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A CONCISE

ACCOUNT

O F

NORTH AMERICA:

CONTAINI NG

A Defcription cf the fevcral British Colonies
on that Continent, including the Iflands of
Newfoundland, Cape Breton, 6cc.

AS to
Their Situation, Extent, Climate, Soil, Produce, Rife,
Government, Religion, Prefent Boundaries, and
the Number of Inhabitants fuppofed to be in each.

also of
Xhe Interior, or Wcfterly Parts of the Country, \!p^n the
Rivers St. Laurence, the Mississipi, Christino, and

the Great Lakes.

To which is fuhjoined.

An Account of the feveral Nations and Tribes of Indians
refiding inthofe Parts, as to their Caftoms, Manners, Go-
vernment, Numbers, &c.

Containing many Ufeful and Entertaining Fafls, never before

treated of.

By Major ROBERT ROGERS.

LONDON:
Printed for the A U T H O R,
And fold by J, Mili.an, Boolcfcller, near Whitehall,
' MDCCLXV,

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INTRODUCTION.

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©>*^®HE Britifh Empire in NoRTii
^> T < '^^ America is become fo extenfwc
^?RL^y^ and confiderable, thit it is prcfu-
U^*iisi& nipjj any attempts to tranfmit a
juft notion of it to the public will be favour-
ably received by every Englifliman who wifhes
well to his country 5 fdr, without a right know-
ledge of a country, new and unfettled, as a
great part of this is, fo diftant from the feat of
empire, it is not likely that attention will be
paid to the defending and peopling it, and to
the encouraging commerc: in it, which is in-
difpenfibly requifitc to fender it advantageous
to the nation in general, as well as to thofe in-
dividuals who become adventurers in it.

It will not be expcdted, after volumes lip-
6n volunics that have been publiflied concern-
ing the Briifli colonies on the eallern (liore of
the America continent, that any thing material-

a2 1y

[ iv ]

!y new can be related of them. The only
thing I mean to attempt with regard to this
18, to colIe<5l fuch fa(fts and cJrcumftances, as,
in a political and commercial view, appear to
me to be moft interefting ; to reduce them to
an cafy and familiar method, and contradt
them within fuch narrow limits, that the
whole may be feen as it were at once, and
every thing material be coUefted from a few
pages, concerning feventeen Provinces ; a
minute and circumflantial account of which
would fill fo many confiderable volumes.

In doing this, where my own knowledge
(acquired by travelling fcveral times thro'moft
of them) did not ferve me, I have endeavoured
to make ufe of the moft authentic materials,
colleded from others, and to fet every fadt
and circumftance in a true and impartial light,
without favour or prejudice to any particular
part or party.

But the principal objedt I have had in view,
and what I look upon to be the moft intereft-
ing and defcrving part of this work, is the ac-
count I have given of the interior parts of
North America, which though eoncife, and
vaftly (hort of what I fliould be glad to exhibit,
I flatter myfclf is as full and perfed as any at
•j^refsnt to be come at. Certain I am, that no

• t V ]

one man befidcs has travelled over ani fccn fo
much of this part of the country as I have
done J and if my remarks and obfervations re-
lative thereto arc injudicious or wrongly placed,
it is not owing to any want of attention to the
fuhjedl, but merely to a want of (kill. What
is comprehended under the appellation of the *
Interior country of America, is of itfelf a larger
territory than all the continent of Europe, and
is at prefent moftly a defart, uninhabited, ex-
cept by favages: ic cannot therefore be reafon-
ably expedted that any one man has it in his
power to give a juft and minute account of its
feveral parts, but that he muft pafs over large
tracks of country in very general terms, and ia
many things depend upon the reports ofothers,*
or proceed upon his own uncertain conjedturcs.
This wide-extended country may naturally
enough be confidered under three general di-
vifions, occafioned by the three great rivers'
that take their rife near the center of it, name-
ly, St. Lawrence, theChriilino, and the MilTi-
ilipi. The firfl: of thefe I have traced, and
am pretty well acquainted with the country
adjftcent to it as far up as Lake o'jpciior, and
with the country from the Green Bay weft-
ward to the MirrifTipi, and from thence down
to the mouth of the Miifil-'ipi a', ths gulph

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bf Mexico. I have alfo travelled th^ country
adjacent to the Ohio and its principal branches,'
and that between the Ohio and the Lakes Erie
and Me(higan, and the countries of the fouth-
cm Indians. But as to the country above
Lark« Superior, I have my intelligence chiefly
from Indians, or from prifoners that have tra-
velled with them into it. The fame is the
cafe as to the countrv at the head of the Mifli-
ffipi, arid that adjacent to the river Mifauris.
The Chriftino I have taken wholly from the
Indians : and though the accounts they have
given me of thefe countries are large, and in
fome particulars very inviting, yet I (hall do
little more than mention their names, till I
have better authority to go upon.

In the account I have fubjoined of the Indi-
ans, their cuftoms, manners, &c. I have pur-
pofely omitted many things related by others
who have wrote on that fubjedt ; fome, becaufe
they are falfe, and others, becaufe they are
trite and trifling ; and have only mentioned
fuch as I thought moft diftinguiiliing and ab-
folutely neceffary to give a juft idea of the ge-
nius and policy of that people, and of the me-
thod in which they are to be treated, in order
to our having any fafe and advantageous com-
Biercc with them. And, without vanity, I

may

. [ Vli ]

may fay, that the long and particular acqnain-
lance I have had with feveral tribes and nations,
both in peace and war, has at lead furoiOied mc
materials to treat the fubjed with propriety,
however I may have failed in other refpedls.
But 1 am not going to apologize or beg mer-
cy at the hands of the Critical-, for it is far
from being my ambitioi to ihine as a learned
^ndaccurate hidorian ; the only thing I mean to
do is, in a fimple and intelligible manner, to
relate fuch matters of fadl as may be ufeful to
my country, and (hail without any regret re-
fign the plume to any one who performs the
talk with greater life and ornament, and in a
|;panner more pleating to the public.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

IT is propofed to continue this CONCISE
ACCOUNT of NORTH AMERICA in
a fccond volume, containing maps of the fc-
veral colonies, and of the Interior Country of
North America, more corred:, and eafier to be
pnderftood than any yet publiflied. To be
printed by Subfcription.

Subfcriptions to be taken in by J. Milt, an,
Bookfeller, near Whitehall^ and by fuch others
as he (hall appoint, he being empowered by
me for that purpofe, and will give proper re-
ceipts to deliver the faid volume, or return tha
fubfcription-money, in a limited time.

Price to Subfcribers will be one EngJiftj Gui-
nea, one half to be paid at fubfcribing, and
^hc other on the delivery of the books.

Rob', Rogers.

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Concise Account

O F

NORTH AMERICA.

•ift|S*C4^^iVt E R I C A is divided into North

a^g and South, joining at the ifth-
jO mus of Dariert. North America,

g^v-^agfe?5 ^^ which my obfervations will
be at prefent confined, lies be-
tween the latitudes of lo and 80 degrees
Jiorth, and chiefly between the longitudes of
48 and 130 degrees weft from the meridian
of London, and is about four thoiifand two
hundred miles from north to fouth, and
about five thoufand from eaft to weftj
being bounded on the eaft by the At-

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2 ^ CoaClBE ACCOV li'T of

lantick ocean ; by the gulf of Mexico, on
the fouth 5 on the weft, by the Pacifick o-
ceani and by the northern continent and
ocean to the northward, through which, fomc
fuppofe, there is a paflage into the Pacifick or
Weftern ocean. A great part of this vaft ex-
tent of territory is at prefent poffefled by the
fubjedls of his Britannick Majefty, and the ori-
ginal natives, or Indians, the number of which
far exceeds that of the Englilh. And that I
may preferve fome order and method, while
I attempt a defcription of this country (fo far "
as I have been able by my own travels and
obfervations, and the information of others,
to attain to the knowledge of it) I propofe,
Firft, To defcribe the feveral Britifti govern-
ments and colonies on the continent (including
alfo the iflands of Newfoundland, Cape Breton,
and St. John's) feparately ; beginning with
the northernmoft, and travelling to the fouth-
ward ; in which the reader may expedl a
brief account of the rife, prefent extent and
boundaries o^ thefe provinces 5 the number of
Englifli inhabitants fuppofed to be in each ;
the climate, foil, commodities, government,
religion, &c.

And>

NEWFOUNDLAND. 3

And, fccondlv, fome account of the inte-
rior or weftern parts of the country, fo far as
difcoveries have been made, and of the Indian
nations and tribes that are known to us who
inhabit it ; as to their fituation, numbers,
manners, cuftoms, and the conncdlions and
alliances that they have with each other, and
with the Englifh and French, &;c.

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' NEWFOUNDLAND,

SO named by the firfl: difcoverer, is the
mod confiderable ifland in North Ame-
rica for Its extent, being fituated eaft of
the gulf of 8t. Lawrence, between 46, 40,
and 42 deg. 7 min. north latitude, and 41, 52,
and 57 deg. 40 min. weft longitude, is bound-
ed eafterly and fouiherly by the Atlantic^
ocean, northerly by the ftreights of Bellifle,
and on the weft by the gulf of St. Lawrence,

* This ifland was difcovered by the Cabbots,
in 1497, ^^^ *^^^ pofTeflion of it in the name
of King Henry VIL ; but no colony was
planted here till fome confiderable time after.
The foil being not the moft fertile, and the

B ^ cold

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^ ^i Concise A (^ COUNT 0^

cold extremely fevere, were clrcumftances, no
doubt, which prevented the Englifh from at-
tempting a fettlement here, till feme time in
the reign of Henry Vlll. when they were al-
lured to it, for the fake of fifhing on the banks
which lie off the fouth-eaflerly parts of it.

In the reign of Qaeen Elizabeth, Sir Wil-
liam Gilbert was fent out with a commifiion,
to prohibit all perfons, not being her fubjeds,
to fi(h upon the coafts of this ifland. No
lands in the ifland were granted till 1610,
when King James gave a grant to the fiarl of
Southampton, and others, of all that part of
Newfoundland, lying between Cape Bona-
vifta and Cape St. Mary. Some Briftol mer-
chants being joined in the patent, the fettle-
ment took the name of the Briftol Plantation.
Sir George Calvert purchafed fome lands of
this company, upon the fouth-eaft coaft, fent
thither a colony, and afterwards followed him-
felf, and eredted fome houfes and a fort.
But beinjT afterwards created Lord Balti-
more, and getting a grant of Maryland, he
abandoned the frozen co^Vis of Newfound-
land, and began the fettlement of that pro-
vince.

During

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NEWFOUNDLAND.

During the protedlorfliip of Cromwell, Sir
David Kirk, but without any commifiion,
took poffeiHon of this illand, where he lived
and diedj after which the original proprietors
dropped their projedl of a fettlcment here, and
the fettlers that remained lived without any
legal government. The French took advan-
tage of this fituation ot things, and not only
fent their fliips to fi(h upon the coalis, but
eredcd a regular fort at Placcntia, garrifoned
at the expence of the government, and claimed
the fole right to the ifland and fifhery.

It continued in this pi)fture during the reigns
pf Charles and James II. but, fuon after the re-
volution, the Biitifh government renewed their
antient claim, and attempted to exclude the
French from both the ifland and fi{hery, by
the deflrudtion of their fort at Placentia,
which however at that time proved abortive.

The next fumrner Sir John Norris was fent
with a fquadron, and 1500 lattd-forces, with
which he raifed a regular fort at St. John's,
and, leaving a garrifon, returned to England^
without attempting any thing againft the
French. An a(5t of parliament was however
pafled, that no foreigner (hould fifh on any of
the rivers, lakes, or coafts of Newfoundland ]|
l3ut this proved a poor bulwark againft the

prench,

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S A Concise Account of

French, who, in 1705, laid fiegeto, and demo-
lished the town of St. John's, with all the
fifhing {lages, &c. but could not reduce the
fort.

By the treaty of Utrecht the ifland was a-
gain furrendered to the Engli(h, but they did
not enjoy that and the fifliery on the coafts,
without repeated interruptions from theFrench;
and in 1762 they took our fort at St. John*s,
and reduced this ifland to their obedience; but,
by the vigilance and adivity of the Britifli com-
manders and troops then in America, were dif-
poiTcfTed of it the fame fummer, after they had
confiderably improved our fortifications there,
and are at this time entirely excluded from the
ifland and the fifticry on the coafts, except on
the Ifland bank, and a few fmall iflands that
lie off between Cape Ray and Cape St. Mary.
The foil of this ifland, as hath been hinted,
is very barren (excepting fome glades upon the
banks of rivers) in the inland parts of it, rifing
into hills, or finking into bogs and fwamps,
and where not covered with water, af-
fords nothing but fhrubs, fpruce, and white
mofs.

There are in this ifland many fine rivers,
lakes, aud rivulets, which abound with beaver,
ptl^rs, and the like, and in which is great plenty

t 111

NEWFOUNDLAND. f

of falmon,and manyother kinds of fi(h. There
is alfo great plenty of v\ild fowl, and the forefts
are ftored with deer,moofe, bears, and wolves,
in great plenty. But the great and ftaple com-
modity of this illand is cod-fi{h, which are
here larger and in greater abundance than in
any part of the world yet difcoveredjlnd great
part of the world is at prefent fupplied with this
article chiefly from hence.

There are annually employed from Great-
Britain and North America, at the loweft
computation, upwards of three hundred fail
of veffels in the fifliing bufinefs j on board of
which, and on fliore, to manufadlure the fifh,
are not lefs than 10,000 hands; fo that it is
at the fame time a very profitable branch of
trade to the merchant, a fourcc of livelihood to
fo many thoufands of poor people, and a moft
excellent nurfery to she royal navy, which is
hence fupplied with great numbers of able fea-
men. There are alfo taken, in great abun-
dance on thefe coafts, mackrel, whales, feals,
porpoifes, &c. fo that above 5000 barrels of
oil, befides a great quantity of whalebone, feal
fkins, &c, are annually exported from hence
to different parts of the world, all which may
fufHciently point out the importance of this

ifland.

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^ -^ Concise Account oj

ifland, n')twithftanding the roughnefs and bar-
rcnncfs of foil, and feverity of the climate.

The number of Englifh inhabitants on this
iflaiid is uncertain and fluduating, there being
near double the number in fummer to what
there is in t'^e winter.

St. John*s, fitaated on the foutherly part of
the ifland, is the capital town, containing be- •
twcen three and fourfcore houfes.

Thefe coafts are obferved to be extremely
fubjcdt to logs, occafioncd by the vapours,
which are exhaled from the lakes, fwamps and
bogs, with which the illand abounds, as is
generaUy fuppofcd ; but perhaps is more
owing to the vaft llioals of fiih and fea- animals
which frequent thefe coafls, whofe breath,
warmth, and motion, occalion vapours to rife
from the fea ; hence I imagine it is, that, not-
withftanding the almoft perpetual fogs here,
the air is wholefome and agreeable to moil
conftitutions, which would hardly be the cafe
if they fprung from bogs, fwamps, and
frefti -water lakes.

The wiiiters are fevere, attended with al-
tnoft continual ftorms of fnow, fleet, 6cc. the
fky being generally overeat.

Kere are few cattle, llieep, or horfcs; inftead
of the latter, the inhabitants make ufe of dogs

for

CAPE BRETON. .. f.

for drawing of wood and other conveyances,
which they manage with great dexterity, fixing
them in leather collars, to any number they
plcafe.

The government of this ifland is at prefent
vefted in the crown of Great Britain, including
with it the illandsof Anticofti and Madelaine,
and others of fmaller note, and the coafts of
Labrador, from the river St. John's to Hud-
fon's ftreighls.

The religion profefTed by the inhabitants is
that of the eftablifhed church of England.

CAPE BRETON.

THIS ifland is fituated to the fouthweft of
Newfoundland, in 46 deg. north lati-
tude, and 58 deg 30 min. well: longitude; dif-
tant from Newfoundland about 15 leagues,
and fcparated from the continent by a narrow
paflage on the weft. Its length is about no
miles from north-eaft to fouth-weft, and about
66 wide.

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10 A Concise Account of

The foil and climate here are very much
the fame as in Newfoundland, and confequent-
ly its produce is not greatly different.

There have been difcovered, in its moun-
tains, fome coal-mines, whicR, it is thought,
may be worked to great advantage.

There are feveral harbours and bays round
the ifland, and, by its (ituation in the gulf of
St. Lawrence, may be looked upon as the key
of Canada, being a fafe retreat for fhips bound
cither to or from thence.

This, together with its conveniency for fifli«»
ing, induced the French, when they were ex-
cluded from Newfoundland and Acadia, to be-
gin a fettlement here in 1 7 14, which they con-
tinued to increafe, and in 1720 eredted a for-
tification ; they were, however, difpoflelTed in
1745 by the New-Englanders, and troops un-
der the command of Sir William Pepperel,
with the affiftance of fome men of war, com-
manded by Commodore, afterwards Sir Peter
Warren. It was again ceded to the French by
the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, who fpared no
pains or expence to ftrengthen and fortify it,
and kept the pofTeflion of it till 1758, when it
was again reduced by the Britifli troops. Gen.
Amherft commanding by land, and Admiral
Bofcawen by fea. Since the conqueft of all

Canada,

St. JOHN'S ISLAND. ii

Canada, the fortifications, by orders from the
crown of Great Britain, have been blown up,
and the town difmantlcd.

The port of Louilburg is a league in length,
and a quarter of a league broad, with good
anchoring-ground, from fix to ten fathom
water. The harbour is generally froze from
November till IViay.

There are fevcral other harbours round this
ifland, the moft confiderable of which is Port
Thouloufe, where are more inhabitants than at
Louifburg, from which it is diftant eighteen
leagues.

• This ifland is at prefent under the jurif*-
didtion of the Governor of Nova Scotia.

i-».

i ',■ It

Ill

St. JOHN'S ISLAND.

it,
nit
en.
iral

all
ida,

THIS ifland, tho*fituated in the neighbour-
hood of Cape Breton, being pardy be-
tween that and the continent, and confequent-
ly has no great difference of climate, yet va-
ries widely from it as to the pleafantnefs and
fertility of its foil. It is computed to be about

C 2 fixty

.
H

; I

'i I

'1,1^

i M

12 .-^CONCISEAcdotJNT of

fixty miles in length, has a commodious har-
bour, and great convenicncies for carrying oa
the fiihery. It abounds with a variety ot ufe-
ful timber, and moft kinds ot wild jjami; com-
mon to the country.

In the rivers (of which there arc fevcral)
is great plenty of falmon, trout, eels, 6cc. The
furrounding fea abounds vyith llurgeon, plaice,
and moft kinds of (hell-fi(h. — In lliort, fo fer-
tile is this ifland, being fo well improved
while pofTcfTcd by the French, that it was juft-
ly ftiled the granary of Canada, furnilhing
them in great abundance with moft kinds of
grain, as weU as great quantities of beef,
pork, 6cc. ■;

This ifland was fettled by the French about
the fame time as Cape Breton, and (except-
ing that it was not given up when the other
was reduced by Sir William Pepperel) has un-
dergone the fame revolutions with it j for tho*
it was in fome degree (while pofTefted by the
French) a diftindl feparate government, yet
the commander was fubordinate to the Gover-
nor of Cape Breton, from whom he received
his orders : and in the laft redudion of Cape
Breton this ifland was included in the capitu-
lation, and was furrendered to Lieutenant Co-
lonel Rollo, when he found upon it 4000 in-

:ia

NOVA SCOTIA.

bablt:inUs and upwards of 10,000 head of live
cattle ; and, what was (hocking, found in the
Governor's houfc Icveral P'nglifli fcalps, which
were brought there to market by the lavages
of Nova Scotia, this being the place where
they were r-ipplied and encouraged to carry on
their inhuman trade.

There are yet confiderable quantities of land
uncultivated on this ifland, which, when im^
proved, will render it ftill more valuable.

This ifland, at prefent, is under the Gover-
nor of Nova Scotia, as are the leflbr iflands
adjacent.

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I;'

ACADIA, or NOVA SCOTIA.

TPIIS part of the continent of North
America is fituated between 44 and
49 degrees north latitude, and is bounded
foutherly by the Adantick ocean ; wefterly by
the bay of Fundy, and the province of Main,
belonging to the MaiTachufet's bay ; northerly
by Canada, or the province of Quebec 3 aad
pfterly by the gulf of St. Lawrence.

i Tho*

, *

ri;i

14 A Concise Account 0/

Tho* this country was difcoveicd by Scbaf-

1 1 an Cabot in i497> y^^ ^^ ^^y '^^'gJ^<^^^ many
years, and und;'erwcnt Icvcrai changes and re-
volutions before any confiderabie fectlement
w^smade in it.

In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert obtained a
grant from Queen Elizabeth of all the remote
lands he (hould difcover and fettle. He fct
out, with a view to this part of America
among others j but being loft on the coafts of
the continent, the project dropt.

In 1621, King James gave a graiU of this
province to Sir William Alexander, afterwards
Earl of Sterling, and Secretary of State for
Scotland, by whom it was called Nova Sco-
tia. The French, in the mean time, had at-
tempted fome fcttlcments in this territory ; but
were difturbed therein by the Governor of Vir-
ginia, who fent Captain Argal to remove them
in 16 14, which was accordingly done.

In 1622, a (hip was fent out by Sir William,
with a number of people, and all kinds of ne-
ceflaries for beginning a fettlement. Thefc
people landed near Cape Sable ; but I cannot
find, after all, that they made any fettlement.
It is however certain that <ome of our people
•were fettled here in 163 1; for, in 1632, Que-
bec and Cape Breton^ which had been taken

from

NOVA SCOTIA.

from the French, together with this province,
were ceded to them again by the treaty between
Charles I. and Lewis XIII. when a number
of Englifh removed out of it, and the French
kept the poirdfion ot it till 1654, when Oliver
Cromwell fent Major Sedgwick, who took
Port Royal, and obliged the French to quit
the country of Nova Scotia.

It continued in our pofllflion till the
reign of Charles II. when it was again ce-
ded to the French by the treaty of Breda,
who kept it undifturbed till 1690, when
the New England people finding it incon-
venient to have the French fo near them,
prepared a fleet, and a proper number of land-
forces, and gave the command to Sir William
Phips, a native of that province, who failing
from New England the .28th April 1690, ar-
rived before Port Royal, now Annapolis, inMay
following, which he quickly reduced, obliging
the inhabitants there, and on St. John*s river,
being about 6000, either to fubmit to the Eng-
lifh government, or be tranfported to Canada.
Moft of them, for the fake of keeping their
e(iates and habitations, confented to become
Britifh fubjeds, but very foon began to adl as
enemies, or at leaft very bad neighbours to
the people of New England.

:■ (

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1 1

i <

W$^' A Concise Account ^/^

In i7io,her Maje fly Queen Anne, liftenlng
to their repeated complaints and folicitations,
fent a fquadron, and fome land-forces under
Colonel Nicholfon, who took Port Royal, and,
in honour to the Queen, called it Annapolis,
bringing the whole country into fubjedion ;
and at the tieaty of Utrecht it was abiulutcly
yielded to Great Britain, by an exprefs article
in that treaty. Thofe of the inhabitants who
chofe to remain, were to become Britifh fub-
jedls, find enjoy their religion fo far as the
laws of Great Britr in would admit. And in
order to fecure their obedience, and to keep
polTeffion of the country, a garrifon was kept at,
Port Royal, and another fmall one atCanfoj
but ftill no government was eftabliriied, nor
any fuitable encouragement given to our people
to fettle there j fo that things gradually dwin-
dling, the inhabitants, in fpite of their oaths of
allegiance, foon began to confider themfelves aS
French fubiedls again ; and accordingly, in
1744, afiifted a party of French in the re-
duction of the fort at Canfoj and made an at-
tempt upon Annapolis ; but without fuc-
cefs, that garrifon being feafonably relieved
from New England. They continued to com-
mit hofliliries themfelves, at lead feaetly, and
to fupply and encourage the caflern Indians to

per-

ll ::■

KOVA SCOTIA.

perpetrate the moft horrid ad:s of cruelty and
barbarity on the Englifti on the frontiers of
New England, whofc fealps or perfons were
carried to market to Louifburg, Quebec, 5cc.
( not only in time of war, but of peace), and
there exchanged for powder, ballj or what-
ever they wanted* Nor was an entire flop
put to thefe practices * till the beginning of
the laft war, when being convinced that thefe
French rebels (called neutrals, on account of
their having fworn allegiance to the crown of
Great Britain) were more inveterate and dan*
gerous enemies than thofe who were under no
fuch obligation j and finding that every other
method to reconcile them to the Pritifti go-
vernment was inefFedual, they were by forctt
deprived of their eftates, and with their fami-
lies totally rooted out of the province, and
fcattei-ed thro' the other Britifh colonies on the
continents

On the fea-coafts of this province are many
fafe and convenient harbours j but none equal

* Thefe pisnplc, in i;^54, when the Duke d'Anville, with
a confiderable force,' came toeftabliOi a gairifon and fettlc-
ment at Chebiidta, aflembled, with a number of Indians^
to allilt him ; and about that time cut ofFCc lonel Noble,
with his whole party, at Menis, where he was pofted, to
keep them in fubje^iion.

'i.Mi

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11 i

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I '

i8 A Concise Account of

to that of Chebudla, or Halifax, which is al-
lowed io be the finefl in America, and capa-
ble of being made equal to any in Europe,
both for fafety and conveniency, having
good anchoring -ground, and water fufficient
for any fhip that fwims. It is the place of
rendezvous for the royal navy in America,
having a Royal Dock, and conveniencies for a
fhip of any rate, to heave down and careen ;
for which end it is reforted to by his Majefty*s
(hips, from all parts of America, and the Weft
Indies.

Situated on the weft-fide of this harbour, is
the town of Halifax, v^hich, tho' its founda-
tions were laid in 1747, is now a confiderable
town, confifting of upwards of a thoufand hou-
fes, and is the capital of the whole province 5
and, indeed, from the fame aera we may date
the origin of this province, there being no go-
vernment properly eftablifhed in it till then. "^
''•' There are alfo feveral other towns laid out
round this bay, and partly inhabited ; but the
moft confiderable fettlements are upon the
Bay of Fundy, and upon the rivers which fall
into it.

The inhabitants in this province may be

computed at about twenty thoufand. Its nor-

, therly

•«

NOVA SCOTIA.

theily fituation expofcs it to fevere cold and
deep fnows in winter 5 but is generally very
healthy, and agreeable to Englifli conftitu-
tions, as are all the northern provinces.—
The foil of this province is various, being in
fome parts very rough and biirren j in others
exceeding pleafant and fertile, as it is in par-
ticular round the Bay of Fundy, and on
the afore-mentioned rivers which fall into It,
where are large tradts of marfh that extend on
the fides of thefe rivers for fifty or fixty miles
into the country, and feveral miles from the
bay, which, being dyked, is improved to great
advantage. The upland in this province is
likewife very pleafant aijd fruitful, producing
wheat, rye, Indian corn, peafe, beans, hemp,
flax, &c. and fome kinds of northerly fruit, to
great perfedion. The rivers abound with fal-
fnon and other kinds of river- fifh, common to
the coafts 5 and feveral fifheries are erefted in
diflPerent harbours here, which are carried on
with good fuccefs -, nor is it inferior to any of
the northern provinces in refpedt to wild beaih
and fowls.

The commodities exported from this pro-
vince to other parts are chiefly lumber, fuch

as plank, ftaves, hoops, joifts, &c. and fiih.
.% : D 2 There

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20 A Concise Accouni* of

There is a great mixture of religious profef-
fions here ; there being fome of the church of
England, others Prefbyterians, Congrcgatio-
nalifts, Baptids, 6cc.

The King is Sovereign of the foil, and ap-
points the Governor, who is his Captain- Ge-»
neral ; the Lieutenant-Governor and Council
arc likewife appointed by his Majcfty, which
form the upper houfc, and the lower houfe
is formed of the reprefentatives, who are cho-
fen by the freeholders i but the Governor can
negative their choice.

As fi(hing is the flaple commodity, and al«
jnoft the only article of trade in the provinces
of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, with their
dependant iflands ; and as thefe are the only
places in Atnerica where trade is carried on to
any perfedtior^, it will not, perhaps, be difa^
greeable to the reader to give ior^^ account in
this place of the method which they take to
cur^ and manufadture the cod-fifh fit for

maricet.

The fifli caught near the fliore are obferved
to be by far the heft ; the vefiels employed in
this bufincfs are generally fmall (hallops, which
come to (hore every day, where the fifher*-
men throw the cod upon a ftagc prepare4 for

th«

NOVA SCOTIA.

that purpofe. One of them, who is called the
Beheader, opens the fi(h with a two-edged
knife, and cuts off his head ; a fecond hands
the fifh on to the carver, who ftands oppofite
to him at a table eredted upon the flage ; the
carver, with a fingle-edged knife, fix or eight
inches long, and very thick on the back to in-
creafe its weight, fplits the filh open -, then it
is conveyed to the falter, who places it with the
fkin undermofl in a barrel, and then very
fiightly covers it with fait, laying the fifh re-
gularly upon one another. — After leaving the
cod in fait three or four days, and fometimes
double that time and longer, according to the
feafon, they put it into a tub, and wafh it
well, afterwards they make it up in piles,
and in fair weather fpread it out, with the fkin
undermod, on a kind of flage raifed with wat-
tels, about two feet from the ground, or upon
flones ; before night they turn the fkin upper-
moft, which they alfo do whenever it rains t
when the fifh has been dried a little, it is
raifed into larger piles, where it refls a day or
two ; after which it is again expofed to the
air, and turned according as there is occafion,
before they raife it into larger piles in the fame
^ form, where, after this operation, it fom^^

^ 'I

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22 A Concise Account o/*

times remains fifteen days without being mo^
vcd at all j at the end of which it is once more
expofed to the air, and, when almoft dry, ga-
thered together again, in order to fweat j which
operation takes twenty-four hours or more,
according to the feafon j then it is opened the
laft time to the air, and, when thoroughly dry,
houfed.

FiQi manufactured in this manner are notonly
more fair to the eye, but more grateful to the
taftc, than ihofe which are partly prepared at
ftsa ; as is the cafe with larger vefTels which go
out, and are loaded, before they return open-
ing, falting, and packing their iiili in the vef-
fel's hold, by which means it is forty or fifty
days, and often much longer, before the nc-
ceffary operation, to render the fifh good and
agreeable, can be attended to. When they re-
turn to (hore, they proceed with it as before
mentioned.

The fifh cured in the fpring, before the
great heats, is generally the beit, if properly
prepared ^ which depends upon the fkill and
diligence of thofe employed about it, and alfo
upon the quality of the fait made ufe of; on
whigh lad: account the Englifli caught fifh is
gjenerally inferior to the American, the fait

..,- they

I'*

QUEBEC.

they make ufe af often having a mineral qua-
lity, or perhaps it may be as much owing to
their not having the like opportunity to prepare
it fcafonably, by reafon of the length of the
voyage.

The fi(h caught in October or November
may continue in fait till March, or the begin-
ning of April, without any fenfible damage,
when it is waflied and undergoes the proceft
above defcribed. .

i ■; f I

The Province of QUEBEC.

THIS province is much the largcft of
any upon the continent. Qjjebec,
which is the metropolis, and near the cen-
tre of it, is fituated in 46dcg. ^^ min. north
latitude, and 69 deg. 48 min. weft longi-
tude J and is bounded north-eafterly by the
gulf of St. Lawrence, and the river St. John's;
north- wefcerly, by wild uninhabited lands;
fouth-wefterly, by the fame ; and foutherly,
by the province of New York, the New Eng-
land provinces, and the province of Nova i?co-
tia, extending from north-eaft to fouth-wefl
about five hundred miles, and is upwards of

two*

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24 A CoNCiSE ACC6UKT of

two hundred miles wide. This country was
flrft fettled by the Frcnchi who kept the pof-
feffion and government of it till Sepitcmber
13, 1759, when Quebec was fiirrendcrcd to
the Generals Monkton and Townftiend, com-
manding the Bfitif.j trbops that had been de-
fined for the expedition againft V the pre-
ceding fpring, under the command of Gene-
ral Wolf; and September 8, 1760, all Gana*
da was given up to the Englidi in the capitu-
lation at Montreal, agreed upon and iigned by
General Amherft, and Monfieur de Vaudreueil
the French Governor, and has fince been con-
firmed to the Britifh crown by the treaty of
Fountainbleau. The French comprehended
under the natne of Canada a much larger ter-
ritory than the above-mentioned, taking into
their claim great part of the New England
provinces, and of the provinces of New York
and Nova Scotia, and northerly to Hudfon's
Bay, and wefterly to the Pacific Ocean ^ and
ibutherly to the gulf of Mexico 5 and had
created a chain of forts, from the mouth of the
river St. Lawrence to their fettleraents at Loui-^
fiana, to fupport their claim.

They began the fettlement of this province
ia 1605 atQuebcv:, fituated on the north-fhore

,ana*

i€H31-

de Province of QUEBEC. 2j

of the river St. Lawrence, about three hundred
miles from the mouth ; and about the lame
time fettlements veie begun upon the ifland
of Orleans, which is in the river, a little below
Quebec, and on each fide of the fiver to the
mouth of it, and on feveral fmaller rivers that
fall into it. Up the river, from Qnebec about
twenty miles, they foon after began a fettle-
ment called Jecorty, and eredled a fort at
Chamblee, on the river Sorriel, hear where it
falls out of Lake Champlain. Soon after this,
the foundations of Montreal were laid on the
ifland of Montreal, fituated in the river St.
Lawrence, above 200 miles above Quebec.

Another confiderablc fettlement was made
atTrois-Rivieres, or the Three Rivers, fo called
from a river's difemboguing itfelf by three
mouths or channels into the River St. Law-
rence ; and is fituated about half-way between
Quebec and Montreal, in a very delightful
place, affording a profpedl the mcfl: agreeable
to the eye of any in the whole country. There
are many other fettlements upon the banks of
the river St. Lawrence, and of thofc which
empty into it, as well as on the iflands fur-
rounded by it ; but none dcfcrving of particu-
lar notice in this place, except Quebec and

E Mont-

i[|

'•II

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-^ Concise Account 0/

Montreal, already mentioned. The former
contains upwards of 1500 dwelling-houfcs,
well-buiit, befides feveral public buildings,
which are (lately and fplendid, and were built
for different ufes, fome by charitable perfons,
and others by the government of France :
there are among thefe feveral hofpitals, and
not far from the town without the walls was
a nunnery very well built, as was the manfion-
lioufe of their Bidiop and Jefuits. This town,
bcfides the natural fafety of its fituation, is
now well fofuficd. Montreal is near as large
and populous as Quebec, and is much more
pleafintly fltuated. Tlie {Ireets are regular,
the houfes well-built, commodious and agree-
able J and you may fee every houfe at one
view from the harbour, or from the fouther-
moft fide of the river, as the hill, on the fide of
which the town (lands, falls gradually* to the
water. The public buildings here exceed thofe
of Quebec for beauty, and are equal in number,
excepting the Bilhop's palace and the cathedral
church. The number of inhabitants in Ca-
nada is upwtards of 100,000. The ifland of
Montreal is exceedingly fertile, and well-im-
proved, producing great plenty of greens, and
fome fruit j but the ifland of Jefus, to the

north

/*^ Province 0/ QUEBEC. 27

north of Montreal, is more level, and deemed
better land. There are feveral other iflands
to the north of Montreal, which are formed
by the Attawawas River, and which are im-
provcdx This river forms alio the ifland of
Montreal, by one part at its entering at the
weft-end of it into the Lake St. Francis; and
the other part pafling north of Montreal,
forming the Ifland of Jefus, arid many others
of fmaller note, and joins St. Lawrence at the
caft-end of the ifland of Montreal. About
the center of this ifland arc two mountains,
called the Twins, remarkable for bcino: exati-
ly alike 5 they are pretty high, and add much
to the beauty of the ifland. Jn the Lake St.
Francis, fouth-weft of Montreal, are feveral
iflands that are inhabited and well-improved;
St. Pierre is the moft confiderable of them.
Their uppermoft fettlements in this province
arc at the Cedars, the wefterly limits of the
province, at the bottom of the falls from Lake
Ontario.

The rivers, branching thro* this extenflve
country, are very numerous, and many of them
navigable a confiderable way into the country ;
but they are all fwallowed up in the river
St. Lawrence. This river is eighty miles wide
at its entrance into the fea at Cape Rofiers, en

E a • ^ the

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-^Concise Account of

the fide of Nova Scotia j fomcthing to the eaft-
ward of which is the ifland of Anticofla, of
not much account. The tourfe of the rivcc
is nearly through the middle of the province,
from the fouth-wcft to the north-eaft, receiv-
ing the waters of a great many navigable ri-
vers, and forming a great variety of bays, har-
bours, and iflands ; the moft pieafant and fruit-
ful of which is the illand of Orleans, a littl^
below Quebec. — The foil of this illand is ex-
cellent, and, being well improved, is a garden
for the city of Quebec, producing in greaf
abundance all kinds of grain and vegetables
common to the climate. This illand is twen-
ty-one miles in length, and three or four
wide.

The French, while they had poflcflion of
this province, very induftrioufly reprefented the
navigation of the river v,\. Lawrence to be dif-
ficult and dangerous ; but we have fince found
the contrary to be the cafe, (liips of the line
meeting with no difficulty in going to Quebec.
The land in general, on both fides of the ri-
ver, is low and level ; indeed oppofite to Que-
bec are two confiderable mountains, called the
Lady Mountains, which from this place ruti
fouth- wefl through the continent to the coun-
try of the Creek Indians, at the north-part of

' ■ the

run
>un-
Irt of

the

the Province o/* QUEBEC. ajj

jhc Two Florida's, in one continual ridge; and
wherever rivers have forced their way through
them, they rife on each fide very lieep to theif
common heighth. This ridge of mountains
is called the Apalachian Hills; and again at
Montreal fome hills appear to the norths weft
of it.

The climate here is cold, the winters long
and tedious, efpecially in the ntrth-eafterly
parts of the province ; notwithllanding which
the foil is none of the worft, being in fomc
parts both pleafant and fertile, produdtive of
mod kinds of Englifli grain and vegetables,
common to the climate, in great abundance ;
efpecially the ifland of Orleans already men*
tioned, and the iflands and lands near it, which
are remarkable for their rich and eafy foil.

The fummers in this country are exceeding
pleafant, and fo prolific that tl.e farmer ex-
pedts to reap his crop in fixteen weeks from the
fowing of his feed. There is in fome parts of
this province very excellent timber, fuch as
white pines, oak of different kinds, and fpruce
in great abundance. And as the lakes and
rivers are well-ftored with (almon, eels, an4
all kinds of fifli common to fuch waters, fo
its forefts abound with deer, moofe, bears, 5cc.
There are alfo beavers, otters, martins, &c. in

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>f Concise Account of

great plenty. In (Iiort, notwithftanding Its
northwardly fituation, it may be juftly deno-
minated a healthy, fruitful, and plcafant coun-
try, affording mofl: of the necell'aries and con-
veniencies of life; having (tho' moflly fituatc
within land ) all the advantages of an extend-
ed fea-coaft, by means of the river St. Law-
rence, which affords an eafy conveyance from
one part of the province to another, and a
cheap importation of foreign commodities,
even to the remotefl parts of it.'

The chief commodities exported from this
province are timber, furs, deer, elk, and
moofe fkins, &;c.

The government of this province is the
fame as that of Nova Scotia.

The religion profefled by the French inha-
bitants is that of the church of Rome, they
being tolerated in the free exercife of it by an
article in the capitulation, vvhich was con-
firmed to them by the fubfequent treaty, his
Britannick Majefty having the appointment of
their Bifliop. The Englifh, refiding here, are
pf the church of England,

•.. t ■ I

' - NEW

•'^

( 31 )

NEW ENGLAND.

