I 
382 GEOGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA 
wliole of North Aniericu. How widely they were published we 
do not know, but they doul)tless aided great!}' in the conduct 
of sul)se(pient ex]>editions. 
Added to the other impulses toward discovery vhich marked 
the twiliglit of the fifteenth century, the love of life contributed 
its strong motives. In a book which might have been dedicated 
to Ananias, John ISIandeville told of a fountain in eastern Asia 
of Avhich he and his fellow-travelers had drunk freely, and ever 
since had known new life, instinct with the strength and joy of 
youth. J'o find this fountain of youth became a new quest of 
the voyager. From Porto Pico, in the island of His[)aniola, Juan 
Ponce de Leon set sail in March, 1512. From the folklore of 
the natives of IIisi)aniola he had learned that the fabled fountain 
would be found in Bimini, a little island of the Bahama group. 
I le had authority from the king to compier Bimini. His course, 
however, led him too far to the westward, and on March 27 the 
white sands of the southern peninsula came in sight. It was 
Pascua Florida, or Easter Sunday, and the new land was named 
Florida. Terra Florida it has been ever since, not only be- 
cause Ponce de Leon reached it on Pascua Florida, but because 
it is a land of flowers. On Ai>ril 2 Ponce de Leon landed at 
about 30° N.,but sailed away again immediately, making his Avay 
around the i)eninsula to latitude 27° 30', whence he sailed home. 
In 1521 he returned to colonize his territory. The Indians met 
him with savage resistance, and instead of the fountain of per; 
])etual youth he found defeat, receiving an arrow wound which 
resulted in a lingering illness and his death in Cuba. 
'I'he })ortion of the state of Florida to be considered in this 
article lies between longitude 3° and G° 30' we.st of Washington 
and between 24° 30' and 30° N. latitude. It has the Atlantic 
ocean on the east, the gulf of iMexico on the west, and the strait 
of Florida on the south. Close to its eastern shore is the Gulf 
stream, in many ])laces not more than two miles distant. 
The geology of Florida presents no grave or complicated })rob- 
lems. Lying immediately beneath the surface is a limestone 
which persists througli the entire length of the state. This 
doubtless belongs to the Eocene .system. The limestone, which 
forms the crest of a fold known as “ the ridge,” is very i)ermeable 
by water. It is characterized by enormous sink-holes and sub- 
terranean streams. It forms the beds of the middle rivers and 
of the countless lakes. Lying to the west of this limestone ridge 
arc those marvelous deposits of phosjjhates which are found 
