Glass_ ^ ^ V 
 
 Book .\^4-4 - 
 
HISTORY 
 
 OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA, 
 
 By JOHN IvAWSON, Qentleman. 
 
 Being a Reprint of the Copy Nov/ in the North Carouna 
 
 State Library, Raleigh, Presented by President 
 
 James Madison, in the Year 1831. 
 
 CHARLOTTE, N. C: 
 
 Observer Printing House, 
 
 1903. 
 
f":ic^n 
 
 y^j-f. 
 
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 V 
 
COMPILER'S PREFACE. 
 
 What may truly be termed the first 
 real history of North Carolina is that 
 toy John Lawson, and it is in many re- 
 spects the most interesting of them all. 
 Lawson was a man of very marked 
 ability. He was the surveyor general 
 of the Lords Proprietors for their prov- 
 ince of North Carolina. He must have 
 ibeen accomplished in his profession 
 and it is plain to see from the book he 
 has left that he was also a botanist and 
 naturalist of no mean order, even 
 though he was at times led far astray 
 by the stories the Indians told him. He 
 was a very close observer of people, 
 and in a small compass he has fixed 
 for all time information not otherwise 
 to be had regarding the aboriginal in- 
 habitants of North Carolina. He signs 
 himself John Lawson, Gentleman, from 
 which it is probable that he was a scion 
 of the ancient house of Lawson in 
 Yorkshire, England, of which John is 
 the favorite name. 
 
 This history, which bears the date of 
 1714, has a preface, a dedication and 
 an introduction, the dedication being in 
 all respects a model, a double tribute 
 to this new land of Carolina and to the 
 Lords Proprietors, its owners. Law- 
 son, after securing the notes and other 
 material for this history, appears to 
 have begun its publication in parts in 
 London as early as 1708 and some copies 
 are dated 1710. The particular copy 
 from which this reprint is now made 
 was presented to the State of North 
 Carolina in 1831 by President James 
 Madison. 
 
 A second edition of Lawson was print- 
 ed in London in 1718 and differs in some 
 respects from the one now reprinted. 
 It is not 60 attractive, the map being 
 Very small and poor. The title page 
 
 says it was '^Printed for T. Warner 
 at the Black Boy in Pater Noster Row, 
 1718. Price bound 5 shillings." A re- 
 print of Lawson was made in 1860 by 
 Oliver H. Perry, State librarian, but is 
 very unattractive in all respects. Even 
 this reprint is rare and costly. Perry 
 stated in 1860, in his preface, that there 
 were only two copies of Lawson then 
 in this State; one in the State Library, 
 the other in the library of the State 
 University. 
 
 This history of Lawson bearing date 
 1714 is divided into three distinct parts, 
 the first being a journal of a thousand 
 miles traveled among the Indians from 
 South to North Carolina; the second a 
 description of North Carolina; the 
 third an account of the Indians of 
 North Carolina. The description of 
 North Carolina is sub-divided further 
 into several parts, covering the plants 
 and herbs, the present state of the 
 colony, and its natural history. The 
 large map which accompanies the book 
 and which is now reproduced by pho- 
 tography, is admirably engraved, but 
 has many inaccuracies as to streams 
 'and is very misty indeed about every- 
 thing west of a line runnig north and 
 south say through what is now Hills- 
 boro, and it wofully fails to locate most 
 of the Indian tribes to which such fre- 
 quent reference is made and also fails 
 to locate places repeatedly alluded to in 
 the narrative. The seal of the Lords 
 Proprietors is placed above the dedica- 
 tion, since the map is, like the book, 
 specially dedicated to them. 
 
 Lawson left Charleston on the 28th of 
 December, 1700, for his long and in 
 those days, eventful and dangerous, 
 journey through the Carolinas. Taking 
 an Indian as guide, he went by boat along 
 
IV 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 the coast to Bull's Island, and thence to 
 Raccoon Island and the mouth of the 
 Santee river, and a considerable dis- 
 tance up that stream. He found bitter 
 weather from the start 'and he found an 
 enormous flood in that river, which was 
 36 feet above its usual level. He no- 
 tices the French settlements, and un- 
 like most Englishmen of his time sets a 
 high estimate upon that nation both as 
 explorers and colonizers. The first In- 
 dian tribe he met was the Sewees, 
 whom he refers to as "a small nation 
 since the English seated their lands," 
 this being a polite phrase for the oc- 
 cupation of the New World. Lawson is 
 frank in the extreme as regards the re- 
 lations of the whites to the Indians. He 
 chronicles the deadly work of the two 
 great agents in Indian depopulation, to- 
 wit, rum and smallpox, which were 
 brought here by the whites. He tells, 
 too, of the utter difference in human 
 kindness between the whites and the 
 aborigines. The latter never turned 
 away a white man from their doors and 
 always divided food with them. Black 
 indeed does Lawson paint the character 
 of the whites in this respect. In fact 
 the Indian character stands out bright 
 compared with that of the English and 
 Spaniards, so far as human kindness Is 
 concerned. It is no wonder, after read- 
 ing Lawson's narrative of his journey 
 and his account of the Indians that the 
 latter had disappeared so fast. They 
 had killed each other in war and by 
 poison, in the use of which they were 
 as subtle as the Italians of the fifteenth 
 century. But deadlier still was the work 
 of rum and smallpox, which in the 50 
 years preceding 1700 had swept away, 
 he declares, five-sixths of the Indians 
 who were in reach of the English set- 
 tlements of North Carolina. 
 
 But to return to Lawson and his 
 journey. Leaving the Santee river he 
 set out for the Congaree country, the 
 latter river flowing from the eastward 
 
 and joining with the Wateree, forming 
 the Santee. A town in Richland coun- 
 ty. South Carolina, near the junction of 
 the Congaree and Santee, is perhaps 
 the site of the capital of the Congaree 
 Indians. This part of Lawson's journey 
 was nearly due northwest. His next 
 objective point was the Wateree tribe 
 of Indians. A village of that name is 
 in Santee county and evidently the 
 Waterees and Congarees were close 
 neighbors. He traveled about three 
 days, his usual day's journey being 
 about 25 miles, and reached the Wa- 
 teree Chickanee Indians. This march 
 took him northward, for he crossed the 
 •Wateree river immediately before 
 reaching the nation of that name. In 
 one day's journey from the Waterees he 
 reached the Waxhaw Indians, these no 
 doubt living in what is now the lower 
 part of Lancaster county, and perhaps 
 part of Union. After a day's journey 
 directed towards Sapona, northeast, he 
 crossed several brooklets and one small 
 river, perhaps the headwaters of 
 Lynch's river, and then he was among 
 the Esaw Indians. From these he went 
 to the Kadapaus. He says he found 
 one point at which a savannah or open 
 level of ground was bordered on one 
 side by ridges of mountains, this show- 
 ing that he was quite far up the State. 
 He speaks of numerous panthers, 
 "tygers" and wolves, and in fact tells 
 of the shooting of a "tyger." surely a 
 mythical beast, only inferior in fear- 
 fulness to the one which he says the 
 Indians told him of further up the 
 country, a frightful monster before 
 which everything gave way and yet 
 which no one seems ever to have seen. 
 He found wild turkeys in gangs of sev- 
 eral hundred and he also found the 
 buffalo, having seen the latter killed as 
 far eastward as the Haw river. 
 
 Lawson's account of the Indian towns 
 along a part of his route is all too 
 meagre. He says that each of these 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 towns had its theatre or state house all 
 along the road from the Wisack In- 
 dians to Sapona, a distance of 170 miles. 
 In the first sketch of the settlement of 
 North Carolina ever illustrated, that by 
 De Bry, printed in Germany in 1590 and 
 based upon the drawings and descrip- 
 tion of the settlement of Roanoke Isl- 
 and by Governor John White, there are 
 admirable pictures of these Indian 
 towns, with palisades protecting the 
 huts, and with a larger building in the 
 centre, evidently the theatre or state 
 house, and these engravings and the 
 others of the Indians which De Bry 
 made fill in admirably what Lawson 
 has omitted, since the latter appears to 
 have been no artist. 
 
 Lawson made a great semi-circle in 
 this journey of a thousand miles. He 
 said he intended to see North Carolina 
 and he probably went as far to the 
 westward as any man had gone up to 
 that time. It was on his journey 
 through the Kadapau Indian country 
 that he met some Indians whom he 
 terms the Jennitos or Sinnagers. He 
 meant the Senecas, who came from 
 New York and thereabouts and who 
 were one of the "Five Nations." These 
 Senecas, he says, ravaged the country 
 for several thousand miles and were 
 ithe most feared of all the Red Men. It 
 is a matter of hstory that the Tusca- 
 roras, who were the most powerful 
 tribe in North Carolina, as Lawson 
 states, after their great defeat by the 
 colonists left North Carolina by per- 
 mission and went to New York, where 
 they joined the "Five Nations," mak- 
 ing the latter the "Six Nations." Law- 
 son says he found the Sapona Indians 
 as far to the southward as the Kada- 
 paus. His map does not locate Sapona 
 town, but he merely states that it was 
 on the Sapona river, one side of which 
 was hemmed in by what he termi 
 "mountainy ground." Sapona river was 
 doubtless the Pee Dee, a few miles be- 
 
 low the place where the Yadkin loses 
 its name and water into the Pee Dee. 
 Lawson speaks at this point of his 
 journey of frequently passing smaU 
 creeks. Lancaster and Chesterfield 
 counties, in South Carolina, are a net- 
 work of such little streams, the heal 
 v/aters of Lynch's river and branches 
 of the Pee Dee. He says the Sapona 
 river was a branch of the Cape Fear. 
 It was easy to make th^s mistake, be- 
 cause for a few miles the course of the 
 river was a little north of due east. 
 
 And here in his narrative of his 
 journey it was given Lawson to fore- 
 tell precisely his own horrible mode of 
 death, as it has been given to no otner 
 writer. The Saponas had captured as 
 prisoners some Senecas, and planned to 
 torture them by sticking their bodies 
 thickly with lightwood splinters, 
 which were to be lighted like so many 
 candles, the tortured persons "dancing 
 around a great fire until their strength 
 failed and disabled them from making 
 any further pastime for their captors." 
 It was thus the Indians tortured poor 
 Lawson himself, not many years later 
 after they had captured him and De- 
 Graffenreid, near Newbern. Lawson 
 speaks of the Toteros as a neighboring 
 nation to the Saponas, yet having their 
 home in what he calls the "Westward 
 Mountains." It was on January 31st, 
 45 day« after he had left Charleston, 
 that he reached the Saponas, and this 
 shews what a wide sweep his jourriey 
 took. He left Sapona-town after a 
 brief stay and traveled about eight 
 miles, when he came to Rocky river. 
 This seems to be the stream which sep- 
 arates Stanly and Anson counties, 
 which is to-day known by that name 
 on account, as Lawson savs, of its 
 rocky bed, and any one who has seen 
 this stream will say it is well named. 
 Going northward he crossed the Heigh- 
 waree, evidently the Uwharrie. which 
 fiows across the northwestern corner of 
 
VI 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Montgomery county, and which emp- 
 ties into the Yadkin river. He went a, 
 little to the northwest, to the town of 
 the Keyauwees, which tribe afterwards 
 was merged into the Saponas. A small 
 town in the southern portion of David- 
 son county is now known as Sapona, 
 and perhaps may have been the original 
 Keyauwees-town. The distance would 
 make about a day's journey from the 
 Uwharrie river, this being the time in 
 which Lawson made it. He says they 
 found plenty of chestnuts there and 
 this shows that they were far west. He 
 also speaks of their seeing no more pine 
 trees. 
 
 It was at the Keyauwees town that 
 he saw the princess of that tribe, the 
 King's only daughter, whom he terms 
 "the beautifullest Indian I ever saw. ' 
 Observant Lawson never failed to see 
 the women and to note their physical 
 and other good qualities. Like the 
 other Englishmen of the time he had 
 an eye for those comforts which delight 
 the appetite and much of his story is 
 about the food. He does not name the 
 person who left Charleston with him, 
 but says that on departing from the 
 Keyauwee country he and "one more" 
 took their leave of most of the com- 
 pany, "resolving, with God's leave, to 
 see North Carolina." His next objec- 
 tive point was what he calls the 
 Achonechey town. This was no doubt 
 the chief t«wn of the Occoneechee In- 
 dians, and must have been not very far 
 from Hillsboro. He says that on his 
 way there he crossed the northwest 
 branch of the Cape Fear river. His 
 course was now changed, more towards 
 the east. In the outset he said he pro- 
 posed to see North Carolina, and his 
 route shows that he went much out of 
 his way to do this. He refers to pass- 
 ing several small rivers, doubtless, as 
 he says, the head-waters of the Cape 
 Fear. From the Keyauwee's town they 
 traveled about 130 miles, when they 
 
 crossed what he terms the "famous 
 Hau, or as some say the Reatkin" 
 (meaning the Yadkin, which he con- 
 fused with the Haw). As the Indians 
 wandered about like cattle, in search of 
 food, it is very probable that they gave 
 the same, or similar, names to different 
 streams, to-wit, Reatkin-Yadkin. Col. 
 Byrd, of Virginia, calls the latter 
 stream the "Yapatto Yadkin." Lawson 
 continued eastward about 20 miles fur- 
 ther, when he reached Achonechey 
 (Occoneechee.) He speaks of the ex- 
 traordinary rich land between the Haw 
 river and the Occoneechee town, saying 
 that he had never seen 20 miles of such 
 fertile country altogether. He declares 
 that the savages still possessed what he 
 terms the "Flower of Carolina, the 
 English enjoying only the fag-end of 
 that fine country." He_evidently did 
 not think so much of the coast region, 
 which was then alone occupied by the 
 whites. It was at the Occoneechee 
 town that he met with that cleverest 
 of Indians, "Enoe Will," whose name or 
 a part of it at least has come down to 
 us in the Eno river, which winds by the 
 quaint old town of Hillsboro. Enoe 
 Will occupied the triple relation to 
 Lawson of landlord, friend ana guide, 
 and they set out for Adshusheer, a 
 place which is not located in his map 
 but to which he frequently refers and 
 which must have been an important 
 Indian town. They made their jouney, 
 "striking more to the eastward," show- 
 ing that this had not been their course 
 at an earlier date. Adshusheer must 
 have been eastward of Occoneechee, 
 though Lawson is again wrong about 
 his streams, for though he says he 
 was now crossing streams emptying 
 into the Cape Fear river, he was really 
 among those emptying into the Neuse. 
 He went 40 miles further, to reach a 
 nation called the "Lower Quarter, ' 
 where he met, strange to say, one-eyed 
 Indians in great numbers. He says he 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Vll 
 
 was stopped by a freshet in the Enoe 
 river, which he was told ran into a 
 place called "Enoe Bay" in the terri- 
 tory of the Coree Indians, whose coun- 
 try seems to have been near what its 
 now Craven county. Lawson evidently 
 got the Enoe and the Neuse rivers mix- 
 ed the Enoe being but a small stream, 
 and it must have been the Neuse itself 
 which was at flood, for he says it was 
 nearly as large as the Reatkin." He 
 stopped at what he terms the "Falls of 
 Neuse Creek," the Indian name for 
 those falls being "Wee-quo-Whom." 
 This must be the place some 16 miles 
 north of Raleigh now known as the 
 "Falls of Neuse." There is no Neuse 
 creek, but only the river of that name. 
 By this time two other Englishmen, 
 eastward-bound to the English settle- 
 ments, had joined Lawson's party, 
 bringing it up to four whites, and on 
 the banks of the Neuse they found Tus- 
 carora Indians on their way to trade 
 with the Schoccores and Achonechy In- 
 dians, whom Lawson termed "West- 
 ward Indians," no doubt to distinguish 
 them from those who lived nearer the 
 coast. The Indians had temporary 
 hunting camps, which they called 
 "hunting quarters," in one of which 
 Lawson found 500 of them, these all be- 
 ing, he says, Tuscaroras. He says the 
 latter were by far the most numerous 
 tribe in North Carolina and also the 
 most bloodthirsty and cruel. These 
 Tuscaroras appear to have had quite 
 a genius for trade and they traveled 
 far to peddle their wares among other 
 tribes of Indians. The Tuscarora lan- 
 guage was in fact a sort of current 
 language among all the North Caro- 
 lina Indians of which Lawson had 
 
 knowledge. The Tuscaroras, in spite of 
 their exceedingly bad reputation, seem 
 to have been friendly to Lawson on 
 this journey at least. 
 
 The remaining part of this long wan- 
 dering of a thousand miles was through 
 the swambps and Lawson says he 
 crossed what is now known as the Tar 
 river and also the Chattookau, which 
 he terms the northwest branch of the 
 Neuse, and passed through a country 
 very thick with Indian towns and plan- 
 tations, here again finding the long, 
 ragged moss (tillandsia) hanging from 
 the trees, which he had not seen since 
 he left lower South Carolina. He then 
 came upon the banks of Pampticough, 
 by which he means Pamlico, within 20 
 miles of the English plantations, and so 
 by water and on foot, on the 23rd of 
 February, 1701. he reached his destina- 
 tion, the home of "Mr. Richard Sm'th, 
 of Pamticough river, in North Caro- 
 lina." 
 
 The credulity of Lawson, practical 
 man as he was, must have been sorely 
 tasked by what he saw and what he 
 heard. It was in very truth a strange 
 world he was in. The Indian wizards 
 were in his eyes marvelous, particular- 
 ly the one who, after performing some 
 preliminary arts on the banks of a 
 stream of much width, "fleed across," 
 without touching the water; literally 
 flew. 
 
 Lawson's natural history is some- 
 times at fault and his most amusing 
 mistake, perhaps, is in ranking the 
 "tortois" among the "insects, because 
 they lay eggs and I did not know well 
 where to put them." 
 
