On my return to the trading house, from my journey to the great
savanna, I found the trading company for Little St. Juan’s preparing
for that post.
My mind yet elate with the various scenes of rural nature, which as a
lively animated picture had been presented to my view; the deeply
engraven impression, a pleasing flattering contemplation, gave strength
and agility to my steps, anxiously to press forward to the delightful
fields and groves of Apalatche.
The trading company for Talahasochte being now in readiness to proceed
for that quarter, under the direction of our chief trader, in the cool
of the morning we sat off, each of us having a good horse to ride,
besides having in our caravan several pack-horses laden with
provisions, camp equipage, and other necessaries. A young man from St.
Augustine, in the service of the governor of East Florida, accompanied
us, commissioned to purchase of the Indians and traders some Siminole
horses. They are the most beautiful and sprightly species of that noble
creature, perhaps any where to be seen; but are of a small breed, and
as delicately formed as the American roe-buck. A horse in the Creek or
Muscogulge tongue is echoclucco, that is the great deer, (echo is a
deer and clucco is big). The Siminole horses are said to descend
originally from the Andalusian breed, brought here by the Spaniards
when they first established the colony of East Florida. From the
forehead to their nose is a little arched or aquiline, and so are the
fine Chactaw horses among the Upper Creeks, which are said to have been
brought thither from New-Mexico across Mississippi, by those nations of
Indians who emigrated from the West, beyond the river. These horses are
every where like the Siminole breed, only larger, and perhaps not so
lively and capricious. It is a matter of conjecture and enquiry,
whether or not the different soil and situation of the country may have
contributed in some measure, in forming and establishing the difference
in size and other qualities betwixt them. I have observed the horses
and other animals in the high hilly country of Carolina, Georgia,
Virginia, and all along our shores, are of a much larger and stronger
make, than those which are bred in the flat country next the sea coast.
A buck-skin of the Upper Creeks and Cherokees will weigh twice as heavy
as those of the Siminoles or Lower Creeks, and those bred in the low
flat country of Carolina.
Our first day’s journey was along the Alachua roads, twenty-five miles
to the Half-way Pond, where we encamped: the musquitoes were
excessively troublesome the whole night.
Decamped early next morning, still pursuing the road to Alachua, until
within a few miles of Cuscowilla, when the road dividing, one for the
town, and the other for the great savanna, here our company separated.
One party chose to pass through the town, having some concerns there. I
kept with the party that went through the savanna, it being the best
road, leading over a part of the savanna, when entering the groves on
its borders, we travelled several miles over these fertile eminences,
and delightful shady fragrant forests, then again entered upon the
savanna, and crossed a charming extensive green cove or bay of it,
covered with a vivid green grassy turf, when we again ascended the
woodland hills, through fruitful Orange groves and under shadowy Palms
and Magnolias. Now the Pine forests opened to view. We left the
magnificent savanna and its delightful groves, passing through a level,
open, airy Pine forest, the stately trees scatteringly planted by
nature, arising straight and erect from the green carpet, embellished
with various grasses and flowering plants; then gradually ascending the
sand hills, we soon came into the trading path to Talahasochte; which
is generally, excepting a few deviations, the old Spanish highway to
St. Mark’s. At about five miles distance beyond the great savanna, we
came to camp late in the evening, under a little grove of Live Oaks,
just by a group of shelly rocks, on the banks of a beautiful little
lake, partly environed by meadows. The rocks as usual in these regions
partly encircle a spacious sink or grotto, which communicates with the
waters of the lake: the waters of the grotto are perfectly transparent,
cool, and pleasant, and well replenished with fish. Soon after our
arrival here, our companions who passed through Cuscowilla joined us. A
brisk cool wind during the night kept the persecuting musquitoes at a
distance.
The morning pleasant, we decamped early: proceeding on, rising gently
for several miles, over sandy, gravelly ridges, we found ourselves in
an elevated, high, open, airy region, somewhat rocky, on the backs of
the ridges, which presented to view, on every side, the most dreary,
solitary, desert waste I had ever beheld; groups of bare rocks emerging
out of the naked gravel and drifts of white sand; the grass thinly
scattered and but few trees; the Pines, Oaks, Olives and Sideroxylons,
poor, mishapen, and tattered; scarce an animal to be seen or noise
heard, save the symphony of the western breeze, through the bristly
Pine leaves, or solitary sand crickets screech, or at best the more
social converse of the frogs, in solemn chorus with the swift breezes,
brought from distant fens and forests. Next we joyfully entered the
borders of the level Pine forest and savannas, which continued for many
miles, never out of sight of little lakes or ponds, environed with
illumined meadows, the clear waters sparking through the tall pines.
Having a good spirited horse under me, I generally kept ahead of my
companions, which I often chose to do, as circumstances offered or
invited, for the sake of retirement and observation.
The high road being here open and spacious, at a good distance before
me, I observed a large hawk on the ground in the middle of the road: he
seemed to be in distress endeavouring to rise, when, coming up near
him, I found him closely bound up by a very long coach-whip snake, that
had wreathed himself several times round the hawk’s body, who had but
one of his wings at liberty; beholding their struggles a while, I
alighted off my horse with an intention of parting them; when, on
coming up, they mutually agreed to separate themselves, each one
seaking his own safety, probably considering me as their common enemy.
The bird rose aloft and fled away as soon as he recovered his liberty,
and the snake as eagerly made off, I soon overtook him, but could not
perceive that he was wounded.
I suppose the hawk had been the aggressor, and fell upon the snake with
an intention of making a prey of him; and that the snake dexterously
and luckily threw himself in coils round his body, and girded him so
close as to save himself from destruction.
The coach-whip snake is a beautiful creature. When full grown they are
six and seven feet in length, and the largest part of its body not so
thick as a cane or common walking stick; its head not larger than the
end of a man’s finger; its neck is very slender, and from the abdomen
tapers away in the manner of a small switch or coach-whip; the top of
the head and neck, for three or four inches, is as black and shining as
a raven; the throat and belly as white as snow; and the upper side of
their body of a chocolate colour, excepting the tail part, almost from
the abdomen to the extremity, which is black. It may be proper to
observe, however, that they vary in respect to the colour of the body;
some I have seen almost white or cream colour, others of a pale
chocolate or clay colour, but in all the head and neck is black, and
the tail dark brown or black. It is extremely swift, seeming almost to
fly over the surface of the ground, and that which is very singular, it
can run swiftly on only its tail part, carrying the head and body
upright. One very fine one accompanied me along the road side, at a
little distance, raising himself erect, now and then looking me in the
face, although I proceeded on a good round trot on purpose to observe
how fast they could proceed in that position. His object seemed mere
curiosity or observation; with respect to venom it is as innocent as a
worm, and seems to be familiar with man. It appears to be a particular
inhabitant of East Florida, though I have seen some in the maritime
parts of Carolina and Georgia, but in these regions they are neither so
large nor beautiful.
