Point； to ye which place he brought his family about 1687； in ye name of Edward Middleton。 His own name he made not publick until after this date； after ye revolution in England； （in ye year of our Lord 1688；） when he let his name be seen in publick papers； and had ye lands patented in his own name。〃
The writer of the above quotation was the great…grandson of Edward Whalley （alias Edward Middleton）； the celebrated regicide。
Four miles from South Point I struck the marshes which skirted Dr。 Purnell's large plantation； and pushing the canoe up a narrow branch of the creek； I waded through the partially submerged herbage to the firm ground； where the doctor was awaiting me。 His house was close at hand； within the hospitable walls of which I passed the night。 Dr。 Purnell has an estate of one thousand five hundred acres； lying along the banks of Newport Creek。 Since the civil war it has been worked by tenants。 Much of it is woodland and salt…marshes。 Five years before my visit； a Philadelphian sent the doctor a few pairs of prairie…chickens； and a covey of both the valley and the mountain partridge。 I am now using popular terms。 The grouse were from a western state； the partridges had been obtained from California。 The partridges were kept caged for several weeks and were then set at liberty。 They soon disappeared in the woods； with the exception of a single pair； which returned daily to the kitchen…door of a farm tenant to obtain food。 These two birds nested in the garden close to the house； and reared a fine brood of young； but the whole covey wandered away； and were afterwards heard from but once。 They had crossed to the opposite side of Newport Creek； and were probably shot by gunners。
The prairie…chickens adapted themselves to their new home in a satisfactory manner； and became very tame。 Their nests； well filled with eggs； were found along the rail…fences of the fields in the close vicinity of the marshes； for which level tracts they seemed to have strong attachment。 They multiplied rapidly； and visited the cattle…pens and barn…yards of the plantation。
The Maryland legislature passed a law to protect all grouse introduced into the state； but a new danger threatened these unfortunate birds。 A crew of New Jersey terrapin…hunters entered Chincoteague Inlet； and searched the ditches and little creeks of the salt…marshes for the 〃diamondbacks。〃 While thus engaged； the gentle grouse； feeding quietly in the vicinity； attracted their attention； and they at once bagged most of them。 A tenant on the estate informed me that he had seen eighteen birds in a cornfield a few days before the remnant of the stock。
The Ruffled Grouse （Bonasa umbellas）； so abundant in New Jersey； is not a resident of the peninsula。 Dr。 Purnell's first experiment with the Pinnated Grouse （Cupidonia cupido） has encouraged others to bring the ruffled grouse to the eastern shore of Maryland。 That unapproachable songster of the south； the American Mocking…bird （Mimus polyglottus）； is becoming scarce in this region； from the inroads made by bird…catchers who ship the young to northern cities。 This delightful chorister is only an accidental visitor in the New England states。 Indeed as far south as Ocean County； New Jersey； I saw but one of these birds； in a residence of nine years on my cranberry plantations； though I have heard that their nests are occasionally found about Cape May； at the extreme southern end of New Jersey。
My time being limited； I could enjoy the doctor's hospitality for but one night。 The next morning the whole family； with tenants both black and white； assisted me to embark。 By dusk I had crossed the division line of two states； and had entered Virginia near the head of Chincoteague Island； a locality of peculiar interest to the student of American character。 The ebb…tide had left but little water around the rough pier abreast of the town； and heaps of oyster…shells rose from the mud flats and threatened the safety of my canoe。 I looked up through the darkness to the light pier…head above me； and called for assistance。 Two men leaned over to inquire； 〃What's the row now； stranger？ 〃 To which I replied； 〃I wish to land a light boat on your pier； and as it is made of paper； it should be carefully handled。〃 For a moment the oystermen observed a silence； and then； without one word of explanation； disappeared。 I heard their heavy boots tramping up the quay towards the tavern。 Soon a low murmur arose on the night air； then hoarse shouts； and there came thundering down the wharf an army of men and boys。 〃Pass her up； stranger！〃 they cried。 〃Here； give us your bow and starn painters； and jest step overboard yourself； and we'll hist her up。〃 Some of the motley crew caught me by the shoulders； others 〃histed away；〃 and the canoe and its captain were laid roughly upon the ground。
There was a rush to feel of the paper shell。 Many were convinced that there was no humbug about it； so； with a great shout； some of the men tossed it upon their shoulders； while the rest seized upon the miscellaneous cargo； and a rush was made for the hotel； leaving me to follow at discretion and alone。 The procession burst open the doors of the tavern； and poured through the entrance to a court…yard； where they laid the boat upon a long table under a shed； and thought they had earned 〃drinks。〃 This was the spontaneous way in which the Chincoteague people welcomed me。 〃If you don't drink； stranger； up your way； what on airth keeps your buddies and soulds together？〃 queried a tall oysterman。 A lady had kindly presented me with a peck of fine apples that very morning； so； in lieu of 〃drinks；〃 I distributed the fruit among them。 They joked and questioned me； and all were merry save one bilious…looking individual； not dressed； like the others； in an oysterman's garb； but wearing； to use a term of the place； 〃store clothes。〃
After the crowd had settled in the bar…room； at cards； &c。； this doubting Thomas remained beside the boat； carefully examining her。 Soon he was scraping her hull below the gunwale； where the muddy water of the bay had left a thin coat of sediment which was now dry。 The man's countenance lighted up as he pulled the bartender aside and said； 〃Look ahere； I tell you that boat looked as if she was made to carry on a deck of a vessel； and to be a…shoved off into the water at night jest abreast of a town to make fools of folks； and git them to believe that that fellow had a…rowed all the way ahere？ Now see； here is dust； dry dust on her hull。 She ahain't ben in the water mor'n ten minutes； I sware；〃 It requir
