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OF

NORTH CAROLINA.

By JOHN LAWSON, Gentleman.
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BEING A REPRINT OF THE Copy Now IN THE NORTH CAROLINA
STATE LIBRARY, RALEIGH, PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT
JAMES MADISON, IN THE YEAR 1831.

CHARLOTTE, N.C,:
OBSERVER PRINTING HOUSE,
1903.

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COMPILER’S PREFACE.

What may truly be termed the first
real history of ‘North Carolina is that
by John Lawson, and it is in many re-
spects the most interesting of them all.
Lawson was a man of very marked
ability. He was the surveyor general
of the Lords Proprietors for their prov-
ince of North Carolina. He must have
been accomplished in his profession
and it is plain to see from the book he
has left that he was also a botanist and
naturalist of no mean order, even
though he was at times led far astray
by the stories the Indians told him. He
was a very close observer of people,
and in a small compass he has fixed
for all time information not otherwise
to be had regarding the aboriginal in-
habitants of North Carolina. He signs
himself John Lawson, Gentleman, from
which it is probable that he was a scion
of the ancient house of Lawson in
Yorkshire, England, of which John is
the favorite name.

This history, which bears the date of
1714, has a preface, a dedication and
an introduction, the dedication being in
all respects a model, a double tribute
to this new land of Carolina and to the
Lords Proprietors, its owners. Law-
son, after securing the notes and other
material for this history, appears 10
have begun its publication in parts in
London as early as 1708 and some copies
are dated 1710. The particular copy
from which this reprint is now made
was presented to the State of North
(Carolina in 1831 by President James
Madison.

A second edition of Lawson was print-
ed in London in 1718 and differs in some
respects from the one now reprinted.
It is not so attractive, the map being
very small and poor. The title page

says it was “Printed for T. Warner
at the Black Boy in Pater Noster Row,
1718. Price bound 5 shillings.” A re-
print of Lawson was made in 1860 by
Oliver H. Perry, State librarian, but is
very unattractive in all respects. Even
this reprint is rare and costly. Perry
stated in 1860, in his preface, that there
‘were only two copies of Lawson then
in this State; one in the State Library,
the other in the library of the State
University.

This history of Lawson bearing date
1714 is divided into three distinct parts,
the first being a journal of a thousand
miles traveled among the Indians from
South to North Carolina; the second a
description of North Carolina; the
third an account of the Indians of
North Carolina. The description of
North Carolina is sub-divided further
into several parts, covering the plants
and herbs, the present state of the
colony, and its natural history. The
large map which accompanies the book
and which is now reproduced by pho-
tography, is admirably engraved, but
has many inaccuracies as to streams
‘and is very misty indeed about every-
thing west of a line runnig north and
south say through what is now Hills-
boro, and it wofully fails to locate most
of the Indian tribes to which such fre-
quent reference is made and also fails
to locate places repeatedly alluded to in
the narrative. The seal of the Lords
Proprietors is placed above the dedica-
tion, since the map is, like the book,
specially dedicated to them.

Lawson left Charleston on the 28th of
December, 1700, for his long and in
those days, eventful and dangerous,
journey through the Carolinas. Taking
anIndianas guide,he went by boat along

°

the coast to Bull’s Island, and thence to
Raccoon Island and the mouth of the
Santee river, and a considerable dis-
tance up that stream. He found bitter
weather from the start and he found an
enormous flood in that river, which was
36 feet above its usual level. He no-
tices the French settlements, and un-
like most Englishmen of his time sets a
high estimate upon that nation both as
explorers and colonizers. The first In-
dian tribe he met was the Sewees,
whom he refers to as ‘‘a small nation
since the English seated their lands,”
this being a polite phrase for the oc-
cupation of the New World. Lawson is
frank in the extreme as regards the re-
lations of the whites to the Indians. He
chronicles the deadly work of the two
great agents in Indian depopulation, to-
wit, rum and smallpox, which were
brought here by the whites. He tells,
too, of the utter difference in human
kindness between the whites and the
aborigines. ‘The latter never turned
away a white man from their doors and
always divided food with them. Black
indeed does Lawson paint the character
of the whites in this respect. In fact
the Indian character stands out bright
compared with that of the English and
Spaniards, so far as human kindness is
concerned. It is no wonder, after read-
ing Lawson’s narrative of his journey
and his account of the Indians that the
latter had disappeared so fast. They
had killed each other in war and by
poison, in the use of which they were
as subtle as the Italians of the fifteenth
century. Butdeadlier still was the work
of rum and smallpox, which in the 50
years preceding 1700 had swept away,
he declares, five-sixths of the Indians
who were in reach of the English sete
tlements of North Carolina.

But to return to Lawson and his
journey. Leaving the Santee river he
set out for the Congaree country, the
latter river flowing from the eastward

lv LAWSON’S HISTORY

and joining with the Wateree, forming
the Santee. A town in Richland coun-
ty, South Carolina, near the junction of
the Congaree and Santee, is perhaps
the site of the capital of the Congaree
Indians. This part of Lawson’s journey
was nearly due northwest. His next
objective point was the Wateree tribe
of Indians. A village of that name is
in Santee county and evidently the
Waterees and Congarees were close
neighbors. He traveled about three
days, his usual day’s journey being
about 25 miles, and reached the Wa-
teree Chickanee Indians. This march
took him northward, for he crossed the
‘Wateree river immediately before
reaching the nation of that name. In
one day’s journey from the Waterees he
reached the Waxhaw Indians, these no
doubt living in what is now the lower
part of Lancaster county, and perhaps
part of Union. After a day’s journey
directed towards Sapona, northeast, he
crossed several brooklets and one small
river, perhaps the headwaters of
Lynch’s river, and then he was among
the Esaw Indians. From these he went
to the Kadapaus. He says he found
one point at which a savannah or open
level of ground was bordered on one
side by ridges of mountains, this show-
ing that he was quite far up the State.
He speaks of numerous’ panthers,
“tygers’”’? and wolves, and in fact tells
of the shooting of a “tyger,”’ surely a
mythical beast, only inferior in fear-
fulness to the one which he says the
Indians told him of further up the
country, a frightful monster before
which everything gave. way and yet
which no one seems ever to have seen.
He found wild turkeys in gangs of sev-
eral hundred and he also found the
buffalo, having seen the latter killed as
far eastward as the Haw river.
Lawson’s account of the Indian towns
along a part of his route is all too
meagre. He says that each of these

OF NORTH CAROLINA. Vv

towns had its theatre or state house all
along the road from the Wisack In-
dians to Sapona, a distance of 170 miles.
In the first sketch of the settlement of
North Carolina ever illustrated, that by
De Bry, printed in Germany in 1590 and
based upon the drawings and descrip-
tion of the settlement of Roanoke Isl-
and by Governor John White, there are
admirable pictures of these Indian
towns, with palisades protecting the
huts, and with a larger building in the
centre, evidently the theatre or state
house, and these engravings and the
others of the Indians which De Bry
made fill in admirably what Lawson
has omitted, since the latter appears to
have been no artist.

Lawson made a great semi-circle in
this journey of a thousand miles. He
said he intended to see North Carolina
and he probably went as far to the
westward aS any man had gone up to
that time. It was on his journey
through the Kadapau Indian country
that he met some Indians whom he
terms the Jennitos or Sinnagers. He
meant the Senecas, who came from
New York and thereabouts and who
were one of the “Five Nations.’’ These
Senecas, he says, ravaged the country
for several thousand miles and were
ithe most feared of all the Red Men. It
is a matter of hstory that the Tusca-
roras, who were the most powerful
tribe in North Carolina, as Lawson
states, after their great defeat by the
colonists left North Carolina by per-
mission and went to New York, where
they joined the ‘‘Five Nations,” mak-
ing the latter the ‘‘Six Nations.’’ Law-
son says he found the Sapona Indians
as far to the southward as the Kada-
paus. His map does not locate Sapona
town, but he merely states that it was
on the Sapona river, one side of which
was hemmed in by what he terms
“mountainy ground.” Sapona river was
doubtless the Pee Dee, a few miles be-

low the place where the Yadkin loses
its name and water into the Pee Dee.
Lawson speaks at this point of his
journey of frequently passing small
ereeks. Lancaster and Chesterfield
counties, in South Carolina, are a net-
work of such little streams, the hea’
waters of Lynch’s river and branches
of the Pee Dee. He says the Sapona
river was a branch of the Cape Fear.
it was easy to make this mistake, be-
cause for a few miles the course of the
river was a little north of due east.
And here in his narrative of his
journey it was given Lawson to fore-
tell precisely his own horrible mode of
death, as it has been given to no other
writer. The Saponas had captured as
prisoners some Senecas, and planned to
torture them by sticking their bodies
thickly with lightwood splinters,
which were to be lighted like so many
candles, the tortured persons “dancing
around a great fire until their strength
failed and disabled them from making
any further pastime for their captors.”
It was thus the Indians tortured poor
Lawson himself, not many years later
after they had captured him and De-
Graffenreid, near Newbern. Lawson
speaks of the Toteros as a neighboring
nation to the Saponas, yet having their
home in what he calls the ‘‘Westward
Mountains.” It was on January 31st,
45 days after he had left Charleston,
that he reached the Saponas, and this
shews what a wide sweep his journey
teok. He left Sapona-town after a
brief stay and traveled about eight
miles, when he came to Rocky river.

This seems to be the stream which sep-

arates Stanly and Anson counties,
which is to-day known by that name
on account, as Lawson savs, of its
rocky bed, and any one who has seen
this stream will say it is well named.
Going northward he crossed the Heigh-
waree, evidently the Uwharrie, which
flows across the northwestern corner 5f

vl LAWSON’S HISTORY

Montgomery county, and which emp-
ties into the Yadkin river. He went a
little to the northwest, to the towa of
the Keyauwees, which tribe afterwards
was merged into the Saponas. A small
town in the southern portion of David-
son county is now known as Sapona,
and perhaps may havebeen the original
WKeyauwees-town. The distance would
make about a day’s journey from the
Uwharrie river, this being the time in
which Lawson made it. He says they
found plenty of chestnuts there and
this shows that they were far west. He
also speaks of their seeing no more pine
trees.

It was at the Keyauwees town that
he saw the princess of that tribe, the
King’s only daughter, whom he terms
“the beautifullest Indian I ever saw.’
Observant Lawson never failed to see
the women and to note their physical
and other good qualities. Like the
other Englishmen of the time he had
an eye for those comforts which delight
the appetite and much of his story is
about the food. He does not name the
person who left Charleston with him,
but says that on departing from the
Keyauwee country he and ‘‘one more”
took their leave of most of the com-
pany, “resolving, with God’s leave, to
see North Carolina.’”’ His next objec-
tive point was what he ealls the
Achonechey town. This was no doubt
the chief tawn of the Occoneechee In-
dians, and must have been not very far
from Hillsboro. He says that on his
way there he crossed the northwest
branch of the Cape Fear river. His
course was now changed, more towards
the east. In the outset he said he pro-
posed to see North Carolina, and his
route shows that he went much out of
his way to do this. He refers to pass-
ing several small rivers, doubtless, as
he says, the head-waters of the Cape
Fear. From the Keyauwee’s town they
traveled about 180 miles, when they

crossed what he terms the “famous
Hau, or aS some say the Reatkin’”’
(meaning the Yadkin, which he con-
fused with the Haw). As the Indians
wandered about like cattle, in search of
food, it is very probable that they gave
the same, or similar, names to different
streams, to-wit, Reatkin-Yadkin. Cot.
Byrd, of Virginia, calls the latter
stream the ‘‘Yapatto Yadkin.’ Lawson
continued eastward about 20 miles fur-
ther, when he reached Achonechey
(Occoneechee.) He speaks of the ex-
traordinary rich land between the Haw
river and the Occoneechee town, saying
that he had never seen 20 miles of such
fertile country altogether. He declares
that the savages still possessed what he
terms the “Flower of Carolina, the
English enjoying only the fag-end of
that fine country.’ He evidently did
not think so much of the coast region,
which was then alone occupied by the
whites. It was at the Occoneechee
town that he met with that cleverest
of Indians, ‘‘Enoe Will,’ whose name or
a part of it at least has come down to
us in the Eno river, which winds by the
quaint old town of Hillsboro. Enoe
Will occupied the triple relation to
Lawson of landlord, friend and guide,
fand they set out for Adshusheer, a.
place which is not located in his map
but to which he frequently refers and
which must have been an important
Indian town. They made their jouney,
“striking more to the eastward,” show-
ing that this had not been their course
at an earlier date. Adshusheer must
have been eastward of Occoneechee,
though Lawson is again wrong about
his streams, for though he says he
was now crossing streams emptying
into the Cape Fear river, he was really
among those emptying into the Neuse.
He went 40 miles further, to reach a
nation called the ‘‘Lower Quarter,’
where he met, strange to say, one-eyed
Indians in great numbers. He says he

OF NORTH CAROLINA. vii

was stopped by a freshet in the Enos
river, which he was told ran into a
place called ‘‘“Enoe Bay” in the terri-
tory of the Coree Indians, whose coun-
try seems to have been near what is
now Craven county. Lawson evidently
got the Enoe and the Neuse rivers mix-
ed the Enoe being but a small stream,
and it must have been the Neuse itself
which was at flood, for he says it was
nearly as large as the Reatkin.’’ He
stopped at what he terms the “Falls of
Neuse Creek,’’ the Indian name for
those falls being ‘‘Wee-quo-Whom.”
This must be the place some 16 miles
north of Raleigh now known as_ the
“Falls of Neuse.’”’ There is no Neuse
creek, but only the river of that name.

By this time two other Englishmen,
eastward-bound to the English settle-
ments, had joined Lawson’s party,
bringing it up to four whites, and on
the banks of the Neuse they found Tus-
carora Indians on their way to trade
with the Schoccores and Achonechy In-
dians, whom Lawson termed ‘‘West-
ward Indians,’”’ no doubt to distinguish
them from those who lived nearer the
coast. The Indians had temporary
hunting camps, which they called
“hunting quarters,’ in one of which
Lawson found 500 of them, these all be-
ing, he says, Tuscaroras. He says the
latter were by far the most numerous
tribe in North Carolina and also the
most bloodthirsty and cruel. These
Tuscaroras appear to have had quite
a genius for trade and they traveled
far to peddle their wares among other
tribes of Indians. The Tuscarora lan-
guage was in fact a sort of current
language among all the North Caro-
lina Indians of which Lawson had

knowledge. The Tuscaroras, in spite of
their exceedingly bad reputation, seem
to have been friendly to Lawson on
this journey at least.

The remaining part of this long wan-
dering of a thousand miles was through
the swambps and Lawson says he
crossed what is now known as the Tar
river and also the Chattookau, which
he terms the northwest branch of the
Neuse, and passed through a country
very thick with Indian towns and plan-
tations, here again finding the long,
ragged moss (tillandsia) hanging from
the trees, which he had not seen since
he left lower South Carolina. He then
came upon the banks of Pampticough,
by which he means Pamlico, within 20
miles of the English plantations, and so
by water and on foot, on the 28rd of
February, 1701, he reached his destina-
tion, the home of “Mr. Richard Sm’‘th,
of Pamticough river, in North Caro-
lina.”’

The credulity of Lawson, practical
man as he was, must have been sorely
tasked by what he saw and what he
heard. It was in very truth a strange
world he was in. The Indian wizards
were in his eyes marvelous, particular-
ly the one who, after performing some
preliminary arts on the banks of a
stream of much width, ‘“‘fleed across,”

without touching the water; literally
flew.
Lawson’s natural history is some-

times at fault and his most amusing
mistake, perhaps, is in ranking the
“tortois’”’ among the “insects, because
they lay eggs and I did not Know well
where to put them.”’

FRED A. OLDS.

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FAC SIMILE OF ORIGINAL TITLE PAGE.

PREFACE.

’Tis a great misfortune that most of
our travellers who go to this vast con-
tinent in America, are persons of the
meaner sort, and generally of a very
slender education; who being hired by
the Merchants to trade among the In-
dions, in which voyages they often
spend several years, are yet at their
return, incapable of giving any reason-
able account of what they met withal
in those remote parts; tho’ the Coun-
try abounds with Curiosities worthy of
a nice Observation. In this point, I
think, the French outstrip us.

First, By their Numerous Clergy,
their Missionaries being obedient to
their Superiiors in the highest degree,
and that Obedience being one great ar-
ticle of their Vow, and strictly observed
amongst all their ‘order.

Secondly, They always send abroad
some of their Gentlemen in Company
with the Missionaries, who, upon their
arrival, are ordered out into the wilder-
ness, to mike discoveries, and to ac-
quaint themselves with the savages of
America; and are obliged to keep a
strict journal of all the passages they
meet withial. in order to present the
Same, not only to their glovernors and
fathers, but likewise to their friends
and relations in France; which is in-
dustriously spread about that Kingdom,
to their advantage. For their Monarch
beine a very golod judge of Men’s Des-
erts, does not often let mioney or in-
terest make men of Parts give Place to
others of less Worth. This breeds an
Honorable Emulation amongst them, to
outdo one another, even in Fatigues,
and Dangers; whereby they gain a
giood Correspondence with the Indians,

and acquaint themselves with their
Speech and Customs; and so miake con-
sideradDle Discoveries in a short time.
Witness, their Journals from Canada,
to the Mississippi, and its several
Branches, where they have effected
great matters, in a few years.

Having spen* most of my ‘Time, dur-
ing my Hight Years Ablode in Carolina,
in travelling! I not only surveyed the
Sea-coast and thiose parts which are
already inhabited by the Christians;
put likewise view’d a spatious Tract of
Land, lying betwixt the Inhabitants
and the Ledges of the Mountains, from
whence our noblest rivers have their
Rise, running towards the Ocean, where
they water as pleasant a Country as
any in Europe; tthe Discovery of which
being never yet made Publick, I have in
the Following Sheets given you a faith-
ful Account thereof, wherein I have
laid down everything with Impartiality,
and Truth, which is indeed, the Duty of
every Author nd preferable to a
Smooth Stile, accompany’d with Falsi-
ties and Hyperboles.

Great Part of this pleasant and
healthful country is inhabited by none
but Savages, who covet a Christian
Neighdborhiood, flor the Advantage of
Trade, and Enjoy all the Comforts of
Life, free from Care and Want.

But not to Amuse my Readers any
longer with the Encomium of Carolina,
I refer ’em to my Journal, and iother
more particular Descrivtion of that
Country and its Inhabitants, which
they vill find after the Natural History
thereof, in which I have been very ex-
act, and for Method’s sake rang’d each
Species under its distinct and proper
head.

Xil LAWSON’S
To His Excellency

WILLIAM LORD CRAVEN, Pala-

tine;

THE MOST NOBLE, HENRY DUKE

of Beaufort;

THE RIGHIT HONble

ASHLEY, ESQ:
SIR JOHN COLLETON,
NET,
JOHN DANSON, ESQ;
and the rest of the True and Ab-
solute
LORDS PROPRIETORS
iof the
PROVINCE OF CAROLINA
AMERICA.

MY LORDS, As Debts of Gratitude
ought Most punctually tlo be paid, so
where the Debtior is uncapable of Pay-
ment, Acknowledgments ought, at
least, to be made. I cannot, in the least,
pretend tlo retaliate Your Lordship’s
Faviours to me, but must further in-
trude on that Goodness of which I have
already had so good Experience, by
Laying these Sheets at Your Lordship's
Feet, where they beg Protection, as
having nothing to recommend them,
Sut Tiruth; a Gift which every Author
may be Master of, if he will be.

I here present your Lordships with
a Description of your own Country,

MAURICE

BARO-

in

HISTORY

for the most part, in her Natural
Dress, and therefore less vitiated with
Fraud and Luxury. A Country, whose
Inhabitants may enjoy a Life of the
Greatest Ease, and Satisfaction, and
pass away their Hours in solid Con-
tentment.

Those Charms of Liberty and Right,
the Darlings of an English Nature,
which your Lordships Grant and Main-
tain, make you appear Noble Patrons
in the Byes of all Men, and We a
Happy People in a Foreign Country;
which nlothing less than Ingratitude
and Baseness can make us disown.

As Heaven has been Liberal in its
Gifts, so are Your Lordships favour-
able Promoters of whatever may
make us an easy people; which I
hope Your Lordships will continue to
us and our Posterity, and that we and
they may always ackniowledge such
faviours. by ‘banishing from among us
every Principal which renders Men
factious and unjust, which is the
Hearty Prayer of,

Tty Lords,

Your Lordships Most obliged,
miost humble,
and most devoted servant,
JOHN LAWSON.

~~

INTRODUCTION.

In the Year of 1700, when People
flocked from all Parts of the Christian
World, to see the Solemnity of the
Grand Jubilee at Rome, my attention,
at that Time, being to Travel, I acci-
dentally met with a Gentleman, who
had been abroad. and was very well
acquainted with the Ways of Living in
Both Indies; of whom having made en-
quiry concerning Them, he assur’d me
that Carolina was the best country I
could go to; and that there then lay
a Ship in the Thames in which I
might have my Passage. tT daid
hold on this Opportunity, and was not
long on Board, before we fell down the
River, and sail’d to Cowes; where, hav-
ing taken in some passengers we pro-
ceeded on our Voyage, till we sprung
a-leak and were fore’d into the Islands
of Scilly. Here we spent about 10 days
in refitting; in which time we had a
good deal of Diversion in Fishing and
Shooting on those Rocky islands. The
inhabitants were very Courteous ‘and
civil, especially the Governor, to whose
good Company and Favour we were
very much obliged. There is a Town on
one of these Islands, where is good En-
tertainment for those who happen to
come in, though the Land is but mean,
and Flesh-meat not plenty. They have
good store of Rabbits, Quails and Fish;
and you see at the poor Peoples Doors
great Heaps of Perriwinkle-shells;
those Fish being a great Part of their
Food. On the first day of May, having
a fair Wind at East, we put to sea, and
were on the Otcean (without speaking to
any vessel except a Ketch bound from
New England to Barbadoes, laden with
Horses, Fish and Provisions) ’till the
latter end of July, when the Winds
hung so much Southerly, that we could

not get to our Port, ‘but put into
Sandy-hookbay, and went up to New
York after a pinching voyage, Caus’d
by our long Passage. We found at the
Watering-Place, a French Man of War,
who had on Board'Men and Necessaries
to make a Colony, and was intended
for the Messessipvi River, there to set-
tle. 'The Country of New York is very
Pleasant in Summer, but in the Winter
very cold, as all the Northern Planta-
tions are. Their chief commodities are
Provisions, Bread, Beer, Lumber and
Fish in abundance; all which are very
good, and some Skins and Furs are
henice exported. The City is govern’d
by a Mayor, (as in England) is seated
on an island, and lies very convenient
for Trade and Defence, having a reg-
ular Fort and well mounted with guns,
The Buildings are general! of a small-
er sort of Mlemish Brick, and of the
Dutch fashion (except some few
Houses;) they are all very firm and
good work, and conveniently placed, as
is likewise the town, which gives a
very pleasant prospect of the neigh-
boring Islands.and Rivers. A good part
of the Inhabitants are Dutch, in whose
hands this Colonv ‘once was. After a
Fort-night’s stay here, we pult out from
Sandyhook, and in 14 days after, ar-
rived at Charlestown, the Metropolis of
South Carolina, which is situate in 32,
45 North Latitude and admits of Large
Ships to come over their Bar up to the
Town, where is a very commodious
Harbour, about 5 miles Distant from
the Inlet, and stands on a point very
convenient for trade, being Seated be-
tween two pleasant and navigable Riv-
ers. The Town has very regular and
fair streets, in which are good build~
ings of Brick and Wood, and since my

X1V

coming thence has had great additions
of beautiful, Large Brick Buildings, be-
sides a Strong Fort, and regular For-
tifications made to defend the town.
The inhabitants by their Wise Man-
agement and Industry, have much im-
proved the Country, which is in as
thriving Circumstances at this Time,
as any other Colony on the Continent
of English America, and is of more ad-
vantage to the Crown of Great Britain,
than any other of ‘the more Northerly
Plantations, (Virginia and Maryland
excepted.) This Colony ‘was at first
planted by a genteel Sort of People,
that were well acquainted with Trade,
and had either Money or Parits to make
good Use of the advantages that of-
fer’d, as most of them have done, by
raising themselves to great Estates
and Posts of Honor, in this ‘thriving
settlement. Since the first Planters,
abundance of French and others have
gone over, and raised themselves to
considerable Fortunes. 'They are very
Neat in Packing and Shipping of their
Commodities; which method has got
them so great a character Abroad, that
they generally come to 1a good Market
with their Commodities; when often
times the Products of other Plantations,
are forced to ‘be sold ‘iat Lower Prizes.
They have a considerable Trade both
to Europe, and the West Indies, where-
by they became rich, and are Supply’d
with all things necessary for ‘Trade,
and Genteel Living, which several
other Places fall short of. Their co-
habiting in a ‘Town has drawn to them
ingenious People of most Sciences,
whereby they have Tutors amongst
them that educate their Youth a-la-
mode.

Their Roads, with great Industry,
are made very Giood and Pleasant.
Near the Town is built a fair Parson-
agehouse, with necessary offices, and
the Minister has a very considerable
allowance from his Parish. There is

LAWSON’S

HISTORY

likewise a French Church in Town, of
the Reform’d Religion, and sevenal
Meeting Houses for dissenting Congre-
gations, who all enjoy at this day an
entire liberty of their Worship; the
Constitution of This Government, al-
lowing all Parties of well meaning
Christians to enjoy a free Toleration
and possess the same Priviledges, so
long as they appear to behave ithem-
selves peaceably and well. It being the
Lord’s Proprietors Intent, that the in-
habitants of Carolina should be tas free
from Oppression as any in the Unt-
verse; which doubtless they will, if
their own differences amiongst them-
selves do not occasion the contrary.
They have a well-disciplin’d Militia;
their Horse are most Gentlemen, and
well mounted, and the best in America,
and may equalize any in other parts;
their Officers, both Infantry and Cav-
airy, generally appear in scarlet mount-
ings, and as rich as in most Regiments
belonging to the Crown, which shews
the Richness and Grandeur of this Col-
ony. They are a Fronteer, and prove
such troublesome neighbors to the
Spaniards, that they have once laid
their town of St. Augustine in Ashes,
and drove away their cattle; besides
many Encounters and Engagements, in
which tthey have defeated them, too
tedious to relate here. What the French
got by their Attempt against South
Carolina, will hardly ever be ranked
amongst ttheir Victories; their Admiral
\Monville being glad to leave the Enter-
prize, and run away after he had suf-
fered all the Loss and disgrace he was
capable of receiving. They are Absolute
(Masters over the Indians, and carry so
strict a hand over such as are within
the Circle of their Trade, that none does
the least Injury to any of the English,
but he is soon sent for and! punished
with Death or Otherwise, according to
the nature of the fault. They have an
entire friendship with the neighboring

OF NORTH CAROLINA. XV

Indians of several Nations, which are
a very warlike People, ever Faithful to
the English, and have proved them-
selves Brave and True on all Occasions;
and are a great Help and Strength to
this Colony. The Chief of the savage
Nations have heretofore groaned under
the Spanish Yoke, and having expe-
rienced their Cruelty, are become such
mortal Enemies to that People, that
they never give a Spaniard quarter;
but generally, when they take any
Prisoners (if the English be not near
to prevent it) sculp them, that is to
take their hair and Skin of their heads,
wlich they often flea away, whilst the
Wretch is alive. Notwithstanding the
English have used all their Endeavors,
yet they could never bring ‘them to
leave this Barbaritv to the Spaniards;
who, as they allege, used to murder
them, and their relations, and make
slaves of them to build their Forts and
Towns.

This place is more plentiful in Money,
than Most, or indeed any of the Planta-
tions on the Continent; besides they
build a considerable number of Vessels
of Cedar, and other Wood, with which
they trade to Cuirassau and the West
Indies; from one they bring money and
from the other the Produce of their
Islands, which yields ‘a necessary Sup-
ply of both to the Colony. Their Stocks
of Cattle are incredible, being from one
to two thousand head in one man’s Pos-
session; these feed in the Savanmnas,
and Other Grounds, and need no fodder
in the winter. Their ‘Mutton and Veal is
good, and their Pork is not inferior to
any in America. As for Pitch and Tar,
none of the Plantations are comparable
for affording the vast quantities of
Naval Stores, as this Place does. There
have been heretofore Some Discoveries
of Rich Mines in the Mountanous Parts
of this Country; but being remote from

the present settlement, and the inhabit-
ants not well versed in ordering miner-
als, they have been laid aside until a
more fit opportunity happens, There
are several noble Rivers and Rich
Tracts of Land in their Lordships Do-
minions, lying to the Southward, which
are yet uninhabited, besides Port
Royal, a rare Harbour and Inlet, hav-
ing many inhabitants thereon; which
their Lordships have now made a port
for Trade. This will be a most advan-
tageous settlement, lying so commod-
iously for Ships Coming from the
Gulph, and the Richness of the Land,
which is reported to be there. These
more Southerly Parts will afford Or-
anges, Limons, Limes, and manly other
Fruits, which the Northerly Plantations
yield not.

The Merchants of Carolina, are Fair,
Frank Tiraders. The Gentlemen seated
in the country are very courteous, live
very nobly in their Houses, and give
very Genteel entertainments to all
strangers and others that come to visit
them. And since the Produce of South
and North Carolina is the same, unless
Silk, which this) place produces great
quantities of and very good. North
Carolina having never made any Tryal
thereof as yet, therefore I shall refer
the Natural Produce of this Country,
to that part which treats of North Car-
olina, whose productions are much the
same. The Christian Inhabitants of
both Colonies pretty equal, but the
Slaves of South Carolina are far more
in number than those in the North. I
shall now proceed to relate my journey
thro’ the counitry, from this Settlement
to the other, and then treat of the Nat-
ural History of Carolina, with other re-
markable Circumstances which I have
met with, during my eight Years ‘Abode
in that Country.

PVT
ll Mins

nuh

ih

Wien
Maite
Hatt

LAWSON’S

History of North Carolina.

CHAPTER LT

On December 28th, 1700, I began my
voyage for (North Carolina) from
Charles Town, being six Englishmen in
company, with three Indian men and
one woman, wife to our Indian Guide,
having five miles from the Town to the
Breach we went down in a large Canoe,
that we had provided for our voyaze
thither, having the Tide of Ebb along
with us; which was so far spent by
that time we got down that we had not
water enough for our Craft to go over,
although we drew but two foot, or
thereabouts. This breach is a passage
to a Marsh Lying to the Northward of
Sullivan’s Island, the Pilots having a
lookout thereon, lying very commodi-
ous for Mariners (on that coast) making
a good lLand-Mark, in so level a
country, ithis Bar being difficult to hit,
where an observation hath been want-
ing for a dav or two; Northeast winds
bringing Great Fogs, Mists and Rains;
which towards the cool months, Octo-
ber, November, and until the latter end
of March, often appear in these Parts.
There are three pilots to attend, and
conduct ships over the Bar. The Har-
pour where the vessels generally ride,
is against the Town, on Cooper’s River,
lying within a point which parts that

and Ashley River, they being Land-
Lock’d almost on all sides.

At 4 in the afternoon (at half flood)
we pass’d with our canoe over the
Breach, leaving Sullivan’s Island on
our Star board. The first Place we de-
signed for, was Santee River, on which
there is a colony of French Protestants,
allow’d and encourag’d by the Lords
Proprietors. At night we got to Bell’s-
Island, a poor spot on land, being about
ten miles round, where lived (at that
time) a Bermudian, being employ’d
here with a Boy, to look after a stock
of cattle and Hogs, by the owner of
this Island. One side of the roof of his
house was thatched with Palmeto-
Leaves, the other open to the heavens,
thousands of musketoes and other
troublesome insects, tormenting both
Man and Beast inhabiting the island.
The Palmeto trees, whose leaves grow-
ing only on top of the trees in the
Shape of a Fan, and in a cluster, like
a cabbage; this tree in Carolina, ‘when
at its utmost growth, is about 40 or 50
foot in height, and two foot through.
It’s worth mentioning, that the growth
of the Tree is not perceivable in the
Age of any Man, the experiment having
been often tried in Bermudas, and else-

2 LAWSON’S HISTORY

where, which shows the slow growth
of this vegitable, the wood of it being
porous and stringy, like some Canes;
the leaves thereof the Bermudians make
womens hats, bokeets, baskets, and
pretty dressing-boxes, a great deal be-
ing transported to Pensilvania, and
other Northern Parts of America
(where they do not grow) for the same
manufacture. The people of Carolina
make of the fans of this 'tree, brooms
very serviceable to sweep their houses
withal.

We took up our lodging this Night
with the Bermudian: our entertainment
was very indifferent; there being no
fresh Water to be had on the Island.

The next Morning we set, away thro’
the Marshes; about noon we reached
another island called Dix’s Land, much
like to the former, tho’ larger; there
lived an honest Scot who gave us the
best protection his Dwelling afffforded,
being well Provided of Oat-Meal, and
Several other effects he had found on
that coast; which goods belonged to
that unfortunate vessel, the Rising Sun,
a Scotch Man-of-War, lately arrived
from the Istmus of Darien and cast
away near the Bar of Ashley River, the
September before, Capt. Gibson, of
Glasco, then commanding her, who with
above an hundred men then on Board
her, were every Soul drown’d in that
terrible Gust which then happen’d;
most of the corps being taken up, were
carefully interr’d by Mr. Graham, their
Lieutenant, who happily was on shore
during the tempest.

After Dinner we left our Scotch
Landlord, and went that Night to the
North East Point of the Island, It be-
ing dark ere we got there, our Canoe
Struck on a Sandbar near the Break-
ers, and were in Great Danger of our
Lives; But (by God’s Blessing) we got
off safe to the Shore, where we lay all
night.

In the [Morning we set forward on our

intended Voyage. About two a Clock
we got to Bulls Island, which is aibout
Thirty Miles long, and hath a great
Nutiober of both Cattel and Hogs upon
it; the Cattel being very Wild, and the
Hogs very Lean. These two last Islands
belong to one Colonel Cary, an Inhab-
itant of South Carolina. Although it
were Winter, yet we found such
Swarms of Musketoes, and other
troublesome Insects, that we got but
little Rest that night.

The next Day we intended for a small
Island on the other Side of Sewee-Bay,
which joining to these Islands, Ship-
ping might come to victual or careen;
but there being such a burden of those
Flies, that few or none cares to settle
there; so the Stock thereon are run
Wild. We were gotten about half way
to Racoon Island, when there sprung
up a tart Gale at N. W. which puts us
in some danger of being cast away, the
bay being rough, and there running
great Seas between the two Islands,
which are better than four Leagues
asunder; a strong Current of Tide set-
ting in and out, which made us turn
tail to it, and got our Canoe right be-
fore the Wind. and came Safe into a
Creek that is joining to the North End
of Bulls Island. We sent our Indians to
hunt, who brought us two Deers, which
were very poor, and their Maws full of
large Grubs.

On the morrow we went and visited
the Easternmost Side of this Island, it
joining to the Ocean, and having very
fair and Sandy Beaches, pav’d with in-
numerable sorts of curious pretty
Shells, and very pleasant to the Eye.
Amongst the Rest we found the Span-
ish Oyster Shell, whence come ‘the
Pearls. They are very large, and of a
different Form from other Oysters;
their Colour much resembles the Tor-
toise-Shell, when it is dress’d. There
was left bv the Tide several strange
Species of a muciligmous slimy sub-

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 3

stance, ‘though living, and very aptly
mov’d at their First Appearanice; yet,
being left on the dry Sand, (by the
Beams of the Sun) soon exhale and
Vanish. :

At our return to our Quarters the In-
dians had killed two more Deer, two
wild Hogs, and three Raccoons, all very
lean, except the Raccoons. We had
great Store of Oysters, Conks, and
Clamps, a Large sort of Cockles. These
parts being very well furnished with
Shell-Fish, Turtles of several Sorts, but
few or none of the green, with other
sorts of Salt-Water Fish. and in the
Season, good Plenty of Fowl, as Cur-
leus, Gulls, Gannets, and Pellicans, be-
sides Duck and Mallard Geese, Swans,
Teal, Widgeon, etc.

On Thursday Morning we left Bulls-
Island, and went thro’ the Creeks,
which lie between the Bay and _ the
Main Land. At noon we went on Shore,
and Got our Dinner near a Plantation
on a Creek having the full Prospect of
Sewee-Bay; we sent up to the House
but none were at Home, but a Negro of
whom ‘our Messenger purchas’d some
small quantity of Tobacco and Rice.
We came to a deserted Indian Resi-
dence, cal’d Avendaugh-bough, where
we rested that night.

The next day we entered Santee
River’s Mouth, where is Fresh water,
oceasion’d by the extraordinary Cur-
rent that comes down continually. With
hard Rowing we got two Leagues up
the River, lying all night in a Swampy
Piece of Ground, the Weather being so
cold all that time, we were almost
frozen ere Morning, leaving the Impres-
sions of our Bodies on the wet ground.
We set Forward very early in _ the
Morning, to seek some better Quarters.

As we Row’d up the River, we found
the Land towards the Mouth and for
about 15 miles up it, scarce anything
but swamp and Percoarson, affording
vast Ciprus-Trees, of which the French

make Canoes, that will carry fifty or
sixty barrels. After the Tree is Moulded
and Dug, they saw them in two pieces,
and so put a Plank between, and a
small Keel, to preserve them from the
oyster Banks, which are innumerable
in the Creeks and Bays betwix the
French settlement and Charles Town.
They carry two Masts, and Bermudas
Sails, which makes itthem very handy
and fit for their purpose; for although
their River fetches its first Rise from
the Mountains, and continues a Current
some Hundreds of Miles ere it dis-
sorges itself, having no sound Bay or
Sand Banks betwix the Mouth thereof
and the Ocean. Notwithstanding all
this, with the vast stream it affords at
all Seasons, and the repeated Freshes it
so often alarms the inhabitants with,
by laving under Water Great Part of
their Country, vet the Mouth is barr’d
affording not above four or five foot
Water at the Entrance. As we went up
the River we heard a great Noise, as if
two parties were engaged against each
other, seeming exactly like small shot.
When we approached nearer the Place,
we found it to be some Sewee Indians
firing the Canes Swamps, which drives
out the Game, then taking their partic-
ular stands, kill great quantities of both
Deer, Bear, Turkies, and what Wild
Creatures the Parts afford.

These Sewees have been formerly a
large Nation, though now very much
decreased, since the English hath seat-
ed their Land, and all other Nations of
Indians are observed to partake of the
same fate, where the Europeans come,
the Indians being a people very apt to
catch any Distemper they are afflicted
withal. The Small-Pox has destroyed
many thousands of these Natives, who
no sooner than ‘they are attack’d with
the violent fevers, and the Burning
which attends the Distemper, fling
themselves overhead in the Water, in
the very extremity of the Disease,

4 L.AWSON’S

which shutting up the pores, hinders a
kindly evacuation of.the Pestilential
‘Matter, and drives it back, by which
means death most commonly ensues;
not but in other Distempers which are
epidemical, you may find among ’em
Practitioners that have extraordinary
skill and Success in removing those
morbisick Qualities which afflict ’em,
not often going above 100 yards from
their abode for their Remedies, some of
their chiefest physicians commonly car-
rying their Compliment of Drugs con-
tinually about ‘them, which are Roots,
Barks, Berries, Nuts, etc, that are
strung upon a thread. So like a Poman-
der, the Physician wears them about
his neck. An Indian hath been often
found to heal an Englishman of a Mal-
ady, for the value of a Match Coat;
which the ablest of our English Pre-
tenders in America after repeated Ap-
plications, have deserted the Patient as
incurable. God having furnished every
Country with specifick Remedies for
their peculiar Diseases.

Rum, a Liquor now so much in Use
with them, that they will part with the
Dearest thing they have, tio purchase it;
and when they have got a little in their
heads are the impatients Creatures
Living, ‘till they have enough to make
them quite Drunk; and the Most mis-
erable spectacles when they are So,
some falling into ithe Fires, burn their
Legs or Arms, contracting the sinews,
become cripples all their Lifetime, oth-
ers from Precipices break their bones
and joints, with abundance of in-
stances, yet none are so great to deter
them from that accurs’d Practice of
Drunkenness, though sensible how
many of them (are by it) hurried into
the other World before their Time—as
themselves Oftenitimes will
The Indians, I was now speaking of,
were not content with the common En-
emies that lessen and destroy their
country-men, but invented an infallible

confess. -

HISTORY

Stratagem to purge their tribe, and re-
duce their Multitude into far less num-
bers. Their Contrivance was thus, as a
Trader amongst them informed me.
They seeing several Ships coming in,
to bring the English Supplies from Old
England, one chief part of their Cargo
being for a Trade ‘with the Indians,
some of the Craftiest of them had ob-
served, that the Ships came always in
at one place, which made them very
confident that Way was the exact road
to England; and seeing so many ships
come thence tthey believed it could not
be far thither, esteeming tthe English
that were among them no better than
cheats, and thought if they could carry
the Skins and Furs they got themselves
to England, which was inhabited with
a better sort of People than ‘those
amongst them, that they should pur-
chase twenty times the Value of every
Pelt they sold Abroad, in consideration
of what rates they sold for at Home.
The intended barter was very well ap-
proved of, and after a general Consul-
tation of the ablest Heads amongst
them, it was, Nemine Contradicente,
agreed upon, immediately to make an
addition of their fleet, by building more
canoes, and those to be of the best sort,
and biggest Size, as fit for their intend-
ed Discovery. Some Indians were em-
ployed about making the Canoes, oth-
ers to hunting, everyone to the Post he
was most fit for, all Hndeavors intend-
ing towards an able Fleet and Car go
for Europe. The affair was carried on
with a great deal of Secrecy and Expe-
dition, so as in a Small Time they had
gotten a Navy, Loading Provisions,
and hands ready to set sail, leaving
only the Old, Impotent and Minors at
Home till their successful return. The
Wind presenting, they set up their mat
sails, and were scarce out of sight when
there rose a tempest, which it’s sup-.
posed carried one part of these Indian
Merchants, by Way of the other World,

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 5

whilst the others were taken up at Sea
by an English Ship and sold for Slaves
to the Islands. The remainder are bet-
ter satisfied with their Imbecilities in
such an undertaking, nothing affront-
ing them more than to rehearse their
Voyage to Hngland.

(There being a small Current in San-
tee River caused us to make Small Way
from our Oars. With hard rowing we
got that Night to Mons. Eugee’s House,
which stands about fifteen Miles up the
River, being the first Christian Settle-
ment we met withal in tthe Settlement,
and were very courteously receiv’d by
him and his wife.

Many of the French follow a trade
with the Indians, living very ‘conven-
iently for that interest. There is about
seventy Families seated on this River,
who live as Decently and Happily, as
any Planters in these Southward parts
of America. The French being a tem-
perate Industrious People, some of
them bringing very little of Effects,
yet by their endeavors and Mutual As-
sistance amongst themselves (which is
highly to be Commended) have _ out-
stript our English, who brought with
them larger Fortunes, tho’ as it seems
less endeavour to manage their Talent
to the best Advantage. ’Tis admirable
to see what time and Industry will
(with God’s Blessing) effect. Carolina
affording many strange Revolutions in
the Age of a ‘Man, Daily Instances pre-
senting themselves to our view, of so
many, from Despicable beginnings,
which in a short time arrive to very
splendid Conditions. Here propriety
hath a large Scope, there being no strict
law to bind our privileges. A Quest af-
ter Game, being as freely and peremp-
torily enjoyed by the meanest Planter,
as he that is in ithe Highest Dignity, or
wealthiest in the Province. Deer and
other game that are naturally wild, be-
ing not immur’d or preserv’d within
boundaries to satisfy ithe appetite of

the rich alone. A poor laborer, that is
Master of his Gun, etc., hath as good a
claim to have continu’d Coarses of Del-
ieacies crouded upon his Table, as he
that is Master of a Greater Purse.

We lay all that night at Mons,
Eugee’s, and the next Morning set out
farther, to go the remainder of our
voyage by land; at ten a Clock we pas’d
over a narrow, deep Swamp, having
left the three Indian Men and one
Woman, that had pilotted the Canoe
from Ashly River, having hired a
Sewee Indian, a ttall, lusty Fellow, who
carried a pack of our cloaths, of great
weight; notwithstanding his burden,
we had much to do to keep pace with
him. At noon we came up with several
French Plantations, meeting with sev-
eral creeks by the way, the French
were very Officious in assisting with
their small Dories to pass over these
waters, (whom we met coming from
their church) being all of them very
clean and decent in their apparel; their
Houses and Plantations suitable in
neatness and Contrivance. They are all
of the same opinion with the church of
Geneva, there being no _ difference
amongst them concerning the Punec-
itilio’s of their Christian Faith; which
Union hath propagated a happy and de-
lightful Concord in all other matters
throughout the whole Neighborhood;
living amongst themselves as one Tribe
or Kindred, everyone making it his
business ‘to be assistant to the wants
of his country-man, preserving his es-
tate and reputation with the same ex-
actness and concern as he does his
own; all seeming to share in the Mis-
fortunes, and rejoyce at ithe Advance,
and Rise, of their Brethren.

Towards the afternoon we came to
Mons. L’Jandro, where we got our Din-
ner; there coming some French ladies
whilst we were there, who were lately
come from Emgland, and Mons.
L’Grand, a worthy Norman, who hath

6 LAWSON’S

‘peen a great Sufferer in his Hstate, by
the Persecution in France, against
those of the Protestant Religion; This
Gentleman very kindly invited us to
make our stay with him all night, but
we, being intended farther that day,
took our Leaves, returning Atcknowl-
edgement of Their Favors.

About four in the afternoon we vass-
ed over a large Ciprus run, in a small
Canoe; the French Doctor sent his
Negro to Guide us over the head of a
large Swamp; so we got that night to
Mons. Gallian’s the elder, who lives in
a@ very curious contriv’d House, built of
Brick and Stone which is gotben near
that Place. Near here comes in the
Road from Charles-Town and the rest
of the English Settlement, it being a
very good way by Land, and not above
36 miles altho’ more than 100 by water,
I think the most difficult way I ever
Saw, occasion’d by Reason of the mul-
ititude of Creeks lying along the Main,
keeping their course thro’ the Marshes,
turning and winding like a Labyrinth,
having the Tide of Ebb and Flood
twenty times in less than 3 Leagues
going.

The next Morning very early, we
ferry’d over a Creek ithat runs near the
House, and, after an Hour’s travel in
the Woods, we came to the River-side,
where we stayed for the Indian who
was our Guide, and was gone around
by water in a small canoe, to meet us
at ‘the place we rested at. He came af-
ter a small Time and ferrv’d us in that
little Vessel over the Santee River 4
miles, and 84 miles in the woods, which
the overflowing of freshes which then
came down, had made a perfect sea of,
there running an incredible current in
the River, which had cast our small
craft, and us away, had we not had
this Sewee Indian Guide with us; who
are excellent artists in managing these
small canoes.

Santee River at this time (from the

HISTORY

usual depth of water) was risen per-
pendicular 36 Foot, always making a
Breach from her banks, about this sea-
son of ‘the year; the general opinion of
the cause thereof is supposed to pro-
ceed from the overflowing of the fresh-
water lakes that lie near the Head of
this River and other upon tthe same
continent. But my opinion is that these
vast Inundations proceed from _ the
great and repeated quantities of snow
that fall upon the Mountains which Lie
at so Great a distance from the sea,
therefore itthey have no help of being
dissolv’d by those saline piercing par-
ticles, as other adjacent Parts near the
Ocean receive; and therefore lies and
imcreases to a vast Bulk, until some
mild southerly Breezes coming on a
sudden, continue to unlock these frozen
bodies, congeal’d by the North-West
wind, dissipating them in liquids, and
coming down with Impetuosity, fills
those branches that feed these rivers,
and causes this strange deluge which
oft-times lays under water the adjacent
parts on both sides this current, for
several miles distant from her banks,
tho’ the French and Indians affirm’d to
me, they never knew such an extraor-
dinary Flood there before.

The following is a continuation of the
History of North Carolina by John
Lawson, surveyor general of this State,
who made his first visit here in 1700. He
landed at Charleston, S. C., and trav-
eled nearly a month. 'This installment
begins after his reaching the Santee
river, in South Carolinia:

We all, by God’s Blessing, and the
Endeavors of our Indian-Pilot, passed
safe over the River, ‘but was lost in the
Woods, which seem’d like some Great
Lake, except here and there a Knoll of
High Land, which appear’d above the
Water.

We intend for Mon. Gillian’s junt, but
was Lost, none of us knowing the Way
at that time, altho’ the Indian was born

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 7

in that Country, it having received so
strange a Metamorphosis. We were in
several Opinions concerning the right
Way, the Indian and myself, supposed
the House to bear one Way, the rest
thought to the contrary; we differing,
it was agreed on amongst us, that one-
half should go with ‘the Indian to find
the House, and the other party to stay
upon one of these dry Spots, until some
of them returned to us, and informed
us where it lay.

Myself and two more were left be-
hind, Sy Reason the Canoe would not
carry us all; we had but one gun
amongst us, one Load of ammunition,
and no provision. Had our Men in the
Canoe miscarried, we must (in all Prob-
ability) there perish’d.

In about six Hours Time from our
Mens departure, the Indian came back
to us in the same Canoe he went in,
being half Drunk, which assured us
they had found some place of refresh-
ment. He teok us three into the Canoe,
telling us all was Well; Padling our
Vessel several Miles through the
Woods, being often half full of Water;
but at last we got Safe to the place we
sought for, which proved to lie the
same Way the Indian and I had
guess’d it did.

When we got to the House, we found
our Comrades in the same trim the
Indian was in, and several of the
French inhabitants with them, who
treated us very courteously, wondering
at us undertaking such a voyege, thro’
a Country inhabited by none but sav-
ages, and them of so different Nations
and Tongues.

After we had refreshed ourselves, we
parted from a very: Kind, loving, affa-
ble People, who wished us a Safe and
Prosperous voyage.

Hearing of a Camp of Santee Indians
not far off, we set out intending to take
up our Quarters with them that night.
There Deing a deep run of Water in the

Way, one of our Comrades being Top-
Heavy, and there being nothing but a
small pole over a Creek for a bridge,
fell into the Water up tlo the Chin, my-
self laughing at the accident, and not
taking Good Heed to my steps came
to the same Misfortune. All our bed-
ding was wet. The Wind being at N.
W. it froze very hard, which prepared
such a nig!.t’s lodging flor me that I
never desire to have the like again;
the wet bedding and freezing Air had
so Qualified our Bodies, that in the
Morning when we Awaked, we were
nigh Frozen to Deaith, until we had
recruited ourselves before a iarge fire
of the Indians.

Tuesday Morning we set towards the
Congerees, leaving the Indian Guide
Scipio drunk amongst the Santee In-
dians. We went ten Miles out of our
way to head a great Swamp, the
freshes having filled them with such
great quantities of Water, that the
usual paths were render d unpassable.
We met in our way with an Indian
Hut, where we were entertained with
a Fat Boiled Goose, Venison, Raccoon
and ground Nuts. We made but little
stay. About noon we passed by sev-
eral large Savannah’s, wherein is curi-
os ranges for Cattle, being green all the
year; they were plentifully stor’d with
Geese, Cranes, etc., and the adjacent
wiooods with great Flocks of Turkies.
This Day we traveled avout 30 miles,
and lay all night at a House which was
built for the Indian Trade the Master
thereof we had parted with at the
Frenck town, who gave us leave to
make use of his Mansion. Such Houses
are common in these parts, especially
where tthere is Indian 'Towns, and Plan-
tations near at Hand, which this place
is well furnished withal.

These Santee Indians are a well-
humored and affable people and living
near the English are become very
tractable. They ‘make themselves

8 LAWSON’S HISTORY

Cribs after a very curious manner,
wherein they secure their corn from
Vermin, which are more frequent in
these warm climates, than countries
more Distant from the Sun. ‘These
pretty Fabricks are commonly sup-
ported with eight Feet or Posts, about
Seven Foot High from the Ground, well
daubed within and without upon Laths,
with Loom or Clay, which makes them
tight and fit to keep out the smallest
insect, there being a small door at the
gable end, which ‘is made of the same
composition and to be remiov’d at
Pleasure, Deing no bigger, than that a
slender Man may creep in at, cement-
ing the door up with \the same earth
when they take the Corn out of the
Crib, and are going from Hiome, always
find their Granaries in the same Pos~
ture they left them; theft to each other
being altogether unpractised, never re-
ceiving Spoils but from Foreigners.

Hereabouts the ground is something
higher than about Charlestown, there
being found some Quarries of Brown
free-stone, which I have seen made
use of for buildings, and kath proved
very durable and gioood. ‘The earth here
is mixed with white Gravel, which is
rare, there being nothing like a Stone
to be found, of the natural Produce,
mear the Ashly river.

The next day about noon, we came
to the side of a great swamp, where
we were forced to strip ourselves tio get
over it, which with much difficulty we
effected. Hereabouts the late Gust of
Wind, which happen’d in September
last, had torn the large Cyprus trees
and Timbers up Sy the roots; they ly-
ing confusedly in their branches, did

Block up the Way, making the passage

very difficult.

This night we got to one Scipio’s Hut,
a famous Hunter; There was nobody
at Home, but we having (in our Com-
pany) one that used to trade amongst
them, we r.ade ourselves welcome to

what his Cabin afforded, (which is a
thing common) the Indians allowing it
practicable to the English Traders, to

take out of their Houses what they
need, during their Absence, in Lieu
whereof they mcst commonly leave

some small quantity of Tobacco, Pai..t,
Beads, etc. We found a great store of
Indian peas, (a very good Pulse) Beans,
Oyl, Chinkapin Nuts, Corn, ba1bacu’d
Peaches, and Peach-Bread; which
Peaches being made into a Quiddony,
and so make up into Loaves like Bar-
ley Cakes; these cut into thin slices
and dissolved in water, makes a very
grateful Acid. and extraordinarily ben-
eficial in Fevers, as has often been
tried and approved of by our English
Practitioners. ‘The Wind being at N.
W., with cold weather, made us a large
Fire, in the Indian’s Cabin; being very
intent upon our Cookery, we set the
dwelling on Fire, and with much ado,
put it out, tho’ with the Loss of Part
of the Roof.

The next day, we travell’d on our
Way, and about Noon, came up with a
settlement of Santee Indians, there be-
ing Plantations lying scattering here
and there, for a great many miles.
They came out to meet us, being ac-
quainted with one of our Company, and
made us very welcome with fat barba-
cu’d Venison, which the Woman of the
Cabin took and tore in Pieces with her
teeth, so put it into a mortar. beating it
to Rags, afterwards stews it with Wa-
ter, and other Ingredients, which
makes a very savoury Dish.

At these Cabins came to visit us the
King of the Santee Nation. He brought
with him their chief Doctor, or Physi-
cian, who was warmly and neatly clad
with a Match-Coat, made of Turkies
Feathers, which makes a pretty Shew,
seeming as if it was a Garment of the
deepest silk shag. These Indians have
great skill in their medical matters,
this doctor perfected his cures, by prop-

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

er Vegitables, etc., of which they have
plenty, and are well acquainted with
their specifick virtue. I have seen such
admirable Cures, performed Yy these
Savages, which would puzzle a great
many graduate practitioners, to trace
their Steps in healing, v.ith the same
expedition, Ease, and Success; using no
racking instruments in their Chirur-
gery, nor nice Rules of Diet, and Phy-
sick, to certify the saying ‘‘Qui medici
vivit, miserere vivit.” In wounds which
* penetrate deep, and seem Mortal they
order a spare Diet, with drinking
Fountain Water. The Indians are an
easy, credulous Peopl-, and most noto-
riously cheated by their priests and
Conjurers, both Trades meeting ever
in one Person, and most commonly a
Spice of Quackship, added to the other
two ingredients, which renders’ that
cunning Knave the Imposter to be more
rely’d upon; thence a fitter instrument
to cheat these istorant people. The
priest and Conjurers being never ad-
mitted to their practise ’till years and
the experience of repeatet Services
hath wrought their Esteem amongst
the Nations they helong to.

The Santee King who was in com-
pany with this No-nosed Doctor, is the
most absolute Indian Ruler in these
Parts, altho’ he is head but of a Small
People, in respect to some other
Nations of Indians, that I have seen.
He can put any of i. s people to death
that hath committed any fault, which
he judges worthy of so great a Punish-
ment, This authority is rarely found
amongst these Savages, for they act
not (commonly) by a determinative
Voice in their Laws, towards any ‘one
that hath committed murder, or such

w= Other great crime, but take this meth-

od; him to who the injury was dione, or
if Dead, the nearest of his kindred,
prosecutes by Way of an actual Re-
venge, being himself if opportunity
Serves his intent, both Judge and Exe-

~

9

cutioner, performing so much mischief
on his offender, or his nearest Relation
until such time that he is fully satis-
fy’d; Yet this revenge is not so infalli-
ble, Dut it may be bought off with
Beads, Tobacco, and such l.ke Com-
miodities that are useful amongst them,
though it were the most sable Villany
that could be acted by Mankind.

Some that attended the King present-
ed me with an odoriferous, balsamick
Root, of a fragrant smell, and Taste,
the name I know not; they Chew it in
the Mouth, and by that simple Appli-
cation, heal desperate Wounds, both
green and old, that small quantity I
had was given inwardly to those trou-
bled with the belly-ach, which remedy
failed not to give present Help, the
Pain leaving the Patient soon after tak-
ing the Root.

Near to these Cabins are _ several
Tombs made after the fashion of the
Indians; the largest and chiefest of
them was the Sepulchre of the late In-
lian King of the Santees, a Man of
Great Power, not only arzongst his own
subjects, but dreaded Sy the Neighbor-
ing Nations for his great Valour and
Conduct, having as large a Preroga-
tive in his Way of Ruling, as the Pres-
ent King I now spoke of.

The manner of their Interment
thus:
raised, the Mol. thereof being worked
very smooth and even, sometimes high-
er or lower, according to the dignity
of the Person whose Monument it is.
On the Top there is an Umbrella, made
Ridge-Ways, like the roof of an House;
this is supported by nine Stakes or
small Posts, the grave being about 6
to § foot in Length, and Four Foot in
Breadth; about it is hung Gourds,
Feathers, and other suchlike ‘Trophies,
placed there by the dead man’s rela-
tions, in Respect to him in the Grave.
The other part of the Funeral Rites are
thus; As soon as the party is dead, they

is

A Mole or Pyramid of Earth is .

IO LAWSON’S

lay the corpse on e piece of bark in
the Sun, seasoning or embalming it
with a small root beaten to powder,
which looks as red as Vermillion; the
same is mixed with Bear’s Oil to beau-
tify the Hair, and too preserve their
heads from being lousy, it growing
Seautifully in these parts of America.
file After the Carcass has laid a day or two
in the Sun, they remove it and lay it
upon Crotches cut on purpose for the
support thereof from the Earth; Then
they anoint it all over with the fore-
mentiioned ingredients of the powder of
this root and Bear’s Oil. When it is
so done, they cover it over very exactly
with bark of the Pine or Cyprus Tree,
to prevent any Rain to fall upon it,
sweeping the ground very clean all
about it. Some of his nearest Kin
brings all the temporal Estate he was
~ possess’d of at his death, as Guns,
Bows, Arrows, Beads, Feathers, Match-
Coat, ete. This relation is the chief
mourner, being clad in moss, and a
stick in his hand, keeping a mournful
ditty for three or four days, his face
being black with the Smoke of Pitch
Pine mingled with Bear’s Oil. All the
while he tells the dead Man’s relations,
and the rest of the spectators who that
Dead Person was, and of the Great
Feats performed in his lifetime; all of
-~What he speaks, tending to the praise
of the defunct. As soon as the flesh
grows mellow, and will cleave from
the bone, they get it off, and burn it,
making all the bones very clean, then
aroint them with the ingredients afore-
said, wrapping up the Skull (very care-
fully) in a cloth artificially woven of
-Possum’s Hair. (These Indians make
Girdles, Sashes, Garters, etc., after the
same manner) 'The bones they very
earefully preserve in a wooden box,
every year oiling and cleansing them;
by this means preserve them for many
ages, that you may see an Indian in
possession of the bones of his grandfa-

HISTORY

ther, or some of his relations of a larg-
er Antiquity. 'They have other sorts
of Tombs, as where an Indian is slain,
in that place they make a heap of
stones, (or sticks where stones are not
to Se found) to this memorial every
Indian that passes by adds a stone to
augment the tieap, in respect to the
deceas’d hero.

We had a very large Swamp tio pass
over near the House, and would have
hir’d our Landlord to be our guide, but
he seem’d unwilling, and so we press’d
him no farther about it. He was the
tallest Indian I ever saw, *eing seven
foot high, and a very straight compleat
person, esteem’d on by the King for his
Great Art in Hunting, always carrying
with him an artificial Head to hunt
withal; they are mace of the Head of a
Buck, the back part of the Horns being
scraped and hollow, for lightness of
carriage. The skin is teft to the set-
ting of the shoulders, which is lined all
around with small hoops, and flat sort
of lathes, to hol! it open for the arm to
go in. They have a way to preserve
the eyes as if Living. The Hunter
Puts on a Match-Coat made of Skin,
with the Hair on, and a piece of the
white part of the Deer’s. skin, that
grows on the Breast, which is fasten’d
to the neck end of this stalking head,
so hangs down. In these Habiliments
ar Indian will go as near a Deer as he
pleases, the exact motion and Behav-
ior of a Deer being so well counter-
feited by ’em, that several times it
hath been known for two hunters to
come up with a stalking head together
and unknown to each otler, so that
they have killed an Indian instead of
a Deer, which hatn happened some-
times to be a Brother or some Dear
Friend; for whicn reason they allow
not of that sort of practise, where the
nation is Populous.

Within half a ‘Mile of the House we
passed over a prodigious wide and deep

nw

OF NORTH CAROLINA. II

swamp, being forced to strip stark-
Naked, and much ado to save ourselves
from drowning in this Fatigue. We,
with much ado, got thro; going that
day about five miles farther, and came
to three more Indian Cabins, called in
the Indian ‘tongue, Hickerau, by the
English Traders, The Black House,
being pleasantly seated on a high bank,
by a Branch of Santee River. One of
our Company, that had traded amongst
these Indans told us, that in one of the
Cabins was his Father-in-law, Ihe
called him so, by reason that the old
man had given him. a young Indian girl,
that wias his daughter, to lie with him,
make bread, and be necessary in what
she was capable to assist him in, dur-
ing his abode amongst them.

When we came thither first, ‘there
was nobody at Home, so the son made
bold to search his father’s granary for
Corn, and other Provisions. He
brought us some Indian maiz and peas,
which are of a reddish color, and eat
well, yet color the liquor they sre boil-
ing in, as if it were a Lixivium of red
tartar. After we had been about an
hour in the House, where was millions
of flees, the Indian Cabins being often
fuller of such vernim, than any Dog-
Kennel, the old ‘Man came to us, and
seem’d very glad to see his Son-in-
Law.

This Indian is a great Conjurer, as it
appears by the Sequel, The Seretee or
Santee Indians were gone to War
agiainst 'the Hooks and Backbooks
Nations, living near the mouth of Win-
yau River. 'Those that were left at
Home (which are commonly old people
and children, had heard no news for a
long time of their men at War. This
mian at the entreaty of these People,
(being held to be a great Sorcerer
among them) went to know what pos-
ture their fighting men were in. His
exorcism was carried on thus; He
dress’d himself in a clean white dress’d

deer Skin; a Great Fire being made in
the middle of the Plantation, the In-
dians sitting all around it. The con-
jurer was blindfolded then he surround-
ed the Fire several Times, I think
thrice; leaving the Company he went
into the Woods, where he stayed about
half an Hour, returning to them, sur-
rounded the Fire as before, leaving
them, went the second Time into the
Woods, at which time there came a
huge Swarm of Flies, very large,
they flying all around 'the fire several
Times, and at last fell into it, and were
visibly consumed. Immediately after
the Indian Conjurer made a huge Lille-
loo, and howling very frightfully, pres-
ently an Indian went and caught hold
of him, leading him to the Fire. The
old Wizard was so feeble and weak,
being not able to stand alone, and all
over in a sweat, and as wet as if he
had fallen into the River. After a
while he recovered his strength, assur-
ing them that their men were near a
river, and could not pass over it until
so many days, but would in such a
Time, all return in safety to their
Nation. All which proved true at the
Indians Return which was not long
after. This Story the Englishman, his
Son-in-Law, affirmed to me,

The old Man stayed with us about
two hours, and told us we were we!-
come to stay there all Night, and take
what his cabin afforded; then leaving
us went into the woods to some Hunt-
ing Quarter not far away.

‘The next morning we pursued our
Voyage, finding the land to improve it-
self in pleaSantness and richness of
soil. When we had gone about 10
Miles one of our Companions tir'd,
being not able 'to travel any farther so
we went forward, leaving the poor de-
jected traveller with Tears in his Eyes
to return to Chiarles-Town, and travel
back again over so much bad way, we
having pass’d thro’ the worst of our

12 LAWSON’S
journey, the land here being very high
and dry, very few Swamps, and those
dry, and a little way through. We
triavell’d about twenty Miles, leading
near a Savannah that was overflown
with water; where we were very short
of victuals, but finding the woods
nearly burnt, and on fire in many
places, which gave us great hopes that
Indians were not far off.

Next morning very early we waded
through the Savannah, the Path lying
there and about 10 o’clock came to a
Hunting Quiarter of a great many San-
tees; 'they made us all welcome, show-
ing a great deal of joy at our coming,
giving us barbacu’d Turkey, Bear’s Oil
and Venison.

Here we hired Santee Jack, (a good
Hunter and well-humored fellow) to be
our pilot to the Congress Indians; we
gave him a Stroud-water. After two
hours refreshment we went on, and got
that day about twenty Miles; we lay
by a small swift run of water, which
was pav’d at the bottom with a sort
of stone much like Tripoli, and so light
that I fancied it would precipitate in no
Stream, but where it naturally grew.
The weather was very cold, the winds
holding Northerly. We made _ our-
selves as merry as we could, having a
good supper with the scraps of the
Venison we had given us by ‘the In-
dians, having killed three Teal and a
Possum; which Medly all together
made a curious Ragoo.

This day all of us had a mind to have
rested, but the Indian was much
against it, alledging that the place we
lay in was not good to hunt in, telling
us if we would go on, by Noon he would
bring us to a more convenient place;
so we moved on, and about twelve a
clock we came to the most amazing
prospect I have ever seen in Carolina;
we traveled by a Swamp side, which
swamp I believe to be no less than 20
miles over, the other side being as far

HISTORY

as I could well discern, there appearing
great riges of Mountains, bearing from
us W. N. W. One Alp with a Top like
a sugar loaf, advanced its head above
all the rest very considerably; the day
was very serene, which gave us the ad-
vantage of seeing a long way; These
Mountains were clothed all over with
Trees, which seemed to us to be very
large Timbers.

At the sight of this fair Prospect we
stayed all night; our Indian going
about half an hour before us, had pro-
vided three fat turkies .re we got up
to him.

The Swamp I now spoke of is not a
miry Bog, as others generally are, but
you go down to it through a_ steep
Bank, at the foot of which begins this ©
Valley, where you may go dry for per-
haps 200 yards, then you meet with a
small Brook or Run of Water,about 2 or
3 foot deep, then dry Land for such an-
other space, so another Brook, thus
continuing. The land of this Percoar-
son, or Valley, being extraordinarily
rich, and runs of water well stored with
Fowl. It is the Head of one of the
braniches of Santee River; but a fur-
ther discovery time would not permit;
only one thing is very remarkable;
there growing all over this Swamp a
tall lofty Bay Tree, but is not the same
as in England. These being in their
verdure all the winter long; which ap-
pears here when you stand on the
ridge, (where our path lay) as if it were
one pleasant, green field, and as even
as a Bowling-green to the Eye of the
Beholder; being hemmed in on one side
with these Ledges of vast High Moun-
tains.

Viewing the land here we found an
extraordinary rich, black Mould, and
some of a copper color, both sorts very
good; the land in some places is much
burthened with Iron, Stone, here being
a great store of it seemingly very good;
The eviling Springs, which are many in

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 13

these parts, issuing out of the Rocks,
which water we drank of, it colouring
the Excrements of Travellers, (by its
chalybid Quality) as black as a coal.
When we were all asleep in the begin-
ning of the night, we were awakened
with the Dismalest and Most hideous
Noise that ever piere’d my ears; This
sudden surprize incipacitated us of
guessing what this threatening noise
might proceed from; ®ut our Indian
Pilot (who knew these parts very well),
acquainted us, that it was customary
to hear such Musick along the Swamp-
side, there being endless numbers of
panthers, tygers, Wolves, and other
Beasts of Prey, which take the Swamp
for their abode during the Day, coming
in whole droves to hunt the Deer dur-
ing the Night, making this frightful
Ditty ’till days appears, then all is still
as in other places.

The next day it proved a small
drizzly Rain which is rare; there hap-

pening not the tenth part of Foggy.

Weather towards these Mountains, as
visits those parts near the Sea-board.
The Indian killed 15 Turkies this day,
there coming out of the Swamp about
Sunrising flocks of these Fowl; contain-
ing several hundred in a gang, why
feed upon the Acrons it being most Oak
that grow in these Woods. There are
but very few Pines in those Quarters.

Barly the next morning we set for-
ward for the Congeree Indians, parting
with that delicious prospect. By the
way, our guide killed more Turkies, and
two Poleats, which he eat, esteeming
them before fat Turkies. Some of the
Turkies which we eat while we stayed
there, I believe weighed no less than 40
punds.

