NORTH AMERICA. 
*39 
the henrifphere alarmed me greatly, having a large 
lake to crofs. From this grove appears to view an 
expanfive and pleating profpecl. The beauteous 
long lake in front, about North Eaft from me, its 
moft diftant Eaft fhores adorned with dark, high 
forefts of (lately trees ; North and South almoft end- 
lefs green plains and meadows, embellifhed with 
illets and projecting promontories of high, dark fo- 
re ft s, where the pyramidal magnolia grandiflora, 
palma elata, and fhady oak, confpicuoufly tower. 
Being heretofore fo clofely inverted by high fo- 
refts and deep fwamps of the great river, I was pre- 
vented from feeing the progrefs and increafe of the 
approaching tempeft, the terrific appearance of 
which now at once confounded me. How purple 
and fiery appeared the tumultuous clouds, fwiftly 
afcending or darting from the horizon upwards ! 
they feemed to oppofe and dafh againft each other ; 
the Ikies appeared ftreaked with blood or purple 
flame overhead, the flaming lightning ftreaming 
and darting about in every direction around, feemed 
to fill the world with fire ; whilft the heavy thunder 
kept the earth in a conftant tremor. I had yet 
fome hopes of crofting the lake to the plantation in 
fight. On the oppofite fhore of the creek before 
me, and on the cape as we enter the lake, ftood a 
large iflet or grove of oaks and palms. Here I in- 
tended to feek iheiter and abide till the furv of the 
hurricane was overpaft, if I found it too violent to 
permit me to crofs the lake. In confequence of this 
precipitate determination, I ftepped into my boat 
and pufhed off. What a dreadful ruffling and roaring 
there was every where around me ! and to my ut- 
ter confufion and aftoniihment, I could not find from 
what particular quarter its ftrongeft current or direc- 
tion 
