he
same day, reached the city to which they were proceeding. _Mobile_
stands on the easy ascent of a rising bank, near the western side of the
bay of that name. This place has been nearly a mile in length; but it
was now in ruins. Many of the houses were, at this time, unoccupied, and
mouldering away; yet there were a few good buildings, inhabited by
French, English, Scotch, and Irish, and emigrants from the northern
parts of America. The principal French buildings were constructed of
brick, and were one story high, but on an extensive scale. They were
square, and were built so as to encompass, on three sides, a large area
or court-yard. The principal apartment was on the side fronting the
street. This plan of habitations seems to have been copied from that of
the Creek Indians. The houses of the poorer class of inhabitants were
constructed of a strong frame of cypress-timber, filled up with brick;
plastered and white-washed inside and out.

On the 5th of August, having procured a light canoe, Mr. Bartram set out
on a voyage up the river. He sailed along the eastern channel, and
passed several well-cultivated plantations, on fertile islands. Here the
native productions exceeded, in luxuriance, any that he had ever seen:
the reeds and canes, in particular, grew to an immense height and
thickness. On one part of the shore of the river, he was delighted by
the appearance of a great number of plants, of a species of oenothera,
each plant being covered with hundreds of large golden yellow flowers.
Near the ruins of several plantations, were seen peach and fig-trees,
richly laden with fruit. Beyond these, were high forests and rich
swamps, where canes and cypress-trees grew of astonishing magnitude. The
_magnolia grandiflora_, here flourished in the utmost luxuriance; and
flowering-trees and shrubs were observed, in great numbers and beauty.
Several large alligators were seen basking on the shores, and others
were swimming along the river. After having pursued his course for
several miles, and made many important botanical discoveries, Mr.
Bartram returned to _Mobile_, for the purpose of proceeding thence, in a
trading-vessel, westward, to the Pearl river.

Previously, however, to setting out on his voyage westward, he had an
opportunity of visiting _Pensacola_, the capital of West Florida, about
a hundred miles east of Mobile. This city possesses some natural
advantages, superior to those of any other port in this province.