The Land we passed over this day
was most of it good, and the worst
passable. At night we killed a possum,
being cloy’d with Turkeys, made a dish
of that, which tasted much between

young pork and veal, their Fat being
as white as any I ever saw.

Our Indian having this day killed
good store of provisions with his gun,
he always shot with a single Ball, miss-
ing but two shoots in above forty; they
being curious artists in managing a
gun, to make it carry either ball or
shot true. When they have bought a
piece and find it to shoot any wavs.
crooked, they take the barrel out of the
Stock, cutting a notch in a Tree, where-
in they set it streight, sometimes
shooting away above 100 Loads of am-
munition, before they bring the Gun to
shoot according to their Mind. We took
up our Quarters by a Fish Pond Side;
the pits in the Woods stand full of
Water, naturally breed Fish in them.
in great Quantities. We cooked our
Supper, but having neither Bread, or
Salt, our Fat Turkies began to be loath-
some to us, altho’ we were never want-
ing of a good appetite, yet a Continu-
ance of one Diet made us weary.

The next morning Santee Jack told
us, we should reach the Indian Settle-
menfbetimes that Day, about noon we
passed by several fair Savannas, very
rich and dry; seeing great copses of
many Acres that bore nothing but
Bushes about the Bigness of Box-trees;
which (in the season) afford great
quantities of small Blackberries, very
pleasant Fruit and very much like our
Blues or Huckleberries, that grow on
Heaths in England. Hard by the Sa-
vannahs we found the Town, where we
halted; there was not above one man
left with the Women; the rest being
gone a hunting fora Feast. The Women
were very busily engaged in Gaming;
the Name or Grounds of it I could not
learn, though I looked on above two
nours. Their Arithmetick was kept with
a heap of Indian Grain. When their
Play was ended the King, or Caffetta’s
Wife, invited us into her Cabin. The In-
dian Kings always entertaining Trav-

14 LAWSON’S

ellers, either English or Indians; taking
it as a great Affront if they pass’d by
their Cabins, and take up their Quar-
ters at any other Indian’s House; The
Queen set Victuals before us, which
good compliment they use generally us
soon as you come under their roof.
The Town consists not of above a
dozen Houses, they having other strag-
ling Plantations up and down the Coun-
try,andare seated upon a small Branch
of Santee River. Their Place hath cu-
rious dry Savannahs and Marshes ad-
joining to it, and would prove an ex-
ceedingly thriving Range for Cattle,
and Hogs, provided the English were

seated thereon. Besides the Land is
good for Plantations.
These Indians are a small people,

having lost much of their former Num-
bers, by intestine Broils; but most by
the Small-Pox which hath often visited
them, sweeping away ‘wlsole towns; oc-
casioned by the immoderate Govern-
ment of themselves in their Sickness;
as I have mentioned before, treating of
the Sewees. Neither do I know any Sav-
ages that have traded with the English,
but have been great losers by this Dis-
temper.

We found here good store of Chinka-
pin Nuts which they gather in Winter
great Quantities of, drying them; so
keep these Nuts in great Baskets for
their use; likewise Hickerie Nuts, which
they beat betwix two great. stones,
then sift them to thicken their Venison
with; the small shell precipitating to
the bottom of the Pot, whilst the Ker-
nel in Form of flower, mixes with the
Liquor. Both these Nuts made _ into
‘Meal make ia curious Soup, either with
Clear Water, or in any Meat Broth.

From the Nation of Indians. until
such Time as you come to the Tuskei-
ruros in North Carolina, you will see
no long Moss upon the trees, which
space of ground contains above 4500
Miles. This seeming miracle in Nature,

HISTORY

is Occasioned by the Highness of the
Land, it being Dry and Healthful; for
though this Moss bears a Seed in a
sort of a small Cod, yet it is generated
in or near low swampy Grounds.

The Congerees are kind and affable
to the English, the Queen being very
kind, giving us what Rarities her Cabin
afforded, as Loblolly made of Indian
Corn and Dry’d Peaches. ‘These Con-
gerees have abundance of Storks and
Cranes in their Savannas. They take
them before they can fly, and breed
them as tame and familiar as a Dung-
hill Fowl. They had a tame Crane at
one of these Cabins, that was scarce
less than six foot in height, his head
being round, with a shining natural
Crimson Hue, which they all have.
These are a very Comely sort of In-
dians, there being a strange Difference
in the Proportion and Beauty of these
Heathens. Altho’ their Tribes or Na-
tions border one upon another, yet you
may discern as great an Alteration in
their features and Dispositions, as you
can in their speech, which generally
proves quite different from each other,
tho’ their Nations be not above twenty
Miles in Distance. The Women here be-
ing as handsome as most I have met
withal, ‘being several fine figured
Brounetto’s amongst them. These las-
sies stick not upon band long, for they
marry when very young, as at 12 or 14
years of age. The English Traders are
seldom without an Indian Female for
his bedfellow, alleging these reasons as
sufficient to allow of sulch familiarity.
First, they being remote from any
White People, that it preserves their
friendship with the Heathens, they es-
teeming a white man’s Child much
above one of their own getting, the In-
dian Mistress ever securing her White
friend provisions whilst he stays
amongst them, and lastly the corres-
pondence makes them learn the Indian
tongue sooner, they being of the

OF NORTH CAROLINA. ns

Frenchmen’s opinion, how thiat an Eng-
lish Wife teaches her Husband more
English in one night, than a School-
master can in a week.

We saw at the Casseta’s Clabin the
Strangest Spectacle of Antiquity I ever
knew, it being an old Indian Spuah,
that, had I been to have guess’d at her
age by her aspect, old Parr’s Head (the
Welch Methusalem) was a face in
Swadling-Clouts to hers. Her Skin
hung in Reaves like a Rag of Trine. By
a fair Computation, one would might
have justly thought it would have con-
tained three such Carcasses as hers was
then. She had one of her hands con-
tracted by some accident in the Fire,
they sleeping always by it, and often
fall into sad disasters, especially in
their Drunken Moods. I made the strict-
est Inquiry that was possible, and by
what I could gather, she was consider-
ably above 100 years old, notwithstand-
ing she smok’d Tobacco, and eat her
Victuals, to all Appearance as heartily
as one of 18. One of our Company
spoke some of their Language, and hav-
ing not forgotten his former Intrigues
with the Indian Lassies, would fain
have dealing with some of the voung
Female Fry; but thev refused him, he
having nothing that these Girls Es-
teemed. At night we were laid in the
Queen’s Cabin, where the Queen and
the old Squiah pig’d in with us, the for-
mer was very much disfigured with
Tettars, and very reserv’d, which dis-
appointed our fellow Traveller in his
Intrigues.

The Women smoak much Tobacco, (as
most Indians do.) They have pipes
whose heads are cut out of stone, and
will hold an ounce of Tobacco and
some much Less. They have large wood-
en Spoons as big as small Ladles,
which they make little use of, lading
the Meat out of the Bowls with their
Fingers.

In the Morning we rose before Day,

having hired a Guide over night to con-
duct us on our Way; but it was too
soon for him to stir out, the Indians
never setting forward until the Sun is
an Hour or two high, and hath exhall’d
the Dew from the earth. The Queen
got us a good Breakfast before we left
her; she had a young Child, which was
much afflicted with the Cholick; for
which Distemper she infused a root in
Wiater, which was held in a Goard, this
she took into her mouth, and spurted it
into the Infant’s, which gave it ease.
After we had. eaten we set out (with
our new Guide) for the Wateree In-
dians. We went over a good deai of
indifferent Land this Day. Here be-
gins to appear very good Marble,
which continues more and less for the
space of 500 miles. We lay all night by
a run of Water, as we always do, (Cif
possible) for the Convenience of it. The
Weather was very cold. We went this
day about 30 Miles from, the Congerees.

In the Morning we made no stay to
get our Breakfast, but hastened on our
voyage, the Land increasing in Marble
and Richness of Soil. At noon we
halted getting our Dinner upon a mar-
ble stone, that rose it self half a foot
above the Surface of the Elarth, and
might contain the Compass of a quar-
ter of an Acre of land, being very even,
there growing upon it in some places a
small red Berrv like a Salmon Svawn,
there boiling out of the Main Rock cu-~
rious Springs of as Delicious Water, as
ever I drank in any Parts i ever trav-~
el’d in.

These parts likewise affords good
free Stone, fit for Building, and of sev-
eral sorts. The land here is pleasant!y
seated, with pretty little Hills and Val-
leys, the rising Sun at once shewing his
gorious reflecting Rays on a great
‘Many of these little Mountains. We
went this day about 20 miles, our
Guide walking like a Horse, till we had
saddled him with a good heavy Pack

16

of some Part of our Cloaths and Bed-
ding; by which means we kept Pace
with him.

This Night we lay by a _ Run-side,
where I found a fine yellow earth, the
Same with Bruxels-Sand, which Gold~
smiths used to cast withial; giving a
good price in England and other parts.
Here is likewise the true Blood Stone
and considerable Quantities of Fullers~
Earth. which I took a Proof of, by
scouring great Spots out of Woollen,
and it prov’d very good.

AS we were on our road this morning
our Indian shot at a Tyger that crossed
the Way,he being a great distance from
us. I believe he did him no Harm,
because he sat on his Breech after~
wards and look’d upon us. I suppose he
expected to have had a Spaniel Bitch
that I had with me, for his breastfast,
who run towards him, but in the Mid-
way stopped her career, and came
sneaking back to us with her Tail be~
twix her Legs.

We saw in the Path a great many
trees blown up by the Roots, at the bot-~
tom whereof stuick great Quantities of
fine red Bole; I believe nothing inferior
to that of Venice or Lemma. We found
some holes in the earth which were
full of a water as black as ink. I
thought that Tincture might proceed
from some Mineral, but had not time to
make a farther discovery. About noon
we passed over a pleasant stony Brook,
whose water was of a Bluish Cast, as it
is for several hundreds of Miles to~
wards the Heads of the Rivers, I sup-
pose occasioned by the vast Quantities
of Marble lying in the bowels of the
Earth. The Springs that feed these riv-
ulets lick up some portions of the

»stones in the Brooks, which Dissolution
gives this Tincture, as it appears in all
or most of the Rivers, and Brooks of
this Country, whose rapid streams are
like those in Yorkshire, and _ other

northern counties of England. The In-

LAWSON’S HISTORY

dians talk of many sorts of Fish which
they afford, but we had not time to dis-
cover their Species.

I saw here and there some Indian
Plantations formerly, there being sev-
eral pleasant Fields of cleared Ground
and excellent soil, now well spread with
fine-bladed grass, and Strawberry
vines.

The ‘Mould here is excessive rich, and
a Country very pleasant to the Eye,
had it the convenience of a navigable
river as all new colonies (of Necessity)
require it would make a delightful set-
tlement.

We went eight miles further and
eame to the Weteree Chickanee Indians.
The Land holds good, there being not
a Spot of bad Land to be seen in Sev-
eral Days gone.

The People of this Nation are Likely
tall Persons, and great Pilferers, steal-
ing from us anything they could lay
their hands on, though very respectful
in giving us what Victwals we wanted.
We lay in their Cabins all Night, being
Dark, Smoky Holes, as ever I saw any
Indian Dwellings. This Nation is much
more Populous than the Congerees,
their Neighbors, yet understand not one
another’s speech. They are very poor
in English effects, several of them hav-
ing no guns, making use of Bows and
Arrows, being ia lazy, idle People, a
Quality incident to most Indians, but
none to that degree as these, as I never
met withal.

Their Country is wholly free from
Swamps and Quagmires, being high dry
land, and consequently heaithful, pro-
ducing large cornstalks and fair Grain.

Next Morning we took off our Beards
with a razor, the Indians looking on
with much admiration. They told us
they had never seen the like before, and
that our Knives cut far better than
those that came amongst the Indians.
They would fain have borrowed our
Razors, as they had | our knives, _Scis-

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 17

sons, and tobacco Tongs, the Day be-
fore, being as ingenious at picking of
Pockets as any, I believe the World af-
fords; for they will steal with their feet.
Yesterday one of our Company walking
not so fast as 'the rest was left behind.
He being out of sight before we miss’d
him, and not being up to us, though we
stayed a considerable time on the road
for him, we stuck up Sticks in the
@round and left other Tokens to direct
him 'which way we were gone. But he
came not to us that night, which gave
us occasion to believe some of the
Heathens had killed him, for his
Cloathes, or the Savage Beasts had de-
voured him in the Wilderness, he hav-
ing nothing about him tto strike fire
withal. As we were debating which
way we should send to find him, he
overtook us, having a Waxsaw Indian
for his Guide. He told us he had
missed the Path, and got to another
Nation of Indians, but 3 Miles off, who
at that Time held great Feasting. They
had entertained him very respectfully,
and sent the Indian with him to invite
us amongst them, wondering that we
would not take up our Quarters with
‘them, but make our Abode with such a
Poor Sort of Indians, that were not
capable of entertaining us according
to our deserts; We received the Mes-
senger with a great many Ceremonies,
acceptable to those sort of Creatures.
Bidding our Wiaterree King adieu, we
set forth towards the Waxsaws, going
along clear’d ground all the Way. Up-
on Our arrival, we were led into a very
large and lightsome Cabin, the like I
have not met withal. They laid Furs
and Deer Skins upon cain benches for
us to sit or lie upon, bringing immedi-
ately stewed peaches and green Corn,
that is preserved in their cabins be-
fore it is ripe, and sodden and boiled
when they use it, which is a pretty sort
of Food, and a great Increaser of the
Blood.

These Indians are of an extraordinary
Stature, and call’d by their Neighbors
Flat Heads, which seems a very suita-
ble Name for them. In their infancy,
their nurses lay ‘the Back-part of their
Children’s Heads on a Bag of Sand,
(such as engravers use to rest ttleir
plates upon.) They use a roll, which is
placed upon ittne 'babe’s Forehead, it
being laid with its back on a flat Roard,
and swaddled hard down thereon, from
one End of this Engine, to the other.
This Method makes the child’s Bodv
and limbs as straight as an Arrow.
There being there some young Indians
that are perhaps crookedly inclin’d,
at their first coming into the W orld.,.
who are made perfectly straight by this
‘Method. I never saw an Indian of a
mature age, that was anyways crooked,
except by accident iand that way sel-
dom; for they cure and preyent deform-
ities of the limbs and Body, very ex-
actly. The Instrument I spoke of be-
fore, being a sort of a Press, that is let
out and in more or less, according to
the discretion of the Nurse, in which
they make the Child’s Head flat, it
makes the Eyes stand a _ prodigious
Way asunder, the Hair hangs over the
Forehead like the eve’s of a House,
which seems very frightful; They being
ask’d the reason why they practis’d
this Method, reply’d the Yndian’s sight
was much strengthened and quicker
thereby to discern the Game in hunt-
ing at larger Distance, and so never
miss’d of becoming expert Hunters, the
perfection of which they all aim at, ag
we do to become experienced Soldiers,
learned school-Men, or Artists in Me-
chaniks; He that is a good Hunter
never misses of being a Favourite
amongst the Women; the prettiest Girls
being always bestow’d upon the chief-
test Sports-Men, and those of a grosser
Mould, upon the useless Lubbers. Thus
they have a graduation amongst them
as well as other Nations. As for the

18 LAWSON’S HISTORY

solemnity of marriages amongst them,
kept with so much ceremony as divers
Authors affirm, it never appear’d
amongst those many Nations I have
been withal, any wise than in itthis man-
ner. I have seen several Couples among
them, that have been so reserv’d, as to
live together for many Years, faithful
to each other.

At our Waxsaw lLandlord’s Cabin,
was a Woman employed in no other
Business than Cookery; it being a
House of great Resort. The fire was
surrounded with Roast Meat, or Bar-
bakues, and the Pots continually boil-
ing full of Meat, from Morning until
Night. This She-cook was the cleanest
I have ever seen among the Heathens
of America, washing her Hands before
she undertook to do any Cookery: and
repeated this useful Decency very often
during a day. She made us as White-
Bread as any English could have done,
and was full as neat and expeditious,
in her Affairs. It happened to be one
of their great Fetes when we were
there; the first day when we were there
arrived an Ambassador from the King
of Sapona, to treat with these Indians
abou't some important affairs. He was
painted with Vermillion all over his
body, having a very large Cutiass stuck
in his Girdle, and a Fusee in his Hand:
At Night the Revels began where this
foreign Indian was admitted; ‘the King
and War Captain inviting us to see
their Masquerade. This Feast was held
in commemonation of the Plentiful Har-
vest of Corn they had reaped the Sum-
mer before, with an united Sunplication
for the like plentiful produce fcr the
Year ensuing. These revels were car-
ried on in a House made for that pur-
pose, it being done round, with white
benches of fine Canes joining along the
wall; and a place for the Door being
left, which is so low, that a man must
stoop very much to enter therein. This
Eidifice resembles a large Hay Rick; its

top being pyramidal, and much bigger
than their other Dwellings, and at the
Building whereof every one assists un-
til it is finished. All their Dwelling
houses are covered with Bark, but this
differs very much; for it is very arti-
ficially thatched with Sedge and
Rushes. As soon as it is finished they
place some one of their Chiefest men to
dwell therein, charging him with the
Diligent preservation thereof, as the
Prince commits the Charge of a Fort or
Castle, to some subject he thinks
worthy of that trust. In these state
Houses is transacted all public and
Private Business, relating to the affairs
of the Government, as the Audience of
Foreign Ambassadors from other In-
dian rulers, Consultation of Waging
and Making War, Proposals of their
Trade with Neighboring Indians, or the
English who happen to :come amongst
them. In this Theater the most aged
and wisest meet, determining what to
Act, and what may be most convenient
to omit, old Age being held in as a great
Veneration amongst these Heathens,
las amongst any People you may meet
withal in any part of the World.
Whensoever an aged man is speaking,
none ever interrupts him, (the contrary
Practice the English and other Euro-
peans, too much use) the Company
yielding a great deal of Attention to his
Tale, with a continued silence, and an.
exact Demeanour, during the Oration.
Indeed, the Indians are a People that
never interrupt one another in their
Discourse, no man so much as offering
to open his mouth, until the Sneaker
has utter’d his Intent. When an Eng-
lishman comes amongst them, perhaps
every one is acquainited with him, yet,
first the King bids him welcome, after
him the War Captain, so on gradually
from High to Low; not one of ail these
speaking to the White Guest, till his
Superior tas ended his Salutation.
Amongst Women it seems impossible to

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

find a Scold; if they are prevoked or
affronted by their Husbands or some
other, they resent the Indignity offered
them in silent Tears, or by refusing
their Meat; Would some of our HKuro-
pean Daughters of Thunder set these
Indians for a pattern, there might be
more quiet families found amongst
them, occasion’d by that unruly mem-
ber, the tongue.

Festination proceeds from the Devil
(says a Learned Doctor) a Passion the
Indians seem wholly free of; they de-
termine no Business of Moment, with-
out a great deal of Deliberation and
Wariness. None of their Affairs appear
to be attended with Impetuosity, or
Haste, being more content with the
common Accidents incident to Human
Nature, as (losses, contrary Winds,
bad Weather, and Poverty) than those
of more civilized Countries.

Now, to return to our state House,
whither we were entertained by the
Grandees; as soon aS we came into it,
they placed our Englishmen near the
King; it being my fortune to sit next
to him, having his Great General or
War Captain on my other hand. The
House is as Dark as ia Dungeon and as
hot as one of the Dutch Stoves in Hol-
land. They had made a circular Fire
of split canes in the middle of the
House; It was one Man’s employment
to iadd more split Reeds to this at one
end as it consumed at the other, there
being a small Vacancy left to supply
it with Fuel. They brought in great
store of Loblolly, and other Medleys,
made of Indian Grain, stewed Peaches,
Bear Venison, etc., every one bringing
some offering to enlarge the banquet,
according to his Degree and Quality.
When iall the Viands were brought in
the first Figure began with kicking out
the Dogs, which are seemingly Wolves,
made tame with starving and beating,
they being the worst Dog-Masters in
the World, so that is an infallible cure

-

for sore eyes, ever to see an Indian Dog
fat. They are of quite a contrary con-
dition to Horses; some of these Kings
have gotten by chance, a jade stolen
by some neighboring Indian, and trans-
ported further into country and sold or
bought sometimes of a Christian that
trades amongst them. These creatures
they continually cram and feed with
maiz, and what the Horse will eat, till
be is las fat as a Hog, never making
any further use of him than to fetch a
Dear Home that is killed somewhere
near the Indian’s plantation.
After the dogs had fled the recom,
Company was summoned by beat of
Drum; the Musick being made of
dress’d deer’s Skin, tied hot upon an
earthern Porridge Pot. Presently came
in five men dressed up in Feathers,
their Flaces being covered with Vizards
made of Gourds, round their \Ancles and
Knees were hung bells of several sorts,
having Wooden Falchions in their
Hands (such as Stage Fencers common-
ly Use); in this dress they danced about
an hour, shewing many strange ges-
tures, and brandishing their Wooden
Weapons, as if they were going to fight
each other; often walking very nimbly
around the room without making the
least noise with their bells (a thing I
much admired at) again turning their

the

“ bodies, arms and legs into such fright-

ful postures, that you would have
guessed ‘they were quite raving mad;
—At last they cut two or three high,
capers ‘and left the room. In _ their
stead came in a parcel of women and
girls, to the number of Thirty odd,
every one taking place according to her
degree of stature, the ‘tallest leading
the dance, and the least of all being
placed last; with these they made a
circular Dance, like a ring, represent-
ing ‘the Shape of the fire they danced
about; Many of these had great Horse
Belts about their legs, and small Hawks
Bells about their necks. They had Mu-

20 LAWSON’S HISTORY

sicians who were two Old Men, one of
whom beat a Drum, while the other
rattled with a Gourd, that had corn in
it to make a noise withal; to these in-
struments they both sung a mournful
ditty; the burthen of their song was In
Remembrance of their former Great-
ness, and the Numbers of their Nation,
the famous exploits of their renowned
ancestors and all actions of moment
that had (in former days) been ver-
formed by their forefathers. At these
Festivals it is, that they give a tradi-
tional relation of what hath vassed
amongst them to the younger Fry:
these verbal deliveries being always
published in their most Publick assem-
blies serve instead of our traditional
notes, by the use of letters. Some In-
dians that I have met withal have
given me a curious description of the
great Deluge, the Immortality of the
Soul, with a Pithy account of the Re-
ward of the good and wicked deeds in
the Life to come; indeed a worthy foun-
dation to build Christianity upon, were
a true Method found out, and practis’d
for the performance thereof.

Their way of Dancing is nothing but
a sort of stamping motion much like
the treading upon Founders Bellows.
Their Female Gang held their dance
for above six Hours, being all of them
like a White Lather of a running Horse
that has just come in from his race.
My Landlady was the ring leader of the
Amazons, who, ‘when in her own House,
behaved herself very discreetly and
warily, in her domestic affairs, yet cus-
tom had so infatuated her, as to almost
break her heart with dancing amongst
such a confused Rabble. During this
Dancing the spectators do not neglect
their Business, in working the loblolly
Pots, and other meat that was brought
thither; more or less of them being con-
tinually eating, whilst the others were
dancing.

Next we shall treat of the land here

abouts, which is a Marl] as red as blood,
and will lather like soap. The town
stands on this Land, which holds con-
siderably farther in the country, and is
in my Opinion, so durable that no
labour of Man, in one or two Ages,
could make it poor. Here were corn
stalks in their Fields as thick as the
small of a Man’s Leg, and they are or-
dinarily to be seen.

We lay with these Indians one night,
there being one of the largest Iron
Pots I had ever seen in America, which
I much wondered «at, because I thought
there might be no navigable stream
near that Place. I ask’d them, where
they got that Pot? They laugh’d at
my Demand, and would give me no an-
swer, which makes me guess it came
from some Wreck and that we were
nearer the Ocean or some great River
than I thought.

The next day about noon we accident-
ly met with a Southward Indian,
amongst those that us’d to trade back-
ward and forward, and spoke a little
English, whom we hir’d to go with us
to the Esaw Indians, a very large
Nation, containing many thousand peo-
ple. In the afternoon we set forward,
taking our leaves of the Wisack In-
dians, and leaving them. some Trifles.
On our Way, we met with several
Towns of Indians, each Town having its
capitol, theatre or State House, such
Houses, being found all along the road,
until you come to Sapona, and then no
more of those buildings, it being about
170 Miles. We reach’d 10 Miles this Day,
lying at another Town of the Wisacks
The Man of the House offer’d us Skins
to sell, but they were too heavy burdens
for our long Voyage.

Next morning we set out. early
breaking the Ice we met withal in the
Stony Runs, which were many. We
passed by several Cottages, and about
eight of the clock we came to a big
Town, where we took up our Quarters

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 21

in one of their State Houses, the Men
being all out, hunting in the Woods and
none but Women at Home. One of the
Women picked the Pocket of one of our
English, of the Beads, Cadis, and what
else should have gratified the Indians
for the Victuals we receiv’d of them.
She also got his shoos away which he
had made the night before, of a drest
puckskin. With much ado, we muster-
ed up another pair of shooes, of Mogi-
sons, and set forward on our intended
voyaze.

Relying wholly on Providence we
marched on. The Land held rich and
Good. In many Places there were great
Quantities of Marble. The Water was
still of a Whayish Colour. About 10 of
the Clock, we waded through a River,
(about the ‘bigness of Derwent in York-
shire) which I take to be one of the
Branches of Winjaw River. We saw
several Flocks of Pigeons, Field Fares
and Thrushes, much like those of Eu-
rope. The Indians of these parts use
sweating very much. If any Pain,
seize their Limbs or Body, immediately
they take Reeds or smiall Wands, and
bend them umbrella fashion, covering
them with skins and match coats. They
have a large Fire not far off wherein
they heat stones or (where they are
wanting) Bark; putting it into this
Stove, which casts an extraordinary
heat. There is a pot of water in the
Bagnio, in which is put a bunch of an
herb bearing a silver Tassel, not mutch
unlike the Aurea Virga. With this veg-
etable they rub the head, temple and
other parts, which is reckon’d a pre-
server of the sight, and strengthener of
the Brain. We went 'this day about 12
miles, one of our company being lame
of his Knee. We passed over an ex-
ceedingly rich Tract of Land, affording
many Great Free Stones, and Marble
Rocks, and abounding in many pleas-
ant and delightful rivulets. At Noon
we stay’d and refreshed ourselves at a

Cabin where we met with one of their
War Captains, a man of great Hsteem
among them. At his detparture from the
House, the Man of the House scratched
this War Captain on the Shoulder,
which is looked upon as a very #reat
compliment among them. The Captain
went two or three miles on our Way
with us, to direct us in the Path. One
of our Company gave him a belt, which
he took very kindly, bidding us call at
his House (which was in our road) and
stay until the Lame traveller was well,
and speaking to the Indian to order his
servant to make us welcome. Thus we
parted, he being on his journey to the
Congerees, and Savannas, a famous
warlike friendly Nation of Indians, liv-
ing to the South end of the Ashly River.
He had a man-slave with him who was
loaded with EHuropoean Goods, his wife
and Daughter being in the Company.
He told us at his departure that James
had sent Knots to all the Indians there-
abouts, for every town to send in 10
skins, meaning Capt. Moore, then Gov-
ernor of South Carolina. The Towns
being very thick hereabouts, we took
up our Quarters at one of the Chief
Men’s Houses, which was one of the
Theaters I spoke of before. There ran,
hard by this Town, a pleasant River not
very large, but as the Indians told us,
well stor’d with Fish. We being now
among the powerful nation of Hsaws,
our Landlord entertained us very cour-
teously, shewing us that night a pair
of leather gloves which he had made,
and comparing them with ours, ‘they
proved tobevery ingeniously done, con-
sidering it was the first Tryal.

In the morning he desired to see the
lame Man’s affected part, to the end
he might do something he _ believed
would give his ease. After he had view-
ed it accordingly, he pulled out an in-
strument somewhat like a comb, which
was made of split reed with 15 teeth of
rattle snakes, set at much the same

22 LAWSON’S HISTORY

distance, as in a large Horn Comb.
With this he scratched the Place where
the Lameness chiefly lay, till the blood,
came, bathing it both before and after
incision, with Warm water, spurted out
of his mouth. This done he ran into
his Plantation, and got some Sassafras
Root (which grows here in great Plen-
ty) dry’d it at the embers, scraped oif
the outward rind, and having heated it
between two stones applied it to the
part afflicted, binding it up well. Thus
in a day or two the patient became
sound. This day we pass’d through a
great many towns and settlements, that
belonged to the Sugeree Indians, no
barren land being found amongst them,
but great plenty of free-stone and good
timber. About three in the afternoon we
reached the Kadapau King’s House,
where we met with one John Stewart,
a Scot, then an Inhabitant of James
River in Virginia, who had traded there
for many years. Being alone, and hear-
ing that the Sinnagers (Indians from
Canada) were abroad in that country,
he durst not venture homewards until
he saw us, having heard that we were
coming above 20 days before. It is verv
odd that news should fly so swiftly
among these people. Mr. Stewart had
left Virginia ever sinice the October be-
fore, and had lost a day of the week,
of which we informed him. He had
brought seven horses along with him,
loaded with English goods for the In-
dians, and having sold most of his Car-
go, told us if we would stay two nights,
he would go along with us. Comvany
being very acceptable, we accepted the
proposal.

The next day we were preparing for
our voyage and baked some bread to
take with us. Our Landlord was King
of the Kadapau Indians, and always
kept two or three trading girls in his
cabin. Offering one of these to one
of our Company, who refused his Kind-
ness, bis Majesty flew into a _ violent

Passion to be thus slighted, telling the
Englishmen they were good for nothing.
Our old Gamster particularly hung his
ears at the proposal, having too lately
been a looser by that sort of Merchan-
dize. It was observable that we did
not see one partridge from the Water-
rees to this place, though my Spaniel
bitch which I had with me on this voy-
age had put up a great many before.

On Saturday morning we all set out
for Sapona, killing in this creek several
Ducks of a strange kind, having a red
circle about their Eyes, like some
Pigeons that I have seen. ‘A top-knot
reaching from their Heads almost to
the middle of their Backs, and abun-
dance of Feathers of prettv shades and
colors. They prov’d excellent meat.
Likewise here is a good store of Wood
Cocks, not so big as those in England,
the feathers of the Breast, being of a
Carnation Colour, exceeding ours for
delicacy of Food. The Marble here is
of different Colours, some or other of
the rocks presenting most mixtures, but
chiefly the white having black and blue
veins in it, and some that are red. This
day we met with seven Heaps of
Stones, being the Monuments of seven
Indians, that were slain in that place
by the Sinnagers, or Iroquois. Our
Indian Guide added a stone to each
Heap. We took up our Lodgings near a
brook side, where the Virginia man’s
Horses got away, and went back to the
Kadanaus.

This day one of our Company with
a Sapona Indian, who attended Stewart,
went back for the Horses. In the mean
time we went to shoot Pigeons, which
were so numerous in these Paris, that
youmight see many Millions in a Flock.
They sometimes split off the limbs of
stout Oaks and other trees, upon
which they roost o’ Nights. You
may find several Indian Towns of
not above seventeen Houses, that
have more than 100 gallons of

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 23

Pigeon Oil or Fat, they using it with
Pulse or Bread as we do Butter, and
making the ground as white as a skeet
with their Dung. The Indians take a
light and go among them in the night,
and bringing away with them some
thousand, killing them with long poles
as they roost in the trees. At this time
of year, the flocks as they pass by, ob-
struct the light of the day.

On Monday we went about 25 Miles,
traveling through a pleasant dry coun-
try, and took up our lodgings by a hill
side, that was one entire Rock, out of
which gushed out pleasant fountains of
well tasted Water.

The next day, still passing along such
land as we had done for many days, be-
fore, which was Hills and Vallies, about
10 a’Clock we reached the ton of one of
these Mountains, which yielded us a
very fine prospect of a very pleasant
country, holding so on all sides further
than we could discern. When we came
to travel through it we found it. verv
stiff and rich, being a sort of Marl. This
valley afforded as large Timber as any
I have met withal, especially of chest-
nuts and Oak Timbers which render it
an excellent country for raising great
herds of swine. Indeed, were it culti-
vated, we might have good hopes of as
pleasant and fertile a valley, as any our
English in America can afford. At
night we lay by a Swift current where
we saw plenty of Turkies, but perched
upon such lofty oaks that our guns
would not kill them, tho’ we shot very
often and our guns were very good.
Some of our Company shot several
Times at one Turkey before he would
fly away, the pieces being loaded with
large Goose Shot.

Next Morning we got our Breakfast,
roasted acorns being one of the dishes.
The Indians beat them into Meal and
thickened their Venison Broath with
them; and oftimes make a palatable
soop. They are used instead of bread,

boiling them until the Oil swims on top
of the Water, which they preserve for
use, eating the Acorns with Flesh meat.
We Traveled this day about 25 miles,
over pleasant Savanna Grounds, high
and Dry, having very few trees upon
it, and those standing at a great dis-
tance. The Land was very good and
free from Grubs or Underwood. A man
near Sapona may more easily clear 10
acres of Ground, than in some places he
can one, there being much loose stone
upon the Land, lying very convenient
for making dry Walls, and other sort
of durablefences. Thiscountry abounds
likewise with Curious bold Creeks (nav-
igable for small craft disgorging them-
selves into the Main Rivers, that vent
themselves into the Ocean. These
Creeks are well stored with sundry
sorts of Fish and Fowl, and are very
convenient for the transportation of
what commodities this place may pro-
duce. This night we had a great deal
of Rain, with Thunder and Lightning.

Next morning it proving delicate
weather, three of us separated our-
selves from the Horses, and the rest of
the Company and went direct to Sa-
pona Town. That day we passed thro’
a delicious Country, (none that I ever
saw exceeds it). We saw fine-bladed
grass, 6 foot High, along the Banks of
these pleasant rivulets. We passed by
the Sepulchres of several slain Indians.
Coming that day about 30 Miles we
reached the pleasant Banks of Sapona
River, wlereon stands the Indian Town
and Fort, nor could all England afford
a pleasenter Stream, were it inhabited
by Christians, and cultivated by ingen-
ious Hands. These Indians live in a
clear Field, about a Mile square, which
they would have sold me _ because I
talked sometimes about coming into
those parts to live. This pleasant River
may be sometimes larger than the
Thames at Kingston, keeping a contin-
ual pleasant Noise, with its reverberat-

24 LAWSON’S HISTORY

ing on the bright Marble rocks. It is
beautiful with a numerous train of
Swans, and other sorts of Water Fowl,
not common though extraordinarly
pleasing to the Eye. The forward
Spring welcomed us with her innumera-
ble train of small Choristers, which in-
habit those fair banks; the Hills re-
doubling, and adding sweetness to their
Melodious tunes, by ‘their shrill echoes.
One side of the River is hemmed in with
Mountainy Ground, the other side prov-
ing as rich a soil to the eve of a know-
ing person with us, as any this Western
World can afford. We took up our
Quarters at the King’s Cabin, who was
a good Friend to the English, and had
lost one of his Eyes in their Vindica-
tion. Being upon his march towards the
Appalatche Mountains, amongst ua tribe
of Indians in their Way, there happen-
ing a difference while they were meas-
uring of gun Powder; and the Powder
by accident taking Fire blew out one of
this King’s Eyes, and did a great deal
more mischief upon the spot; Yet this
Sapona King stood firmly to the Eng-
Jishman’s Interest, with whom he was
in Company, still siding with him
against the Indians. They were intend-
ed for the South Sea, but were too
much fatigued by the vast ridge of
Mountains, tho’ they hit the right pas-
Sage; it being no less than 5 days jour-
ney through a ledge of Rocky Hills and
Sandy deserts. And which is yet worse
there is no Water, nor scarce a bird to
be seen, during your Passage over these
barren Crags and Valleys. The Sanona
River proves to be the west Branch of
Cape Fair, or Clarendon River, whose
inlet with other advantages, makes it
appear as noble a River to plant a Col-
ony in, aS any I have met withal.

The Saponas had (about 10 days be-
fore we came thither) taken five prison-
ers of the Sinnagers, or Jennitos, a sort
of People that range several thousand
of Miles, making all Prey they lay

their hands on. These are feared by all
the Savage Nations I was among, the
Westward Indians dreading their ap-
proach. They are all sorted in, and
keep continual Spies and Out Guards
for their better Security. Those Cap-
tives they did intend to burn, few Pris-
oners of War escaping their punish-
ment. The Fire of Pitch-Pine being got
ready and a Feast appointed, which is
solemnly kept at the time of their act-
ing this Tragedy, the sufferer has his
body stuck thick with lightwood splin-
ters, which are lighted by so many can-
dles, the tortured person dancing round
a great Fire, till his strength fails, and
disables him from making them any
further pastime. Most commonly these
wretches behave themselves (In the
Midst of their Tortures) with a great
Deal of Bravery and Resolution, es-
teeming it satisfaction enough, to be
assured that the same Fate will befall
some of their Tormentors, whenever
they fall into the Hands of their Na-
tion. More of this you will have in the

other sheets.

The Toteros, a neighboring Nation,
came down from the Westward Moun-
tains, to the Saponas, desiring them to
give them those Prisoners into their
Hands, to the intent they might send
them, back to their own Nation, being
bound in gratitude to be servicable to
the Sinnagers, since not long ago those
Northern Indians had taken some of
the Toteros Prisoners, and done them
no harm, but treated them Civilly
whilst among them, sending them with
safety back to their Own people, and
affirming that it would be the _ best
Method to preserve Peace on all sides.
At that Time, these Toteros, Saponas
and the Keyauwees, 3 small Nations,
were going to live together, by which
they thought they would strengthen
themselves and become formidable to
their Enemies. The reasons offered by
the Toteros being heard the Sapona

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 25

King with the consent of his Council-
lors, delivered the Sinnagers up to the
Toteros, to conduct them Home.

Friday Morning the old King having
shewed us two of his Horses that were
as Fat as if thev had belonged to the
Dutch Trooners, left us and went to
look after his Bever-Traps, there being
abundance of those amphibious Ani-
mals in this River, and the Creeks Ad-
joining. Taken with the Pleasantness
of the Place, we walked along the
River-side, where we found a very de-
lightful Island, made by the River, and
a Branch, there being several such
plots of Ground environ’d with this Sil-
ver Stream, which are fit pastures for
Sheep, and free from any offensive
Vermin. Nor can anything be desired
by a contented mind, as to a Pleasant
Situation, but what may be found here;
every step presenting some new object
which still adds Invitation to the Trav-
eller in these Parts. Our Indian King
and his Wife entertained us very re-
spectfully.

On Saturday the Indians brought us
Some Swans and Geese, which we Had
our share of. One of their Doctors took
me to this Cabin of his and showed me
a great lot of Medicinal Drugs, the
produce of those Parts; Relating their
Qualities as to the Emunctories they
work’d by, and what great Maladies he
had cured by them. This evening icame
to us the Horses, with the remainder of
our Company, their Indian Guide (who
Weis a Youth of this Nation) having
Killed in their Way 'a very Fat Doe
part of which they brought to us. .

This Day the King sent out all his
Able Hunters to kill Same for a great
Feast, that was to be kent at their De-
parture from the Town, which they of-
fered to sell me for a small matter.
That piece of ground with a little
trouble could make an Englishman a
most curious Settlement, containing
above a Mile of rich land. This even-

ing came down some Toteros, tall likely
men, having great quantities of Buffa-
loes, Elks and Bears, with other sort of
Deer amongst them, which strong Food
makes large, robust bodies. HEnquiring
of them if they never got any of the
Bezoar Stone, and giving them a de-
seription how it was found, the Indians
told me they had a great plenty of it;
and ask’d me what use I could make of
it, I answered them that the White men
used it as Physick, and that I would
buy some of them, if they would get it
against I came that way again. There-
upon one of them pulled out a leather
pouch wherein was some of it in Pow-
der; he was a notable hunter, and af-
firmed to me that that powder blown
into the Eyes strengthened the Sight
and Brain exceedingly, that being the
most common use they made of it. I
bought for 2 or 3 flints a large Peach
Loaf, made up with a pleasant sort of
seed, and this did us a singular kind-
ness in our journey. Near the Town
within their cleared land are’ several
Bagnios, or Sweating Houses, made of
stone in shape like a large oven; these
they make much use of, especially for
any pain in the joints, got by cold or
travelling. At night as we lay in our
beds there arose the most violent N. W.
Wind I ever knew. The first Puff blew
down all the Palisadoes that fortified
the town, and I thought it would have
blown us all into the River, together
with the Houses. Our one-eyed King,
who pretends much to the Art of Con-
juration, ran out in the most violent
Hurry, and in the middle of the Town
fell to his Necromantick Practise; tho’
I thought he would have been blown
away or killed, before the Devil and he
could have exchanged half a dozen
words; but in two Minutes the Wind
had ceased and it became as Great a
Calm, as I ever knew in my Life. As I
much admired at that sudden altera-
tion, the old man told me the Devil was

26 LAWSON’S HISTORY

very angry and had done thus, because
they had not put the Sinnagers. to
Death.

On Monday Morning our whole Com-
pany, with the Horses,set out from the
Sapona Indian town, after having seen
some of the Locust, which is gotten
thereabouts, the same sort that ‘bears
Honey. Getting over several Creeks
very ‘convenient for Water Mills, about
8 Miles from the Town, we passed over
a very pretty River, called Rock River,
a fit name, having a ridge of high
Mountains running from its Banks to
the Eastward, and disgorging itself in
the Sapona River; so that there is a
most pleasant and convenient Neck of
Land betwixt both Rivers ly ng upona
Point, where many thousand acres may
be fenced in, without much cost or la-
bour. You can scarce go a Mile with-
out meeting with one of these small
Currents, here being no Swamps to be
found, but pleasant dry roads all over
the Country. The way that we went
this day was full of Stones, as any
which Craven, in the West of Yorkshire,
could afford, and having nothing but
moggisons on my feet, I was so lamed
by this way, that I thought I must
have taken up some stay in those parts.
We went this Day not above 15 or 20
Miles. After we had supped and all lay
down to sleep, there came a Wolf close
to the Fireside, where we lay. My
Spaniel soon discovered him, at which
one of our Company fired a gun at the
Beast; but I believe there was a mis-
take in the loading of it, for it did him
no harm. The Wolf stayed until he had
almost loaded again, but the Bitch
making a great noise at last he left us
and went aside. We had no sooner lav
down when he approached us again, vet
was more shy, so that we could not
get a shot at him.

Next day we had 15 Miles further to
the Keyauwees. The land is more moun-
tainous but extremely pleasent, and an

excellent place for the breeding of
Sheep, Goats and Horses; or Mules, if
the English were once brought to the
experience of the usefullness of those
Creatures. The Valleys here are very
rich. At noon, we plassed over such an-
other Stony River, as that eight Miles
from Sapona. This is called Highwaree,
and affords as good Blue stone for Mill
stones, as that from Cologne, good
Rags, some Hones, and large Pebbles
in great abundance, besides free stone
of several sorts, all very useful. I knew
one of these Hones made use of by an
Acquaintance of mine, and it. proved
rather better than any other from old
Spain, or elsewhere. The veins of mar-
ble are very large and curious on this
River, and the Banks thereof.

Five ‘Miles from this River to the N.
W. stands the Keyauwee’s Town. They
are fortified in with Wooden Punch-
eons, like Sapona, being a People much
of the same Number. Nature hath so
fortify’d this Town with Mountains,
that were it a Great Seat of War. it
might easily be made impregnable, hav-
ing large corn fields joining to their
Cabins, and a Savanna near the Town,
at the foot of these Mountains, that is
capable of keeping some hundreds of
heads of Cattle. And all this environ’d
round with very High Mountains, so
that no hard Wind ever troubles these
inhabitants. These high clifts have no
grass growing on them, and very few
Trees, which are very short and stand
at a great distance from each other.
The earth is a red Colour, and seems to
me to be wholly designed by Nature for
the production of Minerals, being of too
hot a Quality to suffer any verdure up-
on its surface. These Indians make
use of red ore to paint their Faces with-
al, which they get in the Neighboring
Mountains. As for the refinement of
Metals the Indians are wholly ignorant
of this, being content with the Realgar.
But if it be mv chance once more to

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 27

visit these Hilly parts, I shal} make a
longer stay amongst them; For were a
good vein of Lead found out, and
worked by an ingenious Hand, it might
be of no small advantage to the under-
taker, there being great convenience for
smelting, either by Bellows or Rever-
beration; and the working of these
mines might discover some that are
much richer.

At the top of one of these Mountains
is a Cave that 100 Men sit very
conveniently to dine in; whether nat-
ural or artificial I could not learn.
There is a fine Bole between this place
and the Saps. These Valleys thus
hemmed in with Mountains would
doubtless prove a good Place for propa-
gating some sort of fruits, that our
easterly Winds commonly blast. The
vine could not miss of thriving well
here; but we of the Northern Climate
are neither ‘Artists nor Curious, in
propagating that pleasant and profit-
able vegetable. Near the Town is such
another Current as Heighwaree. We
being six in Company divided ourselves
into two parties; and it was my lot to
be at the House of Kayauwees Jack,
who is King of that People. He is a
Congeree Indian and ran awav when he
was a boy. He got this Government by
marriage with the Queen, the Female
issue carrying the Heritage for fear of
Imposters; the Savages well knowing
how much Frailty possesses the Indian
Women betwixt the Garters and the
Girdle.

Next day having some occasion to
write, the Indian King, who saw me,
believed that he could write as well as
I. Whereupon I wrote a word and gave
it to him to copy, which he did with
more exactness than any European
could have done, that was illiterate. It
was so well that he who could have
read mine might have done the same
‘by his. Afterwards he took great de-
light in making fish-hooks of his own

* some

invention which would have been a
good Piece for an Antiquary to have
puzzled bis brains withal, in tracing
out the Characters of all the oriental
Tongues. He sent for several Indians
to his Cabin to look at his handywork
and both he and they thought I could
read his writing as well as I could my
own. I had a Manual in my pocket
that had King David’s Picture in it,
and in one of his Private retirements.
The Indian asked me who that Indian
represented? I told him that it was the
Picture of a good King that lived ac-
cording to the rules of Morality, doing
all as he would be done by, ordering all
his life to the service of the Creator of
all things; and being now above us in
Heaven with God Almighty, who had
rewarded him with ail the delightfui
pleasures imaginable in the other
World, for his Obedience to him in this.
I concluded with telling him that we re-
ceived nothing bere below, as Food,
Raiment, etc., but what came from the
Omnipotent Being. They listened to my
Discourse with a profound Silence, as-
suring me that they believed what lL
said to be true. No man living will
ever be able to make these Heathens
sensible to the Happiness of a future
state, except he now and then mentions
lively carnal Representation,
which may quicken their apprehensions,
and make them thirst after such a
gainful exchange; for were the best
lecture that ever was preached by man
given to an ignorant sort of people, in
a more learned style then their mean
capacities are able to understand, the
Intent would prove ineffectual, and the
Hearers would be left in a _ greater
Labyrinth than their Teacher found
them in. But dispense the Precepts of
our Faith according to the Pupil’s ca-
pacity, and there is nothing in our Re-
ligion but what an indifferent reason is
in some measure able to comprehend
tho’ a New England Minister blames

28 LAWSON’S HISTORY

the French Jesuits for this wav of vro-
ceeding, as being quite ‘contrary to the
true Christian Practise, and affirms it
to be no ready or true Method, to es-
tablish a lively representation of our
Christian Belief amongst these Infidels.

All the Indians hereabouts carefully
preserve the bones of the Flesh thev
eat, and burn them, as being of opinion
that if they Omitted that Custom, the
Game would leave their country, and
they would not be able to Maintain
themselves by Hunting. Most of these
Indians wear Mustaches, or Whiskers,
which is rare; by reason the Indians
are a people that commonly pull the
Hair of their Faces, and other parts
up by the Roots and suffer None to
grow. Here is plenty of Chestnuts,
which are rarely found in Carolina, and
never near the Sea or Salt Water, tho’
they are frequently in such places in
Virginia.

At the other House where our Fellow-
Travellers lay, they had provided a
Dish in great Fashion among the In-
dians, which was two young Fawns,
taken out of the Doe’s Bellies, and boil-
ed in the same slimy bags Nature had
provided them in, and one of the Coun-
try Hares stewed with the Guts in her
belly, \and her skin with the Hair on.
This new-found cookery wrought Ab-
stinence in our Fellow-Travellers,
which I somewhat wondered at, because
one of them made nothing of eating
allegators, as heartily as if it had been
Pork and Turnips. These Indians dress-
ed most things after the Wood-Cock
fashion, never taking the guts out. At
the House we lay iat there was good en-
tertainment of Venison, Turkies and
Bears; and which is customary among
the Indians, the Queen had a Daughter
by a Former Husband, who was the
beautifulest Indian I ever saw, and had
an Air of Majesty with her, quite con-
trary to the general Carriage of the In-
dians. She was very kind to the Eng-

lish during our abode, as well as her
Father and Mother.

This Morning most of our Company
having some inclination to go straight
away for Virginia, when they left this
Place; I and one more took our leaves
of them, resolving, (with God’s Leave)
to see North Carolina, one of the In-
dians seiting us in our Way. The rest
being indifferent which way they went,
desired us by all means to leave a let-
ter for them at the Achonechy-Town.
The Indian that put us in our Path had
been a Prisoner amongst the Sinnagers,
but had outrun them, altho’ they had
cut his toes, and half his feet away.
which is a practice common amongst
them. They first raise the Skin, eut
away half the feet, and so wrap, the
Skin over the stumps and so make a
perfect cure of the Wound. This com-
monly disables them from making their
escape, they being not so good travellers
as before, and the impression of their
half-feet making it easy to trace them.
However, ‘this Fellow was got clear of
them, but had little heart to go far
from home, and carried always a case
of Pistols in his Girdle, besides a Cut-
lass and Fuzee. Leaving the rest of
our Company at the Indian Town, we
travel’d that Day about 20 Miles in very
Cold, Frosty Weather, and passed over
two pretty Rivers, something bigger
than Heighwaree, but not quite so
Stony. We took ‘these two rivers to
make one of the Northward branches of
Cape Fair River, but afterwards found
our Mistake.

The next Day we travelled over very
good Land, but full of Free Stone, and
Marble which pinched our Feet severe-
ly. We took up our quarters at a sort of
Savanna Ground, that had very few
Trees init. The land was good and had
several Quarries of Stone, but not
Loose \as the others used to be.

Next Morning we got our Breakfast
of Parched Corn, having nothing but

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 29

that to subsist on for 100 Miles. AI] the
Pine Trees had Vanished, for we had
seen none for two days. We pas’d thro’
a Delicate Rich Soil this Day; no great
Hills but pretty Risings and Levels,
which made a beautiful country. We
likewise passed over three Great Rivers
this Day; the First about the bigness of
Rocky River, the other not much dif-
fering in Size. Then we made not the
least Question, but we had passed over
the North West Branch of the Cave
Fair, travelling that day above 30
Miles. We were much taken with the
Fertility and Pleasantness of the Neck
of Land between these two Brianches,
and no less pleased that we had passed
the River, which used to frighten Pas-
sengers from fording it. At last, deier-
mining to rest on the other side of the
Hill, which we saw before us; when we
were on the top thereof there appeared
to us such another Celic’ous, rapid
stream, as that of the Sapona, hiaving
large Stones, about the bigness of an
ordinary House, lying up and down the
River. As the wind blew cold at the
N. W. and we were very wearv and
hungry, the Swiftness of the Current
gave us some cause to fear; but at last
we concluded to venture over that
night. Accordingly we_ stripped, and
with great difficulty (by God’s assist-
ance) got safe to the north side of the
famous Hau River, by some called
Reatkin; the Indians differing in the
names of places, according to their sev-
eral Nations. It is called Hau River
from the Sissipahau Indians, who dwell
upon this Stream, which is one of the
Main Branches of Cape Fair River,
there being Rich Land enough to con-
tain some thousands of Families; for
which reason I hope in a short time it
will be Planted. This River is much
such another as Saponia; both seeming
to run a vast way up the Country.
Here is good Timber, especially of a
Scaly-Bark’d Oak; And as there js

Stone enough in both Rivers, and the
Land is extraordinary Rich, No Man
that will be content within the Pounds
of Reason, can have any grounds to
dislike it. And they that are otherwise,
are the best Neighbours, when farthest
off.

As soon as it was Day we set out for
the Achonechy Town, it being by esti-
mation 20 Miles off, which, I believe, is
pretty exact. We were got about half
Way, (meeting great Gangs of Turkies)
when we saw at a distance 30 loaded
Horses, coming on the road, with four
or five Men, on other Jades, driving
them. We charg’d our Piece, and went
up to them, Enquiring whence they
came from? They told us, from Vir-
ginia. The leading Man’s name was
Massey, who was born about Leeds in
Yorkshire. He asked from whence we
game. We told him. Then he asked
again, Whether we wanted anything
that he had? telling us that we should
be welcome to it. We accepted of two
Wheaten Biscuits and a little ammuni-
tion; He advised us by all means toa
strike down the country for Ronoack,
and not think of Virginia, because the
Sinnagers, of whom they were afraid,
tho’ so well armed and numerous. They
persuaded us also to call on one Enoe
Will, as we went to Adshusheer, for
that he would conduct us safe among
the English, giving him the character
of a very faithful Indian, which we af-
terwards found true by experienice. The
Virginia Men asked our Opinion of the
Country we were then in? We told
them it was a very pleasant one. They
were all of the same opinion, and af-
firmed That they had never seen 20
Miles of such extraordinary rich Land,
lying all together, like that betwixt
Hau River and the Achonechy Town.
Having taken our leaves of each other
we set forward; and the country thro’
which we passed was so delightful that
it gave us a great deal of satisfaction.

30 LAWSON’S HISTORY

About three a Clock we reached the
town, and the Indians presently
brought us a good fat Bear, and Veni-
son, which was very acceptable at that
time. Their Cabins were hung with a
Good Sort of Tapestry, as Fat Bear,
and Barbakued or dried Venisen; no In-
dians having greater plenty of provis-
ions than these. The Savages, do in-
deed, still posess the Flower of Caro-
lina; the English enjoying only the
Fag-end of that country. We had not
been in the Town two Hours when
Enoe-Will came into the King’s Cabin;
which was our Quarters. We ask’d him
if he would conduct us ‘to the English,
and what he would have for his vains;
he answered that he would go along
with us, and for what he was to have
he left that to our discretion.

(“\ The next Morning we set out with

Enoe-Will towards Adshusheer, leaving
the Virginia Path and striking more to
the Eastward for Ronoack. Sevenal In-
dians were in our Company belonging
to Will’s Nation, who are the Shocco-
ries, mixed with ‘the Eno Indians, and
those of the Nation of Adshusheer.
Enoe-Will is their chief Man, and rules
as far as the Banks of Reatkin. It was
a bad stony Way, to Adshusheer. We
went over a small River by Achonechy,
and in this 14 Miles, ‘thro’ several other
streams, which empty themselves into
the Branches of the Cape Fair. The
Stony Way made me quite Lame, so
that I was an Hour or two behind the
rest, but Honest Will would not leave
me, but bid me welcome when we came
to his House, feasting us with Hot
Bread and Bear’s Oil; which is whole-
some Food for Travellers. There runs
a Pretty Rivulet by this Town. Near
the Plantation, I saw a Prodigious
overgrown Pinetree, having not seen
any of that kind of timber for over 125
Miles. They brought us two Cocks, and
pull’d their larger Feathers off, never
cutting the lesser, but singeing them off,

I tock one of these Fowls in my Hand
to make it cleaner than the Indian had,

pulling out his guts and liver, which I

laid in a Basin; notwithstanding which,
he kept such a struggling for a consid-
erable Time, that I had much ado to
hold him in my Hands. The Indians
laughed at me, and told me that Enoe-
Will had taken a Cock of an _ Indian
that was not at Home, and the Fowl
was design’d for another Use. I con-
jectured that he was designed for an
offering to their God, who they say
hurts them, (which is ithe Devil). In his
struggles he bled afresh, and there is-
sued out of his body more blood than
commonly such Creatures afford. Not-
withstanding all this, we cooked him
and eat him, and if he was designed for
him, cheated the Devil. The Indians
kept many Cocks, but seldom above one
hen, using very such often wicked
Sacrifices as I mistrusted this
Fowl was design’d for. Our. guide
and Landlord, Enoe-Will, was of
the best and most agreeable
Temper I ever met with in an In-
dian, being always ready to serve the
English, not out of Gain, but real Af-
fection; which makes him apprehensive
of being poisoned by some wicked In-
dians, and was therefore very earnest
with me, to promise him to revenge his
death should it so happen. He brought
some of his chief Men into his Cabin,
and two of them having a Drum and a
Rattle, sung by us as we laid in bed,
and struck up their music to serenade
and welcome us to their Town. And
tho’ at last we fell asleep, yet they con-
tinued their Consert until morning.
These Indians are fortified in as the
former, and are much addicted to a
sport they call Chenco, which is carried
on with a Staff and Bowl made of stone,
which they trundle upon a smooth
place, like a Bowling Green, made for
that purpose as I mentioned before.
Next Morning we set out with our

OF NORTH CAROLINA. ae

Guide and several other Indians, who
intended to go to the English and buy
rum. We designed for a Nation about
40 Miles from Adshusheer, gaalled the
Lower Quarter; the First Night we lay
in a Rich Perkoson, or Low Ground,
that was hard by a Creek, and good
dry Land.

The next day we went over several
rich Tracts of Land, but mixed with
Pine and other indifferent Soil. In our
Way there stood a large stone about the
size ef a large Oven, ana Hollow. This
the Indians took great notice of, put-
ting some Tobacco into the concavity.
and spitting after it. I asked them the
reason of their so doing, but they made
me no answer. In the evening we pass’d
over a pleasant Rivulet, with a fine
Gravelly bottom, having come over
such another that morning. On _ the
other side of this river we found the
Indian town, which was a Parcel of
nasty, smoaky holes, much like the
Wateerees; their town having a great
Swamp running directly through the
Middle thereof. The Land here begins
to abate of its height, and has some
few Swamps. Most of these Indians
have but one eye; but what Mischance
or quarrel has bereaved them of the
other I could not learn. They were not
so free to us as most of the other In-
dians had been; Victuals being some-
what scarce to them. However, we got
enought to satisfy our appetites. I saw
amongst these men very long Arrows,
headed with pieces of Glass, which they
had broken from bottles. They had
shaped them neatly like the head of a
dart, but which way they did it I can’t
tell. We had not been at this Town
above an Hour, when two of our com-
pany who had brought a mare of John
Stewart, came up to us, having receiv-
ed a letter by one of Will’s Indians,
who was cautious and asked a great
many questions to certifie him of the
person,e’er he would deliver the letter.

They had left the trader and one that
came from South Carolina with us to
go to Virginia, these two being resolved
to go to Carolina with us.

This day fell much rain, so we stayed
at the Indian Town. ¥

This morning we set out early, being
four Englishmen besides several In-
dians. We went 10 Miles, and were
then stopped by the Freshness of the
Enoe River, which had raised it so high
that we could not pass over, till it was
fallen. I enquired of my guide where
this river disgorged itself; He said it
was the Enoe River, and ran into a
place call’d Enoe Bay near his country,
which he left when he was a boy: by
which I perceived that he was one of
the Corees by birth; this being a branch
of Neus River.

This day our fellow tnaveller’s Mare
ran away from him; wherefore Will
went back as far as the lower Quarter,
and brought her back.

The next day early came two Tus-
keraro Indians to the other side of the
river, but could not get over. They
talked much to us, but we understood
them not, In the afternoon Will came
with the Mare and had some discourse
with them; they told him, the English
to which he was going were very wick-
ed people, and that they threatened the
Indians for hunting near their Planta-
tions. These two fellows were among
the Schoccores and Achonechy Indians,
to sell their Wooden Bowls and Ladles
for Raw-Skins, which they mike great
advantage of, hating that any of these.

Western Indians should have their
commerce with the English, which
would prove a Hinderance to their

Gains. Their Stories deterr’d an old In-
dian and his son, from going any fur-
ther, but Will told us nothing thev
should say would frighten him, he be-
lieving them to be a couvle of Hog-
Stealers; and that the English onlv
sought restitution of their losses by

32 LAWSON’S HISTORY

them, and that this was the onlv
ground for their report. Will had a
slave, a Sissipahau Indian by Nation,
who killed us several Turkies and other
game, on which we feasted.

The River is near as large as Reatkin;
the south side having curious tracts of
good Land, the banks high, and stone
Quarries. The Tuskeruros, being come
to us we ventured over the river, which
we found to be a strong current, and
Water about Breast high. However
we all got safe 'to the North Shore,
which is but poor, white, sandy Land,
‘and bears no timber, but small shrubby
oaks. We went about 10 Miles and sat
down at the falls of a large creek,
where lay mighty Rocks, the Water
making a strange Noise as if a greai
many Water-Mills were going tat once.
I take this to be the falls of the Neus-
Creek, called by the Indians the Wee
quo Whom. We lay here all night. My
guide Will desiring to see the book that
I had about me, I lent it to him; and
as soon as he saw the picture of
King David, he asked me several Ques-
tions concerning the book, (and picture,
which I resolv’d him, and invited him
to become a Christian. He made me »«
very sharp reply, assuring me that he
loved the English extraordinarily well,
and did believe their ways to be very
good for those that had always prac-
tised them, and had been brought up
therein, but that for himself, jhe was
too much in years to think of a change,
esteeming it not proper for old People
to admit such an Alteration. However
he told me that if I would take his son
Jack, who was then about 14 years of
age, and teach him to talk in that Book,
and make paper speak, which they call
our Way of Writing, he would whollv
resign him to my tuition; telling me he
was of opinicn, I was very well affected
to the Indians.

The next Morning we set out early.
and I perceived these Indians were in

some fear of Enemies; for they had an:
old man with them who was very
cunning and circumspect, wheresoever
he saw any Marks of Footing or anv
Fire that had been Made, going out
of his Way very often to look for these
marks. We went this day above 30
Miles, over a very Level country and
Most Pine land, yet intermixed with
some quantities of Marble; a good
range for Cattle though very indifferent
for Swine. We here now lost our rapid.
streams and were come to slow, dead
Waters, of a brown color, proceeding
from the Swamps, much like the
Sluices in Holland, where the Track
Scoots go along. In the afternoon we
met two Tuskereros, who told us that
there was a Company of Hunters not
far off, and if we walked stoutly we
might reach them that night. But Will
and he that owned the Mare, being
gone before, and the old Indian tired,
we rested that night in the Woods,
making a good light Fire, Wood being
very plentiful in these parts.

The next Morning about 10 o’clock
we struck out of the Way, by advice of
our old Indian. We had not gone2 Miles
e’er we met with 500 Tuskerercs in one
Hunting Quarter. They had made
themselves streets of houses built with
Pine Bark, not with round tops as
they commonly use, but Ridge Fash-
ion, after the manner of ‘most other
Indians. We got nothing amongst
them but corn, Flesh being not plenti-
ful by reason of the great number of
their people. For tho’ they tare expert
hunters, yet they are too populous for
one Range, which makes Venison very
searce to what it is amongst other
Nations, that are fewer, no savages
living so well for Plenty as those liv-
ing near the sea. I saw amongst these
a Hump-Backed Indian, which was the
only Crooked one I ever saw _ withal.
About two a Clock we reached one of
their Towns, in which there was no-

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 33

body left but an old Woman or two, the
rest being gone to their Hunting Quar-
ters. We could find no provision at
that place. We had a Tuskerero that
came in company with us from the
lower Quarter, who took us to his

Cabin and gave us what it afforded,

which was corn-meal.

* 'This day we passed through several
swamps, and going not above a dozen
Miles came to a Cabin, the Master
whereof used to trade amongst the
English. He told us, if we would staw
two Nights, he would conduct us safe
to them, himself designing at that time
to go and get some Rum; so we re-
solved to tarry for his company. Dur-
ing our stay, there happened to be a
young Woman troubled with Fits. The
doctor who was sent for to assist her,
laid her on her belly, and made a small
incision with Rattle Snake Teeth, then
laying his mouth to the place he sucked
out near a quart of black conglutinated
Blood, and Serum. Our Landlord gave
us the Tail of a Beaver, which was a
choice food. There happened also to
be a burial of one of them, which cer-
emony is much the same as that of the
Santees, who make a great Feast at the
Interment of their Corps. The small
runs of water hereabout, afford great
plenty of Craw-fish, full as large as
those in England, and nothing inferior
to their Goodness.

Sunday Morning our Patron, with
Enoe-Will, and his servant, set out
with us for the English. In the after-
noon we ferried over a River in a
Canoe, called by the Indians Chattoo-

kau, which is the N. W. Branch of
Neus River. We lay in the Swamp,
where some Indians invited us to go to
their Quarters, which some of our
Company accepted, but got nothing ex-
traordinary except a dozen ‘Miles 'March
out of their Way. ‘The country here is
very thick of Indian Towns and Plan-
tations.

We were forced to march this way
for want of provisions. About 10 o’clock
we met an Indian that had got a Par-
cel of Shad fish ready barbakued. We
bought 24 of them for a dress’d doe
skin, and so went on through many
swamps, finding this Day the long
ragged Moss on the Trees, which we
had not seen for above 600 Miles. In
the afternoon we came upon the banks
of Pampticough, about 20 Miles above
the Emglish Plantations by Water,
though not so far by Land. The
Indian found a Canoe which he had
hidden, and we all got over, and went
about six Miles farther. We lay that
night under two or three Pieces of
Bark, at the foot of a large Oak. There
fell abundance of Snow and Rain in the
Night, with much thunder and light-
ning.

Next day it cleared up, and it being
about 12 miles to the English, about
half-way we passed over a deep creek,
and came safe to Mr. Richard Smith’s,
of Pampticough River, in North Caroli-
na, where being well received by thein-
habitants, and being well pleased with
the goodness of the country, we all re-
solved to continue.

Finis.

CHAPTER GE:

The Province of Carolina is separat-
ed from Virginia by a Due West Line,
which begins at Currituck Inlet, in 36
degrees, 30 minutes, of Northern Lat-
fjtude, and extends indefinitely to the
Westward, and thence to the South-
ward, as far as 29 Degrees, which is a
vast amount of Sea Coast. But having
already treated as far as is necessary.
concerning South Carolina, I shall con-
fine myself in the ensuing Sheets, to
give my reader a description of that
part of the country only which lies be-
tween Currituck and Cape Fair River,
andis almost 34 degrees North. And
this is commonly called North Caro-
lina.

This part of Carolina is faced with a
chain of Sand Banks, which defends it
from the violence and Insults of the
Atlantic Ocean, by which biarrier ia vast
Sound is hemmed in, which fronts the
Mouths of the Navigable Pleasant
Rivers of this Fertile Country, and in-
to which they disgorge themselves.
Thro’ the same are inlets of several
depths of Water. Some of these Chan-
nels admit only of Sloops, Brigiantines,
small Barks and Ketches; and _ such
are Currituck, Ronoak, and the Sound
above Hatteras; whilst others can re-
eeive Ships of Burden, as Odcacock,
Topsail Inlet, and Cape Fair, as ap-
pears by my chart.

The first discovery and settlement of
this country was by the Procurement
of Sir Walter Raleigh, in conjunction
with some public spirited Gentlemen of
that Age, under the Protection of
Queen Elizabeth, for which reason it
was then named Virginia, being begun
on that part named Ronoak Island,
where the ruins of a Fort are to be
seen to this day, as well as some old

English Coins which have been latelv
found; and a Brass Gun, one Powder
Horn, and one small quarter-deck gun,
made of Iron Staves, and hooped with
the same metial; which method of mak-
ing guns might very probably be made
use of in those days; for the Conven-
ience of Infant Colonies.

A farther confirmation of this we
have from the Hateras Indians, who
either then lived on Ronoak Island, or
much frequented it. These tell us that
Several of their ancestors were white
People, and could talk in a Book, as
we do; the truth of which is confirmed
by grey Eyes being found frequently
amongst these Indians, and no others.
They value themselves extremely for
their Affinity to the English, and are
ready to do them fall friendly offices. it
is probable that this settlement mis-
carried for want of timely supplies
from England, or thro’ the treachery
of the Natives, for we 'may reasonably
suppose that the English were forced
to co-habit with them for relief and
conversation, and that in process of
Time, they conformed themselves to
the Manners of their Indian Relations.
And thus we see how apt Human
Nature is to degenerate.

I cannot forbear inserting here a
pleasant story that passes for an un-
contested Truth amongst the Inhabi-
tants of this Place; which is that the
Ship which brought the first Colonies,
does often appear amongst them under
sail, in a gallent Posture, which they
eall Sir Walter Raleigh’s Ship; and
the truth of this has been affirmed to
me, by men of the best Credit in the
Country.

A second settlement of this country
was made about 50 years ago, in that

OF NORTH

part we now call Albemarl-Country,
and chiefly in Chuwon Precinct, by
several substantial planters, from Vir-
’ ginia and other Plantations, who find-
ing mild winters and a fertile soil, be-
yond Expectation, producing every-
thing that was planted to a prodigious
increase; their Cattle, Horses, Sheep
and Swine, breeding very fat, and
passing the winter without any Assist-
ance from the Planter; so that every-
thing seemed to come ‘by nature; the
Husbandman living almost void of
care, and free from those fatigues
which are absolutely requisite in Win-
ter-Countries; these encouragements
induced them to stand their ground,
altho’ but a handful of people, seated
at great distances from each other, and
amidst a vast number of Indians from
different Nations, who were then in
Carolina. Nevertheless I say, the flame
of this new discovered Summer-Coun-
try spread through the neighbcring
Colonies, and in a few years drew a
considerable number of families there-
to, who all found Land enough to set-
tle themselves in, (had they been many
thousand more) and that which was
very good and ccmmodiously seated,
both for Profit and Pleasure. And in-
deed, most of the Plantations in Caro-
lina, niaturally enjoy a very noble pros-
pect of large and spacious Rivers,
pleasant Savannas, and fine Meadows,
with their green liveries, interwoven
with beautiful flowers of most glorious
colors, which the several seasons af-
ford, hedged in with famous groves of
the ever famous Tulip tree, the stately
Laurel, and Bays equalizing the Oak
in bigness and growth; Myrtle, Wood-
bines, Jessamines, Honeysuckles, and
several other fragrant Vines and
Evergreens, whose aspiring branches
shadow and interweave themselves
with the loftiest timbers, yielding a
pleasant Prospect, Shade and Smell,
proper habitations for the sweet sing-

CAROLINA. 35
ing Birds, that melodiously entertain
such as travel thro’ the Woods of Car-
olina.

