iff 
 
 ■
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
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 Frontispiece. CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL, ST. AUGUSTINE.
 
 
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 NEW YORK : 
 THE AMERICAN NEWS COMPANY, 
 NASSAU STREET, NEW YOllK. 
 
 1873. 
 
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 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1S73, by 
 
 EDWARD O. JENKESrS, 
 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C, 

 
 Slfe. 
 
 ^ 
 
 CONTENTS, 
 
 e/» 
 
 PAGE. 
 
 Florida — Its Discovery. 
 
 7 
 
 De Ayllon — Narvaez — Nunez De Vaca. 
 
 11 
 
 De Narvaez— 1528. .... 
 
 . 13 
 
 Hernando De Soto. 
 
 20 
 
 Don Tristan De Luna— 1559. 
 
 . 41 
 
 The Huguenot Settlements— 15(»'J 
 
 42 
 
 De Gourges. .... 
 
 . 52 
 
 Florida ; Its Geographj- and Climate, etc. 
 
 60 
 
 Climate. ..... 
 
 . 63 
 
 How to Reach Florida. . . . 
 
 65 
 
 Charieston ..... 
 
 . 69 
 
 Objects of Interest. 
 
 73 
 
 Savannah. ..... 
 
 . • 78 
 
 Fernandina. . , . . • 
 
 85 
 
 St. John's River. .... 
 
 . 86 
 
 Jacksonville. .... 
 
 87 
 
 St. Jolin's River. .... 
 
 . 90 
 
 Mandarin. .... 
 
 91 
 
 Hibernia. ..... 
 
 . 93 
 
 Magnolia. .... 
 
 93 
 
 Green Cove Springs .... 
 
 . 92 
 
 Picolata. .... 
 
 93 
 
 Tocoi. ..... 
 
 . 94 
 
 Orange Mills. .... 
 
 94 
 
 Palatka. ..... 
 
 . 94 
 
 Enterprise. .... 
 
 97 
 
 Mellonville. ..... 
 
 . 99 
 
 Sanford. .... 
 
 100 
 
 8t. Augustine. .... 
 
 . 10:3 
 
 OckJawaha River, .... 
 
 . Ufa 
 
 45(iG?iI
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 FLORIDA — ITS DISCOVERY. 
 
 Had Christopher Columbus, on leaving the 
 Island of San Salvador, proceeded Westward, 
 he would have ultimately discovered the 
 coast of Florida ; for the Gulf Stream, then an 
 unknown power, would have swept him to 
 the Northward — the difference of Latitude re- 
 quired for the purpose. But, influenced by 
 the description of the natives, of a land of 
 wealth bearing to the southward, he directed 
 his prow thither, and brought up on the coast 
 Cuba. Thus was reserved to one of Colum- 
 bus' companions, (Juan Ponce de Leon,) the 
 honor of the discovery of the peninsula ; a 
 most romantic incident of History. 
 
 In 1 5 12, the brave old soldier, Ponce de 
 
 (7)
 
 8 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Leon, was Governor of Porto Rico. He had 
 carved his way to glory and wealth, but never- 
 theless aspired to equal Columbus in renown, 
 and for that purpose fitted out an expedition. 
 
 It was whilst discussing the subject with 
 his followers, and arguing as to the course to 
 be pursued, that an Indian Cacique narrated 
 to them a wonderful story; that, not many 
 leagues away, towards the setting sun, there 
 existed a land of great riches, and exceeding 
 all others in beauty of scenery. But, what 
 was most extraordinary, it possessed a mar- 
 vellous fountain, whose waters had the power 
 to renew youth and give vigor to those who 
 bathed in or drank them. 
 
 Ponce de Leon had witnessed such wonder- 
 ful things in his several voyages, that he was 
 prepared to give credence to the most exager- 
 ated accounts. 
 
 " What if it should prove true?" soliloquized 
 the old warrior, as he listened to the inter- 
 preter. 
 
 "And why should it not be ? Have I not 
 already discovered marvels, which in my 
 youthful days I would have deemed impossible
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. g 
 
 as this? Ponce de Leon will, in giving to the 
 world a rejuvenating- fountain, be entitled to 
 greater renown than those who merely gave 
 wealth and continents to their sovereio;ns." 
 
 An expedition of three vessels was imme- 
 diatel}' fitted out and set sail from St. Germain, 
 Porto Rico, in March 15 12. Ponce de Leon 
 directed its course to the Bahamas. He vis- 
 ited the various localities where the fountain 
 might be, but his search proved fruitless. 
 Island after island was explored, and the 
 waters tasted and bathed in, yet the desired 
 effect was not produced. Nothing daunted, 
 the brave soldier steered to the Westward ; 
 and, on Palm Sunday, the Pascua Florida of 
 the Spaniards, (27th March, 15 12) he dis- 
 covered land ahead — a land of such mao-nifi- 
 cent vegetation and variety of flowers, that 
 he gave to it the name it continues to bear — 
 Florida. 
 
 On April 2, 15 12, Ponce de Leon disem- 
 barked a little to the northward of St. Auffus- 
 tine, planted a cross, and took possession of 
 the country in the name of his sovereign. He 
 
 then turned his attention to the search for the 
 I*
 
 lO GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 "Fountain of Youth;" and, in its absence, 
 gold and precious stones. He found neither, 
 and two months later returned to Porto Rico. 
 
 In spite of his want of success, De Leon 
 made a brilliant report of the value of his 
 discovery, and was rewarded by the Crown 
 with the title of Adelentado, or Governor of 
 Florida ; in return for which he agreed to 
 conquer and colonize it. This, however, he 
 did not appear in any particular hurry to do; 
 as it was not until nearly ten j^eare later that 
 he again set out for the peninsula. 
 
 In the meantime, several explorers had vis- 
 ited its shores and described it as a vast con- 
 tinent, and not an Island as he supposed it to 
 be. At this time, Cortez was in Mexico ; and 
 the reports of his conquests and spoils incited 
 Ponce de Leon to put on foot a second expe- 
 dition, in the hope of meeting with a like suc- 
 cess. He sailed, therefore, with two vessels ; 
 but no sooner had he landed in Florida, than 
 he was attacked by the natives with such 
 fierceness that, after a severe conflict, the 
 Spaniards were compelled to re-embark and 
 return to Cuba. Ponce himself received a
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. n 
 
 wound, from the effects of which he died, soon 
 after reaching- the Island. His epitaph was : 
 " In this sepulchre rest the bones of a man 
 who was a Lion by name, and still more 
 by nature." 
 
 DE AYLLON — NARVAEZ — NUNEZ DE VACA. 
 
 Shortly after the death of Ponce de Leon, 
 Diego Miruelo, the captain of a small Span- 
 ish vessel, being driven by stress of weather 
 to the coast of Florida, received from the na- 
 tives, in traffic, a quantity of gold and silver. 
 With these he returned to St. Domingo ; and 
 the accounts he gave of the country he had 
 visited caused much excitement on the Island. 
 At that time there was, in St. Domingo, a 
 company engaged in gold mining, at whose 
 head was a distinguished vounsr nobleman 
 named Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon. This gen- 
 tleman, as will be seen, was possessed of 
 keenness and a daring spirit. 
 
 De Ayllon, fearing, no doubt, his annual 
 statement for tiie year 1521, would make but 
 a sorry figure, owing to the scarcity of labor
 
 12 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 on the Island, determined to visit the main- 
 land, and secure a couple of cargoes of the 
 savages so plausibly described by Miruelo. 
 
 Now, owing to the efforts of Las Casas, the 
 Spanish crown had prohibited the enslaving 
 of the natives of the New World. This pro- 
 hibition, however, did not include the Caribs, 
 who were said to be cannibals. De Ayllon, 
 consequently, gave out that the two vessels 
 he was fitting out were for the purpose of 
 obtaining Caribs ; but, sailing directly to the 
 mainland, he was driven by stress of weather 
 and the unknown currents further to the 
 north than he anticipated, and caijie to an- 
 chor on the coast of w^hat is now South Caro- 
 lina, at a place called Chicora, but which he 
 named St. Helena. 
 
 Here the Indians at first fled in terror at 
 the sight of ships and white men, whom the}^ 
 beheld for the first time ; but the Spaniards 
 soon quieted their fears ; and they returned, 
 bringing presents of furs, pearls, and small 
 quantities of gold and silver. The Spaniards 
 gave them trinkets in return, and invited 
 them on board their vessels, to which the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 13 
 
 confiding natives repaired in considerable 
 numbers. Securing them below the hatches, 
 the Spaniards weighed anchor and set sail for 
 home. One of the vessels foundered at sea, 
 and of the poor captives confined on board of 
 the other, the ancient historian says : " these 
 Indians profited them nothing, for they all 
 died of care and grief" 
 
 De Ayllon shortly afterwards obtained from 
 his sovereign the appointment of Governor 
 of Chicora ; he fitted out an expedition of 
 three vessels to conquer his new dominion, 
 landing near St. Helena. The inhabitants 
 received him with apparent cordialit}^ ; but, 
 after feasting his soldiers for three days, they 
 rose upon them in the night and massacred 
 almost. the entire force ; including De Ayllon 
 himself. 
 
 DE NARVAEZ — 1 5 28. 
 
 The next expedition to Florida was con- 
 ducted on a grander scale ; it was led by 
 Pamphilo de Narvaez. De Narvaez, who was 
 a distinguished soldier, had been sent by Ve-
 
 H 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 lasquez, the Governor of Cuba, to Mexico, 
 with nearly two thousand troops to supersede 
 Cortez, whose brilhant career had excited 
 the jealousy of the Governor. Instead of 
 turning over the command of his three hun- 
 dred warriors to Narvaez, Cortez, at night, 
 fell upon his rival ; and, after a short struggle, 
 in which Narvaez lost an eye, took him pris- 
 oner. Then almost the whole of the new 
 comers went over to Cortez. 
 
 When, subsequently, Narvaez proceeded to 
 Spain, he was consoled by having conferred 
 upon him the Governorship of Florida. He 
 immediately fitted out an expedition of five 
 vessels; and, on i^pril 12th, 1528, landed on 
 the west coast of Florida, near what is now 
 called Tampa Bay. There he landed three 
 hundred men and forty-five horses. Against 
 the advice of some of his followers, Narvaez 
 determined to at once penetrate the country 
 in search of an empire which should rival 
 Mexico or Peru. His companions had coun- 
 selled their remaining b}^ their ships, and 
 coasting along the continent ; but Narvaez 
 was not to be moved ; and, after instructing
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. jc 
 
 his captains to take the vessels to some con- 
 venient harbor to await his arrival, he started 
 on his march, in a northerly direction. 
 
 Instead of finding the rich countr}^ they 
 had fancied, the Spaniards could scarcely 
 scrape the wherewith sufficient to keep body 
 and soul together ; whilst the natives, differing 
 totally from those of jNIexico, contested every 
 inch of ground, with a desperation that dis- 
 couraged and astonished the Spaniards. His- 
 tory offers few such records of suffering as 
 is narrated in the pages which describe the 
 march of Narvaez through Florida. Narvaez 
 found nothing but swamps and starvation, 
 with hostile Indians on every hand. After 
 losing a large number of his force by sick- 
 ness and the arrows of the natives, Narvaez, 
 in despaii", called a council of his officers. 
 
 His hopes of wealth and conquest were at 
 an end ;• he sought how best to escape from 
 the country before they should all perish. 
 Irving says: "To proceed along the coast in 
 search of the fleet, or to retrace their steps, 
 would be to hazard the lives of all. At length 
 it was suggested that they should construct
 
 1 6 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 small barks, launch them upon the deep, and 
 keep along the coast until they should find 
 their ships. It was a forlorn hope, but they 
 caught at it like drowning men. They ac- 
 cordingly set to work with great eagerness; 
 One of them constructed a pair of bellows out 
 of deer skins, furnishing it with a wooden 
 pipe. Others made charcoal and a forge. 
 By the aid of these, they soon turned their 
 stirrups, spurs, crossbows, and other articles 
 of iron, into nails, saws, and hatchets. The 
 tails and manes of the horses, twisted with 
 the fibres of the palm-treee, served for rig- 
 ging ; their shirts, cut open and sewed to- 
 gether, furnished sails ; the fibrous part of the 
 palm-tree also was used as oakum ; the resin 
 of the pine trees for tar ; the skins of horses 
 were made into vessels to contain fresh water ; 
 and a quantity of maize was secured, after hard 
 fighting with the neighboring natives. A 
 horse was killed every three days for pro- 
 visions for the laboring hands and the sick." 
 
 Having at length, by great exertions, com- 
 pleted five frail barks, on the 22d of Septem- 
 ber they embarked from forty to fifty persons
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. » j^ 
 
 in each ; but they were so closely crowded 
 that there was scarcely room to move, while 
 the gunwales of the boats wxre pressed down 
 to the w-ater's edge. Setting sail from this 
 bay, which they called the Ba}- of Caballos, 
 the}' proceeded on, for several days, to an is- 
 land, where they secured five canoes, which 
 had been deserted by the Indians. These 
 having been attached to their barks enabled 
 them to sail with greater comfort. They 
 passed through the strait between the island 
 and the mainland, which they called the Strait 
 of San Miguel, and sailed onward, for many 
 days enduring the torments of hunger and 
 parching thirst. The skins which contained 
 their fresh water having burst, several men, 
 driven to desperation, drank salt water and 
 died miserably. Their sufferings were aggra- 
 vated b}' a fearful storm. 
 
 At length the}' approached "a more popu- 
 lous and fertile part of the coast," upon which 
 they landed, occasionally, to procure provi- 
 sions; and were immediately involved in 
 bloody affrays wnth the natives. Thus harass- 
 ed by sea and land, famishing with hunger,
 
 1 8 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 their barks shattered and scarcely manage- 
 able, these unfortunate wanderers lost all 
 presence of mind, and became wild and des- 
 perate. They were again driven out seaward, 
 and scattered during a stormy night. 
 
 At daj/break three of the tempest-tossed 
 barks rejoined each other. In the best-man- 
 ned and fastest sailer, was Pamphilo de Nar- 
 vaez. Alvar Nunez, who had command of 
 another boat, seeing the Adelantado making 
 for the land, appealed to him for aid; but 
 Narvaez replied, " that it was no longer time 
 to help others, but that everj^ one must take 
 care of himself" He then steered for the 
 land, abandoning Alvar Nunez to his fate. 
 
 After sailing along the coast for many da3^s, 
 Narvaez anchored one night off the land. His 
 crew, with but two exceptions, had repaired 
 on shore, in search of provisions. These two 
 were a sailor and a page who were sick. In 
 the meantime, a violent northerly gale sprung 
 up; and the boats, in which was neither food 
 nor water, were driven to sea. They were 
 never heard of afterward, and thus ended the 
 ill-fated expedition of Pamphilo de Narvaez.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. jg 
 
 Narvaez had embarked at a point near Ap- 
 alachicola Bay, and set out in his frail vessels 
 to reach the Spanish Settlements in Mexico, 
 under the impression derived from the charts 
 of the day, that these were nearer to him 
 than the shores of Cuba. The truth, however, 
 was, that the latter were scarcely four hun- 
 dred miles distant, whilst the nearest Spanish 
 settlement was eleven hundred miles away. 
 This error doubtless cost him his life. At 
 the time of his death, there remained alive 
 about one hundred of his followers, but they 
 gradually separated ; and, through hunger and 
 the arrows of the natives, were i-educed to four 
 persons— Cabega de Vaca, Treasurer; Cap- 
 tain Alonzo Castillo ; Captain Andreas Doran- 
 tes; and Estevanico, an Arabian Nesfro or 
 Moor. These owed their safety to their being 
 considered by the Indians great medicine- 
 men. De Vaca, according to an account 
 which he published on reaching Spain, had 
 performed some remarkable cures, which he 
 acknovv^l edged surprised himself. 
 
 Having spent six years with the tribe lie 
 designates as the Mariannes, De Vaca and his
 
 20 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 three companions, by that time fully conver- 
 sant with the language and customs of the In- 
 dians, set forth to attempt the task of reaching 
 the Settlements in Mexico. Their experience in 
 the healing art did them good service, for by 
 it they were enabled to pass through the many 
 tribes who occupied the shores of the Gulf of 
 Mexico. They crossed the Mississippi, and at 
 length reached, in safety, Mexico, from whence 
 he returned to Spain, where he published the 
 interesting account of his adventures. De 
 Vaca was the first white man who traversed 
 the Cotton States ; and to him belongs the 
 credit of the discovery of the Mississippi, and 
 not to De Soto. Narvaez's fleet searched for 
 the Governor during the space of a year, and 
 then returned to Cuba, 
 
 HERNANDO DE SOTO. 
 
 One would have thought that the sad fate 
 of Narvaez would have deterred further ex- 
 peditions to Florida ; but such was not the 
 case, and the story of the adventures of De 
 Vaca, fraught with sufferings, seemed only
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 21 
 
 to Stimulate the adventurous spirit of the dav. 
 It was not the aspiration to glor^^, but the 
 greediness of wealth which inspired those ad- 
 venturers. They believed in a continent ex- 
 ceeding Mexico or Peru in precious metals, 
 and therefore sought it. When Hernando de 
 Soto, the companion of Pizan-o, announced his 
 intention of fitting out an expedition, thou- 
 sands flocked to his standard. 
 
 Hernando de Soto belonged to oi>e of the 
 noblest families of Spain ; he was boi-n in 1501. 
 At an early age, having, as an old Chronicler 
 says, but his sword for his estate, he joined 
 D'Avilas, who had been made Governor of 
 the West Indies. De Soto found favor in the 
 eyes of the latter, and, in 1531, was given com- 
 mand of a body of men, with whom he joined 
 Pizarro, then on his way to the conquest of 
 Peru. Pizarro soon recognized in De Soto a 
 leading spirit ; he made him second in com- 
 mand. Uniting prudence to valor he was ever 
 foremost in every struggle, and invariably 
 victorious. 
 
 De Soto had the good fortune to capture the 
 Inca, am] to put to flight his forces. The con-
 
 22 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 quest of Peru achieved, Pizarro would have 
 retained De Soto with him, but the latter de- 
 termined to return to Spain. This he did in 
 1536, carrying with him, as his share of the 
 spoils of the Inca, 180,000 crowns of gold. He 
 appeared at the court of Charles V., sur- 
 rounded by a splendid retinue, creating a 
 sensation which made him the lion of the 
 hour. His influence at court increased, and 
 vras strengthened by his marriage with Isa- 
 bella de Bobadilla, daughter of De Aviles, one 
 of the most powerful families of the kingdom. 
 It was about that time that De Vaca 
 brought to Spain the tidings of the fate of 
 Narvaez. De Soto sought De Vaca ; and, 
 after listening to his narrative, hastened to the 
 Emperor, and offered to conquer Florida at 
 his own expense. His Majesty was gracious- 
 ly pleased to grant the request, and conferred 
 upon him the title of Adelantado, in addition 
 to that of Governor of Florida and Cuba for 
 life. As we have already said, no sooner was 
 it known that De Soto was fitting out an ex- 
 pedition, than thousands flocked to his stan- 
 dard ; but he chose only the young and vig-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 23 
 
 orous, such as could best endure the hard- 
 ships and dangers of the expedition. 
 
 On April 6, 1538, De Soto sailed with a 
 fleet of ten vessels. His force consisted of a 
 thousand men, commanded by the 6lite of the 
 Spanish cavaHers. In the largest vessel, the 
 '' San Cristoval," a ship of eight hundred 
 tons, was the Governor, his wife Doiia Isa- 
 bel, and his family and retinue. The fleet 
 touched the Canary Islands and reached San- 
 tiago de Cuba in May. 
 
 De Soto remained in Cuba a yeai", acclimat- 
 ing his forces and obtaining information as to 
 the Continent he was about to visit. Indian 
 guides from the Florida Coast were obtained, 
 and every precaution taken to ensure the suc- 
 cess of the enterprise. All being in readi- 
 ness, the expedition started in May, 1539; 
 and, on the 25th of the same month, disem- 
 barked its thousand men and 350 horses at 
 Tampa Bay. De Soto remained awhile in 
 the vicinity of his landing, endeavoring to 
 conciliate Hirrituqua, the powerful Cacique 
 of the neighborhood. His efforts proved 
 vain— the Chief was obdurate. This can be
 
 24 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 readily understood when we know that Nar- 
 vaez, in a transport of rage, for a trivial 
 caase, had ordered the Cacique's nose to be 
 cut off and his mother to be torn by dogs. 
 
 Whilst attempting to negotiate with the 
 Chief, De Soto learned that a follower of 
 Narvaez was living with a neighboring tribe, 
 whose chief was named Mucoso. He was 
 greatly pleased with the news, as he fully 
 appreciated the importance to the expedition 
 of having as guide one who had been living 
 m the country ten years, and who was doubt- 
 less familiar with the language and customs 
 of the natives. De Soto at once set about 
 securing the person of Juan Ortiz — such was 
 the Spaniard's name ; he accordingly des- 
 patched his trusty lieutenant, De Gallegos, 
 with a company of lancers, under the guid- 
 ance of an Indian, on an embassy to the 
 Cacique Mucoso, soliciting the release of 
 Ortiz, and inviting the Chief to his camp, 
 with promises of friendship and munificent 
 rewards. 
 
 In the meantime, Mucoso, learning of De 
 Soto's arrival in the neighboring province
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 2$ 
 
 and fearing that it was his intention to con- 
 quer the whole country, despatched Ortiz on 
 a mission to the Governor to pray De Soto 
 not to lay waste his whole territory, and that 
 in return he and his people would be devoted 
 to his service. Ortiz, highly pleased with his 
 mission, set out, accompanied by a body of 
 chosen warriors. They had proceeded but a 
 short distance, wdien, at the edge of a forest, 
 they suddenly came upon Gallegos and his 
 lancers — the companions of Ortiz retreating 
 to the woods ; but Ortiz, forgetting that, with 
 quiver at back, a bow and arrow in hand, and 
 his head adorned with feathers, he differed 
 but little from his companions, scorned the 
 advice, and marched forth to meet his country- 
 men, who, he thought, would recognize him. 
 The Spaniards, seeing the Indians, at once 
 charged upon them, driving them to the 
 woods, leaving one dead upon the field. 
 Ortiz was nearly ridden over by a trooper — 
 he cried out lustily, " Seville," at the same 
 time making the sign of the cross. The 
 Spaniard reined in his horse, and learning he 
 had found the object of their search, seized 
 2
 
 26 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Ortiz by the arm, lifting him upon the croup 
 of his saddle, and dashed off with him to 
 Gallegos, who returned to De Soto in great 
 glee with his prize. The Governor received 
 Ortiz in the warmest manner, sympathized 
 with his past sufferings, and at once ordered 
 him arms, clothing, and a horse. 
 
 Ortiz narrated his experience to De Soto ; it 
 was most romantic. It appeared that Nar- 
 vaez, upon landing in Florida, sent back to 
 Cuba, with despatches, one of his smallest ves- 
 sels, upon which was Juan Ortiz — she imme- 
 diately returned laden with supplies for the 
 forces ; but by that time Narvaez had marched 
 into the interior. The Spaniards, from their 
 vessel, saw on shore some Indians, who pointed 
 to a letter in the end of a cleft stick fixed in 
 the earth. Believing it to contain instructions 
 from Narvaez, they made signs to the Indians 
 to bring it to them, but this they declined 
 to do. 
 
