332 SOUTH-WEST FLORIDA. 



home in Texas. We reluctantly bade farewell to this 

 romantic and beautiful spot, and directed our course 

 toward Homosassa. 



A feature peculiar to the section of country between 

 the Anelote and Withlacoochie rivers is the existence 

 of a number of rivers that are formed by subterranean 

 streams that issue from the earth at the base of an 

 elevated region of land which follows the coast line at a 

 distance of ten miles from the Gulf. To find the mouth 

 of one of these streams is a matter of some difficulty to 

 the uninitiated. For several miles from the shore the 

 water is very shoal, and oyster bars and sand flats of 

 great extent exist in troublesome numbers. Along the 



G V 



shore line the land is low, and is cut up by numerous 

 bayous, bays, and blind rivers and creeks, and in conse 

 quence it is difficult to discover the entrance to some of 

 the streams. If voyaging without a pilot, it is advisable 

 to institute inquiries on every possible occasion, and pay 

 particular attention to the existence of stakes. To enable 

 them to find and trace the tortuous channels leading in 

 between the oyster beds and sand flats, the coasters have 

 planted stakes, which will serve as guide to the stranger. 

 By following the course pointed out by the stakes, and 

 paying attention to the set of the tide, as well as the deep 

 water and the distances sailed, the wanderer will succeed in 

 finding the mouths of the streams. But it need not sur 

 prise any Avanderer if he should spend hours in vain search 

 to find the entrance to some of the rivers in this section. 

 A coaster informed us that we could readily distin 

 guish the entrance to the Ilomosassa river by the pres 

 ence of the wreck of a blockade runner. At two p. M. 

 we reached a point where we expected to discover the 

 entrance to the river, and looked for the wreck ; but 



