276 
FOREST AND STREAM 
weighed its uncomfortable situation. Digging the snow 
up down to the ground in a space five by ten feet, and 
banking it around us, we drove two crotched sticks down 
in front of the tire, which was built at one end. and laid a 
pole across these two crotches. Then poles were laid from 
that pole iuto the snow at the foot of the pine log acting 
as rafters; across these raftors were laid small sticks, and 
over all was laid nice birch hark in large piles, just as you 
would lay shingles, only wc had to put considerable weight 
on top the bark to keep it from curling under the influence 
of the fire. By the time this was done, and a fire burning, 
the wind had commenced to work in good earnest, and we 
could hear the trees groan and crack, and now and then a 
dull roar, followed by the crash of the fallen monarch as it 
fell, crushing all the smaller trees in its way, and stripping 
the cold frozen branches from its surrounding companions. 
After eating our supper of broiled grouse, hot chocolate 
and biscuit, we again made the grand rounds to see if any 
of the tall sentinels surrounding us gave signs of weakness. 
If they did we must cut them down. 
Under our bark roof we recline on our bed of fragrant 
boughs, and Nathan relates his experience in blows and 
falling trees, and it is a greater danger than one at first 
considers. At lost sleep claims us for his own, and crawl- 
ing into my blanket bag I try to sleep, but I can’t, long at 
n time, as the roar of the wind and groaning and crashing 
of trees prevent it. Growing more used to the sounds, I 
finally got sound asleep. How long I slept I don't know, 
but the events of the early part of the night had made an 
impression on my mind which sleep did not disturb. The 
first souud I heard was a crash right over my head. Hardly 
awake, and fettered as I was in my bag, I sprang to escape 
the crush which I expected from the falling tree. My first 
spriug brought mo into the fire. That caused a more ani- 
mated eudcivor to escape, and I sprang again, this lime 
into the snow and under a tree top. Then I came to my- 
self; but all was dark, the fire I had put out, and I was 
under a tree surely, for move as I would its branches 
scratched me; the wind roared and howled, and suddenly, 
away to the north, I heard a noise that fairly made the 
ground shake. I don’t kuow that I was frightened, hut I 
End seen all I wauled to of a blow. After that noise had 
passed away it was succeeded by a comparative calm, and 
I thought I heard Nathan. Groping my way out from 
under the branches, I followed the sound of the voice and 
found him all right in camp, laughing at mj maneuvers, 
Still, I could not understand the cause. All I knew was 
I was dreaming of a tree falling on me, and just as it fell 
there came this crash over my head, and — I bolted. Throw- 
ing fresh fuel on the few remaining coals, the cause was 
explained. A tree a short distance from us had fallen, and 
its top came within two feet of our camp; but the imme- 
diate cause of fright was a bunch of snow ubout as large 
as a barrel, which was lodged on one of its branches, and 
the fall of the tree had precipitated it on our camp, just 
over my head; in fact, just forcing that section of bark 
almost through the rafters. 
There was no more sleep that night, and we lay listening 
to the storm till the morning dawned. At sunrise the wind 
had almost entirely died away, and in its stead was the 
keen, icy air, which was so frosty that it fairly cut your 
flesh. And then the surroundings had changed so much! 
Standing in front of our camp the next morning, I counted 
twelve trees prostrated by tWS wind, while there was 
scarcely any snow in sight, it was so completely covered 
by the spills from the spruce, the fir, and the pine, and yet 
it was bitter Winter. It looked very odd. After a short 
tramp upon the mountain we found the cause of the loud 
roar and shock I heard while under the tree top. It was 
in the complete prostration of a wind row of trees 300 
acres in extent, or a strip a mile long and half a mile wide, 
not one of which was left standing! What a fearful power 
old Boreas is when he gets his backup! Making a detour 
to avoid the wind row, we struck where a large buck was 
yarded. Knowing from the small amount of snow on (he 
ground that it would be a long race, I remained behind as 
packman while Nathan was to run. Proceeding cautious- 
ly, we soon routed the buck, and put Jack on the slot. 
