EPISODES 



337 



it becomes more shallow as you advance towards the en- 

 trance of the lake, at which you are surprised to find your- 

 self on a mud-flat covered only by about fifteen inches of 

 water, under which the depositions from the spring lie to 

 a depth of four or five feet in the form of the softest mud, 

 while under this again is a bed of fine white sand. When 

 this mud is stirred up by the oars of your boat or other- 

 wise, it appears of a dark-green color, and smells strongly 

 of sulphur. At all times it sends up numerous bubbles 

 of air, which probably consist of suphuretted hydrogen 



gas. 



The mouth of this curious spring is calculated to be 

 two and a half feet square ; and the velocity of its water, 

 during the rainy season, is three feet per second. This 

 would render the discharge per hour about 499, 500 gal- 

 lons. Colonel Rees showed us the remains of another 

 spring of the same kind, which had dried up from some 

 natural cause. 



My companion, the engineer, having occupation for 

 another day, I requested Colonel Rees to accompany me 

 in his boat towards the river St. John's, which I was desir- 

 ous of seeing, as well as the curious country in its neigh- 

 borhood. He readily agreed, and after an early breakfast 

 next morning, we set out, accompanied by two servants 

 to manage the boat. As we crossed Rees's Lake, I ob- 

 served that its northeastern shores were bounded by a 

 deep swamp, covered by a rich growth of tall cypresses, 

 while the opposite side presented large marshes and 

 islands ornamented by pines, live-oak", and orange-trees. 

 With the exception of a very narrow channel, the creek 

 was covered with nympheae, and in its waters swam 

 numerous Alligators, while Ibises, Gallinules, Anhingas, 

 Coots, and Cormorants were seen pursuing their avoca- 

 tions on its surface or along its margins. Over our heads 

 the Fish Hawks were sailing, and on the broken trees 

 around we saw many of their nests. 

 VOL. II. — 22 



