TRAVELS IM 
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reafon of the mighty floods of the river, with col- 
lected force, prefling through the firfb hilly afcents, 
where the fhores on each fide prefent to view rocky 
cliff s riling above the furface of the water, in nearly 
flat horizontal maflfes, walked fmooth by the de~ 
fcending floods, and which appear to be a compo- 
fition, or concrete, of fandy lime-ftone) I reffgned 
my bark to the friendly current, referving to my- 
felf the controul of the helm. My progrefs was 
rendered delightful by the fylvan elegance of the 
groves, cheerful meadows, and high diftant forefts, 
which in grand order prefented themfelves to view. 
The winding banks of the river, and the high pro- 
jedting promontories, unfolded frefh fcenes of gran- 
deur and fublimity. The deep fore Its and diftant 
hills re-echoed the cheering focial lowings of do- 
ineftic herds. The air was filled with the loud 
and fhrill whooping of the wary flrarp -flighted crane. 
Behold, on yon decayed, defoliated cyprefs tree, 
the folitary wood-pelican, dejedtedly perched upon 
ks utmoft elevated fpire ; he there, like an ancient 
venerable fage, fets himfelf x as a mark of deri- 
fion, for the fafety of his kindred tribes. The 
crying-bird, another faithful guardian, fcreaming 
in the gloomy thickets, warns the feathered tribes 
of approaching peril ; and the plumage of the fwift 
failing fquadrons of Spanifh curlews (white as the 
immaculate robe of innocence) gleams in the ceru- 
lean fkies. 
Thus fecure and tranquil, and meditating on the 
marvellous fcenes of primitive nature, as yet un- 
modified by the hand of man, I gently defended 
the peaceful ftream, on whofe poliffned furface were 
depidted the mutable fhadows from its penffle banks ; 
whilft myriads of finny inhabitants fported in its pel- 
lucid floods. 
The 
