text:  We equipped ourselves each with a rifle and a bottle of wine or brandy to keep the vapours of the swamps out of our throats; the son of one of the tavern-keepers who offered himself for a guide was loaded with a mighty ham and a bag of biscuits which we procured from the steam-boat; and thus provided we sallied forth on our expedition attended by the good wishes of the ladies who accompanied us a few hundred yards into the wood and then left us to pursue our march