We ascended again, passing over sand ridges of gentle elevation,
savannas and open Pine forests. Masses or groups of rocks presented to
view on every side, as before mentioned, and with difficulty we escaped
the circular infundibuliform cavities or sinks in the surface of the
earth. Generally a group of rocks, shaded by Palms, Live Oaks, and
Magnolias, is situated on their limb: some are partly filled up with
earth, whilst others, and the greater number of them, are partly filled
with transparent cool water, which discovers the well or perforation
through the rocks in the centre. This day being remarkably sultry, we
came to camp early, having chosen our situation under some stately
Pines, near the verge of a spacious savanna.
After some refeshment, our hunters went out into the forest, and
returned towards evening. Amongst other game, they brought with them a
savanna crane[34] which they shot in the adjoining meadows. This
stately bird is above six feet in length from the toes to the extremity
of the beak when extended, and the wings expand eight or nine feet; it
is above five feet high when standing erect; the tail is remarkably
short, but the flag or pendant feathers which fall down off the rump on
each side, are very long and sharp pointed, of a delicate texture, and
silky softness; the beak is very long, straight and sharp pointed; the
crown of the head bare of feathers, of a reddish rose colour, thinly
barbed with short, stiff, black hair; the legs and thighs are very
long, and bare of feathers a great space above the knees: the plumage
of this bird is generally of a pale ash colour, with shades or clouds
of pale brown and sky blue, the brown prevails on the shoulders and
back; the barrels of the prime quill-feathers are long and of a large
diameter, leaving a large cavity when extracted from the wing: all the
bones of this bird have a thin shell, and consequently a large cavity
or medullary receptacle. When these birds move their wings in flight,
their strokes are slow, moderate, and regular, and even, when at a
considerable distance or high above us, we plainly hear the
quill-feathers, their shafts and webs upon one another creak as the
joints or working of a vessel in a tempestuous sea.
We had this fowl dressed for supper, and it made excellent soup;
nevertheless, as long as I can get any other necessary food, I shall
prefer their seraphic music in the ethereal skies, and my eyes and
understanding gratified in observing their economy and social
communities, in the expansive green savannas of Florida.
Next morning we arose early, and proceeding, gradually descended again,
and continued many miles along a flat, level country, over delightful
green savannas, decorated with hommocks or islets of dark groves,
consisting of Magnolia grandiflora, Morus tilia, Zanthoxylon, Laurus
Borbonia, Sideroxylon, Quercus sempervirens, Halesia diptera,
Callicarpa, Corypha palma, &c. There are always groups of whitish
testaceous rocks and sinks where these hommocks are. We next crossed a
wet savanna, which is the beginning of a region still lower than we had
traversed; here we crossed a rapid rivulet of exceeding cool, pleasant
water, where we halted to refresh ourselves. But it must be remarked
here, that this rivulet, though lively and rapid at this time, is not a
permanent stream, but was formed by a heavy rain that fell the day
before, as was apparent from its bed; besides it is at best but a jet
or mere phantom of a brook, as the land around is rocky and hollow,
abounding with wells and cavities. Soon after leaving the brook, we
passed off to the left hand, along the verge of an extensive savanna,
and meadows many miles in circumference, edged on one border with
detached groves and pompous Palms, and embellished with a beautiful
sparkling lake; its verges decorated with tall waving grass and
floriferous plants; the pellucid waters gently rolling on to a dark
shaded grotto, just under a semicircular, swelling, turfy ascent or
bank, skirted by groves of Magnolias, Oaks, Laurels, and Palms. In
these expansive and delightful meadows, were feeding and roving troops
of the fleet Siminole horse. We halted a while at this grotto; and,
after refreshing ourselves, we mounted horse and proceeded across a
charming lawn, part of the savanna, entering on it through a dark
grove. In this extensive lawn were several troops of horse, and our
company had the satisfaction of observing several belonging to
themselves. One occurrance remarkable here, was a troop of horse under
the controul and care of a single black dog, which seemed to differ in
no respect from the wolf of Florida, except his being able to bark as
the common dog. He was very careful and industrious in keeping them
together; and if any one strolled from the rest at too great a
distance, the dog would spring up, head the horse, and bring him back
to the company. The proprietor of these horses is an Indian in
Talahasochte, about ten miles distance from this place, who, out of
humour and experiment, trained his dog up from a puppy to this
business: he follows his master’s horses only, keeping them in a
separate company where they range; and when he is hungry or wants to
see his master, in the evening he returns to town, but never stays at
home a night.
The region we had journeyed through, since we decamped this morning, is
of a far better soil and quality than we had yet seen since we left
Alachua; generally a dark greyish, and sometimes brown or black loam,
on a foundation of whitish marl, chalk, and testaceous limestone rocks,
and ridges of a loose, coarse, reddish sand, producing stately Pines in
the plains, and Live Oak, Mulberry, Magnolia, Palm, Zanthoxylon, &c. in
the hommocks, and also in great plenty the perennial Indigo; it grows
here five, six, and seven feet high, and as thick together as if it had
been planted and cultivated. The higher ridges of hills afford great
quantities of a species of iron ore, of that kind found in New-Jersey
and Pennsylvania, and there called bog ore; it appears on the surface
of the ground in large detached masses and smaller fragments; it is
ponderous, and seemed rich of that most useful metal; but one property
remarkable in these terrigenous stones is, they appear to be blistered,
somewhat resembling cinders, or as if they had suffered a violent
action of fire.
Leaving the charming savanna and fields of Capola, we passed several
miles through delightful plains and meadows, little differing from the
environs of Capola, diversified with rocky islets or hommocks of dark
woodland.
We next entered a vast forest of the most stately Pine trees that can
be imagined, planted by nature at a moderate distance, on a level,
grassy plain, enamelled with a variety of flowering shrubs, viz. Viola,
Ruellia infundibuliforma, Amaryllis atamasco, Mimosa sensitiva, Mimosa
intsia and many others new to me. This sublime forest continued five or
six miles, when we came to dark groves of Oaks, Magnolias, Red bays,
Mulberries, &c. through which proceeding near a mile, we entered open
fields and arrived at the town of Talahasochte, on the banks of Little
St. Juan.
