Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/83

 dead) it was mutually agreed, that Colonel Rugeley, being a man of influence, and then the richest of the British, should remain true to his party, and that Colonel Chesnut should adhere to the side of the rebels, in order that each might be useful to the country, and serve the sufferers on both sides, which they did in an eminent degree, during that long day of trial and unnatural strife. Attended three times this day, at Presbyterian and Methodist churches, where I met small congregations, little talent, and, as I thought, less devotion.

Very politely waited on and invited to ride, this evening, with five young, dashing, generous Carolinians, who all came on horseback, with a horse in their hand for me, in order to shew me fields of revolutionary battles, and the solitary house which Lord Cornwallis made his headquarters, during the battle of Camden.

{56} I saw, with some surprise, churches and the tombs of citizens, all exposed on the common, uninclosed, and without a grave-yard; as though man had died accidentally and was buried in like manner. Some graves were distinguished by shrubs, laurels, and flowers, planted on them, and had rails around them, to prevent swine and cattle from offering indignities to the dead, who here seem to slumber in unregretted forgetfulness. But it is patriarchal "to bury my dead out of my sight."

Negro's food.—All that some planters deem necessary is one peck of corn-meal and a little salt for an adult, and six quarts for a child, without either milk or bacon. Such is the allowance for a whole week! What gluttony! What extravagance in a land of scarcity! Famine surely is at hand.

17th.—With a handsome introductory epistle from Mr. Douglas, I met General Cantey, Captain Cantey, and