TRAVELS, &c. 
CHAPTER XV. 
Journey to Charleston , and Residence in that City—from 
the 11 th to the 1 9th of December , 1825. 
ON the 11th of December, we were prepared before five o’clock 
to travel in the mail stage from Columbia to Charleston, one 
hundred and twenty miles distant. Unfortunately, our coach¬ 
man had, the evening before, involved himself in a quarrel with 
a watchman, who attempted to arrest his sable Dulcinea, and given 
him a stab with a knife. It was feared that the watchman, who 
was the father of a family, would die. The coachman was im¬ 
mediately taken into custody. We were, consequently, obliged 
to remain till seven o’clock, since the contractor of the mail stage 
was unable to find another white driver sooner, and according to 
law, no negro could convey the United States’ mail. 
Our company was very pleasant; I especially remarked a Mr. 
Bacott, from Charleston, and young Mr. Ramsay, as being well- 
informed men. Three miles below Columbia, we crossed the 
Congaree in a wretched boat, and on the right bank of the river, 
passed through a little place called Granby, which formerly had 
been a German settlement, called Saxe-Gotha. The road was, 
without exception, sandy, swampy, and at times hilly. The 
stage travelled very slowly, and for the greater part of the way, I 
left it behind, being on foot. It was nearly a continued forest, 
composed mostly of pine and oak trees, from which the Spanish 
moss hung in such quantities, that the appearance was far from 
agreeable. The number of the magnolia, kalmia, and gardenia 
trees increased, and also of the yucca gloriosa , which until now 
were situated principally in the neighbourhood of the dwellings. 
We also saw more live oaks here, of which the timber is uncom¬ 
monly excellent for ship-building, because it does not rot, and 
cannon-shot in striking it produce no splinters. Towards even¬ 
ing, we passed the village of Orangeburg, with wooden houses. 
We supped in a solitary house, and at the same time met the mail 
stage coming from Charleston, in which we took seats. It had 
been built for General La Fayette, and was named the La Fayette 
stage. We proceeded through the whole night: the day had been 
