The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1876-02-02

had been laying on.
OF tartles we saw in all, perhaps 20
or 30-they were in appearance SINH
lar to the turtle in our northern rivers.
Turkey buzzards, limpkins, a couple
of gray squirrels, and few duck,
white heron, blue heron and curlews
made up the list of animated nature
of which so much has been written.
Neither did the woods or swamps show
signs or bear evidence of having at
any time any greater luxuriance of
vegetation than our woods and wilds
at home.
The climate is warm and the air is
moist, but the soil is very poor, and
it seems as though what vegetation
gains in the climate and moisture it
loses for want Of a richer soil.
We gathered some yellow jessamine
very fragrant indeed, land saw a
few insignificant blossoms on vines
that were inaccessible to us. we pre-
.sume at different season Of the year
the bloom would be much greater, but
these were the only flowers we saw in
this much. praised blooming Flor.
ida, during the trip we are describing.
When it became dark the the boat
men made fire on top of the deck
which reminded me of the headlight
of an engine, as it fully illuminated
the narrow channel.
The light falling on the tall moss.
covered trees had a strange and wierd
effect. 1t reminded me of some of
Hawthorne's writings, and made me
wish that he had taken trip up the
Ocklawaha and described it in his
marvellous manner.
Turkey Buzzards and a species of
bird with long legs and bill, called
Limpkins, were the only birds that
were abundant, and as our illuminated
boat came along would fly up from
the small trees in the swsmps at the
side of the river.
Nature at length asserted her do
minion, and we (the passengers) re-
tired for the night.
Next morning l arose as soon as it
was daylight to try trolling for Bass,
but in this was not very successful.
The turns in the river we're 30 abrupt
that could let out but little line, and
the boat frightened the fish too much
for success so soon after her passage.
| trolled most of the forenoon and
caught but one bass.
During the forenoon we saw two
groves Of the wild orange of Florida.
They are sour and unfit for use, but
are very beautiful. The "orange- men
are now transplanting these sour trees
into regular groves and budding the
sweet orange on them. In this way
they get bearing trees in four or five
years.
At one p. m. we reached the mouth
of Silver Creek, and at three p. m. ar
rived at our Mecca-Silver Spring
Trclled as we went up Silver creek
and caught three nice Bass. Saw thou.
sands of bass in Silver creek and the
spring, but in the spring could moi
catch single one.
Silver Spring is nearly circular and
has an area of perhaps three or foul
acres. The water is clear as crysta
and rises all through the basiu so thai
no bnbbling or boiling is visible.
1t is strongly impregnated with lime
and is not considered very healthy t.
drink. The bottom of the spring il
white sand, but is nearly covered with
species of moss and weeds that grow
under water. The sand is, however
visible in spots and the water is SO per
factly clear that fish, shells, and small
objects may be seen distinctly on the
sand where the water is thirty or forty
feet deep, and in the sunlight assumed
prismatic colors and sparkled like
beautiful jewels. The spring has Nc
streams running into it, and is sur
rounded by low, dry, sandy banks
but the outlet is some 90 feet wide by
10 feet deep and runs with a current