Page:Early western travels, 1748-1846 (1907 Volume 11).djvu/90

 patriarchally did I and my cousins dress and undress, talk and sleep. What lovely simplicity! It is all pure, unsophisticated nature—a shining contrast to all I saw at Camden.

24th.—All the morning hunting deer, but killed none. Visited Captain Rugeley's rich plantations. One negro to 12 acres of land, and one horse to every 24 acres, are thought to be sufficient. Met a large and social party, including Mr. J. Rochell and Mr. M, two intelligent and gentlemanly men, brothers-in-law of the Rugeleys. All these, and many others, are here living in great ease and independence, but still they seem dissatisfied, and on the wing for another and better country, the Alibama territory, where they have made purchases of fresh land and new homes. An awful tempest darkened and illuminated the mountainous forest this evening, during which I noticed large luminous sparks of fire in the trees, which I found to be fire-flies, or as they are here called lightning-bugs. These curious insects have been seen in clusters, hanging on two trees on each side of a road, and at a distance resembling two lamps.

Introduced at Mr. Rochell's to an ancient black woman of about 80 or 85, a favourite negro of the late Colonel Rugeley, and once his cook. They {65} told her I was one of his English children. The good old creature shed tears, and would have kissed me for joy.

25th.—Dined with Mr. Irwin, and a kind family party. Two gentlemen, planters, came this morning to the major to make for them the conveyance of a negro, whom one had just bought of the other, and who was warranted to him sound wind and limb, and to be defended against all other claims. If a negro dies soon after sale, or at the end of six months, the physician is called in, not to restore