AN OLD INDUSTRY. 657 



clumsy and inconvenient medium of exchange for large amounts. 

 We read that " the merchants of North Carolina and other distant 

 points used to carry the money in boxes fitting under the seats of 

 the * sulkies' in which they traveled, so as to be taken out at 

 night and put back in the morning." 



. The indigo itself was often used directly as a medium of pur- 

 chase for other commodities. General Harrington at one time 

 sent three four-horse wagonloads of indigo to Virginia, buying 

 in exchange from fifteen to twenty negroes. 



An interesting illustration of this use of indigo is connected 

 with General Francis Marion. The incident occurred in 1783, 

 just after the battle of Hobkirk Hill. A nephew of General Mar- 

 ion was to be sent to school in Philadelphia, and was accordingly 

 fitted out with a wagonload of indigo which was to pay for his 

 tuition and other school expenses. As the British then held pos- 

 session. General Marion wrote * to Lord Balfour in command in 

 Charles-Town, asking a permit for the boy to pass through the 

 British lines. General Marion's letter was sent by Balfour to 

 Rawdon and was afterward countersigned by Cornwallis. The 

 youth with his wagonload of indigo was allowed to proceed by 

 the Charlotte route toward Philadelphia, but unfortunately he 

 died before reaching his destination. 



The history of the indigo industry would not be complete with- 

 out a description of the old Winyaw Indigo Society of George- 

 town. This society, named from the tribe of Indians who once 

 occupied this part of the State, was originally a social club formed 

 in 1740 by the planters of the Georgetown district. It met once 

 a month to discuss the latest news from London, and also certain 

 agricultural questions. The society was not incorporated until 

 some years later, and then took the name " Winyaw Indigo So- 

 ciety," having in view the improvement of the indigo industry, 

 and also certain educational aims. 



The annual fees of the members were paid in indigo, and, as 

 the expenses were light there had accumulated in 1753 a sum 

 which seemed to require some special application. The president 

 proposed that the surplus fund should be devoted to the establish- 

 ment of a charity school for the poor. Ramsay tells us, nearly fifty 

 years later : " The object of this society is now wholly confined to 

 the education of orphan children. Since its commencement there 

 have been educated and supported by its bounty between one 

 hundred and two hundred children. From the continual acces- 

 sion of new members the funds are in a flourishing condition and 

 enable the society to educate twenty children annually." The 



* This interesting letter of General Marion's is now in the possession of Mr. Richardson, 

 of Sumter, S. C. 



VOL. XLTI. 50 



