face of the water and its craggy bottom, to seek for curious shells in their
retreat seemed to him more pastime than toil. Not a Cormorant or
Pelican, a Flamingo, an Ibis, or Heron, had ever in his days formed its
nest without his having marked the spot; and as to the Keys to which
the Doves are wont to resort, he was better acquainted with them than
many fops are with the contents of their pockets. In a word, he positively
knew every channel that led to these islands, and every cranny
along their shores. * For years his employment had been to hunt those
singular animals called Sea Cows or Marratees, and he had conquered
hundreds of them, " merely," as he said, because the flesh and hide
bring " a fair price," at Havannah. He never went anywhere to land
without " Long Tom," which proved indeed to be a wonderful gun, and
which made smart havoc when charged with " groceries," a term by
which he designated the large shot which he used. In like manner, he
never paddled his light canoe without having by his side .the trusty javelin,
with which he unerringly transfixed such fishes as he thought fit
either for market or for his own use. In attacking turtles, netting, or
overturning them, I doubt if his equal ever lived on the Florida coast.
No sooner was he made acquainted with my errand, than he freely offered
his best_services, and from that moment until I left Key West he was
seldom out of my hearing.
While the young gentlemen who accompanied us were engaged in
procuring plants, shells, and small birds, he tapped me on the shoulder,
and with a smile said to me, " Come along, 111 shew you something
better worth your while." To the boat we betook ourselves, with the
Captain and only a pair of tars, for more he said would not answer. The
yawl for a while was urged at a great rate, but as we approached a point,
the oars were taken in, and the pilot alone skulling, desired us to make
ready, for in a few minutes we should have " rare sport." As we advanced,
the more slowly did we move, and the most profound silence was
maintained, until suddenly coming almost in contact with a thick shrubbery
of mangroves, we beheld, right before us, a multitude of pelicans.
A discharge of artillery seldom produced more effect;—the dead, the dying,
and the wounded, fell from the trees upon the water, while those
unscathed flew screanung through the air in terror and dismay. " There,"
said he, " did not I tell you so ; is it not rare sport ?" The birds, one
after another, were lodged under the gunwales, when the pilot desired
the Captain to order the lads to pull away. Within about half a mile we
reached the extremity of the key. " Pull away," cried the pilot, " never
T H E FLORIDA KEYS.
As the " Marion " neared the inlet called " Indian Key," which is
situated on the eastern coast of the peninsula of Florida, my heart swelled
with uncontrollable delight. Our vessel once over the coral reef that
every where stretches along the shore like a great wall, reared by an army
of giants, we found ourselves in safe anchoring ground, within a few
furlongs of the land. The next moment saw the oars of a boat propelling
us towards the shore, and in.brief time we stood on the desired beach.
With what delightful feelings did we gaze on the objects around us!—
the gorgeous flowers, the singular and beautiful plants, the luxuriant
trees. The balmy air which we breathed filled us with animation, so
pure and salubrious did it seem to be. The birds which we saw were
almost all new to us; their lovely forms appeared to be arrayed in more
brilliant apparel than I had ever before seen, and as they gambolled in
happy playfulness among the bushes, or glided over the light green waters,
we longed to form a more intimate acquaintance with them.
Students of nature spend little time in introductions, especially when
they present themselves to persons who feel an interest in their pursuits.
This was the case with Mr TIIRUSTON, the Deputy Collector of the island,
who shook us all heartily by the hand, and in a trice had a boat
manned at our service. Accompanied by him, his pilot and fishermen,
off we went, and after a short pull landed on a large key. Few minutes
had elapsed, when shot after shot might be heard, and down came
whirling through the air the objects of our desire. One thrust himself
into the tangled groves that covered all but the beautiful coral beach
that in a continued line bordered the island, while others gazed on the
glowing and diversified hues of the curious inhabitants of the deep. I
saw one of my party rush into the limpid element, to seize on a crab,
that with claws extended upwards, awaited his approach, as if determined
not to give way. A loud voice called him back to the land, for sharks
are as abundant along these shores as pebbles, and the hungry prowlers
could not have got a more savoury dinner.
The pilot, besides being a first-rate shot, possessed a most intimate acquaintance
with the country. He had been a " conch-diver," and no
matter what number of fathoms measured the distance between the sur