Til A T part of the continent of America
called New England is (ituated between
41 and 43 degrees 5omin. north latitude, and
64 dcg. 40 min. and 73 deg. weft longitude^
is bounded nortlxrcaderly and eafterly by No*-
va Scotia and the bay of Fundy, north- wefterly
by Canada, wefterly by the province of New
York, foutherly by .the Sound, and fouth-eaft-
erly by the Atlantic ocean, having its fea--
coafts very irregular and broken by a variety
of bays and inlets.

This territory is divided into five diftindl
diftridls or governments j the moft northerly is
the province of Main, which now is called
the county of York, being under the jurifdic-
tion of the Maftachufet's Bay ; next to this
county, and between it and the Maflachufct's
Bay, is the province of New Hampftiire ; next
to the bay-government is the colony of Rhode
ifland ; to the fouth and weft of both of them
is the colony of Conncdticut. Thefe feveral
diftiidls, in efFed, took their rife from the
firft fettlement made by the Englifti in this
country, which was the colony of Plymouth,
. . fituated

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fituated near Cape Cod, and which now, as
well as the province of Main, is incorporated
into that of the Maflachufet's Bay.

The colony of Plymouth was begun by a
number of adventurers in 1621, who, for the
fake of a liberty they could not then enjoy in
their native country, were perfuaded to ex-
change it for this, at that time a hideous wil-
dernefs, whofe only inhabitants were wild
beads, or men almoft as wild and as favage
as they. They failed from Plymouth in Eng-
land in the month of September, with an in-
tention to begin a fettlement at the mouth of
Hudfon's River, where they had made purchafe
of a tra(ft of land of the company to whoni
thofe lands had been granted -, but meeting
jevith a ftorm, they fell in with Cape Cod the
November following, and finding here a fafc
harbour, they fixed upon a place for their
prefent fettlement, and called it Plymouth, froni
the place of their embarkation, which name
it ftill retains.

It is not to be doubted btit they fuffered
hiany hardfhips and inconveniencies at their
firft fettlement, for want of accommodations
hot prefently to be procured in this new world.
They happened however to light on a part of
the continent from which the favages had re-

tiredj

NEW ENGLAND.

* I

tired, on account of a war fubfifting between
two nations of them ; (o that they continued
in quiet poflefl^iOn for a great number of years*
Indeed the Indians in the neighbourhood ap-
peared difpofed to peace and friendfhip, each
of the contending parties perhaps hoping for
afliftance from the new-comers.

But the emigrants, not depending on the
good difpolition of their Heathen neighbours,
quickly after their landing inclofed an old In-
dian field with palifadoes, and ereded a fort,
on which they planted fome cannon to keep
them in awe. The following fpring they pur-
chafed a tradt of land of one of the Indian
chiefs. Having thus laid the foundation of
their colony, they proceeded to the choice of
their firft Governor for one year, and chofe
Mr. John Carver ; but he dying before the
year expired, was fuccceded by William Brad-
ford, Efqj who was continued their Gover-
nor, by an annual eleflion, for feveral years.

This infant-colony was annually reinforced
by frefh adventurers from the mother-country^
fo that by the year 1628 their numbers and
improvements were confiderable ; and being
not fatisfied witn their Indian title, they this
year obtained a grant from the aforefaid com-
pany

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34 -^Concise Account of

pany of this colony ; and another for all the
lands within three miles north of Merrimack
River, to three miles fouth of Charles River,
where it falls into the fea at the bottom of the
Maflachufei's Bay. And the next year fix fhips,
with 350 pafTengers, arrived at Salem, with a
large flock of cattle of all forts, and other ne-
ceffaries.

The year following a flill larq;er fleet ar-
rived» by which the colony was fo increafed
that they judged it moft expedient to divide,
fome of them removing and laying the foun-
dation of a town called Bofton, which for its
convenicncy and fecurity is become the metro-
polis of New England. The firfl Governor
of Boflon or the MafTachufet^s colony was John
Wenthrop, Efq; Numbers continued to flock
into thefe new colonies, induced to it either
for the fake of religion or trade : and about
this time fome religious principles were
broached by one Williams, a minifler of Sa-
lem, for which he and his followers, refu-
fing to recant, were expejled the MafTachu-
fet's colony, and built a new town, which they
called Providence, upon New-Port River, near
Rhode-Ifland. _ ,

Hitherto

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NEW ENGLAND.

Hitherto thefe colonies had not been in the
leaft molefted by the favages ; but this year
a nation called the Pequots, who lived on Con-
nedicut river, committed fome murders, for
which they were not chaftifed by the Englifh,
upon their promifc to deliver up the mur-
derers, till fome time afterwards, when they
refufed to fu^-ill their promife, and repeated
their outrages upon the inhabitants of a vil-
lage named Weathersfield upon Connedicut
river; for which they were feverely punifhed
by a company of no men, commanded by
Captain Mafon, who deftroyed one of their
forts, and near 400 of them, at one time.

I'l J 6^5* "o ^^fs than twenty fail loaded
with goods and pafTengers arrired at Bofton,
with whom came Mr. Henry Vane, after-
wards Sir Henry Vane, intending with tiiefc r
people to begin a fettlement on Connedticut
riverj but being chofe Governor the year enfu-
ing ior the MaiTachufet's, he laid by the defign
of beginning a new colony for the prelent j
but the next year, on fome religious pretences,
he being inclined to favour the A nabaptifts-^
they left him out, and chofe their old Gover-
nor Mr* Wenthrop. In 1636, on account of
the behaviour of the Pequot Indians before-
mentioned, it was thought expedient for the

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fafety of both colonies, to make a fettlement
uppn Connedlicut river, and towns were built
accordingly on boih fides of the river, at Hert-
ford, and other places. But this being out of
the limits of the ether colonies, they formed
themfelves into a feparatc government.

In 1637, on account of fome ecclefiaftical
fevcrities, then put in practice in England, a
new fleet, with a great number of people ori
board, and among others Dr. Devenport, who
quitted hischurch inColeman-Street, London,
arrived in Nev/ England. But finding no con-
venient place to fettle in the Mafifachufet's,
without retiring further into the country than
they chofe, they purchafed from the Indian^
the lands lying on the fea-coafts, between Con-
nedlicut River, and Hudfon's River, where
they built a town, naming it New Haven, froni
whence the colony derived the name of the
New Haven colony. And, whilft colonies
were thus fettling to the fouthward, others, in-
duced by the profits arifing from the fur-trade,
fettled themfelves to the north-caft, between
the rivers Merrimack and Kennebeck, and
formed two diftindt colonies, one named New
Hampfhire, and the other (ftill further to the
caftvyrard) was cajled the Province of Main.

One

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NEW ENGLAND.

One would have thought, that a people who
had (o lately (een the fad confeqaences of reli-
gious difputes, elpecially when heightened into
perfecution, would have carefully avoided every
appearance of that kind among themfelvesj
but fo it was, that, about this time, there was
a fyiiod or convention of Minifters, with their
lay elders, or delegates of the churches, called,
out of both colonies of Plymouth and the
MaiTachufet's, by whom it was moft folemnly
decreed, that every perlon, hulcfmg to fome
particular opinions then confiderably in vogue
among them, and wc^uld not recant or re-
nounce thofe opinions, fliould be baniflied out
of thofe colonies.

Tins thundering fentence from the aweful
tribunal they had eredl.d, inftead of reconciling
the minds of thofe it wab aimed againft, as is
generally the cafe, rendered them more zealous
and obllinate, and in the end gave rife to ano-
ther diftind: colony, for, baniftied from their
countrymen, they purchafed of the natives the
ifland of Aquetnet, fo called by the Indians,
and made a fettlernent there called the colony
of Rhode-llland.

Thus, in the fpace of about fifteen years,
the Englifh emigrants had taken poiTcffion of
this country, from the river Kepncbeck, on the

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north- eaft, almoft to Hudfon's River fouth-
wcft, an extent of upwards of 400 miles on
the fea-coafts. Such was the firft rife and
origin of the New England colonies, which
from thefe filial I beginnings are now become
very confiderable, and deferve a feparate de-
fcriptton, in which, as their fituaticn hath been
already laid down, it is no ways material in
what order we take them.

The Province of the M A S S A C H IT-
SET'S 3 AY.

I '

THIS province at prefent contains what
were formerly the colonies of Plymouth,
Maflachafet's Bay, and the Province of Main ;
the latter of which is feparated from the others
by the province of New Hampfliire, running
in between them about thirty miles wide upon
the fea. Indeed for feveral years the province *
of New Hampfliire, as well as the fcattering
fettlements of Nova Scotia, were under the
jurifdidtion of this province. That part of it
called the Province of Main, or county of
York, is bounded wefterly by New Hampfhire,
portherly on Canada, north-eafterly by Nova

Scotia,

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MASSACHUSETS BAY. 39

Scotia, or the river St. John's, fouth-eafterly
and fouthwardly by the lea for near 200 mileSi
The other part of this province has New
Hampfliire for its northern boundary, eafterly
and foutherly it is bounded by the fea, fouth-
vveft and wefterlv by the colonies of Rhode-
Ifland and Conncccicut, and the province of
New York.

It would fill a volun- - of itfelf to give a
particular account of the various remarkable
occurrences and revolutions that have happen-
ed in church and ftate within this province,
from its origin to this time ; I fliall therefore
only relate fuch as are the moil diftinguifhed
ones.

In 1684, for fome political reafons, the
colonies of Plymouth, the MalTachufet's, and
province of Main, made a refignation of their
charters into the hands of the then King, and
were thereupon incorporated into one pro-
vince; but not with all the privileges they
had before enjoyed, they having given reafon
to fufped, by fome extraordinary proceedings
they had been guilty of, that they would ab-
ufe their liberty (unbounded as it had been)
into licentioufncfs, if indulged any longer.
Mr. Cransfield was by King Charles appointed
their firfl Governor, after their incorporation ;

and.

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COUNT

and, after him, Jofeph Dudley, Efquirc, by*
Kin^ James J who pretty foon, tho' a nativd
of New England, had the misfortune to be
* fent prifoner to England by his difaffedled
countrymen, who rcaffumed their old privi-
leges of chufing their own magiftrates. Such
was the fituation of things at this time in Great
Britain, that this adt of rebellion was in a fort
winked at by the government.

Indeed Sir Edmund Andrews was fent over
to be their Governor j but with inftrudlions to
confirm all fubordinate magiftrates agreeable
to their choice. Sir Edmund kept his autho-
rity no longer than till the news of the Revo-
lution arrived, when thty once more afTumed
their ancient privilege, and e^edted a Gover-
nor and other magiftrates of their own ; which
ufurpation they maintained for fome time, un-
der countenance of a letter from King William
and Queen Mary, dated Auguft 12, 16S9.

Having f'^r a long time experienced the in-
conveniencles of this unfettled form of govern-
ment, they petitioned for the reftoration of
their charter upon the former footing, which
was refufed them. They however obtained a
new charter, by which the appointment of the
Governor and feveral other prerogatives were

referved

■'I

1 1

M ASS AC II U SET'S BAY. 41

refer vcd to the cro\X^n, allowing them to
c\\\i(c their firft Governor ; they accordingly
made choice of Sir William Phipb*, who had
prefcnted their petition at home. — Sir William
arrived in May 1692, ami tock upon him the
government of the Maflachufet's and New
Hampfliirc, agreeable to his Majefty's com-
milFion.

About this time a mod (liocking tragedy
was adled in this province, feveral perfons
being accufed, tried, condemned, and exe-
cuted, for witchcraft, and others imprifoncd ;
but the next year they celebrated a pubhc fail,
to beg forgiven nefs of the Almighty for their
having murdered the innocent the year be-
fore.

In 1 74 1 (till which time nothing very ex-
traordinary happened) * William Shirley, Efq;
was appointed Governor of this province, dif-
tina from New Hampfhire, of which Mr.
Wentworth had been appointed Governor the
year before. Till this time the Governor of
the Mpffachufet's Bav had been alfo com-nif-
fioned Governor of New Hampdiire, and adl^-

* There were feveral Governors between Mr Phips and
Mr. Shirley, namely, Mcfi". Shout, Dummer, Be', her, &c.

and fince Mr. PownaJ, and Mr. Bernard, the prefentGo-
vernor.

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42 A Concise Account of

cd as fuch, cither pcrfonally, or by his de-
puty.

The town of Bofton is lituated upon a pc-
ninfula at the bottom of theMaflachufet's Bay,
and contains between 4 and 5000 houfes,
which in general arc well-built ; and fevcral
of the public buildings are very fpacious and
elegant : there are in the town fevcntecn edi-
fices appropriated for public worship, a houfc
where their council and aflembly, and courts
of juftice, (it; another for the Governor's refi-
dence ; and a fpacious nriarket, and a hall a-
bove it, called Fanniuel-hall, from Mr. Fan-
niiiel, who was its generous founder. The
number of inhabitants in the whole province
is computed to be upwards of 200,000.

That part of the province called the Coun-
ty of York has a very cold foil, great part of
it towards the province of Quebec being
mountainous, is entirely unfit for agriculture ;
and that towards the fea-coafls is low, covered
with fpruce, and white and yellow pines, and
fomc oaks, excepting near the banks of rivers,
which fall from the mountains (of which there
is a great number) on which multitudes of
faw- mills are creded. Here may be found
plenty of oak, a(h and maple ; and on feveral
of thcfe rivers, for many miles together, the

land

!)*

MASSACHUSETS BAY. 43

land is pretty good; and doubtlcfs would have
been belter improved, had not the inhabitants
for many years part been kept in almoft conti-
nual alarms, and fometimes driven from their
plantations by the favages.

There are feveral fafe and convenient har-
bours along the fea-coafts, the principal of
which is Cafco Bay, the moft confiderablc
town in the country, where great part of the
marts for the royal navy are taken in.

There are fome few fifheries begun upon
thefe coafts, but are not yet become confider-
ablc. This I art of the province is well-ftored
with wild game, and from it arc exported
confiderable quantities of furs and fkins.

The other part of the province has a variety
of foil, it being in fon^e places very barren, in
others fertile, and abundantly produdtive of
Indian corn, rye, oats, barley, flax, peafe, &c.
wheat being raifed only in the wefterly parts of
it^ The furface is generally rocky and uneven ,
excepting near the rivers, where are fomp
pleafant inter-vales,

The timber natural to this foil is chiefly oak,
white pine, maple, walnut and chefnut. The
country abounds in fruit-trees, fucl^ as apples,
pears, peaches, plumbs and cherries of moft
kinds. The rivers arc wcH-ftored with fifli,

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and the neighbouring fea affords a plenty of
cod, mackrel, and the like; and feveral fi{h-
eries are carried on to great advantage from the
fea-coafts of this piovirvce, to the banks of
ISIewloundland, Ifle of Sable, &c. efpccially
from the town of Marble-Head, where is the
moft confiderable fishery in New England.

The chief commodities exported from this
province are, (hips ready-built, timber, furs,
iirti, pot-a(h, caft ironware, oil, tallow, &c.

His Britannic Majefty appoints the Governor,
Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, and the officers
of the Admiralty, in this province ^ and the
freeholders chufe ahoufeof reprefentatives, who
chufe a Speaker and Council, or upper houfe.
The Governor, however, can negative their
choice ; but he and all the officers in the pro-
vince (except the Comptroller of his Majefty 's
Cuftoms) receive their falarics by a vote of the
two houfes, who have never yet been brought
to fettle a falary not even upon the Governor,
who generally has it in his inftrudlions from
his Majefty to infift upon their doin^g it. They
however commonly grant him loool. fterling
per annum.

There arc a number of churches in this
province of the Epifcopal perfuafion ^ but by
far the greater part are Diflenters, upon the.

Congregational

■|

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

Congregational or Independent plan, having
no fettled plan of church-government, or at
leaft no ecclefiailical court that is authorita-
tive or decifive ; which, as I am told, is a
fource of many inconveniencies to them, being
the means of prolonging church-quarrels and
divifions among them.

It mud hov^ever be faid, that great care is
taken of their education, frec-fciiuGls being
eftablifhed and fupported by law, in moll of
their towns, which are gv.'nerally fupplied with
able mafters j and at Cambridge, about fix
miles from Borton, is a public feminary, or
college, called Harvard, at which are annually
graduated, batchelors and maflers, from fifty
to fixty young g\*intlemen.

The Province of N E W HAMP-
SHIRE.

THIS province is bounded on the fouth by
M^ifFachufet's Bay, on the weft by the
province of New York, on the north by Cana-
da, and north-eafterly by the county of York,

having

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having at prefent only thirty miles of fea-coaft
allowed to it.

The town of Portfmouth, which is the
metropolis of this province, contains about
700 dwelling-houfes, and four meeting-houfes
and a chapel, is very pleafantly iituated on
Pifcataqua Bay, having a fafe and convenient
harbour, where the largcft fhips may ride
fecurely. From this port annually fail about 200
veflels, loaded chiefly with timber, fifh, &c. for
the Weft Indies, which having difoofed of by
fale or exchange, they reload, and proceed
from thence to Europe, where both veffels and
cargoes are fold, and the mariners return
paffengcrs.

The other confiderable towns for trade in
this province, are, Hampton, Cochecha, and
Exeter. Londonderry, an inland town about
thirty-five miles from Portfmouth, is confider-
able for manufadluring of linnen, being peo-
pled chie^y with the natives of Ireland.

The number of inhabitants in this province
is about 70,000, which have greatly increafcd
lince the total redudion of Canada, fettlements
being yearly begun in many new towns, where
formerly they dared not attempt it, through fear
of the favages.

The

NEW HAMPSHIRE.

The foil of this province is various, much
refembling that of the county of York already
defcribed, efpecially the northerly parts of it,
being mountainous and broken.

The mod confiderable mountains in this
province, and indeed in New England, arc
thofe called the White Mountains, fo called
from their appearance, which is like fnow,
confifting, as is generally fuppofed, of a white
flint, from which the refledtion of the fun is very
brilliant and dazzling, and by their prodi-
gious heighth are to be feen at a very great
diflance> being often difcovered by the (ea-
men coafting the eaftern fhore, when all the
intermediate land is entirely concealed. £
cannot learn that any perfon was ever on
the top of thefe mountains. I have been
told by the Indians that they* have often at-
tempted it in vain, by reafon of the change of *
air they met withj which I am inclined to
believe, having afcerided them myfelf till the
alteration of air was very perceptible, and even
then I had not advanced half-way up ; the
valleys below were then concealed from me by
clouds. Indeed there are feveral other moun-
tains in this country, whofe tops are above the
ordinary clouds, rarely, if ever, receiving the
benefit of rain upon them.

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The bafis of the White Mbuntains is a trad
of about fifty-five miles fquare, froiii which
they rife in cragged heads, one above another^
in an irregular manner, all the way to the top.
For the firft four or five miles, as you afcend
thern, you will find beach, hemlock, and
fomc white pines ; higher up the growth is
chiefly black fpruce for fix or feven miles,
where the fides are clad with a white mofs;
and if you advance ftill further, you will find
fcarce any thing growing 5 for which reafon^
if there was no other, the afcent would be
very difficult, the mountain being ex:tremely
fteep. Theic are many fireams of water
gufliing out of the fides, which run down
with great rapidity : indeed alf the iafgeft and
befl rivers in New England take their rife front
feme part of thefe mountains. Saco River
rifes fr'om the fouth in feveral fmall rivulets,
which in the courfe of a few miles join each
other. This river runs through the county of
York 5 on the banks of it are fome fine inter-
vales, which are annually overflowed when
the fnows melt, and thereby greatly enriched.
The rivulets breaking out from the fouth- wefl
of the mountains, after various windings, fall
tnto a lake called Winnipifiokee, out of which

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New HAMPSHIRE.

x§

iflues the river Merrimack, which, by the wa-
ters that join it, foon becomes a confiderable
flream. There are fine inter-vales upon it, over-
flowed and enriched like the former.

This river runs through the province of
New HampQiire and part of the MalTachufet's,
and hath feveral towns or villages upon it
pleafantly iituated, but none more fo than a
fmall one, in the province of New Hampfhirc,
called Pennecook. From the north and weft
parts of the aforefaid mountains, Connediciit
River takes its rife j the courfe of which is
foutherly, running acrofs the provinces of New
Hamp{hire, the Maflachufet's and Connedticut,
till it empties itfelf into the fea or found, be-
tween Connedicut and Long Ifland. This
river, like the others, annually overflows its
banksj and enriches the adjacent inter-vales^
which in fome places are very extenfive, in
each of the provinces it rolls through ; but no
where more fo than at a place called the Cohas,
in the province of New Hampfhire, a traft of
twenty miles in length, and fix in breadth,
which, for its beauty and fertility, may be de-
ftrvedly fliled the garden of New England.

The river Kennebeck, which is a confider-
able ftream, likewife takes its rife at thefc
mountains at the eaft, running thro' the county

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of York, and is endowed with the fame proper-
ties as the former. There is alfo another river,
riling from the north part of thefe mountains,
which runs into the province of Quebec, and
falls into St. Lawrence, or St. Francis j and a
part of the river Shedoir alfo rifes at thefe
mountains, and flows thro* the fame province,
till it joins the river St. Lawrence, twelve miles
above Qiiebec ; by all which ftreams the riches
of thefe hills, whofe tops are inaccefllble, are
annually carried to and diftributed among the
neighbouring provinces.

In the province of New Hampfhire.is a
great plenty and variety of timber; its forefts
abound with all kinds of game common to the
climate; and its rivers with falmon, Ihad, eels,
trout, &c. Some fiflierics are carried on in the
fea-ports, but its fcanty limits on the fea for-
bid it6 becoming fo confiderable as its neigh-
bours in that branch. The produce of the foil
is chiefly Indian corn, rye, oats, peafe, it being
too cold for wheat ; they alfo raife fome hemp
and flax, and breed black cattle, horfes, iheep,
&c. but in no great abundance.

The chief commodities exported from this
province, are, marts for the Royal navy, ilaves,
boards, fliingles, furs, &c.

. The

ci
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i i

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 51

The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Coun-
cil, and Secretary, and the officers of the
Admiralty in this province, are appointed by
his Britannic Majefty, who is abfolut-e fovereigrs^
of the foil. The feveral towns and diftridts
chufe their reprefentatives ; and all inferior
executive officers are appointed by the Gover-
nor, with the advice of his Majefty's Council.

I cannot forbear mentioning here an incon-
venience which this infant province labours
under in judicial matters, namely, that there is
but one place in the province at which the
courts of juftice are held, viz. at Portfmouth,
one of the extremities, for which reafon many
of the inhabitants often have to travel 150 or
200 miles on very trifling occafions.

The religion profeiTed here is the fame in
general as in the adjoining province, there be-
ing but one Epifcopal church as yet eredled,
viz. in Portfmouth; and it is to be lamented
that little pains or care is taken here about the
education of children, there being very few
fchools regularly kept up, or well fupplied
with maflers.

H z

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The CoLONV of CONNECTICUT.

THIS colony comprehends what were
originally the colony of Connedticut or
Hartford, and that of New Haven, being in-
corporated into one in 1692, ftill retaining,
by a charter then granted them, all the privi-
leges of their ancient charters 5 and, indeed,
evrer fince their union, they have kept up tw6
feats of government, viz. Hartford and New
Haven, at which places their general court
or afTembly fits alternately, for tranfadling the
affairs of the colony. This colony is bounded
by the Maflachufct's on the north. New York
on the weft, fouthcrly by the Sound, and
eaftcrly by Rhode- Illand and a part of the
Maffachufet's Bay. It hath many fine towns,
pleafantly fituated upon the river Connedticut,
and along the Sound 5 the principal of which,
for trade and commerce, are New London,
Hartford, and New Haven j the latter of
which, fituated on New Haven Bay, is ele-
gantly laid rut in regular ftreets, having a
beautiful parade or common in the center : it
contains about 200 dwelling-houfes, beiides
public buildings, among which is a college

that

CONNECTICUT.

that has a very good appcarnce, and in which,
I am told, leaifting flourifhes ; there being
near as great a number of young gentlemen
annually graduated there as at Harvard in the
MafTachufet's.

The number of inhabitants in the whole
colony is fuppofed to be about two hundred
and ten thoufapd.

Ths foil of this colony is various, much of
it being uheven, rocky, cold and barren; aiifl
other parts exceeding pleafant and fertile, efpe-
cially on Connedlicut River already mentioned,
whofe ihter-valcs produce all kinds of grain
and fruit common to the climate in great
abundance, rarely difappointing, and often ex-
ceeding thie hopes of the huibandman. They
alfo breed in thi$ tolony great numbers of
black cattle, horfes, and fwine ; make confi-
derable proficiency in raifing of hemp add
flax ; and a town called Weathers-field, on the
river, is remarkable for the produdlion of
onions, with which it annually loads feveral
yeflels to the neighbouring provinces.

The trade of this colony to foreign parts is
very inconfiderable, they being chiefly fup-
plied with foreign commodities from Bdlon

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A Concise Account of

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and New York j in exchange for which they
fend beef, pork, flax-feed, onions, 6cc.

There are fomc iron-works in this colony
carried on to great advantage ; and they (liip
fomc lumber and hurfes to th-:; Weft-Indies,
and confiderablc quantities of ffiflafras to Hol-
land, §cc. But, after all, the obfervation of a
nobleman (who, fome years fince, travelled
through this and the adjacent provinces) is
very juft, namely, that the *« colony of Con-*
nedlicut may be compared to a cafk of good
liqu-i, tapped at both ends, at one of which
Bofton draws, and New York at the other,
till little is left in it but lees and fettlings."

They have always been exceedingly careful
in this colony net to abufe or exceed the rights
and privileges granted them by their charter,
whereby they might incur a forfeiture of it ;
but, in conformity to it, continue arinualiy to
chLic their own Governor, Lieutenant-Gover-
nor, Afliftants and Deputies, &c. by whom all
executive officers are appointed and authorifed.
They generally allow their Governor , a very
handfome ruaiiilenance, and have good funds
for other public exigencies. .__^

The rehgious perfuafions here are the farne
as in the other New England governments J but

. . there

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RHODE-ISLAND.

;h they

colony
ey (liip
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if Con-»
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there are rrore of the Kpifcopal church here
than in all the others ; nor are they behind-hand
with the Mairachuiet's in their care and pains
in educating of their children ; the fevcral
towns being provided wiih fchools, and thofe
fupphcd with able mafters.

The Colony of RHOD E- ISLAND,

THIS colony comprehends what were
originally the colonies or plantations of
Rhodc-Ifland and Providence, being incorpo-
rated into one, by a new charter, about the
fame time as the colony of Connecticut ; and,
like that, they ftill retain the rights and pri-
vileges that were at firft granted them in their
fcparate ftate, keeping up likewife two feats of
government, viz. Newport and Providence, at
which places their general court is lield alter-
nately.

This colony has but a fmall territory, lying
nearly in the figure of an heart, ^nd is bounded
north and eaftby the Mallachufet's Bay,fouth-
erly by the Qcean, and wefterly by Connecfticut.

The

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The principal towns in it are thofc already
mentioned of Newport, fituated on the Ifland
called Rhode-Ifland, pleafantly enough, and
has a faft and good harbour for ordinary (hip-
ping ; and Providence, Htuated not lefs plea-
fantly upon Providence River, is a very thriv-
ing town, and has a confidcrable trade.

The number of inhabitants in this colony is
Computed to be about 70,000.

The foil is generally low, and inclined to
tocks and ftones; however, when properly
improved, produces Indian corn, rye, oats;
peafe, hemp, flax, and fome wheat, and mofl
kinds of fruit common to the climate, in great
perfection, efpecially on Rhode-Ifland itfelf,
which, for beauty and fertility, is the garden
of the colony, and is exceeded perhaps by no
fpot in New England. They raife cattle,
fheep, and horfes, in abundance, and the latter
the beft on the continent. They like wife
make confiderable quantities of butter and
qheefe in thir* country.

The principal commodities exported front
hence are, horfes, fheep, cheefe, and the pro-
duce they procure from the neighbouring pro-
vinces, fuch as fi(h and lumber from the Maf-
fachufct's and New Hampftiire ; flour, beef,
and pork, from Philadelphia, New York, and

Corne^icut>

R II O D E - I S L A N D. 57

Connedicnt, which they commonly pay for ia
mm, fiigaf, and molalTes, imported from the
Weft Indies, in tea from Holland, or in (laves
from the coafls of Africa.

The form of government here is in all re-
fpcdts the fame as in the colony of Connedlicut.
They are not, however, fo fcrupulous in keep-
ing up to the terms of their charter, often dif-
penfing with it in fomc pretty cfTential points,
and taking liberties, not only detrimental to
the other provinces, but even to the nation,
efpccially in times of war, by carrying on an
illicit trade with the enemy, and fupplying
them with the mod material articles. This
they have repeatedly done with impunity, to
my certain knowledge, in thecourfeof the late
war, when many fcores of vefTels went loaded
wi*h beef, pork, flour, Sec, under the pretext of
flags, which, for a certain confideration, could
at any time be procured from their Governor,
when at the fame time perhaps they carried not
more than one or two French prifoners, divid-
ing the crew of one French merchantman they
had taken, among a whole fleet of flags of
truce, laden with articles more welcome to the
enemy than all the prifoners, with the fhip and
cargo, they took from them. Nor can it be
greatly wondered al; that their Governor fhould

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fall in with fo clandefline a method for the
procuretnent of a livelihood, when it is con-
fidered that they allow him but fifty or iixty
dollars per annum for his maintenance j befidcs,
as he is annually eledled, fo there are always
two or more that are competitors for the
government; and generally he that diftributes
the moft calli, and gives the befl entertain-
ments, let him be merchant , farmer, tradefmen,
or what he will, is the man who obtains a
majority of votes, which fixes him in the chair
(death only excepted) for that year. Thefc
cledtion-expences generally run high, as each
candidate endeavours to excel his competitor
(and, if all put together, would amount to a
reafonable maintenance) and muft be refunded
fome way or othck' during his reign who
happens to be eledled, and provifion made to
adt the fame part over again the next year.

There are in this colony men of al moft every
religious pcrfuafion in the world. The great-
eft number arc Quakers, and many have no
religion at all, or at leaft profefs none ; on
which account no queftions aie here afked,
every man being left pretty much to think and
adt for himfelf, of which neither the laws nor
his neighbours take much cognizance, fo great-
ly is their liberty degenerated into licentiouf-

' nefs.

NEW YORK.

ncfs. This province is infefted with a raicaily
fct of Jews, who fail not to take advantage of
the ^reat hberty here given to men of all pro-
feflions and religions, and are a peft not only to
this, but the neighbouring provinces.

There is not one free-fchool in the whole
colony, and the education of children, general-
ly, fliamefully negledled.

The PiioviNCE of NEW YORK.

THIS province is fituated between 40
and 44, degrees north latitude, and 70
and 76 deg. weft longitude, being bounded
caft by the New England provinces, north by
the province of Quebec, north- weft and weft
by the lands of the Five Nations and part of
Penfylvania, fouth-wefterly and foutherly by
the province of Jerfey and the Atlantic
Ocean, having a very exteniive and valua-
ble territory.

This province (as well as the Jerfies and
Penfylvania) v/as originally fettled by the
Swedes, not long after the New England peo-
ple fettled at Plymouth 5 and after them fome

I 2 , Dutch

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Dutch adventurers
reinforced froi

fettled here, who, being

om Holland, quickly became the
ftrongeft party, and obliged the Swedes to
acknowledge them as tlic fole proprietors of
this country, paying no regard to the chiim of
the Englifii, who had not only difcovered,
but traded to it before.

The Dutch founded their claim on a pre-
tence of having purchafed it of one Captain
Hudfon, who had formerly traded on thefe
coafts, and gave name to the river called Hud-
fon's River, and to the Bay of the fame name
to the northward. Under this right, the Weft-
India Company fent a number of people to
fettle here, but were foon after difpoirefTed by
Captain Argal, fent by the province of Virgi-
nia, with a proper force for that purpofe.

Upon this the above-mentioned Compa-
ny begged'^permiflion of King James theFirft,
for fome of their people to fettle at this place,
pretending that it was convenient for their
(hips to call at for refrefliment in their paftage
to and from the Brazils.

Their requeft was granted, but upon this ex-
prefs condition, that the people who fettled there
ihould acknowledge themfelves to be under
the fubjedlion of the King of England, This

they

■A

1 i

NEW YORK.

they accordingly did for fome years j but,
taking advantage of the troubles that followed
in the reign of King Charles the Firft, the
States of Holland fhook off their dependanCe
on the crown of England, and gave the be-
fore-mentioned Company a formal grant of
this country ; and under this grant they ap-
pointed Governors, and ereded forts, calling
the country Nova Belgia, or the New Nether-
hnds : and they alfo utterly refufed to pay to
King Charles the Second the fum they had
paid to his father and grand- father, for per-
milTion to fidi on the coafts of Great Britain.
Thele intriifions and ufurpations did not occa-
fion an immediate rupture between the two
flates, as might have been cxpedled ; howe-
ver, not long after, the King made a grant of
what is now the provinces of New York, Ne<«r
Jerfey, and Penfylvania, to his brother James,
then Duke of York, and High- Admiral, who,
in the year 1664, fent out a fleet, underlhe
command of Sir Robert Carr, with a fufficient
number of land-forces, to take pofTeflion of
the country that had been granted him ; who,
coming upon the coafts, quickly reduced the
fofts the Dutch had eredted there, and obliged
them to become Britifh fubjeds, or leave the

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62 I^ConciseAccountj/"

country. The people gladly accepted of the
former; whence it is that many of the bcA
families in New York, to this day, appear by
their names to be o^ Dutch extradlion.

New Amfterdam, fituated on an illand at
the mouth of Hudfon's River, was pitched up-
on for the metropolis, its name being changed
to that of New York, in honour of the pro-
prietor's title ; and from the name of the city,
the county to the eafl and north, and indeed the
whole province, goes under the fame appella-
tion ; as does like wife the county of Albany,
where the Dutch had crcdled a fort, named
Orange Fort, receive the name of Albany,
from the Duke's other title.

The country being thus fubdued, Sir Ro-
bert returned, taking with him the greateft
part of the land-forces, left Colonel Nichols
Governor of the country; and as the States Ge-
neral fccmed to give up all claim and pretences
thereto, it encouraged many people to remove
thither from England, fo that it foon, by the
prudent management of Colonel Nichols, and
the other fucceeding Governors, became a
very flourifhing colony ; Mr. Nichols making
it one of his firft ftudies to cultivate a friend-
fliip, and enter into a treaty of peace, with the

NEW YORK. 63

Mohocks, or Five Nations of the Indians,
who have ever fince continued true and faith-
ful, and been of great fcrvice to this pro-
vince.

In 1 673, a war breaking out between Eng-
land and the States General, the Dutch fcnt a
fleet to recover this colony, and again reduced
it to their obedience ; but they kept pofleffion
thereof but a very fhort time, it being ceded
to the crown of Great Britain (and the Gover-
nor replaced) by the treaty which followed in
1674 J ever fince which time it hath been un-
der the Englifli government, the people prov-
ing peaceable and obedient fubjedls, ready up-
on every occafion to exert themfelves in de-
fence of the rights of Great Britain, abroad as
well as in their own territory ; ovticularly in
oppofing and repelling the encroachments of the
French from Canada, with whom they have
had various encounters, being always joined
and affifled by the Mohocks, with three hun-
dred of whom, and as many EngliL), Colonel
Schyler obtained a compleat vidtory, in the
reign of William and Mary, over 700 French
regulars, and an equal number of Huron
Indians, commanded bv the Governor of
Quebec, near the river St. Lawrence, at which

ihey

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64 -^Concise Account^'

time he would in all probability have routed
the French out of Canada, had he had veflcls to
have croflcd the river, and proper artillery.
The fame Colonci Schylfr gallantly repulfed
them again in 1716, and deftroyed a fort they
had creded near Onondago Lake, vf'iih. a view
to cut off their communication Vv^ith the Lake
Ontario, which is by the way of Albany to
Schenedady about twenty miles by land, then
up the Mohock river to Lake Oineyda, and from
thence to Lake Ontario, without any land- car-
riage, except about a mile at the long falls of
the Mohock River, four miles from that river
to the Wood creek that falls into the Lake
Oncyda, and about twenty yards to Schuna
falls, near the mouth of Onondoga River, which
runs from that lake into Lake Ontario. Soon
after this our fort at Ofwego was eredled, where
hath fince been carried on the greateft Indian
tradeof any in America, commanding that of the
northern and weftern Indians; and the French,
to make up their lofs, while we were fupine
and carelefs, eredlcd forts on the river Chamblee
or Soriel, at Crown Point, at Niagara, &c.
which have fince been the fource of infinite
mifchief to this and the New England pro-
vinces, till happily reduced, and the French

excluded

'" "

l^E^ tORK.

excluded fern', this part of America by the
late war. • ;: - • -

The city of Ne\V York, which is governed
by a Mayor and Aidernienj is fituated on an
illancl bounded by Hudfon's River on the weft,
the Bay and Sound on the fouth and eaft, and
a fmall creek or channel communicating with
the Sound and Hudfon's River, about lixteen
miles north from the city. In the city arc be-
tween 2 and 3000 houfe?, generally pretty well
built i but the ftreets very irregular. It hath
feveral fpacious public buildings, among which
the college and the court-houfe are the moft
confiderable, and the Governor's manfion-
houfe within the fort j the houfes for public
worfhip are no-wajrs defpicable, efpecially the
two Englifli churches. The public worfhip in
this city is every Sunday performed in different
churches, in the Englifh, the French, the
German, and Low-Dutch languages.

This city abounds with many wealthy
merchants, who carry on a large trade to
foreign parts, and arc obferved to deal very
much upon honour ; excepting fome Jews,
who have been tolerated to fettle here, having
a fynagogue in the city, who fuftain no very
good charader, being many of them felfifli and

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knavifli (and where they have an opportunity)
an oppreffive and cruel people. The next confi-
derable place in this province is the city of
Albany, fituated upon the wcfl-fide of Hud-
fon's River, 150 miles above New York, con-
taining near 400 houfes i others are Shcnec-
; :idy - 1 the Mohock River, fifteen miles above
Aibai y; Efbpus, half-way between Albany and
York; .fjrdPeckeepfy, about ten miles further

down the nver. The number of inhabitants
in the whole province are about 150,000.

The foil of this province is generally very
plcafant and fertile, producing in great abun-
dance all forts of grain and fruit, common to
the climate ; efpecially the inter-vales, which
are many, and large, upon its extended rivers,
of which Hudfon's River is the chief. This river
heads within twenty or thirty miles of Lake
Champlain,and runs fouth for about fifty or fix-
ty miles, crofling in its way fome fmall lakes, of
which Scanderoon is the moil confiderable j it
then bends more eaflerly to the carrying- pi ace,
where Fort Edward ftands; and then fouth-
ward, till it empties itfelf into the fea at New
York, or Sandy Hook, having on it fome ex-
ceeding fine inter-vales at Saratoga, Still Wa-
ter, Half Moon, the Flats, 6cc. and below Al-
bany

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xtconfi-
e city of
if Hud-
rk, con-
Shcnec-
cs above
)anyand
s further

labitants

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ally very
at abun-
nmon to
, which
d rivers,
his river
of Lake
ty or fix-
lakes, of
able \ it
g-place,
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ome ex-
till Wa-
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bany

NEW YORK. (^7

bany are fome iflands in it of moft excellent
land. This river is navigable for velTels of an
hundred tons as high as Albany, and Hiallops
can go eight or ten miles higher. About
eight miles above Albany the Mohock River
empties itfelf at feveral mouths, called the
Sprouts, into this. This river takes its rife in
the Mohock country, and is navigable (ex-
cepting fome few falls) for whale-bo^ts and
battoes, for upwards of one hundred n.le its
courfe is eaftwardly, and has adj?. 'nt lO it
many fine inter-vales, particularly \i"^ called
the German Flats, being fettlei' with Ger-
mans, and is extended along thcrwci* for fifty
miles in length, and about two in width.
This tra6t of land is exceeded by none in
America, being cafy to cultivate, and pro^
ducing, in the greateft abundance, wheat, bar-^
ley, peafe, hemp, or whatever is put into it.
About two miles from where this joins with
Hudfon's River is a fall or cataradt, at which
the whole ftream defcends perpendicular for
about feventy feet. This part of the province
abounds with faw-mills, having great plenty
of timber, efpecially pines.