 FRED A. OLDS. 
 
^ ? 
 
 T H B 
 
 T 
 
 ISTGRI 
 
 U^¥ 
 
 ■\ 
 
 
 H. 
 
 containhntg the 
 
 Exatl Defcripmnmid Natural Hi/Ioty 
 
 O F T H A T 
 
 te0:-ll ; N: . T • R Y: 
 
 Together with the Frefent State thereof. 
 
 J O U R N A L 
 
 Of a Thoufand Miles, Travel'd thro' ieveral 
 
 Nations of INDIANS. 
 
 (^kiag a particular Account of their Guftoms, 
 
 Manners, <s'c. 
 
 kJOHA^ L JJ'V so Ny Gent. Surveyor-General 
 "^^^ of ,N R T H-C J R IJ N J. \ 
 
 L O N no N: ■■ ■'[ 
 
 Prmtedfor W.TayUr ^t the Ship, and J. Baker at t]\e 3hck- 
 - Boy, m Patcr'Noficr-jKoWf 17 14., 
 
 
 FAC SIMILrE OF ORIGINAL TITLE PAGE. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 'Tis a great misfortune that most of 
 our travellers who go to this vast con- 
 tinent in America, are persons of the 
 meaner sort, and generally of a very 
 slender education; who being hired by 
 the Merchants to trade among the In- 
 dions, in which voyages they often 
 spend several years, are yet at their 
 return, incapable of giving any reason- 
 able account of what they met withal 
 in those remote parts; tho' the Coun- 
 try abounds with Curiosities worthy of 
 a nice Observation. In this point, I 
 think, the French outstrip us. 
 
 First, By their Numerous Clergy, 
 their Missionaries being obedient to 
 their Superiiors in the highest degree, 
 and thiat Obedience being one great ar- 
 ticle of their Vow, and strictly observed 
 amongst all their 'order. 
 
 Secondly, They always send abroad 
 some of their Gentlemen in Company 
 with the Missiionaries, who, upon their 
 arrival, are ordered out into the wilder- 
 ness, to miake discloveries, and to ac- 
 quaint themselves with the savages of 
 America; and are obliged to keep a 
 strict Journal of 'all the passages they 
 meet withal in order to present the 
 same, not only to their glovernoirs and 
 fathers, but likewise to their friends 
 and relations in France; which is in- 
 dustriously spread about that Kingdom, 
 to their advantage. For their Monarch 
 bein?' a very goiod judge of Men's Des- 
 erts, does not often let m)oney or in- 
 terest make men of Parts give Place to 
 others of less Worth. This breeds an 
 Honorable Emulation ajmongst them, to 
 outdio one another, even in Fatigues, 
 and Dangers; whereby they gain a 
 giood Correspondence with the Indians, 
 
 and acquaint themselves with their 
 Speech and Custccns; and so make oon- 
 sidera'ble Discoveries in a short time. 
 Witness, their Journals from Canada, 
 to the Mississippi, and its several 
 Branches, where they have effected 
 great matters, in a few years. 
 
 Having spenv :raost of my Time, dur- 
 ing my Eight Tears Abode in Carolina, 
 in travelling! I not only surveyed the 
 Sea-coast and thiose parts which are 
 already inhabited by the Christians; 
 but likewise view'd a spatious Tract of 
 Land, lying betwixt the Inhabitants 
 and the Ledges of the Mountains, from 
 whence our noblest rivers have their 
 Rise, running towards the Ocean, where 
 they water as pleasant a Country as 
 any in Europe; the Discovery of which, 
 being never yet made Publick, I have In 
 the FWlowing Sheets given you a faith- 
 ful Account thereof, wherein I have 
 laid down everything with Impartiality, 
 and Truth, which is indeed, the Duty of 
 every Author (and preferable to a 
 Smooth Stile, aceolmpany'd with Falsi- 
 ties and Hyperboles. 
 
 Great Part of this pleasant and 
 heaJthful country is inhabited by none 
 but Savages, who covet a Christian 
 Neigh'borhlood, flor the Advantage of 
 Trade, and Enjoy all the Comforts of 
 Life, free from Care and Want. 
 
 But not to Amuse my Readers any 
 longer w^th the Encomium of Carolina, 
 I refer 'em to my Journal, and other 
 more particular DescriDtibn of that 
 Country and its Inhabitants, which 
 they vill find after the ITatural History 
 thereof, in which I have been very ex- 
 act, and for Method's sake rang'd each 
 Species under its distinct ami proper 
 head. 
 
Xll 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 To His Excellency 
 WILLIAM LORD CRAVEN, Pala- 
 tine; 
 THE MOST NOBLE, HENRY DUKE 
 
 of Beaufort; 
 THE RIGHT HONble MAURICE 
 
 ASHLEY, ESQ: 
 SIR JOHN COLLETON, BARO- 
 NET, 
 JOHN DANSON, ESQ; 
 
 and the rest of the True and Ab- 
 solute 
 LORDS PROPRIETORS 
 
 of the 
 PROVINCE OF CAROLINA in 
 
 AMERICA. 
 MY LORDS, As Debts of Gratitude 
 ought Most punctually tlo be paid, so 
 where the Debtor is uncapable of Pay- 
 ment, Acknowledgments ought, a,t 
 least, to be made. I cannot, in the least, 
 pretend Ho .retaliate Your Lordship's 
 Favours to me, but must further in- 
 trude on that Goodness of which I have 
 a'lready had so good Experience, by 
 Laying these Sheets at Your Lordship's 
 Ftet, where they beg Protection, as 
 baving nothing to recomtoend them, 
 but Tlruth; a Gift which every Auth^or 
 may be Master of, if he will be. 
 
 I here present yiour Lordships with 
 a Description of your own Country, 
 
 for the most part, in her Natural 
 Dress, and therefore less vitiated with 
 Fraud and Luxury. A Country, whose 
 Inhabitants may enjoy a Life of the 
 Greatest Ease, and Satisfactiion, and 
 pass away their Hours in solid Con- 
 tentment. 
 
 Those Charms of Liberty and Right, 
 the Darlings of an English Nature, 
 which your Lordships Grant and Main- 
 tain, make you appear Noble Patrons 
 in the Eyes of alU Men, and We a 
 Happy People in a Foreiign Country; 
 which niothing less than Ingratitude 
 and Baseness can make us idisiown. 
 
 As Heaven has been Liberal in its 
 Gifts, so are Yo-ir Lordships favour- 
 able Promoters of whatever may 
 make xis an easy people; which I 
 hope Your Lordships will continue to 
 us and our Posterity, and that we and 
 they miay always ackntowledge such 
 favtours. by banishing from among us 
 every Principal which renders Men 
 factious and unjust, which is the 
 Hearty Prayer of, 
 lly Lords, 
 Your Lordships Most obliged, 
 miost humble, 
 and most devoted servant, 
 
 JOHN LAWSON. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 In the Tear of 1700, when People 
 flocked from all Parts of the Christian 
 World, to see the Solemnity of the 
 Grand Jubilee at Rome, my attention, 
 at that Time, being- to Travel, I acci- 
 dentally met with a Gentleman, who 
 had been abroad, and was very well 
 acquainted with the Ways of Living in 
 Both Indies; of whom having made en- 
 quiry concerning Them, he assur'd me 
 that Carolina was the best country I 
 could go to; and that there then lay 
 a Ship in the Thames in which I 
 might have my Passage. I laid 
 hold on this Opportunity, and was not 
 long on Board, before we fell down the 
 River, and sail'd to Cowes; where, hav- 
 ing taken in some passengers we pro- 
 ceeded on our Voyage, till we sprung 
 a-leak and were forc'd into the IsLands 
 of Scillv. Here we spent about 10 days 
 in refitting; in which time we had a 
 good deal of Diversion in Pishing and 
 Shooting on those Rocky islands. The 
 inhabitants were very Courteous land 
 civil, especially the Governor, to whose 
 good Company and Favour we were 
 very much obliged. Tbere is a Town on 
 one of these Islands, where is good En- 
 tertainment for those who happen to 
 come in, though the Dand is but mean, 
 and Flesh-meat not plenty. They have 
 good store of Rabbits, Quails and Pish; 
 and you see at the poor Peoples Doors 
 great Heaps of Perriwinkle-shells; 
 those Fish being a great Part of their 
 Food. On the first day of May, having 
 a fair Wind at East, we put to sea, and 
 were on the Ocean (without speaking to 
 any vessel except a Ketch bound from 
 New England to Barbadoes, laden with 
 Horses, Fish and Provisions) 'till the 
 latter end of July, when the Winds 
 hung so much Sou'therly, that we could 
 
 not get to our Port, but put into 
 Sandy-hookbay, and went up to New 
 York after a pinching voyage, Caus'd 
 by our long Passiage. We found at tha 
 Watering-Place, a French Man of War. 
 who had on Board 'Men and Necessaries 
 to make a Colony, and wias intended 
 for the Messessipni River, there to set- 
 tle. The Oountrv of New York is very 
 Pleasant in Summer, but in the Winter 
 very cold, as all the Northern Planta- 
 tions are. Their chief commodities are 
 Provisions, Bread, Beer, Lumber and 
 Fish in abundance; all which are very 
 good, and some Skinis and Furs are 
 henlce exported. The City Is govern'd 
 by a Mayor, (as in England) is seated 
 on an island, and lies very convenient 
 for Tnade and Defence, having a reg- 
 ular Fort and well mounted with guns. 
 The Buildings are genera i'- of a small- 
 er sort of Flemish Brick, and of the 
 Dutch fashion (except some few 
 Houses;) they are all very firm and 
 good work, and conveniently placed, oa 
 is likewise the town, which gives a 
 very pleasant prospect of the neigh:- 
 boring Islands and Rivers. A good part 
 of the Inhabitants are Dutch, in whose 
 hands this Colonv once wias. After a 
 Fort-night's stay here, we pu;t out from 
 Sandyhook, and in 14 days after, ar- 
 rived at Charlestown, the Metropolis of 
 South Carolina, which is situate in 32, 
 45 North Latitude and admits of Large 
 Ships to come over their Bar up to the 
 Town, where is a very commodious 
 Harbour, about 5 miles Distant from 
 the Inlet, and stands on a point very 
 convenient for trade, being Seated be- 
 tween- two pleasant and navigable Riv- 
 ers. The Town has very regular and 
 fair streets, in which are good build- 
 ings of Brick and Wood, and since my 
 
XIV 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 coming thence has had great additions 
 of beautiful, Liarge Brick Budldings, be- 
 sides a Strong Fort, and regular For- 
 ttificati'ons made to defend the town. 
 The inhabitants by their Wise Man- 
 agement and Industry, have much im- 
 proved the Countrv, which is in aa 
 thriving Circumstances .at this Time, 
 as any other Colon'y on the Continenit 
 of English America, and is of more ad- 
 vantage to the Crown of Great Britain, 
 than anv other of the more Northerly 
 Pl'antations, (Virginia and Maryland 
 excepted.) This Colony was at first 
 planted by a genteel Sort of People, 
 that were well acquainted with Trade, 
 and had either Money or Pants to make 
 good Use of the advantages that of- 
 fer'd, as most of them have done, by 
 raisiing themselves to great Estates 
 and Posts of Honor, in this thriving 
 settlement. Since the first Planters, 
 abundance of French and others have 
 gone over, and raised themselves to 
 considerable Fortunes. They are very 
 Neat in Packing and Shipping of their 
 Commodities; which method has got 
 them so great a character Abroad, that 
 they generally oome to a good Market 
 with their Commodities; when often 
 times the Products of other Plantations, 
 are forced to be sold at Lower Prizes. 
 They have a considerable Trade both 
 to Europe, and the West Indies, where^ 
 by they became rich, and are Supply'd 
 Tvith all things necessiary for Trade, 
 and Genteel Living, which several 
 other Places fall short of. Their co- 
 habiting in a Town has drawn to them 
 ingenious People of rruost Sciences, 
 whereby they have Tutors amongst 
 them that educate their Youth a-la- 
 mode. 
 
 Their Roads, with great Industry, 
 are made very Good and Pleasant. 
 Near the Town is built a fair Parson- 
 agehouse, with necessary offices, and 
 the Minister has a very considerable 
 allowance from his Parish. There Is 
 
 likewise a French Church in Town, of 
 the Reform'd Religion, and sevenal 
 Meeting Houses for dissenting Oongre- 
 gations, who all emjov at this day an 
 entire liberty of their Worship; the 
 Constitution of This Government, al- 
 lowing all Parties of well meaning 
 Christians tlo enjoy a free Toleration 
 and possess the same Priviledges, so 
 long as they appear to behave them- 
 selves peaceably and well. It being the 
 Lord's Proprietors Intent, that the in- 
 habitants of Carolina should be as free 
 from Oppression as any in the Uni- 
 verse; which doubtless they will, if 
 their own differences amiongst them- 
 selves do not occasion the contrary. 
 
 They have a well-dlsciplin'd Militia; 
 their Horse are most Gentlemen, and 
 well mounted, and the best in America, 
 and may equalize any In other parts; 
 their Officers, both Infantry and Clav- 
 alry, generally appear in scarlet mount- 
 ings, and as rich as in most Regiments 
 belonging to the Grown, which shews 
 the Richness and Grandeur of this Col- 
 ony. They are a Fronteer, and prove 
 such troublesome neighbors to the 
 Spaniards, that they have ojice laid 
 their town of St. Augustine in Ashes, 
 and drove away their cattle; besides 
 many Encounters and Ensragements, in 
 which (they have defeated them, too 
 tedious to relate here. Wh^all the French 
 got by their Attempt against South 
 Carolina, will hardly ever be ranked 
 ■amongst their Victories; their Admiral 
 Monville being glad to leave the Enter- 
 prize, and run awiay after he had suf- 
 fered all the Loss and disgrace he was 
 capable of receiving. They are Absolute 
 Masters over the Indians, and carry so 
 strict a hand over such as are within 
 the Circle of their Trade, that none does 
 the least Injury to any of the English, 
 but he Is soon sent for and ' Dunished 
 with Death or Otherwise, according to 
 the nature of the fault. They have an 
 entire friendship with the neighboring 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 XV 
 
 Indians of several Nations, which are 
 a very warlike People, ever Faithful to 
 the English, and have proved them- 
 selves Brave and True om all Occasions ; 
 and are a great Help and Strength to 
 this Colony. The Chief of the savage 
 Nations have heretofore groaned under 
 the Spanish Yoke, and having expe- 
 rienced their Cruelty, are become such 
 mortal Enemies to that People, that 
 they never give a Spaniard quarter; 
 but generally, when they take any 
 Prisoners (if the English be not near 
 to prevent it) sculp them, that is to 
 take their hair and Skin of their heads, 
 wLich they often flea away, whilst the 
 Wretch Is alive. Notwithsitanding the 
 English have used all their Endeavors, 
 yet they could never bring them to 
 leave this Biarbaritv to the Spaniards'; 
 who, as they allege, used to^ murder 
 them, and their relationB, and make 
 slaves of them to build their Forts and 
 Towns. 
 
 This place Is m,ore plentiful in Money, 
 than Most, or Indeed any of the Planta- 
 tions on the Continent; besides they 
 build a considerable number of Vessels 
 of Cedar, and other Wood, with which 
 they trade to Cuirassau and the West 
 Indies; from one they bring money and 
 from the other the Produce of their 
 Islands, which yields a necessary Sup- 
 ply of both to the Colony. Their Stocks 
 of Cattle are incredible, being from one 
 to two thousand head in one man's Pos- 
 session; these feed in the Savannas, 
 and Other Grounds, and need no fodder 
 in the winter. Their 'Mutton and Veal is 
 good, and their Pork is not inferior to 
 any in America. As for Pitch and Tar, 
 none of the Plantations are comparable 
 for affording the vast quantities of 
 Naval Stores, as this Place does. There 
 have been heretofore Some Discoveries 
 of Rich Mines in the Mountanous Parts 
 of this Country; but being remote from 
 
 the present settlement, and the inhabit- 
 ants not well versed in ordering miner- 
 als, they have been laid aside until a 
 more fit opportunity happens. There 
 are several noble Rivers and Rich 
 Tracts of Land in their Lordships Do- 
 minions, lying to the Southward, which 
 are yet uninhabited, besides Port 
 Royal, a rare Harbour and Inlet, hav- 
 ing many inhabitants thereon; which 
 their Lordships have noiw made a port 
 for Trade. This will be a most advan- 
 tageous settlement, lying so commbd- 
 iously for Ships Coming from the 
 Gulph, and the Richness of the Land, 
 which is reported to be there. These 
 more Southerly Parts will afford Or- 
 anges, Limons, Limes, and many other 
 Fruits, which the Northerly Plantations 
 yield not. 
 
 The Merchants of Carolina, are Fair, 
 Frank Traders. The Gemtlemen seated 
 in the country are very courteous, live 
 very nobly in their Houses, and give 
 very Genteel entertainments to all 
 strangers and others that come to visit 
 them. And since the Produce of S'outh 
 and North Carolina Is the same, unless 
 Silk, which this place produces great 
 quantities of and very good. North 
 Carolina having never made any Tryal 
 thereof as yet, therefore I shall refer 
 the Natural Produce of this Counltry, 
 to that part which treats of North Car- 
 olina, whose productions are much the 
 same. The Christian Inhabitants of 
 both Colonies pretty equal, but the 
 Slaves of South Carolina are far more 
 in number than those in the North. I 
 shall now proceed to relate my journey 
 thro' the country, from this Settlement 
 to the other, and then treat of the Nat- 
 ural History of Carolina, with other re- 
 markable Circumstances which I have 
 met with, during mv eight Years Abode 
 in that Country. 
 