 Juan Ortiz and three companions then went 
 to the shore in a boat; but were no sooner 
 landed than they were in a moment surround- 
 ed and hastened awav. The crew of the ves-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 27 
 
 sel, alarmed at the treatment of their ship- 
 mates, and the number of the enemy in si^J-ht. 
 set sail, leaving- Ortiz and his companions to 
 their fate. By this decoy, the Indians secured 
 the captives required to gratify the Cacique's 
 revenge upon the Spaniards, for Hirritriqua 
 was smarting under the loss of his nose, and was 
 overjoj^ed when the prisoners were brought 
 before him. They were placed under a strong 
 guard until a festival da}^ when one by one 
 the}' were made to run the gauntlet, and in 
 this way three of them perished miserably. 
 Ortiz had been reserved for the last ; and the 
 chief, to vary the entertainment, ordered him 
 to be bound to a staging of poles, and a fire 
 kindled under him. The first part of the order 
 had been executed ; and Ortiz, who was then 
 but eighteen, was stripped and bound to the 
 stake. At that moment, the beautiful daugh- 
 ter of the Cacique, who was about the same 
 age as Ortiz, saw the dreadful fate of the 
 youth ; she was moved by compassion ; and, 
 throwing herself at her father's feet, begged 
 him to spare the stranger's life. Hirritriqua 
 granted her request; and tiius Florida
 
 28 GUIDE TO. FLORIDA. 
 
 possessed a Pocahontas long before Capt. 
 John Smith owed his life to that renowned 
 maiden. 
 
 But Ortiz led a sorry life of it ; he was made 
 to labor like a slave, and was subjected to 
 cruel treatment. He would have perished 
 trom starvation, had it not been for food fur- 
 nished him by his lovel}^ protector. One night 
 the Cacique's daughter came to Ortiz, and 
 told him that her father had determined to 
 sacrifice him at the approaching festival ; and 
 that all her entreaties had failed to shake his 
 determination. She added that a trusty guide 
 would, that night, lead him to Mucozo, a 
 neighboring chief, who loved her and sought 
 her in marriage ; and who, for her sake, would 
 protect him. 
 
 At the appointed time, Ortiz met the guide, 
 and w\Ts safely conducted to Mucozo, who re- 
 ceived him warmly, and finally became greatly 
 attached to him. His hospitable reception 
 displeased Hirritriqua, wdio made repeated 
 demands on Mucozo to give up the fugitive. 
 The latter, nevertheless, maintained inviolate 
 the sacred rites of hospitality, notwithstanding
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 20 
 
 that the hand of the lovely maiden depended 
 on his acquiescing'. 
 
 Ortiz had been among the Indians nearly 
 ten years, when De Soto made his appear- 
 ance ; and, as it may well be supposed, he was 
 overjoyed to rejoin his countrymen. His first 
 act was to bring about friendly relations be- 
 tween De Soto and his noble protector, Mu- 
 cozo. In this he succeeded so well, that whilst 
 the Spaniards remained in that part of the 
 country, the}^ were the best of friends. When, 
 subsequently, the fleet sailed from the neigh- 
 boring harbor, many things with which the 
 Spaniards did not wish to be encumbered 
 were presented to Mucozo, who found him- 
 self abundantly provided for. It took many 
 days for the Indians to carry to their villages, 
 the clothing, weapons, and various stores 
 which the Spaniards had given them. 
 
 De Soto, as we have already stated, landed 
 in Florida at Tampa Bay. From that point 
 he took his route to the north and east, pass- 
 ing through Ocala and Tallahassee, from 
 whence he despatched an exploring parly, 
 which penetrated far into the interior. Hav-
 
 30 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ing received a favorable report as to the rich- 
 ness of the country to the north, he pushed 
 forward in that direction, having- first sent 
 orders to his fleet to meet him at Pensacola 
 Bay. De Soto crossed the Savannah river, 
 near the present site of the City of Savannah ; 
 and entered what is now the State of South 
 Carolina. There a pleasing incident occurred, 
 which we can do no better than relate in 
 the words of Fairbanks, in his " Histoiy of 
 Florida:" 
 
 "Near the Atlantic coast, in South Caroli- 
 na, De Soto came into the territories of an 
 Indian Queen, invested with youth, beauty, 
 and loveliness, who is styled b}^ the old 
 Chronicles ' the Ladie of the Countrie.' Upon 
 De Soto's approach, he was met by a lady 
 ambassadress, sister of her Majest}^ who de- 
 livered a courteous speech of welcome ; and, 
 within a little time, the Ladie came out of the 
 town in a chaire, whereon certain of the prin- 
 cipal Indians brought her to the river. She 
 entered into a barge, which had the sterne 
 tilted over, and on the floor her mat ready 
 laid, with two cushions upon it, one upon
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 3 1 
 
 another, where she sat her down, and with her 
 came her principal Indians, in other barges, 
 which did wait upon her, 
 
 " She went to the place where the Governor 
 was, and at her coming, she made this speech : 
 * Excellent lord, I wish this coming of your 
 lordship's into these your countries to be 
 most happy; although my power be not 
 answerable to my will, and my services be 
 not according to m}- desire, nor such as so 
 high a pi-ince as your lordship deserveth, yet 
 such the good will is rather to be accepted 
 than all the treasures of the world, that with- 
 out it can be offered ; with most unfailable 
 and manifest affection, I offer you my person, 
 lords, and subjects, and this small service.' 
 
 "After this courteous and graceful speech 
 from the throne, it may be inferred that so 
 gallant a cavalier as De Soto must have re- 
 plied in equally complimentary style. The 
 princess caused to be presented to the Ade- 
 iantado rich presents of the clothes and skins 
 of the country ; and, far greater attraction for 
 them, beautiful strings of pearls. Her Ma- 
 jesty, after some maiden coyness, took froai
 
 32 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 her own neck a great cordon of pearls, and 
 cast it about the neck of the Governor, enter- 
 taining him with very gracious speeches of 
 love and courtesy ; and, as soon as he was 
 lodged in the town, she sent him another 
 present, of not quite so delicate and refined a 
 character, but no doubt considered by her of 
 far greater value, namely, some hens. Per- 
 ceiving that they valued the pearls, she ad- 
 vised the Governor to send and search certain 
 graves that were in that town, and that they 
 should find many. They searched the graves, 
 and there found ' fourteen measures' of pearls, 
 weighing two hundred and ninet3'-two pounds, 
 figures of various kinds — little babies, birds, 
 etc., were tnade of them," reminding one of 
 the recent excavations at Chiriqui. 
 
 The people were brown, well made, and 
 well proportioned ; and more civil than the 
 other tribes which had been met with in 
 Florida ; they were likewise well shod and 
 clothed. 
 
 The Spaniards, worried and fatigued by 
 their tedious and fruitless marches, urged 
 their leader to settle in the country, as the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 33 
 
 climate was mild, the lands rich and produc- 
 tive, and the coast afforded good harbors to 
 shelter their ships. But the Governor re- 
 plied, that he intended to seek treasures 
 such as Atahualpa, Lord of Peru, possessed. 
 Doubtless the country was a good one, that 
 pearls of value abounded therein, yet there 
 was not sufficient inducement to retain him 
 there. And, as De Soto Avas firm and decided 
 in his opinion, though giving car to those of 
 others, his followers acquiesced in his views. 
 
 " The fair princess seems to have been ill 
 requited for her hospitable reception of the 
 Spaniards. Held as a hostage (for the good 
 behaviour of the Indians, it is presumed), Dj 
 Soto insisted upon her accompan3-ing him, 
 which she did for many days ; until, one day, 
 turning aside into the forest upon some slight 
 pretext, she disappeared, not without suspicion 
 of design, as there happened to be missing at 
 the same time one of the Spaniards, who, 
 report said, bad joined the fair princess for 
 weal or for woe, and had returned with her 
 to her tribe." 
 
 From South Carolina, De Soto proceeded 
 2*
 
 34 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 to Georgia, which he penetrated as far as the 
 borders of Tennessee, but failed to find the 
 gold which the natives of the sea-board, with 
 the hope of getting rid of him, had stated 
 would there be found in abundance. Turn- 
 ing his steps to the south-west, he passed 
 through Georgia and Alabama, and reached a 
 point near Mobile, where news was brought 
 that the fleet was awaiting him but a few days' 
 journey off, in the spacious harbor of Ochusc, 
 or Pensacola. 
 
 It would have been well if the valorous 
 Spaniard had then abandoned his hopeless 
 enterprise, and had re-embarked his discour- 
 aged followers, who had undergone eighteen 
 months of hardship — well, if he had returned 
 to Cuba, where Dona Isabel was anxiously 
 awaiting his coming. But De Soto had de- 
 cided never to return to his native land until 
 he had discovered the land where wealth 
 abounded. So, binding Ortiz, who, alone be- 
 sides himself, knew of the proximity of the 
 fleet, to secrecy, he directed his course to the 
 northward and westward ; and, after a march 
 fraught with dangers and difficulties, emerged
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA 
 
 35 
 
 from the swamps and forests of the wilder- 
 ness, in the Spring of 1541, upon the banks of 
 the Father of Waters, the Mecassabe, near 
 the present site .of Memphis. 
 
 That year he spent exploring the country 
 west of the Mississippi, and in April he re- 
 turned to the river, intending to send de- 
 spatches to the fleet, to be conveyed to Dona 
 Isabel. But the end of the brave soldier was 
 approaching. 
 
 In the long marches through the swamps 
 and lowlands, he had contracted a fever, which 
 increased rapidl}', and made him aware that 
 his last hour was at hand. He prepared for 
 death with the calmness of a soldier, appointed 
 Louis de Alvarado to the chief command, and 
 required his officers to take the oath to obey 
 and serve him faithfully. This done, the dying 
 Governor called to him his followers, of whom 
 he tenderly took his last leave, calmly address- 
 ing them while they wept. De Soto soon 
 after expired.* 
 
 Thus perished Hernando de Soto, the most 
 distinguished of the man}^ brave leaders, 
 
 * Irving.
 
 36 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 whose names are honored as the discoverers 
 and settlers of the Western World. His fol- 
 lowers, fearing to bury him on the shore, lest 
 the Indians should desecrate his grave, hol- 
 lowed out the trunk of a live oak of sufficient 
 diameter to contain the body. Therein they 
 placed the corpse, closed its opening with 
 planking, and at midnight conveyed the re- 
 mains to mid-stream, where the river was a 
 mile in width and nineteen fathoms deep, 
 They there committed to the deep the mortal 
 remains of their commander. 
 
 De la Vega, in his history of the expedition, 
 says : " The discoverer of the Mississippi 
 slept beneath its waters. He had crossed a 
 lai-ge part of the Continent in search of gold, 
 and found nothing so remarkable as his burial- 
 place." 
 
 Our fair readers will ask what became of 
 the eighteen "measures" of pearls. Alas! in 
 one of the villages where De Soto established 
 his quarters, the natives, at night, fired the 
 building ; and it was quite as much as the 
 Spaniards could do to save themselves, much
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 37 
 
 less the pearls which, together with quan- 
 tities of stores and equipments, were utterly 
 consumed. 
 
 De Soto died on 21st iMay, 1542. His suc- 
 cessor, INIoscoso de Alvarado, at once sum- 
 moned a council of his officers to determine 
 the best course to pursue. They decided to 
 leave the country ; but how to do so with the 
 least embarrassment was the question. One 
 of the officers, Juan de Anasco, urged the 
 Commander to push through to the frontiers 
 of Mexico, offering to show the way. He 
 insisted that the distance was not great . 
 therefore his advice prevailed, and, in the 
 early part of June, they commenced their 
 march onward. 
 
 The Spaniards had not proceeded far on 
 their way, Avhen they discovered that one of 
 their number was missing; a young Cavalier 
 of good family named Diego de Guzman. It 
 appears that the gay Diego, in a foray, had 
 captured a most beautiful Indian girl, with 
 whom he at once fell most desperately in love. 
 As this fair damsel was also missing, the Span- 
 iards concluded the pair had gone off togcth- 
 
 45(5G7a
 
 38 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 er. To make sure that such was the case, the 
 general summoned to him the several chiefs 
 of the province who were in his escort, and 
 gave them to understand that, unless the des- 
 erter was brought to his camp, he would be 
 led to believe the Indians had murdered him ; 
 in which case their lives should be the penalty. 
 The alarmed chiefs sent forth their scouts, 
 who soon -returned with the news that Guz- 
 man was with his fair captive's father, a neigh- 
 boring Cacique, living on the best in the land 
 and treated with great kindness and distinct- 
 ion. De Gallegos, who was a friend and 
 townsman of De Guzman, wrote beseechingly 
 to him, to remember that he was a Spaniard 
 and a Cavalier, and not to desert his God, his 
 countrymen, and his native land. His elo- 
 quent appeal was returned the following day, 
 with the indorsement, in charcoal' " De Guz- 
 man." 
 
 No other word did the young Cavalier 
 vouchsafe to his companions in arms, but the 
 messenger said he had no intention nor wish 
 to rejoin the army ; whilst the Cacique sent 
 word that his son-in-law, who had restored
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 30 
 
 to him a beloved daughter, was not detained 
 by force, but remained of his own free will. 
 The Governor, upon this, abandoned any fur- 
 ther attempt to recover De Guzman, and re- 
 leased the chiefs ; who, however, accompanied 
 him to the frontier.* 
 
 For many weary months, the brave Httle 
 army forced its way onward to the westward, 
 reaching the roaming grounds of the Buffalo, 
 and beholding, in the distance, a lofty chain of 
 mountains ! At last, despairing of ever reach- 
 ing Mexico by that route, they reluctantly 
 set out on their return to the Mississippi, 
 which they reached in the Autumn of that 
 year. Wintering in the villages they found 
 upon the banks, and which they fortified, they 
 set to work to build seven vessels for the trans- 
 fer of the force. Francisco, a Genoese, v.dio 
 had been throughout invaluable to De Soto in 
 building bridges, rafts and boats, superin- 
 tended the work. He was assisted b}' several 
 soldiers, who had inhabited the sea-coast 
 of Spain. Notwithstanding their combined 
 efforts, it was not until the early part of 
 
 * Irvine.
 
 40 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 July that the vessels were completed, and 
 the preparations made for taking their de- 
 parture. 
 
 Of the gallant host that had landed with 
 De Soto, but three hundred and fifty survived 
 to embark on the frail vessels comprising the 
 fleet. It started from the mouth of the 
 Arkansas river, upon the bosom of the Fath- 
 er of Waters — the highway, as they hoped, 
 to their distant home. 
 
 The Indians had eagerly watched the pre- 
 parations of the Spaniards ; and had sent word 
 far and wide that their common enemies 
 were about to depart, and thus evade the ven- 
 geance they had hoped to wreak upon them. 
 The tribes gathered from the surrounding 
 country ; they harassed the Spaniards as they 
 passed down the river; and when, at last, they 
 reached the ocean, many had been killed by 
 the arrows of the natives. From the mouth 
 of the Mississippi, the Spaniards coasted along 
 the shores of Louisiana and Texas for nearly 
 two months, and at last reached the Spanish 
 settlements in Mexico. Here they w^ere 
 warmly received by the Viceroy, De Mcndozo,
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. ^I 
 
 who sent those who so desired to Spain, while 
 others he took into his service. 
 
 Poor Doiia Isabel, the wife of De Soto, dur- 
 ing these three years, had never ceased to send 
 fleet after fleet to seek and carry succor to her 
 husband, but they returned without tidings of 
 the Governor. At length, one of her faithful 
 captains reached Vera Cruz, in October, 1543, 
 and there learned the death of De Soto ; and 
 that, of his brave men, but three hundred had 
 reached Mexico alive. When this sad news 
 reached Dona Isabel, the blow proved too 
 great for her too bear ; and it is said she soon 
 died of a broken heart. 
 
 1559 — DON TRISTAN DE LUNA. 
 
 Not many years elapsed before the Spanish 
 Monarch ordered the Viceroy of Mexico to 
 prepare another expedition for the conquest 
 and settlement of Florida. This expedition, 
 which consisted of fifteen hundred men, set 
 sail, under the command of Don Tristan de 
 Luna, in the Spring of 1559, from the port of 
 Vera Cruz. The fleet reached Pensacola Bay
 
 42 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 in safety ; but a few clays after coming to an- 
 chor was entirely wrecked, together with the 
 greater part of the supphes. This misfortune, 
 and the unfavorable reports of the country 
 brought to De Luna by scouting parties, which 
 he had sent into the interior, caused the gen- 
 eral to render such accounts to the Viceroy as 
 to induce him to recall the expedition — not, 
 however, before its members had suffered pri- 
 vations which equalled those of their prede- 
 cessors. 
 
 De Luna's expedition was the last sent by 
 the Spanish to Florida. At that time the 
 Spaniards regarded as Florida the whole shore 
 of the Continent, from the frontier of Mexico 
 to the Chesapeake. We will conclude this 
 brief history of Florida by narrating only what 
 occurred in the peninsula which now consti- 
 tutes the State of that name. 
 
 1562 — THE HUGUENOT SETTLEMENTS. 
 
 The year 1562 marked a new era in the his- 
 tory of Florida and of the Continent. By the 
 withdrawal of De Luna, there was left not a
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. .^ 
 
 single settlement of Europeans on the Conti- 
 nent of North America beyond the boundaries 
 of Mexico. That year, however, witnessed 
 the first attempt at colonization ; and that, too, 
 by the French. 
 
 The Huguenots, wearied with strugghng 
 against persecution, were seeking homes away 
 from their native land. Encouraged by Ad- 
 miral Coligny, the head of the Protestant 
 party in France, an expedition for America 
 was fitted out, under Capt. Jean Ribaut, and 
 sailed in February, 1562. Ribaut, with his 
 two vessels, entered the St. John's River on 
 the 1st of jNIay, but remained here a short 
 time only. He proceeded to the northward, 
 until reaching Port Royal harbor, where he 
 determined to found the Huguenot settlement. 
 The site was selected upon an island, a fort 
 erected, in which he left a small garrison, 
 while he returned to France to obtain colon- 
 ists and supplies for the settlement. On his 
 arrival home, he found the Civil War at its 
 height, which debarred his return to the suc- 
 cor of the colony. The colonists, discouraged 
 hy the long absence of their commander, put
 
 44 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 to sea in a small pinnace which they had con- 
 structed, in the mad hope of attempting to 
 reach France. Fortunately they were rescued 
 by an English vessel. Two years later, Co- 
 ligny being again able to turn his attention to 
 his favorite scheme of colonization, despatched 
 three small vessels to Florida, under command 
 of a companion of Ribaut, named Rene de 
 Laudonniere. 
 
 Laudonniere landed at the present site of 
 St. Augustine ; but on the following day en- 
 tered the St. John's River, where he deter- 
 mined to found a settlement. 
 
 The site chosen was at St. John's Bluff, just 
 within the mouth of the River, where the re- 
 mains of the works they constructed are still 
 said to exist. Laudonniere erected a fort, 
 which he named Fort Caroline, and from it 
 made many excursions to the surrounding 
 country, and seems to have kept on excellent 
 terms with the Indians. He, however, ac- 
 complished nothing; and, relying on receiving 
 supplies from France, which of course did not 
 come, the garrison was reduced to the verge 
 of starvation. Their Indian friends got tired
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 45 
 
 of suppl3ing their wants, particularly when 
 they found the stock of " Parisian notions " 
 brought by them was exhausted ; they refused 
 longer to bring in provisions. Had it not been 
 for a lovely widow, the Queen of a neighbor- 
 ing tribe, Laudonni^re and his companions 
 would have inevitably perished. But the 
 Queen, taking pity of their distress, sent them 
 in the nick of time some boat-loads of corn and 
 beans, which were gladly welcomed by Rene 
 and his followers. Fairbanks tells us the fol- 
 lowing : 
 
 " In De Bray there is an engraving made 
 from a sketch of Le Moyne's, who accompan- 
 ied a deputation, representing her Majesty in 
 her state procession. At the head appear two 
 trumpeters blowing upon reeds. Then follow 
 six chiefs bearing a canopied platform, on 
 which is seated, shaded by a leafy canopy, her 
 Majesty, in the person of a beautiful female. 
 Around her neck is a cordon of pearls ; brace- 
 lets and g^nklets adorn the person, et prcBtcrea 
 nihil. On each side walk other chiefs, hold- 
 ing large feather shades or fans ; beautiful 
 young girls, bearing baskets of fruits and flow-
 
 46 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ers, follow next to the Ouecn, and then war- 
 riors and her household guards." 
 
 In 1565, Coligny, to succor and render per- 
 manent the colony in Florida, fitted out seven 
 vessels, upon which he embarked six hundred 
 and fifty persons; comprising not only the 
 representatives of some of the best families of 
 France, but many artisans and their families. 
 The colonists carried with them seed, and im- 
 plements wherewith to till the land ; indeed, 
 every requisite for a permanent settlement. 
 They sailed from Dieppe, under the command 
 of Ribaut, on the 23d of May, 1565; but, en- 
 countering stormy weather, it was not till the 
 29th of August that they reached Fort Caro- 
 line, where they found Laudonniere on the eve 
 of departing for France. 
 
 In the meantime, whilst Coligny was fitting 
 out this expedition, word had been carried to 
 Spain that the French Huguenots, whom they 
 looked upon as heretics, were on the point of 
 seizing Florida, a land to which the Spaniards 
 claimed exclusive right. Philip II. at once 
 encouraged the fitting out of an expedition tc
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 47 
 
 thwart their purpose, and soon found the man 
 whom he needed to accomplish this object. 
 
 This was Pedro Menendcz, who, having 
 been successful in several naval expeditions, 
 had acquired considerable fame and wealth. 
 His life had been blighted by the loss of a fa- 
 vorite son, who had been shipwrecked on the 
 coast of Florida, on board a treasure ship re- 
 turniup from Mexico. 
 
 In the hopes of finding his son, Menendez 
 embarked his fortune in the new expedition, 
 spending a million of ducats for its equipment. 
 The King had been lavish in his promises to 
 assist Menendez, but in the end furnished a 
 single vessel, and two hundred men. In spite 
 of this, Menendez set sail for Florida, from 
 Cadiz, on the ist of July, 1565, with a fleet of 
 thirty-four vessels. Many of them were ships 
 of from six hundred to a thousand tons, the 
 whole fleet carrying a force of nearly three 
 thousand persons. 
 
 It will be noticed that Ribaut's vessels had 
 left France a month in advance of Menendcz, 
 but the latter reached the coast of Florida on 
 the same day as the French, though not with
 
 48 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 the fleet with which he sailed from Cadiz ; for 
 only a third of them were with him, the 
 rest having been wrecked or dispersed. 
 
 Menendez landed on the coast on the 28tli 
 of August, 1565, the fete of St. Augustine, 
 in whose honor he named his settlement — a 
 name it retains at present. From the Indians, 
 Menendez learned that the French were but a 
 few leagues distant to the north, and at the 
 mouth of St. John's river. 
 
