§6 TRAVELS Iff 
The company for Alachua were to fet off m 
about a month; that to Little St. Juan, in July, 
which fuited me exceedingly well, as I might make 
my tour to the upper ftore direftly, that part of the 
country being at this feafon enrobed in its richeft 
and gay eft appareh 
About the middle of May, every thing being In 
readinefs to proceed up the river, we fat fail. The 
traders with their goods in a large boat went 
a-head, and myfelf in my little vefiel followed them ; 
and as their boat was large, and deeply laden, I 
found that I could eafily keep up with them, and, if 
1 chofe, out-fail them ; but I preferred keeping them 
company, as well for the fake of collecting what I 
could from converfation, as on account of my 
fafety in crofting the great lake, expecting to 
return alone, and defcend the river at my own 
leifure. 1 
We had a pleafant day, the wind fair and mode- 
rate, and ran by Mount Hope, fo named by my fa- 
ther John Bartram, when he afcended this river* 
about fifteen years ago. It was a very high ftielly 
bluff, upon the little lake. It was at that time a fine 
Orange grove, but now cleared arid converted into a 
large indigo plantation, the property of an Englifh 
gentleman, under the care of an agent. In the 
evening we arrived at Mount Royal, where we came 
to, and flayed all night : we were treated with 
great civility, by a gentleman whofe name was 
— — ■ Kean, and who had been an Indian trader. 
From this place we enjoyed a mo»ft enchanting 
prolpedt of the great Lake George, through a grand 
avenue, if I may fo term this narrow reach of the 
river, which widens gradually for about two miles* 
towards 
