The daily gazette., 1880-02-13
Dismal swamp.
THE HOME in RUNAWAY SLAVES TN
FORMER TISfEs-THE REGION RIFE


FORMER TIsEs--rHE REGION RIFE
WITH EIFE.i KY g
Having been frequently urged by
Marshal Parks, Esq, to visit the Dis
NAL Swamp and look upon its inter
esting features, and observe the great
activity of commerce and the local
pursuits of the region, this writer
finally, on the 9th inst, in compar y
with MIR. Parks and several of his
worthy friends, made the voyage fro IN
( Norfolk toIhke Drumuond. along the
Dismal Swamp Canal. Ii was great
qualification. The day was delightful,
and the scenes were novel and agreeA-
BILE. The Swamp we had never seen
save on the outer edge, and so great a
swamp could not fail TO interest any
one who had never before seen one.
The general description that this
vast swamp is great morass, with
soil of vegetable matter fifteen feet IN
depth, saturated with water, generally
yielding to the tread of man, and much
covered with pools in Winter, will give
some idea of its appearance to those
who have not seen it. Before its inv A.
cioh bN htiibtl-ECtttho ~ was NVNtlVtl
with grand forest of the finest tim
Der, which has been greatly slaughter
ed and thinned by the ak and saw bf
the woodmen. Millions of dollars
worth of valuable timber has been cut
out of this dense forest, which was
given the name Dismal by the
earliest settlers no doubt because of
its loneliness and dark, somber and
impenetrable shade.
The forest was of cypress, juniper,
cedar and gum, and where the dried
ridges appeared, there were beach,
oak, and other trees; the juniper and
cypress consisting Of some of the finest
timber that is anywhere. Mosses,
reeds, ferns, aquatic trees and shrubs
cover the surface with what was, IN
til later days, almost an impenetrab'e
mass. To pass along a canal in such
a region is interesting and exciting. l.
At this season the growth of the forest
is admirable. The variety of vines,
the blooming laurel, and plants and
lilies, make picture of rare lowell
ness and brightness. My eyes We're
ever greeted by what to me was indie
scribably enchanting.
Legendary information fastens upon
the wild and weird region fame vaIi-
ed by what would excite terrible ap-
prehensions as well as eager expecta-
ton. Poisonous insects and reptiles
abounded, and even beasts of prey, for
there were bears in these woods. A
pleasure party upon the canal was
gathering flowers from the overhant-
ing vines, and a charming young lady
gathered a snake, which coiled around
her well-turned wrist instead of
flower. Fancy the scene
Then 10 former days there were a few
savage Indians and many runaway run
away slaves in the swamp. Indeed IL
was richly supplied with ample material
for startling stories aud teTrlbly appre- |
tensions. |
But the fiowery and and pleasant side
of the view of the swamp outhves the |
other in my memory. Once in in year |
Of drought, l skiried the swamp, and |
saw rich rields of corn and forest Of deep |
living green, to which birds that had !
fled from parched helds and willing for. |
ests had gone for refuge and succcdr. |
Birds were innumerable. Even large |
auimals had crowded from the lplands, |
and he region was rife with the animai |
INVASION. Among the feAthered tribe |
the red bird was the most couspicuols |
and ornamental.
His brilliant plumage contrasted wide |
ly the deep green OF the growing corn, |
upon which the ruddy Joseph and dis |
bethre II going Tor corn" were assidn- |
ouSly attaching themselves. This was, |
lnieed a scene long to be rem-m bered. |
Think of leaving psrched and famish- |
Ell laud. where all we're painting aud |
iaml>hiag, aud emerging through the |
fleet transportation by railway IN labd |
" here all was green, all was gay. ahd |
brightness of sunshine and color danced |
and fitted about with enchanting illu- |
sion.
Such is the Dismal SWAMP can en-. |
JOY 1t. | wish could deScra be It.