The river Little St. Juan may, with singular propriety, be termed the
pellucid river. The waters are the clearest and purest of any river I
ever saw, transmitting distinctly the natural form and appearance of
the objects moving in the transparent floods, or reposing on the
silvery bed, with the finny inhabitants sporting in its gently flowing
stream.
The river at the town is about two hundred yards over, and fifteen or
twenty feet in depth. The great swamp and lake Oaquaphenogaw is said to
be its source, which is about one hundred miles by land North of this
place; which would give the river a course of near two hundred miles
from its source to the sea, to follow its meanders; as in general our
rivers that run any considerable distance through the country to the
sea, by their windings and roving about to find a passage through the
ridges and heights, at least double their distance.
The Indians and traders say that this river has no branches or
collateral brooks or rivers tributary to it, but that it is fed or
augmented by great springs which break out through the banks. From the
accounts given by them, and my own observations on the country round
about, it seems a probable assertion; for there was not a creek or
rivulet to be seen, running on the surface of the ground, from the
great Alachua Savanna to this river, a distance of above seventy miles;
yet, perhaps, no part of the earth affords a greater plenty of pure,
salubrious waters. The uparalleled transparency of these waters
furnishes an argument for such a conjecture, that amounts at least to a
probability, were it not confirmed by ocular demonstration; for in all
the flat countries of Carolina and Florida, except this isthmus, the
waters of the river are, in some degree, turgid, and have a dark hue,
owing to the annual firing of the forests and plains, and afterwards
the heavy rains washing the light surface of the burnt earth into
rivulets, which rivulets running rapidly over the surface of the earth,
flow into the rivers, and tinge the waters the colour of lye or beer,
almost down to the tide near the sea coast. But here behold how
different the appearance, and how manifest the cause! for although the
surface of the ground produces the same vegetable substances, the soil
the same, and suffers in like manner a general conflagration, and the
rains, in impetuous showers, as liberally descend upon the parched
surface of the ground; but the earth being so hollow and porous, these
superabundant waters cannot constitute a rivulet or brook, to continue
any distance on its surface, before they are arrested in their course
and swallowed up: thence descending, they are filtered through the
sands and other strata of earth, to the horizontal beds of porous
rocks, which being composed of thin seperable laminæ, lying generally
in obliquely horizontal directions over each other, admit these waters
to pass on by gradual but constant percolation. Thus collecting and
associating, they augment and form little rills, brooks, and even
subterraneous rivers, which wander in darkness beneath the surface of
the earth, by innumerable doublings, windings, and secret labyrinths;
no doubt in some places forming vast reservoirs and subterranean lakes,
inhabited by multitudes of fish and aquatic animals: and possibly, when
collected into large rapid brooks, meeting irresistible obstructions in
their course, they suddenly break through these perforated fluted
rocks, in high perpendicular jets, nearly to their former level,
flooding large districts of land. Thus by means of those subterranean
courses, the waters are purified and finally carried to the banks of
great rivers, where they emerge and present themselves to open
day-light, with their troops of finny inhabitants, in those surprising
vast fountains near the banks of this river; and likewise on and near
the shores of Great St. Juan, on the east coast of the isthmus, some of
which I have already given an account of.
On our arrival at Talahasochte, in the evening we repaired to the
trading house formerly belonging to our chief, where were a family of
Indians, who immediately and complaisantly moved out to accommodate us.
The White King with most of the male inhabitants were out hunting or
tending their corn plantations.
The town is delightfully situated on the elevated east banks of the
river, the ground level to near the river, when it descends suddenly to
the water; I suppose the perpendicular elevation of the ground may be
twenty or thirty feet. There are near thirty habitations constructed
after the mode of Cuscowilla; but here is a more spacious and neat
council-house.
These Indians have large handsome canoes, which they form out of the
trunks of Cypress trees (Cupressus disticha), some or them commodious
enough to accomodate twenty or thirty warriors. In these large canoes
they descend the river on trading and hunting expeditions to the sea
coast, neighbouring islands and keys, quite to the point of Florida,
and sometimes cross the gulph, extending their navigations to the
Bahama islands and even to Cuba: a crew of these adventurers had just
arrived, having returned from Cuba just a few days before our arrival,
with a cargo of spiritous liquors, Coffee, Sugar, and Tobacco. One of
them politely presented me with a choice piece of Tobacco, which he
told me he had received from the governor of Cuba.
They deal in the way of barter, carrying with them deer skins, furs,
dry fish, bees-wax, honey, bear’s oil and some other articles. They say
the Spaniards receive them very friendly, and treat them with the best
spiritous liquors.
The Spaniards of Cuba likewise trade here or at St. Marks, and other
sea ports on the west coast of the isthmus in small sloops;
particularly at the bay of Calos, where are excellent fishing banks and
grounds; not far from which is a considerable town of the Siminoles,
where they take great quantities of fish, which they salt and cure on
shore, and barter with the Indians and traders for skins, furs, &c. and
return with their cargoes to Cuba.
The trader of the town of Talahasochte informed me, that he had, when
trading in that town, large supplies of goods, from these Spanish
trading vessels suitable for that trade, and some very essential
articles, on more advantageous terms than he could purchase at Indian
stores either in Georgia or St. Augustine.
Towards the evening after the sultry heats were past, a young man of
our company, having previously procured the loan of a canoe from an
Indian, proposed to me a fishing excursion for trout with the bob. We
set off down the river, and before we had passed two miles caught
enough for our houshold: he was an excellent hand at this kind of
diversion: some of the fish were so large and strong in their element,
as to shake his arms stoutly, and drag us with the canoe over the
floods before we got them in. It is in the eddy coves, under the points
and turnings of the river, where the surface of the waters for some
acres is covered with the leaves of the Nymphea, Pistia and other
amphibious herbs and grass, where the haunts and retreats of this
famous fish are, as well as others of various tribes.
Observing a fishing canoe of Indians turning a point below and coming
towards us, who hailed us, we waited their coming up; they were
cheerful merry fellows, and insisted on our accepting of part of their
fish; they having a greater quantity and variety, especially of the
bream, my favourite fish, we exchanged some of our trout with them.
Our chief being engaged with the chiefs of the town in commercial
concerns, and others of our company out in the forests with the
Indians, hunting up horses belonging to the trading company; the young
interpreter, my companion, who was obliging to me, and whom our chief
previously recommended to me as an associate, proposed to me another
little voyage down the river. This was agreeable to me, being desirous
of increasing my observations during our continuance at Talahasochte;
as when the White King should return to town (which was expected every
hour) we intended after audience and treaty to leave them and encamp in
the forests, about fifteen miles distance and nearer the range of their
horses.
