SPRING GARDEN. 267 



the creek, and soon saw the entrance of Woodruffs 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 beautiul 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 bounti- 

 ful gifts of an ever-careful Providence. Colonel Rees informed me that 

 this charming retreat was one of the numerous terrtE incognita, of this 

 region of lakes, and that it should henceforth bear the name of " Audu- 

 bon's Isle." 



In conclusion, let me inform you, that the spring has been turned to 

 good account by my generous host ColonelREES, who, aided by my ami- 

 able companion the Engineer, has directed its current so as to turn a 

 mill, which suffices to grind the whole of his sugar cane. 