LAWSON'S 
 History of North Carolina, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 On DecemJDer 28th. 1700, I be^an my 
 voyage for (North Carolina) from 
 Charles Town, being six Englishmen In 
 company, with three Indian men and 
 one woman, wife to our Indian Guide, 
 having five miles from the Town to the 
 Breach we went down In a large Canoe, 
 that we had provided for our voyage 
 thither, having the Tide of Ebb along 
 with us; which was so far spent by 
 that time we got down that we had not 
 water enough for our Craft to go over, 
 although we drew but two foot, or 
 thereabouts. This bireach is a passage 
 to a Marsh Lying to the Northward of 
 Sullivan's Island, the Pilots having a 
 lookout thereon, lying very comimodi- 
 ous for Mariners (on that coast) making 
 a go'od Land-Mark, in so level a 
 country, this Bar being difficult to hit, 
 where an observation hath been want- 
 ing for a dav or two; Northeast winds 
 bringing Great Fogs, Mists and Rains; 
 which towards the cool months, Octo- 
 ber, November, and until the latter end 
 of March, often appear in these Parts. 
 There are three pilots to attend, and 
 conduct shins over the Bar. The Har- 
 bour where the vessels generally ride, 
 is against the Town, on Cooper's River, 
 lying within a point which parts that 
 
 and Ashley River, they being Land- 
 Lock'd almost on all sides. 
 
 At 4 in the afternoon (at half flood) 
 we pass'd with our canoe over the 
 Breach, leaving Sullivan's Island on 
 our Star board. The first Place we de- 
 signed for, was Santee River, on which 
 there is a colony of French Protestants, 
 allow'd and encourag'd by the Lords 
 Proprietors. At night we got to Bell's- 
 Island, a poor spot on land, being aiboul 
 ten miles round, where lived (at that 
 time) a Bermudian, being employ'd 
 here with a Bov. to look after a stock 
 of cattle and Hogs, by the owner of 
 this Island. One side of the roof of his 
 house was thatched with Palmeto- 
 Leaves, the other open to the heavens, 
 thousands of musketoes and other 
 troublesome insects, tormenting both 
 Man and Beast inhabiting the island. 
 The Palmeto trees, whose leaves grow- 
 ing onlv on top of the trees in the 
 Shape of a Fan. and in a cluster, like 
 a cabbage; this tree in Carolina, when 
 at its utmost growth, is about 40 or 50 
 foot in height, and two foot through. 
 It's worth mentioning, that the growth 
 of the Tree is not perceivable in the 
 Age of any Man, the experiment havinr 
 been often tried in Bermudas, and else- 
 
IvAwson's history 
 
 where, which shows the slow growth 
 of this veg-itable, the wood of it being 
 porous and stringy, like stome Canes; 
 the leaves thereof the Bermudians make 
 womens hats, bokeets, baskets, and 
 pretty dressing-boxes, a great deal be- 
 ing transported to Pensilvania, and 
 other Northern Partst of America 
 (where they do not grow) for the same 
 manufacture. The people of Carolina 
 make of the fans of this tree, brooms 
 very serviceable to sweep their houses 
 withal. 
 
 We took up our lodging this Night 
 with the Bermudian; our entertainment 
 was very indifferent; there being no 
 fresh Water to be had on the Island. 
 
 The next Morning we set. awav thro' 
 the Marshes; about noon we reached 
 another island called Dix's Land, much 
 like to the former, tho' larger; there 
 lived an honest Soot who gave us the 
 best protection his Dwelling afffforded, 
 being well Provided of Oat-Meal, and 
 Several dther effects he had found on 
 that coast; which goods belonged to 
 that unfortunate vessel, the Rising Sun, 
 a Scotch Man-of-War, lately arrived 
 from the litmus of Darien and cast 
 away near the Bar of Ashley River, the 
 September before, Capt. Gibson, of 
 Glasco, then commanding her, who with 
 above an hundred men then on Board 
 her, were evevv Soul drown'd in that 
 terrible Gust which then happen'd; 
 most of the corps being taken up, were 
 carefully interr'd by Mr. Graham, their 
 Lieutenant, who happily was on shore 
 during the tempest. 
 
 After Dinner we left our Scotch 
 Landlord, and went that Night to the 
 Noi^th East Point of the Island, It be- 
 ing dark ere we got there, our Canoe 
 Strujck on a Sandbar neai' the Break- 
 ers, and were in Great Danger of our 
 Lives; But (by God's Blessing) we got 
 off safe to the Shore, where we lay all 
 iiight. 
 
 In the iMorning we set forward on our 
 
 inltended Voyage. About two a Clock 
 we got to Bulls Island, which is about 
 Thirty Miles long, and hath a great 
 Number of both Cattel and Hogs uT>on 
 it; the Cattel being very Wild, and the 
 Hogs very Lean. These two last Islands 
 belong to one Colonel Cary, an Inhab- 
 itant of South Carolina. Although it 
 were Winter, yet we found such 
 Swarms of Musketoes, and other 
 troublesome Insects, that we got but 
 little Rest that night. 
 
 The next Day we intended for a small 
 Island on the other Side of Sewee-Bay, 
 which joining to these Islands, Ship- 
 ping might come to victual or careen; 
 bu't there being such a burden of those 
 Flies, that few or none cares to settle 
 there; so the Stock thereon are r\in 
 Wild. We were gotten about half way 
 to Racoon Island, when there sprung 
 up a tart Gale at N. W. which puts us 
 in some danger of being cast away, the 
 bay being rough, and there running 
 great Seas between the two Islands, 
 which are better than four Leagues 
 asunder; a strong Current of Tide set- 
 ting in and out. which made us turn 
 tail to it, and got our Canoe right be- 
 fore the Wind, and came Safe into a 
 Creek that is joining to the North End 
 of Bulls Island. We sent our Indians to 
 hunt, who brought us two Deers. which 
 were verv poor, and their Maws full of 
 large Grubs. 
 
 On the morrow we went and visited 
 the Easternmost Side of this Island, it 
 joining to the Ocean, and having very 
 fair and Sandy Beaches, pav'd with in- 
 numerable sorts of curious pretty 
 Shells, and very pleasant to the Eve. 
 Amongst the Rest we found the Span- 
 ish Oyster Shell, whence come the 
 Pearls. They are very large, and of a 
 different Form from other Oysters; 
 their Colour much resembles the Tor- 
 toise-Shell, when it is dress'd. There 
 was left bv the Tide several strange 
 Species of a mucili.gmous' slimy sub- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 stance, though livinig, and very aptly 
 mov'd at their First Appearanlce; yet, 
 being left on the dry Sand. Cby the 
 Beams of the Sun) soon exhale and 
 Vanish. 
 
 At our return to our Quarters the In- 
 dians had killed two more I>eer. two 
 wild Hogs, and three Raccoons, all very 
 lean, except the Raccoons. We had 
 great Store of Oysters, Conks, and 
 Clamps, a Large sort of Cockles. These 
 parts being very well furnished with 
 Shell-Fish, Turtles of several Sorts, but 
 few or none of the green, with other 
 sorts of Salt-Water Fish, and in the 
 Season, good Plenty of Fowl, as Cur- 
 leus, Gulls, Gannets, and Pellicans. be- 
 sides Duck and Mallard Geese, Swans, 
 Teal, Widgeon, etc. 
 
 On Thursday Morning we left Bulls- 
 Island, and went thro' the Creeks, 
 which lie between the Bay and the 
 Main Land. At noon we went on Shore, 
 and Got our Dinner near a Plantation 
 on a Creek having the full ProsDect of 
 Sewee-Bay; we sent up to the House 
 but none were at Home, but a Negro of 
 whom our Messenger purchas'd some 
 small quantity of Tobacco and Rice. 
 We came to a deserted Indian Resi- 
 dence, cal'd Avendaugh-bough, where 
 we rested that night. 
 
 The next day we entered Santee 
 River's Mouth, where is Fresh water, 
 ocicasion'd by the extraordinary Cur- 
 rent that comes down continually. With 
 hard Rowing we got two Leagues up 
 the River, lying all night in a Swampy 
 Piece of Ground, the Weather being so 
 cold all that time, we were almost 
 frozen ere Morning, leaving the Impres- 
 sions of our Bodies on the wet ground. 
 We set Forward very early in the 
 Morning, to seek some better Quarters. 
 
 As we Row'd ud the River, we found 
 the Land towards the Mouth and for 
 about 15 miles up it. scarce anything 
 but swamp and Percoarson. affording 
 vast Ciprus-Tr©es, of which the French 
 
 make Canoes, that will carry fifty or 
 sixty barrels. After the T'ree is Moulded 
 and Dug, they saw them in two pieces, 
 and so put a Plank between, and a 
 small Keel, to preserve them- from the 
 oyster Banks, which are innumerable 
 in the Creeks and Bays betwix the 
 French settlement and Charles Town. 
 They carry two Masts, and Bermudas 
 Sails, which makes 'them very handy 
 and fit for their purpose; for although 
 their River fetches its first Rise from 
 the Mountains, and continues a Current 
 some Hundreds of Miles ere it dis- 
 gorges itself, having no sound Bay or 
 Sand Banks betwix the Mouth thereof 
 and the Ocean. Notwithstanding all 
 this, with the vast stream it affords at 
 all Seasons, and the repeated Freshes it 
 so often alarms the inhabitants with, 
 by laving under Water Great Part of 
 their Country, vet the Mouth is barr'd 
 affording not above four or five foot 
 Water at the Entrance. As we went up 
 the River we heard a great Noise, as if 
 two parties were engaged against each 
 other, seeming exactly like small shot. 
 When we approached nearer the Place, 
 we found it to be some Sewee Indians 
 firing the Canes Swamps, which drives 
 out the Game, then taking their partic- 
 ular stands, kill great quantities of both 
 Deer, Bear, Turkies. and what Wild 
 Creatures the Pa;rts afford. 
 
 These Sewees have been formerly a 
 large Nation, though now very much 
 deicreased, since the English hath seat- 
 ed their Land, and all other Nations of 
 Indians are observed to nartake of the 
 same fate, where the Europeans come, 
 the Indians being a people very apt to 
 catch any Distemper they are afflicted 
 withal. The Small-Pox has destroyed 
 many thousands of these Natives, who 
 no sooner than thev are attack'd with 
 the violent fevers, and the Burning 
 which attends the Distemper, fling 
 themselves overhead in the Water, In 
 the very extremity of the Disease, 
 
lawson's history 
 
 ■which shutting: up the pores, hinders a 
 kindly evacuation of the Pestilential 
 'Matter, and drives it toack, by which 
 means death most oommionlv ensues; 
 not but in other Distempers which are 
 epidemical, you may find among 'em 
 Praxjtltioners that have extraordinary 
 skill and Success in remioving those 
 morbisick Qualities which afflict 'em, 
 not often giolng above 100 yards from 
 their abode for their Remedies, some of 
 their chiefest physicians commonly car- 
 rying their Compliment of Drugs con- 
 tinually about them, which are Roots, 
 Barks, Berries, Nuts, etc., that are 
 strung upon a thread. So like a Poman^ 
 der, the Physician wears them about 
 Ms neick. An Indian hath been often 
 found to heal an Englishman of a Mal- 
 ady, for the value of a 'Match Coat; 
 which the ablest of our Bnerlish Pre- 
 tenders in America after repeated Ap- 
 plications, have deserted the Patient as 
 incurable. God having furpished every 
 Country with speciflck Remedies for 
 their peculiar Diseases. 
 
 Rum, a Liquor now so much in Use 
 with them, that thev will part with the 
 Dearest thing they have, to purchase it; 
 and when they have got a little in their 
 heads are the impatients Creatures 
 Living, 'till they have enough to make 
 them quite Drunk; and the Most mis- 
 erable spectacles when they are so, 
 some falling into the Fires, burn their 
 Legs or Arms, contracting the sinews, 
 become cripples all their Lifetime, oth- 
 ers from Precipices break their bones 
 and joints, with abundance of in- 
 stances, yet none are so great to deter 
 them from that accurs'd Practice of 
 Drunkenness, though sensible how 
 many of them (are by it) hurried into 
 the other World before their Time — as 
 themselves Oftentimes will confess. 
 The Indians, I was now speaking of, 
 were not content with the common En- 
 emies that lessen and destroy their 
 country-men, but Invented an infallible 
 
 Stratagem to purge their tribe, and re- 
 duce their Multitude into far less num- 
 bers. Their Contrivance was thus, as a 
 Trader amongst them informed me. 
 
 They seeing several Ships coming in, 
 to bring the English Supplies from Old 
 England, one chief part of their Cargo 
 being for a Trade with the Indians, 
 some of the Craftiest of them had ob- 
 served, that the Ships came always in 
 at one place, which made them very 
 oonlident that Way was the exact road 
 to England; and seeing so many ships 
 come thence they believed it could not 
 be far thither, esteeming the English 
 that were among them no better than 
 cheats, and thought if they could carry 
 the Skins and Furs they got themselves 
 to England, which was inhabited with 
 a better sort of People than those 
 amongst them., that they should pur- 
 chase twenty times the Value of every 
 Pelt thev sold Abroad, in consideration 
 of what rates thev sold for at Home. 
 The intended barter was very well ap- 
 proved of, and after a general Consul- 
 tation of the ablest Heads amonigst 
 them, it was, Nemlne Contradicente, 
 agreed upon, immediately to make an 
 addition of their fleet, by building more 
 canoes, and those to be of the best sort, 
 and biggest Size, as fit for their intend- 
 ed Discovery. Some Indians were em- 
 ployed about making the Canoes, oth- 
 ers to hunting, everyone to the Post he 
 was most fit for. all Endeavors intend- 
 ing towards an able Fleet and Car go 
 for Europe. The affair was carried on 
 with a great deal of Secrecy and Expe- 
 dition, so as in a Small Time they had 
 gotten a Navy, Loading Provisdons, 
 and hands ready to set sail, leaving 
 only the Old, Impotent and Minors at 
 Home till their successful return. The 
 Wind presenting, they set up their mat 
 sails, and were scarce out of sight when 
 there rose a tempest, which it's sup- 
 posed carried one part of these Indian 
 Merchants, by Way of the other World, 
 
OF NORTH CAROUNA. 
 
 whilst the others wiere taken up at Sea 
 by an English SMo and sold for Slaves 
 to the Islands. The remainder are bet- 
 ter satisfied with their Imbecilities in 
 such an undertaking', nothing affront- 
 ing them more than to rehearse their 
 Voyage to England. 
 
 Tliere being a small Current in San- 
 tee River caused us to make Small Way 
 from our Oars. With hard rowing we 
 goit that Night to Mons. Eugee's' House, 
 which stands about fifteen Miles ud the 
 River, being the first Christian Settle- 
 ment we met withal in the Settlement, 
 and were very courteously receiv'd by 
 him and his wife. 
 
 Many of the French follow a trade 
 with the Indians, living very conven- 
 iently for that interest. There is about 
 seventy Families seated on this River, 
 who live as Decently and Happily, as 
 any Planters in these Southward parts 
 of America. The French being a tem- 
 perate Industrious People, some of 
 them bringing very little of Effects, 
 yet by their endeavors and Mutual As- 
 sistance amongst themselves (which Is 
 highly to be Commended) have ouit- 
 stript our English, who brought with 
 them larger Fortunes, tho' as it seems 
 less endeavour to manage their Talent 
 to the best Advantage. 'Tis admirable 
 to see what time and Industry will 
 (with God's Blessing) effect. Carolina 
 affording many strange Revolutions in 
 the Age of a Man, Daily Instances pre- 
 senting themselves to our view, of so 
 many, from Despicable beginnings, 
 which in a short time arrive to very 
 splendid Conditions. Here propriety 
 hath a large Scope, there being no strict 
 law to bind our privileges. A Quest af- 
 ter Game, being as freely and peremp- 
 torily enjoyed by the meanest Planter, 
 as he that is in the Highest Dignity, or 
 wealthiest in the Province. Deer and 
 other game that are naturally wild, be- 
 ing not immiur'd or preserv'd within 
 boundaries to satisfy the appetite of 
 
 the rich alone. A poor laborer, that Is 
 Master of his Gun, etc., hath as good a 
 claim to have oontinu'd Coarses of Del- 
 icacies crouded upon his Table, as he 
 that is Master of a Greater Purse. 
 
 We lay all that night at Mons. 
 Eugee's, and the next Morning set out 
 farther, to go the remainder of our 
 voyage by land; at ten a Clock we pas'd 
 over a narrow, deep Swamp, having 
 left the three Indian Men and one 
 Woman, that had pilotted the Canoe 
 from Ashly River, having hired a 
 Sewee Indian, a tall, lusty Fellow, who 
 carried a pack of our cloaths, of great 
 weight; notwithstanding his burden, 
 we had much to do to keep pace with 
 him. At noon we came up with several 
 French Plantations, meeting with sev- 
 eral creeks bv the way, the French 
 were very ofllcious in assisting with 
 their small Dories to pass over these 
 waters, (whxDm we met coming from 
 theiir dhurch) being all of them very 
 clean and decent in their apparel; their 
 Houses and Plantations suitable in 
 neatness and Contrivance. They are all 
 of the same opinion with the church of 
 Geneva, there being no difference 
 amongst them concerning the Punc- 
 tilio's of their Christian Faith; which 
 Union hath propagated a happy and de- 
 lightful Concord in all other matters 
 throughout the whole Neight^orhood; 
 living amongst themselves as one Tribe 
 or Kindred, everyone making it his 
 business to be assistant to the wants 
 of his country-man, preserving his es- 
 tate and reputation with the same ex- 
 actness and concern as he does his 
 own; all seeming to share in the Mis- 
 fortunes, and rejovce at the Advance, 
 and Rise, of their Brethren. 
 
