44    UNITED STATES GAZETTEER.

Indians. — The territory, for some years subsequent to its cession to the United States, was
much disturbed by contests with various Indian tribes. Among these, the Seminoles gave
much trouble to the general government, and, on the question of their removal, with other
natives, to the lands provided for them, were found to be most impracticable. They were,
however, subdued, and a large portion of the tribe have retired to the far preferable coun-
try assigned them beyond the Mississippi.

Population. — There was an increase of population, during the ten years prior to the census
of 1840, of nearly sixty per cent. Of the inhabitants at that date, nearly one half were slaves.
The last census (1850) exhibits the same ratio of increase, but a somewhat smaller proportion
of slaves.

Climate. — Except in the immediate vicinity of some of the large swamps, the interior of
Florida, and the sea-coast generally, may be considered extremely favorable to health. In-
deed, many parts of the state are much resorted to by invalids from northern localities,
especially by persons subject to pulmonary affections, or laboring under certain chronic
maladies. A mild and very uniform temperature prevails throughout the different seasons ;
the heat of summer rarely raising the mercury above 90°, or the cold of winter depressing it
below freezing point. Epidemics, particularly the yellow fever, occasionally visit some of the
low and marshy districts. The city of St. Augustine, occupying a remarkably fine geograph-
ical position, is widely celebrated for the salubrity of its atmosphere, the genial qualities and
effects of which are not exceeded by those of any spot in Southern France or Italy.

Religion. — Episcopalians, Presbyterians, Methodists, and Roman Catholics constitute the
principal religious denominations. Neither sect is very numerous.

Curiosities. — Among the natural objects of curiosity may be mentioned the existence and
frequent formation of beautiful rivulets, the pellucid waters of which, after coursing through
many devious curves for a long distance, suddenly disappear in some dark abyss, and all traces
of their farther wanderings are lost to human eyes. On the other hand, vast volumes of
water are often seen to emerge from the depths of the earth, at once forming navigable rivers,
teeming with fish, turtles, alligators, &c. Both these phenomena are said to be common in
some parts of the state, and in all probability are mutually connected by subterranean
channels.

GEORGIA, the most recently settled of the thirteen original American colonies, which
united in the great national act of independence, July 4, 1776. At that epoch, only about
one third of a century had elapsed since the entire territory was the exclusive abode of the
savage — the first English immigrants, under General Oglethorpe, having, in the year 1734,