464 RAMBLES IN FLORIDA. 
The account of the landing and movements of De Soto 
thereafter does not show that be remained at or near the 
place of debarkation, save but for a short time, for the 
purpose of giving his men a few days rest after the confine- 
ment of shipboard. If he had made this a base or point 
of support for subsequent operations it is probable that he 
would have caused earthworks to have been erected, but 
otherwise it would have been unnecessary and useless labor; 
as above stated there is nothing in the character of the 
mounds and heaps that show any difference from similar 
structures elsewhere met with by us. 
This locality was undoubtedly the site of a populous 
Indian town ; the ground in the neighborhood is rather above 
the average height, and the position such as to make it par- 
ticularly healthful in the summer and autumn. The waters 
abound with fish at certain seasons, and the neighboring 
islands furnish abundance of oysters and other mollusks 
that were apparently considered edible by the Indians. Near 
this place, and inside of the keys, we gathered for our use 
as food, quantities of Quahaugs (Mirctanria Mortonii Con- 
rad), of mammoth size and excellent quality ; a pair of the 
empty valves sometimes weighing between three and four 
pounds! At low tide can be énilooted the reversed Conch 
(-Busycon perversum) and the Horse Conch (Fasciolaria 
gigantea), of which it is supposed the Indians made their 
war-trumpets.* Here also abound not only many smaller 
molluscous animals of sufficient size to be important for 
food, but the Thorny Conch (Melongena corona) elsewhere 
alluded to. The bleached shells of the species named are 
igh buss eee ede Ad 

lections, is a convex dise of shell (species unknown ) from a mound in Uni — a 
Kentucky; this last was collected by my friend, Major S. S. Lyon, of Jefferson 
Indiana. 
* Another large shell, the beautiful Triton variegatum, is used as & indeed 
the natives of many of the Indo Pacific Islands. See piedras in the Ethnolog! 
colleetion of graue Smithsonian 
jmens 
by the U. Ee aa under Commo- 

Bente nc 
ee er 



