NORTH AMERICA® 
*53 
ed and cheerful, in the morning. Having fome 
repairs to make in the tackle of my vefiel, I paid my 
firft attention to them ; which being accomplifhed, 
my curioflty prompted me to penetrate the grove 
and view the illumined plains. 
What a beautiful difplay of vegetation is here 
before me ! feemingly unlimited in extent and va- 
riety: how the dew-drops twinkle and play upon 
the fight* trembling on the tips of the lucid, green 
favanna, fparkling as the gem that flames on the 
turban of the eaftern prince. See the pearly tears 
rolling off the buds of the expanding Granadilla * ; 
behold the azure fields of cerulean Ixea ! what can 
equal the rich golden flowers of the Canna lutea, which 
ornament the banks of yon ferpentine rivulet, mean- 
dering over the meadows ; the almofl endlefs va- 
rieties of the gay Phlox, that enamel the fwelling 
green banks, afibciated with the purple Verbena co- 
rymbofa, Viola, pearly Gnaphalium, and fllvery Per- 
dicium ? How fantaftical looks the libertine Clito- 
ria, mantling the fhrubs, on the villas fkirting the 
groves ! My morning excurfion finifhed, I returned 
to my camp, breakfafted, then went on board 
my boat, gently defcended the noble river, and 
paffed by feveral openings of extenflve plains and 
meadows, environing the eaft lake, charming be- 
yond compare. At evening I came to at a good 
harbour, under the high banks of the river, and 
refted during the night amidft the fragrant groves, 
expofed to the conftant breezes from the river : 
here I made ample collections of fpecimens and grow- 
ing roots of curious vegetables, which kept me fully 
employed the greateft part of the day ; and in the 
evening arrived at a charming fpot on the eaft 
bank. 
* Paffiflora incarnata, called May-Apple. 
