Catherine Mullally for material on the Gullah culture.
Stephanie Hughley for her travel advice and Nancy and Caesar Banks for putting me up at their homey Weekender Lodge on Sapelo Island, Ga.
Linda Lake, researcher at The New York Times, for her assistance.
Joe Lelyveld, executive director of The New York Times, for alowing me to take a leave, and Martin Gottlieb, deputy culture editor, for enabling me to do so.
Peter and Susan Osnos for their sage counseling.
Kathy Robbins, my agent, for her always invaluable advice and editorial comments.
Neil Nyren, editor extraordinare at Penguin Putnam Inc., for his sure hand and nimble mind in editing the manuscript.
Liza Darnton for her sensitive note-filled reading.
And, of course, Nina Darnton for providing absolutely everything, from plot and character suggestions to editorial changes to physical and spiritual sustenance.