172 Geological Ohservations upon 



Those geologists whose theories lead them particularly to the study 

 of the causes now in action which modify the earth's surface, would find 

 in the frequently recurring sinks as they are called, and in the occa- 

 sional outbreaking of fountains, almost peculiar to this country abun- 

 dant materials for reflection. The causes of the sinks, are no doubt, 

 correctly apprehended, in. the prevailing opinion, that they are occa- 

 sioned by the underground passage of large bodies of water, traver- 

 sing a weak and cavernous rock. Bartram has given one account, 

 the subject of which is near Tallahassee, which I think deserves to be 

 revived at this time. 



"Next day early in the morning we left the town and the river, in 

 order to fix our encampment in the forests about twelve miles from the 

 river; our companions with the pack-horses went a-head to the place 

 of rendesvous, and our chief conducted me another way to show me a 

 very curious place, called the Alligator-Hole, which was lately formed 

 by an extraordinary eruption or jet of water. It is one of those vast 

 circular sinks, which we beheld almost every where about us as we 

 traversed these forests, after we left the Alachua savannah. This re- 

 markable one is on the verge of a spacious meadow, the surface of the 

 ground round about being uneven by means of gentle rising-knolls : 

 some detached groups of rocks and large spreading live oaks shade it 

 on every side : it is about sixty yards over, and the surface of the water 

 six or seven feet below the rim of the funnel or basin ; the water is 

 transparent, cool, and pleasant to drink, and well stored with fish ; a 

 very large alligator at present is lord or chief; many have been killed 

 here, but the throne is never long vacant, the vast neighboring ponds 

 so abound with them. 



"The account that this gentleman, who was an eye-witness of the 

 last eruption, gave me of its first appearance, being very wonderful, I 

 proceed to relate what he told me whilst we were in town, which was 

 confirmed by the Indians, and one or more of our companions, who 

 also saw its progress, as well as by my own observations after I came 

 to the ground. 



"This trader being near this place (before it had any visible exist- 

 ence in its present appearance,) about three years ago, as he was look- 

 ing for some horses which he expected to find in the'se parts, on a sud- 

 den was astonished by an inexpressible rushing noise, like a mighty 

 hurricane or thunder storm ; and looking round, he saw the earth 

 overflowed by torrents of water, which came, wave after wave, rush- 

 ing down a vale or plain very near him, which it filled with water, and 

 soon began to overwhelm the higher grounds, attended Math a terrific 

 soise and tremor of the eartTi. Recovering from his first surprise, he 



