338 



AUDUBON 



We followed Spring Garden Creek for about two miles 

 and a half, and passed a mud bar, before we entered 

 "Dexter's Lake." The bar was stuck full of unios, in 

 such profusion that each time the negroes thrust their 

 hands into the mud they took up several. According to 

 their report these shell-fish are quite unfit for food. In 

 this lake the water had changed its hue, and assumed 

 a dark chestnut color, although it was still transparent. 

 The depth was very uniformly five feet, and the extent of 

 the lake was about eight miles by three. Having crossed 

 it we followed the creek, and soon saw the entrance of 

 Woodruff's Lake, which empties its still darker waters 

 into the St. John's River. 



I here shot a pair of curious Ibises, which you will find 

 described in my fourth volume, and landed on a small 

 island covered with wild orange trees, the luxuriance and 

 freshness of which were not less pleasing to the sight 

 than the perfume of their flowers was to the smell. The 

 group seemed to me like a rich bouquet formed by nature 

 to afford consolation to the weary traveller, cast down by 

 the dismal scenery of swamps and pools and rank grass 

 around him. Under the shade of these beautiful ever- 

 greens, and amidst the golden fruits that covered the 

 ground, while the Humming-birds fluttered over our 

 heads, we spread our cloth on the grass, and with a happy 

 and thankful heart, I refreshed myself with the bountiful 

 gifts of an ever-careful Providence. Colonel Rees in- 

 formed me that this charming retreat was one of the 

 numerous terrce incognitce of this region of lakes, and that 

 it should henceforth bear the name of "Audubon's Isle." 



In conclusion, let me inform you that the spring has 

 been turned to good account by my generous host, Colonel 

 Rees, who, aided by my amiable companion, the engin- 

 eer, has directed its current so as to turn a mill, which 

 suffices to grind the whole of his sugar-cane. 



