FLORIDA TRAVEL. 257 



be asked. The pedestrian of the party must provide 

 himself with a bottle of water, and some provisions, and 

 take the old military road at the ford and follow it 

 for twelve miles in a south-west direction, when Mr. 

 Carlton s residence will be discovered. I arranged with 

 Mr. Carl ton to transport boat and traps for any party from 

 the creek to Fort Thompson, at the head of navigation, 

 on the Caloosahatchie. The price agreed upon with Mr. 

 Carlton, for self, wagon, and team, was $3 per day. Going 

 to and returning from the creek would require two days, 

 and entail an expense of $6. I engaged Mr. Carlton to 

 carry me to Fish Eating creek, and formed a very favor 

 able opinion of him. 



At the rapids, large trout and cavalli, weighing three 

 to four pounds, can be captured. As a general rule, a 

 number of Indians will be found in camp at the fort, 

 and superior buckskins can be purchased from them 

 for $1 per skin. The descent of the Caloosahatchie a 

 distance of about 110 miles will be found to be an enjoy 

 able trip. When Punta Rassa is reached, the wanderer 

 may do up Charlotte Harbor, or take the steamer Valley 

 City on Tuesday and reach Cedar Keys on Thursday. 



The trip from Jacksonville, and return via Punta 

 Eassa and Cedar Keys, a distance of about 1,000 miles 

 could be made in a limited period and at a trifling 

 expense. We are under the impression that we could do 

 it up in the time indicated below : 2 days to Mellonville ; 

 2 days to Hoptaliga ; 4 days to Okeechobee ; 2 days to 

 Fish Eating creek ; I day to Fort Centre ; 3 days to be 

 occupied in transporting boat to Fort Thompson ; 4 days 

 from Fort T. to Punta Rassa ; 2 days from Punta Rassa 

 to Cedar Keys ; 1 day from Cedar Keys to Jacksonville ; 

 or twenty-one days for the round trip. 



