NORTH AMERICA 
405. 
calyx becomes of a reddifh flefh colour, inclining to 
vermilion, the flowers begin to open in the even- 
ing, are fully expanded during the night, and are in 
their beauty next morning, but clofe and wither 
before noon. There is a daily profule fuccefiion for 
many weeks, and one fingle plant at the fame in- 
ftant prefents to view many hundred flowers. I 
have meafured thefe flowers above five inches in 
diameter, they have an agreeable fcent. 
After leaving thefe fplendid fields of the golden 
Oenothera, I paffed by old deferted plantations and 
high forefts ; and now having advanced above ten 
miles, landed at a bluff, where mooring my bark 
in a fafe harbour, I afcended the bank of the river, 
and penetrating the groves, came prefently to old 
fields, where I obferved ruins of ancient habitations, 
there being abundance of Peach and Fig trees, 
loaded with fruit, which affording a very acceptable 
deffert after the heats and toil of the day, and even- 
ing drawing on apace, 1 concluded to take up my 
quarters here for the night. The Fig trees were 
large as well as their fruit, which was then ripe, 
of the fhape of pears, and as large, and of a dark 
bluifh purple colour. 
Next morning I arofe early, continuing my 
voyage ; palling by, on each hand, high forefts - and 
rich fwamps, and frequently ruins of ancient French 
plantations ; the Canes and Cyprefs trees of an 
aftonifhing magnitude, as were the trees of other 
tribes, indicating an excellent foil. -Came to at 
noon, and advancing forward from the river, and 
penetrating the awful ihades, paffed between the 
ftately columns of the Magnolia grandidora, and 
came to the afcents fupporting the high forefts and 
expanfive plains above- What a fylvan fcene is 
D d 3 ' here ! 
