140 NARRATIVEOFAN 



CHAP. On the i6th, I got my deck caulked and payed, and 

 ^_ . fent an account of our arrival to Colonel Fourgeoud. 



On the 17th, we returned to Cormoetibo Greek, having 

 loft an anchor among the roots of the mangrove-trees 

 that on both fides line the banks of all the rivers in the 

 colony. Thefe trees are of two fpecies, the red and the 

 white, but the former is that of which I now fpeak: 

 it rifes from a number of roots that fliew themfelves 

 above ground for feveral feet before they are joined to- 

 gether, and form the trunk, which is both large and 

 tall ; the bark is grey on the outfide, but the infide is 

 red, and ufed for tanning leather. The wood is reddifh, 

 hard, and good for building and other purpofes ; but the 

 moft remarkable property of this tree is, that from its 

 extended branches, and even its trunk, defcend thoufands 

 of ligneous fhoots, like the ropes of a (hip, which drop- 

 ping to the earth, take root and again re-afcend, form- 

 ing for a great circumference an impenetrable thicket, 

 while, like fo many props, they keep the tree fteady in 

 all weathers. The white mangrove is found moftly in 

 places more diftant from the water. 



This evening my fentinel, when it was very dark, called 

 out that he faw a negro, with a lighted tobacco-pipe, 

 crofs the Cormoetibo Creek in a canoe. We loft no time 

 in leaping out of our hammocks ; but were not a little 

 mortified, when one of my Haves declared it was no 

 more than a fire-fly on the wing— which adually was 



the cafe. • 



Thefe 



/ 



