220 



A VOYAGE t6 



the same purpose particularly in burning bricks. It 

 is this which has given rise to the story of their throw- 

 ing animals alive into the flames, for the purpose of 

 keeping up their fires. Many of the extravagant 

 stories related by travellers have had no better origin. 

 I remarked several very beautiful shaded trees, scat- 

 tered here and there over the plain. I was unable to 

 account for these having escaped the general ravage, 

 but was informed that this tree, which is called the 

 Jiumboo is so very soft and porous, and contains so 

 much sap or more properly water, that it will not 

 burn even after having been long cut. A gentleman 

 told me that on first coming to this country, he was 

 astonished one day at seeing a woman trying to split 

 up the skull of an ox for fuel, while a log of wood 

 was lying along side of her, which she did not seem 

 to think of applying to this purpose; but this log was 

 of the incombustible humboo. Amongst the curious 

 things that attracted my attention, was the remains of 

 an enclosure formed entirely of dry ox hea4s, piled on 

 each other; from which we may form some idea of the 

 vast number slaughtered in this neighborhood, when 

 the commerce of the city was flourishing. 



On arriving at the high ground near the lines, the 

 prospect was truly delightful; the city and harbor, the 

 shipping, the frigate Congress with her glorious flag^ 

 distinguishable at a greater distance than that of any 

 other nation, the mount, the expanse of this vast river, 

 at this place at least seventy miles wide, spread out 

 below me; from this point the ground sloping to the 

 interior, presented an enchanting landscape; the sur- 

 face of the country waving like the Attakapas or Opa- 

 lousas, with here and there some rising grounds^ and 



