IN FI.ORIDA. 87 



preservation, and quite pretty. Several sorts of fisli 

 were swimmino-liither and thither in the spring, and 

 the stream from it was tilled with a thin green moss, 

 which the ladies converted into a becoming head 

 covering, and dubbed the '^ mermaid's wig." AVe 

 saAV some big turtles and alligators and enjoyed a 

 batli. 



It was not safe to take the yacht through the nar- 

 row and crooked river above Lake George, if we were 

 to limit ourselves in the remotest degree to time, for 

 none but free winds would move us either one way 

 or the other, so we had to leave our pleasant aquatic 

 mansion and descend to the humdrum of the little 

 stern wheel steamers, which were continually pass- 

 ing us, and throwing up fountains of water from 

 their latter ends. By the same means we explored 

 the Ocklawaha, which falls into the St. John's fur- 

 ther north. The vessels are adapted to winding 

 round through the circuitous bends of the streams, 

 where the trees nearly meet overhead. In order to 

 see their way, the pilots have to build fires of pine 

 knots at night on the top of the pilot house, wliich 

 gives a peculiarly romantic and interesting appear- 

 ance to the scene. On the way we saw no end of al- 

 ligators and forest birds, especially the famous Limp- 

 kin, which laughed, yelled and jeered at us in the 

 security of a regulation which forbids the discharge 

 of fire arms on board the boats. 



But we had to be getting back, if we were to com- 

 plete our explorations of the rest of Florida, so as soon 

 as we could finish our steamboat travel, we hurried 



