revert to
the friend of my early manhood--one who, by the uprightness of his
character, geniality of his disposition, the chivalric impulses of his
nature, deserves, as it is my greatest pleasure to accord, the
dedication of this little volume; and I have said all when I mention
the name of my esteemed friend Robert Riddick, Esq., of Suffolk, Va.

Suffolk, Va., January 1, 1888. THE AUTHOR.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE SWAMP--WASHINGTON
THE OWNER. 5

II. TO GROW UP AGAIN IN A JUNGLE. 8

III. HEALTHFULNESS AT THE SWAMP. 10

IV. ORIGIN OF THE LAKE DISCUSSED. 16

V. THE VISIT OF TOM. MOORE, AS RELATED BY TONY. 20

VI. PORTE CRAYON'S VISIT, INCIDENTS, ETC. 22

VII. MANY CHANGES HAVE TAKEN PLACE. 30

VIII. THE FUTURE FOR THE DISMAL SWAMP. 35

IX. SUFFOLK AND EARLY DAYS. 45

X. ENTERPRISE AND PROSPERITY. 50

XI. THE OLD BRICK CHURCH AT BENN'S--SUFFOLK'S FIRST
RAILROAD, ETC. 52

XII. BEAR HUNTING IN THE DISMAL SWAMP--COLONEL GODFREY'S
VISIT TO SOUTHAMPTON. 56

XIII. THE ADVENTURES OF SMITH, JONES AND BROWN--JONES, HEARING
THAT A SNAKE IS IN THE BOAT, JUMPS INTO THE CANAL. 76

CHAPTER I.

DESCRIPTION AND SITUATION OF THE SWAMP--WASHINGTON THE OWNER.

The Dismal Swamp, of which but little is known, is a large body of
dense woods, being situated and laying in Nansemond county, Virginia,
and the county of Gates, in North Carolina. It contains, by survey,
about 100,000 acres. I have been told by H. E. Smith, Esq., our county
treasurer, that 45,000 acres were listed in the county of Nansemond.
It is thickly set with juniper, cypress and other timber, which makes
it very valuable. It came into the possession of General George
Washington, and after the Revolutionary War a company known as the
Dismal Swamp Land Company was formed, and arrangements made to
manufacture the timber; hands were put in the Swamp and it was
regularly opened. A