C 981 ) 
wry Inconvenient, and whereby they loft much time. 
I interpofed, and asked, why they did not Plant ail their 
Crop together > The Fellow fmiled as it were at my Ig- 
norance, and faid, there was very good Reafon tor it. 
I replyed, that was ic I enquired after. He returned , 
the Plantation had been an old planted Plantation, and 
being but a final! Plot of Ground, was almoft worn out, 
fo that they had not Ground altogether that would bring 
forth Tobacco. I told him then they had better Ground 
than ever yet they had planted, and more than their 
Hands could manage. He fmiled again, and asked me, 
where ? I then named fiich a Swamp. He then faid 
fcornfully, he thought what a Planter I was that I un- 
derftood better how to make a Sermon, than managing 
Tobacco. I replyed with fome warmnefs, tho' I hoped 
lb, that was Impertinence, and no Anfwer. He then 
faid, that the Tobacco there would drown, and the Roots 
rot. I replyed, that the whole Country would drown 
if the Rivers were ftopt, but it might be laid as dry as 
any Land on the Plantation, In fliort, we difcourfed it 
very warmly, till he told me, he underftood his own 
Bufinefs well enough, and did not defire to learn of me. 
But the Gentlewoman attended fomewhat better to my 
Reafoning, and got me one day to go, and fhew her 
how I projefted the draining of the Swamp, and thought 
it fo feafible, that (he was refolved to have it done; and 
therefore defired me I would again Difcourfe her Over- 
leer, which I did feveral times, but he would by no 
means hearken thereto, and was fo pofitive, that (he was 
forced to turn him away, to have her Servants fet about 
the Work ; and with three Men in thirteen days I drained 
the whole Swamp, it being Sandy Land,foaks and drains 
admirably well, and what I little expe&ed, laid a Well 
dry at a confiderable diftance. The Gentlewoman was 
in England laft Year , and I think Dp. Moulin was by 
when (he asked me. Now to teach her how Ihe might 
P p p make 
