Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1874-09-25
From the Norfolk Landmark.
SKETCHES OF NORTH CAROLINA.
The Picture on which Ami
das and Barlow Gazed.
Magnifcence Of the Forest Trees
a Sea OF Silver in a Ring Of
Emerald-The True
'Old World"
A MAGNIFICENT TRIBUTE TO
RALEIGH.
AND TIE CARoLINsS.
A esY.av kDidin' NI0n,'' and an
officer CT the law s'Du'y
Appinted.''
NUMBER 2.

I can imagine no scene in this world
more impressive than taat which the
virgin land of Caroline must have pre-
scented to Sir Walter Raleigh's adven
turous colonists when they first APP
preached its shores in 1854 On the
22d of July, this little company, under
the command of Phillip Amidas and
Arthur Barlow, entered Hatteras Inlet.
Their anchors were let down into the
white sand, they turned their expect
ant eyes westward, and 10 ! a strang
unknown world was before them n
long sweep of coast describing endless
lines CT beauty, indented with grace
fully rounded bays and iulets. On the
level shores stood the stately cedar,
the wide-spreading live, oak, the vast
gigantic cypress with its fcatlcry
foliage, and that most graceful and
picturesque Of all our Southern forest
trees, tie long leaf pine, foir rival Of
the Eastern palm. From branch to
branch lung luxuria 1t fcstoons OF
vines, laden with Eschol clusters of
fruit. Sylri. Was s.rIayed III the fall
leaf Of her royal Sumner & DRY. Rank,
green grass covered the elades ana
savanna!s. tiecked with thc gold and
snow prrpic IF Il thousand flowers
Gay crocpers aed brigut-haed para
sites, jessar2lncs, nlany-colOred ac2-
cias, aid bloCd-Tcd trum pet-lio wers,
spread forth their Sorst Gus tintings
by the side Of the NOR sublued mar
vel,S OF the baytree and magnolia. Dor
3er:ng the bright, smooth waters OF
tie Sound, langdlSAinS III the beams
OF an llnclouded midSum;3er3 sun, the
tide presented q picture OF
THE SEA OF SILVER,
enclosed III ring Of emerald. To the
enraptured beholders, from the open
fields ard treeless downs Of England
it must have seemed that these gov
ing shores and forest shades containc>
Eden bowe,s Of never-ending beauty
aud delight. And to add to the delu
sion OF the senses, the morning breG 1t
bore upon its wings 4 warm and CRATE
ful perfume from the thousand odor
Gus trees and flowers OF the shore
Landing upon the main land and pene
trating the shades which they had be
held at distance, it would seem i'm
possible to imagine the conceptions O
their Brains and the rapture OF tLeil
hearts. On every hand we're beauty
and riches exceeding far tie wildes
dreams. AS they walked beneath the
oyershadowiEg and iuterl0cl.ej
branches, and among the tail, straish
pines, spots of S Ivan beauty, beside
silver springs gurgling fre;n the white
sands, suggested homes Of happiness
and unearthly loneliness. Others sug
gested vast fields OF golden grain anG
vineyards laden with generous intoxi
eating purple; whilst still others, be
side deep rivers and beautccus bays
told Of towns and cities yet to be, and
thronging multitudes busy with com
merce and civilization. Falsely enough
it no doubt seemed to these rude, un
learned men that want and care could
never intrude uron such scenes OF
abundance and peaceful beauty. til,
rivers and sounds abounded with fish
through the forest roamed the red dee.
and the shaggy buffalo, whilst the
black bear IS lord OF the jungles. Wi!d
turkeys, with ceaseless gables, sought
their food through the brakes; tht
partridges whirrcd in the long grass,
and the silver pheasant sounded h's
drum beat for his mate fro II the fra
grant cedar boughs.
To increase the impression Of these
new Corners