420 TRAVELS IN 
not be exceeded by any of that celebrated family* 
It is a perennial plant, fending up many nearly 
erect ftems from the root or fource ; thefe divide 
themfelves into many afcendant flender rods like 
branches, which are ornamented with double pin- 
nated leaves, of a moil delicate formation. The 
compound flowers, are of a pale, greeniih yellow, 
collected together in a fmall oblong head, upon a 
long ilender peduncle, the legumes are large, lu« 
nated and flat, placed in a fpiral or contorted man- 
ner, each containing feveral hard compreffed feeds 
or little beans. 
The interior and by far the greater part of the 
ifiand confifts of high land ; the foil to appearance 
a heap of fea fand in fome places, with an admix- 
ture of fea {hells ; this foil, notwithftanding its fandy 
and fteril appearance, when diverted of its natural 
vegetative attire, has from what eaufe I know not, 
a continual refource of fertility within itfelf : the 
furface of the earth, after being cleared of its origi- 
nal vegetable productions, expofed a few feafons 
to the fun, winds, and triturations of agriculture,, 
appears fcarcely any thing but heaps of white fand, 
yet it produces Corn (Zea), Indigo, Batatas, Beans, 
Peas, Cotton, Tobacco, and almoU every fort or 
efculent vegetable, in a degree of luxuriancy very 
furprizing and unexpected, year after year, incef- . 
faiitly, without any addition of artificial manure or 
compofl : there is indeed a foundation of llrong 
adheiive clay, confifling of ftrata of various colours, 
which I difawered by examining a well, lately dug- 
in Mr. Rumfey's yard ; but lying at a great depth 
under the furface, the roots of fmall flirubs and 
herbage, cannot reach near to it, or receive any 
benefit, unlcfs we may fuppofe, that afcending 
fumes 
