214

COMMERCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

fior value: cotton is now the most valuable export of South Carolina.

Since the French Revolution Charleston has been the medium of the greatest part of that trade which has been carried on between the French West India islands and the mother-country under the neutral flag of the United States. In this manner quantities of cocoa, coffee, sugar, rum, indigo, and other articles, the produce of the French, Spanish, and Dutch possessions in the West Indies and South America, are included in the exports of South Carolina, from the year 1793, which in time of peace are directly exported from the colonies to the mother country. Within these few years much of this neutral traffic has been gradually abolished by the restrictive decrees and orders of council of the two great belligerent Powers, in return for which the Americans have retaliated by a general embargo: with what success remains to be seen. The number of vessels that entered the port of Charleston in 1801 amounted to 1,274, of which 875 belonged to that port; the rest were chiefly British vessels. At the time the embargo reached Charleston, the number of vessels in port were, ships 78, brigs 42, schooners and sloops 85 total 205.

3

216

CLIMATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

CHAPTER XXXV.

Climate of South Carolina-Musquitos-Whirlwinds-Storms of Hail-Immense HailstonesRemarkable Sleet-Sudden Changes of Weather -State of the Weather in Charleston for 1807 Strangers' Fever Mountains covered with Snow-Vicissitudes of Climate-Obituary from the Bills of Mortality in Charleston during five Years.

FROM the diversity of soil and situation in South Carolina, it necessarily results that there is a diversity of temperature in its climate. The upper country, from its elevated situation and near affinity to the mountains, possesses a dry elastic atmosphere extremely conducive to health: the heat of the day during summer is not oppressive, and the night partakes of a refreshing coolness. The climate of the middle country resembles that of the upper and lower divisions, as influenced by situation. The lower country, from many causes, differs materially from the other districts. Continually intersected by multitudes of swamps, bays, and low grounds, and having large reservoirs of water, and rice-fields at par

ticular times overflowed, the atmosphere is surcharged with moisture, and its tonic power consequently reduced. The waters thus spread over the face of the country, and exposed to the action of a powerful sun, become unfriendly to health, and acquire a considerable degree of mephitic influence; while the evaporation thus occasioned, added to the perspiration of vegetables, completely saturates the atmosphere with a profusion of humidity, which is precipitated upon the surrounding country, either in heavy rains or copious dews. Hence fogs of much density cover the low lands throughout the night, during the summer months, and are dispelled in the morning by the rising sun or agitating winds.

When such is the situation of the lower country, it is not surprising that the months particularly influenced by heat should be chequered by sickness, among those who imprudently expose themselves to the cold damps of the night, or the feverish heats of the day; and accordingly from June to November we find intermittent fevers prevailing throughout the middle and lower country, in those parts adjacent to fresh water. The heavy rains generally commence in June and July; and until their waters have become in some measure stagnant, and putrefaction is produced, the health of the lower country is not particularly affected; but when weeds and vegetables

218

MUSQUITOS,WHIRLWINDS.

have arrived at their rankest growth, and putrefactions are excited by the operations of heat and moisture, the atmosphere then becomes hurtful to the animal system. The same effects are also produced from similar causes in Georgia and East Florida: consequently the winds from those countries in autumn are much charged with mephitic qualities, and south-west winds in summer produce a feverish degree of heat, which greatly increases the bilious fevers and other diseases at Charleston.

During the hot months, many reptiles and insects are engendered near the stagnant waters; among these, none are so troublesome as the musquitos; for though they in some measure shun the heat of the day, yet they are at night particularly teasing to all those who venture to sleep exposed to their attacks. No person can lie down with any prospect of a night's repose in comfort, without being guarded from them, by a gauze pavilion or canopy placed over his bed.

Although situate in the temperate, yet, by its near affinity to the torrid zone, South Carolina is placed in a situation which exposes it to the conflicts of elements in a greater degree than some of the more northern states. To this cause may be ascribed the destructive whirlwinds which sometimes lay waste parts of the country.

These proceed oftener through the upper coun