121 TRAVELS THROUGH 



fur-trade with the Indians, the officers carry it 

 on exclufively of all others, contrary to the 

 King's intention. 



About this place, there are white and red 

 bays * and wild cherry-trees f . There are like- 

 wife white and red cedars J j the latter is very 

 fine, and very good for inlaid work \ its fmell 

 expels infedls, and the wood indeed is incorrup- 

 tible* There are feverai forts of trees in the fo- 

 refts hereabouts, which are unknown in Europe, 

 and fome which abound with a gum like tur- 

 pentine. There are likewife cyprefTes § of fuch 

 a (ize, that the Indians make piraguas out of 

 one piece, which can contain lixty men. 



Before the French came into Louiftana, the 

 Indians conftrufted their boats in the following 



manner. 



* The bays are probably the Laurus cefti^oalis Linn, which 

 have white fiowers ; and the Laurus Borbonia Liivi. which 

 has red flower-cups, and black or purple berries. F. 



f The wild cherries of this country grow in clufters, and 

 there are chiefly three kinds of them growing in America, 

 viz. Prunus Virginianai Canadenfis, and Liifitanica, Linn. 



\ The red cedar is the Juniperus Virginiana Linn, and the 

 white cedar is the Cuprejfus Thjoides Linn, 



% Or cedars* 



