CH^I^TER V. 



THE RED HILL REGION 



LOCATION. 



The very gradual slope of the upper pine belt having attained an ele- 

 vation of two hundred to two hundred and fifty feet above the sea level, 

 an irregular and somewhat interrupted line of high hills is encountered. 

 These hills rise two to three hundred feet above the plane of the upper 

 pine belt in the distance of a few miles, and not unfrequently this eleva- 

 tion is attained in traversing a few hundred yards. To the south and 

 east extensive views over the gentle and irregular slope of the lower 

 country are exposed from the summit of these declivities. To the 

 north and west a sort of table land stretches back and gradually merges 

 into the higher and more extensive sand hill region of the 8tate. 



The general trend of these hills correspond pretty nearly with that of 

 the other regions of the State. Starting on the Savannah river near 

 Hamburg, they extend across the southern and western portion of Aiken 

 and the northern townships of Barnwell counties. Following the north- 

 ern boundary of Orangeburg, they acquire their greatest width in that 

 county around Fort Motte, near the confluence of the Congaree and the 

 Wateree rivers. West of the Santee river their course is more to the 

 north, and they constitute that remarkable line of hills traversing Sumter 

 county, long known as the " High Hills of Santee." Included in this re- 

 gion is also a body of lands in Edgefield county, known as the " Ridge," 

 which lie along the Augusta and Charlotte railroad. Although the latter 

 are above the outcrop of the granite rocks, being continuous with the 

 red hills, and resembling them closely in physical features and soil, 

 they are described with them. 



While these red hills form a well marked bolt across the State below 

 the sand hills, from the southwestern part of Aiken county to the north- 



