THE EX VI RONS OF TALLAHASSEE. 137 



calm, the water smooth and the sun bright, the illusion 

 is perfect. The ordinary depth of the spring is eighty- 

 five feet, and objects on its bottom can be seen almost 

 as plainly as if held in the hand. Visitors usually take 

 with them small, round, bright pieces of tin, which 

 appear like tiny mirrors lying on the bottom, which is 

 smooth and covered with a fine white sand. On the 

 western side is a broad ledge or cliif of rock, the top 

 of which is sixty-five feet below the surface. At the 

 edge of this cliff the water is black, and I found bottom 

 at a little over one hundred and twenty-five feet. Out 

 of this Gulf the stream seems to gush, and one can see 

 the fish floating over in front of it, steadily maintaining 

 their position though the somewhat quick motion of 

 the fins and tail show the resistance they are obliged to 

 overcome. 



The water is impregnated with limestone, and is icy 

 cold. One or two persons who have experimented in 

 swimming in this spring, after a few seconds immersion, 

 became so benumbed as to require assistance to get back 

 into the boat. The sides of the spring are very steep ; 

 being almost perpendicular for some distance below the 

 surface. The river leading from the spring is full of 

 grass, and among this lie the fish. Fishing with a line is 

 out of the question but many are caught with a &quot;gig.&quot; 



There is a legend connected with the spring, which 

 goes on to say that many years ago, long before the white 

 man trod the shores of America, this spring was a little 

 fountain, and was the favorite resort of a pair of masto 

 dons. One day while standing at the spring, cooling 

 themselves by throwing over their backs &quot;trunkfuls&quot; 

 of the icy water, the ground suddenly gave way beneath 

 their feet and the ill-fated pair found themselves swim- 



