NORTfc AMERICA. I I 5 
ing a circular fvvcep to the right, and contain 
many hundred thou hand acres of meadow ; and this 
grand (weep of high forells encircles, as I appre- 
hend, at lead twenty miles of thefe green fields, 
interfperfed with hammocks or idets of evergreen 
trees, where the fovereign magnolia and lordly 
palm Hand confpicuous. The iilets are high fhelly 
knolls, on the lides of creeks or branches of the 
river, which wind about and drain off the fuper- 
abundant waters that cover thefe meadows during 
the winter feafon. 
The evening was temperately cool and calm. 
The crocodiles began to roar and appear in uncom- 
mon numbers along the (bores and in the river. I 
fixed my camp in an open plain, near the utmoft 
projedion of the promontory, tinder the (belter of 
a large live oak, which ftood on the higheft part 
of the ground, and but a few yards from my boat. 
From this open, high fituation, I had a free prof- 
pe6t of the river, which was a matter of no trivial 
confideration to me, having good reafon to dread 
the fubtle attacks of the alligators, who were crowd- 
ing about my harbour. Having colle&ed a good 
quantity of wood for the purpofe of keeping up a 
light and fmoke during the night, I began to think 
of preparing my fupper, when, upon examining my 
(lores, I found but a fcanty provifion. I thereupon 
determined, as the mod expeditious way of fupply- 
ing my neceffities, to take my bob and try for fome 
trout. About one hundred yards above my har- 
bour began a cove or bay of the river, out of which 
opened a large lagoon. The mouth or entrance 
from the river to it was narrow, but the waters 
foon after fpread and formed a little lake, extend- 
ing into the marfhes : its entrance and (bores with- 
I 2 ^ in 
