2 2 8 
TRAVELS IN 
young fry, and its (limy bed is a prolific nidus for 
generating and rearing of infinite tribes and fwarms 
of amphibious infers, which are the food of young 
fifh, who in their turn become a prey to the older. 
Yet when thofe different tribes of filh are in the 
tranfparent channel, their very nature feems abfo- 
lutely changed ; for here is neither defire to deftroy 
nor perfecute, but all feems peace and friendihip. 
Do they agree on a truce, a fufpenfion of hoftilities ? 
or by fome fecret divine influence, is defire taken 
away ? or they are otherwife rendered incapable of 
purfuing each other to defrruffion ? 
About noon we approached the admirable Manate 
Spring, three or four miles down the river. This 
charming nymphsum is the produff of primitive 
nature, not to be imitated, much lefs equalled, by the 
united effort of human power and ingenuity ! As we 
approach it by water, the mind of the inquiring 
traveller is previouily entertained, and gradually 
led on to greater difcovery ; firlt by a view of the 
fublime dark grove, lifted up on fnore, by a range 
or curved chain of hills, at a fmall diftance from the 
lively green verge of the river, on the eaft banks ; 
as we gently deice nd floating fields of the Nymphsea 
nelumbo, interfeffed with villas of the yellow green 
Piltia ftratiotes, which cover a bay or cove of the 
river oppofite the circular woodland hills. 
It is amazing and almoft incredible, what troops 
and bands of filh. and other watery inhabitants are 
now in fight, all peaceable $ and in what variety of 
gay colours and forms, continually afcending and 
defending, roving and figuring amongll one ano- 
ther, yet every tribe affociating feparately. We 
now aferided the cryilai ffream ; the current fwift 
we 
