Oct. 9, 1890. 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



£27 



There is canoeing, with oars or paddle, on the Blue 

 Rapids for those who like such sport, and quiet, long pools 

 for the more sedate. Boats are not kept here for hire, 

 although they can generally be had at some points on the 

 river. We have two in our outfit, one built for a man, 

 Dr. Cannon, who weighs over SQOlba. and has a heart in 

 proportion, is a good fisherman and loves a camp in the 

 woods. A camping party some distance below visited us 

 in a boat propelled by a paddle-wheel with human muscle 

 for power, invented by one of the campers, Mr. Mitchell. 

 It might be used in harbors or bays to good advantage. 



Our tents are pitched on an. island: in front is a pool 

 some hundred feet in diameter, fifteen to twenty feet 

 deep in the center, with a gravelly beach on one side 

 affording fine bathing. Looking out from our dining- 

 room (the fly off a wall tent), we can see down the river 

 a third of a mile, over two grassy islands and with bold 

 Wyandotte Mountain forming one side and the back- 

 ground of the view. It is a beautiful picture, a charming 

 place. 



In addition to the provisions of nature for our pleasure 

 and comfort, and the "provisions" we brought along, we 

 have only to cross the river to Mr. James Sibert's, where 

 fresh milk, cream, butter, eggs, vegetables, etc., etc., can 

 be procured at reasonable rates, and where help at wood 

 cutting, rowing, and any other assistance needed, can be 

 had on call. 



Of coure, the northern streams afford their trout— and 

 mosquitoes; the lakes yield lordly bass and maskalonge — 

 and no-see-ums; the seashore gives surf bathing, big iish 

 and other enjoyments, also flies, gnats, etc., in additin to 

 storms. Here we have no pests. Not a gnat or mosquito, 

 no hogs, cattle or other camp nuisances; and for "plain 

 people," who must count the expenses of their outmg3, 

 along the Blue, within striking distance of Wyandotte 

 Cave, can be recommended. 



Persons desiring further information should correspond 

 with Mr. James 'Libert, White Cloud, Ind., or H. A. 

 Rothrock, Wyandotte. Ind. Jap. 



New Albany, ind., Sept. 25. 



THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. 



SEATTLE, Washington, Oct. 1.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: The game outlook along the Pacific coast 

 promises unusually fine this fall. Reports at hand from 

 California, Oregon and this State all tend to confirm this 

 belief. A trip made last week to various parts along 

 Puget Sound brought out the information that large game 

 had not been so plentiful for years as at present. Several 

 parties are now outfitting here for the fall campaign; two 

 in particular going into a comparatively unexplored por- 

 tion of the Olympic Mountains, where they anticipate 

 finding a veritable sportsman's paradise. Surveying par- 

 ties who have lately returned from this region relate 

 stories that are simply marvelous, but which, later on, 

 have been verified by an exploring expedition sent out 

 under the auspices of the Daily Press. Small game has 

 been considerably thinned out this season . owing to the 

 severe drouth and local causes, but a good day's sport can 

 still be obtained in the eastern part of this State or north- 

 ern California. 



Fishing is up to the usual standard, and large numbers 

 of trout and salmon are being taken from the neighbor- 

 ing streams, while Puget Sound fairly teems with its 

 salt-water fishes. The TJ. S. Fish Commission car No. 8, 

 under charge of R. S. Johnston, arrived here Sept. 24, 

 bringing a quantity of fish to be planted in the lakes. 

 There were altogether about 3,000. chiefly black bass and 

 croppies, with a sprinkling of catfish, pike and perch. 

 They were immediately liberated in Lake Union and Lake 

 Washington. Anglers feel elated at the prospect of black 

 bass fishing in Lake Washington in the near future. This 

 lake is a lovely sheet of water set in the most picturesque 

 surroundings it has ever been my lot to see. At the head 

 of the lake silver-tipped Mt. Baker rears its head above 

 the clouds; at the foot of the lake, majestic old Mt. Rai- 

 nier rises 14,444ft. above the sea level, while to the north 

 and east can be seen respectively the Olympic and Cas- 

 cade ranges. A sportsman who could not enjoy a day's 

 outing here, even with proverbial "fisherman's luck," 

 surely has no eye for the truly beautiful. Jo. 



