Curious Lands In Florida

Payne's prairie, three miles south of thia city, says the Gainesville Sun, covers an area of 50,000 acres. A large proportion of the prairie is now covered with water, but there are thousands oí acres around the borders of the lake whioh has been formeel on which horses and cattle graze. There is no way of estimating the number of cattle, but there are many thousands, and , they are in fine condition. The prairie, or savanna, which it really is, occasionally goes dry, the water passing out through a subterranean passage called the sink. Where the water goes to has never been determined. When the sink is open the lake goes dry, and when the outlet becomes gorged or choked a lake from five to seven miles wide and about eighteen miles long is formed. When the waters of the lake suddenly leave it thousands of alligators, snakes, fish and turtle3 are left with nothlng but mud for their piaces of abode. The fish and turtles perish, but the saurians and reptiles seek and lind other quarters. For miles along the northern border of the lake there is a succession of sinks, averaging in depth all the way from twenty-flve to 100 feet. Subterranean passages run in every direc tion, leaving the ground In tüe shape of a honeycomb. The ground is Hable to give way at any time, creating a new sink. The ecenery around the lake, especlally on the north side, is unique and grand, and is an attractive feature to strangers who visit this city. The sink has for many years been a popular resort for citizens of Gainesville, who go there to flsh, boat ride and in other ways enjoy themselves. It is said that this vast aic-a of land could be drained at triüing expense and were it drained it would be the largest as well as the richest traet ot productive land in Florida. It is for the most part a bed of muck. The land is owned by various individuáis.