This was his first deer. At first it was a drag, till the sum- 
mit of the mountain was reached; then a long, rapid dash 
down on the northeast side through hard wood, then iuto 
a cedar swamp, where we ran through auother yard of 
three, but happily succeeded in keeping on our first start; 
tlieu over “nubbles,” bills, swamps, ponds, streams, and 
again we strike a hard wood ridge, on the east cant of 
which we start another yard of five. I was gelling tired 
ugging two packs, especially as there was no prospect of 
my having auy sport. So, seeing that the yard made off 
with our first, start, I concluded to take my chances in 
catching up with them, and try one myself. Dropping my 
pack and putting a biscuit in n>v pocket, I started. I fell 
much lighter now, and giving way to my feelings ran as 
fast as possible after the flying deer. Just after passing 
down a sharp pitch of ground^ I heard Jack. Hurrying 
forward, expecting to find deer at bay, I beheld only Jack, 
“and nothing more." Cheering him on, and wondering 
where Nathan was, I ran on, when suddenly I 6aw another 
snow-shoe slot come in where I was to go. Slopping aud 
examining the marks, I found to my chagrin that the lust 
mark in the slot was my own. I had made a circle. How 
much unnecessary ground I had been over I could not tell, 
but it was with a slow step that 1 now proceeded. At last, 
as I was looking ahead, I saw in a clump of small firs that 
the snow had by some means been brushed off the boughs. 
Stepping in among the clump, 1 found that was where 
they had jumped out from the circle. One thing was now 
evident — 1 was near the end, as deer never circle till they 
are tired; another thing was, they could not be far away, 
as, while I was making the circle, I had succeeded in giv- 
ing the dog the deers’ scent, and he was off. Hastening on, 
I was suddeuly confronted by Nathan. "What's upy” 1 
asked. “Blaslnalion take the deer, it’s so trod up round 
here that I can't tell where they’ve gone to." And it was 
so. They had circled and checkered up the ground so that 
it was almost impossiole to know which way to look. Jack 
had disappeared, and we were thrown on our owu re- 
sources. Tukiug the slot from where the circle com- 
menced, I passed to the right and Nathan to the left. I 
had not gone far on the outside slot when I came to a great 
tree, blown down the night previous. It was just loo low 
to crawl under conveniently, and most too high to climb 
over, yet that was the way the deer had gone, and 1 was 
bound to follow. Jumping upon the trunk and talanciug 
myself with one leg outstretched, and both arms describ- 
ing nameless evolutions around my head, I had the misfor- 
tune to see a large buck jump from behind the root of the 
very tree X was standing ou. Jumpiug down as quickly as 
possible I mndo after him, but before I had run far Na- 
than's rifle put an cud to him. He was a large one, dress- 
ing 175 pounds, or rather weighing that two weeks after at 
Skowhegan. 
We were now both of us pretty well tiled, and looking 
at our watches found it was two o’clock. Our packs were 
far behind us. We estimated that we had run six or seven 
miles; that is, run when we could, which was not more 
than half the time, and were now ou Squaw's Cap. near 
Indian Pond. We were both hungry and thirsty, for all 
we had was a biscuit each, and a little tea, which I nhvays 
carry in my pocket for emergency. We looked around for 
a spring or brook; but there was plenty < of birch bark, 
which would answer for a tea kettle, and as the modus opr- 
randi of making tea without a kettle and water limy be 
interesting to sonic of your readers I will give a short ac- 
count. Selecting a nice birch, free from knots, you peel 
off a piece sufficiently large for your purpose, then make 
a basket, Indian fashion, taking care to put your pins in 
below the water line. That being ready, and a good tiro 
also, you may bury your bark dish in snow in front of the 
fire, so as to keep it from warping. Close attention must 
lie paid to this, or you will lose your dish. You then place 
hard wood sticks, witli as many crotchets on them as pos- 
sible, in a slanting position, so that they will incline imme- 
diately over the dish. On these sticks place snow balls, 
aud as they melt they will fill your dish. Your dish at last 
filled above the pins, your fire down to hot coals, you place 
your baik on the coals and in a moment your water is 
boiling. Add your tea, aud you soon have as good a nectar 
as is drawn from a metal kettle. After our tea, which we 
made strong, and our one biscuit devoured, with deer heart 
aud liver for meat, and a little salt, which Nathan had, for 
savor, we retraced our steps to our packs and built, a camp 
there that afterwards came to be known as “Smoky Camp." 
