398 
DOTTINGS ON THE ROADSIDE. [Chap. XXIV.—B. P. 
of thirty miles at least by the windings of the river, 
or about twenty as the crow flies, according to my 
estimate. Above Mahogany Creek, the banks of 
the main river begin to assume higher proportions, 
the average height being about eight feet; four miles 
further on we got a supply of fresh water from a 
spring on the right bank. The water trickled into 
some holes which had been dug to receive it, and 
which we soon emptied by filling our pots and pans; 
it was cool and delicious. Here the banks are about 
fifteen feet high, covered with ferns, long grass, and 
caressa, or wild cane. At this place, also, the trade- 
wind reached us, so that we were able to make sail 
and give the men a rest, although the breeze was not 
strong enough to drive the canoe quicker than the 
men could paddle. 
Soon after ten we entered upon a long reach, quite 
a novelty on this river,—at the end of it, on the left 
bank, was the Queen Dowager’s house and plantation, 
not a whit better than any of the others. In this reach 
we got some sugar-cane from a small patch belonging 
to one of the men; for, though very fond of cane, and 
never, if possible, without a good stock in the canoe 
with them, it did not seem to enter their heads to 
poach on any of the numerous patches which we 
passed belonging to their neighbours. Here, also, I 
picked some barnacles from an old snag in the rivei, 
the water of which was still brackish. The banks 
about the Queen Dowager’s property attain a con¬ 
siderable height, and little hillocks appear now and 
then further inland. I should think this is about the 
