AGASSIZ: THE FLORIDA ELEVATED EEEF. 57 



Still farther east mangrove swamp formed the shore edge, but for a dis- 

 tance of about twenty-live miles the shore was not seen, and was un- 

 known to my boatman. It is probably a low mangrove swamp. Beyond 

 this unknown part, to the northeast, the entire shore line is mangrove or 

 grass swamp to Cutler, a small settlement on Key Biscayne Bay about 

 twelve miles south of Cocoanut Grove, where the limestone readies the 

 shore. This rock continues at or near the shore from this point north- 

 ward. Southward from Cutler the border of outcropping bears to the 

 west, so that it becomes more and more distant from the shore. 



A canoe, already on the border of the Everglades, had been secured 

 during my absence, and an advantageous start was made by transporting 

 provisions, etc. about eight miles over land. Indians could not be had 

 as guides, so I retained my boatman, who was a strong young fellow, 

 and knew as much about the Everglades as any one. The water in the 

 Everglades was lower than I had supposed from previous reports. 



The objective point being Long Key * of the Everglades, our course 

 was turned southwest as soon as we found sufficient water. After about 

 nine miles progress in this direction, the water becoming more and moi'e 

 shallow, and progress only possible by means of an Indian trail (Plate 

 XXIII. Fig. 1), an unpromising expanse of liquid mud and saw-grass 

 persuaded us to return. We were not more than three miles distant 

 from the pines at any time ; rock bottom could be touched anywhere 

 through the mud. 



A line of keys extending northeast to southwest lay to the west of our 

 course, and we tried to find a way through them ; we had no success 

 until we had gone back on our course about six miles. Then a passage 

 was forced across this stubborn divide, perhaps a few inches in height. 

 On the other side was abundant water, and we turned southwest again 

 on the west side of what is apparently the foundation ridge of Long 

 Key. Indian hunting camps were passed and conversation held with 

 the Indians. They do not like to have white men in their country, but 

 do not molest them. Again the water became shallow, openings in the 

 saw-grass were without water, and we were obliged to turn back north- 

 east, though trying every chance to go westward. On this line we 

 reached perhaps eighteen miles from our starting point and fifteen from 

 the coast. Rock foundation was everywhere within touch through the 

 mud, and often visible. A specimen of rock was secured near the most 

 distant point we reached. 



The waters of the Xorth Fork of the Miami offered the next chance 



1 Not to be confounded with the Long Key of the main line of keys. 



