Year: 1860

October, l, 1860.


DEAR ENQUIRER Il have at last got
back to the mouth of the Altamaha river
aud if you will hasten your presence on
the wings of imagination, this pleasant
morning, we will seat ourselves yonder
under those beautiful live oaks on Dolby
Island, and with this spy.glass in hand
take birds eye view" of the scenery a.
round US. To the east you have the At
lantic spread before you, as far as the
spherical form of the earth will allow the
vision to penetrate-where the white-capt
waves and ethereal blue meet and kiss
If you look closely, you may espy many a
sail, or perchance some beautiful steamer,
en- route from Savannah or Charleston to
Florida or the West Indies To the north
the first object in view is Dolby Lighthouse,
situated on the right as you enter DarieD
Greek, which is the most northern outlet of
the Altamaha. 1t leaves the main stream
three miles above Darien, and winding its
course by Darien City on the north side,
and the rice plantations on the south !;
makes its way through the marshes for
twelve miles, and enters old ocean at this
point That marshy district to the right
is Sapelo Island, and that body of water to
the left is Sapelo Sound. That verdant
spot still farther up the coast, is St. Catha-
rine's Island, with St. Catharine's Sound
on the north, and the inland steamboat
route on the west. There is a beautiful
settlement on this Island, owned by Mr..
Walburg of Liberty county.


Now turn to the south, and far away you
can see St. Synon's Lighthouse at the
southernmost outlet of the Altamaha, where
it connects with the deep channel leading
up to the fine bay and harbor of Bruns-
wick-a young city fast rising into position
and importance, with fair prospect of soon
being connected with the interior at Ma
con, by the Brunswick and Macon Rail-
road, and the southwest, by the Savannah
Albany and Gulf Railroad. We must call
on our much respected friend, Hon. T.
Butler King, at his residence on St. Sy.
mons Island, and enjoy his hospitality for
an hour; as he has done much for South
Georgia, by assisting in planning her rail
roads, and taking large amounts of stock
In them.


Now turn to the west, and see those
large vessels anchored in the moorings.-
They are loaded with lumber brought
down from Darien by the Chatham, tow
boat that belongs to Mr.. Carl Epping, one
of our enterprising lumber merchants, and
President of the Timber Cutters Bank
There to the right again is steamboat. =
See how it rounds that point, and heads
towards US 1t is the Comet, (see her
name painted in large letters on her cabin)
one of our river boats, en- route from Sa-
vanuah to Hawkinsvlle or Macon. Let us
hail her that We may ascend the Altama.
ha together. But how are We to get 10
speaking distance of her; for she is cross.
ing Sapelo Sound, and will enter the creek
at the point you see above the Lighthouse I?
Here comes nice little yacht borne on by
this gentle sea breeze, and manned by two
negroes who have been out on the beach to
get fish and oysters. We hail "Cufee and
Cudjo," drop dime into their rough palms
with sNow, my good fellows, apply your
oars and a eyes, massa" in reply; and
away we go at skimming rate. We are
quite in time, for l see Capt billiard has
already got his eye on us, and is only wait
ing for me to wave my hat or travelling
sack to run up and take lis aboard. Now,
dear reader, let me INTRODUCE you to our
excentric friend, Capt. billiard, who has
been on this river for many years with a
steamboat.


Now, as We are fairly under way, I will
point out to you, as We ascend, all that is
worth your attention. We must pass Da-
rien for the present, with only glance,
and I will tell you more about this place at
another time. After winding out Of d.
rien Creek into the Altamaha, We are in
sight of the large rice fields belonging to
Woods, Butler and Cooper; and two miles
farther up, we come to where Cooper's
river makes off to the south. Here is
Cooper bar, which neither steamboat nor
raft can pass at low tide; and there on the
south bank is the large plantation belonging