162 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA : 
of this kind, which makes such a rapid pro¬ 
gress along the ground. A number of other 
fires are kindled at some distance a-head of 
that which they wish to extinguish* so as to 
form a line across the course, which, from the 
direction of the wind, it is likely to take. 
These are carefully watched by a sufficient 
number of men furnished with hoes and rakes, 
and they are prevented from spreading, except 
on that side which is towards the large fire, 
a matter easily accomplished when attended to 
in the beginning. Thus the fires in a few 
minutes meet, and of consequence they must 
cease, as there is nothing left to feed them, 
the grass and leaves being burnt on all sides. 
In general there is but very little brushwood 
in the woods of America, so that these fires 
chiefly run along the ground ; the trees, how¬ 
ever, are often scorched, but it is very rare for 
any of them to be entirely consumed. 
The country between Urbanna and Glou¬ 
cester, a town situated upon York River, is 
neither so sandy nor so flat as that bordering 
upon the Rappahannock. The trees, chiefly 
pines, are of a very large size, and afford 
abundance of turpentine, which is extracted 
from them in great quantities by the inha¬ 
bitants; principally, however, for home con¬ 
sumption. The turpentine is grot by cut-* 
ting a large gash in the tree, and setting a 
