Monday, August 19.—Day broke clear, had all hands at quarters at 5:30 a.m., daylight. The strange steamer got up steam and ran toward us. Got our anchor and stood down for her. Hoisted the French colors. Soon afterwards the stranger hoisted French colors also. Hauled down the French colors and hoisted our own, and continued our course toward the stranger, and having come within speaking distance we hailed. A colloquy ensued, each of us asking the other if he had a pilot. The Frenchman ran in for the light vessel and we followed him. At the light vessel the Frenchman took a pilot. Soon after passing the light vessel we anchored to wait for the tide. At meridian got underway and proceeded up the river. The muddy waters of this stream and the low banks reminded us of the Mississippi. A dense, rich foliage covered the banks on either side and we passed several sugar estates with their tall chimneys and factories, and saw other in the distance, giving evidence of more prosperity in this slave state than we had seen either in Trinidad or Cayenne. Nothing can exceed the fertility of the soil, laden with rich crops of the sugar cane, beauti?ed and densi?ed with the charming tropical trees and plants, among which were the stately and graceful palm, the banana, the mango, etc. The negro population appeared well clothed and well fed, but the slave tenure is very precarious here, and the fear of their losing it has a sensible effeect upon the prosperity of the colony. Sent a lieutenant to call on the governor soon after anchoring and received a Visit from the French captain and from the senior Dutch ship. Some dealers in coal also came om board of us.
Extracts from the journal of Commander Semmes, C.S. Navy, commanding C.S.S. Sumter
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