12b 
tRAVSLS IN 
dry wood in fuch order as was the moll convenient, 
I cleared the ground round about it, that there might 
be no impediment in my way, in cafe of an attack 
in the night, either from the water or the land ; for 
I difcovered by this time, that this fmall iflhmus, 
from its remote fituation and fruitfulnefs, was re- 
forted to my bears and wolves. Having prepared 
myfelf in the beft manner I could, I charged my 
gun and proceeded to reconnoitre my camp and the 
adjacent grounds ; when I difcovered that the pe- 
ninfula and grove, at the diftance of about two hun- 
dred yards from my encampment, on the land fide, 
were inverted by a cyprefs fwamp, covered with 
water 4 which below was joined to the fhore of the 
little lake, and above to the marines furrounding the 
lagoon ; fo that I was confined to an iflet exceed- 
ingly circumfcribed, and I found there was no other 
retreat for me, in cafe of an attack, but by either 
afcending one of the large oaks, or pufhing off with 
my boat. 
It was by this time dufli, and the alligators had 
nearly ceafed their roar, when I was again alarmed 
by a tumultuous noife that feemed to be in my har- 
bour, and therefore engaged my immediate atten- 
tion. Returning to my camp, I found it undis- 
turbed, and then continued on to the extreme point 
of the promontory, where 1 faw a fcene, new and 
furprifmg, which at firil threw my fenfes into fuch 
a tumult, that it was fome time before I could com- 
prehend what was the matter ; however, I foon ac- 
counted for the prodigious alfemblage of crocodiles 
at this place, which exceeded every thing of the kind 
I had ever heard of. 
How mall I exprefs myfelf fo as to convey an 
adequate idea of it to the reader, and at the fame 
time 
