6o 
TRAVELS IBf 
cies is a very large flourifhing plant, greatly re*- 
fembling, at fome diftance, a well grown plant of 
the Bromelia Ananas : the large deep green leaved 
are placed in an imbricated order, and afcendant ; 
but their extremities are reflex, their bafes gibbous 
and hollowed, like a ladle, and capable of con- 
taining near a pint of water : heavy tempers of 
wind and rain tear thefe plants from the trees ; yet 
they live and flourifh on the earth, under the fha- 
dow of thefe great Live Oaks. A very large pare 
of this iiland had formerly been cleared and planted 
by the Englifh, as appeared evidently to me, by 
veftiges of plantations, ruins of coftly buildings,, 
highways, &c. but it is now overgrown with forefts. 
Frederica was the firft town built by the Englilh in 
Georgia, and was founded by general Oglethorpe, 
who began and eftabiifhed the colony. The for- 
trefs was regular and beautiful, conftrucled chiefly 
with brick, and was the largeft, nioft regular, and 
perhaps mod coftly, of any in North America, of 
Britilh conftruclion : it is now in ruins, yet occu- 
pied by a fmall garrifon ; the ruins alfo of the 
town only remain ; peach trees, figs, pomegra- 
nates, and other fhrubs, grow out of the ruinous 
walls of former fpacious and expenfive buildings, 
not only in the town, but at a diftance in various 
parts of the ifland ; yet there are a few neat houfes 
in good repair, and inhabited : it feems now reco- 
vering again, owing to the public and liberal fpirit 
arid exertions of J. Spalding, efq. who is prefident 
of the iiland, and engaged in very ex ten five mer- 
cantile concerns. 
CHAP. 
