104 
TRAVELS IN 
furf, lapfmg on the hard beaten more, and, the ten- 
der warblings of the painted nonpareil and other 
winged inhabitants of the grove. 
At the approach of day the dreaded voice of the 
alligators fhook the ifle, and refounded along the 
neighbouring coafts, proclaiming the appearance of 
the glorious fun. I arofe, and prepared to accom- 
pli fli my daily talk. A gentle favourable gale led 
us out of the harbour : we failed acrofs the lake, 
and towards evening entered the river on the op- 
pofite fouth coaft, where we made a pleafant and 
fafe harbour, at a fhelly promontory, the eafi cape 
of the river on that fide of the lake. It is a mod 
deferable fituation, commanding a full view of the 
lake. The cape oppofite to us was a vafi cyprefs 
fwamp, environed by a border of gtafTy mar flies, 
which were projected farther into the lake by float- 
ing fields of the bright green piftia ftratoites, which 
role and fell alternately with the waters. Jul! to 
leeward of this point, and about half a mile in the 
lake is the little round ifland already mentioned. 
But let us take notice of our harbour and its envi- 
rons : it is a beautiful little cove juft within the 
fandy point, which defends it from the beating 
furf of the lake. From a fhelly bank, ten or 
twelve feet perpendicular from the water, we en- 
tered a grove of live oaks, palm, magnolia, and 
orange trees, which grow amongfl fhelly hills, and 
low ridges, occupying about three acres of ground, 
comprehending the iilhmus, and a part of the penin- 
fula, which joins it to the grafly plains. This en- 
chanting little forefl is partly encircled by a deep 
creek, a branch of the river, that has its fource in 
the high for efts of the main, fouth eafl from us ; 
mid winds through the extenfive graify plains which 
fur round 