In the before-mentioned rivers is great
plenty of fiih, fuch as fliad, ail-wives, ftur*

K 2 geon,

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geon, &c. and alfo a variety of frerti water
iifli. In this part of the province are alfo
feveral iron-works, carried on to great advan-
tage; particularly Mr. Levingfton's, at his
manor upon Hudfon's River, which is faid to
manufadlure the befl iron of any in America.
There are alfo very fine lands upon the Eaft-
River, or Sound, tho' very rocky, as indeed is
mod of the upland within this province, up-
on the main land^ being mountainous and hard
to fubdue, yet, when once brought to, it
richly rewards the labour of the hufbandman,
There are alfo feveral ptcafant and fruitful if-
lands to the fouth and fouth-eaft of the city;
. and, among thefe, that called Long Ifland de-
ferves the iirft notice. In the fea adjacent to
this ifland are fea-bafs and black-fifh in great
plenty, which are very good when frcfli.

This ifland is about 1 50 miles in length,
and in fomc places twenty miles wide; the
middle of the ifland is fomewhat barren, but
both ends arc mofl: excellent foil, improved
perhaps to as great advantage as any lands in
America, producing all kinds of grain and fruit^^
to He found in this part of the country, to great
perfection ; and abounds with black cattle,
flicep, fwine, horfes, &c. beypn^ any other

part

water |
re alfo |

advan- jJ

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faid to M

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e Eaft- M

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ei up- ^
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NEW YORK.

part of the province I am told that the pro-
duce of fome fingle acres ^t the weft-end,
which is handy to New York market, annual-
ly amounts to near a hundred pounds fterling.
And fo productive is this ifland of the humaa
fpecies, that no lefs than a hundred families an-
nually remove from hence to other places, ge-
nerally carrying with them an handfome fum
to begin with J and a much greater number
of women are annually married from hence
into the neighbouring plantations.

There are feveral oth^r illands belonging to
the province, not inferior to this in pleafant-
nefs and fertility of foil, tho* of much lefs ex*
tent ; as Streightcn Illand, oppofite to the
weft-end of Long Ifland, forming the Narrows
orStreights, thro* which is the paftage for fhips
bound to or from the fea to New York j and
Fi(her*s Ifland, lying in the Sound, betwccai
Long Ifland and the colony of Connedicut, 6a
the main ; and feveral others, both in the Bay
and Sound ; one of which in the latter, called
Barn Ifland, about 25 miles from New York,
has obtained a charter for erecting a city, andr
fome advances are made towards it.

The fituation of New York is extremely
happy for trade, having a fafe and convenient

har-

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70 A Concise Account of

harbour, acccfribic three different ways for
fhips of common burthen, viz. by way of the
Sound, between Long Ifland and Streighten
Ifland (which is the mod ufual and eafy
entrance) ; and again between Streighten
Ifland and the Jerfey-fhore. There are eafy
conveyances to and from it by water, upon its
rivers and lakes (except fome few carrying-
places) to Montreal and Quebec northward,
and to the great lakes Erie, Ontario, &c.
weftward, for 600 miles 5 and upon the fea k
has not only the advantage of its own coafts,
but alfo of Connedlicut and the Jerfies, their
trade in great meafure centering here, where
they exchange their fcveral commodities for
foreign goods.

• ? The commodities exported from hence are
therefore thofe of the three governments, fuch
as wheat, flour, beef, pork, furs, and caftor,
in great abundance; flaves, plank, lumber,
flax-feed, pig and bar iron, and fome cop-
per. And, of late, great encouragement is
given- to feveral manufasftories, efpecially
that of hemp, the railing of which is encou-
raged by a large bounty given by the pro-
vince : and in the city a fociety is formed,
who fit at ftatcd times, to confult methods

r.ii

NEW YORK.

7«

.'i<

for promoting trade and hulbandry in their
various branches, and the manufadiuing of
linnen, wool, iron, £cc. and confiderablc
premiums are allotted to fuch as exceli in
thefe branches of bufinefs; which condudl will
doubrlefs have a tendency to prefervc the cre-
dit of this province, to enrich the inhabi-
tants, by increafing their exports, and ren-
der them lefs v^ ^pendant on foreign countries
for their commodities and manufadlures of fe-
veral kinds.

His Britannic Majctly is abfolute Sovereign
of the foil of this province, and by him
the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secreta-
ry, Council, &c. are appointed; the free-
holders of the feveral counties cleding their
own reprefentatives, to form a legiflalive body
with them. The cities of New York and
Albany have likewife the privilege, by their
charters, of making by-laws for themfelves,
(provided they are not inconfiftent with the
laws of the province, nor of the realm) which
are enadled by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com-
mon Council of the refpedlive cities, annually
ele(fled by the free-men of each ; thefe likewife
form a court of judicature, called the Mayor's
court.

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The religious perfuafions here are very nu-
merous; there being Epifcopalians.. Luther-
ans, PrefbyterianSj^ A^;abaptill$, Moravians,
Quakers, and Jews, wht) not only worfliip in
all their various forms, but, as hath been men-
tioned, in different languages. Learning oif
late hath been much encouraged in this pro-
vince, the college being well eflabliflied, and
furnifhed with a prefident, profeflbrs, and
tutors, and a good library ; feveral young
gentlemen are annually graduated at it, and
the city and country in general are well furnifh-
cd with fchools.

I J I

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1., r.

The Province of NEW JERSEY.

THIS province is fituated between New
York and Penfylvania, in a triangulaf
form, having the province of New York nor-
therly, Penfylvania weflerly and foutherly,
and the Atlantic Ocean eafterly, from the
mouth of Hudfon*s River to the mouth of De-
laware River. This province, like New
York, was originally fettled by the Swedes,
and was deemed a part of what the Dutch had
• '■ J poflefieci

NEW JERSEY.

poflefkd thenifelves of, by the name of Novii
Belgia, and was contained in the grant made
by King Claries to his brother James, Duke
of York, in 1663, who the year followirg
made a grant of that part called New Jerfey to
Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. Thefe
two proprietors fent Philip Carteret, Efq; as
Governor ; and the lands being granted to the
fettlers for fix or fcven years, free of quit-
rents, induced many, efpecially Diffenters,
to come from England, and fettle in this coun-
try 5 fo that the inhabitants, being a compo-
fition of Swedes, Dutch, and Engli{h, among
whom were fome of almoft every religious
pcrfuafion und^r heaven ; they were like fo
many jarring elements pent up together, and
could not be reduced and reconciled to any
fettled form of government, but by a military
force : they indeed continued within fome
bounds while they Vvcrc excufed paying quit-
rents; but after the exoiration of the term
aibove mentioned, when that indulgence was
no longer allowed them, and the quit-rents
afterwards being confiderably in arrear, upon
the proprietors infifting on payment thereof,
they broke out into open rebellion, depofcd
the Governor, and fct up a fort of government

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74. ' ^ Concise Account cf

of their own, under which they continued till
1673, when they were attacked andfubdued by
theDutchj but the country being again reftored
to the Englifii by the treaty made the follow-
ing year, Mr. Carteret returned to his govern-
ment, and the proprietors making fome con-
ceffions, the inhabitants continued pretty quiet
for fome time. Lord Berkley icon after af-
figned over his right to iMr. William Penn and
three other affignecs with whom Sir George
Carteret agreed to divide the country into two
equal parts, by running a line from the fouth-
eaft point of Little Egg Harbour, almo'i due
north ; the eaflermoft part Vv'hereof, which on
fuch partition was allotted to Sir George, was
and flill is called Eafl New Jerfey ; and the
other part which was allotted to iVir. Pcnn and
the other proprietors, w^as then diftinguifhed by
and ftill retains the name of Weft New Jerfey,
and fo became for fome time two feparate and
diftin(!l governments. Sir George afterwards
died, and his truftees thereupon fold his right
therein to Mr. Penn, and eleven other pur-
chafers ; and they not long after fold a part of
theirs to the Earl of Perth, and eleven others 3
all which divifions and fubdivifions caufing the
land to be branched out into fuch numerous

por-

NEW JERSEY,

nued till
idued by
reftorcd
; follow-
govern-
me con-
:tty quiet
after af-
Penn and
r George
into two
le ibuth-
mo'"' due
ivhich on
)rge, was
and the
?cnn and
fhed by
vv Jerfey,
rate and
crwards
lis right
iier pur-
a part of
others j
fing the
umerous
por«

portions, that the refpcdivc owners thereof,
taking little or no notice of their intcrcfls there-
in, no proper care being taken to fettle and fix
proper lines and boundaries to their eftates, it
became difficult, if not impoflible, to afcer-
tain their refpedive rights ; which caufing
from time to time great uncertainty of pro-
perty^ it occafioned fo many mohs and tu-
multuous rifmgs, that the proprietors, being
quite wearied out, they in the year 1702 fur-
rendered the entire government of both the
Jerfies to the crown, referving only to thern-
felves all their other rights and privileges^
and flipulating alfo for feme privileges in fa-
vour of the people, which were to be given
in charge to all future Governors appointed by
the crown, as part of their inflrudlions. Up-
on this furrender, the government of the Two
Jerfies was by the crown annexed to the go-
vernment of New York, in which flate they
continued till the year 17^6, when the two
Jerfies became one government, and Lewis
Morris, Efq; was appointed their fiifb Gover-
nor ; but they dill retain a !eiU of povern-
ment in each divifion, at which their afiem-
bly and fupreme court of judicature fi: alter-
nately, VIZ. at Burlington in Wefb Jerfey,

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and Perth Amboy in Eaft Jerfcyj which two
placcij, though no ways coniiderablc either for
their numbers or trade, have city-privileges j
as haih the city of New Brunfwick, (ituated
upon the River Rariton, about eight miles a-
bove Amboy (which ftands at the mouth of
the river), and is faid to be the moft flourifh-
ing place in the vvhole province. The num-
ber of inhabitanrs in this province is comput-
ed to be about 100,000.

The f^>il of this province is very uniform,
good and eafy, natural to wheat and all kinds
of Engiifh grain, abounding in ; U kinds of
fruit common to the climate ; and is faid to
produce the bed cyder of any on\he conti-
nent. The timber is tall, and their oak is in
good efleem for ihip-buiidi^y, 1 iiis province
abounds in ftreams of water, convenient for
mills, furnace^, or any kind of water- works;
and having grcai. quantities of iron ore, there
are in it feveral furnaces and iron works, and
one flitting mill, which arc carried on to good
advantage. It is likewife fuppofed to be rich
in copper and filver ore, fome of both kinds
having been found in feveral parts of the pro-
vince; but none hath been worked to any
great advantage, excepting Schyler*s copper-
" mine

■* L

hich two
either for
rivileges ;
(ituated
miles a-
nouth of
flourifh-
he num-
comput-

uniform,
all kinds
k'inds of
is faid to
be conti-
oak is in
province
lient for
-works;
e, there
ks, and
to good
) be rich
h kinds
the pro-
to any
copper-
mine

NEW JERSEY.

mine in Eail New Jerfey, about twenty miles
weR- from the citv of New York, the pro-
duce of which hath already made fevcral fine
eflates.

There arc no rivers of any note that ex-
tend far into this province ; that called Paf-
faick, which empties itklf into the lea at the
northerly part of it, ha:, about twenty miles
from its mouth a remarkable fall orcatarad:,
where the whole flreum falls fevcnty foot from
a rock whofc face is perpendicular.

The lands in this province are chiefly taken
up and improved, fo that they have but little
wild game of any kind ; but what greatly ob-
flrud:s the growth of this province, and hin-
ders it from thriving in proportion to the
goodnefs and fertility of its foil, and making
thofe improvements it is other wife capable of,
is the great uncertainty of their tides, and the
continual difputcs and law-fuits which thence
ari(c among the inhabitants, no meii owing
rich here lo fad as the irentlemen of uie law.
Befides, this province lufxl^rs the . 'me fate
from Philadelphia and New Yor" , that the
colony of Connecfticut does from New York:
and Bofton j having no conlldefable foreign
Jrade of their owfi^ they exchange their corn-
modi-

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A Concise A c c

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moditii^s at tbofe t\\

places

for for

)reign goods,
and confcquently leave a profit there, which
otherwife they might have thcmfelves.

The chief exports of this province arc
wheat, flour, timber, pig and har iron, cop-
per ore, and black cattle, v^hich they drive in
great numbers to Pliiladclphia, on whofe rich
pafturcs they are generally grazed for foinc
time, before they are killed for market.

The form of government here is the fame
as that of Newr York, and the religious per-
ftiafions are no iefs numerous, and much
the fame as in that province. Here is like-
wife a college founded at Prince-Town, about
thirty miles frorr the city of Philadelphia,
which is faid to be extremely well furnillied
and regulated, and is much reforted to, not
only by the yoong Gentlemen of this, but
by many of the neighbouring provinces.

.•. . . *

The

which

( 79 )

The Piovince of P E N S Y L V A N I A.

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, cop-
rive in
fe rich
r lomc

s fame
IS per-
much
5 like-
, about
elphia,
nillied
not
but

The

THIS province was by the Dutch ef-
teemed a part of their Nova L'clgia>
and was, as fuch, fuppofed to be included in
the grant made by King Charles tiie Second ta
his brother James the Duke of Yoik, in
1663, though it does not appear to have been
particularly defcribed in the grant. It is fituated
between 39 and 42 degrees latitude, and 72
and 78 degrees weft longitude, being bounded
north-eafterly by the Jerfeys, iiorth by lands
of the Five Nations, weft by the Apalathian
mountains, and foutherly by Maryland. In
1681, Mr. Penn obtained a patent from King
Charles for the upper or inland part of this
province j and afterwards, from the Duke of
York, he obtained a grant of the fea-coafts
from the town of Delaware, now Newcaftle,
to Cape Henlopen. In the country, contained
within this lafl: grant, were many i:Hvcdes,
Dutch, nod Englidi fettled, who chofc to re-
main under a diftindl jurifdidton of their own,
but are under the fame Governor, and belong
to ibe fame proprietor. One of the funda-
mental xc^gulationii cf this pru'vhicc is, *' that

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ji Concise Account 0/

'* none who believe in God Almighty, and
** live peaceably, fliall be moklled on account
*' of their religious perAialion, or be com-
" pelled to frequent or fupport any religious
*' worfliip contrary to their declared fenti-
** mentsj" and, " that all pcrfons who pro-
•* fefs to believe in Jefus Chrifl, fhall not be
incapable of ferving the government in any
capacity on account of any peculiarities in
their religious opinion?, they folemnly pro-
** mifing, when required, allegiance to the
" crown of Great Britain, and fidelity to the
** Proprietor and Governor of the province."

Soon after Mr. Penn had obtained his f^rant-
he engaged and embarked with a confiderable
number of people to fettle in this country, mod
of whom were Quiakers, Mr. Penn himfeif be-
ing of that perfuafion j but fo upright was ht
in his proceedings, that although he had, bjr
charter from the King, a right to a large ex-
tent of country, yet he v/ould not pretend to
take pcirefHon, or make uny divifion of the
lands among his followers, till he had fairly
purchafed the country of the native Indians,
in whom he judged the original property and
oldeft right was vefted ; and at the fame time
he encraofed the feveral nations of Indians, in-
habiting or claiming this territory, t# promife

that

PENSYLVANIA.

that they would not ftll or difpofc of any of
their lands, but to him, or fuch as fliould be
authorifed by him to purchafe the fame, giv-
ing orders to his agents not to take pofTeflion,
or fuffer any pcrfon to take pofTefTion of any
lands, till they had firflmade a fair purchafe of
them from the Indians. This generous pro-
cedure of his not only recommen 'ed him
ftrongly to the natives, who conceiveil a very
high opinion of his honour and inugrifv, but
laid a foundation for a lafting peace with them,
and effcdtually prevented many of thofo tra-
gical calamities which feveralofthc American
provinces fuffered in their infant Hare. Mr.
Penn continued in the country upwards of two
years, in which time he formed fuch an ex-
cellent plan for the government of t'e pro-
vince as hath fmce engaged more foreigners to
refide here than in any other part of America.
Helikewife laid the foundations of the city of
Philadelphia, and formed the plan of it,
which, for beauty, not only far excells any
other in America, but is, perhaps, exceeded by
few in the world. This city is fituated be-
tween two navigable rivers, Delaware on the
north, and the Schulkill on the fouth, which
join each other a few miles below, and is near
loo miles from the bay where the river emp-

M tics

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/f Concise Account of

•tics itfelf. The flrccts arc wide and fpanous,
with a dry defended walk on each fide, and
are cxadtly ftrait and parallel to each other :
thehoufesin general are well built, and make
a good appearance, efpecially fomc of the
public building?, which are not excelled
by any in the country 5 fuch, in particular, i^
the academy, the ftate-houfe, and feveral of
the churches. The proprietor's feat, which
is the ufual place of the governor's refidence,
and is about a mile above the town, exceeds
any private building in America, both in its
magnificence and the pleafantnefs of its litua-
tion. This city has exceeding beautiful bar-
racks for the reception of the King's troops,
and has the fineft market of any on the con-
tinent, being of a prodigious extent and well
built, and as well regulated and fupplied ; in
fhort, fcarce any thing can afford a more beau-
tiful landfcape than this city and the adjacent
country, which for fome miles may be com-
pared to a well-regulated flourifhing garden,
being improved, as I have been informed, to
as great advantage as almoft any lands in Eu-
rope ; there are in the city about four thou-
fand houfes, and about twenty thoufand inha-
bitants.

Other

•l

■i

.,x

PENSYLVANIA.

Other confiderable places in this province
are, firft, Lancaftcr, about fixty or fevienty
miles from Philadelphia, on the road to Fort
Du Qnefne or Pittfburg, which is near as large
as the city of New York ; and about the fame
diftancc trom Lancaftcr, on the fame road is
Carliflc, and about twenty or twenty- five miles
beyond it, is Shippefburg ; the country between
r .duclphia and Pitilburg, which are three
hundred miles afunder, being pretty well
fettled for two hundred miles from the for-
mer, the land being uniformly good. The
number of inhabitants in the whole province
of Penfylvania are upwards of three hundred
and fifty thoufand.

The moft remarkable rivers in this province
are the Delaware and the Sufquahanah ; the
firft of thefc takes its rife in the country of the
Mohocks or Five Nations, and flows into the
fea at Delaware Bay or Cape Henlopen. This
river is navigable for near i5o.m.les up, af-
ter which it hath feme falls in it, the letde-
ments upon this river extend 1 50 miles from
the city of Philadelphia. The l^nds adjacent
to it are excellent, and fcarce ever fail to rcm
ward the toil of the hufbandman in a plentiful
manner. This river alfoaffords great plenty and
variety of fuch fifh as are common to the cli-

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84 A' Concise Account of

mate, efpecially fturgeon, which nrc here
tai<cn and manutadured in greater abun-
dance than in any oth(*r part of America The
gcnTal courfe of this river is nearly fouth-
catl.

The Sufquahanah takes its rife in the Came
country, at anout 90 miles diflance from the
Ao'ilachian mountains, and runs nearly pa-
rallel to it, till it empties itfelf into Chefe-
peak Bay in Maryland. This river is alfo
navigable in the interior country a great way
up, and, if poiTible, <;xceeds the other in plca-
fantnefs and fertility of the foil adjacent to it,
producing in great abundance all forts of
grain common to the climate, efpecially wheat.
But not only the river or inter-vale lands in
this province, but the intermediate lands, arc
exceedingly fruitful and eafy to cultivate, pro-
ducing grain and Iruit, hemp and flax, black
cattle, fhecp, &c. The lands, where impro-
ved, are generally well improved, being lotted
out to the farmers in fuch proportions as they
are able to manage to advantage, for which
they pay an annual quit^rent to the lord pro-
prietor. This province likcwife abounds in
ftreams fit for any kind of water- works, and ma-
nufactures the greateil: quantity of iron of any
1 ' ' * ' prO"

P E N S Y L V yv N I A.

«S

province on the continent. Its forefts are as well
itorcd with wild game, as its pafturcs with
flocks and herds •, in (hort, no province on the
continent is lefs dependent on its neighbours,
or foreign countrits, for either the necef aries
or conveniencies and agreeables of life, than
this. Its trade is extenfive, large, and valua-
ble ; no Icfs than three hnnHrcd fail annually
clearing out fiom Phi'^'dclpina to Europe, the
Weft Indies, &c. Their trade into the inte-
rior country, with the Indians, is likewiie very
extenfive and lucrative. The chief articles
exported from this province, are wheat, flour,
bear, pig and bi^r iron, hogfhead and pipe-
flaves, hoops, luis, peltry, beef, pork, flax-
feed, 6cc. s
This is a proprietary government, fo ftiled
from the proprietor's being inverted with a
fort of fovereign authority; he appoints the
Governor, Council, and Magiftrates ; and the
reprefentatives of the people are fummoned
in his name, and, by their advice, he cnadls
laws which are binding, without the appro-
bation of King or parliament at home. But
by a late ftatute, the p oprietor muft have the
King's approbation in appointing a Governor,
when he does not perfonally refide in the pro-
vince

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vincc himfelf, and of a Deputy Governor,
when he docs. And by another ftatute, all
the Governors in America arc liable to be
called to an account for mal-adminiftration
before the court of King's B<inch in England.
This province can boaft of as great a variety of
religious perfuafions as that of New York, and
perhaps greater here, being, among others, a
Popiih chapel allowed of; but by far the
greeted number are Quakers.

MARYLAND.

HIS province is the next to the fouth-*
ward, being bounded on the north by
Penfylvania and Delaware Bay ; on the eaft,
by the Atlantick Ocean ; by Virginia, fouthj
and by ihe Apalachian mountains, wed -, and
is divided into the eadern and wedern divi*
fions by the great bay of Chefcpeak,

This province was originally included in
the grant made by King James the Fird to
the Southern Company, formed by charter, in
1606 ;* but that grant being vacated, and fal-
ling to the crovyn, this territory was granted

*'.„

MARYLAND. ^ I7

by King Charles the Fiift to Lord Baltimore,
a Roman Catholick Nobleman, who fcnt out
a number of people to begin the fettlement of
the country, among whom were feveral of the
Romifli perfuafion, having obtained an indul-
gence of enjoying the free exercife of their re-
ligion in that country. His Lordfhip's brother
embarked in November 1633, and took pof-
feffion of this country, having with him 200
fettlers J the country, in honour to Queen Ma-
ry, confort to King Charles, was called Mary-
land. They arrived at the mouth of Poto-
mack River the March following, and having
fixed on a proper place for beginning a fettle-
ment, purchafed the land of the natives. The
place they made choice of was near a fmall
bay at the mouth of Potomack River, and was
a town belonging to the Yoamaco Indians^
who having been defeated by the Sufquahanah
Indians, were come to a refolution to leave
their town, and retire further into tlie coun-
try ; the Englifli arriving at this happy junc*
ture, upon fulfilling their agreement, were im-
mediately put in poffeflion of one half of the
town. Having thus, by purchafe, become
mafters of a fpot of cleared ground, they not
^nly fet ihcmfelves to building a tow^n called

St. Ma-

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A Concise Account of

St. Mary's, but to planting of corn ; they zKo
purchafcd what corn they c uld of the In-
dians, fo that they very Toon had a plentiful
fupply. And as they prudently took care to
cultivate a friendfliip and good correfpondcncc
with the Indians, they thereby avoided the
diftrefles which the neighbouring colony of
Virginia had fo often been reduced to, for to
this day they have never had any difputes or
war with the Natives j and in their infant-
ftate they were greatly afiifled by them, re-
ceiving from them plentiful fupplles of veni-
fon, turkies, and other game. But not ne-
glecting the proper means for their fecurity, in
cafe any difpute or mifunderftanding fhould
. happen, they foon eredted a fort, mounting
feveral pieces of cannon, which commanded
the town -, which fo terrified the Indians, that,
however they might he difpofcd, they always
behaved peaceably. Being thus happy in the
enjoyment of peace and plenty, they foon re-
ceived reinforcements from England, many of
whom were Roman Catholicks, on whofe ac-
count Lord Baltimore, when the legiflature
was eftablifhed, procured an adl to be palTcd,
which tolerated all who profefled Chriftianity,
of whatever perfuafion they were.

This

•li

■lU'

MARYLAND. 89

This colony foon became fo conficicrable,
that/at the tlfath ol"Ch..ik's the; Fliil:, the par-
liament tli'.Ui'iit it exprdicnt to take the go-
vernment of" it from the profM^tor ; nor ciid
Lord Bilumore recover it a^;.i:r'. till lotne t:mc
after the reftoration, when he ferit over his
Ton, who continueci in the government twenty
years, under whofe prudent lidminiflration the
colony fl luiHicd exceedingly. V pon his fa-
ther's dciith he returned, but firft appointed a
Gentleman to be Governor in his ablence, who
held the government till the year 1692, at
which time Lord Baltimore was again divefted
of it, and the right of government afligned to
the crown of Great Britain j and, at prcfent,
the property of but a f'mall part of the pro-
vince is vefted in Lord Baltimore, he having
conveyed by far the greateft part to others.

There are no very confiderable towns in
this province; the reafon of which is, that the
plantations being ahnoft all fttuated upon fomc
navigable creek or river, with which the pro-
vince abounds^ the planters have the conve-
nience of fliipping their own produce to Eng-
land and other parts, and of being fupplied
from thence with foreign commodities, with-
out having recourfe to their merchants.

N The

'^^Hb'

'' J

ill

1 ■

If,.,,

1 t •

H i

r. ;i

i ill

A Concise Account cf

The principal rivers in this province arc
PotoiTi.uk, ^^atuxf.nt, Pokomoaia, Chaptank,
and Saflafras River, with many others of
fmaller note, by which the province is cut
and carved into various (liapes, and has all the
advantages of navigation and water-carriage
that can be defired. Places of inoft note in
this province are Annapolis, clteemed the ca-
pital, St. Mary's, Port Royal, &c.

The number of inhabitants in the province
of Maryland i-s about 85,000 whites, and
25,000 negroes or Haves.

The air, foil, produce and commerce of
this province being much the fame as thofe of
Virginia, I fhall defcribe them conjointly, after
having firft given fome account of the rife, &c.
of the latter.

VIRGINIA.

THIS territory was difcovercd by Scbaf-
tian Cabot, and was the firft fettled of
any in America ; for Sir Walter Raleigh, in
the year 1584, obtained a grant from Queen
Elizabeth, of all remote barbarous and heathen

lands

' i* .

VIRGINIA.

lands he fliould dilcover and fettle ; when he.
With Sir Richard Grcnvillc, and Icverai other
Gentlemen, at their own cxpcnce, fitted out
two fliips, under the command of Captain
Philip Ainedas, and Captain Arthur Barlow,
who, departing from London in April 1584,
on the July following fell in with that part of
America now .called North Carolina, and
landed upon an illind which they found co-
vered with cedars, pines, &c. and ahounding
with deer and other game. This ifland was
called Ocacock, lying at the mouth ol New
River; at this place, and in the neighbouring
iflands, they were received and entertained b^'
the natives in a friendly manner, wiih whom
they traded, and upon their return to Europe
carried two of them to England. They at
this time made no fettlement in the country,
but gave it the name of Virginia, in honour of
the virgin CVieen. Sir Richard Grenvilie
himfelf embarked for Virginia the fpring fol-
lowing, having kven fliips under his direc-
tion, carrying with him, as an interpreter,
one of thofe Indians that had been brought to
England the preceding year, and arrived at
the ifland Gcacock the 26th of May. From
hence they pafTed over to the continent j but

N 2 a dif-

r;:i

\ ■

, > M

■ I

•l^'J

l! ! ■(

l! !

ACoNCisE Account of

a difpate arifing between an Im^lan and one
of Sir Richarci's followers, thcv imprmit iitly
burrt the Indian town, cicllioycJ il.tn corn,
and did them other cop.liderahle daniaiiCSi
v.'hich gave i!;e Indians very unlavourable

ea'j o

f tbej

e lic'A -colliers, and was, it may
be fuppolcd, tht* ciud; cf their behaving in a
quite different cn.jnr;ei from what they had

done formei

i:ir K

ichard,

return I nir to

England, left on 'he hiand Roanoke up-
wards of hiinnr'id rnt'j, to mak'j a fettlcment
there, under the care of one Mr. Lane; hut
they met with fo many interruptions from the
Indians were fo frequently in danger of be-
ing cut off by them, and in fine reduced to
luch (iiftrefs, that they were glad to return to
England with Sir Francis Drake, who called
there in his return from an expedition againft
the Spaniards.

Sir Walter Raleigh had, before thefe peo-
ple arrived in England, fent out a fhip with
provifions and other neceffaries, for the fupply
of the infant-colony. Sir Richard Grenville
following foon after with three fhips more :
but this firlt fliip, not finding any of the peo-
ple, returned to England ; and upon Sir
Richard's arrival he neither fopnd the fhip

nor

VIRGINIA.

' I

d one
It iitly
corn,
laiiCS J
LI r able
t may
^ in a
y had
ig lo
e ijp-
cmcnt
; but
m the
of be-
:cd to
urn to
called
igainft

pco-
with
|uppiy
fnvillc
nore :
pco-
Sic
(hip
nor

nor the people he had left there the year be-
fore. This greatly (lilcouraged him; howe-
ver, not to give up the undertaking, he left
fifty men at the fort on Roanoke, with a fup-
ply of neccflaries for two years* and failed for
England. The next fpring three (hips more
were fent out, under diredion of Captain
White, with a Tipply ofprovifion and men,
who upon his arrival found nothing but a (Ice-
leton of one of the people, and the fort de-
(Iroyed 3 what became of the reft was never
known.

Thefe repeated misfortunes however did
pot dilmay thof^ adventurers; for, in fpite of
the difafters their countrymen had met with,
they determined to cred: a fort, and keep pof-
fefTion of the ifland they were then upon,
called Cape Hatreras; and Mr. White, by the
ciioice of the rell, was fent home to folicit a
frc(h fupply ; but, upon his arrival, an em-
bargo was laid upon all (hipping, on account
of the cxocded invafion from the famous
Sp'dnifh \rmado. However^ after great im-
portunity, and much difficulty, he obtained
pv^rmiilian to fiil with two fmall (hips, both
of v^/hich were intercepted by the Spaniards,
plundered^ and obliged to put back to Eng-
land.

- ^ t

Ht':

•■ .,' .

^■..

"i\

94 y/ C N CI s r. Account of

Uiid. Kq care after this was taken to fcml

.relief to the brave adventurers, till the montii

of March 1590, when three (liips were fitted

out at the cxpence of fomc merchants, to

whom Sir WaUcr Ralcifi-h hv\ alTi^ned over
«... ... ° . .

his riglu to Virginia; but tliOngh they lailed
from Plymouth in March, they never arrived
at Cape Ilatteras till the next Augufl:, ha-
ving employed themfclvcs all that time in
plundering fomc Spanifli iflinds. When
White arrived he could find no figns of his
countrymen, but the word Croatian cut on a
wooden pod ; for it had been agreed when
White Ic'tt that ifland, that, in cafe they were
obliged to remove, they {liould leave fomc
fuch fTr;nal, widi the name of the place they
jnfendcd to remove to. It was therefore ima-
ghied they were gone to an ifland of that
' .name, but now called C'npc L.jk-out. Ac-
.cordingly they dired:ed tlieir courfe for that
: place; but, meeting with bad weather, his
people [\rew uneafy. Being impatient to get
home with their plunder, they obliged him to
fleer for England, without once fearching the
Ifland Croatan for their unfortunate country-
men ; and, it is prefumed, they all either pe-
rilled with hunger, or were dellroyed by the

favag

es.

'1 ''

jf '

V I R C I N I A,

uvnp,c?, ab roncot them wa? lvli heard of af-
tcrvvarclf, thouj^'h fliips were iinmcJiatciy fcnt
out hv Sir Walter Rnlei'/h in Icruch of them.
All thoughts cf fcttlir.g Virginia (whieh was
then a general name lor th.e vvliolc Northern
Continent) were now laid afidc for Tome years;
but fb favourable were the. accounts of the
country, tliat the prtjccl was revived again in
i6o6, when two companies were formed,
confilling not only of merchants, but feveral
Noblemen and Gentlemen joined in the de-
fign; one of thefe companies was for the
fouthern, the other for the northern colony.

Sir Thomas Smith, a rich merchant in Lon-
don, andoneof thofeto whom Sir Walter Ra-
leigh had alligned over his right, was preli-
dcnt of the former company, by whom three
(liips were fitted out with men, provilions, and
every necelTary for making a fettlcmcnt, with
proper diredions for eflablinnng a form of go-
vernment. Ihey arrived at Virginia in April,
at the mouth of Chefcpeak Bay, lying be-
ttvecn two capes, to which they gave the
names of Cape Henry and Cr.pc Charles,
after the King's two fon?. Here they fcaith-
ed for fome lime in qucfi: of a proper place to
cred a fort, and begin a letdcmcnt; and at

i 'ilt

i ' . u

'«■ i

•I V,

96 A Concise Account oj

Jaft pitched upon a peninfuln, about forty
miles from the mouth of the River Pacoha-
tan. To this place they gave the name of
James Town, from whence the river has fincc
obtained the name of James River.

The Indians, for fcveral days after they
landed, kept ihem in conflant alarms, by fre-
quently attacking them ; but not long after
they fued for peace, which was the more rea-
dily granted them on account of their fliips re-
turning to England 5 which they did a few
days after, leaving one hundred men^ many
of whom were foon after taken iick, owing,
as was fuppofed, to their bad provifions. One
Wingfield, who was fent out as their Prefidentj
behaved in fuch a manner that they were
obliged to deprive him of his prefidency, and
elcdl another. But the management of affairs
chiefly depended on Captain Smith, who had
during the paflage been very ill ufed, and foi^
three months confined by Wingfield ; but on
their coming on (horc. Smith infifted upon being
hrought to trial, where his innocence appeared
£0 confpicuous, that Wingfield was condemned
in two hundred pounds damages ^ which reco-
very Mr. Smith generoufly gave up for the fer-
Tice of the colony. It was owing to the pru-
dence.

VIRGINIA.

many
wing,

One
ident,

were
and

fFairs
had
dfor
ut on

dence, iudgment, and fjoftitude pf this G^ntk*-
man, that thefe adven'turers were not* likp
their predeceirors, deftroyed. By his exampi?
he encouraged his con^panion^-to labour; hie
courage was a terror to the favages, vvhofc
treacherous fchcrnes f6r the dcftrudion oi the
fettlemcnt he feafonably difcovcred, and wifely
prevented their taking cffed:. It was through
his intJuence and perfuafiori that his compa-
nions did not abandon the fettlement and re-
turn "to Europe, in a bark that had been left
them, in order that they might extend their
trade with the natives, and make further dif-
coveries up the country. But, notwithftand-
ing fuch iignal fervices, cnvy^ the conftant at-
tendant on true merit, was employed in rai-
fing objedlions to Mr. Smith's eondudlj and,
having nothing of more importance to find
fault with, blamed him for not going in fearch
oi the head of Chick ahomina River. Though
it was not of the lead confcquence to the co-
lony, yet he refolved to remove this cavil, by
endeavouring to find the fource of the river.
He embarked in a barge, and going as far as
that would carry them, with two Engli{hmen
and two Indians, he took to a canoe, leaving
orders with thofc in the barge, that not any of
"■f^ O them

98 A Concise Account of

I'li

\-\

them ihould go afhore till he returned ; hut
fcarce had he turned his back before his or-
ders were difobcyed, and they furprifcd by a
party of Indians, confiiling of 300, headed
by a brother of the King of Pamunkey ; one,
George Caflan, was taken prifoner, the reft
narrowly cfcaped : the chieftain, called Ope-
chankanough, extorted from CafTan which
way Mr. Smith was gone, and then cruelly
put him to death. Captain Smith, having pro-
ceeded up the river till it terminated in a
fwamp, left the canoe in care of two Englifh-
men, while he himfelf went to kill feme pro-
vifions. The two men were furprifed afleep,
and killed by the before mentioned party, who
tracked the Captain and furrounded him ; he
however made a brave defence, killed three of
the Indians, and wounded feveral others, fo
that none cared to approach nim ; he received
a flight wound in his thigh, and had feveral
arrows fticking in his deaths ; but, attempt-
ing to gain his canoe, he fiiddenly fell into a
bog up to his middle. Being benumbed and
almoft dead with cold, they drew him out,
carried him to the fire where his men had
been killed, and rubbed and chaffed his be-
numbed limbs«
■vaj .( Upon

I; but
lis or-
I by a
beaded
' ; one,
he reft
1 Ope-
which
cruelly
ig pro-
d in a
nglifli-
me pro-
afleep,
yr, who
11 ; he
iree of
crs, fo
jceived
feveral
tcmpt-
linto a
led and
out.
In had
lis be-

Upon

VIRGINIA.

Upon Mr. Smith's recovering his fenfes, he
was brrught before Opechankanough, to
whom he prefented an ivory compafs. The
favaee was very much furprifed at the motion
of the needle, which he could lee through the
glals, but was unable to touch, and was much
aftoniflied on having the ules of it explained to
him : yet foon after the Indians tied Mr.
Smith to a tree, and were preparing to (hoot
him, but were prevented by their chief hold-
ing up the compafs. They then carried him off
in great triumph to a hunting town, much re-
forted to by King Pawhatan and his family,
called Orapakcs, carrying the Englifh fwords
and mulquets, the trophies of their vidtory, be-
fore them, and Captain Smith under a guard
of fix Indians. The women and children
flocked out to behold one of their fpecies fo
very unlike any they had hitherto feen, but
treated Mr. Smith with whatever their town
afforded ; and one of them, tor a trifling pre-
fent of beads, returned him his coat, which
feafonably defended him againlt the inclemen-
cy of the weather, it being ex'remely cold.
During thefe tranfadlions, Mr. Smith had a
very narrow tfcape; the father of one of the
Indians he had wounded, in making his de-
J •;:')- . O 2 fcnco,

n .

..w»<A«*vl,«"'

I [

V.'\

lifcir?

'i '!

100 -^f Concise AcceuNX of

fence, rufhcd upon himj but his guards pro-
tcded him from the rage of this favage. They
fliewcd Mr. Smith the preparations they were
making to attack James Town, and a{ked his
advice, promiliiig him his Hberty, if he vvould
lend them his afliftance. He didbaded them
from making any fuch attempt, defcribing to
them the fpringing of mines, the great guns,
6cc. in fuch a manner as both amazed and in-
timidated them : and perfuading fome of
them to go to James Town for fome toys, he,
by means of a table-book, acquainted his com-
panions of the enemies intention, requefting
at the fame time to be fure to fend the feveral
articles he wrote for, and inftruded them how
they fhould terrify and affright the mcifengers.
In three days they returned from James
Town, and were not only thfemfelves furprifed,
but the reft, at their relation, to fijid every
thing had happtned as he had told them, and
that the table-book could fpeak. Having laid
afide their intention of attacking James Town,
they carried Mr. Smith from Pamunkey or
James River round the country to Potomack,
and then brought him bdck again, thro' many
different tribes of Indians, to Pamunkey. They
theij for fpm? dayp conjured him, by many
<.^. . V ^ fright-

VIRGINIA.

loi

frightful ceremonies, to know whether he in-
tended them good or ill ? He was then invit-
ed and feaftcd by Opitchanpan, fecond brother
of Pawhatan ; but in no place would any of
the Indians eat with him, tho' they eat hearti-
ly of his leavings. At length he was conduced
to the Imperial feat, the refidence of PawTia-
P tan, fituated on the north-fide of York River,
as it is now called. This Indian Emperor
lived in great flate and magnificence (accord-
ing to the favage cuftoms of the country) ha-
ving generally forty or fifty of his tailed fub-
jedts to attend upon his pei fon ; which guard
was now, thro* fear of the Englifli, incrcafed
to 200, who by turns kept centry every night
at the four corners of his palace. He had no
lefs than thirty Kings tributary to him, who
were all obliged to govern their fubj-:dls agree-*
able to his laws. When Mr. Smith was prc-
fentcd to him, his Imperial Majefty was feated
before a fire, cloathed with a mantle of racoon
ikins, with a plume of feathers on his head,
attended bv a number both of men and wo-
men, ranged on each fide, all painted and
prnamentcd after the manner of rheir coun-
try : as he entered the houfe, they all gave a.
loud fhout 3 there v/as then brought him a

calabafb

'■ 1; :' ',
,", I'

'A'
11-

ill

1; !',ii*: ••iiii

;

1 ,1

,!!

