TRAVELS IN 
cafe the water-rot or fcald, and fay it is occafioned 
by the warm waters of the favanna, during the heats 
of fummer and autumn, when thefe creatures wade 
deep to feed on the water-grafs, which they are im- 
moderately fond of ; whereas the cattle which only 
feed and range in the high forefts and pine favannas 
are clear of this diforder. A facrifice to intemper- 
ance and luxury. 
We had heavy rains during the night, and though 
very warm, yet no thunder and very little wind. It 
cleared away in the morning, and the day was very 
pleafant. Sat off for the Eaft end of the favanna, 
collecting by the way and driving before us parties of 
horfes, the property of the traders ; and next morn- 
ing fet off on our return to the lower ftore on St. 
John's, coafling the favanna yet a few miles, in ex- 
pectation of finding the remainder of their horfes, 
though difappointed. 
We at laft bid adieu to the magnificent plains of 
Alachua, entered the pine forefts, and foon fell into 
the old Spanim highway, from St. Auguftine acrofs 
the ifthmus of Florida, to St. Mark's in the bay of 
Apalache. Its courfe and diftance from E. to W. 
is, from St. Auguftine to Fort Picoiata on the river 
St. Juan, twenty-feven miles ; thence acrofs the 
river to the Poopoa Fort, three miles ; thence to 
the Alachua Savanna, forty-five miles ; thence to 
Talahafochte on the river Little St. Juan, feventy- 
five miles ; thence down this river to St. Mark's, 
thirty miles : the whole diftance from St. Auguftine 
to St. Mark's, one hundred and eighty miles. But 
this road having been unfrequented for many years 
paft, fince the Creeks fubdued the remnant tribes 
of the ancient Floridans, and drove the Spaniards 
from their fettlements in Eaft Florida into St. Au- 
guftine, 