A THOUSAND MILES IN A NAPHTHA LAUNCH. 



THE VOYAGE OV THE MIRA FROM EBRNANDXNA TO KEY WEST. 

 BY CAPTAIN CLARENCE ANDREWS AND CHIEF 

 ENGINEER EIAVOOD "BIIXY" HOFER. 



THE Mira is 30ft. long by 8ft beam, with a draft of ISin. She is 

 fitted with a sail placed in the bow to be used in case of 

 emergency, and an engine of 7-horse power. There is a standing 

 roof with canvas srorm curtains, extra wide lockers running the 

 whole length of the boat, with subdivisions for guns and fishing 

 rods, clotbing, stores, etc., having ample sleeping accommodations 

 on top i"r lour people; behind the engine is an oil cooking stove 

 and water tank. A 10ft. cedar tender, oars, hoat hooks, etc., com- 

 plete our equipment. 



Our plan was to travel from the Atlantic to the Gulf Coast of 

 Florida hv river or lade, and to return hy the Atlantic coast. 

 Owing to lack of time, however, only the first half of the trip 

 trip was accomplished, but that the most unusual and interesting 

 part. 



The Mira was shipped to Fernandina on Feb. 28. Arrived there 

 hy the Mallory Company's steamer City of Texas on March 4, in 

 charge of "Billy" Hofer, of National Yellowstone Park fame, and 

 Timothv Mullins, engineer from the Gas Engine and Power Co., 

 who accompanied us until we learntd to run the engine ourselves. 

 Detained in Fernandina until March 7 waiting for naphtha, a 

 pilot was taken on board and the trip begun on the afternoon of 

 that day; anchored for the night off Shell Island. 



March 8— Arrived at Jacksonville by inland route, the Sisters 

 and Amelia rivers, at noon, when Captain Andrews took com- 

 mand. An addition to the crew was made in the person of Wil- 

 liam Scott, colored cook, who proved himself a ven talile GoT&on 

 «oir, the pilot leaving us here. We stopped at the Standard Oil 

 Co.'s wharf to fill our naphtha tank, wnich contains 60 gallons. 

 We cannot procure naphtua, however, as ic is not sold in Florida, 

 but we «re given No. 74 gasoline and assured that it is praetical'y 

 the same. Then we follow the St. John's River for 10 miles and 

 anchor for the night off Buckly's Bluff. There are very good 

 charts of the river and the channel is marked out by beacons, so 

 that there is no difficulty in navigating without a pilot. 



March 9.— We are off early, the river is wide and forms really 

 a '"chain of lakes," which is the meaning of its Indian name 

 " Welaka." 



Iu the widest part in a strong wind and choppy sea, while hoist- 

 ingsail, we break our tiller rope and are obliged to heave to for re- 

 pairs. Notwithstanding this delay we make Palatka in eight 

 hours, a distance of 60 miles. Here we remain two days, Captain 

 Vndrews visiting his land at Blue Springs, near Ocala, in the 

 enter of the newly-discovered phosphate district. 



March 12 — In the afternoon we fire up and continue our journey 

 ap the river, taking on hoard 50 gallons of gasoline: what we cau- 

 notputin the tank we carry in cases ; each case containing two 

 tin cans and holding 10 gallons. This is an expensive way to carry 

 it, costing $2.50 a case instead of 17 cents a gallon by barrel, but is 

 worth the difference, as it is safer and more convenient. An 

 iron drum holding 100 gallons or a barrel of 60 gallons would be 

 difficult to handle, besides taking: up too much room, The river 

 Jo ganford is so crooked that the distance is twice as long as by 



tlie middle of the night. 



March 13.— We cross Lake George, 16 miles 'n two hours being 

 the best speed we can make and anchor off Volusia; in the night 

 we are awakened from our gentle slumbers bv the waves from a, 

 passing steamer coming over into our bunk?: but as the water is 

 warm aud the weather also w e are not much disturbed. 