Having supplied ourselves with ammunition and provision, we set off in
the cool of the morning, and descended pleasantly, riding on the
crystal flood, which flows down with an easy, gentle, yet active
current, rolling over its silvery bed. How abundantly are the waters
replenished with inhabitants! the stream almost as transparent as the
air we breathe; there is nothing done in secret except on its green
flowery verges, where nature, at the command of the Supreme Creator,
hath spread a mantle, as a covering and retreat at suitable and
convenient times, but by no means a secure refuge from the voracious
enemy and pursuer.
Behold the watery nations, in numerous bands roving to fro, amidst each
other, here they seem all at peace; though incredible to relate! but a
few yards off, near the verge of the green mantled shore there is
eternal war, or rather slaughter. Near the banks the waters become
turbid, from substance gradually diverging from each side of the swift
channel, and collections of opaque particles whirled to shore by the
eddies, which afford a kind of nursery for young fry, and its slimy bed
a prolific nidus for generating and rearing of infinite tribes and
swarms of amphibious insects, which are the food of young fish, who in
their turn become a prey to the older. Yet when those different tribes
of fish are in the transparent channel, their very nature seems
absolutely changed; for here is neither desire to destroy nor
persecute, but all seems peace and friendship. Do they agree on a
truce, a suspension of hostilities? or by some secret divine influence,
is desire taken away? or are they otherwise rendered incapable of
pursuing each other to destruction?
About noon we approached the admirable Manate Spring, three or four
miles down the river. This charming nymphæum is the product of
primitive nature, not to be imitated much less equalled, by the united
effort of human power and ingenuity! As we approach it by water, the
mind of the enquiring traveller is previously entertained and gradually
led on to greater discovery; first by a view of the sublime dark grove,
lifted up on shore, by a range or curved chain of hills, at a small
distance from the lively green verge of the river, on the east banks;
as we gently descend floating fields of the Nymphæa nelumbo,
intersected with vistas of the yellow green Pista stratiotes, which
cover a bay or cove of the river opposite the circular woodland hills.
It is amazing and almost incredible, what troops and bands of fish, and
other watery inhabitants are now in sight, all peaceable; and in what
variety of gay colours and forms, continually ascending and descending,
roving and figuring amongst one another, yet every tribe associating
separately. We now ascended the crystal stream, the current swift, we
entered the grand fountain, the expansive circular bason, the source of
which arises from under the bases of the high woodland hills, near half
encircling it. The ebullition is astonishing, and continual, though its
greatest force or fury intermits, regularly, for the space of thirty
seconds of time: the waters appear of a lucid sea green colour, in some
measure owing to the reflection of the leaves above: the ebullition is
perpendicular upwards, from a vast ragged orifice through a bed of
rocks, a great depth below the common surface of the bason, throwing up
small particles or pieces of white shells, which subside with the
waters at the moment of intermission, gently settling down round about
the orifice, forming a vast funnel. At those moments, when the waters
rush upwards, the surface of the bason immediately over the orifice is
greatly swolen or raised a considerable height; and then it is
impossible to keep the boat or any other floating vessel over the
fountain; but the ebullition quickly subsides; yet, before the surface
becomes quite even, the fountain vomits up the waters again, and so on
perpetually. The bason is generally circular, about fifty yards over;
and the perpetual stream from it into the river is twelve or fifteen
yards wide, and ten or twelve feet in depth; the bason and stream
continually peopled with prodigious numbers and variety of fish and
other animals; as the alligator, and the manate[35] or sea cow, in the
winter season. Part of a skeleton of one, which the Indians had killed
last winter, lay upon the banks of the spring: the grinding teeth were
about an inch in diameter; the ribs eighteen inches in length, and two
inches and an half in thickness, bending with a gentle curve. This bone
is esteemed equal to ivory. The flesh of this creature is counted
wholesome and pleasant food; the Indians call them by a name which
signifies the big beaver. My companion, who was a trader in
Talahasochte last winter, saw three of them at one time in this spring:
they feed chiefly on aquatic grass and weeds. The ground round about
the head of the bason is generally level, for the distance of a few
yards; then gradually ascends, forming moderately high hills: the soil
at top is a light, greyish, sandy mould, which continues some feet in
depth, lying on a stratum of yellowish clay, then clay and gravel, then
sand, and so on, stratum upon stratum, down to the general foundation
of testaceous rocks. In other places a deep stratum of whitish, chalky
limestone. The vegetable productions which cover and ornament those
eminences, are generally Live Oaks, Magnolia grandiflora, in the Creek
tongue, Tolo-chlucco, which signifies the Big Bay, Laurus Borbonia or
Red Bay, in the Creek tongue, Etomico, that is King’s tree, Olea
Americana and Liquidambar, with other trees, shrubs and herbaceous
plants common in East Florida.
The hills and groves environing this admirable fountain, affording
amusing subjects of enquiry, occasioned my stay here a great part of
the day, and towards evening we returned to the town.
Next day, early in the morning, we crossed the river, landing on the
other shore opposite the town, swimming our horses by the side of the
canoe, each of us holding his horse by the bridle whilst an Indian
paddled us over. After crossing, we struck off from the river into the
forests, sometimes falling into, and keeping for a time, the ancient
Spanish high road to Pensacola, now almost obliterated: passed four or
five miles through old Spanish fields.
There are to be seen plain marks or vestiges of the old Spanish
plantations and dwellings; as fence posts and wooden pillars of their
houses, ditches and even corn ridges and Batata hills. From the Indian
accounts, the Spaniards had here a rich well cultivated and populous
settlement, and a strong fortified post, as they likewise had at the
savanna and fields of Capola; but either of them far inferior to one
they had some miles farther south-west towards the Apalachuchla River,
now called the Apalachian Old Fields, where yet remain vast works and
buildings, as fortifications, temples, some brass cannon, mortars,
heavy church bells, &c.
The same groups of whitish testaceous rocks and circular sinks, with
natural wells, make their appearance in these groves and fields, as
observed on the side of the river opposite to Capola; and the same
trees, shrubs and herbage without variation. Having passed five or six
miles through these ancient fields and groves, the scene suddenly
changes, after riding through a high forest of Oak, Magnolia, Fraxinus,
Liquidambar, Fagus sylvatica, &c,
Now at once opens to view, perhaps, the most extensive Cane-break[36]
that is to be seen on the face of the whole earth; right forward, about
south-west, there appears no bound but the skies, the level plain, like
the ocean, uniting with the firmament, and on the right and left hand,
dark shaded groves, old fields, and high forests, such as we had lately
passed through.
