NORTH AMERICA, 
I 17 
My apprehenfions were highly alarmed after be- 
ing a fpecfator of fo dreadful a battle. It was ob- 
vious that eveiy delay would but tend to encreafe 
my dangers and difficulties, as the fun was near 
fetting, and the alligators gathered around my har- 
bour from all quarters. From thefe confiderations 
I concluded to be expeditious in my trip to the la- 
goon, in order to take fome fifh. Not thinking it 
prudent to take my fufee with me, left I might 
lofe it overboard in cafe of a battle, which I had 
every reafon to dread before my return, I therefore 
furnifhed myfelf with a club for my defence, went 
on board, and penetrating the firit line of thofe 
which furrounded my harbour, they gave way ; but 
being purfued by feveral very large ones, I kept 
ftridtly on the watch, and paddled with all my might 
towards the entrance of the lagoon, hoping to be 
iheltered there from the multitude of my aflfailants ; 
but ere I had half-way reached the place, I was attack- 
ed on all fides, feveral endeavouring to overfet the 
canoe. My fituation now became precarious to the 
laft degree : two very large ones attacked me clofe- 
ly, at the fame inftant, milling up with their heads 
and part of their bodies above the water, roaring 
terribly and belching floods of water over me. They 
ftruck their jaws together fo clofe to my ears, as 
aimoft to ftun me, and I expected every moment to 
be dragged out of the boat and inftantly devoured. 
But I applied my weapons fo effedlually about me, 
though at random, that I was fo fuccefsful as to 
beat them off a little ; when, finding that they de- 
figned to renew the battle, I made for the Fiore, 
as the only means left me for my prefervation ; for, 
by keeping clofe to it, I fhould have my enemies on 
one fide of me only, whereas I was before furround- 
ed by them; and there was a probability, if puftied 
I 3 to 
