The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-26

great numbers of srunsn When We afterward took
the trouble OF counting them We found that within q
distance OF two miles there less than thirty
one. Some of them part from the wacissa, describe
u curve through tho morass and return to it.
We arrived at high pine humfhock, upon which,
however, We found nothing remarkable. We nance II
Pincy Island We only rested here and then pressed
onward with anxiety finish the limo that day.
At last We could plainly discover before US dense
mass OF foliage living and grccn which strongly con-
trusted with the nakedncss OF the cypress through
which had been tolng for several hours. Tho trees
were of enormous growth. AS wo approached VIC
crossed another stream, and its further bank was firm
and dry, but dcnscy screened by tangled tnicket.
What might there be behind that barricrg Was this Mt
last tho enchanted precinct where abode the mysterious
presence OF those uncxporcd wIds? felt somewhat
Ike the fairy prince OF childish memory, perhaps, TOR
here as in the poem:--
All round hedge upshoots and shows
At distance ike a little wood.
Thorns, ives, woodbines, mistletocS
And grapes with punches red MS blooG1
All creeping plants, will OF green
Close matted burr ana brake and briar.
looked Involuntary around for
The bodies the bones OF those
Who strove In other days TO pass,
but they not
-withered In the thorny close
Or scattered blanchng on the grass.
So we took courage and broke through the copsc
without exactly expecting TO find the enchanted castle
and 'sthe sleeping beauty in ''thc quiet chamber far
apart but something perhaps akin to them in Won
der
WONDERFUL TREES
We had reached an island. The interior was thickly
shaded by giant live oak and magnoias, which shut
out rays Of the that the atmosphere laden
with n danpness like that OF Some ancient crypt But
II small and soon explored. Beyond II n
other island not crcumscribed in its limits and ap-
parcntly mainly covered by pines although there were
scattered over / groups Of live oaks and magnolias
We crossed deep ''run' to reach It, and found soil
so much like that OF the other that at concluded
that the first growth OF timber, which
probably live oaks and magnollns, had been
once hcwn by the hand OF man. II Is we'll known
that in Florida strange phenomenon occurs in for
eslry when the primeva growth OF timber destroyed
Should 1t be pine tho new forest which will spring up
Will Of tho hard woods oak, bay, mag
noa and gum tree, and 1t is supposed that tho Pine
will succeed these alter they have been cut on Com
pairing the age OF the pines which found the third
island with that OF tho live oaks, should conclude
that the att perhaps by two centuries tho elder.
The pines Tut weeds when contrascd IN their rank
ovcrgrowth with the august dignity OF years belonging
TO the original lords OF the soil.
A
The third isl nd seemed several times large as the
to It's utmost lmi. But arrested for the
night by a wonderful discovery, a brief outline OF
which have already telcgruphcd you.
In spot quite secluded by the surrounding growth
OF brambc, shrub and vine, and where few gigantic
oaks cast deep shadows. startled to behold
figure bearing sembance to the human form. The wild
anccs Of of the negroes had suggested more than
once tho OF old and enfeeblcd slave
Gtves in some nook OF this region, but they Of
course treated as improbable We
utterly unprcparcd for tho shout which
one OF them raised. 'Look a'hyere Hyerc's man,
sho nough' "Looks like IT'S the berry dcbbil his
self" said another, shrinking back, while all OF our
dusky assistants showed tokens of ave. If of fear
l approached the grim presence. Tho resemblance to
human figure far less apparent upon in.
spectlon than when viewed at distance, but still
there was altogether quite a verislmilitudc.
II Is great stone column, rotund in form. The
upper portion has been some time fashioned into
the shape OF the human head poised upon broad and
rudely carved shoulders There arc but faint traces
OF the eyes, cars, nose and mouth The substance
composing the idol is quite SOFT fine gray sandstone
and those features might have been nearly washed
away by the ram within hundred years or so. The
GIANT GOD.
1t set vertically in the earth, and has probably
sunk many feet deeper than it stood when originally
erected Its present height above the ground about
fy feet by excavation IL found that it ex-
tends about four feet beneath The original altitude
of the image was therefore, in all probability about
eight feet
On the 'front.' what appeared to be tho front, OF tho
figure we discovered singular characters, rcscm-
bling scratches rather than craven characters Part Of
them were hidden by the soil and moss, and this was
removed SO as disclose the whole Tho hieroglyphs,
II they are, bear analogy to any OF those ia
miar to the writer; but they were dImy traccable
that this opinion may be a mistaken one, in consc-
qucnco OF the unfavorablo light which pcrvadcd tho
secluded precinct
a short distance from tho statue stumbled upon
another column obelisk II lay prone on the
ground and had ncad-shaped upper portion. lit
had ever pos scssed ono II had been broken or and
probably destroyed, for We saw near n heap OF nnc
debris This may have been partly produced when
the idol shaped or aitorward when lis companion
was demolished.
The party lily provided for remaining another
day In the morass without communication with the
camp Leaving the Judge and three OF tho mcr TO
bvouac the island all night and press tho search
In tho morning, set with attendant to return
My intention to send provisions TO them early and
to follow them myself to examine at leisure tho
strange objects which had been discovered
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FELONIOUS ASSAULT.
avnno T. nj Nh