The next three days we killed four more deer, and then 
commenced building traps in the neighborhood. E. 
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA— No. lO. 
BEING NOTES OF A TOUR OF 1 EXPLORATION— BY OUR OWN 
COMMISSIONER. 
T HE morning after our arrival at the Anelolc we started 
for Sail Spring, two miles distant. Leaving the 
river to the left we entered Salt Spring run, and soon found 
ourselves flouting on the basin of the spring. We found 
the basin to be one hundred yards wide and eighty feet 
deep at the deepest place. The water of this spring differs 
from that of the many we have visited in the Stale, being 
dnrk in color, like that of the St. John’s River. The basin 
swarmed with fish, and large Inrpum could be seen break- 
ing water in every direction. It is named Salt Spring, but 
this is evidently an error, for the water in the basin is 
merely brackish, while in the run where the tide ebbs ami 
flows the waters are very salt. We have reason to believe 
that Salt Spriug is the outlet of Lake. Butler, distant two or 
three miles. This lake has several tributaries, but no visi- 
ble outlet; the water is dark colored, and it is at a much 
higher level than Salt Spring. The brackish condition of 
the water iu Salt spring is evidently the result of tidal in- 
fluence. Leaving Salt Spring and its outlet we entered the 
river and ascended it for three miles, where we discovered 
a stream on our right hand twenty feel in width and ten in 
depth. This we followed for half a mile, when wo came 
in sight of Salt Lake, an interesting and picturesque sheet 
of water one mile long and half a mile wide. At the en- 
trance to the lake, snipe, duck, coot, and curlews were 
visible in countless numbers, and large redfish, sheepsheud, 
and trout fled before the boat in hundveds. This sheet of 
water is wortli visiting, especially if the day is warm and 
the sportsman fond of 'gator shooting. Lake Butler, a 
noted place for aquatic birds, is half a mile from the south- 
ern shore of Salt Lake. Deer hunting in this neighbor 
hood is fair, and the region would be found worthy of a 
visit. 
Finding nothing of special importance to detain us, we 
descended the river and started for the Wiccawatchee river, 
thirty -five miles to to the northward. Eh route we sighted 
the mouth of the Pithlachestacootie River, hut from infor- 
mation obtained we deemed it unworthy of a visit. In 
steering a course for Bayport, at the mouth of the Wicca- 
watchee, we kept the main land from two to three miles to 
starboard, Sliding from tour to five feet of water. In run- 
ning along this section of the coast, it is essential that the 
tourist should keep a good lookout for “nigger heads." 
Bayport is easily recognized by a large storehouse and a 
pile of cedar logs. We reached the dock at three P. M., 
and weut iu search of soda crackers, and at the store 
laid in an addition to our stock. The storekeeper assured 
us that “his oranges were the be9t on the coa9t." Upon 
his recommendation we purchased a supply, and regret to 
say that we found them very inferior. The present popu- 
lation numbers about twenty. Before the war large quan- 
tities of cedar timber was shipped from this point, but of 
late years the trade has almost ceased. Standing on the 
dock we noticed a large otter on the opposite side of the 
river, and tried the effect of a Winchester cartridge. It 
proved to be a line shot, but the elevation was too great, 
and the ball passed about one inch above his head. Ascer- 
taining that the spring of the Wiccawatchee resembled 
those of streams farther north, we deemed it best to forego 
the pleasure of ascending the river. 