 The French heard of the arrival of their 
 enemies, and sent out a vessel to reconnoitre. 
 It soon returned, and reported to Ribaut that 
 the Spaniards were engaged in landing at St. 
 Augustine, and in fortifying the place. Ribaut 
 at once resolved to get rid of so dangerous a 
 neighbor by surprising him before he could 
 strengthen his defences. Leaving a small gar- 
 rison at Fort Caroline, he embarked his whole 
 force ; and, on the loth of September, set sail 
 for St. Augustine. No sooner had he started 
 than a gale arose and drove him far beyond 
 his destination. Menendez, meantime, had 
 started overland to surprise Ribaut. He was 
 guided by two Indian chiefs, enemies of Lau-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. ^g 
 
 donnierc. The country was quasi-impassable, 
 made so by the heavy rains ; but Menendez 
 persevered in the march, and at dawn of the 
 third day they arrived at Fort Caroline. 
 Without losing a moment, the Spaniards at- 
 tacked the fort, which offered but a feeble re- 
 sistance ; it was soon captured. An indis- 
 criminate massacre of men, women and chil- 
 dren took place ; that, too, to the lasting- dis- 
 grace of the name of Menendez. Some of his 
 prisoners he hung upon the neighboring trees, 
 placiqg over them this inscription: " No por 
 Franceses, sino por Luteranos." (" Not as 
 Frenchmen, but as Lutherans.")* 
 
 Menendez, having left at Fort Caroline a 
 garrison of three hundred men, returned to St. 
 Augustine, where, this victory over the Hu- 
 guenots caused great rejoicings. In the midst 
 of the gaieties, word was brought that Ribaut's 
 fleet had been stranded at Matanzas Inlet, some 
 distance below St. Augustine, and that his 
 force was endeavoring to cross to the main- 
 land. Menendez set his army in motion, and 
 soon arrived at the scene of shipwreck. 
 
 * Fairbanks. 
 
 3
 
 go GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Here a long parley took place, the French 
 doing their " possible to obtain terms of sur- 
 render, by which Menendez would spare their 
 lives and furnish them means to return to their 
 own country." All that could be obtained 
 from him was, " that he would treat them as 
 God directed him." Two hundred of Ribaut's 
 companions, considering the tei ms extremely 
 suspicious, made their escape in the night, 
 to the southward. In the morning, Ribaut, 
 most of his officers, and one hundred and fifty 
 men, unconditionally surrendered to Menen- 
 dez, having faith in his clemency. The French 
 claim that Ribaut was promised his life and 
 the lives of his followers, but this the Spanish 
 historians deny. At all events, by the orders 
 of the general, the shipwrecked soldiers were 
 marched into the woods in detached parties 
 and cruelly butchered. 
 
 The two hundred who had fled, made their 
 way to Point Canaveral, where they hastily 
 threw up some works to defend them ; and 
 then commenced building a vessel from the 
 materials of a wreck which they found there. 
 Upon learning of their whereabouts, Menen-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 5 1 
 
 dez sent them word that if the}" would surren- 
 der, he would protect them and treat them as 
 Spaniards. Most of them accepted his terms, 
 and, singular to narrate, the Spanish comman- 
 der kept his word. They became a part of 
 the colony, and afterwards some of them re- 
 turned to France. 
 
 The fearful massacres perpetrated by Gov- 
 nor Menendez created considerable excite- 
 ment throughout Europe; but Spain ap- 
 proved of the deed, which was commended 
 by Philip II. and his people as a righteous 
 act. France made numerous demands upon 
 the Crown of Spain to revenge the murder 
 of their countrymen; but Charles IX. and his 
 Court felt little sympathy for the misfortunes 
 of the Huguenots, and treated the matter wnth 
 indifference. 
 
 jNIenendez, having disposed of Ribaut, turn- 
 ed his attention to strengthening the defences 
 of St. Augustine, and placing the settlement 
 on a permanent footing. A strong fort was 
 built, a cathedral and other buildings erected, 
 and magistrates and others appointed to ad- 
 minister the government of the province.
 
 52 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 He then set out to explore the shores of 
 the peninsula in search of his long-lost son ; 
 and for months persevered in the task. He 
 visited innumerable bays and inlets ; and, 
 through his interpreters, sought among the 
 Indian tribes information which might shed 
 light upon the fate of his child. At last, to 
 his great joy, he was told that, near Cape 
 Florida, seven Spaniards, shipwrecked years 
 before, were living with the Indians. Reach- 
 ing the Indian Settlement, Menendez was 
 bitterly disappointed to find his son was not 
 among them. Sick at heart, he invited the 
 seven Spaniards — who had been with the 
 natives twenty years — on board his vessel, 
 and returned to St, Augustine. 
 
 DE GOURGES. 
 
 In 1567, Menendez deemed it to his interest 
 to visit Spain, and ordered a vessel to be built 
 to convey him thither. By his command, 
 this craft was of twenty tons burthen. In 
 this little yacht, which would have done 
 credit to herself and her builders in a regatta
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 53 
 
 of the present day, jNlenendez ran to tlie 
 Azores in seventeen days, and landed in Spain 
 after the shortest passage of the period. At 
 the Spanish Court he was received with 
 the highest honors ; but when he asked for 
 material aid ftjr the struggling colony, and to 
 be reimbursed for the enormous outlay he had 
 made in crushing the Lutheran pirates — as the 
 Huguenots were then termed — he found 
 them slow to respond to his demands. For 
 more than a year he remained in Spain, and 
 at last succeeded " in getting his bill honor- 
 ed," besides being made Governor of Cuba. 
 
 He arrived at St. Augustine in the Spring 
 of 1568, and learned with grief and rage that 
 a serious accident had happened to his faith- 
 ful garrison at Fort Caroline ; nothing less 
 than the massacre of the entire party, by De 
 Gourges, the Huguenot. 
 
 Dominic de Gourges was a brave soldier ; 
 from his early youth he had led a life of adven- 
 ture ; captured by the Spaniards in battle, he 
 had been made a galley-slave. He was also 
 taken by the Turks, but was afterwards re- 
 captured by his countrymen.
 
 54 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Returning from a successful voyao:e to 
 Brazil, he arrived in France to learn of the 
 massacre of the French at Fort Carohne. 
 From that moment he determined to devote 
 his life and fortune to avenging that dastardly 
 act. 
 
 De Gourges did not ask the assistance of 
 the French Government for his proposed ex- 
 pedition ; he carefully concealed his designs, 
 but made his preparations with all possible 
 haste. Having secured a permit for a voyage 
 to Africa, to obtain a cargo of slaves, he en- 
 listed about one hundred and eighty soldiers 
 and sailors for the purpose. 
 
 After a long and stormy voyage, De Gour- 
 ges arrived with his three vessels, at Fernan- 
 dina, then called La Seine by the French. It 
 was there that he made his preparations for 
 avenging his countrymen and co-religionists. 
 Among his troops was one who had accom- 
 panied the unfortunate Laudonniere, and who 
 understood the language of the natives. This 
 proved a fortunate circumstance ; for no 
 sooner had the vessels anchored in the beauti- 
 ful harbor, than the Indians assembled on the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 55 
 
 beach to contest the landing of the detested 
 Spaniards, as they supposed De Gourges' 
 party to be. But the above-mentioned soldier 
 explained to the chief, Satourioura, the nat- 
 ure of the expedition. He was pleased with 
 the news, and promised to rally to De Gour- 
 ges' aid thousands of warriors, who would aid 
 the French in exterminating the common 
 enemy. Then they brought to the French a 
 lad, one Peter De Bre, who had escaped fi-om 
 the massacre at Fort Caroline, and had come 
 to them. He proved of great service as an 
 interpreter and in obtaining correct informa- 
 tion as to the strength and position of the 
 Spaniards.* 
 
 The preparations being completed ; accom- 
 panied by the forces of his Indian ally, De 
 Gourges set out for Fort Caroline. H e reach- 
 ed it, and surprised the garrison, which was 
 unprepared for a land attack. 
 
 Finding themselves surrounded, the gar- 
 rison threw down their arms and attempted 
 to make good their escape. They were, how- 
 ever, either slain or captured. Taking the 
 
 * Fairbanks.
 
 56 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 survivors to the spot where Menendez, three 
 years before, had executed the Huguenots, 
 De Gourges hanged the Spaniards to the 
 branches of the oaks ; and, taking down the 
 former inscription placed over the French 
 bodies by the Spaniards, he replaced it with 
 the following ; " I do this, not as unto Span- 
 iards, nor as to outcasts, but as to traitors, 
 thieves, and murderers." 
 
 Dc Gourges and his followers then re-em- 
 barked, amid a perfect ovation from the In- 
 dians, and safely returned to France. 
 
 This humiliating blow of De Gourges, to- 
 gether with other discouraging events, damp- 
 ed Menendez's enthusiasm for colonizing. He, 
 nevertheless, made many excursions to the 
 surrounding country, and even reached the 
 shores of the Chesapeake. The Colony, not- 
 withstanding, did not flourish ; so, when called 
 to Spain to take command of the Spanish 
 fleet, he was pleased to leave Florida for ever. 
 He died soon after reaching Spain, in 1574, in 
 the fifty-fifth year of his age. 
 
 Menendez left the government of Florida in 
 the hands of his relative, the Marquis de Me-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. ry 
 
 nendez ; and, from that time until 1586, its 
 histoiy presents little of interest. 
 
 In that year Sir Francis Drake, the English 
 freebooter, on his way to England, surprised 
 and captured St. Augustine, which, at the 
 time, was a well-built and flourishing town. 
 The family of Menendez continued governing 
 Florida for nearly one hundred 3^ears. In 
 1665, an English pirate. Captain John Davis, 
 captured and pillaged the town. 
 
 South Carolina, having been settled by the 
 Enghsh, constant troubles arose between the 
 Colonists and the Spaniards. Governor 
 Moore, in 1702, attacked St. Augustine, but 
 met with a disastrous repulse. In 1740, Gov- 
 ernor Oglethorpe, of Georgia, also met wdth 
 a like result before the walls of that city. In 
 1762, Cuba fell into possession of the English ; 
 and when peace was declared 'during the fol- 
 lowing year, Great Britain transferred it to 
 Spain in exchange for Florida. 
 
 Captain James Grant was the first English 
 Governor. One of his earliest acts w^as the 
 issue of a proclamation referring to the salu- 
 brity of the climate, and the extreme age at- 
 3*
 
 58 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 tained by the inhabitants of the coimtr}'.* 
 In this, and in other ways, he endeavored to 
 attract emigration to the shores of Florida. 
 In 1766, a certain Dr. Turnbull, a Scotchman, 
 having obtained from the Crown the conces- 
 sion of a large tract of land below St. Augus- 
 tine, he called it New Smyrna. To it he 
 brought, from Smyrna and the Balearic Isles, 
 fifteen hundred Greeks and Minorcans, whom 
 he settled there. 
 
 Ten years later, these colonists secured 
 from the magistrates at St. Augustine, a de- 
 cree cancelling their agreement with Turn- 
 bull ; and almost the entire number removed 
 to St. Augustine, and colonized, where their 
 descendants still remain, forming the most 
 industrious and interesting portion of the 
 population. 
 
 In 1 82 1, Florida was ceded to the United 
 States. Of the long wars with the Seminole 
 Indians it is unnecessary to remark — the 
 visitor to Florida will continue to find 
 among the old inhabitants many who have 
 gone through those bloody scenes, and 
 
 * Fairbanks.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 59 
 
 who take interest in narrating them to 
 strangers. 
 
 We will here terminate our brief sketch 
 of the history of Florida, referring the reader 
 for more ample information, to the " History 
 of Florida " by Fairbanks ; and to Irving's 
 Conquest thereof — of which the writer has 
 availed himself for much of the foregoing in- 
 formation.
 
 FLORIDA; 
 
 ITS GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE, ETC. 
 
 Florida is the most southern of the States 
 of the Union, and extends down to latitude 
 25° N. The peninsula is four hundred miles 
 in length, with an average width of about one 
 hundred miles. It contains 59,268 square 
 miles of territory, and a population of about 
 two hundred thousand ; the white and colored 
 being nearl}'^ equal in numbers, the whites 
 slightly predominating. 
 
 The surface of the country is remarkably 
 level. The lands in the upper portion of the 
 State, near the boundary of Georgia, are of a 
 rolling character. A large proportion of the 
 land is covered with forests of pine and c}'- 
 press. The most remarkable feature of the 
 
 State is its numerous navigable streams and 
 
 (60)
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 6 1 
 
 lakes, and its wonderful mineral springs, 
 which probably gave rise to the fable of the 
 Fountain of Rejuvenancy, to which Ponce de 
 Leon aspired possession. The Indians, from 
 the earliest times, had resorted to these foun- 
 tains for medicinal purposes, and knew well 
 their beneficial effects. Even now the waters 
 continue to enjoy their ancient reputation, 
 and thither strangers repair in search of 
 health. 
 
 These springs are the largest in the world 
 — excepting those mentioned by Livingstone 
 as being the source of the Nile. Williams, in 
 his history of Florida, thus describes two of 
 the hundreds which exist in that State. 
 
 " The Wakulla River rises about ten miles 
 N. W. from St. Mark's, from one of the finest 
 springs in Florida. It is of an oval form, the 
 largest diameter of which is about six rods. 
 It is of unknown depth and perfectly trans- 
 parent. In looking into it, the color resem- 
 bles a clear blue sky, except near the border, 
 where it has a slight tinge of green, from the 
 reflection of the surrounding verdure, which 
 overhangs it in drooping branches and waving
 
 62 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 festoons. The Eastern side presents a rugged 
 rocky precipice ; all else is in an abyss of 
 boundless depth. Squadrons of fish are seen 
 careering round ' their own world ' in perfect 
 security. 
 
 " The big Spring of Chipola offers a very 
 different scene. Here a river bursts from the 
 earth, with a giant force, from large masses 
 of rugged rocks, with furious rapidity, as 
 though impatient of restraint. The orifice 
 opens to the southwest from a high bank cov- 
 ered with large oak trees. This orifice is 
 thirty feet by eight feet wide. A large rock 
 divides the mouth almost into two parts. This 
 spring at once forms a river six rods wide and 
 eight feet deep, which joins the Chipola River 
 at about ten miles distance." 
 
 The River St. John's is one of the most re- 
 markable and beautiful in our country. For 
 a hundred and fifty miles its average width is 
 nearly two miles ; and, in many places, it en- 
 larges into lakes ten and twenty miles in 
 width. Of its many beauties we shall have 
 occasion to speak further on.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 63 
 
 The wonderful salubrity of the climate of 
 Florida is its greatest attraction, and is des- 
 tined to make it to America what the South 
 of France and Italy are to Europe, — the refuge 
 of those who seek to escape the rigor of a 
 Northern winter. The sudden changes ex- 
 perienced at Nice or Florence are unknown 
 in Florida. 
 
 So well convinced are our physicians of this 
 fact, that they now advise their patients to 
 seek health in Florida, within three days' reach 
 of their homes and friends, in lieu of going 
 abroad at a stormy season of the year. 
 
 Florida, as a resort for those suffering from 
 pulmonary disease, is preferable to any other 
 portion of America. The census of i860 fur- 
 nished the following evidence on this subject. 
 It gives the average number of deaths from 
 Consumption as follows : 
 
 One in 254 in Massachusetts. 
 One in 473 in New York. 
 One in 757 in Virginia. 
 One in 1139 in Minnesota. 
 One in 1447 in Florida.
 
 64 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 The following Summary of Observations, taken from the 
 " Army Meteorological Register" are introduced to show the 
 equability of the climate of Florida, as compared with that 
 of other parts of the United States: 
 
 
 Jan. 
 
 57.03 
 
 Feb. 
 
 Mar. 
 
 Apr. 
 68.78 
 
 May. 
 73-50 
 
 June 
 
 
 St. Augustine, Fla.. 
 
 59-94 
 
 63-34 
 
 7936 
 
 
 Tampa Bay, " . 
 
 61.53 
 
 63-54 
 
 67.72 
 
 71.82 
 
 7664 
 
 79.46 
 
 
 Key West, " . 
 
 66.68 
 
 68.88 
 
 72.88 
 
 75.38 
 
 79.10 
 
 81.63 
 
 
 West Point, N. Y.. 
 
 28.28 
 
 28.80 
 
 3763 
 
 48.70 
 
 59.82 
 
 68.41 
 
 
 Fort Snelling, Min. 
 
 13.76 
 
 17-57 
 
 31.41 
 
 56.34 
 
 58.97 
 
 68.46 
 
 
 
 July. 
 80.90 
 
 Aug. 
 
 80.56 
 
 Sept. 
 78.60 
 
 Oct. 
 
 Nov. 
 
 Dec. 
 
 Year 
 
 St. Augustine, Fla.. 
 
 71.88 
 
 64.12 
 
 57.26 
 
 69.61 
 
 Tampa Bay, " . 
 
 80.72 
 
 80.43 
 
 7828 
 
 74.02 
 
 66.94 
 
 61.99 
 
 71.92 
 
 Key West, 
 
 83.00 
 
 82.90 
 
 81.92 
 
 78.11 
 
 74.66 
 
 71 03 
 
 76.51 
 
 West Point, N. Y.. 
 
 73 75 
 
 71.83 
 
 64.31 
 
 53-04 
 
 12.23 
 
 31.98 
 
 50.73 
 
 Fort Snelling, Min. 
 
 73.40 
 
 70.05 
 
 58 86 
 
 47-15 
 
 31.67 
 
 16.8,) 
 
 46.54 
 
 The above indicates the mean tempera- 
 ture, the result of over twenty years' observa- 
 tions.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 65 
 
 The sulphur baths at Green Cove Springs, 
 and other points in Florida, have been pro- 
 nounced as efficacious for the cure of Rheu- 
 matism as those of Sharon and Richfield, 
 whilst St. Augustine is the refuge of those 
 afflicted with that dreadful disease. Asthma. 
 We have never heard of an instance where re- 
 lief vsras not effected. 
 
 HOW TO REACH FLORIDA. 
 
 The choice of a route to Florida is, of 
 course, the first and most important consider- 
 tion to those who intend going thither. Ac- 
 cording to our opinion, the Steamers of the 
 New York and Charleston, and New York 
 and Savannah lines, offer the best mode of 
 conveyance. They are in all respects the 
 most advisable whether for the invalid or 
 pleasure seeker. The following comprise the 
 vessels running to the places named, and 
 form a splendid fleet of first-class ocean 
 steamers ;
 
 ^ GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 NEW YORK AND CHARLESTON LINE. 
 
 " Manhattan "— M. S. Woodhull, Commander. 
 " Champion "— R. W. Lockwood, " 
 
 " Charleston " — James Berry, " 
 
 '* James Adger "— T. J. Lockwood, " 
 
 " Georgia " Holmes, " 
 
 i' South Carolina "—J. T. Beckett, " 
 Sailing from Pier 29 North River, at 3 p. m., every 
 Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Jas. W. Quin- 
 TARD & Co., Agents, corner of Warren and West 
 Streets; or Wm. P. Clyde, 6 Bowling Green. 
 
 NEW YORK AND SAVANNAH LINES. 
 
 '' Leo " — Dearborn, Commander. 
 
 " Virgo "— Bulkley, " 
 
 Every Tuesday, from foot of Wall Street, at 3 p. m. 
 Murray, Ferris & Co., Agents, 61 and 62 South 
 Street. 
 
 " Herman Livingston " — Cheeseman, Commander. 
 
 " General Barnes "— Mallory, " 
 
 Every Thursday, from Pier 43, North River, at 3 
 p. M. Wm. R. Garrison, Agent, 5 Bowling Green. 
 
 " San Jacinto " — Hazard, Commander. 
 
 " San Salvador " — Nickerson, "
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 67 
 
 Every Saturday, from Pier 43, North River, at 3 p. m. 
 Wm. R. Garrison, Agent, 5 Bowling Green. 
 
 We refer to advertisements of above com- 
 panies, which will be found at the end of this 
 volume ; and in the event of any further infor- 
 mation being desired, the traveller cannot do 
 better than apply at one of the different offices 
 named, where he will be treated with cour- 
 tesy, and placed in possession of any informa- 
 tion he desires. 
 
 The voyage to Charleston or Savannah is a 
 short one, it seldom exceeding sixty hours in 
 time ; and experience has proven that the in- 
 valid almost invariably improves at sea. The 
 vessels are provided with an excellent table 
 and careful attendance, such comforts as it is 
 impossible to procure on any other route. 
 For those in good health, the trip is a most 
 enjoyable one. The class of passengers avail-
 
 68 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ing themselves of these steamers are invariably 
 pleasant and agreeable companions — tourists 
 from ail parts of the United States, Boston, 
 New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, St. Louis, 
 Cincinnatti, etc — scarcely a city but is repre- 
 sented on board of them. 
 
 Travelers who go by land should leave 
 either by the morning train at 9, or by the 
 9:30 evening Express, on the New Jersey 
 R. R. The morning train connects at Balti- 
 more with the Steamers of the Bay Line for 
 Norfolk, the least fatiguing route. The cap- 
 ital suppers and comfortable state-rooms fur- 
 nished on board that line will long dwell in 
 the memory of the Southern traveler. The 
 evening train carries the passenger via Wash- 
 ington and Richmond. 
 
 Until recently there was no comfortable 
 resting-place on the road south of Norfolk or 
 Richmond, but now the Purcell House at 
 Wilmington, North Carohna, supplies the 
 want ; and, under the care of Colonel Davis, 
 the weary traveler will soon recuperate. 
 
 Invalids, and others not pressed for time, 
 should divide the journey thus — Leave New
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 69 
 
 York by the morning train, and sleep at 
 Washington ; pass the following night at 
 Richmond, the third at Wilmington, arriving 
 at Charleston the fourth day. The Arlington 
 at Washington, and Exchange at Richmond, 
 are strictly first-class hotels. 
 
 A well-supplied lunch-basket will not be 
 amiss when starting from Richmond to Wil- 
 mington, as it is impossible to obtain a good 
 meal on the road. 
 
 At Charleston, travelers will find Omni- 
 buses waiting at the Steamsliip Wharf, and 
 Railway Depot, to convey them to the various 
 Hotels, and to the Steamers of the Florida 
 Line. 
 
 CHARLESTON. 
 
 Charleston is one of the oldest cities of the 
 Continent (settled in 1679), and is also one of 
 the most interesting and enjoyable. Its situa- 
 tion, almost directly upon' the sea, with the 
 waves of the Atlantic in full view from its 
 wharves, is unsurpassed. Its harbor is a fine 
 one, with ample water front to supply the
 
 70 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 demands of its commerce. Charleston has a 
 beautiful promenade, on the apex of the 
 peninsula on which the city is built, and from 
 it can be viewed Fort Sumter and the islands 
 forming the entrance to the Bay — Morris and 
 Sullivan. 
 
 Approaching Charleston by steamer, the 
 city seems to rise from the sea. On misty 
 mornings, the effects of mirage in the har- 
 bor are very remarkable. The city then 
 appears raised high above the horizon, and 
 entirely detached from it — whilst Sumter 
 seems thrice its former size. On one or two 
 occasions, during the war, this phenomenon 
 spread consternation through the city, as the 
 whole blockading squadron was made to ap- 
 pear within the obstructions, and fast ap- 
 proaching the wharves. The situation of 
 Charleston for commercial purposes is admir- 
 able, being nearer to the ocean than most 
 other Atlantic cities of importance. Its har- 
 bor, which is capacious and secure, is easy of 
 access to vessels of large tonnage. 
 
