390 
GEOGRAPHY OF THE SOUTHERN PENINSULA 
For 8 or 10 miles on either edge of the glades the conditions 
change materially. Thousands of islands, varying in size from 
one-eighth of an acre to several acres, greet the eye. On these 
islands the soil is phenomenally rich, and giant ferns, the fronds 
of which measure 12 feet in length, grow upon their edges. 'I'he 
virgin forest is composed of the wild lemon, wild cucumber, 
and wild orange, the dogwood, the custard-a)iple, the prickly 
ash, and hundreds of other varieties. Overhead the myrtle and 
the morning-glory mingle in tangled masses with countless varie- 
ties of tropical vines. 
In the early summer, after the annual overflow, the entry of 
the eastern region hy the Miami river is singularly beautiful. 
Where a few weeks before the flood covered everything, is now 
a green }>rairie, and tlirough the green gleam the delicate yellow 
and pink of numberless orchids. The emerald-hued islands are 
vocal with the songs of birds, and one can walk the now dry 
pathway of the waters, keei)ing time i)erchance to the diapason 
of some aged alligator l)ellowing away in a creek near by, un- 
appreciated and undisturbed. 
The great volume of water in the glades finds many courses to 
the sea. The northern l)asin emi)ties its surplus into lake Okee- 
chobee, from which it passes by the Disston drainage canal 
through lake IIicj)ochee and lake Flirt into the Caloosahatchee 
river and tlience into the Gulf. In exceptionalh’^ wet seasons 
tlie northern basin overflows its southern rim, and contributes 
to the volume of the greater southern glade. These southern 
waters pour out through east, south, and southwest channels. 
Some portion of the volume doul)tless furnishes the supply for 
tlie Big Cypress swam}). The remainder finds outlet through 
Gullivans, the Chokaluskee, the Fahkahnatchee, the Chatham, 
the Rogers, the Shark, the Harney, the Ingraham, and numerous 
smaller rivers and creeks. To the south there has not been suffi- 
cient ex})loration to furnish reliable data, but the Seminole tells 
of a southern outlet which is doubtless “Chi’s Cut,” and which 
furnishes the })eculiar color of Black Water bay. On the east 
the outlets are numerous. Beginning with the Hillsboro river 
on the north, the great flood finds its way into the Atlantic 
through the Middle river, Cyj)ress creek, New river. Snake river. 
Arch creek, Little river, and the ^liami. 
The islands in the Everglades have long been inhabited by 
the Seminole. His cy})ress dug-out follows the ])ath of the waters 
from the outside world to his homestead. He lives in com})ara- 
