120 
TRAVELS IN 
which was but a few yards off ; then ranging fome 
dry wood in fuch order as was the mod: convenient* 
I cleared die ground round about it* that there might 
be no impediment in my way, in cafe of an attack 
in the night, either from the water or the land * for 
I difcovered by this time, that this fmall ifthmus, 
from its remote fuuation and fruitfulnefs, was re- 
fer ted to by bears and wolves. Having prepared 
myfelf in the bed: manner I could, I charged my 
gun, and proceeded to reconnoitre my camp and the 
adjacent grounds ; when I difcovered that the pe- 
ninfula and grove, at the didance of about two hun- 
dred yards from my encampment, on the land fide, 
were inveded by a cyprefs fwamp, covered with 
water, which below was joined to the fhore of the 
little lake, and above to the marfhes furrounding the 
lagoon ; fo that I was confined to an iflet exceed- 
ingly circumfcribed, and I found there was no other 
retreat for me, in cafe of an attack, but by either 
afeending one of the large oaks, or pufning off 
with my boat. 
It was by this time dufk, and the alligators had 
nearly chafed their roar, when I was again alarmed 
by a tumultuous noife that feemed to be in my 
harbour, and therefore engaged my immediate at- 
tention. Returning to my camp, I found it undid 
turbed, and then continued on to the extreme point 
of the promontory, where I faw a feene, new and 
ftirprifing, which at firft threw my fenfes into fuch 
a tumult, that it was fame time before I could com- 
prehend what was the matter 3 however, I foon 
accounted for the prodigious affemblage of croco- 
diles at this place, which exceeded every thing of 
the kind I had ever heard of. 
How fhall I exprefs myfelf fo as to convey an 
adequate* 
