40 Notes on America. 



steered, the two blacks were obliged to busy themselves in lading out the 

 water. It was a warm, dull, dark evening, and the atmosphere was 

 very thick and oppressive. Lights gleamed from the casements of the 

 lofty mansions which stretch along the walk called the Battery, and afford 

 an extensive view of the shipping and the bay j on the opposite side of 

 which, the glancing fire-flies illumined the beach of Sullivan's Island. 

 On shore, the silence was only broken by the deep-toned chimes of St. 

 Michael's Church, and in bidding my final adieu to Charleston, I could 

 truly say Vale in pace. 



There was just wind enough to waft us gently along ; but a less expe- 

 rienced sailor than my wanderings had made of me, could have surely 

 foretold a coming gale. The negroes, however, worked very lazily, and 

 at length fell asleep. The man at the helm, who alone knew in what 

 direction our vessel lay, was somewhat intoxicated, and mistook the lights 

 on the shore for those of the ship lanthorns. While we were roaming 

 about in this manner, the wind began to rise, and the boat to fill rapidly 

 with water. The heat of a close Carolinian night had unnerved me. My 

 thoughts had wandered to far distant shores ; and long buried recollec- 

 tions, coming thick upon me, had hitherto prevented my perceiving our 

 perilous condition. Now, however, I endeavoured to awaken the sleepers, 

 and make the helmsman do his duty 5 but this was beyond my power. 

 They seemed to consider drowning a matter of no moment, and the pre- 

 servation of life not worth an effort. I tried the effects of kicks, and blows 

 with my fist, in vain. They merely laughed, with their usual "He, he, he, 

 Massa veby funny." At length I found at the bottom of the boat a piece of 

 board, about two feet long, and rough at the corners ; with this I bela- 

 boured the * f niggers" on their heads and shins, till I awakened them 

 thoroughly, and compelled them to work for my preservation and their 

 own. So at last, after a hazardous sail of four hours, we reached the 

 ship. But never shall 1 forget the deadly sickness which came over me 

 when, for a time, I despaired of rousing the poor slaves. After an absence 

 of many years, during which labour, anxiety, and some ill-health had 

 rather worn me, I was within half a mile, probably, of a first-rate vessel, 

 ready to sail for home and England, yet was I doomed, as I feared, to 

 perish disgracefully by the sinking of a dirty water-tank, in company with 

 two "niggers" and a mulatto ! Strange as it may seem, this last con- 

 sideration was, I believe, the one which stimulated me to exertion. 

 Those of my readers who have resided much among this degraded race, 

 will, I think, understand this feeling ; though they may not, any more 

 than myself, be able to justify or admire it. 



