1 865, 866, 867, 80S, 869] waters of the coast. 385 



obtains ; the bluff is higher ; wells obtain freestone water at 20 to 25 feet, in 

 sand. 



865. Northward of Gainesville, the level Tine Woods are sometimes inter- 

 spersed with tracts of undulating land possessing quite a heavy clay soil, on 

 which the Oaks sometimes preponderate over the Long-leaf Pine ; it is said, 

 nevertheless, that the soil of the level Pine Woods is preferable to the former 

 on account of the great heaviness of the Oak soil, which is underlaid at about 

 three feet, by heavy gray potter's clay. In native fertility the Oak soil is doubt- 

 less superior, and judicious cultivation would, doubtless, render it the most 

 profitable (l[808, ff.). But in all this region, cattle-raising, rafting timber, and 

 tar-burning, are the prevalent occupation of the inhabitants, and the soils have 

 scarcely been fairly tested. Col. Kimball, of Habolochitto, informs me, however, 

 that in both soils, the muck of the hollows and bottoms exercises a fine effect, 

 as also does pine straw — all of which, in the north-eastern portion of the 

 county, have been used on a large scale by some planters. The bottom of Pearl 

 Kiver, in the whole of Hancock county, is almost entirely on the Louisiana 

 side (1T703). 



866. The heads of Jourdan's and Wolf River arc in a level Pine country, 

 like that just described; but on the east fork of the Habolochitto, there are 

 some higher ridges. 



The bottom of the Habolochitto is quite extensive, and, judging by its 

 growth, possesses a fertile soil ; but is too often overflowed. 



Northward of Habolochitto Bridge, we travel for about four miles in a level 

 Pine country, void of springs, which divides the waters of Pearl from those of 

 Habolochitto. Occasionally we still see, in this tract, wet spots with the pecu- 

 liar flora of the Wet Meadows of the Coast (1821, 824, ff.). But beyond we 

 ascend into the Orange Sand ridges which here skirt Pearl River (1T780), and 

 take a final farewell of the flora and soils of the Seacoast. 



867. Waters of the Coast — The geological phenomena of the Coast, as 

 far as observed, have been described in the Geological Report (Tf24:7 to 251). 

 It has there been stated, that strata of compost blue or gray clay underlie, at no 

 great depth, all the Coast region ; and it is well known that clays of a similar 

 character form the bottom of the sea at no great distance from the land, where 

 the beach sands cease. Wells dug in the sand hommocks of the coast, strike 

 these clays at a depth from ten to twenty-five feet ; but the water obtained in 

 them, is almost always mineral, and unfit for daily use. Doubtless the mineral 

 springs of Lynchburg or Ocean Springs, have their origin in the same strata. 

 Sometimes logs or stumps of Cypress or Pine are struck in these wells, buried 

 in the " black mud", which is frequently very fetid. In digging wells near the 

 coast, it would be well always to ascertain, by a preliminary bore, at what depth 

 the "black mud" underlies. A moderate supply of good drinkable water is 

 frequently obtained a few feet above the clay stratum ; at Pass Christian, for 

 instance, at a depth of from eight to ten feet ; but every attempt to deepen 

 these wells, so as to increase the volume of water, is liable to result in the 

 entire loss of the well, so soon as the " black mud " is reached. 



868. It appears, from observations made both on the Coast and on the islands 

 of the Sound, that the water of the latter is rendered almost frosh by filtration 

 through the beach sands, which contain more clayey and vegetable matter than 

 one would give them credit for. It is therefore better, in general (if cisterns be 

 not used), to rest satisfied with shallow wells, and have several of them, than 

 to risk spoiling the water by undue deepening. 



869. In the few deep wells which have been dug along the Coast, 

 not an inconsiderable rise has been observed in the water obtained 

 at greater depths, beneath the uppermost clay stratum. Thus, in 

 a well forty feet deep, at the residence of Mrs. McRae, West Pas- 

 cagoula (1250), the stream of water last struck rose fifteen feet. 

 It— 25 



