THE ST. JOHN'S RIVER.


 San Mateo, on the eastern shore, four miles above Palat-
ka, is a very attractive place, situated on a high bluff, with
numerous large and thrifty old orange-groves, and many
vegetable-gardens. It has a telegraph-office, express-office,
and one of the largest orange-packing houses in the State,
a church, public hall, school, stores, etc. The society is ex-
cellent, the dwellings are neat and attractive, and no place
has a better reputation for healthfulness.
 A short distance above is Dunn's Creek, leading into the
famous Crescent Lake, about two miles wide and six miles
long, a beautiful sheet of water lying between St. John's
and Volusia Counties. It is surrounded by a fine region,
with pleasing scenery and excellent soil. Crescent City,
Owasco, and Oakwood, are pretty little hamlets on its
shores, the first-named being the largest and most flourish-
ing, with churches, schools, stores, hotel, etc. There are


several other little
lake, which is said
ably few insects.
Palatka.
 Returning to tl


settlements-rapidly increasing-on the
to be quite healthy and to have notice-
A steamer connects this region with


he St. John's, and journeying up-stream,


next comes Buffalo Bluff, on the
San Mateo. This is a pretty litt
ous thrifty young orange-groves
above, on the east shore, is Nash
ance to Buffalo Bluff. Saratoga,
the steamers occasionally stop,
tioned places, on the same shore.
likely become a thriving town in


 Three
charming
healthiest
tion is on
peculiarly
generally


east shore, six miles above
le settlement, with numer-
and gardens. Three miles
mua, very similar in appear-
Sa little community, where
lies between the last-men-
 It has good soil, and will
i time.


miles more brings us to Welaka, one of the most
localities on the St. John's River, and one of the
and prettiest settlements in the State. The loca-
a high bluff, crested with an extensive grove of
beautiful and majestic live-oaks, and the soil,
free from underbrush, looks clean and park-like.