flat-fish, of an oval form. The top of the head and back are of an olive green, sprinkled with russet spots; the sides are of a sea-green, inclining to azure, which gradually grows lighter till it changes to a silvery white, studded with specks of the finest green, russet, and gold colour; and the belly is of a bright scarlet. Near the gills is an oval particoloured spot, to which I can compare nothing but the eye in a peacock's feather. Our diversion, if the destruction of the finny tribe deserves that name, did not last long; for heavy rolling clouds announced an approaching storm, that obliged us to return as fast as possible to the house. Before we could get shelter, the lightning flashed from cloud to cloud, and the peals of thunder resounded awfully through the air. We quickened our pace, but were overtaken by a vivid flash of the forked lightning, that fell with irresistible fury on the trunk of a large pine-tree, not far from our path, and set it in a blaze. The flames instantly enveloped the tree, and would have consumed it, if it had not been extinguished by torrents of rain, that fell in a few minutes afterwards. Happily for us, the house was in view, and fear adding wings to our feet, we got in without any other great inconvenience than the apprehension of danger, which was more on account of two young ladies of our party than for ourselves.

The simple, unaffected kindness of this family, which consisted of a father, mother, and two

daughters,

daughters, might have detained us agreeably for weeks: but the enjoyment of a fixed habitation was inconsistent with my plan, therefore I prepared for our departure in the morning.

We followed the course of the Alatamaha river to Fort Barrington, through a well-inhabited district, abounding in rice plantations. The vegetable productions were, many of them, striking and beautiful; particularly a flowering shrub, from twelve to fifteen feet high, bearing large clusters of pale blue tubular-shaped flowers, speckled with crimson on the inside. At the bottom of each cluster grows a sort of fence, formed of leaves of a delicate white, edged with rose-colour, which at a distance look like roses, and give the shrub an uncommon appearance.

We reached the southern shore of the river by means of a ferry. Our negro, Sancho, pointed out to us, near this place, the traces of an ancient Indian town, which he knew by conical mounds of earth, artfully heaped up, perhaps in remembrance of some famous warrior, or victory, like some of those left by the Danes, in England; an instance of similarity in the customs of savages with nations more advanced in civilization. The edge of the stream is adorned with large tall trees, which grow in the water, called the nyssa coccinea, that bear a scarlet fruit, larger than an olive, used sometimes, from its pleasant acid, instead of limes: the leaves

drop

drop off as the fruit ripens, and the whole tree assumes a scarlet hue.

This tree is not seen further north than the Great Ogeeche, where they receive the name of Ogeeche limes. We soon left the cultivated country, and relying upon Sancho to direct our course, passed through an uninhabited wilderness, which presented us, in succession, with dark, grassy savannahs, and high pine forests; often varied with red and white oaks, cypress, hickory, cedars, and the cucumber tree, all of a great size.

The transition from rich flourishing settlements, to these majestic wilds, was not unpleasant to me; and my companion was charmed with the novelty of the contrivances we were obliged to adopt for our accommodation. We chose the pleasantest spots for our resting places, where we opened our bags, and refreshed ourselves with provisions; wild fruits served us for a desert, and at night, Sancho, with our assistance, erected a few poles, and formed a shelter from the night dews with pieces of bark, that he found scattered on the ground. In order to furnish our chamber completely, he spread the skin of a buffalo, which we had brought with us, over a heap of dried leaves that he had collected from under the trees, and, I assure you, formed a couch by no means uncomfortable.

At the end of our second day's journey we were so fortupate as to meet with a cow-pen, near which

was

was a rude habitation, where we were civilly entertained with milk, butter, cheese, and venison.

In these uninhabited districts many curious natural objects called forth our attention. High, open forests of stately pines, flowery plains, and extensive green savannahs, having each their appropriate inhabitants and productions, afforded an almost endless variety. Annanas, with clusters of large, white, fragrant flowers, were seen in dry sandy situations; and in moist swamps, a diminutive species of kalmia, with spikes of flowers of a deep rose colour: groups of blue, yellow, and white lupins adorn the open parts of the forests, and generally grow on sandy heights, where we fre quently saw the dens or caverns, dug by the great land-tortoise, called here gopher: the animal retreats within them by day, and sallies forth at night in quest of prey.

The same scene continued till we reached St.. Mary's river, where, though the soil is sandy, peach-trees, Indian corn, rice, cotton, and indigo, thrive exceedingly..

The savannahs in the neighbourhood of this river are enamelled with flowers of all colours: violets, lupins, amaryllis, and a beautiful species of the sensitive plant, with flowers of a bright rose colour, are scattered in wild profusion, amidst groves of the most luxuriant forest trees. Still further south is another river, or rather

chain of

lakes,

lakes, running parallel with the sea, called St. John's, which is navigable from one end. to the other.

St. Augustine, though dignified by the title of capital of East Florida, is a very small town, standing on the sea coast, which enables it to receive the products of the Havannab, and convey them to Savannah and Charlestown.

I did not intend to have gone further towards the south than St. Augustine; but an agent is to set off to-morrow, for one of the trading houses on the bor ders of George's Lake, in the interior part of the country, and Arthur's desire to take the advantage of his company is so great, that I have complied with his wishes; an excursion that I expect will supply us with matter for your future amusement.-Adieu.

HENRY FRANKLIN.

LETTER XIV.

Arthur Middleton to his Brother Edwin.

MY DEAR BROTHER,

St. Augustine.

YOU must partake of the pleasures and difficulties of our journey, through the almost uncultivated parts of the country on the shores of

St.