 Towards the afternoon we came to 
 Mons. L'Jan-dro. where we got our Din- 
 ner; there coming some French ladies 
 whilst we were there, who were lately 
 come from Elngland, and Mons. 
 L'Grand. a worthy Norman, who hath 
 
lawson's history 
 
 been a grreat Sufferer in his Estate, by 
 the Persecution in France, against 
 those of the Protestant Religion; This 
 Gentleman very kindly invited us to 
 make our stay with him all night, but 
 we, being intended .farther that day, 
 took our Leaves, returning Acknoiwl- 
 edgement of Their Favors. 
 
 Ahout four in the afternoon we mass- 
 ed over a large Ciprus run, in a small 
 Oanoe; the French Doctor sent his 
 Negro to Guide us over the head of a 
 large Swamp; so we got that night to 
 Mons. Gallian's the elder, who lives in 
 a very curious contriv'd House, built of 
 Brick and Stone which is gotten near 
 that Place. Near here comes in the 
 Road from Charles-Town and the rest 
 of the English Settlement, it being a 
 very good way by Land, and not above 
 36 miles altho' more than 100 by water. 
 I think the most difficult way I ever 
 Saw, occasion'd by Reason of the mul- 
 ititude of Creeks lying along the Main, 
 keeping their course thro' the IMarshes, 
 turning and winding like a Labyrinth, 
 having the Tide of Hbb and Flood 
 twenty times in less than 3 Leagues 
 going. 
 
 The next Morning very early, we 
 terry'd over a Creek that runs near the 
 Hjouse, and, after an Hour's travel in 
 the Woods, we came to the River-side, 
 where we stayed for the Indian who 
 was our Guide, and was g^one artound 
 by water in a small canoe, to meet us 
 at the place we rested at. He came af- 
 ter a small Time and fc-rrY'd us in that 
 little Vessel over the Santee River 4 
 mlles', and 84 miles in the woods, which 
 the overflowing of freshes which then 
 came down, had made a perfect sea of, 
 there running an incredible current In 
 the River, which had cast our small 
 craft, and us away, had we not had 
 this Sewee Indian Guide with us; who 
 are excellent artists in managing these 
 small canoes. 
 
 Santee River at this time (from the 
 
 usual depth of water) was risen per- 
 pendicular 36 Foot, always making a 
 Breach from her banks, about this sea- 
 son of the year; the general opinion of 
 the cause thereof is supposed to pro- 
 ceed from the overflowing of the fresh- 
 water lakes that lie near the Head of 
 this River and other upon the same 
 continent. But my opinion is that these 
 vast Inundations proceed from the 
 great and repeated quantities of snow 
 that fall upon the Mountains which Lie 
 at so Great a distance from the sea, 
 therefore they have no help of being 
 dissolv'd by those saline piercing par- 
 ticles, as other adjacent Parts near the 
 Ocean receive; and therefore lies and 
 increases to a vast Bulk, until some 
 mild southerly Breezes coming on a 
 sudden, continue to unlock these frozen 
 bodies, congeal'd by the North- West 
 wind, dissipating them in liquids, and 
 coming down with Impetuosity, fills 
 those branches that feed these rivers, 
 and causes this strange deluge which 
 oft-times lays under water the adjacent 
 parts on both sides this current, for 
 several miles disitant from her banks, 
 tho' the French and Indians affirm'd to 
 me, they never knew such an extraor- 
 dinary Flood there before. 
 
 The following is a continuation of the 
 History of North Carolina by John 
 Lawson, surveyor general of this State, 
 who made his first visit here in 1700. He 
 landed at Charleston. S. C, and trav- 
 eled nearly a month. This installment 
 begins after his reaching the Santee 
 river, in South Carolinia: 
 
 We all, by God's Blessing, and the 
 Endeavors of our Indian-Pilot, passed 
 safe over the River, but was lost in the 
 Woods, which seem'd like some Great 
 Lake, except here and there a Knoll of 
 High Land, which appear'd above the 
 Water. 
 
 We intend for Mon. Gillian's junt, but 
 was Lost, none of us knowing the Way 
 at that time, altho' the Indian was born 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 in that Country, it having- received so 
 strange a Metamorphosis. We were in 
 several Opinions concerning the right 
 Way, the Indian and myself, supposed 
 the House to bear one Way, the rest 
 thought to the contrary; we differing, 
 it was agreed on amongst us, that one- 
 half should go with the Indian to find 
 the House, and the other party to stay 
 upon one of these dry Spots, until some 
 of them returned to us, and informed 
 us where it lay. 
 
 Myself and two more were left be- 
 hind, toy Reason the Canoe would not 
 carry us all; we had but one gun 
 amongst us, one Doad of ammunitiion, 
 and no provision. Had our Men in the 
 Canoe miscarried, we must (in all Prob- 
 ability) there perish'd. 
 
 In about six Hours Time from our 
 Mens departure, the Indian came back 
 to us in the same Canoe he went in, 
 being half Drunk, which assured us 
 they had found some place of refresh- 
 ■ment. He took us three into the Canoe, 
 telling us all was Well; Padling our 
 Vessel several Miles through the 
 Woods, being often half full of Water; 
 but at last \/e got Safe to the place we 
 sought for, which proved to lie the 
 same Way the Indian and I had 
 guess'd it did. 
 
 When we got to the House, we found 
 our Comrades in the same trim the 
 Indian was in, and several of the 
 French inhabitants with them, who 
 treated us very courteously, wondering 
 at us undertaking such a voycge, thro' 
 a Country inhabited by none but sav- 
 ages, and them of so different Nations 
 and Tongues. 
 
 After we had refreshed ourselves, we 
 parted from a very Kind, loving, affa- 
 ble People, who wished us a Safe and 
 Prosperous voyage. 
 
 Hearing of a Camp of Santee Indians 
 not far off, we set out intending to take 
 up our Quarters with them that night. 
 There toeing a deep run of Water in the 
 
 Way, one of our Comrades being Top- 
 Heavy, and there being nothing but a 
 small pole over a Creek for a bridge, 
 fell into the Water up Vo the Chin, my- 
 self laughing at the accident, and not 
 taking Good Heed to my steps came 
 to the same Misifortune. All our bed- 
 ding was wet. The Wind being at N. 
 W. it froze very hard, which prepared 
 such a nigj.t's lodging for me that I 
 never desire to have the like again; 
 the wet bedding and freezing Air had 
 so Qualified our Bodies, that in the 
 Morning when we Awaked, we were 
 nigh Frozen to Death, until we had 
 recruUed ourselves before a large fire 
 of the Indians. 
 
 Tuesday Morning we set towards the 
 Congerees, leaving tiij Indian Guide 
 Scipio drunk amongst the Santee In- 
 dians. We went ten Miles out of our 
 way to head a great Swamp, the 
 freshes having filled them with such 
 great quantities of Water, that the 
 usual paths were render d unpassable. 
 We met in our way with an Indian ^ 
 Hut, where we were entertained with 
 a Fat Boiled Goose, Venison, Raccoon 
 and ground Nuts. We made but little 
 stay. About noon we passed by sev- 
 eral large Savannah's, wherein is curi- 
 os ranges for Cattle, being green all the 
 year; they were plentifully stor'd with 
 Geese, Cranes, etc., and the adjacent 
 wioods with great Flocks of Turkies. 
 This Day we traveled atoout 30 miles, 
 and lay all night at a House which was 
 built for the Indian Trade the Master 
 thereof we had parted v/ith at the 
 French town, who gave us leave to 
 make use of his Mansion. Such Houses 
 are common in these parts, especially 
 where there is Indian Towns, and Plan- 
 tations near at Hand, which this place 
 is well furnished withal. 
 
 These Santee Indians are a well- 
 humored and affable people and living 
 near the Enghsh are bedome very 
 tractable. They make themselves 
 
8 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Cribs after a very curious manner, 
 wherein tiiey secure their corn from 
 Vermin, which are more ifrequent in 
 these warm climates, than countries 
 more Distant from the Sun. These 
 pretty Fabricks are commonly sup- 
 ported with eight Feet or Posts, about 
 Seven Foot High fro'm the Ground, well 
 daubed within and without upon Laths, 
 with Loom or Clay, which makes them 
 tight and fit bo keep out the smallest 
 insect, there feeing a small door at the 
 gable end, which ^"s made of the same 
 composition and to be remov'd at 
 Pleasure, feeing no bigger, than that a 
 slender Man may creep in at, cement- 
 ing the door up with the same earth 
 when they take the Corn out of the 
 Crib, and are going from Home, always 
 find their Granaries in the same Pos^ 
 ture they left them; theft to each other 
 being altogether unpractised, never re- 
 ceiving Spoils but from Foreigners. 
 
 Hereabouts the ground is something 
 higher than about Charlestown, there 
 being found some Quarries of Brown 
 free-stone, which I have seen made 
 use of for buildings, and l.ath proved 
 very durable and good. The earth here 
 is mixed with white Gravel, which is 
 rare, there being nothing like a Stone 
 to be found, of the natural Produce, 
 near the Ashly river. 
 
 The next day about noon, we came 
 to the side of a great ►awamp where 
 we were forced to strip ourselves to get 
 ovp-r it, which with much difficulty we 
 effected. Hereabouts the late Gust of 
 Wind, which happen'd in September 
 last, had torn the lar.Ere Cyprus trees 
 and Timbers up fey the roots; they ly- 
 ing confusedly in their branches, did 
 Block up the Way, making the passage 
 very difficult. 
 
 This night we got to one Scipio's Hut, 
 a famous Hunter; There was nobody 
 at Home, but we having (in our Com- 
 pany) one that used to trade amongst 
 them, we n.ade ourselves welcome to 
 
 what his Cabin afforded, (which is a 
 thing common) the Indians allowing it 
 practicable to the English Traders, to 
 take out of their Houses what they 
 need, during their Absence, in Lieu 
 whereof they 'n^st commonly leave 
 some small quantity of Tobacco, Pai^.t, 
 Beads, etc. We fiound a great store of 
 Indian peas, (a very good Pulse) Beans, 
 Oyl, Chinkapin Nuts, Corn, baibacu'd 
 Peaches, and Peach-Bread; which 
 Peaches being made into a Quiddony, 
 and so make up into Loaves like Bar- 
 ley Cakes; these cut into thin slices 
 and dissolved in water, makes a very 
 grateful Acid, and extraordinarily ben- 
 eficial in Fevers, as has often been 
 tried and approved of by our English 
 Practitiioners. The Wind feeing at N. 
 W., with cold weather, made us a large 
 Fire, in the Indian's Cabin; being very 
 intent upon our Cookery, we set the 
 dwelling on Fire, and with much ado, 
 put it out, tho' with the Loss of Part 
 of the Roof. 
 
 The next day, we travell'd on our 
 Way, and about Noon, came up with a 
 settlement of Santee Indiana, there be- 
 ing Plantations lying scattering here 
 and there, for a great many miles. 
 They came out to meet us, being ac- 
 quainted with one of our Company, and 
 made us very welcome with fat barba- 
 cu'd Venison, which the Woman of the 
 Cabin took and t'ore in Pieces with her 
 teeth, so put it into a mortar, beating it 
 to Rags, afterwards stews it with Wa- 
 ter, and other Ingredients, which 
 makes a very savoury Dish. 
 
 At these Cabins came to visit us ihe 
 King of the Santee Nation. He brought 
 with him their chief Doctor, or Physi- 
 cian, who was warmly and neatly clad 
 with a Match-Coat, made of Turkies 
 Feathers, which makes a pretty Shew, 
 seeming as if it was a Garment of the 
 deepest silk shag. These Indians have 
 great skill in their medical matters, 
 this doctor perfected his cures, by prop- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ei" Vegitables, etc., of which they have 
 plenty, and are well acquainted with 
 their specifick virtue. I have seen such, 
 admirable Cures, performed Ijy these 
 Savages, which would puzzle a great 
 many graduate practitioners, to trace 
 their Steps in healing, t. ith the same 
 expeditiion, Ease, and Success; using no 
 racking instruments in their Chirur- 
 gery, nor nice Rules of Diet, and Phy- 
 sick, to certify the saying "Qui medici 
 vivit, miserere .ivit." In wounds which 
 "^penetrate deep, and seem Mortal they 
 order a spare Diet, with drinking 
 Fountain Water. The Indians are an 
 easy, credulous PeopK, and most noto- 
 riously cheated by their priests and 
 conjurers, b'oth Trades meeting ever 
 
 '^ in one Person, and most commonly a 
 spice of Quackship, added to the other 
 two ingredients, which renders that 
 cunning Knave the Imposter to be more 
 rely'd upon; then 9 a fitter instrument 
 t'o cheat these i^^orant people. The 
 priest and Conjurers being never ad- 
 mitted to their practise 'till years and 
 the experience of repeatel Services 
 hath wrought their Esteem amongst 
 the Nations they l^elong to. 
 
 The Santee King who was in com- 
 pany with this No-nosed Doctor, is the 
 'm'ost absolute Indian Ruler in these 
 Parts, al^ho' he is head but of a Small 
 People, in respect to some other 
 Nations of Indians, that I have seen. 
 He can put any of i- s peiople to death 
 that hath committed any fault, which 
 he judges worthy of so great a Punish- 
 ment. This authority is rarely found - 
 amongst these Savages, for they act 
 not (commonly) by a determinative 
 Voice in their Laws, towards any one 
 that hath committed murder, or such 
 
 -^ other great crime, but take this meth- 
 od; him to who the injury was done, or 
 if Dead, the nearest of his kindred, 
 prosecutes by Way of an actual Re- 
 venge, being himself if opportunity 
 serves his intent, both Judge and Exe- 
 
 cutioner, performing so much mischief 
 on his offender, or hi-- nearest Relation 
 until such time that he is fully satis- 
 fy 'd; Yet this revenge is not so infalli- 
 ble, 'but it may be bought off with 
 Beads, Tobacco, and such l.ke Com- 
 modities that are useful amongst them, 
 though it were the most sable Villany 
 that could be acted by Mankind. 
 
 Some that attended the Kiner present- 
 ed me with an odoriferous, balsamick 
 Root, of a fragrant smell, and Taste, 
 the name I know not; they Chew it in 
 the Mouth, and by that simple Appli- 
 catiion, heal desperate Wounds, both 
 green and old, that small quantity I 
 had was given inwardly to those trou- 
 bled with the belly-ach, which remedy 
 failed not to give present Help, the 
 Pain leaving the Patient soon after tak- 
 ing the Root. 
 
 Near to these Cabins are several 
 Tombs made after the fashion of the 
 Indians; the largest and chiefest of 
 them was the Sepulchre of the late In- 
 lian King of the Santees, a Man of 
 Great Power, not only ai.:ongst his own 
 subjects, but dreaded "by the Neighbor- 
 ing Nations for his great Valour and 
 Conduct, having as large a Preroga- 
 tive in his Way of Ruling, as the Pres- 
 ent King I now spoke of. 
 
 The manner of their Interment is 
 thus: A Mole or Pyramid of Earth is 
 ■raised, the Mol . thereof being wiorked 
 very smooth and even, sometimes high- 
 er or lower, according to the dignity 
 of the Person whose Monument it is. 
 On the Top there is an Umbrella, made 
 Ridge- Ways, like the roof of an House; 
 this is supported by nine Stakes or 
 small Posts, the grave being about 6 
 to 8 foot in Length, and Four Foot in 
 Breadth; about it is hung Gourds, 
 Feathers, and other suchlike Trophies, 
 placed there by the dead man's rela- 
 tions, in Respect to him in the Grave. 
 The other part of the Funeral Rites are 
 thus; As s'oon as the party is dead, they 
 
lO 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 lay the corpse on r piece of bark in 
 the Sun, seasoning or embi^lming it 
 with a small root beaten to p'owder, 
 which looks as red as Vermillion; the 
 same is anixed with Bear's Oil to beau- 
 tiffy the Hair, and to preserve their 
 heads from being lousy, it growing 
 'beautifully in these parts of America. 
 After the Carcass has laid a day or two 
 in the Sun, they remove it and lay it 
 upon Crotches cut on purpose for the 
 support thereof from the Earth; Then 
 they anoint it all over with the fore- 
 mentiioned ingredients of the powder of 
 this root and Bear's Oil. When it is 
 so done, they cover it over very exactly 
 with bark of the Pine or Cyprus Tree, 
 to prevent any Rain to fall upon it, 
 sweeping the ground very clean all 
 about it. Some of his nearest Kin 
 brings all the temporal Estate he was 
 possess'd of at his death, as Guns, 
 Bows, Arrows, Beads, Feathers, Match- 
 Coat, etc. This relation is the chief 
 mourner, being clad in moss, and a 
 stick in his hand, keeping a mournful 
 ditty for three or four days, his face 
 being black with the Smoke of Pitch 
 Pine mingled with Bear's Oil. All the 
 while he tells the dead Man's relations, 
 and the rest of the spectators who that 
 Dead Person was, and of the Great 
 Feats performed in his lifetime; all of 
 -what he speaks, tending to the praise 
 of the defunct. As soon as the flesh 
 grows mellow, and will cleave from 
 the bone, they get it off, and burn it, 
 making all the bones very clean, then 
 aroint them with the ingredients afore- 
 said, wrapping up the Skull (very care- 
 fully) in a cloth artificially wnoven of 
 •Possum's Hair. (These Indians make 
 Girdles, Sashes, Garters, etc., after the 
 same manner) The bones they very 
 carefully preserve in a wooden box, 
 every year oiling and cleansing them; 
 by this means preserve them for many 
 ages, that you may see an Indian in 
 possession of the bones of Lis grandfa- 
 
 ther, or some of his relatiions of a larg- 
 er Antiquity.^ They have other sorts 
 of Tombs, as where an Indian is slain, 
 in that place they make a heap of 
 stones, (or sticks where stones are not 
 Vo 'be found) to this memorial every 
 Indian that passes bv adds a stone to 
 augment the Jd.eap, in respect to the 
 deceas'd hero. 
 