 Indeed, Charleston possesses all the requi- 
 sites of a great commercial seaport, and there
 
 GUIDE 7V FLORIDA. 
 
 71 
 
 is no doubt that, once relieved from her pres- 
 ent exorbitant taxation, she will make rapid 
 strides in prosperity. Three great lines of 
 railway connect the city with the interior, by 
 which the products of the South and South- 
 west can be brought to her wharves at the 
 lowest rates. The recent discoveries of rich 
 deposits of phosphate rock in the districts 
 about the city, have proven to be of great 
 importance, and many millions of dollars and 
 thousands of laborers are profitabl}' em- 
 ployed in digging and preparing it for mar- 
 ket. 
 
 A very erroneous impression prevails as to 
 the extent of business transacted in Charles- 
 ton, it being far greater than is generally sup- 
 posed. Her wholesale trade in dr}' goods, 
 groceries, etc., is- very large — nearly as great 
 as before the war, and greater than any other 
 Southern port, except New Orleans. She re- 
 ceives a large quantity of cotton and lumber, 
 naval stores, rice, and phosphates. In spite of 
 bad government, high taxes, the ravages of fire, 
 and the unfortunate investments in Confede- 
 rate " securities," Charleston is undoubtedly
 
 72 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 progressing, and but few years will be requir- 
 ed to restore her to her former position. 
 
 A growing confidence in the final restora- 
 tion of an honest State government is again 
 attracting capital from abroad ; and many 
 transactions have of late taken place in real 
 estate, within the city, on terms which, to 
 those accustomed to the prices current in 
 Northern cities, would seem preposterously 
 low. Fine dwellings, with beautiful gardens 
 attached thereto, are selling for from six to 
 ten thousand dollars — in many instances the 
 same buildings having originally cost double 
 that sum. 
 
 The resources of Charleston for a pleasant 
 sojourn are varied, and visitors, in great num- 
 bers, avail themselves of them during the 
 winter months. The hotels have always been 
 celebrated for their comfort and good cheer. 
 Unfortunately one of the favorite resorts, the 
 ■' Mills' House," is now closed ; but the 
 ■' Charleston," a strictly first-class hotel, is kept 
 in excellent style, and has been recently en- 
 larged to meet the demand of increased 
 business. It is admirablv managed and ap-
 
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 O 
 
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 ^-] 
 
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 o 
 
 g 
 
 liii^*Si
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 73 
 
 pointed, and the building is one of the orna- 
 ments of the city. 
 
 The Artesian Baths attached to the house 
 form one of its greatest attractions. The 
 waters, which flow direct from the wells, are 
 equal in softness to the most famous springs 
 of Germany. 
 
 In the building is an office where tickets to 
 Florida can be obtained. At the office of the 
 hotel carriages can be procured to visit 
 several places of interest in and about the 
 city. 
 
 The " Pavilion Hotel " is a well-kept, com- 
 fortable house, to whose advertisement we call 
 attention. 
 
 OBJECTS OF INTEREST. 
 
 The public institutions of Charleston are 
 numerous, and well worthy of a visit. The 
 Orphan Asylum is an exceedingly fine build- 
 ing, from whose cupola a most extensive view 
 of the city and harbor can be obtained. St. 
 Nicholas' and St. Philip's Churches are fine 
 edifices — the former was built from designs
 
 74 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 of Sir Christopher Wren, who was also the 
 architect of the building known as the Old 
 Post-office. 
 
 This building is one in which many prom- 
 inent historical incidents were enacted. It 
 was the Government House in the Colonial 
 days ; and during the Revolution its cellars 
 were the dungeon in which the British con- 
 fined the prominent patriots — from it Hayne 
 was led to execution. Charlestonians regard 
 the building with interest and affection, and 
 hailed with pleasure the act of the Washing- 
 ton government in repairing it, for it had 
 fallen into almost total ruin. A great number 
 of shells, during the bombardment, had tra- 
 versed it from roof to cellar. It is again used 
 as the Post-office, and, though much altered, 
 still bears traces of its original architecture. 
 
 The church-yards of Charleston contain 
 many ancient and interesting monuments, 
 some bearing exceedingly quaint inscriptions. 
 Calhoun's tomb is in St. Philip's yard. 
 
 The Battery, lined with rows of beautiful 
 residences, is the favorite afternoon promen- 
 ade. At sunset, the visitor, leaning over the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 75 
 
 parapet rail, watching the waves break against 
 the sea-wall, cannot but appreciate the beauty 
 of the scene. Seaward lies Sumter, with a 
 fleet of vessels, large and small, passing to 
 and fro around the fortress. On the right is 
 James' Island, with the grove of giant pine 
 trees, known as the Hundred Pines, standing- 
 out in bold relief against the sky ; whilst, look- 
 ing up the Ashley, a view is obtained of a 
 beautiful river, with banks lined with groves 
 of magnolia and live oaks. 
 
 King Street is the Broadway of Charles- 
 ton, where the traveller can supply himself 
 from stores well filled with every commo- 
 dity. 
 
 The markets form a point of interest, and 
 should be visited. On Saturday night the 
 scene presented is curious, and peculiarly 
 Charlestonian. 
 
 There are several beautiful drives in the 
 environs of Charleston ; to Magnolia Ceme- 
 tery, — to Lowndes' Avenue, to Belvidere, — 
 to the Four Mile House, and to the Ship-yard. 
 The roads, in most places, are bordered by 
 live oaks, magnolias, and pines, from whose
 
 ^6 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 branches hang masses of gray moss, present- 
 ing a most unique appearance — whilst, in the 
 Spring, the hedges are filled with wild flow- 
 ers — the beautiful Cherokee rose and yellow 
 jessamine growing in tropical profusion, and 
 cHmbing high among the branches of the 
 trees. 
 
 The Charleston phosphates afford interest 
 to the agriculturist and the naturalist, who 
 should not fail to visit the region of theif 
 whereabouts. A recent work says : 
 
 " In this region are found the most won- 
 derful remains of ancient and extinct species 
 of animals. There are whole acres richly 
 studded with fossils. Among these have been 
 recognized the bones of the Mammoth, Mas- 
 todon, Megatherium, Mylodon, Megalonyx, 
 Phocodon, and several varieties of the Sauri; 
 also teeth and bones of the shark, and numer- 
 ous other fishes in great variety ; also teeth 
 and bones of the horse, dog, sheep, ox and 
 hog, differing but little, if at all, from those 
 belonging to our present domestic animals. 
 Pieces of pottery have been discovered com- 
 bined with stone hatchets, etc., in the same
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 77 
 
 bed, and almost identical in their character 
 with remains of the extinct animals, etc., 
 found some years since, near Abbeville, in 
 France. It is said that human bones were 
 found, but the evidence to that effect is not 
 positive. This strange collection, this sepul- 
 alire of the ages, where animals, now extinct, 
 sleep side by side with others ; the ancestors, 
 perhaps, of our daily companions — where men, 
 beasts, reptiles and fishes, would seem to have 
 found a common grave — these fossils occur in 
 the post-pleiocene strata. They have been 
 described in the scientific journals by Pro- 
 fessor Holmes, whose articles attracted many 
 savans ; among them, Agassiz, Count Portalis 
 and Leidy." 
 
 A visit to the Phosphate works in the vici- 
 nity of the city, will well repay one. The 
 rock can be procured in Charleston, without 
 the labor of a journey to the diggings. The 
 trade in fertilizers has assumed extensive pro- 
 portions. Since its discovery, its production 
 has reached a figure representing several 
 millions of dollars annually. 
 
 No one should leave Charleston without
 
 ^8 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 visiting the numerous points of interest in the 
 harbor, made memorable by the stubborn con- 
 flicts between the Confederates and the forces 
 of the Federal Army and Navy. The excur- 
 sion to Forts Sumter and Moultrie, and to 
 the batteries on Morris, Sullivan and James' 
 Islands, is a delightful one, and can be safely 
 made in the comfortable yacht Eleanor, which 
 makes several trips daily from the Florida 
 Steamship Wharf. 
 
 SAVANNAH. 
 
 The visitor will find Savannah a beautiful 
 city, abounding in pleasant walks and drives. 
 It is one of the most prosperous cities of the 
 South ; one which does an enormous business 
 in merchandize, cotton and lumber. Its 
 wharves, during most of the year, are crowd- 
 ded with vessels. 
 
 The situation of Savannah, her perfect rail- 
 road facilities, etc., guarantees her a brilhant 
 future. She already receives nearly one sixth 
 of the cotton crop, and new avenues to trade 
 are constantly increasing. Much of the pros-
 
 o 
 
 < 
 
 > 
 < 
 
 1-4" 
 O 

 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 79 
 
 perity of the city can be directly traced to the 
 liberal course pursued by the manager of her 
 great railroad, " The Georgia Central." This 
 road, with its branches and connections, keeps 
 up constant communication with Augusta, 
 Macon, Atlanta, Columbus, Montgomery, and 
 New Orleans, etc. ; it is pronounced to be the 
 best-managed road in the Southern country. 
 
 Savannah possesses several excellent hotels 
 — the Pulaski, long considered one of the best 
 at the South, has recently been put in com- 
 plete order — refurnished, and many improve- 
 ments made in its interior. On the oppo- 
 site side of Johnson Square, will be found the 
 Screven House, which shares with the Pulas- 
 ki a well-deserved popularity. It is admira- 
 bly kept. 
 
 The Pavilion, — beautifully situated on Bull 
 Street, is now in the hands of Mr. Fernandez, 
 whom visitors to the Pulaski in former years 
 will no doubt remember. It is spoken of as 
 excellently kept ; and its charges, ,as will be 
 seen from the advertisement, are moderate.
 
 8o GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Savannah derives its principal beauty from 
 Its wide streets flanked with magnificent 
 trees. The oak, the magnolia, and the Pride 
 of India, shade the way to pedestrians, making 
 walking agreeable. Forsyth Park is un- 
 doubtedly one of the prettiest spots in Amer- 
 ica ; it is a favorite resort of the beau-monde of 
 the city. At early evening the visitor will 
 see the loveliest faces; such beauties as will 
 compare favorably with those of Baltimore. 
 
 Several pleasant excursions can be made 
 from Savannah ; one to Bonaventure, a beau- 
 tiful cemetery, shaded by the most remarka- 
 ble grove of live-oaks in the world. Those 
 splendid trees flank the avenues; their 
 branches interlacing high overhead, thus form- 
 ing arches whose symmetry is admirable. 
 From every branch hang festoons of Spanish 
 moss, looking as though the whole grove 
 were draped in mourning in respect to the 
 dead who repose within their everlasting 
 shadow. The place is beautiful beyond des- 
 cription ; it impresses the visitor with gloomy 
 thoughts ; one feels relieved when, emerging 
 therefrom, he visits Thunderbolt, where on
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 FORSYTH PARK, SAVANNAH. 
 
 (To face p. Ml).)
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 8 1 
 
 the pleasant bank of the Vernon river his 
 gloom is soon overcome. The oysters found 
 there are excellent, and a lunch or dinner can 
 at all times be obtained. The ladies need not 
 be afraid of the milk-punches; they form a 
 specialty of the place, and their fair sisters of 
 Savannah consider them "quite the thing." 
 
 White Bluff, ten miles from the city, is 
 reached by an excellent well-shaded road ; a 
 da}^ can be agreeably spent there. Fish din- 
 ners are the speciality at Mrs. Sylvester's ; 
 they are such as Greenwich never gave to 
 Londoners. 
 
 From Charleston and Savannah, the fine 
 New York built Steamers "Dictator" and 
 " City Point " furnish a tri-weekly line to Flor- 
 ida. We do not hesitate to pronounce the 
 route the cheapest, safest and only comfort- 
 able way of reaching the different resorts in 
 that State. By any other route, many changes 
 of conveyance are made imperative ; causing 
 great inconvenience and suffering to the in- 
 valid traveller. By embarking on the " Dic- 
 tator" or "City Point" this is avoided, and the 
 visitor is landed, without change of convey-
 
 82 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ance at the very doors of the principal hotels 
 of Florida. The steamers proceed directly 
 to: — 
 
 Fernandina, 
 
 Jacksonville, 
 
 Magnolia, 
 
 Green Cove Springs, 
 
 Picolata, 
 
 Tocoi, 
 
 Palatka, 
 
 Connecting with cars at Tocoi for — 
 
 St. Augustine, 
 
 And at Palatka with comfortable steamers 
 for — 
 
 Enterprise, 
 
 Mellonville, 
 
 Sanford, 
 
 and the Indian River Country, as well as with 
 boats for the Oclawaha River 
 
 These steamers are prepared expressly for 
 the Florida route, and are unsurpassed for 
 speed, safety, and comfort. They are under 
 the command of experienced officers, Cap- 
 tains Vogel and Fitzgerald, who have spent
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 83 
 
 most of their life on this route, never mcetinir 
 with an accident during the many years of 
 their service thereon. 
 
 A large sum was spent, last summ.er, in re- 
 fitting these vessels with new boilers, and in 
 supplying them with the latest improvements 
 for comfort and convenience. The state- 
 rooms are clean and comfortable, whilst the 
 table is provided with every luxury that 
 Charleston, Savannah, and Florida markets 
 can produce. 
 
 Leaving Charleston in the evening, the 
 steamers arrive at Savannah earl^^ in the 
 morning, and leave soon after for Fernandina. 
 Possessing great speed, they rapidl}^ run along 
 the Sea Islands of Georgia ; and, as westerly 
 winds prevail during the wdnter, the traveler 
 is — from the smoothness of the sea, and the 
 balmy temperature of the air — reminded of 
 the Mediterranean. The effect is beneficial to 
 the invalid, whose strength is renewed, and 
 appetite increased by the change ; so much so, 
 as to do justice to the excellent meals supplied 
 by the steamers. New York supplies them 
 with beef, mutton, and poultry ; whilst Florida,
 
 84 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Georgia, and South Carolina, are put under 
 contribution for fish and game. 
 
 We have known several persons who, for 
 months before leaving home, were unable to 
 eat a good repast, heartily enjoy their meals 
 during the entire trip from Charleston to 
 Florida, arriving at their destination much im- 
 proved, and in striking contrast to others who 
 were half the winter in recovering from the 
 fatigues of reaching the St. John's river by 
 land. 
 
 A uniform temperature is kept up in the sa- 
 loons and state-rooms of the vessels, which are 
 heated by steam. This will be appreciated 
 by those who have experienced the varied 
 temperature in railway cars, heated by a 
 stove. 
 
 The decks of the " Dictator," and " City 
 Point," in the traveling season, present an ani- 
 mated appearance, as the vessel glides along 
 the coast of Georgia. The passengers group 
 about, conversing on the subject of their voy- 
 age ; listening to the experience of those who 
 are familiar with the localities to be visited ; 
 or whiling away the hours playing cards or
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 85 
 
 chess, etc. Boston, New York, and Philadel- 
 phia, are often found represented in the same 
 party ; and under the pleasant influences of the 
 southern air, good fellowship prevails. The 
 invalids, who find themselves in better health 
 and spirits, propose hunting and fishing par- 
 ties to the Indian River, and elsewhere. In- 
 deed, the very nature of the conversation, and 
 the hopeful looks of the sufferers, tell, already, 
 the effects of the climate. 
 
 FERNANDINA. 
 
 In the evening, the steamer reaches Fer- 
 nandina, which is beautifully situated on Ame- 
 lia Island. It possesses an excellent harbor, 
 easy of access to vessels of large tonnage ; it 
 has a considerable and increasing trade in 
 cotton and lumber. It is the terminus of the 
 railroad to Cedar Keys, where a line of 
 steamers connects it with Havana and New 
 Orleans. 
 
 The Ridell House and Norwood House arc 
 well-kept establishments. 
 
 From Fernandina, the traveler can reach
 
 86 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Quincy, Tallahassee, Live Oak and other 
 points on the interior, by the " Jacksonville, 
 Pensacola, and Mobile Railroad." 
 
 ST. JOHN'S RIVER. 
 
 A FEW hours after leaving- Fernandina, the 
 steamer enters the beautiful St. John's. Near 
 the entrance is to be seen the St. John's Bluff, 
 the site of Fort Caroline, and of the scenes 
 rendered memorable by the massacres of 
 Spaniard and Huguenot. The officers of the 
 steamers are well versed in the history of the 
 country, and are willing to impart much in- 
 teresting information to the traveler. They 
 will always be found ready to promote the 
 welfare of the travelers, and to make the trip a 
 comfortable and pleasant one. Ladies and 
 children are especially cared for by an atten- 
 tive stewardess, whose duty it is to see that 
 their wants are supplied. 
 
 The trip up the St. John'.s is unlike any 
 other — the river presenting scenes entirely 
 novel. The stream is in most places two miles 
 in width, and often spreads out into great
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ^7 
 
 lakes from twelve to twenty miles wide. The 
 St. John's is undoubtedly the most beautiful 
 of southern rivers, and was well named by the 
 Indians " the String of Pearls." The steamer 
 makes the trip from the mouth of the river to 
 Palatka in about six hours, stopping at all the 
 principal landings, which we shall now des- 
 cribe. 
 
 JACKSONVILLE. 
 
 This is the most important town in Florida, 
 and is the great entrepot of the trade 'of the 
 middle and eastern sections of the State. Its 
 communication with the interior is perfect, 
 not onl}^ by the St. John's River, but also by 
 an extended line of railway, connecting it with 
 Tallahassee and other important places. Were 
 this road and its branches managed in the in- 
 terest of Jacksonville, a very large cotton 
 trade would centre here ; but, at present, the 
 strange spectacle is presented of an important 
 sea-port, the natural outlet of the product of 
 an enormous extent of the finest cotton-fields 
 in the South, doing comparatively nothing in 
 the great staple. We learn an effort is being 
 made by the merchants of Jacksonville, which
 
 88 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 cannot but receive the support of every one 
 interested in the future of the city and state, 
 to brinor back to its natural channel a business 
 which would create a degree of prosperity 
 little dreamed of. As it is, Jacksonville can 
 boast the most progressive business commu- 
 nity of any town of its size in the South, and 
 the rapid strides it has made within the past 
 few years, would do credit to any city of the 
 North or West. 
 
 Jacksonville is the centre of the great lum- 
 ber trade of Florida ; it employs an immense 
 number of vessels carrying cargoes of South- 
 ern pine to all parts of the world. These, and 
 the innumerable steamers pl^'ing on the St. 
 John's, gives the river a most animated and 
 agreeable appearance. 
 
 During the past two years, the number of 
 visitors to Jacksonville has doubled ; but, for- 
 tunately the hotel accommodations have kept 
 pace with the demand. 
 
 The Grand National is an excellent Hotel re- 
 cently completed and admirably situated, com- 
 manding an extended view of the river. Its 
 proprietor, Mr. McGinley is a celebrated host 
 at the South.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 89 
 
 The " St. James " is a fine building, of im- 
 posing appearance, capable of accommodating 
 about three hundred guests. It contains 
 many large, well furnished, and comfortable 
 apartments, and is very highly spoken of. 
 Its present proprietor is Mr. J. B. Campbell, 
 of Massachusetts, which fact alone will carry to 
 it many guests. 
 
 The " Me.tropohtan," situated close to the 
 landing place of the Florida steamers, is also a 
 new hotel, well appointed and admirably kept. 
 
 There are also numerous boarding houses, 
 said to be exceedingly good, and where the 
 prices are reasonable. The best are said to 
 be, Mrs. Hudnall's, St. John's House ; INIrs. 
 Buffington's; Mrs. Atkins', and Mrs. Day's; 
 whilst the " Sisters of St. Joseph " have a 
 house apart from their Academy, where a 
 moderate number can be accommodated and 
 made very comfortable. 
 
 The traveler will be able to spend the time 
 very agreeably at Jacksonville. There is a 
 daily communication with the North, and let- 
 ters and newspapers are regularly received. 
 The telegraph is also in operation, affording.
 
 ^O GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 at all times, the means of immediate intelli- 
 gence. At the "Ambler Bank" one can ne- 
 gotiate his business, whilst Adams' Express is 
 at hand to take charge of the parcels. Boat- 
 ing, sailing, and drives to the pleasant suburbs 
 of the town, will help to wile away the days. 
 
 Before leaving for the interior, it would be 
 well to provide such little supplies as old 
 travelers are wont to make. The gentlemen 
 will find at Bettelini and Togni's an excellent 
 supply of wines and delicacies. This is ex- 
 plained, when we say they have one or two 
 vessels trading between Jacksonville and 
 France, bringing them an unadulterated sup- 
 ply of various kinds. The ladies will find at 
 Furchgott, Benedict & Co.'s a good selection 
 of dry goods, etc. ; and at Greenleaf 's, a stock 
 of Florida curiosities, from which selections of 
 souvenirs of their trip can be obtained, such 
 as alligator teeth, St. Augustine sea-beans, 
 curlew wings, plumes for hats, etc., etc. 
 
 ST. JOHN'S RIVER. 
 
 The trip up the river is one of the most
 
 GUIDE TO FLORJDA. 9 1 
 
 delightful possible. By the \va3% it should 
 not be forgotten that " up the river," is down 
 the river, as the St. John's rises in the Ever- 
 glades south, and flows almost due north ; the 
 reverse of the course pursued by most rivers 
 in the world. 
 
 The shores of the St. John's are wanting in 
 what forms the great beauty of the Hudson — 
 the hills and mountains, to enhance the grand- 
 cur of the landscape. Here the banks seldom 
 rise more than twenty feet above its placid 
 waters. The scene is, however, most pictur- 
 esque ; and, as the steamer glides over the 
 mirror-like surface, the passengers are loud 
 in their expressions of admiration. From 
 time to time groves of orange trees, cov- 
 ered with golden fruit, are passed — the con- 
 trast between them and the forests of oak, 
 pine, and cypress, which fringe the shores, 
 making an agreeable variety. 
 
 MANDARIN. 
 
 Mandarin, the first landing-place of any im- 
 portance, is a small village on the east bank,
 
 Q2 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 nearly an hour's sail from Jacksonville. It is 
 one of the earliest settlements, but suffered 
 much during the Indian troubles. It pos- 
 sesses several fine orange groves, one of the 
 finest of which belongs to Mrs. Harriet 
 Beecher Stowe, who spends her winters here. 
 Several Indian mounds are to be found in the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 HIBERNIA. 
 
 Hibernia, about 8 miles further on, is one 
 of the most pleasant resorts. Mrs. Fleming 
 has here an excellent house. The country 
 about abounds in beautiful groves of oak, etc. 
 
 MAGNOLIA. 
 
 Magnolia, 27 miles from Jacksonville, on 
 the west bank, is a prepossessing place, which 
 possesses an excellent and well -patronized 
 hotel, one much resorted to by Northern 
 visitors. 
 
 GREEN COVE SPRINGS. 
 
 On rounding Magnolia Point, the steamer
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 93 
 
 enters a beautiful bay where, in full view, lies 
 Green Cove Springs, the Saratoga of the 
 St. John's. It is already a favorite resort, 
 which possesses several of the best hotels in 
 Florida. Its importance is assured; and sev- 
 eral wealthy families have expressed the in- 
 tention of building winter residences in its 
 neighborhood. 
 
