NORTH AMERICA. 
355 
6r bounding over the hills ; companies of young, 
innocent Cherokee virgins, fonie bufy gathering 
the rich fragrant fruit, others having already filled 
their bafkets, lay reclined under the made of flori- 
ferous and fragrant na-tive bowers of Magnolia, 
Azalea, Philadelphus, perfumed Calycanthus, fweet 
Yellow Jeffitniine and cerulean Glycine frutefcens, 
difclofmg their beauties to the fluttering breeze, 
and bathing their limbs in the cool fleeting dreams $ 
whiHl other parties more gay and libertine, were 
yet collecting ftrawberries, or wantonly chaJIng their 
companions, tantalifing them, flaming their lips 
and cheeks with the rich fruit, 
The fylvan fcene of primitive innocence was en- 
chanting, and perhaps too enticing for hearty young 
men long to continue idle fpeclators. 
In fine, nature prevailing over reafon, we wim- 
ed at leaft to have a more active part in their deli- 
cious fports. Thus precipitately refolving, we cau- 
tion fly made our approaches, yet undifcovered, al- 
moft to the joyous fcene of action* Now, although 
we meant no other than an innocent frolic with this 
gay aflembly of hamadryades, we mall leave it to 
the perfon of feeling and fenfibility to form an idea 
to what lengths our paflions might have hurried us, 
thus warmed and excited, had it not been for the 
vigilance and care of fome envious matrons who 
lay in ambufh, and efpying us, gave the alarm, time 
enough for the nymphs to rally and afFemble toge- 
ther. We however purfued and gained ground on a 
group of them, who had incautioufly flrolled uo a 
greater diftance from their guardians, and finding 
their retreat now like to be cut off, took fheiter 
under cover of a little grove ; but on perceiving 
themfdves to be discovered by us, kept their fia- 
A a 2 tion. 