From such data as we were enabled to collect, we have 
reason to believe that the country back of Buyport is well 
stocked with bear and deer, and feel assured that the 
sportsman may secure some excellent sport. The section 
referred to cuu he reached by land by taking stage from 
Gainesville, or by leaving Ocklawaha steamers at Silver 
Springs; conveyance to Ocala and stage from Ocala to 
Brooksville. At the latter place a vehicle of some descrip- 
tion could be obtained, by which Bayport, distaut thirty 
miles, could he reached. The tourist will find the neigh- 
borhood of Burkville un interesting locality. The imme- 
diate neighborhood is hilly, some o€ the highest points at- 
taining an altitude of over four hundred feet. The laud is 
of a superior quality, water first class, and the climate 
during the Summer months unexceptionable. Iu the 
neighborhood the sportsmeu will flud some crystal lakes, 
surrouuded by hills, where he can catch quantum itu])'. of 
trout and bream. 
Leaving Bayport astern, we headed for the Cliisiowill- 
Bki, distant ten miles, which we reached in the afternoon. 
Fortune favored us, and we found the mouth of the river 
without difficulty, l'assiug up the river for a distance of 
five miles, we found two branches, and as a matter of 
course selected the deepest and plainest, which soon headed 
in a mud hole, to the disappointment of all. Returning, 
we tried the right hand branch, and for half a mile poled 
tile “Spray" through reeds aud lily pods, when we found 
the river to widen and deepen. We soon readied the head 
of the stream and found an enchanting spot, one worthy 
of the pencil of an artist. The basin of the spring of the 
Clusiovvilski is ubout one hundred feet iu dinmeler, and 
the depth of the water in the spring thirty-eight feet. The 
water is ns pellucid as air, aud the most minute object can 
be plainly scon on the clear white bottom. From appear- 
ances, the water issued from an opening seven feet wide 
and four high. Looking over the side of the boat, wo 
noticed hundreds of sheepshead, cavalli, bream, trout, and 
red and blnck groupers swimming iu tire basin. Being 
disposed to indulge in a fish supper we went for the 
scaly customers, but before our bait reached the bottom 
the fish left the bo8in«and disappeared in llio subterranean 
channel. Disliking to be defeated, I lashed three hooks 
to a single gut with the intention of the hooking t he fish 
in an unsportsmanlike manner. Upon their return to the 
basin, we quietly dropped our snatch hook, hut before it 
readied the bottom the fish look their departure. We de- 
voted two hours to our piscatorial efforts, anil succeeded 
in capturing seven small fish. Here we were favored with 
a drizzling rain storm, lasting several hours, the first we 
noticed from the day we left Cedar Keys. Leaving tlm 
spring, we followed an old trail for a few hundred 
yards, when we reached open piney woods. Here we met 
a gentleman from Texas, who hud left Texan northers 
behind and located at this point. He was engaged in the 
production of tropical fruits, and he appeared in be favor- 
ably impressed with the climate, lie assured us that he 
could not be induced to return to his former home in 
Texas. We reluctantly bade farewell to this romantic and 
beautiful spot, and directed our course towards Homosassa. 
