The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-10-24
The Sandhillers.
WuAr SLAVERY DOES FOR THE Poor WIFE
Man.

A correspondent of Life Illustrated, travel
ing in South Carolina, thus describes the
condition Of that miserable class Of whites,
called Sandhillcrs, whom the employment
of slave labor, by the wealthier class, has
driven into yagabOndagc -
Between the slow country" as it is call
cd, and the supper country" Of South Car
Ina lies the middle or sandhill region. A
large portion Of this tract, which varies
from ten to thirty miles, is covered with
forests of pine, intsrspersed here anu there
with a variety Of other trees. Where it is
under cultivation, the principal crop is cot
ton. But the land is not generally fertile,
and much Of it is likely to remain for long
time partial wilderness.
The country itsslf presents few interest
ing features, but it is the homo Of n singu-
lar race Of people, to whom may nrolin y
devote few paragraphs of description.
In travelling through the "middle coln-
Try" often passed the rude, squalid cabin,
Of the Sandhillcrs. AL the inmates usual
ly aocked TO the door Of their windowless
domicile to stare ut me. And such lank,
scrawny, filthy set Of beings never beheld
slsewhers-not even within the psrhsls Of
the "Fiye Points"
Their complexion is CHASTITY yelll0wish
white. without the faintest tinge Of whole.
some red. The hair of the adults is gener-
ally sandy. and that Of the children nearly
as white as cotton. The children are even
paler, if possible, than the adults, and often
painfully haggard and sickly looking.
They are entirely uneducated, and semi
oarbarous in all their habits, very dull and
stupid, and, in general social position, far
below the slave population around them Il
IN fact, the negro looks down upon them
With mingled feelings Of pity and contempt.
They are "squatters" on lands belonging to
'then, either with or without their consent.
They sOmetims cultivate, or rather plant
mall patch Of ground near ltheir cabins,
aising little corn and few cabbagcs,
Melons and sweet potatoes. Their agricul-
ural operations never extend any beyond
his.
Corn bread, pork and cabbage, (friod in
Ard) seem to be their principal articles of
let. To procure the latter. and what few
lOthes they require, they make shingles, or
askets, or gather pine knots and wild ber-
ice, which they sell in the Villages; but be-
Ond what Is required to supply their very
United actual necessities, they will not
york.
Their principal employments are hunting
nd fishing, and their standard amusements
lrinkins whiskcy and fighting.
Their dress is as primative as their habits.
The women and children invariably 20 bare
leadeda and bare-footed and barelegged, their
My garments apparently being coarse
alico. Those men wear cotton shirt, and
rOusers ofthe coarse, homcspun cloth of the
ountry, with tho addition sometimes OF an
PIPER garment too rude and shapeles to DO
Iamed or described.
1 one day mot migrating family of these
nisenblo people. On a most sorry, lank,
nd almost aeshless substitute for horse,
rere packed the entire household effects
{ the family, consisting ola bed and few
ooking utensils. Two mal children 0ccu-l