The alternate, bold promontories and misty points advancing and
retiring, at length, as it were, insensibly vanishing from sight, like
the two points of a crescent, softly touching the horizon, represent
the most magnificent amphitheatre or circus perhaps in the whole world.
The ground descends gently from the groves to the edge of the
Cane-break, forming a delightful, green grassy lawn. The Canes are ten
or twelve feet in height, and as thick as an ordinary walking staff;
they grow so close together, there is no penetrating them without
previously cutting a road. We came up to this vast plain where the
ancient Spanish highway crosses it to Pensacola: there yet remain plain
vestiges of the grand causeway, which is open like a magnificent
avenue, and the Indians have a bad road or pathway on it. The ground or
soil of the plain is a perfectly black, rich, soapy earth, like a stiff
clay or marle, wet and boggy near shore, but, further in, firm and hard
enough in the summer season, but wet and in some places under water
during the winter.
This vast plain together with the forests contiguous to it, if
permitted (by the Siminoles who are sovereigns of these realms) to be
in possession and under the culture of industrious planters and
mechanics, would in a little time exhibit other scenes than it does at
present, delightful as it is; for by the arts of agriculture and
commerce, almost every desirable thing in life might be produced and
made plentiful here, and thereby establish a rich, populous and
delightful region; as this soil and climate appears to be of a nature
favourable for the production of almost all the fruits of the earth, as
Corn[37], Rice, Indigo, Sugar-cane, Flax, Cotton, Silk, Cochineal, and
all the varieties of esculent vegetables; and I suppose no part of the
earth affords such endless range and exuberant pasture for cattle,
deer, sheep, &c.: the waters every where, even in the holes in the
earth, abound with varieties of excellent fish; and the forests and
native meadows with wild game, as bear, deer, turkeys, quail, and in
the winter season geese, ducks, and other fowl: and lying contiguous to
one of the most beautiful navigable rivers in the world, and not more
than thirty miles from St. Mark’s on the great bay of Mexico, is most
conveniently situated for the West India trade, and the commerce of all
the world.
After indulging my imagination in the contemplation of these grand
diversified scenes, we turned to the right hand, riding over the
charming green terrace dividing the forests from the plains, and then
entering the groves again, continued eight or nine miles up the river,
four or five miles distance from its banks; having continually in view,
on one side or other, expansive green fields, groves and high forests;
the meadows glittering with distant lakes and ponds, alive with cattle,
deer, and turkeys, and frequently presenting to view remains of ancient
Spanish plantations. At length, towards evening, we turned about and
came within sight of the river, where falling on the Indian trading
path, we continued along it to the landing-place opposite the town,
when hallooing and discharging our pieces, an Indian with a canoe came
presently over and conducted us to the town before dark.
On our arrival at the trading house, our chief was visited by the head
men of the town, when instantly the White King’s arrival in town was
announced: a messenger had before been sent in to prepare a feast, the
king and his retinue having killed several bears. A fire is now kindled
in the area of the public square; the royal standard was displayed, and
the drum beat to give notice to the town of the royal feast.
The ribs and the choice pieces of the three great fat bears, already
well barbecued or broiled, were brought to the banqueting house in the
square, with hot bread; and honeyed water for drink.
When the feast was over in the square (where only the chiefs and
warriors were admitted, with the white people), the chief priest,
attended by slaves, came with baskets and carried off the remainder of
the victuals &c. which was distributed amongst the families of the
town. The king then withdrew, repairing to the council house in the
square, whither the chiefs and warriors, old and young, and such of the
whites as chose, repaired also; the king, war chief, and several
ancient chiefs and warriors were seated on the royal cabins; the rest
of the head men and warriors, old and young, sat on the cabins on the
right hand of the king’s: the cabins or seats on the left, and on the
same elevation, are always assigned for the white people, Indians of
other towns, and such of their own people as choose.
Our chief, with the rest of the white people in town, took their seats
according to order: tobacco and pipes were brought, the calamut was
lighted and smoked, circulating according to the usual forms and
ceremony, and afterwards black drink conclude the feast. The king
conversed, drank cassine and associated familiarly with his people and
with us.
After the public entertainment was over, the young people began their
music and dancing in the square, whither the young of both sexes
repaired, as well as the old and middle-aged: this frolick continued
all night.
The White King of Talahasochte is a middle-aged man, of moderate
stature; and though of a lofty and majestic countenance and deportment,
yet I am convinced this dignity, which really seems graceful, is not
the effect of vain supercilious pride, for his smiling countenance and
his cheerful familarity bespeak magnanimity and benignity.
Next a council and treaty was held. They requested to have a trading
house again established in the town, assuring us that every possible
means should constantly be pursued to prevent any disturbance in future
on their part; they informed us that the murderers of M’Gee[38] and his
associates were to be put to death; that two of them were already shot,
and they were in pursuit of the other.
Our chief trader in answer, informed them that the re-establishment of
friendship and trade was the chief object of his visit, and that he was
happy to find his old friends of Talahasochte in the same good
disposition, as they ever were towards him and the white people; that
it was his with to trade with them, and that he was now come to collect
his pack-horses to bring them goods. The king and the chiefs having
been already acquainted with my business and pursuits amongst them,
received me very kindly; the king in particular complimented me, saying
that I was as one of his own children or people, and should be
protected accordingly, while I remained with them; adding, “Our whole
country is before you, where you may range about at pleasure, gather
physic plants and flowers, and every other production:” thus the treaty
terminated friendly and peaceably.
Next day early in the morning we left the town and the river, in order
to fix our encampment in the forests about twelve miles from the river;
our companions with the pack-horses went ahead to the place of
rendezvous, and our chief conducted me another way to show me a very
curious place, called the Alligator-Hole, which was lately formed by an
extraordinary eruption or jet of water. It is one of those vast
circular sinks which we beheld almost every where about us as we
traversed these forests, after we left the Alachua savanna. This
remarkable one is on the verge of a spacious meadow, the surface of the
ground round about uneven by means of gentle rising knolls: some
detached groups of rocks and large spreading Live-Oaks shade it on
every side: it is about sixty yards over, and the surface of the water
six or seven feet below the rim of the funnel or bason: the water is
transparent, cool, and pleasant to drink, and well stored with fish; a
very large alligator at present is lord or chief; many have been killed
here, but the throne is never long vacant, the vast neighbouring ponds
so abound with them.
