voyage of the paper canoe-第19节
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uss…lamp I ever seed！〃 Having satisfied the curiosity of these people； and been much amused by their quaint remarks； I was quietly smuggled into Mr。 Webb's 〃best room；〃 where； if my spirit did not make feathery flights； it was not the fault of the downy bed in whose unfathomable depths I now lost myself。
Before leaving Delaware I feel it an imperative duty to the public to refer to one of her time…honored institutions。
Persons unacquainted with the fact will find it difficult to believe that one state of the great American Republic still holds to the practice of lashing men and women； white and black。 Delaware one of the smallest states of the Union； the citizens of which are proverbially generous and hospitable； a state which has produced a Bayard is； to her shame we regret to say； the culprit which sins against the spirit of civilization in this nineteenth century； one hundred years after the fathers of the Republic declared equal rights for all men。 In treating of so delicate a subject； I desire to do no one injustice； therefore I will let a native of Delaware speak for his community。
〃DOVER； DELAWARE； August 2； 1873。
〃EDITOR CAMDEN SPY： According to promise； I now write you a little about Delaware。 Persons in your vicinity look upon the 'Little Diamond State' as a mere bog； or marsh； and mud and water they suppose are its chief productions； but； in my opinion； it is one of the finest little states in the Union。 Although small； in proportion to the size it produces more grain and fruit than any other state in the country； and they are unexcelled as regards quality and flavor。 Crime is kept in awe by that best of institutions； the whipping post and pillory！ These are the bugbear of all the northern newspapers； and they can say nothing too harsh or severe against them。 The whipping…post in Kent County is situated in the yard of the jail； and is about six feet in height and three feet in circumference； the prisoner is fastened to it by means of bracelets； or arms； on the wrist； and the sheriff executes the sentence of the law by baring the convict to the waist； and on the bare back lashing him twenty； forty； or sixty times； according to the sentence。 But the blood does not run in streams from the prisoner's back； nor is he thrown into a barrel of brine； and salt sprinkled over the lashes。 On the contrary； I have seen them laugh； and coolly remark that 'it's good exercise； and gives us an appetite。' But there are others who raise the devil's own row with their yells and horrible cries of pain。 The whipping is public； and is witnessed each time by large numbers of people who come from miles around to see the culprit disgraced。
〃A public whipping occurred not very long ago； and the day was very stormy； yet there were fully three hundred spectators on the ground to witness this wholesome punishment！ A person who has been lashed at the whipping…post cannot vote again in this state； thus； most of the criminals who are whipped leave the state in order to regain their citizenship。 The newspapers can blow until they are tired about this 'horrible； barbaric； and unchristian punishment；' but if their own states would adopt this form of punishment； they would find crime continually on the decrease。 What is imprisonment for a few months or years？ It is soon over with； and then they are again let out upon the community； to beg； borrow； and steal。 But to be publicly whipped is an everlasting disgrace； and deters men from committing wrong。 Women are whipped in the same manner； and they take it very hard； but； to my recollection； there has not been a female prisoner for some time。 I did not intend to comment so long upon the whipping…posts in the state of Delaware。
〃The pillory next claims our attention。 This is a long piece of board that runs through the whipping…post at the top； and has holes ＇as per engraving＇ for the neck and arms to rest in a very constrained position。 The prisoner is compelled to stand on his toes for an hour with his neck and arms in the holes； and if he sinks from exhaustion； as it sometimes happens； the neck is instantly broken。 Josiah Ward； the villain who escaped punishment for the murder of the man Wady in your county； came into Delaware； broke into a shoe…store； succeeded in stealing one pair of shoes； was arrested； got sixty lashes at the post； was made to stand in the pillory one hour； is now serving out a term of two years' imprisonment； and he never got the shoes！ The pillory is certainly a terrible and cruel punishment； and； while I heartily favor the whipping…post； I think this savage punishment should be abolished。
〃Since writing the above； I have heard that a colored woman was convicted of murder in the second degree last May； and on Saturday the 17th of that month received sixty lashes on her bare back； and stood in the pillory one hour。
〃What do you think of Delaware law； after what I have written？ I have written enough for the present； so I will close； ever remaining； Yours very truly； P。 P。〃
For twenty years past； Delaware and Maryland farmers have given much attention to peach culture； which has gradually declined in New Jersey and states further north。 There are said to be over sixty thousand acres of land on the peninsula planted with peach…trees； which are estimated to be worth fifty dollars per acre； or three million dollars。 To harvest this crop requires at least twenty…five thousand men； women； and children。 The planting of an acre of peach…trees； and its cultivation to maturity； costs from thirty to forty dollars。 The canners take a large portion of the best peaches； which are shipped to foreign as well as to domestic markets。
The low lands and river…shores of the peninsula exhale malaria which attacks the inhabitants in a mild form of ague。 During the spring； summer； and early fall months； a prudent man will not expose himself to the air until after the sun has risen and dispelled the mists of morning。 The same caution should be observed all through the low regions of the south； both as to morning and evening exercise。 Chills and fever are the bane of the southern and middle states； as this disease affects the health and elastic vigor of the constitution； and also produces great mental depression。 Yet those who suffer； even on every alternate day； from chills； seem to accept the malaria as nothing of much importance； though it is a well…known fact that this form of intermittent fever so reduces the strength； that the system is unable to cope with other and more dangerous diseases for which it paves the way。
Upon a little creek； tributary to St。 Martin's River； and near its confluence with the Isle of Wight Bay； a long day's pull from the swamp of Love Creek； was the old plantation home of a friend of my boyhood； Mr。 Taylor； who about this time was looking out for the arrival of the paper canoe。 It was a question whether I could descend Love Creek three miles； cross Rehoboth and Indian River sounds； ascend White's Creek； make a portage to Little Assawaman Bay； thread the thoroughfare west of Fenwick's Island Light； cross the Isle of Wight Bay； ascend and cross St。 Martin's River to Turval's Creek； and reach the home of my friend； all in one day。 But I determined to attempt the task。 Mr。 Webb roused his family at an early hour； and I rowed down Love Creek and crossed the shallow waters of Rehoboth Bay in the early part of the day。
From Cape Henlopen； following the general contour of the coast； to Cape Charles at the northern entrance of Chesapeake Bay； is a distance of one hundred and thirty…six miles； from Cape Charles across the mouth of Chesapeake Bay to Cape Henry is thirteen miles； from Henlopen south； the state of Delaware occupies about twenty miles of the coast； the eastern shore of Maryland holds between thirty and forty miles； while the eastern shore of Virginia； represented by the counties of Accomac and Northampton； covers the peninsula to Cape Charles。
Commencing at Rehoboth Bay； a small boat may follow the interior waters to the Chesapeake Bay。 The watercourses of this coast are protected from the rough waves of the ocean by long； narrow； sandy islands； known as beaches； between which the tides enter。 These passages from the sea to the interior waters are called inlets； and most of them are navigable for coasting vessels of light draught。 These inlets are so influenced by the action of storms； and their shores and locations are so changed by them； that the cattle may graze to…day in tranquil happiness where only a generation ago the old skipper navigated his craft。 During June of the year 1821 a fierce gale opened Sandy Point Inlet with a foot depth of water； but it closed in 1831。 Green Point Inlet was cut through the beach during a gale in 1837； and was closed up seven years later。 Old Sinepuxent Inlet； which was forced open by the sea more than sixty years ago； closed in 1831。 These three inlets were within a space of three miles； and were all north of Chincoteague village。 Green Run Inlet； which had a depth of about six feet of water for nearly ten years； also closed after shifting half a mile to the south of its original location。 The tendency of inlets on this coast is to shift to the south
