The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-12-03
WILLIAM BARTRAM, TRAVELLER
HIS VISIT TO PENSACOLA IN 1777

! gination, I shall not pass by Pensacola
/ and its environs This city commands
some natural advantages, superior to
any other port in this province, in point
OF naval commerce, and such as human
| art and strength can never supply. It
is delightfully."- situated upon gentle ris-
ing ascents environing a spacious I,ar-
/ DOR safe and capadious enough to shelter
an the naV1es of Europe and excellent
ground for anchorage; the west end of
| ST. Rose (Santa Rosa) Island stretches
| across the great bay st. Haria Calves.
| ana Its southwest projecting point forms
| the harbor of Pensacola which, with the
road of entrance, is defended by a
| blockhouse built on the extremity of
that point. which at the same time
/ serves the purpose Of a fortress and
lookout tower. There are several rivers
which run into this great bay from the
continent, but none of them navigable
LOT large craft, to any considerable
distance into the country; the Shambe
(Escambia9 is the largest, which admits
shallops some miles up, ard per-aug uas
upwards of fifty miles. There are some
spots of good high land, Gnd rich
| swamps, favorable for the production Of
rice on the banks of this river which
producing indigo, rice, corn, vatatas
(potatoes) and etc. These rivers divid-
ing and spreading abroad their numer-
Gus branches over the expansive flat
low country (between the two great riv-
erS Apalachucla and Mobile), fill them
with brooks and water courses and rem
der them exuberant pasture for cattle.
There are several hundred habitations
in Pensacola; the governors palace is a
large STONE h1IiInjncp TF11 F11a tod witt
tower, built by the Spaniards. The town
is defended by a larke Stockade for
tress, the plan tetragon with salient
angles at each corner, where IS a. block
house or round tower, one story higher
than the curtains where are .ight can
non mounted; it is constructed of wood.
Within this fortress is the concil cham
Der; here the records are kept, houses for
the officers, and barracks for the &C
comodation of the garrison, arsenal,
magazine, and etc. The secretary re-
sides in a spacious neat building; there
several merchants and gentlemen of
other professions, who have respectable
and convenient buildings in the town.
There were growing on the sand hills. |
environing Pensacola, several curious
nom described plants; particularly one of
the verticillate order, about eighteen |
inches in height; the flowers. which |
N~A'~
a fine scarlet color; but not having time |
to examine the structificatton or collect |
good specimens, I am :gnor an OF what !
order or genus it belongs to. And III |
the level wet savannas grew pientitully |
a. new and very elegant species II ga |
racinia (Saracinia lacunofa); the caves |
of this plant, which are twelve or four
teen inches in length, stand nearly erect |
are round, tubular and Ventricose-out |
ikr1F15 oil DT
prominent nerves as the leaves Of the
flava are; the aperture at top
may be shut up by cap or I'D OF !
helmet form, which is an appendage Of
the leaf which is of pale, but V1Vld
green color is beautifully ornamented
the inner surface curiously inscribed,
with rose colored studs or bhsters, ana
or yariegated with crimson veins 3r
fibres. It was past the time lot 1loWeF-
ing, but the plant in any sltuat1oh Is
very great curiosity"
Rartram was evidently close OBJ
server Of the works of nature and also |
man of great courage and religious turn /
If mind. For several years he wandered
through q wild and desolate country,
often alone on horseback or IN d small
boat at other times having with him a
faithful negro slave. In no instance .ulo
the Indians with whom he came IN con-
tact modest him, unless pract1cal Joke.
nlaved on him by some young men of
me trihe. may be called a molestation
Reire nroperly vouched for to certain
# the chiefs he became their friend
md the story of the white man VINO
oo1red for flowers and trees soon spread
among the scattered tribes OF the /South
Dr. cbisf in East Florida after learning
his business gave to him name
PUG PIGGY, the floWeE unsta
md by this name Bartram was 1ii0A I
Known among them k,.a .a+eraree
~ tbe snnreue Being and OF Bartram
,o;+h in God. The following Quola'lon
In illustrate his feelings In such nc
- +hn expression being maze WINE
~ 80. oIora on the st. johns River
ust after viewing the WONDERS VI
IRE and having safely passeu -
Ianparous situations with which nc |
confronted as ne 80.
hro,gh the great solitudes OF the river
nd forest: z
eve vipiIant and faithful servants OF
he Most High! we who worship inc
,raa+or morning, noon and eve IN sim
,1ici+y If heart! I haste to JOIN the oiii
.nrsaI anthem. My heart and voice ulilte
i+b vorrs in sincere homage 10 the
reat Creator, the universal soEeielsAL
80 may I be permitted 10 app o10II
he throne of mercy! May Cnese ..
nmbie and penitent applications
midst the universal shouts of homage
rom thy creatures. meet with thy &C
eptance, And although I am sensible
hat my service cannot increase or al
ninish thy glory. yet it is pleasing 70
hy servant to be permitted TO souho
by praise; for, sovereign Lore! we
now that thou alone art perfect ana
worthy to be worshipped. . universal
'ather look down upon us, we beseacn
bee. with an eve of pity and compass