CHAPTER XVII. 



Charleston to Savannah. Beaufort River, or Inland Navigation in South 

 Carolina. Slave Stealer. Cockspur Island. Rapid Growth of Oysters. 

 Eagle caught by Oyster. Excursion from Savannah to Skiddaway 

 Island. Megatherium and Mylodon. Cabbage Palms, or Tree Palmet 

 tos. Deceptive Appearance of Submarine Forest. Alligators swallow 

 ing Flints. Their Tenacity of Life when decapitated. Grove of Live 

 Oaks. Slaves taken to Free States. 



Dec. 28, 1845. A FINE steam-ship, the General Clinch, 

 conveyed us to Savannah. I was surprised, when sailing out 

 of the beautiful harbor of Charleston, on a bright scorching day, 

 to see a cloud of smoke hanging over the town, and learned that 

 they burn here not a little of what is called Liverpool coal. 

 Among others on board, was a female passenger from one of the 

 western states, who, having heard rne make inquiries for my 

 wife, went up to her in the ladies cabin and said, &quot; Your old 

 man is mighty eager to see you ;&quot; &quot; old man,&quot; as we afterward 

 found, being synonymous with husband in the West. We were 

 to go by the inland navigation, or between the islands and the 

 coast. After passing Edisto Point, we ran aground at the en 

 trance of St. Helena s Sound, in mid-passage, and were detained 

 some hours till the tide floated us off to the westward, through 

 the winding mazes of a most intricate channel, called the Beau 

 fort River. We passed between low sandy islands, and an 

 equally low mainland, covered with evergreen oaks, and long- 

 leaved pines and palmettos, six or seven feet high. Sometimes 

 we sailed by a low bluff or cliff of white sand, two or three feet 

 in height, then by a cotton plantation, then by large salt marshes 

 covered with reeds, on which the cattle are supported when fod 

 der is scarce in winter. The salt water in this narrow channel 

 was as calm as a lake, and perfectly clear. Numerous wild 

 ducks were diving as our steamboat approached, and beds of 

 oysters were uncovered between high and low water mark. It 



