22 TRANSACTIONS OF THE WAGNER FREE 



THE CALOOSAHATCHIE. 



The region about the Caloosahatchie, and more particularly the 

 interior tract which harbors the headwaters of that stream, are so little 

 known that we found it almost impossible to obtain any information that 

 could prove of advantage to us in our intended exploration of the southern 

 wilderness. The most that could be ascertained was that at certain inter- 

 vals along the river we would come across settled hamlets or plantations, 

 but the approximate distances at which these furthest outliers of civilization 

 were to be met with were so vaguely stated, and differed so materially 

 among themselves, that it was impossible to place any implicit reliance 

 upon them. No scientific observations, other than those pertaining to 

 pure topography and hydrography, had ever been made in this section 

 of the State before, which fact, coupled with the hope that along 

 this stream we might expect to find a more reliable clue to the true 

 physical history of the State than along any other, provided a geological 

 profile was offered, made us anxious to enter the terra incognita. The 

 results obtained amply warranted our determination. 



The ascent of the river to Fort Thompson, where a rapid separates 

 the headwaters from the waters of the lower stream, consumed somewhat 

 more than four days, during which time, owing to contrary winds, and 

 the remarkably tortuous channel, frequent recourse had to be had to the 

 pole. The actual distance from the sea-border to the site of this old fort 

 is not more than fifty miles, but measured along the sinuosities of the 

 channel, which are especially well-marked in the upper course, and more 

 particularly in the reach of the last few miles below the rapids, the dis- 

 tance is very nearly twice as great. We found a considerable depth of 

 water, ranging in a general way from about five to fifteen feet, almost 

 along the entire course of the stream, except in the immediate embou- 

 chure, or in the stretch of the first few miles above Punta Rassa, where 

 innumerable shoals so completely bar the channel as to render its passage 

 difficult and hazardous to all but the lightest craft. Although drawing but 

 two feet of water, our schooner barely succeeded in effecting an entrance, 

 and on the return journey we were shoaled several times. There seems 

 to be no reason why, with a moderate outlay, this channel could not be 

 so deepened as to permit of a safe and ready entry even for vessels of a 

 moderately high draught, although, manifestly, by reason of the very 