;i^ u i

• »l;

102 j^ Concise Account of

cahbafli of water, to wafh his hands, by the
Queen hcrfelf, and having entertained and
feafted him in their beft manner, they entered
into a long confultation ; at the conclufion of
whit-h two large ftones were brought and
placed before Pawharan, and Mr. Smith's head
kid upon them, in order to have his brains
beat out with cliibsj which a^ o\ lavage bar-
barity could only be prevpnttd bv Poca'.iantas,
the King's favourite driurjhter, who, feeing in-
trcatlcs would not avail, clalped his head in
her arms, and laid her own upon it, to hve his
life, Mr. Smith likewife received many in-
flances of fricndihip from the Rmperor's fon,
who was the mod comely and manly perfon
in Pawharan's court. A few days after this,
Pawhatan acquainted Mr. Smith that they
were now friends, that he might now return
to James Town, that he loved him equal to
his fon, that he would give to him a part of
the country 5 but that he (hould fend him two
great guns and a grind -ftone. Mr. Smith did
not much depend on his friendfhip ; but, being
immediately fent off with a proper convoy,
arrived next day at James Town, having been
a captive feven weeks. He entertained the
convoy in the tnofl frieqdly oi^nner, fhewed
:■ . . them

.»♦*»» A4tAVIiA»A

>tr

VIRGINIA.

i<5j

them two great guns and a grinci-ftone, to
carry to their Emperor ; but their weight be-
ing fupf^iior to their ftrcngth, he dilmiflcd
them with i'uch prtfcnts tor their mailer, and
his people, as prc^ved agreedble.

AfFiirs at Jameb Town, in his ahfence, had
got into great confufion, the people were dif-
fpirited, and ah^ ut to quit the iniiofpitablc
fliore in the vciTcl that nad been Irft thtm ;
but upon his repretcnting to them the ablur-
dlty oi fuch a refolution, the plenty in which
he had fecn the natives live, and the fertility
of the foil, he brought them to a different
mind, they relolving to maintain their fort,
and provide for thenifclves in the bed: maaner
podible. They were confirmed in ihis refo-
lutiun a few days aher, when Focahantas came
to the fort with a numerous train, bringing a
large fupply of all kinds of provifions which
the country then afforded ; which (he conti-
nued to do every four or five days, for fompi
years afterwards : for Mr. Smith's behaviour,
while amongft them, had given the Indians a
very high opinion of the courage and know-
ledge of the Englifli, and the moft terrible ap-
prehenfions of their inftruments of war. This
doubtlefs paved the way for Pocahantas to fave

V his

;( < ■

1.^'

^:1. 11

m •

(***' Art4Vli«"*

p ; ' •

10| ^CoNCISEAcCOUNTi?/

his life, which her paflion fpr him induced her
to do, and afterwards to vifit and fupply the
fort : fo that the pafTion of this favage Prin-
cefs, then about fourteen years of age, fcems
to have, in fome fort, laid a foundation for the
firft Chriftian fettlement in America, or at
Icaft to have contributed much to the efta-
ftlilhment of it.

In 1607 ^^^ colony received a fupply, two
fhips having been fent out by the company,
with 120 men, provifions, 6cc. which were
loaded back with furs, fkins, and other pro-
duce of the country. Captain Smith had by
this time gained a pretty thorough knowledge
of the adjacent country, and the feveral rivers
in it 5 but the company in England, by the
infinuations of one Captain Newport, fell up-
on meafures which Mr* Smith could not ap-
prove of, forefeeing that they would be detri-
mental to the colony* This made Newport his
declared enemy, and during his ftay in the
country his condudt was fuch as quite altered
the opinion they had conceived of the Eng-
lifh 5 fo that, upon Newport's departure, Mr.
Smith found it d'fficult to procure a fufficiency
of proviiions, and would have been cutofl ii)
an excurlion he made with a party for this endj

had

< i(

■ i n

■.«,»! '•*A4vii'h"'

VIRGINIA.

•105

had It not been for his faithful friend the Prin-
cefs Pocahantas, who ventured herfelf through
the darknefs of the night, to give him intelli-
gence of the Indians dtfign. Pawhatan had
been fupplied privately from the fort at James
Town, by fome villains that were confederates
with him, vith fome mufqiiets, fwords, pow-
der and (hot. Notwithftanding Mr. Smith's
wife and prudent conduct, which had now
more than once faved the colony from entire
ruin; yet fuch complaints by fome ilUminded
perfons were carried home againft him, as
greatly leiTened his credit with the company,
who being likewife difappointed in their fan-
guine expedlations of golden hills and filver
mountains in this country, applied for a new
charter j vvhich was eafily obtained, and grant-
ed to a numbtjr of noblemen, gentlemen, and
merchants, who ftill flattered themfelves that
higher up the country were rich and valuable
mines. So many perfons of rank and fortune
engaging in the de{igi)y the fum raifed by them
enabled the managers to fit out nine (hips,
with 500 fettlers, and all neceiTaries for them.
They embarked in May 1609. Sir Tnomas
Gates, Sir George Summers, and Captain
Newport, being all in one fhip, were fepara-

F ted

io6 A Concise Account of

ted in a gale of wind from the reft, and flilp-
wrcckcd anriong the Bermuda Iflands. The
reft of the fleet, excepting one bark, arrived
fafe at Virginia. Mr. Smith found it very
difHcult to procure fubjcdion to his government
from thefc new-comers, as they daily expedlcd
he v/ould be (upcrfeded in the direction of af-
fairs; he however carried his point, and would
have maintained his authority till the new com-
miflion arrived, and in all probability have prc-
ferved the colony from thofe diflreiles it after-
wards fell into, had it not been for the misfor-
tune that befcl him in his return from the
Falls of James River, where he had been to
make a new^ fcttlcment; as he was fleeping in
his boat, his powder-fla/li, by fome accident,
took fire, which wounded him to that degree
as put him to exquilite pain, and greatly en-
dangered his life ; being in this fituation una-
ble to quell thole fadlions which daily arofe,
and not properly provided at this place with a
furgeon and medicines, he embarked for Eng-
land, leaving the colony well fupplied with all
neceffaries, and their neighbours the Indians
fubdued, and terrified at the very name of an
Englifliman : fo that this Gentleman is juftly
efteemed the firft founder of an Englifli colony

•" ' n! .
I

Virginia;

107

in America. But fuch was the return he met
with for all his fervicf s, that, no fooner had
he brought the enterprize to bear, than he was
fuperfeded in his commaiui, and never re-
ceived the leafl benefit or reward for all he
had Q.-^ne.

The three Gentlemen who fuffered (liip-
wreck on the Bermuda lilands found means to
get from thence, by building two fmall barks,
and arrived at Virginia in the month of May
the year following, where they found matters
in the greatefl confulion, the colony being re-
duced by famine, and other accidents, to fixty
men, women and children, out of near five
hundred left there by Mr. Smith about eight
months before j for the Indians, apprized of
Mr. Smith's departure, did not only refufe to
furnifh them with any provifions, but mur-
dered the people where and whenever they
could ; among which unhappy vidlims was
Mr. RatclifF, one of Mr. Smith's greatefl ene-
mies, who, confiding in the infidious promifes
of Pawhatan, was cut off with thirty men.
The above Gentlemen, finding the dftrelTed
fituation of the colony, determined to leave
the unfortunate fliore and return toEn;>;land;
and accordingly embarked, leaving the fort

P 2 iland-

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'ic8 A Concise Accoukt of

{landing ; but before they reached the niouih
of the river they were met by Lord Delaware,
with three Hiips, from Ki^gUml, lo^dvd with
all kinds of flore> and nccefl'aries for the ule of
the colony, and a f-ipply of perjple, with
whom they all rtturncd to James Town,
where his Lordfliip having landed and opened
liis commifnon, his rank, joined to his per-
fonal endowments, procured him great au-
thority, and rcflorcd peace, indullry, and fru-
gality among the people j and, by fome well-
timed feveritles to the Indians, he checked
their incurfions, and by lenity and ads of
kindnefs won over others, fo that the colo-
ny was plentifully fupplied v;ith corn ; but
their hogs and poultry having been entirely
deftroyed. Sir George Summers failed for Ber-
mudas, to fetch a frefh fupply, but was there
taken fick and died ; and the crew, inftead
of returning to Virginia, failed for England,
Lord Delaware being obliged to return to
England for the recovery of his health, the
government devolved upon Sir Thomas Dale,
who now arrived from England with three
(hips, having on board a reinforcement of
men for the colony, a large fupply of provi-
^oi:s, and a number of live cattle, which they

* . . ' , were

'.•t«I^A«liv^M'<

VIRGINIA.

ic^

were more particularly in want of. This Gentle-
man brought over a body of laws, by virtue of
which he divided the lands, obliging every one
to plant corn for his own fuoply. Sir Thomas
Yates arrived this \cnr, in Auijull, with fix
fliips, 300 men, 100 heid of live cattle, 200
hogs, ammunition and ne(< (lai ies of ail kinrs ;
to whom Sir Thr mab Dale refi^ncd his com-
mand, as being the rupcri>)r officer, and pro-
cctdcd to make a feulcmcnt higher up in the
country, at the mouth of Appomatox River;
but the fupplies from England this year were fo
fcanty, that they were obliged to purchale corn
of the Indians. Captain Argal, who commanded
one of the laft Ihips that arrived, was fent to
the River Potomack for that purpofc; for
Fawhatan and the neighbouring Indians refa-
fed to deal with them. At the court of Japa-
zaws, King of Potomack, was Pocahantas,
who for a trifling prefent was yielded up to
Argal. This Princefs, though (lie continued a,
friend to the Englifh, had never vifited James
Town after the departure of Captain Smith :
it was attempted by means of Pocahantas to
bring Pawhatan to terms, but to no purpofe ;
he refufed to ranfom her, or to deal with
them, till Sir Thomas Dale, taking with bim

150

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lio A Concise Account of

150 men, went to his capital, and thrcatene(i
to burn it and all that belonged to him. In
the mean time Pocahantas had gained the af-
fcdtions of one Mr. Rolfe, a youig Gentleman
of characfler in the colony, and a marriage be-
ingagreedupon byallparties, they were djarried
in April 16 1 3, in prefence of her uncle and
two brothers, whom her father fent to be wit-
nefTes, refufing to be prefent himlelf, or up-
on any occafion to put himfelf in the hands
of the Englilli. From this marriage are
defcended fome of the firft families in Virgi-
nia.

' In 1616 Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Eng-
land, leaving the government to his Deputy,
Mr. George Yeardly. Argal being appointed
Deputy-Governor, occafioned fome diftur-
bances by his extraordinary proceeding?, which
induced the Lord Delaware (ever anxious for
the good of the colony) once more to offer his
fervice in it ; but upon his pafiage he died at
the mouth of Delaware Bay, from whence it
derives its name. Sir George Yeardly was
then appointed Governor, who called the firfl
affembly, which confided of the Gentlemen of
the Council, and two members from each of
their boroudis, the country at that time not

being

f**

»*»' Ar.«V^*>4**

.?;•;

VIRGINIA.

Ill

being divided into counties ; from whence
the lower houfe of aflembly to this day is cal-
led the houfe of burgelTes. Great improve-
ments were made, and many ufeful regula-
tions fet on foot,during the government of Sir
George; lands were laid out and affigned for
the fupport of public ufes, and the colony was
in a moft-flourifliing fituation.

Nothing material happened till 1622, whea
the utter deftrudion of the whole colony was
concerted by the Indians, now commanded by
Opechankanough, his brother Pawhatan be-
ing dead. The Indians were particularly in-
cenfed at this time at the death of one of their
chiefs, v/ho was killed by two fervants, in re-
venge for his having killed their mafter j how-
ever, this fubtle commander and his people /b
artfully difguifed their lefentmcnt and cruel in-
tentions, that the Englilh had not the lead
miftruft of their plot, and would have been
wholly unprepared to have prevented the exe-
cution of it (which was to have been on the
2 2d day of March) had it not been for ant
Indian who was converted to ChriAianity, and
lived with one Mr. Pace. This Indian's bro-
ther, coming to flcep with him the night be-
fore, informed him of what was ii:.te;ndcd the

■':'l

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!■'

ji2 -^f Concise Account of

■ ' ;

!i^

'■i I

next day, which he communicated to Mr*
Pace the next morning, who took all poflible
pains to fpread the alarm, that the Englifll
might be prepared for their enemies, who
were pofted in parties over the whole country :
but, in fpite of precautions, the favages killed
350 men, women and children 3 when find-
ing the fettlements alarmed, they retreated
with precipitation. The out- plantations upon
this were deferted, their corn and cattle de-
flroyed, great difficulties enfued to the colo-
ny 5 but, being reinforced from England, they
made reprifals on the Indians, plundered their
towns, and killed them wherever they found
them, burnt their houfes, and left many of them
!o perifh in the woods with mere famine 5 their
frightened remaiiiS were glad to retire to a great
diftance, leaving our people mafters of their
country. But their perfidious leader furvived
to create new troubles afterwards, when he
took advantage of fome political difturbances
and confufions that happened in the colony,
and determined once more to attempt the de-
ftrudtion of it ; in which he fo far fucceeded as
to cut ofF great numbers of the back-inhabi-
tants. About this time the government was
taken frpm the company, and vefted in the

, crown.

great

Ranees
)lony,
le de-
led as
Ihabi-
t was
In the
:own.

VIRGINIA.

1^3

crown, retaining very near the fame form and
laws ; ani Sir John Hcrvey was appointed the
firft King's Governor, whofe defpotic and
partial adminiftration gave great uneafinefs,
and produced repeated complaints againft him,
which not being liftened to, the council and
affemblv united in feizing him, and fending
him prifoner to England, where his accuiers
could not be admitted a hearing (their con-
duct being an adt of open rebellion) and he
was fent back with as ample authority as ever j
but fcai'ce had he embarked before he was re-
called, and Sir William Berkley appointed in
his room, whofe adminiflration being quite
the reverfe of the other's, quickly put a new
face on the affairs of the colony, which upon
his arrival he found in the utmoft confulion
and conftcrnation ; for the Indians had fallen
fuddenly on the back-fettlers, and had killed
500 men, women and children. Sir William
loon retaliated upon them ; for, having intel-
ligence that Opechankanough with his follow-
ers was encamped at the head of James River,
he went with a feledl body of horfe, fell fud-
denly upon them, and obtained a compleat
vidtory. Their leader was killed, and the fe-
veral tribes he commanded now feparatcd,
chufmg Kings of their own, and fued for

Q_ peace,

i'!^

#:^^!

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■m

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114 A Concise Account of

peace, which was granted them, and the back-
lettlements fecured, the people made eafy, in-
crealing in richtfs and numbers ; fo that by his
wife and prudent management this province,
when the civil war broke out in England,
could raife feveral thoufands of fighting men.

Sir William retained his command till after
the decollation of King Charles, when the
parliament fent out a fleet to reduce Virginia ;
which the Governor would have oppofed, but
the Council and affembly declaring againft it,
he was obliged to fubmit, after procuring a
general indemnification for himfelf and the
colony. He then lived retired upon his own
plantation till a little before the death of
Cromwell, when Matthews, Cromwell's Go-
vernor^ dying, and no provifion being made in
cafe of fuch a contingency, the people applied
to Sir William, to take upon him the govern-
ment, which he refufed, unlefs, with him,
they would venture their lives and fortunes,
and declare for the King ; which they agreed
to, and Charles the Second was proclaimed,
in whofe name he adted and iflued all his or-
ders. This brave and loyal condu(51: was
highly approved of by the King ; upon his re*
deration, Sir William's commifiicn was re-
newed, and he permitted to ccme to Eng-

' • land,

ii .•'

VIRGINIA.

'15

land, after appointing a Deputy- Governor,
where the King gave him a mod favourable
reception, and made him one of the patentees
of South Carolina.

Sir William returned to his government in
1662, where he foon found fome uneafinefs
and difcontent, on account of fome adls ha-
ving pafTed, limiting the trade of the colonies,
from which fome of the Protectors foldiers,
who had retired here, took encouragement to
form a party, and fet up an independent go-
vernn^ent of their own ; but their defign was
feafonably difcovercd and prevented, by hang-
ing fome o£ the ringleaders.

Soon after this another fadtion broke out,
headed by one Bacon, a young Gentleman of
fortune in the colony, on pretence of being re-
venged on the Indians, who had committed
fome outrages on the frontiers ; they made
fome extraordinary demands, which not be-
ing fully gratified in, they burnt James Town;
but their leader dying, and a general pardon
being promifed them, they returned to their
obedience, and Sir William returned to Eng-
land, to whom fucceeded Lord Culpeper,
and after him General Spotfwood ; and fo a
fucccflion of Governors to the prefent Sir Jef-
frey Amherft, the province commonly being

9 iy

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governed

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ii6 -^ Concise Account c/'

governed by Tome Nobleman or General Of-^,
ficcr.

Nothing very material has happened in the
province from that time to the beginning of
the late war, in which its frontiers TufFered
greatly from the French and Indians ; tho*
the province has not been backward in raifing
and fupporting troops, and in granting all rea-
fonable affjftance during the whole war. The
remains of the Virginian Indians, after Sir
William Berkley, were fet upon by the Mo-
hock or Five Nations, who drove them out of
the province, from whence they difperfed to
' different points of the compafs, and to various
Indian nations for protedion -, fo that the very
name of them is now loft,

Virginia has a very extenfive territory, be^
ing fituated between 36 and 39 degrees north
latitude, ahd 74 and 80 degrees weft longi-
tude ) indeed by their charter they have right
to the whole country weft and north weft to
the Sotith-fea. It lies upon the Great Bay of
Chefepeak, formed by the two Promontories
called Cape Henry and Cape Charles j and is
perhaps as fine an inland bay as any in the
world, running up thro* Virginia and Mary-
land near due north 130 miles, and is navigable
the whole way for large fhips, being in moft
5) places

VIRGINIA.

117

places twenty miles acrofs. This province has
alfo four fine rivers flowing into the weft-lide
of the bay, which take their rife in the Apa-
lachian mountains, running from north-weft
to fouth-eafti the fouthern-moft of thefe is
James River (called by the Indians Pawhatan)
about two miles broad, and navigable at leaft
for fourfcore miles. The next is York River,
(called by the Indians Pamunky) which is alfo
navigable a great way up, and in fome places
comes very near the former. A little further
north is the River Rappahanock, navigable a
great way, and in fome places comes within a
few miles of York River. The northern-moft
is the great River Potomack, which is naviga-
ble quite to the Falls being accounted 200
miles, and is in many places nine miles over,
Thefe four rivers or creeks, which flow into
them, being navigable for Imall craft, render
this country the moll commodious for water-
carriage cf any in America ; for as moft of the
plantations arefituated upon or very near thefe
rivers, every planter has the conveniency of
ihipping his own goods for England, or where-
everhc fends them; and receiving from thence,
in return, fuch neceffaries as they ftand in need
of: hence it is, that many of the planters live
ppon their own eflates, and have no occafion

1 . 1.

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1 1 3 ^ C N c I f- E Account of

to apply to merchants in any of the fea ports j
and this is the reafon that there are no conli-
derable towns in this province. The town of
moft note in it is WiUiamfburg, to which
the feat of government hath ''cn transferred
from James Town, on accf ant of its being
both a more commodious and heahhy fitua-
tion. This town is within land, between two
navigable creeks running out of York and
James Rivers, by which means it hath an cafy
communication with both ; and chiefly con-
fifts of one flrcight flreet, about a mile long
from eaft to weft : at ihe weft- end ftands the
college, and on the right hand of the ftreet
that leads to the college ftands the Governor's
houfe, built by the province for his refidence,
an elegant feat, being enclofed with beautiful
walks of trees, and elegantly finiftied both in-
fide and out ; the court- houfe likewife, and
other public buildings, are very fpacious and
elegant.

As wc approach this country from the
ocean, the face of it appears low and level, and
for an hundred miles within land fcarce a hill
is to be feen, or a ftone to be found ; the foil
fertile, producing wheat, barley, Indian corn,
and tobacco j which laft is the ftaple commo-
dity of this province and Maryland. Above

the

VIRGINIA.

119

i^m.

the Falls the country grows hilly, and after-
wards mountainous, interfperfed with valleys,
extremely pleafant as v/ell as fruitful. The fur-
ther you travel into the country, the more
healthful it is -, fo that the inland parts of the
province will probably hereafter be the mod
populous r*nd pleafant. From thefe mountains
defcend the rivers that have been mentioned,
and feveral that flow weftvvard into the Ohio,
by which there is an eafy communication be-
tween the Mifliflipi and Lake Erie. This
\yhole country was called by the natives Sa-
vannas, or the Low Country, it being, as hath
been obferved, for a great way from the fea,
one entire plain. The trees grow very lofty ;
nor is the ground incumbered with under-
wood, fo as to hinder their being travelled thro*
on horfeback, affording a commodious fliade
to thofc who pafs thro' them.

The heat and cold, both here and in Ma-
ryland, arc governed by the winds ; the north
and north-weft winds are commonly cold and
dear, the fouth-eaft moift, hazy, and very hot ;
in winter, the air is clear and dry : the frofts
do not continue long, but are fometimes very
fevere, frc?!zing the rivers over, tho' three
miles acrofs j the fnow falls fometimes in large
quantities, but rarely continues long. The

months

I ■' ,■

I r

' h'it

ill

M«»f AAiVtiA

m i I

V-

1 20 ^Concise Account cf

months of May and June are very pleafant^
July and Auguft are gcncrr4lly exctfiive hot ;
and in Septeniber and Odtchcr the rains fall,
when the inhabitants, for the moft part, be-
come fickly, being fubjcdl to agues, intermit-
ting fevers, &;c. Altho' the foil of thcfe pro-
vinces is generally fnallow and fandy, yet no
country produces fuch excellent tobacco j the
lands indeed foon wear out, unlcfs improved
by digging and manuring. The woods a-
boi'nd with great variety of flowers of fwect-
fcented flirubsj here is the large tulip laurel,
the bark of whofe roots, in intermitting fevers,
has been found to anfwer all the purpofcs of
the famous Peruvian Bark.

If the planters did not find fufficicnt emo-
luments arife from rai/ing tobacco, they might
here manufadlure moft kinds of naval ftores,
fuch as pitch, tar, turpentine, mafts, yards,
planks, 6cc.

The chief exports from thefe provinces, be-
fides tobacco, arc iron, beef, pork, pipe-flaves,
and other lumber. Belides the animals in
common, fuch as black cattle, horfes, ifheep,
hogs, &c. which are very numerous, they
have many peculiar to the country, as there
are in the other provinces of America. Poul-
try

VIRGINIA.

121

ii:y here is remarkable cheap, and wild fowl,
even during the winter fcafon, are in the great-
eft plenty. But all other commodities and
produdions of this country are fwallowed up
in that of tobacco, the importance of which
trade to Great Britain will eafily appear from
the fhipping employed, and the quantity im-
ported from hence, and again exported to fo-
reign markets J it being computed, that general-
ly one year with another, 200 large (hips arc
freighted with that commodity^ and that
100,000 hogftieads are yearly exported, each
Weighing 400 weight, out of which it is fup-
pofed, that 40,000 hogfliead?! are confumed at
home, and the other 60,000 exported from
Great Britain to foreign markets (moft of it
after being manufadlured at home) for which
we either receive cafh, or fuch articles as other-
vi^ife we fhould be obliged to pay cafh for.
" This is fufficient, fays a modern author,
to (hew how much this commodity alone
contributes to preferve the general ballance of
trade in our favour, and how much it imports
us not only to protedl the colonies of Virginia
ahd Mat-yland, but alfo to prevent as much as
poffible their labouring men from being drawn
away from their labour, in order to defend
themfelves and their country. But befides the

R \ tobacco,

^ >i.

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1^1 *

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122 A Concise Account of

tobacco, we have many other forts of goods
imported from Virginia and Maryland, as every
one may fee from the bills of entry from
thence j and as the foil is in general good, in
many parts rich, we may exped that imports
of all kinds will increafc, efpecially when we
confider that it is not yet 150 years fincc our
iirrt: colony fettled in this country.

** Add to thefe advantages, the vaft number
of people that are employed, maintained, and
many of them enriched here at home, by the
induflry of their countrymen, in thefe colonics;
for except their dally food, there is fcarce any
thing they make ufe of, but what is manufac-
tured in, or fent there from the mother coun-
try ; and the fliipping employed in the trade
fupports a conilderable number of our moft
expert feamenj which adds greatly to our
naval force. But the two laft advantages we
reap from all our colonies in America, 5cc."

The annual revenue arifing to the crown
from tobacco only, is very confiderable ; and
feveral hunr'.red thoufands are employed in, and
fupported by, raifing and manufaduring it.
There is alfo a confiderable revenue arifing to
the crown, from a quit-rent paid annually by
the owners of all lands granted by patent;
from a duty on all paflengers who come into
'- - the

VIRGINIA.

125

the province, from a duty on liquors and
Haves, and from fines and forfeitures.

It huth already been obfervcd, that tlie King
of Great Britain has the appointment of the
Governor in this province, and in him and I'.is
council the fuprcmc jurifdidion of civil affairs
is lod|;cd, who fit twice a year for that pur-
pofe with the Burgcfil*s, or reprefcntatives of
the people.

There are but three public officers befidci
the Governor that are commifTioned immedi-
ately from the King, viz. the Auditor of the
Revenue, the Receiver General, and Secretary;
in the office of the latter are proved and record-
ed all deeds, wills, &c. The Public Treafurer
is appointed by the afiembly. The Governor
is, by bis commifiion, Lieutenant General of the
militia of the province, who appoints in each
county a Colonel, and Lieutenant Colonel, and
all other commifiioncd officers. All between the
ages of fixteen and fixty years (not otherways
excufed) are obliged to bear arms, and attend
a general mufter once a year in the county
where they dwell, and four times a year in
fmaller parties, or fingle companies.

The number of inhabitants in this province
is about 200, doo whites, and it is fupoofed
th^re are half that number of negroes or ilaves.

K 2 ThQ

1'^

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124 ^ Concise Account <^^

The religion profefTed in this province by
the generality is that of the church of Eng-
land.

Ecclefiaflical affairs are under the infpedion
of a Commifi'ary, authorifed by the Bifhop of
London, who prefides over all the colonie^in
religious matters.

For the promotion of learning in this pro-
vince, a college was early founded at William-
Iburg, confiding of a Prefident, fix ProfciTors,
and one hundred ftudents ; for endowing
which King William not only gave 2000 1.
but granted 20,000 acres of land, and a penny
per pound on all tobacco exported ; it hath alfo
received ieveral other valuable donations, and,
upon the whole, is one of the richcfl: colleges
in America.

■VI

NORTH and SOUTH CAROLINA,
and GEORGIA.

THESE, which are now three diflindt go-
vernments, were originally but one, cx-
* tending from 30 to 36 degrees of north latitude,

anJ from js ^^ ?^ 4^gf9^8 weft longitude,

•"' ... J.. . _. ,

being

ICC by
Eng-

edion
lop of

is pro-
lliam-
fcffors,
lowing
sooo 1.
penny
ith alfo
s, and,
olleges

'^^

tINA,

^6tgo-
le, cx-
dtude,
ritudcy
being

N.tfwrf S.CAROLINA, £?r. 125

being bounded on the north by Virginia, eaft
by the Atlantic Ocean, fouth by St. John's Ri-
ver, and weft by the Mifliffippi.

This extenfive territory is a part of the dif-
coveries made by the Cabots in 1497 > ^"^
nothing haying been done here in confequencc
of their difcovery, the Spaniards, in 1512, at-
tempcd a fettlement on that part of the conti-
nent which they called Florida ; but not fuc-
ceeding,they abandoned the country, which lay
negleded by the Europeans, till 1562, when
Ccligni, the famous French Admiral, fent out
two ihlps, under the command of one Mon-
fieur Ribaut, to make a fettlement on the
coafts of Florida*. Accordingly Ribaut land-
ed in ieveral places to the north of Altamaha
River, taking pofTeflion of the country in the
name of his mafter, which he called Carolina,
in honour of his fovereign Charles IX. and
at laft, fettling at the mouth of Albemarle
River, ereded a fort there, to which he
gave the name of Charles Fort. But a civjl
war breaking out in France foon after, he was
pnder neceffity, for want of fupplies, to aban-
don the fettlement ; and had he not met with
an Englifli ihip, which furnifticd him with
provifions, he and his people would have, in
^li probability, pcrifhed by famine. Coligni,
V • not

i,'

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^u II

1 26 ^i C o x\ c I s E A c c o u N r of

not (lilLcartcncd by this, ifitted out fix fliips,
under tlie com ni and of Monlieur Ribaut and
one Laudoncr, in 1564 and iS^S^ to re-efla-
bliili the fettlement, of which the Spaniards
having 'received informatioHj they fent out a
force to oppofe hira, and reduced the fort ;
Ribaut being firft killed in defending it, and
Laudoner with the remains of his people was
obliged to return to France. The Spaniards
left a garrifon in the fort, as if they intended
to keep and enlarge their acquifition, but being
attacked by the French, commanded by one
De Gorques, they were drove out of the coun-
try. De Gorques demoliftiing all the forts
they had eredted, and laid wafle their fettle^
ments, returned to France, and the civil war
flill continuing, no further attempts were made
towards a fettlement in CaroHna, and this fine
country lay unnoticed for almoll a whole
century, that is, till 1663, when our King
diaries II. refolved to iiflert his right to it ;
and to encourage the planting of a colony here,
he granted it by patent, bearing date March
24, 1663, including all the territory from the
north-end of Chikehauk Ifland, in 36 degrees
north latitude, fouth to the river Matteo,
now Altamaha, in 31 degrees north latitude.,
and To weft as far as the South-Seas, to eight

vi I

) I

N. ami 3. CAROLINA, e?c. 127

proprietors, viz. the Duke of Albemarle, the
Earl of Clarendon, Lord Craven, Lord Berke-
ley, Lord Afl^ley (afterwards created Earl oF
Shaftibury), Sir George Carteret (anceftor to
the prefent Earl of Granville), Sir William
Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton ; but there
being fome errors in the patent, with regard to
the boundaries, a new one was made out two
years afterwards, by which both the fouthern
and northern boundaries were extended, the
former to St. John's River, and the latter to
Virginia.

A furm of government was drawn up, and
1 2, cool, raifed by the proprietors, to defray
the charges of tools, Sec. for thofe who
were fent over to begin the fettlement ; but
what greatly contributed to the fudden peo-
pling of this colony, were fome feverities ufed
at home towards dillenters, who, on that ac-
count, flocked here in great numbers, full to-
leration being given to people of every profef-
fion, fo that in 1670 a numerous colony was
fent over under Col. William Sayle, who was
appointed the firft Governor. The year fol-
lowing they were reinforced, and received a
good fupply of neceflaries. The lands were
laid out to each man in pr-portion to the num-
ber of his family, fubjctf. to a fmall quit-rent»

with

,!' 1

•: I.

t r

W-

128 jd CojiClBE ACCOUNt of

' ! •■'•■

i ill ill

■*i

\vith an obligation to clear and plant a certaifl
quantity of land within a time fpecified. Efy
this prudent regulation, the colony was foori
able to provide itfclf w«ih moft neceflaries, and
having niet with no difturbance from the na-
tives, they were enabled to carry on two fet-
tlcments at the fame time, viz. one at thd
mouth of Ronoack River to the north, and
another fouthward, at the confluence of
Afhlcy and Cowper Rivers. This lad town
was, in honour to the then reigning King,
called Charles-Town, which has linee bccri
the metropolis of South Carolina.

The natives gave no interruption to thd
planters for the firft ten years, nor till their
avarice and injuftice excited them to it, fof
they fct up the (hameful trade of purchafing
ef the Indians fuch prifoners as they took in
their wars with one another^ and afterwards
fold them as flaves, either to the Spaniards, or
to our own planters in the Weft-India iflands,
at which the Indians were fo cxafperated, that
they took up the hatchet again ft them ; but
however, fuch was the courage and good con-
duct of Mr. Jofeph Weft, their Governor at
that time, that no very ill confcqucnces fol-
lowed upon this rupture, the Indians being
foon reduced to terms of peace, and the colo-
ny

inds,

that

but

[eing
colo-

• N. W S. CAROLINA, ^o. 129

tiy reded in quiet, till difturbed by their own
domedick jarrs and animofities, which firft
arofe on account of the quit-rents they were
obliged to pay to the proprietors, or their af-
figns, each of whom had a deputy, who by
their conftitution had each a feat in the afTem-
bly. The quit-rents many of the plr.nters re-
fufed to pay; this confequentlv produced adif-
pute between the deputies of the proprietors
and the reprefentatives of the people. This
flamed, however, to no great degree, till blown
lip by a difputed eledion of a Governor, on
the deceafe of Jofeph Blake, Efq; for it had
been the cuftom, that the proprietors deputies
chofe a fucceflbr to the government, who was
by the proprietors either confirmed, or another
fent in his room. The Gentleman elecfled at
this time, contrary to the minds of the greater
part of the people, was James Moore, Efq; who
found intereft to be confirmed, and by feveral
inftances rendered himfelf ftill niore odious to
thofe who oppofed him; efpecially by a fruit-
)efs and unfuccefsful expedition, which he
made, in 1702, againifl the Spaniili fettlement
at St. Auguftine. The murmurs and com-
plaints that cnfued obliged the proprietors to
difplace him ; and in his room they appointed
Mr. Nathaniel Johnfon, who, in 1704, per-

S fedtiv

;

i •' ■

Win J

.li I !

130 A Concise Account of

fedly complcatcd the difaffcdion of great
numbers, by procuring an adt that no DifTen-
ter fhould be allowed a feat in the aflcmbly ;
and another for eftablifliing the Church of
England, ereding of churches, and making
provifion for the maintenance of the clergy j
which by the DifTcnters were refcnted as adts
of the higheft oppreffion and tyranny.

They fent home an agent, to folicit redrcfs
from the Palatine Lord Granville ; but were
refufcd it. In 1705 they petitioned to the
Houfe of Lords, who condemned the above
laws, as repugnant to the charter, dcftrudlivc
of trade, and tending to ruin and depopulate
the province. They were likewife condemned
by the board of trade, to whom her Majefly
the Queen referred the whole matter for exa-
mination. They alfo reported, that fuch adls
were an abufc and forfeiture of the charter,
and advifed her Majefty to reaflume the fame.
Upon this the ads were declared void, and or-
ders given to the Attorney and Solicitor to
profecute by a quo warranto ; but the proprie-
J tors had intereft enough tp evade the profe-
cution. About this time feveral tribes of In-
dians entered into a confederacy, and took
up the hatchet againft the Engiifli : they cut
off feveral of the out-fettlements, and mur-
* r dered

great

ibly j
:h of
aking

crgy;
3 adts

N. anJ S. CAROLINA, 6?r. 131

dered many of the frontier-inhabitants ; but,
being properly fupplied with fire-arms, &c.
they gave the favages fevcral iignal defeats,
particularly one under the condudt of Colonel
Barnwell, in North Carolina, in 17 12. The
Indians continued the war till 17 16, when,
having aflembled a large army, they marched
towards the coalls; which Col. Craven, who
was then Governor, having intelligence of,
colledled what troops he could, and marched
againft the Indians, who were pofted near
Combatree River, to the fouthward of Charles
Town, where a bloody battle was fought, in
which the Indians were entirely routed ; and
being far from the mountains, the place of
their ufual retreat, great numbers of them
were cut off in their flight, and others taken
prifoners and fold into (lavery ; fome of the
remains confented to a treaty, and others re-
tired to a great diftance.

In 1722, a general peace was concluded
v^ith all the Indians, including the Cherokees,
then the mod powerful nation of Indians in
North America. About this time the coafts
of this and the neighbouring provinces were
fo infefted with pirates, as tvO put a great ftop
to trade and navigation. To fupprefs thefe
lawlcfs mifcreants, the province of South Ca-

S 2 . rolina,

•(

«4»(;i»m»Hv.

■C

' 1 U'. _

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132 -^ConciseAccounto/'

rolina fitted out two floops, the command of
which was given to Col Rhott, who, after aa '
engagement of fome hours, took a pirate
lloop, commanded by Major Stead Bennet,
who with his abandoned crew was condemn-
ed and executed at Charles Town. But
Blackbeard and others continued ftill to ' ifeft
thecoafts for two or three years longer, efpe-
cially about Carolina. One of thefe cham-
pions was fo audacious, that, having taken a
velTel oft the bar of Charles Town, on board
of which were feveral people of rank, bound to
England, he detained them as hoftages, fent
his boat up to town, demanding a chert of
medicines, and a fupply of other neeeflaries,
threatening, in cafe of a refufal, and his boat
was not fuffered to return in fafety, that he
would put every one of the paflengers to death;
and iuch was the debility of the province at
that time, that they were obliged to comply
with his demands.

Thefe misfortunes, added to their internal
divifions and animofities, threw the colony in*
to fuch confufion, that, upon feven of the
proprietors con fen ting to fell out, the crown
agreed to give each of them for his eighth
ihare the fum of 2500 1. and a further fum of
5000 1. to be divided ao^ong them for the
'^i^i ■ quitTf

yV4«i;3AA«V^M*

ternal

itnof
r the

N. /7W S. CAROLINA, G?r. 133

quit-rents that were then due ; which agrcc-
nient was confirmed by adt of parHament, ia
1728. But Lord Carteret, now Earl Gran-
ville, referved his eighth part, both of the pro-
perty and quit-rents then in arrear, and all his
rights, titles and privileges, as if no fuch a6t
had pafTed ; and h- ' fince had his eighth part
divided to him, unich is about fixty milts on
the fea^coafls from North to South, adjoining
to Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean eaft,
to the South Sea weft. As foon as the proper-
ty and jurifdidVion of this colony were thus
vefted in the crown, i.t was divided into two
diftindl provinces, each of which have a Go-
vernor, Council, Sec. the form of their go-
vernment being much the fame as is common
to all King's governments on the continent*
There is however this difference in the two go-
vernments, namely, that North Carolina is
divided into counties, each of which hath a
Sheriff and court of jufticej but in South Ca-
rolina they have an officer, called the Provdft
Marlhal, who ads as Sheriff of the whole pro-
vince; and all courts of juftice, excepting
thofe of (ingle juftices of the peace, arc held at
Charles Town : which regulations are attended
with inconveniencies I have heard greatly com-
plained of, as greatly increafmg the expcnce of

lav^r-

•< .J

V v«jt ^ : Aft. «v f\ *^*«'

'f!' yy

J34 A Concise Account of

law-fuits to the parties, and ofrcn rendering
the attendance of jurymen and witncfles very
difHcult.

NORTH CAROLINA is fituated
upon the ica-coafts about three hundred miles,
and is bounded eaft by the Atlantic Ocean,
north by Virginia, well by the Apalachian
Hills, and fouth by South Carolina. The
coafts of this province are extremely broken
by bays, creeks and rivers, in the openings of
which are many bars and fhcals, which ren-
der the navigation difficult to ftrangers^ there
are, however, feveral fafe and good harbours,
and rivers navigable far into the country. The
principal rivers are Ronoak or Albemarle Ri-
ver, Neufe River, and Cape Fear or Clarendon
River; upon which are fituated th^ principal
towns in the province, viz. Wilmington, on
Cape Fear ; Neuborn, on the Neufe ; and E-
denton, on Albemarle ; at which three places
their general court or afiembly for enading
laws fit alternately.

