The morning call., 1892-01-17
TEN THOUSAND ISLANDS.
Something About Toe Famous Florida Archi-
DNl3g0.

Very few OF the young people that notice
what might be called the Florida Archi-
pelago have any ides, perhaps. of what
these islands or keys" consist Perhaps
it is rs we'll to explain here that the word
key" is a corruption. Properly speaking
it is ''caye," an Old French word signifying
small Island. To the people Of the State
itself they are but little known, except to
sportsmen, who cruise among them for the
fishing and bird-shootlng.
Imagine some thousands Of small islands
of every shape aud size, but always of the
same rich green hue. The growth on all is
the same, the evergreen mangroye with its
seeds like slender tubers elongatiug until,
touching the muddy SOIL they take root.
lost Of these keys" resemble beds of tiny
oysters with the mangroyes growing from
them, but very few escape being submerged
by each tide, as they are elevated scarcely
above the water.
With the multtudnous dark streams
flowing out of the everglades winding
among them they form perfect labyrinth,
in which one might wander endlesSly and
hopelessly.
Until a few years ago, as night ap-
preached, they were whitened by multitudes
OF sea birds, which roasted among the
branches now on the outer keys" but few
Di10S are IbuHus 81 iulultob udS DtcD Aub
warfare Haged on them by bird-hunters for
their plunes etc The Inner keys" still
are rookeTies, but to very limited extent.
The mAngrOYe Islands are habitable only for
sea birds and mosquitoes, which latter find
in them-EivsiUm
The few settlements that have been made
are on shell-mOunds near the mainland. or
on narrow strips elevated about a foot
above high tide, which border a few OF the
creeks. near the main. perhaps are really
part OF it, These slips are OF arabic land,
none Of which exceed half an acre in width,
are quite fertile, and produce fine vegetables
and sugar-cane. On these and adjacent
shell-mounds are grown many of the Joma-
toes and egg plants that are found In north
ern markets during the winter months, for
frost is seldom seen, and is never severe.
One Of the largest of the shell-m0unds Is
the island OF ChocaluSkie, which gives its
name to the entire settlement, and a lsO to
the small, shallow bay that surrounds it.
Like the other mounds, it is mass of Oys-
tpT-Shells, among which it is difficult to con-
ceive how vegetables and tropical fruits
manage to exist; but the dark, fibrous soil
that IS lntermlngied with the shells appears
to he very rich.
This mound is very high In places, with
narrow gullieS between the ridges. What
an amount of patient labor these vast piles
OF shells represent ChOcaluskie was the
site of an Indian village before the remnant
VI tsiS StuiiHOtSs uru ~ buc CfcfSihucos ~
the time that the greater part OF The tribe
was removed out West.
The Seminoles, who reside in that part Of
tie everglades near the gulf coast, visit the
settlement every winter, bringing for sale
veuisOn and wild turkeys, mich they kill
on the main land. In costume they differ
from all other Indians the writer ever saw.
A l0ug calico shirt is the principal gar
ment; sometimes Logging and moceasins are
added, but they are generally used on state
occasions.
Any other covering for the lower limbs
they seem to hold In contempt. Vests,
though, have a great charm: one stalwaTt
young dandy. Charlie Juniper" had on
three, one piled above the other, and that In
August
Put the singular feature of their costume
is the turban-l alude 10 the males entirely.
1t is composed of small. gnyiy colored
shawls, and gnudy col0Ted handkerchiefS,
twisted around into q circular shape Of
cheese box. The small opening in the cen
ter is left uncovered and the cUarse, black
hair shows through Imagine such an ar
Tangement on ones head IN summer.
Another characteristic of these Indians is
their enormous appetites. AT whatever
hour they drop in you are expected to feed
them, and so they pass on, from one neigh
Dor to another, eating all that is offered
them. When one looks ut them and sees
what fine specimens OF humanity they are.
and then reflects upon their gastr0nOmic
feats. the question cannot but arise, How
about the hygienic rules with regard 10
regularity in eating. both as 10 time and
quantity ?"-Philadelp Times.
Glass has been made in the United States
since 1920.