The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-07-02

A correspondent of the New York Courier and
Enquirer, writing from Florida, thus describes the
famous fountain of Wakula, which has been rem
dered historical in the annals of Spanish adven-
ture:
\ few days since | returned from visit to this
+ famous fountain. | can vouch for its existence.
suppose that the efficacy of its miraculous virtues
has long since vanished. But its beauties so
extraordinary, and its whole nature so anomalous
as to excite in the beholder little admiration and
wonder. "Wahala" Springs, for so the Indians
christened them, are situated sixteen miles south
from Tallahassee. They form the sources of the
Wakulla River, which, flowing directly south
twenty miles, mingles with the waters of the great
Cult.
The springs, covering an area of some two hun
dred yards In circumference, entirely embosom-
ed IN dense forest of oaks and expresses whose
limbs are hung with banners of gray moss, which
give solemn, sombre appearance to the surround
lngs. From the shore you remark at once the sin
guar cearness of the waters and the distinct colOrs
of blue and green which cover in patches its sur
lace. BY means of a rough and 4 stawart
negro at the sweeps our party was soon atioat Not
ripple curled the smooth surface.
Stretched at length upon the boards we gazed
down INFO the limpid depths. BY actual measure
ment the bottom was two hundred and eighty feet
below us, yet we could distinguish the minutcst OBJ
ject there with the utmost precision. bit of silver
in gentle fluctuations, slipped to the bottom and
appeared undiminished in size. At times the white
sands were hecked with dancing shadows, or when
at rest were lesSelateu with nueS OF every variety
of shade. Shells and flakes of mica radated like
prisms
In some places immense trees were reclining upon
beds of moss like giants at rest. There We're eleva-
tions and depressions, huge ranges of coral-like
rock, ''and valleys stretching in pensive quetness
between There were abrupt precpces and top
ping crags which overhung abysses which no plum
met has yet sounded. Moses and water plants COW
cred other places like forests of ferns. They waved
their tops as if famed by a gentle breeze. And
there vast troops of fishes whose home life we
could look in upon without breach of etiquette
They seemed entirely unconcerned, looking up at
with perfect indifference and moving silently
into the messy forest beneath. A dozen yards
distant was an ugly looking alligator who eyed us
wistfully. On nearer approach he gradually sank
into the water and disappeared from view in bed
of rushes While skirting along the borders we
the bones of a mastodon which we Judged
to be about eighty feet below the surface
They consisted of portions of the jawbone, with
several of the teeth in good preservation Several
years since, gentleman in this vicinity by means
of marine armor, succeeded in recovering a large
quantity of these bones. They are very calcareous
and crumble easily by exposure to the air These
Springs no ordinary curiosity. To the natural
list and the of science they afford subject for
investigation and interesting exploration. The
sombre forest, the cloudless heavens, the strange
water-fowls, associated as they are with the enjoy
ments and pleasantries of a delightful party will
not soon fade from my memory.