March Ik— The river narrows and becomes more attractive. We 

 see plenty of heron and cranes, and have an enjoyable sail; 

 ancnormg toward evening on a beautiful inlet called Blue Springs 

 from the transparent bine of its water. Reminds one of its name- 

 sakc near ocala, but. with less picturesque surroundings. 



Marcn la —Hind contents of tank very low, but as we have less 

 than thirty miles to make to Sanford, decide to push on. Weigh 

 anchor at 9 A. m. ui a heavy rain storm, but well protected from 

 it by our lowered storm curtains. Unfortunately the curtains 

 prevent me engine from drawing well, and suddenly it is envel- 

 oped m a blaze. We extinguish the fire easily, and' decide to re. 

 turn to Blue Springs rather than risk having our fuel give out 

 midway-. 1 take train toSanfoid and succeed in shipping fifr? 

 gallons by a night freigM; boat, and the following morning, March 

 lb, Mira is study auehond off Dr. Barry's wharf at Sanlord, 200 

 miles from Jacksonville. We have burnt 100 gallons gasoline, and 

 although we learn to economize later on and keep the consump- 

 tion do a n. we do not get it much lower than this. 



From Sanfnrd the launch bas to be shipped bv rail ro Kissimme 

 about sixty miles distant on the South Florida Railroad. Although 

 the company have a dock here, they have no derrick or other 

 means of hoisting a boat weighing from two to three ions: so we 

 hav« to haul ours out on the beach. By means of an extemporized 

 windlass, much difficulty and swearing, Mira is placed on a cradle 

 and left high and dry for the night. It takes a whole flay to do 

 tins, another to get her on the flat car, a third to transport her to 

 Kissimmee, where she arrives comfortably lying in her cradle on 

 March 20, CoL Kraemer, the chief engineer of the Disstou Land 

 Improvement and Drainage Co., is familiar with the rouie we are 

 intake, viz.: Down (he Kissimmee- River to Lake Okeechobee, 

 then through the channels to the Caloosahatchee and so on to 

 t ort Meyers and the Gulf. The Colonel who has recently made 

 the trip, tells us that owing to unusual drought the wateris so low 

 in the first canal between Lake. Tohopokaliga and Lake Cypress, 

 that no boat drawing more than lOin. of water can push through, 

 but that afterward we will have no further difficulty, tt was 

 too late now to turn hack. We would not give Mira such another 

 railwav jarring again, so we charter a barge and a sturdv little 

 s ern wheel steamer of twenty-five horse power to push us throueh 

 the shallow canal. Mira is placed on the barge, cradle and all 

 ( itier a hard day's work), surrounded bv freight of various sorts 

 to be left at settlements along the lake. 



March Si.— We are off at 9:10. Our crew is increased by the ad- 

 dition of Captain King of Kissimmee, who is to pilot us through 

 the winding channels and across the uncei tain lakes. Besides, 

 there are Captain Johnson, owner of the steamer Cincinnati and 

 barge, with his own crew of three men. Mira propped high in 

 her cradle, 10ft. above the water, looks queer as she is pushed 

 slowly out into the lake. W'e stopped three times to alio w Cap- 

 tain Johnson to dispose of his freight. Have a fine view of St. 

 Cloud, where are the sugar mills, which we hear working day 

 and night, grinding the cane brought from the plantations of the 

 Disstou Land Co. Lake Tohopokaliga is very pretfv, islands of 

 high hickory woods dot it here aud there. Among them Paradise 

 island may deserve its name, covered with trees] containing 100 

 acres of rich loamy soil: we are told it can be purchased for 87,000. 

 Sixteen miles bring us to the entrance of the Southport Canal, 4 

 miles Ions, our course, due south, wind ahead, weather warm, 

 with occasional showers. Here we find our first obstacle, a sand 

 har. 



