Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-12-16
The Great Sink.

The Sink. lying three miles south
Of Gainesville, is one Of Florlda's
greatest and most interesting attrac.
lions, For centuries this Sink, which
is now known as Alachua Lake. has
been known to travellers and explor-
ers and has from the earliest times
excited the curiosity and admiration
of those who have visited H. IL was
iirst visited and graphically described
by spaniard over three hundred
years ago, The description following
is an extract from William Bartram's
Travels Through North and South
Carolina, Georgia. East and West Flor
ida, and the Cherokee Country" pub
llshed In Philadelphia and London In
7sl:
I'VE alighted ina pleasant vista,
turning our horses 20 erase while we
amused ourselves with exploring the
borders of the Great Sink In this
place a group OF rocky hills almost
surrounds a large basin. which Is the
general receptacle OF the water. drain.
ing from every part Of the vast savan-
ne, by lateral eonduits winding about,
and one after another joining the main
creek or general conductor. which az
length delivers them into this stink.
where they descend by slow De.
grees. through rocky eayerns, into the
bowels OF the earth. whence they
are carried by secret subterraneOus
channels into other receptaclcs and
basins. We assembled a collection OF
eminences. covered with dark groves.
which is one point OF the crescent
that partly encircles the sink or ba,
sin open only on the side next the
savanna. where II Is Joined TO the
great channel or general conductor Of
the waters. From this point over 70
the opposite point OF the crescent
(which Is similar high rocky pro
montoryl Is about one hundred yards.
forming a vast somi-oircle cove or
basin. the hills oncirciIng Il rising
very steep fifty or sixty feet high.
rocky. perpendicular aud bare Of earth
next the wa'ers OF the basin. The
hills. from the top Of the perpendicu-
lar. huted. ereayated walls o. rock.
slant OF moderately sp 70 their sum.
mits. and are covered With q very
fertile. loose. black earth. which |
nOurlshes and supports a dark grove
Of very large trees. varieties Of shrubs
and herbaee0us plants These high |
forest trees surrounding the basin, By
their great height and spread. 30 o.
fectually shade the waters that. com. I
Ing suddenly from che open plains.
We seem az once shut up IN darkness
and the waters appear black. YET are
clear. When Ne ascend the top o.
the hills. ne perceive the ground 10
b. uneven. By round swelling points
and corresponding hoIi0Es over
spread With gloomy shade. OccaniOned
b. the tail and spreadiag trees. such
a. I've oak. monss ruhra. Eahthoxyien.
sapindus. nquidambaf. iilia. lauuts
borbonis. quescurdeniaia. iuElans elmo
rga. and others, togeihsF with orange
trees ~ remarkable naEniiude nHd
very fruitful hui that uhlch "a m0st
apd % ne understandable. g
the ihsubdibuliform cavities. even On
ne top o. these hirh hills. Some lsou.
~. thirty. and forts yards aefosa. a.
heir superficial Fims e1artlg circular.
ls u Hruek With a compass. rl0ping
gradually lpNarda % q point 81 bot
ION. forminE an iBvsrtef eone. as fike
1us upper side part u q funnel; the
perpendleuiaf depth u them ffom me-
a0nmon sgFfaoe "a vari0us sgTas a.
.oending tueufY Tea feeb. others a.
nos, 10 ne ~ ~ rocks. phict forms
.hs f0gndaiiea - nuciesr n ~ tiiis. /
I'D iafaea ~ fho Whole ooGufFy ~
zsri Fiorifa, roHs ~ thsm seen 90
- reariT fIief 80 Wifh earth. faeef I
h froz fte c1ameg Egrfaee. t1i o.
ala the sane ualfcFniffi ttc1Ft
Unetimcs 80 fiete foesftff - ~ -
.rafes e. $50 rt 81 60 A
W. "a.