ARRIVAL AT COLONEL BEES'. 193 



* mole-hills,' or the habitations of an animal here called the 

 ' salamander,' and Goffer's hwrrows, presented themselves to the 

 eye, and greatly annoyed our horses, which every now and then 

 sank to the depth of a foot and stumbled, at the risk of break- 

 ing their legs, and what we considered fully as valuable — our 

 necks. We now saw beautiful lakes of the purest water, and 

 passed along a green space having a series of them on each side 

 of us. These sheets of water became larger and more numerous 

 the farther we advanced, some of them extending to a length of 

 several miles, and having a depth of from two to twenty feet of 

 clear water ; but their shores being destitute of vegetation we 

 observed no birds near them. Many tortoises, however, were 

 seen basking in the sun, and all as we approached plunged into 

 the water. Not a trace of man did we see during our journey, 

 scarcely a bird, and not a single quadruped, not even a rat ; nor 

 can one imagine a poorer and more desolate country than that 

 which lies between the Halifax River, which we had left in the 

 morning, and the undulated grounds at which we had now arrived. 



" But at length we perceived the tracks of living beings, and 

 soon after saw the huts of Colonel Bees' negroes. Scarcely 

 could ever African traveller have approached the city of Tim- 

 buctoo with more excited curiosity than we felt in approaching 

 this plantation. Our Indian horses seemed to participate in 

 our joy, and trotted at a smart rate towards the principal build- 

 ing, at the door of which we leaped from our saddles, just as the 

 sun was withdrawing his ruddy light. Colonel Rees was at 

 home, and received us with great kindness. Refreshments were 

 immediately placed before us, and we spent the evening in 

 agreeable conversation. 



"The next day I walked over the plantation, examining the 

 country around, and found the soil of good quality, it having 

 been reclaimed from swampy ground, of a black colour, rich, 

 and very productive. The greater part of the cultivated land 

 was on the borders of a lake which communicated with others 

 leading to St. John's River, distant about seven miles, and 

 navigable so far by vessels not exceeding fifty or sixty tons. 

 After breakfast our amiable host showed us the way to the cele- 

 brated spring, the sight of vhich afforded me pleasure sufficient 

 to counterbalance the tediousness of my journey. 



o 



