The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1896-08-28
CORRESPONDENCE.
RoAN OAK ISLAND. !
AuruSt 18th, 1896.

RoAN OAK ISLAND. !
August 18TH 1896,
DEAR ENoCIRER:-In the midst of the
heated term YOU will find me far south.
though from newspaper accounts 1t Is as
hot further North As it is here. There Is
one comfort that can always be relied
upon, or nearly SO, in this climate, ana
that is no matter now high the tempera-
ture may be in the day the nights are made
bearable bv a pleasant sea breeze. found
this the case in the city OF Nor ok, and
one can we'll ina CINE what a relief after
the sweltering heat of the day, that the
nights are pleasant sufficiently well to af-
ford good sleep. This island is reached
by steamer from Elizabeth City, n. c.. and,
as is well known. is situated in the waters
of Albemarle Sound. 1t was most de-
lightful change from the heat and dust OF
railroad travel to find ones self upon the
glad waters of the dark blue sea, and the
trip to the island. made by night, was most
delightful The sound is Il beautiful sheet
of water, as. indeed. all these inlets of the
ocean upon our southern coast are. There
is a marked popularity about the water
courses of the South, in that they are near
ly all sluggish. and contin ID as they are
by the low swampy lands, mostly CT a
wooded growth. that run down to the wa
tiers edge. they lose the boidneSS and the
wild and rapid rush of their more northern
brothers 1t seems that even the waters
are in sympathy with the enervating intlu
ences of this soft and halmy climate. Well
for the island. 1t is seven miles long by
four in width and contains population
of about 1000 souls. 1t is Il flat formation,
and much IF its surface is of an ooZing.
marshv character Most of the island Is
quite heavily timbered with fine growth.
and here and there can he found portions
of the land in cultivation, but it cannot be
called farming to any extent. The SOIL Is
finely adapted to the growth OF vegetables,
such as sweet potatoes. melons. etc corn
is also cultivated, but most of the attention
is given to the growth of such small truck
as have mentioned. The soil is light and
sandy, and where well drained Is highly
productive 1t can he worked with Il hoe
and with such ease that there Is little use
for the horse. The island has most IN
tercsting history. 1t vas here that the
first white child i'll America was born
Her name was Virginia Dare, and IN
memory of that event the county, OF winch
the island is considerable portion, was
called Dare county. Here is also the site
of the first fort that was built upon the
y IL,
preserved to this day. 1t was built in
form of a star, so that no matter from
what direction the savages made their at
tack they might find front fire to greet
them The wings formed by the points of
the star communicated with one another,
so as to afford a sheltered retreat for the
occupants, and place for the concentra-
ton of the entire force when needed. The
island is also noted for the cultivation OF
the far-famed Scuppernong grape. This
delicious fruit was not ripe at the time OF
my visit, SO | cannot tell your readers OF
its richness and delicious flavor for which
it is so much priced. 1t is said that one
vine is known to be over two hundred
years old, and is bearing as plentifully in
its greer old age as it did in its early ma
turity. The vines are planted upon the
four sides of Il large square plat OF ground:
through the centre of the square heavy
posts are planted, and upon these a lattice
is made, by placing large poles across each
other until the entire area is covered, and
then as they grow they are trained over
head upon this lattice until, when fully
grown, there is dense shade formed.
Through the spaces in the lattice the
grapes hang and are gathered from be-
meath. Of course care is taken that a
plenty of sunlight is afforded through the
openings in the lattice to ripen the fruit.
When fully formed it is a cool retreat, i'll
| this spacious arbor, and no doubt they
have been the trysting places for many an
| ardent couple of lovers. But we are not
| asking them to give up any of their Sc
| crets, but only the privilege of plucking
some of the delicious fruit with which they
are studded. l was much pleased with the
| island and all upon it, but what fascinated
me most was "A sight of what are called the
sand hills of North Carolina. These are
remarkable formations and have been in
of course of construction from
the early period of the history of this
country. These mountains of sand, for
there is regular CHI ain upon this part OF
the coast, have been built, so to speak, by
the moving of the sands by the winds, I'M
| til an obstruction was met which stopped
| them, and from this beginning they have
gone on increasing in size until now at
some points they appear to be at least one
hundred feet high. They are literally
sand banks, as there is not a vestige of
life, in either tree, or plant or grass, to be
seen upon their yellow surface. At a dis
lance they look like "a cloud with the deep
blue of the waters, at their point of con-
tact with the coast, as back ground, and
it is some time before the illusion can be
dispelled 1t certainly afforded me much
study and reflection when looking upon
such power as must have been exerted by
the winds in throwing up such mounds of
earth. Now and again the tops of some
of the giants pines, whose bodies have been
engulfed in the sea of sand, can be seen
browning the surface in defiance as it were
of the attempt at destruction. Altogether
these are remarkable formations and were
a complete surprise as do not remember
ever having seen any allusion to them in
any description of our coast. The island
ers live entirely from the waters. that
abound in all kinds of fish the year round
and their trade in the less favored markets
of the North for their tinny supplies keeps
them in good and comfortable cheer. For
the sportsman this is heaven, as the WA
tiers swarm with geese, swan and ducks
during the winter and nearly the year
round fish of some sort can always be
caught In my trips through eastern Nir
ginia and North Carolina the silver ques-
ton found to be the all absorbing topic,
and it is rare to meet any one who thinks