The account that this gentleman, who was an eye-witness of the last
eruption, gave me of its first appearance; being very wonderful, I
proceed to relate what he told me whilst we were in town, which was
confirmed by the Indians, and one or more of our companions, who also
saw its progress, as well as my own observations after I came to the
ground.
This trader being near the place (before it had any visible existence
in its present appearance), about three years ago, as he was looking
for some horses which he expected to find in these parts, on a sudden,
he was astonished by an inexpressible rushing noise, like a mighty
hurricane or thunder storm; and looking round, he saw the earth
overflowed by torrents of water, which came, wave after wave, rushing
down a vale or plain very near him, which it filled with water, and
soon began to overwhelm the higher grounds, attended with a terrific
noise and tremor of the earth. Recovering from his first surprise, he
immediately resolved to proceed for the place from whence the noise
seemed to come; and soon came in sight of the incomparable fountain,
and saw, with amazement, the floods rushing upwards many feet high, and
the expanding waters, which prevailed every way, spreading themselves
far and near. He at length concluded (he said) that the fountains of
the deep were again broken up, and that an universal deluge had
commenced; and instantly turned about and fled to alarm the town, about
nine miles distance: but before he could reach it, he met several of
the inhabitants, who, already alarmed by the unusual noise, were
hurrying on towards the place; upon which he returned with the Indians,
taking their stand on an eminence to watch its progress and the event.
It continued to jet and flow in this manner for several days, forming a
large, rapid creek or river, descending and following the various
courses and windings of the valley, for the distance of seven or eight
miles, emptying itself into a vast savanna, where was a lake and sink
which received and gave vent to its waters.
The fountain, however, gradually ceased to overflow, and finally
withdrew itself beneath the common surface of the earth, leaving this
capacious bason of waters, which, though continually near full, hath
never since overflowed. There yet remains, and will, I suppose, remain
for ages, the dry bed of the river or canal, generally four, five, and
six feet below the natural surface of the land; the perpendicular,
ragged banks of which, on each side, show the different strata of the
earth, and at places, where ridges or a swelling bank crossed and
opposed its course and fury, are vast heaps of fragments of rocks,
white chalk, stones, and pebbles, which were collected and thrown into
the lateral vallies, until the main stream prevailed over and forced
them aside, overflowing the levels and meadows, for some miles distance
from the principal stream, on either side. We continued down the great
vale, along its banks, quite to the savanna and lake where it vented
itself, while its ancient subterranean channel was gradually opening,
which, I imagine, from some hidden event or cause had been choaked up,
and which, we may suppose, was the immediate cause of the eruption.
In the evening having gained our encampment, on a grassy knoll or
eminence, under the cover of spreading oaks, just by the grotto or sink
of the lake, which lay as a sparkling gem on the flowery bosom of the
ample savanna; our roving associates soon came in from ranging the
forests. We continued our encampment at this place for several days,
ranging around the delightful country to a great distance, every day’s
excursion presenting new scenes of wonder and delight.
Early in the morning our chief invited me with him on a visit to the
town, to take a final leave of the White King. We were graciously
received, and treated with the utmost civility and hospitality: there
was a noble entertainment and repast provided against our arrival,
consisting of bears ribs, venison, varieties of fish, roasted turkeys
(which they call the white man’s dish), hot corn cakes, and a very
agreeable cooling sort of jelly, which they call conte: this is
prepared from the root of the China brier (Smilax pseudo-China; Smilax
aspera, fructu nigro, radice nodosa, magna, lævi, farinacea. Sloan, tom
I. p. 31. t. 143. f. I. habit. Jamaica, Virginia, Carolina, and
Florida): they chop the roots in pieces, which are afterwards well
pounded in a wooden mortar, then being mixed with clean water, in a
tray or trough, they strain it through baskets, the sediment, which
settles to the bottom of the second vessel, is afterwards dried in the
open air, and is then a very fine reddish flour or meal: a small
quantity of this mixed with warm water and sweetened with honey, when
cool, becomes a beautiful, delicious jelly, very nourishing and
wholesome. They also mix it with fine corn flour, which being fried in
fresh bear’s oil makes very good hot cakes or fritters.
On our taking leave of the king and head men, they entreated our chief
to represent to the white people, their unfeigned desire to bury in
oblivion the late breach of amity and intermission of commerce, which
they trusted would never be reflected on the people of Talahasochte;
and, lastly, that we would speedily return with merchandize as
heretofore; all which was cheerfully consented to, assuring them their
wishes and sentiments fully coincided with ours.
The chief trader, intending to show me some remarkable barren plains,
on our return to our encampment, about noon we sat off: when we came
within sight of them, I was struck with astonishment at their dreary
appearance; the view Southerly seemed endless wastes, presenting rocky,
gravelly and sandy barren plains, producing scarcely any vegetable
substances, except a few shrubby, crooked Pine trees, growing out of
heaps of white rocks, which represented ruins of villages, planted over
the plains; with clumps of mean shrubs, which served only to perpetuate
the persecuting power and rage of fire, and to testify the aridity of
the soil. The shrubs I observed were chiefly the following, Myrica
cerifera, two or three varieties, one of which is very dwarfish, the
leaves small, yet toothed or sinuated, of a yellowish green colour,
owing to a farinaceous pubesence or vesicula which covers their
surfaces; Prinos, varieties, Andromeda ferruginea, Andr. nitida,
varieties, Rhamnus frangula, Sideroxylon fericium, Ilex aquifolium,
Ilex myrtifolium, Empetrum, Kalmia ciliata, Cassine, and a great
variety of shrub Oaks, evergreen and deciduous, some of them singularly
beautiful; Corypha repens, with a great variety of herbage,
particularly Cacalia, Prenanthus, Chrysocoma, Helianthus, Silphium,
Lobelia, Globularia, Helenium, Polygala, varieties, Clinopodium,
Cactus, various species, Euphorbia, various species, Asclepias carnosa,
very beautiful and singular, Sophora, Dianthus, Cisus, Sisymbrium,
Pedicularis, Gerardia, Lechea, Gnaphalium, Smilax sarsaparilla, Smilax
pumila, Solidago, Aster, Lupinus filifolius, Galega, Hedysarum, &c.
