It Is The Head
Of One Of The Branches Of Santee-River; But A Farther Discovery
Time Would Not Permit;
Only one Thing is very remarkable,
there growing all over this Swamp, a tall, lofty Bay-tree,
but is not
The same as in England, these being in their Verdure
all the Winter long; which appears here, when you stand on the Ridge,
(where our Path lay) as if it were one pleasant, green Field,
and as even as a Bowling-green to the Eye of the Beholder;
being hemm'd in on one Side with these Ledges of vast high Mountains.
Viewing the Land here, we found an extraordinary rich, black Mould,
and some of a Copper-colour, both Sorts very good; the Land in some Places
is much burthen'd with Iron, Stone, here being great Store of it,
seemingly very good: The eviling Springs, which are many in these Parts,
issuing out of the Rocks, which Water we drank of, it colouring
the Excrements of Travellers (by its chalybid Quality) as black as a Coal.
When we were all asleep, in the Beginning of the Night,
we were awaken'd with the dismall'st and most hideous Noise
that ever pierc'd my Ears: This sudden Surprizal incapacitated us of guessing
what this threatning Noise might proceed from; but our Indian Pilot
(who knew these Parts very well) acquainted us, that it was customary
to hear such Musick along that Swamp-side, there being
endless Numbers of Panthers, Tygers, Wolves, and other Beasts of Prey,
which take this Swamp for their Abode in the Day, coming in whole Droves
to hunt the Deer in the Night, making this frightful Ditty 'till Day appears,
then all is still as in other Places.
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