Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-01-24
ANTIQUITIES OF FLORIDA.

ANTIQUITIES OF FLORIDA.
Copy of a si,er from Judge BRAcKENRIDeE, Of
=, Florida, 10 Col WHITE, Delegate IN Congress
from that Territory.
WAsHINeroN, January IA, 1927.
SIR In compliance with your reqaest, will
now proceed TO give brief typographical and
historical sketch Of the curious and interesting
part Of our Territory, in which our capital, Tai
iahassee, is situated, The twenty townships
exposed TO sale last May twelvemon,h, contain
3 very large proportion Of excellent land, which
has been nearly all purchased, with view oil
settlement. In appearance, II is entirely unlike
any part Of the United States, So near the sea-
board Instead OF being plain Of unvaried
surface, IL reese mbles the high lands above the
falls OF the rivers IN the Atlantic States, and is
beautifully dive ,shed by hill and dale, and rem
dered picturesque BY the number 81 lakes, whose
pure waters reflect the forests oil oak, which
frequently clothe the SIDES OF the hills, down TO
their very margins. These lakes receive a
number Of streams, which How from the higher
grounds, and lose themselves IN thei: placid 5o-
SONS The larges, Of them are called the imo-
ria, Jackson, and Micasuki, each Of which i,
from thirty to forty miles N circumference; but
there are many others of smaller size, afford.
deuces, where the natural open groves oil oak.
hickory, beach, and magnolia grandifora, sur
pass in magni6cence the proadest parks at the
English nobility. The soil Of the uplands bears
strong resemblance to the bes, part Of Prince
Georges county, Maryland; and the face of the
country is not unlike the South side OF the Pc
tomas. appssiis .XasAissse.ssow os tifn5rf,
and frequently deep cane-brakes. There, are,
also, frequently 20 be met with grassy ponds,
surrounded by glades, viii eh afford excellent
pasture. The strawberry, the wild grape, and
plum, are found every where, and the numerous
Bowers which enbam the air, during great
part Of the year, may, perhaps, have occasion
ed the name Of Florida TO be given; Tor will
presently show, that, aztec Mexico, this was the
first part of The American continent which be-
came the scene of Spanish adventure. The on
ly regret which l feel in contemplating this
beautiful region, is its very limited exlent--an
Oasis, which appears to have been formed by
nature, in one OF her most sportive and fantas-
tic humors. The general substratum, perhaps
few feet above the level OF the sea, Is soft
lime stone, Of recent formation. In the pine
wood plain, which stretches towards the high
lands OF Tallahassee, the stone is often 70 und
In masses on the surface.
About IS miles from the port Of ST. Marks,
we begin TO ascend, and enter the country alrea-
DIV described; the ridge forming, in some mea-
sure, barrier TO the passage o. the water 10 the
sea; on the contrary, the streams, In general,
rising near the SUBMITS of the hills, flow down
ward, until they reach the general bed OF the |
limestone, where they either sink into the hs- |
suFes OF the rock, or spread out in lakes, which |
have their subleranean passages; but they a. |
gain rise on the south side OF the ridge, and
form some Of the largest springs In the world
The Wakallen comes forth at once, noble III
yer. two hundred yards in width, Its source not |
less than one hundred feet In depth, and so
transparent, that person standing by the side |
of II, feels as though he were on the edge Of a
precipics. Tue lakes Of Tallahassee abound in
fish; the Trout, Bream, Perch, and soft-sheiied
Turtle; and in Winter, with wild fowl. The
soil, as well on the uplands as in the valley, is
ADAPTED to the.cllture Of the Sugar Cane, Rice,
Sea Island Cotton, and Indian Corn. Hitherto
il has been healthy, aud IL is fair TO presune
that it will continue so: the Winters are OF
course mild, aud being within the reach OF the |
sea breeze, the heat OF summer Is greatly mo- |
Grated.
The appearances Of dense population, which !
seems at one time TO have covered this coun'
try. has induced me 10 make some inquiry -
While at Havana, could learn nothing; but
while at Charleston, met with an English
work, Roberts account Of Florida, l763, which |
gives piece OF history apparently but little
known. The district Of Appalache, It appears,
was inhabited by race called A,imaco Indians,
with whom the Spaniards had become inter
mingled. The Yamasse Indians, who lived
near St. Augustine, backed by those OF Apa-
lache, made frequent excursions into the new
settlements Of South Carolina, threatening
them with total destruction. In consequence
OF this, Col. Moor, Governor of that State, made
three inroads into their country in the year
1902, and 6, marching to the Flint river, and
then taking direction to the South, towards
Tallahassee. In his last expedition he entirely