Thoreau lectures on “What Shall It Profit” for the Nantucket Lyceum.
Thoreau writes in his journal:
The nearest approach to woods that I saw was the swamps, where the blueberries, maples, etc., are higher than one’s head. I saw, as I rode, high blueberry bushes and maple in the swamps, huckleberries, shrub oaks, uva-ursi (which he called mealy plum), gaultheria, beach plum, clethra, mayflower (well budded). Also withered poverty-grass, goldenrods, asters. In the swamps are cranberries, and I saw one carting the vines home to set out, which also many are doing. G. described what he made out to be “star-grass” as common . . .
Visited the museum at the Athenaeum. Various South Sea implements etc., etc., brought home by whalers.
The last Indian, not of pure blood, died this very month, and I saw his picture with a basket of huckleberries in his hand.