 The " Clarendon House " is admirably kept 
 by Harris, Applegate & Co. It has attached 
 to it the celebrated Warm Sulphur Spring — 
 the great attraction to the place. The spring 
 discharges 3,000 gallons of water per minute, 
 at a temperature of 78°. This water is said 
 to be as valuable for its medicinal properties as 
 that of Sharon or Richfield, and is reported to 
 have effected many remarkable cures. The 
 " Union House " is also a first-class hotel, ex- 
 tensively patronized by New Yorkers and 
 Bostonians. 
 
 PICOLATA. 
 
 Picolata is the site of a Spanish settlement, 
 made shortly after the founding of St. Agus- 
 tine. It consists of but one house.
 
 94 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 TOCOI. 
 
 Tocoi is the terminus of the St. Augustine 
 Railroad ; it is here that passangers for that 
 city disembark. The road in question, we 
 learn, has been put in good order, and the 
 managers promise a quick and comfortable 
 transit to the ancient city. 
 
 ORANGE MILLS. 
 
 is about 65 miles from Jacksonville, and is 
 prettily located on the east bank. Mr. Cole's 
 residence here is surrounded by orange 
 groves. 
 
 PALATKA. 
 
 Palatka, the terminus of the route of the 
 "Dictator" and " City Point," is a flourishing 
 town of about fifteen hundred inhabitants. It 
 is situated on the west bank of the St. John's, 
 75 miles from Jacksonville. Passengers, bound 
 beyond, are transferred to the steamer " Star- 
 light " and other boats bound for Enterprise,
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. q^ 
 
 Mellonville, Indian River, etc., as well as for 
 all other points on the Ocklawaha. Palatka 
 is highly recommended by physicians as a 
 resort for invalids. 
 
 Palatka possesses two excellent hotels— the 
 " St. John's " and the '' Putnam House." A 
 recent writer in Harper s thus describes his 
 experience at the former. Arriving- at Pa- 
 latka he found the " Starlight " so crowded 
 that no state-room was to be had. 
 
 " This apparent misfortune proved our 
 greatest happiness ; for, lying over at Palatka, 
 at the St. John's Hotel, we obtained dehcious 
 food wherewith to assuage the pangs of hun- 
 ger. Think not, good reader, this is an un- 
 necessary exhibition of feeling over a small 
 matter ; for great had been our suffering, and 
 great was our delight. Delicious waffles, 
 noble wild turkey (nobly served), tender lamb, 
 adolescent chicken, light, sweet bread, pota- 
 toes, green pease, and other delicacies that 
 ravished the heart and made glad the diges- 
 tive apparatus." 
 
 The same writer describes the trip on the 
 " Starlight " to Enterprise thus :
 
 96 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 "As the steamer plowed along its narrow 
 channels, the water rushing in to fill the 
 vacuum she made, would sway the countless 
 lily-pads and bending terns to and fro, some- 
 times baptizing them with its generous flood. 
 The forest trees were the same all along the 
 way. Cypress, maple, pine, and live-oak, 
 while the palmetto would sometimes choke 
 out the other growths, and send forth, for 
 acres around, its umbrella-shaped tops. The 
 vines grew everywhere, and along the banks 
 would trail in masses, sweeping the dark 
 waters with their leafy fringe. Often the 
 dead, gaunt form of some tOAvering pine 
 would rise above its fellows ; and here the os- 
 prey would leave his nest, secure from harm ; 
 and then, sitting upon some outstretched limb, 
 would dash from his height into the waters 
 and bear his prey aloft to his waiting offspring. 
 
 " Now and then the steamer would shoot 
 into a more open space, and where there did 
 not appear to be any outlet — where the bow 
 of the boat seemed about to be crushed 
 against the land ; but it parted before us, and 
 what appeared to have been the solid earth
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. gj 
 
 was but a floating island, which went dancing- 
 and torn in the wake behind us, its long roots 
 thrown up to the troubled surface of the 
 water. At every turn in the river — and it 
 had an endless twist and turn — the tall forms 
 of the blue-and-white heron would rise from 
 the shallow waters and fly before us. 
 
 " Thousands of ducks were feeding among 
 the water plants ; and not seldom it was a 
 comical sight when, coming suddenly upon 
 them, they would attempt to rise ; but, too fat 
 to achieve speedy flight, would tremble and 
 flutter, and finally scamper away into the tall 
 weeds. Later in the day, the sun came out, 
 and then the torpid bodies of huge alligators 
 would be seen lying on the banks. To me the 
 most charming feature of the trip to Enter- 
 prise was the presence of the large birds I saw 
 for the first time. Nothing could be more 
 beautiful than the flocks of white swan, curlew, 
 cygnets, and heron constantly rising before 
 us." 
 
 S
 
 gS GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 ENTERPRISE. 
 
 Enterprise possesses a large well - kept 
 hotel, the Brock. House, the head-quarters 
 of the sportsmen who rendezvous here to 
 perfect their arrangements for excursions into 
 the surrounding country. Small steamers 
 sail-boats, etc., can be chartered there at 
 moderate rates, with experienced persons to 
 guide the stranger through the hunting- 
 grounds, or to the best fisheries on Indian 
 River. 
 
 No part of the United States, nor of 
 North America, affords finer sport than 
 Florida. Game of all kinds abounds. 
 
 It is during the cold season, when the 
 northern sportsmen are confined indoors, 
 that the game is most plentiful in Florida. 
 Deer, bear, wild cat, raccoon, 'possum, wild 
 turkey, ducks, geese, snipe, woodcock, quails, 
 partridge, and curlews, are plentiful, and offer 
 fine hunting ; while the rivers, bays, and lakes, 
 invite the stranger to the pleasures of the rod, 
 filled as they are with schools of the finest fish.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 99 
 
 Enterprise is 200 miles south of Jacksonville. 
 Its climate is, consequently, much milder — 
 frost being almost unknown. 
 
 In the vicinity are some fine orange groves, 
 whilst a remarkable sulphur spring, of great 
 extent, and nearly a hundred feet in depth, is 
 the curiosity of the place. 
 
 On the opposite shore of Lake Munroe is 
 
 MELLONVILLE. 
 
 ISIellonville affords good accommodation to 
 the visitor. It possesses several hotels and 
 boarding-houses. Its orange groves are 
 among the largest and most productive in 
 Florida.
 
 lOO GUIDE TO FLORIDA 
 
 SANFORD. 
 
 Extending from Mellon ville, five miles along 
 Lake Munroe, and down the St. John's, is 
 " Sanford's Grant." It is owned by Henry S. 
 Sanford, our former Minister to Belgium. 
 He has located here the town of Sanford, 
 which commands the traffic of the river, 
 and the rich agricultural country back of it. 
 It is destined to be the most important place in 
 the Upper St. John's. Mr. Sanford has laid 
 out roads, built mills, and brought over near 
 one hundred Swedes, who have formed a 
 flourishing colony, where they have secured 
 permanent labor, and demonstrated the health- 
 fulness of the climate. Mr. Sanford has 
 large plantations of bananas ; one of which, 
 St. Gertrude, is of lOO acres, the largest on 
 the Continent. His idea is to prove that 
 capital, applied to the production of semi- 
 tropical fruits in Florida, will not only be
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 1 01 
 
 remunerative, but that Florida can make us 
 independent of the world for those products. 
 
 At Sanford is located the INIellonville Post- 
 office. There is a fine Episcopal Church, 
 with the onl}^ spire to be seen between Key 
 West and St. Augustine. Its parsonage is 
 nearly completed. It is being- erected by 
 Mrs. Sanford, who is helped by friendly con- 
 tributions. A large school-house is to be 
 erected there; and a first-class hotel, in con- 
 templation, will be located near the Warm 
 Sulphur Springs of St Gertrude. 
 
 One of these springs, which made its ap- 
 pearance in January, 1872, is said to be of 
 greater volume than that at Green Cove 
 Springs. The salubriousness and mildness of 
 the climate of Sanford, the beauty of the 
 country, its miles of lovely drives through 
 the pine openings, interspersed with beautiful 
 lakes, with unbounded resources for the 
 sportsman, etc., points this out as destined to 
 be a favorite place of resort for the Northerner 
 who seeks health, combined with relaxation, 
 from business. 
 
 As for the orange, the experience of the
 
 I02 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 past few years has demonstrated that the 
 south side of Lake Miinroe is the best por- 
 tion, on the St. John's, for its culture, as it is 
 protected from the north wind by that large 
 body of tepid water beyond the reach of in- 
 jurious frosts. 
 
 Back of Sanford are several groves much 
 frequented by visitors, and said to produce 
 $2,000 worth of oranges per acre. Many new 
 groves are being laid out, in and about the 
 place. 
 
 ST. AUGUSTINE. 
 
 We must now return to Tocoi, and take 
 the cars for St. Augustine. On a fine day, 
 the three hours' ride through the pines is a 
 pleasant one. 
 
 St. Augustine, historically, is the most 
 interesting city in Florida, while its quaint 
 appearance makes it different from any other 
 city in the land. It was an important town 
 half a century before the landing of the pil- 
 grims. In the preceding chapters, the reader 
 will find recorded most ol the important 
 events which mark its history.
 
 FOKTIFICATION IN ST. AUGUSTINE. 
 
 (To face p. 10a.»
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 103 
 
 The St. Augustine Hotel and the Mag- 
 nolia House are the principal ones ; they 
 are excellently kept. Numerous boarding- 
 houses also afford good accommodation, at 
 moderate prices. 
 
 St. Augustine is the point-de-mire of Florida. 
 To visit the State, without seeing its quaint 
 old city, would be like traveling through Italy 
 without entering the gates of Rome. 
 
 St. Augustine is unlike any other city of 
 this continent ; yet, it must be acknowledged 
 that, the innovations are gradually effacing its 
 Spanish or Moresque peculiarities. Already 
 the customs are Americanized ; the Spanish 
 cavalier is of the past, so is the duena, and 
 the senorita, whom she so carefully guarded. 
 
 But there are monuments of its founders 
 which have withstood time, and whose soli- 
 dity of construction has not been affected by 
 the elements — monuments which tell of past 
 glories, and of the high state of the military 
 art of engineering, at the date of the settle- 
 ment of St. Augustine. 
 
 Rev. H. Clay Trumbull describes the city 
 as follows :
 
 104 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 " Its principal building material is a unique 
 conglomerate of fine shells and sand, known as 
 coquina rock, found in large quantities on 
 Anastasia Island, at the entrance of the har- 
 bor, and which is easily cut in blocks to be 
 laid in courses, and perhaps covered over 
 with stucco. The streets are quite narrow : 
 one, which is nearly a mile long, being but 
 fifteen feet wide, and that on which a principal 
 hotel stands being but twelve feet, while the 
 widest of all is but twenty-five feet. An ad- 
 vantage of these narrow streets in this warm 
 climate is, that the}' give shade, and increase 
 the draft of air through them as through u 
 flue. Indeed, some of the streets seem almost 
 like a flue, rather than an open way ; for many 
 of the houses, with high roof and dormer win- 
 dows, have hanging balconies along their 
 second story, which seem almost to touch each 
 other over the narrow street ; and the families 
 sitting in these of a warm evening, can chat 
 confidentially, or even shake hands with their 
 over-the-way neighbors. 
 
 " The street walls of the houses are frequent- 
 ly extended in front of the side garden — the
 
 "OLD ENTRANCE GATE," ST. AUGUSTINE. (To face p. 105 .>
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. I05 
 
 house roof, and perhaps a side balcon}-, cover- 
 ing this extension ; or the houses are built 
 around uncovered courts, so that, passing 
 thi-ough the main door of a building, you find 
 yourself still in the open air, instead of within 
 the dwelling. These high and solid garden 
 walls are quite common along the principal 
 streets; and an occasional latticed door gives 
 3'ou a peep into the attractive area beyond 
 the massive structure, with perhaps a show of 
 huge stone arches, or of a winding staircase 
 between heavy stone columns, or of a profu- 
 sion of tropical vegetation in the winter gar- 
 den, bringing to mind the stories in poem and 
 romance of the loves of Spanish damsels, and 
 • of stolen interviews at the garden gate, or 
 elopements by means of the false key or the 
 bribed porter. The principal streets were 
 formerly well paved or floored with shell con- 
 crete, portions of which are still to be seen 
 above the shifting sand ; and this flooring was 
 so carefully swept, that the dark-eyed maidens 
 of old Castile, who then led in society here, 
 could pass and repass without soiling their 
 satin slippers. No rumbling wheels were per- 
 5*
 
 Io6 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 mitted to crush the firm road-bed, or to whirl 
 the dust into the airy verandas, where, in un- 
 disturbed repose, sat the indolent Spanish 
 dons and dames. 
 
 " Built as a military town, the city was for- 
 merly walled across its northern end ; which 
 sufficiently protected it, as it stands on a pen- 
 insula nearly surrounded by the St. Sebastian 
 River and St. Augustine Bay. The gateway 
 of the old wall still stands, and is quite an im- 
 posing ruin, with ornamented lofty towers and 
 loopholed sentry-boxes. The ditch before the 
 old wall (or possibly it was a stockade, except 
 at the gateways) is clearly marked, and even 
 yet partially filled at high tides. It runs from 
 shore to shore, and was evidently broad and 
 deep. The old fort, once called San Juan, 
 then St. Marco, but now known as Fort 
 Marion, is a curiosity. It stands on the sea- 
 front, at the upper end of the town, the wall 
 or stockade formerly running from it to the 
 gateway, and west to the river. Its material 
 is the inevitable coquina rock. It was a hun- 
 dred years in building. While owned by the 
 British, it was said to be the " prettiest fort in
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 107 
 
 the king's dominion." Its castellated battle- 
 ments ; its formidable bastions, with their 
 frowning guns; its lofty and imposing sally- 
 port, surrounded by the royal Spanish arms ; 
 its portcullis, moat, drawbridge ; its circular 
 and ornate sentry-boxes at each principal par- 
 apet-angle ; its commanding look-out tower ; 
 and its stained and moss-grown massive walls 
 — impress the external observer as a relic of 
 the distant past ; while a ramble through 
 its heavy casemates; its crumbling Romish 
 chapel, with elaborate portico and inner altar, 
 and holy- water niches ; its dark passages, 
 gloomy vaults, and more recently discovered 
 dungeons— brings you to ready credence of 
 its many traditions of inquisitorial tortures, of 
 decaying skeletons found in the latest-opened 
 chambers, chained to the rusty ringbolts, and 
 of alleged subterranean passages to the neigh- 
 boring convent. 
 
 "These stories lose none of their force by 
 being recited in the fitful light of the dim lamp 
 of your military guide, as you follow him into 
 the damp and noisome recesses to the echo of 
 your own foot-fall, or the grating lock and
 
 I08 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 creaking hinge of the slow-swinging ancient 
 doors. Many a dark tally-list on the molder- 
 ing walls, or a riidely-execnted sketch, shows 
 how the dragging days were noted or em- 
 ployed by weary prisoners of long ago ; and 
 the narrow loopholes are shown through 
 which the two Seminole chiefs attempted 
 their escape, one making it good, and the 
 other sticking fast in the crevice until he was 
 rescued with barely his life remaining. At 
 the time of Gen. Oglethorpe's attack on- St. 
 Augustine, the old fort, or castle as it was 
 then called, stood a bombardment of thirty- 
 eight days from batteries erected on Anastasia 
 Island. But the injury to the fort was only 
 slight ; for the spongy walls of coquina re- 
 ceived and imbedded the heavy shot, as would 
 the embankment of a modern earthwork. The 
 marks left by the shot are plainly seen to-day. 
 But time is at length doing its work with the 
 old fort. Its walls are shovi^ing huge fissures, 
 and on recent inspection it was declared unfit 
 for further defensive service. 
 
 " In the buildino-s of the town are some re- 
 mains of elegance, as well as inuch of antiquity.
 
 STREET SCENE IN ST. AUGUSTINE. (To face p. 109.)
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 109 
 
 The cathedral is unique, with its bellV}', in the 
 form of a section of a bell-shaped pyramid, its 
 chime of four bells in separate niches, and its 
 clock, together forming a cross. The oldest 
 of these bells is marked 1682. The old con- 
 vent of St. Mary's is a suggestive relic of the 
 days of papal rule. The new convent is a 
 tasteful building of the ancient coquina. The 
 United States' barracks, recently remodeled 
 and improved, are said to have been built as a 
 convent or monastery. The old government 
 house, or palace, is now in use as the post- 
 office and United States' court-rooms. At its 
 rear is a well-preserved relic of what seems to 
 have been a fortification to protect the town 
 from an over-the-river or inland attack. An 
 older house than this, formerly occupied by 
 the attorney-general, was pulled down a few 
 years ago. Its ruins are still a curiosity, and 
 are called (though incorrectly) the governor's 
 house. 
 
 " The * Plaza de la Constitution ' is a fine 
 public square in the centre of the town, on 
 which stand the ancient markets, and which is 
 faced by the cathedral, the old palace, the
 
 no GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 convent, a modern Episcopal church, and 
 other fine structures. In the centre of the 
 plaza stands a monument, erected in honor of 
 the Spanish Liberal Constitution. When the 
 Constitution was abolished, these monuments 
 in all dominions of the crown were to be des- 
 troyed ; but a compromise was effected on 
 this by the removal of the inscribed tablets. 
 On the cession of Florida to the United States, 
 the long-concealed tablets were brought from 
 their hiding-places, and re-inserted in the 
 monument. On this plaza were burned effi- 
 gies of John Hancock and Samuel Adams, 
 early in our Revolution, while the British held 
 Florida. 
 
 " The old Huguenot burying-ground is a 
 spot of much interest ; so is the military bury- 
 ing-ground, where rest the remains of those 
 who fell near here during the prolonged 
 Seminole war. Under three pyramids of co- 
 quina, stuccoed and whitened, are the ashes 
 of Major Dade and one hundred and seven 
 men of his command, who were massacred by 
 Osceola and his band. A fine sea-wall of 
 nearly a mile in length, built of coquina with
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. j 1 1 
 
 a coping of granite, protects the entire ocean 
 front of the city, and furnishes a delightful 
 promenade of a moonlight evening. In full 
 view of this is the old light-house on Anasta- 
 si:i Island, built more than a century ago, and 
 now surmounted with a fine revolving lantern. 
 
 "The street names, Cuna, St. Hypolita, 
 Tolomato, St. George's, and the like, have an 
 ancient and a foreign smack about them ; while 
 the family names, such as Dumas, Fatio, Her- 
 nandez, Oliverez, Alveres, Monardi, Segui, 
 Andrea, Sanchez, Medices, and Bravo, mark 
 it as any thing but American in its origin. 
 Some of the Roman Catholic customs of car- 
 nival and evening serenades before Easter are 
 still kept up by the Minoixan population." 
 
 ''A word as to these people, who constitute 
 no inconsiderable portion of the present popu- 
 lation of St. Augustine, While Florida was 
 in possession of the English, a Dr. Turnbull 
 went to Greece, and received permission to 
 transport such families as chose to go to 
 Florida. Obtaining a small number, not 
 enough for his proposed colony, he halted at 
 the Islands of Corsica and Minorca in the
 
 112 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 Mediterranean, where over a thousand joined 
 his company. They landed just inside of 
 Mosquito Inlet, at New Smyrna, some seven- 
 ty-five miles south of St. Augustine. Turn- 
 bull soon became imperious, and by the aid of 
 a few immediate friends reduced these patient, 
 hard-working people to a state of slavery, as- 
 signing them tasks under overseers, and treat- 
 ing them in the most shameful manner. His 
 promises of lands and creature comforts, made 
 at the time of their joining his expedition, 
 were disregarded, and with acquired wealth 
 came added austerity and hardships for these 
 now dependent people. Thus for nine years 
 they were in bondage, when, stung to resist- 
 ance, they assembled clandestinely, and march- 
 ed in a body to St. Augustine, where they 
 were kindly received, and allowed to remain. 
 They form a very quiet class, attentive to 
 their own affairs, and never meddhng with 
 their neighbors. They are intelligent and in- 
 dustrious, and some have acquired considera- 
 ble property. 
 
 " There are a few fine residences in St. Au- 
 gustine ; and these, with their ample surround-
 
 
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 O
 
 GUIDE TO FLOBIDA. 
 
 113 
 
 ings and beautiful gardens, give a heightened 
 interest to the place. Senator Gilbert has a 
 summer residence here, the first as you enter 
 the town, by the bridge, on the right ; then 
 Buckingham Smith's, nearl}^ opposite, and Dr. 
 Bronson's on the plaza, with others, are beau- 
 tiful homes. A profusion of tropical plants, 
 and shrubs, and trees, ornament their grounds. 
 Here the orange flourishes, and is abundant 
 and delicious : several fine groves invite the 
 visitor's inspection. The fig, and date, and 
 palm, and banana, are all seen here, as also 
 the lime and lemon, which grow to a great 
 size, and the sweet and wild olive ; the citron, 
 the guava (from which a delicious jelly is 
 made), and the pomegranate, are all indige- 
 nous. This is the home of the grape, and 
 peaches luxuriate in this climate, as likewise 
 the Japan plum. 
 
 " Besides the gardens spoken of, we see few 
 flowers ; and this is what quite astonishes us 
 in this " land of flowers," where they grow so 
 easily, and with so little care that there seems 
 no excuse why all the gardens should not have 
 these simple yet beautiful adornings.
 
 114 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 *' For many years the town has been at a 
 standstill, and property at a low figure. Good 
 titles can with difficulty be obtained ; and this 
 is now the great drawback to the improve- 
 ment of the place, though within a few years 
 Northern people have been coming in and 
 taking such titles as were offered. One gen- 
 tleman, Mr. Howard, from New York, has 
 within a year past invested near fifty thousand 
 dollars in real estate in the city, which is be- 
 ginning to feel the effects of this healthful in- 
 flux, property having already risen to four- 
 fold its value five years ago, and still not high. 
 The residence of Senator Gilbert, before al- 
 luded to, was bought by him at the close of 
 the war, as we are informed, for about eight 
 thousand dollars, and we judge worth forty 
 now. This place has several acres of ground 
 in it. 
 
 " The longer one remains in this antique 
 town, the more he is attached to it: at teast, 
 this was our experience. It improves on ac- 
 quaintance. The plaza, or public square, 
 affords a pleasant retreat from the sand, which 
 everywhere else covers the place. Here are
 
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 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 115 
 
 shade-trees, and the firm green turf and 
 benches, whereon the visitor may lounge and 
 idle away the hours. At the foot of the 
 square, which fronts on the bay, is the market- 
 house, so entirely different from those else- 
 where seen ; being here neat, airy, and at- 
 tractive. It consists of a roof supported by 
 brick pillars, a half-dozen on either side, with 
 a floor of the same material, and is altogether 
 unique in appearance. 
 
 " The number of strangers here greatly ex- 
 ceeded our expectations, and thronged in 
 every street and public place. The fashiona- 
 ble belle of Newport and Saratoga, and the 
 pale, thoughtful, and furloughed clerg3'man 
 of New England, were at all points encoun- 
 tered. The meeting of friends whom we had 
 not seen for years, and others whom we had 
 never met, but yet could call our name, seem- 
 ed strange and quite a dream."
 
