ties* which evidently have withftood die devouring 
flames. Thefe adjoining wild plains, forefts, and 
favannas, are fituated lower than the hilly groves on 
the banks of the lake and river ; but what Ihould be 
the natural caufe of it I cannot even pretend to 
conjedture, unlefs one may fuppofe that thofe high 
hills, which we call bluffs, on the banks of this 
great river and its lakes, and which fupport thofe 
magnificent groves and high forefts, and are gene- 
rally compofed of fhells and fand, were thrown up 
to their prefent heighth by the winds and waves, 
when the bed of the river was nearer the level of 
the prefent furface of the earth ; but then, to reft 
upon fuch a fuppofition, would be admitting that 
the waters were heretofore in greater quantities 
than at this time, or that their prefent channels and 
receptacles are worn deeper into the earth; 
I now diredted my fteps towards my encamp- 
ment, in a different diredfion. I feated myfelf 
upon a fwelling green knoll, at the head of the crys- 
tal bafbn. Near me, on the left, was a point or 
projedtkm of an entire grove of the aromatic I Hi- 
cium Floridanum ; on my right, and all around be- 
hind me, was a fruitful Orange grove, with Palms and 
Magnolias interfperfed ; in front, juft under my feet, 
was the iiichanting and amazing cryftal fountain, 
which incelfantly threw up, from dark, rocky ca- 
verns below, tons of water every minute, form- 
ing a baton, capacious enough for large fhal- 
lops to ride in, and a creek of four or five feet 
depth of water, and near twenty yards over, which 
fneanders fix miles through green meadows, pour- 
ing its limpid waters into the great Lake George, 
ivhere they feem to remain pure and unmixed. A- 
bout twenty yards from the upper edge of the baton, 
M 2 and 
HORTH AMERICA. 