We go for it stern on and the wheel soon digs a channel in the 

 soft bed. A half mile further we stick in hard bottom, and we 

 wriggle, pole, push and swear our way through, the crew stripped 

 to their waists in the water most of the time and Captain John- 

 son, when not in also, direciing their movements from the upper 

 deck in airy attire and shirt-tails flappmg in the breeze. As we 

 pass through the canal we see the "Arbuckle," a small flat river 

 steamboat, with double deck (like a house-boat), entering. Char- 

 tered for the trip by an English gentleman, he wisely allowed 

 us to go first and prepare a channel for him. 



The banks are flat and swampy; when the drainage is complete 

 the land will be valuable for the cultivation of sugar cane, 

 bananas, oranges, lemons and pineapples, all of which are alreadv 

 grown in the neighborhood. At 6 P. M. we reached Lake Cypress, 

 2 miles across the lake take us to the Hatchinneha Canal, 2% 

 miles long. This "brings us into the lake of the same name, and 3 

 miles across it to the Gardiner River (really the upper Kissimmee; 

 where we anchor, at Fort Gardiner, for the night. This is a rouud- 

 about course, but the canal connecting Cypress Lake directly 

 with Lake Kissimmee is not yet tinished. The sail in the hrigh't 

 starlight was full of charm; perched high upon her cradle Mira 

 glides smoothly along, swamps, hammocks or cane fores ta on 

 either side, alligators grunting along the hanks or splashing into 

 the water at our appr tach. Fish jumping out, fireflys and croak- 

 ing bullfrogs animating the scene, while the new moon silvers 

 all. 



March S3.— At 5:30 A. M. we are off through the Gardiner ( Kis- 

 simmee) River: heard th« wild turkeys cackling, and would like to 

 remain for a shot at t.hera but Captain Johnson is anxious to hurry 

 on, as his time is limited and he mu<t be back at Kissimmee in 

 time to carry the mail. We arrive at Lake Kissimmee at S A. M. 

 Then all bands beetin to Knock the Mira's supports from under. 

 She glides gracefully over the rollers, stern first, cradle and all 

 into the water. We load our skiff with our spare cases of gaso- 

 line, and she sinks down nearly to the. gunwales. In all we carry 

 170 gallons. The crew of the "Cincinnati" gave us a cheer aud we 

 are off, flags flying. Our course is straight across the lake, 20 

 miles long, but the water is rough and we are obliged to unload 

 the skiff, which has gradually filled, and take her load on board. 

 Then we hug the shore (which increases the distance ten miles) in 

 order to avoid the heavy seas, passing Bird and Plummers 

 Islands, and several smaller ones, on which we are told deer 

 abound. We pass Floradelphia, plotted out in avenues and 

 streets, hut containing only one house, as yet. We pass 

 '"Grape" hammock, where the liveoaks are covered with wild 

 grape vines. In the vicinity are cattle ranches of two or three 

 thousand head of cattle, and the few houses we see belong to the 

 cowboys. At 1:15 we enter the Kissimmee River. The bauks are 

 alive with curlew, duck, water turkeys, heron, limpkins, cranes, 

 etc. Anight of white heron flash like silver against the sky. We 

 shoot a lew duck and other birds as specimens, when they are in 

 our course, and pick them up as we sail along without stopping. 

 At 3:40 we tie up against a low bank for the night, having made 

 50 miles. . , , 



Tne current is with us all thmusrh our trip, and we can econo- 

 mize fuel. Our Camp is called Alligator Biiiff. The ranchmen 

 who live twenty miles back come here, for their supplies and to 

 ship their cmpa to market bv steamer, which runs regularly to 

 Fort Bassinger. There is a bird roost near by where thousands of 

 different kinds of birds make their nests. It is surrounded by 

 swamp, and even with my high waterproof hoots I fail to get 

 within gunshot of them. 



Marcli -%h. — After a general haul over aud clearing up we are 

 off at 9:30. About five miles down the river we stop at Otange 

 Hammock, where a Mr. Griggs lives and occupies himself with 

 plumage hunting and orange growing. We buy some lemons fresh 

 fmm the trees and eggs more or less fresh from the hen. We 

 shoot a couple of ducks, which the natives sav are "Blue Petes." 

