NORTH AMERICA. 
It is fingular with refpedt to its ingenuity and 
great labour in the conftru&ion of its habitation, 
which is a conical pyramid about three or four feet 
high, conftr lifted with dry branches, which it col- 
lefts with great labour and perfeverance, and piles up 
without any apparent order ; yet they are fo inter- 
woven with one another, that it would take a bear 
or wild-cat fome time to pull one of thefe cafdes to 
pieces, and allow the animals fufEcient time to fe- 
cure a retreat with their young. 
The noife of the crocodiles kept me awake the 
greater part of the night ; but when I arofe in the 
morning, contrary to my expectations, there was 
perfeft peace ; very few of them to be feen, and 
thofe wete afieep on the fhore. Yet I was not able 
to fupprefs my fears and apprehenfions of being at- 
tacked by them in future j and indeed yeffercay’s 
combat with them, notwithftanding I came off in a 
manner victorious, or at lead: made a fa fe retreat, 
had left fufficient impreffion on my mind to damp 
rny courage ; and it feemed too much for one of 
my ftrength, being alone in a very fmall boat, to 
encounter fuch collected danger. To purfue my 
voyage up the river, and be obliged every even- 
ing to pafs fuch dangerous defiles, appeared to me 
as perilous as running the gauntlet betwixt two rows 
of Indians armed with knives and firebrands. I 
however refolved to continue my voyage one day 
longer, if I poffibly could with fafety, and then re- 
turn down the river, fhould I find the like difficul- 
ties to oppofe. Accordingly I got every thing on 
board, charged my gun, and let fail, cautioully, 
along fhore. As I paffied by Battle lagoon, I begun 
to tremble and keep a good look-out ; when fud-* 
denly a huge alligator rufhed out of the reeds, and 
widl 
