NORTH AMERICA. 
141 
It took me an hour or more to clear the water out 
of my bark, I then eroded the lake before a brifk 
and favourable breeze (it was about a mile over), 
and landed fafely at the plantation. 
When I arrived, my friend was affrighted to fee 
me, and immediately inquired of me in what manner 
I came there ; fuppofmg it impoffible (until I had 
mowed him my boat ) that I could have arrived by 
water, through fo tremendous a hurricane. 
Indeed I faw plainly that they were greatly terri- 
fied, having fuffered almoft irreparable damages 
from the violence of the ftorm. All the buildings 
on the plantation, except his own dwelling-houle, 
were laid almoft flat to the ground, or the logs and r 
roof rent afunder and twifted about ; the manfion- 
houfe fhook and reeled over their heads. He had 
nearly one hundred acres of the Indigo plant almoft 
ripe for the firft cutting, which were nearly ruined ; 
and feveral acres of very promifmg fugar-cane, to- 
tally fpoiled for the feafon. The great live oaks 
which had been left (landing about the fields, were 
torn to pieces, their limbs lying fcattered over the 
ground : and one very large one which flood near 
his houfe torn down, which could not have been 
done by the united ftrength of a thoufand men. But 
what is incredible, in the midft of this devaftation 
and ruin, providentially no lives were loft ; although 
there were about fixty Negro flaves on the planta- 
tion, and moft of them in their huts when the ftorm 
came on, yet they efcaped with their lives, though 
feveral were badly wounded. 
I continued here three days : indeed it took moft 
of the time of my abode with him, to dry my books 
and fpecimens of plants. But with attention and 
care 
