Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-12-20
Hli srcllaneons
From Putnnm's Monthly for December. 1860
THE FLORIDA KEYS.

the sea, around the su%uthermust portion uf cur re-
public with coral islands. or keys. Of all dimen-
sions, from the extended area Of Key Largo, to II
minute clumr uf maugtuycs, hardly larger than
an ordinary sized breakfast table. Bot these isl.
ands ARE indebted To- the coral insect for their first
foundation only. As suun as they reach the sur
face, the industrious architects cease their labor
and all further grotwh Is dependent un ether causes.
These nre mann and various. a plank, tern from
y wreck, and tossed about 10y the winds aud waves
for many days, may ut last rest upun the surface
Of the enIGl. Sheltered from tho waves 10y this
slight burrier, the insects spread Il broad fiat rock
under its lee, which soon becomes covered with
sand and earth, thus forming the first rudiments
Of n soil. This spreads and elecates itself the
first piece of wreck. perhaps, cntchc, another, and
a large bulwark against the violence OF the waves
is erected, till quite an extent ct ground has risen
like magic in the very midst ut the ocean.
This soil, teenIing with the elements at fertility.
does no long remain barren aud useless. Perhap s
some sea. bird, wearied with its ptutracted flight
over the stormy waters. may pause tor an instant
on this welcome resting-plncr, y seed, borne hy
the bird from some more favored spot, ,rops upon
the luxurinut soil, thirsting tu receive 1t. springs
up, blossoms, and bears fruit. O,her birds rest in
the branches Of the newly-horn tree, and scatter
the seeds Of other aud different plants. Protected
still more from disturbing inllences, by the tar-
rier it has itself provided, the liud grows, like the
vegetation upon it; until miles upon miles ut 'eiri-
tory are rescued from the empire ot the sea. Such
is a brief and Simple sketch of the most usuHl
method of formation wherever the coral insect
builds. Around the coast of Florida, however,
most Of such changes tu"k place many hundreds
al years age, an" now, while some keys increase
in extent, others diminish. The cause If this lies
in the numerous currents, which the tides, in their
intricate ~wiudings through 80 many islands, una
voidtbly excite. THUS Il portion OF one key may
be slowly and steadily washed away. The parti-
Giles of earth, however, are not lost, but serve to
swell its more fortunate n~eighLOr, which, in its
turn, may 10 robbed at SOME part, to benefit n
third.
l, is both instructive and amusing to observe
the gradual increase Of somehow they stretch
out long narrow points like arms, striving to pull
more land from the bottom of the ocean. At first
we see nothing but ii long bank, which is almost
hidden by the sea at high. tide, aad reveals itself
as a soft mass OF mud and shells. when the waves
retire. Finally, sometimes at the very extremity,
sometimes in the middle, n combination of cur
rents heaps up II mass above the highest level of
the water. As it some unseen hand had planted
them, for no eye beholds whence they come, a mil
lion points of mangruve emerge from the mud
Perfectly straight, and hardly thicker than n quill
they bear u fancitul resemblance to the growth OF
the human beard. They soon lose that appearance
however. for the uniform stem forks and divides
again, grows and puts forth leaves, until The whole
surface OF the mud gives place to u fresh aud live
ly green.
This beautiful green meadow-for such from q
distance it appears-loses much of its charm as
VIC uDIAudNui ANU lo1NV'oNo hpllC Nv 'Ai h'N' W
be rash enough to trust ourselves upon it. The
mingled mass IF pulverizcd coral, sand, and shells
that forms the suit. is not only extremely soft and
treacheruus, but the young mangr0veS. spreading
out int1 a chain OF arches, trip Up the unwary loot
in a moment. Anv thought Of running over such
a surface wuuld he rash, in the broad light of day
but ut night would become simply ridiculous. On
n fair average, the fugitive and his purSuer. too,
would have the task, not only Of picking their way
but of picking "p themselves NJ every other step.
However, as the level of the mud, which is almost
as uniform rs the water around it, gradually rises
n short grass springs up and the earth dries anc
h.rlens. The mangrove arches. like many noblei
structures. fall into ruin. as the plants increase II
hci sht, Till the scene assumes the appearance Ot {
grassy level, dotted thickly with mnngr1ve bushes
seldom more than six or seven feet high.
These changes may all be observed ut one spot
as the edges IF most keys gradually shade off iron
their ancient forest covered centre, to their iiudd,
and dali y-increasing circumference. We speak "
a central forest, for other and larger trees spriny
$500