 We pass Fort K, where there is only a fence, and enter Guy's 

 Cut at 11-15, pass through it at 11:25; plenty of duck, but wind and 

 current too strong to allow of our picking them up. Past Prairie 

 Bluff taking short cuts in narrow streams where there is just, 

 room' for Mira to pass; yellow and white water lilies, occasional 

 clumps of oak Tees seen iu the distance. Sometimes a peculiar 

 water grass called "bonnet" entangles our propeller, but we un- 

 twist it by reversing. The larger alligators have been killed off 

 by the professional hunters and those remaining are compara- 

 tively small. The land on either side for miles back is held by the 

 Government for the Disston Co. for the drainage improvements 

 the company proposes to make. .. 



Some settlers squatted here before the company received its 

 concession, and we see their herds of fair but thin cattle. We 

 come to Mikos Bluff, named after an old Indian, now belonging to 

 Mr \lderman, a ranchman, owning some fine buildings. At 1 

 P M Istokpoga Creek, which drains the large lake of that name, 

 is" passed, and at 4:30 we stop for the night. Our engine catches 

 fire- cause, stopping the wheel and not turning off the injector! 

 We' learn only bv experience, and no harm is done. Distance 

 traveled, about forty nines. ; 



Marcu 25— The pleasantest part of the day forme is alter break- 

 fast while cook is cleaning up aud Billy oiling the engine, I being 

 de iron start off in the skiff provided with my Parker, a pipe and 

 a book I have a good hour's start and float lazily down the stream, 

 waiching the 'gaters" and theinnumerahle birds disporting along 

 the banks unmindful of my silent passage, until a shot brings one 



01 W^ e are b now 12ff nM°leTiroBi K. hy water, and 80 hy laud; that is 



also the nearest railway point. We are off at 9:15; a heavy rain 

 overtakes us, hut we were snug with our storm curtains down. 

 We pass Dougherty's Hammock aud cornfield 7 miles above Fort 

 Bassinger; banks higher here and country more attractive. At 

 noon arrive at Fort Bassinger, where, as usual, there is no fort, 

 but a store We bur a few stale provisions and depart; pass the 

 Hamilton Disston, a big flat -bottomed steamboat laboriously poled 

 up stream, wit h an official of the company on board. At 2:30 stop 

 for i he day at Piatt's Landing. 20 miles below Fort Bassinger, hav- 

 ing made 35 miles and burnt 20 gallons. We catch Ave bass with a 

 spinner averaging three pounds a piece in weight. At night the 

 rain pours down in torrent?, accompanied with thunder and 

 lightening. We sl-op as ealml v as ever. 



March 26— Take a day off. Therm. 100 in the sun. Billy finds a 

 tew quail in the afternoon and we tramp through the pine wood 

 atter deer, but unsuccessfully. 



March 37— The grunting 'gators in a swamp awaken us by 

 their noise. We leave them in peace, though they will not leave 

 it to us, and are off at 8:30. The river grows narrower as we. near 

 the great inland lake, SQ miles distant. The land is marshy on 

 either side, with occasional clumps of palmetto or cypress trees. 

 At 12:30 we enter Lake Okeechobee, and are greeted hy the ever- 

 welcome "Bonnets." Around the lake are swanjos and marshes 

 extending many miles bacK; no dryland in sight. We take a 

 southwesterly course for »i miles, but the wind has risen, our 

 root hegius to rack from side to side, and we roll ecisfd. v <.;•.!>•• 

 we decide to anchor behind some beds of saw erass, which act as 

 a, breakwater, and heave to at 4 P. M. What a desolate nnd 

 dreary picture! No sign of animal life except, the ever-present 

 water turkey. The miuruful cvpresa rises here and there out of 

 the water; 60 miles of dark and dreary waste stretch before us; 

 beoind, anptner sea of swamp and morass (soon to be reclaimed 

 nif.inage) 16 mtl-s saw grass, vv c made 40 miles to-day and 

 burnt 25 gallons. 



