1 
182 TRAVELS THROUGH NORTH AMERICA l 
requires a very rich soil. The trees, however/ 
that grow upon it, are a most profitable crop, 
and instead of cutting them all down prornis 
cuously, as commonly is done, they only fell 
such as have attained a large size, by which 
means they have a continued succession for the 
manufacture of those articles I mentioned. 
Eighty thousand acres of the Swamp are the 
property of a company incorporated under the 
title of The Dismal Swamp Company. •’ Be¬ 
fore the war broke out a large number of ne¬ 
groes was constantly employed by the com¬ 
pany in cutting and manufacturing staves, &c. 
and their affairs were going on very prospe¬ 
rously ; but at the time that Norfolk was burnt 
they lost all their negroes, and very little has 
been done by them since. The number that 
is now sent to Norfolk, is taken principally 
off those parts of the swamp which are private 
property. 
From the Dismal swamp to Richmond, a 
distance of about one hundred and forty miles, 
o along the south side qf James River, the coun¬ 
try is flat and sandy, and for miles together 
entirely covered with pine trees. In Nanser 
monde county, bordering on the Swamp, the 
soil is so poor that but very little corn or 
grain is raised ; it answers well however for 
peach orchards, which are found to be very 
e 
From the peaches they make 
