NORTH CAROLINA 135 



river, and the land behind seemed lower than the sur- 

 face of the river itself. I make mention of this here 

 for the first time, although it is a circumstance often 

 to be remarked in other regions and along other rivers, 

 and a source of danger at times of sudden overflow; 

 at least, on the Roanoke, the Trent, and other rivers, 

 many cattle pasturing inj these low woods are lost 

 when there is a sudden rise of the water. These low- 

 lying tracts are filled with evergreen bush, and fine old 

 trunks which have a grey and ancient look, from the 

 long thick moss (Tillandsia usneoides) everywhere 

 pending. In these shadowed and not unamiable wilds a 

 rich harvest of the finest and rarest Carolinian plants 

 might be expected, allowed no chance by the dry and 

 burning sand ; but at this season, alas, everything 

 was dead. 



In the midst of the sandy levels and the forests 

 there are here and there little lakes, often pretty deep, 

 and apparently with no outlet or supply from other 

 waters. In several of these, fish are said to be found, 

 coming from no one knows where. The same is true 

 also of South Carolina, where in deserted rice-planta- 

 tions rain-water assembles in large ponds, which have 

 no running water outlet, and yet fish are found in 

 them. The people believe that the seed of the fish 

 fall down with the rain, and the wild ducks and 

 numerous other water-fowl which visit these ponds are 

 not suspected. 



At Snead's Ferry there is a free prospect over the 

 river and towards the open sea. Here, and for some 

 distance farther back, the vehement and continual roar 

 of the surf was to be heard, or the sound of the waves 

 breaking on the main-land, although the shore is 4-5 



