TOUR IN THE UNITED STATES. 201 



barren. Occasionally we passed an open space like a young- 

 prairie. The pine here is very full of turpentine, the green 

 boughs burning like torches, or like pieces of our bog-deal. 

 There are two species — one with very long leaves. It is a most 

 picturesque tree. I admire it at all ages, and where the forest 

 was thin, I never tired of looking at tree after tree, each was so 

 full of character. 



We reached Wilmington at mid-day, where I had to put up 

 with a very poor inn and rough accommodation. The cookery 

 very greasy, and not over clean ; but there was bread and butter, 

 and with one device or another we got through. After dinner 

 I took a walk in the woods, my object being to search for 

 Dioncea Muscipula (Yenus's fly-trap). I soon found plenty, the 

 swamps here being full of it, yet it has not been elsewhere found. 

 I have sent off a box of it to Kew, part being for Mackay. It 

 is doubtful if it will bear the transit, as it will be a month at the 

 least shut up in the dark. At a proper season there must be 

 excellent botanizing around Wilmington. I remained only a 

 day, and then came on here, where I am in a right comfortable 

 house, and already in a new climate— warm and genial. 



l&h. I have now been here five clays, and have had pretty 

 well of enjoyment. This I chiefly owe to my letters of intro- 

 duction, which have brought me into acquaintance with a very 

 pleasant circle of the most obliging and hospitable people on 

 earth, who live in a plain quiet way, without any state or show, 

 and who have cordial, easy manners. Dr. H — k, who is one of 

 the best naturalists here, I particularly like, for his kindness 

 and genuine good-heartedness. To-day he gave me a bunch of 

 beautiful roses from his garden, and took me a walk about the 

 town, which is a quaint old place, its streets quiet, and the houses 

 of wood, with damp, unpainted greening walls, tumble-down 

 palings, &c. 



Dr. Gibbs (another naturalist) and I have fraternized most 

 agreeably ; and other persons to whom I had letters have been 

 very obliging, and would frank me from house to house over 

 the whole of the Carolinas if I had but days enongh at command. 

 The city stands on a tongue of land between two rivers, and 

 looks well from the water, with its several tall steeples rising 

 above the rest of the town. This is the busy time, and cotton 

 and rice, the two great staples, are to be seen in great abundance 