 Il6 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 OCKLAWAHA RIVER. 
 
 At Palatka, the tourist to Florida will do 
 well to call upon Captain Adams, the gentle- 
 manly agent of the Dictator and City Point, 
 — from him he can leflrn how best to employ 
 his time, and which are the most interesting 
 points to visit. Should the visitor decide upon 
 taking a trip on the Ocklawaha, he will be 
 certain to enjoy a most nov^el excursion ; of 
 late the number desiring to visit this romantic 
 stream has so increased, that the owners of 
 the steamers have felt authorized to increase 
 their passenger accommodations, and we be- 
 lieve they are now quite good. 
 
 The following excellent description of a 
 trip on the Ocklawaha is from Appleton's Pic- 
 turesque America, which contains the most 
 faithful scenes of Florida that have ever been 
 portrayed : 
 
 " A sail of twenty miles along the St. John's 
 brought us, a little before sunrise, to the 
 mouth of the Ocklawaha River, looking 
 scarcely wide enough to admit a skiff, much
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 117 
 
 less a steamboat. As daylight increased, we 
 found that we were passing through a dense 
 cypress-swamp, and that the channel selected 
 had no banks, but was indicated by " blazed " 
 marks on the trunks of the towering trees. 
 There was plenty of water, however, to float 
 our craft, but it was a queer kind of navig- 
 ation, for the hull of the steamer went bump- 
 ing against one cypress-butt, then another, 
 suggesting to the tyro in this kind of aquatic 
 adventure that possibly he might be wrecked, 
 and subjected, even if he escaped a watery 
 grave, to a miserable death, through the 
 agency of mosquitoes, buzzards, and huge al- 
 ligators. 
 
 As we wound along through the dense 
 vegetation, a picture of novel interest pre- 
 sented itself at every turn. We came occa- 
 sionally to a spot a little elevated above the 
 dead-water level, covered with a rank growth 
 of lofty palmetto, the very opposite, in every 
 respect, to those stunted, storm-blown speci- 
 mens which greeted us at the mouth of the 
 St. John's River. Here they shot up tall and 
 slender, bearing aloft innumerable parasites,
 
 Il8 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 often surprising the eye with patches, of a 
 hah-mile in length, of the convolvukis, in a 
 sohcl mass of beautiful blossoms. 
 
 Another sharp turn, and the wreck of an 
 old dead cypress is discovered, its huge hmbs 
 covered with innumerable turkey-buzzards, 
 which are waiting patiently for the decom- 
 position of an alligator that some suc- 
 cessful sportsman has shot, and left for the 
 prey of these useful but disgusting birds. 
 The sunshine sparkles in the spray which our 
 awkward yet efficient craft drives from its 
 prow, and then we enter what seems to be a 
 cavern, where the sun never penetrates. The 
 tree-tops interlace, and the tangled vines and 
 innumerable parasites have made a soHd mass 
 overhead. 
 
 The swamps of Florida are as rich in birds 
 as in vegetation. It is no wonder that Audu- 
 bon here found one of the finest fields from 
 which to enrich his great works of natural 
 history. A minute list of the varieties we 
 sometimes saw in a single day would fill a 
 page. One of the most attractive was the 
 water-turkey, or snake-bird, which was every-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 119 
 
 where to be met with, sitting upon some pro- 
 jecting limb overlooking the water, the body 
 as carefully as possible concealed from view, 
 its head and long neck projecting out, and 
 moving constantly like a black snake in search 
 of its prey. Your curiosity is excited ; you 
 would examine the creature more critically, 
 and you fire, at what seems a short, point- 
 blank shot. The bird falls, apparently help- 
 less, in the water ; you row rapidly to secure 
 your prize, when, a hundred yards ahead, you 
 suddenly see the snaky head of the " darter " 
 just protruding above the surface of the 
 water. In an instant its lungs are filled with 
 air, and, disappearing again, it reaches a place 
 of safety. 
 
 Another conspicuous bird is the large white 
 crane. It is a very effective object in the 
 deep shadows of the cypress, as it proudly 
 stalks about, eyeing with fantastic look the 
 finny tribes it hunts for prey. Especially is it 
 of service in seizing upon the young of the 
 innumerable water-snakes which everywhere 
 abound. With commendable taste, it seems 
 to pay especial attention to the disgusting,
 
 I20 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 slimy, juvenile moccasins, which have a taste 
 for sunninsf themselves on harsh dried leaves 
 of the stinted palmetto. 
 
 But the prominent living object to the 
 stranger in these out-of-the way places is the 
 aUigator, whose paradise is in the swamps of 
 Florida. Here he finds a chmate that almost 
 the year round suits his delicate constitution ; 
 and, while his kindred in the Louisiana 
 swamps find it necessary to retire into the 
 mud to escape the cold of winter, the Florida 
 representative of the tribe is happy in the en- 
 joyment of the upper world the year round. 
 It was a comical and a provoking sight to see 
 these creatures, when indisposed to get out 
 of our way, turn up their piggish eyes in spec- 
 ulative mood at the sudden interruption of a 
 rifle-ball against their mailed sides, but all the 
 while seemingly unconscious that any harm 
 against their persons was intended. Like 
 Achilles, however, they possess a vulnerable 
 point, which is just in front of the spot where 
 the huge head works upon the spinal column. 
 There is, of necessity, at this place a joint in 
 the armor, and a successful hunter, after much
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 121 
 
 experience, seldom lets one of the reptiles es- 
 cape. If any philanthropist has ever objected 
 to the slaughter, the circumstance is not re- 
 membered in the swamps and everglades of 
 Florida. On one occasion we fired into a 
 herd of alligators, and the noise of two or 
 three shots caused all but one to finally dis- 
 appear. For some reason it seemed difficult 
 to get the remaining one to move, the crea- 
 ture lying with its head exposed to our gaze, 
 looking as demoniac as possible. A bullet, 
 \vhich struck somewhere in the vicinity of its 
 jaws, touched its feeUngs, and then, with a 
 grunt not unlike that of a hog, it buried itself 
 in the muddy water. This unwillingness to 
 move was then explained by the appearance 
 of a large number of young alligators, which, 
 in the confusion, came to the surface like so 
 many chips. We had, without being aware 
 of it, attacked the mother while she was pro- 
 tecting her nest. 
 
 In the vicinity of the aHigator's nest we 
 came upon a primitive post-office, consisting 
 of a cigar-box, bearing the magic letters 
 " U. S. M.," nailed upon the face of an old
 
 122 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 cypress-tree. It was a sort of central point 
 for the swampers, where they left their soiled 
 notes and crooked writing to be conveyed to 
 the places of destination by " whomever came 
 along." We, desiring to act the part of a 
 volunteer mail-carrier for the neighbourhood, 
 peeped into the post-office, but there were no 
 signs of letters ; so our good intentions were 
 of no practical effect. 
 
 Our little nondescript craft bumps along 
 from one cypress-stump, and fetches up 
 against a cypress-knee, as it is termed — sharp- 
 pointed lances which grow^ up from the roots 
 of the trees, seemingly to protect the trunk 
 from too much outside concussion ; glancing 
 off, it runs into a roosting-place of innumer- 
 able cranes, or scatters the wild ducks and 
 huge snakes over the surface of the water. A 
 clear patch of the sky is seen, and the bright 
 light of a summer evening is tossing the feath- 
 ery crowns of the old cypress-trees into a 
 nimbus of glory, while innumerable paro- 
 quets, alarmed at our intrusion, scream out 
 their fierce indignation, and then, flying away, 
 flash upon our admiring eyes their green and
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 1 23 
 
 golden plumage. It now begins to grow dark 
 in earnest, and we become ciirions to know 
 how our attentive pilot will safely navigate 
 this mysterious channel in what is literally 
 Eg3'ptian darkness. While thus speculating, 
 there flashes across the landscape a bright, 
 clear light. From the most intense blackness 
 Ave have a fierce, lurid glare, presenting the 
 most extravagantly-picturesque groups of 
 overhanging palmettos, draped with para- 
 sites and vines of all descriptions ; prominent 
 among the latter is the scarlet trumpet-creep- 
 er, overburdened with w^reaths of blossoms, 
 and intertwined again with chaplets of purple 
 and white convolvulus, the most minute de- 
 tails of the' objects near being brought out in 
 a sharp red light against the deep tone of the 
 forest's depths. But no imagination can con- 
 ceive the grotesque and wierd forms which 
 constantly force themselves on 3'our notice as 
 the light partially illuminates the limbs of 
 wrecked or half-destroyed trees, which, cov- 
 ered with moss, or wrapped in decayed vege- 
 tation as a winding-sheet, seem huge unbur- 
 ied monsters, which, though dead, still throw
 
 124 GUIDE TO FLOP IDA. 
 
 about their arras in agony, and gaze througli 
 unmeaning eyes upon the intrusions of active, 
 living men. 
 
 Another run of a half-mile brings us into 
 the cypress again, the firelight giving ncAV 
 ideas of the picturesque. The tall shafts, 
 more than ever shrouded in the hanging 
 moss, look as if they had been draped in sad 
 habiliments, while the wind sighed through 
 the limbs ; and when the sonorous sounds of 
 the alligators were heard, groaning and com- 
 plaining, the sad, dismal picture of desolation 
 was complete. 
 
 A sharp contact with a palmetto-knee 
 throws round the head of our nondescript 
 steamer, and wc enter what appears to be an 
 endless colonnade of beautifully-proportioned 
 shafts, running upward a hundred feet, roofed 
 by pendent ornaments, suggesting the high- 
 est possible effect of Gothic architecture. The 
 delusion was increased by the waving stream- 
 ers of the Spanish moss, which here and there, 
 in great festoons of fifty feet in length, hung 
 down like tattered but gigantic banners, 
 worm-eaten and mouldy, sad evidences of the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 1 25 
 
 hopes and passions of the distant past. So 
 absorbing were these wonderful effects of a 
 brilliant light upon the vegetable productions 
 of these Florida swamps, that we had forgot- 
 ten to look for the cause of this artificial 
 glare, but, when we did, we found a faithful 
 negro had suspended from cranes two iron 
 cages, one on each side of the boat, into which 
 he constantly placed unctuous pine-knots, 
 that blazed and crackled, and turned what 
 would otherwise have been unmeaning dark- 
 ness into the most novel and exciting views 
 of Nature that ever met our experienced 
 eyes. 
 
 The morning came, and the theatrical dis- 
 play of the swamp by torchlight ended, when 
 we were destined to be introduced to a new 
 feature of this singular navigation. A huge 
 water-oak, seemingly in the very pride of its 
 matured existence, had fallen directly across 
 the channel. Its wood was only a little less 
 hard than iron, and the labor to be performed 
 to get this obstruction out of the way was 
 contemplated with anger by the captain of 
 our craft, and in sadness by the " hands," to
 
 126 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 whose lot fell the labor of clearing- the ob- 
 struction away. However, the order was 
 given, and no inhabitant of the swamp is in- 
 experienced in the use of the axe. The sturdy 
 blows fell thick and fast, as one limb after an- 
 other broke loose from the parent trunk and 
 floated slowly away. The great butt was then 
 assailed, and, by a judicious choice in the as- 
 sault, the weight of the huge structure was 
 made to assist in breaking it in twain. While 
 this work was going on, which consumed some 
 hours, we waded — we won't say ashore — but, 
 from one precarious foothold to another, un- 
 til, after various unpleasant experiences — the 
 least of which was getting wet to our waist in 
 the black water of the swamp — we reached 
 land, which was a few inches above the surface 
 of the prevailing flood. 
 
 We were, however, rewarded for our enter- 
 prise, by suddenly coming upon two " Florida 
 crackers," who had established a camp in a 
 grove of the finest cypress-trees we ever saw, 
 and were appropriating the valuable timber 
 to the manufacture of shingles, which shingles, 
 we were informed, are almost as indestructible
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 12/ 
 
 as slate. These men were civil, full of char- 
 acter, and, in their way, not wanting in intel- 
 liofence. How thev manao;^e to survive the 
 discomforts of their situation is difficult to 
 imagine, but the}' do exist; the mosquitoes 
 drawing from their bodies ever}- useless drop 
 of blood, the low swamp malaria making the 
 accumulation of fat an impossibility, while the 
 dull surroundings of their life, to them most 
 monotonous, cramp the intellect, until they are 
 almost as taciturn as the trees with which they 
 arc associated. But their hut was a very 
 model of the picturesque ; and the smoulder- 
 ing fire, over which their dinner-pot was cook- 
 ing, sent up a wreath of blue smoke against 
 the dark openings of the deep forest that gave 
 a quiet charm, and a contrast of colors, diffi- 
 cult to sufficiently admire, and impossible to 
 be conceived of in the mere speculations of 
 studio life. 
 
 One of our strangest experiences in these 
 mysterious regions was forced upon us one 
 morning, when, thrusting our head through 
 the hole that gave air to our " sleeping-shelf," 
 wc saw a sight which caused us to rub our
 
 128 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 eyes, and gather up our senses, to be certain 
 we were positively awake. Our rude craft 
 was in a basin possibly a quarter of a mile in 
 diameter, entirely surrounded by gigantic for- 
 est-trees, which repeated themselves with the 
 most minute fidelity in the perfectly translu- 
 cent water. For sixty feet downward we 
 could look, and at this great depth see dupli- 
 cated the scene of the upper world ; the clear- 
 ness of the water assisting rather than inter- 
 fering with the vision. The bottom of this 
 basin was silver sand, studded with pale emer- 
 alds, eccentric formations of lime-crystals — a 
 bed of white coral in forms and color that re- 
 minded us of the cunningly-wrought silver 
 baskets of Genoa. This, we soon learned, was 
 the wonderful silver spring of which we had 
 heard so much, which ever}^ moment throws 
 out its thousands of gallons of water without 
 making a bubble on the surface. 
 
 Procuring a " dug-out," provided with a 
 gun, and furnished with our drawing-ma- 
 terials, and a lunch that would answer for the 
 day, we deliberately proceeded to inform our- 
 self of the mysteries of the spot. The trans-
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 129 
 
 parenc}' of the water was ever a constant won- 
 der. A little pearly white shell, dropped from 
 our hand, worked its zigzag way downward, 
 becominof in its descent a mere emerald tint, 
 until, finding the bottom, it seemed to b-j a 
 gem destined forever to glisten in its silver 
 
 settmg. 
 
 Noticing the faintest possible movement on 
 the surface of the basin at a certain point, we 
 concluded that that must be over the place 
 where the great body of the water entered the 
 spring. So, paddling to the spot, and wrap- 
 ping a stone weighing about eight ounces in 
 a piece of white paper, we dropped it into the 
 water at the place where the slightly percept- 
 ible movement was visible. The stone went 
 perpendicularly down for some twenty-five 
 feet, until it reached a slight projection of 
 limestone rock, where it was suddenly, as if a 
 feather in weight, forced upward in a curving 
 line some fifteen feet, showing the tremendous 
 power of the water that rushes out from the 
 rock buried under this bed of burning sand. 
 Perhaps the most novel and startling feature 
 was when our craft came from the shade into
 
 I30 
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 the sunshine, tor then, looking over the sides 
 of the canoe, we recoiled at the sensation of 
 floating in the air. For it seemed as if we 
 were, by some miraculous power, suspended 
 seventy feet or more in the mid air, while 
 down on the sanded bottom was a sharp, 
 clear silhouette of man, boat, and paddle. A 
 deep river a hundred feet wide is created by 
 the water of this spring, which, in the course 
 of seven miles, forms a junction with the 
 Ocklawaha, and then continues to run side by 
 side for another mile, witKout mixing its clear, 
 pellucid water with the coffee-stained flow of 
 the other stream, which, like most of the riv- 
 ers of Florida, is heavily charged with alluvial 
 and vegetable matter. 
 
 Such are some of the wonders of the land 
 discovered by Ponce de Leon, 
 
 INDIAN RIVER. 
 
 The sportsman can charter a Minorcan ves- 
 sel at St. Augustine, on reasonable terms, to 
 carry him to the famous Indian River ; or, he 
 can, if he prefers it, go up the St. John's to 
 Enterprise, and so reach the river.
 
 G UIDE TO FLORIDA . 1^1 
 
 The writer of this work ch)cs not propose 
 to endorse any fish story, but to give an idea 
 of the sport in Indian River, gives the follow- 
 ing extracts from the letter of a correspondent 
 of the New York Sun, written last spring; the 
 account is not an exaggeration, for it is sim- 
 ply impossible to exaggerate the variety or 
 quantity of fish to be found in this wonderful 
 inlet : 
 
 " The gamest fish in Florida is the channel 
 bass or red-fish. It is a salt water fish, built 
 like a striped bass. It has silvery and red 
 golden scales, but no stripes. A round moth- 
 er-of-pearl spot on the neck of the tail is its 
 most striking mark. Channel bass hang about 
 the mouths of fresh water brooks in great 
 swarms at certain seasons of the year, and 
 gobble up the young mullet. In the fall of 
 the year the mullet is a delicious fish. It 
 never takes the hook, but is caught in a cast- 
 net. 
 
 WONDERS OF THE CAST-NET. 
 " Every sea-coast family in Florida below
 
 132 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 St. Augustine owns a cast-net. Spread upon 
 the grass this net is about twenty feet in cir- 
 cumference. The edge is loaded with heavy 
 sliding sinkers, each of which fills the outer 
 stitch of the net. From the center runs a strong 
 cord from eighteen to thirty feet in length. 
 The thrower takes the end of this cord be- 
 tween his teeth, arranges the net in folds on 
 his right arm, firmly seizes a fold in each hand, 
 swings himself partly around, and then gives 
 the net a powerful heave. It strikes the water 
 in a circle, the sinkers instantly carry the rim 
 to the bottom, and every fish beneath it is a 
 prisoner. The fisherman then draws in the 
 net by a cord, while the weight of the sinkers 
 brings them together, thus preventing the es- 
 cape of the fish. The art of throwing the 
 net is acquired only by constant practice. It 
 looks easy enough, but there is a knack about 
 it that renders it difficult. I have seen a tweh^e 
 year boy send it eighteen feet, when a two- 
 hundred - pound greenhorn could not even 
 spread it on the water. An adept will throw 
 it from twent}^ to thirty feet.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 133 
 
 GREEN CATFISH — CHANNEL BASS. 
 
 " I caught my first channel bass at Turtle 
 Mound on a Cudd^'hunk hook, which was 
 much too small. Standing upon the point 
 of a spit of sand, I cast the mullet -baited 
 hook fift}' feet into the water. Five minutes 
 passed before a bite. The fish was fastened 
 and reeled in. It was a two-pound cat-fish of 
 a delicate green color. In the sun it had the 
 lustre of a green silk dress. A second time I 
 drew in a green cat-fish. Then half an hour 
 elapsed without a bite. I grew discouraged, 
 and running the line from the reel, walked 
 back to a bunch of stunted palmettos and laid 
 my I'od across them, intending to go to the 
 sea beach and look for shells. I had gone 
 nearly two hundred feet, when I looked back 
 and saw the reel running out at smoking 
 speed. The rod had started over the sand 
 before I reached it. The fish was evidently 
 a large one, and wanted play. He ran up 
 and down the river as though he had been 
 dosed with laughing gas. It was ten minutes 
 before he became quiet, and I began to work
 
 134 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 the reel. When within twenty feet of the 
 shore he made a second break, taking two 
 hundred feet of hue. I could feel him shak- 
 ing his head and trying to get the hook out 
 of his mouth as he sped away. Then he ran 
 in upon me like a race-horse, faster than I 
 could take in the slack. Dashing into the 
 shallow water, he took a look at his tormen- 
 tor. It was not satisfactory. Making a wide 
 sweep, he flirted the foam into my face with 
 his tail, and again sailed off into the river, 
 raising a swell upon the surface of the water. 
 For an instant he was quiet, and then there 
 was a circus-horse performance, which lasted 
 over a minute. Finally the fish became ex- 
 hausted, and was cautiously reeled in. I had 
 no gaff-hook, and was about to stick my fin- 
 gers into his gills and draw him upon the 
 sand, when Dr. Fox, my guide, said, 'Catch 
 him under the fore fins ; he's got teeth in his 
 gills.' I found two pockets or arm-pits under 
 his fins, r.nd pulled him ashore. He was a 
 channel bass, weighing twenty -two pounds. 
 Within twenty minutes I took in a second 
 one, weighing a little short of fourteen pounds.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. I 35 
 
 At Seventy, near Pepper Hammock, I caught 
 a twenty-five-pounci fellow. 
 
 THE PRINCE OF FEATHERED GLUTTONS. 
 
 " The pelican is the prince of feathered glut- 
 tons. I shot a dozen of them on the wing. 
 Sometimes the fish would begin to tumble 
 out of their gullets before they reached the 
 ground. In no case did I find less than four 
 large fish in their baggy throats. The lower 
 fish would be half digested. Their throttles 
 are like mill hoppers. They fill the pouch 
 under their bill with a peck of fish. The fish 
 overflow into their throats. As fast as one 
 digests another drops into its place, and goes 
 through the same process. The bird is fat, 
 logy, and very rank. It is full of grease. Han- 
 dle a dead one in the sun- or before a camp 
 fire, and the grease will drop from the body. 
 They weigh from twelve to twenty pounds. 
 Dr. Fox shot a white one measuring nine feet 
 and one inch from tip to tip, and weighing 
 nineteen and three-quarters pounds. While 
 sitting upon the water they hold their heads
 
 136 GUIDE TO FLO.'^.'DJ. 
 
 well up, with their enormous bills anrl pouches 
 flattened upon their breasts. They look as 
 grave as country judges — so grav^e that but 
 few persons can see them without laughing 
 outright. They fly in Indian file, sometimes 
 in strings half a mile lonof. When the leader 
 flaps his wings the second one follows suit, 
 and so on down the line ; and when the leader 
 soars number two does the same, and is fol- 
 lowed by the others. Each bird seems to be 
 under strict discipline, and when g -/ihered in 
 great flocks upon the beach th^y res mble an 
 army massed by battalions. The ; I a mage of 
 the grey pelican is much admired. Eveiy 
 feather is shaded from a black to a beautiful 
 
 silver grey. The under part of the neck re- 
 sembles yellow satin, and the back part is a 
 
 glossy brown velvet. 
 
 THE HIGHWAY ROBBERS OK THE AH^. 
 
 " It is amusing to watch an osprey while he 
 is fishing. An eagle is soaring through the 
 air five hundred feet above him. The osprey 
 is sailing over the water, carefully eyeing its
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 1 37 
 
 surface. Suddenly he steadies himself ai^ainst 
 the wind, rolling his wings as though endeav- 
 oring to back water. Then he drops through 
 the air like a plummet. There is a splash in 
 the waves, and the osprcy rises with a fish in 
 his talons. Meanwhile the eagle is drawing 
 near. As the osprey ascends in the air, the 
 eagle utters a threatening cry and swoops 
 upon him. Unable to escape, the hawk finall}'- 
 drops the fish. Before it strikes the water 
 the eagle darts downward like a flash of light- 
 ning and catches it, while the osprey flies to 
 a hammock, where his comrades gather round 
 and sympathize with him. 
 
