NORTH AMERICA. 
37 
a level green plain, thinly planted by nature with 
the moft lately fbreit trees, fuch as the gigantic 
black* oak (q. tindtoria), liriodendron, juglans 
nigra, platanus, juglans exaltata, fagus fylvacica, 
ulmus fylvatica, liquidambar ftyraciflua, whofe 
mighty t unks, feemingly of an equal height, ap- 
peared like fuperb columns. To keep within the 
bounds of truth and reality, in defcribing the mag- 
nitude and grandeur of thefe trees, would, I fear, 
fail of credibility, yet, I think I can aflert, that 
many of the black oaks meafured eight, nine, ten, 
and eleven feet diameter five feet above the ground, 
as we meafured feveral that were above . thirty feet 
girt, and from hence they afcend perfedtly ftraight, 
with a gradual taper, forty or fifty feet to the 
limbs; but below five or fix feet, thefe trunks 
would meafure a third more in circumference, on 
account of the projedting jambs, or fupports, which 
are more or lefs, according to the number of hori- 
zontal roots that they arife from : the tulip tree, 
liquidambar, and beech, were equally ftately. 
Not far diftant from the terrace or eminence, 
overlooking the low grounds of the river, many very 
magnificent monuments of the power and indufhy of 
the ancient inhabitants of thefe lands are vifible. I 
obferved a fiupendous conical pyramid, or artificial 
mount of earth, vaft tetragon terraces, and a large 
funken area, of a cubical form, encompaffed with 
banks of earth ; and certain traces of a larger Indian 
town, the work of a powerful nation, whofe period 
of grandeur perhaps long preceded the difcovery of 
this continent. 
& Gigantic black oak. Querc. tin&oria ; the bark of this fpecies of oak 
is found to afford a valuable yellow dye. This tree is known by the name 
pf black oak in Pennfylyania, New-lerfevy New- York, and New-Eng- 
land, 
D 3 ' After 
