THE FLORIDAS, &C. 419 



There ! reader, is not that a pretty picture — what signifies it 

 that it was written fifty years ago 1 What signifies it that now 

 a rail-road, or a canal, may pass through the very spot, this pic- 

 ture of the lagoon is as fresh as on the day when it was painted ; 

 but hist ! something disturbs the face of the still lagoon ! an 

 immense alligator rushes from the flags, which surround the 

 margin, towards its centre. " His enormous body swells. 

 His plaited tail is brandished on high above the lake. The 

 waters descend like a cataract from his opening jaws. Clouds 

 of smoke issue from his expanded nostrils. The earth trembles 

 with the thunder of his roaring. From the opposite shore 

 emerges his rival ; they dart upon each other ; the surface 

 of the lake boils with the conflict ; now they sink to the bottom 

 folded in horrid wreaths ; the water is discoloured and dark ; 

 again they rise, their jaws clapping together echo through the 

 deep surrounding forest ; again they sink, and the contest ends 

 at the muddy bottom of the lake." The vanquished then 

 sneaks off, but the victor, exulting, returns to the surface. 

 " The shores and forests resound his dreadful roar." 



It was amusing enough, no doubt, to our traveller to witness 

 this combat, but he was in a short time engaged in one still 

 more personally interesting. " I went on board, and pene- 

 trating the first line of those [alligators] which surrounded my 

 harbour, they gave way; but, being pursued by several very 

 large ones, I kept strictly on the watch, and paddled with all 

 my might towards the entrance of the lagoon, hoping to be 

 sheltered there from the multitude of my assailants, but ere I 

 had half way reached the place I was attacked on all sides, 

 several endeavouring to overset the canoe. My situation 

 became precarious: two very large ones attacked me at the 

 same instant, rushing up with their heads and part of their 

 bodies above water, roaring terribly, and belching floods of 

 water over me. They struck their jaws together so close to 

 my ears as almost to stun me, and I expected every moment to 

 be dragged out of the boat and instantly devoured, but I 

 applied my club so effectually about me, although at random, 

 that I was so successful as to beat them off a little." As soon 

 as our traveller had succeeded in thus gaining a temporary 

 respite, he made for the shore as fast as possible, and gained it 

 in safety. This, to a common man, would have been adventure 

 enough, but Bartram was not satisfied without catching the 



