6o 
TRAVELS IN 
des is a very large flourifhing plants greatly re- 
fembling, at fome diftance, a well grown plant of 
the Bromelia Ananas : the large deep green leaves 
are placed in an imbricated order, and afcendant; 
but their extremities are reflex, their bafes gibbous 
and hollowed, like a ladle, and capable of con- 
taining near a pint of water : heavy tempeils of 
wind and rain tear thefe plants bom the trees ; yet 
they live and fiourifh on the earth, under the fha- 
dow of thefe great Live Oaks. A very large part 
of this ifland had formerly been cleared and planted 
by the Englifh, as appeared evidently to me, by 
veftiges of plantations, ruins of coftly buildings, 
highways, &c. but it is now overgrown with forefts. 
Frederica was the firil town built by the Englifh in 
Georgia, and was founded by general Oglethorpe, 
who began and eftablifhed the colony. The for- 
trefs was regular and beautiful, conftrudied chiefly 
with brick, and was the larged, mod regular, and 
perhaps mod cofrly, of any in North America, of 
Britifh conftrudtion : it is now in ruins, yet occu- 
pied by a fmall garrifon ; the ruins alfo of the 
town only remain; peach trees, figs, pomegra- 
nates, and other fhrubs, grow out of the ruinous 
walls of former fpacious and expenfive buildings, 
not only in the town, but at a diftance in various 
parts of the ifland ; yet there are a few neat houfes 
in good repair, and inhabited : it feems now reco- 
vering again, owing to the public and liberal fpirit 
and exertions of j. Spalding, efq. who is prefident 
of the ifland, and engaged in very extenfive mer- 
cantile concerns. 
CHAP. 