 We had a very large Swamp to pass 
 over near the House, and would have 
 hir'd our Landlord to be our guide, but 
 he seem'd unwilling, and sio we press'd 
 him no farther about it. He was the 
 tallest Indian I ever saw, being seven 
 foot high, and a very straight oompleat 
 person, esteem'd on by the King for his 
 Great Art in Hunting, always carrying 
 with him an artificial Head to hunt 
 withal; they are made of the Head of a 
 Buck, the back part of the Horns being 
 scraped and hollow, for lightness of 
 carriage. The skin is left to the set- 
 ting of the shoulders, which is lined all 
 around with small hoops, and flat sort 
 ■of lathes, to hoi I it lopen for the arm to 
 go in. They have a way to preserve 
 the eyes as if Living. The Hunter 
 Puts on a Match-Coat made of Skin, 
 with the Hair on, and a piece of the 
 white part of the Deer's skin, that 
 gnows on the Breast, which is fasten'd 
 to the neck end of this stalking head, 
 so hangs down. In these Habiliments 
 an Indian will go as near a Deer as he 
 pleases, the exact motion and Behav- 
 ior of a Deer being so well counter- 
 feited by 'em, that several times it 
 hath been known for two hunters to 
 oome up with a stalking head together 
 and unknown to each other, so that 
 they have killed an Indian instead of 
 a Deer, which hatn happened some- 
 times to be a Brother or some Dear 
 Friend; for whicn reason they allow 
 not of that sort of practise, where the 
 nation is Populious. 
 
 Within half a Mile of the House we 
 passed over a prodigious wide and deep 
 
OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 
 
 II 
 
 svVamp, being forced to strip stark- 
 Naked, and much ado to save ourselves 
 from drowning in this Fatigue. We, 
 with much ado, got thro; going that 
 day about five miles farther, and came 
 to three more Indian Cabins, cialled in 
 the Indian tongue, Hickerau, by tlis 
 English Traders, The Black House, 
 being pleasantly seated on a high bank, 
 by a Branch of Santee River. One of 
 our Compiany, that had traded amongst 
 these Indans told us, that in one of the 
 Cabins was his Father-in-law, Ive 
 called him so, by reason that the o^d 
 man had given him, a young Indian girl, 
 that wias his daughter, to lie with him, 
 make bread, and be necessary in what 
 «l>e was capable to assist him in, dur- 
 ing his abode amongst them. 
 
 When we came thither first, there 
 wias nobody at Home, so the son made 
 bold to search his father's granary for 
 Corn, and other Provisions. He 
 brought us some Indian maiz and peas, 
 whichi are of a reddish color, and eat 
 well, yet color the liquor they are boil- 
 ing in, as if it were a Lixivium of red 
 tartar. After we had been about an 
 hour in the House, where was millions 
 of flees, the Indian Cabins being often 
 fuller of such vernim, than any Dog- 
 Kennel, the old 'Man dame to us, and 
 seem'd very glad to see his Son-in- 
 Law. 
 
 This Indian is a great Conjurer, as it 
 appears by the Sequel, The Seretee or 
 Santee Indians were gone to War 
 agtainst 'the Hooks and Backbooks 
 Nations, living near the mouth of Win- 
 yau River. 'Those that were left at 
 Home (which are commonly old people 
 and children, had heard no news for a 
 long time of their men at War. This 
 mian at the entreaty of these Peonle, 
 (being held to be a great Sorcerer 
 among them) went to know what pos- 
 ture their fighting men were in. His 
 exorcism was carried on thus; He 
 dress'd himself in a clean white dress'd 
 
 deer Skin; a Grea:t Fire being made in 
 the middle of the Plantation, the In- 
 dians sitting all around it. The con- 
 jurer was blindfolded then he surround- 
 ed the Fire several Times, I think 
 thrice; leaving the Company he went 
 into the Woods, where he stayed about 
 half an Hour, returning to them, sur- 
 rounded the Fire as before, leaving 
 them, went the second Time into the 
 Woods, at which time there came a 
 huge Swarm of Flies, very large, 
 they flying all around the fire several 
 Times, and at last fell into it, and were 
 visibly consumed. Immediately >after 
 the Indian Conjurer made a huge Lille- 
 loo, and howling very frightfully, pres- 
 ently an Indian went and caught hold 
 of him, leading him to the Fire. The 
 old Wizard was so feeble and weak, 
 being not able to stand alone, and all 
 over in a sweat, and as wet as if he 
 had fallen into the River. After a 
 while he recovered his strength, assur- 
 ing them that their men were near a 
 river, and could not pass over it until 
 so many days, but would in such a 
 Time, all return in safety to their 
 Nation. All which proved true at the 
 Indians Return which was not long 
 after. This Story the Englishman, his 
 Son-in-Law, affirmed to me. 
 
 The old Man stayed with us about 
 two hours, and told us we were we'- 
 come to stay there all Night, and take 
 what his cabin afforded; then leaving 
 us went into the woods to some Hunt- 
 ing Quarter not far awav. 
 
 The next morning w^e pursued our 
 Voyage, finding the land to improve it- 
 self in pleasiantness and richness of 
 soil. When we had gone about 10 
 Miles one of our Companions tir'd, 
 being not able to travel any farther so 
 we went forwa,rd, leaving the poor de- 
 jected traveller with Tears in his Eyes 
 to return to Ch'arles-Toiwn, and travel 
 back again over so much bad way, we 
 having pass'd thro' the worst of our 
 
 no 
 
12 
 
 i,awson's history 
 
 journey, the land here being very his:h 
 and dry, very few Swamps, and those 
 dry, and a little way throug^h. We 
 ti^avell'd about twenty Miles, leading 
 near a Savannah that was overflown 
 with water; where we were very short 
 of victuals, but finding the woods 
 nearly burnt, and on fire in many 
 places, which gave us gre'at hopes that 
 Indians were not far ofE. 
 
 Next morning very early we waded 
 through the Savannah, the Path lying 
 there and about 10 o'clock came to a 
 Hunting Quiarter of a great many San- 
 tees; they made us all welcome, show- 
 ing a great deal of joy at our coming, 
 giving us barbacu'd Turkey, Bear's Oil 
 and Venison. 
 
 Here we hired Santee Jack, (a good 
 Hunter and well-humored fellow) to be 
 our pilot to the Congress Indians; we 
 gave him a Stroud-water. After two 
 hours refreshment we went on, and got 
 that day about twenty Miles; we lay 
 by a small swift run of water, which 
 was pav'd at tike bottom with a sort 
 of stone much like Tripoli, and so light 
 that I fancied it would precinitate in no 
 Stream, but where it naturally erew. 
 The weather was very cold, the winds 
 holding Northerly. We made our- 
 selves as merry as we could, having a 
 good supper with the scraps of the 
 Venison we had given us by the In- 
 dians, having killed three Teal and a 
 Possum.; which Medly all together 
 made a curious Ragoo. 
 
 This day all of us had a mind to have 
 rested, but the Indian was much 
 against it, alledging that the place we 
 lay in was not good to hunt in, telling 
 us if we would go on, by Noon he would 
 bring us to a more convenient place; 
 so we moved on, and about twelve a 
 clock we came to the most amazing 
 prospect I have ever seen in Carolina; 
 we traveled by a Swamp side, which 
 swamp I believe to be no less than 20 
 miles over, the other side being as far 
 
 as I could well discern, there appearing 
 great riges of Mountains, bearing from 
 us W. N. W. One Alp with a Top like 
 a sugar loaf, advanced its head above 
 all the rest very considerably; the day 
 was very serene, which gave us the ad- 
 vantage of seeing a long way; These 
 Mountains were clothed all over with 
 Trees, which seemed to us to be very 
 large Timbers. 
 
 At the sight of this fair Prospect we 
 stayed all night; our Indian going 
 about half an h.our before us, had pro- 
 vided three fat turkies v, re we got up 
 to him. 
 
 The Swamp I now spoke of is not a 
 miry Bog, as others generally are, but 
 you go down to it through a steep 
 Bank, at the foot of which begins this 
 Valley, where you may go dry for per- 
 haps 200 yards, then you meet with a 
 small Brook or Run of Water,about 2 or 
 3 foot deep, then dry Land for such an- 
 other space, so another Brook, thus 
 continuing. The land of this Percoar- 
 son, or Valley, being extraordinarily 
 rich, and runs of water well stored with 
 Fowl. It is the Head of one of the 
 brartches of Santee River; but a fur- 
 ther discovery time would not permit; 
 only one thing is very remarkable; 
 there growing all over this Swamp a 
 tall lofty Bay Tree, but is not the same 
 as in England. These being in their 
 verdure all the winter long; which ap- 
 pears here when you stand on thie 
 ridge, (where our path lay) as if it were 
 one pleasant, green field, and as even 
 as a Bowling-green to the Eye of the 
 Beholder; being hemmed in on one side 
 with these Ledges of vast High Moun- 
 tains. 
 
 Viewing the land here we found an 
 extraordinary rich, black Mould, and 
 some of a copper color, both sorts very 
 good; the land in some places is much 
 burthened with Iron, Stone, here being 
 a great store of it seemingly very good; 
 The eviling Springs, which are many in 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 13 
 
 these parts, issuing out of the Rocks, 
 which water we drank of, it colouring 
 the Excrements of Travellers, (by its 
 chalybid Quality) as black as a coal. 
 When we were all asleep in the begin- 
 ning of the night, we were awakened 
 with the Dismalest and Most hideous 
 Noise that ever pierc'd my ears; This 
 sudden surprize incipacitated us of 
 guessing what this threatening noise 
 might proceed from; "but our Indian 
 Pilot (who knew these parts very well), 
 acquainted us, that it was customary 
 to hear such Musick along the Swamp- 
 side, there being endless numbers of 
 panthers, tygers. Wolves, and other 
 Beasts of Prey, which take the Swamp 
 for their abode during the Day, coming 
 in whole droves to hunt the Deer dur- 
 ing the Night, making this frightful 
 Ditty 'till days appears, then all is still 
 as in other places. 
 
 The next day it proved a small 
 drizzly Rain which is rare; there hap- 
 pening not the tenth part of Fogsry 
 Weather towards these Mountains, as 
 visits those parts near the Sea-board. 
 The Indian killed 15 Turkies this dav, 
 there coming out of the Swamp about 
 Sunrising floicks of these Fowl; contain- 
 ing several hundred in a gang, who 
 feed upon the Acrons it being most Oak 
 that grow in these Woods. There are 
 but very few Pines in those Quarters. 
 
 ESarly the next morning we set for- 
 ward for the Congeree Indians, parting 
 with that delicious prospect. By the 
 way, our guide killed more Turkies. and 
 two Polcats, which he eat, esteeming 
 them before fat Turkies. Some of the 
 Turkies which we eat while we stayed 
 there, I believe weighed no less than 40 
 punds. 
 
 The Land we passed over this dav 
 was most of it good, and the worst 
 passable. At night we killed a possum, 
 being cloy'd with Turkeys, made a dish 
 of that, which tasted much between 
 
 young pork and veal, their Fat being 
 as white as any I ever saw. 
 
 Our Indian having this day killed 
 good store of provisions with his gun, 
 he always shot with a single Ball, miss- 
 ing but two shoots in above forty; they 
 being curious artists in managing a 
 gun, to make it carry either ball or 
 shot true. When they have bought a 
 piece and find it to shoot any wavs . 
 crooked, they take the barrel out of the 
 StQick, cutting a notch in a Tree, where- 
 in they set it streight, sometimes 
 shooting away above 100 Loads of am- 
 munition, before they bring the Gun to 
 shoot according to their Mind. We took 
 up our Quarters by a Fish Pond Side; 
 the pits in the Woods stand full of 
 Watei% naturally breed Fish in them, 
 in great Quantities. We cooked our 
 Supper, but having neither Bread, or 
 Salt, our Fat Turkies began to be loath- 
 some to us, altho' we were never want- 
 ing of a good appetite, yet a Continu- 
 ance of one Diet made us wearv. 
 
 The next morning Santee Jack told 
 us, we should reach the Indian Settle- 
 mennietimes that Day, about noon we 
 passed by several fair Savannas, very 
 rich and dry; seeing great copses of 
 many Acres that bore nothing but 
 Bushes about the Bigness of Box-trees; 
 which (in the season) afford great 
 quantities of small Blackberries, very 
 pleasant Fruit and very much like our 
 Blues or Huckleberries, that grow on 
 Heaths in England. Hard by the Sa- 
 vannahs we found the Town, where we 
 halted; there was not above one man 
 left with the Women; me rest being 
 gone a hunting for a Feast. The Women 
 were very busily engaged in Gaming; 
 the Name or Grounds of it I could not 
 learn, though I looked on above two 
 hours. Their Arithmetick was kept with 
 a heap of Indian Grain. When their 
 Play was ended the King, or Caffetta's 
 Wife, invited us into her Cabin. The In- 
 dian Kings always entertaining Trav- 
 
14 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 ellers, either English or Indians; taking: 
 it as a great Affront if they pass'd by 
 their Cabins, and take up their Quar- 
 ters at any other Indian's House; The 
 Queen set Victuals before us, which 
 good compliment they use generally as 
 soon as you come under their roof. 
 
 The Town consists not of above a 
 dozen Houses, they having other strag- 
 ling Plantations up and down the Coun- 
 try, and are seated upon a small Branch 
 of Santee River. Their Place hath cu- 
 rious dry Savannahs and Marshes ad- 
 joining to it, and would prove an ex- 
 ceedingly thriving Range for Cattle, 
 and Hogs, provided the English were 
 seated thereon. Besides the Land is 
 good for Plantations. 
 
 These Indians are a small people, 
 having lost much of their former Num- 
 bers, by intestine Broils; but most by 
 the Small-Pox which hath often visited 
 them, sweeping away whole towns; oc- 
 casioned by the immoderate Govern- 
 ment of themselves in their Sickness; 
 as I have mentioned before, treating of 
 the Sewees. Neither do I know any Sav- 
 ages that have traded with the English, 
 but have been great losers bv this Dis- 
 temper. 
 
 We found here good store of Chinka- 
 pin Nuts which they gather in Winter 
 great Quantities of, drying them,; so 
 keep these Nuts in great Baskets for 
 their use; likewise Hickerie Nuts, which 
 they beat betwix two great stones, 
 then sift them to thicken their Venison 
 with; the small shell precipitating to 
 the bottom of the Pot, whilst the Ker- 
 nel in Form of flower, mixes with the 
 Liquor. Both these Nuts made into 
 Meal make la curious Soup, either with 
 Clear Water, or in any Meat Broth. 
 
 From the Nation of Indians until 
 such Time as you come to the Tuskei- 
 ruros in North Carolina, you will see 
 no long Moss upon the trees, which 
 space of ground contains above 500 
 Miles. This seeming miracle in Nature, 
 
 is oiccasioned by the Highness of the 
 Land, it being Dry and Healthful; for 
 though this Moss bears a Seed in a 
 sort of a small Cod, yet it is generated 
 in or near low swampy Grounds. 
 
 The Congerees are kind and affable 
 to the English, the Queen being very 
 kind, giving us what Rarities her Cabin 
 afforded, as Loblolly made of Indian 
 Corn and Dry'd Peaches. These Con- 
 gerees have abundance of Storks and 
 Cranes in their Savannas. They take 
 them before they can fly, and breed 
 them as tame and familiar as a Dung- 
 hill Fowl. They had a tame Crane a.t 
 one of these Cabins, that was scarce 
 less than six foot in height, his head 
 being round, with a shining natural 
 Crimson Hue, which they all have. 
 These are a very Comelv sort of In- 
 dians, there being a strange Difference 
 in the Proportion and Beauty of these 
 Heathens. Altho' their Tribes or Na- 
 tions border one upon another, yet you 
 may discern as great an Alteration in 
 their features and Dispositions, as you 
 can in their speech, which generally 
 proves quite different from each other, 
 tho' their Nations be not above twenty 
 Miles in Distance. The Women here b»- 
 ing as handsome as most I have met 
 withal, being several fine figured 
 Brounetto's amongst them. These las- 
 sies stick not upon hand long, for they 
 marry when very young, as at 12 or 14 
 years of age. The English Traders are 
 seldom without an Indian Female for 
 his bedfellow, alleging these reasons ass 
 sufficient to allow of such familiarity. 
 First, they being remote from any 
 White People, that it preserves their 
 friendship with the Heiathens, they es- 
 teeming a white man's Child much 
 above one of their own getting, the In- 
 dian Mistress ever securing her WhitP 
 friend provisions whilst he stays 
 amongst them, and lastly the corres- 
 pondence makes them learn the Indian 
 tongue sooner, they being of the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 15 
 
 Frenchmen's opinion, how thiat an Eng- 
 lish Wife teaches her Husband more 
 English in one nisrht, than a School- 
 master can in a week. 
 
