The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1853-06-08

WAYFARINe IN EAST FLoRIDA.-A correspond
ent of the New York Commercial Advertiser fur
nishes that paper with the following extracts from
his diary made in the month of March last:
s'First night out from Tampa, twenty fl We mixes
arrived at Z, found family all sitting by log fire
out IN the yard; no fireplace in the house, man did
not rise to greet U.S. in his chair to see
who we were; that the snigger's' business: sat
there till near nine waiting for supper, which was
served out on the porch. Yenison fried with pork
sweet potatoes, corn bread, and arrowroot-no
tea. No doors to the chamber and only broken
shutter to the window; put up bed quilts; air came
in freely between the logs
"2d day-Arrived late and very hungry at din
ing place; could get only very salt and hard ba-
con, sweet potatoes, and corn bread-nothng else:
had no tea there. Was induced, by promise of
some black tea, to take a buggy and go on five
miles further for the night. Miserable place: wa
ter for the tea boiled in the fryinE-pan after
the ham had been dished up; milk to disguise
it; brown sugar only made it worse. For sup
per, hard dried beef fried half-cooked rice, heavy
hot cakes, and corn bread. Breakfast, same; de-
clined any more tea took muddy coffee with
out milk. Lay that night upon outside of
bed In kitchen, beside snoring Dutchman and
his wife, and doctor sat up there nearly all night
watching SICK grandmother in next room-all
three smoking vile tobacco in pipes most of the
time. Great draft over the bed, caused by blaz-
ing logs in chimney.
s3d day-Eugaged horse and cart TO go on 90
miles; tremendously rough ride over palmetto
roots-great appetite, but could get no dinner at
the lf-way house, said they could fry US some
bacon but had no potatoes. no bread; got some
water and whisky, with bit of sassafras root To
chew upon along the road. Reached the station
Tor the mail wagon about sundown-supper the
old story, bacon, corn bread and sweet potatoes
cold. Had some tea made of sassafras- so in
discreet to glance into the kitchen lust before
supper and saw water boiling in the irving nan:
found spoonful of the tea "a dose for AM
adult Slept in room with all the family Had
bed to myself in the corner; same evening Dutch
man slept in the other, four children in one he'd
between us; man and wife with nursing child ON
the floor; no doors TO the house: filing between
the logs nearly gone; large hole in the roof over
chlidren's bed; asked man why he did not mend
1t; said he didn't know why-womsn said that
when it rained they moved chdren's bed 10 a drv
spot. H.II
"4th day-Took mail wagon after breakfast
had the luck to meet three judges at dining place
on their way to Tampa-good dinner had been
provided for them. Being the only passenger.
persuaded driver to remain till next morning
TO give me chance to eat some venison and finish s..
colo chicken. No door to room, no filling between
logs at one side; night breeze very fresh. Driver
got up at one O'Clock, lighted his pipe and was
gong BACK to bed TO smoke; demonstrated with
him; be said it was free country and he would
do as be pleased; told him the country meant out
OF doors, &c; finally he went out on the porch
saccoutred as he was and took long smoke
said on entering that be nicely cooled off and
bad had good scratch Between coughing and
drivers swearing got no sleep that night
So the diary goes on, with nothing satisfactory
until the writer reaches ST. Augustine, where 'the
comforts of civilization have for him blessed
significance. ana sar,.-.