266 SPRING GARDEN. 



into " Rees's Lake," through a deep and broad channel, called Spring 

 Garden Creek. This channel is said to be in some places fully sixty feet 

 deep, but it becomes more shallow as you advance towards the entrance 

 of the lake, at which you are surprised to find yourself on a mud flat co- 

 vered 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 otherwise, it appears of a dark 

 green colour, and smells strongly of sulphur. At all times it sends up 

 numerous bubbles of air, which probably consist of sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen 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 gallons. 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, which I was desirous of seeing, as well as the curious country 

 in its neighbourhood. 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 observed that its north-eastern shores 

 were bounded by a deep swamp, covered by a rich growth of tall cypres- 

 ses, while the opposite side presented large marshes and islands ornament- 

 ed by pines, live-oaks, 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, wei'e seen pursuing their avocations 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. 



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 re- 

 port, these shellfish are quite unfit for food. In this lake the water had 

 changed its hue, and assumed a dark chestnut colour, 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 



