New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-24
FROM 4 SOUTHERN rope
cc cf TIE y. Y. Tribune.
ALABAMA RIVER, April %. lsss

ALABAN. RIVER, April p. lass.
The summer that we were IN pursuit II IVA
met at savannah on our return from 81. Ausa,.
tine, and after spending day uades it, burning
sun we took the cars for Macon. The road lie.
through an extremely barren aud unnterestiug
country that one would not ATTEMPT 20 pas,
through twice unless compelled by necessity.
We reached Macon, after days slow travel, o,
6 o'clock, and left al 3 next morning for Colum-
bus and Montgomery. The principal feature Of
Columbus is is magnifccntly broad streots-a
feature tie more remarkable from It's rarity ina
country ike ours, where the plan OF our cities IL
SO disproportionate 70 the vastness Of orr terri
tory. About hfty miles before Y, reached Mont
gomery the monOtoDy of our Journey was varied
by an incident The woods which bounded one
side of the tack aud the track itself Were found
to be on fire. Fortunately, few hundred rods
beyond where the hre Was ragiug there was q
locomotive and a train OF plaitOru-cars without
sides or seats. To this train We and our be
lonengs were transferred, sad passing the hcry
ordeal with a rapid Quickstep Wa seated ourselves
on our respective trunks the whistle gave the sig
nal aud with a shock that nearly DESTROYED our
equilibrium We set of &C the rate OF twenty-five or
thirty miles an hour under a burning sun, only
partially qbscured by the clouds of dust ciaders
reaching Montgomery was most extraordinary and
would have put that of any charcoal yender en-
tirely in the shade Our best friends would have
cut us had they recognized Us under this be-
crimed mask of cinders aud dust. These deep
shadows md neutral tints. broken here and there
aud blended together by rlls # perspiration, pro-
dUced the most wonderful effects both OF color
ard expression. The women OF this portion of tho
country (the south and South-west) have q
nauseous custom which they call dipp,Hg-that is,
they have box of snuff, and a small stick which
they dip into il, and then rub the teeth-usng tho
snuff however, hess as dentriice than as slim
ulant Several women who are victims Of this
habit, with whom have spoken, have told me that
they should die without snutl and their van faces
ana atteuuated figures Indicated that they would
surely die lcth Il. 4 little girl OF only five or six
years Of age, in return for some little attention
had shown her, offered me her stick aud paper Of
snuff The effect of THE practice upon the deli
cate organization Of women Is evnced in tho
eagerness with which they follow il aud the in
zane longing for snuff when they are deprived OF
it. This form OF ntempcrance is worth! Of tho
attention OF sCne phllanthropist who is looking
for a mission
We found the steamer waiting for our arrival 10
descend the Alabama River 90 Mobile, distance
By the river OF 45O miles, while the direct route
BY stsCe only $50, the course OF the river beng
exceedingly crcutous Montgomery stands In
Alabama River For miles before We entered ne
city the road on either side was ncloscd by tho
most luxuriaut hedge of white roses, whose clue
tiers lay like new.iallen snON.hakes on a forest Oh
everqreens The banks fthe river are beautifully
wooded and undulating, but seldom rise to any
great degree of hight or bOldness. The na'lga-
lion is greatly imp, ded by frequent sand-bars aud
shadows which during the summer and at all dry
seasons prevent the ascent of large boats Tho
Magnolia upon which We have taken our passage,
is ON her last voyage down for this season, II ln-
deed she does not occupy the whole season IN her
passage. We left Montgomery four days since ana
We are not yet half way 10 Mobile, where We
should have been in A. hours at furthest But We
are not at all inpatient of delay. The boat Is very
large aud airy With the staterooms opening to the
deck as well az TO the saloon The scenery Is beau
tiul the trees all clad in their fresh Spring foliage,
the towering vines and the gray moss hanging from
their branches and the Towering shrubs blooming
beneath Tho ar and weather are delicious,
though little warm in the aitern00n the sun
rise, the sunset through the trees, and the
new moon On the water, the pleasant motion
of tie boat when she does co. and the ex-
element of getting her of when she grounds
all combine 10 make our voyage most pleasant
ere. Wien We are in shallow water we stop for
he night, if We are aground torches are lighted
lelow, and the crew (mostly negrOes) BY the aid
# heavy spar, which they work by capstan,
Att IfI dbHln dlithi, Accompanying thtuio'F'o W
wild chant--0ne voice leading and the others
joining chorus At other times they improyise for
tie occasion such song as this
" oft away my dandy boys,
Work sway-gora awayi
/ think f,el her moving now
WOIk awey-w0rk away" sc.
The glare of the pine torches lighting up the
river and the banks which seem like enchanted
gsrdens-the song of tie negroes a. they march
round the capstaD, their wild and picturesque ap-
pearance and the airy fairy boat looming high
above the waterfall unite to form q scene az
novel 10 our eyes as it is beautiful Surrounded
with all the luxuries and elegancies OF the best
hoiel-foating along on the bosom Of a tranquil
river Whose banks constantly present some
new form of beauty-the air laden with the per-
fuue of the choicest flowers Of Spring with un-
coud,d skies by day aud moonlight and torchlight
by night aud with hroagh-tioket, whether the
passage be long or shOrt-we have found it most
refreshing TO moderate our railroad speed, to
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