The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-06-19
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Trio 10 the 0keChOhea.
Orange County Reporter.

Okecnobee, | will give you a sketch
OF ou trip hoping that the readers
nj the Reporter may find some por-
ton Of IT interesting
Our party consisted Of Charles f.
NcQuaig, Henry Barber, aged Ia, and
mysci. We launched the Mary Gift
Enr,l 10 E'cnnel Prairie, on the even
ipg OF April 23d, aud on the following
r,i0ay left McQuaig's for four
wecs's hnnlin. trip on the river and
lAkaH
We found tae water falling last,
Wit. Il rapid current in the channel.
Fis. were decidedly not in appetite,
but birds we're plentiful, and the con
stant booming OF guns, varied occa-
sionalIv by the sharp crack o. rifles,
rave noiicu OF oar approach to resi-
.lenlS ON aud near the river. Dry
ground was scarce along the route,
consequently we were obliged TO
Spend an occasional night in the boat.
About % miles below Lake ks
simmec is place known as Orange
Huuimock; here we found MIR. james
Drigg, occupying nice bIuit. lie
has Il fine garden spot under cult
Walton and 1000 young orange seed
lines. Five miles farther by land.
anG ab"nt fifteen by The run Of the
crooked channel OF the kisslmmre
river. is the site OF old Fort KisSlu-
nice. which is now owned by Mt.
Joseph Guy, a wealthy cattle raiser,
and occupied BY Mr. James fortner;
here we found about two acres OF
hnmmock under cultivation, and some
300 or more orange seedlings. This
WAS the last settlement we ionnd
directly on the river until we arrived
III Mr.. Arthur Doughterys, on Isiock
pogN i.land, Saturday morning, Alay
~
Mr. Doughtery was absent when
We arrived and did not return uniiIl
night, hUt his excellent wife received
lis with cordial hospitality. and made
Ms the happy recipients of a good
square breakfast where a large plate
of golden butter and plenty of sweet
mills formed only small portion OF n
.bountlful table fare Mr.. Daughter.
has about 100 acres Of extra quality
hummock. Of which he has eighteen
under cultivation. He has the finest
field Of com which we saw on the
whole trip. and the size and yield of
his Irish potatoes are truly remark
able : he has also a good crop OF peas.
sweet potatoes. etc
Barber stopped here until our re
tnrn, aud his place was filed by Mr.
Arthur Doughtery.
On Monday evening we set sail for
Okechohee, arriving at the lake on
Wednesday At noon. We were in
the lake ten days. during which time
We made it's entire circuit, exploring
every bay and bayou; visited the
mouth Of Fish Eatin. Greek, old Fort
NcRae. and various other points of
interest
At one old Indian town we cut
two heads OF bananas, one OF them
being remarkably fine one We
also found ripe pawpaws and Ever
glade figs in abundance the last
mentioned is something crrouiously
called the rubber tree; ii bears IN
abundance OF fruit Glossy resembling
the fig in taste, but smaller; the leaf
resembles the royal magnolia while
the trunk is of colossal proportions,
sometimes measuring FIVE feet in III
ametcr; the bark Of the tree is t"Icr-
ably smooth, and the slightest inciSion
causes il to exude white milky iuico
in great abundance On many Of
these trees We found names and dates.
some dated as lar back rs the wear
1896
While in the lake We located the
different islands, FIVE in nnmbcr, M
one Of which Observation island. We
remained three DAYS We also found
Il broad. deep IIver making out OF :,
deep hay. which was unob>trHclrd rs
far rs wccxplPcdit. to-wit two miles
from Okcchohcc, through IL mmgroNc
swami, into another lake OF several
miles in extent, and from TIA nee il
con,inucd its course into another ma0-
grove swamp. whore for want Of Time
We turned back again. From lac,>
asccl1nincd on the "trip AND from nul
own obser> alton. we are satisfied ]hal
th, is the head OF New riyer, and hC
true outlet to Lake Okechobce.
We did moi search for tie Big
Bell. bat being an exploded idea, but
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