 We saw at the Casseta's Oabin the 
 Strangest Spectacle of Antiquity I ever 
 knew, it being an old Indian Spuah, 
 that, had I been to have guess'd at her 
 age by her aspect, old Parr's Head (the 
 Welch Methusalem) was a face in 
 Swadling-Clouts to hers. Her Skin 
 hung in Reaves like a Rag of Tripe. By 
 a fair Computation, one would might 
 have justly thought it would have con- 
 tained three such Carcasses as hers was 
 then. She had one of her hands con- 
 tracted by some accident in the Fire, 
 they sleeping alwiays by it, and often 
 fall into sad disasters, especially in 
 their Drunken Moods. I made the strict- 
 est Inquiry that was possible, and by 
 what I could gather, she was consider- 
 ably above 100 years old, notwithstand- 
 ing she smok'd Tobacco, and eat her 
 Victuals, to all Appearance as heartily 
 as one of 18. One of our Comoany 
 spoke some of their Language, and hav- 
 ing not forgotten his former Intrigues 
 with the Indian Lassies, would fain 
 have dealing with some of the young 
 Female Fry; but thev refused him, he 
 having nothing that these Girls Es- 
 teemed. At night we were laid in the 
 Queen's Cabin, where the Queen and 
 the old Squiah pig'd in with us, the for- 
 mer was very much disfigured with 
 Tettars, and very reserv'd, which dis- 
 appointed our fellow Traveller in his 
 Intrigues. 
 
 The Women smoak much Tobacco, (as 
 most Indians do.) They have pipes 
 whose heads are cut out of stone, and 
 will hold an ounce of Tobacco and 
 some much Less. They have terge wood- 
 en Spoons as big as small Ladles, 
 which they make little use of, lading 
 the Meat out of the Bowls with their 
 Fingers. 
 
 In the Morning we rose before Day, 
 
 having hired a Guide over night to con- 
 duct us on our Way; but it was too 
 soon for him to stir out, the Indians 
 never setting forward until the Sun is 
 an Hour or two high, and hiath exhall'd 
 the Dew from the earth. The Queen 
 got us a good Breakfast before we left 
 her; she had a young Child, which was 
 much afflicted with the Cholick; for 
 which Distemper she infused a root in 
 Water, which was held in a Goard. this 
 she took into her mouth, and spurted it 
 into the Infant's, which gave it ease. 
 After we had. eaten we set out (with 
 our new Guide) for the Wateree In- 
 dians. We went over a good deal of 
 indifferent Land this Day. Here be- 
 gins to appear very good Marble, 
 which continues more and less for the 
 space of 500 miles. We lay all night by 
 a run of Water, as we always do, (if 
 possible) for the Convenience of it. The 
 Weather was very cold. We went this 
 day about 30 Miles from, the Congerees. 
 
 In the Morning we made no stay to 
 get our Breakfast, but hastened on our 
 voyage, the Land increasing in Marble 
 and Richness of Soil. At noon we 
 halted getting our Dinner upon a mar- 
 ble stone, that rose it self half a foot 
 above the Surface of the Earth, and 
 might contain the Compass of a quar- 
 ter of an Acre of land, being very even, 
 there growing upon it in some places a 
 small red Berrv like a Salmon Soawn, 
 there boiling out of the Main Rock cu- 
 rious Springs of as Delicious Water, as 
 ever I drank in any Parts i ever trav- 
 el'd in. 
 
 These parts likewise affords good 
 free Stone, fit for Building, and of sev- 
 eral sorts. The land here is pleasantly 
 seated, with pretty little Hills and Val- 
 leys, the rising Sun at once shewing his 
 gorious reflecting Rays on a great 
 IMany of these little Mountains, We 
 went this day about 20 miles, our 
 Guide walking like a Horse, till we had 
 saddled him with a good heavy Pack 
 
i6 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 of some Part of our Cloaths and Bed- 
 ding; by which means we kept Pace 
 with him. 
 
 This Night we lay by a Run-side, 
 where I found a, fine yellow earth, the 
 same with Bruxels-Sand, which Gold- 
 smiths used to cast withal; giving a 
 good price in England and other parts. 
 Here is likewise the true Blood Stone 
 and considerable Quantities of Fullers- 
 Earth, which I took a Proof of, by 
 scouring great Spots out of Woollen, 
 and it prov'd very good. 
 
 As we were on our road this niorning 
 our Indian shot at a Tyger that crossed 
 the Way, he being a great distance from 
 us. I believe he did him no Harm, 
 because he sat on his Breech after- 
 wards and look'd upon us. I suppose ne 
 expected to have had a Spaniel Bitch 
 that I had with me, for his breastfast. 
 who run towards him, but in the Mid- 
 way stopped her career, and came 
 sneaking back to us with her Tail be- 
 twix her Legs. 
 
 We saw in the Path a great many 
 trees blown up by the Roots, at the bot- 
 tom whereof stuck great Quantities of 
 fine red Bole; I believe nothing inferior 
 to that of Venice or Lemma. We found 
 some holes in the earth which were 
 full of a water as black as ink. I 
 thought that Tincture might proceed 
 from some Mineral, but had not time to 
 make a farther discovery. About noon 
 we passed over a pleasant stony Brook, 
 whose water was of a Bluish Cast^ as it 
 is for several hundreds of Miles to- 
 wards the Heads of the Rivers, I sup- 
 pose occasioned by the vast Quantities 
 of Marble lying in the bowels of the 
 Earth. The Springs that feed these riv- 
 ulets lick up some portions of the 
 'Stones in the Brooks, which Dissolution 
 gives this Tincture, as it appears in all 
 or most of the Rivers, and Brooks of 
 this Country, whose rapid streams are 
 like those in Yorkshire, and other 
 northern counties of England. The In- 
 
 dians talk of many sorts of Fish which 
 they afford, but we had not time to dis- 
 cover their Species. 
 
 I saw here and there some Indian 
 Plantations formerly, there being sev- 
 eral pleasant Fields of cleared Ground 
 and excellent soil, now well spread with 
 fine-bladed grass, and Strawberry 
 vines. 
 
 The Mould here is excessive rich, and 
 a Country very pleasant to the Eye, 
 had it the convenience of a navisrab'e 
 river as all new colonies (of Necessity) 
 require it would make a delig-htful set- 
 tlement. 
 
 We went eight miles further and 
 came to the Weteree Chickanee Indians. 
 The Land holds good, there being not 
 a Spot of bad Land to be seen in Sev- 
 eral Days gone. 
 
 The People of this Nation are Likely 
 tall Persons, and great Pilferers, steal- 
 ing from us anything thev could lay 
 their hands on, though very respectful 
 in giving us what Victuals we wanted. 
 We lay in their Cabins all Night, being 
 Dark, Smoky Holes, as ever I saw any 
 Indian Dwellings. This Nation is much 
 more Populous than the Congerees, 
 their Neighbors, yet understand not one 
 another's speech. They are very poor 
 in Englislh effects, several of them hav- 
 ing no guns, making use of Bows and 
 Arrows, being la lazy, idle People, a 
 Quality incident to most Indians, but 
 none to that degree as these, as I never 
 met withal. 
 
 Their Country is wholly free from 
 Swamps and Quagmires, being high dry 
 land, and consequently healthful, pro- 
 ducing large cornstalks and fair Grain. 
 
 Next Morning we took off our Petards 
 with a razor, the Indians looking on 
 with much admiration. They told us 
 they had never seen the like before, and 
 that our Knives cut far better than 
 those that came amongst the Indians. 
 They would fain have borrowed our 
 Razors, as thev had our knives, scis- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 17 
 
 sors, and tobacco Tongs, the Dav be- 
 fore, being as ingenious at picking of 
 Pockets as any, I believe the World af- 
 fords; for they will steal with their feet. 
 Yesterday one of our Company walking 
 not so fast as the rest was left behind. 
 He being out of sight before we miss'd 
 him, and not being up to us, though we 
 stayed a considerable time on the road 
 for 'him, we stuck up Sticks In the 
 Oround and left other Tokens to direct 
 him which way we were gone. But he 
 came not to us that night, which g:ave 
 us occasion to believe some of the 
 Heathens had killed him, for his 
 Cloathes, or the Savage Beasts had de- 
 voured him in the Wilderness, he hav- 
 ing nothing about him to strike fire 
 withal. As we were debating which 
 way we should send to find him, he 
 overtook us, having a Waxsarw Indian 
 for his Guide. He told us he had 
 missed the Path, and got to another 
 Nation of Indians, but 3 Miles off, who 
 at that Time held great Feasting. Thev 
 had entertained him very respectfully, 
 and sent the Indian with him to invite 
 us amongst them, wondering that we 
 would not take up our Quarters with 
 them, but make our Abode with such a 
 Poor Sort of Indians, that were not 
 capable of entertaining us according 
 to our deserts; We received the Mes- 
 senger with a great many Ceremonies, 
 acceptable to those sort of Creatures. 
 Bidding our Wiaterree King adieu, v/e 
 set forth towards the Waxsaws, going 
 along clear'd ground all the Way. Up- 
 on our arrival, we were led into a very 
 large and lightsome Cabin, the like I 
 have not met withal. They laid Furs 
 and Deer Skins upon cain benches for 
 us to sit or lie upon, bringing immedi- 
 ately stewed peaches and green Corn, 
 that is preserved in their cabins be- 
 fore it is ripe, and sodden and boiled 
 when they use it, which is a pretty sort 
 of Food, and a great Increaser of the 
 Blood. 
 
 These Indians are of an extraordinary 
 Stature, and call'd by their Neighbors 
 Flat Heads, which seems a very suita- 
 ble Name for them. In their infancy, 
 their nurses lay the Back-part of their 
 Children's Heads on a Bag of Sand, 
 (such as engravers use to rest tteir 
 plates upon.) They use a roll, which is 
 placed upon tne babe's Forehead, it 
 being laid with its back on a fiat Board, 
 and swaddled hard down thereon, from 
 one End of this Engine, to the other. 
 This Method makes the child's Bodv 
 and limbs as straight as an Arrow. 
 There being there some young Indians 
 that 'are perhaps crookedly inclin'd, 
 at their first coming into the World, 
 who are made perfectly straight by thi& 
 Method. I never saw an Indian of a 
 mature age, that was anyways crooked, 
 except by accident and that way sel- 
 dom; for they cure and prevent deform- 
 ities of the limbs and Body, very ex- 
 actly. The Instrument I spoke of be- 
 fore, being a sort of a Press, that is let 
 out and in more or less, according to 
 the discretion of the Nurse, in which, 
 they make the Child's Head flat, it 
 makes the Eyes stand a prodigious 
 Way asunder, the Hair hangs over the 
 Forehead like the eve's of a House, 
 which seems very frightful; They being 
 ask'd the reason why they practis'd 
 this Method, reply'd the Indian's sight 
 was much strengthened and quicker 
 thereby to discern the Game in hunt- 
 ing at larger Distance, and so never 
 miss'd of becoming expert Hunters, the 
 perfection of which they all aim at, as 
 we do to beicome experienced Soldiers, 
 learned school-Men, or Artists in Me- 
 chaniks; He that is a good Hunter 
 never misses of being a Favourite 
 amongst the Women; the prettiest Girls 
 being always bestow'd upon the chief- 
 test Sports-Men, and those of a grosser 
 Mould, upon the useless Lubbers. Thus 
 they have a graduation amongst them 
 as well as other Nations. As for the 
 
lawson's history 
 
 solemnity of marriages among-st them, 
 kepi with so much ceremony as divers 
 Authors affirm, it never appear'd 
 amongst those many Nations I have 
 been withal, -any wise than in this man- 
 ner. I have seen several Couples amontr 
 tbem, that have been so reserv'd, as to 
 live together for many Years, faithful 
 to each other. 
 
 At our Waxsaw Landlord's Cabin, 
 was a Woman employed in no other 
 Business than Cookery; it being a 
 House of great Resort. The fire was 
 surrounded with Roast Meat, or Bar- 
 bakues, and the Pots continually boil- 
 ing full of Meat, from Morning- until 
 Night. This She-cook was the cleanest 
 1 Imve ever seen among the Heathens 
 of America, washing her Hands before 
 aihe undertook to do any Cookery; and 
 repeated this useful Decency very often 
 during a day. She made us as White- 
 Bread as any English could have done, 
 and was full as neat and expeditious, 
 in her Affairs. It happened to be one 
 of their great Fetes when we were 
 there; the first day when we were there 
 arrived an Ambassador from the Kimr 
 of Sapona, to treat with these Indians 
 about some important affairs. He was 
 painted with Vermillion all over his 
 body, having a very large Cutlass stuck 
 in his Girdle, and a Fusee in his Hand; 
 At Night the Revels began where this 
 foreign Indian was admitted; the King 
 and War Captain inviting us to see 
 their Masquerade. This Feast was held 
 in commemoration of the Plentiful Har- 
 vest of Corn they had reaped the Sum- 
 mer before, with an united Supplication 
 for the like plentiful produce for the 
 Year ensuing. These revels were car- 
 ried on in a House made for that pur- 
 pose, it being done rounds with white 
 benches of fine Canes joining along the 
 wall; and a place for the Door being 
 left, which is so low, that a man must 
 stoop very much to enter therein. This 
 Edifice resembles a large Hay Rick: its 
 
 top being pyramidal, and much bigger 
 than their other Dwellings, and at the 
 Building whereof every one assists un- 
 til it is finished. All their Dwelling 
 houses are covered with Bark, but this 
 differs very much; for it is very arti- 
 ficially thatched with Sedge and 
 Rushes. As soon as it is finished t'hev 
 ptoce some one of their Chiefest men to 
 dwell therein, charging him with the 
 Diligent preservation thereof, as the 
 Prince commits the Charge of a Fort or 
 Castle, to some subject he thinks 
 worthy of that trust. In these state 
 Houses is transacted all public and 
 Private Business, relating to the affairs 
 of the Government, as the Audience of 
 Foreign Ambassadors from other In- 
 dian rulers. Consultation of Waging 
 and Making War, Proposals of their 
 Trade with Neighboring Indians, or the 
 English who happen to come amongst 
 them. In this Theater the most aeed 
 and wisest meet, determining what to 
 Act, and what may be most convenient 
 to omit, old Age being held in as a great 
 Veneration amongst these Heathens, 
 as amongst any People you may meet 
 withal in any part of the World. 
 
 Whensoever an aged man is speaking, 
 none ever interrupts him. (the contrary 
 Practice the English and other Euro- 
 peans, too much use) the Company 
 yielding a great deal of Attention to his 
 Tale, with a continued silence, and an 
 exact Demeanour, during the Oration. 
 Indeed, the Indians are a People that 
 never interrupt one another in their 
 Discourse, no man so much as offering 
 to open his moutlh, until the Speaker 
 has utter'd his Intent. When an Eng- 
 lishman comes amongst them, perhaps 
 every one is acquainted with him, yet, 
 first the King bids him welcome, after 
 him the War Captain, so on graduaUv 
 fi-om High to Low; not one of all these 
 speaking to the White Guest, till his 
 Superior has ended his Salutation. 
 Amongst Women it seems impossible to 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 19 
 
 find a Scold; if they are prevoked or 
 affronted by their Husbands or some 
 other, they resent the Indignity offered 
 them in silent Tears, or by refusing- 
 their Meat; Would some of our Euro- 
 pean Daughters of Thunder set these 
 Indians for a Pfattern, there might be 
 more quiet families found amongst 
 them, occasion'd by that unruly mem- 
 ber, the tong-ue. 
 
 Festintition proceeds from the Devil 
 (says a Learned Doctor) a Passion the 
 Indians seem wholly free of; they de- 
 termine no Business of Moment, with- 
 out a great deal of Deliberation and 
 Wariness. None of their Affairs appear 
 to be attended with Impetuosity, or 
 Haste, being more content with the 
 common Accidents incident to Human 
 Nature, as (losses, contrary Winds, 
 bad Weather, and Poverty) than those 
 of more civilized Countries. 
 
 Now, to return to our state House, 
 whither we were entertained by the 
 Grandees; as soon as we came into it, 
 they placed our Englishmen near the 
 King; it being my fortune to sit next 
 to hiim, having his Great General or 
 War Captain on my other hand. The 
 House is as Dark as a Dungeon and as 
 hot as one of the Dutch Stoves in Hol- 
 land. They had made a circular Fire 
 of split canes in the middle of the 
 House; It was one Man's emoloyment ' 
 to ladd more split Reeds to this at one 
 end as it consumed at the other, there 
 being a small Vacancy left to supply 
 it with Fuel. They brought in great 
 store of Loblollv, and other Medlevs, 
 made of Indian Grain, stewed Peaches, 
 Bear Venison, etc., every one bringing 
 some offering to enlarge the banquet, 
 according to his Degree and Quality. 
 When all the Viands were brought in 
 the first Figure began with kicking out 
 the Dogs, which are seemingly Wolves, 
 made tame with starving and beating, 
 they being the worst Dog-iMasters in 
 the World, so that is an infallible cure 
 
 for sore eyes, ever to see an Indian Dog 
 fat. They are of quite a contrary con- 
 dition to Horses; some of these Kings 
 have gotten by chance, a jade stolen 
 by some neighboring Indian, and trans- 
 ported further into country and sold or 
 bought sometimes of a Christian that 
 trades amongst them. These creatures 
 they continually cram and feed with 
 maiz, and what the Horse will eat, till 
 he is las fat as a Hog, never makins 
 any further use of him than to fetch a 
 Dear Home that is killed somewhere 
 near the Indian's plantation. 
 
