le
paddle, (always kept in reserve against accidents to oars and
row-locks,) I continued over the waters of Currituck Sound.

Swans could now be seen in flocks of twenties and fifties. They were
exceedingly wary, not permitting the canoe to approach within rifle
range. Clouds of ducks, and some Canada geese, as well as brant, kept up
a continuous flutter as they rose from the surface of the water. Away to
the southeast extended the glimmering bosom of the sound, with a few
islands relieving its monotony. The three or four houses and two small
storehouses at the landing of Currituck Court House, which, with the
brick court-house, comprise the whole village, are situated on the west
bank; and opposite, eight miles to the eastward, is the narrow beach
island that serves as a barrier to the ingress of the ocean.

At sunset I started the last flock of white swans, and grounded in the
shoal waters at the landing. There is no regular hotel here, but a kind
lady, Mrs. Simmons, accommodates the necessities of the occasional
traveller. The canoe was soon locked up in the landing-house.
Fortunately a blacksmith was found outside the village, who promised to
repair the broken row-lock early upon the following morning. Before a
pleasant wood fire giving out its heat from a grand old fireplace, with
an agreeable visitor,--the physician of the place,--the tediousness of
the three-hours' camp on the marshes was soon forgotten, while the
country and its resources were fully discussed until a late hour.

Dr. Baxter had experimented in grape culture, and gave me many
interesting details in regard to the native wine. In 1714, Lawson
described six varieties of native grapes found in North Carolina. Our
three finest varieties of native grapes were taken from North Carolina.
They are the Scuppernong, the Catawba, and the Isabella. The Scuppernong
was found upon the banks of the stream bearing that name, the mouth of
which is near the eastern end of Albemarle Sound. The Catawba was
originally obtained on the Catawba River, near its head-waters in
Buncombe County. The Long Island stock of the Isabella grape was brought
to New York by Mrs. Isabella Gibbs: hence the derivation of the name.

Of the six varieties of North Carolina grapes, five were found in Tyrrel
County by Amadas and Barlow. Tradition relates that these travellers
carried one small vine to Roanoke Island, which still lives and covers
an immense area of ground. There are five va