The Planters possessing all these
Blessings, and the Produce of great
quantities of Wheat and Indian Corn,
in which this country is very fruitful,
as likewise in Beef, Pork, ‘Tallow,
Hides, Deer Skins, and Furs; for these
commodities the New Englandmen and
Bermudians visited Carolina in their
Barks and Sloops, and carry’d out
what they made, bringing them ini ex-
change, Rum, Sugar, Salt, Molasses,
and some wearing apparel, tho’ the
last at very extravagant prices.

As the Land is very fruitful, so are
the Planters kind and hospitable to all
that come and visit them; there being
very few house-keepers, but what live
nobly, and give away more provisions
to Coasters and Guests who. come to
them, than they expend among their
own families. ;

OF THE INLETS AND HAVENS OF
THIS COUNTRY.

The Bar of Currituck, being the
Northmost of this country, presents it-
self first to be treated of. It lies in
36 degrees, 30 minutes, and the course
over is S. W. by W. having not above
7 to 8 ft. on the Bar, tho’ a good har-
bour when you are over, where you
may ride safe and deep enough, but
this part of the Sound is so full of
Shoals, as not to suffer anything to
tnade thro’ it, that draws above three
foot Water, which renders if very in-
commodious. However this affects but
some parts of the country, and may be
easily remedied by carrying their Pro-
duce in small Craft, down to vessels
which ride near the Inlet.

Rock Inlet has ten foot of Water;
the course over the Bar is almost W.
which leads you thro’ the best of
channels. The Bar, as well as Curri-
tuck, often shifts by the Violence of
the N. E. Storms, both lying exposed to

36 LAWSON’S
those winds. Notwithstanding which,
a considerable trade might be carried
on, provided there was a Pilot to bring
them in; for it lies convenient for a
large part of this Colony, whose pro-
duct would very easily allow of that
charge: Lat. 35 deg. 50 min.

The Inlet of the Hatteras lies to the
Westward cf the Cape, round which is
an excellent Harbour. When the wind
blows hiard at N. or N. E. if you keep
a@ small League from the Cape point,
you will have 3, 4, and 5 Fathom, the
outermost Shoals lying about 7 or 8
Leagues from Shoar. As you come into
the Inlet, keep close to the south break-
ers, till you are over the Bir, where
you will have two Fathom at low
water. You may come to an anchor in
two fathom and a half when you are
over, then steer over close aboard the
North Shore, where is four Fathom,
close to a Point of Marsh; then steer
up the sound a long League, till vou
bring the North Cape of the Inlet to
bear S. S. E. half EH, then steer W. N.
W. the East point of Bluff Land at
Hatteras as bearing EH. N. E., the
Southmost large Hammock towards
Ocacock, bearing S. S. W. half S., then
you are in the Sound, over the bar of
sand, whereon is but 6 foot water; then
your course to Pamticough is almest
West. It flows on these three bars S.
BE. by E. 1-4 E. about eight of the
clock, unless there is a hard gale of
wind at N. E. which will make it flow
two hours longer; but as soon as the
Wind is down, the 'Tides will have their
Natural Course: <A hiard gale at N. or
N. W. will make the water ebb some-
times 24 hours, but still the Tide will
ebb and flow, tho’ not seen by the
turning thereof, but may be seen by
the Rising of the Water, and falling
of the same, Lat. 35 deg. 20 min.

Oecacock is the best Inlet and Har-
bour yet in this country, and has 13
foot at low water upon the bar. There

HISTORY

are two channels; one is but narrow
and lies close aboard the South Cape;
the other in the middle, viz-between
the Middle Ground and the South
Shoar, and is above half a Mile wide.
The Bar itself is but half a Cable’s
length over, and then you are in 7 or 8
Fathom Water; a good Harbour. The
course into the Sound is N. W. At
High-water, and Neap-tides here is 18
foot Water. It lies S. W. from Hat-
teras Inlet. Lat. 35 deg. 8 min.

Topsail Inlet is above two ldagues to
the Westward of Capt Look-out. You
have a fair channel over the Bar, and
two Fathom thereon and a good hiar-
bour in 5 or 6 Fathom to come to an
anchor. Your course over the bar is
almost N. W. Lat. 24 deg. 44 min.

As for the Inlet and River of Cane
Fair, I cannot give you a better infor-
mation thereof, than has already been
deliver’d by the gentlemen who were
sent on purpose, from SBarbadoes, to
make a discovery of that River, in the
year 1668, which is thus:

From Tuesday the 29th of September
to Friday the 2nd of October we ranged
along the shoar from Lat. 32 deg. 20
min. to lat. 33 deg. 33 min. but could
discern no entrance for our Ship, af-
ter we had passed to the northward of
32 deg. 40 min. On Saturday, October
3rd, a violent storm overtook us, the
Wind between North and East; which
easterly winds and Foul Weather con-
tinu’d until Monday the 12th; by reas-
on of which storms and Foul Weather,
we were forced to get off to Sea, to
secure ourselves and Ship, and were
driven by the rapidity of the strong
current to Cape Hatteras in Lat. 35
deg. 30 min. On Monday the 12th,
aforesaid, we came to an anchor in
seven Fathom at Cape Fair Road, and
took the Meridian Altitude of the Sun,
and were in Lat. 33 deg. 48 Min.; the
wind continuing still Easterly, and
Foul Weather until Thursday the 15th,

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 37

and on Friday the 16th, the Wind be-
ing at N. W. we Weigh’d and sailed
up Cape Fair River, some 4 or 5
Leagues, and came to an anchor in 6
or 7 Fathom, at which time several
Indians came on board and brotght us
great store of fresh Fish, large Mul-
lets, young Bass, Shads, and several
other sorts of very good, well tasted
fish. On Saturday the 17th, we went
down to the Cape, to see the English
Cattle, but could not find ’em, tho’ we
rounded the Cape, and having an In-
dian guide with us, here we rode till
October the 24th. The Wind being
against us, we could not go up the
River with our Ship, but went on
Shoar and viewed the Land of those
Quarters. On Saturday we weigh’d
and sailed up the River some 4
Leagues, or thereabouts. Sunday the
25th we weighed again, and rowed up
the River, it being calm, and got some
14 Leagues from the Harbour’s Mouth,
where we moored our ship. On Mon-
day October 26th, we went down with
the Yawl, to Necoes, an Indian Plan-
tation, and viewed the Land there. Ou
Tuesday the 27th, we rowed up the
main river, with our long-boat, and 12
men, some 10 Leagues, or thereabouts.
On Wednesday the 28th we rowed up
about sx Kage Call Leagues more
and came to a tree that lay cross the
River; but because our provisions were
almost spent, we proceeded no farther,
but returned downward before the
night, and on Monday the 2nd of No-
vember we came on board our ship.
Tuesday the third, we lay still to re-
fresh ourselves. On Wednesday the
4th we went 5 Leagues or 6 up the
River, to search a branch that run out
of the main river towards the N. W.
In which branch we went up 5 or 6
Leagues; but not liking the Land we
returned on board that night about
Midnight, and _ called that Place
Swampy Branch. Thursday, Novem-

ber the 5th, we stayed aboard. On Fri-
day the 6th we went up Green’s River,
the mouth of it being against the
Place at which rode our ship. On Sat-
urday the 7th. we proceeded up the
said River some 14 or 15 Leagues in
all, and found it ended in several small
branches; the Land for the most part
being marshy and Swamps, we return-
ed towards our Ships, and got aboard
in the Night. Sunday November the
8th, we lay still, and on Monday ‘tthe
9th, went up again the Main River, be-
ing well stocked with provisions, and
all things necessary, and proceeded
upwards until Thursday noon, the
12th, at which time we came to a place,
where were two Islands in the middle
of the river; and by reason of the
Crookedness of the River at that Place,
several Trees lay across both Branches,
which stopped the passage of each
branch, so that we could proceed no
farther with our boat, but went up the
river-side by land, some three or four

Miles, and found the River wid-
er and wider. So we returned,
leaving it as far as we couid
see up a long Reach, running N.
E. we judging ourselves near 50

Leagues north from the River’s Mouth.
In our return we viewed the Land on
both sides the River and found as good
tracts of dry, well wooded, Pleasant,
and delightful Ground, as we have seen
anywhere in the World, with abund-
ance of long thick Grass on it, the
Land being very Level, with steep
banks on both sides the River, and in
some places very high, the Woods
stor’d everywhere with great numbers
of Turkies and Deer, we never going
to shoar, but we saw of each sort; as
also great store of Partridges, Cranes
and Conies in several places; we like-
wise heard several wolves howling in
the Woods, and saw where they had
torn a deer in pieces. Also in the riv-
er we saw a great store of Ducks, Teal,

38 LAWSON’S HISTORY

Widgeon; and in the Woods. great
Flocks of Parrakeeto’s. The timber
that the Woods afford, for the most
part, consists of Oaks of four or five
sorts, all differing in leaves but all
bearing very good acorns. We meas-
ured many of the oaks in several
places, which we found to be in bigness
some two, some three and others al-

most four fathom high, before you
come to boughs or limbs; forty, fifty
and sixty foot and some more; and

those Oaks very common in the upper
parts of both Rivers; also a very large
Tall tree of great bigness, which some
call Cyprus, the right name we know
not, growing in Swamps. Likewise the
Walnut, Birch, Beech, Maple, Ash,
Bay, Willow, Alder, and Holly; and in
the lowermost parts innumerable
Pines, tall and good for Boards or
Masts, growing for the most Part, in
barren and sandy, but in some cases up
the River, in good Ground, being mixea
amongst Oaks and other Timbers. We
saw Mulberry Trees, Multitudes of
Grape Vines, and some grapes which
we eat of. We found a very large
and good Tract of Land on the N. W.
Side of the River, thin of Timber, ex-
cept here and there a very great Oak,
and full of Grass, commonly as high
as a Man’s middle, and in many Places
to his Shoulders, where we saw many
Deer, and Turkies; one Deer having
very large Horns and a great Body,
we therefore called it Stag park. It
being a very pleasant and delightful
Place, we traveled in it several Miles,
but saw no end thereof. So we return-
ed to our boat and proceeded down the
River, and came to another Place some
25 Leagues from the river’s mouth on
the same side, where we found a place
no less delightful than the former; and
as far as we could judge both tracts
came into one. This lower place we
call’d Rocky Point, because we found
many Rocks and Stones of several

up on the Land, which is not
common. We sent our boat down the
River before us, ourselves traveling
by Land many Miles, Indeed we were
so much taken with the Pleasantness
of the country that we traveled into
the Woods too far to recover our Com-
pany and boat that night. The next
day being Sunday we got to our boat,
and on Monday the 16th of November
proceeded down to a Place on the
East side of the River, some 23
Leagues from the Harbour’s Mouth,
which we call’d Turkey Quarters, be-
cause we killed several Turkies there-
akouts; we viewed the Land there and
found some Tracts of good ground,
and high, facing the River about one
Mile inward, but backwards some two
Miles, all Pine Land but good Pasture
Ground. We returned to our boat and
proceeded down some two or three
Leagues, where we had formerly view-
ed, and found it a tract of as good
Lane as any we have seen, and had as
good Timber on it. The banks on the
River being high, therefore we called
it High-Land-Point. Having viewed
that, we proceeded down the _ River,
going on Shoar in several places on
both sides, it being generally large
Marshes, and many of them so dry that
they may more fitly be called Mead-
ows. The Woodland against them is
for the most part Pine and in some
Places as barren as ever we Saw Land,
but in other Places good Pasture
Ground. On Tuesday November i7th
we got aboard our Ship, riding against
the Meuth of Green’s River, where our
Men were providing Wood, and fitting
the ship for the Sea. In the Interim
we took a view of the country on both
Sides of the river there, finding sume
Good Land but more Bad, and the best
not comparable to that above. Friday
the 20th was foul weather, yet in the
afternoon we weighed went down the
River, about two Leagues, and came to

sizes,

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 39

an Anchor against the Mouth of Hil-
ton River, and took a view of the Land
there on both sides, which appeared
to us much like that of Green’s River.
Monday the 23rd, we went with our
long Boat well Victual’d and Mann’d,
up Hilton’s River, and when we came
three Leagues or thereabouts up the
same, we found this and Green’s River
to come into one, and so continu’d for
four or five Leagues, which makes a
great island betwixt them. We pro-
ceeded still up the river until they
parted again, keeping up Hilton’s Riv-
er on the Larboard side, where we
found another large branch of Green’s
River to come into Hilton’s, which
makes another great island. On the
starboard side going up we proceeded
still up the river some four leagues,
and returned, taking a view of the
Land on both sides, and then judged
aurselves to be from our ship some 18
Leagues W. and by N. One League
below this place came four Indians in a
canoe to us, and sold us several Bas-
kets of Acorns, which we _ satisfied
inem for and so left them; but one of
them followed us on the Shore some
two or three Miles, till he came on the

top of a high bank, facing on the Riv-

er, and aS we row’d underneath it, the
Fellow shot an Arrow at us, which
very narrowly missed one of our Men
and struck in the upper side of the
boat, but broke in pieces, leaving the
head behind. Thereupon we went all
upon the shore (except four to guide
the boat) to look for the Indian but
could not find him. At last we heard
some Sing, farther in the Woods, which
we looked upon as a challenge to us
to come and fight them. We went tvo-
wards them with all speed, but before
We came in sight of them heard two
guns go off from our Boat; whereupon
we retreated as fast as we could to
secure our Boat and Men. When we
came to them we found all well, and

demanded the reason of their firing
the Guns; they told us that an Indian
came creeping along the bank, as they
supposed to shoot at them, therefore
they shot him at a great distance, with
small shot, but thought they did him
no hurt, for they saw him run away.
Presently after our return to the boat
and while we were thus talking, came
two Indians to us with their Arrows,
erying Bonny, Bonny. We took their
bows and arrows from them, and gave
them beads to their content, then we
led them by their hands to the boat
and showed them the arrow head
sticking in her side, and related to
them the whole passage; which when
they understood both of them showed
a great Concern, and signed to us by
signs that they knew nothing of it.
So we let them go, and marked a tree
on the top of the place, calling the
Place Mount-Skerry. We looked up
the river as far as we could discern,
and saw that it widened and came
running directly down the country. So
we returned, viewing the Land on both
sides the river, and finding the banks
steep in some places, but very high
in others. The bank-sides are general-
ly clay, and as some of our Company
did affirm, some Marl. The Land and
Timber up this River is no way in-
ferior to the best in the other, which
we called the Main-River. So far as
we could discern, this seemed as fair
if not fairer than the former, and we
think runs farther in the country, be-
cause a strong current comes down,
and a great deal more drift wood. But
to return to the business of the Land
and Timber, we saw several plots of
ground cleared by the Indians, after
their weak manner, compassed round
with timber trees, which they are no
wise able to fell, and so keep the sun
from corn fields very much; yet nev-
ertheless we saw as large cornstalks or
larger than we have seen anywhere

4o LAWSON’S
else; So we proceeded down the river
until we found the Canoe the Indian
was in, who shot at us. In the Morn-
ing we went on shoar and cut the
same in pieces. The Indians perceiving
us coming towards them ran away.
Going to his Hut we pull’d it down
and broak his pots and platters and
spoons, and tore the Deer-skins and
Mats in pieces, and took away a bas-
ket of acorns; and afterwards proceed-
ed down the river two leagues, or
thereabouts, and came to another place
of Indians, bought Acorns and some
Corn of them, and went downwards
two leagues more. At last, espying an
Indign peeping over a high bank, we
held up a gun to him, and calling to
him Skerry, presently several Indians
canie in sight to us, and made great
signs of friendship, saying Bonny, Bon-
ny. Then running before us they en-
deavored to persuade us to come on
shoar, but we answered them with
stern countenances, and cailed out
Skerry, taking our guns and threat-
ening to shoot at them, but they still
cried Bonny, Bonny; and when they
saw they could not prevail or persuade
us to come on shoar, two of them came
off to us in a Canoe, one paddling with
a great Cain, the other with his hand.
As socn as they overtook us, they laid
hold of our boat, sweating and blowing,
and told us it was Bonny on Shore,
and at last persuaded us to go on
shore with them. As soon as we land-
ed, several Indians to the number of
49 lusty Men, came to us all in a great
Sweat and told us Bonny: We showed
them the arrowhead in the Boat side,
and a piece of the Canoe we had cut
in pieces. Whereupon the chief man
amongst them made a long’ speech,
threw beads into our boat, which is a
gieat sign of love and friendship, and
gave us to understand that when he
heard of the affront which we had re-
ceived, it caused him to cry; and that

HISTORY

he and his men were come to make
peace with us, assuring us by signs
that they would tye the Arms, and
cut off the Head of the Fellow who had
done us that wrong, and for a further
testimony of their Love and Good-
Will towards us, they presented us
with two very handsome, proper young
Indian Women, the tallest that ever
we saw in this country; which we sup-
posed to be the King’s daughters or
persons of some distinction among
them. Those young women were 50
ready to come into our boat, that one
of them crowded in and could hardly
be persuaded to go out again. We
presented the King with a hatchet and
several beads, and made presents of
beads also to the young women, chief
men, and the rest of the Indians as far
as our beads would go. They prom-
ised us in four days to come on board
our ship, and so departed from. us.
When we left the place, which was
soon after, we called it Mount Bonny,

because we had there concluded a
firm peace. Proceeding down from
the River further, two or three

Leagues , we came to a place where
9 or 10 Canoes were; we went ashore
there and found several Indians, but
most of them were the same which
had made peace with us before. We
stayed very little at that place, but
weat directly down the River and came
to our Ship before day.

Thursday the 26th of November, the
wind being at south, we could not go
down the river’s mouth, but on Friday
the 27th, we weighed at the Mouth of
Hilton’s River, and got down a League
towards the harbour’s Mouth. On Tues-
day the 21st of December we made a
purchase of the River and Land of
Cape Fair, of Wat-Coosa and such
other Indians as appeared to us to be
the chief of those parts. They brought
us store of fresh Fish aboard, as Mul-
lets, Shads and other sort, very good.

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 4I

This River is all fresh water, fit to
drink. Some 8 Leagues within the
Mouth, the tide runs up about 35
Leagues, but stops and rises a great
deal further up. It flows at the Har-
hour’s Mouth S. H. and N. W. 6 foot at
Neap Tides, and 8 foot at Spring Tides.
The Channel on the east side by the
Cape-Shoar, is the best and lies close
abroad the Cape-Land, being three
Fathoms at highwater, in the shallow-
est part in the Channel, just at the en-
trance; but as soon as you are vast
‘that place, half a cable’s length inward,
you have 6 or 7 Fathoms, in others 4
or 5 and in others but 9 or 10 foot, es-
pecially where the river is broad. When
the river comes to part and grows nar-
row, there it is all channel from side Lo
side, in most places, tho’ in some you
shall have 5, 6 or 7 Fiathoms, but gen-
erally 2 or 3, Sand and Ooze. We viewed
tthe Cape-land and judged it to be lit-
tle worth, the woods of it being shrub-
by and low, and the Land sandv and
barren; in some places Grass and
Rushes, in others nothing but clear
sand. A Place fitter to starve Cattle in
our judgment than ‘to keep ’em alive,
yet the Indians as we understand keep
the English cattle down there, and suf-
fer them not to go off the said Clave (as
We suppose) because the country In-
dians shall have no part with them;
and therefore ’tis likely they have fall-
en out about them, which shall have
the greatest share. 'They brought on
board our ship very good and fat Beef
Several times, which they sold us at a
very reasonable price, also fat and very
large Swine, good and cheap; but they
may thank their friends of New Eng-
land who brought their Hogs to so fair
a Market. Some of the Indians brought
very good Salt aboard us, and made
signs pointing to both sides of the
river’s Mouth, that ithere was a great
store thereabouts. We saw up the
river several good places for the set-

ting up of Corn or Saw-Mills. In that
time, as our business called us up and
down the River and branches, we killed
of wild fowl 4 Swan, 10 Geese, 29
Cranes, 10 Turkeys 40 Ducks and Mal-
lards, 3 dozen of Parrakettos and 6
dozen of other small fowls, ‘as Curlues,
and Plover, etc.

Whereas there was a writing left in
a post, at the Point of Cape Fair River,
by those New England Men, that left
Cattle with the Indians there, 'the con-
tents whereof tended not only to the
Disparagement of the Land about the
said River, but also ito the great dis-
couragement of all such as_ should
hereafter come into those Parts to
settle, in answer to that scandal-
ous writing, we whose names are
underwritten, do affirm ‘that we have
seen facing both sides of the River, ard
braniches of the Ciape-Fair aforesaid,
as good land and as well timbered as
any we have seen in other parts of the
World, sufficient to accommodate thou-
sands of our English Nation, and lying
commodiously by the River’s Side.

On Friday the 4th of December, the
Wind being fair, we put out to Sea,
bound for Barbados; and on the 6th of
February 1663-4 came to an anchor in
Carlisle Bay; it having pleased God
after severial apparent dangers both by
Sea and Land to bring us all in safety
to our long-wish’d-for and much de-
sired Port; to render an account of our
discovery; the Verity of which we do
assert. Anthony Long. William Hil-
ton. Peter Fabian.

Thus you have an account of the Lat-
itude, Soil and Advantages of Cape
Fair, or Clarendon River, which was
settled in the year 1661, or thereabouts,
and had it not been for the irregular
practise of some of thiat Colony against
the Indians, by sending away some of
their children (as I have ‘been told)
under the pretence in instructing them
in learning and the principles of the

42 LAWSON’S
Christian religion; which so disgusted
the Indians, that tho’ they had no
guns, yet they never gave over until
they hlad entirely rid themselves of the
English, by their Bows and Arrows;
which they did not only take off them-
selves, but also their Stocks of Cattle;
and this was so much the more ruinous
to them, in that they could have no as-
sistance from South Carolina, which
was not then planted; and the other
Plantations were but in their Infancy.
Were it not for such practise, I say it
might in all probability have been, at
this day, the best Settlement in their
Lordship’s great Province of Carolina.

'The Sound of Albermarl, with the
rivers and creeks of that country, af-
ford a rich and durable soil. The Land
in most places lies indifferent low, (ex-
cept in Chuwon, and high up the
Rivers) but bears an incredible Burden
of Timber; the low grounds being cov-
ered with Beech, and the High-Land
yielding Lofty Oaks, Walnut trees and
other useful 'Timber. The Country in
some Plantations hias yearly produced
Indian corn, or some other grain, ever
Since this country was first seated (yet
to all appearance) it seems not to be in
the least impoverish’d neither do the
Planters ever miss of a good crop, un-
less a very unnilatural season visits
them, which seldom happens.

OF THE CORN OF CAROLINA.

The Wheat of this place is very good,
seldom yielding less than thirty-fold,
provided the Land is good where it is
sown; Not but that there has _ been
sixty-six Increase for one measure
sown in Piny-Land, which we account
the meanest sort. And I have been in-
formed by people of Credit, that Wheat
which was planted in very rich Land,
brought a hundred and odd Pecks for
one. If our Planters, when they found
such great increase, would be so curi-
ous as to make nice Observations of the
Soil, and other remarkable Accidents,

HISTORY

they would soon be acquainted with the
nature of the earth and Climate, and be
qualified to manage their Agriculture
to more Certainty, and greater advan-
tage; whereby they might arrive to the
Crops and Harvests of Babylon, and
those other fruitful countries so much
talked of. For I must confess that I
never saw one acre of Land Managed
as it ought to be in Carolina, since I
knew it; and were they as negligent in
their Husbancry in Europe, as they are
in Carolina, their Land would produce
nothing but Weeds and Striaw.

They have tried rye and it thrives
very well; but having such plenty of
Maiz, they do not regard it because it
makes black bread, unless very curi-
ously handled.

Barley has been sown in small quian-
tities and does better than can be ex-
pected; because that grain requires the
ground to be very well worked with re-
peated Ploughings, which our general
Way of breaking the earth with hoes
gan, by no means, perform, tho’ in sev-
eral places we have a light, rich, deen,
black Mould, ‘which is the particular
soil in which barley best thrives.

The naked Oats thrive extraordinary
well, and the other would prove a very
bold Grain, but the Plenty of other
Grains makes them not much coveted.

The Indian corn or maiz proves the
most useful grain in the world; and had
it not been for the fruitfulness of this
species, it would have proved very diffi-
cult to have settled some of the Plan-
tations in America. It is very nourish-
ing whether in bread, sodden or other-
wise, and those poor Christian servants
in Virginia, Maryland and the other
northerly Plantations, that have been |
forced to live wholly upon it, do mani-
festly prove, that it is the most nour-
ishing grain, for a man to subsist on,
without any other victuals. And this
assertion is made good by the negro
slaves, who in many places eat nothing

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 43

except this Indian Corn and Salt. Pigs
and Poultry fed with this grain prove
the sweetest of all others. It refuses
no ground except the barren sand, and
when planted in good ground will re-
- pay the planter seven or eight hundred
fold, besides the Stalks bruised and
boiled, make very pleasant Beer, being
sweet like the Sugar-Cane.

There are several sorts of rice, some
bearded, others not, besides the red and
white. But the white rice is the best;
yet there is a sort of perfumed rice in
the East Indies, which gives a curious
flavour in the dressing. And with this
sort America is not yet acquainted,
neither can I learn that any of it has
been brought over to Europe; the rice
of Carolina being esteemed the _ best
that comes to that Quarter of the
World. It is of great increase, yielding
from 800 to 1,000-fold, and thrives best
in Wild Land, that has never been
broken up before.

Buckwheat is of great increase in
Carolina; but we make no other use of
it than instead of Maiz to feed Hogs
and Poultry; and Guinea Corn, which
thrives well here, serves for the same
use.

Of the pulse kind, we have many
sorts. The first is the Bushel-bean,
which is a spontaneous Product. They
are so called, because they bring a
bushel of beans for one that is planited.
They are set in the Spring round Ar-
bours, or at the feet of poles, up which
they will climb, and cover the Wattling,
making avery pretty shade to sit
under. They continue flowering, bud-
ding and ripening all the summer long,
till the frost approaches, when they
forbear their fruit and die. The stalks
they grow on come to the thickness of
a man’s Thumb, and the bean is white
and mottled, with a purple figure on
each side of it, like an ear. They are
very flat and eaten as the Windsor-
Bean is, being an extraordinary well

relished Pulse, either by themselves or
with Meat.

We have the Indian Rounceval, or
Miraculous Pease, so called from their
long pods and great increase. These
are latter Pease, and require a pretty
long summer to ripen in. They ‘are
very good and so are the Bonavis, Cal-
avanicies and Kanticocks, besides sev-
eral others of that kind.

Now I am launched into a Discourse
of the Pulse, I must acquiaint you that
the European Bean planted here, will
in time degenerate into a dwarfish sort,
if not prevented by a yearly supply of
foreign seed, and an extravagant rich
soil; yet these Pigmy-Beans are the
sweetest of that kind I ever met withal.

As for all the sorts of English Pease
that we have yet made Tryal of, they
thrive very well in Carolina. Particu-
larly the white and grey Rouncival, the
common field pease, and Sickle Pease
yield very well, and are of a good rel-
ish. As for the other sorts I have not
seen any made tryal of as yet, but
question not their coming to great per-
fection with us.

The Kidney Beans were here before
the English came, being very plentiful
in the Indian Corn-Fields.

The garden roots that thrive well in
Carolina, are Carrots, Leeks, Parsnips,
Turneps, Potatves of several delicate
sorts, Ground-Artichokes, Radishes,
Horse-Riadish, Beets, both sorts,
Onions, Shallot, Garlick, Cives, and the
Wild-Onions.

The salads are the Lettice, Curl’d,
Red, Cabbage, and Savoy. The spinage
round and prickly, Fennell, sweet and
the common sort, Samphire in the
Marshes excellent, so is the dock or
wild Rhubarb, Rocket, Sorrel, French —
and English Cresses of several sorts,
Purslain Wild, and that of a larger
size which grows in gardens, for this
plant is never met withal in the Indian
Plantations, and is therefore supposed

44 LAWSON’S HISTORY

to proceed from Cow-dung, which beast
they keep not. Parsley two sorts, As-
paragus thrives to a miracle, without
hot beds or dunging the Land, White
Cabbage from New England or Euro-
pean Seed, for the people are negligent
and unskilfull and don’t take care to
provide seed of their own. Colly-Flow-
er we have not yet had ian opportunity
to make tryal of, nor has the Artichoke
ever appeared amongst us that I can
learn. Coleworts plain and _ curl’d,
Slavoys; besides the Watermelons of
various sorts, very good, which should
have gone amongst the fruits. Of
Muskmelons we have very large and
good, and several sorts of the Golden,
Green, Guinea and Orange. Cucumbers
long green and prickly, all these from
the naturai ground, and great increase
without any helps of Dung or reflection.
Pompions yellow and very large Bur-
millions, Cashaws, an excellent fruit
boil’d; Squashes, Simnals, Horns, and
Gourds, besides many other species of
less value, too tedious to name.

Our pot herbla and others of use,
which we already posess, are Angelica
wild and tame, Balm, Bugloss, Borage,
Burnet, Clary, Marigold, pot Marjoram,

and other Miarjorams, summer and
winter Savory, Columbines, Tansey,
Wormwood, Nep, Mallows, several
sorts, Drage red and white, Lambs

Quarters, Thyme, Hyssop, of a very
large growth, sweet Bazil, Rosemary,
Lavendar. The more Physical are
Carduus Benedictus, the scurvy-grass
of America, I never here met any of the
European sort; ‘Tobacco of many sorts,
Dill, Carawa, Cummin, Anise, Corian-
der, all sorts of Plantain of England,
and two sorts spontaneous, good Vul-
neraries; Hlecampane, Comfrey, Net-
tle the seed from England, none
native; Monks Rhubarb, Burdock,
Asiarum, wild in the woods, reck-
oned one of the Snake Roots,
besides the common species, which

are great Antidotes against the
Serpent’s Bite, and are easily raised in
the garden. Mint, Jamestown weed, so
called from Virginia, the seed it bears
is very like that of an Onion; it is ex-
cellent for curing burns, but taken in-
wardly brings on a sort of drunken
madness.

THE PRESENT STATE OF CARO-

LINA.

When we consider the Latitude and
Convenient Situation of Carolina, had
we no further confirmation thereof, our
Reason would inform us that such a
place lay fairly to be a delicious coun-
try, being placed in that Girdle of the
World which affords Wine, Oil, Fruit,
Grain, and Silk, with other rich com-
modities, besides a Sweet Air, Moder-
ate Climate, and Fertile Soil; these are
the blessings (under Heaven’s Protec-
tion) that spin out the thread of life
to its utmost extent, and crown our
days with the sweets of Health and
Plenty, which when joined with con-
tent, render the Posessors the happiest
Race of Men upon Eyarth.

'The Inhabitants of Carolina thro’ the
richness of the soil, live an easy and
Pleasant Life. The Land being of sev-
eral sorts of Compost, some stiff, others
light, some Marl, others rich black
Mould; here biarren of Pine but afford-
ing Pitch, Tar, Masts; there vastly
rich, especially on the freshes of the
River, one part bearing great Timbers,
others being Savannas or natural
Meads, where no Trees grow for sev-
eral Miles, Adorned by Niature with a
Pleasant Verdure, and beautiful Flow-
ers, frequent in no other Places, yield-
ing abundance of herbage for cattle,
Sheep and Horses. The country in
General affords pleasiant seats, the land
except in some few Places, being dry
and high banks, parcell’d our into most
convenient necks (by the Creeks) easy
to be fenced in for securing their stock
to more strict Boundaries whereby,

OF NORTH

with a small trouble of fencing, almost
every man may enjoy to himself an en-
tire Plantation, or rather Park. These,
with other Benefits of Plenty of Fish,
Wild-fowl, Venison, and the other con-
veniences which this summer country
naturally furnishes, has induced a
great many families to leave the more
Northerly Plantations and sit down
under one of the mildest governments
in the world; in a country that, with
moderate Industry, will afford all the
Necessaries of Life. We have yearly
‘abundance of strangers come amongst
us, who chiefly strive to go Southerly
to settle, because there is a vast tract
of rich Land betwixt the Place we are
seated in, and Cape Fair and upon the
River, and more Southerly which is in-
habited by Indians. who are this time
well affected to the English, and very
desirous of their coming to live amongst
them. The more Southerly the Milder
Winters, with the advantage of pur-
chasing the Lord’s Land at the most
easy and Moderate Rate of any Lands
in America nay, (allowing all advan-
tages thereto annexed) I may say the
Universe does not afford such lanother;
besides men have a great advantage of
choosing good and Commodious Tracts
of Land at the first seating of a Coun-
try or River, whereas the later set-
tlers are forced to purchase smaller
Dividends of the old Standers, and
sometimes atvery considerable rates, as
now in Virginia and Maryliand, where
a thousand acres of good Land cannot
be bought under 20 shillings an acre,
besides two shillings every year in Ac-
knowledgement of every 100 acres, be-
sides which sum, be it more or less,
will serve to put the Merchant or
Planter here into a good posture of
Buildings, Slaves and other Necessities
when the purchase of his land comes to
him on such easy terms; and as our
grain and pulse thrive with us to ad-
miration, no less do our flocks of

CAROLINA. 45
Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Swine multi-
ply.

The beef of Carolina equalizes the

best that our neighboring colonies af-
ford; the oxen are of a greater size
when they are suffered to live to a fit
age. I have seen fat and good beef at
all Times of the year, but Oictober and
the cool months are the seasons we kill
our Beeves in, when we intend them
for salting or exportation; for then
they are in their Prime of Flesh, all
coming from Grass, we never using
any other food for our cattle. The
Heifers bring Calves at eighteen or 20
months old, which makes such a won-
derful increase that many of our
Planters, from very mean beginnings,
have raised themselves, and are now
masters of hundreds of Fat Beeves and
other Cattle.

The Veal is very good and white, so
is the Milk very rich, there being at
present considerable quantities of but-
ter and cheese made that is very good,
not only serving our own necessities,
but we send out a great deal among
our neighbors.

The Sheep thrive very well at pres-
ent, having mostly commonly two
lambs at one yeaning. As the country
comes to be opened they prove to be
better, change of pasture being agree-
able to that useful creature. Mutton
is (generally) exceedingly fiat, and of
a good Relish; their Wool is very fine
and proves of Good Staple.

The Horses are well shaped and
swift; the best of them would sell for
10 or 12 pounds in England. 'They prove
excellent Drudges, and will travel in-
credible Journeys. ‘They are troubled
with very few Distempers, neither do
the cloudy-faiced grey horses go blind
there, as in Europe. As for Spavins,
Splints and Ring-Bones, they (are here
never met withal as I can learn. Were
we to have our Stallions and choice of
Mares from England, or any other of a

46 LAWSON’S HISTORY

good sort, and careful to keep them on
the Highlands, we could not flail of a
good breed; but having been supplied
with our first horses from a neighbor-
ing Plantation, which were but mean,
they do not as yet come up to the ex-
cellency of the English Horse; tho’ we
generally find that the Colt exceeds in
beauty and strength its Sire and Dam.

The Pork exceeds any in Europe, the
great Diversity and Goodness of the
Acorns and Nuts whitch the Woods af-
ford, making the Flesh of an excellent
taste, and produces great Quantities;
so that if Clarolina is not the chief it is
not inferior, in this one Commodity, to
any Colony in the hands of the Eng-
lish.

As for the Goats, they have been
found to thrive and increase well, but
being mischievous to orchards and
other trees, makes people decline keep-
ing them,

Our Produce for exportation to Eu-
rope and the Islands in America are
Beef, Pork, Tiallow, Hides, Deer-
Skins, Furs, Pitch, Tar, Wheat, Indian
Corn, Pease, Masts, Staves, Heading,
Boards, and all sorts of ‘Timber and
Lumber for Madeira and the West In-
dies; Rozin, Turpentine, and _ several
sorts of Gums and Tars, with some
Medical Drugs, are produced here, be-

Sides Rice, and several other foreign
grains, which thrive very well. Good
Bricks and Tiles are made, besides

several sorts of useful earths, as Bole,
Fuller’s Earth, Oaker, ‘Tobacco-pipe
Clay, in great plenty; Earths for the
Potter’s Trade, and fine sand for the
Glass Maker. In building with bricks,
we make our Lime of oyster-shells, tho’
we have great store of Lime-stone, to-
wards the Heads of our Rivers, where
are stones of all sorts that are useful,
besides viast quantities of useful Mar-
ble. Iron-stone we have plenty of, both
in the Low-grounds and on the Hills;
Lead and copper has ‘been found, so

has Antimony heretofore; but no en-
deavors have been used to discover
those Subteraneous species; otherwise
we might in all probability, find out
the best of minerals, which are not
wanting in Carolina. Hot baths we
have an ‘account of from the Indians
that frequent the Hill country, where a
great likelihood appears of making
Salt-peter, because the earth in many
places is strongly mixed with ‘a nitrous
Salt, which is much coveted by the
Beasts, who come at some seasons in
great Droves and Herds, and by their
much licking of this earth, make great
Holes in those banks, which sometimes
lie at the heads of great Precipices
where their eagerness after this salt
hastens their end, by falling down the
high banks, so that they are dashed
into pieces. It must be confessed that
the Most Noble and Sweetest Part of
this Country is not inhabited by any
but the Savages; and a great deal of
the richest part thereof has no inhabi-
tants but the Beasts of the Wilderness.
For the Indians are not inclinable to
settle in the Richest Land, because
the 'Timbers are too large for them to
cut down, and too much burdened with
Wood for their Labourers to make
Plantations of; besides, the Healthful-
ness of those Hills is apparent, by the
Gigantiek statue and the Gray Heads
so common amongst the Savages that
dwell near the Mountains; the great
Creator of all Things, having most
wisely diffused His Blessings, by par-
celling out the Vintages of the World,
into such lots, as His wonderful fore-
sight thought most proper, requisite
and convenient for the Habitations of
His creatures. Towards the Sea, we
have the Conceniency of Trade, trans-
portation, and other Helps the Water
affords, but oftentimes these Advan-
tages are attended with indifferent
Land, a thick Air, and other Inconven-
iences, When backwards near the

OF NORTH CAROLINA,

Mountains, you meet with the Richest
Soil, a sweet, thin air, dry Roads,
pleasant small murmuring streams,
and sevenal beneficial productions, and
species which are unknown in the Eu-
ropean World. One part of this coun-
try affords what the other is wholly a
stranger to.

We have Chalybeate Waters of sev-
enal ‘Tastes and different Qualities;
some purge, other work by the other
emunctories. We have amongst the
inhabitants a Water that is inwardly
a great Apervive, and outwardly cures
Ulcers, Tettars, and Sores, by wash-
ing therein.

There has been a Coal-Mine lately
found near the Mannakin Town, above
the Falls of James River in Virginia,
which proves very good, and is used by
the Smiths for their Forges; and we
need not doubt of the same amongst
us, towards the heads of our Rivers,
but the plenty of wood, which is much
better than our fuel, makes us not in-
quisitive after Coal-Mines. Most of the
French who lived at that town ofy

James River, are rentoved to Trent
River, in North Carolina, where the
rest were expected daily to come to

them, when I came away, which was
in August, 1708. They are much taken
with the pleasantness of that country,
and indeed, are a very industrious peo-
ple. At present they make very good
linen Cloath, and Thread, and tare very
well versed in cultivating Hemp and
Flax, of both which they raise very
considerable quantities; and design to
try an essiay of the Grape, for making
of Wine.

As for those of our own country in
Carolina, some of the Men are very
Laborious, and make great Improve-
ments in their way; but I dare hardly
give ’em the character in General. The
easy way of living in that Plentiful
Country, makes a great many Planters
very negligent, which, were they other-

47

wise, the Colony might now have been
in a far better condition than it is as
to trade and other advantages which
universal industry would have led
them into.

The Women are the most Industrious
Sex in that place, and by their vood
Housewifry, make a good deal of
Cloath of their own cotton, Wool and
Flax; some of them keeping their fam-
ilies (though large) very decently ap-
parel’d, both with linnens and Wool-
ens, so that they hiave no ocaasion to
run into the Merchant’s debt, or lay
their Money out on stores for cloath-
ing.

The Christian Natives of Carolina
are a Straight, clean-limbed People;
the Children being seldom or never
troubled with Rickets, or those other
distempers that the Europeans are
visited withal. ’Tis next to a Miracle
to see one of them deformed in body.
The vicinity of the Sun makes no im-
pression on Men, who labour out of
doors or use the Waters. As for those
Women who do not expose themselves
to the Weather, they are often very
Fair, and generally as Well-Featured
as you shall see anywhere, and have
very brisk charming eyes, which sets
them off to advantage. They ‘marry
very young, some at thirteen and four-
teen; and she that stays until twenty is
reckoned a Stale Maid; which is a very
indifferent character in that warm
country. The Women are very fruitful,
most of the Houses being full of little
ones. It has been observed that wo-
men long married, and jwithout chil-
dren in other places, have removed to
Carolina and become Joyful Mothers.
They have very easy Travail in their
Child-bearing, in which they are so
happy, as seldom to miscarry. Both
sexes ‘are generally spare of body, and
not Cholerick, nor easily cast down sat
disappointments and losses, seldom im-
moderately grieving at misfortunes,

48 LAWSON’S HISTORY

unless for the loss of their nearest Re-
lations and Friends, which seems to
make a more thian ordiniaary impression
upon them. Many of the Women are
very handy in Canoes, and will man-
age them with great Dexterity and
Skill, which they become ‘accustomed
to in this Watery Country. 'They are
ready to help their Husbands in any
Servile Work, as Planting when the
season of the weather requires Exxpedi-
tion; Pride seldom preventing Good
Housewifry. The girls are not bred up
to the wheel and Sewing only, but the
dairy jand affairs of the House they are
very well acquainted withal; so that
you shall see them whilst very young,
manage their business with a great
deal of Conduct and Alacrity. The
children of both Sexes are very docile,
and learn anything with a great deal of
ease and Method, and those that have
the advantage of education, write good

hands and prove good accountants,
which is most Coveted, and indeed
most necessary in these Parts. The

young men are commonly of a bashful
sober behaviour; few proving prodigals
to consume what the industry of their
parents has left them, but commonly
improve it. The marrying so young
carries a double advantage with it;
that is that the parents see their chil-
dren provided for in marriage; and the
young married people are taught by
their Parents, how to get their living;
for their Admonitions make great im-
pressions on their children. I have
heard, (before I knew this New World)
that the Natives of America were a
short-lived people, which by all the ob-
servations I could ever make, proves
quite contrary; for those who are born
here, and in other colonies, live to as
great ages as any of the Europeans,
the Climate being free from consump-
tion, which distemper, so fatal to Eng-
land, they are strangers to. And as
the country becomes more cleared of

wood, it still becomes more Healthful
to the Inhabitants, unless addicted to
the Ague; which is incident to most
new-comers in America from Europe,
yet not mortal. A gentle Emetick sel-
dom misses of driving it away, but if
it is not too troublesome, ’tis better to
let the seasoning have its own course,
in which case the party is commonly
free from it ever after and very
Healthful.

And now, as to the other Advantages
the Country Affords, we do not guess
at them at present, because as I said
before, the best part of this country is
not inhabited by the WBnglish, from
whence probably will hereafter spring
productions that this age dbes not
dream of, and of much more advantage
to the inhabitants than any things we
are yet acquainted withal. And as for
several productions of other countries,
much in the same latitude, we may
expect with good management, they
will become familiar to us, as Wine,
Oil, Fruit, Silk, and other profitable
commodities, such as Drugs, Dyes, etc.
And at present the curious may have
a large field to satisfy, and divert
themselves in as collections of strange
Beasts, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, Shells,
Fishes, Minerals, Herbs, Flowers,
Plants, Shrubs, intricate Roots, Gums,
Tars, Rozins, Dyes, Stones, with sev-
eral others that yield Slatisfaction and
Profit to those whose inclinations tend
that Way. And as for 'what may be
hoped for, towards a Happy Life and
Being, by such as design to move
thither, I shall add this: 'That with
prudent management, I can affirm by
experience, with a small beginning one
may live very comfortable, and not
only provide for the necessaries of life,
but likewise for those who are to suc-
ceed to him. Provisions being very
plentiful, and of Good Variety; to ac-
commodiate genteel Housekeeping, and
the neighbouring Indians are friendly

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 49

in many cases and serviceable to us,
in making us Wares to catch fish in,
for a small matter, which proves of
great adviantage to large families, be-
cause those engines take great quanti-
ties of many sorts and kinds of fish,
which are very good and nourishing:
Some of them Hunt and Fowl for us
at reasonable rites, the country being
as plentifully provided with all sorts of
Game as any Part of America; the
poorer sort of Planters often get them
to Plant for them, by hiring them for
that season, or for so much wwork,
which commonly comes very reason-
able. Moreover, it is remarkable, that
no place on the Continent of America,
has seated an HEnglish Colony so free
from bloodshed as Carolina, but all the
others have been more Damaged and
Disturbed by the Indians, than they
have, which is worthy of notice, when
we consider how oddly it was first
planted with inhabitants.

The Fishing-Trade in Carolina might
be carried on to a great sdvantage,
considering how many sorts of excel-
lent fish our Sounds and Rivers af-
ford, which cure very well with salt,
as has been experienced by some small
quantities, which have been _ sent
abroad and yield a good price. As for
the whale fishing, it is no otherwise re-
garded than by a few People who live
on the Sand Banks, and those only
work on dead fish cast ashore, none
being struck on our ‘coast, as they are
to the Northward, although we have
plenty of Whales there. Great Plenty
is generally the ruin of Industry. 'Thus
our Merchants are not many, nor have
those few there be, applied themselves
to the European trade. The Planter sits
contented at home, whilst his oxen
thrive and grow fat, and his stocks
daily increase; the fatted Porkers and
Poultry are easily raised to his 'Table,
and his orchard affords him Liquor,
so that he eats and drinks away the

cares of the world, and desires no other
Happiness than that which he daily en-
joys. Whereas not only the European,
but also the Indian trade might be
carried on to a great Profit, because
we lie as fairly for the body of Indians,
as any settlement in English-America.
And as for the small trade that has
been carried on in that ‘way, the Deal-
ers therein have throve as fast as any
men, and the soonest raised themselves
of any people I have known in Caro-
lina.

Lastly, as to the climate it is very
healthful; our summer is not so Hot as
in other places, to the Eastward, in the
Same Diatitude, neither are we ever
visited by any Harthquakes, as many
places in Italy and other Southern
Countries are. Our northerly winds in
Summer cool the air, and free us from
pestilent fevers, which Spain, Barblary,
and the neighboring countries in Bu-
rope, etc., are visited withal. Our Sky
is generally Serene and Clear, and the
Air very Thin, in comparison with
many parts of Hurope, where the Con-
sumptions and Catarrhs reign among
the Inhabitants. The Winter has sev-
eral fits of sharp weather, especially
when the Wind is at N. W. which al-
ways clears the sky, tho’ never so thick
before. However such weather is very
agreeable to European Bodies, and
makes them Healthy. The N. E. Winds
blowing in Winter, bring with them
thick weather, and in the spring some-
times Blight the Fruit; but they very
seldom endure long, being blown away
iby westerly winds, and then all be-
comes fair and clear again. Our Spring
in Carolina is very beautiful, and the
most pleasant weather a person can
enjoy. The Fall is accompanied with
cool mornings, which come in toward
the latter end of Augustandsocontinue
with (most commonly) very moderate
weather, till about Christmas; when
the Winter comes on apiace. Tho’ these

50 LAWSON’S HISTORY

seasons are very piercing, yet the cold
is of no continuance. Perhaps you will
have Cold Weather for three or four
days at a time, then pleasant Wlrm
Weather follows, such as you have in
England, about the latter end of April
or beginnine of May. In the year 1707
we had the severest winter in Ciarolina,
that ever was known since the English
came to settle there; for our Rivers
that were not above half a Mile wide,
and fresh ‘waters, were frozen over;
and some of them in the north part of
this Country were passable for people
to walk over.

One of the Great Advantages of
North Carolina, is that we are not a
Frontier, and near the Hnemy; which
proves very Chargeable and Trouble-
some in Time of War to those Colonies
thiat are so seated. Another great ad-
vantage comes from its being near Vir-
ginia, where ‘we come often to a Good
Market, at the return of the Guinea
Ships for Negro’s and the Remnant of
their Stores, which is very Commodi-
ous for the Indian trade, besides at
War-Time we lie near at hand to go
under their Convoy and to sell our
Provisions to the Tobacco Fleets; for
the Planting of 'Tobacco generally in
those Colonies prevents their being
supplied with stores, sufficient for vict-
ualling their Ships.

As for the Commodities which are
necessary to carry over to this Planta-
tion, for use and merchandize, and are
therefore requisite for those to have
along with them, that intend to trans-
port themselves thither; they are Guns,
Powder and Shot, Flints, Linnens, of
all sorts, but chiefly ordinary Blues,
Osnabrugs, Scotch and Irish Linnens,
and some fine, Mens and Womens
Cloaths ready made up, some few
Broadcloths, Kerseys, and Druggets,
to which you must add Haberdashers-
Wares, Hats about five or six shillings
apiece, and few finer; a few wigs, not

long and pretty thin hair, thin stuffs
for Women, Iron Works, as Nails,
Spades, Axes, broad and narrow Hoes,
Frows, Wedges, and Saws of all sorts,
with other Tools for Carpenters, Join-
ers, and Coopers, Shoemakers, Shave-
locks, ete., all which and _ others
which are necessary for the Plan-
tations, you may be informed of,
and buy at very reasonable rates, of
Mr. James Gilbert, Ironmonger, in
Mitre-Tavern-Yard near Aldgate. You
may also be used very kindly for your
Cuttlery-Ware, and other advantage
ous merchandizes, and your Cargo’'s
well sorted, by Capt. Sharp, at the Blue
Gate in Cannon _ street; and _ for
Earthen-Ware, Window glass, Grind-
stones, Mill stones, Paper, Ink-Powder,
Saddles, Bridles, and what other things
you are minded to take with you, for
pleasure or ornament.

And now I shall proceed to the rest
of the vegetables, that are common in
Carolina, in reference to the Place
where I left off, which is the natural
history of that country.

OF THE VEGETABLES OF CARO-
LINA.

The Spontaneous shrubs of this Coun-
try are the Larkheel Tree, three sorts
of honey-suckle tree, the first of which
grows in Branches as our Piemento-
Tree does, that is always in low, moist
ground, and the other grows in Clear,
moist Land, the Flower more cut and
Liacerated; the third, which is the mos
beautiful, and I think the most charm-
ing flower of its colour, I ever saw,
grows betwixt two and three foot high,
and for the most part by the side of 2
swampy wood, or on the banks of our
Rivers, but never near the salt water.
All the soris are white; the last grows
in a great bunch of Honeysuckles, set
up on one chief stem, and is common-
iy the bigness of a large turnip. Nioth-
ing can appear more beautiful than
these, when in their splendour, which

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 51

is in April and May. The uext is the
Honeysuckle of the Forest; it grows
about a foot high, bearing its flowers
on small Pedestals, several of them
Standing on the Main Stock, which is
the thickness of a Wheat-Straw. We
have also the Wood-bind, much _ the
same as in England, Princes-Feather,
very large and beautiful in the Gar-
den; Tres-Colores, branched Sun-
flowers. Double Poppies, Lupires, of
several pretty ‘sorts, spontaneous; and
the Sensitive plant is said to be near the
Mountains, which I have not yet seen.
Saf-Flowers; (and I believe the Saffron
Flower of England would thrive here
if planted) the yellow Jessimin is wild
in our woods, of a pleasant smell;
Evergreens are here plentifully found,
of a very quick growth, and pleasant
shade; Cypress or white Cedar, the
Pitch Pine, the Yellow Pine, the white
Pine with long leaves; and the smaller
Almond Pine, which lasts bears Ker-
nels in the Apple, tasting much like
an Almond: and in some years there
falls such plenty, as to make the Hogs
fat; Horn Beam; Cedar, two sorts;
Holly, two sorts; Bay-tree, two sorts;
one of the dwarf-bay about 12 foot
high; the other the bigness of a mid-
dling Pine-Tree, about two foot anda
half Diameter; Laurel ‘Trees, in
Height equalizing the lofty Oaks: the
berries and Leaves of the trees dye a
yellow; the Bay trees yield a wax,
which besides its use in Chirurgery,
makes candles that in burning gave a
fragrant smell. The Cedar-berries are
infused, and made beer of, by the Ber-
mudians, they sre Carminative, and
much of the quality of Juniper berries;
Yew and Box I never saw or heard of
in this country; there are two sorts of
Myrtles, different in Leaf and Berry;
the berry yields wax that makes can-
dles, the most lasting and of the sweet-
est smell imaginable. Some mix half
tallow with this wax, others use it

without mixture, and these are fit for
a lady’s chamber, and incomparable
to pass tthe line withal and other hot
countries, because they will stand
when others will melt by the excessive
heat down in the Binnacles; HEiver-
green Oaks, two sorts, and very plen-
tiful and growing always in a low
Swampy ground, and amongst Ponds.
We have a Prim or Privet, which grows
on the dry, barren, sandy hills, by the
sound side; it bears a smaller’ sort
than in England, and grows in a round
bush, very beautiful. Last of bushes
(except Savine, which grows every-
where wild) is the famous Yaupon, of
which I find two sorts if not three. I
shall speak first of the nature of this
Plant. It grows the most like box,
of any Vegetable ithat I know, being
very like in leaf, only dented exactly
like Tea, but the Leaf somewhat flat-
ter. I cannot say whether it bears any
flowers, but a berry it does, about the
bigness of a grain of Pepper, being
first red, then brown when ripe, which
is in December. Some of these bushes
grow to be 12 foot high, others are
three or four. The Wood thereof is
brittle as Myrtle, and affords a light
ash-colored bark. There is sometimes
found of it in swamps and rich low
grounds, which has the same figured
leaf, only it is larger and of a deeper
green. This may be confirmed by the
richness that attends the Low Grounds
thus situated. 'The third sort has the
same leaf, but never grows a_ foot
High, and is found both in rich low
land, and on the Sand Hills. I don't
kniow that I ever found any seed or
berries on the dwarfish sort, yet I find
no difference in taste, when the in-
fusion is made. Cattle and Sheep de-
light in this Plant very much, and so
do the Deer, all which crop it very
short, and browze thereon whensoever
they meet with it. I have transplant-
ed the sandbank and dwarfish Yaupon,

52 LAWSON’S

and find that the first year the shrubs
stood at a stand, but the second year
they throve as ‘well as in their native
soil. This plant is the Indian Tea,
used and approved by all the Savages
on the coast of Carolina, and from
them sent to the Westward Indians,
and sold at a considerable price; all
which they cure after the same way
ad they do for themselves which is
thus: ‘They take this Plant (not only
the leaves but the smaller twigs along
with them) and bruise it in a mortar
until it becomes blackish, the leaf be-
ing wholly defaced. Then they take it
out and put it into one of their Earth-
en Pots which is over the Fire until it
smokes, stirring it all the time until
it is cured. Others take it after it
is bruised and put it in a bowl, into
which they put live coals, amd cover
them with the Yaupon, till they have
done smoaking, often turning them
over. After all they spread it upon
their mats, and dry it in ‘the sun and
keep it for Use. The Spaniards in New
Spain have this plant very plentiful
on the coast of Florida, and hold it in
great esteem. Sometimes they oure it
as Indians do, or else beat it to a Pow-
der, so mix it as coffee; yet before they
drink it they filter the same. They
prefer it above all Liquids to drink
with Phyisick, to carry the same safe-
ly and speedily thro’ the passage, for
which it is admirable, as I myself have
experienced.

In the next place I shall speak of
the Timber that Carolina affords,
which is as follows:

Chestnut-Oak; it is a very lofty tree,
clear of Boughs and Limbs for 50 or G0
foot. ‘They bear sometimes four or
five foot through, all clear timber, and
are the largest Oaks we have, yielding
the fairest Plank. They grow chiefly
jin lowlands, that is stiff and rich. I
have seen of them so high that a good
gun could not reach a turkey, tho’

HISTORY

loaded with Swan-Shot. They are call-
ed chestnuts because of the largeness
and sweetness of the acorns.

White, Scealy-Bark Oak. This is used
as the former in building Sloops and
Ships. Tho’ it bears a large acorn, yet
it never grows to the Bulk and height
of the Chestnut Oak. It is so called
because of a scaly, broken, white-bark,
that covers this tree, growing on dry
land.

We have Red-Oaks; sometimes in
good land very large and lofty. ’Tis
a porous wood, and used to rive inta
rails for Fences. ’Tis not very dur-
able; yet some use this as well as the
two former, for pipe and barrel Staves.
It makes good Clap-Boards.

White Oak is free to rive, bears a
whitish smooth Bark; and rives very
well into Clap-Boards. It is accounted
durable, therefore some use to build
vessels with it for the sea; it proving
well and durable. These all give good
mast for the Swine.

Bastard-Spanish is an Oak \betwixt
the Spanish and Red-Oak; the chief
use is for fencing and clap-boards. It
bears good Acorns.

The next is Black-Oak, which is
esteemed a durable wood, under wa-
ter; but sometimes it is used in House-
work. It bears a good mast for Hogs.

White Iron or Ring oak is so called
from the durability and lasting qual-
ty of this Wood. It chiefly grows on
clean, dry ground, and seldom fails of
bearing a plentiful crop of acorns. The
Wood is found to be very durable and
is esteemd to be the best Oak for
ship-work that we have in Carolina;
for tho’ live Oak be more lasting, yet it
seldom allows planks of any consider-
able length.

Turkey Oak is so called from a small
acorn it bears, ‘which the wild Turkies
feed on.

Live-Oak chiefly grows on dry, sandy,
Knolls. ‘This is an evergreen, and the

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 53

most durable Oak all America affords.
The shortness of this wood’s boll, or
trunk, makes it unfit for plank to build
ships withal. There are some few trees
that would allow a stock of 12 foot,
but the firmness and great weight
thereof frightens our Sawyers from the
great fatigue that attends the cutting
of this Timber. A Nail once driven
therein, ’tis next to an impossibility to
draw it out. The limbs thereof are so
curved that they serve for excellent
Timbers, Knees, etc., for vessels of any
sort. The Acorns thereof are as sweet
as Chestnuts, and the Indians draw an
Oil from them as sweet as that from
the Olive, tho’ of an Amber colour.
With these nuts or Acorns, some have
counterfeited the Cocoa, whereof they
have made Chocolate, not to be distin-
guished by a good Palate, Window
Frames, Mallets, iand Pins for Blocks
are made thereof to an excellent pur-
pose. I knew two trees of this kind
among the Indians, which were planted
from the Acorn, and grew in the Mresh-
es, and I never saw anything more
beautiful of that sort. They are of an
indifferent quick growth, of which
there are two sorts. The Acorns make
very fine Pork.

Willow Oak is a sort of Water Oak.
It grows in Ponds and Branches, and
is useful for many things. It is so
called from the leaf, which very much
resembles the Willow.

The Live Oak grows in the Fresh-
water Ponds and Swamps by the river-
sides, and in low ground overflown
with Water, and is perennilal Green.

Of Ash we have two sorts, agreeing
nearly with the English in the grain.
One of our sorts is tough like the Eng-
lish, but differs something in the leaf,
and much more in the bark. Neither
of them bears Keys. The Water-Ash
is brittle. The bark is food for the
Beavers.

There are two sorts of Elm. The

first grows on our highland and ap-
proaches our English. The Indians
take the bark of its root and beat it
whilst green to a pulp, and then dry
it in the Chimney, where it becomes of
a reddish colour. This they use as a
Sovereign Remedy to heal a cut or
green Wound, or anything that is not
corrupted. It is of a Glutinous Quali-
ty. The other Elm grows in low
ground, of whose bark the English and
Indians make ropes; for as soon as the
sap rises, it strips off with the great-
est ease imaginable. It runs in March
ar thereabouts.

The 'Tulip-Trees, which are by the
Planters called Poplars, and are near-
est approaching that wood in grain,
grow to a prodigious Bigness, some of
them having been found one and twen-
ty foot in Circumference. I have been
informed of a Tulip Tree that was ten
foot in Diameter, another wherein a
lusty man had ‘his bed and household
furniture, and lived in it until his la-
bour got him a more Fashionable Mian-
sion. He afterwards became a noted
man in his ‘country for Wealth and
Conduct. One of these sorts bears a
white tulip, the other a parti-colour’d
mottled one. The Wood makes a very
pretty Wainscot, Shingles for Houses,
and Planks for several Uses. It is
reckoned very lasting, especially un-
derground for mill-work. The Buds,
made into an ointment, cure Sealds,
Inflammations and Burns. I saw sev-
eral bushels thereof. The cattle are
apt to eat these buds, which give a
very odd taste to the Milk.

Beech is here frequent and very
large. The grain seems exactly the
Same as that in Hurope. We make lit-
tle use thereof, except for fire use. ’Tis
not a durable timber. It affords a very
sweet nut, yet the Pork fed thereon
(tho’ sweet) is very oily, and ought to
be hardened with Indian Corn, before

54 LAWSON’S HISTORY

it is killed. Another sort called Buck-
Beech is here found.

Horn-Beam grows in some _ places
very plentifully, yet the very plenty of
the Wood makes it unregarded.

The virtues of Sassafras are well
Known in HKurope. This wood some-
times grows to be above two feet over,
and is very durable and lasting, used
for bowls, timbers, posts and houses,
and other things that require standing
in the ground. ’Tis very light. It
bears a white flower, which is very
Cleansing to the Blood, being eaten in
the Spring with other Sallating. The
berry when ripe is black; ’tis very oily,
Carminative, and extremely prevalent
in Clysters for the Colick. The Bark
of the Root is a Specifick to those af-
fected with Gripes. The same in Pow-
der and a lotion made therof is much
used by the Savages to mundify old
Ulcers, and for several other uses; be-
ing highly esteemed among them.

Dog-Wood is plentiful on our light
land; inclining to a rich soil, it flowers
the first in the Woods; its white blos-
soms making the Woods very beauti-
ful. It has a fine grain and serves for
several uses, within doors; but it is
not durable. The bark of this root in-
fused is held an infallible Remedy
against the Worms.

Laurel, before mentioned; as to its
bigness and use I have seen Planks
sawn of this wood, but ’tis not found
durable in the Weather, yet pretty
enough for many uses.

Bay and Laurel generally delight in
alow, Swampy ground. I know no use
they make of them, but for fire-wood,
excepting what I spoke of before,
amongst the evergreens.

A famous Evergreen I must now
mention, which was forgotten amongst
the rest. It is in leaf like a Jessimin,
but larger, and of a hardier nature.
This grows up to a large Vine, and
twists itself around the trees it grows

near, making a very fine shade. I never
saw anything of that nature outdo it,
and if it be ‘cut away close to the
ground, it ‘will presently spring up
again, it being impossible to destroy
it, when once it has got a root. ’Tis
an ornamental Plant, and worth the
Transplanting. Its seed is a _ black-
berry.

The Scarlet Trumpet Vine bears a
glorious red fiower, like a bell or trum-
pet, and makes a shade inferior to none
that ever I saw, yet it leaves us when
the spring comes and remains naked
till the next spring. It bears a large
Cod that holds its seed.

The Maycock bears a glorious flower,

‘and apple of an agreeable sweet, mixed

with an acid taste. 'This is also a sum-
mer vine.

The Indico grows plentifully in our
quarters.

The Bay-Tuliv Tree is a fine ever-
green, which grows frequently here.

The Sweet-Gum Tree, so called be-
cause of the fragrant Gum it yields in
the Spring Time upon incision of the
blark or wood. It cures the Herpes
and Inflammations, being applied to
the Morphew and Tettars. ’Tis an ex-
traordinary Balsam, and of great value
to those who know how to use it. No
wood has searce a better grain; where-
of fine Tables, Drawers, and other
Furniture might be mlade. Some of it
is curiously curled. It bears a round
bur with a sort of prickle, which is
the seed.

Of the Black-Gum there grows with
us two sorts, both fit for Cart-Niaves.
The one bears a _ black, well tasted
berry, which the Indians mix with their
Pulse and Soups, it giving them & pret-
ty flavour and scarlet colour. The
Bears crop these trees, for the berries
which they mightily covet, yet killed
in that season they eat very unfavor- |
ably; which must be occasioned by this
fruit, because at other times when they

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 55

feed on Mast, Bear’s-Flesh is very
well-tasted food. The other gum bears
a berry in shape like the other, tho’
bitter and ill tasted. This tree (the In-
dians report) is never wounded by
lightning. It has no certain Grain, and
is almost impossible to spit or rive it.
The White-Gum, bearing a sort of
long-bunched flower, is the most curled
and knotted wood I ever saw, which
would make curious furniture in case
it was handled by a good workman.
The red sort of Cedar is an Ever-
green, of which Carolina affords Plen-
ty. That on the Salts, growing gener-
ally on the Sand-banks; and that in
the Freshes is found in the Swamps.
Of this wood Tiables, Wainscots, and
other necessaries are made, and es-
teemed for its sweet smell. It is as
durable a Wood as any we have, there-
fore much used in Posts for Houses
and Sills; likewise to build Sloops,
Boats, ete., by reason the Worm will
not touch it for several years. The
Vessels built thereof are very durable
and good swimmers. Of this Cedar
Shiploads may be exported. It has
been heretofore so plentiful in this set-
tlement that they have fenced in Plar-
tations with it, and the Coffins of the
dead are generally made thereof.
‘Wihite-Cedar, so galled, ‘because it
nearly approaches the other Cediar in
smell, bark and leaf, only this grows
taller, being as straight as an arrow.
It is extraordinarily light and free to
rive. ’Tis good for Yard, Top-Masts,
Booms and Boltsprits, being very
tough. The best shingles for houses
are made of this Wood, it being no
strain to the roof and never rots. Good
pails and other vessels, free from leak-
age, are likewise miade thereof. The
Bark of this and the Red Cedar the
Indians use to make their Cabins of,
which prove firm and resist all weath-
ers.
Cypress is not an Evergreen with us,

and is therefore called the Bald Cy-
press, because the leaves during the
winter season turn red, not recovering
their verdure until the spring. These
trees are the largest for height and
thickness that we have in this part of
the world, some of them holding 36 foot
in Circumference. Upon incision they
yield a sweet-smelling grain, tho’ not
in great quantities; and the nuts which
these trees bear plentifully yield a
most odoriferous Balsam, that infal-
libly cures all new and green Wounds,
whitch the Inhabitants are well ac-
quainted withal. Of these great Trees
the Pereaugers and Canoes are scooped
and made; which sort of Vessels are
chiefly to pass over the Rivers, Creeks
and Bays, and to transport Goods and
Lumber from one river to another
with. Some are so large as to carry
30 barrels, tho’ of one entire piece of
Timber. Others that ‘are split down
the bottom and a piece added thereto
will carry eighty or an hundred. Sev-
eral have gone out of our inlets on the
Ocean to Virginia, laden with Pork and
other Produce of the Country. Of
these trees curious boats for pleasure
may be made, and other necessary
Craft. Some years ago a foolish man
in Albemarle and his son had got one
of these Clanoes decked. She held as
I take it 15 barrels. He brought her
to the collectors to be cleared for Bar-
bados; but the officer took him for a
man that had lost his senses, and ar-
gued the danger and impossibility of
performing such a voyage in a hollow
tree; but the fellow would hearken to
no advice of that kind until the gen-
tleman told him if he did not value
his own life, he valued his reputation
and honesty, and so flatly refused
clearing him; upon which the canoe
was sold, and I think remains in being
still. This wood is very lasting and
free from the rot. A Canoe of it will
outlast four boats, and seldom wants

56 LAWSON’S

repair. They say a chest made of this
wood will suffer no Moth, or Vermine
to abide therein.

The Locust, for its enduring the
weather, is chosen for all sorts of
work that are exposed to it. It bears
ia leaf nearest the Liquorice Plant. ’Tis
a pretty tall tree. Of this the Indians
make their choicest bows, it being very
tough and flexible. We have little or
none of this wood in Pamticough.

The Honey-Tree bears as great a re-
semblance to the Locust, as a Shallot
does to an Onion. It is of that species,
but more prickly. They bear a Cod,
one side whereof contains the Seed;
the other the Honey. They will bear
in five years from the Kernel. They
were first brought (by the Indian Trad-
ers) and propagiated by their seed, at
the Apamatricks in. Virginia. Last
year I planted the seed, and had them
sprung up before I came from thence,
which was in August. Of the Honey
very good Metheglin is made, there be-
ing orchards planted in Virginia for
that intent.

The Sorrel, or Sowr-Wood Tree, is so
called because the Leaves taste like
Sorrel. Some are about a foot or ten
inches in diameter. I am unacquaint-
ed with its Vertues at present.

