122 
TRAVELS IN 
It being now almoft night, I returned to my 
camp, where I had left my fifh broiling, and my 
kettle of rice flewing ; and having with me oil, 
pepper, and fait, and excellent oranges hanging in, 
abundance over my head (a valuable fubftitute for 
vinegar) I fat down and regaled myfelf cheerfully. 
Having fmiihed my repaft, I rekindled my fire for 
light, and whilfl I was revifmg the notes of my paft 
day's journey, I was fuddenly roufed with a noife 
behind me toward the main land. I fprang up ou 
my feet, and liftening, I dirtinclly heard fome crea- 
ture wading in the water of the iflhmus. I feized 
my gun, and went cautioufly from my camp, direct- 
ing my fteps towards the noife : when I had ad- 
vanced about thirty yards, I halted behind a cop- 
pice of orange trees, and foon perceived two very 
large bears, which had made their way through the 
water, and had landed in the grove, about one hun- 
dred yards diftance from me, and were advancing 
towards me. I waited until they w^re within thirty 
yards of me : they there began to muff and look to- 
wards my camp : I mapped my piece, but it flamed, 
on which they both turned about and galiopped off, 
plunging through the water and fwamp, never halt- 
ing, as I fuppofe, until they reached fait land, as I 
could hear them leaping and plunging a long time. 
They did not prefume to return again, nor was I 
molefted by any other creature, except being occa- 
sionally awakened by the whooping of owls, (cream- 
ing of bitterns, or the wood-rats running amongft 
the leaves. i 
The wood-rat is a very curious animal. It is 
not half the fize of the domeftic rat; of a dark brown 
or black . colour ; its tail flender and fhorter in, 
proportioii 5 and covered thinly with Ihort hair. 
~ ' It 
