The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-05-26
Upon the trunks of the palmettoes crows q

Hrahcncs mere and there are green. LARGE
punches of mistletoe, while from the
branches Of all the trees droop the long
streamers Of the Spanish moss. The green
OF the forest and the blue of the sky. ro.
Elected III the smooth water make up scenes
worthy of the study of an artist. There
must be some soil for these trees to grow
from, but it is seldom pcrccivablo. On
both sides OF the river there is an almost
continuous swamp. Like the Canadian
Saugenay banks, much of the Ocklawaha's g
are primeval-unchanged by the hand of
man, untroddcn by his foot. The banks
OF the former wonderful river arc untrod-
uen because man can not reach the heights,
the latter because there is nothing to tread
upon. There are few landings upon the
riVar, some of them built on piles, and
reached through the swamp on timbcrs
anu planks by the wood and provision
selling "Crackers," who live back from
the river on the occasional high ground
silver Springs, is tho terminus of the regu-
lar trips OF the boat; but was but half
way place to lib. 1t is a basin of water 200
1eet across, and the water is 80 clear that O.
nve-cent nlckle thrown in at depth of
sixty feet can be distinctly seen upon the
white sand at the bottom. The wstcr
from this spring forms rapid stream
known as Silver Springs Run, which
emplles into the Ocklawaha, and is as
cended by all the steamers. Beyond Silver
spring the trees on each side of the river
rcccdc, and leave IN their places marshy
growth OF reeds and water plants, and the
next morning found lib sailing through an
open prairic-like country. Here are great
quantities or such game as ducks, coots,
yofn t,,r1
white herOns, curlew, water er-moccasins and
alllgators. Everywhere on the river auan-
titles OF black bass can be caught Our
rifles and shot-guns now began 10 make q
grcat deal Of noise, and those of the Com
modorc and Captain Edwards did consider
able execution. 1t was not, however, till
we got into Lake Griffin that we began to
see and get the big allIgators. As we
slowly sail along by the low, flat shores of
the lake. every rifle is ready and every eve
eagerly looking for the black body of the
reptile lying asleep in the grass on the edge
OF The lake or by some marshy inlet. Sad
denly we hear our colOred pilot exclaim
''Dar's 'gatorl" The pilots bell ilngles,
the boat slows up, and, as we draw nearer
and nearer to the monster. the rifles are
raised and the Commodorc's or Captains
signals breathlesBly awaited. There is a
sharp report, followed by regular vollcy,
and then, while the great tail splashes tho
water or beats the ground, the grinning
deck-hands arc summoned to drag the beast
on board, sometimes not dead, but wound
cd, and the upper jaw rises and falls with
vlndictive energy, the teeth grinding on
the nearest object, causing among the
captors lively apprehension rs to the
safety of their feet. Many "'gators fell
victims to the brigade, but more escaped,
as it is hard to approach them near enough
for a shot on account of the noise made by
the boat We spent that night at Lees
burg, having during the day sailed over
great deal of the lake. and gone Into creeks
and inlets where no steamboat had ever
been. The next morning Sunday, as we
were sailing down the rivor on our return
voyage, alligator steaks were placed upon
the table and found to be quite palatable,
in taste somewhat resembling, but beng
rather on improvement upon sturgeon.
Few, however, care to make an entire moal
upon alligator meat, and one gentleman,
who was known as Prof. Appollinaris,
from his fondness for that cxhilarating
beverage, Appollinaris water, absolutely
refused to touch it. lie offered 50 to any
one who would tako it from his plate,
where it had been placed before he knew
what 1t was; then, as no one would help
him, with the handle Of spoon poking it
onto brcad-plate, he built a barricadc of
biscuit and milk-jugs to hide the dainty
morsel from sight, and finally, after hear
ing few joking illusions TO the meat Of
the gator, he rose from his seat, sick at
heart, and retired to his state-room.