north America* 
3SS 
or bounding over the hills ; companies of young, 
innocent Cherokee virgins, fome bufy gathering 
the rich fragrant fruit, others having already filled 
their bafkets, lay reclined under the fliade of fieri- 
ferous and fragrant native bowers of Magnolia, A- 
zalea Philadelphus, perfumed Calycanthus, fweet 
Yellow JefTamine and cerulean Glycine frtitefcens* 
difclofing their beauties to the fluttering breeze, 
and bathing their limbs in the cool fleeting ftreams ; 
whild other parties, more gay and libertine, were 
yet colledling flrawberries, or wantonly chafing their 
companions, tantalifing them, draining their lips 
and cheeks with the rich fruit. 
The fylvan fcene of primitive innocence was en- 
chanting, and perhaps too enticing for hearty young 
men long to continue idle fpe£tators. 
In fine, nature prevailing over reafon, we wifh-* 
ed at lead to have a more adlive part in their deli- 
cious fports. Thus precipitately refolving, we cau- 
tioufly made our approaches, yet undifeovered, ai- 
med to the joyous fcene of action. Now, although 
we meant no other than an innocent frolic with this 
gay aflembly of hamadryades, we fliall leave it to 
the perfon of feeling and fenflbility to form an idea 
to what lengths our paflions might have hurried us, 
thus warmed and excited, had it not been for the 
vigilance and care of fome envious matrons who 
lay in ambufh, and efpying us, gave the alarm, time 
enough for the nymphs to rally and aflemble toge- 
ther. We however purfued and gained ground on a 
group of them, who had incautioudy drolled to a 
greater didance from their guardians, and finding 
their retreat now like to be cut off, took fhelter 
under cover of a little grove ; but on perceiving 
themfelves to be difeovered by us 3 kept their da- 
A a 2 tion^ 
