nity; but in general, any person touching the leaf while they are themselves in any state of perspiration rarely escapes a wound, or swellings, or other proofs of the poisonous influence exercised by this singular plant on the human system.

Some beautiful hydrangias, in full flower, adorned the gardens, as well as rich crimson dahliahs; and the Carolina pink, which grows everywhere wild along the roads in great abundance, and the roots of which have been found to furnish an excellent remedy for diarrhoea, mingled agreeably with the other flowers of the garden. The locust-tree, producing a sort of nut or shell, the inside of which contains a substance between molasses and honey, is also abundant; and the sassafras tree, which grows here also, is used, as with us, medicinally.

We saw caged in one of the summer dwellings that we visited, a smaller species of the mocking-bird than that which we had seen at Montgomery, called "the cat-bird," but whose notes were not less varied or less sweet, though somewhat less powerful. Of this bird the American ornithologist, Wilson, mentions a very peculiar trait. He He says

"In passing through the woods in summer, I have sometimes amused myself with imitating the violent chirping or squeaking of young birds, in order to observe what different species were around me, for such sounds at such seasons in the woods, are no less alarming to the feathered tenants of the bushes, than the cry of fire or murder in the streets, is to the inhabitants of a large and populous city. On such occasions of alarm and consternation, the cat-bird is the first to make his appearance, not singly, but sometimes half a dozen at a time, flying from different quarters to the spot. At this time, those who are disposed to play with his feelings may almost throw him into fits, his emotion and

agitation are so great, at the distressful cries of what he supposes to be his suffering young. Other birds are variously affected; but none show symptoms of such extreme suffering. He hurries backwards and forwards, with hanging wings and open mouth, calling out louder and faster, and actually screaming with distress, till he appears hoarse with his exertion. He attempts no offensive means; but he bewails, he implores, in the most pathetic terms with which Nature has supplied him, and with an agony of feeling which is truly affecting. Every feathered neighbour within hearing, hastens to the place to learn the cause of this alarm, peeping about with looks of consternation and sympathy."

Its

In our rambles through the woods, we obtained some of the locusts, as they are here called, which are found in considerable numbers at certain seasons. Like the African and Asiatic locusts, these commit great havoc on the vegetation when their numbers are large. The American locust is larger and thicker in the body than the locust of Arabia and Egypt, and is darker also in its colour. Like the Eastern species, it is furnished with double wings, a thick and a thin pair; but it does not appear to have its legs formed for leaping great distances, like the grasshopper tribe, which the Eastern locusts have. head is large, its eyes protruding at each side, and its whole frame is strong and thick. The female insect is furnished with a long sharp spear, or drill, about the thickness of a large pin, of a hard strong substance, which lies along the under part of its body; and with this it drills a hole through the smaller branches of trees, quite into the centre. this hole, it deposits its eggs through the borer, which, though so strong, is a hollow tube. They perforate many holes in the same branch, and the tree thus wounded usually withers; while the numbers of

In

locusts produced is considerable.

The male locust has under its wing an extremely thin membrane, which is ribbed in tubes; and the inflation of which by the animal itself, is said to constitute their music; while others think the sound is produced by their rubbing or grating this membrane against the hard edges of the scaly parts underneath the body. During our stay at Augusta, we learnt, from resident families there, some curious facts respecting the state of society, and peculiarities of opinion. It appears, that almost all the married persons resident here, become members or communicants of some church; and it is hardly thought reputable not to be associated with some religious body or other. Up to the period of marriage however, it is not deemed so necessary; and few or none of the unmarried persons are therefore members. To all who are members, dancing is strictly prohibited; and it is thought highly improper even to mix in large parties where dancing is practised by others, though the members should not join in the exercise.

It is deemed their duty not to countenance this amusement, even by their presence. No members of churches, as heads of families, therefore, ever give a party for dancing; and if any such exercise is enjoyed, it can only be by the unmarried. But of late, a curious evasion of this prohibition has been practised with success in this manner :-The family give what is called "a social party," to which a large number are invited to take tea, and spend the evening. When tea is over, some young lady places herself at the piano, and strikes up a quadrille. Presently a few couples rise, and speedily a "spontaneous and unpremeditated dance" is got up, and continued

with great spirit till midnight. This point has been submitted, it is said, to the judgment of the clergy; who have decided, that if the carpets were taken up, and violins employed, and ball-dresses used, then it would be unequivocally "a dance," and, as such, clearly sinful. But the carpets being down, no music used but that of a pianoforte, and the ladies not in ball-costume, it could not be considered anything more than a "social party," and in this all might innocently join.

On the subject of religious revivals, also, we heard some curious particulars. There are fixed periods of the year in which these are regularly got up, in Georgia and the Carolinas, as in a prescribed circuit. The periods chosen are those in which there is the least business doing in the towns or on the plantations. The ministers, among whom those of the Methodist and Baptist persuasions take the lead, then organize the proceedings in such a manner as to produce considerable effect; and thus add every year to the number of their communicants. It is said that this is sometimes done in schools and colleges, where youths of nine to fifteen are so wrought upon as to proclaim themselves converts, and make public profession of a new birth; but it is doubted by the less zealous and enthusiastic, whether the instances in which these conversions are permanent are so numerous as those in which the parties fall off, and, by a reaction, oscillate to the opposite extreme of indifference, or something worse.

2N2

CHAP. XXXVI.

Journey from Augusta to Charleston by railroad-Alligators and vultures-Unhealthiness of the rice-grounds-Ghastly complexions of the whites-Practice of eating a sweet kind of clay— Arrival at Charleston--Sudden street-duel-Affrays and murders in Southern States-Effects produced by the system of Slavery-Picture of the present distress in Mississippi-Jefferson's opinion of the examples of Slavery-Dread of Abolition -Resemblance of the Battery of Charleston to that of New York-Episcopal churches-Excursion in the Neptune to Sullivan's Island-Temperance meeting-" God save the King," by an American choir-Commercial convention-New military guardhouse-Insurrection of the slaves-Difficulties in the way of immediate emancipation-The trinket-worm-Handwriting of the Southern ladies-Fireflies from Havannah.

On Saturday, the 25th of May, we left Augusta at five in the morning, and crossing over the Savannah river by the bridge, we got into the railroad cars at the village of Hamburgh, and started on our journey to Charleston at six o'clock. This railroad was originally laid across all the hollow and swampy parts of the way on the ends of perpendicular posts; and in many places these rose to a height of twenty feet above the lower level; so that a turn off the road by the engine and cars would have been fatal to all embarked in them; and even the looking over on each side affected the passengers disagreeably. It was found, indeed, to be so objectionable, that for the last year a number of men have been employed filling up these hollows, and the work is now nearly