52. Impressions of South Carolina
BY ELIZA LUCAS (May 22d, 1742)
I AM now set down, my dear brother, to obey your
commands and give you a short description of the part of the
world I now inhabit.
South Carolina is an extensive country near the sea. Most of
the settled part of it is upon a flat. The soil near Charlestown
sandy; but further inland it is
clay and swamp lands. The country abounds with fine
navigable rivers and great quantities of fine timber. At a
great distance, that is to say about a hundred and fifty miles
from Charlestown, it is very hilly.
The soil in general is very fertile and there are few European or
American fruits or grains but what grow here. The country abounds with
wild fowl, deer, and fish. Beef, veal, and mutton are here in much
greater perfection than in the islands, though not equal to that of
England. Fruit is extremely good and grows in profusion. The oranges
exceed any I ever tasted in the West Indies or from Spain or
Portugal.[196]
The people in general are hospitable and honest; and the
better sort add to these qualities a polite genteel behavior.
The poorer sort are the most indolent people in the world, or
they would never be so wretched in so plentiful a country as
this.
The winters here are fine and pleasant. But four months in
the year are extremely disagreeable,—excessively hot, much
thunder and lightning, anti mosquitoes and sand flies in
abundance. Charlestown, the metropolis, is a neat pretty
place. The inhabitants are polite and live in a very genteel
manner. The streets and houses are regularly built. The
ladies and gentlemen are gay in their dress. Upon the whole
you will find as many agreeable people of both sexes, for the
size of the place, as almost anywhere.
St. Phillips Church in Charlestown is a very elegant one and
much frequented. There are several more places of public
worship in the town, and in general the people are of a
religious turn of mind.
I began in haste and have shown no order in writing, or I
should have told you, before I came to summer,
that we have a most charming spring in this country.
Especially is this true for those who travel through the
country. For the scent of the young myrtle and yellow
jessamine, with which the woods abound, is delightful.
The staple commodity here is rice, which is the only
thing they export to Europe. Beef, pork, and lumber they
send to the West Indies.
Mama and Polly join in love, with dear brother.
Yours affectionately,
E. LUCAS.
To GEORGE LUCAS, Esquire.
