Hello, I have been on this list for a while, lurking mostly and responding privately to some when I have info to share. But now I have a special request that I need some one on this list to help me with. I would like some one to mail me about a half cup of soil from the area. Please let me explain why. I have been researching my family for nearly 20 years. Some of my ancestors were enslaved in several Arkansas Counties (sorry for posting on several lists). In November I am traveling to Ghana, West Africa. While there my sister and I will be visiting the slave castles where African men and women were penned until they were shipped off to the Americas. I plan to honor my ancestors by taking dirt from all the places they toiled and mixing it with African soil and then throwing it in the ocean. I will also bring back African soil and keep it mixed with the soil from America. While this may seem silly to some of you, it is very important to me. I may never be able to find my immigrant ancestors, at least not the ones from Africa. This is my way of paying tribute to those who suffered and scrificed so that my family and I can live a comfortable life. If you will be willing to help me, please repond privately as not to clog the list, and I can arrange to send you postage or something. Thanks in advance for your help. Cristal Simmons Chicago