NORTH AMERICA. , 69 
The fhrub Capficum growing here in abundance., 
afforded us a very good pepper : we drank of a well 
of frefh water juft at hand, amidft a grove of Myr- 
tles (Myrica cerifera.) Our repofe however was in- 
complete, from the flings of mufquetoes, the roar- 
ing of crocodiles, and trie continual noife and reft- 
lermefs of the fea fowl, thoufands of them having 
their roofling-places very near us, particularly loons 
of various fpecies, herons, pelicans, Spanifh curlews 
&c. all promifcuoully lodging together, and in fuch 
incredible numbers, that the trees were entirely co- 
vered. They rood in inacceffible iflers in the fait 
marfhes, furrounded by lagoons, and mallow water. 
Jufl without the trees, betwixt them, the water and 
marfhes, is a barricade of Palmetto royal (Yucca, 
gloriofa) or Adam's needle, which grows fo thick 
together, that a rat or bird can fcarcely pafs through 
them j and the ftiff leaves of this fword plant, fend- 
ing nearly horizontally, are as impenetrable to man, 
or any other animal, as if they were a regiment of 
grenadiers with their bayonets pointed at you. The 
Palmetto royal is, however, a very fingular and beau- 
tiful production. It may be termed a tree, from 
its durability and magnitude, as likewife from the 
ligneous quality of its flem, or trunk, when old ; 
yet from its form and texture, I fhould be inclined 
to rank it amongfl the herbaceous plants, for even 
the glorious palm, although it rifes to the altitude 
of a tree, and even tranfcends moft of them, yet 
it bears the character of the herbaceous ones : and 
this, like the Palm tree, rifes with a ftraight, etecl: 
{fern, about ten or twelve feet high, crowned with 
a beautiful chaplet of fword or dagger like leaves, 
of a perfect green colour, each terminated with a 
ftiff, fharp fpur, and their edges finely crenated. 
This thorny crown is crefled with a pyramid of fib 
vej: 
