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tions or farms, and sheets of water; which have a little the appearance of lawns and fish-ponds, such as are seen about the ancient seats of our nobility; but upon a scale exceeding all com-parison. 5th Month, 14th to the 16th. I continued at my relations; and, in one of our walks along the margins of the Schuylkill, I observed a neat little cottage, inhabited by a black family, to which the former owner of the plantation had given their freedom, with this cottage and a few acres of land. This little domain was managed with great econo- my, and afforded them a comfortable and inde-pendent livelihood. We picked up several land tortoises, a species of animal which abounds in these meadows. Here is also a great abundance of that kind of tortoise, called the snapping turtle, which makes very good soup; and, as far as I am able to judge, nearly equal to, that made from the sea turtle. The snapping turtles are voracious animals, destructive to young ducks and goslings, layering hold of them by the legs and dragging them under water to devour them. 5th Month, 17th. My relation kindly brought me to Philadelphia in his coach, and remained with me at our lodgings until next day; after which I