THE OKEECHOBEE EXPEDITION&quot;. 241 



connection but, from a careful examination of the 

 ground and a comparison of existing proofs with, histo 

 rical description, I am convinced that I am correct. 

 Mr. Houston found, some years ago, a bolt, evidently a 

 large coupling-bolt, and a piece of iron resembling the 

 trunnion of a cannon. I am convinced that a series of 

 excavations would reveal further proofs of my views. 

 Upon the south end of Merritt s Island, west of the shell 

 bluff just mentioned, lives the Crusoe of the river. He 

 has lived here some three or four years, cultivating the 

 soil and clearing the scant hammock, till he has several 

 acres in a high state of cultivation, with abundant crops 

 of squashes and prickly pear. Within a year or so 

 this Crusoe has purchased several goats, and lives there 

 alone with them and his cat. I went over one day to 

 pay him a visit, but he was away. His shanty and goats 

 were still there, though, and I determined to have a 

 picture of them. This shanty was about twenty feet long, 

 five feet high in the middle, and about six feet wide at 

 the base. It was made by covering a &quot; pitch roof &quot; with 

 palmetto leaves, and was open at either end. Two 

 boards formed one side and end of the bed he slept in, 

 and the side of the shanty the other side. There was 

 just room enough to crawl in, so filled up was it with 

 old rope, boards, etc. It looked so snake-suggestive that 

 none of us entered. There was an old broken-legged 

 table, a crippled chair, a grind-stone, and a smudge-pot 

 outside. The owner, we afterward learned, was camp 

 ing out to get rid of the fleas. There are many incon 

 veniences attending photographing in Florida, and I 

 have had so many amusing and provoking incidents that 

 I shall some time write a chapter of them. I set ni} 

 companions to collecting and herding the goats, abou 

 11 



