110 FLORIDA, THE PROMISED LAND. 



house, furnishing very acceptable accommodations to vis 

 itors. The proposed railway from there to Lake Harnee 

 will add considerably to the interests of this country, 

 and render Indian river far more easily and comfort 

 ably accessible to the settler, to the invalid, and to 

 pleasure seekers wishing to explore its far-famed waters. 

 This river, more correctly an arm of the sea, has been un 

 duly extolled by its friends, and proportionably defamed 

 by its enemies. Thus many have, on arrival, been sur 

 prised agreeably or disagreeably, according to their pre 

 conceived ideas of its merits or demerits. Many regard 

 this as a remote frontier country, almost inaccessible, pos 

 sessing few or no advantages, and as scarcely habitable. It 

 seems not generally known that there are families scat 

 tered all along from Sand Point to Fort Capron, houses 

 in many places being less than half a mile apart. Merritt s 

 Island, too, is attracting considerable attention, and in a 

 few years there will probably be an extensive population 

 in this section. As to the character of society, I have met 

 as well-bred ladies and gentlemen here as I ever saw in 

 any community. Many of the citizens represent some 

 of the best families of Georgia, Alabama, and other States. 

 A few objectionable characters will be found anywhere, 

 and our country doesn t claim to be entirely exceptional 

 in that respect. 



Two or three ministers having now located among us, 

 we can thus once more hear the Gospel proclaimed, and 

 as settlers are moving in so rapidly, there is good reason 

 to suppose that we will, before a great Avhile, see flour 

 ishing schools and churches established. 



Indian river is always beautiful ; when its waters are 

 placid as some inland lake, or when its waves are crested 

 with foam, and furiously lashing its rocky shore. The 



