LETTEES FROM ALABAMA. 257 
cardinalis)j wliose fine scarlet blossoms are among 
the autumnal ornaments of English gardens. But, 
generally, flowers are scarce in these gloomy re- 
cesses ; and, even of such as delight in such situa- 
tions, most are now out of season. 
Leaving the swamp, we crossed a belt of low 
underwood, so tangled with vines and briers as to 
be scarcely penetrable. It was not yet so dark but 
that we could discern the wild fruit on the trees ; 
the clusters of the purple fox-grape, large and 
handsome to the eye, and somewhat sweet, but 
with a rank musky odour ; the large scarlet haws 
of several species of thorn, some of which are fleshy 
and grateful to the taste ; and two or three kinds of 
wild plum, of which one at least is not despicable, 
though others are harsh and worthless. 
Again we plunged into the deep swamp, which 
every moment grew grander and more gloomy. 
The ground was damp and mouldy, but not wet, 
except in patches, so that, in this respect, we could 
walk with ease ; and the trees were large, set far 
apart, with but little underbrush. They were 
principally of one kind, the Beech, a noble tree, 
with the same smooth, blue, pillar-like trunk as its 
European congener, but attaining a loftier elevation. 
In the deep rich soil of these swamps, it frequently 
exceeds a hundred feet in height, with a magni- 
ficent head of foliage. The roots spread to a great 
distance, and form a sort of net- work on the surface 
of the ground, in some measure impeding the 
progress, or at least making it more tortuous than 
the trunks seem to require. 
On one of these hoary beeches, I saw an object* 
that interested me much. A spot of bluish light 
appeared at a distance, resembling that of a glow- 
s 
