The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-06-10
Correspondence Of the Bammer.)
LAKE HARRIS, lFla.l May 10.


a pony, with gun IN hand, accompanied
by William Gordin, mulatto, who
ownes several thousand acres of Florida
land. l started up Mandarin river, on
my route to Smyrna, a distance Of near
ly one hundred miles. At 8 o'clock of
the first day, we passed fort Peyton,
near which Oceola, was ingloriously
captured.
The country through which we ira.
yelled was mostly pine barren, and
scrub land. At 2 p. M. we called on
Mr.. DUPONT, an old settler, who is ex-
perimenting upon raising the arrow
root, of which growth, he has twenty
acres planted, besides large crop Of
cora. He thinks, that growing the ar
row root, will soon become very profita
bic business in this region. At 6 P. NJ.
we arrived at the place of Gen. Herman
dez, which is the largest plantation in
successful operation in the coast region,
of East Florida. He has 60 acres
planted in sugar cane, and le0 in corn,
and works 96 hands. His overseer is
from Louisiana,-has experience IN the
sugar raising business, and expects TO
make 500 hogshead of Sugar for the
General in le4e. They have an en-
CINE in operation of sufficient power to
grind all the cane. as well as to grind
the corn, used on the plantation, and it
is now propelling two saws, each of
which, will saw 5000 feet of lumber per
day. The Generals corn is splendid,
and his cane is tolerably good.
On the morning of the 30th we left
for Smyrna. This was gloomy morn
ing; the road almost perfectly level, IN
pine barren, little to the right Of
very rich country, embracing several ex-
tcnsive hammocks. At 10, my guide
directed my attention to prairie on the
left, where were several deer feeding, as
yet undisturbed. | Immediately dis
mounted, raised my gun, and taking de-
liberate aim a, the largest buck, fired,
when, to my utter astonishment, he
raised his colors, cast scornful look at
the aggressor, and giving one nasal
shout of victory, sailed triumphantly in
TO distant retreats Of the extensive prai-
rie. Gould you believe that the decep-
tive distance of an object, on ,reeless
plain, had induced me, to shoot three
hundred yards at deer, with buck
shot, expecting to bring him down?
At IL NJ. we entered a road, leading
to the magnificent ruins, Of the BuIow
plantation. Here are some of the best
lands on the east side of the ST. Johns
river; several hundred acres of which
were once cultivated. The rich lands
are still there, but the very expensive
mills, and machinery, are in ruins, ha
wing never been restored since they
were destroyed by the Indians.
Harriot's place, as we'll as Dunlawton,
and one or two other places, are in a
similar condition, mass Of ruins.
At Shutdown, we arrived at Munson's,
! 'on spruce creek, nine miles from SInyr-
ma. During the two days, travelled
NEARLY ninety miles-killed one eagle,
! one alligator, two deer, and having stop
ped for the night, on spruce creek, came
well nigh being conquered, by muske-
toes and sand flies.
Fancy that you see me seated at the
table at candle light. A struggle en-
sues. The stomach stimulated by hun
ger, makes powerful effort to secure an
amount of nutriment, greater than will
supply the waste. consequent upon a
contribution, levied upon the system, by
the musquitoes and sand flies. And
when victory seems perching upon the
standard of insect army, reserve corps
appears IN the form of a mulatto servant
armed with roll of burning paper. AT
ter circling the table some five times
and ete!sping your correspondent in a
:Aense cloud of smoke. The insects are
dispersed, and the stomach becomes vic
tQrious.
On the first day of May I dismissed
my guide, and with an overcoat and my
faithful gdn as baggage, I took "the