ical. The trees, generally speaking, are much too close to
be either large or well grown; and, moreover, their growth
is often stunted by a parasitical plant, for which I could
learn no other name than "Spanish moss;" it hangs grace-
fully from the boughs, converting the outline of all the trees
it hangs upon into that of weeping willows. The chief
beauty of the forest in this region is from the luxuriant
under-growth of palmettos, which is decidedly the loveliest
coloured and most graceful plant I know. The pawpaw,
too, is a splendid shrub, and in great abundance. We here,
for the first time, saw the wild vine, which we afterward
found growing so profusely in every part of America, as
naturally to suggest the idea that the natives ought to add
wine to the numerous productions of their plenty-teeming
soil. The strong pendant festoons made safe and commo-
dious swings, which some of our party enjoyed, despite the
sublime temperament above-mentioned.

Notwithstanding it was mid-winter when we were at New
Orleans, the heat was much more than agreeable, and the
attacks of the mosquitos incessant, and most tormenting;
yet I suspect that for a short time, we would rather have
endured it, than not have seen oranges, green peas, and red
pepper, growing in the open air at Christmas. In one of
our rambles we ventured to enter a garden, whose bright
orange hedge attracted our attention; here we saw green
peas fit for the table, and a fine crop of red pepper ripen-
ing in the sun. A young Negress was employed on the
steps of the house; that she was a slave made her an object
of interest to us. She was the first slave we had ever spoken
to, and I believe we all felt that we could hardly address
her with sufficient gentleness. She little dreamed, poor girl,
what deep sympathy she excited; she answered us civilly
and gaily, and seemed amused at our fancying there was
something unusual in red pepper pods; she gave us several

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