Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1851-10-08
OF wn @ 1851
A BOAT RACE.


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-.''@f9 HoEi ABOAT RACE 'j. j;'s3
Read the interesting letter below, over the sigma
tnre of b. descriptive Of Boat Race. The
whole scene is painted to the life. .,... ... ,
The letter was written by North Carolinian.
while in Georgia, to friend home and thinking
it might be of interest of readers, it was
kindly forwarded to for publication. --r ..E.,.
Our Correspondent B" wields a vigorous and
graceful pen upon every subject he takes up. His
descriptive powers, especially, OF superior
der. We should be pleased frequently to grace
columns with his productions.
MlLLEDGavlLLE, GA, May 8. 1851.
NY DEAR M****: My visit to Darien was pleas
ant in tie extreme; and if warm hearts and polite
attention could have detained me anywhere. would
certainly not have left its delightful shades soon.
Without letters, yet had the good luck TO make ac-
quaintances whom hope some day to meet again.
think mentioned that had made trip to Buffers
W, who politely offered to take me across in
his sail-boat. fyou will examine the map Of Geor-
gia you will find that the streams-less sluggish than
ours-have forced their ways through numerous
mouths to the ocean. Hence you find so many is
lands along the coast, which yield among the salts,
the cotton celebrated for its long staple and fine
quaIity when high up for the salt air have any
influence, the planters cultivate rice. as this again
has to be flooded with fresh water altogether I'm
mediatey in front of Darien. is Generals Island,
and beyond that again Buffers island. We had to
sail around nearly two miles; and as l approached
the spot my heart beat with excitement at the thought
of visiting the residence of one, whose world wide
reputation had been, perhaps, the cause of all her
midst of orange trees, cedars and magnoas. And
imagine the trees at Mr.. KS, to be changed into
orange growth, and you have it before you. For two
hundred yards the grove extended in and through
the interstces could be seen the white walls OF the
negro houses forming quite little village.
Having dashed toddy with the juice of sour
orange plucked fresh from the tree, rellshed it ex
ceedingly, forming 10 my taste quite agreeable
punch. After visiting the rice mill, 80 horse power
We returned home and enjoyed our supper amazingly.
But must hasten to other incidents. On Wednes-
day the boat race came off, and you must pardon
for infcting upon you full description Of it, Mr.
W, like gentleman that he is, invited me to
take seat with him in his yawl. He introduced me
to Mrs; E-' Miss - Mrs. L L - his sis:sr
usual reserve soon wore off: and in short time. l
had engaged Miss E., for the Polka, was crack
ing jokes with Mrs. L., found myself hosting
my handkerchief at the top of my umbrella staff
boat would pass, &c.
Once we passed residence situated on high
bank-the old oaks with their deep green-the gray
moss pendant from their branches waving with the
morning breeze-lades standing the sward beneath
and below at the waters edge-the little skif all
manned and ready to convey them to the race. A
turn in the river and the vision fades away. Now
the land is low and marshy-the alligators paddle
about among the water plants-while farther on the
magnolia opens its large white blossom, filling the
air with fragrance, or the graceful cemats winds its
purple hues round every bough and twig. But to
the description. How I wish Miss S. had been
there; it was sight that would have called out her
charming enthusiast and made her bright eyes still
brighter they beamed with the joyous excitement
| of the ..
BOAT RACE!
The sea-islands on the coast Of Georgia and South
Carolina, present many sights to interest and amuse
traveller. The people live in great ease and COM
fort and their wealth enables them present their
Living on large plantations, which yield quantities OF
| cotton, rice, and sugar, their minds and manners
partake of kind, hospitable and, generous nature
| and their hearts, expanding like the broad fields
they cultivate, give to the stranger true Southern
| welcome. As general rule the planters have re-
ceived liberal education, and every thing around
| gives evidence of cultivated taste. Their only
means of communication being by water, boats are
substituted for carriages and may readily imag
inc how expert they become in the management o
the oar, when from childhood they padding and
rowing from island to island l would venture te
assert that here are be found the best oarsmen in the
country The planters take great pride in their boats
which built with the utmost care and with a view
| tO
to these happy people consists in the boat-races
which come off frequently in the spring Of the year
causing great excitement both with master and slave
the latter thinking that the reputation of their panta
tons depends upon the success of their boat. Bets
run high and several hundred. and sometimes thon
sands of dollars change hands in the course of
day.
Business having called me in the spring of 81 t.
the ancient city of Darien, had, whilst there th'
pleasure of witnessing regatta of this novel char
hnfo ok,~I
talked of but the Race, and you could hear various
comments the different that were to enter TIL
field. Your ears were constantly saluted with ''Kat
Kenan," "Mary spaAding," !" 'WaAk-a-way," 'Light
ning,' &C., &c., giving one confused idea of th
| The day at last arrived, and the shone out glo
riously, as with party of ladies and gentlemen W.
rowed to the scene of action. One of the mouths o
the Altamaha had been selected with clear reach
half-a-mile, the distance be rum Numerous skifs
and canoes, freighed with the beauty and the chval
ry of Mcintosh, to pass rapidly along, al
nearing the bank where the judg ges' stand was sta
toned. This nothing more than rice barn
and opposite to it a boat was anchored forming tn
goal Of the race. Glance your eye over that move
spectace-see yonder dwelling, its porch filled will
ladies, their scars and ribbons forming so many lt;
pennons uterng in the breeze, beyond that the shor
covered with motted group of men, boys, and ne
groes, whilst the brink below is lined with the mos
exquisite little boats. presenting to the eye con
tinuous line of brown, blue green, and white hav
heard of the gondolas of Venice, which like tn
graceful swan float through the Of that ancen
and beautiful city. have heard also of the brchbarl
of our own aborgnes lightness and speed
when like an arrow j, darts through the water driver
by the skilfal stroke of a sinewy arm; but thes
methinks must yield the palm to the tiny and ee
giant boats before US. @ : e.-.-. . r.,... 2
But stop; there strikes out boat from the landn!
with gentleman who carries gun and two whit
flags. He rows up the river to- the starting point
and whilst statoning the flags on the opposite banks