DEXTER'S LAKE. 195 



" My companion the engineer having occupation for another 

 day, I requested Colonel Kees to accompany me in his boat 

 towards the river St. John, which 1 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 ' Kees' Lake ' I observed that its north-eastern shores 

 were bounded by a deep swamp, covered by a rich growth of 

 tall cypresses, while the opposite side presented large marshes 

 and islands ornamented by pines, live oaks, and orange-trees. 



" With the exception of a very narrow channel, the creek was 

 covered with nymphese, and in its waters swam numerous 

 alligators, while ibises, gallinules, ankingas, coots, and cormorants 

 were 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 report these shell-fish 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 uniformly five feet, and the extent of the lake 

 was about eight miles by three. Having crossed it, we followed 

 the creek, and soon saw the entrance of ' Woodruff's Lake,' 

 which empties its still darker waters into the St. John's Eiver. 

 I here shot a pair of curious ibises, which you will find described 

 in my fourth volume of ornithology, 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 beautiful 

 evergreens, 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 bountiful gifts of an ever-careful 



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