EXPLORATIONS IN FLORIDA 15 



The winter season at St. Augustine proved unfavor- 

 able for the naturalist's work, and he anxiously awaited 

 the coming of the government vessel, the Spark, to the 

 commander of which he bore letters from Washington. 

 After spending about three weeks in the neighborhood 

 of the city, the party proceeded through the inlet which 

 divides Anastasia Island from the mainland, to the 

 plantation of General Hernandez, thirty-five miles dis- 

 tant, where they were entertained for ten days. On 

 Christmas morning they set out afoot for the plantation 

 of John Bulow, of Bulowville, fifteen miles away. To 

 follow the naturalist's account: 



A wagon was sent for our baggage and horses for our- 

 selves were offered at the same time, but it was not my desire 

 to give unnecessary trouble, and above all upon an occasion 

 when I was glad to see the country in as much detail as pos- 

 sible, and anxious to avail myself of every occasion to get new 

 birds. 



During the whole long stay with Mr. Bulow, there was no 

 abatement of his kindness, or his unremitted efforts to make me 

 comfortable, and to promote my researches. I shall ever feel 

 grateful to one of the most deserving and generous of men. 



On December 28 their host proposed that they should 

 descend the Halifax River in search of new and valu- 

 able birds to a point about forty miles from that place 

 and eighty miles from St. Augustine. 12 



Accordingly, the boat, six hands, and '''three white men" 

 with some provisions, put off with a fair wind, and a pure sky. 

 . . . We meandered down a creek for about eleven miles — the 

 water torpid yet clear — the shore lined with thousands of 

 acres covered by fall grapes, marshes, and high palm trees, 



12 The following account is quoted from Audubon's second letter 

 to G. W. Featherstonhaugh (Bibl. No. 35), dated "Bulowville, East Florida, 

 December 31, 1831;" published, loc. cit., vol. i, p. 407 (1832). 