Of pines there are in Carolina at
least four sorts. The Pitch Pine grow-
ing to a great Bigness, most common-
ly ihas but a short Leaf. Its Wood
being replete with abundance of Bi-
tumen, is so durable that it seems to
suffer no deday, tho’ exposed to all
weathers, for many ages; and is used
in several domestic and plantation
uses. This tree affords the four great
necessaries, Pitch, Tar, Rozin and Tur-
pentine; which two last are extracted
by tapping and the heat of the Sun,
the other two by the heat of the Fire.

Tihe white and yellow pines are
sawed into Planks for several uses.
They make Masts, Yards, and a great

HISTORY

many other necessaries therewith, the
Pine being the most useful tree in the
woods.

The Almond Pine serves for Masts
very well. As for the Dwarf-Pine, it is
for Shew alone, being an evergreen, as
they all are.

The Hiccory is of the Walnut kind
and bears a nut, as they do, of which
there are some three sorts. The first
is that which we call the common
White Hiccory. It is not a durable
wood for if cut down and exposed to
the weather it will be quite rotten, and
spoiled in three years; as will likewise
the Beech of this country. Hiccory
nuts have very hard shells, but excel-
lent sweet kernels, with which, in a
plentiful year the old Hogs that can
erack them, fatten themselves and
make excellent Pork. These Nuts are
gotten in great quantities by the Sav-
ages, iand laid up for stores, of which
they make several dishes and Ban-
quets. One of these I cannot forebear
mentioning; it is this; they take these
Nuts and break them very small be-
twixt two stones, till the shells and
kernels are indifferent small; and this
powder you are presented withal in
their Cabins, in little Wiooden dishes;
The kernel dissolves in your Mouth*and
the shell you spit out. This tastes as
well as any Almond. Another dish is
the soup which they make of these
Nuts, beaten and put in Venison broth,
which dissolves the nut, and thickens,
whilst the shell precipitates, and re-
mains at the bottom. This’ broth
tastes very rich. 'There is another sort
which we call red Hiccory, the heart
thereof being very red, firm and du-
rable; of which Walking-Sticks, Mor-
tars, Pestils, amd several other fine
Turnery-wares are made. 'The third is
called the Flying-Bark Hiccory, from
its brittle and scaly Bark. It bears a
Nut with a bitter Kernel, and soft
shell like a French Walnut, Of this

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 57

wood, Coges for Mills are made, etc.
The leaves smell very fragrant.

The Walnut tree of America is called
Black Walnut. I suppose that name
was at first to distinguish it from the
hiccories, it having a blacker bark.
This tree grows in a good land to a
prodigious bigness. The Wood is very
firm and durable, of which tables and
chests of drawers are made, iand prove
very well. Some of this is very knot-
ty, which would make the best returns
for England, tho’ the masters of ves-
sels refuse it, not understanding its
goodness. ’Tis a very good and dura-
ble wood, to bottom vessels for the
Sea withal; and they say that it is
never eaten by the Worm. The Nuts
hiave a large Kernel which is very oily,
except lain by a long time to mellow.
The shell is very thick, as all the
Native Nuts of America are. When it
has its yellow outward coat on it looks
and smells much like a lemon.

The Maple, of which we have two
sorts, is used to make Trenchers,
Spinning-wheels, etc., withal.

Chinkapin is a sort of Chestnut
whose nuts are commonly very plenti-
ful, insomuch that the Hogs get fat
with them. They are rounder and
smaller than a chestnut, but much
sweeter. The wood is much of the
nature of Chestnut, having a leaf and
grain almost like it. It is used to tim-
ber Boats, Shiallops, etc. and makes
anything that is to endure the
weather. This and the Hiccory are
very touch Rods used to whip Horses
withal; yet their Wood in substance is
very brittle. This tree the Vine much
delights to twist about. It’s good fire-
wood, but very sparkling, as Sassa-
fras.

The Birch grows on the Banks of our
Rivers, very high up. I never saw a
Tree on the Salts. It differs some-
thing, in Bark, from the Huropean
Birch. Its Buds in April are eaten by

the Parrakeetes, which resort, from all
Parts, at that Season, to feed thereon.
Where this wood grows, we are not
yet seated, and as to the Wine or oth-
er Profits it would yield, we are, at
present, Strangers to.

The Willow, here, likewise differs
both in Bark and Leaf. It is frequent-
ly found on the Banks of fresh Water,
as the Birch is.

The Sycamore, in these Parts, grows
in a low, swampy Land, by River-
sides. Its Bark is quite different from
the English, and the most beautiful I
ever saw, being mottled and clowded
with several colours, as white, blue,

ete. It has no Keys, but a Bur like the
Sweet-Gum. Its Uses I am ignorant
of.

I never saw any Aspin, but in Rap-
ahanock-River, from where I brought
one (that was presented me there as a
great Present), but it died by the way.

Of Holly we have two sorts; one hav-
ing a large Leaf, the other a smaller.
They grow very thick in our low
woods. Many of them are _ very
straight, and two foot diameter. 'They
make good ‘Trenches, and other Tur-
nery ware.

The Red-Bud Tree bears a purple
Lark-Heel, and is the best sallad of
any Flower I ever saw. It is ripe in
April and May. They grow on trees
generally small, but some are a foot
Diameter.

Pelletory grows on the banks ‘and isl-
ands. It is used to cure the tooth-ache
by putting a piece of the bark in the
Mouth, which being very hot draws a
Rhume from the Mouth and causes
much spittle. ‘The Indians use it to
make their Composition, which they
give to their young men nd Boys
when they are Husquenaw’d, of which
you shall hear further when I come to
treat of the customs, etc. of that peo-
ple.

Arrow-Wood growing on the Banks

58 LAWSON’S HISTORY

is used by the Indians, for arrows and
gun-sticks. It grows as straight as if
planed, and is ofall sizes. "Tis as tough
and pliable as the smallest canes.

'The Chestnut Tree of Carolina grows
up towards the hilly Part thereof, is
a very large and durable wood, jand fit
for houseframes, Palisado’s, Sills, and
many other uses. The nut is smaller
than those from Portugal, but sweeter.

This is no tree but called the Oak-
Vine, by reason it bears a sort of Bur
as the Oak does, and generally runs
up those trees. It’s so porous, that
you suck liquors tho’ a length of two
foot.

Prickly-Ash grows up like a Pole; of
which the Indians and English make
poles, to set their Canoes along in
Shoal water. Its very light and full of
thorns or Prickles, bearing berries in
large clusters, of a purple colour, not
much unlike the alder. The root of this
tree is Cathartick and Emetick, used
in Cachexies.

The Poisin vine is so called because
it colours the hands of those who han-
dle it. What the effects of it miay be
I cannot relate; neither do I _ believe
that any has made an experience
thereof. The juice of this will stain
Linnen never to wash out. It marks a
blackish blue colour, whidh is done
only by breaking a bit of the Vine off,
and writing what you please _ there-
with. I have thought that the East
India Natives set their colours by
some such means into their Callicoes.
It runs up any tree it meets withal and
clasps around it. The leaves are like
Hemlock and fall off in winter.

Of Canes and Reeds we have many
sorts. The hollow Reed, or Cane, such
as Angling rods are made of, and
Weavers use, we have great plenty of
it, tho’ none to the Northward of
James River in Virginia. They always
grow in Branches and low ground.
(Their leaves endure the Winter, in

whidh season our cattle eat then
greedily. We have them towards the
Heads of our Rivers, so large that one
joint will hold above a pint of liquor.

The small Blaamboo is next, which is
a certain vine like the rest of these
species, growing in low land. They
seldom with us grow larger than @
man’s little finger, and are very tough.
Their root is a round ball which the
Indians boil as we do garden roots,
and eat them. When these roots have
been some time out of the ground, they
become hard and make good heads to
the Canes, on which several pretty
Figures may be cut. There are several
others of this kind, not thoroughly dis-
covered.

That Palmeto grows with us, which
we call the dwarfish sort; but the Pal-
meto tree I have not met withial in
Carolina, of which you have a descrip-
ticn elsewhere. We shall next treat of
the spontaneous fruits of this country,
and then proceed to those that have
been transplanted from EHurope and
other parts.

Among the natural fruits the Vine
first takes place, of which I find six
sorts very well known. The first is the
black bunch grapes, which yield a
crimson juice, these grow common and
bear plentifully. They ‘are of a good
relish tho’ not large, yet well knit in
the clusters. They have a thickish skin
and large stone, Which makes them not
yield much juice. There is another sort
of black grape like the former, in’ all
respects save that their juice is of a
light flesh colour, inclining to a white.
I once saw a spontaneous white grape
bunch in North Carolina; but the Cat-
tle browzing on the sprouts thereof in
the spring it died. Of those which we
dall Fox Grapes, we have four sorts;
two whereof are called Summer Grapes
because ripe in July, the other two
Winter Fruit because not ripe until
October or September. The summer

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 59

Fox Grapes grow not in clusters, or in
great bunches, but are ‘about five or
six in a bunch, about the bigness of a
damson, or larger. They always grow
in Swamps, and low moist Lands, run-
ning sometimes very high and being
shady and therefore proper for
arbours. They afford the Largest Leaf
I ever saw to my remembrance, the
black of which is of a white horseflesh
colour. This fruit always ripens in
the shade. I have transplanted them
into my orchard, and find they thrive
well, if matured. A neighbour of mine
has done the same; mine were by slips,
his from the roots, which thrive to ad-
miration, and bear fruit, tho’ not so
juicy as the European grape, but of a
glutinous nature. However it is pleas-
ant enough to eat.

The other winter Fox Grapes are
much of the same bigness. ‘These re-
fuse no ground, swampy or dry; but
grow plentifully on the sand hills
along the coast, and elsewhere, and are
great Bearers. I have seen near 12
bughels upon one vine of the black
sort. Some of these when thoroughly
ripe have a very pretty vinious taste
and eat very well yet are glutinous.
The white sort are clear and transpar-
ent, and indifferent small stones. Being
removed by the slip or root they thrive
well in our gardens and make pleas-
iaant shades.

Persimmon is a tree that agrees with
all Lands and soils. ‘Their fruit when
ripe is nearest our Medlar; if eaten be-
fore draws your mouth up like a purse,
being the greatest Astringent I ever
met withal, therefore very useful in
some cases. The fruit if ripe, will pres-
ently cleanse a foul wound, but causes
pain. The fruit is rotten when ripe,
and commonly contains four flat ker-
nels, called stones, which is the seed.
*Tis said the Cortex Peruvianus comes
from a Persimmon Tree, that grows 11
New Spain. I have tried the dying of

this bark to imitate it, which it does
tolerably well, and agrees therewith. it
is binding enough to work the siame ef-
fect. The tree in extraordinary Land
comes sometimes to two foot Diameter,
though not often. There are two sorts
of this fruit; one ripe in the summer,
the other when the frost visits us.

We have three sorts of Mulberries
besides the different bigness of some
trees fruit. ‘The first is the common
red Mulberry, whose fruit is the earli-
est we have (except the Strawberries)
and very sweet. These trees miake a
very fine shade, to sit unidder in sum-
mer time. They are found wild in great
quantities, whenever the land is light
and rich, yet their fruit is much bet-
ter when they stand open. They are
used instead of Raisins and Currants,
and make several pretty Kickshaws.
They yield a transparent crimson 1i-
quor, which would make good wine;
but few peoples inclination in this
country tend this way. The others are
a smooth-leaved mulberry, fit for the
Silkworm. One bears a white fruit
which is common, the other bears a
small red berry, very sweet. They
would persuade me there that the
black mulberry with the silk worm
smooth leaf was a white mulberry, and
changed its fruit. 'The wood hereof is
very durable, and where the Indians
cannot get Locust, they make use Or
this to make their bows. This tree
grows extraordinarily round and pleas-
ant to the eye.

The WHiccory, Walnut,
and Chestnut with their
have mentioned before.

The Hazle nut grows plentifully in
some places of the country, especialiy
towards the mountains; but ours are
not so good as the English nuts, hav-
ing a much thicker shell, like all the
fruits of America that ever I met
withal, which in hardness exceed those
of Europe.

Chinkapin,
fruits; we

60 LAWSON’S HISTORY

The Cherries of the Woods grow to
be verty large trees. One sort which is
rarely found is red and not much un-
like the Cornel-berry. But the com-
mon cherry grows high, and in
bunches like English currants, but
much larger. They are of a bitterish-
sweet relish, and are equally valuable
with our small red Cherries for an in-
fusion in Spirits. They yield a crim-
son liquor and are great bearers.

Our Raspberries are of a purple col-
our and agreeable relish, almost like
the English; but I reckon them not
quite so rich.. When once planted ’tis
hard to root them out. 'They run wild
all over the country, and will bear the
Same year you transplant them, as I
have found by experience.

The Hurts, of Huckleberries or Blues
of this country, are four sorts which
we are all well acquainted withal; but
more species of this sort, and all
others, Time and Enquiry must dis-

cover. The first sort is the same Blue
of Bilberry that grows plentifully in
the north of England, and in other
places commonly on your Heaths,
Commons and Woods, where Braken
or Fern grows.

The second sort grows on a small

bush in our Savannas, and Meads and
in the Meadows. Tihey are larger than
the common fruit and have larger
seed.

The third grows on a single stem of
a stick that grows in low rich land,
and on the banks of rivers. 'They grow
three or four foot high, and are very
pleasant like the first sort but larger.

The fourth sort grows upon trees;
some 10 and 12 foot ‘high, and about the
thickness of a mian’s arm; these are
found in the runs and low grounds and
are very pleasant and bear wonderful-
ly. The English sometimes dry them
in the Sun, and keep them to use in
the winter instead of currants. The In-
dians get many bushels and dry them

on mats, whereof they make Plum-
Bread, and many other Eatables. They
are good in Tiarts or infused in Liquors.

In the same ground commonly grows
the Piemento, or All-spice tree, whose
berries differ in shape from those of
the West Indies, being Taper or
Conick, yet not inferior to any of that
sort. 'This tree grows much like the
Hurts, and is of the same bigness. I
have known it transplanted to high
Land, where it thrives.

Our Dew-berries are very good, but
the Black-berries are bitterish, and
not so palatable as in England.

The Sugar-Tree ought to have taken
place before. It is found in no other
parts of Carolina or America that I
ever learnt, but in places that are
near the mountains. It’s most like one
sort of Maple of any Tree and may be
ranked amongst that kind. This Tree,
which I am told is of a very tedious
growth, is found very plentiful to-
wards the heads of some of our rivers,
The Indians tap it, and make gourds
to receive the Liquor, which operation
is done at distinct and proper times,
when it best yields its juice, of which
when ‘the Indians have gotten enough
they carry it home and boil it to a just
consistence of Sugar, which grains of
itself, and serves for the same uses as
other sugar does.

The Papau is not a large tree; I
think I never saw one a foot through;
but has the ‘broadest leaf or any tree
in the woods and bears an apple about
the bigness of ja hen’s egg, yellow, soft
and as sweet as anything can well be.
They make rare Puddings of this fruit.
The Apple contains large stones.

The wild Fig grows in Virginia up, in
the Mountains, as I am informed by a
gentleman of my acquaintance, who is
a person of Credit and a great Travel-
ler in America. I shall be glad to have
an opportunity to make Tryal what

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 61

improvement might be ‘made of this
wild fruit.

The wild Plums of America are of
several sorts. Those which I can give
an account of from my own knowl-
edge, I will and leave the others till a
farther discovery. The most frequent is
that which we call the common Indian
Plum, of which there are two sorts if
not more. One of these is ripe much
sooner than the other, and differs in
the Bark; one of the Barks being very
scaly like our American Birch. These
trees when in blossom smell aS sweet
as any Jessimin, and look as white as
a sheet, being something prickly. You
may make it grow to what shiape you
please. They are very ornamental
around a house and make a wonderful
shew at a distance, in the spring, be-
eause of their livery. Their fruit is
red and very palatable to the sick.
They are of a quick growth and will
bear from the stone iin five years on
their Stock. The English large, black
plum thrives well, as does the cherry,
being grafted thereon.

The American Damsons are both
black and white, and about the bigness
of a EHuropean Damson. They grow
anywhere if planted from the stone or
slip; bear a white blossom and are a
good fruit. They are found on the
sand-banks alonig the coast of Ameri-
ca. I have planted several in my
orchard, that came from the Stone,
Which thrive well amongst the rest of
my Trees, but they never grow to the
bigness of the other trees now spoken
of. These are plentiful Bearers.

There is a third sort of Plum about
the bigness of a Damson. The tree is
taller, seldom, exceeding 10 inches in
thickness. The plum seems to taste
physically, yet I never found any op-
eration it had. except to make their
lips sore that eat them.. The Wood
is something porous, but exceeds any
box for a beautiful yellow.

There is a very pretty bushy tree
about seven or eight Foot high, very
Spreading, which bears a iwinter fruit,
that is ripe in October. 'They call ’em
currants, but they are nearer a Hurt.
I have eaten very pretty tarts (made
thereof. They dry them instead of
Currants. The Bush is very beauti-
ful,

The Bermudas Currants grow in the
Woods on a bush much like the Euro-
pean Currant. Some people eat them
very much; but for my part I can see
nothing inviting in them, and reckon
them a very indifferent fruit.

We have another Currant which
grows on the Banks of Rivers, or
where only Clay has been thrown up.
This fruit is red and gone almost as
soon as come. They are a pretty fruit
whilst they last and the tree (for ’tis
not a bush) they grow upon is a very
pleasant Vegetable.

The Haw-thorn grows plentifully in
some parts of this country. The Haws
are quite different from those in Eng-
land, being four times as big, and of a
pleasant, agreeable taste. We make no
use of this plant nor of any other for
Hedges because timber is so plentiful
at present.

In my judgment the Honey Locust
would be the fittest for Hedges; be-
cause it is very apt to shoot forth
many sprouts and Succours from the
Roots; besides it is of a quick growth,
and very Prickly.

The Black-Haw grows on a_ slender
Tree, about the height of a Quince
tree, or something higher and bears
the Black-Haw, which people eat and
the birds covet after. What Vertues
the fruit or wood is of, I cannot re-
solve you at present.

Thus I have given an account of all
the spontaneous fruits of Carolina,
that have come to my knowledge, ex-
cepting Services, which I have seen in
the Indians’ hands and eat of them,

62 LAWSON’S HISTORY

but never saw nor knew how they
grew. There miay very well be expect-
ed a great many more fruits which are
the natural product of this Country,
when we consider the fruitfulness of
the soil and climate, and account for
the vast tract of Land (a great part
of which is not yet found out) accord-
ing to the product of that which is al-
ready discovered, which, (as I once
hinted befiore) is not as yet arrived to
our knowledge, 'we having very little
or no correspondence amongst the
mountainous parts of this province,
and towards the country of Missis-
Sippi, all which we have strange ac-
counts of, (and some with respect to
the Large and ‘Noble Fruits and sev-
eral other ornaments and blessings of
nature which Mississippi possesses;
more to be coveted than any of those
which we enjoy to the eastward of the
Mountains; Yet when I came to dis-
course with some of the idolizers of
that country, I found it to be rather
Novelty than Truth iand Reality, that
induced those persons to allow it such
Excellencies above others. It may be
a brave and fertile country, as I be-
lieve it is, but I cannot be persuaded
that it can be near so advantageous to
us as ours, which is much better situ-
ated for trade, being faced all along
with the Ocean, as the English Ameri-
ta is, when the other is only a direct
river, in the midst of a Wild Unknown
Land, the greatest part of whose pro-
duct must be fetched or brought a
great wiay before it dan come to Mar-
ket. Moreover such great Rivers com-
monly allow of more Princes ‘Terri-
tories than one, and thus nothing but
War and Contention accompanies the
inhabitants thereof.

But not to trouble my reader with
any more of this, we will proceed in
the next place to shew what Exotick

the Golden Russet,

Fruits we have, that thrive well in
Carolina; and what others it may rea-
sonably be supposed would do well
there, were they ‘brought thither and
planted. In pursuance of which I will
set down a Catalogue of what Fruits
we have, I mean species; For should
I pretend to give a regular name to
every one, it’s neither possible for me
to do it, nor for any one to understand
it when done; if we consider that the
chiefest part of our fruit comes from
the kernel and some others from the
Succours of sprouts of the tree. First
we will begin with apples, which are
Pearmain, winter
and summer; Harvey-Apple, I cannot
tell whether the same in England;
Winter Queening, Leather Coat, Junit-
ing, Codlin, Redstreak, Longstalk, La-
dyfinger. The Golden Russet thrives
well. The Pearmains, of both sorts are
apt to speck, and rot on the trees; and
the trees are damaged and cut off by
the Worm, which breeds in the Forks
and other Parts thereof, and often
makes a circumposition by destroying
the bark around the branches until it
dies. Harvey Apple; that which we
call so is esteemed very good for mak-
ing cider of. Winster Queening is a
durable apple and makes good cider.
Leather Coats, both apple and tree
stand well. The Juniting is early ripe,
and soon gone in these warm coun-
tries. Codlin; no better and fairer fruit
in the world; yet the tree suffers the
same distemper, as the Pearmains, or
rather worse; the trees always dying
before they come to their growth. The
Red-streak thrives very well. Long-
stalk is a large apple, with a long
stalk and makes good summer cider..

We beat the first of our Codlin cider
against reaping our wheat, which is
from the 10th of June to the five and
twentieth.

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 63

Lady-Finger, the Long Apple,
some called Rope-Apples, which are
small apples hanging like Ropes of
Onions; Flatterings, Grigsons, Cheese-
Apples, and a great number of Names,
given according to every one’s Direc-
tion.

The Warden-Pear here proves a good
eating Pear; and is not so long ripen-
ing as in England.

Katharine excellent.

Sugar-pear.

And several others without Name,
The Bergamot we have not, nor either
of the Bonne Chretiennes, though [I
hear, they are all three in Virginia.
These sorts of Pears which we have,
are as well relisht, as ever I eat any
where, but that Fruit is of very short
Continuance with us, for they are gone
almost as soon as ripe.

I am not a Judge of the different
sorts of Quinces, which they call Bruns-
wick, Portugal and Barbary. But as to
the Fruit, in general, I believe no Place
has fairer and better relisht. They are
very pleasant eaten raw. Of this Fruit
they make a Wine, or Liquor, which
they call Quince-Drink, and which I
approve of beyond any Drink which
that Country affords, though a great
deal of Cider amd some Perry is there
made. The Quince-Drink most com-
monly purges those that first drink it,
and cleanses the Body very well. The
Argument of the Physicians, that they
bind People, is hereby contradicted, un-
less we allow the Quinces to differ in
the two Countries. The least Slip of
this Tree stuck in the Ground, comes to
bear in three years.

All peaches, with us, are standing;
neither have we any Wall-Fruit in Car-
olina; for we have Heat enough, and
therefore do not require it. We have
a great many sorts of this Fruit, which
all thrive to Admiration, Peach-Trees
coming to perfection (with us) as easily
as the Weeds. A Peach falling on the

Ground, brings a Peach-Tree that shall
bear in three years or sometimes
sooner. Eating Peaches in our Orchards
makes them come up so thick from the
Kernel, that we are forced to take a
great deal of Care to weed them out,
otherwise they make our Land a Wil-
derness of Peach-Trees. They generally
bear so full, that they break great part
of their Limbs down. We have like-
wise very fair Nectarines, especially
the red, that clings to the Stone, the
other yellow Fruit, that leaves the
Stone; of the last, I have a Tree, that,
most Years, brings me fifteen or twenty
Bushels. I see no foreign Fruit like
this, for thriving in all sorts of Land,
bearing its Fruit to Admiration. I want
to be satisfied about one sort of this
Fruit, which the Indians claim as their
own, and affirm, they had it growing
amongst them, before any Europeans
came to America. ‘The Fruit I will de-
scribe, as exactly as I can. The Tree
grows very large, most commonly as
big aS a handsome Apple-Tree; the
Flowers are of a reddish, murrey
Colour; the Fruit is rather more downy,
than the Yellow Peach, and commonly
very large and soft, being very full of
Juice. They part freely from the
Stone, and the Stone is much thicker
than all the Peach Stones we have,
Which seem to me that it is a Spon-
toneous Fruit of America, yet in those
parts of America that we inhabit, I
never could hear that any Peach-Trees
were ever found growing in the
Woods; neither have the foreign In-
dians, that live remote from the Eng-
lish, any other sort. And those living
amongst us have a hundred of this sort
for one other; they are a hardly Fruit,
and are seldom damaged by the North-
East Blasts, as others are. Of this sort
we make Vinegar; wherefore we call
them Vinegar-Peaches, and sometimes
Indian-Peaches.

This Tree grows to a vast Bigmess,

64 LAWSON’S HISTORY

exceeding most Apple-Trees. They bear
well, tho’ sometimes an early Spring
comes on in February, and perhaps,
when the ‘Tree is fully blown the
‘Cloudy North-Hast-Winds which at-
tend the end of, that Month, or the be-
ginning of March, destroy most of the
Fruit. The biggest Apricock-Tree I ever
saw, as they told me, was grafted on a
Peach-Stock, in the Ground. I Know
of no other sort with us, than the Com-
mon. We generally raise this Fruit
from the Stone, which never fails to
bring the same Fruit. Likewise our
Peach-Stones effect the same, without
so much as once missing, to produce the
same sort that the Stone came from.

Damson, Damazeen, and a large
round black Plum, are all I have met
withal in Carolina. They thrive well
enough; the last to Admiration, and
becomes a very large Tree, if in stiff
Ground; otherwise they will not do
well.

Of Figs we have two sorts; One is the
Jjow Bush-Fig, which bears a large
Fruit. If the Winter happens to have
much Frost, the tops thereof die, and
in the Spring sprout again, and bear
two or three good Crops.

The Tree-Fig is a lesser Fig, though
very sweet. The Tree grows to a large
Body and Shade, and generally brings
a good Burden; especially if in light
Land. This ‘Tree thrives nowhere bet-
ter, than on the Sand-Banks by the
Sea.

We have the common red and black
Cherry, which bear well. I never saw
any grafted in this Country, the com-
mon excepted, which was grafted on an
Indian Plum-stock, and bore well. This
is a good way, because our common
Cherry-Trees are very apt to put Scions
all around the Tree, for a great Dis-
tance, which must needs be prejudicial
to the Tree and Fruit. Not only our
Cherries are apt to do so, but our Ap-
ples and most other Fruit-Trees, which

may chiefly be imputed to the negli-
gence and Unskillfulness of the Garden-
er. Our Cherries are ripe a momth
sooner than in Virginia.

Gooseberries I have seen of the
smaller sort, but find they do not do 'so
well as in England, and to the North-
ward. Want of Dressing may be some
reason for this.

Currants, White, Red and _ Black,
thrive here, as well as any where.

Raspberries, the red and white, I
mever Saw any trial made of. But there
is no doubt of their thriving to Ad-
miration, since those of the Country do
so well.

The Mulberries are spontaneous. We
have no others, than what I have al-
ready mentioned in the class of Natural
Fruits of Carolina.

Barberry red, with Stones, and with-
out Stones, grow here.

Strawberries, not Foreign, but those
of the Country, grow here in great
plenty. Last April I planted a Bed of
two hundred feet in Length, which
bore the same year.

Medlars we have none.

All sorts of Walnuts from England,
France and Maderas, thrive well from
the Nut.

No Filberts, but Hazel-Nuts; the Fil-
bert-Nut planted, becomes a Hazel-Nut
and no better.

As for that noble vegetable the Vine,
without doubt, it may (in this Country)
be improved, and brought to the same
Perfection, as it is in this Day, in the
same Latitude in Europe, since the
Chiefest part of this Country is a deep,
rich, black Mould, which is up towards
the Freshes and Heads of our Rivers,
very rich and mixed with Flint,
Pebbles, and other Stones. And this
sort of Soil is approv’d (by all Garden-
ers amd Vigneroons) as a proper Earth,
in which the Grape chiefly delights; and
seems to give a farther Confirmation
hereof, is, that the largest Vines, that

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 65

were ever discovered to grow wild, are
found in those parts, sometimes in such
Plenty, and are so interwoven with one
another, that ’tis impossible to pass
through them. Moreover in_ these
Freshes, towards the Hills, the vines
are about five times bigger than those
gemerally with us, who are seated in
the Front-Parts of this Country, ad-
joining to the Salts. Of the Wild Vines,
which are most of them great Bearers,
some Wine has been made, which I
drank of. It was very strong and well
relisht; but what detains them all from
offering at greatquantities, they add, is
that this Grape has a large Stone, and
a thick Skin, and comsequently yields
but a small quantity of Wine. Some
Essays of this Nature have been made
by that Honourable Knight, S'r Nath-
anael Johnson, in South Carolina, who,
as I am informed, has rejected all
Exotick Vines, and makes his Wine
from the natural black Grape of Caro-
lina, by grafting it upon its own Stock.
What improvement this may arrive to,
I cannot tell; but in other Species, I
own Grafting and Inbudding yields
speedy Fruit, tho’ I never found that
it made them better.

New planted Colonies are generally
attended with a Force and Necessity of
Planting the kmown and approved
Staple and Product of the Country, as
Well as all the Provisions their Fam-
ilies spend. Therefore we can. enter-
tain but small hopes of the Improve-
ment of the Vine, till some skillful in
dressing Vines shall appear amongst us,
and go about it, with a Resolution, that
Ordering the Vimeyard shall be one-
half of their Employment. If this be
begun and carried on, with that Assidu-
ity and Resolution which it requires,
then we may reasonably hope to see
this a Wine-Country; for then when it
becomes a general Undertaking, every
one will be capable to add something
to the common Stock, of that which he

has gained by his own experience. This
way would soon make the Burden light,
and a great many shorter and exacter
Curiosities, and real Truths would be
found out in a short time. The trim-
ming of Vines as they do in France,
that is, to a Stump, must either be not
followed, or we are sensible of the exact
time, when they ought to be pruned; for
Experience has taught us, that the
European Grape, suffer’d to run and ex-
pand itself at large, has been found to
bear as well in America, as it does in
Europe; when at the some time the
same sort of Vine trimm’d to a Stump
as before Spoken of has borne a poor
Crop for one Year or two; and by its
spilling after cutting, emaciated, amd
in three or four years died. This ex-
periment I believe has never failed; for
I have trimm’d the Natural the French
way, which has been attended, at
last, with the same Fate. Wherefore it
seems most expedient, to leave the
Vines more Branches here than in
Europe, or let them run up Trees, as
some do, in Lombardy, upon Elms.
The Mulberries and Chinkapin are
tough, and trimm’d to what you please,
therefore fit supporters of the Vine.
Gelding and plucking the Leaves, to
hasten the ripening of this Fruit, may
not be unnecessary, yet we see the nat-
ural wild Grape generally ripens in the
Shade. Nature in this and many others,
may prove a sure Guide. The twisting
of the Stems to make the Grapes ripe
together, loses no Juice and may be
beneficial, if done in Season. A very
ingenious French Gentleman, and am-
other from Switzerland, with whom [I
frequently converse, exclaim against
that strict cutting of Vines, the gener-
ally approved Method of France and
Germany, and say that they were both
out in their Judgment, till of late, Ex-
perience has taught them otherwise.
Moreover the French in North Carolina
assure me, that if we should trim our

66

Apple and other Fruit-Trees as they do
in Wurope, we should spoil them. As for
Apples and Plums, I have found by Ex-
perience, what they affirm to be true.
The French from the Mannakin Town
on the Freshes of James River in Vir-
ginia had, for the most part, removed
themselves to Carolina, to live there,
before I came away; and the rest were
following as their Minister (Monsieur
Philip de Rixbourg) told me, who was
at Bath-Town, when I took my leave of
my Friends. He assur’d me, that their
Intent was to propagate Vines, as far
ae thelr present Circumstances would
permit; provided they could get any
Slips of Vines, that would do. At the
same time I had gotten some Grape-
Seed, which was of the Jesuits white
Grape, from Madera. The Seed came
up very plentifully, and, I hope, will not
degenerate, which if it happens not to
do, the Seed may prove the best way
to raise a Vineyard, as certainly it is
most easy for "Transportation. Yet I
reckon we should have our Seed from
a Country, where the Grape arrives to
the utmost perfection of ripeness. These
Wrench Refugees have had small HWn-
couragement in Virginia, because at
their first coming over, they took their
Measures of Living from Wurope; which
was all wrong; for the small Quantities
of ten, fifteem and twenty acres to a
Family did not hold out according to
their way of Reckoning, by Reason they
mide very little or no fodder; and the
Winter there being much harder than
with us, their Cattle fail’d; chiefly be-

LAWSON’S

HISTORY

cause the Mnglish took up and survey’d
all the Land round about them; so that
they were hemm’d in on all Hands from
providing more Land for themselves or
their Children, all which is prejudicial
in America, where the generality are
bred up to Planting. One of these
French men being a Fowling, shot a
I’owl in the River, upon which his dog
went down the Bank to bring it to his
Master; but the Bank was so high and
steep, that he could mot get up again.
There upon the French Man went down
to help his Dog up, and Breaking the
Mould away, accidently with his Feet,
he discovered a very Wch Coal-Mine.
This Adventure he gave an Account of
amongst the Neighborhood, and pres-
ently one of the Gentlemen of that Part
survey'’d the Land, and the poor Freach
Man got nothing by his Discovery. The
French are good Neighbours amongst
us, and give Wxamples of Industry,
Which is much wanted in this Country.
They make good Flax, Hemp, Linen-
Cloth and 'Thread; which they exchange
amongst the Neighbourhood for other
Oommodities, for which they have oc-
casion.

We have hitherto made no ‘Trial of
foreign THerbage; but, doubtless it
would thrive well; especially, Sanfoin,
and those Grasses, that endure Heat,
and dry Grounds. As for our Low
Lands, such as Marshes, Savannas and
Percoarson-Ground, which lies low, all
of them naturally afford good land for
pasturage.

CHAPTER. ITt,

We will next treat of the Beasts,
which you shall have an Account of,
as they have beem discover’d.

The Beasts of Carolina are the

Buffelo, or wild beef.

Bear.

Panther.

Cat-a-mount.

Wild Cat.

Wolf.

Tyger.

Polecat.

Otter.

Bever.

Musk-Rat.

Possum.

Raccoon.

Minx.

Water-Rat.

Rabbet, two sorts.

Elks.

Stags.

Fallow-Deer.

Squirrel, four sorts.

Fox.

Lion, and Jackall on the Lake.

Rats, twe sorts.

Mice, two sorts.

Moles,

Weasel, Dormouse.

Bearmouse.

The Buffelo is a wild Beast of Amer-
ica, which has a Bunch on his Back, as
the Cattle of St. Lawrence are said to
have. He seldom appears amongst the
English Inhabitants, his chief haunt be-
ing in the Lamd of Mississippi, which is
for the most part, a plain Country; yet
I have known some kill’d on the Hilly
Part of Cape-Fear-River, they passing
the Ledges of Vast Mountains from the
said Mississippi, before they can come
near us. I have eaten of their meat,

but do not think it so good as our Beef;
yet the younger Calves are cry’d up for
excellent Food, as very likely they may
be. It is conjectured that these Buf-
felos, mixt in Breed with our tame
Cattle, would much better the Breed
for Largeness and Milk, which seems
very probable. Of the wild Bull’s Skin,
Buff is made. The Indians cut the Skin
into Quarters for the Base of their
‘Transportation, and make Beds to lie
on. They sspin the Hair into Garters,
Girdles, and Sashes and the like, it be-
ing long and curled, amd often of a
chestnut or red colour. 'These Monsters
are found to weigh (as I am informed
by a Traveler of Credit) from 1,600 to
2,400 Weight.

The Bears here are very common,
though not so large as in Greenland and
the more Northern Countries of Rus-
sia. The Flesh of this Beast is very
good, and nourishing, and not inferior
to the best Pork in Taste. It stands be-
twixt Beef and Pork, and the young
Cubs are a Dish for the Greatest Epi-
cure living. I prefer this Flesh before
any Beef, Veal, Pork or Mutton; and
they look as well as they eat, their fat
being as white as snow, and the sweet-
est of any Creatures in the World. If a
man drink a quart thereof melted, it
never will rise in his Stomach. We pre-
fer it above all things, to fry Fish and
other things in. Those that are
Strangers to it, may judge otherwise;
but I who have eaten a great deal of
Bear’s Fiesh in my Life-time (since my
being an inhabitant in America) do
think it equalizes, if not excels, amy
Meat I ever eat in Hurope. The Bacon
made thereof is extraordinary Meat;
but it must be well saved, otherwise it

68 LAWSON’S

will rust. This creature feeds upon all
sorts of wild Fruits. When Herrings
run, which is in March, the flesh of

such of those Bears as eat thereof, is
nought, all that season, and eats
filthily. Neither is it good, when he

feeds on Gum-berries, as I imtimated
before. They are great Devourers of
Acorns, and sometimes meet the swine
in the Woods, which ‘they kill and eat,
especially when they are hungry, and
ean find no other Food. Now and then
they get into the fields of Indian Corn,
or Maiz, where they make a sad
havock, spoiling ten times as much as
they eat. The Potatoes of this Coun-
try are so agreeable to them, that never
fail to sweep them all clean if they
chance to come in their way. ‘They
are seemingly a very clumsy Creature,
yet are very nimble in running up
Trees, and traversing every limb there-
of. When they come down they run Tail
foremost. At catching Herrings they
are most expert Fishers. They sit by
the Creek-sides, (which are very nar-
row) where the Fish run in; and there
they take them up, as fast as it is pos-
sible, they can dip their paws into the
Water. There is one thing more to be
considered of this Creature, which is,
that no Man, either Christian or In-
dian, has ever killed a She-bear with
Young.

It is supposed, that the She-Bears, af-
ter conception hide themselves in some
secret amd undiscoverable Place, till
they bring forth their Young, which, in
Probability, cannot be long; other the
Indians who hunt the Woods, like Dogs,
would, at some time or other, have
found them out. Bear-Hunting is a
great Sport in America, both with the
English and the Indians. Some Years
ago, there were killed five hundred
Bears, in two counties of Virginia, in
one Winter; and but two She-Bears
amongst them all, which were not with
Young, as I told you of the rest. The

HISTORY

English, have a breed of Dogs fit for
this sport, about the size of Farmers
Dogs, and by Practice come to know
the Scent of a Bear which, as soon as
they have found, they run him, by the
Nose, till they come up with him, and
then bark and snap at him, till he trees,
when the Huntsman shoots him out of
the Trees, there being, for the most
part two or three with Guns lest the
first should miss, or not quite kill him.
Though they are not naturally voraci-
ous, yet they are very fierce when
wounded. 'The Dogs often bring him to
a Bay, when wounded, and then the
Huntsmen make other Shots, perhaps
with the Pistols that are stuck in their
Girdles. If a Dog is apt to fasten, and
run into a Bear, he is not good, for the
best Dog in Europe is nothing in their
Pawes, but if they ever get him in their
Clutches, they blow his Skin from his
Flesh, like a Bladder, and often kill
him; or if he recovers it, he is never
good for anything after. As the Paws
of this Creature are held for the best
bit about him, so is the head esteemed
the worst, and always thrown away,
for what reason I kmow not. I believe
none ever made Trial thereof to know
how it eats. The Oil of the Bear, is
very Sovereign for Strains, Aches and
old Pains. The Fine Fur at the bottom
of the Belly, is used for making Hats,
in some places. The Fur itself is fit for
several Uses; as for making Muffs, fac-
ing Caps, etc., but the black Cub-skin
is preferable to all sorts of that kind,
for Muffs. Its Grain is like Hog-Skin.
The Panther is of the Cat’s kind;
about the height of a very large Grey-
hound, of a reddish Colour, the same as
a Lion. He climbs Trees with the
greatest Agility imaginable, is very
strong-limb’d, catching a piece of meat
from any Creature he strikes at. His
Tail is exceeding long; his Eyes look
very fierce and lively, are large, and are
of a greyish Colour, his Prey is Swines-

OF NORTH

Flesh, Deer, or any thing he can take;
no Creature is so nice and cleam, as
this, in his Food. When he has got his
Prey he fills his Belly with the Slaugh-
ter, and carefully lays up the Remain-
der, covering it very neatly with
Leaves, which if anything touches, he
never eats any more of it. He purrs as
Cats do; if taken when Young, is never
to be reclaimed from his wild Nature.
He hollows like a Man in the Woods,
when killed, which is by making him
take a Tree as the least Cur will pres-
ently do; then the Huntsmen shoot him;
if they do not kill him out-right, he
is a dangerous Hnemy, when wound-
ed, especially to the Dogs that approach
him. This Beast is the worst Enemy to
the Planter, of any Vermine in Caroli-
na. Hisflesh looks as well as any Sham-
bles-Meat whatsoever; a great many
People eat him, as choice Food; but I
never tasted of a Panther, so cannot
recommend the Meat, by my own }HEx-
perience. His Skin is a warm covering
for the Indians in the Winter, though
not esteemed amongst the choice Furs.
This Skin, dress’d, makes fine Women’s
Shoes, or Mens Gloves.

The Mountain Cat is so-called, be-
cause he lives in the Mountainous Parts
of America. He is a Beast of Prey, as
the Panther is, and nearest to him in
Bigness and Nature.

The Cat is quite different from these
in Europe; being more nimble amd
fierce, and larger; his Tail does not ex-
ceed four Inches. He makes a very odd
sort of Cry in the Woods, in the Night.
He is spotted as the Leopard is, tho’
some of them are not, (which may hap-
pen when their Furs are out of Season)
he climbs a Tree very dexterously, and
preys as the Panther does. He is a
great Destroyer of Young Swine. I
Knew an Island which was possessed by
these Vermine, unknown to the Planter,
who put thereon a considerable Stock of
Swine; but never took one back, for the

CAROLINA. 69
wild Cats destroyed them all. He takes
most of his Prey by surprise by get-
ting up the Trees, which they pass by
or under, and thence leaping directly
upon them. Thus he takes Deer (which
he camnot catch by running) and fast-
ens his Teeth into their Shoulders and
sucks them. They run with him till
they fall down for want of strength,
and become a Prey to the Enemy.
Hares, Birds, and all he meets, that he
can conquer, he destroys. The Fur is
approv’d to wear as a Stomacher, for
weak and cold Stomachs. They are
likewise used to line Muffs, and Coats
withal, in cold Climates.

The Wolf of Carolina, is the Dog of
the Woods. The Indians had no other
Curs, before the Christians came
amongst them. 'They are made domes-
tick. When wild they are neither so
large, nor fierce, as the European
Wolf. They are not Man-slayers;
neither is any Creature in Carolina, un-
less wounded. They go in great Droves
in the Night, to hunt Deer, which they
do as well as the best Pack of Hounds.
Nay, one of these will humt down a
Deer. They are often so poor, that
they can hardly run. When they catch
no Prey, they go to a Swamp, and fill
their Belly full of Mud; if afterwards
they chance to get anything of Flesh,
they will disgorge the Mud, and eat
the other. When they hunt in the
Night, that there is a great many to-
gether, they inake the most hidious
and frightful Noise, that ever was
heard. The Fur makes good Muffs. 'The
Skin dress’d to a Parchment makes the
best Drum-Heads, and if tann’d makes
the best sort of Shoes for the Summer-
‘Countries.

Tygers are never met withal in the
Settlement; but are more to the
Westward, and are not numerous on
this Side the Chain of Mountains. I
once saw one, that was larger ‘than a
Panther, and seemed to be a very bold

70 LAWSON’S
Creature. The Indians that hunt in
those Quarters, say, they are seldom
met withal. It seems to differ from
the Tyger of Asia and Africa.

Poleats or Skunks in America, are
different from those in Hurope. They
are thicker, and of a great many col-
ours; not all alike, but each differing
from another in the particular Colour.
They smell like a Fox, but ten times
stronger. When a Dog encounters them,
they throw upon him,and he will not be
sweet again in a Fortnight or More,
The Indians love to eat their Flesh,
which has no manner of ill Smell when
the Bladder is out. I know no use their
Furs are put to. They are easilv
brought up tame.

There have been some Otters from
the Westward of Carolina, which were
of a white Colour, a little inclining to
yellow. 'They live on the same Prey
here, as in Europe, and are the same
in all other Respects; so I shall insist
no farther on that Creature. Their
Furs, if black, are valuable.

Bevers are very numerous in Caro-
lina, there being abundance of their
Dams in all parts of the Country, where
I have travel’d. They are the most in-
dustrious and greatest Artificers, (in
building their Dams and Houses) of
any (four-footed Creatures in the
World. Their Food is chiefly the Bark
of Trees and Shrubs, viz.: Sassafras,
Ash, Sweet-Gum, and several others.
If you take them young they become
very tame and domestick, but are very
mischievous in spoiling Orchards, by
breaking the Trees, and blocking up
your Doors in the Night, with the
Sticks and Wood they bring thither. If
they eat any thing that is salt, it kills
them. Their Flesh is a sweet Food;
especially their Tail, which is held very
dainty. Their Fore-Feet are open, like
a Dog’s; their Hind-Feet webbed like
a Water-Fowl’s. The Skins are good
Furs for several Uses, which every one

HISTORY

knows. The leather is very thick; I
have known Shoes made thereof in
Carolina, which lasted well. It makes
the best Hedges Mittens that can be
used.

Musk Rats frequent fresh Streams
and no other; as the Bever does. He
has a Cell of Musk, which is valuable,
as is likewise his Fur.

The Possum is found no where but in
America. He is The Wonder of all the
Land-Animials, being the size of a
Badger, and near that colour. The Fe-
male, doubtless, breeds her Young at
her Teats; for I have seen them stick
fast thereto, when they have been no
bigger than a small raspberry, and
seemingly inanimate. She has a Paunch
or false Belly, wherein she carries her
Young, after they are from _ those
Teats, till they can shift for them-
selves. Their Food is Roots, Poultry or
Wild Fruits. They have no Hair on
their Tails, but a sort of Scale or hard
Crust, as the Bevers have. If a Cat has
nine Lives, this Creature surely has
nin teen; for if you break every Bone
in their Skin, and mash their Skull,
leaving them for Dead, you may come
an hour after, and they will be gone
quite away. 'They ware a very stupid
Creature, utterly neglecting their Safe-
ty. They are most like Rats of any
thing. I have for necessity in the Wil-
derness, eaten of them. Their Flesh is
very white, and well tasted; but their
ugly tails »ut me out of conceit with
that Fare. They climb Trees sas the
Raccoons do. Their Fur is not esteemed
nor used, save that the Indians spin jt
into Girdles and Garters.

The Raccoon is of a dark-grey Colour;
if taken young, is easily made tame,
but is the drunkenest Creature living,
if he can get any Liquor that is sweet
and strong. 'They are rather more un-
lucky than a Monkey. When wild they
are very subtle in catching their prey.
Those that live in the Salt-Water, feed

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 71

much on Oysters, which they love. They
watch the Oyster when it opens, and
nimbly put in their Paw, and pluck out
the Fish. Sometimes the Oyster shuts,
and holds fast their Paw till the Tide
comes in, that they are drown’d, tho’
they swim very well. The ‘way thiat this
Animal catches Crabs, which he great-
ly admires, and \which are plenty in
Carolina, is worthy of Remark. When
he intends to make a Prey of these
Fish, he goes to a Marsh, where stand-
ing on the Land, he lets his Tail hang
in the Water. This the Crab takes
for a Bait, and fastens his Claws there-
in, which as the Raccoon perceives, he,
of a sudden, springs forward, a consid-
erable way, on the Land and brings
the Crab along with him. As soon as
the Fish finds himself out of his Hle-
ment, he presently lets go his hold; and
then the Raccoon encounters him by
getting him cross-wise in his Mouth,
and devours him. There is a small sort
of Land Crab, which we call a Fid-
dler, that runs into a Hole when any-
thing pursues him. This Crab the Rac-
coon takes by putting his Fore-Foot in
the Hole, and pulling him out. With a
tame Raccoon this sport is very divert-
ing. The Chief of his other Foods is all
sorts of wild Fruits, green Corn, and
such as the Bear delights in. This and
the Possum are much of a Bigness. The
Fur makes Hats and Linings. The Skin
dress’d makes fine Womens Shoes.
The Minx is an Animal much like the
English Fillemart or Polcat. He is
long, slender, and every way shap’d
like him. His Haunts are chiefly in
the Marshes by the Sea-Side and Salt-
Waters, where he lives on Fish, Fowl,
Mice and Insects. They are _ bold
Thieves and will steal anything from
you in the Night, when asleep, as I
can tell by Experience, for one Winter
by Misfortune, I ran my _ Vessel
a-ground, and went often to the Banks,
to kill Wild Fowl, which we did a

great many. One Night we had a mind
to sleep on the Banks (the Weather
being fair) and wrapt up the Geese
which he had kill’d, and not eaten,
very carefully, in the Sail of a Canoe,
and folded it several Doubles, and for
their better Security, laid them all
Night under my Head. In the Morning
when I wak’d a Minx had eaten thro’
every Fold of the Canoes Sail, and
Thro’ one of the Geese, most part of
which was gone. These are likewise
found high up in the Rivers, in whose
sides they live; which is known by the
abundance of Fresh-Water Muscle-
Shells (such as you ‘have in England)
that lie at the mouth of their Holes.
This is an Enemy to the _ Tortoise
whose Holes in the Sand, where they
hide their Eggs, the Minx finds out,
and scratches up and eats. The Rac-
soons and Crows do the same. The
Minx may be made domestick, and
were it not for his paying a Visit now
and then to the Poultry, they are the
greatest destroyers of Rats and Mice,
that are in the World. Their Skins, if
good of that kind, are valuable, pro-
vided they are kill’d in Season.

The Water-Rat is found here, the
same as in England. The Water-Snakes
are often found to have of these Rats
in their Bellies.

That which the People in Carolina
call a Hare, is nothing but a Hedge-
Coney. They never borough in the
Ground, but much frequent Marshes
and Meadow Lands. They hide their
Young in some Places secure from the
Discovery of the Buck, as the Euro-
pean Rabbits do, and are of the same
Colour; but if you start one of them
and pursue her, she takes into a hollow
Tree, and there runs up as far as she
can, in which the Hunter makes a Fire,
and smokes the ‘Tree, which brings
her down and smothers her. At one
time of the Year, great Bots or Mag-
gots breed betwixt the Skin and the

72 LAWSON’S

Flesh of these Creatures. They eat just
as the English ones do; but I never
saw one of them fat. We fire the
Marshes, and then kill abundance.

The English, or European Coneys are
here found, tho’ but in one place that
I ever knew of, which was in Trent-
River, where they borough among the
Rocks. I cannot believe, these are Na-
tives of the Country, any other-wise
than that they might come from
aboard some Wreck; the Sea not being
far off. I was told of several that were
upon Bodies Island by Roanoke, which
came from that Ship of Bodies, but I
never Saw any. However the banks
are no proper Abode Above of Safety,
because of the many Minxes in those
Quarters. I carried over some of the
tame sort from England to South Caro-
lina, which bred three times going
over, we having a long Passavre. I
turn’d them loose in a Plantation, and
the young ones, and some of the old
ones bred great Maggots in their bodies.
At last the great Gale in Septem-
ber, 1700, brought a great deal of Rain,
and drown’d them all in their Holes. I
intend to make a second tryal of them
in North Carolina, and doubt not but
to secure them.

The Elk is a Monster of the Venison
sort. His Skin is used almost in the
same Nature .as the Buffalo’s. Some
take him ‘for the red Deer of America;
but he is not. For if brought and kept
in Company with that sort of the con-
trary Sex, he will never couple. His
Flesh is not so sweet as the _ lesser
Deers. His Horns exceed (in weight)
all Creatures which the new World af-
fords. They will often resort and feed
with the Buffalo delighting in the same
as they do.

The Stags of Carolina are lodg’d in
the Mountains. They are not so large
as in Europe, but much larger than
any Fallow-Deer. They are always fat,
I believe, with some delicate Herbage

HISTORY

that grows on the Hills, for we find all
Creatures itthat graze much taftier and
better Meat on the Hills than those on
the Valleys, I mean towards the
Sea. Some Deer on these Mountains
afford the occidental Bezoar, not com-
ing from a Goat as some report. What
sort of Beast affords the Oriental Be-
zoar, I know not. The Tiallow of the
Hearts makes incomparable Candles.
Their Horns and Hide are of the same
Value, as others of their kind. Fallow
Deer in Carolina, are taller and long-
er-legg’d, than in Europe; but neither
run so fast nor are so well haunch’d.
Their Singles are much longer, and
their Horns stand forward, as the oth-
ers incline backward; neither do they
beam, or bear their Antlers, as the
English do. Towards the Salts, they are
not generally so fat and good Meat,
as on the Hills. I have known some
kill’d on the Salts in January, that
have had abundance of Bots in their
Throat, which keep them very poor.
As the Summer approaches these Bots
come out, and turn into the finest But-
terfly imaginable, being very large, and
having black, white and yellow Stripes.
Deer-Skins are one of the best Com-
modities Carolina affords, to ship off
for England, provided they be large.

Of Squirrels we have four Sorts. The
first is the Fox-Squirrel, so call’d, be-
cause of his large Size, which is the
Bigness of a Rabbit of two or ‘three
Months old. His Colour is commonly
grey; yet I have seen several pied
ones, and some reddish and black; his
chiefest Haunts are in the Piny land,
where the Almond-Pine grows. There
he provides his Winter-Store, they be-
ing a nut that never fails of bearing.
He may be made tame and is very good
Meat, when killed.

The next sort of Sqirrel is much of
the Nature of the English, only differ-
ing in Colour. Their Food is Natural of
all sorts the Country affords and

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 73

Acorns. 'They eat well, and like the
Bear, are never found with young.

The Fly-Squirrel is grey, as well as
the others. He is the least of the Three.
His Food is much the same with the
small grey Squirrels. He has not Wings
as Birds and Bats have, there being a
fine thin Skin, covered with Hair, as
the rest of the parts are. This is from
the Fore-Feet to the Hinder-Feet,
which is extended and holds so much
Air, as buoys him up, from one Tree to
another, that are greater distances
asunder, than other Squirrels can
reach by jumping or Springing. He is
made very tame, is an Enemy to a
Corn-Field, (as all Squirrels are) and
eats only the germinating Eye of that
Grain, which is very sweet.

Ground Squirrels are so eall’d, be-
cause they never delight in running up
Trees, and leaping from Tree to Tree.
They are the smallest of all Sauirrls.
Their Tail is neither so long or bushy;
but flattish. They are of a reddish
Colour, and striped down each _ side
with black Rows, which make them
very beautiful. They may be kept tame,
in a little Box with Cotton. They and
the Fly-Squirrels seldom stir out in
Cold Weather, being tender Animals.

The Fox of Carolina is gray, but
smells not as the Foxes in Great-Brit-
ian, and elsewhere. They have reddish
Hair about their Mars, and are general-
ly very fat, yet I never saw any one
eat them. When hunted they make a
sorry chase, because they run up ‘Trees
when pursued. They are never to be
made familiar and tame, as the Rac-
coon is. Their Furs if in Season, are
used for Muffs and other Ornaments.
They live chiefly on Birds and Fowls,
and such small Prey.

I have been informed by the Indians,
that on a Lake of Water towards the
Head of Neus River, there Haunts a
Creature, which frightens them all
from hunting thereabouts. They say, he

is the Colour of a Panther, but cannot
run up Trees; and that abides with him
a Creature like an Englishman’s Dog,
which runs faster than he can, and
gets his Prey for him. They add that
there is no other of that Kind that ever
they met withal and that they have no
other way to avoid him, but by running
up a Tree, The Certainty of this I can-
not affirm by my own Knowledge, yet
they all agree in this Story. As for
Lions, I never saw any in America;
neither can I imagine, how they should
come there.

Of Rats we have two sorts; the
House-Rat, as in Europe; and the
Marsh-Rat, which differs very much
from the other, being more hairy, and
has several other Distinctions, too long
here to name.

Mice are the same here, as those in
England, that belong to the MHouse.
There is one sort that poisons a Cat,
as soon as she eats of them, which has
some times happened. These Mice re-
sort not to Houses.

The Dormouse is the same as in Eng-
land; and so is the Weasel, which is
very scarce.

The Bat or Bearmouse, the same as
in England. The Indian Children are
much addicted to eating Dirt, and so
are some of the Christians. But roast
a Bat on a Skewer, then pull the Skin
off, and make the child that eats Dirt,
eat the roasted Bearmouse, and he
will never eat Dirt again. This is held
as an infallible Remedy. I haav put
this among the Beasts, as partaking of
both Natures; of the Bird and Mouse-
Kind.

Having mention’dall the sorts of Ter-
restrial or Land Animals, which Caro-
lina affords and are yet known to use,
except the Tame and Domestick Crea-
tures (of which I shall give an account
of hereafter, when I come to treat of
the Ways and Manners of Agriculture
in that Province) I shall proceed to the

74 LAWSON’S HISTORY

known Insects of that Place. Not that
I pretend to give an ample amount of
the whole Tribe, which is too numer-
ous, and contains too great a Diversity
of Species, many not yet discovered,
and others that have slips my Memory
at present; But those that I can re-
member, I herewith present by Readers
withal.

INSECTS OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Allegators, Rattle-Snakes, Ground
Rattle-Snakes, Horn-Snakes, Water-
Snakes, four sorts, Swamp Snakes,

three sorts, Red-bellied Land-Snakes,
Red-back’d Snake, Black ‘'Truncheon
Saake, Scorpion Lizard, Frogs, many
sorts, Long Black Snake, King-Snake,
Green-Snake, Vipers, black and gray,
Tortois, Terebin, Lam‘d and Water,
Brimstone-Snake, Egg, or Chicken-
Snake, Eel-Snake or great Loach, Rot-
ten-wood Worm, etc.

The Allegator is the same as the
Crocodile, and differs only in name.
They frequent the sides of the Rivers,
in the Banks of which they make their
Dwellings, a great way under Ground;
the Hole or Mouth of their Dens lying
commonly under two Foot of Water,
after which it rises till it be consider-
ably above the surface thereof. Here
it is that this amphibious Monster
dwells all the Winter, sleeping away
his time till the Spring appears, when
he comes from his Cave, and Daily
swims up and down the Streams. He
always breeds in some fresh Stream,
or clear Fountain of Water, yet seeks
his Prey in the broa'd Salt Waters, that
are brackish, mot on the Sea-Side,
where I never met with any. He never
devours Men in Carolina, but uses all
ways to avoid them; he kills Swine and
Dogs, the former as they come to feed
in the Marshes, the others as _ they
Swim over the Creeks and Waters.
They are very mischievous to the
Wares made for taking Fish,’ into
which they come to Prey on the Fish

that are caught in the Ware, from
which they cannot readily extricate
themselves, and so break the Ware in
Pieces, being a very strong Creature.
This Animal in these Parts sometimes
exceeds seventeen Foot long. It is im-
possible to kill them with a Gun, un-
less you chance to hit them about the
Eyes, which is a much softer Place
than the rest of their inpenetrable Ar-
mour. They roar and make a hideous
Noise against bad Weather, and be-
fore they come out of their Dens in the
Spring. I was pretty much frightened
with ome of these once; which happen-
ed thus: I had built a House about
half a mile from an Indian Town, on
the Fork of Neus-River, where I
dwelt by myself, excepting a young In-
dian Fellow, and a Bull-Dog that I had
along with me. I had not then been
so long a Sojourner in America, as ito
be thoroughly acquainted with this
Creature. Ome of them had _ got his
Nest directly under my House, which
stood on pretty high Land, and by a
Creek Side, in whose Banks his enter-
ing-place was, his Den reaching the
Ground directly on which my House
stood. I was sitting alone by the Fire-
side (about nine a Clock at Night,
some time in March) the Indiam fellow
being gone to the Town to see his Re-
lations; so that there was nobody in
the House but myself and my Dog;
when all of a sudden this ill-favour’d
Neighbor of mine, set up such a Roar-
ing, that he made the House shake
about my Ears, and so continued, like
a Bittern, (but a hundred times loud-
er if possible) for four or five times.
The Dog started, as if he was fright-
ened out of his senses; nor indeed could
I imagine what it was, having never
heard one of them before. Immediate-
ly again I had another Lesson; and so
a third. Being at that time amongst
nothing but Savages, I began to sus-
pect they were working some piece of

OF NORTH CAROLINA. a

Conjuration under my House, to get
away my Goods; not but that, at am-
other time, I have as little Faith in
their, or any other working Miracles,
by Diabolical Means, aS any Person
living. At last my Man came in, to
whom, when I had told the Story, he
laugh’d at me, and presently unde-
ceiv’d me, by telling me what it was
that made the Noise. These Allegators
lay Eggs, as the Ducks do; only they
are larger shap’d, larger and a thick-
er shell, than they have. How lomg
they are in hatching, I cannot tell; but,
as the Indians say, it is most part of
the Summer; they always lay by a
Spring-Side, the young living in and
about the same, as soon as hatched.
Their Hees are laid in nests made in
the Marshes, and contain twenty or
thirty Eggs. Some of these Creatures
afford a great deal of Musk. Their
Tail when cut off, looks very fair and
white, seemingly like the best of Veal.
Some People have eaten thereof, and
say it is delicate Meat, when they hap-
pen not to be musky. Their Flesh is
accounted proper for such as are
troubled with the lame Distemper, (a
sort of Rheumatism) so is the fat
very prevailing to remove Aches and
Pains, by Unction. The teeth of this
Creature when dead, are taken out, to
make Charges for Gums, being of sev-
eral sizes, fit for all loads. They are
white and would make Snuff-Boxes, if
Wrought by an Artist. After the Tail
of the Allegator is separated from the
Body, it will move very freely for four
days.

The Rattle-Snakes are found on all
the Main of America, that I ever had
any Account of; being so call’d from
the Rattle at the end of their Tail,
which is a Connection of jointed Cov-
erings, of an excrementitious Matter,
betwixt the substance of a Nail and a
Horn, tho’ each Tegmen is very thin.
Nature seems to have design’d these,

on purpose to give Warning of such
an approaching Danger, as the venom-
ous Bite of these Snakes is. Some of
them grow to a very great Bigness, as
six Foot in Length, their middle being
the thickness of the Small of a lusty
Man’s Leg. We have an Account of
much larger Serpents of this Kind; but
I never met them yet, although I have
seen and kill’d abundance in my time.
They are of an Orange, tawny, and
blackish colour on the Back; differing
(as all Snakes do) in Colour on the Bel-
ly, being of an Ash Colour, inclining
to Lead. The Male is easily distin-
guished from the Female, by a black
Velvet-Spot on his Head; and besides
his Head is smaller shaped, and long.
Their bite is venomous, if not speedily
remedied; especially if the wound be
in a Vein, Nerve, Tendon, or Sinew;
when it is very difficult to cure. The
Indians are the best Physicians for the
Bite of these and all other venomous
Creatures of this Country. There are
four sorts of Snake-Roots already dis-
covered, which knowledge came from
the Indians, who have performed sev-
eral great Cures. The Rattle-Snakes
are accounted the peaceablest in the
World; for they never attack any one,
or injure them, unless they are trod
upon, or molested. The most danger
of being bit by these Snakes, is for
those that survey Land in Carolina;
yet I never heard of any Surveyor that
was kill’d or hurt by them. I have
myself gone over several of this Sort,
and others; yet it pleased God, I never
came to any harm. They have the
Power, or Art (I know not which to
call it) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Par-
tridges, or any such thing, in such a
manner, that they run_ directly into
their Mouths. This I have seen by a
Squirrel and one of these Rattle-
Snakes; and other Snakey have, in
some measure, the same Power. The
Rattle-Snakes have many small Teeth,

76 LAWSON’S HISTORY

of which I cannot see they make any
use; for they swallow everything
whole; but the Teeth which poison, are
only four; two on each side of their
Upper-Jaws. 'These are bent like a
Sickle, and hang loose as if by a Joint.
Towards the setting on of these, there
is in each 'Tooth a little Hole, wherein
you may just put in the Point of a
Small Needle. And here it is that the
Poison comes owt (which is as green as
grass) and follows the Wound made by
the Point of theirTeeth. They are much
more Venomous in the months of June
and July, than they are in March,
April or September. The hotter the
Weather the more Poisonous. Neither
nay we suppose, that they can renew
their Poison as oft as they will; for we
have had a Person bit by one of these
who never rightly recovered it and
very hardly escaped with Life, a sec-
ond person bit in the same place by
the same Snake, and received no more
Harm, than if bitten with a Rat. They
cast their Skins every Year, and com-
monly abide near the Place where the
old Skin lies. These cast Skins are
used im Physick, and the Rattles are
reckon’d good to expedite the Birth.
The Gall is made up into Pills, with
Clay, and Kept for Use; being given in
Pestilential Fevers and the Small-Pox
It is accounted a noble Remedy, known
to few and held as a great Arcanum.
This Snake has two Nostrils on each
side of his Nose. Their Venom, I have
Reason to believe, effects mo Harm,
any otherwise than when darted into
the Wound by the Serpents Teeth.
The Ground Rattle-Snake, wrong
nam/’d, because it has nothing like Rat-
tles. It resembles the Rattle-Snake a
little in Colour, bui is darker, and nev-
er grows to any comsiderable Bigness,
not exceeding a Foot, or fifteen inches.
He is reckon’d among ithe worst of
Snakes; and stays out the longest of

any Snake I know, before he returns
(in the Fall of the Leaf) to his Hole.

Of the Horn Snakes I never saw but
two, that I remember, They are like
the Rattle-Snake in Colour, but rather

lighter. ‘They hiss exactly like a
Goose, when anything approaches
them. They strike at their Enemy

with their Tiail, and _ kill whatsoever
they wound with it, which is arm’d at
the End with a horny Substance, like
a Cock’s Spur. ‘This is their Weapon.
I have it credibly reported, by those
who said they were Eye-Witnesses,
that a small Locust Tree, about the
thickness of a Man’s arm, being struck
by one of these Snakes, at Ten a Clock
in the Morning, then verdant and
flourishing, at four in the Afternoon
was dead, and the Leaves red and
withered. Doubtless, be it how it ‘will,
they are very venomous. I think the
Indians do not pretend to cure their
W ound.

Of Water-Snakes there are four
sorts. The first is of the Horn-Snake
‘Colour, tho’ less. The next is a very
long Snake, differing in Colour, and
will make nothing to swim over a Riv-
er a League wide. They hang upon
Birches and upon Trees by the Water
Side. I had the misfortune once to
have one of them leap into my Boat,
as I was going up a narrow River; the
Boat was full of Mats which I was
glad to take out, to get rid of him.
They are reckon’d poisonous. A third
is much of an English Adder’s Colour,
but always frequents the Salts, and
lies umder the Drift Sea-Weed, where
they are in abundance, and are ac-
counted mischievous, when they bite.
The last is of a sooty black Colour, and
frequents Ponds and Ditches. What
his Qualities are I cannot tell.

Of the Swamp-Snakes there are
three sorts, ‘which are very near akin

OF NORTH CAROLINA. i

to the Water-Snakes, and may be
rank’d amongst them.

The belly of ithe first is of a Carna-
tion or Pink Colour; his back a dirty
brown; they are large but have not
much Venom in them, as ever [I learnt.
The next is a large Snake, of a brown
Dirt Colour, and always abides in the
Marshes. The last is mottled, and
very poisonous. They dwell in Swamp
Sides, and Pomds, and have prodigious
wide Mouths, and (though not long)
arrive to the Thickness of a Man’s
Leg.

The Red Bellied frequent the Land
altogether, and are so call’d because of
their red Bellies, which incline to an
Orange Colour. Some have been bitten
with these sort of Snakes and not hurt;
whem others have suffer’d very much
by them. Whether there be two sorts
of these Snakes, which we make no
difference of, I cannot at present de-
termine.

I never saw but one of the Red-Back-
ed, which I stept over, and did not see
him till he that brought the chain after
me, spy’d him. He has a red Back, as
the last has a red Belly. They are a
long, slender Snake, and very rare to
be met withal. I enquired of the Indian
that was along with me, whether they
were very venomous, who made An-
swer, that if he had bitten me, even the
Indians could not have cured it.

This sort of snake might very well

have been rank’d with the Water
Snakes. They lie under Roots of
Trees, and on ithe Banks of Rivers.

When any thing disturbs them, they
dart into the Water (which is Salt)
like an Arrow out of a Bow. They are
thick, and the shortest Snake I ever
saw. What Good, or Harm, there is
in them, I know not. Some of these
Water-Snakes will swallow a black
Land Snake, half as long again as
themselves.

The Scorpion Lizard, is no more like

a Scorpion, than a Hedge-Hog; but
they very commonly call him a Scor-
pion. He is of the Lizard kind, but
much bigger; his back is of a Dark
Copper-Colour; his Belly an Orange;
he is very nimble in running up trees,
or on the Land, and is accounted very
Poisonous. He has the most sets of
teeth in his Mouth and Throat that ev-
er I saw.

Green Lizards are very Harmless
and Beautiful, having a little Bladder
under their throat, which they fill with
wind and evacuate at their pleasure.
They are of a most glorious Green and
very tame. They resort to the Walls
of houses in the Summer Selason, and
stand gazing on a Man without any
concern or fear. There are _ several
other Colours of these Lizards, but none
so beautiful as the green ones are.

Of Frogs we have several sorts; the
most famous is the Bull Frog, so call-
ed ‘because he lows exactly like that
beast, which makes Strangers Wonder
(When by the side of a Marsh) what’s
the matter, for they hear the Frogs
Low, and can see no Cattle; he is very
large. I believe I have seen one with
as much meat on him as a Pullet, if he
had been dressed. The small Green
Frogs get upon ‘Trees and make a
noise. There are several other colored
small Frogs; but the common land
Frog is likest a Toad, only he leans
and is not poisonous. He is a great
devourer of Ants, and the Snakes de-
vour him. These Frogs, baked and beat
to powder, and taken with Orrice-Root,
cure a Tympany.