But Wilmington is the largeft town, and
has much the largcfl: trade of any in the pro-
vince. The number of inhabitants , in the
whole province are computed to be about
70,000 whites, and 20,000 negroes. The

country^

.iH^-IiAnJVfTK

N. and S. C /V R O L I N A, G^^. 135

country, for near an Inindrcd miles from the Tea,
is flat, level ai.d fandvi the Toil (liallow and
lean, being covered over vvitii pitch and yel-
low pines ; from which they manufadture pro-
digious quantities of tar, pitch, and turpen-
tine, in whicli laborious and dirty bufinefs
their droves of negroes are employed round
the year. This foil will produce fcarce any
thing but. Indian corn, and not even that to
any perfedion without fome kind of manure.
There are feme fwamps of reeds in the fouth-
ern parts, and on Cape Fear River marfhcs,
which produce rice when properly cultivated ;
and on the north, towards Virginia, are fome
oak-lands, like thofe of Virginia, on which
they raife tobacco. About an hundred miles in
the country the land rifes gradually to the A-
palachian mountains, where the foil in fome
places is very good, and produces plenty of
wheat and other grain ; the timber being oak,
intermixed with pine; they alfo here raife
hemp and flax, and have fome fruit. In this
part of the province is plenty of wild game,
cfpecially deer; and the number of their cattle
and fwine is very great; fome fingle planters
owning a thoufand head of horned cattle, which
run in the woods all the year round, the calves
being marked in the fpring, that each may know

his

U \\

!'F i

it'

^\^V■:

• l»

136 A Concise Account of

his own. Thcfc cattle they fold in herds, to
manure the poor lands for Indian corn, which
is the chief fubfidence of the country-people,
as well as of the flaves, who grind or pound it^
and boil it in milk.

The grfcateft number of inhabitants are in this
wellerly part of the province, as the foil here
is the mod fruitful and plealant. The air here
IS agreeable enough in winter, but very hot in
fummer ; and the inhabitants are very fubjedl
to ague:-., fevers, cholicks, &c. There ftill re-
main fome Indian towns in this province : part
of the nation, called the Ttfk.iraraF, in the
middle part j and the Cotawpees in the fou-
thern, near the bounr^s r,f South Carolina ; but
they have met with very li:tle dlAuibmce from
the Indians Iince they were made a King's go-
verment, tdl the late war v^ith theCherokees,
in which their frontiers have fufPered, with
thofe of their neighbours. The principal ex-
ports from this province are great quantities of
pitch, tar and turpentine, to Europe and the
neighbouring provinces ; to the northward,
pork, beef, and corn, to the Weft Indies,
droves of live cattle to Virginia, by which way
they generally export their northern produce of
tobacco.

The

ilh.

N. and S. CAROLINA, {i?^. 137

The religious peiTuafions in this province
are fomc of the Epifcopalians ; but a much
greater number of the various fc(fls of DifTcn-
ters.

The bounds of SOUTH CAROLINA arc
very much reduced from their original extent j
Georgia being taken off to the fouihward, as
far as the river vSavanna, which runs in a
curve round the fouth and v;eft part of this pro-
vince, out of North Carolina. The extent of
the province upon the Atlantic Ocean to the
caft is upwards of 100 miles, and weft from
the fea upwards of 200 miles, to where Geor-
gia and North Carolina meet. The face of
this country, for fixty or feventy miles from
the fea, is like that of North Carolina, low
and level; then it gradually rifes into hills.
But the foil is vaftly different, and infinitely
better; and may be divided into pine-land,
oak.land, fwamps, and marfhes. The pine-
land is by far of the grcateft extent, and is a
dry whitifh foil, naturally producing a great
variety of ihrubs, and a coarfe kind of grafs,
not very agreeable to cattle, unlefs in the mea-
dows, or Savanna. Peaches growr here in great
abundance, and the white mulberry-tree,
which is the food of filk-worms. The oak-

T land

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■

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138 A Concise Account of

land commonly lies in narrow flips between
pine-land, and fwamps, creeks> or rivers ; this
foil is a blackidi fand, producing feveral kinds
of oak, bay, afh, laurel, boilfted, &c. On
thcfc lands arc found the black mulberry, the
American cherry, fox and cluftcr grapes, as
they are called by the inhabitants, the former
about the fize of a fmall cherry, the latter of
, a white currant 1 thefe lands are the moft ef-
teemed, producing in great abundance rice^
corn, &c.

The fwamp- lands are covered with Cyprus,
or reeds 5 and, when properly cultivated, arc
very produdivc of rice. The marfhes are of
no ufe but pafture. This province likewife
abounds with cattle and fwine, even beyond
North Carolina; and its forefts are ftored with
deer, beyond any of its neighbours, and many
other kinds of wild game j nor are its rivtrs
and feas deflitute of iifh and fowl, common to
the climate in which it lies : in fhort, this is
a very rich and fertile province, and is peopled
by many wealthy inhabitants, who live in great
cafe and fplendor. The ftaple-commodities
are rice and indigo 5 of the former is annually
exported upwards of 100,000 cafk.s, which
weigh from 500 to 600 lb. each s and of
the latter, from 400,000 to 500,000 weight

N. and S. CAROLINA, Gfr. 139

is annually exported 5 and great improvements
are continually making in the cultivating and
manufadluring of it. It is alfo found that the
wefterly part of this province produces wheat
to great perfedlion, which no doubt will now
be improved that way, being freed from the
fear of thofe favages who lately infefted their
frontiersc They alfo raife flax, which, as their
numbers increafe, may like wife become a very
confidcrable article to the province. This
country alfo has a great variety of vegetables
and fruits, as Spanifh potatoes, pompions,
melons, peafe, beans, pears, peaches, pome-
granates, oranges, 6cc. fo that upon the whole it
is calculated to be an exceeding rich and valua-
ble territory, abounding not only with the ne-
cefTaries, but many of the conveniencics of life,
and having a great redundancy of both to fparc
to its neighbours. Its navigation is eafy and
fafe upon the rivers Podee, Santee, and Sa-
vanna ; from its diflferent ports annually fail
upwards of three hundred veflels laden with
the produce of the country, among which
may be reckoned deer-fkins as no inconfideravr
ble article, the deer b?ing fo plenty, that the
back'inhabitants fcarce need any other meat;
and there is no doubt but that laborious ani-
?nal the filk-worm may be employed here to

T2 great

v'^

\'\

140 ACoNCisE Account of

great advantage, here being his natural food
in great plenty. Some attempts that way have
been made with good fuccefs, but not fo as to
render it very confiderable. But, notwith-
flanding thefc delightful and inviting circum-
ilances of this country, it has alfo its difagree-
ables ; the air or climate is not fo pleafant and
healthy as could be wifhed for. The winters
are fhort, and the fpring delightful ; but from
May to September, and fometimcs longer, it
is cxccffively hot, with a thick fultry air in the
forepart of the day, which thofe who are not
ufed to it can fcarcely breathe in ; when the fun
breaks out, it is with the moft intenfe heat ;
the moft: (harp and heavy thunder and lighten-
ing frequently happen here, and very fuddeii
changes and alterations in the weather, which
render the fummer-feafon very unhealthy for
ftrangers, and fubjecfl the inhabitants and na-
tives themfelves to fevers, dyfenteries, and va-
rious didempers : add to all thefe the miriads
of mufquetoes, which are enough to devour
one during the fummer-feafon. It is difficult
to fleep without a fmoak in your bed-cham-
ber, to expell them, or abate their impetuofi-
ty. You cannot otherways avoid being either

fiifled with the heat, or dinned and tormente4
by thefe animals*

Charles

N.^w^ S.CAROLINA, &c. 141

Charles Town is the metropolis of this pro-
vince, fituated between two navigable rivers,
Afhley on the weft and fouth, and Cowper
River on the eaft. The ftreets are wide and
flreight, interfering each other at right an-
gles ; thofe running eaft and weft extend froni
one river to the other about a mile. Here arc
two very handfome churches built with brick,
belides feveral other edifices for public worfhip
belonging to the difFcrerit feds of DifTenters.
Near the center of the town is a neat market-
houfe J and near by it is the ftate-houfe, which
is a ftately commodious brick-building ; in the
neighbourhood of the town are convenient
barracks fufficient for a thoufand men. There
are in the town about one thoufand dwelling-
houfes, four thoufand male inhabitants, and fix
thoufand negro Haves. The number of inha-
bitants in the whole province is about 60,000
whites, and more than double the number of
blacks. The religious perfuafions here arc
fnuch the fame as in North Carolina.

■I : ;. i I

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arles

PEORGI4.

I .J

*■

'A'

m '

!/f Concise Account j/*
Province of G E R G I A.

'" Kf

I.: ^1

I K

THIS province is about a hundred miles
wide upon the fca, by which it is
bounded caftward; foutherly, by Eaft Flori-
da ; wcfterly, by the low lands of the Creeks,
and partly by the fouth-end of the Apalachian
mountains j and northerly, by the river Sa-
vanna, which divides it from South Carolina.
There are alfo feveral fmall but very fruitful
iflands included in this province, which lay off
at a fmall diHance from the continent.

This country was divided from South Caro-
lina, and a fettlement begun here, in 1732, in
confequcnce of a reprefentation made to his
Majefty King George the Second, by fome ge-
nerous and compaflionate Noblemen and Gen^
tlemen,in behalf of diftreffcd imprifoned debt-
ors, the number of which at that time was very
great in England, This territory lying wafte
and uninhabited, tho' capable of the moft va-
luable improvements, thefe worthy perfons
formed a delign at the fame time to advance
the public weal, and aflift diftrefled individuals,
and petitioned his Majefty for a grant of thefe
lands, and that they might be incorporated as
truftees for fettling thp fame.; which being

r?s^-

'1^'-

.\'.%

GEORGIA.

readily granted, a charitable fubfcription was
fet on foot for coUedting benefadions, which
fucceeded (o well that they were enabled to
relieve and fend out one hundred perfons, provi-
ded with all manner of neceffaries, fuch as arms,
tools for agriculture, and proviiions for their
fupply for fome time after their landing.
Lieut. Colonel Oglethorpe, a truly zealous pro-
moter of the defign, was appointed to have the
condudt and management of the intended fet-
tlement, wliich he began upon the river Sa-
vanna, about ten miles up, laying the founda-
tion of the prefent town of Savanna.

This Gentleman prudeiitly cultivated a
friendfhip with the neighbouring Indians, who
not only fuffcred them peaceably and quietly to
go on with their fettlement, but often fupplied
them with provifions. The next fpring they
were reinforced by a number of new fettlers,
arriving with a fupply of all kinds of necef-
faries i and great encouragement was given to
this new fettlement, not only by private bene-
fadlors, but feveral large fums granted by par-'
liamcnt ; fo that in 1734 the truftees were en-
abled to fend out 491 perfons upon the chari-
ty, befides feveral mafters carrying with them
106 mcn-fervants at their own charge; in all
amounting to 6 1 8 perfons.

I'i ■: ,

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III;-

1*:!^

,1 ;

''in

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144 A Concise Account of

In 1735, a quantity of rice and rawfilk,thd
produce of this province, was fcnt home to
England, which gave a new fpring to chari-
table contributions in favour of it; and an adt
of parliament was pafied, giving the fame en-
couragement for the (hipping of rice, the pro-
duce of Georgia, as was given to that of the
produce of Carolina.

This province, by the wife, prudent and ge-
nerous conduct of Mr. Oglethorpe, and others^
continued to flourifh and increafe j thfe friend-
fhip of the Indians being fecured, nothing ma-
terial happened till 1752, wh«n the truflees
furrendered their charter to the crown 5 iince
which the Governor is appointed by his Bri-
tannick Majefty, and the form of government
thcj fame that is common to all King's govern-
ments.

The foil, air, and produce of this province
much refemble thofe of South Carolina ; rice
is faid to grow better here than in Carolina,
which with corn and indigo may be efteemcd
at prefent its principal commodities. They
have made fome beginnings towards cultivat-
ing vines, and the making of raw liik ; both
which branches, if attended to, and improved
uj on, may hereafter become confiderable,
the climate and foil being very fuitable for

them,

GEORGIA.

thctn, as hath been fufiiciently povcd by a va-
riety of cxpf^iimcnts.

What has been fald of the heat, unhealthi-
nefs, thunder and lightening at Carohna, may
with the^'Utmoll propriety be faid of them
here, Georgia lying flil) more to the fouth-
ward. The thunder and lightening often do
very great damage to the planters, not only de-
ftroying their timber, houfes, &c. but killing
their flaves and cattle, in both of which they
abound ; and this province,'if pofTible, is more
feverely infefted than South Carolina, with all
manner of venomous and poifonous animals,
from allegators of twelve feet long, to mites
fcarcely difcernible by the eye ; the allegators
keep in frefh watfer rivers, and the favanna
abounds with them.

The principal towns in Georgia are, Savan-
na and Frederica. The former is the metropo-
lis, and is very pleafantly fituated j but is re-
markable for nothing fo much as the famous
Orphan-Houfe, founded by Mr. Whitfield ;
but neither this houfe, nor the charity, learn-
ing, and regulations of it, are any ways equal
to the tumult and noifc that have been niade
in the world about them ; and, it is faid, they
are no ways equal to the contributions col-
leded by that itinerating Gentleman for their

U fup.

1 ,.

■ t

\ ' 1'. ■

h4l

■ \b: :

■

iL^.,^iii\

146 A Concise Account of

fupport. The number of inhabitants in Geor-
gia is about 8000 whites, and 20,000 blacks.
The inhabitants arc a mixture of Epifcopa-
lians and Diffenters.

A. i'i

m\\

V-

EAST and WEST FLORIDA.

THE country fouth of Georgia, and be-
tween that and the Mifliflippi River,
an extent of about 600 miles, was by the Spa-
niards called Florida, which name it ftill re-
tains \ but is now divided by the English into
two provinces, viz. Eaft and Weft Florida.

EAST FLORIDA is bounded north by
Georgia, or ^t. John's River, which divides
them ; eaflwardly an J fouthwardly, by the
Gulph of Florida; fouth- weft, by Weft Flori-
da ', and north- weft, by the country of the
Creek Indii^ns.

The Spaniards attempted a fettlement at St.
Auguftine in this province in 1512 ; however
they were obliged to abandon this attempt, by
rcafon ot the favages, and other inconvenien-
cies, they not being properly fupplied with ne-
ceflaries to go through with it. In 1565 they
agarn took pofleflion, and eredtcd a fort called

St. Au-

Geor-
)1acks.
fcopa-

3 A.

nd be-
River,
le Spa-
m re-
ih into
rida.

rlh by
divides
by the
Flori-
of the

t at St.
)wever
pt, by
7enien-
ith ne-
5 they
called
t. Au-

E. andW. FLORIDA, Cfr. 147

St. Auguftinc, which commanded a convenient
harbour for their fhips trading between Spain
and America j but there being a conrtant war
between the Spaniards and Creek Indians,
greatly prevented the enlarging their fcttle-
ments here. They maintained their garrifon
(though leveral attempts were made to reduce
it by the Carolinians, and afterwards by Gene-
ral Oglethorpe) till the conclufion of the late
war, when the garrifon and the whole terri-
tory of Florida was ceded to the crown of
Great Britain, by the treaty of Fohtainbleau,
in 1762. His Britannick Majefty being abfo-
lute Sovereign of the foil, has the appointment
of the Governors in both of the Floridas.

The foil of Eaft Florida is not fo good as
that of Georgia in general; but the northerly
part of it adjacent to Georgia is much like it,
and may be improved to all the purpofes that
Georgia is, viz. for railing of corn, rice, in-
digo, filk, wine, &c. and again, in the weft
* part of the province is fome very good land,
capable of being improved to greut advan-
tage.

The center or Cape of Florida is a more
fai\dy foil ; however, there arc fome good fet-
tlements begun in this province, under the di-
redion of Colonel Grant, the prcfent Gover-

U 2 nor

' • I' ii

' J

1
1

il I ' i

1 18 -/^Concise Account o/'

nor of it, and there is a profped of its foon be-
coming a flourifliing province ; and as inhabi-
tants are flucking to it from fcveral countries
in xi)urope, there is no doubt but in a fliort
time it will be confiderablc.

Their exports at prefcnt an* but fmall, the
produce of their trade with the Indians being
the chief they have to fpare. As the country
was three years lince almoft entirely unculti-
vated, and the number of inhabitants as yet
b'" fmajl, no great improvements and produc-
tions are at prefent to be expedlcd ; but, un-
doubtedly, this country is capable of producing
rice, indigo, filk, wine, oil, and other valuable
commodities in great abundance. As the
country is new, it has great plenty of all kinds
cf wild game, common to the climate. The
metropolis of rhe province is St. Auguftine.
The number of inhabitants, exclufive of his
Myjcfty's troops garrifoned there, is, as I am
told, about 2000.

It may well be fuppofed, from its foutherly
fituation, that the air and climate of this pro-
vince is not more agreeable and healthy than
that of Georgia, aiid that it is no lefs infeftcd
with poifonous and troublefome animals of va-
rious fhapes and fizcs.

; ft

WEST

E. afjd W. F L O TM D A, f^c. 149

WEST FLORIDA was icizcd upon
by the French, who began a fcttlcmcnt in it
at Penfacola, in 1720, and they enjoyed it till
the before nu-ntioned treaty of Fontainbleau
in 1762, when this was ceded to and formed
into a government by his Britanrjck Majefly.
It is bounded, eaftwardly, by Eall: Florida ;
fouthwardly, by the Gulf of Mexico; weft-
wardly, by the MiiTiflipi River, and the Lak«
St. Pier; and northwardly, by the country
of the Chikltavvs.

The principal town is Penfacola; and as
many of the Fiench, who inhabited here before
the ticaty, have chole to become Britifh fubjedts
for the fake of keeping tneir ellates, this will con-
tribute to the Ipeedy peopling this province, and
no doubt render the feulcments coufiderable
very foon, cfpecially as the laiid in this pro-
vince h moflly very good, vaflly preferable to
the eaOern province, its foil being capable of
producing all the valuable commodities office,
indigo, wine, oil, &c. in the greateft abun-
dance J and its fituation for trade is extremely
good, having the River MiflifTipi for its wcft-
ern boundary.

They already carry on a very confiderable
trade with the Indians, and export great quan-
tities of deer-lkins and furs. The French in-
habitants

I. ,

150 A Concise Account of

habitants here ralfe confiderable quantities of
rice, and build fome vellbls.

There are at prefent, as I am told, about
6000 inhabitants in this province, which in-
creafc very fad, it being much more heahhy
and inviting than Eaft Florida ; efpecially the
wcftern parts upon the banks of the Mifliffipi,
where it is faid to be agreeable enough to Eng-
li(h conflitutions. In flicrt, it is not to be
doubted but that in a few years this will be a
rich and flourifliiiig province, nature having
denied it nothing that is necefTary to make
it fo.

The country, taken together, muft appear
to be no fmall part of the Briijfh empire, or at
leaft of no fmall importance to it, if we con-
fider its extent, the number of its inhabitants,
the variety of its produce, and the great in-
creafe of trade and navigation thereby occa-
fioned.

There are in this country no lefs than one
million fix hundred thoufand Britifh fubjedts.
From its fever.il ports annually fail between
three and four thoufand vefTcls, laden with the
produce of this, to other countries ; the greateft
part of which produce is given in exchange for
goods of BritiQi manufadturing or importing}
fo that that which but a few years ago was an

in*-

one
(jedts.
ween
:h the
leatefl
;cfor

[ting ;

fas an

in*

E. and\V. FLORIDA, G'r. 151

inconfiderable rivulet, may now be compared
a ftream of wealth, flowing into the feat of
the Briti(h empire, continually increafing, and
growing more and more inexhauftible, and
fending forth a greater variety of riches every
year.

The INTERIOR COUNTRY.

THE Indians on the continent of North
America are moftly retired from the
fca-coafts (where formerly they were very nu-
merous) into the interior or wefterly parts of
the country, few of them being to be ^ound
within iefs than two or three hundred milt^ of
the fea : for tho* many of them have been
chriftianifed, and in fome meafure civilifed,
and parcels of lands have been allotted them
in feveral of the Britilh colonies, where they
have been formed into focittics ; yet it is ob-
fervable, that, in proportion as they lay by their
favage cuftoms, and conform to our methods
of livirg, they dwindle away, either bccaufc
thefe methods are difagreeable and noxious to
their conftitutions, or elfe (which I am in-
clined to believe is the cafe) when fettled a-

mong

* f

:il' ,

'I a I

152 -^Concise Account of

mong the Englifli, they have greater oppor-
tunitics of procuring fpirituous liquors, of
which they are generally, male and femalej
inordinately fond : and very little care has ever
been taken to prevent thcfe, who are inclined
to take advantages of them in trade, from de-
bauching them ; by which means, where there
were conficlerable fettlemenls of them, a few
years lince, their name is now almoll totally ex-
tind:. Thofe who ftiU remain have moftly join-
ed themfelves to other nations in the interior
country, v;ho have generally eredted their
towns upon the banks of lakes and rivers,
where they enjoy fea-coafts of their own, to all
their purpofes, as effedlually as if they poiTefled
the eaftern fliore of the continent.

The principal rivers in North America are,
St. Lawrence, communicating with the fea
at the Gulf of St. Lawrence; the Mifliilipi,
which flows into the Gulf of Mexico ; and
the Chnftinoux, which difeharges itfelf in-
to Hudfon's Bay. There are great num-
bers of fmaller note, that join thefe in their
courfe from the heights of the country tQ»
the fea.

r**

='i

( HI )

The RIVER Sr. LAWRENCE.

■^HIS river takes its rife 'upwards of two.
tlioufand miles from its mouthj at a lake
called by the Luiians Nipp-iTong, (which in
their language iignifies a large body of water)
iituate nordi-wfit fruin Lake Superior, in lati-
tude 52 degrees north. The northerly bank
of this lake is a bog, or morafs, that is near
four hundred miles long from north-eaft to
fouth-weft, and about one hundred and fifty
miles broad. North of this bog is a ridge of
mountains, extending from north-eafl tofouth-
wcd, the whole length of the marfliy coun-
try, and beyond it to the weftward. Thcfe
mountains arc very high and fteep, and are
called by the Indians the Head of the Country,
meaning thereby that they are fituated in the
center, and are the higheft land on the conti-
nent of North America; which indeed feems
to be the cafe : for, fouth-eaft of thefe rifes
the River St. Lawrence, having its courfe from
thence fouth-eafterly ; north-eaft rifes the Ri-
ver Chriftino, and runs north-eaft wardly ; and
from the fouth, and fouth-weft of thefe moun-
tains^ rifes the Mifliffipi, and runs foutherly :
fo that by thefe rivers the continent is divided

X into

ii:

I-

hil

. i .

[154 A Concise Account of

v. I'ii

nfi

^\.h

,1v

into fo many departments, as it were, from a
center, which is the before-mentioned moun-
tains.

The Indians who inhabit round Lake Nip-
pIlTong, the head of the River St. Lawrence,
are called the Lake Indians or NippiiTcngs, and
are in number about ^^^ or fix thor.fand men.
They chiefly live upon the weft, fouth, and
fouth-eaft of the lake, and on the iflands in it,
where the lands are tolerably good ; the other .
parts being cither marfhy or mountainous.
Their country is of cunfiderablc extent, but of
very difficult acccfs; on which account they
have never had but very little commerce with
the Engliili or French. They have no fire-
arms, but hunt with bows and arrows. They
have little or no war or connections with any
other tribe o^ Indians, but Hve almofl: as inde-
pendent as if they had a whole world to them-
fclves. They fometimes go thro* the Chrifti-
naux country to Hudfon's Bay, and purchafe
fome cloathing from the company; but their
chief cloathing is the produce of their own
country, the fkins of beafls. They never fliavc
or cut the hair from their heads or any pp'*'' of
their bodies, on which account the other In-
dians efieem them a very favage and unpolitc
herd, and do not chufe any correfpondencc or

con-

the RIVER St. LAWRENCE. 155

conncdions with a people (o rude and uncul-
tivated. Tiieir food is fuch us the lake and
wild defarts afford them, fuch as deer, moofe,
bear, beaver, &c. and in the lake are in great
abundarcc a kind of fifli called the fucker ;
and in fome places is found a kind of wild
maife or rice, which they make ufe of. They
never pretend to plant er improve the land by
labour.

From hence the River St. Lav/rence runs
through a rough, broken, uninhabited coun-
try, to Lake Superior, having in its courfe fe-
veral falls or catarads ; the moft reniarkablc
of which is about fifteen miles from the lake
where the water falls perpendicular from a
great height. The river is here a quarter
of a mile wide ; a rock extends ftrait acrofs
the ftrcam, over which it falls with a noifc that
may. be heard at the diftance of feveral miles.
Below thefe falls is great plenty of f^{h, cfpe-
cially trout, which arc very large and good.
At the entrance of the river into the lake is a
town of Indians, called the Souties or Attawa-
was ', which nation inhabit all along at the
mouths of the rivers that fall into Lake Supe-
rior, and on the north of the lakes Mechigan
and Huron. They can raife about 12,000
fighting men. Thefe Indians are more im-

% z proved

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156 A Concise Account of

proved than the Nippifiongs, having had con-
fiderahlc commerce with the French. They
live in houl'es ct" huts rhat are built in the
form of cones } the hafe is G;enerallv from fix-
teen to twenty feet wide, containing common-
ly ten or twelve perfjns ; the top of the cone
is left open for about iwo feet, which aperture
fervcs tbtm both for a chimney and a window,
their fire being kindled in the center. Toren*
dcr thefe huts a defence againfl: the cold, ccc.
they cover them with mats of rufhes, which
they have the art of weaving and placing in
fuch a manner as to rcMider them warm and
comfortable, and their appearance is very ele-
gant, dilcovering the exadeft: order and good
workmanrtiip. When they remove for any
time from one place to another for the fake of
hunting, fifhing, or any other convenience,
they carry this external covering with them j
by which means they are able, in a very (hott
time, to ered: new towns, with all the ele-
gance and convenience of their old ones.
They generally change their habitations ia
fpring and autumn, fpending the fummer-
fcafon upon the banks of the rivers and lakes^
where they fifli and raife corn, and the win-
ter among the mountains, fometimcs two or
three hundred miles diflant, for the fake of

better

Hn*t*iHn4i(v««

,e of

/^^ RIVER St. LAWRENCE. 15^7

better hunting ; and the food you meet with
among them> is according to the fcafon iri
which you vilit them. They, as yet, make
but little ufe of fpirituous liquors, nor do ihey
nianutadture any kind of drink, except the
juice of the mapple-treCj of which they like-
wife makefugar; but Uve upon the fimplc
gifts of nature when in health, and when fick,
the woods and ic^kes furnidi them with all the
drugs they make ufe of; in the application of
which fome indeed are allowed to excell in
{kill, but afk no fee or reward for their trou*
ble. And altbo' there is fuch a thing as pri*
vate property among them, which they trans^
fer to one another, by way of bargain and ex-
change, and if taken t ut of the compafs of
fair dealing, the aggrc'.br is ftigmatifed, and
punilhcJ with dildain : yet no individual or
family is allowed to fuffer by poverty, fickrtcfs,
or any misfortunes, while their neighbours caa
fupply their wants ; and ai this from the fim-'
pie natural confideration, that they and their
families are liable to the fame unhappy cir*
cumftances they fee their friends in.

At the north of Lake Superior is another
tnh^ or divihon of thefe Indians, who call
themfelves the Bulls ; thefe inhabit round the
Bay, ealkd by the French Merduouft, or the

North-^

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158 A Concise Account of

North Bay. They differ not much from the
Souties in their manners; they can raife about
four thoufand lighting men. They are origi-
nally of the Souties, or Attawawas nation, a$
evidently appears by the affinity between the
two languages ; for they can perfectly under-
hand one another. The chief trade of theie
northern Indians is to Hudfon's Bay, where
they carry fur and ermine in great abundance,
and exchange for blankets, arms, &c.

Lake Superior is upwards of two thoufand
miles in circumference, and very deep, except-
ing near the weft end, where are fevcral
iflands; and near where the river joins it is a
large ifland, fcparated from the main by a ftrait
of not more than five or fix miles wide. The
foil of this ifland is very good, and on it are
fevcral Indian tovv'ns. The banks to the
north, fouth, and eaft are very high and iteep
in fome places, being more than two hundred
feet above the furface of the water, and almoft
perpendicular ; fo that it is very difficult land-
ing at any place, except where the rivers fall
in. On the north and caft of this lake, the
lands are broken and mountainous, intermix-
ed with many fmall ponds and brooks of wa-
ter ; on the fouth and weft of the lake, after
you leave the banfo, the country is level and

good

v.»4**fl'»x»VA<\<v

the

nx-

lwa»
ifter
and

fi&^ RIVER St. LAWRENCE. 159

good quite to the Mifiiflipi, having large plains
covered with tall grafs; tiiere being fcarce any
trees or under-wood upon them for hundreds
of miles together : in other places, the oak,
maple and locuft trees arc lofty and fair. There
are fome good iflands in the north-bay of this
lake, of forty cr fihy miles in length from
north to fouthj but not near fo wide.

The Indians in this territory certainly en-
joy in the greateft plenty what they look upon
to be the neceflaries, and even the luxuries of
life. Here are fifli, fowl, and beads of every
fize and kind, common to the climate, in the
greateft abundance ; nor do I fee any reafon
why this (hould not become a rich and valua-
ble country, fliould it ever be inhabited by a
civiliied people. It has rivers, it has a fea of its
own, which mike great amends for its inland
fituation, bv facilitating trade and commerce
from one part of the country to another, by a
cheap and eafy conveyance ; nor do the Indians
entirely negledl this advantage, but make great
ufe of cancJes on the rivers and lakes; which
vefTels they make of the bark of birch, fpruce,
or elm ; thofe made of the former are much
the beft and largeft, and will carry from four
or five hundred to two thoufand weight, and
are a kind of vcffcl well fuited to this country,

being

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|6o -^Concise Account oJ

being To light that a fingle Indian will carry one
of a middling fizc, when they come to any clift
or cataradl, till they think proper to lake the
water again.

Th*^ River St. Lawrence flows from Lake
Sfeiperior to Lake Huron, upwards of one hun-
dri.d and fifty miles, and joins it about twen-
ty miiwa eaft of the Straits of Michilimakana.
The ftrcam here is generally very rapid, and
has one confiderable fall, round which the
Indians are obliged to carry their canoes whea
they pafs this way. The land adjacent to the
river between the two lakes is broken and
hilly ; but much of it is capable of being im-'
proved to good advantage. The timber is
thick and lofty ; and iron ore is here found in
the greateft plenty, and is faid to be the beft
in America ; and here are ftreams fufficient
for any kind of water-works.

A little to the weft of where the river joins
Lake Huron, is a town of Soutics, or Ottawa^
was Indians, who came here from thefouth of
Lake Superior, their original country ^ and to
the north- eaft of the lake is another town of
the fame Indians ^ and on the weft-fide of the
lake the Saganongs inhabit at the head of a
bay, called Saganong Bay. There are alfo fe^
veral towns of the Souties, or Ottawawas, upon

the

i»«*«(«<^(IVI,

LAKE HURON. i6i

upon the rivers flrnving into the caft: and
fouth-eaft of the lake. Thefc Indians have
much the lame cufloms as thole on Lake Su-
perior.

The LAKE HURON is ofa triangular form ;
one of the extremities points to the north-eaft,
where a confiderable dream flows into it, called
the Souties River, from which there is but a
fhort carrying -place to the A ta awas River,
that joins St. Lawrence Riv . nc w- Montreal.
Another extremity points to ii^o north- weft, at
the Straits of Michlimakan ; the other to the
fouth, v/here the River St. jua.vrencc ilTucs out
as from the point of a heart.

This Lake is about 900 miles in circumfe-
rence : the country on the north and north-
well: of it is rocky and mou.uainoiis ; on the
fouth -ea(l the land is low, and covered with
tall timber, Inch as white pine, oak, walnut, afh,
maple, 6cc. en the fourh-ueft, between Lake
Huron and the LakeMechigan, the country is
level and plain, having very few trees upon it
of any kind ; the ibil is tolerably good.

This wide extended plain is covered with
tall grafs, among which are deer, elks, bears,
rackoons, 6cc. in great plenty.

This country alfo abounds in a great variety
of land and water fowls, and indeed leems to

Y be

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162 ^ConciseAccountc/

be dcftitutc of nothing that is neceffary to fup-
ply the natural wants of the human fpecies.

The number of Indians that inhabit round
Lake Huron is about 3000, 600 of which aie
warriors, or fighting men.

LAKE MECIIIGAN is fituated weft from
Lalce Huron, and is very much j\ the fame
form, excepting ihat it is longer, txtending
further to the fou.h. There is a communica-
tion between the two lakes, by a ftrait called
the Strait of Mlchlimakana. It is. fifteen
miles wide, and forty in length, running near-
ly caft from the north of Lake M'^chigan.

On the north-end of Lar.e Mechigan are fe-
veral towns of Indians. At the loiuh txt e-
mity the R* St. Jofeph fli^ws into it, about
300 miles ^ eft of Detroit.

The country bctv/cen the two lake? is level,
and generally of an excellent lo'i, the timber
lofty and fair. It is well watered by a v^nsety
of ftreams, running lomie into one lake, Icme
into the other.

At the point adjoining Lake Mtxhigan, and
for Rvc or fix miles from it, fou.h, ih laiul is
landy. Here ftands our fort of IVlichlimaka-
ra, a good ftockade, near twenty feet high.
There are, at this place, fome French mhabi-
tants, who come here for the fake of trading

with

GREEN BAY.

163

with the Indians, and for the trout-fifhery,
which is here very vakiable, the trout in thtfe
ftrnirs being exceeding plenty, and of an ex-
traordinary fizc J fnme have been taken that
weighed opward'^i of fourfcore pounds. The
Indians from all the udi-icent countries annu-
ally retort hither lor tiie fak*- of thefc firti, not-
withftanding which ihtir numbers Iccm not to
be dimiiiiihed.

On the fouth-eaft fide of Lake Mechigan
are fome towns of the Souiies, and at the fouih
end live the Puttawatamies, which nation like-
wife inhabit the weft- fide, and have feveral
villages on that part of the lake.

The Indians round Lake Mechigan amount
to about 4000 fighting men. '^''''

On the north weft part of Lakr'Mechigan
enters another ftrait from theGrcen Bay. 1 his
ftrait is about 40 miles wide, and ico long,
and in it are many iflands varioviij^f tranfpofed,
fome of which are inhabited by the Pottawata^
mies, and others by the Attawawas.

The GREEN BAY is of confiderable extent.
Into the north end of it flows a large river,
that rifes between Lake Superior and the Mtf-
fiffippi, which is called the river of Foxes,
on which live a nation ®f Indians, called the
pox Indians, whofe number is not lefs than 4

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104 A Concise Account of

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or 5000 men ; and further foutliward the
country is inhabited by the Kckabouze, whofc
numhtT is about 500 intn.

The wide extended coiintrv upon tliis river,
the Green Bay, and the iiraits from thence to
Lake Mechigan, is uniformly pleafant, th'fe foil
good and fertile, and wants nothing but tivi-
lifed indullrlous inhabitants to render it truly
delightful. It is at prefrnt well (lored with a
variety of wild game, the natural flocks and
herds of its flivnge inhabitants.

The timber is tall, hut not fo thick as to pre-
vent the growth of grafs, which is here very
luxuriant, it beino; generally five or fix feet
high, which fufhcienlly indicates the goodncfs
of the foil. This invites hither the greateft
plenty of deer, elks, buffaloes, wild cows, bears,
beaveis, ^c. add to thefe the fifli with which
the waters teem, and it certainly appears a
mod defirable region, for the air is not lefs
agreeable than the foil.

The winters are never fevere, and great
part of the year the country wears a verdure.

Here likevvife grow fpontancoufly a great
variety of grapes, which are agreeable enough
to the palate, and doubtlefs might be maiju-
fadlured to advant:ige. The; Indians have
learned, that the juice of thefe grapes will

make

NORTH AMERICA.

i6s

make glad tlic heart of man, making from
them a kind of rough claret ; but their want
of knowledge how to manage it properly,
no doubt, renders it vaftly inferior to what it
might be made. They depc.fit this liquor in
their empty rum-kegs. This country alfo pro-
duces a kind of wild oats, or rice, which hath
already bc'n mentioned as growing upon Lake
Superior and Ni p'flong; but here it grows in
the greateH: plenty in the ihual water, where
a canoe miy be leaded ni a very fliort time j it
grows tv\o or thrte ^eet above the water. Its
tofltrl rcfcmbles oiUb, but ihc kernel is more like
rice.

The Indians in this country raife Indian
corn, and hav: horics in threat ^^'entv. Their
cabins, or houfes ar i k- iliofc; on Lake Su-
perior, alreadv ciclrr.l eJ.

From this iliurt account ('f the Lakes Fluron
and ivlcchigaiijtl e Green B.iv. and h^ aHjacrnt
country, which I am ceitain is no ua)S exag-
gerate.!, nor even up to what wi'.i be found true
of its beauty and f rtillty, it muft appear to be
a very valuable territory, capable ot rich im-
provements, and that the promoting a fpeedy
fettlcment in it, and fecuring its advantageous
pofts, is even of a national importance. I'i.^e
French were fo fcnfible of this, that they had
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1 66 -^Concise Account «/*

advanced pods at the River Si. Jofeph, at the
Green Bay, and at ihe Falls of 'cU Marie, at
the time when Canada w?s ceded to the crown
of Gres.t Britain, all which have been fince de-
flroyed by the Indians j and the only port we
now have in this part of the country is at
Mlchiimakana, which is garrifoncd with loo
men.

From the fouth point of Lake Huron, the
River bt. Lawrence runs eafterly, inclininc- to
rhe fuuth for about eighty miles, where it flows
into Lake Eric in its way, paffing thro* Lake
Sinclair, which is about twenty-five miles above
Lake Erie. The river at Lake Huron is a-
bout 500 yards wide, but much wider before
it reach ::s the other Lake, there being feveral
flreams which join it on each fide.

The country on both fides the river is level
and i^ood, the timber is white pine, oak,
maple, 6cc. of a good growth.

The river wheie it enters Lake Sinclair, is
divided into feveral branches, by which are
formed five or fix iflands of various dimenfions.
The Law'C' Sinclair is nearly circular, and is a-
bout eighteen miles acrofs. On the eafi:-fide
are large marfhes of eight- or ten miles extent
from the watery and near the lower end, on the
eaft-fide, a river enters it of a confiderable big-

nefSn

NORTH AMERICA. 167

nefs, from which hy a fliort carrying- place is
an eafy conveyance to Lake Ontario, ufed by
the Indians who inhabit the banks of this river,
who arc a branch of the Souties or Attawawas.
The land on the weft-fide of the lake is alfo
tolerably good, the timber chiefly beach and
maple.

