Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-26


Special Correspondents of The Evening Star.
KY WEST, Fla, Dec 20. 1891.
The captains OF somo fishing and turtling
vessels, who have been cruising among the
Florida reefs, announce that islands which Q
few years since were mere heaps Of rock are
now covered with vegetation and that new
species Of trees are taking root on keys where
they were unknown fvo years ago.
These islands are, 1t seems, following the old
process of continent building and arc gradu-
ally increasing in size and drawing closer to-
gsther, except in spots whore currents are
swift and tideways powerful Thsir soil con-
sists OF lime and sedimentary rocks COW
cred with light vegetable mold produced by
decaying vegetation and their subsoil being
hard and permeated with brackish water.
There is not much opportunity for the de-
velopment OF varied and vigorous fora
The total number of botanical species found
on all the keys extending from Dry Tortugas
to Biscayna bay does not exceed $50, or about
fourth OF the number found in other regions
OF equal extent, but the proportion of shrubs
and trees is unusually large, being about .
third OF the whole. while the ratio Of woody to
herbaceous plants in other portions Of the state
Is only one to seven. This makes the botany
OF the islands interesting, particularly as the
prevailing species belong to the tropical and
subtropical families found in the Bahamas and
other islands of the West Indies.
THE KIND OF TREES.
The towering trees that thrive on the main
land are strangers to the reef, their places
being taken by the satinwood, mastic. crab
wood, buttonwood, cedar, bay, wild fig, myrtle,
chinchona and their kindred, and these often
form dense thickets along the coasts which are
impossible to even bird. Vines and creepers
are very abundant and frequently bind the
shrubs 80 closely together that even o snake
cannot crawl through them in some parts,
The parasites are tough, flexible and woody,
Ak or machete to cut through them. Some
trees have the habit of sending out many lateral
branches, evidently to secure as much elbow
room. air and light RS possible, and as these
soon become one mass of tangled vines and
weeds faint idea of the difficulty of traversing
the woods may be obtained. have essayed TO
force my way through places where the wild
sapodilla, buttonwood, mastic and other trees
grow and have always failed, owing to the
density OF the thickets and the abundance Of
creepers.
A very striking peculiarly Of several Of the
species indigenous to tho reefs il that they are
shrubs In tho open ground where they have
room to grow, but towering vines where they
are crowded and enyironed by tall trees. One
group OF islands among tho reefs differs radi-
botanical features. This group is about $50
miles IN length and lies at almost right angles
to the other keys Its general trend is from
northwest to southeast and its outlines are VA
ried and broken. The most abundant trees on
the group are the Cuban pine and the silvery
thrinax, and wax myrtle and dwarf palmetto
arc not uncommon.
These and three herbaceous plants are the
only specimens that are indigenous alike to the
reefs and northern Florida; SO that the person
who is familiar with the trees Of the mainland
will meet few arboreai acauaintances on the
coral islands of the south. although he may
hear species having no relationship called by
old familiar Names botanical lore not being a
specially of the Bahamians, who form the
larger portion of the inhabitants of the reefs.
Two species OF plants on the reefs have
secured reputation that is sure to commend
them to the notice OF travellers. One is the
manchlncel or Florida upas, whose juices are
poisonous and raise a severe blister on any part
OF the body they may touch, and the other is a
chaparral, which has such fetid odor that an
extract of the berries will dispense an audience
from bal. room or theater in few moments.
Some wags chew these berries and then spit on
the floor OF a room which they wish to see
cleared of its occupants and generally succeed
in their purpose, the smell being overpowering.
Key West has a municipal law against tho use
OF these berries. and as 1t is strictly enforced
travellers rarely hear Of the peculiar virtues Of
the chRparral.
The rhus metopium, or poison wood, is also
credited with many bad qualities, but, like the
manchincel, 1t is not so fatal as its reputation
would lead one to expect.
THE CoNcR0AND THEIR MODE OF LIFE.
The Bahamians who live on the reefs are gen.
orally knowna as Conchs to the native Floridians
and Cubaas They are mainly engaged in rails
ing pineapples, bananas, mangoes, sapodilloes
and other tropical fruit which they sell at Kew
nd lOrts fha tba,,
are not cultivating the trees they engage in
fishing, sponging, turtling, ''coraling" or in
gathering sea shells for northern markets.
The lives they lead are both arduous and
wesrisome, and are unrelieved by even the
small social gatherings that make farm life on
the mainland bearable. The only compensa-
ton they have is the delightful climate which
enables them to work throughout the year, but
as an Offset to that they are harassed for eight
months in the twelve by swarms of mosquitoes
sand flies, deer flies and other winged plaques
that make outdoor labor an earthly purgatory.
The people are compelled to use braziers
filled with palmetto chips or rags on their
tables while eating to keep the mosquitoes
away, and are often forced to close their doors
ut night and sit in darkness to prevent the
winged vocalists from finding them. This re-
mark refers chiefly to the summer and autumn,
insects being quite scarce during the winter
One island called Bamboo Key IL said to be
30 free from insects at all seasons OF the year
that sponglng and fishing vessels run to it to
avoid the attacks Of mosquitoes and to enable
the crews to get some sleep. The winged
plaques are said to have been banished from
this region by half brother of st. Patrick,
who was known as St. Bamboo through having
preached for many years in China. He stopped
at this island, it seems, while circumnavigating
the globe and was so much annoyed by mos
quitoes and their congeners that he ban
ished them from the region forever and day.
The sailors who work along the reefs often
bless him for his good deeds and wish he would
return and try the same experiment on all the
other keys.
The work Of the sponge gatherers, turtle
hunters and fishermen is fairly we'll known to
many readers, but doubt if any outside the
Keys know much about the labors of the
'coralers," whose business ia to supply traders
with those beautiful specimens Of white coral
seen in drug stores and the Offices of
merchants.
HARD WORK OF THE coRALERs.
These men are frequently compelled to dive
forty or fifty feet and WELD heavy crowbar
in breaking up the coral rock until they can
scarcely breathe. They are then hauled up by
resting awhile, again descend to bring up the
pieces.
They are often forced to fight sharks. sting
rays and sunfishes while below, 80 that their
business is no sinecure. There is no red coral
in Florida, all found thus far being white and
divided into classes according to fneness, the
coarsest being known as tree coral and the
finest as maidens finger. When the coral
l.