The long, Black Snake frequents the
Land altogether, and is the nimblest
creature living. His bite has no more
Venom than a prick with a pin. He
is the best Mouser that can be; for he
leaves not one of that Vermin alive,
where he comes. He also kills the Rat-
tlesnake wheresoever he meets him, by
twisting his head about the Neck of

78 LAWSON’S
the Rattlesnake, and whipping him to
death with his Tail. This Whipster
haunts the Dairies of careless house-
wives, and never misses to Skim the
Milk clear of Cream. He is an ex-
cellent Egg Merchant, for he does not
suck the Eggs but swiallows them whole
(As all Snakes do) He will often
swallow all the eggs from under a Hen
that sets, and coil himself under the
Hen, in the Nest, where sometimes the
Housewife finds him. This Snake, with
all his agility, is so brittle, that when
he is pursued and gets his head in the
hole of a tree, if anybody gets hold of
the other end he will twist and break
himself off in the middle. One of these
Snakes, whose neck is no larger than a
woman’s little finger, will Swallow a
Squirrel, so much does that part stretch
in these Creatures.

The King Snake is the longest of all
others and not common; no Snake (they
say) will meddle with them. I think
they are accounted very venomous. The

Indians make girdles and sashes of
their skins.
Green Sniakes are very small, tho’

pretty, (if any Beauty be allowed to
Snakes). Everyone makes themselves
very familiar with them, and puts them
in their bosom, because there is no
manner of harm in them.

The Corn Snakes are but small ones;
they are of a brown colour, mixed with
tawny. There is no more hurt in this
than in a green snake. f

Of those we call Vipers there are two
sorts. People call these Vipers’ be-
cause they spread a. very small head at
any time they are vexed. One of these
is grayish like the Italian Viper, the
other black iand short; and is reckon-
ed amongst the worst of Snakes for
Venom.

Tortois, vulgarly called Turtle; I
have ranked these among the Insects
because they lay eggs, and I did not
know well where to put them. Amongst

HISTORY

us there are three sorts; the first is
the Green Turtle, which is not com-
mon, but is sometimes found on our
coast. The next is the Hawk’s Bill,
which is common. These two sorts are
extraordinary meaty. The third is the
Logger-Head, which kind one scarce
ever covets, except for the eggs,
which of this and all other Turtles are
very good Food. None of these sorts
of Creatures’ eggs will ever admit the
whites to be harder than a jelly; yet
the Yelk with boiling becomes as hard
as any other egg.

Of Terebins there are divers sorts,
all which, to be brief, we will compre-
hend under the distinction of Land and
Water Terebins.

The Land Terebin is of several sizes
but, generally round-Mouth’d and not
Hawk Bill’d, as some are. The Indians
eat them. Most of them are good Meat,
except the very large ones; and they
are good Food too, provided they are
not Musky. They are a bitter Enemy
to the Rattle Snake, for when the
'Terebin meets him he catches hold of
him a little below his neck, and draws
his head into his shell, which makes the
snake beat his Tail, and Twist about
with all the strength and _ Violence
Imaginable, to get away, but the Tere-
bin soon dispatches him and _ there
leaves him. These they call in Eu-
rope the Land Tortois. Their food is
Snails, Tad-poles or young frogs, Mush-
rooms, and the Dew and Slime of the
Earth and Ponds.

Water Terebins are small, containing
about aS much meat as a Pullet, and
are extraordinary good Food; especial-
ly, in May and June. When they lay
eggs, their Eggs are very good; but
they have so many enemies that finds
them out that the hundredth part nev-
er comes to perfection. The Sun and
Sand hatch them, which come out the
bigness of a small chestnut, and seek
their own living.

OF NORTH

We now come again to the Snakes.
The Brimstone is so called I believe
because it is almost of a brimstone col-
our. They might as well have called it
a glass snake, for it is as brittle as
a tobacco pipe, so that if you give it
the least Touch of a small Twig, it
breaks into several small pieces. Some
affirm that if you leave it where you
broke it, it will come together again.
What harm there is in this brittle ware
I cannot tell, but I never knew any-
body hurt by them.

The Egg or Chicken Snake is_ so-
called because it frequents the chicken
yard, and eats Hggs andChickens; they
are of a dusky soot colour, and will roll
themselves round and stick 18 or 20
foot high, by the side of a smooth-
barked pine, where there is no man-
ner of hold, and there sun themselves
and sleep all the sunny part of the day.
There is no great matter of poison in
them.

The wood worms are of copper, shin-
ing colour, s@arce so thick as your lit-
tle finger; are often found in rotten
trees. They are accounted Venomous,
in case they bite, tho’ I never knew
anything hurt by them. They never
exceed four or five inches in length.

The Reptiles, or smaller Insects, are
too numerous to relate here, this Coun-
try affording innumerable quantities
thereof; as the Flying Stags, with
horns; Beetles, Butterflies, Grasshop-
pers, Locusts, and several hundreds of
uncouth shapes, which in the Summer
Season are discovered here in Caro-
lina, the description of which requires
a large volume, which is not my in-
tent at present. Besides, what the
Mountainous part of this land may
hereafter lay open to our view, Time
and Industry will discover, for we that
have settled but a small part of this
Province, cannot imagine put that there
will be a larger number of Discover-
ies made by those that shall come here-

CAROLINA, 79
after into the back part of this Land,
and make inquiries therein, when, at
least, we consider, that the Westward
of Carolina is quite different in Soil,
Air, Weather, Growth of Vegetables,
and several Animals too, which at pres-
ent we are total strangers to, and to
seek for. As to a right knowledge there-
of I say, when another Age is come, the
Ingenious Heads then in being upon the
Shoulders of them that went before
them, adding their own experiments to
what was delivered down by their Pre-
decessors, then there will be somethiug
towards a complete Natural History,
(which in these days would be no easie
undertaking to any author that writes
truly and compendiously, as he ought
to do.) It is sufficient at present to
write an Honest and Fair Account, of
any of the Settlements in this new
World, without wandering out of the
Path of Truth or bespattering any
Man’s Reputation, any wise concern-
ed in the Government of the Colony;
he that mixes Invectives with Rela-
tions of this Nature renders himself
suspected of Partiality in whatever he
writes. For my part I wish all well,
and he that has received any severe
dealings from the Mlagistrate or his
Superiors, had best examine himself
well, if he was not first in the fault;
if so he can then justly blame none
but himself for what has happened to
him.

Having thus gone through the insects
as in the table, except the Hel-Snake,
(so call’d, though very improperly, be-
cause he is nothing but a loach that
sucks and cannot bite as the Snakes
do). He is very large, commonly six-
teen inches or a foot and a half lone,
having all the properties that other
Loaches have, and dwells in pools iand
waters as they do. Notwithstanding we
have the same Loach as you have, in
Bigness.

This is all that at present I shall

80 LAWSON’S HISTORY

mention, touching the Insects, and so
go on and give and account of the
Fowls and Birds, that are properly
found in North Carolina, which are
these:

BIRDS IN NORTH CAROLINA.

Eagle bald, Eagle Gray, Fishing
Hawk, Turkey Vulture or Hawk, Her-
ring-Tail Hawk, Goshawk, Falcon,
Merlin, Sparrow-hawk, Hobby, Ring-
tail, Raven, Crow, Black-Birds, two
sorts, Bunting, two sorts, Peasants,
Woodcock, Snipe, Partridge, Moorhen,
Green Plover, Plover Gray or Whist-
ling, Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Parrakeeto,
Thrush, Woodpecker, five sorts, Mock-
ing Bird, two sorts, Cat Bird, Cuckoo,
Blue Bird, Blue Finch, Nightingale,
Hedge Sparrow, Wren Sparrows, two
sorts, Lark, Red Bird, East Indian Bat,
Martins, two sorts, Diveling or Swift,
Swallow, Humming Bird, the Tom Tit,
or OX Bye, Owls, two sorts, Scritch
Owl, Baltimore Bird, Throstle (no sing-
er), Phippoo Will, Reed Sparrow, Weet
bird, Rice Bird, Cranes and _ Storks,
Snow-Birds, Yellow Wings.

WATER FOWL ARE

Swans, called Thompeters, Swans,
called Hoopers, Geese, three sorts,
Brant gray, Brant white, Sea-pies or

pied Curlens, Willets,Great Gray Gulls,
Old Wives, Sea Cock, Curlues, three
sorts, Coots, Kings-fisher, Loons, two
sorts, Bitterns, three sorts, Hern white,
Hern gray, Water Pheasant, Little
Gray Gull, Little Fisher, or Dipper,
Ducks as in England, Ducks, Black all
Summer, Ducks pied, build on Trees,
Ducks Whistling, at Sapona, Ducks,
Scarlet Eye,at Esaw, Blue-wings, Wid-
geon, Teal two sorts, Shovelers, Whis-
tlers, Black Flusterers or Bald Coot,
Turkey wild, Fishermen, Divers, Raft

Fowl, Bull-necks, Redheads, Tropick
birds, Pelican, Cormorant, Gannet,
Shearwater, Great black pied Gull,

Marsh hens, Blue Peters,
Runners, Tutcocks, Swaddle-bills,

Sand-birds,
Old

Men, Sheldrakes, Bald-Faces, Water-
Witch or Ware Coot.

As the Hagle is reckoned the King of
Birds I have begun with him. The first
I shall speak of is the Bald Eagle; so
called because his head to the middle of
his neck, and his tail is as white as
snow. These Birds continually breed
the year around; for when the young
Eagles are just downed with a sort of
white woolly Feathers, the hen Eagle
lays again, which eggs are hatched by
the warmth of the young ones in the
nest, so that the flight of one brood
makes room for the next that are just
hatched. They prey on any living thing
they can catch. They are heavy of
flight and cannot get their food by
swiftness, to help which there is a
Fishhawk which catches Fishes, and
suffers the Hagle to take them from
her, altho’ she is long-winged and
swift flying and can make far better
way in her flight than the Hagle can.
The Bald HBagle attends the Gunner
in Winter, with all the obsequiousness
imaginable, and when he shoots and
kills any fowl the Hagle surely comes
in for his Bird; and besides those that
are wounded and escape the Fowler
come into the Eagle’s share. He is an
excellent artist at stealing young Pigs,
which prey he carries alive to his Nest,
iat which time the poor pig makes such
a strange noise over-head, that strang-
ers that have heard them cry, and not
seen the Bird and his Prey, have
thought that there were flying Sows
and Pigs in that country. The Hagle’s
nest is made of twigs, sticks and rub-
bish. It is big enough to fill a hland-
some Cart’s body, and commonly so
full of nasty bones and carcasses that
it stinks most offensively. This Bagle
is not bald until he is one or two years
old.

The gray Bayle is altogether the same
sort of a Bird, as the Eagle in Hurope,

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 8I

therefore we shall treat no further of
him.

The Fishing Hawk is the Hagle’s
Jackal, which most commonly (tho’
not always), takes his prey for him.
He is a large bird, being above two-
thirds as large ias the Eagle. He builds
his Nest as the Hagles do, that is in
a young cypress Tree, either standing
in, or hard by the Water. The Hagle
and this bird seldom sit on a living
tree. He is of a gray pied Colour, and
the most dexterous Fowl in Nature at
Catching of Fish, which he _ wholly
lives on, never eating any flesh.

The Turkey-Buzzard of Carolina is
a small Vulture, which lives on any
dead carcasses. They are about the
Bigness of a Fishing Hawk, and have
a nasty smell with them. They are of
the Kite’s Colour, and are reported to
be an enemy to snakes, by killing all
that they meet withal of that kind.

The Herring, or Swallow-Tailed
Hawk, is about the bigness of a falcon,
but a much longer bird. He is of a del-
icate Aurora Colour. The Pinions of
his Wings and End of his Tail are
Black. He is a very beautiful bird, and
never appears abroad but in the sum-
mer. His prey is chiefly Snakes, and
he will kill the biggest we have with
a great deal of Dexterity iand Base.

Goshawks are very beautiful in Car-
olina. They are not seemingly s0
large as those from Muscovy, but ap-
pear to be a very brisk bird.

The Falcon is much the same as in
Europe, and promises to be ia brave
bird, tho’ I never had any of them in
my hand, neither did I ever see any
of them in any other posture than on
the Wing, which always happened to
be in an evening, and flying to the
westward; therefore I believe we may
expect to find them and several other
species that we are at present strang-
ers to.

The Merlin is a small bird in Eu-

rope, but much smaller here; yet he
very nimbly kills the smaller sorts of
birds, and sometimes the Partridge; if
caught alive he would be a great rar-
ity, because of his beauty and small-
ness.

The Sparrowhawk in Carolina is no
bigger than a fieldfare in England. He
flies at the Bush and sometimes kills
a small Bird, but his chiefest food is
reptiles, as Beetles, Grasshoppers and
such small things. He is exactly as
the same colour as the Sparrowhawk
in England, only has a blackish Hood
by his Eyes.

Hobbies are the same here as in
England and are not often met withal.

The Ringiail is a short-winged hawk,
preying on mice and such vermin in
the Marshes, as in England.

Ravens the same as in England,
though very few. I have not seen
above six or eight in a year’s time.

Crows are here less than in England.
They are as good meat as Pigeons; and
never feed on any Carrion; they are
great enemies to the cornfields and cry
and build almost like rooks.

Of Blackbirds we have two sorts,
which are the worst Vermin in Ameri-
ca. They fly sometimes in such flocks
that they destroy everything before
them. They (both sorts) build in hol-
low trees, as Starlings do. The first
sort is near as big as a Dove
and is white and _ delicate food.
The other sort is very beautiful
and albout the bigness of an Ouséi.
Part of their head next to the bill, and
the pinions of the wings, are of an or-
ange and glorious crimson colour. They
are as good meat as the former, tho’
very few here, (where large fowl are
so plenty) ever trouble themselves to
kill or dress them.

Of the Bunting-Larks we have two
sorts, though the heel of this bird is
not so long as in Europe. The first
of these often accompany the Black-

82 LAWSON’S

birds, and sing as the Bunting-Larks
in England do, differing very little. The
first sort has an onange colour on the
tops of their wings, and are as good
meat as those in Europe. The other
sort is something less of a lighter col-
our, nothing differing therein as to col-
our, bigness and meat.

The Pheasant of Carolina differs
some small matter from the English
Pheasant, being not so big and having
some difference in feather; yet he is
not anywise inferior in delicacy, but is
as good Meat, or rather finer. He
haunts the Backwoods and is seldom
found near the Inhabitants.

The Woodcocks live and breed here,
though they are not in great plenty
as I have seen them in some parts of
England and other places. They want
one-third of the English Woodcock in
bigness; but differ not in shape or
feather, save that their breasts are of
a carnation Colour; and they make a
noise (when they are on the wing) like
the bells about a hawk’s legs. They are
certainly as dainty Meat as any in the
world. Their abode in iall parts of this
country is in low and boggy ground,
Springs, Swamps and Percoarsons.

The Snipes here frequent the same
places as they do in England, and dif-
fer nothing from them. ‘They are the
only wild bird that is nothing different
from the species of Europe and keeps
with us all the year. In some places
there areia great many of these Snipes.

Our Partridges in Carolina very of-
ten take upon the Trees, and have a
sort of whistle and call quite different
from those in England. They are a
very beautiful bird and great destroy-
ers of the pease in Plantations; where-
fore they set traps and catch many of
them. They have the same feather as
in Hurope; only the cock wants the
horse-shoe, in lieu of which he has a
fair half-circle over each eye. ‘These
as 'well as the Woodcock are less than

HISTORY

the European Bird, but far finer meat.
They might be easily transported to
any place, because they take to eating
after caught.

The 'Moorhens are of the Blackgame.
I am informed that the Gray game
haunts tthe hills. They come not into
the settlements, but keep in their hilly
parts.

Jays are here common and very mis-
chievous, in devouring our fruit and
spoiling more than they eat. They are
abundantly more beautiful and finer
feathered than those in Europe, and
not above half so big.

The Lap-wing or Green Plover are
here very common. They cry pretty
much as the English Plovers do; and
differ not much in feather, but want a
third of their bigness.

The Gray or Whistling Plover are
very scarce among us. I never saw
any but three times that fell and set-
tled on the ground. 'They differ very
little from those in Europe, as far as
I could discern. I have seen several
great flocks of them fly overhead;
therefore believe that they inhabit the
Valleys over the Mountains.

Our Wild Pigeons are like the Wood
Pigeons or Stock Geese, only they have
a longer tail. They leave us in the
summer time. This sort of Pigeon, as
I said before, is more like the Stock
Dove or Wood Pigeon that we have in
England; only these differ in their
tails, which are very long, much like a
Parekeeto’s. You must understand that
these birds do not breed amongst us,
(who -are settled at or near the mouths
of the rivers, as I have intimated to
you before) but come down (specially
in hard winters) amongst the Inhabi-
tants in great flocks, as they were seen
to do in the year of 1707, which was the
hardest winter that ever was known,
since Carolina was seated by the
Christians. And if that country had
such hard winters, what must be ex-

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 83

pected of the severe ‘winters in Penn-
sylvania, New York and New Eng-
land, where winters are ten times, if
possible, colder than with us. _ Al-
though the flocks are in such Extremi-
ties, very numerous, yet they are not
to be mentioned in comparison with
the great and infinite numbers of the
fowls, that are met withal about a
hundred or a hundred and fifty miles
to the Westward of the places where
we at present live; and where the
Pigeons come down in quest of a small

sort of acorn, which in those parts
are plentifully found. They iare the
same we call Turky-Acorns, ‘because

the wild Turkeys feed very much there
on, and for the same reason those
trees that bear them are called 'Tur-
key Oaks. I saw such prodigious
flocks of these pigeons in January
and February, 1701-2 (which were in
the hilly ‘country between the great na-
tion of the Hsaw Indians and the
pldasant stream of Sapona, which is
the west branch of Clarendon, or Cape
Fair River, that they had broke down
the limbs of a great many large trees
all over those Woods, whereon they
chanced to sit and roost; especially
the great pines which are more brittle
wood, than our sorts of Oak are. These
Pigeons, about sunrise, when we were
preparing to march on our journey,
would fly by us in such Vast Flocks
that they would be near a quarter of
an hour before they were all passed
by; and as soon as thiat flock was
passed another would come, and _ so
successively one after another for a
greater part of the Morning. It is ob-
servable that wherever these fowl come
in such large numbers, as I saw them
then, they clear all before them, scarce
leaving one acorn upon the ground,
which would doubtless be a great prej-
udice to the planters that ‘would seat
there, because their swine would be
thereby deprived of the mast. When I

Saw such flocks of the Pigeons I now
speak of, none of our company had any
sort of a shot than that which is cast
in Moulds and was so very large that
we could not put above ten or a dozen
of them into our largest pieces. Where-
fore we made but an indifferent hand
of shooting them; although we com-
monly killed a Pigeon for every shot.
They were very fat and as good Pig-
eons as ever I eat. I enquired of the
Indians that live in those parts, where
it was that those Pigeons bred, and
they pointed towards the viast ridge of
Mountains and said that they ‘bred
there. Now whether they make their
nests in the holes of those rocks, or in
the mountains, or build in trees I could
not learn; but they seem to me to be a
wood-pigeon that build in trees, be-
cause of their frequent sitting thereon,
and their roosting on trees aliways at
night, under which their dung com-
monly lies half a foot thick, and kills
everything that grows where it falls.

Turtle-doves are here very plentiful;
they devour the peas, for which reason
people make traps and catch them.

The Parrakeetos are of a green col-
our, and orange-coloured half way up
their heads. Of these and the Allega-
tors there is none found to the north-
ward of this Province. They visit us
first when mulberries are ripe, which
fruit they love extremely. 'They peck
the apples to eat the kernels, so that
the fruit rots and perishes. They are
Mischievous to Orchards. They are
often taken alive and will become fa-
miliar and tame in two days. ‘They
have their nests in hollow trees in low
swamp ground, They devour the Birch
Buds in April, and lie hidden when the
weather is frosty and hard.

The 'Thrushes in America are the
same as in England, and red under the
wings. They never appear amongst us
but in hard weather, and presently
leave us agiain.

84 LAWSON’S HISTORY

Of Wood-Peckers we have four sorts.
The first is as big as a pigeon, being
of a dark brown colour, with a white
cross on his back, his eyes circled with
white, and on his head stands a tuft of
beautiful scarlet feathers. His cry is
heard a long way; and he flies from one
rotten tree to another, to get Grubs,
which is the Food he lives on.

The second sort are of an Olive Col-
our, striped with yellow. They eat
Worms as well as Grubs, and are about
the bigness of those in Europe.

The third is the same bigness jas the
last. He is pied with black and white
and has a crimson head without a top-
ping, and is a plague to the corn and
fruit; especially the apples. He opens
the covering of the young corn so that
the rain gets in and rots it.

The fourth sort of these Wood-Peck-
ers is a black and white speckled or
mottled; the finest I ever slaw. The
Cock has a red crown; he is not near
so big as the others; his food is
grubs, corn and other creeping insects.
He is not very wild, but will let one
come up to him, then shifts on the
other side of the tree, from your sight,
and so dodges you for a long time al-
together. He is about the size of an
English Lark.

The Mocking Bird is about as big as
the Throstle in England, but longer;
they are of a white and gray colour,
and are held to be the Choristers of
America, as indeed they are. They
sing with the greatest diversity of
notes that is possible for a bird to
change to. They may be bred up and
will sing with us tame in cages; yet
I never take any of their nests, altho’
they build yearly in my fruit trees, be-
cause I have their company, as much
as if tame to the singing part. They
often sit upon our chimneys in sum-
mer, there being then no fire in them,
and sing the whole evening and most
part of the night. They are always at-

tending our dwellings, and feed upon
mulberries and other berries and
fruits, especially the \Mechoacan-berry
which grows here very plentifully.

There is another sort called the
ground Mocking Bird. She is the same
bigness and of a Cinnamom colour.
This bird sings excellently well, but is
not SO common amongst us as the for-
mer.

The Cat-Bird, so named because it
makes a noise, exactly like young cats.
They. have a blackish head and an
ash-coloured body, and have no other
note that I know of. They are no big-
ger than a Wark, but will fight any
other great bird that I know of.

The Cuckoo of Carolina may not
properly be so called, because she never
uses that cry; yet she is of the same

bigness and feather and sucks the
Small birds’ eggs, as the English
Cuckoo does.

A Blue-Bird is of the exact same big-
ness aS a Robin Redbreast. The Cock
has the same coloured breast as the
Robin has, and his back and the rest
of him are of as fine a blue as can
possibly be seen in any part of the
world. He has a cry and a_ whistle.
They hide themselves all the winter.

Bulfinches in America differ some-
thing from those in HBurope, in their
feathers, tho’ not in their bigness. I
never knew any one tame, therefore
know not what they might be brought
to. They are good Birds to turn a
Cage with bells, or if taught as the
Bullfinch is, I believe would prove very
docile.

East India Biats or Musquito Hawks,
are the bigness of a Cuckoo, and much
of the same colour. They are so called
because the same sort is found in the
East Indies. They appear only in Sum-
mer, and live on Flies, which they
catch in the Air, as Gnats, Musquitos,
etc., etic.

Martins are here of two sorts. The

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 85

first is the same as in England; the
other as big as a Black-Bird. They
have white throats and Breasts, with
black Backs. The planters put Gourds
on standing Poles, on purpose for these
fowls to build in, because they are a
very warlike bird, and beat the Crows
from the Plantations. The Swift or
Diveling, the same as in England.
Swallows, the same as in Hngland.

The Humming Bird is the Miracle of
all Winged Animals. He is feathered
as a Bird and gets his living as the
Bees, by sucking the Honey from
each Flower. In some of the larger
sorts of Flowers he will bury himself,
by diving to suck the bottom of it, so
that he is quite covered, and often-
times Children catch them in these
flowers, and keep them alive for five or
six days. They are of different Col-
ours, the Cock differing from the Hen.
The Cock is of a Green, Red, Aurora,
and other Colours mixed. He is much
less than a Wren and very nimble. His
Nest is one of the Greatest pieces of
Workmanship the whole tribe of
Winged Animals can shew, it common-
ly hanging on a single Briar, most ar-
tistically woven, a small hole being
left open to go in and out of. The
Eggs are the bigness of Pease.

The Tom Tit or Ox-Hye sas in Eng-
land.

Of Owls we have two sorts; the
smaller sort is like ours in Engiland;
the other sort is as big as a middling
Goose, and has a prodigious head. They
make a fearful Hollowing in the Night
time, like a man, whereby they often
make strangers lose their way in the
Woods.

Scritch Owls, much the same as in
Europe.

The Baltimore Bird, so called from
Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of all
Maryland, in which province many of
them are found. They are the bigness

of a Linnet, with Yellow Wings and
beautiful in other Colours.

Throstle, the same size and Feather
as in Europe, but I never could hear
any of them sing.

The Weet, so called because he cries
always before the rain; he resembles
nearest the Fire-Tail.

Cranes use the Savannas and Low
Grounds and eat Frogs; they are above
five foot high, when extended; are of
a Cream Color and have a Crimson
Spot on the top of their Heads. Their
Quills are excellent for Pens; their
flesh makes the best broth, yet it is
very hard to digest. Among them fre-
quent Storks, which are here seen, and
nowhere besides in America, that I
have yet heard of. The Cranes are
easily bred up tame, and are excellent
in a garden to destroy Frogs, Worms
and other Vermin.

The Snow Birds are the most numer-
ous in the North Parts of America,
where there are great Snows. They
visit us sometimes in Carolina when
the Weather is Harder than Ordinary.
‘They are like the Stones Smach, or
Wheat Hars, and are delicate Meat.

The Yellow Wings are a very small
Bird, of a Linnett’s Colour, but Wings
are as Yellow as Gold. They frequent
high up in our Rivers and Creeks, and
keep themselves in the thick bushes,
very difficult to be seen in the Spring.
They sing very prettily.

Whippoo-Will, so named because it
makes those Words exactly. Tkey are
the Bigness cf a Thrush, and call their
notes urder a Bush, on the Ground,
hard to be seen, though you hear them
ever s¢ plain. They are more Flentiful
in Virginia than with us in Carolina,
for I never keard but ore that was
near the Settlement, ani that was
hard by an Irdian Town.

The Rea@ Sparrow nearest resembles
a sparrow and is the most common

86 LAWSON’S HISTORY

small bird we have, therefore we call
them so. They are brown, and red,
Cinnamon Colcur, striped.

Of the Swans we have two sorts; the
one we call Trompeters because of a
sort cf Trompeting Noise they make.
These are the largest sort we have;
which come in great Flocks in the
Winter, and stay, commonly in the
fresh Rivers, until February, when the
Spring comes on, when they go to the
Lakes to breed. A Cygnet, that is a
last year’s Swan, is accounted a deli-
date dish, as indeed it is. They are
known by their Head and Feathers,
which are not quite so white as Old
ones.

The sort of Swans called the Hoop-
ers, are the least. They abide more in
the Salt Water and are equally valua-
ble, for Food, with the former. It is
observable that neither of these have
a black piece of horny Flesh down the
Head, and Bill, as they have in Eng-
land.

Of Geese, we have three sorts, dif-
fering from each other only in size.
Ours are not the common geese that
are in the Fens in England, but the
others sorts with black Heads and
Necks.

The Gray Brant or Barnicle, is here
very plentiful, as all other Water Fowl
are, in the Winter Season. Thev are
the same which they call Biarnicles in
Great Britain, and are a very vood
Fowl, and eat well.

There is also a White Brant which
is very plentiful in America. 'The Bird
is all over ‘as White as Snow, excent
the tips of his wings and those are
Black. They eat the Roots of Sedge
and Grass in the Marshes and Savan-
nas, which they tear up like Hogs. The
best way to kill these Fowl, is to burn
a piece of Marsh or Savanna, and as
soon as it is burnt they will come in
great flocks to get the roots, where you
kill what you please of them. They are

as good meat as the other, only their
feathers are stubbed and good for lit-
tle.

The Sea-Pie, or gray Curlue, is about
the bigness of ‘a very large Pigeon but
longer. He has a long bill, as other
Curlues have, which is the Colour of
an English Owsel’s, that is yellow, as
his Legs are. He frequents the sand
beaches of the sea-side, and when
killed is inferior to no Fowl that I ever
eat. ;

Wili Willet is so called from his crv,
which he very exactly calls Will Wil-
let when he flies. His Bill is like a
Curlue’s or Woodcock’s, and he nas
much such a body as the other, yet not
so tall. He is good Meat.

The great Gray Gulls are Good Meat,
and as large as a Pullet. They lav
large eggs, which are found in very
great quantities, on the Islands in our
Sound, in the months of June and July.
The young Squabs are very good Vict-
uals and often prove a relief to Travel-
lers by Water, that have spent their
Provisions.

Old Wives are a black and White Pied
Gull with extraordinary long Wings,
and a golden Coloured Bill and Feet.
He makes a dismal Noise as he flies,
and ever and anon dips his Bill in the
Salt Water. I never knew him eaten.

The Sea Cock is a Gull that Crows at
break of day, and in the Morning, ex-
actly like a Dunghill Cock, which cry
seems very pleasant in those uninhab-
ited Places. He is never eaten.

Of Curlues there are three sorts and
vast numbrs of each. They have all
long Bills, and differ neither in Colour,
nor Shape, only in size. The largest is
as big as a Good Hen, the smallest the
bigness of a Snipe, or something big-
ger.

We have three sorts of Bitterns in
Carolina. The first is the same as in
England; the second of a deep brown,
with a great topping, and a Yellowish

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 87

white Throat and breast, and is lesser
than the former; the last is no bizger
than a Wood-cock and near the Colour
of the second.

We have the same Herns as in Eng-
land. White Herns are here very pvlen-
tiful. TI have seen above thirty sit on
one tree at a time. They are as white
as Milk and fly very slowly.

The Water Pheasant, (very improp-
erly called so) are a Water Fowl of
the Duck kind, having a Topping of
pretty Feathers, which sets them out.
‘They are a very good Meat.

The little Gray Gull is of a curious
Gray Colour, and abides near the Sea.
He is about the Bigness of a Whistling
Plover, and a delicate food.

We have the Little Dipper or Fisher,
that catches fish, so dexterously, the
Same as you have in the Islands of
Scilly.

We have of the same Ducks and Mal-
lards with green heads in great flocks.
They are accounted the coarsest sort of
Water Fowl.

The Black Duck is fully as large as
the other and good Meat. She stays
with us all Summer and_ 0Obreeds.
These are made tame by some and
prove good Domesticks.

We have another Duck that stays
with us all the Summer. She has a
great Topping, is pied and very beauti-
ful. She builds her nest in a Wood-
Pecker’s Hole, very often sixty or sev-
enty foot high.

Towards the Mountains, in the hilly
country, on the West Branch of the
Cape Fear Inlet, we saw great flocks
of pretty pied Ducks, that whistled as
they flew or as they fed. I did not kill
any of them.

We killed a curious sort of Ducks in
the Country of the Esaw Indians,
which were of many beautiful colours.
Their eyes were red, having a red cir-
cle of flesh for their Eye-Lidis; and
were very ood to eat,

The Blue Wings are less than a
Duck, but fine Meat. These are the
first Fowls that appear to us in the
fall of the Leaf, coming then in great
flocks, as we suppose from Canadia, and
the Lakes that lie behind us.

Widgeons, the same as in Europe, are
here in great plenty.

We have the same Teal as in Ene-
land, and another Sort that frequents
the Fresh Water, and are always nod-
ding their heads. They are smaller
than the common Teal, and dainty
Meat.

Shovellers (a sort of Duck) are gray
with a black head. They are very good
Fowl.

Whistlers are so called from the
Whistling Noise that they make, as
they fly.

Black Flusterers; some call these Old
Wives. They are as black as ink. The
Cocks have white faces. They always
remain in the midst of Rivers, and feed
upon Drift Grass, Carnels, or Sea Net-
tles. They are the fattest Fowl I ever
sav, and sometimes so heavy with
flesh, that they cannot rise out of the
water. They make an odd sort of moise
when they fly. What meat they are
I could never learn. Some call these
the Great Bald Coot.

The Wild Turkeys I should have
spoken of when I spoke of the Land
Fowl. There are great Flocks of these
in Carolina. I have seen about five
hundred of these in a Flock; some of
these very large. I have never weigh-
ed any myself, but have been inform-
ed of one that weighed mearly sixty
pound. I have seen half a ‘Turkey feed
eight hungry men two meals. Some-
times the wild breed with the tame
ones, which they reckon breeds them
very hardy, as I believe it must. I see
no manner of difference betwixt the
wild Turkies and the Tame ones; only
the wild are ever of one Colour, viz a

88 LAWSON’S HISTORY

dark gray or brown, and are excellent
food. '

They feed on Acorns, Huckle-Berries,
and many other sorts of Berries that
(Carolina affords. The Eggs taken
from the Nest and hatched under a
Hen, will yet retain a Wild Nature, and
commonly leave you, and run wild at
last, and will mever be got into a house
to roost, but will always perch on
some high tree hard-by the House and
Separate themselves from the tame
sort, although (at the same time) they
tread and breed together. I have been
informed that if you will take these
wild eggs just on the point of being
hatched, and dip them (for some small
time) in a Bowl of Milk-warm Water,
it will take off their wild nature and
make them as tame and domestic as
the others. Some Indians have brought
these wild ‘breeds hatched at home to
be a Decoy to bring others to roost
mear their cabins, which they have
shot. But to return to the Water-
Fowl.

Fishermen are like a Duck, but have
a narrow Bill, with Sets of Teeth. They
live on very small fish which they
catch as they go along. They taste
fishy. The best way to order them, is
upon occasion, to pull out the oil box
from the rump, and then bury them
five or six hours underground. Then
they become tolerable.

Of Divers there are two sorts, the
one pied and the other gray; both good
meat.

Raft-Fowl include all the sorts of
Ducks amd small Teal, that go in
Rafts along the Shoar and are of sev-
eral sorts that we know no name for.

Bull-Necks are a whitish fowl about
the bigness of a Brant; they come to
us after Christmas in very great flocks
in all our Rivers. They are a _ very
good Meat, but hard to kill because
hard to come near. They will dive and
endure a good deal of shot.

Red Head's, a lesser Fowl than Bu!l
Necks, are very sweet food and plen-
tiful in our Rivers and Creeks.

Tropick-Birds are a white Mew, with
a forked Tail. They are so called be-
cause they are plentifully met withal
under the Tropicks, and thereabouts.

The Pellican of the Wilderness’ can-
not be the same as ours; this being a
Water Fowl with a great natural Wen
or Pouch under his throat, in which he
keeps his prey of fish which he lives
on. He is Webb-Footed like a Goose,
and shaped like a Duck, but is a very
large Fowl, bigger than a Goose. He
is never eaten as Food; they make To-
bacco Pouches of his Maw.

Cormorants are very well kmown in
some parts of England; we have great
flocks of them with us, especially
against the Herring run, which is in
March and April; then they sit upon
Logs of Dry Wood in the Water and
catch the Fish.

The Gannet is a large white Fowl,
having one part of his Wing black; He
lives on Fish as the Pellican. His Fat
or Grease is as yellow as Saffron. and
the best thing known to preserve Fire-
Arms from Rust.

Shear-Waters are a longer Fowl! than
a Duck; some of them lie on the Coast
while others range the Seas all over.
Sometimes they are met five hundred
Leagues from Land. They live without
drinking any fresh water.

We have a great pied Gull, black and
white, which seems to have a black
Hood over his head; these lay very fair
Eggs which are good; as are the young
ones im the Season.

Marsh Hen much the same as in Bu-
rope, only she makes another sort of
Noise and shriller.

Blue-Peters, the same as you call
Water Hens in England, are here very
numerous and not regarded for eat-
ing.

The Sand Birds are about the Big-

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 89

ness of a Lark, amd frequent our Sand
Beaches; they are a dainty food if you
will bestow Time and Ammunition to
kill them.

Runnerrs are so called because if you
run after them they will run along the
Sand and not offer to get up; so that
you may often drive them together to
shoot at as you please. ‘They are a
pleasant small bird.

Tutcock is a sort of Snipe, but sucks
mot his food; they are almost the same
as in England.

Swaddle-Bills are a sort of an Ash-
Coloured Duck, which have an extraor-
dinary broad bill, and are good meat;
they are not common as the others
are.

The Mew is the same as in England,
being a white slender bird with Red
Felt.

The Shel-Drakes are the same as in
England.

The Bald, or White Faces are a good
Fowl. They camnot dive, and are easily
shotten.

Water-Witch or Ware-Coots,
Fowl with Down and no _ Feathers;
they dive incomparably, so that no
Fowler can hit them. They can neith-
er fly nor go, but get into the Fish-
wares and cannot fly over the Rods,
and so are taken.

Thus have we give an account of
what Fowl has come to our knowledge,
Since our abode in Carolina; except
some that perhaps have slipped our
memory and so are left out of the cat-
alogue. Proceed we now to treat of the
Inhabitants of the Watery Element,
which tho’ we can as yet do very im-
perfectly, yet we are willing to oblige
the Curious with the best Account that
it is in our Power to present them with-
al.

The Fish in the salt, and fresh Wa-
ters of Carolina are:

Whales, several sorts. Thrashers,
Divel-Fish. Sword Fish. Crampois.

are a

. Cavallies.

Bottle-Noses. Porpoises. Sharks, two
sorts. Dog-Fish. Spanish Mackerel.
Boneto’s. Blue-Fish. Drum,
Red. Drum-Fish, black. Angel Fish.
Bass or Rock Fish. Sheeps-Heads.
Plaice. Flounder. Soles. Mullets.
Shads. Fat Backs. Guard, white.
Guard, Green. Scate or Stingray.
Thornback. Congar-Eels. Lamprey-
Eels. Eels. Sun-Fish. Toad-Fish.
Sea-Tench. Trouts of the Salt Water.
Crocus. Herring. Smelts. Breams.
Taylors.

Fresh-Water Fish are:

Sturgeon. Pike. Trouts. Gudgeon.
(Pearch, English. Pearch, White.
Pearch, brown or Welsh Men. Pearch,
flat and mottled, or Irishmen. Pearch,
small and flat with red spots, called
Red Robins. Carp. Roach. Dace.
Loaches. Sucking-Fish. Cat-Fish.
Grindals. Old Wives. Fountain-Fish.
White Fish.

The Shell-Fish are:

Large Crabs called Stone Crabs.
Small Flat Crarbs. Oysters, Great and
Small. iCockles. Clams. Muscles.
(Conks. Skellop. Man of Noses. Peri-
winkles or ‘Wilks. Sea-Snail-Horns.
Fidlars. Runners. Spanish or Pearl
Oysters. Flattings. Tortois and Tere-
bin, accounted for among the Insects.
Finger Fish. Shrimps.

Fresh-Water Craw-Fish and Mus-
cles.

Whales are very numerous on the
coast of North Carolina, from which
they make Oil, Bone, etc., to the great
advantage of those inhabiting the Sand
Banks, along the Oceam, where these
Whales come ashore, none being struck
or killed with a Harpoon in this Place,
as they are to the Northward or else-
where; all those Fish being found dead
on the Shoar, most commonly by those
that inhabit the banks and _ sea-side
where they dwell, for the Intent and
for the Benefit of the Wrecks, which
sometimes fall in upon that Shoar.

90 LAWSON’S HISTORY

Of these Monsters there are four
sorts; the first, which is most choice
and rich, is the Sperma-Ceti Whale
from which the Sperma-Ceti Oil is ta-
ken. These are rich prizes; but I nev-
er heard of but one found on this coast,
which was near Currituck Inlet.

The other sorts are of a prodigious
bigness. Of these the Bone amd Oil
is made; the Oil being the Blubber or
Oily flesh, or Fat of that Fish boiled.
These differ not only in Colour, some
being pied, others not, but
shape, one being called a Bottle-Nosed
Whale, the other a Shovel-Nose, which
is as different as a Salmon from a
Sturgeon. These Fish seldom come
ashore with their Tongues in their
heads, the Thrasher, (which is the
‘whale’s mortal enemy wheresoever he
meets him) eating that out of his head,
as soon as he and the Sword-fish have
killed him. For when the Whale-
catchers (in other parts) kill any of
these Fish, they eat the Tongues and
esteem it an excellent dish.

There is another sort of these Whales
or great Fish, tho’ not common. I mev-
er Knew of above one of that sort,
foumd on the Coast of Carolina, and he
was contrary in shape to all others
ever found before him; being sixty foot
in length and not above three or four
foot in diameter. Some Indians in
America will go out to Sea, and get
upon a Whale’s back, and peg or plug
his Spouts and so kill him.

The Thrashers are i:arge fish, amd
mortal enemies to the Whale, as I have
said before. They make good Oil; but
are seldom found.

The Divel Fish lies at some of our
Inlets, and, as near as I can describe
him, is shaped like a Scate, or Stin-
gray; only he has on his head a pair
of very thick strong Horns, and is of
a monstrous Size and Strength; for
this Fish has been known to weign
a Sloop’s anchor, and run with the

much’ tn >

Vessel a league or two and bring ther
back against Tide, to almost the same
Place. Doubtless, they may afford
good Oil; but I havé no experience of
any Profits which arise from them.

The Sword-Fish is another of the
Whale’s Hnemies, and joins with the
Thrasher to destroy that Monster. Af-
ter they overcome him, they eat his
Tongue, as I have said before, and the
Whale drives ashore.

Crampois is a large Fish and by some
accounted a young Whale; but it is not
so; neither is it more than °5 or 30 foot
long. They spout as the Whale does,
and when taken yield gocd Oil.

Bottle-Noses are betwe2sn Crampgis
and Porpois, and lie near the Sound-
ings. They are never seen to swim !ais-
urely, as sometimes all other fish do,
but are continually running after their
prey in great Shoals, like wild Horses,
leaping now and then above the Wa-
ter. The French esteem them good
Food, and eat them both fresh and
salt.

Porpoises are frequent, all over the
Oceans and Rivers that are Salt; nay,
we have a Fresh Water Lake in the
Great Sound of North Carolina, that
has Porpoises in it. And several other
sorts of unknown fish, as the Indians
say, that we are wholly strangers to.
As to the Porpoises, they make good
Oil; they prey upon other fish, as
Drums, yet never are known to take
a Bait, so as to be catched with a hook.

Of sharks there are two sorts, one
called Paracooda-Noses; the other
Shovel-Noses; they cannot take their
Prey before they turn themselves on
their Backs; wherefore some Negroes
and others that can swim and dive
well, go naked into the Water with a
knife in their Hand, and fight the
Shark and very commonly kill him, or
wound him so that he turns tail and
runs away. Their livers make good Oil
to dress Leathers withal; the bones

OF NORTH CAROLINA. gli

found in their Head are said to hasten
the Birth, and ease the Stone, by
bringing it away. Their Meat is eaten
in scarce times, but I never could away
with it, though a great lover of Fish.
Their Back-Bone is of one entire thick-
ness. Of the Bones or Joints I have
known ‘buttons made, which serve well
enough in scarce times or remote
places.

The Dog-Fish are a small sort of the
Shark kind; and are caught with the
Hook and Line, fishing for Drums.
They say they are good Meat, but we
have so many other sorts of delicate
Meat, that I shall hardly ever make
Tryal what they are.

Spanish Mackerel are in colour and
shape, like the common Mackerel, only
much thicker. They are ‘caught with
Hook and Line at the Inlets, and
Sometimes out a little way at sea. They
are very fine hard fish and of good
taste. They are about two foot long,
or better.

Oavallies, are taken in the same
places. They are of a brownish colour,
having exceedingly small scales, and
a very thick skin. They are as
firm a Fish as ever I saw, wherefore
will keep sweet (in the hot Weather)
two days, when others will stink in less
than half a day unless salted. They
ought to be scaled as soon as_ taken,
otherwise you must pull off the skin
and scales when boiled; the Skin being
the choicest of the fish. The Meat,
which is white and large, is dressed
with the fish.

Boneto’s are a very palatable Fish,
and near a yard long. They haunt the
Inlets and Water near the Ocean; and
are killed with the Harpoon and Fish-
gig.

The Blue-Fish is one of our best fish-
es, and always very fat. They are as
long aS a salmon, and indeed I think,
full as good meat. These Fish come
(in the fall of the year) generally after

there has been one black frost, when
there appear great shoals of them.
The Hatteras Indians, and others, run
into the Sands of the Sea, and strike
them, tho’ some of these fish have
caused Sickness and violent burnings
after eating of them, which is found to
proceed from the Gall that is broken in
some of them, and is hurtful. Some-
times many cartloads of these are
thrown and left dry on the sea-side,
which comes by their eager pursuit of
the small Fish, in which they run
themselves ashore, and the Tide leayv-
ing them, they cannot recover the Wa-
ter again. They are called Blue-Fish
‘because they are of that Colour, and
have a forked Tail and are shaped like
a Dolphin.

The Red Drum is a large fish, much
larger than the Blue-Fish. 'The body
of this is good, firm Meat but the head
is beyond all Fish I ever met withal
for an excellent dish. We have great-
er number of these fish-than of any
other sort. People go down and catch
as many barrels full as they please,
with Hook and Line, especially at
every young flood, when they bite.
These are salted up and transported to
other colonies, that are bare of Provis-
ions.

Black Drums are a thicker-miade fish
than the Red Drums, being shaped like
a fat pig; they are a very good fish,
but not so common with us as to the
iNorthward.

The Angel-Fish is shaped like an
English Bream. He is so called for his
golden colour which shines all around
his head and belly. This is accounted
a very good fish, as are most in these
parts. The Bermudians have the same
sort of fish, and esteem them very
much.

Bass or Rock is both in Salt and
Fresh Water; when young he much re-
sembles a Grayling, but grows to the
size of a large Cod-Fish. They are

92 LAWSON’S HISTORY

very good, firm fish. Their Heads are
fouced, and make a noble Dish, if
large.

Sheeps-Head hias the general Vogue
of being the choicest Fish in this place.
Indeed it is a very delicate Fish and
well relished, vet I think there are sev-
eral others full as good as the Sheeps-
Head. He is mutch of the bigness of
the Angel Fish, and flat as he is. They
sometimes weigh two or three pound
weight. This Fish has teeth like a
sheep and is therefore so called.

Plaice are here very large and plen-
tiful, being the same as in England.

Flounders should have gone amongst
the Fresh-Water Fish, because they
are caught here in great plenty.

Soles are a fish that we have but
lately discovered; they are as good as
in any other Part.

Mullets are the same as in England,
and great plenty in all places where the
water is salt or brackish.

Shads are a sweet fish, but very
bony; they are very plentiful at some
seasons.

Fat-Backs are ia small fish like Mul-
lets, but the fattest ever known. They
put nothing into the pan to fry these.
They are excellent sweet food.

The white Guard Fish is shaped al-
most like a Pike, but slender; his
Mouth has a long small bill set with
teeth, in which he catches small fish;
his Seales are knit together like ar-
mour. When they dress him they skin
him, taking off scales and skin togeth-
er. His meat is very white and rather
looks like Flesh than fish. The English
account them no good fish, but the In-
dians do. The Gall of this fish is
green and a violent Cathartiick, if taken
inwardly.

The Green Guard is shaped, in all re-
spects, like the other save that his
Scales are very small and fine. He is
indifferent Meat. His bones when
boiled or fry’d, remain as green as

grass. The same sort of fish comes
from before the Mackerel in England.

Seate or Stingray, the same as in
England, and very common; but the
great plenty of other fish makes these
not regarded, for few or none eat them
in Carolina, tho’ they are almost at
every one’s door.

Thorn Backs are the same as in Eng-
land. They are not so common as the
Scate and Whip-Rays.

Congar Eels always remiain in the
Salt-Water; they are much more
known in the northern parts of Amer-
ica than with us.

Lampreys are not common; I never
saw but one. which was large, and was
caught by the Indians in a Ware. They
would not eat him but gave him to me.

Hels are nowhere in the World bet-
ter or more plentiful than in Carolina.

Sun-Fish are flat and rounder than a
Bream, and are reckoned a fine-tasted
Fish, and not without a reason. They
are much the size of Angel-Fish.

Toad Fish are nothing but a Skin
full of Prickles, and a few bones; they
are as ugly as a Toad and are pre-
served to look upon, and good for noth-
ing else.

Sea-Tench are taken by a bait near
the Inlet, or out at Sea a little Way.
They are blackish and exactly like a
Tench, except in the Back Fins, which
have Prickles like a Pearch. 'They are
as good, if not better than any Tench.

Trouts of the Salt Water are exact-
ly shaped like the Trouts in Hurope,
having blackish, not red spots. They
are in the Salts and are not red with-
in, but white, yet a very good Fish.
They are so tender that if they are in
or near fresh water, and a sudden
frost comes they are benum’d, and
float on the Surface of the Water as if
dead; and then they take up Canoe-
Loads of them. If you put them into
Warm Water they presently recover.

The Crocus is a Fish, in shape like a

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 93

Pearch, and in shape like a Whiting.
They croke and make a noise in your
hand when taken with a hook or net.
They are very good.

The Herring in Carolina are not
so large as in Europe. They spawn
there in March and April, running up
the fresh rivers, and small fresh runs
of water in great shoals, where they
are taken. They become red if salted;
and dress’d with Vinegar and Oil, re-
semble an Anchovy very much; for
they are far beyond an English Her-
ring when pickled.

Smelts are the same as in Pngland.
They lie down a great way in the
Sound, towards the Ocean, where, (at
some certain seasons) are a great many
very fine ones.

The Fresh Water affords no such
Bream as in England, that I have as
yet discovered; yet there is a Sea
Bream which is a flat and thin Fish, as
the European Breams are.

The ‘Taylor is a Fish about the big-
ness of a Trout, but of a bluish green
colour, with a forked Tail such as a
Mackerel has. They are a_ delicate
fish and plentiful in our salt-waters.
Infinite numbers of other species will
be hereafter discovered, as yet un-
known to us; although I have seen and
eaten of several other sorts of fish,
which are nowhere mentioned, because
as yet, they have no certain names as-
signed to them. Therefore I shall treat
no further of our Salt-Water Fish, but
proceed to the Fresh.

The first of these is the Sturgeon, of
which we have plenty, all the fresh
parts of our rivers being stored with
them. 'The Indians upon and towards
the Heads and Falls of our Rivers
strike a great many of these and eat
them; yet the Indians near the Salt-
Waters will not eat them. I have seen
an Indian strike one of these Fish sev-
en Feet long, and leave him on the
Sands to be eaten by the Gulls. In

May they run up towards the heads of
the Rivers, where you see several hun-
dreds of them in one day. 'The Indians
have another way to take them, ‘which
is by Nets at the End of a Pole. The
bones of these fish make good nutmeg-
graters.

The Jack, Pike or Pickerel, is exactly
the same in Carolina as they are in
England. Indeed I never saw this fish
so big and large in America, as I have
seen in Europe, these with us being sel-
dom above two foot long, as far as I
have yet seen. They are very plentiful
with us in Carolina, all our creeks and
Ponds being full of them. I once took
out of a Ware above three hundred of
these Fish at a time.

Trouts, the same in England as in
Carolina; but ours are a great way up
the Rivers and Brooks that are fresh,
having Swift Currents and Stony and
Gravelly Bottoms.

The same Gudg2ons as in Europe are
found in America. The same sort of
Pearch as are in England we have like-
wise in Carolina, tho’ I think ours nev-
er rise to be so large as in England.

We have a White Pearch, so called
because hea is of a silver Colour, oth-
erwise like the English \Pearch. These
we have in great plenty, and they are
preferable to the red ones.

The Brown Pearch, which some call
Welsh-Men, are the largest sort of
Pearches that we have, and very firm,
white and sweet fish. These grow to
be larger than any Carp, and are very
frequent in every Creek and Pond.

The flat or mottled Pearch are shap-
ed almost like a Bream. They are
called Irishmen, being freckled or mot-
tled with black or blue spots. They are
never taken anywhere but in the fresh
water. 'They are a good fish, but I do
not approve of them, no more than of
the other sorts of Pearch,

We have another sort of Pearch
which is the least sort of all, but as

94 LAWSON’S HISTORY

good meat as any. These are distin-
guished from the other sorts, by the
name of Round-Robins, being flat and
very round shaped; they are. spotted
with red spots, very beautiful, and are
easily caught with an Angle, as all the
other sort of Pearches are.

We have the same Carp as you have
in England, and the same Roach, only
scarce so large. Drace are the same as
yours, too, but neither of these so large
nor plentiful as with you. Loach are
the same as in England. Sucking Fish
are the nearest in ‘Taste and shane to a
Barbel, only they have no barbs.

Catfish are round, blackish fish, with
a Great Flat Head, a wide Mouth, and
no scales. They sometimes resemble
Eels in taste. Both this sort and an-
other, that frequents the salt water,
are very plentiful.

Grindals are a long, scaled fish with
small eyes; and frequent Ponds, Lakes
and Slow Running Creeks and Swamps.
They are a soft, sorry Fish, and good
for nothing, though some eat them for
good Fish.

Old Wives are a Bright, Scaly Fish
which frequent the Swamps and Fresh
Runs; they seem to be between an
English Roach and a Bream, and eat
much like the latter. The Indians kill
abundance of these and barbakue
them, until they are crisp, then trans-
port them in Wooden Hurdles, to their
Towns and Quarters.

The Fountain Fish are a white sort
which breed in the Clear Running
Springs and Fountain waters, where
the clearness thereof makes them very
difficult to be taken. I cannot say how
good they are; because I have never as
yet tasted of them.

The White Fish are very large; some
being two foot and a half long or more.
They are found a great wey up in the
Freshes of the Rivers; and are firm
meat and an extraordinary well relish-
ed Fish.

Barbouts and Millers-Thumbs, are
the very same here in all respects, as
they are in England. What more are
in the fresh waters we have not yet
discovered, but are satisfied that we
are not acquainted with one-third part
thereof; for we are told by the In-
dians of a great many strange and un-
couth shapes and sorts of fish which
they have found in the Lakes laid down
in my charts. However, as we can
give no further account of these than
by Hear-say, I proceed to treat of the
Shell-fish that are found in the Salt
‘Water so far as they have already
come to our knowledge.

The large Crabs which we call Stone-
Crabs are the same sort as in England,
having black tips at the end of their
claws. These are plentifully met with-
al, down in Core Sound, and the South
Parts of North Carolina.

The smaller flat Crabs I look upon to
be the sweetest of all species. They are
the breadth of a lusty man’s hand, or
rather larger. These are innumerable,
lying in most prodigious quantities, all
over the Salts of Carolina. They are
taken not only to eat, but are the best
bait for all sorts of fish, that live in the
Salt Water. These Fish are mischie-
ous to night hooks, because they get
away all the bait from the Hooks.

Oysters great and small are found al-
most in every Creek and Gut of Sea-
water, and are very good and well
relished. The large oysters are excel-
lent pickled.

The one Cockle in Carolina is as big
as five or six in England. They are
often thrown upon the sands on the
Sound Side, where the Gulls are al-
ways ready to open and eat them.

Clams are a sort of ‘Cockles, only dif-
fering in shell, which is thicker and not
streaked or ribbed. These are found
throughout all the Sound and saltwater
Ponds. The meat is the same for Look
and Taste as the Cockle. These make

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 95

an excellent strong Broth, and eat weil
either roasted or pickled.

The Muscles in Carolina have a very
large shell, striped with dents. They
grow by the sides of ponds and creeks
in Salt-Water, wherein you may get as
many of them as you please. I do not
like them so well as the English
muscle, which is no good Shell-Fish.

Some of the Shells of the Conks are
as large as a man’s Hand, but the less-
er sort are the best meat, and those
not extraordinary. They are shaped
like the end of a Horse’s Yard. of
their shells the ‘Peak or Wampum is
made, which is the richest commodity
amongst the Indians. They breed like
a long thing shaped like a snake, but
containing a sort of joints in the hol-
lowness whereof are thousands of small
Conks, no bigger than small grains of
pepper.

The Skellops, if well dressed, are a
pretty shell fish; but to eat them roast-
ed without any other addition, in my
judgment are too luscious.

Man of Noses are a Shell Fish com-
monly found amongst us. They are
valued for increasing vigour in Man,
and making barren Women fruitful;
but I think they have no need of that
fish; for the Women in Carolina are
fruitful enough without their help.

Wilks or Periwinkles are not so large
here as in the Islands of Scilly, and in
other parts of Europe, though very
Sweet.

The Sea Snail Horn is large and very
good Meat; they are excellently shaped,
as other Snail Horns are.

Fidlars are a sort of small crabs, that
lie in holes in the marshes. The Rac-
coons eat them very much. I never
knew any one try whether they were
good meat or not.

Runners live chiefly on the Sand, but
sometimes run into the Sea. They have
Holes in the Sand Beaches and are a
whitish sort of a Crab. Though

small they run as fast as a Man, and
are good for nothing but to look at.

Spanish Oysters have a very thin
Shell, and rough on the outside. They
are very good shell-fish and so large
that half a dozen are enough to satisfy
an hungry stomacn.

The Flattings are enclosed in <2 broad
thin shell, the whole fish being Flat.
They are inferior to no shell-fish this
country affords.

Finger Fish are very plentiful in this
country; they are of the length of a
Man’s finger, and lie in the bottom of
the Water, about one or two feet deep.
They are very good.

Shrimps are here very plentiful and
good, and are to be taken with a
small box net in great quantities.

The small Cockles are about the big-
ness of the largest English Cockles, and
differ nothing from them, unless in the
shells, which are striped cross-wise as
well as long-wise.

The Freshwater Shell Fish are:

Muscles, which are eaten by the In-
dians, after five or six hours’ boiling to
make them tender, and then are good
for nothing.

Craw-Fish in the Brooks and small
rivers of water, amongst the Tuskeruro
Indians, and up higher, are found very
plentifully, and as good as any in the
world.

And thus I have gone through the
several species of fish, so far as they
have come to my knowledge, in the
eight years that I have lived in Caro-
lina. I should have made a larger dis-
covery when travelling so far towards
the Mountains, and amongst the Hills,
had it not been in the Winter Season,
which was improper to make any in-
quiry into any of the species before re-
cited. Therefore, as my intent was, I
proceed to what remains of the Pres-
ent State of Carolina, having already
accounted for the Animals and Vegeta-
bles as far as this volume should al-

96 LAWSON’S HISTORY

low of; whereby the remainder, though
not exactly known, may yet be guessel
at if we consider what Latitude Caro-
lina lies in, which reaches from 29 to
386 degrees 30 min. Northern Latitude,
as I have before observed. Which
Latitude is as Fertile and Pleasant as
any in the World, as well for the pro-
duce of Minerals, Frruit, Grain and
Wine, as other rich Commodities. And
indeed, all the experiments that have
been made in Carolina, of the Fertility
and Natural Advantages of the Coun-
try, exceed all expectation, as affording
some Commodities, which other places
in the same Latitude do not. As for
Minerals, as they are subterraneous
Products, so, in all new countries, they
are the species that are lst discover-
ed; and especially in ‘Carolina, where
the Indians never look for anything
lower than the Superficies of the
Earth, being a race of Men the least
addicted to delving of any People that
inhabit so fine a country as Carolina is.
As good, if not better mines than those
the Spanish possess in America, lie full
west from us; and Iam certain that we
have as Mountainous Land, and as
great probability of having Rich Min-
erals in Carolina, as any of those parts
that are already found to be so rich
therein. But, waiving this subject, ta
some other opportunity, I shall now
give you some observations in general,
concerning Carolina; which are that
first it lies as convenient for Trade as
any of the Plantations in America; that
we have plenty of Pitch, Tar, Skins of
Deer, and Beeves, Furs, Rice, Wheat,
Rye, Indian Grain, sundry sort of
Pulse, Turpentine, Rozin, Masts, Yards,
Planks and Boards, Staves and Lum-
ber. Timber of many common sorts, fit
for use, Hemp, Flax, Barley, Oats,
Buckwheat, Beef, Pork, Tallow, Hides,
Whalebone and Oil, Wax, Cheese, But-
ter, Etc., besides Drugs, Dyes, Fruit,
Silk, Cotton, Indico, Oil and Wine that

we need not doubt of as soon as we
make a regular essay, the Country be-
ing adorned with Pleasant Meadows,
Rivers, Mountains, Valleys, Hills and
blessed with wholesome pure Air, espe-
cially a little backward from the Sea,
where the wild Beasts inhabit, none of
which are voracious. The Men are ac-
tive, the Women fruitful to admiration,
every house being full of children, and
several women that have come hither
barren, have presently proved fruitful.
There cannot be a richer Soil, no place
abounding more in Flesh and Fowl,
both wild and tame, besides Fish,
Fruit, Grain, Cider, and many other
pleasant Liquors; together with several
other necessaries for Life and Trade,
that are daily found out as
new discoveries are made. The
Stone and Gout seldom trouble us; ~
the Consumption ‘we are wholly
strangers to, no place affording
a better remedy for that distemper,
than Carolina. For Trade, we lie so
near to Virginia that we have the ad-
vantage of their Convoys; as also let-
ters from thence at two or three Days
at the most; and from some places in
a few hours. Add to this that the
great number of Ships that come with-
in those Capes for Virginia and Mary-
land take off our Provisions, and give
us Bills of Exchange for England,
which is Sterling Money. The Planters
in Virginia and Maryland are forced
to do the same, the great quantities
of tobacco that are planted there mak-
ing provisions scarce, and Tobacco is
a commodity sometimes so low as to
bring nothing, whereas provisions and
naval stores never fail of a market. Be-
sides, where these are raised, in such
plenty as in North Carolina, there al-
ways appears good housekeeping, and
plenty of all manner of delicate eat-
ables. For instance the Pork of Caro-
lina is very good, the young pigs, fed
on Peaches, Maiz, and such other nat-

OF NORTH

ural Produce, being some of the sweet-
est Meat that the World affords, as
is acknowledged by all the strangers
that have been there. And as for the
beef, in Pampticough, and the South-
ward parts it proves extraordinary. We
have not only Provisions plentiful, but
Cloaths of our own manufacture, which
are made, and daily increase, Cotton,
Wool, Hemp and Flax, being of our
own growth, and the Women to be
highly commended for their Industry
in Spinning, and ordering their house-
wifry to so great advantage as they
generally do; which is much more easy
by reason this happy Climate, visited
with so mild Winters, is much warmer
than the Northern Plantations, which
saves abundance of Cloaths, fewer
serving our necessities, and those of our
Servants; but this is not all, for we
can go out with our Commodities, to
any other Part of the West Indies,
or elsewhere in the Depth of Winter;
whereas those in New England, New
York, Pennsylvania, and the Colonies
to the northward of us, cannot stir
for ice, but are fast locked in their
Harbours. Besides we can trade with
South Carolina and pay no duties or
customs, no more than their own Ves-
sels, both North and South being under
the Lords-Proprietors. We have, as I
observed before, another great advan-
tage in not being a Frontier, and so
continually being alarmed by the éne-
my; and what has been accounted a
Detriment to us, proves one of the
greatest Advantages any people could
wish, which is our Country’s being
faced with a Sound near ten Leagues
over in some places, through which, al-
though there be water enough for as
large ships to come in at, as in any
part nXitherto seated in North Carolina;
yet the difficulty of that Sound to
strangers hinders them from attempt-
ing any hostilities against us; and, at

CAROLINA. 97
the same time, if we consider the ad-
vantages thereof, nothing can appear
to be a better situation, than to be
fronted with such a Bulwark, which
secures us from our Enemies. Further-
more our distance from the sea hinders
us from two curses, which attend
most other parts of America, viz; Mus-
Keetos, and the Worm-biting, which
ects ship’s bottoms out, whereas at
Bath-Town there is no such thing
known, and as for Muskeetos, they
hinder us from as little rest ts they
do in England. Add to this the unac-
ccuntable quantities of Fish this Great
Water or Sound supplies us withal,
Whenever we take the Pains to fish
for them; Advantages I have no where
withal met with in America, except
here. As for the Climate, we enjoy a
very wholesome and serene sky, a pure
and Serene Air, the Sun seldom miss-
ing to give us his Daily Blessing, un-
less now ard then on a Winter’s Day,
which is not so often; and when
Cloudy, the first Appearance of a
North West Wind clears the Horizon,
and restores the Light of the Sun; the
Weather in Summer is very Pleasant,
the Hotter Months being refreshed
with continual breezes of cool reviving
Air, and the Spring being as pleasant
and beautiful as in any place I ever
was in. The Winter, most commonly
is so mild, that it looks like an Au-
tumn, being now and then attended
with thin North West Winds, that are
sharp enough to regulate English Con-
stitutions, and free them from a great
many dangerous Distempers, that a
single summer afflicts them withal,
nothing being wanted as to the natural
ornaments and blessings of a country,
that conduce to make reasonable men
happy. And for those that are other-
wise, they are so much their own Ene-
mies, where they are, that they will
scarce ever be any one’s Friends or

98 LAWSON’S HISTORY

their own, when they are transplanted;
so it’s much better for all sides that
they remain as they are. Not but that
there are several Good People, that
upon just grounds may be uneasy un-
der their present Burdens; and such
I would advise to remove to the place
IT have been treating of, where they
may enjoy their Peace and Religion,
and Peaceably eat the Fruits of their
Labour, and drink the Wine of their
own Vineyards, without the alarms of
a troublesome Worldly life. If a man
be a botanist, here is a plentiful Field
of plants to divert him in. If he be a
gardener and delight in that pleasant
and happy life, he will meet with a
Climate and Soil that will further pro-
mote his designs in as great measure,
as any man can wish for; and as for
the Constitution of this Government, it
is so mild and easy in respect to the
Properties and Liberties of a Subject,
that without reheasing the Particulars,
I say once for all, it is the mildest
and best established government in the
world, and the Place where any Man
may peaceably enjoy his own, without
being invaded by another, Rank and
Superiority ever giving Place to Justice
and Equity, which is the golden rule
that every country ought to be built
on, and regulated by. Besides, it is
worthy our notice, that this province
has been settled, and continued the
most free from Insults, and Barbari-
ties of the Indians of any Colony that
was ever seated in America; which
must be esteemed as a particular Provi-
dence of God handed down from Heay-
en to these People; especially when we
consider how irregularly they settled
North Carolina, yet how undisturbed
they have remained, free from any for-
eign danger or loss even to this very
day. And what may be well looked
upon for as great a Miracle, this is a
Place where no Malefactors are found,

deserving death, or even a Prison for
Debtors, there being no more than two
persons, as far as I have been able to
learn, ever suffered death as criminals,
although it has been a settlement near
sixty years; one of whom was a Turk
that committed Murder, the other an
old woman for Witchcraft. These, ’tis
true, were on the Stage and acted
many vears before I knew the Place;
but as for the last, I wish it had been
undone to this day; although they give
a great many arguments to justify the
deed, which I had rather they should
have a Hand in than myself; seeing
I could never approve taking life away
upon such accusations, the justice
whereof I could never yet understand.
But to return to the subject in Hand;
we there make extraordinary good
Bricks throughout the Settlement. All
sorts of Handicrafts, as Carpenters,
Joiners, Masons, Plainsters, Shoemak-
ers, Tanners, Taylors, Weavers and
most others, may with small begin-
nings and God’s blessings, thrive very
well in this Place and Provide for their
Children, Land being sold at a much
cheaper rate than at any Place in
America, and may as I suppose be
purchased of the Lords Proprietors here
in England, or of the Governour there
for the time being, by any that shall
have a mind to transport themselves to
that Country. The Farmers that go
thither, (for which sort of Men it is
a very thriving Place) should take
with them some particular seeds of
grass, as Tresfoil, Clover-grass, all
sorts, Sanfoin, or common grass, that
which is a Rarity in Europe, especially
what has sprung and rose first from a
warm Climate, and will endure the Sun
without Flinching. Likewise if there
be any extraordinary sort of grain for
increase of hardiness, and some Fruit
Trees of choice kinds, they will be both
profitable and pleasant to have with

OF NORTH CAROLINA. 99

you, where you may see the fruits of
your labour in perfection in a few
years. The necessary Instruments of
Husbandry I need not acquaint the
Husbandman withal; Hoes of all sorts;
Axes may be had, with Saws, Wedges,
Augurs, Nails, Hammers, and what
other things may be necessary for
building with brick or stone, which sort
your Inclination and Conveniency
lead you to. For, after having looked
over this Treatise, you must needs be
acquainted with the nature of the Coun-
try, and therefore cannot but be judges,
what it is that you will chiefly want.
As for Land, none need want it for
taking up, even in the Places’ there
seated on the Navigable Creeks, Riv-
ers and Harbours, without being driven
into remoter Holes and Corners of the
Country, for settlements, which all are
forced to do, who, at this day, set-
tle in most or all of the other English
Plantations planted in America; which
are already become so populous, that a
New Comer cannot get a beneficial and
commodious Seat, unless he purchases,
When, in most places in Virginia and
Maryland, a thousand acres of good
Land, seated on a Navigable Water

Lt. OF €

will cost a thousand Pounds; whereas
with us, it is at present ohtained for the
fiftieth part of the money. Besides our
Land pays to the Lords but an easy
Quit-Rent, or yearly Acknowledgement,
and the other Settlements pay two
shillings per Hundred. All these things
duly weighed, any rational man that
has a mind to purchase Land in the
Plantations for a settlement of himself
and family will soon discover the ad-
vantages that attend the Settlers and
purchasers of Land in Carolina, above
all other Colonies in the English Do-
minions in America. And as there is a
free exercise of all Persuasions amongst
the Christians, the Lords Proprietors
to encourage Ministers of the Church
of England, have given free Lands to-
wards the Maintenance of a Church
and especially for the Parish of St.
Thomas in Pampticough, over-against
the Town, is already laid out for a
Glebe of two hundred and twenty-three
acres of rich well-situated Land, that a
Parsonage House may be built upon.
And now I shall proceed to give an ac-
count of the Indians, their Customs and
Ways of Living, with a short Diction-
ary of their Speech.

