PAUL A<ND VIRGINIA. I5 



which contains about twenty acres. They entrufled 

 nie with making this divifion ; I formed it into \ 

 two portions, nearly equal. The one contained / 

 the upper part of that enclolure, from yonder 

 point of the rock, covered with clouds, from i 

 whence iffues the fource of the river of the La- i 

 taniers, to that fteep opening which you fee at the \ 

 top of the mountain, and which is called the Em- 

 brafure, becaufe it actually refembles the parapet \ 

 of a battery. The bottom of this fpot of ground is 

 fo filled with rocks and gutters, that it is fcarcely 

 poffible to walk along. It, neverthelefs, produces 

 large trees, and abounds with fountains and little 

 rivulets. In the other portfon, I comprized all the 

 lower part of the enclofure, which extends along 

 the river of the LatanierSy to the opening where we 

 now are, from whence that river begins to flow be- 

 tween two hills toward the Sea. You there fee 

 fome ftripes of meadow- ground, and a foil tole- 

 rably fmooth and level, but which is very little 

 better than the other ; for in the rainy feafon it is 

 marlhy, and in drought, flifFas lead. When you 

 wilh, in that cafe, to open a trench, you arc 

 obhged to cut it with the hatchet. 



After having made thefe two divifions, I per- 

 fuaded the ladies to fettle their refpedive poflef- 

 lîons by calling lots. The upper part fell to the 

 fhare of Madame de la T'our^ and the lower to Mar- 

 garet» 