 After the dogs had fled the room, the 
 Company was summoned by beat of 
 Drum; the Musick being made of 
 dress'd deer's Skin, tied 'hot upon an 
 earthern Porridge Pot. Presently came 
 in five men dressed up in Feathers, 
 their Paces being covered with Vizards 
 made of Gourds, round their lAncles and 
 Knees were hung bells of several sorts, 
 having Wooden Falchions in their 
 Hands (such as Stage Fencers common- 
 ly Use) ; in this dress they danced about 
 an hour, shewing many strange ges- 
 tures, and brandishing their Wooden 
 Weapons, as if they were going to fight 
 each other; often walking very nimbly 
 around the room without making the 
 least noise with their bells (a thing I 
 much admired at) again turning their 
 bodies, arms and legs into such fright- 
 ful postures, that you would have 
 guessed they were quite raving mad: 
 "At last they cut two or three hish 
 capers and left the room. In their 
 stead came in a parcel of women and 
 girls, to the number of Thirty odd, 
 every one taking place according to her 
 degree of stature, the tallest leading 
 the dance, and the least of all being 
 placed last; with these they made a 
 circular Dance, like a ring, represent- 
 ing the Shape of the fire they danced 
 about; Many of these had great Horse 
 Belts about their legs, and small Hawks 
 Bells about their necks. They had Mu- 
 
20 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 sicians who were two Old Men, one of 
 whom beat a Drum, while the other 
 rattled with a Gourd, that had corn in 
 it to make a noise withal; to these in- 
 struments they both sung a mournful 
 ditty; the burthen of their song was In 
 Remembrance of their form.er Great- 
 ness, and the Numbers of their Nation, 
 ■ the famous exploits of their renowned 
 ancestors and all actions of moment 
 that had (in former days) been oer- 
 formed by their forefathers. At these 
 Festivals it is, that they give a tradi- 
 tional relation of what hath oassed 
 amongst them to the younger Fry: 
 these verbal deliveries being always 
 published in their most Publick assem- 
 blies serve instead of our traditional 
 notes, by the use of letters. Some In- 
 dians that I have met withal have 
 given me a curious description of the 
 great Deluge, the Immortality of the 
 Soul, with a Pithy account of the Re- 
 ward of the good and wicked deeds m 
 the Life to come; indeed a worthy foun- 
 dation to build Christianity upon, were 
 a true Method found out. and practis'd 
 for the performance thereof. 
 
 Their way of Dancing is nothing but 
 a sort of stamping motion much like 
 the treading upon Founders Bellows. 
 Their Femiale Gang held their dance 
 for above six Hours, being all of them 
 like a White Lather of a running Horse 
 that has just come in from his race. 
 My Landlady was the ring leader of the 
 Amazons, who, when in her own House, 
 behaved herself very discreetly and 
 warily, in her domestic affairs, yet cus- 
 tom had so infatuated her, as to almost 
 break her heart with dancing amongst 
 such a confused Rabble. During this 
 Dancing the spectators do not neglect 
 their Business, in working the loblolly 
 Pots, and other meat that was brought 
 thither; more or less of them being con- 
 tinually eating, whilst the others were 
 dancina:. 
 Next we shall treat of the land here 
 
 abouts, which is a Marl as red as blood, 
 and will lather like soap. The town 
 stands on this Land, which hoJds con- 
 siderably farther in the country, and is 
 in my Opinion, so durable that no 
 labour of Man. in one or two A^es, 
 could make it poor. Here were corn 
 stalks in their Fields as thick as the 
 sm.all of a Man's Leg, and they are or- 
 dinarily to be seen. 
 
 We lay with these Indians one night, 
 there being one of the largest Iron 
 Pots I had ever seen in America, which 
 I much wondered at, because I thought 
 there might be no navigable stream 
 near that Place. I ask'd them, where 
 they got that Pot? They laugh'd at 
 my Demand, and would give me no an- 
 swer, which makes me guess it came 
 from some Wreck and that we were 
 Hi^arer the Ocean or some great River 
 than I thought. 
 
 The next day about noon we accident- 
 ly met with la Southward Indian, 
 amongst those that us'd to trade back- 
 ward and forward, and spoke a little 
 English, whom we hir'd to go with us 
 to the Esaw Indians, a very large 
 Nation, containing many thousand peo- 
 ple. In the afternoon we set forward, 
 taking our leaves of the Wisack In- 
 dians, and leaving them, some Trifles. 
 On our Way. we met with several 
 Towns of Indians, each Town having its 
 capitol, theatre or State House, such 
 Houses, being found all along the road, 
 until you come to Sapona, and then no 
 more of those buildings, it being about 
 170 Miles. We reach'd 10 Miles this Day, 
 lying at another Town of the Wisacks 
 The Man of the House offer'd us Skins 
 to sell, but they were too heavy burdens 
 for our long Voyage. 
 
 Next morning we set out early 
 breaking the Ice we met withal in the 
 Stony Runs, which were manv. We 
 passed by several Cottages, and about 
 eight of the clock we came to a big 
 Town, where we took up our Quarters 
 
OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 
 
 21 
 
 in one of their State Houses, ths Men 
 being all out, hunting in the Woods and 
 none but Women at Home. One of the 
 Women picked the Pocket of one of our 
 English, of the Beads, Cadis, and what 
 else should have gratified the Indians 
 for the Victuals we receiv'd of them. 
 She also got his shoos away which he 
 had made the night before, of a drest 
 buckskin. With much ado, we muster- 
 ed up another pair of shooes, of Mogi- 
 sons, and set forward on our intended 
 voyage. 
 
 Relying wholly on Providence we 
 marched on. The Land held rich and 
 Good. In many Places there were great 
 Quantities of Marble. The Water was 
 still of a Whayish Colour. About 10 of 
 the Clock, we waded through a River, 
 (about tlie bigness of Derwent in York- 
 shire) which I take to be one of the 
 Branches of Winjaw River. We saw 
 several Flocks of Pigeons, Field Fares 
 and Thrushes, much like those of Eu- 
 rope. The Indians of these parts use 
 sweating very much. If any Pain, 
 seize their Limbs or Body, immediately 
 they take Reeds or smiall Wands, and 
 bend them umbrella fashion, covering 
 them with skins and match coats. Thej^ 
 have a large Fire not far off wherein 
 they heat stones or (where they are 
 wanting) Bark; putting it into this 
 Stove, which casts an extraordinary 
 heiat. There is a pot of water in the 
 Bagnio, in which is put a bunch of an 
 herb bearing a silver Tassel, not much 
 unlike the Aurea Virga. With this veg- 
 etable thev rub the head, temple and 
 other parts, which is reckon'd a pre- 
 server of the sight, and strengthener of 
 the Brain. We went this day about 12 
 miles, one of our company being I'ame 
 of his Knee. We passed over an ex- 
 ceedingly rich Tract of Land, affording 
 many Great Free Stones, t^nd Marble 
 Rocks, and abounding in many pleas- 
 ant and delightful rivulets. At Noon 
 we stay'd and refreshed ourselves at a 
 
 Cabin where we met with one of their 
 War Captains, a man of great Esteem 
 among them. Athisdetparture from the 
 House, the Man of the House scratched 
 this War Captain on the Shoulder, 
 which is looked upon as a very p-reat 
 compliment among them. The Captain 
 went two or three miles on our Way 
 with us, to direct us in the Path. One 
 of our Company gave him a belt, which 
 he took very kindly, bidding us call at 
 his House (which was in our road) and 
 stay until the Lame traveller was well, 
 and speaking to the Indian to order his 
 servant to make us welcome. Thus we 
 parted, he being on his journey to the 
 Congerees, and Savannas, a famous 
 warlike friendly Nation of Indians, liv- 
 ing to the South end of the Ashly River. 
 He had a man-slave with him who was 
 loaded with Europoean Goods, his wife 
 and Daughter being in the Company. 
 He told us at his departure that James 
 had sent Knots to all the Indians there- 
 abouts, for every town to send in 10 
 skins, meaning Capt. Moore, then Gov- 
 ernor of South Carolina. The Towns 
 being very thick hereabouts, we took 
 up our Quarters at one of the Chief 
 Men's Houses, which was one of the 
 Theaters I spoke of before. There ran, 
 hard by this Town, a pleasant River not 
 very large, but as the Indians told us, 
 well stor'd with Fish. We being now 
 among the powerful nation of Esaws, 
 our Landlord entertained us very cour- 
 teously, shewing us that night a pair 
 of leather gloves which he had made, 
 and comparing them with ours, they 
 proved to be very ingeniously done, con- 
 sidering it was the first Tryal. 
 
 In the morning he desired to see the 
 lame Man's affected part, to the end 
 he might do something he believed 
 would give his ea«e. After he had view- 
 ed it accordingly, he pulled out an in- 
 strument somewhat like a comb, which 
 was made of split reed with 15 teeth of 
 rattle snakes, set at much the same 
 
22 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 distance, as in a large Horn Comb. 
 With this he scratched the Place where 
 the Lameness chiefly lay, till the blood, 
 came, bathing it both before and after 
 incision, with Warm water, spurted out 
 of his mouth. This done he ran into 
 his Plantation, and got some Sassafras 
 Root (which grows here in great Plen- 
 ty) dry'd it at the embers, scraped off 
 the outward rind, and having heated it 
 between two stones applied it to the 
 part afflicted, binding it up well. Thus 
 in a day or two the patient became 
 sound. This day we pass'd through a 
 great many towns and settlements, that 
 belonged to the Sugeree Indians, no 
 barren land being found amongst them, 
 but great plenty of free-stone and good 
 timber. About three in the afternoon we 
 reached the Kadapau King's House, 
 where we met with one John Stewart, 
 a Scot, then an Inhabitant of James 
 R'ver in Virginia, who had traded there 
 for many years. Being alone, and hear- 
 ing that the Sinnagers (Indians from 
 Canada) were abroad in that country, 
 he durst not venture homewards until 
 he saw us, having heard that we were 
 coming above 20 days before. It is very 
 odd that news should fly so swiftly 
 among these people. Mr. Stewart had 
 left Virginia ever since the October be- 
 fore, and had lost a day of the week, 
 of which we informed him. He had 
 brought seven horses along with him, 
 loaded with English goods for the In- 
 dians, and having sold most of his Car- 
 go, told us if we would stay two nights, 
 he would go along with us. Comoanv 
 being very acceptable, we accepted the 
 proposal. 
 
 The next day we were preparing for 
 our voyage and ibaked some bread to 
 take with us. Our Landlord was King 
 of the Kadapau Indians, and always 
 kept two or three trading girls in his 
 cabin. Offering- one of these to one 
 of our Company, who refused his Kind- 
 ness, his Majesty flew into a violent 
 
 Passion to be thus slighted, telling the 
 Englishmen they were good for nothing. 
 Our old Gamster particularly hung his 
 ears at the proposal, having too lately 
 been a looser by that sort of Merchan- 
 dize. It was observable that we did 
 not see one partridge from the Water- 
 rees to this place, though my SDan^el 
 bitch which I had with me on this voy- 
 age had put up a great manv before. 
 
 On Saturday morning we all set out 
 for Sapona, killing in this creek several 
 Ducks of a strange kind, having a red 
 circle about their Eyes, like some 
 Pigeons that I have seen. A top-knot 
 reaching from their Heads almost to 
 rhe middle of their Backs, and abun- 
 dance of Feathers of prettv shades and 
 colors. They prov'd excellent meat. 
 Likewise here is a good store of Wood 
 Cocks, not so big as those in England, 
 the feathers of the Breast, being of a 
 Carnation Colour, exceeding ours for 
 delicacy of Food. The Marble here is 
 of different Colours, some or other of 
 the rocks presenting most mixtures, but 
 chiefly the white having black and blue 
 veins in it, and some that are red. This 
 day we met with seven Heaps of 
 Stones, being the Monuments or seven 
 Indians, that were slain in that place 
 by the Sinnagers, or Iroquois. Our 
 Indian Guide added a stone to each 
 Heap. We took up our Lodgings near a 
 brook side, where the Virginia man's 
 Horses got away, and went back to the 
 Kadapaus. 
 
 This day one of our Company with 
 a Sapona Indian, who attended Stewart, 
 went back for the Horses. In the mean 
 time we went to shoot Pigeons, which 
 were so numerous in these Parts, that 
 you might see many Millions in a Flock. 
 They sometimes split off the limbs of 
 stout Oaks and other trees, upon 
 which they roost o' Nig'hts. You 
 may find several Indian Towns of 
 not above seventeen Houses, that 
 have more than 100 gallons of 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 23 
 
 Pigeon Oil or Fat, they using it with 
 Pulse or Bread as we do Butter, and 
 making the ground as white as a st-eet 
 with their Dung. The Indians take a 
 light and go among them in the night, 
 and bringing away with them some 
 thousand, killing them with long poles 
 as they roost in the trees. At this time 
 of year, the flocks as they pass by, ob- 
 struct the light of tbie day. 
 
 On Monday we went about 25 Miles, 
 traveling through a pleasant dry coun- 
 try, and took up our lodgings by a hill 
 side, that was 'One entire Rock, out of 
 which gushed out pleasant fountains of 
 well tasted Water. 
 
 The next day, still passing along such 
 land as we had done for many days, be- 
 fore, which was Hills and Vallies, about 
 10 a'Clock we reached the topi of one of 
 these Mountains, which yielded us a 
 very fine prospect of a very pleasant 
 country, holding so on all sides further 
 than we could discern. When we came 
 to travel through it we found it very 
 stiff and rich, being a sort of Marl. ThLg 
 valley afforded as large Timber as any 
 I have met withal, especially of chest- 
 nuts and Oak Timbers which render U 
 an excellent country for raising great 
 herds of swine. Indeed, were it culti- 
 vated, we might have good hopes of as 
 pleasant and fertile a valley, as anv our 
 English in America can afford. At 
 night we lay by a Swift current where 
 we saw plenty of Turkies, but perched 
 upon such lofty oaks that our guns 
 would not kill them, tho' we shot very 
 often and our guns were very good. 
 Some of our Company shot several 
 Times at one Turkey before he would 
 fly away, the pieces being loaded with 
 large Goose Shot. 
 
 Next Morning we got our Breakfast, 
 roasted acorns being one of the dishes. 
 The Indians beat them into Meal and 
 thickened their Venison Broath with 
 them; and of times make a palatable 
 soop. They are used instead of bread. 
 
 boiling them until the Oil swims on top 
 of the Water, which they preserve for 
 use, eating the Acorns with Flesh meat. 
 We Traveled this day about 25 males, 
 over pleasant Savanna Grounds, high 
 and Dry, having very few trees upon 
 it. and those standing at a great dis- 
 tance. The Land was very good and 
 free from Grubs or Underwood. A man 
 near Sapona may more easily clear 10 
 acres of Ground, than in some plaices he 
 can one, there being much loo?e stone 
 upon the Land, lying very convenient 
 for making dry Walls, and other sort 
 of durable fences. This country abounds 
 likewise with Curious bold Creeks (nav- 
 igable for small craft disgorging them- 
 selves into the Main Rivers, that vent 
 themselves into the Ocean. Tliese 
 Creeks are well stored with sundry 
 sorts of Fish and Fowl, and are very 
 convenient for the transportation of 
 what commodities this place may pro- 
 duce. This night we had a great deal 
 of Rain, with Thunder and Lightning. 
 Next morning it proving delicate 
 weather, three of us separated our- 
 selves from the Horses, and the rest of 
 the Company and went direct to Sa- 
 pona Town. That day we passed thro' 
 a delicious Country, (none that I ever 
 saw exceeds it). We saw fine-bladed 
 grass, 6 foot High, along the Banks of 
 these pleasant rivulets. We passed by 
 the Sepulchres of several slain Indians. 
 Coming that day about 30 Miles we 
 reached the pleasant Banks of Sapona 
 River, whereon stands the Indian Town 
 and Fort, nor could all England afford 
 a pleasenter Stream, were it inhabited 
 by Christians, and cultivated by ingen- 
 ious Hands. These Indians live in a 
 clear Field, about a Mile square, which 
 they would have sold me because I 
 talked sometimes about coming into 
 those parts to live. This pleasant River 
 may be sometimes larger than the 
 Thames at Kingston, keeping a contin- 
 ual pleasant Noise, with its reverberat- 
 
24 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 ing- on the bright Marble rocks. It is 
 beautiful with a numerous train of 
 Swans, and other sorts of Water Fowl, 
 not common though extraordinarly 
 pleasing to the Eye. The forward 
 Spring welcomed us with her innumera- 
 ble train of small Choristers, which in- 
 habit those fair banks; the Hills re- 
 doubling, and adding sweetness to their 
 Melodious tunes, by their shrill echoes. 
 One side of the River is hemmed in with 
 Mountainy Ground, the other side prov- 
 ing as rich a soil to the eve of a know- 
 ing person with us, as any this Western 
 World can afford. We took up our 
 Quarters at the King's Cabin, who was 
 a good Friend to the English, and had 
 lost one of his Eyes in their Vindica- 
 tion. Being upon his march towards the 
 Appalatche Mountains, among-st a tribe 
 of Indians in their Way, there happen- 
 ing a difference while they were meas- 
 uring of gun Powder; and the Powder 
 iby accident taking Fire blew out one of 
 this King's Eyes, and did a great deal 
 more mischief upon the spot; Yet this 
 Sapona King stood firmly to the Eng- 
 lishman's Interest, with whom he was 
 in Company, still siding with him 
 against the Indians. They were intend- 
 ed for the South Sea, but were too 
 much fatigued by the vast ridge of 
 Mountains, tho' they hit the right pas- 
 sage; it being no less than 5 days jour- 
 ney through a ledge of Rocky Hills and 
 sandy deserts. And which is yet worse 
 there is no Water, nor scarce a bird to 
 be seen, during your Passage over these 
 barren Crags and Valleys. The Sapona 
 River proves ta be the west Branch of 
 Cape Fair, or Clarendon River, whose 
 inlet with other advantages, makes it 
 appear as noble a River to plant a Col- 
 ony in, as any I have met withal. 
 
