power, as I must have touched, if not stumbled over him; the fright and perturbation of my spirits at once excited resentment; and at that time I was entirely insensible to gratitude or mercy. I instantly cut off a sapling, and soon despatched him. This serpent was about six feet in length, and as thick as an ordinary man's leg. The rencounter deterred us from proceeding on our researches for that day. So I cut off a long tough withe or vine, which I fastened round the neck of the slain serpent, and dragged him after me, entering the camp with him in triumph; and was soon surrounded by the amazed multitude, both Indians and my countrymen. The adventure soon reached the ears of the commander, who sent an officer to request, that if the snake had not bit himself, he might have him served up for his dinner. I readily delivered up the body of the snake to the cooks; and being that day invited to dine at the governor's table, saw the snake served up in several dishes, Governor Grant being fond of the flesh of the rattlesnake: I tasted it, but could not swallow it. I, however, was sorry that I killed the serpent, after coolly recollecting every circumstance: He certainly had it in his power to kill me almost instantly, and I make no doubt that he was conscious of it. I promised myself that I would never again be accessary to the death of a rattlesnake, which promise I have invariably kept. This dreaded animal is easily killed; a stick no thicker than a man's thumb is sufficient to kill the largest at one stroke, if well directed, either on the head or across the back; nor can they make their escape by running off; indeed, they never attempt it when attacked."

The Gouffre is the resident of the pine barrens; it lives principally under ground, except when it wants food and water, and is said to live upon vegetables. The shell is about fifteen inches long and twelve inches wide. It is remarkable for its strength, being able to move without much difficulty upon the ground, with a man standing upon its back. It digs a hole in the ground, the direction of which is a depressed angle of about thirty degrees and ten feet deep. In the bottom a nest of young rattlesnakes is often found in the early part of the summer. The gouffre generally remains sometime at the entrance of the cave, before it ventures abroad, and on the appearance of danger, retreats. It resembles the loggerhead turtle, and brings forth its young in the same way. It shields itself from danger by closing up its shell, and is rarely seen any distance from its den.

Thus far Mr. Brown's Western Gazetteer treats of the gouffre, to which I can only add, that they are very common in Florida, and that they afford a mess, when properly cooked, little inferior to the green turtle, which is also found in great quantities on the more southern coast.

In addition to the gouffre, are several species of tortoise of an amphibious character, affording delicious food.

Sea Cow, or Manate; this amphibious animal, which is by some said to be the fabulous mermaid of antiquity, has been found in the interior of these provinces in the winter seaBartram relates, that he saw a part of a skeleton of one, which the Indians had killed some time before.— The grinding teeth were about an inch in diameter, the ribs eighteen inches in length, and two and a half in thick

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ness, bending with a gentle curve; this bone is esteemed equal to ivory. The flesh of this creature is counted wholesome and pleasant food. The name given it by naturalists is Trichechus Manatus, but that by the Indians is one signifying the Big Beaver. There were three of them seen, at one time, in the spring, by a trader from Talahasochte; they live chiefly on aquatic grass and weeds. They are said to weigh from fifteen hundred to two thousand three hundred pounds.

The Lizards, some of which are of the most beautiful green, and from which they change their colour, may therefore be considered surprizing phenomena; they are perfectly harmless, and are protectors of the gardens against caterpillars and minor insects; they often become a prey to the chicken and more domestic snakes; the largest are about seven inches in length, with a large red gill. There is, also, the striped lizard or scorpion; some of a large size, and of a copper colour.

The Jigger, or Chique, is a kind of flesh worm, which can be resisted only by the most perfect cleanliness, and frequent use of salt water; it may therefore be presumed that they are å great annoyance to slaves.

WEST FLORIDA.

WEST FLORIDA is in lat. 29 42, and bounded, according to ancient limits, east, by Apalachicola River, south, by the Gulf of Mexico, west, by Lake Ponchartrain and the River Mississippi, and north, by the Mississippi Territory and Ten

nessee.

The question of boundary, so long and strenuously disputed, may now be considered as settled between the nations of Europe and the United States, the entire sovereignty of these territories being vested in the latter government by the cession. A regard to the rights of individuals is expected from our national legislature, and will doubtless be claimed by many persons whose pretensions are founded upon grants obtained previous to, and during the protracted negociations between our government and that of Spain.

The northern boundaries of West Florida, according to the commission given to Governor Johnstone, in 1764, on establishing the colony, were fixed and described to be from the junction of the river Yazoo, lying in 32 12 north lat. and from thence in a line due east, to the river Apalachicola; whereas, by the treaty between the United States and Great Britain, the boundary line runs along the middle of the Mississippi to the 31st degree of north lat. and from thence due east to the

Apalachicola; as is more particularly mentioned in the 6th article of the Treaty of Fontainbleau, 3d November, 1762:"With regard to the limits of the British and French territories on the continent of America, it is agreed, that for the future, the confines between the dominions of His Britannic Majesty and His Most Christain Majesty, in that part of the world, shall be irrevocably fixed by a line drawn along the middle of the river Mississippi from the source, as far as the river Iberville, and from thence by a line drawn along the middle of this river, and of the lakes Maurepas and Ponchartrain to the sea; and to this purpose the Most Christain King cedes in full right and guaranties to his British Majesty the river and port of Mobile, and every part that he possesses, or ought to have possessed, on the left side of the river Mississippi, except the town of New-Orleans, and the island on which it is situated, which shall remain to France. Provided, &c."

In the report of the commissioners on the part of the United States, Messrs. Madison, Gallatin and Lincoln, on the 10th February, 1803, it is stated, that "the territory of the United States south of the state of Tennessee extends in breadth 275 miles from the 31st to the 35th degree of north lat. From east to west, its greatest length from the river Chatahouchee to the Mississippi, measures three hundred and eighty miles along the northern boundary of West Florida. The length of its northern boundary, along the state of Tennessee, is not precisely ascertained; but it is believed that the average length of the whole may, without material error, be

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