“e

CHAPTER IV.

The Indians, which were the Inhabi-
tants of America, when the Spaniards
and other Europeans discovered the
several Parts of that Country, are the
people which we reckon the Natives
thereof; as indeed they were, when we
first found out those Parts, and appear-
ed therein. Yet this has not wrought
in me a full satisfaction, to allow these
People to have been the Ancient Dwell-
ers of the New World, or the Tract of
Land we call America. The reasons
that I have to think otherwise, are too
many to set down here; but I shall
give the Reader a few, before I pro-
ceed; and some others he will find scat-
tered in my writings elsewhere.

In Carolina (The Part I now treat of)
are the fairest Marks of a Deluge (that
at some time has probably made
strange Alterations, as to the Station
that Country was then in) that ever
I saw, or I think, read of, in any His-
tory. Amongst the other Subterrane-
ous Matters, that have been discov-
er’d, we found, in digging of a Well
that was 26 foot deep, at the Bottom
thereof, many large Pieces of the Tulip-
Tree, and several other sorts of Wooa,
some of which were cut and notch’d
and some squared, as the Joices of a
House are, which appear’d (in the
Judgment of all that saw them) to be
wrought with Iron Instruments; it
seeming impossible for anything made
of Stone, or what they were found to
make use of, to cut wood in that man-
ner. It cannot be argued that the
Wood so cut, might float from some
other Continent; because Hickory and
the Tulip-Tree are spontaneous in
America, and in no other places, that
I could ever learn. It is to be acknowl-

edged that the Spaniards give us rela-
tions of magnificent Buildings, which
were raised by the Indians of Mexico
and other Parts, which they discovered
and conquered; amongst whom no Iron
Instruments were found; but ’tis a
great misfortune that no Person in that
Expedition was so curious, as to take
an exact Draught of the Fabricks of
those People, which would have been a
discovery of great Value, and very ac-
ceptable to the Ingenious; for as to the
Politeness of Stones, it may be effected
by Collision, and Grinding, which is of
a contrary Nature, on Several Ac-
counts, and disproves not my Argu-
ments in the least.

The next is, the Harthen Pots that
are often found under Ground, and at
the Foot of the Banks where the Water
has often washed them away. They are
for the most part broken in pieces; but
we find them of a different sort of com-
parison of those the Indians use at
this day, who have had no other ever
since the English discovered America.
The Bowels of the Harth cannot have
altered them, since they are thicker,
of another Shape, and Composition, and
nearly approach to the Urns of the An-
cient Romans.

Again, the Peaches, which are the
only tame Fruit, or what is Foreign,
that these people enjoy, which is an
eastern Product, and will keep and re-
tain its vegetative and growing Fac-
ulty, the longest of anything of that na-
ture, that I know of. The Stone, as I
elsewhere have remarked, is thicker
than any other sort of Peaches in Eu-
rope, or of the European sort now
growing in America, and is observed
to grow if planted, after it has been

OF NORTH

for several Years laid by; and it seems
very probable that these people might
come from some Eastern Country; for
when you ask them whence their fore-
fathers came, that first inhabited the
Country, they will point to the West-
ward and say, Where the Sun Sleeps,
our Forefathers came Thence, which
at that distance may be reckoned
among the Eastern Parts of the World.
And to this day they are a shifting,
wandering People, for I know some
Indian Nations that have changed their
settlements many Hundred Miles,
sometimes no less than a thousand, as
is proved by the Savanna Indians, who
formerly lived on the banks of the
Mississippi, and removed thence to the
Head of one of the Rivers of South
Carolina; since which (for some dis-
like) most of them are removed to live
in the quarters of the Iroquois or Sin-
nagars, which are on the Heads of the
Rivers that Disgorge themselves into
the Bay of Chesapeak. I once met with
a young Indian Woman that had been
brought from beyond the Mountains,
and was sold for a Slave into Vir-
ginia. She spoke the same language
as the Coranine Indians, that dwell
near Cape-Look-Out, allowing for some
few words, which were different, yet
no otherwise, than they might under-
stand one another very well.

The Indians of North Carolina are a
well-shaped, clean-made People, of dif-
ferent Statures, as the Europeans are,
yet chiefly inclined to be tall. They
are a very straight People, and never
bend forwards, or stoop in the shoul-
ders, unless overpowered by Old Age.
Their limbs are exceedingly well-
shaped. As for their Legs and Feet
they are generally the handsomest in
the World. Their Bodies are a little
Flat, which is occasioned by their be-
ing Iaced hard down to a Board in
their Infancy. This is all the Cradle
they have, which I shall describe at

CAROLINA. IOI
large elsewhere; their Eyes are black
or of a Dark Hazel; The White is mar-
bled with red Streaks, which is ever
common to these people, unless when
sprung from a white Father or Mother.
Their Colour is of a Tawny, which
would not be so dark, did they not
dawb themselves with Bear’s Oil and
a Colour like burnt Cork. This is be-
gun in their Infancy and is continued
for a long time, which fills the Pores,
and enables them better to endure the
Extremity of the Weather. They are
never bald on their Heads, although
never so old, which I believe proceeds
from their Heads being always uncov-
ered, and the Greasing their Hair (so
often as they do) with Bear’s Fat,
which is a great Nourisher of the Hair,
and causes it to grow very fast.
Amongst the Bear’s Oil, (when they in-
tend to be fine) they mix a certain red
powder that comes from a Scarlet Root,
which they get in the hilly country,
near the foot of the great ridge of
Mountains, and it is no where else to
be found. They have this Scarlet Root
in great esteem, and sell it for a great
Price, one to another. The reason of
its Value is, because they not only go
a long way for it, but are in great
danger of the Sinnagars or Iroquois,
who are mortal Enemies to all our In-
dians, and very often take them Cap-
tives, to kill them before they return
from their Voyage. The Tuskeruros
and other Indians have often brought
this seed with them from the Moun-
tains, but it would never grow in our
Land. With this and Bear’s Grease
they anoint their Heads and Temples,
which is esteemed as ornamental, as
sweet Powder to our Hair. Besides
this Root has the Virtue of Killing
Lice and suffers none to abide or breed
in their Heads. For want of this Root
they ‘sometimes use Pecoon-Root,
which is of a Crimson Colour, but it is
apt to dye the Hair of an ugly Hue.

102 LAWSON’S
Their Eyes are commonly full and
manly, and their Gate sedate and ma-
jestic. They never walk backward and
forward as we do, nor contemplate on
the Affairs of Loss and Gain; the
things which daily perplex us. They are
dexterous and steady both as to their
Hands and Feet, to Admiration. They
will walk over deep Brooks, and Creeks,
on the smallest Poles, and that without
any Fear or Concern. Nay an Indian
will walk on the ridge of a Barn or
House and look down the Gable-end
and spit upon the Ground, as uncon-
cerned as if he were walking on Terra
Firma. In Running, Leaping or any
such other exercise, their Legs seldom
miscarry and give them a fall; and as
for letting any thing fall out of their
hands, I never yet Knew one Example.
They are no Inventors of any Arts or
Trades worthy of mention; the reason
of which I take to be that they are
not possessed with that Care and
Thoughtfullness how to provide for the
Necessaries of Life as the Europeans
are; yet they will learn anything very
soon. I have known an Indian stock
Guns better than most of our Joiners,
although he never gaw one stocked be-
fore, and besides his Working-Tool was
only a sorry Knife. I have also known
Several of them that were Slaves to
the English, learn Handicraft Trades
very handily and speedily. I never saw
a Dwarf among them nor one that was
Hiump-backed. Their teeth are yellow
with Smoking Tobacco, which both
Men and Women are much addicted to.
They tell us, that they had Tobacco
amongst them, before the European
miade any discovery of that Continent.
It differs in the Leaf from the sweet-
Scented, and Oroonoko, which are the
Plants we raise’and cultivate in Ameri-
ca. Theirs differs likewise much in the
Smell, when green, from our Tobacco
before cured. They do not use the same

_Althought we reckon

HISTORY

way to cure it as we do; and therefore
the Difference must be very consider-
able in Taste; for all Men (that know
Tobacco) must allow, that it is the Or-
dering thereof which gives a Hogoo to
that Weed, rather than any natural
relish it possesses when green. Al-
though they are great Smokers, yet
they never are seen to take it in Snuff
or chew it.

They have no hairs on their Faces
(except some few,) and those but little.
They are continually plucking it away
from their Faces, by the Roots.....
these a _ very
smooth People, and free from Hair; yet
I once saw a middle-aged Man, that
was hairy all down his back, the Hairs
being above an inch long. As there
are found very few or scarce any, De-
formed or Cripples, amongst them, so
neither did I ever see but one Blind
Man, and then they would give me no
account how his Blindness came. They
had a Use for him, which was to lead
him with a Girl, Woman, or Boy, by
a string; so they put what burden they
pleased upon his back and made him
very serviceable upon all such occa-
sions. No people have better Eyes, or
see better in the Night or Day, than
the Indians. Some allege, that the
Smoke of the Pitch-Pine, which they
chiefly burn, doth both preserve and
strengthen the Eyes, as perhaps it may
do, because that Smoke never offends
the Eyes, tho’ you hold your Face over
a Great Fire thereof. This is occasion-
ed by the volatile Part of the Turpen-
tine which rises with the Smoke, and
is of a friendly, balsamick Nature; for
the Ashes of the Pine Tree afford no
fix’d salt in them. They let their
Nails grow very long, which, they reck-
on, is the Use nails are design’d for,
and laugh at the Europeans for pairing
theirs, which they say, disarms them of
that which Nature design’d for them.

OF NORTH CAROLINA,

They are not of so robust and strong
bodies, as to lift great Burdens and
endure Labour and Slavish work, as
the Europeans are, yet some that are
Slaves prove very good and laborious;
but of themselves, they never work as
the English do, taking care for no fur-
ther what is than absolutely necessary
to support life. In Travelling and
Hunting they are very indefatigable;
because that carries a Pleasure along
with the Profit.. I have known some
of them very strong; and as for Run-
ning and Leaping they are extraordi-
nary Fellows, and will dance for sev-
eral Nights together with the greatest
Briskness imaginable, their Wind never

failing them.

Their Dances are of Different Natures
and for every sort of Dance they have
a tune which is allotted for that Dance;
as, if it be a War-Dance they will
have a War-Like Tune, wherein they
express with all the passion and Ve-
hemence imaginable what they intend
to do with their Enemies; how they
will kill, roast, scalp, beat and make
Captive, such and such numbers of
them, and how many they have de-
stroy’d before. All these Songs are
made New for every Feast, nor is one
and the same song sung at two sev-
eral Festivals. Some one of the Nation
(which have the best Gift of express-
ing their Design) is appointed by the
King, and War-Captains, to make these
Songs.

Others are made for Feasts of an-
other Nature; as, when several Towns,
or different Nations have made Peace
with one another; then the Song suits
both Nations and relates, how the Bad
Spirit makes them go to War, and De-
stroy one another; but it shall never be
so again, but that their Sons and
Daughters shall marry together, and
the two Nations love one another and
become as one People.

103

They have a third sort of Feasts
and Dances, which are always when
the Harvest of corn is ended, and in
the Spring. ‘The one to return thanks
to the Good Spirit for the Fruits of the
Earth, the other to beg the same bless-
ings for the succeeding Year. And,
to encourage the Young Men to la-
bour stoutly, in Planting their Maiz
and Pulse, they set a sort of an idol
in the field, which is dressed up ex-
actly like an Indian, having all the
Indian habits, besides abundance of
Wampum, and their Money, made of
Shells, that hang about his Neck. The
Image none of the young Men dare
approach; for the Old Ones will not
suffer them to come near him, but tell
them that he is some famous Indian
Warrior, that died a great while ago,
and now is come amongst them to see
if they work well, which, if. they do,
he will go to the good Spirit and
sveak to Him to send them Plenty of
Corn and make all the young Men ex-
pert hunters and Mighty Warriors. All
this While, the King and Old Men sit
around the Image, and seemingly pay
a profound Respect to the same. One
great Help to these Indians in carrying
on these Cheats, and inducing the
Youths to do what they please is the
uninterrupted silence which is ever
kept and observed, with all the Respect
and Veneration imaginable.

At these Feasts, which are set out
with all the magnificence their fare al-
lows of, the Masquerades begin at
night and not Before. There is com-
monly a Fire made in the Middle of
the House, which is the largest in the
Town, and is very often the Dwelling
of their King, or War-Captain, where
sit two men on the Ground, upon a
Mat: one with a rattle made of a
Gourd, with some Beans in it; the
other with a Drum made of an
Earthen Pot, covered with a dressed

104 LAWSON’S
Deer Skin, and one Stick in his Hand
to beat thereon, and so they both be-
gin the Song appointed. At the same
time one Drums and the other Rat-
tles, which is all the artificial Music
of their own Making I ever saw among
them. To these two Instruments they
sing, which carries no Air with it,
hut is a sort of unsavory Jargon; yet
their Cadences and raising of their
Voices are formed with that Hquality
and Exactness, that (to us Europeans)
it seems admirable how they should
continue their Songs, without once
missing to agree, each with the other’s
Note and Tune.

As for their Dancing, were there
Masters of the Profession amongst
them, as there are with us, they would
dearly earn their money; for these
Creatures take the most pains with it
that Men are able to endure. I have
seen thirty odd together a-dancing
until everv one dropp’d down with
Sweat, as if Water had been poured
down their Backs. They use those hard
Labours to make them able to endure
Fatigue, and improve their Wind,
which indeed is very long and durable,
it being a hard matter, in any exer-
cise, to dispossess them of it.

At these Feasts they meet from all
the Towns within Fifty or Sixty Miles
around, where they buy and sell sev-
eral Commodities, as we do at Fairs
and Markets. Besides, they game
very much, and often strip them-
selves of all they have in the World,
and what is more, I have Known sever-
al of them sell themeselves away, so
that they have remained the Winner’s
Servants, till their Relations or them-
selves could raise the money to re-
deem them; and when this happens the
Loser is never dejected or melancholy
at the loss, but laughs and seems no
less contented than if he had won.
They never differ at Gaming, nor did I

HISTORY

ever see a Disnute about the Legality
thereof, so much as _ rise
them.

The chiefest Game is a sort of Arith-
metic, which is managed by a Parcel of
small split Reeds, the thickness of a
small Bent; these are made very nice-
ly, so that they part and are traciable
in their Hands. They are fifty-one in
number, their length about seven inch-
es; when they play they throw part of
them to their Antagonist; the art is to
discover, upon sight, how many you
have, and what you throw to him that
plays with you. Some are so expert
with their numbers that they will tell
ten times together what they threw
out of their Hands. Although the whoie
Play is carried on with the quickest
Motion its possible to use, yet some are
so expert at this game as to win great
Indian Estates by this Play. A good
set of these reeds, fit to Play withal,
are valued and sold for a dressed Doe
Skin.

They have several other Plays and
Games, as with the Kernels or Stones
of Persimmons, which are in effect the
same as our Dice, because Winning or
Losing depend on which side appears
uppermost, and how they happen to
fall together.

Another Game is managed with a Ba-
toon and a Ball, and resembles our
Trap-ball; besides several Nations have
several Games and Pestimes which
are not used by others.

These Savages live in Wigwams, or
Cabins built of Bark, which are made
round like an Oven to prevent any
danger by hard Gales of Wind. They
make the Fire in the middle of the
House, and have a Hole at the top of
the Roof, right above the Fire, to let
out the smoke. 'These Dwellings are as
Hot as Stoves, where the Indians sleep
and Sweat all night. The Floors there-
of are never paved nor swept, so that
they have always loose earth on them.

amongst

OF NORTH

They are often troubled with a multi-
tude of Fleas, especially near’ the
Places where they dress their Deer-
Skins, because that Hair harbours
them, yet I have never felt any ill, un-
savory Smell in their Cabins, whereas,
should we live in our Houses as they
do, we should be poisoned with our
own Nastiness; which confirms these
Indians to be, as they really are, some
of the sweetest People in the world.

The Bark they make their Cabins
withal is generally Cypress, or red or
white Cedar, and sometimes when they
are a great way from any of these
Woods, they make use of Pine Bark,
which is the Worser sort. In building
these fabricks they get very long Poles
of Pine, Cedar, Hickory or any other
Wood that will bend; these are the
thickness of the small of a Man’s Leg,
at the thickest end of which they gen-
erally strip off the bark, and warm
them well in the fire, which makes
them tough and fit to bend; afterwards
they stick the thickest ends of them in
the ground, above two yards asun-
der, in a circular form, the distance
they design the Cabin to be (which is
not always round but sometimes oval);
then they bend the tops and _ bring
them together and bind their ends with
bark of trees, that is proper for that
use, as Elm is, or sometimes the Moss
that grows on the Trees, and is a yard
or two long and never Rots; then they
brace them with other poles, so that
they are very warm and tight, and will
keep firm against all the Weathers that
blow. They have other sorts of Cabins
without Windows, which are for their
Granaries, Skins, and Merchandizes;
and others that are covered overhead
and the rest left open for air. These
have Reed Hurdles like Tables, to lie
and sit on in Summer, and serve for
pleasant Banqueting Houses in the Hot
Season of the Year. The Cabins they
dwell in have Benches all around, ex-

CAROLINA. 105
cept where the door stands. On these
they lay Beasts-Skins and Mats made
of Rushes, whereon they sleep and loll.
In one of these several Families com-
monly live, though all related to one
another.

As to the Indians Food, it is of sev-
eral sorts, which are as follows:

Venison, and Fawns in the Bag, cut
out of the Doe’s Belly; Fish of all
sorts, the Lamprey-Hel excepted, and
the Sturgeon our Salt-Water Indians
will not touch; Bear and Beaver; Pan-
ther; Pole-Cat; Wild-Cat; Possum;
Raccoon; Hares and Squirrels roasted
with their Guts in; Snakes, all Indians
will not eat them, tho’ some do; all
wild Fruits that are Palatable, some of
which they dry and keep against Win-
ter, as all sorts of Fruits, and Peaches
which they dry, and make Quiddonies,
and Cakes, that are pleasant, and a lit-
tle tartish; young Wasps when they are
white in the Combs before they can
fly, this is esteemed a dainty; All sorts
of Tortoise and Terebins; Shell-Fish
and Stingray or Scate, dryed; Gourds;
Melons; Cucumbers; Squashes; Pulse
of all sorts; Rockahomine Meal, which
is their Maiz, parched and pounded in-
to powder; Fowl of all sorts, that are

eatable; Ground-Nuts or Wild Pota-
toes; Acorns and Acorn Oil; Wild-
Bulls; Beef, Mutton, Pork, ete., from
the English; Indian Corn, or Maiz,

made into several sorts of Bread; Ears
of Corn roasted in the Summer or pre-
served against the Winter.

The Victuals is Common, through-
out the whole Kindred Relations, and

often to the whole 'Town: especially,
when they are in Hunting-Quarters,
then they all fare alike, whichsoever

of them kills the Game. They are very
kind and charitable to one another, but
more especially to those of their own
Nation; for if any one of them has suf-
fered any Loss by Fire or otherwise,
they order the grieved persons to make

106 LAWSON’S
a Feast, and invite them all _ thereto,
which, on the day appointed, they come
to, and after every Man’s mess of Vic-
tuals is dealt to him, one of their
Speakers or grave old Men, makes an
Harangue, and acquaints the Company
That that Man’s House has been burnt,
wherein all his Goods were destroyed;
That he and his Family very narrowly
escaped; That he is every Man’s friend
in that ‘Company; and, That it is all
their Duties to help him, as he would
do to any of them, had like Misfortune
befallen them. After this Oration is
over, every Man, according to his qual-
ity, throws him down upon the Ground
some Present, which is commonly
Beads, Ronoak, Peak, Skins or Furs,
and which very often amounts to treble
the amount he has suffered. The same
assistance they give to any Man that
wants to build a Cabin, or make a Ca-
noe. ‘They say it is our Duty thus to
do; for there are several Works that
one Man cannot effect, therefore we
must give him our help, otherwise our
Society will fall, and we shall be de-
prived of those urgent Necessities
which life requires. They have no
Fences to part one anothers Lots in
their Corn-Fields; but every Man
knows his own, and it scarce ever hap-
pens that they rob one another of so
much as an Har of Corn, which if any
is found to do, he is sentenced by the
Elders to work, and plant for him that
was robbed, till he is recompensed for
all the damage he has suffered in his
Corn-Field; and this is punctually per-
formed, and the Thief held in Disgrace
that steals from any of his Country-
Folks. It often happens that a Woman
is destitute of her Husband, and has a
great many Children to maintain; such
a Person they always help, and make
their young men plant, reap and do
everything for her that she is not cap-
able of doing for herself; yet they do
not allow any one to be idle, but to em-

HISTORY

ploy themselves in some Work or oth-
er.

They never fight with one another,
unless Drunk, nor do you ever hear any
scolding amongst them. They say the
Europeans are always wrangling and
uneasy, and wonder they do not go out
of this World, since they are so uneasy
and discontented in it. All their Mis-
fortunes and Losses end in Laughter;
for if their Cabins take fire, and all
their Goods are burnt therein, (indeed
all will strive to prevent further Dam-
age whilst there is any possibility) yet
such a misfortune ends in a hearty bit
of laughter, unless some of their Kins-
folk and Friends have lost their Lives;
but then the Case is altered and they
become very pensive, and go into deep

Mourning, which is continued for
a considerable time; sometimes
longer or shorter, just accord-

ing to the Dignity of the Person, and
the Number of Relations he had near
to him.

When an Indian is dead the greater
person he is the more expensive is his
Funeral. The first thing which is done
is, to place the nearest Relations near
the Corps, who mourn and weep very
much, having their hair hung down
their Shoulders, in a very forlorn man-
ner. After the dead Person has laid a
Day and a Night in one of their Hur-
dies of Canes, commonly in some out-
House made for that purpose, those
that officiate about the Funeral go into
Town, and the first young Men they
Meet withal that have Blankets or
Match Coats on, whom they think fit
for their ‘Turn, they strip them from
their Backs, who suffer them to do so
without any Resistance. In these they
wrap the dead Bodies, and convey them
with two or three Mats which the In-
dians make of Rushes or Cane; and
last of all they have a long Web of
woven Reeds, or hollow Canes, which
is the Coffin of the Indians, and is

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

brought around several times and is
tied fast at both ends, which indeed
looks very decent and well. Then the
Corps is brought out of the House
into the Orchard of Peach-Trees, where
another Hurdle is made to receive it,
about which comes all the Relations
and Nation that the dead person be-
longed to, besides several from other
Nations in Alliance with them; all
which sit down on the Ground, upon
Mats spread there for that purpose;
where the Doctor or Conjurer appears,
and, after some time, makes a sort of
O-yes, at which all are very silent.
Then he begins to give an account who
the dead person was, and how stout a
man he approved himself; how many
Enemies and Captives he had _ killed
land taken; how strong, tall and nim-
ble he was; that he was a great Hunt-
er, a lover of his ‘Country, and possess-
ed of a great many beautiful Wives

and children, esteemed the greatest of.

Blessings among these Savages, in
which they have a true Notion. Thus
this Orator runs on, highly extolling
the dead Man, for his Valour, Conduct,
Strength, Riches and Good Humour;
and enumerating his Guns, Slaves and
almost everything he was possess’d of,
when living. After which, he addresses
himself to the People of that Town or
Nation, and bids them Supply the
Dead Man’s Place, by following his
steps, who he assures them, is gone into
the Country of Souls (which they think
lies a great way off, in this World,
which the Sun visits, in his ordinary
Course) and that he will have the en-
joyment of handsome young Women,
great Store of Deer to hunt, never Meet
with Hunger, Cold or Fatigue, but ev-
erything to answer his Expectation an]
Desire. This is the Heaven they prv-
pose to themselves: but on the con-
trary, for those Indians that are lazy,
thievish amongst themselves, bad
Hunters and no Warriours, nor of

107

much use to the Nation, to such they
allot in the next World, Hunger, ‘Cold,
Troubles, Ugly Old Women for their
Companions, with Snakes and all sorts
of Nasty Victuals to feed on. Thus is
marked out their Heaven and Hell. Af-
ter all this Harangue, he diverts the
People with some of their Traditions,
as when there was a Violent hot Sum-
mer or very hard Winter; when any
notable Distempers raged amongst
them; when they were at War with
such and such Nations; how victorious
they were, and what were the Names
of their War-Captains. To prove tae
times more exactly, he produces the
Records of the Country, which are a
Parcel of Reeds of different lengths,
with several distinct marks known to
none but themselves; by which they
seem to guess, very exactly, at Acci-
dents that happened many years ago;
nay two or three Ages or more. The
reason I have to believe what they
tell me, on this Account, is because I
have been at the meetings of several
Indian Nations; and they agree ‘n re-
lating the same Circumstances, as t9
Time, very exactly; as, for example
they say, there was so hard a winter
in Carolina 105 years ago, that the
great Sound was frozen over and tbe
Wild geese came into the Wooas to eat
Acorns and they were so tame (I sup-
pose through Want) that they were
killed abundantly in the Woods by
knocking them on the Head with
Sticks.

But, to return to the dead Man. When
this Long Tale is ended by him that
spoke first; perhaps a second begins
another long Story; so a third and
fourth if there be so many Doctors
present; which all tell one and _ the
same thing. At last the Corps is
brought away from that Hurdle to the
Grave, by four young Men, attended
by the Relations, the King, Old Men
and all the Nation. When they come

108

to the Sepulchre, which is about six
foot deep, and eight foot long, having
at each end, (that is, at the Head and
Foot) a Light-Wood or Pitch-Pine
Fork driven close down the sides ct
the Grave, firmly into the Ground;
(these two forks are to contain a
Ridge-Pole, as you shall understand
presently) before they lay the Corps
into the Grave thev cover the bottom
two or three times over with Bark of
Trees, then they let down the Corps
(with two Belts, that the Indians carry
their Burdens withal very leisurely
upon the said Barks; then they lay
over a Pole of the Same Wood, in the
two Forks, and having a great many
Pieces of Pitch-Pine logs, about two
foot and a half long, they stick them
in the sides of the Grave down each
end, and near the top thereof, where
the other Ends lie on the Ridge-Pole,
so that they are declining like the roof
of a House. These being very thick-
plac’d they cover them (many times
double) with Bark; then they throw
the Earth thereon, that came out of
the Grave, and beat it down very firm,
by this means the Dead Body lies in a
Vault, nothing touching him; so that
when I saw this way of burial, I was
mightily pleased with it, esteemng it
very pleasant and decent, as having
Seen a great many Christians buried
without the tenth part of that Cere-
mony and Decency. Now when the
Flesh is rotten and Moulder’d from
the Bones they take up theCarcass and
clean the Bones, and joint them to-
gether; afterwards they dress them up
in pure white dressed Deer-Skins, and
lay them amongst their Grandees and
Kings in the Quiogozon, which is their
royal Tomb or Burial-Place of their
Kings and War-Captains. This is a
very large Magnificent Cabin, (accord-
ing to their Building) which is raised
at the Publick ‘Charge of the Nation,
and maintained in a great deal of form

LAWSON’S HISTORY

and Neatness. About seven foot high
is a Floor or Loft made, on which lie
all their Princes and great Men, that
have died for several Hundred years,
all attired in the dress I have before
told you of. No person is to have his
bones lie here and be thus dressed, un-
less he gives a round sum of their
Money to the Rulers, for Admittance.
If they remove never so far, to live in
a Foreign Country, they never fail to
take all these dead Bones with them,
tho’ the Tediousness of their ‘short
daily Marches keeps them never so
long on their Journey. They reverence
and adore this Quiogozon, with all the
Veneration and Respect that is possible
for such a People to discharge, and had
rather lose all than have any Violence
or Injury offer’d thereto. These Sayv-
ages differ some small matter in their
Burials; some burying right upwards,
and otherwise, as you are acquainted
withal from my Journal from South to
North Carolina. Yet they all agree in
their Mourning, which is to appear
every night at the Sepulchre, and howl
and weep in a very dismal manner,
having their Faces dawb’d over with
Light-Wood Soot, (which is the same
as Lamp-Black) and Bears Oil. This
renders them as black as it is possible
to make themselves, so that theirs very
much resembles the Faces of Executed
Men boil’d in Tar. If the Dead Per-
sch was a Grandee, to carry on the
Funeral Ceremonies, they hire people
to cry and Lament over the Dead
Body. Of this sort, there are seve:al
that practice this for a livelihood, and
are very expert at shedding Abund-
ance of Tears, and howling like Wolves
and so discharging their office with
abundance of Hypocrisy and Art. The
Women are never Accompanied with
these Ceremonies after Death; and to
what World they allot that sex I never
understood, unless to wait on _ their
dead Husbands; but they have more

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

wit than some of the Eastern Nations;
who sacrifice themselves to accompany
their Husbands into the next World. It
is the Dead Man’s relations, by Bload,
as his Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Cous-
ins, Sons and Daughters, that moura
in good earnest; the Wives’ thinking
their Duty is discharged, and that they
are become free, when their Husband
is dead; so, as fast as they can, look
out for another, to supply his Place.
As for the Indian Women, which now
happen in my Way; when young, and
at Maturity, they are as fine-shap’d
Creatures (take them generally) as any
in the Universe. They are of a tawny
Complexion, their Eyes very brisk and
amorous; their Smiles afford the finest
Composure a face can possess; their
Hands are of the finest make, with
small long Fingers, and as soft as their
Cheeks; and their Whole bodies of a
Smooth Nature. They are not so un-
couth or unlikely, as we suppose them.
They are most of them mercenary, ex-
cept the married Women, who some-
times bestow their favors also to some
or other, in their Husband’s absence,
For which they never ask any reward.
As for the Report that they are never
found unconstant, like tne Europeans, it
is wholly false; for were the Old World
and the new one put into a Pair of
Scales (in point of constancy) it would
be a hard Matter to discern which was
the heavier..... The Indian Traders
are those which travel and abide
amongst the Indians for a long space
cf time; sometimes for a Year, two, or
three. These Men commonly have their
Indian Wives, whereby they soon learn
tne Indian 'Tongue and keep a friend-
ship with the Savages. They find these
Indian Girls very serviceable to them,
on account of dressing their Victuals
and instructing ’em in the Affairs and
Customs of the Country. Moreover
such a Man gets a great trade with the
Savages; for when a person that lives

109

amongst them is reserv’d from the Con-
versation of their Women, ’tis impossi-
ble for him ever to accomplish his De-
signs amongst that People. It is a cer-
tain rule and Custom, amongst all the
Savages of America that I was ever ac-
quainted withal, to let the children al-
ways fall to the Women’s lot. And
therefore, on this Score, it ever seems
impossible for the Christians to get
their Children (which they have by
these Indian Women) away from them;
whereby they might bring them up in
the Knowledge of the Christian Prin-
ciples. Nevertheless, we often find,
that English Men and other Huropeans
that have been accustom’d to the Con-
versation of these Savage Women and
their Way of Living, have been so al-
lur’d with that careless sort of Life, as
to be constant to their Indian Wife and
her relations, so long as they Liv’d,
without ever desiring to return again
amongst the English, altho’ they had
very fair Opportunities of Advantages
amongst their Countrymen, of which
sort I have known several. As for the
Indian Marriages, I have read and
heard of a great deal of Form and Cer-
emony used, which I never saw, nor yet
could learn in the time I have been
amongst them, any otherwise than I
shall here give an Account of; wh:.ch is
as follows. When any young Indian
has a mind for such a Girl to his Wife,
he, or some one for him, goes to the
Young Woman’s Parents, if living; if
not to her nearest Relations; where
they make Offers of the Match betwixt
the Couple. The Relations reply, they
will consider of it, which serves for a
sufficient Answer, till there be a second
meeting about the Marriage which is
generally brought into Debate before all
the Relations (that are Old People) on
both Sides; and sometimes the King
with all his great Men give their Opin-
ions therein, if it be agreed on, and the
young Woman approves thereof (for

IIo

these Savages never give their children
in Marriage without their own consent)
the man pays so much for his Wife;
and the Handsomer she is, the greater
Price she bears. Now, it often happens
that the Man has not so much of their
Money ready as he is to pay for his
Wife; but if they know him to be a
good Hunter, and that he can raise the
Sum, agreed for, in some few Moons,
er any little time, they agree, she shall
go along with him as betroth’d. Yet the
Women are quite contrary, and those
Indian Girls that have convers’d with
the English and other Europeans never
care for the conversation of their own
Countrymen afterwards. The Indian
men are not so vigorous and impatient
in their Love as we are. They never
marry so near as a first Cousin; and al-
though there is nothing more coveted
amonpyst them than to marry a Woman
of their own Nation, yet when che Na-
tion consists of a very few People (ac
nowadays it often happens, so that they
are all of them related to one another)
then they look out for Husbands and
Wives amongst strangers. An Indian
is allowed to marry two Sisters, or his
Brother’s Wife. The Marriages of
these Indians are no farther binding
than the Man and Woman agree to-
gether. Hither of them has Liberty to
leave the other upon any frivolous ex-
cuse they can make, yet whoever takes
the Woman that was another Man’s be-
fore, and bought by him, as they all
are, must certainly pay to her former
Husband, whatsoever he gave for her.
Nay, if she be a Widow and her Hus-
band died in debt, whoever takes her
to Wife, pays all her Husband’s Ob-
ligations, tho’ never so many; yet the
Woman is not required to pay any-
thing (unless she is willing) that was
owing from her Husband, so long as she
keeps single. You may see Men sell-
ing their Wives as Man do horses in
a Fair, a Man being allow’d not only to

LAWSON’S HISTORY

change as often as he pleases, but like-
wise to have as Many Wives as he is
able to Maintain. I have often seen
very Old Indian Men (that have been
Grandees in their Own Nation) have
three or four very likely young Indian
Wives, which I have much wondered at.
They are never to boast of their In-
trigues with the Women. This pro-
ceeds not on the score of Reputation,
for there is no such thing known
amongst them; yet they retain and
possess a Modesty which requires those
passions never to be Divulged..... The
Indians say, that the Woman is a
weak creature, and easily drawn away
by the Man’s Persuasions; for which
reason they lay no blame upon her, but
the Man (who ought to be the master
of his Passion) for persuading her to it.

They are of a very hale Constitution,
their breaths are as sweet as the air
they breathe in, yet their Love is nev-
er of that Force and Continuance that
any of them ever runs Mad or makes
away with themselves on that score.
They never love beyond retrieving their
first indifferences and when slighted are
as ready to untie the knot at one end
as you are at tthe other. Yet I knew an
European man who after living with
one of these Indian women married a
Christian, and when he went to visit
his Indian Mistress she made answer
that she then had forgot she ever
knew him, so fell a crying and went out
of the Cabin (away from him) in great
disorder,

The Indian Women’s work is to cook
the Victuals for the Whole family, and
to make Mats, Baskets, Girdles, of Pos-
sum-Hair and such like. They never
plant the Corn amongst us, as they do
amongst the Iroquois, who are always
at war and hunting. ‘Therefore, the
Plantation Work is left for the Womea
and Slaves to perform, and look after;
whilst they are wand’ring all over the

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Continent betwixt the two Bays of
Mexico and St. Lawrence.

The Mats the Indian Women make
are of Rushes, and about five Foot high
and two fathom long, and sew’d dou-
ble, that is, two together; whereby
they become very commodious to lay
under our Beds or to sleep on in the
Summer Season in the day-time and for
our Slaves in the Night. There are
other Mats made of Flags, which the
Tuskeruro Indians make and sell to the
Inhabitants. The Baskets our Neigh-
boring Indians make are all made of a
very fine sort of bulrushes, and some-
times of Silk-Grass, which they work
with figures of Beasts, Birds, Fishes,
etc. A great way up in the Country
both Baskets and Mats are made of the
Split Reeds, which are only the out-
ward shining part of the Cain. Of these
I have seen Mats, Baskets, and Dress-
ing-Boxes, very artificially done.....

The Indian Wife never fails of prov-
ing so good a Nurse as to bring her
child up free from the Rickets and Dis-
asters that proceed from the Teeth,
with many other Distempers which at-
tack our Infants in England and other
Parts of Europe. ‘They always Nurse
their own children themselves, unless
Sickness or Death prevents. The Hus-
band takes care to provide a Cradle,
which is soon made, consisting of a
piece of flat wood, which they hew
with their Hatchets to the likeness of a
Board; It is about two foot long and
a foot broad; to this they brace and tie
the child down very close. Some Na-
tions have very flat Heads, which is
made whilst tied on this Cradle. These
‘Cradles are apt to make the body flat;
yet they are the most portable things
that can be invented; for there is a
string which goes from one Corner of
the Board to the other, whereby the
Mother flings her Child on her Back;
so the infant’s back is toward’s hers
and its face looks up towards the sky.

BOI E

If it rains, she throws her Leather or
Woolen Match-Coat over her head,
which covers the Child all over, and
secures her and it from the injuries of
rainy Weather. I never knew any of
their Women, that had not children
When Married. The Womens Dress is,
in severe Weather, a hairy Match-Coat
in the Nature of a Plad, which keeps
out the cold, and (as I said before) de-
fends their Children from the Preju-
dices of the Weather. At other times
they have only a sort of Flap or Apron
containing two Yards in Length, and
better than half a Yard Deep. Some-
times, it is a Deer-Skin, dressed white,
and pointed or slit at the bottom, like
fringe. When this is clean, it becomes
them very well. Others wear Blue or
Red Flaps made of Bays and Plains,
which they buy of the English, of both
which they tuck in the corners, to fas-
ter the garment,and sometimes make it
fast with a belt. Sometimes, they wear
Indian Shoes, or Moggizons, which are
made after the same manner as the
Men’s are. The Hair of their Heads is
made into a long Roll like a Horse’s
Tail, and bound around with Ronoak
or Porcelan, which is a sort of Beads
they make of the Conk-Shells. Others
that have not this, make a Leather-
String serve.

The Indian Men have a Match-Coat
of Hair, Furs, Feathers, or Cloth, as
the Women have. Their Hair is rolled
up, on each Har, as the Women’s, only
much shorter, and oftentimes a roll on
the Crown of the Head or Temple,
which is just as they fancy; there be-
ing no Strictness in their Dress. They
wear a Loin-Cloth, that is tuck’d in
by a Belt, both before and _ behind,

which decency they never Practised
before the Christians came amongst
them.

They wear Shooes, of Bucks, and

sometimes Bears-Skin, which they tan
in an Hour or two; with the Bark of

II2

Trees Boiled, wherein they put the
Leather whilst Hot, and let it remain
a little while, whereby it becomes so
qualified, as to endure water and Dirt
without growing Hard. These have no
Heels and are made as Fit for the Feet
as a Glove for the Hands, and are
very easy to travel in when one is
used to them. When these Savages
live near the Water, they frequent
the Rivers in summer time very much,
where both Men and Women very of-

ten in a day go in Naked to wash
themselves, tho’ not both sexes to-
gether.

Their Feather Match-Coats are very
pretty, especially some of them, which

are made extraordinary charming,
containing several pretty figures
wrought in Feathers, making them

seem like a fine Fower Silk-Shag, and
when new and Fresh, they become a
Bed very well instead of a Quilt. Some
of another sort are made of Hare,
Racoon, Bever or Squirrel-Skins, which
are very warm; others again are made
of the Green part of the Skin of a Mal-
lard’s Head, which they sew very pret-
tily together, their Thread being either
the Sinews of a Deer divided very
small, or Silk Grass. When these are
finished they look very finely, tho’ they
must needs be very troublesome _ to
make. Some of their Great Men, as
Rulers and Such, that have plenty of
Deer Skins by them, will often buy the
English-made Coats, which they wear
on Festivals and other Days of Visit-
ing. Yet none ever buy any Breeches,
saying that they are too much confin-
ed in them, which prevents their speed
in running, etc.

We have some Indians that are more
civilized than the rest, which wear
Hats, Shoes, Stockings and Breeches,
with very tolerable linnen Shirts,
which is not common amongst’ these
Heathens. The Paspitank Indians did

LAWSON’S HISTORY

formerly keep Cattle and make But-
ter.

These are them that wear the Eng-
lish Dress. Whether they have Cattle
now or no I am not certain; but I am
of the Opinion that such Inclinations
in the Savages should meet with En-
couragement, and every Englishman
ought to do them justice, and not de-
fraud them of their land, which has
been allotted them formerly by the
Government, for if we do not show
them examples of Justice and Virtue,
we can never bring them to believe us
to be a worthier Race of Man than
themselves.

The Dresses of these People are so
different, according to the Nation that
they belong to, that it is impossible to
recount all the whimsical figures that
they sometimes make by their Antick
Dresses. Besides Carolina is a warm
Country, and very Mild in its Winters,
to what Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl-
vania, New York and the Jerseys, and
New England are; wherefore our In-
dian habit very much differs from the
dresses that appear among the Sav-
ages who inhabit those cold Countries;
in regard to their cheapest cloathing
for the Winter Season is made of Furs
of Bever, Raccoon and other Northern
Furs, that our Climate is not acquaint-
ed withal, they producing some Furs,
as the Monack, Moor, Marten, Black
Fox, and others, to us unknown.

Their Dress in Peace and War is
quite different. Besides when they go
to War, their Hair is combed out by
the Women, and done over very much
with Bears Grease, and Red Root, with
Feathers, Wings, Rings, Copper sand
Peak, or Wampum, in their Ears.
Moreover, they buy Vermillion of the
Indian Traders, wherewith they paint
their faces all over red, and commonly
make a Circle of Black about one eye,
and another Circle of white about the

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

other, whilst others bedawb their
Faces with Tobacco-Pipe Clay, Lamp-
Black, Black Lead, and divers other
Colours, which they make with the
several sorts of Minerals and earths
that they get in their Different Parts
of the Country, where they Hunt and
‘Travel. When these Creatures are thus
painted, they make the most frightful
Figures that can be imitated by men,
and seem more like Devils than Hu-
mane Creatures. You may be sure that
they are about some Mischief, when
you see them thus painted; for in all
the Hostilities which have ever been
acted against the English at any time
in several of the Plantations of Amer-
ica, the Savages appeared in the Dis-
guise whereby they might never be
discovered, or known by any of the
Christians, that should happen to see
them after they had made their es-
cape; for it is impossible ever to know
an Indian under these colours, al-
though he has been at your home a
thousand times, and you know him at
other times as well as you do any Per-
son living. As for their Women they
never use any paint on their Faces;
neither do they ever carry them along
with them into the field, when they i®-
tend any Expedition, leaving them at
home with the old Men and Children.

Some of the Indians wear great Bobs
in the Holes thereof they put Hagles
and other Birds Feathers for a Trophy.
When they kill any Fowl they com-
monly pluck off the downy Feathers,
and stick them all over their Heads.
Some (Both Men and Women) wear
great Necklaces of their Money, made
of Shells. They often wear Bracelets
made of Brass, and sometimes of Iron
Wire.

Their Money is of different sorts, but
all made af Shells, which are found on
the Coast of Carolina, which are very
large and Hard, so that they are very
difficult to cut. Some English smiths

EE

have tried to drill this sort of shell
money, and thereby thought to get ad-
vantage, but it proved so hard that
nothing could be gained. They often-
times make of this shell a sort of
Gorge, which they wear about their
Neck in a String; so it hangs on their
Collar, whereon sometimes is engraven
a Cross, or some odd sort of figure
which comes next in their fancy. There
are other sorts, valued at a Doe-Skin,
yet the Gorges will sometimes sell for
three or four Buck-Skins ready dress’d.
There be others, that eight of them go
readily for a Doe-Skin, but the general
and Current Species of all the Indiang
in Carolina, and, I believe, all over the
Continent, so far as the Bay of Mex-
ico, is that which we call Peak and
Ronoak, but Peak more especially.
This is that which at New York they
call Wampum, and have used it as
Current Money among the Inhabitants
for a great many years. This is what
many writers call Porcelan, and is
made at New York in great quantities,
and with us in some hieasure. Five
Cubits of this purchase a Dressed Doe-
Skin, and seven or eight make so much
of this Wampum, for five or ten times
the Value; for it is made out of a vast
great Shell, of which the Country af-
fords Plenty; where it is ground small-
er than the small end of a Tobacco-
Pipe, or a large Wheat-Straw. Four
or five of these make an inch, and
every one is to be drilled through and
made as smooth as Glass, and so
strung as Beads are, and a cubit of the
Indian measure contains as much in
length, as will reach from the elbow to
the end of the little finger. They
never stand to question whether it is a
tall man or a short one, that measure
it; but if this Wampum Peak be black
or Purple, as some part of that Shell
is, then it is twice the Value. This
the Indians grind on stones and other

II4

things until they make it Current,
but the drilling is the most difficult to
the Englishmen, which the Indians
manage with a Nail stuck in a Cane
or Reed. Thus they roll it continually
on their Thighs, with their Right
Hand, holding the Bit of Shell with
their Left, so in time they drill a Hole
quite, through it, which is very tedious
work; but especially in making their
Ronoak, four of which will scarce
make one Length of Wampum. The
Indians are a People that never value
their Time, so that they can afford to
make them, and never need to fear the
English will take the trade out of their
Hands. This is the Money with which
you may buy Skins, Furs, Slaves or
anything the Indians have; it being
the Mammon (as our Money is to us)
that entices and persuades them to do
anything, and part with everything
they possess, except their Children,
for Slaves. As for their Wives they
are often sold, and their Daughters
Violated for it. With this they buy off
murders; and whatsoever a Man do
that is ill, this Wampum will quit him
of, and make him, in their opinion,
good and virtuous, though never so
black before.

All the Indians give a Name to their
Children, which is not the same as the
Fathers or Mothers, but what they
Fancy. This name they keep (if Boys)
until they arrive to the age of a War-
riour, which is 16 or 17 years; then
they take a name to themselves, some-
times Eagle, Panther, Allegator, or
some such wild creature; esteeming
nothing on earth worthy to give them
a name, but these Wild Fowl and
Beast. Some again take the name of a
Fish, which they keep as long as they
live.

The King is the Ruler of the Nation,
and has others under him to assist
him, as his War Captains and Coun-

LAWSON’S HISTORY

Sellors, who are pick’d out and chosen
among the ancientest Men of the Na-
tion he is King of. These meet him in
all general Councils and Debates, con-
cerning War, Peace, Trade, Hunting
and all the Adventures and Accidents
of Humane Affairs, which appear
within their Verge; where all affairs
are discoursed of and argued pro and
con, very deliberately, (without mak-
ing any manner of Parties or Divisions
for the Good of the Publick; for, as
they meet there to treat, they dis-
charge their duty with all the Integrity
imaginable, never looking towards
their own interest before the Publick
Good. After every Man has given his
Opinion, that which has most Voices,
or, in Summing up, is found most rea-
sonable, that they make use of with-
out any Jars and Wrangling, and put
it in Execution, the first Opportunity
that offers.

The Succession falls not to the
King’s Son, but to his Sister’s Son,
which is a sure Way to prevent Impos-
ters in the Succession. Sometimes they
Poison the Heir to make way for an-
other, wihch is not seldom done, when
they do not approve of.the Youth that
is to succeed them. The King himself
is commonly Chief Doctor in that Cure.

They are so well versed in Poison,
that they are often found to poison
whole families; nay, most of a town;
and which is most to be admired, they
will poison a running Spring, or Foun-
tain of Water, so that whosoever
drinks thereof, shall infallably die.
When the Offender is discovered, his
very Relations Urge for Death, whom
nothing will appease but the most cruel
Torture imaginable, which is executed
in the most Publick manner that is
possible to act such a Tragedy in. For
all the whole Nation, and all the In-
dians within a hundred Mile (if it is
possible to send for them), are sum-

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

moned to come and appear at such a
place and time, to see and rejoice at
the Torments and Death of such a
Person, who is the common and pro-
fess’d Enemy to all the friendly In-
dians thereabouts, who now lies under
the Condemnation of the whole Nation,
and accordingly is to be put to death.
Then all appear (Young and Old) from
all the adjacent Parts, and meet with
all the Expressions of Joy, to consum-
mate this Horrid and Barbarous Feast,
which is carried on after this Dismal
manner. First they bring the Prisoner
to the place that is appointed for his
Execution, where he is set down on
his Breech on the Ground. Then they
all get around him and you shall not
see one sorrowful or dejected Coun-
tenance amongst them, but all very
merrily disposed, as if some comedy
was to be acted, instead of a Tragedy.
He that is appointed to be the Chief
Executioner, takes a Knife and bids
him to hold out his Hands, which he
does, and then cuts around the Wrist
through the Skin, which is Drawn off
like a Glove, and flead quite off at the
Fingers Ends; then they break his
Joints and Bones and torment him af-
ter a very inhumane Manner, till some
Violent Blow perhaps ends his days;
then they burn him to Ashes and
throw them down the River. After-
wards they Eat, Drink and are Merry,
repeating all the Actions of the Tor-
mentors and the Prisoner, with a great
deal of mirth anda satisfaction. This
accusation is laid against an Indiau
Heroe sometimes wrongfully, or when
they wish to get rid of a Man that has
more Courage and Conduct than his
neighbouring Kings or Great Men;
then they allege the Practice of pois-
oning Indians against him, and make a
Rehearsal of every Indian that died for
a year or two, and say that they were
poisoned by such an Indian; which re-

II5

ports stir up all the Relations of the
deceased against the said Person, and
by such means make him away pres-
ently. In some Affairs, these Savages
are very reserv’d and politick, and will
attend a long time with a great deal
of Patience, to bring about their De-
signs; they being never impatient or
hasty in bringing about any of their
Designs of Revenge.

Now I am gone so far in giving an
account of the Indian’s Temper, I will
proceed; and can give you no other
character of them, but that they are a
very wary People, and are never hasty
or impatient. They will endure a great
many Misfortunes, Losses and Dissap-
pointments without shewing them-
Selves, in the least vex’d or uneasy.
When they go by Water, if there
proves a Head Wind, they never vex
and fret as the Europeans do, and Iet
what Misfortune come.to them, as wil
or can happen, they never relent. Be-
sides there is one Vice very common
everywhere, which I never found
amongst them, which is envying other
iaien’s Happiness, because their station
is not equal to, or above their Neigh-
bours. Of this Sin, I cannot say I ever
saw an Hxample, though they are a
People that set as great a Value upon
themselves, as any sort of Men in the
World; upon which account they find
something valuable in themselves
above Riches. Thus, he that is a good
Warriour, is the proudest Creature liv-
ing, and he that is an expert Hunter is
esteemed by the People and himself;
yet all these are Natural Vertues and
Gifts, and not Riches, which are as
often in possession of a Fool as a Wise
Man. Several of the Indians are pos-
sessed of a great many Skins, Wam-
pum, Ammunition and what other
things are esteemed riches amongst
them; yet such an Indian is no more
esteemed among them, than any other

116

ordinary Fellow, provided he has no
personal endowments, which are the
ornaments that must gain him an
esteem among them; for a great Dealer
amongst the Indians, is no otherwise
respected and esteemed, than as a Man
that strains his Wits, and fatigues
himself, to furnish others with the
Necessaries of life, that live much
easier and enjoy more of the World,
than he himself does with all his relf.

If they are taken Captives, and ex-
pect a Miserable exit they Sing; if
Death approaches them in Sickness

they are not afraid of it, nor are any
heard to say, Grant me some _ time.
They know by instinct and daily ex-
ample that. they must die, wherefore
they have that great and noble Gift to
submit to everything that happens,
and value nothing that attacks them.

Their Cruely to their Prisoners cf
War is what they are seemingly Guilty
of an Error in, (I mean as to a natural
Failing) because they strive to invent
the most inhumane Butcheries for
them, that the Devils themselves could
invent, or hammer out of Hell, they
esteeming Death no punishment, but
rather an Advantage to him, that is ex-
ported out of this into another world.
Therefore they inflict on them Tor-
ments, wherein they prolong life in
that Miserable state as long as they
can, and never miss skulping of them,
as they call it, which is to cut off the
Skin from the Temples, and taking the
whole Head of Hair with it, as if it
were a Night-Cap. Sometimes they
take the top of the Head along with
it, all which they preserve and care-
fully keep by them, for a Trophy of
their Conquest over their Enemies.
Others keep their Enemies’ Teeth,
which are taken in War, while others
split the Pitch-Pine into Splinters, and
stick them into the Prisoner’s Body yet
alive. Thus they light them, which

LAWSON’S HISTORY

burn like so many torches; and in this
manner they make him dance around 2
great Fire, every one buffeting and de-
riding him, till he expires, when every
one strives to get a bone or some relic
of this unfortunate Captive. One of
the Young Fellows that has been at
the Wars, and has had the fortune to
take a Captive, returns the Proudest
Creature on the Earth, and sets such
a Value on Himself that he knows
not how to retain his Senses. The
Iroquois, or Sinnagars, are the most
War-like Indians that we know of, be-
ing always at War and not to be per-
suaded from that Way of living by any
Argument that can be used. If you go
to persuade them to live peaceably
with the Tuskeruros, and let them be
one People, in case those Indians
desire it and will submit to them, they
will answer you, that they cannot live
without War, which they have been
ever used to; and that if Peace be
made with the Indians they now war
withal, they must find out some others
to Wage War against; for, for them to
live in Peace is to live out of their
element, War, Conquest and Murder
being what they delight in, and value
themselves for. When they take a
Slave, and intend to keep him to work
in their Fields, they cut the Skin from
the setting of his Toes to the middle
of his Foot, so cut off one-half of his
Feet, wrapping the Skin over the
Wounds and healing them. By this
cruel Method the Indian Captive is
hindered from making his escape, for
he can neither run fast nor go any-
where, but his Feet are more easily
traced and _ discovered. Yet I know
one Man who made his escape from
them, tho’ they had thus disabled him,
as you will see in my Journal.

The Indians ground their Wars on
Enmitv, not on Interest, as the Euro-
peans do; for the Loss of the Meanest

OF NORTH

person in the Nation they wil go to
Wiar and lay all at Stake, and Prose-
cute their design to the utmost: till
the Nation they were injured by, be
wholly Destroyed or make them that
Satisfaction which they demand. They
are very Politick in Waging and carry-
ing on their Wars, first by advising
with all the ancient Men of Conduct
and Reason, that belong to their Na-
tion, such as superannuated War-Cap-
tains, and those that have been Coun-
sellors for many years, and whose ad-
vice has commonly succeeded very
well. They have likewise their Field
Counsellors, who are accustomed to
Amibuscades, and Surprises, which
Methods are commonly used by ths
Savages, for I searce ever heard of a
field battle fought amongst them.

One of their expeditions afforded an
Instance, worthy of Mention, which
was thus: Two Nations of Indians
here in Carolina were at War with
each other, and a Party of each were

in the Forest, ranging to see what
Enemies they could take. ‘The lesser
Number found they were discovered,

and could not well get over a River

(that lay betwixt them and their
home) without engaging the other
Piarty, whose number was much the
greater; so they called a Counci,

which met, and having weighed their
Present Circumstances with a great
deal of Argument and Debate, for a
considerable time, and found their en-
emies’ Advantage and thiat they coud
expect no Success in Engaging such an
unequal number, they at last conc.ud-
ed on this Stratagem, which, in my
opinion, carried a great deal of Pol-
icy with it. It was, that the same
Night, they should make a great Fire,
which they were certain would be Dis-
covered by the adverse Party, and
then dress up logs of Wood in their
Cioaths, and make them exactly seem
like Indians, that were asleep by the

CAROLINA. Eng
Fireside; (which is their way when in
the Woods) so, said they, our Enemies
will fire upon these Imlages, supposing
them to be us, who will lie in Ambus-
cade, and, after their Guns are un-
loaded, shall deal well enough with
them. This result was immediately put
in Execution, and the fire was made by
the Side of a Valley, where they lay
perdu very advantageously. Thus, a
little before break of day, (which is
commonly the Hour they surprise their
Enemies) the Indians came down to
their Fire and at once fired in uvon
those Logs in the Indians’ Cloaths,
and run up to them, expecting they
had killed. every Man dead; but they
found themselves mistaken, for then
the other Indians, who had lin all the
night stark naked in the Bottom, at-
tacked them with their Loaded Pieces,
which so Surprised them that every
man was taken Prisoner and brought
in bound to their Town.

Another Instance was ‘betwixt the
Machapunga Indians, and the Cora-
nines, on the Sand-Banks; which was
as follows: The Machapungas ‘were in-
vited to a Feast by the Coranines;
(which two Nations had been a long
time at War together, but had latelv
concluded a Peace) Thereupon, the
Machapunga Indians took the advan-
tage of coming to the Coranine’s Feast,
which was to avoid all suspicion, and
their King, who, of a Savage, is a
great Politician and very stout, order-
ed all the Men to carry their Tom.2-
hauks along with them, hidden under
their Match Coats; which they did,
and being acquaiuted when to fall on,
by the Word given, they ‘all (upon
this design) set forward for the Feast,
and came to the Coranine town, where
they had gotten Victuals, Fruit and
such things as make an Indian Enter-
tainment, all ready to make these new
Friends welcome, which they did, and
after Dinner, towards the Evening, (as

118 LAWSON’S
it is customary amongst them) they
went to dancing, altogether; so when
the Machapunga King saw the best
opportunity to offer, he gave the Word
and their Men pulled their Tomahauks
from under the Match Ccats and kill-
ed several and took the rest Prisoners,
except some few that were not pres-
ent and four or five that escaped. The
Prisoners they sold as Slaves to the
English. At the time this was cone,
those Indians had nothing but bows
and Arrows, neither side having Guns.

The Indians are very Revengeful,
and never forget an Injury done, till
they have received Satisfaction. Yet
they are the freest People from Heats
and Passions (which possess the Eu-
ropeans) of any I ever heard of. They
never call any Man to an account of
what he did when he was Drunk: but
say it was the Drink that caused his
misbehaviour; therefore he ought to be
forgiven. They never frequent a Chris-
tian’s House that is given to Passion,
nor will they ever buy or sell with
him, if they can get the same Commo-
dities of any other Person; they say
such Men are Mad Wolves and no more
Men.

Thev know not what Jealousy is, be-
cause they never think their Wives are
Inconstant, unless they are HEye-wit-
nesses thereof, They are generally very
bashful, especially the young Maids,
who when they come into a _ strange
Cabin, where they are not acqnainted,
never ask for lanything, though never
so hungry or thirsty, but sit down
wi hout speaking a word (be it ever so
loi g) till some of the House asks them
a question. or falls into Discourse,
with the Stranger. I never saw a Scold
amongst them, and to their Children
they are extraordinary tender and in-
dulgent. Neither did I ever see a
Parent correct a Child, excepting one
Woman Who was the Kings Wife,
and she, indeed, did possess a temper

HISTORY

that is not commonly found amongst
them. They are free from all manner
of Compliments, except shaking of
Hands, and Scratching on the Shoul-
der, which two are the greatest marks
of friendship, that can be shewed one
to another. They cannot express fare
you well, but when they leave the
House will say, I go straightway,
which is to intimate their Denarture:
and if the Man of the House has any
Message to send by the gcing Man,
he may acquaint him therewith. Their
Tongues allow not to say, Sir, I am
your servant, because they have no
different titles for Man, cnly King,
War-Captain, Old Man or Young Man,
which respects the Stations and Cir-
cumstances Men are employed in, and
arrived to, and not Ceremony. As for
Servant, they have no such thins, ex-
cept Slave, and their Dogs, Cats, Tame
or Domestick Beasts, and Birds, are
called by the same Name; for the In-
dian Word for Slave includes them all.
So when an Indian telis you he has got
a Slave for you, it may (in general
Terms, as they use) be a young Hagle,
a Dog, Otter, or any other thing of
that nature, which is obseouiously to
depend on the Master for its Susten-
ance,

They are never fearful in the night,
nor do the thoughts of spirits trouble
them; such as the many Hobgoblins
and Buebears as that we suck in with
our milk, and the foolery of our Nursés
and Servants suggest to us; who, by
their idle Tales of Fairies and
Witches, Make impressions on our ten-
der Years, that at Maturity we carry
Pigmies’ Souls in Giant Bodies and
ever after are thereby so much Cepriy-
ed of reason, and Unmann’d, as never
to be Masters of half the Braverv Na-
ture designed for us.

Not but what the Indians have as
Many Lying Stories of Spirits and Con-
jurers as any people in the Werd;

OF NORTH

but they tell it with no disadvantage
to themselves; for the great esSieem
which the old Men bring themselves to
is by making the others believe their
Familiarity with Devils and Spirits
and how great a Correspondence they
have therewith, which if it once gains
eredit, they are ever after held in the
greatest Veneration, and 'whaiever
they after impose on the Pecple, is re-
ceived as Infallible. They are so littie
Startled at the thoughts of Another
World that they not seldom murder
Themselves, as for instance a Bear
River Indian, a very likely young Fel-
low. about 20 years of Age, whose
Mother was angry at his drinking ot
too much Rum, and chid him for it,
thereupon he replied he would have
her satisfied, and he would do the like
no more; upon which he made his
Words good, for he went aside and
shot himself dead. This was a son of
the Politick King of the Machapunga,
I spoke of before, and was the most
Cunning of any Indian I ever Met
withal.

Most of the Savages are much ad-
dicted to Drunkenness and Vice they
never were acquainted with, till the
Christians came amongst them. Some
of them refrain from drinking strong
liquors, but very few of that scrt are
found amongst them. Their chief
Liquor is Rum, without any mixture.
This the English bring amongst them,
and buy Skins, Furs, Slaves and cther
of their Commodities therewith. They
never are contented ‘with a little, but
when once begun, they must make
themselves quite drunk; otherwise
they will never rest, but sell all they
have in the Wor!d, rather than noft
have their full dose. In these drunken
F'rolics, which are always carried on iv
the Night, they sometimes murder one
another, fall into the Fire, fall down
Precipices, and break their Necks.
with several other Misfcrtunes which

CAROLINA. I1g
this drinking of Rum brings upen
them; and tho’ they are sensible of it,
yet they have no Power to refrain from
this Hnemy. About five years ago,
when Landgrave Daniel was Gover-
nour, he summoned all the Indian
Kings and Rulers to Meet, and in a
full meeting of the Government and
Council with those Indians, they
agreed upon a firm Peace, and the In-
dian Rulers desired no Rum might be
sold them, which was granted and a
Law made, that inflicted a Penalty to
those that sold Rum to the Heathens;
but it was never sirictly cbserved, and
besides the young Indians were so d's-
gusted at that article, that they
threatened to kill the Indians that
made it. unless it was laid aside, and
they might have Rum sold them, when
they went to the Englishmen’s houses
to buy it.

Some of the heathens are £0 verv
poor that they have ne manner of
Cloaths, save a Wad of Moss to hide

their Nakedness. They are either
lusty and will not work; otherwise
they are giving to Gaming and

Drunkenness, yet these get Victuals
as well of the rest, because that is
common amongst them. If they are
caught in Theft, they are slaves until
they repay the Person (as I mentioned
before) but to steal from the Enelish
they reckon no harm. Not but that I
have known some few Savages that
have been as free from theft as any
of the Christians. When they have a
desire to lie with a Woman, which they
cannot obtain any otherwise than by
a larger reward than they are able to
give, then they strive to make her
drunk, which a great many of them
will be, then they take the advantage
to do with them what they please, and
sometimes in their Drunkenness cut off
their Hair and sell it to the English,
which is the greatest affront that can
be offered them. They never value

I20

time, for if they be going out to Hunt,
Fish, or any other indifferent Business
you may keep them in talk as long
as you please, so you but keep them
in Discourse, and seemed pleased with
their Company; yet none are more ex-
peditious and safer Messengers than
they, when any extraordinary Business
that they are sent about requires it.
When they are upon traveling the
Woods, they keep a_ constant Pace,
neither will they stride over ‘a treo
that lies across the Path, but always
go round it, which is quite contrary to
the custom of the English and other
Europeans. When they cut with a
Knife, the edge is toward them, where-
as we always cut and whittle from us.
Nor did I ever see one of them left-
handed. Before the Christians came
amongst them, not knowing the use of
Steel and Flints, they got their fire
with Sticks, which by vehement colli-
sion, or Rubbing together, take Fire.
This method they will sometimes prac-
tise now, when it has happened thro’
rainy weather, or some other accident,
that they have wet their spunk, which
is a sort of soft, corky substance, gen-
erally of a Cinnamon Colour, and
erows in the Concave part of an Oak,
Hiccory, and several other Woods, be-
ing dug out with an Ax, and always
kept by the Indians, instead of Tinder
or Touch-Wood, both which it ex-
ceeds. You are to understand that the
two sticks which they use to strike fire
Withal, are never of one sort of Wood,
but always differ from each other.
They are expert Travellers, and tho’
they have not use of our artificial Com-
pass, yet they understand the North
Point exactly. let them be in never so
great a wilderness. One Guide is a
Short Moss, that grows upon some
trees, exactly on the north side thereof.
Besides they have niames for eight of
the thirty-two points; and call the
Winds by their Several Names, as we

LAWSON’S HISTORY

do, but indeed more properly, for the
North-Wind is called the Cold Wind;
the Northeast the Wet Wind; the
South the Warm Wind; and so agree-
ably to the rest. Sometimes it happens,
that they have a large River or Liake
to pass over, and the Weather is very
foggy, as it often happens in the
Spring and fall of the Leaf, so that
they cannot see which course to steer.
In such Case thev, being on one side
of the River, or Lake, know well
enough what Course such a Piace,
(which they intend for) bears from
them. Therefore they get a great many
sticks and chunks of wood, in their
Canoe, and then set off directly for
their Port, and now and then throw
over a Piece of Wood, which direcis
them by seeing how the stick ‘bears
from theCanoe stern, which they al-
ways observe to keep right aft; and
this is the Indian compass by which
they will go over a broad Water of ten
or twenty Leagues wide. They will
find the head of any River, though it
is five or six hundred miles off, and
they were never there in their lives
before: as is often proved by their ap-
pointing to meet on the Head of such
a River, where perhaps none of them
ever was before, but where they shall
rendezvous exactly at the prefixed
time, and if they meet with any ob-
struction, they shall leave certain
marks in the way, where they that
come after will understand how many
have passed by already, and which
way they have gone. Besides, in their
Wiar expeditions they have very cer-
tain Hieroglyphicks, whereby each
party informs the other of the success
or Losses they have met withal; all
of which is so exactly performed by
their Sylvan Marks and Characters
that they are never at a loss to un-
derstand one another. Yet there was
never found any letters among. the
Savages of Carolina; nor, I ‘believe,

OF NORTH

among any other natives of America,
that were possessed of any Manner of
Writing or Learning, throughout all
the Discoveries of the New World.
They will draw Maps very exactly of
all the Rivers, Towns, Mountains, and
Roads, or what you shall inquire of
them, which you may draw by their
Directions and come to a small Matter
of Latitude, reckoning ‘by their day’s
Journeys. These maps they wil draw
in the Ashes of the Fire, and some-
times upon a Mat or piece of Bark. I
have put a Pen and Ink into a Sav-
age’s Hand, and he has drawn the Riv-
ers, Bays and other parts of the Coun-
try, which afterwards I have found to
agree with a great deal of Nicety. But
you must be very much in their fav-
our, otherwise they will never minke
these Discoveries to you, especially Jif
it be in their own Quarters. And as for
Mines of Silver and other Metal. we
are Satisfied we have enow, and those
very rich, in Carolina, and its adja-
cent Parts: some of which the Indians
are acquainted withal, although no in-
quiries thereof are made, but what
came and were discovered by Chance,
yet thev say, it is this metal that the
English covet, as they do their Peak
and Ronoak, and that we have gained
Ground for them wherever we have
come. Now, say they, if we should
discover these Minerals to the English,
they would settle at or near these
Mountains. and bereave us of the best
Hunting Quarters we have, as they
have already done where¢ver they
have inhabited; so by that means we
shall be driven into some unknown
country, to live, hunt, and get our
bread in. These are the reasons that
the Savages give, for not making
known what they are acquainted with-
al, of that Nature. And, indeed, all
Men that have ever gone upon those
Discoveries, allow them to be good;
more especially my ingenious Friend,

CAROLINA. I2I
Mr. Francis Louis Mitchell, of Bern,
in Switzerland, who has been for sev-
eral years, very indefatigable and
strict in his discoveries amongst those
vast Ledges of Mountains, and spa-
cious Tracts of Land, lying towards
the Heads of the Great Bays and Riv-
ers of Virginia and Maryland, and
Pennsylvania, where he has discovered
a spacious Country inhabited by none
but the Savages, and not many of
them; who yet are of a very friendlv
nature to the Christians. This Gen-
tleman has been employed by the Can-
ton of Bern, to find out a _ tract of
Land in the English America, where
that Republick might settle some of
their People, which Proposal, I believe,
is now in a fair way toward a Conclu-
sion. between Her Majesty of Great
Britain and that Canton. Which
must needs be of a great advantage
to us both, and as for ourselves, I be-
lieve, no Man that is in his Wits, and
understands the Situation and affairs
in America, but will allow, nothings
can be of more security, and advan-
tage to the Crown and Subjects of
Great Britain, than to have our Fron-
tiers secured by a War-Like People,
and our Friends, as the Switzers are;
especially ,when we have more Indiaus
than we can civilize, and so many
Christian enemies lying on the back of
us. that we do not know how long or
short a time it be before they mav
visit us. Add to these, the Effects and
Products that may be expected from
those Mountains, which may hereat-
ter prove of great advantage to the
British Monarchy, and none more fit
than an industrious people, bred in a
Mountainous Country, and inur’d to
all the Fatigues of War and Travel,
to improve a Country. Thus we have
no room to doubt, but as soon as any
of these Parts are seated by the Switz-
ers, a great many Britains wil strive
to live amongst them, for the benefit

122 ILLAWSON’S
of the sweet air and healihful Climate
which that country affords, were it
only for the cultivation of Hemp, Flax,
Wine and other valuable Staples,
which those People are ful’y acquaint-
ed withal; not to mention the advan-
tages already discovered by that
worthy gentleman I just now spcke of,
who is highly deserving of the con-
duct and Management of such an af-
fair, as that Wise Canton has en-
trusted him withal.

