In South Carolina. 287 



all who were present. I find it a common custom for 

 our elders, on such occasions, to invite those who do 

 not choose to communicate to draw near to be prayed 

 for, and that almost always some accept of the invi- 

 tation. After the service, we mounted our horses in 

 order, if possible, to reach a village called the Corner 

 (Monks). But there was a great swamp, as well as a 

 broad ferry, in our way. When we came into the mid- 

 dle of the swamp, it was almost night. In one place, 

 the planters had laid down about a hundred logs of 

 wood, which they call puncheons, in order to mend the 

 road: these, owing to the heavy rains, were loosened 

 and floated on the water which covered the road. We 

 first endeavored to drive our horses over them, but all 

 in vain; we then ventured into a deep ditch, in order 

 to go round them, but in this also we failed, so that 

 we were obliged to turn back in the dark through a 

 miserable road, till we arrived at the house of a little 

 planter. He very kindly took us in, and gave us a 

 roasted turkey for our supper, and the best beds in his 

 house to lie on. In the morning, he took us five miles 

 round through the woods, and brought us into the 

 road beyond the puncheons; when, to our great sur- 

 prise, we met a gentleman who had driven his horse 

 over the puncheons; however, he was thoroughly wet, 

 for the poor beast had fallen with him two or three 

 times. Soon afterward we crossed the broad ferry; 

 and then, as usual, I saw the hand of Providence, for 

 my horse was exceedingly restive, and would, very 

 probably, have overturned the boat if we had crossed 

 in the dark the evening before. When we arrived at 

 the Corner, I expected to preach, but no notice had 

 been given by the preacher who went before me to 

 make my publications; and being much fatigued with 



