Alabama, Georgia and Florida. 173 



immediately resolved to proceed for the place whence the noise seemed 

 to come ; and soon came in sight of the incomparable fountain, and 

 saw, with amazement, the floods rushing upwards many feet high, and 

 the expanding waters, which prevailed every way, spreading them- 

 selves far and near. He at length concluded (he said) that the foun- 

 tains of the deep were again brokenup, and that an universal deluge had 

 commenced ; and instantly turned about and fled to alarm the town, 

 about nine miles distance : but before he could reach it, he met several 

 of the inhabitants, who already alarmed by the unusual noise, were 

 hurrying on towards the place ; upon which he returned with the In- 

 dians, taking their stand on an eminence to watch its progress and the 

 event. It continued to jet and flow in this manner for several days, 

 forming a large, rapid creek or river, descending and following the 

 various courses and windings of the valley, for the distance of seven 

 or eight miles, emptying itself into a vast savannah, where was a lake 

 and sink which received and gave vent to its waters. 



" The fountain, however, g'radually ceased to overflow, and finally 

 withdrew itself beneath the common surface of the earth, leaving this 

 capacious basin of waters, which, though continually near full, hath 

 never since overflowed. There yet remains, and will, I suppose, re- 

 main for ages, the dry bed of the river or canal, generally four, five, 

 and six feet below the natural surface of the land ; the perpendicular, 

 ragged banks of which, on each side, show the different strata of the 

 earth ; and at places, where ridges or a swelling bank crossed and op- 

 posed its course and fury, are vast heaps of fragments of rocks, white 

 chalk stones, and pebbles, which were collected and thrown into the 

 lateral vallies, until the main stream prevailed over and forced them 

 aside, overflowing the levels and meadows, for some miles distance 

 from the principal stream, on either side. We continued down the 

 great vale, along its banks, quite to the savannah and lake where it 

 vented itself, while its ancient subterranean channel was gradually- 

 opening which, I imagine, from some hidden event or cause had been 

 choaked up, and which, we may suppose, was the immediate cause of 

 the eruption." p. 238. 



I have been the more particular in. collecting the foregoing facts 

 relative to the Hydrography of the Floridas, in order that it may be 

 perceived how much interest attaches to the subject, and how much 

 we yet stand in need of farther information. 



