NORTH AMERICA, 
407 
Nymphaea Nelumbo : the furface of the water is 
overfpread with its round floating leaves, whilft 
thefe are fhadowed by a foreft of umbrageous leaves 
with gay flowers, waving to and fro on flexible 
ftems, three or four feet high : thefe fine flowers are 
double as a rofe, and when expanded are feven 
or eight inches in diameter, of a lively lemon yel- 
low colour. The feed veffel when ripe, is a large 
truncated, dry, porous capfule, its plane or difk 
regularly perforated, each cell containing an oval 
offeous gland or nut, of the fize of a filbert ; when 
thefe are fully grown, before they become quite hard, 
they are fweet and pleafant eating, and tafte like 
chefnuts : I fed freely on them without any injury, 
but found them laxative. I have obferved this 
aquatic plant, in my travels along the Eaftern fliores 
of this continent, in the large rivers and lakes, from 
New-Jerfey to this place, particularly in a large 
pond or lake near Cape Fear river in North Caro- 
lina, which is about two miles over and twelve 
feet water, notwithftanding which its furface is al~ 
molt covered with the leaves of this plant ; it alio 
abounds in Wakamaw lake near the fame river, and 
in Savanna river at Augufta* and all over Eaft 
v Florida. 
Proceeding up the river, came to at a very 
high fteep bluff of red and particoloured tenacious 
clay, under a deep flratum of loofe fandy mould: after 
afcending this fteep bank of the river, I found my- 
felf in an old field, and penetrating the forefts fur- 
rounding, obferved them to be young growth, co- 
vering very extenfive old plantations, which was 
evident from the ridges and hillocks which once 
raifed their Corn (Zea), Batatas, &c. I fuppofe this 
to be the fite of an ancient fortified poft of the 
D d 4 French, 
