422 
TRAVELS IN 
thoxylon, Myrica and Rham. frangula. We came 
to in a little bay, kindled a fire, and after fupper 
betook ourfelves to repofe 5 our fituation open, airy 
and cool, on clean fand banks ; we refted quietly, 
though fometimes roufed by alarms from the cro- 
codiles, which are here in great numbers, and of 
an enormous bulk and ftrength. 
Next day early we got under way, purfuing our 
former courfe, nearly Weftward, keeping the North 
fhore feveral leagues. Immediately back of this 
high fandy flrand, (which is call up by the beating 
furf and winds, fetting from feaward, acrofs the 
widefl part of the lake) the ground fuddenly falls, 
and becomes extenfive flat Cyprefs fwamps, the 
fources of creeks and rivers, which run into the 
lake, or Pearl River, or other places ; the high 
forefts of the main now gradually approaching the 
lake, advance up to the very fhore, where we find 
houfes, plantations and new fettlements : we came 
to at one of them charmingly fltuated,fet fail again, 
and came up to the mouth of the beautiful Taen- 
fapaoa, which takes that name from a nation of In- 
dians, who formerly pofTefled the territories lying on 
its banks, which are fertile and delightful regions. 
This river is narrow at its entrance, but deep, and 
fiaid to be navigable for large barks and perriauguas 
upwards of fifty miles: jufl: within its capes, on 
the leeward fhore, are heights, or a group of low 
hills (compofed of the fmall clam fhells, called les 
coquilles), which gradually deprefs as we retreat 
back from the river, and the furface of the land is 
more levels thefe fhells diffolving and mixing with 
the furface, render the vegetative mould black, 
rich, and productive. Plere are a few habitations, 
and feme fields cleared and cultivated ; but the 
inhabitants 
