NORTH AMERICA, 
4'2i 
fumes or exhalations, from this bed of clay, may 
have a vivifxc nutritive quality, and be received by 
the fibres of the roots, or being condenfed in the 
atmofphere by nocturnal chills, fall with dews upon 
the leaves and twigs of thefe plants, and there ab- 
for bed, become nutridve or exhilerating to them. 
Befides the native fore ft trees and ftirabs already 
noted, manured fruit trees arrive in this ifand to 
the utmoft degree of perfection, as Pears, Peaches, 
Figs, Grape Vines, Plumbs, &c. 3 of the lafc men- 
tioned genus, there is a native fpecies grows in this , 
ifand, which produces its large oblong crimfon 
fruit in prodigious abundance ; the fruit, though of 
a moft enticing appearance, is rather too tart, yet 
agreeable eating, at fultry noon, in this burning 
climate ; it affords a moft delicious and reviving 
marmalade, when preferved in fugar, and makes 
excellent tarts ; the tree grows about twelve feet 
high, the top fpreading, the branches fpiny and the 
leaves broad, nervous, ferrated, and terminating 
with a fubulated point. 
My eyes having acquired fufficient ftrength to 
endure the open day light, I fet off from Pearl 
Ifand, for Manchac on the Miffiffipi, in a handfome 
large boat with three Negroes to navigate her. 
Leaving the friendly Mr. Rumfcy’s feat on Pearl 
Ifand, we defeended a creek from the landing 
near his houfe , this creek led us about a mile, 
winding through fait fedgy marfties, into Lake 
Pontchartrain, along whofe North ftiores we coalb- 
ed about twenty miles, having low, reedy marfhes, 
on our ftarboard : thefe marfhes were very extern 
five between us and the far diftant high forefts on 
the main : at evening thefhore became bolder, with 
fandy elevations, affording a few dwarf Oaks, Zan~ 
E e 3 thoxylon, 