When these Savages go a hunting,
they commonly go out in great Num-
bers, and oftentimes a great many
days journey from home, beginning
at the coming in of Winter; that is
when the Leaves are fallen from the
Trees, and are becoming Dry. ’Tis
then they burn the Woods, by set-
ting fire on the Leaves, and wither’d
Bent and Grass, which they do with
a Match made of the Black Moss that
hangs on the Trees in Carolina, and
is sometimes above six foot long.
This, when dead, becomes black, (tho’
of an Ash-Colour before) and will then
hold fire as well as the best match
we have in Hurope. In Places where
this Moss is not found, (as towards
the Mountains) they make Lintels of
the Bark of Cypress beaten, which
serves as well. Thus they go and fire
the Woods for Many Miles, and drive
the Deer and other Game into small
Necks of Land and Isthmus’s, where
they kill and destroy what they please.
In these Hunting-Quarters they have
their Wives and Ladies of the Camp,
where they Eat all the Fruits and
Dainties of that Country and live in
all the Mirth and Jollity, which is
Possible for such People to enter-
tain themselves withal. Here it is that
they get their Complement of Deer-
Skins and Furs to trade with the
English, (the Deer Skins being in Sea-
son in Winter, which is contrary to
England.) All small game, as Turkies,

HISTORY

Ducks and small Vermine, they com-
monly kill with bow and arrow, think-
ing it not worthy throwing Powder
and Shot after them. Of Turkies they
have abundance, especially in Oak-
Land, as most of it is that lies any
distance backwards. I have been of-
ten in their Hunting-Quarters, where
a roasted or barbakued Turkey, eaten
with Bear’s Fat, is held a good Dish;
and indeed I approve of it very well;
for the Bear’s Greese is the sweetest
and least offensive to the stomach (as
I said before) of any Fat of animals
I ever tasted. The Savage Men never
beat their corn to make bread; but
that is the Woman’s work, especially
the Girls, of whom you shall see four
beating with long great pestils in a
narrow wooden mortar; and every one
keeps her stroke so exactly, that ’tis
worthy of admiration. Their Cookery
continues from Morning until Night.
The Hunting makes them Hungry and
the Indians are a People that eat
very often, not seldom getting up
at midnight to eat. They Plant a
great many sorts of Pulse, part of
which they keep green in Summer,
keeping great quantities of their Win-
ter store, which they carry along with
them into the Hunting-Quarters, and
eat them.

At their setting out, they have
Indians to attend their Hunting
Camp, that are not good and expert
Hunters; therefore are employ’d to
carry burdens, to get Bark for the Cab-
ins and other servile work; also to
go backward and forward to _ their
Towns, to carry News to the old Peo-
ple, whom they leave behind them. The
Women are forced to carry their Loads
of Grain and other Provisions, and
get Fire-Wood; for a good Hunter or
Warrior in these expeditions, is em-
ploy’d in no other business than the
Affairs of Game and Battle. The Wild
Fruits, which are dry’d in Summer

OF NORTH CAROLINA,

over Fires, on Hurdles and in the
Sun, are now brought into the Field;
as are likewise the Cakes and Quid-
donies of Peaches, and that Fruit and
Bilberries dry’d, of which they stew
and make Fruit, Bread and Cakes. In
some parts where Pigeons are penti-
ful, they get of their Fat enough to
supply their Winter Stores. Thus they
abide in these quarters all the Winter
long, till the time approach for plant-
ing their Maiz and other fruits. In
these quarters at spare hours the Wo-
men make Baskets and Mats to lie
upon, and those that are not extra-
ordinary Hunters, make Bowls, Dish-
es and spoons of Gum-Wood, and the
Tulip-Tree, others (where they find a
vein of White Clay fit for that pur-
pose) make Tobacco-Pipes, all which
are often transported to other Indians
that have perhaps greater Plenty of
Deer and other Game; so they buy,
(with these Manufactures) their Raw-
Hides with the Hair on, which our
neighbouring Indians bring to their
Towns, and, in the summertime make
the Slaves and sorry Hunters dress
them, the Winter Sun being not strong
enough to dry them; and those that
are dry’d in the Cabins are black and
nasty with the Light-Wood Smoke,
which they commonly burn. Their
way of dressing their Skins is by
soaking them in Water, so they get
the Hair off with an Instrument made
of the Bone of a Deer’s Foot; yet
some use a Sort of Iron Drawing Knife,
which they purchase of the English,
and after the Hair is off they dissolve
Bear’s Brains, (which before-hand are
made in a Cake and baked in the
Embers) in a Bowl of Water, so soak
the Skins therein, till the Brains have
sucked up the Water; then they dry
it gently and keep working it with an
Oyster Shell, or some such thing, to
scrape withal, till it is dry; whereby
it becomes soft and pliable. Yet those

123

so dress’d will not endure wet, but
becomes hard thereby; which to pre-
vent they either cure them in Smoke,
or tan them with Bark, as before ob-
served; not but that the young Indian
Corn, beaten to a Pulp, will effect the
same as the Brains. They are not
only good Hunters of the Wild Beasts
and Game of the Forest, but very
expert in taking Fish of the Waters
and Rivers near which they inhabit,
and are acquainted withal. Thus they
that live a great way up the Rivers
practise striking Sturgeon and Rock-
Fish, or Bass, when they come up
the Rivers to spawn; besides the vast
shoals of Sturgeon which they kill
and take with Snares, as we do Pike
in Europe. The Herrings in March
and April run a great way up the
Rivers and fresh Streams to spawn,
where the Savages make great Wares,
with Hedges, and hinder their passage
only in the Middle, where an artificial
Pond is made to take them in; so that
they cannot return. This method is in
use all over the fresh Streams, to catch
Trout and the other species of Fish
which those streams afford. Their tak-
ing of Craw-Fish is so pleasant that
I cannot pass it without mention:
When they have a mind to get these
Shell-Fish, they take a piece of Veni-
son, and half barbakue or roast it;
then they cut it into thin Slices, which
slices they stick through with reeds
about six inches asunder, betwixt piece
and piece; then the Reeds are made
sharp at one end; and so they stick
a great many of them down in the
Water (thus baited) in the small
Brooks and Runs, which the Craw-
Fish frequent. Thus the Indians sit
by and tend those baited Sticks, every
now and then taking them up to see
how many are at the bait; where they
generally find abundance, so take them
off and put them in a Basket for the
purpose, and stick the reeds down

124

again. By this Method, they will, in
a little time, catch several bushels,
which are as good as any I ever eat.
Those Indians that frequent the Salt-
Waters, take abundance of Fish, some
very large, and of several sorts, which
to preserve, they first barbakue them,
then pull the Fish to pieces, so dry it
in the Sun, whereby it keeps for
Transportation; as for Scates, Oysters,
Cockles, and several sorts of Shell-Fish
they open and dry them upon Hur-
dles, having a constant fire under
them. The Hurdles are made of Reeds
or Canes, in the shape of a Gridiron.
Thus they dry several Bushels of these
Fish, and keep them for their Necessi-
ties. At the time when they are on
the Salts, and Sea-Coast, they have
another Fishery, that is for a little
Shell-Fish, which those in England call
Blackmoors Teeth. These they catch
by tying Bits of Oysters to a long
String, which they lay in such places
as they know those Shell-Fish haunt.
These Fish get hold of the Oysters
and suck them in, so that they pull
up those long strings and take great
Quantities of them, which they carry
a great way into the Main-Land, to
trade with the remote Indians, where
they are of great value; but never
near the Sea, where they are common;
therefore not esteemed. Besides the
Youth and Indian Boys go in the
night, and one holding a Light-Wood
torch, the other has a Bow and Ar-
row, and the fire directing him to see
the Fish, he shoots them with the
Arrows; and thus they kill a great
many of the smaller Fry and some-
times pretty large Ones. It is an es-
tablished Custom amongst all these
Natives that the young Hunter never
eats of that Buck, Bear, Fish or any
other game, which happens to be the
first they kill of that sort; because
they believe if they eat thereof, they

would never thereafter be for-

LAWSON’S HISTORY

tunate in Hunting. The like fool-
ish ceremony they hold, when they
have made a Ware to catch these fish
withal; if a big belly’d Woman eat
of the first fish that is caught in it,
they say that Ware will never take
much Fish; and as for killing of
Snakes, they avoid it, if they lie in
their Way, because their opinion is
that some of the Serpents Kindred
would kill some of the Savages Rela-
tions that should destroy him. They
have thousands of these foolish Cere-
monies and Beliefs which they are
strict observers of. Moreover several
Customs are found in some Families,
which others keep not; as for example
two families of the Machapunga In-
dians, use the Jewish customs of Cir-
cumcision, and the rest do not; neither
did I ever know any others amongst
the Indians that practis’d any such
thing; and perhaps, if you ask them,
what is the reason they do so, they
will make you no manner of Answer;
which is so much as to say, I will
not tell you. Many other Customs
they have for which they will render
no reason or Account; and to pretend
to give a true Description of their Re-
ligion, it is impossible, for there are
a great many of their Absurdities,
which, for some reason, they reserve
as a secret amongst themselves; or
otherwise they are jealous of their
Weakness in the practising of them;
so that they never acquaint any Chris-
tians with the Knowledge thereof, let
Writers pretend what they will; for
I have known them amongst their
Idols and Dead Kings in their Quiogo-
zon for several Days, where I could
never get admittance, to see what
they were doing, though I was at great
friendship with the King and Great
Men; but all my Persuasions availed
me nothing. Neither were any but the
King, with the Conjurer, and some
old Men, in the House; as for the

OF NORTH CAROLINA,

young Men and chiefest Numbers of
the Indians, they were kept as Ignor-
ant of what the Elders were doing as
myself.

They all believe that this World is
round, and that there are two Spirits,
the Good and the Bad one; The Good
one they reckon to be the Author and
Maker of everything, and say that it
is he that gives them the Fruits of
the Earth, and taught them to Hunt,
Fish and be wise enough to over-
power the Beasts of the Wilderness
and all other Creatures, that they
may be assistant, and beneficial to
Man; to which they add that the
Quera or Good Spirit, has been very
kind to the Englishmen, to teach them
to make Guns and Ammunition, be-
sides a great many other Necessaries
that are helpful to man, all which they
say will be delivered to them when
the Good Spirit sees fit. They do not
believe that God punishes any Per-
son, either in this Life, or that to
come; but that he delights in doing
good, and in giving the Fruits of the
Earth, and in instructing us in mak-
ing several useful and ornamental
things. They say it is a bad Spirit
(who lives separate from the good one)
that torments us with Sicknesses, Dis-
appointments, Losses, Hunger, Travel,
and all the Misfortunes that Human
Life is incident to. How they are
treated in the next World I have al-
ready mentioned, and, as I said be-
fore, they are very resolute in dying,
when in the hands of Savage Ene-
mies; yet I saw one of their young
Men, a very likely Person, condemn’d
on a Sunday for killing a Negro, and
burning the House. I took good no-
tice of his behaviour when he was
brought out of the House to die,
which was the next Morning after
Sentence, but he changed his Counte-
nance with Trembling, and was in the
greatest Fear and Agony. I never saw

125

any Person under his Circumstances,
which perhaps might be occasioned by
his being delivered up by his own
Nation (which was the Tuskeruro’s)
and executed by us, that are not their
Common Enemies, though he met with
more favor than he would have re-
ceived at the Hands of the Savages;
for he was only hanged on a Tree,
near the place where the Murder was
committed; and the three Kings that
just the Day before showed such a
Reluctancy to deliver him up (but
would have given another in his
room) when he was Hanged, pulled
him by the Hand and said, Thou wilt
never play any raore Rogues Tricks
in this World; whither art thou gone
to shew thy Tricks now? Which shows
these Savages to be what they really
are, (viz) a People that will save their
own Men if they can, but if the Safety
of all the People lies at Stake, they
will deliver up the most innocent Per-
son living, and be so far from Con-
cern’d when they have made them-
selves easy thereby, that they will
laugh at their Misfortunes, and never
pity or think of them more.

The Priests are the Conjurers and
Doctors of the Nation. I shall men-
tion some of their Methods and Prac-
tises; and so leave them to the judg-
ment of the People. As I told you be-
for, the Priests make their Orations
at every Feast or other Great Meet-
ing of the Indians. I happened to be
at one of these great Meetings, which
was at the Funeral of one of these
Tuskeruro Indians, that was slain with
lightning at a Feast, the day before,
where I was amongst the rest. It was
in July and a very Fair Day, where
in the afternoon, about six or seven
a Clock, as they were dealing out their
Victuals, there appeared a little Black
Cloud to the Northwest, which spread
and brought with it Rain, Wind and
Lightning; so we went out from the

126

Place where we were all at Victuals,
and went down to the Cabins, where
I left the Indians and went to lie in
my Canoe, which was convenient
enough to keep me dry. The Light-
ning came so terrible, and down in
long streams, that I was afraid it
would have taken hold of a Barrel of
Powder I had in my Vessel, and so
blow me up; but it pleased God that
it did me no harm; yet the Violence
of the Storm had blown all the Water
away, where I rid at Anchor, so that
my Canoe lay dry, and some Indian
Women came with Torches in their
Hands to the side of the Canoe, and
told me an Indian was killed with
Lightning. The next day, (I think)
he was buried, and I stayed to see
the Ceremony, and was very tractable
to help the Indians to trim _ their
Reeds, and make the Coffin, which
pleased them very much, being be-
cause I had a Mind to see the Inter-
ment. Before he was interr’d accord-
ing to their Custom, they dealt every
one some hot Victuals, which he took
and did what he would with. Then
the Doctor began to talk and told the
people what Lightning was, and that
it kill’’d everything that dwelt upon
the Barth; nay the very Fishes did
not escape, for it often reach’d the Por-
poises and other Fish, and destroyed
them; that everything strove to shun
it except the Mice, who, he said were
the busiest in eating the Corn in their
Fields when it was lightning the Most.
He added that no Wood or Tree could
withstand it, except the Black Gum,
and that it would run around that
Tree a great many times, to enter
therein, but could not effect it. Now
you must understand, that sort of Gum
will not split or rive; therefore I sup-
pose the story must arise from thence.
At last he began to tell the most ri-
diculous absurd Parcel of Lyes about
Lightning that could be; as that an

LAWSON’S HISTORY

Indian of that Nation had once got
Lightning in the Likeness of a Part-
ridge; That no other Lightning could
harm him, whilst he had that about
him; and that after he had kept it
for several years it got away from
him; so that he then became as liable
to be struck as any other person.
There was present at the same time
an Indian that had liv’d from his
youth chiefly in an English house; so
I call’d him and told him what a
Parcel of Lyes the Conjurer told, not
doubting that he thought so as well
as I, but found to the contrary: For
he replied that I was much mistaken,
for that Old Man (who I believe was
upwards of an Hundred Years old) did
never tell Lyes; and, as for what
he said, it was very true, for he knew
it himself to be so. Thereupon, seeing
the Fellow’s Ignorance, I talked no
more about it. Then the Doctor pro-
ceeded to tell a long Tale of a Rattle-
Snake, which, a great while ago, lived
by a Creek in that River (which was
Neus) and that it kill’d abundance of
Indians, but last a Bald Eagle killed
it and they were rid of a Serpent
that used to devour Great Canoes full
of Indians, at a time. I have been
something tedious upon this subject, on
purpose to shew what strange ridicu-
lous stories these Wretches are inclina-
ble to believe. I suppose these Doctors
understand a liitle better themselves,
than to give credit to any such Fcol-
eries; for I reckon them amongst the
cunningest Knaves in all the Pack. I
will therefore begin with their Phys'ck
and Surgery, which is next. You must
knew that the Doctors or Conjurers, to
gain a greater Credit amongst these
People, tell them that all Distempe:s
are the effects of Evil Spirits, or the
Bad Spirit which has struck them with
this or that Malady; therefore none
of these Physicians underiakes any
Distemper, but that he comes, to an

OF NORTH
Exorcism, to effect the Cure, and ac-
quaints the sick pairty’s frends thit
he must converse wi‘h the God Sprit,
to know whether the patient will re-
cover or not; if so, then he will dr-ve
out the Bad Spirit, and the Patient will
become well. Now the general way of
their behaviour in curing the Sick, q@
great deal of which I have seen and
shall give some account thereof, in ag
brief a manner as possible) is, when
as Indian is Sick, if they think there
is much Danger of Life, and that he
is a great Man or hath good friends, the
Doctor is sent for. AS soon aS the
Doctor comes to the Cabin the s'ck Per-
son is sat on a Mat or Skin, stark-
naked, lying on his back. and all un-
eovered except some smal! trifle that
covers their Nakedness when r'p>.
otherwise, in very young Children, ther?
is nothing about them. In this man-
ner the Patient lies when the Corjurer
appears; and the King of that Naticn
comes to attend him ‘with a Rat'l>
made of a Gourd with Pease in it.
This the King delivers into the Doc-
tor’s hand, whilst another bvings a
Bowl of Water and sets it down: then
the Doctor begins and utters som: few
Words very softly: afterwar’s h:>
smells of the Patients Navel and Belly,
and sometimes scarifies him a littie
with a flint, or an instrument made
of rattlesnake’s skin for that purpose;
then he sucks the wounds and gets
a mouthful of Blood and Serum, but
Serum chiefly; which, may p>rhaps b>
a better Method in many cases, than
to take away great quantities of Blood,
as is commonly practised, which he
spits into the Bowl of Water. Then he
begins to mutter and talk a space, and
at last to cut Capers and clap h‘s hands
on his breech and sides, so that he
gets into a sweat, so that a Stranzer
would think he was running Mad; now
and then sucking the Patient, and so,
at times, keeps sucking till he has got

CAROLINA. 127
a great quantity of il-coloured matter
out of the Belly, Arms, Breast, Fove-
head, Temples, Neck and mcst paris,
still continuing his Grimaces, and an-
tick postures, which are not to be
matched in Bedlam. At last you will
see the Doctor all over a dropping
Sweat and scarce able to utter one
Word, having quite spent himself; then

_ he will cease for a while and so begin

again, till he comes in the same Pitch
of Raving and Seeming Madness, as b2-
fore (all this time the sick Body never
so much as moves, though doubtless
the Lancing and Sucking must b> a
great punishment to them; but they
certainly are the patientiest and most
steady people under any Burden that
I have ever saw in all my Life.) At
last the Conjurer makes an end and
tells the Patient’s Friends, whether the
Person will Live or Die, and then one
that waits at this ceremony takes the
blood away (which remains in a Lump
in the middle of the Water) and buries
it. Now, I believe a great deal of im-
posture in these fellows; though 1
have never seen their judgment fai'!,
and I have seen them give their ap’n-
ion after this Manner several times:
Some affirm that there is a smell of
Brimstone in the Cabins when they are
Conjuring, which I cannot contradict.
Which way it may come, I will not ar-
gue, but proceed to a relztion or two
which I have from a great m2ny pe--
sons, and some of them worthy of
credit.

The first is of a certain Indian that
one rainy night undermined a House
made of Logs (such as the Swedes in
America very often make, and are very
strong) which belonged to Seth South-
well, E'sq., Governor of North Carolina,
and one of the Proprietors. There was
but one place the Indian could get in
at and that was very narrow; the rest
was secured by having barrels of Pork
and other provisions set against the

128

side of the house, so that if this Indian
had not exactly hit the place he under-
mined, it would have been impossible
for him to have got therein, because of
the full barrels that stood around the
house, and barricaded it within. The
Indian stole 60 or 80 dressed deers
skins, besides Blankets, Powder, Shot
and Rum, (this being the Indian store-
house where the Trading Goods were
kept.) Now the Indian had made his
escape, but dropped some of his goods
by the way, and they tracked his foot-
steps and found him to be an Indian,
then they guessed who it was, because
none but that Indian had lately been
near the house. Thereupon the Govern-
or sent to the Indian town that he be-
longed, to which was the Tuskeruros,
and acquainted them that if they did
not deliver up the Indian who had
committed the Robbery, he would take
a course with them that would not be
very agreeable. Upon, this, the In-
dians in the town he belonged to,
brought him in, bound, and delivered
him up to the Governor, who laid him
in Irons. At the same time it happen-
ed that a Robbery was committed
among themselves, at the Indian Town,
and their prisoner was one of their
Conjurors; so the Indians came down
to the Governor’s house and acquaint-
ed him what had happened amongst
them, and that a great quantity of
Peak was stolen away out of one of
the cabins, and no one could find out
the thief, unless he let the Prisoner
conjure for it, who was the only man
they had at making such discoveries.
The Governor was content he should
try his skill for them, but not to have
the Prisoner’s Irons taken off, which
was very well approved of. ‘The In-
dian was brought out in his fetters,
where were the Governor’s Family,
and several others of the Neighborhood,

LAWSON’S HISTORY

now living, to see this
Which he performed thus:
The Conjuror ordered three fires to
be made, in a Triangular Form, which
Was accordingly done, then he was
hood-winked very securely with a
dressed deer-skin, two or three doubles
over his face. After he had made some
motions, as they always do, he went
directly out of one of the three Gaps,
as exactly as if he had not been blind-
folded, and kept muttering to himself,
having a stick in his hand, with which
after some time, he struck two strokes
very hard upon the ground, and made
thereon a Cross, after which he told
the Indian’s name that had stolen the
goods, and said that he would have a
Cross on his back; which proved true;
for when they took and. searched him,
there appeared two great Wheals on
his back, one across the other; for the
thief was at Governor Southwell’s
house, and was under no apprehension
of being discovered. The Indians prof-
fered to sell him’ as @ slave to the
Governor but he refused to buy him,
so they took him bound away.
Another instance of the like Nature
happened at the same House. One of
the Tuskeruro Kings had brought in a
slave to the same Governor, to
whom he had sold him‘ and be-
fore he returned fell sick at the
Governor’s House; upon which
the Doctor that belong’d to this
King’s Nation, was sent for, being a
Man that was held to be the greatest
Conjuror amongst them. It was three
days before he could arrive, and he ap-
peared (when he came) to be a very
little Man, and so old that his hair was
as white aS ever was seen. When he
approached the sick King he ordered a
bowl of Water to be brought him,
and three Chunks of Wood, which was
immediately done. Then the took the

experiment;

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Water and set it by him, and spurted
a little on him, and with the three
pieces of Wood he made a Place to
stand on, whereby he was raised high-
er; (he being a very low-statured Man)
then he took a String of Ronoak, which
is the same as a small string of beads;
this he held by one end between his
fingers; the other end touched the
King’s Stomach, as he stood on
the Logs. Then he began to talk
and at length the by-standers
throught really, that they had
heard somebody talk to them, but saw
no more than what first came in. At
last, this String of Beads which hung
thus perpendicular, turn’d up as an
Eel would do, and without any motion
of his they came all up (in a lump)
under his Hand, and hung so for a con-
siderable time, he never closing his
Hand, and at length returned to their
pristine Length and Shape, at which
the spectators were much frightened.
Then he told the Company that he
would recover, and that his distemper
would remove into his Leg, all which
happened to be exactly as the Indian
Doctor had told. These are Matters of
Fact, and I can, at this day, prove the
truth thereof by several substantial
Evidences, that are Men of Reputation,
there being more than a dozen present
when it was performed; most of whom
are now alive.

There are a great many other Stories,
of this Nature, which are seemingly
true, being told by persons that af-
firm that they were eye-witnesses
thereof; as, that they have seen one
Roncommock, (a Chuwon Indian and
a great Conjuror) take a reed about
two foot long in his mouth, and stand
by a Creek-Side, where he called twice
or thrice with the Reed in his mouth,
and at last, has opened his Arms and
fleed over the Creek, which might be
near a quarter of a Mile wide or more;

129

but I shall urge no Man’s belief, but
tell my own, which is: that I believe
the two first accounts, which were
acted at Mr. Southwell’s Plantation, as
firmly as any Man can believe any
thing of that which is told him by
honest Men, and he has not seen; not
at all doubting the credit of my Au-
thors.

The Cures that I have seen performed
by the Indians are too many to relate
here. So I shall only mention some
few and their methods. They cure
Ceald-Head infallibly and never miss.
Their Chief Remedy, that I have seen
them make use of, is, the Oil of Acorns,
eut from which sort of Oak, I am not
certain. They cure Burns beyond credit.
I have seen a Man burnt in such a
manner (when drunk) by falling into
a fire, that I did not think he would
ever recover, yet they cured him in ten
days so that he went about. I knew
another blown up with Powder and
they cured him to admiration. I never
saw an Indian have an Ulcer or foul
Wound in my life; neither is there any
such thing to be found amongst them.
They cure the Pox by a berry, that
salivates as Mercury does; yet they use
Sweating and Decoctions very much
with it; as they do almost on every
occasion; and when they are thorough-
ly heated they leap in the Water. The
Pox is frequent in some of these Na-
tions; amongst which I knew one Wo-
man to die of it; and they could not,
or would not cure her. Before she died
she was worn away to a skeleton, yet
she walked up and down to the last.
We had a planter in Carolina who had
got an Ulcer in his Leg, which had
troubled him a great many years; at
last he applied himself to one of these
Indian Conjurors, who was a Pampti-
cough Indian, and was to give the val-
ue of fifteen shillings for the cure.
Now, I am not positive whether he

130

washed the Ulcer with anything, be-
fore he used what I am now going to
speak of; which was nothing but the
rotten doated Grains of Indian Corn,
beaten to a Powder and the soft down
growing on a Turkey’s Rump. This
dried up the Ulcer immediately, and no
Fontanel was made to discharge the
matter, he remaining a healthful Man
until the time he had the Misfortune
to be drowned, which was many years
after. Another instance, (not of my
knowledge, but I had it confirmed by
several dwellers in Maryland, where it
was done, was of an honest Planter,
that had been possessed with a strange
lingering Distemper, not usualamongst
them, under which he emaciated, and
grew every month worse than another,
it having held him several years, in
which he had made Tryal of several
Doctors, as they call them, which, I
suppose, were ship-surgeons. In the
beginning of this distemper the patient
was very well to pass, and was pos-
sessed of several slaves, which the
Doctors purged all away and the Poor
Man was so far from mending that he
grew worse and worse every day. But
it happened that one day as his Wife
and he were commiserating his miser-
able Condition, and that he could not
expect to recover, but looked for Death
very speedily, and condoling the Misery
he should leave his Wife and Family
in, since all his Negroes were gone. At
that time, I say, it happened, that an
Indian was in the same room, who had
frequented the House for many years
and so had become as one of the Fam-
ily, and would sometimes be at this
Planter’s house, and at other times
amongst the Indians.

This Savage, hearing what they talk-
ed of, and having a great Love for the
Sick Man, made this reply to what he
had heard. Brother, you have been a
long time sick; and, I know you have

LAWSON’S HISTORY

given away your Slaves to your Eng-
lish Doctors; what made you do so and
now become poor? They do not know
how to cure you; for it is an Indian
Distemper, which your People know
not the Nature of. If it had been an
English disease probably they would
have cured you; and had you come to
me at first I would have cured you for
a small matter, without taking away
your Servants, that made Corn for you
and your Family to eat; and yet if
you will give me a blanket to keep me
warm, and some Powder and Shot to
kill Deer withal, I will do my best to
make you well still. The Man was low
in Courage and Pocket too, and made
the Indian this reply. Jack, my Dis-
temper is past cure, and if our English
Doctors cannot cure it, I am sure the
Indians cannot. But his wife accosted
her Husband in very mild terms, and
told him he did not know but that God
might be pleased to give a blessing to
that Indian’s undertaking, more than
he had done to the English; and
farther added if you die, I cannot be
much more miserable, by giving this
small matter to the Indian, so I pray
you my Dear, take my advise and try
him, to which by her persuasions he
consented. After the bargain was
concluded the Indian went into the
Woods, and brought in Herbs and
Roots, of which he made a Decoction,
and gave it to the Man to drink, and
bade him go to bed, saying it should
not be long before he came again,
which the patient performed as he was
ordered; and the potion he had ad-
ministered made him Sweat after the
most violent manner that could be,
whereby he smelt very offensive both
to himself and they that were about
him; but in the Evening, towards
Night, Jack came with a great Rattle-
Snake in his hand, alive, which
frightened the People almost out of

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

their senses; and he told his Patient
that he must take that to bed to him;
at which the Man was in a great Con-
sternation, and told the Indian he was
resolved to let no Snake come into his
Bed; for he might as well die of the
Distemper that he had as to be killed
by a bite of that Serpent. To which
the Indian replied that he could not
bite him now, nor do him any harm;
for he had taken out his Poison-Teeth,
and shewed him that they were gone.
At last, with much Persuasion, he ad-
mitted the Snake’s Company, which
the Indian put about his Middle, and
ordered no body to take him away ujp-
on any account, which was strictly ob-
served, although the Snake Girded him
as hard (for a great while) as if he had
been drawn in by a Belt, which one
pulled at with all his might. At last
the Snakes Twitches grew weaker and
weaker, till by degrees he felt him not;
and opening the Bed he was found
dead, and the Man thought himself
better. The Indian came in the morn-
ing and seeing the Snake dead, told the
Man that his Distemper was dead,
along with that Snake, which proved
so as he said, for the Man speedily re-
covered his Health, and became per-
fectly well.

They cure the Spleen (which they are
much addicted to), by burning with a
reed. They lay the Patient on his
Back, so put a hollow cane into the
fire, where they burn the End thereof
till it is very hot, and on Fire at the
end. Then they lav a niece of thin
leather on the Patient’s Belly, between
the Pit of the Stomach and the Navel,
so press the hot reed on the Leather,
which burns the Patient so that you
may ever after see the impression of
the Reed where it was laid on, which
mark never goes off so long as he lives.
This is used for the Bellyache some-

131

times. They can color their hair black,
tho’ sometimes it is reddish, which
they do with a seed of a Flower that
gZrows commonly on their Plantations.
I believe this would change tne rea-
dest Hair into perfect Black. They
make use of no Minerals in their
Physick, and not much of Animals; but
chiefly rely on Vegetables. ‘I‘hey have
several Remedies for the Tooth-ache,
which often drives away the Pain; but
if they fail, they have recourse to
punching out the Tooth, with a small
cane set against the same, on a bit of
Leather. Then they strike the Reea
and so drive out the Tooth; and how-
ever it may seem to the Europeans, I
prefer it before the common way of
drawing Teeth by those Instruments,
that endanger the Jaw and a Flux of
Blood often follows, which this Method
of Punching never is attended withal:
neither is it half the pain. The Spon-
taneous Plants of America the Savage
is well acquainted withal: and a Flux
of Blood never follows any of their
operations. They are wholly strang-
ers to Amputation, and for what nat-
ural issues of blood happen immedi-
ately, they are not to seek for a cer-
tain speedy cure. Tears, Rozins, and
Gums I have not discovered that they
make much use of; and as for the
Purging and Emeticks, so much in
fashion with us, they never apply
themselves to, unless in drinking vast
quantities of their Yaupon Tea, and
vomiting it up again, as clear as they
drink it. This is a custom amongst all
those that can produce that Plant, in
which manner they take it every morn-
ing or oftener; by which Method they
keep their Stomachs clean without
pricking the Coats. and straining Na-
ture, aS every Purge is an Enemy to.
Besides, the great Diuretick Quality of

132

their Tea carries off a great deal, that
perhaps might prejudice their Health
by Agues, and Fevers, which all Wa-
tery Countries are addicted to; for
which reason. I believe it is, that the
Indians are not so much addicted to
that Distemper, as we are, they pre-
venting its seizing upon them by this
Plant alone. Moreover I have _ re-
marked that it is only those Places
bordering on the Ocean and Great Riv-
ers, that this distemper is frequent in,
and only on and near the same places
this evergreen is to be found; and none
up towards the Mountains where this
Ague seldom or never appears, Nature
having provided suitable Remedies in
all Countries, proper for the Maladies
that are common thereto. The Sav-
ages of Carolina have this Tea in Ven-
eration, above all the Plants they are
acquainted withal, and tell you the dis-
covery thereof was by an infirm Indian,
that laboured under the Burden of
many rugged Distempers, and eould
not be cured by all their Doctors: so
one day he fell asleep and dreamt that
if he took a Decoction of the Tree that
grew at his Head he would certainly
be cured; upon which he awoke and
saw the Yaupon or Cassena Tree, which
was not there when he fell asleep. He
followed the directions of his dream
and became well in a short time. Now,
I suppose no Man has so little sense
as to believe this Fable, yet it lets us
see what they intend thereby, and that
it has doubtless. worked Feats enough
to gain it such an esteem amongst
these Savages, who are too well versed
in Vegetables, to be brought to a con-
tinual use of any one of them, upon
a mere Conceit or Fancy, without some
apparent Benefit they found thereby;
especially when we are sensible they
drink the Juices of Plants, to free

LAWSON’S HISTORY

Nature of her Burdens, and not out
of Foppery and Fashion, as other Na-
tions are oftentimes found to do.
Amongst all the discoveries of Amer-
ica by the Missionaries of the French
and Spaniards, I wonder none of them
was so kind to the World as to have
kept a Catalogue of the Distempers
they found the Savages capable of Cur-
ing, and their Method of Cure; which
might Ihave been of some advantage
to our Materia Medica at home, when
delivered by Men of Learning, and
other Qualifications, as most of them
are. Authors generally tell us that
the Savages are well enough acquaint-
ed with those Plants which their Cli-
mates afford, and that some of them
effect great Cures. but by what means
and by what Form we are left in the
dark.

The Bark of the Root of the Sassa-
fras Tree, I have observed is much
used by them. They generally tor-
refy it in the Embers, so strip off the
Bark from the Root, beating it to a
consistence fit to spread, so lay it on
the grieved part; which both cleanses
a foul Ulcer, and after Sacrification,
being applied to a Contusion or Swell-
ing, draws forth the Pain, and re-
duces the part to its Pristine state of
Health, as I have often seen effected.
Fats and Unguents. never appear in
their Chirurgery, when the Skin is
once broken. The Fats of Animals are
used by them to render their Limbs
pliable, and when wearied to relieve
the Joints, and this not often, because
they approve of the Sweating House
(in such cases) above all things. The
Salts they mix with their Bread and
Soups, to give them a Relish, are Alka-
lis, (viz) Ashes, and calcined Bones
of Deer and other Animals. Salads,
they never eat any; as for Mustard
and Pepper, they reckon us little bet-

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

ter than Madmen to make use of it
amongst our victuals. They are never
troubled with the Scurvy, Dropsy, nor
Stone. “he Phthisick. Asthma, and
Diabetes, they are wholly Strangers to;
neither do I remember I ever saw one
Paralytick among them. The Gout, I
cannot be certain whether they know
what it is, or not. Indeed, I never saw
any Nodes or Swellings. which attend
the Gout in Europe; yet they have a
sort of Rheumatim or Burning of the
Limbs, which tortures them grievously,
at which time, their Legs are so hov
that they employ the young people con-
tinually to pour Water down them. I
never saw but one or two thus af-
flicted. The Struma is not uncommon
amongst these Savages, and another
Distemper, which is in some respects
like the Pox, but is attended with no
Gonorrhea. This not seldom bereaves
them of their Nose. I have seen three
or four of them rendered most miser-
able spectacles by this Distemper. Yet,
when they have been so negligent, as
to let it run on so far without curbing
it; at last they may shift to patch
themselves up, and live for many
Years: and such Men commonly turn
Doctors. I have known two or three
of these no-nose Doctors in great es-
teem among the Savages. The Juice
of the Tulip Tree is used as a proper
remedy for this Distemper. What
knowledge they have in Anatomy, I
ecnnot tell, neither did I ever see them
employ themselves therein, unless as
I told you before, when they make the
Skeletons of their Kings and Great
Men.

The Indians are very careless and
negligent of their Health, as by Drunk-
enness and by Wading in the Water,
irregular Diet and Lodging, anda
thousand other disorders, (that would
kill an European), which they daily

4s

use. They boil and roast their Meat
extraordinary much and eat abundance
of Broth, except the Savages, whom
we call the naked Indians, who never
eat any Soupe. They travel from the
banks of the Mississippi to war against
the Sinnagars or Iroquois, and are (if
equal Numbers) commonly too hard
for them. They would lie and sleep in
the Woods without fire, being inured
thereto. They are the hardiest of all
Indians, and run so fast, that they are
never taken, neither do any Indians
outrun them, if they are pursued.
Their Savage Enemies say their Nim-
bleness and Wind proceeds from their
never eating any Broth. The Small-
Pox has been fatal to them; they do
not often escape, when they are seized
with that Distemper, which is a con-
trary one to what they ever kne-v.
Most certain it had never visited Amer-
ica before the Discovery thereof by
the Christians. Their running into the
Water in the Extremity of this Disease,
strikes it in, and kills all that use it.
Now they are become a little wiser, but
formerly it destroy’d whole Towns,
without leaving one Indian alive in the
whole village. The Plague was never
known amonst them, that I could learr.
by what enquiry I have made. These
Savages use Scarrification almost in all
Distempers. Their chief Instrument for
that operation is the Teeth of Rattle-
snakes, which they poison withal. They
take them out of the Snake’s Heads
and suck out the Poison with their
Mouths, (and so keep them for use) and
spit out the Venom, which is green, ana
are never damaged thereby. The Small-
Pox and Rum have made such a de-
struction among them, that on good
grounds, I do not believe there is the
sixth Savage living within two hun-
dred Miles of our Settlement as_ there
were fifty years ago. These poor Crea-
tures have so many Enemies to destroy

134 LAWSON’S
them, that it is a wonder one of them
is left alive amongst us. The Small-
Pox I have acquainted you withal
above, and so I have of Rum, and so I
shall only add, that they have got a
way to carry it back to the Westward
Indians, who never knew what it was
till within a very few years. Now they
have it brought them by the Tuskeru-
ros and other Neighbour Indians, but
the 'Tuskeruros chiefly, who carry it in
Rundlets several hundred Miles,
amongst other Indians. Sometimes
they cannot forebear breaking their
Cargo, but sit down in the Woods and
drink it all up, and then hollow and
shout like so many Bedlamites. I ac-
cidentally once met with one of these
drunken Crews, and was amazed to see
a Parcel of Drunkards so far from any
Englishman’s house, but the Indians i
had in company informed me that they
were Merchants, and had drunk all
their stock, as is very common for
them to do. But when they happen
to carry it safe (which is seldom with-
out drinking some part of it, and fill-
ing it up with water) and come to an
Indian Town, those that buy rum of
them have so many Mouthfulls for a
Buck-Skin, they never using any other
Measure; and for this purpose the
Buyer always makes choice of his
Man, which is one that has the great-
est Mouth, whom he brings to the
Market with a Bowl to put it in. The
Seller looks narrowly to the Man’s
Mouth that measures it, and if he hap-
pens to swallow any down, either
through wilfulness or otherwise, the
Merchant or some of the other Party
does not scruple to throw the Fellow
down, exclaiming against him for fals>

HISTORY

Measure. Thereupon, the Buyer finds
another Mouthpiece to measure the
rum by; so that this trading is very
agreeable to the Spectators, to see such .
a deal of quarreling and controversy,
as often happens about it, and is di-
verting.

Another Destroyer of them is the Art
they have, and often practise, of pois-
oning one another, which is done by a
large white spungy Root, that grows
in the Fresh-Marshes, which is one of
their Poisons; not but that they have
many other Drugs, which they poison
one another withal.

Lastly the continual Wars these Sav-
ages maintain, one Nation against an-
other, which sometimes hold for some
ages, killing and making Captives un-
til they become so weak thereby, that
they are forced to make Peace for want
of Recruits to supply their Wars; and
the Differences of Languages that is
found amongst these Heathens, seems
altogether strange. For it often ap-
pears that every dozen Miles you meet
with an Indian Town, that is quite dif-
ferent from the others you last parted
withal; and what a little supplies this
Defect is, that the most powerful Na-
tion of these Savages scorns to treat
or Trade with any others (of fewer
numbers and less power) in any other
Tongue but their own, which serves for
the Lingua of the Country, with which
we travel and deal; as for example we
see that the Tuskeruro’sare most num-
erous in North Carolina, therefore
their ‘Tongue is understood by some in
every Town of all the Indians near us.
And here I shall insert a small diction-
ary of every Tongue, though not alpha-
betically digested.

CHAPTER V.

ENGLISH. TUSKERURO. PAMPITCOUGH. WOCCON.
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TG ATS Soest hens IMO aerate cictejersiatersis INFN DITA ys ales oistersrals =: © Yauh-he

136

LAWSON’S HISTORY

ENGLISH. TUSKERURO. Wwocco.
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ee ay

ee

ee

OF NORTH CAROLINA. E37

ENGLISH. TUSKERURO. Wwocco.
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INO Waa iefatetets a) arcrole iaenwiajaiersoasre PUTEH a iucaw sctetialerectave/clelere ries Kittape
"TS O= GLA Voltas ecrele eas vie' esd oiaice raves ERSea aa coe esctevev a aie ieleceicia a ofatciciereioie licioteieterakeversione era. cleielele s\o @.clie'eeleiclae
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WOEStEGay Kictecccisiecise os ions AK WOOW ai osacccete cies se Yauka
HOW IMAM tae ctos felsares OOUSGOLOA tater cloalescis ciete ist oieie Yottoha
TED Ws PT stops Chee eeyekeiave eecysiaiose Wt=tEWiOUS arercreieisieteleeielsteisters Tontarinte
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Will you go along with me |Unta hah .................. Quauke
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Give: 1 Mel seks oe oese NOVO SPO Incl. Solr dlccerirato DOOOL Mothei
Pat S* BUD a kretcciavare einerervele eens LOA PRO) oT RIS RES AA IAN ese Cuttaune
AM Gupit Wenmotiiit sence SUNG OSOCCAN lia <isieisictaterels!slorate)ars Ishewounaup
MOV. huss er inte. clsk Gcieine ete Oe ere VSIA IDEN TSIG | achclevaltvevele aisvercieleiclels s Caure

138 LAWSON’S HISTORY
ENGLISH. TUSKERURO. WOCCO.

A’ Gourd or Bottle x. ./s occ tC aa wa eee csiecetetetnnemioetens Wattape
ACM AKY, ECC LIOW iisisieieiereisteleteielis Wiattatoo) Watseeeincwoelslcrs Tontaunete
Hnelishman isi thirsty) (2. |Oukwockani nniwOckiei ei cincsreicc cle clecteleleletcreleleleretelernel sean
I will sell you goods very

CREBD Hees Maiev eetnater Wiaeusthanocha esc cciecteiiclers Nau hau hoore ene
All the Indians are ........ Connaugh jost twane ..... Nonnupper
GDA IDE Vilas dares eie dl apaseleoual sone tare iniette'sallavelratey datal mbel eke ey rel ote caveaal enlove lle cokove fete eetarelieretotovatercicnelevscs) velo evel Chote Eaeaanan
Have you got anything to

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PET eMeCMIDECT ite sisicrateree eles OONWESUR A seopeeicteleren iste tevelere Auccommanto
MEE MTE HALON Ew oss baie visions els Thot-saur-auweek.......... Sauhau
IB CACDES Mi iciccteetentctereee repeaters TROO=O00 in cieiecatie oretespareeieine Yonne
DVVIEITAUIES i scicccisevarous nie sisters sees FEOOETAU=OO: go ork !5 5c reletin rus teres bal (ote (ateltaleVene laa taveliare foleherelte reels feteneehataae
ETI CELRY, (MUES ici ce cideceiocte elie FR OOCAU roe eteleteistorets alain releheates Nimmia
AST WS WELT Die eletavclercletetelerevats Ooratsan Secs ctees ......| Wottiyau
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STOW -eehicetitiaacislersrepelreioa teres IN CAUNGMG! Mosdis re eecetneesbero eer Wawawe

To repeat more of this Indian Jar-
gon, would be to trouble the reader;
and as an account of how imperfect
they are in their Moods and Tenses,
has been given by several already, I
shall only add that their Languages
or Tongues are so deficient, that you
cannot suppose the Indians ever could
express themselves in such a Flight
of style, as Authors would have you
believe. They are so far from it, that
they are just able to make one an-
other understand readily what they
talk about. As for the two Consonants
D and F, I never knew them in any
Indian Speech, I have met withal;
yet I must tell you that they have
such a way of abbreviating their
speech when in their great Councils
and Debates, that the young Men do
not understand what they treat about
When they hear them argue. It is
wonderful, what has occasion’d so
many different Speeches as the Sav-
ages have. The three Nations I now
mention do not live over ten Leagues
distant, and two of them, viz, the Tus-

keruro’s and the Woccon, are not two
Leagues asunder, yet in their Speech
differs in every word thereof, except
one, which is Tsaure Cockles, which
is in both Tongues the same, and
nothing else. Now this difference of
Speech causes Jealousies and Fears
amongst them, which bring Wars,
wherein they destroy one another; oth-
erwise the Christians had not (in all
possibility) settled America so easily
as they have done, had these Tribes
of Savages united themselves into one
People or general Interest, or were
they so but every Hundred Miles. In
short, they are an odd sort of People,
under the Circumstances they are at
present, and have some such un-
couth Ways in their Management and
Course of living that it seems a Mira-
cle to us, how they bring about their
Designs, as they do when their Ways
are commonly quite contrary to ours.
I believe they are (as to this life) a
very Happy People; and were it not
for the Feuds amongst themselves,
they would enjoy the happiest State,

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

(in this World) of all Mankind. They
met with Enemies when we came
amongst them; for they are no nearer
Christianity now, than they were at
the first Discovery, to all appearances.
They have learnt several vices of the
Europeans, but not one Vertue as I
know of. Drunkenness was a Stran-
ger when we found them out, and
Swearing their speech cannot express;
yet those that speak English, learn to
Swear the first thing they talk of. Its
true they have some Vertues and some
Vices; but how the Christians can
bring these People into the Bosom of
the Church, is a Proposal that ought
to be formed and followed by the
wisest Heads and best Christians. Af-
ter I have given one remark or two
further, of some of their Strange
Practices and Notions, I will give my
Opinion, how I think in all probability
it may be possibly be effected, and so
shall conclude this Treatise of Caro-
lina.

They are a very craving People, and
if a Man give them anything of a
Present, they think it obliges him to
give them another; and so until he
has given them all he has; for they
have no Bounds of Satisfaction in
their way, and if they give you any-
thing it is to receive twice the value
of it. They have no _ Consideration
that you will want what you give
them; for their way of Living is so
contrary to ours, that neither we nor
any one can fathom one another’s de-
signs and Methods. They call Rum and
Physick by one name, which implies
that Rum makes People sick, as when
they have taken any Poisonous Plant,
yet they cannot forbear Rum. They
make offerings of their First-Fruits,
and the more serious sort of them
throw into the Ashes, the first bit or
spoonful of every Meal they sit down
to, which, they say is the same to
them, as the pulling off our Hats, and

ake

talking when we go to Victuals is to
us. They name the Months’ very
agreeably, as one is the MHerring-
Month, another the Strawberry-Month,
another the Mulberry-Month. Others
name them by the Trees that blossom;
especially the Dog-Wood Tree; or they
say, we will return when Turkies gob-
ble, that is in March and April. The
age of the Moon they understand, but
know no different Name for the Sun
and Moon. They can guess well at
the time of the Day, by the Sun’s
Height. Their Age they number by
Winters, and say such a Man or Wo-
man is so many Winters old. They
have no Sabbath, or Day of Rest.
Their Slaves are never over-burdened
with work, and so not driven by Se-
verity to seek for that Relief. Those
that are acquainted with the English
and speak the Tongue, know when
Sunday comes; besides the Indians
have a distinct Name for Christmas,
which they call Winnick Keshuse, or
the Englishman’s Gods Moon. There
is one most abominable custom
amongst them, which they call Hus-
quenawing, their Young Men; which
I have not made any mention of as
yet, so will give you an account of
it here. You must know, that most
commonly, once a Year, or at farthest
once in two Years, these People take
up so many of their Young Men, as
they think are able to undergo it, and
Husquenaugh them, which is to make
them obedient and respective to their
superiors, and (as they say) is the
same to them, as it is to send our
Children to School, to be taught good
Breeding and Letters. This House of
Correction is a large strong Cabin,
made on purpose for the Reception
of the Young Men and Boys, that have
not passed their graduation already;
and it is always at Christmas that
they Husquenaugh their Youth, which
is by bringing them into this House

140 LAWSON’S
and keeping them dark all the time,
where they more than half starve
them. Besides they give them Pelli-
tory Bark and _ several intoxicating
Plants, that make them go raving Mad
as ever were anv People in this
World; and you may hear them make
the most dismal and Hellish cries, and
Howlings, that ever Human Creatures
ever expressed; all which continues
about five or six weeks, and the littie
Meat they eat is the nastiest loath-
some stuff, and mix’d with all man-
ner of filth it’s possible to get. After
the time expires they are brought out
of the Cabin, which never is in Town,
but always a distance off, and guard-
ed by a Jaylor or two, who watch
them by turns; now when they first
come out they are as poor as any
Creatures ever were; for vou must
know several die under this diaboli-
cal Purgation. Moreover, they either
really are, or pretend to be, dumb and
do not speak for several Days; I think
twenty or thirty; and look so ghastly,
and so changed that it’s next to an
impossibility to know them again, al-
though you were ever so well acquaint-
ed with them before. I would fain
have gone into the Mad-House and
seen them in their time of Purgatory,
but the King would not suffer it, be-
cause he told me they would do me,
or any other white man, an injury,
that ventured in amongst them, so I
desisted. They play this Prank with
Girls as well as Boys, and I believe
it a miserable Life they endure, be-
cause I have known several of them
to run away at that time and thus
avoid it. Now, the Savages say, if
it was not for this they could never
Keep their Youth in Subjection, he-
sides that it hardens them hereafter
to the Fatigues of War, Hunting, and
all Manner of Hardship, which their
Way of living exposes them to. Be-
sides, they add, that it carries off those

HISTORY

infirm weak Bodies, that would have
been only a disgrace and burden to
their Nation, and saves the Victuals
and Cloathing for better People, that
would have been expended on such
useless Creatures. These Savages are
described in their proper Colours but
by a very few; for those that gener-
ally write Histories of this new World
are such as Interest, Preferment, and
Merchandize, drew thither, and know
no more of the People than [ do of
the Laplanders, which is only by Hear-
Say. And if we will make just Re-
marks, how near such Relations gen-
erally approach Truth and Nicety, we
shall find very few of them worthy
of Entertainment; and as for the other
part of the Volume, it is generally
stuffed with Invectives against the
Government they lived under,on which
Stage is commonly acted greater bBar-
barities, in Murdering worthy Men’s
Reputations, than all the Savages in
the new World are capable of equal-
ing, or so much as imitating.

And since I hinted at a reguiation
of the Savages, and to propos? a Way
to convert them to Christianity, I will
first particularize the several Nations
of Indians that are our Neighbours,
and then proceed to what I promised.

Tuskeruro Indians, are fifteen Towns
Haruta, Waqui, Contah-nah, An-

Viz.

na Ooka, Conauh-Kare, Harooka, Una
Nauhan, Kentanuska, Chunaneets,
Kenta, Eno, Naur-hegh-ne, Oonos-

soora, Tosneoc, Nonawharitse, Nursoo-
rooka; Fighting Men 1,200. Waccon
Towns 2, Yupwarereman, Tooptatmeer,
Fighting Men 120. Machapunga, Town
1, Maramiskeet, Fighting Men 30. Bear
River, Town 1, Raudauqua-quank,
Fighting Men 50. Maherring Indians,
Town 1, Maherring River, Fighting
Men 50. Chuwon Indians, Town 1,
Bennets Creek, Fighting Men 15. Pas-
patank Indians, Town 1, Paspatank
River, Fighting Men 10. Poeskeit,

OF NORTH CAROLINA.

Town 1, North River, Fighting Men
30. Nottaway Indians, Town 1, Wino-
ack Creek, Fighting Men 30. Hatteras
Town, 1, Sand-Banks, Fighting Men
16. Connamox Indians, Towns 2, Cor-
anine, Raruta, Fighting Men 25. Neus
Indians, Towns 2, Chattooka, Rouc-
ecoonk, Fighting Men 15. Jaupin In-
dians, 6 People. Pampticough Indians,
Town 1, Island, Fighting Men 15. These
five Nations of the Totero’s, Sapona’s,
Keiauwee’s, Aconeches, and Schocco-
ries, are lately come amongst us, and
may contain, in all, about 750 Men,
Women and Children. Total 4,780. Now
there appear to be one thousand, six
hundred and twelve Fighting Men, of
our Neighbouring Indians; and prob-
ably there are three-Fifths of Women
and Children, not including Old Men,
which amounts to four thousand and
thirty Savages, besides the five Na-
tions lately come. Now, as I before
hinted, we will see what grounds there
are to make these People serviceable
to us, and better themselves thereby.

On a fair Scheme, we must first al-
low these Savages, what really he-
longs to them, that is what good Quali-
ties and Natural Endowments they
possess, whereby they being in their
proper Colours, the Event may be bet-
ter guessed at, and fathom’d.

First they are as apt to learn any
Handicraft as any People that the
World affords; I will except none, as
is seen by their Canoes and Stauking
Heads, which they make themselves;
but to my purpose the Indian Slaves
in South Carolina, and _ elsewhere,
make any argument good.

Second we have no disciplin’d Men
in Europe, but what have at one time
or another, been branded with Mutin-
ing and Murmuring against. their
Chiefs. These Savages are never found
Guilty of that Crime in a Soldier; I
challenge all Mankind to tell me one
instance of it; besides they never

I4I

prove Traitors to their Native Coun-
try, but rather chuse Death than par-
take and side with the Enemy.

They naturally possess the Right-
eous Man’s Gift; they are Patient un-
der all Afflictions, and have a great
many other Natural Vertues, which
I have slightly touched on throughout
the Account of these Savages.

They are really better to us than
we are to them; they always give
us Victuals at their Quarters and take
care that we are armed against Hun-
ger and Thirst; we do not so by them
(generally speaking) but let them walk
by our Doors Hungry and do not often
relieve them. We look upon them with
Scorn and Disdain, and think them lit-
tle better than Beasts in Human
Shape, tho’ if well examined, we shall
find that for all our Religion and Edu-
cation, we possess more moral De-
formities, and Evils that these Sav-
ages do, or are acquainted withal.

We reckon them slaves in compari-
son to us, and Intruders, as oft as
they enter our Houses, or Hunt near
our Dwellings. But if we will admit
Reason to be our Guide, she will in-
form us that these Indians are the
freest People in the World, and so
far from being Intruders among us
that .we thave abandoned our own
Native soil, to drive them out, and
possess theirs; neither have we any
true balance in judging of these Poor
Heathens, because we neither give al-
lowance for their Natural Disposi-
tion, nor the Sylvian Education, and
strange Customs (uncouth to us) they
lie under and have ever been trained
up to; these are false Measures for
Christians to take, and indeed no man
can be reckon’d a Moralist only, who
will not make choice and use of better
Rules to walk and act by. We trade
with them, ’tis true. But to what
End? Not to show them the steps of
Vertue, and the Golden Rule, to do

142

as we would be done by. No, we have
furnished them with the vice of
Drunkenness, which is the open Road
to all others, and daily cheat them
in everything we sell and esteem it
a Gift of Christianity not to sell them
so cheap as we do to the Christians, as
we call ourselves. Pray let me know
where there is to be found one Sacred
Command or Precept of our Master,
that counsels us to such behaviour?
Besides, I believe it will not appear
but that all the Wars which we have
had with the Savages, were occasioned
by the unjust dealings of the Chris-
tians towards them. I can name more
than a few which my own Enquiry
has given me a right Understanding
of, and I am afraid the remainder (if
they come to the test) will prove
themselves Birds of the same Feather.

AS we are in Christian Duty bound,
so we must act and behave ourselves
to these Savages, if we either intend to
be serviceable in converting them to
the Knowledge of the Gospel, or dis-
charge the Duty which every Man,
within the Pale of the Christian Church,
is bound to do. Upon this score, we
ought to show a Tenderness for these
Heathens under the weight of Infidel-
ity; let us cherish their Good Deeds,
and, with Mildness and Clemency, make
them sensible and forewarn them of
their ill ones; let our Dealings be just
with them in every Respect, and show
no ill Example whereby they may think
we advise them to practice that which
we will not be conformable to our-
selves; Let them have cheap penni-
worths, (without Guile in our Trading
with them), and learn them the Mys-
teries of our Handicrafts, as well as
our Religion, otherwise we deal unjust-
ly by them. But it is highly necessary
te be brought in Practice, which is to
give Encouragement to the Ordinary
People, and those of a lower Rank, that

LAWSON’S HISTORY

they might marry with these Indians,
and come into Plantations, and Houses,
where so many Acres of Land and some
Gratuity of Money (out of a public
stock) are given to the new-married
couple, and that the Indians might have
encouragement to send their Children
Apprentices to proper Masters. that
would be kind to them, and make them
Masters of a Trade, whereby they might
be drawn to live amongst us, and be-
come members of the same Ecclesiasti-
cal and Civil Government we are un-
der; then we should have great ad-
vantages to make daily Conversions
amongst them, when they saw that we
were kind and just to them in all our
Dealings. Moreover, by the Indians
Marrying with the Christians, and com-
ing into Plantations with tneir Eng-
lish Husbands, or Wives, they would
become Christians, and their Idolatry ©
would be quite forgotten, and in all
probability, a better Worship come in
its Stead; for were the Jews engrafted
thus, and alienated from the Worship
and Conversation of Jews their abom-
inations would Vanish and be no more.

Thus we should be let into a better
understanding of the Indian Tongue by
our new Converts; and the whole body
of these people would arrive to the
Knowledge of our Religion and Customs
and become as one People with us. By
this Method also, we should have a
true knowledge of all the Indian’s skill
in Medicine and Surgery; they would
inform us of the Situation of our Riv-
ers, Lakes and Tracts of Lands in the
Lords’ Dominions, where by their As-
sistance, greater Discoveries may be
made than has been hitherto found out,
and by their Accompanying us in our
Expeditions, we might Civilize a great
many other Nations of the Savages,
and daily add to our strength in Trade
and Interest; so that we might be suf-

OF NORTH

ficiently enabled to conquer or main-
tain our Ground against all the Ene-
mies to the Crown of England in Amer-
ica, both Christian and Savage.
What Children we have of theirs to
learn Trades, etc., ought to be put into
those Hands, that are Men of the best
Lives and Characters, and that are not
only strict Observers of their Religion,
‘but also of a mild, winning and sweet
Disposition, that these Indian Parents
may often go and see how well their
Children are dealt with, which ‘would
much win them to our Ways of Living,
Mildness being a Vertue that Indians
are in love withal, for they do not prac-
tice beating and correcting their Chil-
dren as we do. A general Complaint
is that it seems impossible to convert
these People to Christianity, as, at
first sight it does; and as for those in
New Spain, they have the prayers of
that Church in Latin by Rote, and
know the external Behavior of Mass
and Sermons; yet scarce any of them
are steady and abide with Constancy
in Good Works, and the Duties of the
Christian Church. We find that the
Fuentes and several other of the noted
Indian Families about Mexico, and in
other parts of New Spain, had given
several large Gifts to the Altar, and
outwardly seem’d fond of their New
Religion; yet those that were the great-
est Zealots outwards, on a strict En-

CAROLINA. 143
quiry were found guilty of Idolatry and
Witchcraft; and this seems to proceed
from their co-habiting, which, as I have
noted before, gives opportunities of
Cabals to recall their ancient pristine
Infidelity and Superstitions. They nev-
er argue against our Religion, but with
all imaginable indifference own, that
it is most proper for us that have been
brought up in it.

In my Opinion, its better for Chris-
tians of a mean fortune to marry with
the Civilized Indians, than to suffer the
Hardships of four or five Years Servi-
tude, in which they meet with Sickness
and Seasonings amidst a Crowd of other
afflictions, which the Tyranny of a bad
Master lays upon such poor Souls, all
which those acquainted with our To-
bacco Plantations are not Strangers to.

This seems to be a more reasonable
Method of converting the Indians, than
to set up our Christian Banner in a
Field of Blood, as the Spaniards have
done in New Spain, and baptise one
hundred with the Sword for one at the
Font. Whilst we make way for a
Christian Colony, through a field of
blood, and defraud, and make away
with those that one day may be wanted
in this World, and in the next appear
against us, we make way for a more
potent Christian Enemy to Invade us
hereafter, of which we may repent,
when too late.

(THE END.)

i

Col. Wm. Byrd’s Survey of Dividing Line.

The Colonies of Virginia and North Carolina Set Off From Each Other—
The Virginia Gentleman’s Humorous and Caustic Comments on Men
and Manners—First Expedition Sent Out by Sir Walter Raleigh to
These Shores—Queen Elizabeth’ s First Experience With the ‘‘ Bewitch-
ing Weed’? ( Tobacco)— Tribute to Presbyterians—‘ Secret History” of
William Penn—Pays Respects to Saints of New England—Hard on

North Carolinians.

Raleigh, Oct. 2.—A number of per-
sons have written me, expressing a de-
sire for the republication of Col. Wil-
liam Byrd’s History of the Dividing
Line between Virginia and North Car-
olina.’’ While the book is not a large
one, it will not be necessary to repub-
lish it, but merely to give some ex-
tracts from it. The book is of very
great ixterest and is rare. The copy of
it from these extracts are made is the
property of Bishop Josepn Blount Ches-
hire, who purchased it in 1578 and it
bears tris inscription: ‘‘With the re-
spects of Ed Ruffin.” Mr. Ruffin and
his brother, Julian, publishes’ what are
known as the Westover Manuscripts in
1841, at Petersburg. Edmund Ruffin
was the man who fired the first gun at
Fort Sumter.

The manuscripts of Col. William
Byrd, of Westover, Va., date from 1728
to 1736, and are in a large folio vol-
ume, bound in parchment. The manu-
scripts show that they were written for
the amusement of the author, his family
and friends, and not with any view to
their being printed, Col. Byrd in his
“History of the Dividing Line,’’ run in
the year 1728, begins by a recital of the
formation of the various British colo-
ries fronting on the Atlantic Ocean,
showing how one after another they

were carved out of Virginia, by royal
grants. All that part of the continent
stretching as far as the Cape of Flor-
ida, went at first under the general
name of Virginia, the only distinction
in those early days being that all the
coast south of Chesapeake Bay was
called South Virginia, and all to the
north of ‘that bay was called North
Virginia, Col. Byrd says: ‘The first
settlement of this foreign country was
owing to that great ornament of the
British nation, Sir Walter Raleigh, who
Obiained a grant ‘thereof from Queen
Elizabeth, of ever-glorious memory, by
letters patent, dated March 25, 1584, but
whether the gentleman ever made a
voyage hither himself is uncertain,
because those who have favored the
public with an account of his life men-
tion nothing of it. However, this much
may be depended on, that Sir Walter
invited sundry persons of distinction
to share his charter and join their
purses with his in the laudable pro-
ject of fitting out a colony to Virginia.
Accordingly two ships were sent away
that very year, under the command of
his good friends Amidas and Barlow,
to take possession of the country in
the name of his royal mistress, the
Queen of England. These worthy com-
manders, for the advantage of the

146 BYRD'S
trade winds, shaped their course first
to the Charibbe, (Carribean) Islands,
thence stretching away by the Gulf of
Florida, dropped anchor not far from
Roanoke inlet. They ventured ashore
near that place, upon an island now
called Colleton Island, where they set
up the arms of England and claimed
the adjacent country in right of their
sovereign lady, the Queen, and _ this
ceremony being duly performed, they
kindly invited the neighboring Indians
to traffic with them. These poor people
at first approached the English with
great caution, having heard much of
the treachery of the Spaniards, and not
knowing but these strangers might be
as treacherous as they. But, at length,
discovering a kind of good nature in
their looks, they ventured to draw near
and barter their skins and furs for the
bawbles and trinkets of the English.
These first adventurers made a _ very
profitable voyage, raising at least 1,009
per cent. on their cargo. Among other
Indian commodities they brought over
some of that bewitching vegetable, to-
bacco. And this being the first that
ever came to England, Sir Walter
thought he could not do less than make
a present of some of the brightest of
it to his royal mistress, for her smok-
ing} The Queen graciously accepted it,
but finding her stomach sicken after
two or three whiffs, it was presently
whispered by the Earl of Leicester's
faction that Sir Walter had certainly
poisoned her. But her majesty soon
recovering her disorder, obliged the
Countess of Nottingham and all her
maids to smoke a whole pipe out among
them. As it happened some ages he-
fore to the fashion to saunter to the
Holy Land, and go upon other Quixote
adventures, so it was now grown the
humor to take a trip to America. Th¢
Spaniards had lately discovered rich

SURVEY

mines in their part of the West Indies,
which made their maritime neighbors
eager to do so too. This modish frenzy
being still more inflamed by the
charming account of Virginia by the
first adventurers, made many fond of
removing to such a paradise. Happy
was he, and still happier she, that could
get themselves transported, fondly ex-
pecting their coarsest utensils in that
happy place would be of massive silver.
This made it easy for the company to
produce as many volunteers as. they
wanted for their new colony; but, like
most other undertakers who have no
assistance from the public, they starved
the design by too much frugality, for,
unwilling to launch out at first in too
much expense, they shipped off but few
people at a time and those but scanti-
ly provided. The adventurers were be-
sides idle and extravagant, and expect-
ed they might live without work in so
plentiful a country. These wretches
were set ashore not far from Roanoke
Inlet, but by some fatal disagreement,
or laziness, were either starved or cut
to pieces by the Indians. Several re-
peated misadventures of this kind did,
for some time, allay the itch of sailing
to this new world, but the distemper
broke out again about the year 1666.
Then it happened that the Earl of
Southampton and several other vwer-
sons, eminent for their quytity and es-
tates, were invited into the company,
who applied themselves once more to
people the then almost ebandoned col-
ony. For this purpose they embarked
about a hundred men, most of them
reprobates of good families, and relat-
ed to some of the company, who were
men of quality and fortune. The ships
that carried them made a shift to find
a more direct way to Virginia and ven-
tured through the capes into the bay of
Chesapeake. The same night they

OF THE DIVIDING LINE.

came to an anchor at the mouth of the
Powhatan, the same as James river,
where they built a small fort at a place
called Point Comfort. This settlement
stood its ground from that time for-
ward, in spite of all the blunders and
disagreements of the first adventurers,
and the many calamities that befell the
colony afterwards. These found the
first adventurers in a very starving
condition, but relieved their wants with
the fresh supply they brought with
them. From Kiquotan they extended
themselves as far as Jamestown where,
like true Englishmen, they built a
church that cost no more than fifly
pounds, and a tavern that cost five
hundred. They had now made peace
With the Indians, but there was one
thing wanting to make that peace last-
ing. The natives could by no means
persuade themselves that the English
were heartily their friends, so long as
they disdained to intermarry with
them. And, in earnest, had the English
consulted their own security and the
good of the colony; had they intended
either to civilize or convert these gen-
tiles, they could have brought their
stomachs to embrace this prudent al-
liance. The Indians are generally tatl
and well-proportioned, which may
make full amends for the darkness vf
their complexion. Add to this, they
are healthy and strong, with constitu-
tions untainted by lewdness, and not
enfeebled by luxury. Besides, morals
and all considered, I cannot think the
Indians were much greater heathens
than the first adventurers, who, had
they been good Christians, would have
had the charity to take this only meth-
od of converting the natives to Chris-
tianity. For, after all that can be
said, a sprightly lover is the most pre-
vailing missionary that can be seut
amongst these, or any other infidels,

147

Besiccs, the poor Indians would hive
less reason to complain that the Eng-
lish took away their lands if they had
received it by way of portion with their
daughters. Had such affinities been
contracted in the beginning how much
bloodshed would have been prevented,
and how populous would the country
have become, and consequently, how
considerable. Nor would the shade of
the skin been any reproach at this day,
for if a Moor may be washed white in
three generations, surely an _ Indian
might have been blanched in two. The
French for their yarts have not been
so squeamish in Canada, who upon
trial find an abundance of attraction in
the Indians. Their late grand monarch
though it not below even the dignity
of a Frenchman to become one flesh
with these people, and therefore order-
ed 100 livres for ary of his subjects,
man or woman, that would intermarry
with a native. By this piece of policy
we find the French interest very muca
strengthened amongst the natives, and
their religion, such as it is, propagated
just as far as their love. And I hearti-
ly wish this well-contracted scheme
does not hereafter give the French an
advantage over his majesty’s good sub-
jects on the northern continent of
America, About the same time New
England was pared off from Virginia
by letters patent, bearing date April
10, 1608. Several gentlemen of the
town and neighborhood of Plymouth
obtained this grant, with the Lord
Chief Justice Popham at their head.
Their bounds were specified to extend
from 88 to 45 degrees of northern lati-
tude, with a breadth of one hundred
miles from the sea-shore. The first
fourteen years this company encoun-
terered many difficulties,and lost many
men, though far from being discourag-
ed, they sent over numerous recruits of

148

Presbyterians, every year, who for all
that, had much ado to stand their
ground, with all their ghting and
praying. But about the year of 1620
a large swarm of dissenters fled thither
from the severities of their stepmother,
the Church. These saints, conceiving
the same aversion to the copper com-
plexion of the natives with that of
the first adventurers to Virginia, would
on no terms contract alliances with
them, afraid, perhaps, like the Jews of
old, lest they might be drawn into idol-
atry by those strange women. What-
ever disgusted them, I cannot say, but
this false delicacy creating in the In-
dians a jealousy that the English were
ill-affected towards them, was. the
cause that many of them were cut off,
and the rest exposed to various dis-
tresses. This re-enforcement was land-
ed not far from Cape Cod, where, for
their greater security, they built a fort
and near it a small town, which in
honor of the proprietors, was called
New Plymouth. But they still had
many discouragements, to struggie
with, though, by being well supported
from home, they by degrees triumphed
over them all. Their brethren, after
this, flocked over so fast, that in a few
years they extended the settlement one
hundred miles along the coast, includ-
ing Rhode Island and Martha’s Vine-
yard. Thus the colony throve apace,
and was thronged with long detach-
ments of indepedents and Presbyte-
rians who thought themselves perse-
cuted at home. Though these people
may be ridiculed for some pharisaical
particularities in their worship and be-
havior, yet they were very useful sub-
jects, as being frugal and industrious,
giving no scandal or bad example, at
least by any open and public vices. By

which excellent qualities they had
much the advantage of the Southern

BYRD’S SURVEY

colony, who thought their membership
of the established Church sufficient to
sanctify very loose and profligate mor-
als. For this reason New England im-
proved much faster than Virginia, and
in seven or eight years New Plymouth,
like Switzerland, seemed too narrow a
territory for its inhabitants. But what
wounded Virginia deepest was the cut-
ting of Maryland from it, by charter
from King Charles I to Sir George Cal-
vert, afterwards Lord Baltimore, bear-
ing date the 20th of June, 1632. The
truth of it is, it begat much specula-
tion in those days, how it came about
that a good Protestant King should be-
stow so bountiful a grant upon a zeale-
ous Roman Catholic. But it is proba-
ble it was one fatal instance amongst
many others of His Majesty’s com-
plaisance of the Queen. The proprie-
tors of New Jersey, finding more trou-
ble than profit in their new dominions,
made over their right to several other
persons, who obtained a fresh grant
from his royal highness, dated March
14, 1682. Besides the hope of being safe
from persecution in this retreat, the
new proprietors inveigled many over
by their tempting account of the coun-
try, that it was a place free from those
three great scourges of mankind,
priests, lawyers and physicians. Nor
did they tell them a word of a lie, for
the people were yet too poor to main-
tain these learned gentlemen, who, ev-
erywhere, love to be well paid for what
they do; and, like the Jews, cannot
breathe in a climate where nothing is
to be gotten. The Jerseys continued
under the government of these pro-
prietors till the year 1702, when they
made a formal surrender of the domin-
ion to the Queen, reserving, however,
the property of the soil to themselves.

