WILLIAM BARTRAM. 
v 
piety. It was through the encouragementand assistance ren- 
dered by Mr. Bartram, that Wilson commenced and com- 
pleted his splendid work on ornithology; and by his con- 
stant visits to the rural and delightful grounds of the bo- 
tanic garden, he first conceived the plan of forming the 
work; he there also became enamoured of the study, and 
in the night, either from the water or the land; for I discovered by 
this time, that this small isthmus, from its remote situation and fruit- 
fulness, was resorted to by bears and wolves. Having prepared my- 
self in the best manner I could, I charged my gun and proceeded to 
reconnoitre my camp and the adjacent grounds; when I discovered 
that the peninsula and grove, at the distance of about two hundred 
yards from my encampment, on the land side, were invested by a 
cypress swamp, covered with water, which below was joined to the 
shore of the little lake, and above to the marshes surrounding the 
lagoon; so that I was confined to an islet exceedingly circumscribed, 
and I found there was no other retreat for me, in case of an attack, 
but by either ascending one of the large oaks, or pushing off with my 
boat. 
It was by this time dusk, and the alligators had nearly ceased their 
roar, when I was again alarmed by a tumultuous noise that seemed to 
be in my harbour, and therefore engaged my immediate attention. 
Returning to my camp I found it undisturbed, and then continued on 
to the extreme point of the promontory, where I saw a scene, new 
and surprising, which at first threw my senses into such a tumult, 
that it was some time before I could comprehend what was the mat- 
ter; however, I soon accounted for the prodigious assemblage of 
crocodiles at this place, which exceeded every thing of the kind I 
had ever heard of. 
How shall I express myself so as to convey an adequate idea of it 
to the reader, and at the same time avoid raising suspicions of my 
veracity! Should I say, that the river (in this place) from shore to 
shore, and perhaps near half a mile above and below me, appeared 
to be one solid bank of fish, of various kinds, pushing through this 
narrow pass of St. Juan’s into the little lake, on their return down 
the river, and that the alligators were in such incredible numbers, 
and so close together from shore to shore, that it would have been 
easy to have walked across on their heads, had the animals been 
harmless? What expressions can sufficiently declare the shocking 
scene that for some minutes continued, whilst this mighty army of 
fish were forcing the pass? During this attempt, thousands, I may 
say hundreds of thousands of them were caught and swallowed by 
the devouring alligators. I have seen an alligator take up out of the 
water several great fish at a time, and just squeeze them betwixt 
his jaws, while the tails of the great trout flapped about his eyes and 
lips, ere he had swallowed them. The horrid noise of their closing 
jaws, their plunging amidst the broken banks of fish, and rising with 
their prey some feet upright above the water, the floods of water and 
blood rushing out of their mouths, and the clouds of vapour issuing 
from their wide nostrils, were truly frightful. This scene continued 
at intervals during the night, as the fish came to the pass. After this 
fight, shocking and tremendous as it was, I found myself somewhat 
easier and more reconciled to my situation; being convinced that their 
extraordinary assemblage here was owing to this annual feast of fish; 
and that they were so well employed in their own element, that I had 
little occasion to fear their paying me a visit. 
It being now almost night, I returned to my camp, where I had 
left my fish broiling, and my kettle of rice stewing; and having with 
me oil, pepper and salt, and excellent oranges hanging in abundance 
2 
acquainted with a large number of birds figured in his 
work; how often in his writings does he allude to his friend, 
William Bartram, and this enchanting spot, so congenial 
with his feelings! In a letter to Mr. Bartram on the sub- 
ject, Wilson says: 
“I send you afew more imitations of birds for your opinion 
over my head, (a valuable substitute for vinegar,) I sat down and re- 
galed myself cheerfully. Having finished my repast, I rekindled my 
fire for light, and whilst I was revising the notes of my past day’s 
journey, I was suddenly roused with a noise behind me toward the 
main land. I sprang up on my feet, and listening, I distinctly heard 
some creature wading in the water of the isthmus. I seized my gun, 
and went cautiously from my camp, directing my steps towards the 
noise: when I had advanced about thirty yards, I halted behind a cop- 
pice of orange trees, and soon perceived two very large bears, which 
had made their way through the water, and had landed in the grove, 
about one hundred yards distance from me, and were advancing to- 
wards me. I waited until they were within thirty yards of me: they 
there began to snuff and look towards my camp: I snapped my piece, 
but it flashed, on which theyboth turned about and gallopped off, plung- 
ing through the water and swamp, never halting, as I suppose, until 
they reached fast land, asl could hear them leaping and plunging a long 
time. They did not presume to return again, nor was I molested by 
any other creature, except being occasionally awakened by the whoop- 
ing of owls, screaming of bitterns, or the wood-rats running amongst 
the leaves. 
The noise of the crocodiles kept me awake the greater part of the 
night; but when I arose in the morning, contrary to my expectations 
there was perfect peace; very few of them to be seen, and those were 
asleep on the shore. Yet l was not able to suppress my fears and ap- 
prehensions of being attacked by them in future; and, indeed, yester- 
day’s combat with them, notwithstanding I came off in a manner vic- 
torious, or at least made a safe retreat, had left sufficient impression 
on my mind to damp my courage; and it seemed too much for one of 
my strength, being alone in a very small boat, to encounter such col- 
lected danger. To pursue my voyage up the river, and be obliged 
every evening to pass such dangerous defiles, appeared to me as pe- 
rilous as running the gauntlet betwixt two rows of Indians armed 
with knives and firebrands. I however resolved to continue my 
voyage one day longer, if I possibly could with safety, and then re- 
turn down the river, should I find the like difficulties to oppose. 
Accordingly I got every thing on board, charged my gun, and set 
sail cautiously, along shore. As I passed by Battle lagoon, I began 
to tremble and keep a good look out; when suddenly a huge alli- 
gator rushed out of the reeds, and with a tremendous roar came 
up, and darted as swift as an arrow under my boat, emerging up- 
right on my lee quarter, with open jaws, and belching water and 
smoke that fell upon me like rain in a hurricane. I laid soundly 
about his head with my club and beat him off; and after plunging 
and darting about my boat, he went off on a straight line through 
the water, seemingly with the rapidity of lightning, and entered 
the cape of the lagoon. I now employed my time to the very best 
advantage in paddling close along shore, but could not forbear look- 
ing now and then behind me, and presently perceived one of them 
coming up again. The water of the riv;er hereabouts was shoal and 
very clear: the monster came up with the usual roar and menaces, 
and passed close by the side of my boat, when I could distinctly see 
a young brood of alligators, to the number of one hundred or more, 
following after her in a long train. They kept close together in a 
