The State guard., 1848-04-25
From the Southerner. A Visit to the Siamese Twins. TRAP HILL, Wilkes Co.,, N. C..
 January ,, lS43.

SIR: In a communication from Surry county, under date of December 29, ls47, I promised your readers that my next should contain an account of my visit to the Siamese Twins, Chang and Eng" I now proceed to fulfil my engagement to the readers of the Southerner. MT. Jas. s. Grant, at whose houseI was entertained for several days, accompanied me to this notable place, "Trap Hill" Trap Hill is two miles from the residence of the family of Eng, or as he is now called, Eng Bunck- her. The name of Bunckner was conter- red upon the Twins by a Judge of the superb or court of N. C., in order, understand, to enable them the better to transact any le- gal business which might be necessary.- At Trap Hill, MT. G. and myself under- stood that the Twins were at their new place, in Surry county, and forty miles dis tant from Trap Hill. But learning that Mrs. Sarah Bunckner (the wife of Eng) was at home, we determined to spend . night at her house, and see if the wife of one of the Twins was just like other ladies. We arrived at her house just before dark. Mrs. Eng is about 26 years old, and as round and plump as a churn. Her maid en name was Sarah Lates. Mrs. Eng is real specimen of mountain lady. Her person is portly and her countenancc quite pleasant. Her conversational powers are above mediocrity. Her mother, Mrs. Lates, died year ago, weighing just 300 pounds. Mrs. Eng has been married five years, and has three children, viz: Catha- rine Narsellis, aged 4 years Julian aged 3 years, and Decatur aged 3 years.
 We were, on arriving, shown into the bedroom of Mrs. Eng, (there being no fire in the parlor, and the weather exceedingly cold,) where we saw herself and the three children, all comfortably seated around the fire. The first important object which arrested my attention was the big bedstead and the big feather bed. They were to me objects of great curiosity and could not keep my eyes from them. Finally my curiosity (for l belong to the family of old Eve) rose so high, that was compelled to ask Mrs. Eng what use they made of that big bedstead and bed She replied as follows
 .'Our family is quite big when the Twins, my sister and her children all come to see me, and the Twins made the big beadstead, for nothing shorter would do all of us."
 blushed little and then resumed, yol are quite loving family, no doubtl
 "Yes," said she, ''lt's obliged to be SO, for each on us has to sleep on the off side of the Twins and the six children all pit together, it takes mighty big ixin tor all on us, you know"
 told her did not know if, but if she said so it must be correct. Here my at- tention was arrested by the light of the big candle, and I remarked, you have also a candle to correspond with the big bedstead. "Yes," said Mrs. Eng, "we must have all big fixins here."
 After supper the children were put to bed, and Mrs. Eng, MT Grant aud myself resumed our seats around the fire in the bedroom, and continued talking until a late hour. Mrs. E. is very communica. tive, and would frequently allude to the previous life of the Twins their manner of courtships, the many gals what tried to get 'em, cause they had money, &c. &c' She also gave an account of the reason for settling at "Trap Hil," which was te merchandise but Mir. Harris (the gentle. man who travelled with them, and who was to have conducted their business) hay ing married gal what they didn't like they concluded to abandon the idea of em. ploying him, and also abandoned the idea of merchandising altogether.
 They have a house here finished in good style, at cost of $1 300, which they are now anxious to sell, so that the two families may be together.
 Leaving 'the rockey mountains" my companion and myself returned to the Trap Hill, and on the way passing through an old field thickly grown up in cedars and various other evergreens, he remark. ed to me, 'sthis is the devils walking grounds" and in an under tone of voice continued, saying that ''many persons o great responsibility in the neighborhoot had frequently seen his Satanic Majesty, as he was taking his evening walks about this place" I asked him if he believed the report He told me he had no req. son to disbelieve what all his neighbori asserted as a fact, and remarked to me that if I desired to see his majesty, he would return with me in the evening ant gratify my curiosity. But as had no de- sire to be brought in too close connection with his lordship, and wthal was bound in another direction, l politely declined his invitation.
 l Before leaving the neighborhood of TraT Hill, I must be pardoned for alluding tc an incident of a family character, whici occurred near the hill But this part of my letter 1 trust will not be read by the ladies and would here respectfully suggest, tha when they come to this part, that they skip the whole until get to Chang ant Eng again. My reasons for this, are, lst 1 Idon't wish to add to eiringenuity in man aging the men, Believing that they art already sufficiently dexterous J and sec ondly, this being leap year, l fear that