NORTH AMERICA. 
123 
It is lingular with refpeet to its ingenuity and great 
labour in the construction of its habitation, which 
is a conical pyramid, about three or four feet high, 
conftructed with dry branches, which it collects 
with great labour and perfeverance, and piles up 
without any apparent order ; yet they are fo inter- 
woven with one another, that it would take a bear 
or wild cat fome time to pull one of thefe caftles to 
pieces, and allow the animals Sufficient time to fe- 
cure a retreat with their young. 
The noife of the crocodiles kept me awake the 
greater part of the night ; but when I arofe in the 
morning, contrary to my expectations, there was 
perfect peace ; very few of them to be feen, and 
thofe were afleep on the fhore. Yet I was not able 
to fupprefs my fears and apprehenfions of being at- 
tacked by them in future ; and indeed yefterday's 
combat with them, notwithstanding I came off in a 
manner victorious, or at lead made a fafe retreat, 
had left fufficient impreffion on my mind to damp 
my courage ; and it feemed too much for one of 
my Strength, being alone in a very fmall boat, to 
encounter fuch collected danger. To purlue my 
voyage up the river, and be obliged every even- 
ing to pais fuch dangerous defiles, appeared to me 
as perilous as running the gauntlet betwixt two rows 
of Indians armed with knives and firebrands. I 
however refolved to continue mv voyage one day 
longer, if I poffibly could with fafety, and then re- 
turn down the river, mould I find the like difficul- 
ties to oppofe. Accordingly I got every thing on 
board, charged my gun, and let fail cautioufly, 
along more. As I pafled by Battle lagoon, I began 
to tremble and keep a good look out ; when fud- 
, denly a huge alligator rumed out of the reeds, and 
