CHAPTER X.

RICE CULTURE.

Having several introductions to the rice and cotton plantersin the neighbourhood of Savannah, I left Charleston for thattown on the afternoon of the 11th of January 1855, in oneof the mail steamers, which usually make the passage in tenhours. Before the sun set I had a view of some of the “ seaislands,” upon which a portion of the famous long-staplecotton is raised. Their surface is only elevated a few feetabove tide, and in general the soil is light and sandy.Where the land is uncleared, pines are the predominatingtrees of the forest. The weather was close and foggy nextmorning as we sailed up the Savannah; but as we reachedthe wharf the sun broke through, and the air felt mild andgenial. Many were considering it too warm for the season;for the thermometer was 68° in the shade in the afternoon.

Savannah is about eighteen miles from the sea, and situ-ated on the south or right bank of the river of the same name.It is built on the sandy soil of the pine barrens, and is aboutforty feet above the level of the river. Its situation is dryand airy; but, in consequence of the immense extent of riceground to the northward and westward, it is very insalubri-ous in summer. Malignant fevers then frequently decimatethe white population, more especially those who are notacclimated.

The exports are cotton, rice, lumber, and a small quan-tity of sugar. Though the exports of cotton are nearly aslarge as those of Charleston, and a great amount of commerceis carried on, there is much less appearance of a wealthy classof residents. The population by the last census was only23,000 souls, of whom upwards of 9000 were slaves. So