ed to his dwelling in East Bay, Charleston, he was
persuaded that rice would grow therein, if seed could be procured.
About this time a vessel from Madagascar, being in distress, came to
anchor near Sullivan's Island. The master inquired for Mr. Smith, as
an old acquaintance. An interview took place. In the course of
conversation Mr. Smith expressed a wish to obtain some seed rice to
plant in his garden. The cook being called, said that he had a small
bag of rice suitable for the purpose. This was presented to Mr.
Smith, who sowed it in a low spot in Longitude Lane. From this small
beginning did one of the great staple commodities of South Carolina
takes its rise, which soon became the chief support of the colony,
and its great source of opulence."

"Such is the historical account of the introduction of rice into
South Carolina; and from that day to this, it has constituted one of
her staple articles of production. Although the climate and soil
were found admirably suited to the plant, the planters encountered
incredible difficulty in preparing or dressing the rice for market.
From the day of its introduction, to the close of the Revolution,
the grain was milled, or dressed, partly by hand and partly by
animal power. But the processes were imperfect, very tedious, very
destructive to the laborer, and very exhausting to the animal power.
The planter regarded a good crop as an equivocal blessing, for as
the product was great so in proportion was the labor of preparing it
for market. While matters stood thus, the planters were released
from their painful condition by a circumstance so curious that it
deserves a place in the history of human inventions. A planter from
the Santee, whilst walking in King-street, Charleston, noticed a
small windmill perched on the gable end of a wooden store. His
attention was arrested by the beauty of its performance. He entered
the store and asked who the maker was. He was told that he was a
Northumbrian, then resident in the house--a man in necessitous
circumstances, and wanting employment. A conference was held; the
planter carried the machine to the Santee, pointed out the
difficulties under which the planters labored, and the result was
the rice pounding-mill. This man was the first Mr. Lucas, and to his
genius South Carolina owes a large debt of grat