The grape vine, in its wild state, is very abundant in the woods, and has been improved. Wine has been made from the grape of tolerable good flavour. The muscatel and imported grapes thrive wonderfully. It is said, that the soil generally used, and which is most productive of the finest wine, is of an inferior quality. (See Appendix.)

Cacona, (used as tea,) senna shrub, sarsaparilla, and myrtle, grow in this province, and have the medicinal and other properties ascribed to them: the latter yields a green wax for candles, well known throughout the United States.

The opuntia, or prickly pear, affords a handsome fruit, which, although troublesome to gather, is pleasant to the taste when ripe, or as a preserve. It is valuable on account of the cochineal insect, found upon it in great plenty; and yields a scarlet dye, too well known to require other remark, than that it would be highly important to introduce the real cochineal, since doubts are entertained as to the genuineness of those found in this province. Beside the cul

ture of the cochineal, the tea plant and the barilla, might be made very productive, when under the fostering hand of American ingenuity and enterprise; and asmost of the plants in the province partake of an aromatic and medicinal property, no doubt can be entertained of the growth of the cinnamon and pimento.

ANIMALS AND INSECTS.

The Bear and Deer afford, in the interior parts of this Province, a most abundant supply of fresh meat for the traveller; while their skins serve as articles of export. The buffalo is said to be among the number of wild beasts, but not commonly seen. To these may be added the quadrupeds common to the southern states, such as racoons, opossums, squirrels, lynxes, and wolves, most of which are troublesome to raisers of the smaller live stock.

This Province formerly abounded in large flocks of horned cattle and horses; but since its cession to Spain, it has become quite destitute of both the frequent depredations of the Indians, of fugitives from different countries, and of the various parties under the specious appellation of patriots, have contributed to this destruction.

Here it may be important to remark, that the race of Spanish horses crossed by the American are considered better calculated for service. Mules are also recommended.Sheep will furnish excellent mutton in the dry parts of the country, where pasture can be produced devested of the cockspur, which is not only very troublesome, but detrimental to these animals, as they are apt to swallow the burrs. The wool of those far south is apt to become hairy, and unfit

for the purposes of manufacture. Goats would rather impair than improve a country, destined to become the botanical nursery of the United States.

Alligators and Rattlesnakes are numerous; but though they are held in great dread by the timid, they are inoffensive, unless roused to protect themselves. The Alligator, in particular, must be often awaked from its profound sleep on the banks of the rivers, before it will attack the traveller. Its shell is so impenetrable, that a bullet will not injure it, unless it strikes the head between the eyes. The Rattlesnake, and the tail part of the Alligator, are sometimes eaten by the hungry traveller. The following story is told by Bartram:

"I accompanied my father on a journey into East Florida, to attend a congress that met at Fort Picolata, on the banks of the St. John's, for the purpose of forming a treaty with the Creek Nation respecting territory. After the Indians, and a detachment from the garrison of St. Augustine, had arrived, and encamped separately, near the fort, some days elapsed before the business of the treaty came on, waiting the arrival of a vessel from St. Augustine, on board of which were the presents for the Indians. My father employed this time of leisure in little excursions round about the fort. One morning, being the day the treaty commenced, I attended him on a botanical excursion. Some time after we had been rambling in a swamp, about a quarter of a mile from the camp, I being ahead a few paces, my father bid me observe a rattlesnake, just before me. I stopped, and saw the monster formed in a high spiral coil, not half his length from my feet; another step forward would have put my life in his