with various species of grasses. But there appeared vast spaces of
gravel and plains of flat rocks, just even with the surface of the
earth, which seemed entirely destitute of any vegetation, unless we may
except some different kinds of mosses of the crustaceous sorts, as
lichen, alga, &c. and coralloides. After passing several miles on the
borders of these deserts, frequently alighting on them for observation
and making collections, they at length gradually united or joined with
infinite savannas and ponds stretching beyond the sight Southerly,
parallel with the rocky barrens, being separated only by a narrow, low,
rocky ridge of open groves, consisting of low, spreading Live Oaks,
Zanthoxylon, Ilex, Sideroxylon, &c.; and here and there, standing
either in groups or alone, the pompous Palm tree, gloriously erect or
gracefully bowing towards the earth; exhibiting a most pleasing
contrast and wild Indian scene of primitive unmodified nature, ample
and magnificent. We at length came abreast of the expansive, glittering
lake, which divided the ample meadows, one end of which stretching
towards a verdant eminence, formed a little bay, which was partly
encircled by groups of white chalky rocks, shaded with Live Oaks, Bays,
Zanthoxylon and Palm trees. We turned our horses to graze in the green
lawns, whilst we traversed the groves and meadows. Here the palmated
Convolvulus trailed over the rocks, with the Hedera carnosa (fol.
quinatis inciso-serratis, perennentibus), and the fantastic Clitoria,
decorating the shrubs with garlands (Clit. caule volubili fol. ternatis
pennetisque, flor. majore cæruleo, vexillo rotundiore, siliquis
longissimis compressis.)
Soon after entering the forests, we were met in the path by a small
company of Indians, smiling and beckoning to us long before we joined
them. This was a family of Talahasochte who had been out on a hunt, and
were returning home loaded with barbecued meat, hides and honey. Their
company consisted of the man, his wife and children, well mounted on
fine horses, with a number of pack-horses. The man presently offered us
a fawn-skin of honey, which we gladly accepted, and at parting I
presented him with some fish hooks, sewing needles, &c.; for in my
travels amongst the Indians, I always furnished myself with such useful
and acceptable little articles of light carriage, for presents. We
parted and before night rejoined our companion at the Long Pond.
On our return to camp in the evening, we were saluted by a party of
young Indian warriors, who had pitched their camp on a green eminence
near the lake, and at a small distance from our camp, under a little
grove of Oaks and Palms. This company consisted of seven young
Siminoles, under the conduct of a young prince or chief of
Talahasochte, a town southward on the isthmus. They were all dressed
and painted with singular elegance, and richly ornamented with silver
plates, chains, &c. after the Siminole mode, with waving plumes of
feathers on their crests. On our coming up to them, they arose and
shook hands; we alighted and sat a while with them by their cheerful
fire.
The young prince informed our chief that he was in pursuit of a young
fellow, who had fled from the town, carrying off with him one of his
favourite young wives or concubines. He said merrily, he would have the
ears of both of them before he returned. He was rather above the middle
stature, and the most perfect human figure I ever saw; of an amiable
engaging countenance, air and deportment; free and familiar in
conversation, yet retaining a becoming gracefulness and dignity. We
arose, took leave of them, and crossed a little vale covered with a
charming green turf, already illumined by the soft light of the full
moon.
Soon after joining our companions at camp, our neighbours, the prince
and his associates paid us a visit. We treated them with the best fare
we had, having till this time preserved some of our spirituous liquors.
They left us with perfect cordiality and cheerfulness, wishing us a
good repose, and retired to their own camp. Having a band of music with
them, consisting of a drum, flutes, and a rattle gourd, they
entertained us during the night with their music, vocal and
instrumental.
There is a languishing softness and melancholy air in the Indian
convivial songs, especially of the amorous class, irresistibly moving,
attractive, and exquisitely pleasing, especially in these solitary
recesses, when all nature is silent.
Behold how gracious and beneficent smiles the roseate morn! Now the sun
arises and fills the plains with light; his glories appear on the
forests, encompassing the meadows, and gild the top of the terebinthine
Pine and exalted Palms, now gently rustling by the pressure of the
waking breezes: the music of the seraphic cranes resounds in the skies;
in separate squadrons they sail, encircling their precincts, slowly
descend beating the dense air, and alight on the green dewy verge of
the expansive lake; its surface yet smoking with the grey ascending
mists, which, condensed aloft in clouds of vapour, are born away by the
morning breezes, and at last gradually vanish on the distant horizon.
All nature awakes to life and activity.
The ground, during our progress this morning, every where about us
presenting to view those funnels, sinks and wells in groups of rocks,
amidst the groves, as already recited.
Near our next encampment one more conspicuous than I had elsewhere
observed presenting itself, I took occasion from this favourable
circumstance of observing them in all their variety of appearances. Its
outer superficial margin being fifty or sixty yards over, which equally
and uniformly on every side sloped downwards towards the centre: on one
side of it was a considerable path-way or road leading down to the
water, worn by the frequent resort of wild creatures for drink, when
the waters were risen even or above the rocky bed, but at this time
they were sunk many yards below the surface of the earth. We descended
first to the bed of rocks, which was perforated with perpendicular
tubes, exactly like a walled well, four, five, or six feet in diameter,
and may be compared to cells in an honeycomb, through which appeared
the water at bottom: many of these were broken or worn one into
another, forming one vast well with uneven walls, consisting of
projecting jams, pilasters, or buttresses and excavated semicircular
niches, as if a piece were taken out of an honey-comb: the bed of rocks
is from fifteen to twenty feet deep or in thickness, though not of one
solid mass, but of many, generally horizontal laminæ, or strata, of
various thickness, from eighteen inches to two or three feet, which
admit water to weep through, trickling down, drop after drop, or
chasing each other in winding little rills down to the bottom. One side
of the vast cool grotto was so shattered and broken in, I thought it
possible to descend down to the water at bottom; and my companion
assuring me that the Indians and traders frequently go down for drink,
encouraged me to make the attempt, as he agreed to accompany me.
Having provided ourselves with a long snagged sapling, called an Indian
ladder, and each of us a pole, by the assistance of these we both
descended safely to the bottom, which we found nearly level, and not
quite covered over with water; on one side was a bed of gravel and
fragments of rocks or stones, and on the other a pool of water near two
feet deep, which moved with a slow current under the walls on a bed of
clay and gravel.
