NORTH AMERICA. 
129 
fuberifer, GlediiTia monofperma, Gledit. triacan- 
thus, Diofpyros Virginica, Mylfa aquatica, Nyffa 
fylvatica, Juglans cinerea, Quercus dentata, Quer- 
cus phillos, Hopea tinctoria, Corypha palma, Mo- 
ras rubra, and many more. The palm grows on. 
the edges of the banks, where they are raifed higher 
than the adjacent level ground, by the accumulation 
of fand, river-fhells, &c. I parted along feveral miles 
by thole rich iwamps : the channels of the river 
which encircle the feveral fertile iflands I had 
palled, now uniting, formed one deep channel near 
three hundred yards over. The banks of the river 
on each fide began to rife, and prefent Ifielly bluffs, 
adorned by beautiful Orange groves, Laurels and 
Live Oaks. And now appeared in fight, a tree 
that claimed my whole attention : it was the Carica 
papaya, both male and female, which were ia 
flower ; and the latter both in flower and fruit, 
fome of which were ripe, as large, and of the form, 
of a pear, and of a moil charming appearance. 
This admirable tree is certainly the moft beau- 
tiful of any vegetable production I know of ; the 
towering Laurel Magnolia, and exalted Palm, in- 
deed exceed it in grandeur and magnificence, but 
not in elegance, delicacy, and gracefulnefs. It rifes 
erect to the height of fifteen or twenty feet, with a 
perfectly ftraight tapering fern, which is fmooth and 
polifhed, of a bright am colour, refembling leaf 
filver, curiouily infcribed with the footfteps ol v the 
fallen leaves ; and thefe veftiges are placed in a very 
regular uniform imbricated order, which has a fine 
effect, as if the little column were elegantly carved 
all over. Its perfectly fpherical top is formed of 
very large lobe-finuate leaves, fupported on very 
long footftaiks ; the lower leaves are the largeft 
as well as their petioles the longeft, and make 
K a graceful 