So soon as the bounds of New Jersey
came to be distinctly laid off, it ap-

OF THE DIVIDING LINE.

peared there was still a narrow slip of
land, lying betwixt the colony and
Maryland. Of this, William Penn, a
man of worldly wisdom, and some em-
inence among the Quakers, got early
notice, and, by the credit he had with
the Duke of York, obtained a patent for
it, dated March 14, 1860. It was a little
surprising to some people how a Quak-
er should be so much in the good
graces of a Popish prince, though, af-
ter all it may be pretty well account-
ed for. This ingenious person had not
been bred a Quaker. but in his earlier
days had been a man of pleasure about
the town. He had a beautiful form and
very taking address, which made him
successful with the ladies, particularly
with a mistress of the Duke of Mon-
mouth. By this gentlewoman he had
a daughter, who had beauty enough
to rsise her to be a duchess, and con-
tinued to be a toast full 30 years. But
this armour had like to have brought
our fine gentleman in danger of a duel,
had he not discreetly sheltered him-
self under his peaceable persuasio.
Besides his father having been a flag
officer in the navy while the Duke of
York was lord high admiral, might
have recommended the son to his fa-
vor. This piece of secret history I
thought proper to mention, to wipe off
‘tthe suspicion of his having been Po-
pishly inclined. But the French and
Spaniards had, in the name of their
respective monarchs, long ago taken po-
session of that part of the northern
continent that now goes by the name
of Carolina, but finding it produced
neither gold nor silver, as they greed-
ily expected, and meeting such return
from the Indians as their own cruelty
and treachery deserved, they totally
abandoned it. In this deserted condi-
tion the country lay for the space of
ninety years, till King Charles II find-

149

ing it a derelict, granted it away to
the Earl of Clarendon and others by
his royal charter, dated March 24, 1386.
The boundary of that grant towards
Virginia was a due west line from
Luck Island (the same as ‘Colleton Isl-
and) lying 86 degrees of north latitude,
quite to the South Sea. But afterwards
Sir William Berkeley, who was one of
the grantees and that time Governor
of Virginia, finding territory of 31 miles
in breadth between the inhabited part
of Virginia and the above mentioned
boundary of Carolina, advised Lord
Clarendon of it, and his lordship had
interest enough with the King to ob-
tain a second patent to include it, dated
June 30, 1665.

“This last grant describes the bounds
between Virginia and Carolina in
these words: to run from the north end
of Coratuck inlet due west to Weyan-
oke creek, lying within or about the
degree of 36 and 30 minutes of north-
ern latitude and from thence west in
a direct line as far as the South Sea.”
Without question this boundary was
well known at the time the charter
was granted, but in the long course of
years Weyanoke creek lost its name, so
that it became a controversy where it
lay. Some ancient persons in Virgin-
ia affirmed it was the same with Wic-
cocon, and others again in Carolina
were as positive it was Nottoway river.
In the meantime the people on the fron-
tiers entered for land and took out
patents by guess, either from the King
or the lords proprietors, but the crown
was like to be the loser by this uncer-
tainty because the terms both of tak-
ing up and seating land were much
easier in Carolina. The yearly rental
taxes to the public were likewise there
less burdensome, which laid Virginia
under a plain disadvantage. 'This con-
sideration put Virginia upon entering

150

into measures with North Carolina to
terminate the dispute and settle a cer-
tain boundary between the _ colonies.
All the difficulty was to find out which
Was truly Weyanoke creek. The differ-
ence was too considerable to be given
up by either side, there being a terri-
tory of 15 miles betwixt the two
streams in controversy. However, till
that matter could be adjusted, it was
agreed on both sides that no lands at
all should be granted within the dis-
puted bounds. Virginia observed this
agreement punctually, but I am sorry
I cannot say the same of North Caro-
lina. The great officers of that prov-
ince were loath to lose the fees accu-
ing from the grants of land, and so
private interest got the better of pub-
lic spirit and I wish that there were
places in the world where such politics
were fashionable. All the steps that
were taken afterwards in that affair
will best appear by the report of the
Virginia commissioners. It must be
owned the report of those gentlemen
was severe upon the then commissioa-
ers of North Carolina and particularly
upon Mr. Moseley. I will not take it
upon me to say with how much justice
they said so many hard things, though
it had been fairer play to have given
the parties accused a copy of such
representation, that they might have
answered what they could for them-
selves. But since that was not done,
I must beg leave to say this much in
behalf of Mr. Moseley, that he was not
much in the wrong to find fault with
the quadrant produced by the _ sur-
veyors of Virginia, because that instru-
ment placed the mouth of Nottoway
river in the latitude of 387 degrees,
whereas by an accurate observation
made since it is found that there is an
error of nearly 30 minutes. The lieu-
tenant Governor of Virginia at that

BYRD’S SURVEY

time, Col. Spotswood, searching into
the bottom of this affair, made very
equitable proposals to Mr. Eden, at
that time Governor of North Carolina,
in order to put an end to this contro-
versy. These, being formed into pre-
liminaries, were signed by both Gov-
ernors and transmitted to Ingland,
where they had the honor to be rati-
fied by his late majesty and assented
to by the lords proprietors of Caro-
lina. Accordingly an order was ‘sent
by the late king to Mr. Gooch, after-
wards Lieutenant Governor of Virginia,
to pursue those preliminaries exactly.
In obedience thereunto, he was pleas-
ed to appoint three of the Council of
that colony to be commissioners on the
part of Virginia, who in conjunction
with others to be named by the Gov-
ernor of North Carolina, were to set-
tle the boundary between the two gov-
ernments upon the plan of the above
mentioned articles.”

In the appendix to Col. Byrd’s jour-
nal is quoted the commission issued by
Governor Rich2rd Everard in opedi-
ence to the king’s order, This commis-
sion runneth in part as follows: “Sir
Richard Everard, Baronet, Governor,
Captain General, Admiral and Com-
mander-inChief of the said province, to
Christopher Gale, Esq., chief justice;
John Lovick, Esq., secretary; Edward
Moseley, Esq., surveyor general, and
William Little, Esq., attoreny general,
greeting: Whereas many disputes and
differences have formerly been between
the inhabitants of this province and
those of his majesty‘s colony of Vir-
ginia, concerning the boundaries and
limits between the said two govern-
ments, which have been duly consid-
ered by Charles Eden, Esq., late Gov-
ernor of this province, and Alexandsr
Spotswood, Esq., late Governor of
Virginia, they agreed to certain pro-

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

posals for determining the said con-
ttroversy and humbly offered the same
for his majesty’s royal approbation
and the consent of the true and abso-
lute lords proprietors of Carolina.”
Governor Everard then directed them
to join in making the survey. He gave
this order at the council chamber in
Edenton, February 21, 1727. The com-
missioners for Virginia were Williain
Byrd, Richard Fitz-William, and Wil-
liam Dandridge. The surveyors for
North Carolina were Edward Moselev
and Samuel Swan, while Alexander Ir-
vin and William Mayo were the sur-
veyors for Virginia. The Rev. Peter
Fountain was the chaplain for the en-
tire party. The total expense of run-
ning the line was 1,000 pounds, or $5,000
Say, in our money, and this sum was
discharged by a warrant out of his
majesty’s quit rents from the lands of
Virginia.

What may be called the real history
of the dividing line is in a shape of x
diary, which begins February 27, 1728,
and says: “The surveyors for Virginia
were Mr. Mayo, who made the accu-
rate map of Barbadoes, and Mr. Irvin,
the mathematics professor of William
and Mary College. ~nd because a good
number of men were to go upon this
expedition a chaplain was appointed to
attend them, and the rather because
the people on the frontiers of North
Carolina, who have no minister near
them, might have an opportunity to
get themselves and their children bap-
tized. Sir Richard Everard, of North
Carolina, appointed four members of
the council of that province to take
care of the interests of the lords pro-
prietors. Of these, Mr. Moseley was to
serve in a double capacity, both as
commissioner and surveyor. For that
reason there was but one other sur-
veyor from thence, Mr. Swan. All the

151

persons being thus agreed upon, they
settled the time of the meeting to be
at Curatuck, March 5, 1728. It was just
noon before we arrived at Coratuck in-
let. We saw a small New England
s'oop riding in the sound. She had
e-me in at the new inlet, as all other
vessels have done since the opening
of it. The trade hither is engrossed by
the saints of New England, who carry
off a great deal of tobacco without
troubling themselves with paying that
impertinent duty of a penny a pound.
Curatuck inlet is now so shallow that
the kreakers fly over it with the hor-
rible sound, and at the same time af-
ford a very wild prospect. About 2
o’clock in the afternoon we were joined
by two of the Carolina commissioners,
attended by Mr. Swan, their surveyor.
The other two were not quite so punc-
tual, which was the more unlucky for
us, because there could be no sport un-
til they came. These gentlemen, it
seems, had the Carolina commission in
their keep, notwithstanding which they
could not forbear paying too much re-
gard to a proverb, fashionable in their
country, not to make more haste than
good speed. The commissioners from
Carolina came better provided for the
belly than for the business. They
brought not above two men along with
them that could put their hands to
anything but the kettle and the frying-
pan. These spent so much of their
industry that way that they had as lit-
tle spirit as inclination for work. On
the 6th, at noon, having perfect obser-
vation, we found the latitude of Cura-
tuck inlet to be 36 degrees and 31 min-
utes. About 3 in the afternoon the two
lag commissioners arrived and after a
few decent excuses for making us wait
told us they were ready to enter upon
business as soon as they pleased. Our
first step was to produce our respective

152 BYRD’S
powers and the commission from each
Governor was distinctly read, and cop-
ies of them interchangebly delivered.
It was observed by our Carolina friends
that the latter part of the Virginia
commission had something in it a little
too lordly and positive. In answer to
which we told them it was necessary
to make it thus peremptory, lest the
present commissioners might go upon
as fruitless an errand as their prede-
cessors. The former commissioners
were tied down to act in exact con-
junction with those of Carolina, and
so could not advance one step farther
or one jot faster than they were pleas-
ed to permit them. The memory of that
disappointment therefore induced the
governm.nt of Virgil.ia to give fuller
powers to the present commissioners,
by authorizing them to go on with the
work themselves, in case those of Car-
olina should prove unreasonable, and
refuse to join with them in carrying
tle business to execution. And all this
was done lest his majesty’s gracious in-
te..tion should be frustrated a second
time.”

The survey was begun under the
greatest difficulties, the party wading
through bogs from knee to hip deep.
They found quagmire after quagmire.
The people flocked to see them and
what astonished the natives most was
how this surveying party with all its
hard work could be so light-hearted.
“The Sabbath,” said Col. Byrd, “gave
some ease to the jaded people, who
rested religiously from every work but
that of cooking the kettle.”’ The narra-
tives goes on to say: ‘‘We observe very
few corn-fields in our walks and those
very small, which seemed the stranger
to us because we could see no other
tokens of husbandry or improvement,
but we were given to understand peo-
ple only made corn for themselves and

SURVEY

not for their stocks, which know very
well kow to get their own living. Both
cattle and hogs ramble into the neigh-
boring marshes and swamps, where
they maintain themselves the whole
winter long and are not fetched home
until the spring. Thus these indolent
wretches during one-half of the year
lose the advantage of the milk of their
cattle and many of the poor creatures
perish in the marches by this ill-man-
agement. Some who pique themselves
upon more industry than their neigh-
bors will now and then, in compliment
to their cattle, cut down a tree whose
limbs are covered with the long hang-
ing grey moss. The trouble would be
too great to climb the tree in order to
gather this moss, but the shortest way
(which in this country is always count-
ed the best) is to fell it, just like the
lazy Indians, who do the same by such
trees as bear fruit, and so make one
harvest for all. The only business here
is raising hogs which is managed with
the least trouble and affords the diet
they are most fond of. The truth of it
is, the inhabitants of North Carolina
devour so much swine’s flesh that it
fills them full of gross humors. For
want of a constant supply of salt,
they are commonly obliged to eat fresh
pork, and that begets the highest taint
of scurvy. Thus whenever a severe cold
happens to constitutions thus vitiated
it is apt to improve into the yaws,
calied there very justly the country
distemper which no preparation of
mercury will touch. First it seizes the
throat, next the palate and lastly shows
its spite to the poor nose, in which it
is apt to in a small time, treacherously
undermine the foundation. ‘This calam-
ity is to common and familiar here that
it ceases to be a scandal and in the
disputes that happen about beauty, the
noses have in some companies having

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

much ado to carry it. Nay it is said
that once, after three good pork years,
a motion had like to have been made
in the House of Burgesses that a man
with a nose should be incapable of
holding any place of profit in the prov-
ince, which extraordinary motion could
never have been intended without
some hopes of a majority. Thus, con-
sidering the foul and pernicious effects
of eating swine’s flesh in a hot coun-
try, it was wisely forbidden and made
an abomination to the Jews, who lived
much in the same latitude with Caro-
lina. We came upon a family of mu-
lattoes that called themselves free, al-
though by the shyness of the master of
the house, who took care to keep least
in sight, their freedom seemed a littl=
doubtful. It is certain many slaves
shelter themselves in this obscure part
of the world, nor will any of their righi-
eous neighbors discover them. On the
eontrary, they find their account in
settling such fugitives on some out-of-
the-way corner of their land, to raise
stocks for a mean and inconsiderable
share, well knowing their condition
makes it necessary for them to submit
to any terms. Nor were these worthy
borderers content to shelter runaway
slaves, but debtors and criminals hav-
ing often met with like indulgence. But
if the government of North Carolina
has encouraged this un-neighborly pol-
icy in order to increase the population,
it is no more than ancient Rome did
before them, which was made a city of
refuge for all debtors and fugitives,and
from that wretched beginning grew up
in time to be mistress of the greater
part of the world. And, considering
how fortune delights in bringing great
things out of small, who knows but
Carolina may, one time or other, come
to be the seat of some other great em-
pire?

ee

“The line cut many plantations, leav-
irg part in Virginia, part in Carolina,
to the great inconvenience of the own-
ers, who were therefore obliged to take
out two patents and pay for a new sur-
vey in each government. We could not
be tempted to lodge in ‘houses; we
chose rather to lie in tthe cpen field,
for fear of growing too tender. A
clear sky spangled with stars, was our
canopy, which, being the last thing we
saw before we fell asleep, gave us mag-
nificent dreams. The truth of it is we
took so much pleasure in that natural
kind of lodging, that I think at the
foot of the account mankind are great
losers by the luxuryof feather beds and
warm apartments. The curiosity of be-
holding so new and withall so sweet a
method of encamping, brought one of
the Senators of North Carolina to make
us a midnight visit. But he was so
very clamorous in his commendations
of it, that the sentinel not seeing his
quality, either through his habit or
behaviour, had like to have treated
him roughly. After excusing the un-
reasonableness of his vizit, and letting
us know he was a Parliament man, he
swore he was so taken with our lodg-
ing that he would set fire to his house
as soon as he got home, and _ teach
his wife and children to lie like us, in
the open field. On the 138th, early in
the morning, our chaplain repaired to
us with the men we had left at Mr.
Wilson’s. We sent for them the even-
ing before to relieve those who had
the labor-oar from Curatuck inlet. But
to our great surprise they petitioned
not to be relieved, hoping to gain im-
mortal reputation by being the first of
mankind that ventured through the
great Dismal swamp, but the rest be-
ing equally desirous of the same hon-
or. it was but fair to decide their pre-
tensions by lot. After fortune had de-

154 BYRD'S
clared herself, those which she had ex-
cluded, offered money to the happy per-
sons, to go in their steac But Her-
ecules would have as soon sold the glory
of cleansing the Augean stables, which
was pretty near the same sort of work.

“On the 13th before 9 o’clock in the
morning, the provisions, bedding and
other necessaries, were made up into
packs for the men to carry on their
shoulders into the Dismal. They were
victualled for eight days at full al-
lowance, nobody doubting but that
would be abundantly sufficient to car-
ry them through that inhospitable
place, nor indeed was it possible for
the poor fellows to stagger under more.
As it was their loads weighed from 60
to 70 pounds, in just proportion to the
strength of those who were to bear
them. It would have been unconscicn-
able to have saddled thei. with bur-
de.s heavier than that, when they were
to lug them through a filthy bog, which
was hardly practicable with no burden
at all. Besides this luggage at their
backs they were obliged to measure the
distance, mark the trees, and clear the
way for the surveyors every step they
went. It was really a pleasure to see
with how much cheerfulness they un-
dertook and with how ruch spirit they
went through all this drudgery. For
their greater safety the commission-
ers took care to furnish them with Pe-
ruvian bark, rhubarb, hipocoacaunah, in
case they might happen in that wet
journey to be taken with fevers or
fluxes. Although there was no need of
example to inflame persons already so
cheerful, yet to enter the people with
the better grace, the author and
two more of the commissioners accom-
panied them half a mile into the Dis-
mal. The skirts of it were thinly plant-
ed with dwarf reeds and gall bushes,
but when we got into the Dismal itself

SURVEY

we found the reews grew there much
taller and closer, and to mend the mat-
ter were so interlaced with bamboo
briers that there was no_ scuffling
through them without the help of the
pioneers. At the same time we found
the ground moist and trembling under
cur feet like a quagmire,insomuch that
it was an easy matter to run the head
of a ten-foot pole up to the head of it,
without exerting any uncommon
strength to dao it. Two of the men,
whose burdens were the least cumber-
some, had orders to march before with
their tomahawks and clear the way, in
order to make an opening for the sur-
veyors. By their assistance we made a
shift to push a line half a mile in
three hours, and then reached a small
piece of firm land, about 100 yards wide,
standing up above the rest like an isl-
ani. Here the people were glad to lay
down their loads and take a little re-
freshments, while the happy man whose
lot it was to carry the jug of rum, be-—
gan already, like Aesop’s bread-car-
rier, to find it grow a good deal light-
er.

“In the meantime the three commis-
sioners returned out of the Dismal the
same way they went in, and having
joined their brethren proceeded that
night as far as Mr. Wilson’s. This
worthy person lives within sight of the
Dismal, in the skirts whereof his stock
ranges and maintain themselves all the
winter, and yet he kne-y as little of it
as he did of Terra Australia Incognita.
He told a Canterbury Tale of a North
Briton whose curiosity spurred him a
long way into this great desert, as he
called it, near twenty years ago, bit
he having no compass, nor seeing the
sun for several days together wandered
about until he was almost famished,
but at last he bethought himself of a
secret his countrymen make use of to

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

come out, being for the most part ap-
pilot themselves a dark day. He took
a fat louse out of his collar, and ex-
posed it to the open day light on a
Pirce of white paper, which he brought
along with him for his journal. The
poor insect, having no eyelids, turned
himself about until he found the dark-
est part of the heavens, and so made
the best of his way towards the north.
By this direction he steered himself
safe out and gave such a frightful ac-
count of the monsters Le saw and the
distresses he underwent thit nobody
Sin-e had been hardy enough to go
upon the like dangerous discovery.
“The Quakers prevailed much in this
part of the country, for want of min-
isters to pilot the people a decenter
way to heaven. Thr> ill-reputation of
tovacco planted in the lower Virginia
parishes makes the clergy unwilling to
accept of them, unless it be such whose
avilities are as mean as their pay. It
is a wonder no Popish missionaries are
sent from Maryland to labor in this
neglected vineyard, who we know have
zeal enough to traverse sea and land
on the meritorious errand of making
converts. Nor is it less strange that
some wolf in sheep’s clothing arrives
not from New England to lead astray
a flock that has no shepherd. -People
uninstructed in any religion are ready
to embrace the first that offers. It is
natural for helpless man to adore his
Maker in some form or other, and were
there any exceptions to this rule I
should suspect it to be among the Hot-
tentots of the Cape of Good Hope and
of North Carolina, Since the surveyors
had entered the Dismul they had laid
ey~s on no living creature. Not #0
much as a frog can endure so aguish
a situation. It had one beauty how-
ever, that delighted the eye, though at
the expense of all the other senses. The

i590

moisture of the soil makes every plant
an evergreen, but at the same time the
foul damps ascend without ceasing,
corrupt the air and render it unfit for
respiration. Not eveu a turkey-buzzard
will venture to fly over it. In these sad
circumstances the kindest thing we
could do for our suffering friends was
to give them a place in Litany. Our
chaplain, for his part, did his office and
rubbed us up with uw seasonable ser-
mon. This was quite a new thing to
our brethren of North Carolina, who
live in a climate where no clergymen
ean breathe any more than spiders in
Ireland. For want of men in _ holy
orders, both the members of the coun-
cil and justices of the peace are em-
powered by the laws of that country to
marry all those who will not take cne
another’s word, but for the ceremony
of christening their children they trust
that to chance. If a parson comes in
their way will crave a cast of 12 his
office, as they call it, else they are con-
tent their offspring shou!d remain as
arrant pagans as themselves. They ac-
count it among their greatest advan-
tages that they are not priest-ridden,
not remembering that the clergy is
rarely guilty of bestriding such as have

the misfortune to be poor. One thing
may be said for the inhabitants of
North Carolina, they that are not

troubled with any religious fumes, and
have the least superstitions of any peo-
ple living. They do not know Sunday
from any other day, any more than
Robinson Crusoe did, which would give

them a great advantage were they
given to be industrious. But they keep
so many Sabbaths every week that

their disregard of the seventh day has
no manner of cruelty in it either to
servants or cattle. Whole flocks of wo-
men and children fiew hither to stare
at us. Some borderers, too, had a great
mind to know where the line would

156 BYRD’S

prehensive lest their lands should be
taken into Virginia. In that case they
must have submitted to some sort of
order and government, whereas in
North Carolina every one does what
seems best in his own eyes. There were
some good women that brought their
children to be baptized, but brought no
capons along with them to make the
solemnity cheerful. In the meantime it
was strange that none came to be mar-
ried in such a multitude, if it had only
been for the novelty of having their
hands joined by one in holy orders.
Yet so it was that though our chap-
lain christened above a hundred he did
not marry so much as one couple dur-
ing the entire expedition.

“We began to be very greatly alarm-
ed about our people who were in the
Dismal, the 22nd being the 9th dav
since they entered into that inhospita-
ble swamp, and consequently we ha:
reason to believe their provisions were
quite spent. In the midst of our con-
cern we were most agreeably surpris-
ed with the news that they were all
safe. The blessed tidings were brought
us by Mr. Swan, the Carolina surveyor,
who came to us in a very tattered con-
dition. Our surveyors told us they had
measured ten miles in the Dismal and
computed the distance they had since
marched to amount to about five more,
so they made the whole breadth to be
15 miles. It may be computed at a
medium to be about 30 miles long and
ten miles broad, though where the line
crossed it completed 15 miles wide. The
exhalations that continually rise from
this vast body of mire and nastiness
infect the air for many miles around
and render it very unwholesome for the
bordering inhabitants. It makes them
liable to agues, pleurises and many
other distempers that kill abundance of
people and make the rest look no bei-
ter than ghosts. It would require a

SURVEY

great sum of money to drain it, but
the public treasury could not be better
bestowed than to preserve the lives of
his majesty’s leige people and at the
same time render so great a tract of
swamp very profitable, besides the ad-
vantage of making a channel to trans-
port by water carriage goods from Al-
bemarle sound to Nansemond sound
and Elizabeth river in Virginia. On the
24th, being Sunday, we had a numer-
ous congregation which flocked to us
from all the adjacent country. The
news that our surveyors were come
out of the Dismal increased the num-
ber very much, because it would give
them on opportunity of guessing at
least whereabouts the line would cut,
whereby they might form some judg-
ment whether they belonged to Vir-

ginia or Carolina. Tnose who had
taken up land within the disputed
bounds were in great pain lest it

would be found to lie in Virginia, be-
cause this being done contrary to an
express order of that government, the
patentees had great reason to fear
they should in that case have lost their
land. But their apprehensions were
now at an end when they understood
that all the territory which had been
controverted was like to be left in Car-
olina. It approaches nearer to the de-
scription of lubber land than any other,
by the great felicity of the climate, the
easiness of raising provisions and the
slothfulness of the people. The men,
for their part, just like the Indians, im-
pose all the work upon the poor wo-
men. They make their wives rise out
of their beds early in the morning, at
the same time that they lie and snore
till the sun has risen one-third of its
course and dispersed all the unwhole-
some damps. Then, after stretching and
yawning for half an hour, they light
their pipes and under the protection of
to secure them, so that the building is

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

a cloud of smoke venture out into the
open air, though if it happens to be
never so cold, they quickly return shiv-
ering into the chimney corners. When
the weather is mild they stand leaning
with both their arms upon the corn-
field fence and gravely consider wheth-
er they had best go and take a sma!l
heat at the hoe, but generally find
reasons to put it off to another time.
Thus they loiter away their lives, like
Solomon’s sluggard, with their arms
crossed, and at the winding up of the
year Scarcely have enough bread _ to
eat. To speak the truth it is a thor-
ough aversion to labor that makes
people file off to North Carolina, where
plenty and a warm climate confirm
them in their disposition to laziness for
their whole lives. Since we were like
to be confined in this place till the peo-
ple returned out of the Dismal, it was
agreed that our chaplain might safely
take a turn to Edenton, to preach the
Gospel to the infidels there and chris-
ten their children. He was accompanied
thither by Mr. Little, one of the Caro-
lina commissioners, who to show his
regard to the Church, offered to treat
him on the road with a fricasse of rum.
They fried half a dozen rashers of
very fat bacon in a pint of rum, both
of which being dished up _ together,
served the company at once both for
meat and drink. Most of the rum
they get in this country comes from
New England and is so bad and un-
wholesome that it is not improperly
called ‘Kill Devil.’ ‘Their molasses
comes from the same country and has
the name of ‘long sugar’ in Carolina.
I suppose from the ropiness of it, and
serves all the purposes of sugar, both
in their eating and drinking. Very
few in this country have the industry
to plant orchards, which in a dearth of
rum might supply them with much bet-

aS

ter liquor. The truth is there is one
inconvenience that easily discourages
lazy people from making this improve-
ment. Very often in autumn when the
apples begin to ripen they are visited
with numerous flights of paroqquets,
that bite all the fruit to pieces in a
moment for the sake of the kernals.
The havoc they make is sometimes so
great that whole orchards are laid
waste in spite of all the noises that can
be made or mawkins that can be
dressed up to frighten them away.
These ravenous birds visit North Caro-
lina cnly during the warm season and
so soon as the cold begins to come on
retire back towards the sun. They
rarely venture so far north as Virginia
except in a very hot summer, when
they visit the most southern parts of
it. They are very beautiful, but like
some other pretty creatures are apt to
be loud and mischievous. Betwixt this
and Edenton there are many whortle-
berry slashes, which afford a conven-
ient harbor for wolves and foxes. The
first of these wild beasts is not so large
and fierce as they are in other coun-
tries more northerly. They will not at-
tack a man in the keenest hunger, but
will run away from him as from an an-
imal more mischievous than them-
selves. The foxes are much bolder, and
will sometimes not only make a stand
but likewise assault any one that would
balk them of their prey. The inhabi-
tants hereabouts take the trouble to
dig abundance of wolf pits, so deep
and perpendicular that when a wolf is
once trapped into them, he can no more
scramble out of them than a husband
who has taken the leap can scramble
out of matrimony. Most of the houses
in this part of the country are log
houses, covered with pine and cypress
Shingles, three feet long and _ one
broad. They are hung upon laths with

158 BYRD'S
pegs and their doors too turn unon
wooden hinges and have wooden locks
finished without nails or other iron
work. At Edenton there may be forty
of fifty houses, most of them small and
built without expense. A citizen here
iz counted extravagant if he has ambi-
tion enough to aspire to a brick chim-
ney. Justice herself is but indifferent-
ly lodged. the court houses having
much the air of a common _ tobacco
heuse. I believe this is the only me-
tropolis in the Christian or Mohame-
tan world where there is neither
church, chapel, mosque, synagogue, or
any other place of public worship of
any sect or religion whatsoever. What
little devotion there may happen to be
is much more private than their vices.
The people seem easy without a minis-
ter, as long as they are exempted from
paying him. Sometimes the Soc‘ety
for Propagating the Gospel has had
the charity to send over missionar:es
to this country, but unfortunately the
priest hes been too lewd for the peo-
ple, or, which oftener happens, they tco
lewd for the priest. For these reasons
these reverend gentlemen have always
left their flocks as arrant heathens as
they found them. This much, how-
ever, may be said of the inhabitants
of Edenton, that not a soul has the
least taint of hypocrisy or supersti-
tion, acting very frankly and above
board in all their excesses. Provisions
here are extremely good, so that people
may live plentifully at a trifling ex-
pense. Nothing is dear but law, physic
and strong drink, which are all bad jn
their kind, and the last they get with
so much difficulty that they are never
Builty of the sin of suffering it to sour

upon their hands. They are rarely
guilty of flattering for making any
court to their Governors. but treat

them with all the excesses of freedom

SURVEY

and familiarity. They are of opinion
their rulers would be apt to grow in-
solent if they grew rich and for that
reason take care to keep them poorer
and more dependent if possible than
the saints in New England used to jo
their Governors. They have very lit-
tle corn, so they are forced to carry
on their home traific with paper money.
This is the only cash that will tary in
the country, and for that reason the
discount goes on increasing between
that and real money and will do so to
the end of the chapter. Our time pass-
ed heavily on our hands, when we were
quite eloyed with the Carolina felicity
of having nothing to do. It is reaily
more insupportable than the greatest
fatigue and made us even envy the
drudgery of our friends in the Dismal.
In making our survey care was taken
to erect a post in every road that our
lines ran through, with ‘Viginia’ carved
on the north side of it and North Car-
olina’ carved on the south. By per-
miscion of the Carolina commissioners
Mr. Swan was allowed to go home as
soon as the survey of the Dismal was
finished. He met with this indulgence
for a reason that might very well have
excused his coming at all, namely that
he was lately married. What remained
of the drudgery for this season was
left to Mr. Moseley, who had hitherto
acted only in the capacity of a com-
missioner. They offered to employ Mr.
Joseph Mayo as their surveyor in Mr.
Swan’s siead, but he thought it not
proper to accept of it, because he had
hitherto acted as a volunteer in behalf
ol Virginia, and did not care to change
sides though it might mave been to his
advantage. We christened two of the
children of our landlord, Mr. Parker,
which might have remained infidels all
their lives had we not carried Christi-
anity home to his own door. The truth

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

of it is our neighbors of North Caro-
lina are not so zealous as to go much
out of their way to procure this bene-
fit for their children. Otherwise being
so near Virginia they might without
exceeding much trouble make a journey
to the next clergyman upon so gcod in
errand, and, indeed, should the neizh-
boring ministers once in two or ihree
years vouchsafe to take a turn among
these Gentiles, to baptize them and
their children, it would look a little
apostolical and they might hope to be
requitted for it hereafter, if that be not
thought too long to tarry for their re-
ward. Wherever we passed We con-
stantly found the borderers laid it to
heart if their land was taken into Vir-
ginia. They chose much rather to be-
long to Carolina, where they paid no
tribute either to God or to Caesar.
Another reason was that the govern-
ment there is so loose and the laws
are so feebly executed that, like those
in the neighborhood of Sidon formerly,
every one does just what seems good
in his own eyes. Besides there might
have been come danger in venturing to
be rigorous, for fear of undergoing the
fate of an -honest justice in Curatuck
precinct. This bold magistrate, taking
it upon him to order a fellow to the
stocks for being disorderly in his drink,
was for his intemperate zeal, carried
thither himself and narrowly escaped
being whipped by the rabble into the
bargain. We found the mouth of Notto-
way river to lie no more than half a
minute farther to the northward than
Mr. Lawson had formerly done.

Col. Byrd says that on the 2nd of
April, three of the Meherrin Indians
paid the commissioners and surveyors
a visit. He adds: ‘They told us the
Small remains of their nation had de-
Serted their ancient town,situated near
the mouth of the Meherrin river, for

poy

fecr of the Catawbas, who had killed
fourteen of their people the year be-
fore, and the few that survived that
calamity had taken refuge amongst
the English on the east side of Chow-
a.iriver. If the c_mplaint of these In-
dians was true, they are hardly used
bry our Carolina friends, but they are
the least to be pitied because they have

e\cr been reputed most false and
treacherous to the English of all the
Indians in the neighborhood. Because

the spring was now pretty forward and
the rattlesnakes bes.n to crawl out of
their winter quarters cnd might prove
dangerous both to the men and to their
horses, it was determined on the 5th
of April to proceed no farther with the
line until the fall. Besides the uncom-
r.n fatigue the people had undergone
for near six weeks together, and the
inclination they all had to visit their
respective families, made a recess high-
ly reasonable. The surveyors were em-
ployed a greater part of the day in
forming a correct and elegant map -f
the line from Currutuck Inlet to the
place where they left off. They found
tl. whole distance they had run was
73 miles, of the map they made two fair
copies, which, agreeing exactly, were
subscribed by the commiss.oners of
both colonies, and one of them was de-
livered to those on the part of Virgin-
ia and the other to those on the part
of North Carolina. On the 6th we thus
finished our spring campaign and hav-
ing taken leave of our Carolina friends,
we agreed to meet them on the 10th of
Seotember following, at the same place,
On the following day we dispatched a
runner to the town of the Nottoway
Indians to let them know we intended
them a visit that evening. Accordingly
in the afternoon we marched in good
order to the town, where the female
Scouts stationed on an eminence for

160 BYRD’S
that purpose had no sooner spied us,
but that they gave notice of our ap-
proach to their fellow-citizens by con-
tinual whoops and cries, which could
not have been possibly more dismal
at the sight of their most implicable
el12mies. This signal assembled all
their great men, who received us in a
body and conducted us to the fort. This
fort was a square piece of ground en-
closed with substantial puncheons, or
strong palisades, about ten feet high,
and leaning a little outwards to make
a scalade more difficult. Each side
of the square might be about a hun-
dred yards long, with loop-holes at
proper distances, tnrough which they
may fire upon the enemy. Within this
inclosure we found bark cabins suffi-
cicnt to lodge all their people, in case
young men had pained themselves in a
These cabins are no other but close ar-
bours made of saplings, arched at the
top and covered so well with bark as
to be proof against all weather. The
fire is made in the middle, according
to the Hiberian fashion, the smoke
whereof finds no ouier vent than at the
door, and so keeps the whole family
warm at the expense of their eyes and
complexion. The Indians have no
standing furniture in their cabins, but
hurdles to repose their persons upon,
which they cover with mats and deer
skins. We were conducted to the best
apartments in the fort, which just be-
fore had been made ready for our re-
ception, and adorned with new mats
that were very sweet and clean. The
young men had painted themselves ina
hideous manner, not so much for orna-
ment as terror. In that frightful equip-
age they entertained us with songs and
War dances, wherein they endeavored
to look as formidable as possible. The
instrument they danced to was an In-
dian drum, that is a large goard with

SURVEY

a skin braced tight over the mouth of
it. The dancers all sang to the music
keeping exact time with their feet
while their heads andarms were screw-
ed into a thousand menacing postures.
Upon this occasion the ladies had ar-
rayed themselves in all their finery.
They were wrapped in their red and
blue match coats, thrown so negligent-
ly about them that their mahogany
skins appeared in several parts. Their
hair was braided with white and blue
peaks and hung gracefully in a large
roll upon their shoulders. This peak
consists of small cylinders cut out of a
conch shell, drilled through and strung
like beads. It serves them both for
money and jewels, the blue being of
much greater value than the white, for
the same reason that Ethiopian mis-
tresses in France are dearer than
French, because they are more scarce.
The women wear necklaces and brace-
lets of these precious materials when
they have a mind to appear lovely.
Though their complexions be a little
sad-colored, yet their shapes are very
straight and well-proportioned. Their
faces are seldom handsome, yet they
have an air of innocence and bashful-
ncss, that with a litle less dirt, would
not fail to make them desirable. Such
charms might have had their full ef-
fect upon men who had been so long
deprived of female conversation, but
that the whole winter soil was so
crusted on the skin of those dark an-
gels that it required a very strong ap-
petite to approach them. The _ bear’s
oil with which the anoint their persons
all over makes their skins soft and at
the same timeprotects them from every
species of vermin that used to be
troublesome to other uncleanly people.
It is by no means a loss of reputation
among the Indians for damsels_ that
are single to have intrigues with the

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

men; on the contrary they account it
an argument of superior merit to be
liked by a great number of gallants.
However, like the ladies in that game,
they are a little mercenary in their
amours,and seldom bestow their favors
out of stark love and kindness. But
after these women have once appro-
priated their charms by marriage they
are jhenceforth faithful to their vows
and will hardly ever be tempted by an
agreeable gallant or be provoked by a
brutal or even careless husband to go
astray. The little work that is done
among the Indians is done by the poor
women, while the men are quite idle
or employed at most in the gentleman-
ly diversions of hunting and fishing. In
this, as well as in their wars, they use
nothing but firearms, which they pur-
chase of the English for skins. Bows
and arrows are grown into disuse, ex-
cept only amongst their boys, nor is
it ill policy, but on the contrary, very
prudent, to furnish the Indians with
firearms, because it makes them de-
pend entirely on the English not only
for their trade, but even for their sub-
sistance. Besides they were really able
to do more mischief while they made
use of arrows, of which they would
Silently let fly several in a minute, with
wonderful dexterity, whereas nov, they
hardly ever discharge their firelocks
more than once, which they insidious-
ly do from behind a tree and then re-
tire as nimbly as the Dutch horse used
to do now and then formerly in MPlan-
ders. We cheered their hearts with
what rum we had left, which they love
better than they do their wives and
children. Though these Indians dwell
close upon the English and see in what
plenty a little industry enables them
to live, yet they choose to continue in
their stupid idleness and to suffer all

161

the inconveniences of dirt, cold and
want, rather than to disturb’ their
heads with care or to defile their

hands with labor. The whole number
of people belonging to the Nottoway
town, if you include women and chil-
dren, amount to about 200. These are
only Indians of any consequence now
remaining within the limits of Virgin-
ia. The rest are either removed or
dwindled to a very inconsiderable num-
ber, either by destroying one another,
or else by the small-pox or other dis-
eases, though nothing has been so un-
favorable to them as their ungovern-
able passion for rum, with which, I am
sorry to say, they have been put too
liberally supplied by the English that
live near them. Many children of our
neighboring Indians have been brought
up in the college of William and Mary.
They have been taught to read and
write and have been carefully instruct-
ed in the rrinciples of the Christian re-
ligion till they came to be men. Yet,
after they returned home, instead of
civilizing and converting the rest, they
immediately relapsed into infidelity and
barbarism themselves. Some of them,
too, have made the worst use of the
knowledge they acquired among the
English, by employing it against their
benefactors. Besides, as they unhappi-
ly forget all the good that they learn
and rer.ember all the ill, they are apt
to be more vicious anid disorderly than
the rest of their countrymen. I ought
not to quit this subject without doing
justice to the great prudence of Col.
Spotswood in this affair. That gentle-
man was Lieutenant Governor of Vir-
ginia when Carolina was engaged in
her bloody war with the Indians. At
that critical time it was thought ex-
pedient to keep a watchful eye upon
our tributary savages, who we knew,

162

had nothing to keep them to their duty
but their fears. Then it was that he
demanded of each nation a competent
number of their great men’s children to
be sent to the college, where they
served as sO many hostages for the
good behavior of the rest and at the

same time 'were themselves principled.

in the Christian religion. He also
placed a school-master among the
Saponi Indians to instruct their chil-
dren. I must be of opinion that there
is but one way of converting these
poor infidels and reclaiming them from
barbarity, and that is charitably to in-
termarry with them. Had the English
done this at first settlement of the
colony this at first settlement of the
been worn out at this day with their
dark complexions and the country had
swarmed with people more than it
does with insects. It was certainly an
unreasonable nicety that prevented
their entering into so good-natured an
alliance. All nations of men have the
same natural dignity and we know that
very bright talents may be lodged in
a very dark skin, the principal differ-
ence between one people and another
proceeding only from the different op-
portunities of improvement. The In-
dians by no means want understand-
ing and are in their figures tall and
well-proportioned. Even their copper-
colored complexion ‘would admit of
success. Indeed it was given in larger
blanching, if not in the first, at the
farthest in the second generation. I
may safely venture to say the Indian
women would have made altogether as
honest wives for the first planters as
the damsels they used to purchase from
aboard the ships. It is strange, there-
fore, that any good Christian should
have refused a wholesome, straight
bed-fellow, when he might have so fair

BYRD’S SURVEY

a portion with her as the merit of sav-
ing her soul.”

The agreement with the commission-
ers of Carolina was to meet again on
the 10th of September, but when that
came it was thought a little too soon
to resume work on account of the
snakes, so it was agreed to put it off
to the 20th of said month, of which due
notice was sent to the Carolina com-
missioners. The actual work was re-
sumed on the 21st, and on the next day,
which was Sunday, Col. Byrd dryly
Says: ‘When the sermon was over our
chaplain did his part towards making
eleven of them Christians. Several of
our men had intermittent fevers, but
were soon restored to their health
agail. by proper remedies. Our chief
medicine was dog-wood bark, which we
used instead of that of Peru, with good
quantities, but then to make the pa-
tients amerds they swallowed much
fewer doses. Our hunters brought us
four wild turkeys, which at that seas-
on began to be fat and very delicious,
especially the hens. These birds seem
to be of the bustard kind and fly heav-
ily. Some of them are _ exceedingly
large and weigh upwards of 40 pounds;
nay, some bold historians venture to
say upwards of 50 pounds. They run
very fast, stretching fortn their wings
all the time like the ostrich, by way of
sail to quicken their speed. Their spurs
are so sharp and strong that the In-
dians used formerly to point thelr ar-
rows with them, though now they point
‘them with a sharp white stone. I found
son.e plants of that kind of rattlesnake
root called star-grass. The leaves shoot
our circulars and grow horizontally
near the ground. The root is in shape
not unlike the rattle of that serpené
and is a strong antidote against the
bite of it. It is very bitter and where

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

it meets with any poison, works by
violent sweats, but where it meets with

none, has no sensible uperation but that
of putting the spirits in a great hurry,
and so of promoting perspiration. The
rattlesnake has a strong antipathy to
this plant, insomuch that if you smear
your hands with the juice of it you
you may handle it safely. This much I
can say from my own experience, that
once iu July, when these snakes are in
their greatest vigor, I besmeared a
dog’s nose with the powder of this root
and made him trample on a large
snake several times, which, however,
was so far from biting him that it per-
fectly sickened at the dog’s approach
and turned his head from him with the
utmost aversion.

“In the stony grounds we rode over
we found a great quantity of the true
ipocoacanna, (Col. Byrd must have
meant ipecac) which in this part of the
world is called Indian sphysic. This
has several stalks growing up from
the same root about a foot high, bear-
ing a leaf resembling that of a straw-
berry. It is not so strong as that of
Brazil, but has the same happy effects
if taken in a somewhat larger dose.
There is abundance of it in the
upper part of the country, where it
delights most in a stony soil intermix-
ed with black mould. On the 28th our
surveyors crossed the Roanoke river,
which rolls down a crystal stream of
very sweet water, insomuch that when
there comes to be a great monarch in
this part of the world he will cause all
the water for his own table to be
brought from Roanoke, as the great
kings of Persia did t:cirs from the Nile
and Choaspis, because the waters cf
those rivers were light and not apt to
corrupt. We crossed at a ford called
by the Indians Moni-Seep, which signi-

163

fics shallow water. This is the ford
where the Indian traders used to cross
with their horses on their way to the
Catawba nation. On the 29th a messen-
gc. we had sent returned with five
Saponi Indians. We agreed with one
of them to hunt for us. His hunting
name was Bear Skin, and either by his
skill or good luck he supplied us plen-
tifully all the way with meat, seldom
discharging his piece in vain. The
woods in the uplands we found had
been destroyed either by fire or cater-
pillars, which is often the case in the
uplands, and such places are called
poison fields. We here killed our first
bear. He was very poor, which was a
disappointment to our woodsmen, who
commonly prefer the flesh of bears to
every other kind of venison. This flesh
is regarded by the Indians as the
greatest promoter of vitality and of
child-bearing and we proved it to be
such. Some of our people shot a great
wild cat, which is as big again as any
household cat, and much the fiercest
inhabitants of the woods. Whenever it
is disabled it will tear its own flesh
for madness. On the third of October,
as we marched uwlong we saw many
buffalo tracks, but we saw not the ani-
mals, which either smelt us out, hav-
iny that sense very quick, or else were
alarmed at the noise of our marching.
At the sight of a man they will snort
and grunt, cock up their ridiculous.
short tails and tear up the ground with:
a sort of timorous fury. They hardly
ever range alone, but herd together,,
and delight much in canes and reeds..
On the 5th of October, to our very great
Surprise, the commissioners of Carolina
acquainted us with their resolution to
return home. This declaration of theirs
seemed the more abrupt because they
had not been so kind as to prepare us

164 BYRD’S

by the least hint of their intentions to
desert us. We, therefore, let them un-
derstand they appeared to us to aban-
don the business they came about with
too much precipitation, this being but
the 15th day since we came out the
last time. But although we were to be
so unhappy as to lose the assistance
of their great abilities, yet we who
were concerned for Virginia determin-
ed by the grace of God not to do our
work by halves, but all deserted as we
were like to be, should think it our
duty to push the line quite to the
mountains, and if their government
should refuse to be bound by so much
of the line as was run without their
commission, yet at least it would bind
Virginia and stand as a direction how
far his majesty’s lands extend to the
southward. On the 6th, being Sunday,
we lay still on the bank of Hico river,
and had only prayers, our chaplain not
having spirits enough to preach. The
gentlemen of Carolina assisted not at
our public devotion because they were
taken up all the morning in making a
formidable protest against our proceed-
iz with the line without them. When
the divine service was over the sur-
veyors set about making the plots of
so much of the line as we had run this
last campaign. Our pious friends of
Carolina assisted in this work with
some seeming scruples, pretending it
was a violation of the Sabbath, which
we were the more surprised at, be-
cause it happened to be the first qualm
of conscience they had ever been
troubled with during the whole jour-
ney. They made no bones of staying
from prayers to hammer out an unnec-
essary protest, though divine service
Wes no sooner over than an unusual fit
of godliness made them fancy that fin-
ishing the plots, which was now a

SURVEY

matter of necessity, was a profanation
of the day. However, the expediency
of losing no time for us who thought
it our duty to finish what we had un-
dertaken, made such labor pardona-
ble. Mr. Fitz-William, one of the Vir-
ginia commissioners, declared it his
opinion, that by his majesty’s order
they could not proceed further on the
line but in conjunction with the com-
missioners of Carolina, for which reas-
on he intended to retire the next morn-
ing with those gentlemen. This looked
a little odd in our brother commission-
er, though in justice to him, as well as
to our Carolina friends, they stuck by
us as long as our good liquor lasted
and were so kind to us as to drink our
good journey to the mountains in the
last bottle we had left. On the 7th
those of Carolina delivered their pro-
test which was by this time licked into
form and signed by them all. After
having adjusted all our affairs to the
Carolina commissioners and _ kindly
supplied them with bread, to carry
them back, which they hardly deserv-
ed at our hands, we took leave both
of them and of our colleague, Mr. Fitz-
William.

“On the 18th, this being Sunday, we
rested from our fatigue and had leisure
toreflect on the signal mercies of Prov-
idence. Our hunters brought in three
brace of wild turkies and told us they
could see the mountains distinctly from
every eminence. We examined our
friend Bear Skin concerning the re-
ligion of his country, and he explained
it to us without any of the reserve to
which the nation is subject. He told

us he believed there was one Supreme ™

God, who had several subaltern deities
under Him, and that this master god
made the world a long time ago. Then
he told the moon, the sun and stars

OF THE DIVIDING LINE.

their business, in the beginning, which
they, with good looking after, have
faithfully performed ever since. That
the same power which made all things
at first has taken care to keep them
in the same method and motion ever
since. He believed that God had form-
ed many worlds before he formed this,
but that those worlds either grew old
and ruinous, or were destroyed for the
dishonesty of the inhabitants. That
God is ever just and good, ever pleased
with those men who possess. those
good qualities. That he takes good
people into his protection, makes them
rich, fills their bellies plentifully, pre-
serves them from sickness and from
being surprised or overcome by their
enemies. But all such as tell lies and
cheat those that have dealings with
them, he never fails to punish with
sickness, poverty and hunger, and af-
ter all that, suffers them to be knocked
on the head and scalped by those that
fight against them. He believed that
after death both good and bad people
are conducted by a strong guard into
a great road, in which departed souls
travel together for some time, till at a
certain distance this road forks into
two paths, the one extremely level and
the other stony and mountainous. Here
the good are parted from the bad by
a flash of lightning, the first being
hurried away to the mght, the others
to the left. The right handroad leads to
a charming warm country, where the
spring is everlasting and every month
is May, and as the year is always in
its youth, so are its people, and par-
ticularly the women are bright as stars
and never scold. That in this happy
climate there are deer, turkeys, elk,
and buffaloes innumerable, perpetually
fat and gentle, while the trees are
loaded with delicious fruit, quite

165

throughout the four seasons. That the
soil brings forth corn spontaneously,
without the curse of labor, and so very
wholesome that none who have the
happiness of eating it ever grow sick
or old or die, near the entrance into
this blessed land sits a venerable old
man on a mat richly woven, who ex-
amines strictly all that are brought be-
fore him, and if they Lehave well, the
guards are ordered to open the crystal
gate and let them enter into the land
of delight. The teft path is very rug-
ged and uneven, leau.ng to a dark and
barren country where it is always win-
ter. The ground is the whole year
round covered with snow, and nothing
to be seen upon the trees buat icicles.
All the people are hungry, yet have
not a morsel of anything to eat, except
a bitter kind of potato that gives them
the dry gripes, and fills their whole
body with loathsome ulcers, that stink
and are insupportably painful. Here all
the women are old and ugly, having
claws like a panther’s, with which they
fly upon the men that slight their pas-
sion. For it seems these haggard old
furies are intolerably fond and expect
a great deal of cherishing. They talk
much and exceedingly shrill, giving ex-
quisite pain to the drum of the ear,
which in that place of tonment is so
tender that every sharp note wounds
it to the quick. At the end of this path
sits a dreadful old woman on a toad-
stool, whose head is covered with rat-
tlesnakes instead of tresses, with glar-
ing white eyes that strike terror un-
speakable into all that behold her. This
hag pronounces seitence of woe upon
all the miserable wretches that hoid
up their hands at her burial. After
this they are delivered over to huge
turkey-buzzards, like harpies, that fly
away with them to the place above

166 BYRD’S

mentioned. Here, after they have been
tormented a certain number of years,
according to their several degrees of
guilt, they are driven back again into
the wor'd to try again to mend their
manners if they will, and merit a
place next time in the regions of bliss.
This was the substance of Bear Skin’s
religion, and was as much to the pur-
pose as could be expected .rom a mere
state of nature, without one glimpse
of revelation or philosophy; it contain-
ed, however, the three great articles of
natural religion; the belief in a God
the moral distinction betwixt good
and evil, and the expectation of re-
wards and punishments in another
world. Indeed the Indian notion of fu-
ture happiness is a little gross and
sensual like Mahomet’s paradise. But
how can it be otherwise in a people
that are contented with nature as they
find her, and have no other lights
than what they receive from purblind
tradition?

“The Indianscan subsist several days
upon a little rockahominy, which is
parched Indian corn reduced to pow-
der. This they moisten in the hollow
‘f£ their hands with « little water, and
is hardly credible how small a quan-
tity of it will support them. It is true
they grow a little lank upon it, but
to make themselves feel well they gird
up their loins very tight with a beit
t- king up a hole every day. With this
simple substance they ere able to trav-
el very long journeys, but then to make
themselves amends, when they do meet
with good cheer they eat without ceas-
ing, till they have ravened themselves
into another famine.

The Indians had some strange no-
tions about game, for Col. Byrd says:
“Our Indian was very superstitious
about the matter of our men boiling

SURVEY

venison and turkeys together, these
with the addition oi a little rice or
French barley making excellent soup,
and what happens rarely in other good
things it never cloys, no more than an
engaging wife would do, by being a
constant dish. Our Indian told us with
a face full of concern that if we con-
tinued to boil venison and turkey to-
gether we should for the future kill
nothing, because the spirit that pre-
sided over the woods wov:d drive all
the game out of our sight. We were
entertained at night by the yells of the
whole family of wolves. These beasts
of prey kept pretty much upon our
track being tempted by the garbage of
the creatures we killed every day, for
which we were serenaded almost every
night. This beast is not so untamable
as the panther, but the Indians know
how to gentle their whelps and use
them about their cabins instead of
dogs. On the 11th we came upon the
River Dan a second time. Hereabout,
from one of the highest hills, we made
the first discovery of the mountains,
on the northwest of our course. They
seemed to lie off at a vast distance
and looked like ranges of blue clouds
rising one above another. We made
god cheer upon a very fat buck. The
Indian likewise shot a wild turkey,
but confessed he would not bring it
to us, lest we should continue to pro-
voke the guardian of the .orest by
coking the beasts of the field and the
birds of the air together in one ves-
sel. The instance of Indian supersti-
tion I confess is countenanced in some
measure by the Levitical law, which
forbade the mixing things of a differ-
ent nature together in the same field,
or in the same garment, and why not
then in the same kettle? But after all
if the jumbling of things toge.her be

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

asin the good people of England would
have a great deal to answer for in
beating up so many different ingredi-
ents into a pudding. The Indian killed
a@ very fat doe and came aeross a bear
which had been killed and was half de-
voured by a panther. The last of these
brutes reigns absolute monarch of the
woods, and in the keenness of his hun-
ger will venture to attack a bear, al-
though then it is ever by surprise.
Their play is to take the poor bears
napping, they being very drowsy ani-
mals, and though they be exceedingly
strong, yet their strength is heavy,
while the panthers are too nimble and
cunning to trust themselves within
their hug. In South Carolina they call
this beast a tiger, though improperly,
and so they do in some parts of the
Spanish West Indies. Some of their au-
thors, a little more properly, complete
it with the name of a leopard. But i.one
of these are the growth of America,
that we know of. On the 17th we cross-
ed the Dan, which now began to run
away more southerly, we being well
assured by the Indians that it runs
through the mountains. The atmos-
phere was smoky all around us, due to
the firing of the woods by the Indians,
for we were now near the route the
Northern savages take when they go
out to war against the Catawbas and
other Southern Indians. The Northern
Indians have an implacable hatred to
those of the South. Their wars are
everlasting, without any peace, en-
mity being the only inheritance among
them that descends from father to son,
and either party will march a thous-
and miles to take revenge upon such
hereditary enemies. Some Indian, re-
markable for his bravery, and a war
captain declares his intention of vis-
iting some Southern nation, and here-

167

upon as many of the yours fellows as
have a strong thirst for blood or glory,
place themselves under his command.
With these volunteers he goes from
one confederate town to another, list-
ing all the rabble he can, till he gath-
ered together a competent number for
mischief. Their arms are a gun and a
tomahawk and all the provisions they
carry from home is a jouch of rock-
ahominy. Thus they warch towards
the enemy’s country, not in a body or
by a certain path, but straggling along
jn small numbers for the greater con-
venience of hunting and passing along
undiscovered. If they are able to find
the camp of any Southern Indians,
they squat down in some thicket and
keep themselves hushed and snug until
it is dark, then, creeping up softly,
they approach near enough to observe
all the motions of the enemy and about
2 o’clock in the morning, when they
conceive them to be in a _ profound
sleep, for they never keep watch and
ward, pour in a volley upon them, each
singling out his man. The moment
they have discharged their pieces, they
rush in with the tomahawks and make
sure work of all that are disabled.
Sometimes when they find the enemy
asleep around their little fire they first
pelt them with little stones to wake
them and when they get up fire in
upon them, being in that posture a bet-
ter mark than when prostrate on the
ground.. Those that are killed of the
enemy or disabled they scalp. The pris-
oners they happen to take alive they
put to all the tortures that ingenious
malice and cruelty can invent, and they
never fail to treat those with greatest
inhumanity that have distinguished
themselves most by their bravery, and
if he be a war captain they do him the
honor to roast him alive and distribute

168 BYRD’S
a collop to all that had a share in steal-
ing the victory. They are very cunning
in finding out new ways to torment
their unhappy captives, though like
those in hell their usual method is by
fire. Sometimes they barbecue them
over live coals, taking them off now
and then to prolong their misery;
at other times they will stick sharp
pieces of lightwood in the flesh to the
very bone, and when they take a stout
fellow that they believe able to endure
a great deal they will tear all the flesh
off his bones with red hot pinchers: If
such cruelties happen to be executed in
their towns they employ their children
in tormenting the prisoners, in order
to extinguish in them betime all senti-
ments of humanity. In the meantime,
while these poor wretches are under all
the anguish of this inhuman treatment,
they disdain so much as a groan, sigh
or to show the least sign of dismay or
concern, but make it a point of honor
all the time to soften their features and
look as pleased as if they were actual-
ly enjoying some delight, and if they
never sang before in their lives they
will be sure to be delodious on this sad
and dismial occasion. So prodigious a
degree of passive valor in the Indians
is the more to be wondered at because
in all articles of danger they are apt
to behave like cowards. And what is
still more surprising, the very women
discover on such occasions as great for-
titude and contempt both of pain and
death as the gallantest of their men
do.

On the 25th, the air clearing up, we
were again agreeably surprised with
a full prospect of the mountains, whicn
discovered themselves both to the
north and south of us on either side,
not distant above ten miles. We could
now see those to the north rise in four
distinct ledges, one above another, but

SURVEY

those to the south formed only a single
ledge, and that broken and interrupt-
ed in many places. The next day we
found our way grow still more moun-
tainous, and we came to a rivulet that
ran with a swift current toward the
south. This we fancied to be another
branch of the Irvin river, though some
of the men who have been Indian trad-
ers judged it rather to be the head of
Deep river, that discharges its stream
into that of Pee Dee, but this seemed
a wild conjecture. The bread began
to grow scanty and the winter seemed
to advance upon us. We had reason to
apprehend being intercepted by deep
snows, and the swelling of many waters
between us and home, obliging us to
winter in those desolate woods. These
considerations determined us to stop
here and push our adventures no far-
ther. The last tree we marked was a
red oak on the bank of the river. We
found the whole distance from Cora-
tuck Inlet to the rivulet where we left
off to be in a straight line 241 miles and
from the place where the Carolina com-
missioners deserted us 72 miles. One
of the men picked up a pair of elks’
horns and discovered the track of the
elk that had shed them. The elk is
fully as big as a horse and of the deer
kind. Their swiftest speed is a large
trot and in that motion they turn their
horns back upon their necks anid cock
their noses aloft in the air, nature hav-
ing taught them this attitude to save
their antlers from being entangled in
the thickets, which they always retire
to. We all agreed to wear in our hats
the maosti, which is in Indian the
beard of a wild turkey-cock, and on our
breasts the figure of that fowl with its
wings extended and holding in its claws
a scroll with this motto: ‘Vice coturni-
cum,’ meaning that we had all been
supported by them in the wilderness in

OF THE DIVIDING LINE

the room of quails. It is not improba-
ble that a few miles farther the course
of our line might carry us to the most
northerly towns of the ‘Cherokees. It
was a great pity that the want of bread
and the weakness of our horses hin-
dered us from making the discovery.
Our traders have now to travel about
500 miles to take goods to the Chero-
kees. The discovery of a shorter way
would certainly prove an unspeakable
advantage to this colony by facilitat-
ing the trade with so considerable a
nation of Indians, which have 62 towns
and more than 4,000 fighting men. Of
late the new colony of Georgia has
made an act abliging us to go 400 miles
to take out a license to traffic with these
Cherokees, though many of their towns
lie out of their bounds, and we car-
ried on this trade 80 years before that
colony was thought of. I would fur-
nish our foresters for going into this
great wilderness with portable provis-
ions, namely gluebroth and rockahomi-
ny. The Indians, who have no way of
traveling but on the hoof, making noth-
ing of going 25 miles a day and carry-
ing their necessaries at their backs and
sometimes a stout pack of skins in the
bargains and they laugh at the Eng-
lish, who cannot stir to the next
neighbor without a horse and say that
two legs are too much for such lazy
people who cannot visit their next
neighbor without six. For their part
they were utter strangers to all our
beasts of burden or carriage, before the
slothful Europeans came amongst them.
Although practice will soon make a
man of tolerable vigor an able footman,
yet as a help to bear fatigue, I used to
chew a root of gingseng as I walked
along, this held up my spirits and
made me trip away nimbly in my half
pack-hoocis aS younger men would do
in their shoes. We rested our horses by

169

walking and custom had made travel-
ing on foot so familiar that we were
able to walk ten miles with pleasure.
One of the men had the luck to meet
with a young buffalo on the 1lith of No-
vember, the beast being two years old,
but notwithstanding as big as an old
ordinary ox. The hair growing on his
neck and head is shaggy and so soft it
will spin into thread not unlike mohair.
Some people have stockings made of it
that would have served an_ Israelite
during his 40 years march through
the wilderness. His horns are short
and strong, of which the Indians make
large spoons which they say will split
and fall to pieces whenever poison is
put into them. Buffaloes may be easily
tamed when they are taken young. The
best way to catch them is to carry a
mulch mare into the woods and when
you find a cow and a calf to kill the
cow and then having caught the calf
to suckle it upon the mare, when it will
follow her home and become as gentle
as another calf. If we could only get
into the breed of them they might be
made very useful, not only for the
dairy, by giving an ocean of milk, but
also for drawing vast and cumbersome
weights by their prodigious strength.
The men were so delighted with the
diet of buffalo meat that the gridiron
and frying-pan had no more rest at
night. ;

“The Tuscarora Indians were once
very numerous and powerful, making
within time of memory at least a
thousand fighting men. Their habita-
tion, before the war with Carolina,
was on the north branch of Neuse riv-
er,commonly called Connecia creek, but
now the few that are left alive are on
the north side of Moratuck, which is
all that part of Roanoke below the
great falls towards Albemarle sound.

170

But the greatest consumption of these
savages happened by the war about
25 years ago, on account of some in-
justice the inhabitants of Carolina had
done them about their lands. It was on
that provocation they resented their
wrongs a little too severely upon Mr.
Lawson, who under color of being sur-
veyor-general had encroached toomuch
upon their territories, at which they
were so enraged that they waylaid him
and killed him, but at the same time
released the Baron De Graffenreid,
whom they had seized for company,
because it appeared plainly he had
done them no wrong. This blow was
followed by some other bloody actions
on the part of the Indians, which
brought on the war, wherein many
were cut off and obliged to flee for ref-
uge to the Senecas, so that now
there remains so few that they are in
danger of being quite exterminated by
the Catawbas, their mortal enemies.
We crossed the Trading Path, which is
the route the traders take with their
caravans when they ge to trade with
the Indians. The goods tor the Indian
trade consist chiefly of guns, powder
shot, hatchets (which the Inu.ans call

tomahawks), kettles, red and blue
planes, Duffields, Stroudwater, blank-
ets and some cuttlery wares, brass

rings and other trinxets. The course
of this path lies through a fine coun-
try, watered by several beautiful riv-
ers, those of the greatest note being
Tar river, which is the upper part of
Pamlico; Flat river, Little river and
Eno river, all three branches of Neuse.
Between Eno and Saxapahaw rivers
are the Haw Old Fields, which have
the reputation of containing the most
fertile highland in this part of the
world, lying in a body of about 50,000
acres. This Saxapahaw is the upper

, é >' éi
* : ”

BYRD’S SURVEY

part of Cape Fear river, the falls of
which lie many miles below the Trad-
ing Path. Not far from thence the
Path crosses Aramanchy river, a
branch of the Saxapahaw, and about
40 miles beyond that the Path inter-
sects the Yadkin river,, which is there
half a mile over and is supposed to be
the south branch of the same Pee Dee,
About three score mies more bring
you to the first town of the Catawhbas,
called Nauvasa, situated on the banks
of the Santee river. These Indians
were all called formerly by the general
name of the Usherees.

“On the Roanoke river, at the plan-
tation of Cornelius Keith, I beheld the
wretchedest scene of poverty I have
ever met with in this happy part of
the world. This man, his wife and six
children lived in a pen like s0 many
cattle, without any roof over their
heads but that of heaven. This was
their airy residence in the day-time,
but then there was a fodder-stack not
far from this enclosure, in which the
whole family sheltered themselves at
night and in bad weather. However,
it was almost worth while to be as
poor as this man was to be as perfect-
ly contented. All his wants proceeded
from indolence and not from misfor-
tune. All the grandees of the Sappona
Indians came to meet us, with four
young ladies of the first qual*ty, the
price set upon whom was not at all

peer as a princess for a pair

thoug

ear. -The Saponas are now

of red stockings cannot surely be

Simade up of the remnants of several

other nations, of which the most con-
siderable are the Occaneches and
Stoukenhocks, who have united them-
selves into one body and all go under
the name of the Saponas. The Saponas
have now removed in a body to the Ca-

-P?

A r MJ , P.. V4

<

Oo

OF THE DIVIDING LINE. BE

tawbas, and the daughter of the King
of the Teteros went away with them,
but being the last of her nation, and
fearing she should not be treated ac-
cording to her rank, she poisoned her-
self, like an old Roman, with the root
of the trumpet-plant. She was the last
of her race.

“Thus ended our second expedition,
in which we extended the line within
the shadow of the Chariky mountains,
where we were obliged to set up our
pillars like Hercules and return home.
His Majesty has been pleased to de-
clure, notwithstanding the desertion of
the Carolina commissioners, that the
line run by us shall hereafter stand as
the true boundary between the govern-
ments of Virginia and North Caro-
lina.”

The narrative of Col. Byrd also con-
tains notes of a journey to what he
called ‘‘The Land of Eden,” that being
his name for his property in North
Carolina. He began this journey Sep-
tember 11, 1733. On the 1st of October
he crossed the Dan river near the place
where the Irvin river runs into it and
then came to an opening of large ex-
tent, where the Sauro Indians once
lived, who, he says, had been a consid-
erable nation, but huu been so inces-
santly annoyed by the frequent inroads
of the Senecas that they had been
obliged to remove trom this fine situa-
tion about the year 1700. They then
retired more southerly, as far as the

Kewawees, where Col. Byrd says a
remnant of them still survived in 1733.
On Hatcher’s creek he found a larse
beech tree, with these words cut upon
it, “J. H., H. H., B. B., lay here the
24th of May, 1673.’’ Tnese men, he says,
were Joseph Hatcher, Henry Hatcher,
and Benjamin Bullington, Indian trad-
ers, who had lodged near inat place
60 years before on their way to the
Sauro town. Col. Byrd had the good
luck to shoot a young buffalo. He says:
“TI pitched my tent on the very spot
I had done so when we ran the divid-
ing line between Virginia and Caro-
lina. The beech tree whose bark re-
corded the names of the Carolina com-
missioners was still standing, and we
did them the justice to add to their
names a sketch of their characters.
Major Mayo, my companion, began to
survey the land which the commission-
ers of Carolina had presented him with
on Sugartree creek. In coming back to
our camp from an observation, we
found a wolf eating a deer which we
had out in the water to preserve it
from the ravens. We shot an old she
bear and discovered a solitary bull buf-
falo, which boldly standing his ground,
contrary to the custom of that shy ani-
mal, we spared his life, from a prin-
ciple of never slaughtering an inno-
cent creature to no purpose.”
FRED A. OLDS.

(The End.)

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