After our return to the surface of the earth, I again ranged about the
groves and grottos, examining a multitude of them. Being on the margin
of one in the open forest, and observing some curious vegetable
productions growing on the side of the sloping funnel towards its
centre, the surface of the ground covered with grass and herbage;
unapprehensive of danger, I descended precipitately towards the group
of shrubs; when I was surprised and providentially stopped in my
career, at the ground sounding hollow under my feet; and observing
chasms through the ground, I quickly drew back, and returning again
with a pole with which I beat in the earth, to my astonishment and
dread appeared the mouth of a well through the rocks, and I observed
the water glimmering at the bottom. Being wearied with excursions, we
returned to our pleasant situation on the verge of the lawn.
Next day we set off on our return to the lower trading-house, proposing
to encamp at a savanna, about twelve miles distance from this, where we
were to halt again and stay a day or two, in order to collect together
another party of horses, which had been stationed about that range. The
young wild horses often breaking from the company, rendered our
progress slow and troublesome; we however arrived at the appointed
place long before night.
I had an opportunity this day of collecting a variety of specimens and
seeds of vegetables, some of which appeared new to me, particularly
Sophora, Cistus, Tradescantia, Hypoxis, Iatropa, Gerardia, Pedicularis,
Mimosa sensitiva, Helonias, Melanthium, Lilium, Aletris, Agave, Cactus,
Zamia, Empetrum, Erythryna, Echium, &c.
Next day, the people being again engaged in their business of ranging
the forests and plains, in search of their horses, I accompanied them,
and in our rambles we again visited the great savanna and lake, called
the Long Pond: the lake is nearly in the middle of the spacious lawn,
of an oblong form; above two miles wide and seven in length; one end
approaching the high green banks adjoining the forests, where there is
an enchanting grove and grotto of pellucid waters, inhabited with
multitudes of fish, continually ascending and descending through the
clean, white rocks, sloping from the green verged shore, by gradual
steps, from smooth, flat pavements washed by the swelling undulations
of the waters.
Arrived in the evening at camp, where we found the rest of our
companions busily employed in securing the young freakish horses. The
next day was employed in like manner, breaking and tutoring the young
steeds to their duty. The day following we took a final leave of this
land of meadows, lakes, groves and grottos, directing our course for
the trading path. Having traversed a country, in appearance, little
differing from the region lying upon Little St. Juan, we gained about
twelve miles on our way; and in the evening encamped on a narrow ridge,
dividing two savannas from each other, near the edge of a deep pond;
here our people made a large pen or pound to secure their wild horses
during the night. There was a little hommock or islet containing a few
acres of high ground, at some distance from the shore, in the drowned
savanna, almost every tree of which was loaded with nests of various
tribes of water fowl, as ardea alba, ar. violacea, ar. cerulea, ar.
stellaris cristate, ar. stellaris maxima, ar. virescens, colymbus,
tantalus, mergus and others; these nests were all alive with young,
generally almost full grown, not yet fledged, but covered with whitish
or cream-coloured soft down. We visited this bird isle, and some of our
people taking sticks or poles with them, soon beat down and loaded
themselves with these squabs, and returned to camp; they were almost a
lump of fat, and made us a rich supper; some we roasted, and made
others into a pilloe with rice: most of them, except the bitterns and
tantali, were so excessively fishy in taste and smell, I could not
relish them. It is incredible what prodigious numbers there were, old
and young, on this little islet; and the confused noise which they kept
up continually, the young crying for food incessantly, even whilst in
their throats, and the old alarmed and displeased at our near
residence, and the depredations we had made upon them; their various
languages, cries, and fluttering caused an inexpressible uproar, like a
public fair or market in a populous trading city, when suddenly
surprised by some unexpected calamitous event.
About midnight, having fallen asleep, I was awakened and greatly
surprised at finding most of my companions up in arms, and furiously
engaged with a large alligator but a few yards from me. One of our
company, it seems, awoke in the night, and perceived the monster within
a few paces of the camp; when giving the alarm to the rest, they
readily came to his assistance, for it was a rare piece of sport. Some
took fire-brands and cast them at his head, whilst others formed
javelins of saplins, pointed and hardened with fire; these they thrust
down his throat into his bowels, which caused the monster to roar and
bellow hideously, but his strength and fury were so great, that he
easily wrenched or twisted them out of their hands, and wielding and
brandishing them about, kept his enemies at distance for a time. Some
were for putting an end to his life and sufferings with a rifle ball,
but the majority thought this would too soon deprive them of the
diversion and pleasure of exercising their various inventions of
torture: they at length however grew tired, and agreed in one opinion,
that he had suffered sufficiently; and put an end to his existence.
This crocodile was about twelve feet in length: we supposed that he had
been allured by the fishy scent of our birds, and encouraged to
undertake and pursue this hazardous adventure which cost him his life.
This, with other instances already recited, may be sufficient to prove
the intrepidity and subtilty of those voracious, formidable animals.
We sat off early next morning, and soon after falling into the trading
path, accomplished about twenty miles of our journey; and in the
evening encamped as usual, near the banks of savannas and ponds, for
the benefit of water and accommodations of pasture for our creatures.
Next day we passed over part of the great and beautiful Alachua
Savanna, whose exuberant green meadows, with the fertile hills which
immediately encircle it, would, if peopled and cultivated after the
manner of the civilized countries of Europe, without crowding or
incommoding families, at a moderate estimation, accommodate in the
happiest manner above one hundred thousand human inhabitants, besides
millions of domestic animals; and I make no doubt this place will at
some future day be one of the most populous and delightful seats on
earth.
We came to camp in the evening, on the banks of a creek but a few miles
distance from Cuscowilla; and two days more moderate travelling brought
us safe back again to the lower trading-house, on St. Juan, having been
blessed with health and a prosperous journey.
On my arrival at the stores, I was happy to find all well as we had
left them; and our bringing with us friendly talks from the Siminole
towns, and the Nation likewise, completed the hopes and wishes of the
trading company, with respect to their commercial concerns with the
Indians, which, as the cheering light of the sun-beams after a dark
tempestuous night, diffused joy and conviviality throughout the little
community, where were a number of men with their families, who had been
put out of employment and subsistence, anxiously waiting the happy
event.
[34] Grus p.
[35] Trichecus manatus. Sea cow.
[36] Cane meadows, so called by the inhabitants of Carolina, &c.
[37] Zea
[38] M’Gee was the leader of a family of white people from Georgia,
destined across the isthmus, to the Mobile river; they travelled on
horseback as far as this town, where they procured canoes of the
Indians, continuing their travels, descending the river and coasting
the main S. W.; but at night, when on shore, hunting provisions, their
camp was surprised and attacked by a predatory band of Indians, who
flew M’Gee and the rest of the men, and carried off the plunder and a
woman to their towns.