 THE DANCING FISH. 
 
 *' A man-of-war hawk or frigate pelican is a 
 peculiar fisherman. He descends upon his 
 prey like a bullet from a height of three hun- 
 dred feet. He seizes the fish in his beak, and 
 soars aloft into the sky. His mates gather 
 about him, while the lucky fisherman tosses 
 his tidbit into the air so as to catch it by the 
 head, and swallow it, as it comes down. His
 
 138 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 throat is so small that he can get it in his 
 stomach in no other way. There is a wild 
 swoop, and another hawk seizes the fish, and 
 again it is tossed in the air, and tossed up in- 
 definitely, until one of the birds is so fortunate 
 as to catch it head-first, when it disappears. I 
 have seen a dozen frigate pelicans keep a fish 
 dancing in the air fifteen minutes before it 
 was swallowed. 
 
 " The most wonderful fishermen on the In- 
 dian River is a native named Stewart. He 
 seems to be amphibious. It is no uncommon 
 thing for him to jump into the water and run 
 down a fat mullet, catching it in his hands. 
 The Futch family have two dogs so starved 
 that I have seen them dash into a school of 
 mullet and reappear with fish in their mouths. 
 
 FISH CAUGHT IN FLORIDA. 
 
 " Among the fish caught at Smyrna are 
 sheepshead, bass or red-fish, the red and black 
 grouper, salt water trout, mullet, king-fish (the 
 natives call it whiting), sea-bass, pig-fish, drum- 
 fish, sailor's choice or porgie, sergeant -fish,
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. I 39 
 
 cavallo, snapjack or blue-fish, green ami black 
 cat-fish, red and black snappers, mcnatee, lady- 
 fish, jew-fish, stingarees, sharks, dog-fish, por- 
 poises, saw-fish, sword-fish, ribbon-fish, pom- 
 paneau, different kinds of cuttle fish, two kinds 
 of eels, (natives call them congarees,) an elec- 
 trical flounder, similar to an electrical eel, 
 flukes, skates, big shrimps, whipparees, or 
 clam-crackers, bezonga, toad-fish, blow-fish, 
 porcupine fish, cow-fish, mojarra, angel-fish 
 and spade-fish. 
 
 " The grouper is a sort of a salt-water perch, 
 and is highly prized for its flavor and game- 
 ness. It is generally caught in deep water. 
 
 " The salt-water trout is not the Northern 
 weak-fish. It resembles a brook trout, but 
 the dots on its sides are black, and not red. 
 It bites like a weak-fish, and is game to the 
 backbone. 
 
 " The pig-fish is built like a grouper. It is 
 a game fish, and derives its name from the 
 fact that it grunts like a pig when thrown 
 from the hook to the bottom of the boat. 
 
 " The sheepshead are not so large as North- 
 ern fish of this name.
 
 140 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 " The serg-eant-fish is a salt-water pike. It 
 is a splendid fighter, and is called a sergeant- 
 fish because it has three stripes running across 
 its body similar to a sergeant's chevrons. It 
 grows as large as a muscalonge. 
 
 " The cavallo or ' creval3-ea,' is a favorite 
 game fish. Its head and fins are tipped with 
 gold. The former is shaped like the prow of 
 an old-fashioned Erie canal boat. The fish is 
 very narrow at the root of the tail, which has 
 a golden tinge. 
 
 " The lady-fish is delicate and silvery. When 
 struck by the hook they spring from the water 
 with more energy than a black bass. Their 
 flavor is delicious. 
 
 " The jew-fish grows to an enormous size, 
 occasionally reaching five hundred pounds in 
 weight. It is of a greenish color, covered 
 with irregular dark spots, and is very game. 
 Why it is called a jew-fish is one of those 
 things that no person can find out. 
 
 " The saw-fish becomes verj^ large, and takes 
 the hook like an old stager. Aflat bone, set with 
 teeth on either edge, juts from its nose, giving 
 the fish its name. It is good eating and game.
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 141 
 
 " The ribbon-fish has a snout Hke a pike. It is 
 a thin fish, strung out like a ribbon, from which 
 it takes its name. It is regarded as a delicacy. 
 
 " Stingarees are plentiful, and of an enor- 
 mous size. Some of them weigh two hundred 
 and fifty pounds. The sting is in their tail. 
 It is a bone several inches in length, bearded 
 in a hundred places like the shank of a hook. 
 The fish can throw it through a man's boot, 
 or even through his body. It is a dangerous 
 fish, and has been known to cause death in a 
 few hours. The natives use the stingaree's 
 tail for toothpicks. They declare that it pre- 
 vents toothache. 
 
 " The pompeneau is the pride of Southern 
 epicures. It is caught in a net, and has a 
 round body, shining like a plate of silver. Its 
 bones are soft, and it has a flavor superior to 
 that of a shad. 
 
 A FISH THAT EATS GRASS. 
 
 ** The menatee, or sea-cow, is a huge am- 
 phibious animal. It is found in the St. Lucie 
 River. It has a head like that of a sea-Hon,
 
 142 
 
 Gi'IDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 and it looks like a gigantic seal. It feeds upon 
 the rank grass growing upon the marshes of 
 the St. Lucie. The menatee has ribs as thick 
 as a man's arm. Last year Dolph Sheldon 
 and Frank Sams caught one alive near the 
 mouth of the river, intending to send it North 
 for exhibition. The animal weighed over one 
 thousand five hundred pounds. Unfortunately 
 it was tied to the boat so firmly that the rope 
 cut into its flesh, and it died before the party 
 reached the head of Indian River. The por- 
 gies devoured the body. Florida is the only 
 place in which the menatee is found on the 
 North American continent. Formerly it was 
 abundant, but it is now nearly extinct, and 
 becomes more scarce every year. Its meat is 
 greatly relished, and tastes like the best Ful- 
 ton Market beef. 
 
 " The whipparee resembles the stingaree. 
 Its mouth is filled with two ivor}^ rocks, and 
 between them it cracks the clams on which it 
 feeds. It reaches an enormous size. 
 
 " The porcupine-fish has a round body filled 
 with quills. It is small, and good for nothing. 
 
 " The cow-fish is a curious fish. It has the
 
 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 143 
 
 head of a pig, with two horns above the ears. 
 On the bottom it is as smooth as a flat-iron. 
 
 " The mojarra is the shape of a sheepshead, 
 and has a lustrous brown shading- above the 
 tail. It is as handsome as an angel-fish, and 
 is good eating. 
 
 " The spade-fish also looks like a sheeps- 
 head, but it has no hard fins. 
 
 NO TROUT IN FLORIDA. 
 
 " All the books on Florida declare that the 
 rivers are filled with trout. This is untrue. 
 There is not a fresh-water trout in the State. 
 What they call trout are a kind of black bass, 
 trapped on a troll. They have huge mouths, 
 and are caught by scores in the St. John's 
 River. A lady hooked one at Enterprise 
 weighing ten pounds and a half. Compared 
 with sea fishing, however, fishing on the St. 
 John is boyish sport. 
 
 EXCURSIONS. 
 
 From St. Augustine and Enterprise, many 
 excursions can be made, with perfect safety,
 
 144 GUIDE TO FLORIDA. 
 
 into an almost unexplored region abounding 
 in fish and game ; and one's time — whether in 
 a sojourn of a few weeks, or during an entire 
 winter — be most agreeably occupied in Flo- 
 rida. 
 
 There are many quite important points in 
 Florida, in a business point of view, not 
 touched upon in this work; but we believe we 
 have here given all that interests the general 
 reader, or the seeker after health or recreation 
 in relation to Florida. 
 
 FINIS
 
 ^Oi^ 
 
 
 First-Class New-York Built Steamers 
 
 BICTATOE* ^ €apt* Yog:e!, 
 
 CWY POMT, - f apt. Mtzgerald, 
 
 Connect at CHARLESTON and SAVANNAH with the 
 New Yorli Steamers and Northern Trains for 
 
 SAVANNAH, 
 FEliNA NDINA , 
 J A CKSON V [L LE, 
 St. AUGUSTINE, 
 
 HIBEJINIA, 
 
 MAGNOLIA, 
 
 GliEEN CO VESpiintfy, 
 
 BALATKA, 
 
 I^CLUDI,^G ALL LANDINGS ON THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER. 
 
 CONNECT AT PALATKA WITH STEAMKKS FOR ENTERPR1S1-, 
 
 MKLLONVILLE. SANFORD, AND INDLVN RIVER, ALSO 
 
 WITH STEAMERS FOR THE OCKLAWAHA RIVER. 
 
 A Fufficient numbf-r of the Cfioicest State-Rcoms are reserved lor 
 PasBeugers by the NEW \OHK STEAMERS. 
 
 Passencers will find on these Steamers every comfort and convenience — 
 a first-ciaBS table, and ] olite and attentive employees. 
 
 For Freight or pass-aiic, apply in New York to Agents of Charleston and 
 Savannah Steamsliip Lines.
 
 Jlie blCJ/lJOl^ apd CIJY H\^] 
 
 have during the Summer been elegantly refurnished, and 
 put in the most thorough order, nothing being left un- 
 done to provide every comfort and convenience. The 
 traveler will bear in mind they land him at the very 
 doors of the folloAving hotels, without change of con- 
 veyance. 
 
 SAVANNAH. 
 
 Pulaski House, Screven House, Pavilion Hotel 
 and Marshall House. 
 
 FERNANDINA. 
 
 RiDELL House, and numerous Boarding Houses. 
 
 JACKSONVILLE. 
 
 International, St. James' Hotel, Metropolitan- 
 Hotel, St. John's House ]\[rs. Day's, Mrs. Atkin's, 
 Mrs. Stockton's and Mrs. Buffington's. 
 
 HIBERNIA. 
 
 Mrs. Fleming's. 
 
 GREEN COVE SPRINGS. 
 
 Union Hotel and Clarendon Hotel. 
 
 THE HOTEL AT MAGNOLIA. 
 
 PALATKA. 
 
 St. John's Hotel and Putnam Hotel. 
 
 At Tocoi landing passengers at the Cars for 
 St. Augustine, taking them direct to St. Augustine 
 Hotel, Magnolia House, and the numerous Board- 
 ing Houses of the Ancient City. 
 
 Connecting at Palatka with Steamers taking the 
 passengers to Brock's Hotel, Enterprise, and the 
 various Boarding Houses at MELLONVILLE. 
 
 By this direct communication the traveler is saved 
 great perplexity and trouble.
 
 AH Tbrmgb BBlkmi TMeli 
 
 TO 
 
 FLORIDA 
 
 RECEIVED ON THESE 
 
 ^teair|ei'^ ii\ f^k^m^eiit of f^a^^^k^e, 
 
 AND 
 
 a:# lEf ai. € 
 
 IS MADE 
 
 F'or I^esuls or Stsute-iFLoorris. 
 
 An attentive Stewardess is charged with the care of 
 LADIES and CHILDREN, ^vhose duty it is to see 
 them provided with every comfort. 
 
 Each Steamer is provided 7vith a well-filled Medicine 
 Chest, and the attendants, accustomed to the wants of 
 invalids^ will at all times be found cheerfully to give their 
 assistance when called upon. 
 
 These Steamers being heated by Steam, a pleasant uni- 
 form temperature is maintained during the Winter 
 Months in Saloons and State-Roovis.
 
 Whether pleasure- seekers or invalids^ will find the route 
 by the DICTATOR and CITY POINT the ?nost en- 
 joyable and the least expensive j it is the only route by which 
 the beautiful scenery of the lower St. John's River can 
 be vieived^ with the many points rendered interesting, as 
 the scenes of the earliest settlements on the Continent, and 
 of the many bloody struggles between the French a?id 
 Spaniards. 
 
 Those traveling with invalids — ladies or children, will 
 particularly appreciate the trouble and anxiety avoided, by 
 being carried direct to their destination without several 
 times having to shift baggage, etc., etc. 
 
 The steamers are of the safest description, especially 
 adapted to the service — fitted with every comfort and con- 
 venience — clean, comfo7'table State Rooms, a table provided 
 with every luxuij of the Charleston, Savannah and Flor- 
 ida markets, and equal to that of a7iy first-class hotel. 
 
 The DICTATOR and CITY POINT are com- 
 manded by officers who have spent their lives in the 
 Florida trade, and they, as well as all the employees on the 
 Steamers, will take pleasure in giving every inforination 
 to visitors, and to those intending to settle in Florida. 
 
 Goods and Packages will be fot-warded by the Agents, 
 free of conwiission. 
 
 K-AT^EIVEL &c CO., Agents, 
 
 Charleston, South Carolina.
 
 Fqf Speei, 8^§tjBni C^omfort 
 
 TAKE THE GREAT 
 
 SOUTHERN FREICxHT, 
 
 AND 
 
 PASSENGER «INE, 
 
 FOR CHARLESTON, S. C, 
 
 AND THE 
 
 0otitl\ ki\d ^otitlvWe^t, 
 
 Sailing from Pier 29, North River, at 3 p. m., every 
 
 TUESDAY, THURSDAY AND SATURDAY. 
 
 Through Passage Tickets and Bills of Lading issued at lowest rates. 
 
 FOR LOCAL FREIGHT AND PASSAGE TO ALL POINTS^ 
 
 APPLY TO 
 
 JAMES W. QUINTARD & CO., 
 
 177 West Street, cor. AVarren. 
 
 FOR THROUGH FREIGHT TARIFF AND RATES 
 
 APPLY TO 
 
 BENTLEY D. H A S E L L, 
 
 General Agent Great Southern Freight Line, 
 317 BROADVTAY.
 
 tB. 
 
 I >i P ;i{ >i^ S X 'J-' I'o 
 
 The Maffnificent Side-Wheel Steamships 
 
 MANHA TTAN, 
 
 CHAMPION, 
 
 CHARLESTON, 
 
 JAMES ADGER, 
 
 GEORGIA, 
 
 SOUTH CAROLINA, 
 
 M. S. Woodhull, Commander. 
 R. W. Lockwood, " 
 
 Javies Berry, " 
 
 T. J. Lockwood, " 
 
 Hohnes, 
 Crowell, 
 
 « 
 
 I<ekve Xew Yoi'k fof dl]kile^toii, ^. d., 
 
 EVERT 
 
 At 3 O'clock P. M- , from Pief\ 29 pT. j^.. 
 
 connecting with the Charlepton and Florida steamships "DICTATOR" and 
 "CITY POINT" for Jacksonville, St. Augustine, and other points in 
 Florida. 
 
 This is the shortest and pleasantest sea route. Travelers have the option 
 of remaining in Charleston at their convenience, and reviewing the historic 
 
 ^S OF FORT SUi^^ 
 
 and other points of interest in and around Charleston. These steamships 
 also connect with the trains on the South-Carolina Bailroad for AIKEN, 
 S. C, AUGUSTA, Ga., and all points south. 
 
 THROUGH TICKETS TO ALL POINTS IN FLORIDA, SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, 
 
 ALABAMA, AND TENNESSEE MAT BE OBTAINED AT THE OFEICE 
 
 OF THE NEW TORK AGENTS. 
 
 J \MES W. QUTXTAHl) & Co., JAMES ADGER & CO., 
 
 117 West St., Cor. Warren. Agents at Charleston, S. Carolina.
 
 AND 
 
 VIA 
 
 SAVANNAH^ 6a^ 
 
 FOB 
 
 w 1^ o miW) M 
 
 f 
 
 AND ALL 
 
 rOIXTS in the SOUTH and SOUTH-WEST. 
 
 One of the following First-Class Steamships will sail every other day as 
 follows, — punctually at 3 o'clock, p. m. : 
 
 EVERY TUESDAY, 
 
 From Pier 1 6, E. K., foot of Wall St., 
 
 J^t.O & Yl^(^0, of Mtii'i'ayy I<ii\e, 
 
 MuKRAT, Ferris & Co., Agents, 61 and 62 South St. 
 
 EVERY THURSDAY, 
 
 From Pier 43, N. E. 
 
 EVERY SATURDAY, 
 
 From Pier 43, N. R, 
 
 W. R. Garrison, Agent, 5 Bowling Green. 
 
 Making close connections at Savannah, with Central R. R., Ga; 
 Atlantic and Gulf R. R., and Steamboats for St. John's River and 
 Florida.
 
 ^\vUAMM.B,RD4co 
 
 51- 
 
 Wliite I<ekd^ 
 
 ^i^6^, Cioloi% 
 
 Wim9W mM88, Bto. 
 
 No. 301 East Bay Street, Charleston, S. C, 
 
 AND 
 
 No. 8 Whitaker Street, Savannah, Ga.
 
 —^- -^ — ^-- i 
 
 T/iis ^v ell-known atid popular first-class Hotel, situat- 
 ed in the Centre of the City, and also in the centre of 
 the Wholesale Businesi Houses, affords facilities, com- 
 forts and attention to Travelers for pleasure, and 
 Merchatits on business, second to none in the United 
 States. 
 
 Having been recently thoroughly repaired and newly 
 furjiished throughout, the Proprietor pledges himself to 
 spare no pains in its matiagement to maintain the high 
 reputation heretofore enjoyed by the old CHARLESTON 
 as a first-class house. 
 
 E. H. JACKSON, Prop'r. 
 
 General Railway amd Steamship Ticket Office. 
 Through Tickets sold by Rail to all points in the 
 United States, and by Rail or Steamship to Baltimore, 
 Philadelphia and New York. 
 
 A. BCTTEKFIELl), General Ticket Agent, 
 
 CHARLESTON HOTEL.
 
 fhrilio^ Sotel, 
 
 CHARLESTON, S. C. 
 
 ^•-»- 
 
 This house, having been newly furnished and painted 
 throughout, and having the Celebrated Artesian Water 
 introduced on every floor, is now open for the reception 
 of guests. The apartments are spacious, well ventilated, 
 and thoroughly adapted to the comfort of the traveling 
 public. 
 
 Artesian Baths having been established in connec- 
 tion Avith this house, makes it particularly desirable for 
 iNTAiiiDS, and the traveUng pubhc generally. 
 
 The proprietors have spared neither trouble nor ex- 
 pense in the renovation of the Culinary department. 
 
 A First-Class Livery Stable is connected with the 
 Hotel, and Omnibuses and Carriages for the conveyance 
 of passengers, will be in attendance at all the Steamboat 
 Landings and Rail-road Depots. 
 
 The Proprietors would respectfully ask a share of 
 public patronage, promising to give satisfaction. 
 
 GEO. T. ALFORD & CO., Proprietors.
 
 ^ 
 
 
 This well-known hotel, which has always been considered 
 the leading hotel in Savannah, and one of the best in the 
 South, is pleasantly located in the central portion of the city, 
 on Johnson Square, with a southern front, which is a matter 
 of no small importance in this climate. In consequence of the 
 death of the late proprietor. Major W. H. WiLTBERGER, the 
 hotel has fallen into the hands of Messrs. S. N. Papot & Co., 
 and the new proprietors have made many changes and im- 
 provements. The whole house has been thoroughly painted 
 inside and out, and otherwise renovated ; and such alterations 
 have been made in the interior arrangements, as must add to 
 its attractions and conduce to the comfort of the guests. 
 
 At this hotel every convenience is offered to the traveling 
 public in the way of Ticket Offices for all the Railroads and 
 Steamboats ; Telegraph Office, etc., and here also Sleeping- 
 car tickets can be procured. A handsome billiard-room has 
 been provided for the use of the guests, which we are induced 
 to mention, as it is a thing which has been long v^^anted, and 
 as it is the only hotel in Savannah which contains any such 
 means of amusement. 
 
 If kind and courteous treatment, comfortable rooms and a 
 good table; offer any inducements to our friends going South, 
 either for health, pleasure or business, we think we can safely 
 recommend them to patronise the Pulaski during their sojourn 
 in Savannah. 
 
 S. N. PAPOT & CO.,
 
 SAVANNAH, GA. 
 
 ♦♦^ - 
 
 The undersigned take pleasure in informing- 
 their patrons and the travehng Public gen- 
 erally, that during the past Summer they have 
 thoroughly renovated, re-decorated, and much 
 improved this well-known house. 
 
 Every requisite for the comfort and pleasure 
 of their guests has been made. 
 
 The location is deemed one of the best and 
 healthiest in the city — fronting on a public 
 square. 
 
 The Cuisine has been particularly attended 
 to, and the services of the best French cooks 
 secured. 
 
 Bath-rooms have been recently fitted up for 
 the use of guests. 
 
 The House is still under the same proprietor- 
 ship as last year, assisted by Mr. I. W. Tuttle, 
 who has been long connected with the estab- 
 lishment. 
 
 iJ. BRAJDLEY & SON, 
 
 Proprietors.
 
 riH©iii*oiit 
 
 
 ^1 
 
 SuU gtfeet, dof. ^outl\ Si^o^d. 
 
 SAVANNAH, GA. 
 
 :o:- 
 
 A. FERNANDEZ, Proprietor, 
 
 BOARD PER DAY, $3; PER WEEK, $15. 
 
 The undersigned would respectfully inform his 
 friends and the public generally, that he has leas- 
 ed the Pavilion Hotel, and has put it in complete 
 order, and is now ready to receive Boarders 
 either permanent or transient. 
 
 The House is eligibly located on the principal 
 promenade of the city, and is admirably adapted 
 for the purpose for which it is used. Every effort 
 will be made to merit the patronage of the public. 
 
 A. FERNANDEZ, 
 
 Late of the Ptdaski and Screven Houses.
 
 McCONNELL'S 
 
 
 AND 
 
 PtEST^XJRu^KTT, 
 
 116 & 118 Bryan Street, Savannah, Ga. 
 
 BOAED WITH EOOMS, $2.00 PER DAY; LAEGE AIEY SINGLifl 
 BOOMS, WITHOUT BOAED, $1.00 PEE DAY. 
 
 m » » 
 
 The Restaurant is supplied with all the delica- 
 cies of the Northern and Southern Markets. 
 
 D. McCONNELL, Proprietor.
 
 f{iDDELL Souse, 
 
 Daily don)n\iir|i(5atioi)^ witl\ kll Phi't,< of tl)e dotintfy, 
 
 BT 
 
 STEAMER and RAILROAD. 
 
 -*•>- 
 
 This house is on the Seaboard, in the most healthy 
 part of the State of Florida. The drive of i8 wiles 
 on the most magnificent beach on the Atlantic Coast 
 presents a great attraction to visitors. The cxcnr- 
 sions in the neighborhood are interesting^partictdarly 
 that to Cumberland Islafid, and the well knoivn 
 Dungeness. 
 
 The house has lately been pnt in thorough repair, 
 and will be found conducted in a most stiperior style 
 by the proprietor. • 
 
 SAMUEL T. RIDDELL, 
 
 Proprietor.
 
 tea Qtt 
 
 Wj^BS 
 
 OP 
 
 D. G. AMBLER 
 
 J(^<'^SO?fy,lle' 
 
 y 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 («o /^j /^ 
 
 _XCHANGE. "" "^ ""' 
 
 AND 
 
 fS-' (^J /^~iS Q 
 
 XCHANGE, iStOCKS, lONDS, ^NOTESS 
 
 ^ Itif ii^ 
 
 Special Attention given to Investments for Capitalists! 
 
