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at the shore the distance was short but the current was rapid and I was weak as well as the water cold. I thought of alligators and then plunged in. It was as much as I could do to reach the short and when I did reach it, it required my utmost efforts to ascent the bank. I found myself on a large plantation and started in search of the house. After traveling nearly a mile I heard someone singing and proceeding in that direction I found that the darkies were just breaking up meeting. As I was climbing the fence near their quarters I saw a colored woman nearby. She ran from me. I called to her. Told her I was a Yankee unclear but all to purpose she continued her retreat and I followed down to the quarters where I stated my case and was soon in one of their unclear by a good fire. Here I learned that had my boat passed the island in safety it would have been unclear on some rocks just below. These rocks were on the left bank of the river and to this bank I had hitherto hovered. I further learned that there was an excellent boat a short distance up the