IN FLORIDA. 69 



productions of Florida, every new tree or bush, 

 which attracted our attention by its beauty, 

 or its oddity, every new species of fruit, 

 which charmed our palate with its originality of 

 flavor, made us more in love with this interesting 

 country, and wish that it and its accompaniments 

 could only exist in a colder climate. There was but 

 one feeling in the minds of the party on leaving Mr. 

 Hart's plantation, which was that each of us could 

 own an orange grove, and have it close at home. 



One evening as we were returning after a sailing 

 excursion to visit the neighborhood, we heard cries 

 which sounded like cries of distress. The negroes 

 were so in the habit of laughing at, and jibing one 

 another, that we at first took no notice of these. It 

 was nearly night, so dark, that objects could not be 

 distinguished at any considerable distance; but the 

 cries continuing, we determined to see whether they 

 meant merely fun or something more serious, and 

 kept away in the direction from which they came. 

 That moment's delay cost at least one man his life, 

 and brought sorrow to one household. After sailing 

 a few minutes, we were able to distinguish an object 

 in the water, which looked like a boat capsized. 

 Such it turned out to be, and as we approached, 

 we could make out a number of men clinging to its 

 sides. It was a launch belonging to the crew of a 

 steam ferry boat, and was used by the men after 

 their day's work was over to take them across the riv- 

 er, as they left the steamer on the other side. It was 

 abundantly able to carry the number that started in 