At the fouth-fide of the lake, where the river
St. Lawrence leaves it, itluddcnly divides into
two branches, forming thereby an ifland of
confiderable extent, fituated near the center of
it; the eaftermoft branch keeps a pretty ftrait
courfe, but that which turns to the weftward
forms a large bay, leaving a point of land be-
tween that and the lake called Long Point*
From this bay it returns and joins the otlier
branch, forming the aforefaid ifland in the
opening of the bay, and from thence ke^ps its
courfe fouthw:irdly to Lake Erie ; the land on
each fide of the river is level, good and Icrtile,
quite from on^j lake to the other j on the t^nft-
ward fide of the river, a little below Ld-^c
Sinclair, is a town of the Attawawas, i;.nd far-
ther down towards Lake Erie, on the lame
fide, is a town of Hurons ; the river between
thefe two lakes is near 800 yards wide ; on the
weft" fide, below the before mentioned bay, is the
fort of Detroit. The French inhabitants here

are

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jd! Concise Account of

are fetkd on both fiJes of the river for abo?]t
eight miles. When 1 took poireirion of the
country foon after the lurrender of Canada,
they were about 2500 in number, there being
near 500 that bore arms (to whom I admini-
ftered oaths of allegiance) arid near 300 dwell-
in ^-houles. Our fort here is built of llocka-
does, is about twenty-five feet high, and 1200
yards in circumference; the fituation of this
place is pkafant, and the land very good; the
inhabitants raife wheat and other grain in a-
bundance, and have plenty of cattle, but they
enrich themfelves chiefly by their trade with
the Indians, which is here very large and
lucrative.

Below Detroit, on the fame fide of the river,
liciar where it enters Lake Ejie, is an Indian
.town of the Pottawatamie?, avd below that
the River Rouge, or the Red River, enters it
oppofite the Vvcd-endof an iujnd, which divides
the River St. Lawrence into two branches as it
flows into the lake; there are alfo a little above
this, two or three fmail.^r idands, which are
very bcautilul ; the river is heie about two miles
wide.

Lake Erie is 300 miles in length, from

the fouth-wefl to the north-eail, and eighty or
ninety miles wide at the vv'eilerly cnd,and about

forty

LAKE SANDUSKY.

169

forty at the lower end, where it tapers off to
feven or eight n^ilcs, before the river leaves it.

The river enters the lake at the north-weft
corner ; and twenty or thirty miles fouth of
this, at the weft-end of the lake, the river Mia-
mee flows into it. This river has an eafv com-
munication with the Ohio, by the river Wal-
bach, there being no more than twelve miles
land carriage between the two rivers *.

At the fouth-weft corner of Lake Erie, the
Lake Sandufky communicates with it, by a
ftrait of half a mile wide.

The Lake Sandufky is thirty miles in length,
and eight or ten miles wide. Into the fouth-
weft corner of this lake the river Sandufky, or
Huron, flows. Upon the banks of this river,
and round the Lake Sandufkv, the Huron In-
dians are fettled in feveral different towns, in a
very plcafant fertile country. This nation of
Indians can raife about 6 or 700 fighting men.
They differ fomcthing in their manners from
the Souties, or any yet mentioned. 'Ihey build
regular framed houfes, and cover them with
bark. They are efteemed the richeft Indians

* Half-way between the river Miamee, and the Straits of
Sandufky, the river Huron fl6ws in, on which tliere are
fome valuable fprings.

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upon the whole continent, having not only
horfes in great abundance, but feme black
cattle and fwine. They raife great quantities
of corn, not only for their own ufe, but fup-
ply feveral other tribes, who purchafe this
article from them.

The country of the Hurons extends 150
miles weftwardly of the lake, and is 100 miles
wide. The foil is not exceeded by zny in this
part of the world -, the timber tall and fair ;
the rivers and lakes abound with a variety of
fifli, and here is the grcatcit p : aty of wild
water-fowl of any where in the country. The
woods abound with wild g'^mc. In a word,
if peopled, and improved to a>^v;'ntage, would
equal any of the Britifli colonics on the fea-
coafts.

The cou'itry on the fouth Mq of Lake
Erie is claimed by the Five Nation Indians,
but nut inhabited by vhea? ; they keep it for
the fake of hunting. This alfo is a fine level
country towards the fouth, from the lake, for
feveral miles, having many dreams flowing
thro' it into the lake, from the hig;h lands be-
tween this and the Ohio. Our fen at Prefqne
lile is upon this fide of the lake, about 100
mi*vS from the eafl-end. From this fort is a
carrying-place of about twelve or fourteen

. miles

i;'

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LAKE ER'IE.

17T

miles to the French Creek, a branch of the
Ohio. The country from this fort, down to
where the river flows out of the lake, is fome-

what rocky and hilly; up a river that flows in-
to the eafl-end of the lake, about ten miles
fouth of where St. Lawrence leaves it, is a
town of the Five Nation Indians. The coun-
try on the northward fide of the lake is alfo
level, the timber tall, but not near fo good as
on the fouth-fide. There are feveral flreams
which water this country, and flow into the
lake on this fide. This country is inhabited,
or rather frequented by the MtfUfTaugau In-
dians, who tarry no longer in a place chan
wild game is plenty in it. They are a branch
of the Souties, or Attawawas. Upon this fide
of the lake, and oppofite to Prefque Ifle on the
other fide, is a peninfula called Long Poxnt,
which extends into the lake 2r miles, and is
fix miles wide in the widefl y ce, but where
it joins the main not more than 100 yards.

There are alfo feveral iflands in the lake, at
the wefl-end, which, tho' fomewhat rocky,
are good land, and might be improved to ad-
vantage.

From the eafl-end of Lake Erie, the river
St. Lawrence runs northealte *y, inclining to
the north, about fifty miles, to Lake Ontario.

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172 A Concise Account of

Nearly oppolite to where it iflbes out of the
lake, is a new fort, eredled on the northerly
fide, called Fort Erie. Soon after the river
forms itf If, the current is rapid, on account of
the rocks and falls in it, for about a mile; over
which, notwithftanding, we work up veffels
by the help of windlalTcs. A little below thefe
ripples are feveral fm ill iflands, and at about
fix or feven miles dillancc ihe river is divided
into two branches, by the fouth-wefl: end of
the Great Ifliind, which extends almoft down
to Little Niagara Fort, and contains no lefs
than 40,000 acres of land, which is very good.
The country on both fides the river to Little
Niagara appears to be good and fruitful, and
is wholly uninhabited.

Little Niagara Fort is nothing more than a
flockade, and is about two miles diftant from
the eafterly end of the Great llland, on the
eaft-fide of the river.

Near this fort is a remarkable fall, or cata-
rad, in the river, which dcferves a particular
dcfcription. This catar^d is called the Falls
of Niagara, which, in the language of the Five
Nations, fignifies a fall of water. The courfe
of the river here is fouth-fouth-eaft, and about
half a mile wide, where the rock crofTcs it, not
in a diredt line, but in the form of an half-
moon.

NIAGARA FALLS.

173

) I

moon. Above the fall is an ifland of about
half a mile in length, the lower end of which
comes to the ed^e of the fall. The current of
the river above tfie id uid is quite flow j but as
it approaches the ifland and is divided by it, it
runs more Iwiftly, and, before it comes to the
fall, with iiu.h violence, as often throws the
water to a confiJeiable height, efpccially on
the Well fide of the llluid, the whole fiream
appearing in a foam, for even here the dtf'ccnt
is equal to the fide of a pretty flecp hill. W hen
it comes to the perpendicular fa l^ which is an
hundred and fifty feet, no words can exp^efs
the conflcrnation of travellers at firfl view,
feeing fo great a body of water falling, or ra-
thci violently thrown, from fo great an height,
upon the rocks below, from which it again re-
bounds to a very great height, appearing white
as fnow, being all converted into foam, thro'
thofc repeated violent agitations. The noifc
of this fall is often heard at the diflance of fif-
teen miles, and fomctimes much further. The
vapour arifing from the fall mayfometimes be
fcen at a great diftance, appearing like a cloud,
or pillar of fmoak, and in it the appearance of
a rainbow, whenever the fun and the pofition
of the travel ler favours. Many bcafls and
fowls here lofc their lives, by attempting to

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174 -^ Concise Account of

fwim or crofs the /Iream in the rapids, and are
found daflicd in pieces below ; and fonietimes
the Indians have met with the hke fate, cither
thro* their carcUfiliefs or drunkennefs. There
arc fnjaiier falls in the river for feveral miles
below, which renders it unnavigable. The
bank of the river, on the cail-fide from the fall
downwards, is 300 feet high, till you come to
another fort of ours, diRant from Little Nia-
gara nine miles, and this length they are o-
bliged to carry by land, on account of the ra-
pids above and below the catarad;. The land
on the other fide rifes gradually, and perhaps
no place in the world is frequented by fuch a
number of eagles as this, invited hither by the
carnage before mentioned, that is here made
of deer, elks, bears, &:c. on which they feed.
The land on the well-fide of the river St. Law-*
rence, from this fort, or landing place, to Lake
Ontario, is owned by the MeffilTaugaus, and is
tolerably good. The timber is chiefly chcfnut.
The j^'afterlv fide is owned bv the Five Nations,
and is thinly timbered with lofiy oaks, which,
at firfl view, one would be apt to think were
artificially tranfpofed. The river enters Lake
Ontario at the fouth-wefl corner, at which
place is Nia;^ara Fort, an handfome, well-built
fortification, of confiderable flrength. A large

bay

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LAKE ONTARIO.

bay iL'jotc up from tlvj entrance of the river
vvcdward. The form of this lake is oval,
beiFig about 260 milco in length, and 150 wide
in the middle.

The country on the weft and north of the
lake, down to the river Toronto, which is
about fifty miles, is very good.

At the weft-end a river runs in, from which
are cairying-placcs, both to Lake Sinclair and
Lake Erie, or to rivers that flow into them.

The country upon the lake, between St,
Lawrence and Toronto, is inhabited or owned
by the McffifTaugaus, and, by the fair and lofty
timber upon it, is a good foil. Here is likewife
great plenty of grape-vines. By one of the
branches of the river Toronto is an eafy com-
munication with the rivers flowing into Lake
Huron. Upwards of a hundred miles from
Toronto, at the north-eafterly corner of the
lake, the river Cataraqua flows into it ; there
are likewife fevcral fmaller ftreams betweea
thefe. From Cataraqua is a carrying-place to
the Attawawc: River, which joins St. Law-
rence near Montreal. This country is alfo
owned by the MeflHTangaus, as far northward
as Cataraqua ; they likewife claim all the weft-
fide of Lake Ontario, and north of Lake Erie,
but live a roving unfettlcd life, literally with-
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176 ^ CoNCisfi Account of

out any continuing city, or abiding habitation>
as hath been already remarked of them.

At the eafterly corner of the lake flows in
the River Ofwego, where we have another
fort crcdcd, and a girrifon kept up of a con-
fiderable force ; this is about 200 miles from
Niagara. The River Ofwego rifes from the
Oneoida Lake, which is about thirty miles in
length. At the eaft-end of this lake ftands a
royal blockhoufe, which ': garrifoned to keep
up a communication with the lakes j and on
the weft-end of this lake is Fort Brewerton,
another poft, built for the fame purpofc j and
about half-way between this and Ofwego is an-
other blockhoufe, to command a ferry over
the Seneca River. The Oneoida Lake is dif-
tant fifty or fixty miles from the Lake Ontario.
From the Oneoida is an eafy communication
with the Mohock (and confequently with Hud-
fon*s) River, by the way of the Wood Creek.

The country upon the Lake, between Ofwe-
go and St. Lawrence, is level and good for fcve-
ral miles from the lake.

■

This country is owned by the Five Nations.
There are feveral rivers flowing thro' it to
the lake ; the moft confiderable is the River
Sable, which joins the lake eighty or ninety
miles caft of Niagara, and rifes near a branch

NORTH AMERICA. 177

of tlic Ohio. There are feveral falls upon it,
and cnc lii^hcr than ihc Vulh of Nla^^ara. The
A.cam is about 200 feet wide for a great way
up. Jt is very tnnch concealed from ti)e tra-
veller, as he pafies icon the Lake, by an ifland
f:ruated before the mouth cf it. Abrut 150
miles up tliis river, are thofe remarkable
.^^iiugs, greatly efleemed by the Indians as a
remedy for almofl every difeafe j they are cal-
led the oil-fpiings, on account of an oleous
fubflance that ifllies forth with the water, and
rifes upon the furface of it. The Indians ufe
thefe fprings for confumptions, adhmas, and
various internal diforders, by drinking the wa-
ter J and for rheumntick pain?, drains, d'flo^
cations, &c. by bathing, with great fuccefs. A
little further call ward flow in the rivers Arun-
dicat and ChineTee.

In the rivers round Lake Ontario are falmon
in great plenty during the fumtiier-feafon ; and
at the entrance of the river St. Lawrence are,
durin^ the winter-fcaibn, an abundance cf a
kind of fifli, called white-lifli, which feem to
be peculiar to this place, there bcinj, none luch
any where elfe in America, exceprintr fome
few at Long Point, nor can 1 learn that any
fuch are to be ken in Europe. In fummer
they difappear, and are fuppoled to lie during

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178 u4 Concise Account of

that feafon in the deep water, out of found-
ings. They are about the (ize of fiiad, and
very agreeable to the palate, flerc is great
plenty cf water-fovv], and game of all kinds
common to the climate. In a word, the
country round this lake Is plcafant, and appa-
rently feitjle, and capable of valuable improve-
ments.

The Five Nations have their towps, not ad-
jacent to the lake, but at fomc didance from it,
and mollly upon the riveis that liov/ into it.

Tiie river St. Lawrence takes it^ leave of
Lake Ont;irio at the nr^rih -call: -corner of it.
Near the lake it is ten or twelve miles wide,
liavin'^ feveral iflands in it, on one of which,
tlie mofl: northerly, at the head of the rifts, is
a fmall furtrefs, ereded by the French, and
now kept up by us. A litiic fcuth of this
ifland a confiderable flr^am flows in, which
rifes near PIudfon*s River, and is called Ofwe-
aotehy, and has frequent falls after you afccnd
it forty or lifty miles. The above-mentioned
iiland is about twenty miles down from the
li.ke. Here the river grows narrower.

From Lake Ontario to the Cedars, the pre-
fent weftern boundary of the province of Que-
bec, is abouf eighty miles, and from thence to
Lake St. Francis, which may be called the

NORTH AMERICA. J79

next ftage of St. Lawrence, is near the fame
diftance.

On the fouth-fide of the river, at the bot-
tom of the rifts, is a fmall viliafre of the Five
Nations, and another on the fame Hdc towards
Montreal.

In the river, and in the Lake St. Francis,
are feveral iflinds, which are moftly fettled by
the French, belonging to the province of Que-
bec.

The country on both fides the river is tole-
rably good, and is capable of fupporting many
thonfaiids of inhabitants.

On the norrherly-fide of the Lake St. Fran-
cis, the Attawawas River flowf, in and joins the
river St. Lawrence, as hath been already men-
tioned. The Attawawas rifes ead: ot Luke Su-
perior, from a fmall lake, where is an Indian
tribe, who call themfelves Roundccks ; and
oppofite to the north-eafl-corner of Lake Hu-
ron is another fmall lake, which the Lidians
call Nippiflbng (in their language a lake.)
The ftream which flows from it is joined by
another of fome confiderable bignefs, that rifes
from feverai fmall lakes among the mountains.
Where thefe two rivers unite are many iflands,
which render the pafTage very difficult to find.
From the head of the weft branch of this river,

A a 2 there

'lih

i8o J Concise /Vccount of

there is but a (liort port.i^e to another that
falls into Lake Haron, by wlach way ouv
traders fodfjetinies cany their goods to and
fron:i the Indians in this part of the country;
but thia way is much in.^re ditH'^ult than that oi;
Niagara, being obfhuded by a great number
ol fails round whith they are obliged to carry
their goods and canoes.

There is another v-ry fmall fcttlement of the
Roundocks upon the river, between the iflands
and its jundion with the river St. Lawrence;
which ju!i(ftion, after a fouth-cafl-courfc, is by
three difiercnt chwinnels ; one flows into the
Lake St. Francis, and the other two form the
Ifland of Jefus, north of Montreal, and meet
and unite with the river St. Lawrence, at the
cad-end of the Illand Montreal.

The country upon the banks of this river is
broken, and not very good, till you come near
the river St. Lawrence. The timber is chiefly
white pine, of a tall growth*. The winters are
cold, and fubjcdt to deep fnows, much more fo
than the main river, as we have traced it
down. There is, however, great plenty of
beaver in this country, and the river, for fome
way up, abounds with falmon, which two ar-
ticles are the chief fubfi ence of the Indians
refiding here, who pretend not to keep any

animals

NORTH AMERICA. i8i

animals but dogs. Bat after all, even this
country, by a civiUjcd indiiftiious people,
might be rendered fertile and delightful, be-
yond many in the world that are now very po-
pulous.

There are feveral fettlemcnts, of the St.
John's, Cape Sable, and feveral other tribes of
Indians, upun the Itrcanii. tailing into St. Law-
rence frurii the fo ;th, betwfcn that and Nova
Scotia, and round the cult ot St. Lawrence, bc-
tvvecn that and the l>.iy of Fundy, and the
coafls of the province of Mam, whofe chief
fubfiflencc is the wild game of the country,
for they raifc but little corn, and keep no
cattle.

There are alfo feme Indians upon the north-
fide of St. Lawrence, near Quebec, called Hu-
rons,, but none of any great account.

About ihirty or forty miles below Quebec,
a river flows in from the north, that heads near
. Hadfon*b Bay, or James River, on the banks
of which live fome oihcr tribes of the Round-
ocks; but all the Indians on the lakes, exccpt-
ting the riurons and Five Nations, have an
alhnity in their language, nnd appear to be
originally from the fame nation.

From this account of the country upon the

river St. Lawrence, above what is now called

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182 -^Concise Account of

the province of Quebec, tliere fcems a prof-
pcdt in future, not only of a flourifhing pro-
. vince, but a rich and -rcat kingdom, exceed-
ing in extent of territory mofl of the kingdoms
in Europe, and exceeded by ^evv, if any, in the
fertility of its foil, or the falubrity of its air, and
in its prefent uncultivated ftate, abounding
with many of the necelliriries and convenien-
cies of life ; and tho' it has no open communi-
cation with the fea, yet great amends are made
for this defcdl bv its numerous lakes and
ftreams running to and from them, by which
there is an cafy communication from one part
of the country to another, almoft through the
whol^. In a word, there is no part of North
America at prefent difcovered, excepting that
on the Mi/iifippi, that appears better worth
fettling, improving, and defending than this.
It is in many rcfpedts preferable to any of the
colonies on the fea-coafls, exclufive of their
improvements, and has a larger territory than
any fix of them.

This country, if any in America, will al-
ways have the advantage of the fur and peltry
trade, on account of its large lakes, and the
extended uninhabitable country to the north-
ward of it, both of which will tend to keep up

that

NOPvTH AMERICA. 183

that valuable .ird lucrative branch of com-
merce here to the cud of time.

3B®^i^^'^UJ^Q'^iJ 0Si3i^ iM^)^t^'<£>^}^

The RIVER CHRISTINO.

I- !

THIS river is f j called from the Indians,
the CiniitiiiHUx, who polTefa the coun-
try adjacent to it. Its higheft fource is, as
hath been mentioned, at the north-eafl of the
central mountains, called by the Indians the
Head of the country.

It rifes in fcverai Arcams, all which bend
their courfe towa:\is Hudfon's Bay, and fall in
with each other at different places, till, in the
courfe of about i sO niWcs from their fource,
they all unite, Uy which ct)nf]uence a very large
bay is fornicd, round which is a tribe or divi-
iion of Chriflinaux live.

As vou advance further down the river,
there arc fame few hkc$, hut none large, or
deft^rving of a particular defcription.

There are feveral fmall ftreams which flow
in on each fide of the river, from a low boggy
country, by which its waters are increafed, till

finally

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1 84 u^ Co N c I s K A c c o u V -i* rj^

finally it difchargcs iilllf into Hudfon's Bay,
near 200 miles north of York Fort, and about
500 nriiles from the betoic-mcntioned mcun-
taiiis.

The country adjacent to this river is vaftly
inferior to that on the lakes and the river St.
Lavi^rcnce, as may well be luppofcd from its
northerly fituation, it lying between ^^ and
60 degrees of north latitude. The win-
ters are long and fevere, the fnow deep, and
continues on the earth great part of the
ye.:r. The foil is cold and barren, and fcarce-
ly capable of any valuable improvements ; fo
that this country, excepting its wild game,
feems to have very little to invite any of the
^uman fpcxic: into it, or to fubfill them upon
when they vifit it.

Near the bay, and for a confiderable way
up the river, the land is higii, and lo thickly
covered with fpruce, hemlock, &c. that it is
difficult to travel thro' it without being entan-
gled, but nearer the :T;)untains the foil is bet-
ter. The timber here is beech and maple,
tho' fome of it is low and marlliVjl^nd covered
with hemlock, where it is unfit iov iJ-rain or
fruit of any kind.

There are in the river fome kindb of fifh,

and the beaver are taken here in great abun-
dance.

NaRTH AMERICA. 185

dance, and feme ermines, elks, moofe, bears, &c.
There is alio an aniiir.il refembling the moofe,
but much fmaller, which feems to be peculiar
to this country. 1 he lifn and wild n;amc are
the folc fubfiilcnce ol fhe i'lhabitanrs for tl:cy
raife no kind of gr.iin, nor do they keep any
animals exce'^t dogs.

The number ot Indian waniors in this
country is fuppofed to be about 2000. They
generally cover their houfes, or huts, with the
fkuis of Wild beads, and not only make them
warm and fecure, but, according to their taAe,
very neat and elegant. Thefe Indians have very
near the fame language with thofe on the lakes,
and north of the river St. Lawrence ; according
to their own hi (lory, or account of themfeWes^,
they all came round from the north into this
country. Tho' the only hiftory they have is a
verbal one, handed down from father to fon,
they however pretend in this way to have an
exadt account tor many generations back ; and
certain it is, that tho' they negledl the educa-
tion of their children in almofl every other re-
fpedt, they are exiremely careful and folicitous
in this way. to acquaint them with the hiftpry
or flory of their ancellors.

Further northward ftill, are fome other ri-
vers that flow into Hudfon's Bay; but the coun-

B b try

1 , ■ ,f

iii

■L

ii ith

i86 ji Concise Account of

try adjacent to them being ftill more norther-
ly, is inferior, if pofliblc, to that of the Chrilli-
naux. The Indians who inhabit it are much
the fame; only this fctms obfcrvablc in gene-
ral, that the further norrh you travel on the
American continent, the more iavage and un-
improved the nations appear to be.

Thefe Indians, and cvui the Chiiflinaux,
rarely travel fouth of the central mountains ;
fome few of the laucr have been known to
vifit our traders at Laic Huron and Alelhi-*
gaaj but their chief trade is to Iliidfon's Bay,
to which place the Nippiifongs, round the lake
of that name, fomctiincs Cc.ny their furs thro*
the country of the Chiifuiuux. it is probable
that all the.e northern li.u.ai;s ?re only diffe-
rent tribes or divifions of the faiiic nation,
their manners, language, and eulloms, being
fimilar.

From James's Bay, and along the coaHs of
Labrador, the country is inhabited, or rather
frequented by a nation called the Eflclmaux,
who are a wandering unfettled generation,
roving in large parties during the fummer-Jea-
fon, and come quite from Hudfon's Bay north-
ward to the Straits of Belle I fie, which they
fometimes crofs over to Ncvv'foundland.

"Thefe

NORTH AMERICA. 1S7

Tlicfe Indians give a diffcrcnc accoar.t of
ihcmfclves from tlic others : they Inv, that
they ciorted liudlon'sbtraits into this cuune;y ;
from which it i'^ liippofed, by Ibme, that ir.cy
came iVom Ta. tary ; and, indeed, their cuf-
tonis and n^thcds of hving favour this opi-
nion. NotwiihAanding this prodigious extent
of country over which they ramble, tlicy
are not very nuiriCroup, being but abvur 4000
men. They fubfifi: chiefly upon animals which
they take out of thefc northern feas, futh as
whales, feals, and the like; i. id cat or rather
devour and gormandize raw tleih, when they
cannot with conveniency cook it.

Thefe Indians cloatiie themfelves with the
furs and fkins of fuch animals as they take in
the woods and waters; during the winter- fea-
fon they abide in caverns under ground, and-
feed chiefly on v;hale-oil and blubber, unlefs
raw flefh chance to be thrown in their way.
They travel chiefly by water, in a kind of ca-
noes peculiar to themfelves, which are ^o con-
trived as to ride through almoftany ftorm that
can happen; for, in cafe of bad weather, they
can lace or inclofe themfelves in and keep dry,
while the canoe is rolled over and over with-
out damage. . Thefe canoes arc made of fldns
ilretqhed over a frame of fmall timber, very

P b 2 neasT

!■ I I.

-■A

: i

:(;., il.

i88 A Concise Account of

near in the ftiape of the bark-i:anocs, and then
lined or ceiled over with ikins ; which lining
or ceiling is (I wed f;»fl: to the keel and the
gunwale, and then left lb long as tn meet and
lace together in the middle, il there (liould be
occafion.

In tiie center between the two ends is a
partition whicli diviiics the canoe into two
ap*rline:its } in cue of whivh, wheii a llorm

threatens, or tb.cic is danger o* ovtrkrrin^s one
pcrlon is ItationcJ, b.:in^ laced up tighv r.>und
the body with the atorcUid linii.g, and, in cafe
of overfetting, it is hi^. bufincls to right again,
while the other (for ti.' ic is ncvf.r more or lefs
than two in a canoe wiu n they venture far) is
fccurely inclofcd ar the other end. They fome-
timcs venuire feveral leagues to fea in thofc ca-
noes in puriuit of whales, feals, &c.

Their chief trade is to our fort on
James's Bay, and with fuch veflcls as frequent
their coaft for the fake of trading with them.

The Indians on the Ifland of Newfound-
land appear to be much the fame fort with
ihofe lail mentioned. »

They are called Micmacks 5 they both bear
the greateft refemblance of the wild beads
of any favages that wc are acquainted with ;

- » . ■ * •

then
ining
i the
t and
kibe

NO K T fl A iM ERIC A. 189

on which account they are confidercd and
hated as a barbarous and bcaftly people by all
other Indiuis ir) the nci^^hhourliood, who have
but iicilc coiiiiiicicc o: coricfpoiidcnce with
them.

^ IS a
i two
ilotm

J, one
r.>und
n cafe
again,
or lefs
far) is
bme-
c ca-

on
qucnt
lem.
ound-
with

bear
beafts
ith ;
on

The M I S S I S S I IM.

TH IS river takes iis rife at t^.e fouther-
ly part of the central mountains, up-
wards f { 30C0 n)ilcs, as tl.e rivt-r lups from its
mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Its hi^heft
fonrce is a lake of confiderahle bigrefs, oppo-
fitc to or north- wc!l of which is ? notch or
opening in the mountain, from which a large
ftr^aai flows to tlie Irko. carrvmg vvjth it a icd
fulphurcous fuhftantc, by wl.icii the water it
diicolo'.ired ; on which account this is called
the Red L>ke. It has a fine ("ertile country on
the louth and fouth-eall- par* of it.

The courfe oi' the jMiflidipi from the Red
Lake is r.Larjy fouthwefl: for upwards of two
hundred miles, where it is joined by a fmal-
ler liream from the wcftwMrd, and its courfe
is turned nearly fouth-eaft for more than three
hundred miles, where it is joined by the Mud-

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dv River, nnd before tliat l)v another not fo
large, flowing to it from the north-eaft The
Muddy River rifcs from the iovAh of the cen-
tral moun'.ainr^, out of the hircce boij before
mentioned, and runs foiit'i, inclining to the
wc^, till it nieces the iM-flirilpi coming from
the north-weft after which iundion the river
is near two miles wide. The carrent from the
head to this plsce is p:encral]y pretty rapid, and
has frequent and large falls ; hut the country
on both iideii of the river, and of the branches
that flow into it, i^ exceeding fine and good.
The timber lofty, but thin ; the plains large,
and fertile. The air and chmate, even quite
to the head, mrjderatc 2.nd agreeable. The
winters iliorf, ?,nd rarely fevere ; thoucrh in
the lame laiitude, farther caftward, they are
quite [he reverfe, it being obfervable, that, af-
ter you pafs the great lakes and Hudfon's Bay
to the wefiward, there is a very perceptible
change in the air, and the further you travel
weftward, the n^ove mild and temperate it
grows, and the c >untry is more agreeable and
fertile. The lakes and rivers here abound with
fiih, and the wild oats or rice before-men-
tioned grow& h.ere in great plenty. On the
wide-cx'^^T'ded plains are n^.ultitudes of wild
cattle, which much refembletheSpanifli cattle.
' - ' • Thera

N O R T n AMERICA. 191

There is alio great pknty oi deer, elks, buffa-
Igcs, and foinc beavtis, hares af»d panthers, and
wild fowls in abundance, clpccially turkeyi^,
and another kind ofwoodi'owl, much larger,
and almoft as tali as a man ; thefe run very Iwift,
. but cannot fly, unlefs it be from fome emi-
nence, and a faiall fpace at a time. This fruit-
ful country is at prefent inhabited by a nation
of Indians, called by the others the White In- *
dians, on account of their complexion, they
being much the faireil Indians on the conu-
nent j they' have however Indian eyes, and a
certain guilty Jewifh cafl with them. This
nation is very numerous, being able to raifc
between 20 and 30,000 fighting men.

They ufc no weapons but bows and arrows,
tomahawks, and a kind of wooden pikes, for
which reafon diey often fuffcr greatly from the
eaftern Indians, who have the ufe of fire-arnis,
and frequently viiit the White Indians on the
banks of the eaiierly branch, and kill or cap-
tivate them in great numbers; fuch as full a-
live into their hands, they generally fell for
Haves. Thefe Indians live in large towns, and
have commodious houles ; they raife Indian
corn, tame the wild cows, and ule both their
milk and fiefli -, they keep grent numbers of
iiogs, and are very dexterous in hunting* They

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igz A Concise Account of

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have little nor no commerce with any nation
that we at prefent are acquainted with.

From the confluence of the Muddy River
the courfc of the Mifljflipi is nearly fouth for
two hundred miles (the current ftiong, and in
fome places rapid) where it is joined by a large
ftrf^am from the weft, which riles four hun-
dred miles from the central mountains, and its
waters chiefly fpring from the north and
north-eafterly part of the Mifauri Ridge, a
chain, or rather a double chain of mountains,
fo called, which reach over towards the lAh-
ttius of Darien. This is called by the Indians
the Bloody River, on account of the long and
bloody wars which have happened between
the Indians here and thofe to the eafliward.

Four hundred miles further down, another
river flows in from the north- weft, which ri-
fcs near the Bloody River. The two laft-
mcntioncd rivers are both inhabited by the
Illinois Indians, who likcwife poffcfs the wef-
tcrn banks of the Mifliffipi for feveral hundred
miles, and till you come to the river that flows
into it from the eaft, and rifes near the Green
Bay, having but a (hort carrying- place to the
ftream that empties into that, and to another
that falls into Lake Mefhigan, near Fort St.
Jofeph. The country adjacent to this branch

NORTH AMERICA. 193

of the Mifliflipi was cnce inhabited by the Illi-
nois Indians 5 but they are now moftly re-
tired to the weft-fide of the Mifliflipi ; fomc
few ftill remain at the mouth of the aforefaid
river, where the French had likewife begun a
fettlement, which extended for fifty miles along
the Mifliflipi, and a coniiderable way up the
River Illinois. There they raifed excellent to-
bacco, and carried on a large trade with the
Indians up the Miffiffipi, and on the lakes.
They alfo raife here excellent wheat, barley,
and other grains. They had formerly a good
fort here, well garriibned, for the protection of
the colony; but, fince this place was ceded to
the crown of Great Britain, the French have
eredted a garrifon on the other fide of the ri-
ver, where the greateft part of the inhabitants
have retired ; thofe of them who were Ger-
mans (of which there is a coniiderable num-
ber) chofe to tarry on this fide, and become
Britifh fubjeds. Near this fort is a village of
Indians ; but their largell fettlement is on the
"weft-lidc, fome miles above this, where they
have a town containing near 8000 men ; and
above that, about an hundred miles, is ano-
ther. They have alfo many large towns oa
the branches that fall into the river from the
weft.

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Thcfe Indians live very well, have com-
fortable houfes, make great ufe of horfes ; their
country abounds with deer, elks, buffaloes, &c.
In fome parts of this country the timber is fair
and tall ; in other parts, for feveral hundred
miles, there is fcarce any timber to be found.
The foil and air are pleafant and agreeable.

About an hundred and fifty, or two hundred
miles below, where the Illinois flows into the
Mifliflipi on the eafl-fide, the Mifauris joins it
on the weft. This river takes its rife from the
eaft and fouth-eaft of the before- mentioned
Mifauris ridge of mountains, in many different
ftreams, for near 1000 miles on this fide,
which unite with each other at different places,
and, after an eaflerly and foutherly courfe of
near 2000 miles, as the river runs, it flows in-
to the Miniffipi.

There is perhaps no finer country in
the world than that which lies s^xtended
on each fide of the Mifauris, whether
we regard the falubrity of the air, or the fer-
tihty of the foil. There are in this country
near a thoufand Indian towns. The inhabi-
tants on this river are called the Mifauri In-
dians, who are able to raife great numbers of
fighting men ; and have much the fame cuf-
toms and manners as the Illinois, who are

likc-

i u

NORTH AMERICA. 15)5

likewife very numerous. The gocdnefs of the
country which they both inhabit, if polfible,
muft render life agreeable and eafy to perfons
who, hke then); are content with having the
demands of nature anfwered, without endea-
vouring to increafe thefe demands by any flu-
died refinements in drefs, equipage, or the
modes of Uving. In fliort, thefe people^ of
any upon earth, feem blefled in this world :
here is health and joy, peace and plenty -, care
and anxiety, ambition end the love of gold,
and every uneafy paffion, feem banidied from
this happy region, at leaft to a greater degree
than in almoft any other part of the world.

The River Mifliflipi, after being joined by
the Mifauris, is about fix miles wide, and conti*
nues its courfe foutherly; it is joined by no
confiderable ftream after this for between two
or three hundred miles, where the Ohio fiov.'S
into it, and makes a large addition to its wa-'
ters.

The country, on each fide the MiflifTipi to
this place, is much the fame as that already
defcribed 3 but the climate is fomething war-
mer, and is owned by the Tweeghtwees, or
Yeahtanees, on the eaft-fide down to the
Ohio, and eaftwardiy from theMifliffipi as far
as the Wabach,

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196 y^ Concise Accounts/

Hil.i

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f 'To,'

The River Ohio rifes in fcveral branches,
one of which is near Prcfque Ifle, on the Lake
Ontario, and within fix miles of the lake j a-
bout ten miles down this branch flands Fort
Du Bcauf, from which place it is navigable for
Canoes and final! boats quite to the mouth.
The courfe of this branch is foutherly for fe-
vcnty or eighty miles below Fort Du Beauf,
where we had another fort, called Venango*.
About twenty miles above this laft fort, on the
banks of the flream, are fcveral little towns of
the Mingo Indians, who removed hither from
Hudfon's River, and now belong to thofe cal-
led the Five Nation Indians. Oppofite to Ve-
nago Fort this branch is joined by another large
one from the north-eaft, which rifes in the
country of the Five Nations, and renders the
navigation ftill more fcafable ; and about half-
way from thence to Fort Pitt, there is another
which joins it from the north-eaft, and after their
meeting it is called the Ohio River, till you
come to Fort Pitt, where it is joined by the
Monongahela, which rifes from the weft-fide
of the Allegana mountains in a great number

* Venango, Fort du Beauf, and Prefque Ifle, vrcre all
deftroyed by the Indians in 1763; and whether they are
rebuilt, I cannot tell.

it!

- |sf

nil-

NORTH AMERICA. 197

of fmall ftreams, that unite at no great dlftance
from the mountain, and form this dream.

Fort Pitt is a regular well-built fortrefs, is
kept in good order, and well garrifoned;
it is a very neceffary pod for the protedlion of
our frontiers ; indeed none is more lb in this
country, excepting Niagara and Detroit.

Fort Pitt ftands upon the point of land be-
tween the rivers Monongahela and Ohio.

From this the general courfe of the river is
weft, inclining to the fouth for near a thoufand
miles, as the river runs, where it joins the Mif-
fiflipi. At Fort Pitt it is a mile wide, but
grows much wider before itsjundion with the
Mifliffipi* being joined by fevsral dreams in its
courfe thither, as the Mofkongom and Wa-
bach from the north, and the Tanefec from the
fouth. The Mofkongom fifes towk rds Lake
Erie, and the Wabach near the river Miamee,
the carrying-place .between them being but
twelve miles long, at which place was formerly
a fmall fort ; at the didance of an hundred and
fifty or two hundred miles from this ibrt, an-
other dream flows, that rifes near the Il-
linois, and from which the Indians have a car-
rying-place to it, and often pafs this way, when
bound to Detroit from the Illinois country;
where the dream joins the Wabach, dood the

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i$3 -<^ Concise Account c/*

Yeahtanccs Fort, Co called from the Indians of
that name, inhabiting tlic adjacent country.

The Moikongom Kivcr rifcs near one that
flows into Lake Erie, about forty miles caft of
Sandufky ; and, by a fliort carrying-place, the
Indians convey their commodities this way to
the Ohio.

As far down the Ohio as the River Wa-
bach, the country on each fide is claimed by
the Five Nations j the Shawanecs at prefent
inhabit it, who can raife about three hundred
fighting men 5 and further eaftward, towards
Lake Erie, live the Delawares, who can raife
about five hundred fighting men.

Thefe are in league with the Five Nations,
and hold their lands under them, and arc
fometimes called th^, Sixth Nation 5 and al-
together, fince this alliance, which is of fome
years (landing, have the general appellation
of the Six Nation Indians.

The Mohocks are the head or chief nation,
and preferve a fuperiority over the others.

The Delawares and Shawanees raife but
little corn, and fubfifl themfelves chiefly by
their hunting, at which they are very expert;
their houfes, tho* covered with bark, are very
comfortable.

^ . Wefl

NORTH AMEPwICA. 199

Wefl: of the VVabach, as far as the Miflif-
(ipi fouth, to where the Ohio johis it, and north
to the heads of the Wabach and Yeahtanecs
Rivers, the country is owned by the Twecgh-
twees or Yeahtances Indians, who can furnifh
out about two thoufand fighting men. Their
chief fettlements aie at th<" heads of the before-
mentioned rivers.

Too much cap hardly be faid in commcn*
dation of this wide extended country upon the
Ohio, the Wabach, Yeahtanees, and other
ftreams flowing into it.

The country between the lakes and the
jundlion of the Ohio and Mifiiflipi, for feveral
hundred miles, and all the country between
Fort St. Jofeph and the Green Bay, and be-
tween Detroit and the Illinois, and evea
much further north than Detroit, is level,
the foil excellent, ths climate healthy and
f'^greeable, and the winters moderate and fhort.
Its natural produdlions are numerous and va-
luable. It is fufficienily, but not too thickly
timbered ; what there is, is tall and fair, and
fit for any common ufe. In fhort, no Coun-
try in this quarter, if any in the wprld, is ca-
pable of larger or richer improvements than
this.

Ther«

. (

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' »■

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M ■ f

20O A Concise Account of

There is a good coal-mine near Fort Pitt, '
made ul'e of by the garrifon for fuel ; and
what is ftill more in commendation of this
country, it is extremely well watered by fpirngs
and rivulets, and has an eafy communication
with the whole world from the mouth of the
MifTiflippi, and with great part of the interior
country of North America, by its feveral
branches, the Wabach, Mifauris, Yeahtanees,
the Ohio, &c. and with the great lakes by way
of Prefquc Iflc, where a fmall expcnce would
turn the waters of the lakes into the Ohio. At
prefent the portage is but a fmall diflance, and
the land level. Indeed fach is the fituation
of this country, that, at or near the jundlion of
the Ohio and Mifliffipi, in my opinion, within a
century or two, it will be the largeft city in the
world ; for hither flow, and here center, the
exports of all the country upon the Mifliflipi,
above and upon the Ohio, the Mifauris, the
Wabach, theTanefee, the great lakes, &c.
&c. The imports to this country will be
moft eafy and natural up the rivers St. Law-
rence and Hudfon, by way of Montrlal and
Albany, and up the Delaware to Philadelphia,
and from thence over the mountains, the navi-
gation up the Mifliflipi being difficult.

