Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1841-02-15
THE EVER GLADES OF FLORIDA.

A writer in the St. Augustine News, who re-
Gently accompanied Col. Harvey with his expedi-
ton among The Everglades of Florida, has given
II long and interesting account of that expedition
The ever-glades seem 10 be sort of grass tcater
in which the travelling must he by canoes and
yet in this grass tCaer are islands, which the In
dnns cultivate, and on which they live. "No
country" says the writer, " that have ever heard
Of bears any resemblance to it; it seems like a
vast sea- filled with grass and green trees and ex-
pressly intended us ii retreat for the rascay In
dians, from which the white men would never
seek TO drive Them This expedition consisted
of 30 men and 10 canoes, and on the 4h of De-
cember started from Fort Dallas; and the 18th,
having accomplished what was never before done
by white met, passed through the Everglades i'm
their canoes, and reached The sea near cape Ssalle
Tho party was IL days and IL nights in crossing
Col. Harvey, the commander of this expedi-
ton, seems TO be man of great ga,antry and
perseverance. December 5, nearly all the day the
men of the expedition were pulling their boats
through the mud and grass. During the day, says
the wrer:-
We insisted on John, our guide, carrying us to
some high land, where we might encanip and give
the men little rest. The officers had almost lost
confidence in his knowledge of the country, as,
at one time he could not tell us in which direction
the sun rose; and us we concluded not to follow
him in the direction he was going any longer, he
to carry us where he could find the greatest depth
of water, aud that he could carry us nearer way,
but that il was very shoal; which proved in the
end 10 be correct, as he had no, gone more than
few miles when il was with the greatest Difficult
~ we could move the boats. The Colonel called
on him 10 stop, as he would go no farther in thai,
direction; but he Insisted that The island was not
more than mile distant, and the Colonel suffer-
ed him to proceed. Sure enough, contrary to the
expectations of all, he in short Time halted at
low luit OF bushes, about half mile in circum-
ference, which seemed 10 us all to he entirely
flooded with water but after penetrating about 800
yards we came TO magnificent tIle spot IN lis
centre, about $50 yards in circumference here we
found an old Indian camp which evidently had
been deserted for some months. 1t was encircled
by number OF shrubs OF the wild Pappaw; and
two large and curious wild fig trees, about ten feet
apart, decorated It's center. This is Il remarkable
tree 1t first makes its appearance as the creeper,
and selzes OH the largest tree il can find, contInu-
ing TO encircle it in its neshes until it dsprives H.
of life, when it feeds upon the decayed matter and
becomes beautiful tree. These had each attack
ed palmetto, and one of them was dead, but the
Top Of the ether was boomig in the centre, al
though completely surrounded. We hailed, with
great dea OF pleasure, the touch of dry lahd as
we were wet 10 The skin; it having rained all day,
aud the wind blowing from The north. As soon as
il became dmk, we kindled large fre.-dricd
ourseyes-got good supper, eat ii with good
deal OF gusto talked over what we had under
gone, and what we intended 10 do stretched our
selves on our blankets, and slept soundly and
sweelly, Till daylight warned us to be up aud do
ing.
Dec. 6. Expecting TO find some Indians on one
of the islands, Colonel Harvey took four canoes,
with Lieut.. Rankin, and went ahead, having first
painted and dressed himself aud men 81 much
like Indians, that they could scarcely, themselves,
Iptpct fI,a This huu N xyuba