Marcli 28.— At 9 A. M. we warp our way out of the grass by 

 means of the small anchor, which we carry 50ft. ahead in the 

 skift. then east over and haul ourselves up to it bv the line, thus 

 saving our screw from dredging. The fastenings of our roof are 

 very weak; we steady them with hoathooks and guy ropes, take 

 our coursa along the western shore and thus have the seas head 

 en. At 12:20 we sight a landmark at the entrance of the Hickpo- 

 chee canal, consisting of a tin can attached to a tree. Without 

 some sign the canal would be imperceptible. It is about 80ft. wide 

 and runs southeast. We feel a great relief in leaving the gloomy 

 and treacherous lake. 



The water is of normal depth here, about 8ft. We expected to 

 tine, it much shall iWtr: in fact except in the first canal leading 

 into Lake Cypress we have had plenty of water. Again birds of 

 all kinds scream and flee at our approach. 



As the wind is favorable, we hoist sail and stop the- engine, get- 

 ting aloug nicely for about. 2 miles, when we reach Lake Hick- 

 pochee; at i's approach we are bothered by mud flats and grass, 

 but we drag along slowly through them: 8 miles across the 

 lake, and we enter the Drainage Caual again. We see low. flat 

 meadow lands and poor looking cattle grazing about. In the dis- 

 tance forests of palmetto, backed by pine; cypress and water oaks 

 dot the land here and there. We anchor earl v in the afternoon 

 at 'Coffee Mill Hammock," and stroll through the forest with our 

 guns, but see no game, save a few hogs left by a former settler and 

 since grown more or less wild. Sauntering about here is delight- 

 ful. In the summer the ground is flooded, so now there is no un- 

 derbrush, save the saw palmetto. The foot treads a pliant velvet 

 carpet of moss; we find good bass Ashing near our hoat. 



March :!!!.— We take another tramp through the forest to visit 

 the "Ancient Indian Mounds" about 2 miles, to N. E. We traverse 

 Brst the palmetto, then further on the pine forest; crossing a 

 gully we reach a hill upon which grows a solitary pine; around 

 this hill, about 3ilyds. long and 10 wide, is a circular mound about 

 ::i ! t. high. Billy climbs a tree to see if he can distinguish any 

 intended shape to the mound, but time, the winds and the spade 

 have destroyed any symbolical form it mav have had. In older 

 times the Seminoles had a canal by which they reached their 

 burial grounds in canoes from the river. Army 'buttons and ac- 

 coutrements, as well as Indian arms and implements, have been 

 found, showing that as late as the Seminole war the Indians 

 buried their dead here, together with trophies of war. 



On our return to the boat we passed a forsaken Indian camp; a 

 few poles stuck in the ground,au old embroidered and tattered 

 shirt— perhaps left as an offering to the gods— a broken oven, and 

 a pair of discarded moccasins, attest the presence of "redskins" 

 and suggest that they came here on a pious pilgrimage to the ne- 

 cropolis of their an testers. As we see no traces of game on this 

 journev, we decide t" leave our camp the same afternoon. 



At 2 P. M. we weigh anchor, and soon came to mud banks, weeds 

 and floating islands; we push slowly through all obstacles, we 

 enter the Lake Flirt canal, at the entrance to which is an old 

 wrecked steamboat, and the worst part of our journey begins. As 

 the screw becomes entangled continually, we stop the engine, and 

 pole, row. and sail t hrough the blockade of weeds; the" floating 

 islands of grass, bonnets, lettuce, etc. reach entirely across the 

 streim. Finally we reach the ill-defined and so-called Lake Flirt 

 (which is no lake, at all), and run aground, but kedge our way 

 into deep water. On either side of us are swamps, which, being 

 flooded in su miner, give the appearance of a lake. Beyond, to the 

 right, a beautiful uark thicket of forest oaks and cvpress. In 

 front a fence seems t o cross our path, but we And a sudden turn to 

 the right and we are iu the Caloosahatchee again. The cattle we 

 have seen belong to Captain Henry, of Fort Myers; these fences 

 are his land marks, and a wagon and team stopping on the bank 

 are also ihe Captain's. 



