194 A NATURE WOOING. 



it goes, as far as eye can reach, forming one of the 

 most pleasing vistas among the noteworthy scenes of 

 this fair land. Two miles beyond this mound the 

 road reaches the end of the "Old Causeway/' that 

 portion of the old St. Augustine trail which was con- 

 structed across the broad marsh by the Spanish or 

 English planters, to enable them to reach the ferry 

 at "Buckhead Bluff" on the Tomoka. The Cause- 

 way passes, for part of its way, along the bank of 

 Thompson's Creek, a tributary of the Tomoka. The 

 still, deep waters of this stream are said to be well 

 stocked with black and channel bass, sea trout and 

 other forms of game fish, while alligators, musquash 

 and otter dwell along its shores. 



As I sit here my thoughts revert to the race of old 

 prehistoric ante-red-man a people of whom we 

 know little or nothing, who at one time resided here. 

 Through these forest glades, when returning from 

 the chase, their cries of triumph were echoed. Here 

 in a land of sunshine their wants were few and easily 

 satisfied; their ambitions lowly, their hopes eternal. 

 Hunger and thirst only did they have to allay. All 

 else was theirs for the seeking. Did they need shelter, 

 the leaves of the palmetto furnished it in plenty. 

 Food, the waves of the ocean brought it to their feet. 

 Theirs but to love, woo, mate, beget their prog- 

 eny and die. A happy, contented people they must 

 have been. Had not other and stronger races found 

 them out, coveted their possessions and made success- 



