94 UP THE ST. JOHNS RIVER. 



crystal a green crystal. Every little speck on the bot 

 tom is distinctly visible, even in the deep crevice, which 

 is, I should judge, about twenty feet in depth. The 

 outlet forms quite a little river, and over it a bathing 

 house has been built ; and here those suffering witli rheu 

 matic or kindred complaints luxuriate in its warm em 

 brace. Seventy-six degrees is the average temperature 

 summer and winter, seldom varying from this point more 

 than a degree or two. The water is slightly sulphurous ; 

 more perceptibly so in the odor than in the taste, but 

 sufficiently to banish any form of animal or reptile life 

 from its proximity. This, in a country which snakes are 

 said to frequent, is in itself a great inducement, but I am 

 inclined to think that the snake crop of Florida is vastly 

 overrated. An old hunter told me that lie had been out 

 for deer at least three times a week since Christmas, and 

 had not encountered a snake. On the other hand, one 

 of the natives informed me that &quot;there was a right 

 smart chance of moccasins.&quot; But wherever else they 

 may locate, the Green Cove Spring is exempt, and the 

 invalid may enjoy his bath without a nervous tremor. 



About noon we arrived at Tocoi or, as we afterward 

 dubbed it, Decoy forty-five miles from Jacksonville. 

 This miserable apology for a place contains one old 

 tumble-down house, and two rough board shanties, 

 which latter constitute the depot at the western ter 

 minus of the St. Augustine railroad. This road is 

 fifteen miles in length, and should make an easy 

 approach to St. Augustine. We thought we were 

 nearly there, but we knew more about it soon after 

 ward. Could we have but foreseen the hardships we 

 were to go through, we might have decided not to 

 proceed. Two hours strolling about or sitting on logs 



