UP THE CALOOSAIIATCHIE. 299 



far as South-west Florida is concerned, maps are to a 

 great extent unreliable, and calculated to mislead tourists. 

 Fort Thompson was a large and important station 

 during the Indian wars, but at present only a few de 

 cayed stubs exist to indicate where a stockade once pro 

 tected scores of valiant men. Surrounding the falls, a 

 rich prairie of 500 acres exists, covered with a luxurious 

 growth of succulent and nutritious grasses the site of 

 a lake, according to the unreliable map-makers. We 

 instituted many inquiries of Indians, settlers, and cattle 

 drivers regarding Lake Hickpockee, but all scouted the 

 idea of its existence. On the north side of the river, 

 and about 600 feet therefrom, a grove of huge live-oaks 

 exist, under whose protecting branches the Indians en 

 camp during the winter months, when on their annual 

 hunt. The region is underlaid with a horizontal stratum 

 of hard limestone rock, from twelve to eighteen inches 

 thick, and beneath this a softer stratum containing an 

 immense number of shells. The river has worn a pas 

 sage through the hard superficial layer of rock at this 

 point, forming the rapids or falls of the Caloosahatchie 

 river. We found the water to fall about five feet in 

 two hundred. The channel at the rapids is about fifteen 

 feet wide, and within a few inches of the surface we 

 discovered numerous sharp-pointed rocks, over which 

 we found it impossible to drag the Spray to the deep 

 and smooth waters above. We noticed an Indian dug 

 out, above the rapids, and at once visited Lo s camp to 

 make arrangements for an exploration of the river above 

 the falls. By signs and words we communicated our 

 wishes, but were informed that &quot; canoe belonged to med 

 icine man ; he gone Big Cypress. Indian no use him 

 canoe.&quot; Here was an awkward position, and Harry and 