A feature peculiar to the section of country between the 
Anelote and Withlacoochie rivers is the existence of a num- 
ber of rivers that are formed by subterranean streams, Hint 
issue from the eartli at the base of an elevated region of 
land that follows the coast line at a distance of ten miles 
fiom the gulf. To find the mouth of one of these streams 
is a matter of some difficulty to the uninitiated. For several 
miles from the -bore the water is very shoal, and oyster 
liars and sand flats of great extent exist in troublesome 
numbers. Along the shore line the land is low, and is cut 
up by numerous bayous, bays, and bliud rivers ami creeks, 
and in consequence it is difficult to discover the entrance 
lo some of the streams. If voyaging without a pilot, it is 
advisable to institute inquiries on every possible occasion, 
and pay particular attention to lire existence of stakes. To 
enable them to find and trace tire tortuous channels leading 
in between the oyster beds and sand flats, the coasters have 
planted stakes, which will serve lo guide the stranger. By 
following the course pointed out by the slakes, anu paying 
attention to the set of the tide, as well as the deep water 
and the distances sailed, the wanderer will succeed iu find- 
ing the months of the streams. But it need not surprise 
auy wanderer if he should spend hours in vain search to 
find the entrance to some uf the rivers in this section. 
A coaster informed us that we could readily distinguish 
the entrance lo the Homosassa River by the presence of the 
wreck of a blockade runner. At two P. M. we reached a 
point where we expected to discover the enhance to the 
river, and looked for the wreck; but we squiute I and 
quizzed in vain. We turned the prow of the “Spray" to- 
wards the shore, but could not determine which opening 
was the mouth of the stream. Here was a passage, and 
there was another; openings in the suit marsh appeared to 
be innumerable. We enterela number, but soon found 
them to lead into shoal water. Night threw her mantle 
over the scene, and we anchored. About nine P. M. wo 
heard the sound of voices, and soon after a boat containing 
four gentlemen hauled alongside. Upon inquiry we found 
that they hailed from Crystal River, and were en route lo 
Jones', on the Homosassa. The pilot stated that he was 
unable to determine his position, but that Hie entrance to 
the mouth of the river was hounded to the north by a shell 
bank. We informed our new acquaintances that the shell 
bank they were in search of was blit, a few hundred yards 
distaut, and if they would follow wc would pilot them to 
the entrance. We landed at lire shell bank, ami after in- 
dulging in a boyish-like freak of selling fire to the decayed 
foliage of the yucca and palm trees wo anchoied aud turned 
in for Die night. 
Sportsmen in search of the Homosassa River will find its 
mouth ten miles southeast of the Crystal, and the same dis- 
tance northwest of the Chisiowillski rivers. Iu approach- 
ing the mouth of the river a mass ol rocks will be noticed 
a quarter of a mile northwest of the mouth, and a while 
shell bunk from six to eight feet high ou its northern side. 
For several miles in a westerly and southerly direction from 
the mouth of the river the water will be found to be very 
shoal, and the navigation difficult in consequence of the 
existence of lurge beds of hard limestone rocks, extensive 
beds of can oysters, broad sand flats, and sundry nigger 
heads. To parlies who attempt the navigation of this sec- 
tion without a pilot, we would 6ay — shorten sail, kec p a 
good lookout, and "go easy over the rough places." 
Al Fresco. 
The Largest Farm in the Would.— This is rather a 
large claim to make, even in this country where real cstutu 
lies around in parcels of considerable size, but according lo 
the St. Louis Republican it may be fairly applied to the 
estate of George Grunt, founder of the Victoria colony in 
Kansas. His farm embraces the whole county of Ellis, is 
larger than auy dukedom of Europe, and contains 570,1100 
acres. Mr. Grunt devotes himself principally to stock rais- 
ing, and has accomplished a great dcul by the introduction 
of the best blooded stock and exhibiting the best methods 
of rearing, feeding and improving the foreign and domestic 
breeds of horses, cattle und sheep. He has just wintered 
7,000 sheep, with a loss of less than one per cent., the 
secret of his success lying in providing good shelter. He 
is the owner of the thoroughbred stallion Flodden, valued 
at $25,000, the father of which won the Derby race iu 1800. 
He has just purchased for his farm thirty odd brood mares 
iu Ohio, Virginia and Keutucky, ami he lias $250,000 in- 
vested in stock. Among the large number of resident colo- 
nists and stock raisers who have purchased land of him, aud 
are now raising stock in Victoria colouy, are many young 
men of prominence, both in this country and England. 
/ 
