FLORIDA: THE GULF COAST 145 



captain too explained to me that it was really a 

 serious drawback, in a business way. People had 

 formerly taken the trip simply for the shooting, and 

 this being destroyed, many no longer patronized 

 the route. So our journey began with disillusion 

 and disappointment. 



Arriving at Silver Spring, and proceeding to the 

 adjacent town of Ocala, I at once set about looking 

 for means of transit across the state to the Gulf 

 Coast. While no definite spot as a headquarters 

 for the coming winter's work had been selected, 

 I was anxious to begin my investigations in the 

 country near the mouth of the Withlacoochee 

 River, which finds its source in Sumter County, 

 and one of whose main tributaries flows from 

 Panasofkee Lake where I had collected in the 

 winter of 1875 and 1876. After some two days' 

 negotiations I succeeded in making arrangements 

 for freight wagons and, in addition, a covered 

 spring trap to convey the passengers. We were 

 about to go into a country where there were few 

 houses, and where the roads were but obscure tracks 

 through the forest, so I attempted to provide for all 

 sorts of emergencies ; grain and fodder and extra 

 shoes for the horses, leather to mend harness, 

 ropes, axes, and other tools. 



The procession started from Ocala early one 

 morning, and most of the inhabitants of the town 

 were out to see its departure. First came a freight 



