Bottomless Muck

A December, 1875 Okefenokee Expedition report made to the State Geologist of Georgia, by C.A. Locke, Engineer in charge, Charleston Corps of Engineers.

“​The so called Prairies are extensive tracts of perfectly level muck soil, in this muck I could penetrate five feet deep with ease and I do not think its general thickness will much exceed this. Several varieties of water lilies grow on them and generally bring the water surface two feet or a little more above the sole of the foot. In other open prairies where the lilies were few and a rush known locally as Maiden cane grew sparingly, the water is generally shallower but the bottom much more treacherous, generally sinking in the muck from two to three feet and always find a great difficulty in extricating the foot. Notwithstanding you never touch bottom and constant apprehension that just ahead is bottomless.”