180 THE GULF COAST OF FLORIDA. 



here, among whom were Osceola and Coacoochee, noted 

 chiefs. It was frequently used during the early history of the 

 state as a place of refuge for the citizens of the town and 

 vicinity in time of Indian outbreaks. 



Another of the ancient landmarks is the Sea Wall, which 

 was originally built by the Spaniards in 1690, and rebuilt by 

 the United States government in 1837. It is also built of 

 coquina, with a coping of granite four feet wide and about 

 eight inches thick. 



The Catholic cathedral was erected in 1793, an d is still in 

 a tolerable state of preservation inside,' though the hand of 

 time has dealt roughly with the exterior. It is surmounted by 

 a quaint Moorish belfry, with four bells set in separate niches, 

 which, together with the clock, form a complete cross. One 

 of the bells bears date 1682, and is supposed to have been 

 taken from the ruins of a church which previously stood on 

 St. George street. At the north end of the city stands the 

 city gate, another very interesting relic of past ages. It has 

 recently been repaired, but portions of it still remain as 

 originally left by the old Spanish masons hundreds of years 

 ago. It is the only remaining relic of a wall supposed to 

 have surrounded the city in its early days. It is a most im- 

 posing and interesting structure is ornamented with lofty 

 towers, loop-holes and sentry-boxes, all well preserved. The 

 " Plaza de la Constitution," is a small park situated in the 

 center of the town, with seats, walks, shade-trees, etc., simi- 

 lar to those of our modern parks. In one end of the square 

 stands the monument erected in 1812, in commemoration of 

 the Spanish Liberal Constitution. It bears an inscription in 

 Spanish, a translation of which is as follows : 



" Just before the session of Florida to the United States, 

 the king of Spain granted a liberal charter to the citizens of 

 St. Augustine and of Florida, and this monument is a memo- 



