MODE OF MOVING HOUSES.
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silent ear of night, and in the morning it might be perceived that another board had been added to the side, or a few more shingles nailed upon the roof. It most frequently happens, that the possessors of these small tenements have no land of their own, but pay a small ground-rent for the space occupied by their habitations. When they are wishful of removing to another part of the town, like the snail, they carry their houses with them, which, from the manner of construction, is no difficult matter. These buildings are always raised a little way from the ground, and have a step or two at the principal entrance. Sometimes the space between the ground and the house is entirely filled up with loose bricks or stones ; others have only an empty barrel, or a few stones piled up at each corner, just sufficient to support the fabric. When a removal is agreed upon, their first care is to hire a few porters, and an accompaniment of trucks. These “ four-wheeled" carriages are firmly fastened together, and placed under the house, the slight foundation pulled away, and strong ropes being attached to the first truck, the porters (with the assistance of other men, women, and children) commence pulling with all their might, and the house moves off to the song and chorus adapted to the occasion. To preserve its equilibrium, two men march on each side of the house with long poles, which they place against the side ; one of these commences the song, (which is of their own composition,) and the whole tribe join in the chorus of “Pull away, my hearties," or similar phrases. In former times, when the negroes had only the Sunday allowed them to perform any of their own work, that day was used to execute these removals ; but the noise it occasioned during the period of Divine service was such, that the legislature found it necessary to prohibit this practice at the same time they abolished the Sunday markets. It is particularly disagreeable to be in the vicinity of these houses when their owners take it into their heads to remove them. The negroes.are always noisy ; but when such deeds