' Below

NORTH AMERICA. 201

Below the river Ohio, on the eaft-fide of
the Miflifllpi, down to its mouth, the country
is owned and inhcibitcd by the Chickctaws for
near two hundred miles to theeaftward. This
nation can raife 10,000 fii?,hting men. The
foil of their coum-y is fandy, and not fo good
as that above dcfcribed -, however it produces
rice and indigo to good perfedion, of whl-h
the French have made fufficicnt proof.

The Chicketaws generally live in large
towns, their chief fcttlements are not far from
the banks of the Ohio, on the flreams that flow
into it from the eaft.

Their houfes arc not very elegant; however
they have the art of making them tight, which
neceflity obliges them to do, to fecure them-
felves againft the flies, which are here very
troublefome at fome fcafons of the year. They
keep cows, hogs andhorfes, the latter in great
abundance. They raife plenty of corn, beans,
potatoes, &c. but have very little game, ex-
cept deer.

The Cherokees inhabit the fouth-wefl: end
of the Apalachian mountains, from the head of
the Tanefee River, which flows into the Ohio,
about a hundred miles before its jundion with
the Mifliflipi. The extent of their country
from north' eaft to fouth-wcft is about four

t) d hundred

t'li ; ;

;♦

I '' s ! .

Vi''r

to2 A Concise Account of

hundred miles, and about two hundred miles
wide. It is very mountainous and broken,
and difficult of accefs any way. They live in
as good order as any favagcs on the continent.
They build their houfcs with wood, and ciel
them with clay mixed with ftraw, fo as to ren-
der them tight and comfortable. They have
many Anall towns difperfed among the moun-
tains on the branches of the rivers Tancfee
rnd Savanna. They have great plenty of horfes,
fomc black cattle, and many fwinc. They
raife corn in abundance, and fence in their
fields (which no other Indians do) ; they alfo
keep poultry, and have orchards of peach-
trees. They liicewife attend to gardening.
They iire very famous for hunting, and their
country abounds with deer, bears, and fome
elks and turkeys in great plenty in the fertile
vallies between the mountains.

The Chcrokees can raife about 2000 fight-
ing men. The Tanefee is wholly uninhabited
below the mountains to where it joins the O-
hio ; but the country upon it is claimed by the
Chickefaws, a brave warlike people, who have
but one town, fituated on a plain by a fm all
creek that rifcs about thirty miles fouth of the
•Tancfee. 'Their town is picquetcd in, and for»
tificd With a fort. They baud their houfes

much

NORTH AMERICA. .203

much ill the fame form as the Chicktaws.
They raifc corn in great abundance, and have
large droves of hoiTcs, fome black cattle and
fwine. They can raifc about five hundred
fighting men.

The Creek Indians hve fouth-weil of the
Chcrokees, partly between them and the
Chicktau'S, St. Augudin and Georgia, and
have a level country. They live in the fame
manner, and have the fame commodities as
the Chicktaws and Chcrokees, and can raife
about 2000 fighting men. All the country
of the Creeks is infcAcd with alienators and
fnakcs of a very large fize, and flics, that at
certain feafons are a very great torment to
them.

From the MiHuiris down to the wed-fiJc
of the Mifillfipi the foil is good, till yf;u come
near the mouth of it. The French liave a
fettlemcnt (a little above where the Ohio flows
in) on the weft-fidej about an hundred miles
farther down, another fcattered fettlcraent of
theirs begins, and is continued for near an
hundred miles, from whence to New Orleans
the country is better fettled. The produce of
this country is rice, Indian corn, and fome
wheat. The Ifland of Orleans is a very beau-
tiful and fertile fpot of ground, on which tha

P d 2 French

pW^'^

■ i^i-

I ' ■

204 -^Concise Account, C^c.

French have a confiderablc town. The
number of French in this province is about
100,000. The Negroes are very numerous.
The foil towards the fouth is well adapted to
rice and Indigo, and towards the noth to
wheat. The number of inhabitants iucreafes
verv faft, and will in a Ihort time become a
large colony; and, if pofTclTed by thofc ambi-
tious neighbours the French, will be capable
of creating frcfh troubles to the Britifh fub-
jedts in America ; efpecially as in it and adja-
, cent to it are great numbers of favages, who
are Hill in their intereft, and whom they ne-
ver yet failed to excite and encourage to acta
of hoflility, even in times of peace. On the
weft-fide of the Mifiiffipi, adjoining to the
French feitlement, arc the Chataw Indians;
their country is much like that already defcri-
bed, oppofitc to it on the eaft-fide, and their
maaners and mcthodi of living the fame with
the Chickctaws and Cherokces,

cus-

[ 2°S ]

CUSTOMS, MANNERS, ^c.
of the INDIANS.

HAVING thus endeavoured to give a
fl^etch of the interior country of North
America, fo far as I have any knowledge or
intelligence concerning it, .1 will now more
particularly, bat briefly, mention the cuftoms,
manners and connedtions of the Indians who
inhabit there.

Thofe of them who have any concerns or
commerce with the Englifh, are fuch as inha-
bit from the ead-fide of the Miflifiipi to the
fouth-iidc of the River Chriltinoj and among
all the nations and tribes in this vaR extent of
country, thofe called the Five Nation iiidians
ftand diflinguidied, and are deferving of the
fir ft notice. They are dreaded and revered
by all the others for their fuperior undcrftand-
ing, adivity and valour in war, in which con-
flant pradice renders them expert, they being
in almcft continual wars with one nation or
other, and fometimes with fcveral together.
Their cuftoms, manners, and modes ofdrcfs,are
adopted by many of the other tribes as near as

pot-

i 1

;!'

i^^

:.i^

■'I

« If

I 'A

*4 i

5'! •■

ir^

I* i|i

r./ H' ills

206 -/fCoNcisE Account of

pofliblc. In fliort, thofe Indians arc general-
ly among the other nations edeeined the po-
litcft and beft bred who the neareft refemble
ihcfe. Their moll northern fetdcmcnt is a
town called Chockonawa?;o, on the louth of
the River St. Lawrence, oppcfite to Montreal;
but their largeft fettlements are between Lak-e
Ontario and the provinces of New York and
Penfylvania, or the heads of the Mohock,
Tancfec, Oneoida and Onondaga Rivers.
They claim all the country foiuh of the River
St. Lawrence to the Ohio, and down the Ohio
to the V/abach, from the mouth of the Wa-
bach to the bounds of Virginia 5 wcfterly, to
the Lakes Ontario and Erie, and the River
Miamce ; their ci^Acrn boundaries are Lake
Champlain, and the B^itidi colonies. When
the Engli(h firfl fetiled in America, they could
raifc 15,000 fighting men j but now, includ-
ing the Dclawares and Shawanees, they do not
amount to more than between three or four
thoufand, having been thus reduced by the
inceflant wars they have maintained with
the other Indians, and with the French, in
Canada.

The Mohocks were formerly the moft nu-
raerous tribe amongd: them, but now they arc
"ixQ fmalleft -, however, they ilill preferve a fu-

pcriorlty

iral-
po.

Tjble
is a

h of

reali

Lake
and

lock,

[vers.

^iver

Ohio
Wa-

ly, to

iRivcr
ake

Vhen
could
clud-
o not
r four
' the
with
hj in

[t nu-

ty arc

a fu-

[iority

NORTH AMERICA. 207

perlority and ainhority over the red, as the
mod honourable nation, and are ccnfulted and
appealed to by the others iu all great emergen-
cies. About 100 years ago they dcftroycd
the greateft part of the Hurons, who then lived
on the fouth-fidc of Lake Ontario, and the re-
mains fled to the French in Canada for pro'-
tcdion; but the greateft part have fince re-
turned to their own country again, and live,
by permifTion from the Five Nations, on the
lands at the weft-end of Lake Erie. They
alfo took prifoners the whole nation of the
Shawanees, who lived upon the Wabach, and
afterwards, by the mediation of Mr. Penn, at
the firft fcttlement of Pcnfilvania, gave them
liberty to fettle in the w^efterly parts of that
province -, but obliged them, as a badge of
their cowardice,, to wear petticoats for a long
time : they gave them, howeverj the appella-
tion of coufins, and allowed them to claim
kindred with the Five Nations, as their uncles.
They conquered the Delavvarcs about the fame
time, and brought them into the like fubjec-
tion ; and alfo the Mickanders, or Mohegons,
that lived on the banks of Hudfon's River.
They fuffered the two laft mentioned nation?
to live in any uninhabited part of their fouth"
ern territory but the latter, upon condition of

paying

111.

is;

1 1

•f '\'h

i\;\

: 1 .;■

hi i,

\l I

miP

208 -^ Concise Account of

paying them an annual tribute. They alfo
conquered fevcral tribes upon the frontiers of
New England. Some nations to this day are
not allowed to appear ornamented with paint
at any general meeting or congrcfs where the
Five Nations attend, that being an cxprefs ar-
ticle in the capitulations. They have bctn in-
veterate enemies to the French ever fince their
firft fettling in Canada, and are almoft the
only Indians within many hundred miles, that
have been proof againft the folicitations of
the French to turn againft us 5 but the great-
eft part of them have maintained their inte-
grity, and been our ftedfaft friends and faithful
allies.

They once burnt great part of the city of
Montreal, and put the French into great con-
ftcrnation ; they have alfo conquered moft of
the Abnaques, or eaftern Indians. They now
maintain a conftant war with the Cherokees,
Creeks, and Chickefaws, and m^iny of their
young men are annually employed that way j
others of them go againft the Mifauri ; and, in
fliort, they fometimes carry their hoftilities al-
moft as far fouth as the ifthmus of Darienj but
they have long lived in peace with the Indians
op the lakes, and with the Twecghtwees, thofe
two nations being too n.ar, and well pro-
vided,

'1 'It'

NORTH AMERICA. ^^09

vided to retaliate any affront they msy offer
them.

The Indians do not want for natural good
fcnfe and ingenuity, many of them difcovering
a great capacity for any art or fcicnce, liberal
or mechanical. Their imaginations are fo
flrong, and their memories fo retentive, that
when they have once been at a place, let it be
ever fo diftant, or obfcure, they will readily
find it again. The Indians about Nova Scotia
and the Gulf of St. Lawrence have frequently
paflcd over to the Labrador, which is thirty or
forty leagues, without a compafs, and have
landed at the very fpot they at firft intended :
and even in dark cloudy weather they will di-
redt their courfe by land with great exadlnefs j
but this they do by obferving the bark and
boughs of trees, the north-fide, in this country,
being always mofiy, and the boughs on the
fouth-fide the largcft.

It is alfo obfervable, that you will rarely find
among the Indians a perfon that is any way
deformed, or that is deprived of any fenfe, or
decrepid in any limb, notwithftanding the
little care taken about the mother in the time
of her pregnancy, the negledt the infant is
treated with when born, and the fatigues the
youth is obliged to fuffer ; yet generally they are

E e

*:■ I

I :4

: I

fi:

til

i^i^j-

r^.-f: ■

!.; '

'Mli'v

ii9i 1 ^>^l^

|H|i,

210 ^ Concise Account ^Z

of a hale, robuft, and firm conftitution ; but
fpirituous liquors, of which they are infatiably
fond, and the women as well as the men,
have already furprizingly lefTened their num-
bers, and will, in all probability, in one century
more nearly clear the country of them.

Indeed the mothers, in their way, take
great care of their children, and arc extremely
fond of them. They feldom wean them till
they are two years old, or more, and carry
them on their backs till the burden grows quite
infupportable to them. When they leave the
cradle they are very much at liberty to go
when and where they pleafe ; they are how-
ever careful to inflrudl them early in the ufc
of arms, efpecially the bow, and arc often re-
counting to them the exploits and great at-
chievements of their anceilors, in order to in-
ipire them with great and noble fentiments,
and lead them on to brave and heroic actions.
They introduce them very young into their
public councils, and make them acquainted
with the moil important affairs and tranfac-
tions, which accuftoms them to fecreiy, gives
them acompofed and manly air, infpircs them
with emulation, and makes them,bold and en-
terprifing. They feldom chaftife their child-
ten ', wh«n they arc young, they fay, bccaufc

they

i i;

NORTH AMERICA. 211

•

they arc not endued with reafon to guide them
right, otherwifc they would not do wrong;
when they are more advanced in life, they fay,
becaufe they arc capable of judging, and ought
to be niafters of their own adlions, and are not
accountable to any one. Thcfc maxims arc
carried fo far that parents fometimcs fufFer
themfclves to be abufcd by their children ; and
in the fame way they will excufe any ill treat-
ment they meet with from a drunk'in man :
Should we blame or punifh him, fay they,
when he docs not know what he docs, or has
not his reafon ? When a mother fees her
daughter «<fi: amifs, flic falls into tears, and
upon the other'i taking notice of it, and en-
quiring the caufe, flic replies, becaufe you fo
and fo diflionour mc ; which kind of admo-
nition feldom fails of the defired cfFedl. The
Indians do not always enter into a forr»al obli-
gation of marriage, but take companions for a
longer or fliorter time, as they pleafc; the
children which fpring from hence lie under
no difgrace, . but enjoy all the privileges of
lawfully bcgottcii children.

The Indian men arc remarkable for their
idlencfs, upon which they fecmto value them-
fclves, faying, that to labour would be degrad-
ing them, and belongs only to the women;

E e 2 tliat

{'■

-f

'i ^

I^:

td .i . r, - ■

, -.IS-i-

irai"'

(

212 -/f Concise Account 0/

that they arc formed only for war, hunting,
and fifliing j tho* it is ihcir province to make
and prepare every thing requifite for thcfe ex-
ercifes, as their arms for hunting, lines for fifli-
ing, and to make canoes, to build and repair
their houfes -, but fo profoundly lazy arc they,
that they often make their women aflift even
in thefe, befides attending all domeftic affairs,
and agriculture.

Moft of the Indians are pofTefled of a fur-
priiing patience and equanimity of mind, and
a command of every paffion, except revenge,
beyond what philofophers or Chrift'ians ufual-
3y attain to. You may fee them bearing the
moft fudden and unexpedled misfortunes with
calmnefs and compofure of mind, without a
word, or change of countenance j even a pri-
foner, who knows not where his captivity may
end, or whether he may not in a few hours be
put to a moft cruel death, never lofes a mo-
ment's fleep on this account, and cats and
drinks with as much chearfulnefs a^ thofe
into whofe hands he has fallen.

Their refolution and courage under fickncfs
and pain is truly furprifing. A young woman
will be in labour a whole day without uttering
one groan or cry ; fhould fhe betray fuch a
weaknefs, they would immediately fay, that

fhe

NORTH AMERICA. 213

flic was unworthy to be a mother, and that her
ofFspring could not fail of being cowards.
Nothing is more common than to fee perfons,
young and old of both fexes, fupporting them-
felves with fuch conftancy under the greateft
pains and calamities, that even when under
thofe (hocking tortures which prifoners arc
frequently put to, they will not only make
themfelves chcarful, but provoke and irritate
their tormentors with moft cutting reproaches.
Another thing remarkable among thefe
people, who put on at all times a favage, cruel
appearance, is, that thofe of the fame nation, or
that are in alliance, behave to each other with
an high degree of complaifancc and good na-
ture.

Thofe advanced in years are rarely treated
difrefpedlfully by the younger; and if any
quarrels happen, they never make ufe of oaths,
or any indecent cxpreflions, or call one ano-
ther by hard names 5 but, at the fame time, no
duration can put a period to their revenge ; it
is often a legacy transferred from generation to
' generation, and left as a bequeft from father
to fon, till an opportunity offers of taking am-
ple fatisfadlion, perhaps in the third or fourth
generation from thofe who firft did the injury.
They are not, however, flrangers to the utili-
ty

! |.|

J I

11^^

! 1 I-

rill

194 yf Concise Account of

iy and plcafurcs of friendship, for each of
them, at a certain age, makes choice of fonie
one nctr about their own age, to be their mod
intimate and bofom friend ; and thefe two en-
ter into mutiial engagements, and arc obliged
to brtvc any danger, and run any rifk to aflift
and fupport each other ; and this attachment
is carried fo far, as even to overcome the fears
of death, as they look upon it to be only a
temporary ftparation, and that they (hall meet
and be united in hiendfliip in the other world,
never to be feparated more, and imagine they
fhall need one another's affiflance there as well
as here.

There is no nation of Indians but fecm to
have fome feisfe of a Deitv, and a kind of re-
ligion among them ? but this is fo various, fo
perplexed and ccnfufed, that it is difficult to
defcribe it very mir.utely. Then* ideas of the
nature and attributes of the Deity are very ob-
fcure, and fome of them abfurd ; but they all
acknowledge him to be the creator and maf-
ter of the world ; but how the world was cre-
ated they know not, and of courfe have vari-
ous conjcdlurcs about it. Some of them ima-
gine that men were firft rained down from the
clouds, and that brute animals defcended with
them. They feem to have fome idea of an-
gels,

cre-

rari-

Ima-

the

rith

an-

NORTH AMERICA.

215

gels, or fpiriis of an Iiighcr and more excel-
lent nature than man -, to thcic they attribute
a kind of inimeniiiy, luppofiiig them to be c-
very vvhrtre prefcnr, and are frequently invok-
ing thcuj, inir^Iiiing they iiear them, and adt,
or endeavour to r.(^l, ugreceiblc to their defires.
They likovviie hold of an evil fpirit, or demon,
who, fay they, is always inclined to niifchief,
and bears great (\vay in tiie creation ; and it is
this latter that h the principal objedls of their
adorations and dtvoUons j they generally ad-
drefs him by way of deprc:cation, mod heartily
befeeching him to do them no harm, but avert
evils from them; tiie other they addrcfs by
way of petition, fuppofing him to be propi-
tious, and ever inclined to dothemgoodj that
he would bellow bleffings upon them, and
prevent the demon or evil fpirit from hurting
thern , and to merit or procure the protedtion
of the good fpirit, they imagine it necefTary to
diflinguifli themfelvesj and that, in the fir ft
pbce, they muft become good warriors, expert
hunters, and fleady markfmen.

The Indians depend much upon their
dreams, and really believe that they dream the
whole hiftory of their future life, or what it
may be colKdted from in their youth, for
which reafon they make dreaming a kind of

religious

ill

'Mi'l

I i ■ t^

14'

2i6 -^ Concise Account £;''

religious ceremony when they come to fuffi-
cFcnt years, which is thus performed : They
befmcar their face all over with black paint,
and faft for fcveral days, in which time they
expert the good genius, or propitious fpirit,
will appear, or manifell himfclf to him in
fome (hape or other in his dreams. The ef-
fc6t which this long faft mud naturally occa-
fion in the brain oi a young perCon, muft with-
out doubt be confiderable J and the parents,
and other old people, take care, during the ope-
ration, that the dreams they have in the night
be faithfully reported next morning. In fa-
vour to particular conftitutions, they fometimes
curtail this fad to a fliorter term than is gene-
rally judged neceffary ; and this good genius,
or propitious fpirit, being the f'lbjed: of the
perfon*s waking thoughts, becon.vj alfo the
fubjedt of his dreams, and every phantom of
their lleep is regarded as a figure of the genius,
whether it be bird, beaft, fifh, or tree, or any
thing elfe, animate or inanimate, and is parti-
cularly refpedted by them all their lives after.
When any pcrfon of more diftinguiflied parts
than ordinary rifes up among them, they fup-
pofe him naturally infpired, or aduated by this
propitious fpirit, and have an uncommon re-
gard and veneration for him on that account,

fup-

NORTH A MERI C A. 217

poHng Wim to receive iiV.i:nations and intelli-
gences from t'nc gred genius, or Tumc of his
a;.»cn!s. Rciigiuuii i'lipcilurcs arc not lefs fre-
quent among {h>. If.Ji.ms of America, tlv.in
amonu; the Ch:i.ii:ins of Europe ; and feme
of tiiein are very facc^jfsful in pei funding tlie
fiiultitude that thc-y are filled witli a divine
^nthufivifm, and a kind of infpiration, few
knowing better how to acfl their part in this
lacred juggle than they- They ofucn perfuade
the people that they have revelations of future
events, and that they are authorifed to com-
mand them to purfue fuch and fuch meafurcs.
They not only prefcribe laws and rules, and
perfuade the populace to believe them ; but
undertake to unfold the myfterics of religion
and a future ftate, to folve and interpret all their
dreams and vifions, &,c. They reprefent the
other world as a place abounding with an in-
exhauftlble plenty of every thing defirable, and
that they fliall enjoy the mofi: full and exqui-
fite gratification of all their fenfes : and hence
it i?, no doubt, tbr.t the Indians meet death
with fuch indifi^^rence and compofureof mind,
no Indian being in the leall: difmayed at the
news that he has but a few hours- or minutes
to live ; but with the greateft intrepidity fees
bimfelf upon tlic brink of beinc^ fenarated from

F f ter-

:f|

2i8 A Concise Account of

'^[

El 4' ' ■

'> '■

)'..(

■ '■ \

terreftrial things, and with fpirit and compo-
fure harangues thofe who are round him 5 and
thus a father leaves his dying advice to his
children, and takes a formal leave of all his
friends.

The Indians generally bury their dead with
great decency, and eredl monuments over their
graves. They depofit in the grave fuch things
as the deceafed had made the greateft ufe of,
and been mod attached to 5 as pipes, tobacco,
bows, arrows, &c. that he may not be in want of
any thing v/hen he comes to the other country.
The mothers mourn for their children a long
time, and the neighbours make prefents to the
bereaved father, vaiich he retaliates by giving
them a feaft.

The Indian feads, whether at a funeral, a
triumph, a vlilt, or whatever the occafion be,
are very fimplc ar.d inartful. The favage does
not mortify his friend Vv'ith a fplendid appear-
ance, bat makes him chearful by dividing his
riches with him, and values not fpending the
fruits of a whole feafon's toil, to convince him
that he is welcome ; nay, thinks himfelf hap-
py in having fuch an opportunity to oblige
him. The gueft is fure to be treated with an
unaffedted gravity and complaifance, and that
he (hall not be the fubjed of whifpering ridi-
. — ; cule

i (fl ;

NORTH AMERICA. 219

cule and banter while prcfent, nor of cruel re-
marks when departed ; which certainly is a pri-
vilege they do not always enjoy among more
civih'zed nations. Nor is a fcrvile regard paid
to the diflindlions of high and low, rich and
poor, noble and ignoble, fo as to leffen the fpi-
rit and pleafure of converfation, when the com-
pany happens to be made up cf a mixture of
thefe.

The Indians being both of a very adlive and
revengeful difpofition, they are eafily induced
at any time to make wars, and feldom refufe
to engage when folicited by their allies ; very
often the moft trifling provocations roufe them
to arms, and 'prove the occalions of blocdilied
and murder ; their petty private quarrels being
often decided this way, and expeditions of this
kind may be undertaken without the know-
ledge or cotifentof a general council, or any
formal declaration of war. Thefe private e^:-
curlions are winked at, cxcufed, and encou-
raged, as a means of keeping their young men
alert, and of acquainting them with the difci-
pline and exercifes of war. And indeed thefe
petty wars feem neceflary, fince their laws and
penalties are infufficient to reftrain them with-
in the bounds of reafon and common juftice,
and are a poor fecurity of private property a^

F f ^ gainft

i
\

■Mil

; .i ■ . ! \

:;?

y^u

220 J Concise Account, of

gainfi: the infults and dc:prcdations of any onej
but when war becomes a national afTair, it is
entered upon with great deliberation and fo-
lemnity, and profecutcd with the utmoll Ic-
crecy, diligf;nce and attention, both in making
preparations and in carrying their fchemes in-
to execution. Their method of declaring war
is very folcmn and pompous, attended with
many ceremonies of terror. In th.e fird place,
they call an aflembly of the Sachems and
Chief Warriors, to deliberate upon the affair,
and determine upon matters, how, when, and
in what manner it (hall be entered upon and
profecutcd, &c. In which general congrefs, a-
mong the northern Indians and the Five Na-
tion?, the women ijave a voice as well as the
men. V/hen they are aflembled, the Prefi-
dent or chief Sachem propofes the affair they
have met to confult upon, and, taking up the
hatchet (which lies by him) fays, Who a-
niong you will go and fight again ft fuch a na-
tion ? Who among you will go and bring cap-
tives from thence, to replace our deceafed
friends, that our wrongs may be avenged, and
our name and honour maintained as lonz as
rivers f.ow, grafs erows, or the fun and moon
endure ? He having thus laid, one of tl^.c prin-
cipal warriors riles, and harangues the vvhole
" r ail'em-

one J
it is
d fo-
a le-
aking
es in-
gwar
I with
place,
s and
affair,
n, and
n and
efs, a-
' e Na-
as the
Prefi-
they
ip the
fho a-
a na-
Ig cap-
Iceafed
^i, and
ing as
imoon
prin-
I whole
all'em-

NORTH AMERICA. 221

afTembly; and then addrcfle? himfclf to the
young men, and inquires, who among them
will go along with him and fight their ene-
mies ? when they generally rife, one after an-
other, and fall in behind him, while he walks
round the circle or parade, till he is joined by
a fufficicnt number. Generally at fuch a con-
grefs they have a deer or fon^e beaft roafted
whole ; and each of them, as they confent to
go to war, cuts off a piece and eats, faying, this
way will 1 devour our enemies, naming the na-
tion they are going to attack. All that clmfe,
having perforriicd this ceiemony, and thereby
folcmnly engaged to behave with fidelity and as
a good warrior, the dance begins, and they fing
the war-fong ; the matter <.f which relates to
their intended expedition and coriquell, or to
their own fkill, courage and dcxicrity in fight-
ing, and to the m. nncr in wliich they will
vanquiQi .nd extirpate their enemies ; all
which is exprefled in the ftrongefl: and mod
pathetic manner, and with a tone of terror.
So great is the eloquence or influence of their
women in tbefe confultations, that the final
refult very much depends upon them. If any
one of thefe nations, in conjundtion with the
Chiefs, has a mind to excite one, who does not
immediately depend upon them, to take part

1 ;

ill

-'i.

Z22 A Concise Account of

in the war, either to appcafe the manes of her
hufhand, fon, or near relation, or to take pri-
foners, to ftipply the place of fuch as have
died in h?r family, or are in captivity, (he pre-
fents, by the Iiiinds of fome trufty young war-
rior, a firing of waippum to the pcrfon whofe
help file folicits ; which invitation feldom fails
of its defined eircdl. And when they foli-
cit the alliance, offenfive or defenfivc, of a
•whole nation, they fend an embafly with a
large belt of wampun:!, and a bloody hatchet,
inviting them to come and drink the blood of
their enemies. The vvampiim made ufe of
upon thefe. and other occafions, before their
acquaintance wiih the Eur^^oeans, was nothing
but fmall fliells, which they picked up by the
fea-coaf»s and on the banks of the lakes ^ and
now it is nothing but a kind of cylindrical
beads, made of (liells white and black, which
are efleemed among: them- r.s filver and gold
arc among us. The black they call the mofl
valuable, and both (nfrether are their greatefl
riches and ornaments ; th^'fe amonc^ them an-
fwering all the ends that money c^oes among
us. They have the art of flringinp;, twifring,
and interweaving thefe into their belts, collars,
blankets, mogafons, &:c. in ten thouTand dif-
ferent lizes, forms and figures, fo £S to he or-
i-^^^^' ' n anient 3

■\w

f her

have
spre-
war-
vhofe
fi fails
foli-
os a
vith a
itcher,
ood of
ufe of
e their
othing
bv the
and
ndrical
which
Id gold
e moft
reateft
m an-
among
jfring,
collars,

nd aif-

hc or-
kinients

N O Pv T fl AMERICA. 223

nnments for every part of drefs, and exprefiivc
to them of -all their imp.vtaiit tranfadions.
Tliey dye the wampum of various colours and
fhades, and mix and difpofe them with great
ingenuity and order, and fo as to he fignificant
among themfelves of almofl any thing they
pleafe j fo that by tliefe their records are kept,
and their thoughts communicated to one. ano-
ther, as our's are by writing. The belts that
pafs from one nation to another, in all trea-
ties, declarations, and important iranfadions,
are carefully preferved in the palaces or cab-
bins of their Chiefs, and ferve, not only as a
kind of record or hiflory, but as a public trea-
fure. It muil:, hovvxver, be an affair of natio-
nal importance in which they ufe collars or
belts, it being looked upon as a very great ab-
ufe and abfurdity to ufe them on trifling occa-
iions. Nor is the calumet or pipe of peace of
lefs importance, or lefs revered among them in
many tranfudions, relative both to war and
peace. The bowl of this pipe is made of a
kind of ioit red ilone, which is eafily wrought
and hollowed out -, the ftem is of cane, elder,
or fome kind of light wood, painted with dif-
ferent colours, and decorated with the heads,
tails, and feathers of the mofl: beautiful birds,
&c. The ufe of the calumet is, to fmoak ei-
. . thcr

'1 J

ill

i(;l'

I! t

fisjif ^^ 'vr

224 A Concise Account of

tlier tobacco, or ibme bark-leaf or herb, which
ur:y often life inftead of it, when they enter
into an alliance, or on any leiiuus occafion, or
i •' nn engagement } this being among them
th. mid ficrcfi oath that can betaken, the
violatioi of whiwh is efteemed mofl infamous,
and defciving of fevere piinifliment from hea-
ven. When tiicy treat of^war, the whole pipe
and all its (.rn.i/n.nts ure red -, fometimes it is
red only on one fide, and by the difjpofition of
the feathers, Sec. one acquainted with their
ciiftoms will know, at lirfl fight, what the na-
tion who prcf-.^ts k inteads or defires. Smoak-
ing the calumet is alfo a relif^ious ceremony
upon fome occafions, and in all treaties is con-
fidered as a witnefs hervvecn the parties,- or
rather as an inilrument by which they invoke
the fun and moon to witnefs their /inceritv,
and to be, as it were, guarantees of the treaty
between them. This cuP*om of the Indii^^ns,
tho* to appearance fomewbat ridiculous, b not
without its reafons ; for, they finding hr.oak-
ing tended to difperfe the vapours of the brain,
to raife the fpirits and qnalify them for thinking
and judging properly, introduced it into their
councils, where, after their refolves, the pipe
was confidered as a leal of their decrees, and, as
a pledge of their performance thereof, it was

fent

NORTH AMERICA. 225

fent to thofe they were confulting an alliance
or treaty with : fo that fmoaking among them
in the fame pipe is equivalent to our drinking
together, and out of the fame cup.

The iize and decorations of their calumets
are commonly proportioned to the quality of
the perfons they are prefented to, and the ef-
teem or regard theyjiave for them, and alfo
to the importance of the occafion.

' Another inflrument of great efleem and im*
portancc among them is the tomahawk. This
is an ancient weapon univerfally ufed by them
in war, before they were taught the ufe of iron
jand fteel j iince which hatchets have been fub*
flituted in lieu of them. But this inftriiment
flill retains its ufe and importance in public
tranfadtions, and, like the pipe, is often very fig-»
nificant. This weapon is formed much like
an hatchet, having a long ftem or handle ; the
head is a round ball or knob of folid wood well
enough calculated to knock men's brains out^
which on the other fide of the ftem terminates
in a point where the e^'ge would be, if made
a£i hatch;it, which point is fet a little hooking
or coming towards theflemj and near the cen-
ter, where the ftem or handle pierces the head,
another point projedts forward of a confidera-

G g ble

' «'■•

•

i I

I i.

226 A Concise Account (f

V. "

iiii

■iisM

'.If i

'Mt

, il

blc length, which fervcs to thruft with like a
fpear, or pike-pole.

The tomahawk likewife is ornamented
with feathers and paintings, difpofed and va-
riegated in many fignificant forms, according
to the occafion and end for which it is ufed ;
and on it they keep journals of their marches,
and moft important andiioted occurrences, in
a kind of hieroglyphics. When the council is
^ called to deliberate on war, the tomahawk is
painted all over red, and when the council fits
it is laid down by the chief; and if war is con-
cluded upon, the captain of the young warriors
takes it up, and with it in his hands dances
and lings the war-fong, as before-mentioned ;
when the council is over, this hatchet, pr fomc
'other of the kind, is fent by the hands of fomc
warrior to every tribe concerned, and with it
\\t prefents a belt of wampum, and deHvers
his mefTage, throwing the hatchet on the
ground, which is taken up by one of their moft
expert warriors, if they chufe to join j if not,
they return it, and with a bell of their wam-»
pum fuitable to the occafion.

Every nation or tribe have their diftinguifli-.
ing enfigns or coats of arms, which is gene-
rally fome beaft, bird, or fi(h. Thus among
the Five Nations arc the bear, otter, wolf, tor-

toiie

NORTH AMERICA. 227

toife and eagle; and by thefe names the tribes
are generally diftinguiflied, and they have the
fliapes of thefe animals curioufly pricked and
painted on feveral parts of their bodies ; and
when they march through the woods, gene-
rally at every encampment they cut the figure
of their arms on trcci, efpecially if it be from
a fuccefsful campaign, that travellers that way
may know they have been therr .ecording
alfo, in their way, the number of fcalps or pri-
foners they have taken.

. Their military drefs has fomething in it very
romantic and terrible, efpecially the cut of their
hair,and the paintings and decorationsthey make
yfe of. They cut ofF, or pull out all their hair,
excepting a fpot about the fize of two Englifii
crowns near the crown of their heads, their
beards and eye-brows they totally dcftroy.
The lock left upon their head is divided into
feveral parcels, each of which is ftiffened and
adorned with wampum, beads, and feathers
of various fhapcs and hues, and the whole
twifted. turned, and conneded together, till it
takes a form much refembling the modern
Pompadour upon the top of their heads.
Their heads are painted red down to the eye-
brows, and fprinkled over with white down.
The griftles of their ears are fplit almoft quite

^ G g 2 round.

■4f

ii *

If
I''

I ■ I

n !

''W:- '

22S y^CoKCISE'AcCOUNTc/'

round, and then diftenJcd with wire or fplin-
ters, lb as to naect and tie togetlicr in the knap
of their necks. Thefc alfo arc hung with or-
naments, and have generally the tigure of
fome bird or beaft drawn upon them. Their
jiofes are like wile bored, and hung with trin-
kets of beads, and their f«ces painted with di-
vers colours, which are fq difpofed as to make
an aweful appearance. Their breads are a-,
domed with a gorget, or medal of brafs, cop-
per, or fome other metal -, and that horrid wea-
pon the fcal ping-knife hangs by a flrhig which
goes round their necks.

Thus attired, and equipped with the other
armour they make ufe of, and warlike flores,
th€y march forth, finging the war-fong, till
they lofc fight of the caftle or village from
which they marched, and are generally followed
|)y their women for fome coniiderable fpacc,who
tflifl them in carrying their baggage, whether
by land or water, but commonly return before
they proceed to any adlion.

When a fmall party goes out, they feldom
have more than one commander, i. e. if the
number docs not exceed ten, which is one of
tlicir companies -, if there be twenty, they have
two commanders ; if forty, four, &;c. and when
it comes to ico or upwards, a general is ap-
pointed

V r

NORTH AMERICA. 22?

fplln-
knap
;h or-
irc of
Their
i trin-
tth di-
makc
are a«
I, cop-
d wea-
which

c other
(lores.

, till
from
lowed
c,who
hether
before

feldom
if the
one of

[y have
when
is ap-
pointed

pointed over the others, not properly to com-
mand, but to give his opinion and advice, which
they make nofcruplcto difrdgard, if it does not
happen to tally with their own ; however, it is
very rare that the diredlions of the general is
difregarded, efpecially if countenanced and
fupportcd by the advice of the old men, which
fijems 10 be the highert authority both in the
ftate and army amongft them.

The gcneraliflimo, or commander in chief,
as well civil as military, amorig all the Indians
to the northward, who fpcak the Roundock
dialed:, is ekdlive, which eledion is attended
with many ceremonies of finging and dancing;
and the chief, when chofe, never fails making
a panegyric upon the perfon to whom he fuc-
ceeds.

The Indians have no ftated rules of difci-
pline, or fixed methods of profecuting a war j
they make their attacks in as many different
ways as there are occafions on which they
make them, but generally in a very fecrct,
fkulking, underhand manner, in flying parties
that are equipped for the purpofe, with a thin
light drefs, generally confifting of nothing
more than a (hirt, (lockings, and mogafons,
ahd fometimes almoft naked.

«».AJ i ~* 1 i ^ TC

^ ' "

The

n !

, 1

, •

, •1
(

I ''

si L

m ' I

230 ^Concise Account^

The weapons ufcd by thofc who have com-
merce with the Englilh and French, arc com-
monly a firelock, hatchet, and Icalping-knife j
the others ufe bows, tomahawks, pikes, «Scc.

In any confiderable party of Indians, you
will generally find a great number of head-
men, or chiefs, becaufe they give that title to
all whoever commanded ; but all thefc are
fubordinate to the commander of the party,
who, after all, is a general without any real au-
thority, and governs by advice only, not by or-
ders ; for he can neither reward nor punilh,
and every private man has a right to return
home when he pleafcs, without afligning any
reafon for it ; or any number may leave the
main body, and carry on a private expedition,
when, how, and where they pleafe, and are ne-
ver called to account for fo doing.
.• The commander every morning harangues
the detachment under his command, and gives
his advice for the condud: of affairs during the
day. If he wants to detach a party for recon-
noitering, or on any occafioa, he propofes the
matter, and gives his opinion how, vvhcn>
where, what number, 6cc. and it feldom hap-
pens that he is oppofed in any of his meafures.
So greatly are the favages influenced by afenie
©f honour, and the love of their country, that

coercive

NORTH AMERICA. 231

:om-
.om-

cc.

vou
bead-
,tle to
*e are
party,
alau-
Dy or-
uniih,
return
ig any
ve the

lition,
irene-

ngues
gives
o the

ecoa-

les the

.vhcn>

hap-

fures.

fenfe

that

;rcive

coercive penal laws are ncedlefs to rcftrain and
govern them upon thcfe occafions; but thca
it fliould he obfervedjthat the quahfications in-
difpcnfjbly neceflary to recommend a perfon
to the chief command among them, arc, that
he muft be fortunate, brave, and difinterefted ;
and no wonder that they chcarfully obey a
perfon in whom they firmly believe that all
thcfe qualifications are united ; to which may
be added, that of fccrccy in all his operations ;
in which art they greatly excell, their dcfigns
being feldom known to any but themfelvcs, till
they are upon the point of being executed.

The chiefs feldom ipeak much themfelvcs
at general meetings, or in public afifemblics,
counting it beneath their dignity to utter their
own fentiments upon thcfe occafions in an
audible manner; they therefore intruft them
with a perfon to declare for them, who is cal-
led their fpeaker or orator, there being one of
this proftffiion in every tribe and town j and
their manner of fpcaking is generally natural
and cafy, their words ftrong apd expreflive, their
flile truly laconic, nothing being faid but what
is to the purpofe, either to inform the judg-
ment, or raife fuch paflions as the fubjedt-mat-
ter naturally excites.

Thofc

.' Ur:^\^'-"'

■,-. t.-ii'V

lU'

t M

life- ':i

m 'ii

mil- ii' i i I

■mU \ !

: I

332 -4 CoNcrsf, Acco^Nt ^

Thofe who profefs oratory, make it their bufi-
ncfs to be thoroughly acquainted with the fub-
jedt they are to fpeak upon, and have the whole
matter and method well fixed in their me-
mories beforehand, that they may be at no lofs
what to fay, or how to expref3 themfclves ;
and tho* they hold no regular parliaments, or
courts of juftice, yet they have frequent op*
portunities to difplay their talents this way>
they being almoft conftantly bufied in mak-
ing frefli, or renewing former treaties, in ten-
ders of their fervices, in folicitations, in ad-
drefles on the birth, death, or advancement of
fome great perfon, .&c.

In their private petty debates, not only the
orators, but every pcrfbn is heard who chufes i
to intermiddle in it ; and generally, if one has
given a prefent to a fachem for his vote one
way or another, he is pretty fure to have it,
for they feldom fail of performing engage-
ments of this kind, which renders juftice in
the redrcfs of private grievances very preca-
rious.

