The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-03

, of the country and was struck by the alb.
sence Of honey bees. What he has to say
by the absence of honey bees and of ar
now set forth:
! In the course of conversation with the
doctor, remarked that during my trav-
els since leaving the Creek nation, and
when there, I had not seen any honey
| bees. He replied that there were few or
| none west of the Isthmus of Florida, and
but one hive in Mobile, which was lately
brought there from Europe, the English
supposing there were none in the coun-
try. not finding any when they took pos
session of 1t after the Spanish and
French. l had been assured by traders
that there were none in West Florida,
which to me seemed extraordinary and
almost incredible, since they are so num-
erous all along the Eastern continent
from Nova Scotia to East Florida, even
in the wild forests, as to be thought by
the generality of the inhabitants, abort
gines of this continent.
The boat in which I had taken a pas
sage to Pearl river, not being in readi-
ness to depart for several days to come,
l sought opportunities to f1ll up this
time to the best advantage possible: hear
ing of a boat going to the river Perdido,
for the purpose OF securing the remains
of a wreck, 1 apprehended this favorable
time to go and search that coast, the
captain civilly Offering me a passage and
berth with him in a handsome light sail
ing boat. Set sail early on a fine morning,
and having a brisk leading breeze, came
to in the evening just within Mobile
point; collected quantity of drift wood
to keep up a light and smoke the mos
quitoes and rested well on the clean sandy
iYacr aTnI-n
We hoisted sail again. and soon doubled
the point or East promotory of the cape
of the bay stretching out many miles
and pointing towards Dauphin island,
between which this cape is the ship
channel.
Coasting along the sea shore eastward
we soon came up to the wreck, which
being already stripped of her sails, &c,
our captain kept on for Pensacola, where
we arrived late in the evening.
My arrival at the capital, at present
the seat of government, was merely &C
cidental and undersigned. and having left
at Mobile all my papers and testimonials,
I designed to conceal my avocations, but
my name being known to DR.. Lorlmer
one of the honorable councils, he sent me
a very polite invitation and requested
that he might aquaint Governor Ches-
ter (Sir Peter Chester) of my arrival,
who he knew would expect that I should
wait on him and would be pleased to
see me. begged to be excused, at this
time, as the boat would sail back for
Mobile in a few hours, in which / was |
under the necessity OF returning, or
must lose my passage to the MISSISSIPPI; |
but during this eXpostulation I received a |
letter from Mr. Livingston, the secretary, |
whom I waited upon and was received |
very respectfully and treated with the |
utmost poIiteness andd affability. Soon
after the governors chariot passed by, |
his excellency returning from a morning |
visit to his farm few miles from PEN |
sacola. Mr.. Livingston went with me /
and introduced me to the governor, who |
my pursuits, and invited me
10 continue in West Florida in re-
searches after subjects of natural his |
tory. etc, nobly offering to bear my
expenses, and a residence in his own |
'amily as long as I chose to continue in |
he colony; very judiciously observing,
hat a complete investigation of it's
natural history could not be accomplished |
n a short space of time, since it would |
'euuire the revolutions Of the seasons to
discover and view vegetable nature in
Ill her various projections.
The captain of our fortunate bark by
his time being ready to sail I took
cave of his excellency the governor,
md bid adieu to my friends DR.. Lori
ner, Mr.. Livingston, and others; set
'ail about noon on our return, and
,ame within the capes of Mobile river.
Since I have hitherto given a super
icial account of the towns. ports, i'm
and other remarkable pro-
luctions Of nature, and human arts and
during the course of my peri