146 FLORIDA.

Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, and Key West. The three
ports first named, together with Tampa Bay, have been de-
scribed in previous chapters.
 Cedar Keys is the Gulf terminus of the Florida Transit
Railway from Fernandina (one hundred and fifty-four miles),
and is also the port of the Henderson Gulf Line of steamers
and of the New Orleans, Havana and Gulf Line, both lines


having excellent
scheduled so as
of the Gulf and


cleanly kep
people. It
faces to the
usually exp
road enters


t, irrT
is bu
north
ects t
the


lagoon. The ge
the one business
ures, mostly buil
rial having a Sp


steamers, well equipped and supplied, and
to connect daily at Cedar Keys with any
West India ports. Cedar Keys is a dreamy,
regular little village of orderly and thrifty
ilt on an island (as its name suggests), and
east, quite confusing to the traveler, who
o look west for the Gulf waters. The rail-
place across a long brdge that spans the
neral appearance of te town is pleasing,
street being lined with substantial struct-
t of coquina-stone, and in design and mate-
anish, tropical appearance quite in keeping


with the surrounding scenery. The trade is mostly whole-
sale, and amounts annually to several hundred thousand
dollars, supplying the retail dealers of all the little ham-
lets along the coast and rivers of a large portion of that
region. To the hunter, fisherman, or health-seeker, it offers
attractions equal to any portion of Florida.
 Under the guidance of Major Parsons, who has resided
here forty-three years, the writer visited all the various points
of interest, and enjoyed a pleasant visit in this delightful
old place. Late one brilliant afternoon we were on board
the splendid new steamship Admiral, that makes two trips
weekly between Cedar Keys, Key West, and Havana, and
soon all were enjoying the soft, refreshing salt-water breeze
and viewing the beautiful scenery of the islands, with their
wealth of tropical vegetation, the large, comfortable-appear-
ing dwellings standing in the midst of flower-laden gardens