238 TRAILL'S FLY-CATCHER.
THE SWEET GUM.
L I Q U I D A M B A R STYEACiFXUA, Wild. Sp. PI. vol. iv. p. 476. Pursh, EL Amer. vol. ii.
p. 635. Mich. Arbr. Forest, de l'Amer. Sept. vol. iii. p. 194, Pl. I V . - M O N OE C IA
PoLYANDRIA, Linn. AMENTACEiE, Juss.
This species, which is the only one that grows in the United States,
is distinguished by its palmate leaves, the lobes of which are toothed and
acuminate, the axils of the nerves downy. In large individuals, the bark
is deeply cracked. The wood is very hard and fine grained, but is now
little used, although formerly furniture of various kinds was made of it.
When the bark is removed, a resinous substance exudes, which has an
agreeable smell, but is only obtained in very small quantity.
( 239 )
T H E EARTHQUAKE.
TRAVELLING through the Barrens of Kentucky (of which I shall give
you an account elsewhere) in the month of November, I was jogging on
one afternoon, when I remarked a sudden and strange darkness rising
from the western horizon. Accustomed to our heavy storms of thunder
and rain, I took no more notice of it, as I thought the speed of my horse
might enable me to get under shelter of the roof of an acquaintance,
who lived not far distant, before it should come up. I had proceeded
about a mile, when I heard what I imagined to be the distant rumbling
of a violent tornado, on which I spurred my steed, with a wish to gallop
as fast as possible to the place of shelter; but it would not do, the animal
knew better than I what was forthcoming, and, instead of going faster,
so nearly stopped, that I remarked he placed one foot after another
on the ground with as much precaution as if walking on a smooth sheet
of ice. I thought he had suddenly foundered, and, speaking to him,
was on the point of dismounting and leading him, when he all of a sudden
fell a-groaning piteously, hung his head, spread out his four legs, as
if to save himself from falling, and stood stock still, continuing to groan.
I thought my horse was about to die, and would have sprung from his
back had a minute more elapsed, but at that instant all the shrubs and
trees began to move from their very roots, the ground rose and fell in
successive furrows, like the ruffled waters of a lake, and I became bewildered
in my ideas, as I too plainly discovered that all this awful commotion
in nature was the result of an earthquake.
I had never witnessed any thing of the kind before, although, like
every other person, I knew of earthquakes by description. But what is
description compared with the reality ? Who can tell of the sensations
which I experienced when I found myself rocking as it were on my
horse, and with him moved to and fro like a child in a cradle, with the
most imminent danger around, and expecting the ground every moment
to open, and present to my eye such an abyss as might engulf myself
and ail around me ? The fearful convulsion, however, lasted only a few
minutes, and the heavens again brightened as quickly as they had become
obscured; my horse brought his feet to the natural position, raised
his head, and galloped off as if loose and frolicking without a rider.