CHAP. XXII.] MACON TO COLUMBUS. 31 



CHAP. XXII. 



Macon to Columbus by Stage. Rough Travelling. Passage 

 of Flint River. Columbus. Recent Departure of Creek 

 Indians. Falls of the Chatahoochie. Competition of Negro 

 and White Mechanics. Age of Pine Trees. Abolitionist 

 &quot; Wrecker &quot; in Railway Car. Runaway Slave. Sale of 

 Novels by Neivs-boys. Character of Newspaper Press. 

 Geology and Cretaceous Strata, Montgomery. Curfew. 

 Sunday School for Negroes. Protracted Meeting. 



Jan. 21. 1846. HITHERTO we had travelled from 

 the north by railway or steam-ship, but from Macon, 

 on our way south, we were compelled to resort to 

 the stage-coach, and started first for Columbus. For 

 the first time, we remarked that our friends, on part 

 ing, wished us a safe journey, instead of a pleasant 

 one, as usual. There had been continued rains, and 

 the roads were cut up by waggons bringing heavy 

 bales of cotton to the Savannah railroad. We passed 

 Knoxville, a small and neat town, and, after dark, 

 supped at a small road-side inn, on pork-chops, 

 waffles, and hominy, or porridge, made of Indian 

 meal. Here we were told that the stage of the 

 night before had been water-bound by the rising of 

 the rivers. We went on, however, to the great Flint 

 river, where the stage drove into a large flat boat or 

 raft. The night was mild, but dark, and the scene 

 which presented itself very picturesque. A great 



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