NORTH AMERICA, I 55 
I was however induced to deviate a little from 
my intended courfe, and touch at the inchanting 
little Ule of Palms. This delightful fpot, planted by 
nature, is almoft an entire grove of Palms, with a 
few pyramidal Magnolias, Live Oaks, golden Orange, 
and the animating Zanthoxylon. What a beautiful 
retreat is here ! bleiTed inviolated fpot of earth, 
rifing from the limpid waters of the lake : its fra- 
grant groves and blooming lawns inverted and 'pro- 
tected by encircling ranks of the Yucca gloriofa* 
A fafcinating atmofphere furrounds this blifsful gar- 
den ; the balmy Lantana, ambrofial Citra, perfumed 
Crinurh, perfpiring their mingled odours, wafted 
through Zanthoxylon groves. I at laft broke away 
from the enchanting fpot, and ftepped on board my 
boat, hotfted fail, and foon approached the coaft of 
the main, at the cool eve of day : then traverfing a 
capacious femicircular cove of the lake, verged by 
low, extenfive graffy meadows, I at length by duik 
made a fafe harbour, in a little lagoon, on the fea 
more or ftrand of a bold fandy point, which de- 
fcended from the furf of the lake. This was a 
clean fandy beach, hard and firm by the beatinst 
furf, when the wind fets from the eaft coaft. I 
drew up my light vefTel on the Hoping more, that 
fhe might be fafe from the beating waves in cafe of 
a hidden fiorm of wind in the night. A few yards 
back the land was a little elevated, and over- 
grown with thickets of fhrubs and low trees, con- 
fiding chiefly of Zanthoxylon, Olea Americana, 
Ramnus frangula, Sideroxylon, Morus, Ptelea, Ha- 
lefia, Querci, Myrica cerifera, and others. Theie 
groves were but low, yet fufficiently high to inci- 
ter me from the chilling dews ; and being but a 
few yards diftance from my veffel, here I fixed my 
encampment. A brife wind arifmg from the lake, 
drove 