But this is not attended with fo bad confe-
quences as one would imagine, for their con-
tent'iOns of a private nature are few, and are
generally compromifed by the interpoiition of
friends.

Avarice,

, il

NORTH AMERICA.

233

Avarice, and a defire to accumulate thofe
great difturbers of the peace of fociety, arc un-
known to them ; they are neither prompted
by ambition, nor aiftuated by the love of iSoK!;
and the dirtindions of rich and poor, hif h rul
low, noble and ignoble, do not fo f.;r rake
place among them as to create the leaft unea-
iinel's to, or excite the refentment of any in-,
dividual ; the brave and delervi ig, let their
families or circumftances be what they will,
SLtG fure to be efteemed and rewarded.

In fliort, the great and fundamental prin-
ciples of their policy are, that every man is na-
turally free and independent ; that no one or
more on earth has any right to deprive him of
his freedom and independency, and that no-
thing can be a compenlation for the lofs
of it.

When the Indians return from a fuccefsful
campaign, they manage their march fo as not
to approach their village till towards the even-
ing. When night comes on, they fend two
or three forwards to acquaint their chief, and
the whole village, with the moft material cir-
cumftances of the campaign. At day-light
next morning they cloathe their prifoners with
new cloaths, adorn their heads with feathers,
print their faces with various colours, and put

H h irio

I';'

n-'

\;\

■,'ti'l

Mr'

T'i ■

Ml:i

n..,;

11 'a!.

fsljfUj,

fii;f

'-'i '(■

I M'

234 ji Concise Account of

into their hands a white ftafF or wand, toffeled
round with the tails of deer. When this is
done, the war-captain or commander in this
expedition fets up a cry, and gives as many
holloos or yells as he has taken Icalps and pri-
foners, and the whole village aflemble at the
water-fide, if there be one near. As foon as
the warriors appear, four or five of their young
men, well cloathed, get into a canoe, if they
came by water, or otherwife march by land 2
the two firfl carry each a calumet, and go
finging to fearch the prifoners, whom they lead
in triumph to the cabin where they are to re-
ceive their doom. It is the prerogative of the
owner of this cabin to determine their fate,
tho* verv often it is left to fome woman, who
has loft her hulband, brother, or fon, in the
war ; and, when this is the cafe, (lie generally
adopts him into the place of the deceafed, and
faves his life. The prifoner, after having been
prefented, has victuals immedintely given him
to eat, and while he is at this repaft a conful-
tation is held; and if it be refolved to fave the
prifoner's life, two yoUng men untie him, and,
taking him by the hands, lead him diredlly to
the cabin of the perfon into whofc family he is
to be adopted. But if the fentence be death,
the whole village fct up the death holloo or

cry,

&' 1

feled
lis is
I this
nany
1 pri-
it the
)on as
^cung
f they
land :
nd gQ
:y lead

NORTH AMERICA.

235

cry, and the execution is no longer deferred
than till they can make the necefTary prepara-
tions for it. They firft ftrip the perfon who is to
fuffcr from head to foot, and, fixing two pods
in the ground, they faflen to them two pieces
crofTways, one about two feet from the ground,
the other about five or fix feet higher ; they
then oblige the unhappy vidim to mount up-
on the lower crofs piece, to which they tie his
legs a little afunder. His hands are extended,
and tied to the angles formed by the upper
crofs piece; and in this pofture they burn him
all over the body, fomenmes firft daubing him
with pitch. The whole village, men, wo-
men, and children, aflemble round him, and
every one has a right to torture him in what
manner they pleafe, and as long as there is life
in him. If none of the byftanders are incli-
ned to lengthen out his torments, he is not
long kept in pain, but is either fhot to death
with arrows, or inclofed with dry bark, to
which they fet fire : they then leave him on
the frame, and in the evening run from cabin
to cabin, and ftrike with fmall twigs their fur-
niture, the walls and roofs of their cabins, to
prevent his fpirit from remaining there to take
vengeance for the evils committed on his body;
' : -^ Hh 2 the

I i

■tit

: I

!l!i

i> :

t^ -i i! ■

Mfl

a>.

236 j4 Concise Account cf-

the remainder of the day, and the night fol-
lowing, is fpent in rejoicings.

The above is their molt ufual method of
executing prifoners 5 but fooietimes they faf-
ten theni to a fingle ftake, and build a firq
round them ; at other times they gafh and
cut off the fingers, toes, 5cc. of their prifoners,
joint by joint; and at other time^ they fcalu
them to death. They often kill their prifoners
on the fpot where they take them, or in their
way home, when they have any fear of their
efcaping, or when they find it inconvenient to
carry them further.

But if they have been unfuc^efsful, things
wear quite a different face ; they then return,
and enter the village without ceremony by day,
with grief and melancholy in their counte-
nances, keeping a profound filence: or if they
have fuftained any lofs, they enter in the even-
ing, giving the death hoop, and naming thofe
they have loll, either by ficknefs or by the
cneiiiy. The village being aflembled, they fit
down with their heads covered, and all weep
together, without fpeaking a fingie word for
foine confiderable time. When this filence is
over, they begin to lament aloud for their com-
panions, and every thing wears the face of
mourning among thetn for. feveral days.
^^* . . ' Such

NORTH AMERICA.

Such in general are the manners and cuf-
toms of the Indians called the Five Nations,
which in the main agree to thofe of all the
Indians with whom we have any connexions
or commerce, as they all endeavour to imitate
thcfe.. But all the tribes have fome things pe-
culiar to themfelves. Among the Hurons
(who are called fathers by the Five Nations,
and who are doubtlcfs of the fame nation) the
dignity of Chief is hereditary, and the fuccef-
fion is in the female line : fo that, on the death
of the Chief, it is not his fon, but his fifter*s
fon, thatfucceeds him, and, in default of him,
his ncarell relation in the female line ; and in
cafe this whole line (hould be extind, the
moft noble matron of the tribe or town makes
choice of any one fhe pleafes for a Cliief. If
the perfon who fucceeds is not arrived to years
fufRcient to take the charge of the government,
a regent is appointed, who has the whole au-
thority, but ad;s in the name of the minor.

The Delawares and Shawanees are remark-
ed for their deceit and perfidy, paying little or
no regard to their word and moft foleipn en-
gagements.

, ,The Tweeghtwees and Yeahtanecs are re-
markably mild and fedate, and feem to have
fubdued their paflioQS beyond any other Indi-
ans

!',

-. f

ill

lit'

j!)

I'-

•3

1 H

¥&'■

r Ml ■ y 1 *

f •■;iM ml

'(' i lit

'im

f'ffi'Mi:

M'K

238 y/ Concise Account of

ans on the continent. They have always been
fleady friends to the Engli{l>, and are fond of
having them in their country ; they might no
doubt be made very ufeful fubjed:s, were pro-
per ftcps taken to chriftianize and civilize
them.

The Cherokees are governed by feveral
Sachems or Chiefs (fomething Hke the United
Provinces or States of Holland) which are
eledtcd by their different tribes or villages.
The Creeks and Chiftaws are governed in the
fame manner. The Chickefaws have a King,
and a Council for his affiflance, and are edeem-
cd a brave people ; they are generally at war
with all the other Indians eaft of the Mifliffipi ;
the Chidlaws, Creeks, and Cherokees, and
thefe Southern Indians, often fight pitched
battles with them on the plains of their coun-
try j having horfes in plenty, they ride to the
field uf battle, and there difmounl, where the
women fight as well as the men, if they are
hardly pu(hed.

It is luppofed that the Chickefaws came from

South America, and introduced horfes into the
North. The Creeks and Chiftaws punifh
their women when they prove difloyal to their
hufbands, by cutting off their hair, which they
will not luffer to grow again till the corn is

NORTH AMERICA.

Ifrom

the

inifh

Itheir

I they

n is

ripe

239

ripe the next fcafon. The Chickcfaws, their
neighbours, are not at all .;oublcd with a fpi-
rit of jealoufy, and fay it demeans a man to
fufpedt a woman's chaflity. They are tall,
well-fhaped, and handfome-featured, efpecial-
ly their women, far exceeding in beauty any
other nation to the fouthward ; but even ihefe
are exceeded by the Huron women upon Lake
Erie, who are allowed to be the beft fliaped
and mod beautiful favages on the continent,
and are univerfally cfleemed by the other na-
tions. They drefs much neater than any o-
thers, and curiouily adorn their heads, necks,
wrifts, &c. notwithftanding which you will
fcldom find a jealous hulband, either among
the Hurons or the Five Nation Indians.

The men of the Ottawawas, or Souties, are
lufty, fquare, and ftrait limb*d. The women
fhort, thickj and but very indifferent for beauty,
yet their hufbands are very prone to be jealous
of them ; and whenever this whim comes in
their heads, they cut off the tip of the fufpedt-
ed wife's nofe, that (he may for ever after be
diftinguifhed by a mark of infamy.

The Indians on the lakes are generally at
peace with one another, having a wide extend-
ed and fruitful country in their pofllflion.
They are formed into a fort of empire, and

. the

:!*

m J

ii-!

t'>l

^46 j4 Concise Account of

the Emperor is eleded from the cldeft tribci
which is the Ottawawas, fome of whom inha-
bit near our fort at Detroit, but are moft(y
further weftward towards the Mifiiffipi. Pon-
tcack is their prefent King or Emperor, who
has certainly the largcft empire and greatell
authority of any Indian Chief that has appear-
ed on the continent fince our acquaintance
with it. He puts on an air of majcfty and
princely grandeur, and is greatly honoured and
revered by his fubjefts. He not long fince
formed a deliirn of uniiincr all thfe Indian na-
tions together under his authority, but mifcar-

ried in the attempt.
In the year 1760, when I commanded and

marched the firil detachment into this country
that was ever fent there by tlie Englirti, I was
met in my way by an embafTy from him, of
fome of his warriors, and feme of the chiefs of
the tribes that are under him ; the purport of
which was, to let me know, that Ponteack
was at a fmall diftance, coming peaceably,
and that he defired me to halt mv detachment
till fuch time as he could f 2 me with his own
eyes. His ambafladors had alfo ordcrn to in-
form me, that he was Ponteack, the King and
Lord of the country I was in.

At firft falutation when we met, he de-
manded my buiinefs into his country, and how

tribei
inha-

Pon-

who
■eatell
)pcar-
itance
\f and
;d and
' fince
in na-
nifcar-

;d and
ountry
I was
inn, of
icfs of
ort of
[nteack
;eably, .
ment
3 own
to in-
g and

le de-
how

•

NORTH AMERICA. 241

it happened that I dared to enter it without his
leave ? When I informed him that it was not
with any defign againft the Indians that I
came, but to remove the French out of his
country, who had been an obilacle in our way
to mutual peace and commerce, and acquaint-
ed him with my inftrudtions for that purpofe.
I at the fame time delivered him feveral
friendly mellages, or belts of wampum, which
he received, but gave me no other anfwer,
than that he flood in the path I travelled in
till next morning, giving me a fmall firing of
wampum, as much as to fay, I mufl not
march further without his leave. When he
departed for the night, he enquired whether I
wanted any thing that his country afforded,
and he would fend his warrior to fetch it ? I
afTured him that any provifions they brought
fhould be paid for j and the next day we were
fupplied by them with feveral bags of parched
corn, and feme other neceffaries. At our fe-
cond meeting he gave me the pipe of peace,
and both of us by turns fmoaked with it^ and
he aiTured me he had made peace with me and
my detachment ; that I might pafs thro' his
country unmolefted, and relieve the French
garrifon ; and that he would protedt me and
my partv from ary iiifults that might be offer-

li cd

rti;

■/ ■ )

mil

1-1

242 A Concise Account of

cd or intended by the Indians $ and, as an ear-
ned of his frlcndfliip, he (ent ico warriors to
prote^fl and aflid us in driving 100 fat cattle,
which we had brought for the ufe of the dc-
tachment from Piitfluirg, by the way ot
Prefque Ille. He hkewifc fent to the fcveral
Indian towns on the fouth-fide and weft -end
of Lake Erie, to inform them that I had his
confent to come into the country. He attend-
ed rne conftantly after this interview till I ar-
rived Detroit, and while I remained in the
coun^-;/, and was ine means of prcfcrving the
detachment from the fury of the Indians, who

- had ailemblcd at the mouth of the flrait with
an intent to cut us ofl'.

I had fcveral conferences with him, in which
he difcovered great fi:rer.gih of judgment, and
a thirft after knowledge. Ke endeavoured to
inform himicif of our military order and dif-
cipline. He offe i intimated to me, that he
could be con lent to rc'.gn in his country in fub-

- ordination to the King of Great Britain, and
was willing to pay him fuch annual acknow-
ledgment as he was able in furs, and to call
him his uncle. He was curious to know our
methods of manufadturing cloth, iron, &c.
and exprefled a great defire to fee England, '
and offered me a part of his country if I would

condufl:

li;.)

' (.•■•!

Hi,

NORTH AMERICA. 243

condu(ft him there. He aflured me, that he was
inclined to live peaceably with the Englidi
while they ufed him as h--. ^^cfcrvcd, and to
encouTiiige their fettling in his country ; hut
intimated, that, if they treated him with neg-
ledl, he fliould (liut np the way, and exclude
them from it ; in fliort, his whole converfuion
ftsfficicntly indicated that he was far from
confidering himfelf as a conquered Prince, and
that he expcdled to be treated with the refped:
and honour due to a King or Emperor, by all
who came into his country, or treated with

him.

In 1763, this Indian had the art and ad-
drefs to draw a numbsr of tribes into a con-
federacy, with a defign fird: to reduce the Eng-
lidi forts upon the lakes, and then make a
peace to his mind, by which he intended to
cftablifli hlmfelf inhis Imperial authority; and
fo wifely were his msafures taken, that, in fif-
teen days time, he reduced or took ten of our
garrifons, which were all we had in his coun-
try, except Detroit ; and had he carried this
garrifon alfo, nothing was in the way to com-
plete his fcheme. Some of the Indians left
hina, and by his coiifent made a feparate peace ;
but he would not be adl'.ve or perfbnally con-
cerned in it, faying, that when he made a

1 i 2 peace.

\, i

!i(

I 1 r If

244 A Concise Account cf

peace, it fliould be fuch an one as would be
ufeful and honourable to himfelf, and to the
King of Great Britain : but he has not as yet
propofcd his terms.

In 1763, when I went to throw provifions
into the gnrrifon at Detroit, 1 lent this Indian
a bottle of brandy hy a Frenchman. His
. counfellors advifed him not to taftc it, infinu-
ating that it was poifoned, and fcnt with a de-
fign to kill him j but For.'eack, with a noble-
nefs cf mind, laughed at their lufpicions, Tay-
* ing it was not in my power to kill him, who
had fo lately faved my life.

In the late war of his, he appointed a com-
mifTary, and began to make money, or bills of
credit, which he hath fince pundlually redeem-
ed. His money was the figure of what he
wanted in exchange for it, drawn upon bark,
and the Ihape of an otter (his arms) drawn
under it. Were proper meafurcs taken, this
Indian might be rendered very ferviceable to
the Britidi trade and fettlemcnts in this coun-
try, more extenfively fo than any one that hath
ever been in alliance with us on the continent.

In travelling northward from Montreal, to-
wards the Ottawawas river, you meet with
fome few villages belonging to the Round
Heads, and Ottawawas. The Round Heads

are

:.t,1

NORTH AMERICA. 245

arc fo called from the (liapc of their heads,
there being all p^iTiblc pains taken by their
mothers to make their heads round in their
infancy, this being eftecmed a great beauty.

On the banks of the river St. Jofcph, that
flows into Lake xVIefhigan, are two towns
fettled not long fince by the Pottawatamees
and Yeahtanees. The Miamee Indians were
formerly fettled upon this river, but are now
defperfed into feveral parts of the country, up-
on the Miamee and the Wabach that empties
into the Ohio ; the laft are now known by the
name of the Yeahtanees ; they are remarkably
good-humoured and well-difpofed, and always
treat their prifoners with kindnefs, contrary to
the practice of moft other Indians.

The language of almoft all the Indians to
the northward, is undoubtedly derived either
from that of the Five Nations or the Ottawa-
was 5 and any one who is mafter of thefe two
tongues, may make himfelf thoroughly under-
ftood by upwards of 100 tribes of Indians j
for though each tribe has fome peculiarities
in their language, no great difficulty arifes
therefrom in converfation.

The Ottawawas, of the two, is underftood
and fpoke by the greateft number. Indeed

the

[

' <^i

rsi**

ff.

J"' ,

im^).:

246 j^ Concise Account of

the Five Naricns fpeak five diflindl dialeds,
tho* they pe;fed!y nnderftand each other.

The Mohock dialcdl is the mod copious,
pathetic, and noble. Their difcourfes run li|;e
a gentle flowing flream, without noife or tu-
mult. Their lips fcarcely move through a
whole fpeech. The Ottav^^awas is fpokc quick-
er, and with greater emotion^ but both Ian-
gages are (Irong and exprefijve; and, what is
more remarkable, they are obferved univerfal-
ly ^o utter thernfelvcs with great propriety; a
falfe fyntax, or wrong pronunciation, is fel-
dom known among them. Their language is
in many refpecfts very deficient, as they have
few words exprefTive of our abftraded ideas,
for before their acquaintance with us they talk-
ed r.bout few things mat were not prefent and
fen'io'e; fo that we are obliged, in order to
communicate fome of our ideas to them, to
make ufeof numberlefs circum!ocutions,which
are tedious and perplexing both to fpcaker and
hearer.

The Indians, efpecially to the fouthward, do
not negledl to fortify thf mfelves, many of their
toW'is being well flockadoed, fo as to Hand a
long fingG againfl an enemy unacquainted with
the arts of war. The Five Nations were for-
merly accounted the befl architeds on the

continent,

NORTH A M ERICA. 2^7

continent, and are now inferior to thofe only
near Lake Superior, t*rid for^ie nations to the
weftward. The Indi.in Iiunting houfes are
generally but the vvoik of half an hour at the
mod, and fometimes they range thtough the
woods for months together, witiiout anyhoufe
at all, or any covering but afliin or blanket.

It is very difagrceable travelling with them,
on account of their being enemies to conver-
iation ; for they not only never fpeak them-
felves but when necefTity obliges them, but are
difpleafed with their company if they talk or
converfe upon a march by land, or a voyage
by water. Among the Chickefaws, Creeks,
Cherokees, and others to the fouthward, you
will find a conjuror in almoft every village,
who pretends to great things, both in polnicks
and phyfick, undertaking to reveal the mofl
hidden fccrets, and to tell what pafles in the
moll: fecret cabinets, and caufe the niofl diffi-
cult negotiations to fucceed, to procute ^jood
fortune to their warriors and hunters, 6cc. The
conjuror, to prepare himfelf for theft- e^'plgits,
takes a found fweat in a ftove, aiid d redly af-
ter it plunges into a river or lake, be it ever fo
'cold. But the principal ^m.ployment of thefe
artifts, is the pradice of phyfick and fargery.
The Indiaiii have few diilempcrs among

them,

(

240 A Concise Account of

A'\r

i ..

11' ■ '

them, in comparifon of what we have. The
gout, gravel, bilious cholic, apoplexy, and
many other diforders common to us, are un-
known to them ; nor was the fmall pox a-
mong them till we gave them the infediion,
iince which it hath greatly thinned the num-
bers of feveral tribes. They niakeufe of fim-
ples in wounds, fradlures, diflocations, &;c,
pouring in the juice or infufion of roots, herbs,
&c. into the wound, or into an incifion made
for the purpofe. They likewife make fre-
quent ufe of bathing, and, during the courfe of
the means, the patient has very little nourifli-
ment allowed him ; and when thefe limple
means (which almofl: every one among them
knows h©w to apply) prove ineffedual, the
conjuror is called, who exercifes his legerde-
main over the patient 5 and whether the pati-
ent lives or dies, the worthy dodor is fure to
fave his credit ; for when he fees all hope of re-
covery paft, he never fails to prefcribe fome-
thing that cannot be procured or performed,
pretending it to be indifpenfibly necefTary, and
its efficacy in the prefent cafe infallible.

The Indians certainly have remedies that
feldom fail in many diforders of their defired
effed:, particularly in the palfy, dropfy, and the
venereal diforder. They frequently make ufe

■' I

The
and

i un-

>x a-

ftion,

num-

■ fim-

, &c.

lerbs,

made

: fre-

irfe of

urifh-

fimple

I them
, the
erde-
pati-
ure to
of re-
fome-
med,
, and

that

lefired

the

.e ufe

NORTH AMERICA. 249

of cupping and phlebotomy 5 but their mod
univerfal remedy is fweating, and the cold bath
immediately after it. They very often take a
fweat by way of refrefliment, to compofe their
minds, and to enable them to fpeak with great-
er fluency in publick.

They never think a perfon very dangeroufly
iick till he refufes all kinds of nourifhment ;
and, when this is the cafe, frequently attri-
bute the diforder to witchcraft, and then the
conjuror is fure to be called, who, after fweat-
ing, crying, and beating himfelf, and invok-
ing his genius, confidently afligns the caufe of
the diforder and a remedy.

The favages who inhabit, 6r rather wander
upon the coafts of Labrador, about the Gulf
of St. Lawrence, and the ftraits of Belleifle,
bear very little refemblancc to any of the other
Indians in America. They wander in large
parties, are great cowards ; their horrid ap-
pearance is the chief thing to be feared from
them ; they muffle themfelves up in fuch
manner as almoft conceals their faces, their
fhirts terminating in a kind of hood about
th^ir head, and at top comes out a tuft of hair
that hangs over their foreheads; their coat
hangs behind as low as their thighs, and
terminates bcfoie in a point a litde below their

K k

girdle .

250 -^ Concise Account tf

W''X

i':!>

girdle 5 from their girdle hangs, a border of
trinkets, (hells, bones, 6:c. Their chief cloath-
ing are fkins and furs, which th^y put on one
over another, to a great number 3 notwithftand-
ing which heavy drefs they appear to be fuple
and adtivc. They are governed by the old
men of each tribe, who form a kind of a
fenate. Our acquaintance with the Sia»'JX
Nippiffongs, and other northern Indians, is
jj^t but very (lender ; but, by the accounts w^e
nave, they are idle, favage, cruel, and beaftly,
beyond any other nations on the continent.

The Seguntacooks, or the Abnaques, fettled
in New England, were formerly very numerous,
as were the Miinaux in Nova Scotia. Of the
Penobfcots, Narigeewalks, the Saint John In-
dians, and many others to the eatlward and
fouthward of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, there
are now fcarce any footfteps to be found, ex-
cept a few families dKperfed up and down.

The bark- canoes, ufed by the Indians, feera
for their curious workmaniliip to deferve parti-
cular notice. They are made of two kinds of
bark, viz. elm and birch. Thofe made of elm
are generally (horttr than the others, and not
fo neatly conftruded. The birch-canoes are
ufed by the Engli(h as well as the Indians up-
on the inliad lakes and rivers; they dill t;nd

the

der of
:loath-
Dti one
iftand-
; fuple
le old
1 of a

Siaax
ans, is
ints we
Dcaftly,
ent.
, icttled
iierous.

Of the

nn lu-
d and
, there
d, ex-
ivn. 1
s, feein
e parti-
inds of
of elm
nd not
oes are
OS up-
Idiil^nd
the

NORTH AMERICA. 251

the bark, which is very thick, upon a frame of
cedar or pine ; between the bark and the frame
they put fmall fphnters, which help to ftifFcn
and flrengthcn the canoe. The two ends rife
gradually, and terminate in (harp points exadly
alike. He that fits behind fleers, and he that
is forward looks out to prevent their running
foul of any thing that might damage the vef-
fel. They fit flat on the bottom, or kneel up-
on it J their paddles are five or fix feet in
length, and are in general made of maple.
When they go againft a current, they ufe
fetting poles ; but in doing this great care mufl
be taken to preferve an equilibrium ; the ca-
noes being very light, are cafily overfet.

The bark ribs and bars are fewed to 'ether
with fpruce or pine roots, fplit to a fuilable
fize, which are more pliant, and do not dry fo
quick as the elm-bark. All the feam.s are be-
fmeared with gum, infide and out, and every
day they examine them. A large canoe will
carry twelve men, and fome of them more.
Among all the favages the Ottawawas are the
beft builders.

The Indians, in the months of February and
March, extradt the juice from the maple -tree,
which is wholefome and delicious to the pa-
late. The way they extradt it is by cutting a

JC k 2 notch

■ I*
i|

i "

) ■<

I' ''

,!.''!•;'

) .

252 ^' Concise Account of

notch in the body of the tree, and, by mean?
of a piece of wood cr ouill, convey the
juice from the tree to a .xlTel placed to re-
ceive it. The fame tree may be tapped for
feveral years fucceflively. The liquor is as
clear as fpring- water, and is very refrefliing.
It is accounted a very good pedloral, and wag
never known to hurt any one, tho' he drank
ever fo freely of if. This liquor will not
freeze, but, when kept any time, becomes ex-
cellent vinegar. The Indians, by boiling it,
make from it a kind of fugar, which has a
tafte very much like honey, but is milder, and
anfwers all the ends of fugar for fweetening ;
and, no doubt, was it properly manufadlured,
might be rendered equal to that extraded from
fugar-cane. A manufadtory of this kind is
begun in the Province of New York, near
South Bay, which I am told anfwers very
well, and produces coniiderable quantities of
powder and loaf fugar.'

There have been many conjed:u res concern-
ing the different nations of Indians in America,
as who, what, and from whence they are, it
being vakea for granted that they are emigrants
from fome other country. But as the Indians
are very felicitous and careful to hand down
their own Itory from father 10 fon, perhaps the

account

NORTH AMERICA. 253

acccount they give of themfelves is moft de-
fcrving of credit. The Hurons and Five Na-
tion Indians, and all the other nations to the
fouthward (except the Chlckefaws) agree that
they camefi-om the fetting of the fun into this
country. The Chickefaws came from South
America fince the Spaniards took pofTeflion of
it. 1 he Indians on the great lakes north of
the River St. Lawrence, and thofe between
that river and the Bay of Fundy, and quite lo
Hudfon's Bay northward (except the Efki-
maux) tell us that they came from the norths
ward.

It will perhaps be agreeable to fome tofub-

join here an account or the moft remarkable
animals in America, and of the manner m
which the favages take them. And among
tbefe the Beaver is deferving of the firft no-
tice. This animal was not unknown in Eu-
rope before the difcovery of America. It is an
amphibious quadrupede, that continues not
long at a time in the water, but yet cannot
live without frequently bathing in it. A large
beaver will weigh 60 or 70 lb. Their colour
is different, according to the country they are
taken in. To the northward they are quite
black, and to the fouthward they are almoft
white, and u* the country of the Illinois they

are

1 / 1

! ,

' ''

' I

'r ;;■

im} :ll

\m.

2J4 -^ Concise Account of

are almon: the colour of the deer, and fomc
have been ft-en of a yellowifh or liraw colour ;
but it is obferved, that the lighter their colour,
tile lefs valuable is their fur.

The beaver lives to a great age j the fe-
males general!'* briiv forth four young; ones at
a time. Its js . s at^: furnifJied with two cut-
ters and eight grindtio - ^he upper cutter is two
inches and a halF long, aiid tiie lower fome-
ihing longer. The upper jaw projt d.s over
the lower one ; the head is Hiaped like the
head of a rat, and is fmall in proportion to the
body ; its fnout is long, iis eyes r.re fmall and
ihort, and round andfliaggy on the outfide, but
have no hair within. Its fore- feet are not more
than five or fix inches long, the nails are in-
dented, and hollow like a quill ; the hind-fiset
are flat, and webbed between the toes like
thofe of a duck ; they walk very flow, but
fwim fad J the tail is fliaped hke the blade of a
paddle, is four inches broad where it joins the
body, five or fix in the middle, and three at
the extremity, about an inch thick, and a foot
long J and there is no flefli, fowl, or fifli,
that is more agreeable to the palate and the
ftomach than this part of the beaver; it is co-
vered with a fcaley flcin, the fcales being near

NORTH AMERICA. 255

a quarter of an inch long, and fold over each
other like thofe of a fifli.

The muilc bags or caflor taken from thefc
aniaials is of great ufe among druggifls, but
it is faid are not fo good in America as in Ruf-
fia. The Indians alfo ufc them in many dif-
orders. They drefs themfelves in mantles
made of their fkins, which after they have wo'^-'
for fome time grow more valuable, for -tiiS
long hair drops cfif, and the fur remains n 'j. *
iit for the hat-makers ufe than when ravj ::
frefh taken.

The induftry, forefight, and good manage-
ment among thcfe animals is very furprizing,
and fcarcely credible to thofe who never faw
them. When they v^^ant to make a fettlement,
three, four or more aflcmble together, and
firft agree, or pitch upon a place where they
may have provifions (which is the bark of
trees, lilly-roots, or grafs) and every thing ne-
ceiTary for ereding their edifices, which rauft
be furrounded with water ; and if there is nei-
thej lake nor pond convenient, they make one
by flo|ppiag the courfc of fome river or brook
with a dam. For this end, they cut down
trees above the place they are refoived to build
itj and they always take their meafures fo
well, as to make the tree fall towards the wa-
ter.

. V^i

-If- - .i

1 1

i a;"i '■

'!*

■\V'

556 A Concise AccotJNT of

ter, that they may have the lefs diftance to
roll it when cut to pieces. This done, they
float them down to the place appointed, and
thefe pieces they cut bigger or lefs, longer or
fhorter, as the cafe requires. Sometimes they
ufe the trunks of large trees, which they lay
flat in the water j at others, they faften flakes
in the botom of the channel, and then inter-
weave fmall branches, and fill up the vacancies
with clay, mud and mofs, in fuch manner as
renders it very tight and fecure. The con-
ftrui^ion of their houfes is no Icfs artful and
ingenious 5 they arc generally built upon piles
in their ponds at fome diftance from the fliore,
but fometimes upon the banks of rivers -y their
form is round, with a flat roof; the walls are
two feet thick, and fometimes more, and they
are built of the fame materials as their dams 5
every part is fo well finiflied that no air can
poflibly enter ; about two-thirds of the edifice
is raifcd above the water, and in this they
lodge, having the floor ftrewed with fplinters,
&c. to render the lodging comfortable, and
they are very careful to keep it clean. They
have generally r .tee or four different avenues
to each houle, but all their doors are under
water. As faft as they peel off the bark from
the billets of wood laid up for their fubfiftence,

they

IJORTII AMERICA.

nee to
;, they
d, and
nger or
iCs they
ley lay
1 ftakcs

I inter-
cancies
nner as
le con-
ful and
on piles
e (here,
s i their
alls are

d thev

dams ;

air can

edifice

they

II inters,
|e, and

They
Ivenues
lunder
from
tence,
they

they convey them to their dam to f^renrjthca
that, or clfc pile them on the tops of fhcir
houftj;, and laiicn them there v.ith mud. You
Vvill fomctimes tiiid eight or ten l)eavers in one
houfe, at others, not more than. three or four,
and he the number what it will they all lodge
tipon one floor.

Thefc animals are never found unprovided],
by a fudden and unexped:ed approach of win-
ter ; all their bufinefs is compleated by the end
of September, and their flores laid in. 1 hey
lay up their provilions in piles near their houfes
in fuch a manner that it keeps under the wa-
ter fit for their ufe, the but-ends being fadened
in the mud or clay at the bottom, fo that the
current cannot carry it away. When the fnows
melt and raife the flream, they leave their
houfes, and every one goes his own way till the
feafon returns for repairing them, or for build-
ing new ones, which is the month of July,
when they re-aflemble, or elie form new
aficciations.

The Ground -Beaver J as they arc called,
condud: their affairs in a different manner ;
all the care they take is, to make a kind of co-
vered-way to the water. They are eafiiy
known from the others by their hair, whijch
is much fhcrter. They arc always very poor.

L 1

li^

^|/;''

■"i

¥u:

imn

P-58 -/^CoNCISrAcCoUNTt/

the natural ccnfcquence of their idlenefs. The
Indians never hunt ihcfe bat out of mere ne-
ceffity.

The manner of hunting beaver is very
fimple and eafy, for this animal has not
flrcngth enough to defend ilfeif. The In-
dians hunt them from November to April, in
which fcafon their fur is the beft. They ei-
ther decoy them into traps, or (hoot them ;
but the latter is very difficult, by reafon of the
quicknefs of their fight and motion j and
fhould they happen to vi^ound them morially
in the water, it is chance if they ever get
them out.

They lay their traps in the patlis frequented
by the beaver, and bait them with frclhcut
poplar boughs, which they are very fond of,
and ramble abroad for, notwithflanding their
winter-flore. Sometimes the Indians open the
i',c near the beaver-houfes, at which opening
one ftands, while another diftarbs the houfe i
the beaver haftens upon this to make his ef-
cape at the opening, and feldom fails of hav-
ing his brains beat out the moment he raifes
his head above water.

The beaver which frequent the lakes, be-
fides their houfes in the water, have a kind of
country-houfe, two or three hundred yards

from

NORTH AMERICA. 259

from it, and the Indians here hunt them from
one to the other. When thcfe animals difco-
vcr an enemy of any kind, they haftcn into the
water, and give warning to their companifHis,
by flapping the water with their tails, which
may be heard at a confiderable diilancc.

The Miijk'Rat refembles the beaver in every
part, except its tail, wh'ch is round like a rat's.
One of thefe animals weighs about five or fix
pounds ; during the fummer feafon the m.ile
and female keep together, but feparate at the
approach of winter, and each feck a n:iclter
in fome hollow tree, without laying up any
provifion.

Scarce any thing among the Indians is un-
dertaken with greater folemnity than hunting
the Bear 5 and an alliance with a noted bear-
hunter, who has killed feveral in one day, is
more eagerly fought after, than that of one
who has rendered himfelf famous in war ; the
rcafon is, becaufe the chace fupplies the fami-
ly with both food and rayment. So expert
are fome ot the Indians at pafling thro' the
woods and thickets, that they have run down
the bears in autumn when they are fat, and
then drove them with Twitches to their
towns.

L 1 ^ The

II;

■M^

[is''" ii

260 -^ Concise Account ofl

The bears lodge, during the winter, either in
hollow trees, or caves ; they lay up no provi-
fion, and have no nourifhment during this
feafon, but what they fu.:k from their o\va
claws, yet they retain hoth tlicir (Irength and
fat without any fenfible diminution. t

The bear is not naturally fierce, unlefs when
wounded, or opprelled with hunger. They
run thc.mft'lves very poor in the month of
July, and it is fonhewhat dangerous lo meet
them till this appclitc is fati^-fied, and they
recover their flcfi), which they do very fud-
denly. 1 hefe animals are very fond of grapes,
and moll kinds of fruit. When provifions are
fcarce in the woods they venture out among
th<J fettlemcnts, and make great havock of the
Indian corn, and fometimes kill the fwine.
Their chief weapons are their fore-paws, with
which they will hug any animal they get into
them immediatclv to death.

The Eik is near as large as a horfe, but re-
fembles the deer, and, like it, annually renews
its horns. The Indians have a great venera-
tion for this animal, and imagine that to dream
of it perpends good fortune and long life.

The elk delights in cold countries, feeding
upon grafs in fuinmcr, and mofs buds, 5cc. ia
winter, when they herd together. It is dan-

-~ ■ gerous

: 1 V

NORTH AMERICA.

261

rine. ^
Iwith
into

itre-
lews
lera-
kam

ling
ia

lan-
Irous

gerous to approch very near this animal when
he is hunted, as he fometimes fprings furiouf-
ly on his purfuers, and tramples them to pieces.
To preveni; this, the hunter throws his cloaths
to him, and while the deluded animal fpends
his fury on thefe, he takes proper mealures to
difpatch him.

The Catamounts and Wild-Cats are j^reat c-
nemies to the elk, and often make a prey of
him. He has no other way to difengage him-
felf from thefe, but by plunging into the
water.

On the fouth and weft parts of the great
lakes, and on both fides of the MifliiTipi, the
mod noted hunt is that of the buffalo.

The hunters encompafs as large a trad: as
they can, where they fuppofe the buffaloes
are, and begin by fetting fire to the grafs and
leaves, and fo as the fire advr.nces towards the.
center, they clofe up nearer and nearer, by
which means they generally flaughter all that
happen to be thus inclofed. The buffalo is a
large heavy animal, has (hort, thick, crooked,
black horns, and a large beard hanging from
his muzzle and head, a part of which falls
down by his eyes, and gives him a difagreeable
appearance -, the back is rounding, covered
with hair 5 on the other parts of the body is a

■- kind

i>i

■! !■■

m m

2p2 -^Concise A c cj o u n t of

kind of wool. Thofe to the northward about
Hudfon's Bay have ihe befl wool upon them,
and in the grcatcA abundance.

There are in this country Ibme Panibers,
which prey upon almoft every living thing
that comes in their wav. Their flefli is white
like veal, and agreeable to the palate, and their
fur is valuable.

Here are likewife Foxes of various colours,
black, grey, red, and white, w^ho by their
craft and cunning make great havock among
the water-fowl by a thouiand deceitful capers,
which they cui upon the banks of the lakes
and rivers.

Th« Skunck or Fole-Cat is very common,
and is called by the Indians the Stinking Beaji^
on account of its emitting a difagreeable favour
to a coiifiderable diftarice when purfued or
difturbed. It is about the fize of a fmall cat,
has (liining hair of a grey colour, with two
white lines, that form an oval, on its back.
The fur of this animal, with that of the
Ermin, Otter, and Martin, make up what
they call the fmall peltry. The Ermin is
about the fize of the fquirrel, its fur is ex-

\ tremely white, its tail long, and the tip of it

\ as black as jet.

-.^ • The

\ •

v •

NORTH AMERICA.

263

bout
lem,

hers,

thing

;vhite

their

lours,
their
>mong
;apers,
; lakes

imon,

Bealh
favour

ed or
U cat,
two
back.
)f the
what
iiin is
is ex-
of it

The

The Martm^ or Sable^ lives principally
among the mountains, is as long as a common
cat, but very flender; the fur is very fine
and valuable.

The Oppofum is a remarkable animal in
this country, having under its belly a bag or
falfe belly, in which they breed their young.
The young ones proceed from the teats to
which they ftick, as a part thereof, till they
take life, and ilTue forth, or rather drop ofF.
And to this falfe belly they fly for flielter and
protedtion in cafe of any alarm.

The Porcupine is as large as a fmall dog*
Its quills are about two inches and a half long,
white, and hollow, and very flrong, efpccially
on its back; they are exceeding fliarp, and
bearded in fuch manner, that if they once
enter the flcfh of a perfon, they quickly bury
themfelves, and occafion great pain.

The favages make great ufe of thefe quills
for ornamenting their cloaths, belts, arms, 6oc.
The Moofe is larger than a large horfe, and
is one of the deer-kind, every year changing
his horns ; the colour of this animal is a dark
brown, the hair coarfe. He has a mane like
a horfe, adulap like a cow, a very large head,
and a fliort tail. During the ftimmer he fre-
quents bogs and fwamps ; in the winter, the

north

:fir

i't ''1

if:.

■M,

;i;i'

I,-!: '^

264 -^Concise Actcviit 0/

north fides of hills and mountains, where tl e
fun will not melt the fnow. Their common
pace of travelling is a trott, but when hunted
are very fwift.

It hath been fufficiently remarked, as we
have travelled through this extenfive country,
that it every where abounds with fiih, fowl,
and variety of game, that in its forefts are
moft kinds of ufeful timber, and a variety of
wild fruit; and, no doubt, every kind of Eu-
ropean fruit might be cultivated and raifed here
in great perfedtion. In a w^ord, this coun-
try wants nothing but that cultare and im-
provement, which can only be the effed of
time and induftry, to render it equal, ii not
fuperior, to any in the \vorld.

^ V I N I S.

I: il