NORTH AMERICA. 
ries, which evidently have withftood the devouring 
flames. Thefe adjoining wild plains, forefts, and 
favannas, are fituated lower than the hilly groves on 
the banks of the lake and river ; but what ihould be 
the natural caufe of it I cannot even pretend to 
conjecture, unlefs one may fuppofe that thole high 
hills, which we call bluffs, on the banks of this 
great river and its lakes, and which fupport thpfe 
magnificent groves and high forefts, and are gene- 
rally compofed of ifiells and fand, were thrown up 
to their prefent height by the winds and waves, 
when the bed of the river was nearer the level of the 
prefent furface of the earth ; but then, to reft upon 
fuch a iuppofition, would be admitting that the 
waters were heretofore in greater quantities than at 
this time, or that their prefent channels and recepta- 
cles are worn deeper into the earth. 
I now directed my fteps towards my encamp- 
ment, in a different direction. I feated myfeif 
upon a fwelling green knoll, at the head of the cryf- 
tal bafon. Near me, on the left, was a point or 
projection of an entire grove of the aromatic Ulicium 
Floridanum ; on my right and all around behind 
me, was a fruitful Orange grove, with Palms and 
Magnolias interfperfed ; in front, juft under my 
feet, was the inchanting and amazing cryftal foun- 
tain, which inceffantly threw up, from dark, rocky 
caverns below, tons of water every minute, form- 
ing a bafon, capacious enough for large ftiallops 
to ride in, and a creek of four or five feet depth 
of water, and near twenty yards over, which 
meanders fix miles through green meadows, pour- 
ing its limpid waters into the great Lake George, 
where they feem to remain pure and unmixed. A- 
bout twenty yards from the upper edge of the bafon, 
M 2 and 
