20 
TRAVELS IN 
but this ftratum is not very deep, and covers one of 
a tenacious cinereous coloured clay, as we may ob- 
ferve by the earth adhering to the roots of trees, 
torn up by ftorms, &c. and by the little chimnies, 
or air holes of cray-fifh, which perforate, the favan- 
nas. Turkeys, quails, and fmall birds, are here to 
be feen ; but birds are not numerous in defert fo- 
refis ; they draw near to the habitations of men, as 
I have conflantly obferved in all my travels. 
I arrived at St. I He’s in the evening, where I 
lodged ; and next morning, having eroded over in a 
ferry boat, fat forward for St. Mary’s. The fit na- 
tion of the territory, its foil and productions, be- 
tween thefe two laft rivers, are nearly fimilar to 
thofe which I had paded over, except that the fa- 
vannas are more frequent and extenfive. 
It may be proper to obferve, that I had now 7 
palled the utmoft frontier of the white fettlements 
on that border. It was drawing on towards the 
clofe of day, the ikies ferene and calm, the air tem- 
perately cool, and gentle zephyrs breathing through 
the fragrant pines; the profpedt around enchant- 
ingly varied and beautiful ; endlefs green favannas, 
chequered with coppices of fragrant fhrubs, filled 
the air with the richefl perfume. The gaily at- 
tired plants which enamelled the green had begun 
to imbibe the pearly dew of evening ; nature Teem- 
ed filent, and nothing appeared to ruffle the happy 
moments of evening contemplation ; when, on a 
hidden, an Indian appeared eroding the path, at a 
cpnfiderable difiance before me. On perceiving 
that he was armed with a rifle, the firft fight of him 
ftartled me, and I endeavoured to elude hii fight, 
by flopping my pace, and keeping large trees be- 
tween us; but he efpied me,' and turning fibre 
about. 
