NORTH AMERICA® 1 6j 
ties, which evidently have withftood the devouring 
flames. Thefe adjoining wild plains, forells, and 
favannas, are fituated lower than the hilly groves on 
the banks of the lake and river ; blit what Hiould be 
the natural caufe of it I cannot even pretend to 
conjedture, unlefs one may fuppofe that thofe high 
hills, which we call bluffs, on the banks of this 
great river and its lakes, and which fupport thofe 
magnificent groves and high forefts, and are gene- 
rally compofed of fhells and fand, were thrown up 
to their prefent heighth by the winds and waves, 
when the bed of the river was nearer the level of 
the prefent furface of the earth •> but then, to reft 
Upon fuch a fuppofition, would be admitting that 
the waters were heretofore in greater quantities 
than at this time, or that their prefent channels and 
receptacles are worn deeper into the earth* 
i 
I now diredtcd my fleps towards my encamp- 
ment, in a different direction. I feated myfelf 
upon a fwelling green knoll, at the head of the cryfo 
tal bafon. Near me, on the left, was a point or 
projedlion of an entire grove of the aromatic ML 
cium Floridanum ; on my right and all around be- 
hind me, was a fruitful Orange grove, with Palms and 
Magnolias interfperfed ; in front, juft tinder my feet, 
was the inchanting and amazing cryftal fountain, 
which inceiTantly threw up, from dark, rocky ca- 
verns below, tons of water every minute, found- 
ing a bafon, capacious enough for large fh al- 
lops to ride in, and a creek of four or five feet 
depth of water, and near twenty yards over, which 
meanders fix miles through green meadows, pour- 
ing its limpid waters into the great Lake George a 
where they feem to remain pure and unmixed. A* 
bout twenty yards from the upper edge of the bafon, 
M 2 and 