 Ii\tei^e^t Sllo^Yed oq f)erpo^it^. 
 
 Visitors to Florida afforded every possible facility. 
 Drafts on Northern Cities cashed on favorable terms. 
 Every ijiformation cheerfully afforded the Tourist or 
 Invalid as to the various Winter Resorts of Florida — ■ 
 routes of travel^ etc., etc. Our files of Northern papers 
 may at all times be consulted.
 
 THE 
 
 ^T. JAMES SOTEL, 
 
 {Fronting St. James Park,) 
 
 OPEN FROM NOVEMBER TO MAY, 
 
 ^mf>JI£ St. lames Hotel has accommodations for 300 
 
 1' guests. Its location is the finest in Florida. A Jiew 
 
 c- ■ -} brick wing, wo feet by 46 feet, three stories high, 
 
 with spacious parlors on the first-floor, and large airy 
 
 sleeping rooms with fire place in each, on the second and 
 
 third floors, has been added during the past Summer. The 
 
 e?iiire house has been refurnished in first-class style ivith 
 
 sofa-spring beds and best hair mattresses. 
 
 Families and others seeking the delightful climate of 
 
 Florida will find the St. James a comfortable home for 
 
 the winter. 
 
 J. R. CAMPBELL & J. N. ANDREWS, 
 
 GENERAL MANAGERS.
 
 
 JAOSSOITVILLE. 
 
 l^EOKGE ^C^glNLZY. ^KOPKIETOK. 
 
 The Grand National, recently completed, is 
 now open for the reception of guests. Its situa- 
 tion is unrivalled, commanding a magnificent 
 view of the St. John's River, and convenient to 
 the steamer landings and railroad depot. 
 
 Visitors will find here every comfort, large, 
 finely furnished, and well-ventilated apartments, 
 and an excellent table. 
 
 Bath rooms, billiard room, livery stable, etc., 
 attached to hotel. In fact, every requisite of a 
 first-class house. 
 
 GEORGE McGINLEY, Proprietor.
 
 ^lETROPOLITAiN HOTEL, 
 
 JnBkMomllle, Plm 
 
 m 
 
 8uilt of Sridk,— Kew ¥l\i^oti#\otit. 
 
 fLORIDAl^ANDScENCY, 
 
 Jacksonville, Fla, 
 
 C. L. ROBINSON, Proprietor. 
 
 Attorney at Law. — Commissioner U. S. Circuit 
 
 Court. — Special Commissioner U. S. Court 
 
 Claims. — Publisher «* Florida Land 
 
 Register."
 
 ^t. ]o\^'^ Sou^e, 
 
 JACKSOJ^VILLE, Fla. 
 
 Mrs. E. HlIDNAIiL, Proprietress. 
 
 MRS. BUFFINGTON, 
 
 'str^itt Btitd 
 
 I'^s^ 
 
 JACKSONVILLE. FLA. 
 
 t 
 
 GUESTS WILL FIND EVERY COMFORT. 
 
 Academy of St. Joseph, 
 
 lAOKSO^TILLl, East Ma.; 
 MOTHER SIDOlSriEU, Sup. 
 
 The Sisters of St. Joseph have a separate house for 
 the accommodation of persons desiring to spend the 
 winter.
 
 MRS. S. E. DAY, 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, FLA. 
 
 FORSYTH STREET. 
 
 ?fiYkte Sokfdiii 
 
 AT 
 
 Mrs. A. V. C. ATKII\S, 
 
 MONROE STREET, 1st Door from Market St., 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, EAST FLOBIBA. 
 
 MRS. STOCKTON, 
 
 c- 
 
 PfiYkte Sokfdir^^, 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
 
 T~^ T O G iV/ 
 
 DEALER IN FOREIGN 
 
 fiBms MqwQm BBi B'&gmB§ 
 
 IMPOETEK OF FINB 
 
 
 Excursion Parties fitted out with every reqtii site for 
 extended trips to the Interior. 
 
 Proprietor of the Metropolitan Billiard Saloon, Avhere 
 visitors will find tables of the celebrated makers, both 
 Pocket and Carom. Liquors of our own importation 
 furnished at the bar. 
 
 The large Hall in the bviilding can be secured on rea- 
 sonable terms for Concerts, Theatrical Representations, 
 
 etc., etc. 
 
 J. B. TOG3VI.
 
 C. B. McCLENNY'S STABLES 
 
 Jacksonville, Fla., 
 
 OPPOSITE SAINT JAMES' & METROPOLITAN HOTELS. 
 
 To Zet, with Careful 2>riyers. 
 
 Horses, Buggies & Saddle-Horses 
 
 FFRNISHED AT THE SHORTEST NOTICE. 
 
 Omnibmet, Hacks and Baggage Wagons meet all Boats and Trains. 
 ♦♦• 
 
 Special attention paid to orders left at either Stable 
 for Passengers or Baggage.
 
 DAMON GREENLEAF, 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 
 
 DEALER IN 
 
 ^atclieg, Clocfe jewelry, ^olid silver, 
 
 AND 
 
 -:o:- 
 
 Watches, Clocks and Jewelry Repaired & Warranted. 
 
 -:o:- 
 
 FLORIDA CURIOSITIES. 
 
 Do not fail while in Florida, to visit Greenleafs 
 Museum of Florida Curiosities, connected with Green- 
 leafs Jewelry Store, opposite the Market. 
 
 Constantly on hand, the largest stock in the State of 
 
 ea Beans, mounted in every style; Alligator Heads, 
 
 Alligator Teeth, carved and mounted; Orange, Royal 
 
 Palm, Palmetto, Break-axe, Mangrove, and other Canes. 
 
 Pink Curlew Wings, Egret and Heron Plumes; Fla- 
 mingo and Fawn Plumes ; Sea Shells and Coral ; Alligator 
 Eggs, etc., etc. 
 
 Sole Agent for the celebrated Bahamian Shell- Work.
 
 ©RY AND 3?ANCY G^OODS, 
 
 FURCHGOTT, BENEDICT & OO.'S 
 
 KNOWN AS THE 
 
 TRADE PALACE. 
 
 ¥l|e i]:\o^t "beautiful kqd fii^e^s't ^tofe ii) tl^e ^tkte. 
 
 BAY STREET, Jacksonville^ Fla. 
 
 Branch of CHARLESTON HOUSE, 275 liing St. 
 
 New York Office, 86 Leonard Street. 
 
 ^ALMETTO ^ATS, 
 
 Carpets and Matting, a Specialty.
 
 ABia 1. 1111.411, 
 
 9 
 
 JACKSONVILLE, Fla., 
 
 Hardware, 
 
 Iron and Steel, 
 
 Edge Tools, 
 
 Table and Pocket Cutlery, 
 
 Nails, Glue, 
 
 Putty, Glass, 
 Paints, Oils, 
 
 Leather Belting, 
 
 Rubber Packing, 
 
 Stoves, Tinware, 
 
 Crockery, Pumps 
 
 i^i&© AJta tm^m wwE, 
 
 DOORS, SASHES, BLINDS, MOULDINGS, SUGAR MILLS, 
 EVAPORATORS, ETC. 
 
 «as Fitting, Roofing, Jobbing, and Tin Smltlilng 
 done to Order.
 
 E. P. ^VEBSTER & CO., 
 
 DRUGGISTS & APOTHECARIES, 
 
 SIOJV^ ''GOLDEN MORTAR." 
 
 mmiWB mm§m, eA¥ m 
 
 j^A c£:sojvrizzB, fz o^i^a. 
 
 Persons, visiting Jacksonville, in need of pure 
 Drugs and Medicines, fine Brandy, Wines, and 
 other Liquors, Fancy Goods, Toilet Articles, 
 fine Brushes, fine Soaps, fine Eau de Cologne, 
 Florida Water, Rose Water, Orange-flower 
 Water, Pomades, and every thing usually kept in 
 a first-class Drug Store, — are invited to call, and 
 look at our stock. The Compounding of Pre- 
 scriptions made a Specialty. Satisfaction prom- 
 ised in all cases.
 
 •V I s I T o rt 
 
 iiliiil 
 
 ^^'pS^'^'^yiGJ^ 
 
 ^^OOK OUT rOR TK£ ^OLD^GN ^LLIGATOK, 
 
 AT 
 
 E. F. GILBERT'S 
 
 Where, in addition to the finest stock of 
 
 WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELRY, 
 
 SILVER AND PLATED WARE, 
 
 They will find the best collection of 
 
 in the State, at the Lowest Cash Prices, comprising in 
 part, Walking Canes, in every variety of beautiful native 
 wood ; Alligator Teeth, carved or gold mounted ; Sea 
 Beans, mounted in ■ new and beautiful designs j Sea Shell 
 Jewelry, Crosses, Card Baskets, etc., of exquisite luorknian- 
 ship J Flumes and Feathers of every hue ; Corals, and 
 hundreds of the Native Beauties of Florida. Monograms, 
 and Fancy Fng ravings a specialty. 
 
 Fine JFatches and Chronometers repaired and rated. 
 Remember Gilbert's sign of the Golden Alligator, 
 Jacksonville, Florida.
 
 Charles L. Mather. Fi\ank E. Little 
 
 C. L. MATHER & CO., 
 
 W office bliildipg, jack^opVille, \k 
 
 WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
 
 i®llSS, 
 
 BOOKSELLERS & nEWSD^X^ERS. 
 
 Boston, New York, Philadelphia and Savannah 
 Daily Papers, a/so all the latest Magazines and 
 Periodicals constajitly on hand. 
 
 Parties visiting Florida can leave their subscriptions 
 •with 7is, for any length of tifne, and the same will be 
 promptly forwarded to any point accessible by mail. 
 
 Guide Books, Railway Guides and Pocket Maps 
 in great variety. 
 
 Call and examine our stock before purchasing elsewhere.
 
 THE OLD RELIABLE 
 
 BROCK'S LINE OF STEAMERS 
 
 J 
 
 RUSrarNG BETWEEN 
 
 ON THE 
 
 ST. JOHISr'S lilVER,, FLOItir>A. 
 
 THE NEW AND ELEGANT PASSENGEK STEAMER 
 
 Leaves JACKSONVILLE daily (except Sundays) for PALATKA and 
 all Intermediate Points, and connecting with Steamers for ENTER- 
 PRISE, CLAY SPRINGS, SALT LAKE, DUNN'S LAKE, and points 
 on tlie OCKLAWAHA RIVER. At TOCOI witli ST. JOHN'S RAIL- 
 ROAD for ST. AUGUSTINE, and returning to Jacksonville same 
 evening in time to connect with all Northern Trains. 
 
 THE FAVORITE STEAMERS 
 
 "f)Sf{i<i>[G^¥oK" iind "SS¥¥iE^" 
 
 Leave JACKSONVILLE on Sundays and Wednesdays at 9 a. m., 
 RcNNiNG THROUGH TO ENTERPRISE, and Stopping at all principal 
 points on the River. 
 
 The Old Reputation of this Popular Line will be fully 
 
 sustained, and every Comfort Guaranteed 
 
 to its Patrons. 
 
 JACOB BROCK, Agent, 
 
 Jachsonville, Fla-
 
 AND 
 
 THE 
 
 FAVORITE AjYD SPLE.YDID STEAMER, 
 
 
 'W? 
 
 Captain L. M. COXETTER, 
 
 LEA^'ES JAC•KSO^'\^LLE EVERY 
 
 AND 
 
 ALL IXrER2IEDIATE LANDINGS on the St. JOHN'S MfVUB. 
 
 The Starlight has recently been thoroughly o-oerhauled, 
 supplied 7uith new boilers and refurnished, and is iio:o in 
 splendid order, offering the most as;reeable means of reach- 
 ing points on the 
 
 t-ppci' >^t. Jol|n\s', Iiidiaq kt|(l Odl^iAvhl^a f^ivci';^. 
 
 Her passenger accommodations are unsurpassed^ and 
 Iter table first-class. 
 
 Close communication made with the Charleston and 
 Savannah Steamers. For full information apply to 
 
 <ii:(). ii. lOS'l'KR, Agoiii, Jackson vill J.
 
 HENRY A. L'ENGLE, 
 
 GRAB UA TED 
 
 PlAllACllIISI 
 
 9 
 
 Cof. ©ky ^t\gI I^ktii^k Hti'eet^, 
 
 JACKS ONVIL.LE. 
 
 ^ » » 
 
 6^6" /^ //z^ Coi-ner of Bay ajid Laura Streets., where you 
 will find a good stock of- 
 
 PUBE AHO PBBm DlVfiJ 
 
 AND 
 
 CHEMICALS, 
 
 PATENT MEDICINES, PERFUMERY, TOILET 
 
 ARTICLES, 
 
 FINE WINES AND LIQUORS, 
 
 » FOR MEDICINAL PURPOSES. 
 
 Physicians Frescriptio?ts accurately prepared at all hours 
 of the day and night.
 
 dlcii'eiidoii Settle, 
 
 GBBEN COVE SJPMINGS, Fla. 
 
 ON THE 
 
 ST. JOHN'S RIVER, 
 
 30 Wires geuth of j:aeksQnvll[©. 
 
 Daily Mail and two daily Steamers from Jacksonville 
 to Green Cove. 
 
 -»♦- 
 
 Belonging to this house, and within loo ft. of it, is the 
 Green Cove Warm Sulphur Spring, discharging 3,000 
 gallons per minute, of temperature 78°. 
 
 This water is highly valuable in its medicinal qualities, 
 in the following diseases. Rheumatism — Gout — Scrof- 
 ula — Dyspepsia — Paralysis — Neuralgia — all Nervous 
 Affections — Erysipelas, and all Eruptive Diseases — 
 Kidney Disorders, and General Debility. 
 
 Large additions have been made, during the past 
 season, to the Bathing facilities. The Baths and Dressing 
 Rooms now occupy a space 200 ft. long by 50 ft. wide. 
 
 The house is supplied with water from the Spring, by 
 means of water power. 
 
 HARRIS, APPLEGATE & CO., Proprietors.
 
 mw.^, 
 
 Sf. 
 
 
 AT 
 
 GREEN COVE SPRINGS, 
 
 30 MILES FROM JACKSONVILLE, 
 
 KEPT BT 
 
 MESSRS. REMINGTON &, REED, 
 
 Is a most delightful place for visitors. They 
 will find every comfort, and a fine table. 
 
 Mrs. FLEMIISTG, 
 
 HIBERNIA, on the St. JOHN'S RIVER, 
 
 25 MILES ABOVE JACKSONVILLE, 
 
 PRIVATE BOARDING HOUSE. 
 
 A most delightful place for visitors from the 
 
 North.
 
 f \\ 
 
 f 
 
 J 
 
 houfic, 
 
 GRE^^ 
 
 COVE S 
 
 pB^^ 
 
 GS, 
 
 wmmnk. ■ 
 
 THE CELEBRATED SULPHUR AND MINERAL SPRINGS 
 
 FOR 
 
 -««1MM«^^' 
 
 i'^ ^ ^6/ 
 
 WM 
 
 OPEN WINTER AND SUMMER. 
 
 FlMHi, Wl 
 
 These Springs are situated thirty miles above Jackson- 
 ville; daily communication.
 
 H. L. HART. 
 
 C. C. LYNDE. 
 
 S. L. MORRIS. 
 
 SSf(¥, I<Y>[!)S^ & Co., S^f o^tietof^. 
 
 The Putnam House has during the past 
 
 Summer been put in thorough order, and an 
 
 addition built containing forty comfortable rooms. 
 
 The favorable reputation of the house will be 
 
 maintained by the present proprietors, who 
 
 promise nothing shall be left undone for the 
 
 comfort of their guests. 
 
 HART, LTNDE & CO.
 
 PALATKA, East Florida. 
 
 P. & H. PETERMAN, Proprietors. 
 
 This Hotel is newly furnished throughout 
 A fine Billiard Room in connection with house, 
 and guests will find everything for their 
 comfort. 
 
 N. H. MORAGNE, M. D., 
 
 WHOLESALE & BETAIL 
 PALATKA, EAST FLORIDA. 
 
 Ju^lS/lES BURT, 
 
 FALATKA, EAST FLORIDA.
 
 FOR THE 
 
 ») i!'(«^ 
 
 'S^ 
 
 >\4I. 
 
 e 
 
 -^'<.\-ii \$ 
 
 The fine Steamers of the Hart Line connect 
 at Palatka with the Charleston and Savannah 
 Steamers, leaving on their arrival 
 
 «"rf«/«^^y^„^^,^if6ilaf«- 
 
 These boats have been put in good order and 
 a fine new steamer added to the line, so that 
 passengers will find on board every comfort and 
 a good table. By this route they visit the 7nost 
 remarkable and most beautiful River of Florida, 
 the celebrated Silver Spring, and the noble Lakes 
 Harris and Eustace. 
 
 Sportsmen will find game abundant on the 
 whole route. For full information apply to
 
 ?;s.^?|> ^^ <^^. 
 
 ■iB I n ^ ■m^'i &>4i^. 
 
 
 
 Situated six miles from Silver Springs, 
 where a conveyatice meets every boat on the 
 Oclawaha River. 
 
 This honse is pleasantly situated in the 
 flotLrishiiig town of Ocala^ encircled by pine 
 groves, and acknowledged by the faculty as 
 one of the most desirable winter resorts for 
 invalids. Comfortable rooms and a good table 
 fiirnished at moderate prices. 
 
 E. I. HARRIS, Proprietor.
 
 
 
 aiA^i^^S^ m.^%s.m.mm 
 
 
 rri/IB Brock House ^ beautifully situated 
 on the shore of Lake Mu7iroe, will be 
 foiuid by Invalids, Tourists and Sportsmen 
 to combine every requisite for health, comfort^ 
 and enjoyment. 
 
 The rooms are large and comfortable, and 
 the table excellent. 
 
 Splendid boating, fishing and htuiting^ in 
 the immediate vicinity of the Hotel. 
 
 Arrangements ca7i be here made for con- 
 veyances to Smyrna^ hidian River, etc. 
 
 JACOB BROCK, Proprietor.
 
 /7\ 
 
 JyiELLONVILLE SoUSE, 
 
 MEhhomihrn. 
 
 t< * ■ » '« 
 
 This Hotel, commanding a splendid view of Lake 
 Munroe, offers to the traveling public excellent accommoda- 
 tions at reasonable prices. Surrounded by Groves of 
 Pines, its advantages for invalids cannot be surpassed. 
 
 Every facility for boating, hunting, fishing, and excur- 
 sions to the Orange Groves and Mineral Springs of the 
 neighborhood. 
 
 All Steamers on the St. Johns stop at the Hotel land- 
 ing, going and coming. 
 
 TOGOI. 
 
 This House has been put in co7nfortable 
 order, and is ready to receive permanent and 
 transient visitors. 
 
 First-class beds and a " Cuisine',' in eveiy 
 respect ufzexceptionable. 
 
 JHeals furnished at any hour at short 
 
 notice. 
 
 CHARIiES THOMAS, Lessee.
 
 ,•-•••♦•♦*-» 
 
 Estine 
 
 FRONTING THE 
 
 PLAZA AND SEA \VALL. 
 
 ^»»" 
 
 77^^ St. Augzistme Hotel, co7mnanding a 
 view of the bay and ocean, occupies the most 
 desirable location in St. A^igustine. 
 
 The reputation of the house as a first- 
 class family hotel luill be maintained by the 
 present proprietoi^s, and no effort be spared to 
 provide every co?nfort to the traveler.
 
 THE 
 
 Maaiiolia Hotel 
 
 ST. GEORGE STREET, 
 
 St. Augustine, Florida. 
 
 W. W. PALMER, - - - - Proprietor. 
 
 {Late HOUGHTON iS: FALJ/FJf.) 
 
 This favorite Hoterirs been completely Rotiovatcd, internally s-.n 1 e-^- 
 t maliy, antl now presents unsurimssed aeeommotlutiDn < for TOURISTS 
 and INVALIDS. Sinirle rooms and family apannienle, cii. siiile. The 
 aiisiiie is in every respect Uiie\'ce]itiiinabli'. Tlie Mhuik liu stands np'>n 
 the liigljcsl jjrouud iii tiie eiiy, and couuuauds a fiuc view of the ocea.n
 
 ORIENTAL HOUSE, 
 
 St. AU^STINE, Fla. , 
 
 On the European Plan, 
 
 $1 a day for occupying Room. 
 
 This Hotel is entirely newly furnished, is First Class, and about two 
 minutes' walk from Central Pier and Post Office. Restaurant for Ladies and 
 Gentlemen attached to Hotel. 
 
 H. G. POXCE & Oo., Pioprietoi-s. 
 
 T. A. PACETTI, 
 
 GRADUATED 
 
 PlAllAClllISlj 
 
 St. Augustine Hotel^ 
 
 St. AUGUSTINE, Fla. 
 
 MM* 
 
 Dealer in Drugs, Medicines, Perfumery, etc. Speci- 
 alty— fine old Liquors, viz., Brandy, Whiskey, Wines, 
 etc. ; also. Cigars.
 
 Florida Souse, 
 
 ?l. AUillSf lifE 
 
 TE Florida House, tvhich all visitors to St. Au^- 
 i^3 ustine Will remember, from tts agreeable location 
 *^(^^ and cheerful appearance — situated on St. George's 
 Street, has undergone most important changes the past 
 summer. A wing has been added on St. George's St., con- 
 taining seventy large, well-ventilated and cheerful rooms, 
 and the whole house has been renovated and refurnished 
 throughout. 
 
 Guests will find the table in every way worthy of a 
 first-class hotel, and the proprietor promises entire satis- 
 faction to visitors. 
 
 The house will be heated throughout and gas and other 
 ■^ conveniences furnished in every room. 
 
 I. H. REMER, Proprietor.
 
 (^^^^.^3^^ 
 
 ®fc e&mge 8fc^ #fc M&gmtim 
 
 DEALEES m 
 
 ^/\r AT C U K S, 
 
 Je^A^elry, Clocks, Plated-W^are, 
 Cutlery and Spectacles, 
 
 Sea Shells, Sea Beans, and Alligator Teeth, 
 
 HAXDSOMJEL T GAM VED and MO UNTED. 
 
 Corals, Bird Phtmcs, Feathers, Floivcrs, Palm 
 Work, Coquina Ornaments and Walking Canes, in 
 great variety. 
 
 St. GEORGE ST., St. Augustine, Fla.
 
 ID. J". L O F E Z, 
 
 DEAXER IS 
 
 Brags, Eiikli^s, eiiirnkMs^ 
 
 Fine Toilet Soaps, Brushes, Combs, etc. Fancy 
 Articles, Perfumery in great variety, and pure 
 Wines and Liquors, for Medicinal Purposes 
 only. 
 
 N. B. — Physicians, Prescriptions carefully Compound- 
 ed. Foot of Central Wharf, opposite the St. Augustine 
 Hotel. 
 
 St. AUGUSTINE, Fla. 
 
 WHOLESALE AND BETAIL DEALEB, IN 
 
 9 
 FURNITURE, HARDWARE, 
 
 ,^ I N E S , 1 1 Q U O R S , 
 
 Mobiuc0, §t0urs, pipes, %e. 
 
 CHARLOTTE STREET, St. Augustine, E. Fla. 
 
 oyA^./^
 
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