NORTH AMERICA, 
355 
or bounding over the hills ; companies of young, 
innocent Cherokee virgins, fome bufy gathering 
the rich fragrant fruit, others having already filled 
. their bafkets, lay reclined under the ihade of flori- 
ferous and fragrant native bowers of Magnolia, A- 
zalea, Philadelphus, perfumed Calycanthus, fweet 
Yellow Jeffamine and cerulean Glycine frutefcens, 
difclofing their beauties to the fluttering breeze, 
and bathing their limbs in the cool fleeting dreams ; 
whild other parties more gay and libertine, were 
yet collecting drawberries, or wantonly chafing their 
companions* tantalifmg them, daining their lips 
and cheeks with the rich fruit. 
The fy Ivan fcene of primitive innocence was en- 
chanting, and perhaps too enticing for hearty young 
men long to continue idle fpeCtators. 
In fine, nature prevailing over reafon, we wi Hi- 
ed at lead to have a more aCtive part in their deli- 
cious fports. Thus precipitately refolving, we cau- 
tioufiy made our approaches, yet undifcovered, al- 
mod to the joyous fcene of adlion. Now, although 
we meant no other than an innocent frolic with this 
gay affembly of hamadryades, we fhail leave it to 
the perfon of feeling and fenfibility to form an idea 
to what lengths our paflions might have hurried us, 
thus warmed and excited, had it not been for the 
vigilance and care of fome envious matrons who 
lay in ambufh* and efpying us, gave the alarm, time 
enough for the nymphs to rally and affemble toge- 
ther. We however purfued and gained ground on a 
group of them, who had incautioufly drolled to a 
greater didance from their guardians, and finding 
their retreat now like to be cut off, took fhelter 
under cover of a little grove ; but on perceiving 
the np dives to be difcovered by us, kept their da- 
A a % tion 
