c.1838
““Come, Juba,” said Lewis to the head oarsman, “sing us a song; the boys* will help you.”

“How you been ax me for sing, Maus Lewis? Me an't got no voice for sing,” answered Juba, who, like many of his brethren, required as much urging as a city belle.

After delaying until we had almost forgotten our request, Juba commenced a tune, the oarsmen striking in with a full but untaught counter at the last word of every line.

        “Hi de good boat Neely?†
        She row bery fast, Miss Neely!
        An't no boat like a' Miss Neely,
                                Ho yoi'!

        “Who gawing to row wid Miss Neely?
        Can't catch a' dis boat Neely––
        Nobody show he face wid Neely,
                                Ho yoi'?”

As Juba concluded this verse he paused; a sly expression passed over his face; he put an additional quid of tobacco in his mouth, and went on––

        “Maybe Maus Lewis take de oar for Neely,
        Bery handsome boat Miss Neely!
        Maus Lewis nice captain for Neely,
                                Ho yoi'!”

The verse was welcomed with shouts of laughter, and called for again and again, until the echoes of the Ashley shouted “encore!” but all the solicitations of the young men were ineffectual with Juba, who looked the personification of composure.

* Boys, a term used to negroes even of a mature age.
† Plantation boats are often named for members of a family. The chorus of one of the prettiest boat-songs I ever heard, was Eliza.”
[Recollections of a Southern Matron, and a New England Bride, Gilman, 1859]
Caroline Howard Gilman Pen name of Mrs. Clarissa Packard (1794 – 1888.)