New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-07-04
The Seutherners 1t Hsne ...Ns. Y.
WESTERN MISSISSIPPI.

inc with German, who, when i inquired II he
.nuh accommodate me, at once said: Yes Sir;
make il q business to lodge Travellers He hads
little farm and owned four strong negro men and .
wom.n and children. All bis men, however, 10
hired ont AZ porters or servants in Nstchez, employ
ing a white man, a native Of the country 70 work
with him on bis farm.
To explain the economy Of this arrangement, be
aid that one of bis men earned in Natchez $N b
month clear of all expenses, and the Others much
NOR. than he could ever make their labor worth to
him negro Of ordinary intelligence would hire
Co.. 5000 wear and his board, which was worth IS
month. Whereas he hired this white fellow, who
was strong and able, for $40 month; ana No Be,
lieyed he got as much work out Oh MN as no eoSa
ami Of A negro If labor were worth 10 much as no
Cot for that of his negroes, why did the white man
NOT demand morel Well-he kept him IN whiskey
and tobacco beside his wages, and he was content
Most folks here did not like white laborers. Iney
had only been used to have nggers do their Work,
and they did not know how to manage win wnito
laborers; but be had no difficulty
/ asked if 50 would cover the cost OF nan
boardl He supposed it might cost IN ratns. ha. -
tbsn that 10 keep the white man; 20 was what
w.s generally reckoned in town to cost 10 Keep
negro. nppers living in town or near II were eA-
,ected to have ssextras;" out on the piantauons
where they did not get anything but bacon anu ea,
of course it did not cost so much. Did W. NOV
what il cost to keep negro generally upon the Psa
tatiOns 1t was generally reckohed, nc sa''' t.as
niger ought TO have peck of mea and three pounds
of bacon week; some didn't give so mnch meat,
but be thought it would be better W give tnein
more.
"You are getting rich," said. "Are the Ger
mans generally, hereabouts, doing well zee there
are good many in Natchez."
~ hnAx hn il NOT f<Ann n
can get rich here"
The next day, having ridden 80 tedious miles
.bout 6 O'clock called at the first house standing
unon or near the road which / had seen for somo
time, and solicited lodging. 1t was refused by q
woman. How far was it TO tho next house asked
her Two miles and half. SO found II 70 De-
lint il was deserted house, falling to decay, on an
abandoned plantation rode several miles further,
and was growing dark and threatening rain before
came in sight of another. it was short distance
off the road, and approached by private lane from
| which it was separated by grass plat we'll
dressed man stood between the gate and the mousse
stoned and bowed to him. but be turned bis back
upon me and walked to the house. / opened gate
| and rode in. Two men were upon the gallery, ana
| said, as l stopped near them, Gould obtain
| lodging here onight, gentlemen" One Of them
| answered in mOnOsy liable, surlily and decidedly,
"No." paused a moment that they might observe
me-evidently stranger benighted, with angued
horse, and then asked, Can you tell me, 81, now
| far il is TO a publichOuse2 81 don't know" an
swered the same man. "No pubIc-houses in this
section of country reckon, Sir" said the other.
| Do Won know how far it is to the next house ON
| the road, east Il this I" "NO," answered one;
You'll find one about two miles or two mule and
half from here" said the other =" Is it house Id
which shall be likely to get lodging 40 you
| know 7" 81 don't know, I'm sure"
Soon after. Icamc to house and barns close upon
| the road. There was man ON the gallery playing
| on q fiddle. asked "cOuld you accommodate ms
here tonight, Sirl' He stopped iddng and turned
bis head toward an open door, asking, wants TO
know if you can accommodate him 7" Accom-
MEDIATE him with what Z" demanded o harsh, bad
wOman's voice. "With bed, of cOurse-whatd do
you s'pose-ha !ha ha " and he went on fddling
again. / had during this conversation observed
ranges Of negro huts behind the barns and per.
ceived that it mast be the overseers house of tho
same plantation at which / had previously called
81 Like master, like man." thought and rode on,
| my inquiry not having been even answered.
/ met negro boy on the road who told me 1t was
bout two miles to the next house, but he did not
reckon that would get in there "HOw far to the
next house beyond thatl" About four mikes, Sir,
and l reckon you can get in there, master; I've
heerd they did take in travellers to that place."
Soon after this il began to rain and grew dark: 90
dark that could not keep the road, for soon finding
Beshazzar in difficulty, 1got of and discovered that
We were following up the bed of small dry stream.
In trying to get back probably crossed the road, as
did not find it again, and wandered cautiously
among trees for nearly hour, at length coming to
open country and fence. Keeping this in sight 1
rode until found gate. entering at which fol-
lowed nearly straight and tOlerably good road full
an hour, at last coming to a large negro "sette-
nent." passed through il to the end OF the rows
where was a larger cabin. A shout here brought
out the Overseer. i begged for a nights lodging;
he was silent; said that had travelled far, was
much fatgued and hungry; my horse was nearly
knocked up, and was stranger in the country;
had lost my road and only by good fortune had
found my way here He seemed to hesitate, and at
length, as continued urging my need, he said:
wen, l suppose you must stop. HO, Byron
Here, Byron take this mans horse and put him in
| my stable. Light Sir, and come in"
Within / found his wife, young but not very at
tractive person. gaudy dressed-a caxicature Of the
fashions Of the day. Apparently, they had both
been making visit to neighbors, and but lust come
home. Twas not received very kindly but at the
request Of her husband she brought out and yet be-
| fore ME some cold cOrn-bread and fat bacon.
Before had finished eating my supper, however,
they both quite changed their manner, and the woman
| apologized for not having made some cefiee. Tho
cook had gone to bed and the fire was out. She-
| presently ordered Byron, as he brought my saddle
in, to get some "hghtwoOd" and make FIRE; said
she was afraid had made sorry supper, and set
chair by the fireplace for me as drew away from
| the table.
1 piled the man with inquiry about his business,
gained his interest in the points of difference be-
tween Northern and Southern agriculture, and soon
had him in q very sOciable and communicative
| humOr. He gave me much Overseer's lore about
cotton culture, niger and cattle maladies, the
| proper mode Of keeping sweet potatoes, &C.; and
| when proposed to ride over the plantation with