At a quarter to five we reach Fort Thompson, see a horse and 

 some men, hut do not stop. Henceforth the river is beautiful; the 

 hanks 4 to Oft. high are covered with attractive trees and dark 

 foliaee. We wind picturesquely in aud out, avoiding the snags 

 and rocks projecting out into the stream. We are loath to stop at 

 our usual hour, the sail down the swift flowing river is so pleasant. 

 A strong current helps us along with a favorable wind until six 

 o'clock, when we tie up on the north bank, 50 miles above Myers. 

 Time, 3t£ hours for 20 miles. 



March SO.— We w re wituout our usual midnight concert. The 

 forest, surrounding us is unusually quiet. No noise disturbed our 

 slumbers save a wandering coon who knocked up against our hows, 

 and whose tracks were discernible in the saud. We catch a "straw- 

 berry " bass for breakfast and are on our journey betimes. Wesee 

 shark and varieties of small fish. The water is so transparent that 

 they are difficult to catch. 



The morning sun shines brightly through the forests which line 

 both banks. We pass a large sternwheel steamboat engaged in 

 removing snags. The river is navigable as far up as Fort Thomp- 

 son for good-sized steamboats; many excursions are made hy tour- 

 ists from Fort Myers. We see beds of coral for miles along the 

 hanks. Marks on the trees show signs of high water, many of 

 them 10 and 15 ft. above the present water level. Air plants, with 

 t heir red and blue flowers and other parasites, cling gracefully to 

 the branches. Wild grape vines festoon the saw and cabbage 

 palmetto, giving a tropical aspect to the scenery. 



We pass a herd of cattle quietly browsing on the banks. An 

 unfortunate cow is bogged up to his body in the mud at the 

 water's edge unable to rise; the poor animal gazes at us calmly, 

 apparently as unconscious as his fellows of the death that awaits 

 him from starvation. The buzzards will pluck at his eyes aud 

 begin their meal before he is dead. 



At 11:30 we come to the town of Alva, twenty-five miles from 

 Myers; we pass the first clump of mangroves we have seen. The 

 river banks are flatter here and resemble tho=ie of the St. John's. 

 The tide reaches nearly up to Alva and the water soon grows 

 kish, so we All "Ur water tank for the first time. We sight 



mile wide. Arrived at 3:15, 

 i quarter. 



r a change. Wild turkey and 

 •tv to our diet. A small town, 

 situated at the mouth of the 

 streets, old-fashioned Southern 



Myers at 2:30. th 



making 50 miles in sis hours and 



We sup at the Cah.osie Hotel i 

 gnava j*Uy make a pleasing vari 

 but rapidly growing, charm insd; 

 river: wide, shady, grass-grown 

 bouses and uew brick stores 



Ma/rcli Si.— Slept on bawd in the gorgeous moonlight. Took a 

 pilot, as Cap'ain King leaves us here, to steer us between the 

 oyster beds, the channel not being marked, as far as Punta Rassa. 

 Star.ed at 11:30 for St. James City, 23 miles distant; passed 

 Edison's winter home, a pretty place where the inventor has a 

 laboratory and dwelling, but seldom uses either. A 'gator 10ft. 

 long slides curiously within 10ft. of us. as if attracted by the 

 peculiar sound of our engine. See porpoise disporting. At 2:30 

 arrive off Punta Rassa, where is a telegraph and cable station for 

 Cuba. Putting our pilot off on a returning steamboa.t, we were 

 left for the first time to our own skill in navigating. At Punta 

 Rassa is a small, cosy hotel, run by the operator more especially 

 for fishermen, as it is near the best tarpon grounds. We go on hy 

 ourselves through the channel, staked out plainly, to St. James 

 City, on Pine Island, where we arrive in less than one hour, 4 

 miles, without mishap; until we run aground alongside the dock, 

 and have to kedge off rather aba hed, as we are watched by curious 

 eyes from the shore. Here we engage the services of a black-, 

 smith to strengthen our roof . This is accomplished satisfactorily 

 by placiog iron around each stauchion, and an arrangement of 

 iron s'rap j and rods running from the roof aDd crossing each other 

 down to the sides of the hoat, making all perfectly secure. Did 

 our best while here to engage a pilot to take us through the Keys, 



