Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-01-03
FLORIDA LANDS.
What A New Jersey Man Found While
Hunting.

What New Jersey Man Pound While
Hunting.
Oar hosts-hosts by right of pre-
occupation of the cabin-were from Fort
Mead, dozen miles south of Barlow,
and were out on weeks hunting expe'
dition, They had been successful in
killing several deer and wild turkey,
and bad seen footprints of u panther
and bear. Deer abound in this section
OF Florida, and venlson is probab Y,
next to pork, the most common food OF
the inhabitants, A haunch OF vcnison
was placed at our disposal and frying
pan was brought out for our use, and
soon the slices of venison were sizzling
over the Goals, Supper, consisting Of
coffee with sugar but without cream,
fried venison, canned beef, salmon and
sardines, crackers and pickles, Were
served on the box which had held our
provisions. Our utensils we've two tin
cups, the lid OF q tin pail for plate,
two spoons and q jack-knife, with clean
handkerchiefs for napkins; but never
venison tasted sweeter than that though
it was little gritty, owing, probably, to
the fact that the pan in which it was
cooked had been in use week without
scrubbing.
These hunters were we'll acquainted
with the country thereabout, aud so ]
asked of them the whereabouts OF Lake
Marion and the wonderful island. Lake
Marion they told me, was far off the
route of travel, in a wild and desolate
region, surrounded with an exceedingly
poor quality of land, aud the island.
my island, as I fondly hoped-had been
sold Just about week previous. Con-
cluding, after the fox in the fable, that
the island was good for nothing anyway,
did not permit my disappointment to
take away my appetite for supper.
After supper was cleared away sat
on bag of oats and wrote letters home
by the aid OF the freight. Eleantime
the rain bad ceased, and the men were
building big fire in front oil the cabin.
Then, wrapped IN blankets and cloaks,
We slowed ourselves away for the night
some on the ground, some in the loft
OF the horse-shed while was given
the most comfortable place, having a
bed of hay spread on the bedstead and
miles away from human habitatlon, in
the wilderness of Florid,. we slept
peacefully and awoke refreshed.
In the morning we made royal
breakfast on tried venison and pork,
roast sweet potatoes, canned beef, sal
mon, sardines and oystels, crackers
and pickles, to which added relish
in the shape of a few small tomatoes
which l found growing wild beside the
cabin. am told these plum tomatoes
will grow and bear the winter through.
While was busy picking and eating
the tomatoes flock OF grcen.and.yel.
low paroquets were chattering at a
great rate in the WOODS near by, and
presently they flew owe, Our heads,
screaming as they went. I took little
walk while the mules were being "put
to-" looking for flowers, and came back,
my clothing covered with sand-burs.
These were old but not welcome &C.
quaintances, and I had hoped in leav.
ing New Jersey. to bid adieu to then
forever.
While the sun was 20! low. we tooh
up our lne of march through better
country than we had yet seen. Much
of the pine land was first. class, and will
before many years attract immigrants to
that section of the state. A few miles
brought us to the lake region of Polk
county-a region which is destined in
the future to be great winter resort for
Northerners. Lakes are on every
hand. At one time We counted six in
sight through the trees; and if the
country had been cleared we could pro-
badly have seen double the number.
Fording creek wecame to the former
location of Fort Cummings, of which
only few posts in the ground remain.
1t lies between lakes Mananna and
Cummings, and is at the tire hold OF
some of the finest country We had yet
seen. The pines were tall and thrifty,
and the black oaks, instead OF being
scrubby, were many of them large,
handsome trees-a sure sign of excel
lent soil, This locality, for two miles
or more, was like an immense park,
with lakes on every side, and will some
day be the site of handsome town. il |
mistake MT. A few years ago Chi
cago speculator laid out a town here
called Medora, and sold a large mum.
ber of lots; but as they were sold with
out any stpulations as to building, the
consequence was that the city existed
only on paper, and the whole scheme
fell through. Much Of the land here is
state land, and is not yet in the market.
1t is remote from settlements, but | be-
lieve the projected route of railroad
now in process of construction runs
right through it; and when that is fin
ished the country will fill up fast
enough. Our Continent.