 The Saponas had (about 10 days be- 
 fore we came thither) taken five prison- 
 ers of the Sinnagers, or Jennitos, a sort 
 of People that range several thousand 
 of Miles, making all Prey thev lav 
 
 their hands on. These are feared by all 
 the Savage Nations I was among, the 
 Westward Indians dreading their ap- 
 proach. They are all sorted in, and 
 keep continual Spies and Out Guards 
 for their better Security. Those Cap- 
 tives they did intend to burn, few Pris- 
 oners of War escaping their punish- 
 ment. The Fire of Pitch-Pine being got 
 ready and a Feast appointed, which is 
 solemnly kept at the time of their act- 
 ing this Tragedv. the sufferer has his 
 body stuck thick with lightwood splin- 
 ters, which are lighted by so many can- 
 dles, the tortured person dancing round 
 a great Fire, till his strength fails, and 
 disables him ifrom making them any 
 further pastime. Most conxmonly these 
 wretches behave themselves (In the 
 Midst of their Tortures) with a great 
 Deal of Bravery and Resolution, es- 
 teeming it satisfaction enough, to be 
 assured that the same Fate will befall 
 some of their Tormentors, whenever 
 they fall into the Hands of their Na- 
 tion. More of this you will have in the 
 other sheets. 
 
 The Toteros, a neighboring Nation, 
 came down from the Westward Moun- 
 tains, to the Saponas, desiring them to 
 give them those Prisoners into their 
 Hands, to the intent they might send 
 them back to their own Nation, beins 
 bound in gratitude to be servicable to 
 the Sinnagers, since not long ago those 
 Northern Indians had taken some of 
 the Toteros Prisoners, and done them 
 no harm, but treated them Civilly 
 whilst among them, sending them with 
 safety back to their Own people, and 
 affirming that it would be the best 
 Method to preserve Peace on all sides. 
 At that Time, these Toteros, Saponas 
 and the Keyauwees, 3 small Nations, 
 were going to live together, by which 
 they thought they would strengthen 
 themselves and become formidable to 
 their Enemies. The reasons offered by 
 the Toteros being heard the Sapona 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 25 
 
 King with the consent of his Council- 
 lors, delivered the Sinnagers up to the 
 Toteros, to conduct tliem Home. 
 
 Friday Morning the old King having 
 shewed us two of his Horses that were 
 as Fat as if thev had belonged to the 
 Dutch Troopers, left us and went to 
 look after his Bever-Traps, there being 
 abundance of those amphibious Ani- 
 mals in this River, and the Creeks Ad- 
 joining. Taken with the Pleasantness 
 of the Place, we w^alked along the 
 River-side, where we found a very de- 
 lightful Island, made by the River, and 
 a Branch, there being several such 
 plots of Ground environ'd with this Sil- 
 ver Stream, which are fit pastures for 
 Sheep, and free from any offensive 
 Vermin. Nor can anything be desired 
 by a contented mind, as to a Pleasant 
 situation, but what mav be found here; 
 every step presenting some new object 
 which still adds Invitation to the Trav- 
 eller in these Parts. Our Indian King 
 and his Wife entertained us very re- 
 spectfully. 
 
 On Saturday the Indians brought us 
 some Swans and Geese, which we Had 
 our share of. One of their Doctors took 
 me to this Cabin of his and showed me 
 a great lot of Medicinal Drugs, the 
 produce of those Parts; Relating their 
 Qualities as to the Etnunctories they 
 work'd by, and what great Maladies he 
 had cured by them. This evening icame 
 to us the Horses, with the remainder of 
 our Company, their Indian Guide (who 
 was a Youth of this Nation) having 
 k:l!ed in their Way tei very Fat Dae. 
 part of which they brought to us. 
 
 This Day the King sent out all his 
 Able Hunters to kill game for a great 
 Feast, that was to be kept at their De- 
 parture from the Town, which they of- 
 fered to sell me for a small matter. 
 That piece of ground with a little 
 trouble could make an Englishman a 
 most curious Settlement, containing 
 above a Mile of rich land. This even- 
 
 ing came down some Toteros. tall likelv 
 men, having great quantities of Buffa- 
 loes, Elks and Bears, with other sort of 
 Deer amongst them, which strong Food 
 makes large, robust bodies. Enquiring 
 of them if they never got any of the 
 Bezoar Stone, and giving them a de- 
 scription how it was found, the Indians 
 told me they had a great Pilenty of it; 
 and ask'd me what use I could make of 
 it, I answered them, that the White men 
 used it as Physick. and that I would 
 buy some of them, if they would get it 
 against I came that way again. There- 
 upon one of them pulled out a leath2r 
 pouch wherein was some of it in Pow- 
 der; he was a notable hunter, and af- 
 firmed to me that that powder blown 
 into the Eyes strengthened the Sight 
 and Brain exceedingly, that being the 
 most common use they made of it. I 
 bought for 2 or 3 flints a large Peach 
 Loaf, made up with a pleasant sort of 
 seed, and this did us a singular kind- 
 ness in our journev. Near the Town 
 within their cleared land are several 
 Bagnios, or Sweating Houses, made of 
 stone in shape like a large oven; these 
 they make much use of, especially for 
 any pain in the joints, got by cold or 
 travelling. At night as we lay in our 
 beds there arose the most violent N. W. 
 Wind I ever knew. The first Puff blew 
 down all the Palisadoes that fortified 
 the town, and I thought it would hive 
 blown us all into the River, together 
 with the Houses. Our one-eyed King, 
 who pretends much to the Art of Con- 
 juration, ran out in the most violent 
 Hurrv, and in the middle of the Town 
 fell to his Necromantick Practise; tho' 
 I thought he would have been blown 
 away or killed, before the Devil and he 
 could have exchanged half a dozen 
 W'Ords; but in two Minutes the Wind 
 had ceased and it became as Great a 
 Calm, as I ever knew in my Life. As I 
 much admired at that sudden altera- 
 tion, the old man told me the Devil was 
 
26 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 .very angrv and had done thus, because 
 they had not put the Sinna^ers to 
 Death. 
 
 On Monday Morning our whole Com- 
 pany, with the Horses, set out from the 
 Sapona Indian town, after having seen 
 some of the Locust, which is erotten 
 thereabouts, the same sort tliat bears 
 Honey. Getting over several Creeks 
 very ^convenient for Water Mills, about 
 8 Miles from the Town, we passed over 
 a very pretty River, called Rock River, 
 a fit name, having a ridge of high 
 Mountains running- from its Banks to 
 the Eastward, and disgorging itself in 
 the Sapona River; so that there is a 
 most pleasant and convenient Neck of 
 Land betwixt both Riveis ly ng upon a 
 Point, where many thousand acres may 
 be fenced in, without much cost or la- 
 bour. You can scarce go a Mile with- 
 out meeting with one of these small 
 Currents, here being no Swampis to be 
 found, but pleasant dry roads au over 
 the Country. The way that we went 
 this day w^as full of Stones, as any 
 which Craven, in the West of Yorkshire, 
 could afford, and having nothing but 
 moggisons on mv feet, I was so lamed 
 by this way, that I thought I must 
 have taken up some stay in those narts. 
 We went this Day not above 15 or 20 
 Miles. 'After we had supped and all lav 
 down to sleep, there came a Wolf close 
 to the Fireside, where we lay. My 
 Spaniel soon discovered him, at which 
 one of our Company fired a gun at the 
 Beast; but I believe there was a mis- 
 take in the loading of it, for it d'd him 
 no harm. The Wolf stayed until he had 
 almost loaded again, but the Bitch 
 making a great noise at last he left us 
 and went aside. We had no sooner lav 
 down when he approached us again, vet 
 was more shy, so that we could not 
 get a shot at him. 
 
 Next day we had 15 Miles further to 
 the Keyauwees. The land is more moun- 
 tainjDus but extremely pleasent, and an 
 
 excellent place for the breeding of 
 Sheep, Goats and Horses; or Mules, if 
 the English were once brought to the 
 experience of the usefullness of those 
 Creatures. The Valleys here are very 
 rich. At noon, we piassed over such an- 
 other Stony River, as that eight Miles 
 from Sapona. This is called Highwaree, 
 and affords as good Blue stone for Mill 
 stones, as that from Cologne, good 
 Rags, some Hones, and large Pebbles 
 in great abundance, besides free stone 
 of several sorts, all very useful. I knew 
 one of these Hones made use of by an 
 Acquaintance of mine, and it proved 
 rather better than any other from old 
 Spain, or elsewhere. The veins of mar- 
 ble are very large and curious on this 
 River, and the Banks thereof. 
 
 Five -Miles from this River to the N. 
 W. stands the Keyauwee's Town. They 
 are fortified in with Wooden Punch- 
 eons, like Sapona, being a People much 
 of the same Number. Nature hath so 
 fortify'd this Town with Mountains, 
 that were it a Great Seat of War. it 
 might easily be made impregnable, hav- 
 ing large corn fields joining to their 
 Cabins, and a Savanna near the Town, 
 at the foot of these Mountains, that is 
 capable of keeping some hundreds of 
 heads of Cattle. And all this environ'd 
 round with very High Mountains, so 
 that no hard Wind ever troubles these 
 inhabitants. These high clifts have no 
 grass growing on them, and very few 
 Trees, which are very short and stand 
 at a great distance from each other. 
 The earth is a red Colour, and seems to 
 me to be wholly designed by Nature for 
 the production of Minerals, being of too 
 hot a Quality to suffer any verdure ud- 
 on its surface. These Indians make 
 use 'of red ore to paint their Faces with- 
 al, which they get in the Neig-hborinsr 
 Mountains. As for the refinement of 
 Metals the Indians are wholly i£:norant 
 of this, being content with the Realgar. 
 But if it be mv chance once more to- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 27 
 
 visit these Hilly parts, I shall make a 
 longer stay amongst them; Fox were a 
 good vein of Lead found out, and 
 worked by an ingenious Hand, it might 
 be of no small adviantage to the under- 
 taker, there being great convenience for 
 smelting, either by Bellows or Rever- 
 beration: and the working of these 
 mines might discover some that are 
 much richer. 
 
 At the top of one of these Mountains 
 is a Cave that 100 Men sit very 
 conveniently to dine in; whether nat- 
 ural or artificial I could not learn. 
 There is a fine Bole between this place 
 and the Saps. These Valleys thus 
 hemmed in with Mountains would 
 doubtless prove a good Place for uropa- 
 gating some sort of fruits, that our 
 easterly Winds commonly blast. The 
 vine could not miss of thriving well 
 here; 'but we of the Northern CUmate 
 are neither Artists nor Curious, in 
 propagating that pleasant and orofit- 
 able vegetable. Near the Town is such 
 another Current as Heighwaree. We 
 being six in Company divided ourselves 
 into two parties; and it was my lot to 
 be at thie House of Kayauwees Jack, 
 who is King of that People. He is a 
 Congeree Indian and ran awav when he 
 was a boy. He got this Government by 
 marriage with the Queen, the Female 
 issue carrying the Heritage for fear of 
 Imposters; the Savages well knowing 
 how much Frailty possesses the Indian 
 Women betwixt the Garters and the 
 Girdle. 
 
 Next day having some occasion to 
 write, the Indian King, who saw me, 
 believed that he could write as well as 
 I. Whereupon I wrote a word and gave 
 it to him to copy, which he did with 
 more exactness than any European 
 oould have done, that was illiterate. It 
 was so well that he who could have 
 read mine might have done the same 
 'by his. Afterwards he took great de- 
 light in making fish-hooks of his own 
 
 invention which would have been a 
 good Piece for an Antiquary to have 
 puzzled his brains withal, in tracing 
 out the Characters of all the oriental 
 Tongues. He sent for several Indians 
 to his Cabin to look at his handywork 
 and both he and they thought I could 
 read his writing as well as I could my 
 own. I had a Manual in my oocket 
 that had King David's Picture in it, 
 and in one of his Private retirements. 
 The Indian asked me who that Indian 
 represented? I told him that it was the 
 Picture of a good King that lived ac- 
 cording to the rules of Morality, doins 
 all as he would be done by, ordering all 
 his life to the service of the Creator of 
 all things; and being now above us in 
 Heaven with God Almighty, who had 
 rewarded him with all the delightful 
 pleasures imaginable in the other 
 World, for his Obedience to him in this. 
 I concluded with telling him that we re- 
 ceived nothing here below, as Food, 
 Raiment, etc., but what came from the 
 Omnipotent Being. They listened to my 
 Discourse with a profound Silence, as- 
 suring me that they believed what 1 
 said to be true. No man living will 
 ever be able to make these Heathens 
 sensible to the Hapipiness of a future 
 stiate, except he now and then mentions 
 some lively carnal Representation, 
 which may quicken their apprehensions, 
 and make them thirst after such a 
 gainful exchange; for were the best 
 lecture that ever was preached by man 
 given to an ignorant sort of people, in 
 a more learned style then their mean 
 capacities are able to understand, the 
 Intent would prove ineffectual, and the 
 Hearers would be left in a greater 
 Labyrinth than their Teacher found 
 them in. But dispense the Precepts of 
 our Faith according to the Pupil's ca- 
 pacity, and there is nothins' in our Re- 
 ligion but what an indifferent reason is 
 in some measure able to comprehend 
 tho' a New England Minister blames 
 
28 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 the French Jesuits for this wav of oro- 
 ceeding, as being quite ^contrary to this 
 true Christian Practise, and affirms it 
 to be no ready or true Method, to es- 
 tablish a lively representation of our 
 Christian Belief amongst these Infidels. 
 All the Indians hereabouts carefully 
 preserve the bones of the Flesh thev 
 eat, and burn them, as being of opinion 
 that if they Omitted thhat Custom, the 
 Oame would leave their country, and 
 they would not be able to Mamtain 
 themselves bj^ Hunting. Most of these 
 Indians wear Mustaches, or Whiskers. 
 which is rare; by reason the Indians 
 are a people that commonly pull the 
 Hair of their Faces, and other parts 
 up by the Roots and suffer None to 
 grow. Here is plenty of Chestnuts, 
 which are rarely found in Carolina, and 
 never near the Sea or Salt Water, tho' 
 they are frequently in such places in 
 "Virginia. 
 
 At the other House where our Fellow- 
 Travellers lay, they had provided a 
 Dish in great Fashion among the In- 
 dians, which was two young Fawns, 
 taken out of the Doe's Bellies, and boil- 
 ed in the same slimy bags Nature had 
 provided them in, and one of the Coun- 
 try Hares stewed with the Guts in her 
 ibelly, vand her skin with the Hair on. 
 This new-found cookery wrought Ab- 
 stinence in our Fellow-Travellers, 
 which I somewhat wondered at, because 
 one of them made nothing of eatins 
 allegators, as heartily as if it had been 
 Pork and Turnips. These Indians dress- 
 ed most things after the Wood-Cock 
 fashion, never taking the guts out. At 
 the House we layiat there was good en- 
 tertainment of Venison, Turkies and 
 Bears; and which is customary among 
 the Indians, the Queen had a Daughter 
 by a Former Husband, who was the 
 beautifulest Indian I ever saw, and had 
 an Air of Majesty with her, quite con- 
 trary to the general Carriage of the In- 
 dians. She was very kind to the Eng- 
 
 lish during our abode, as well as her 
 Father and Mother. 
 
 This Morning most of our Comp-iny 
 having some inclination to go straight 
 away for Virginia, when they left this 
 Place; I and one more took our leaves 
 of them, resolving, (with God's Leave) 
 to see North Carolina, one of the In- 
 dians setting us in our Way. The rest 
 being indifferent which way they went, 
 desired us by all means to leave a let- 
 ter for them at the Achonechy-Town. 
 The Indian that put us in our Path had 
 been a Prisoner amongst the Sinnagers. 
 but had outrun them, altho' they had 
 cut his toes, and half his feet away, 
 which is a practice common amongsc 
 them. They first raise the Skin, cut 
 away half the feet, and so wrapi the 
 Skin over the stumps and so make a 
 perfect cure of the Wound. This com- 
 monly disables them from making their 
 escape, they being not so good travellers 
 as before, and the impression of their 
 half-feet making it easy to trace them. 
 However, this Fellow was got clear of 
 them, but had little heart to go far 
 from' home, and carried always a ^case 
 of Pistols in his Girdle, besides a Cut- 
 lass and Fuzee. Leaving the rest of 
 our Company at the Indian Town, we 
 travel'd that Day about 20 Miles in very 
 Cold, Frosty Weather, and passed over 
 two pretty Rivers, something bigger 
 than Heighwaree, but not quite so 
 Stony. We took these two rivers to 
 make one of the Northward branches of 
 Cape Fair River, but afterwards found 
 our Mistake. 
 
 The next Day we tnavelled over very 
 good Land, but full of Free Stone, and 
 Marble which pinched our Feet severe- 
 ly. We took up our quarters at a sort of 
 Savanna Ground, that had very few 
 Trees in it. The land was good and had 
 several Quarries of Stone, but not 
 Loose as the othiers used to be. 
 
 Next Morning we got our Breakfast 
 of Parched Corn, having nothing but 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 29 
 
 that to subsist on for 100 Miles. All the 
 Pine Trees had "Vanished, for we had 
 seen none for two days. We pas'd thro' 
 a Delicate Rich Soil this Day; no g:reat 
 Hills but pretty Risings and Levels, 
 which made a beautiful country. We 
 likewise passed over three Great Rivers 
 this Day; the First about the bigness of 
 Rocky River, the other not much dif- 
 fering in Size. Then we made not the 
 least Question, but we had passed over 
 the North West Branch of the Cape 
 Fair, travelling that day above "0 
 Miles. We were much taken with the 
 Fertility and Pleasantness of the Neck 
 of Land between these two Bnanches, 
 and no less pleased that we had passed 
 the River, which used to frighten Pas- 
 sengers from fording it. At last, deter- 
 mining to rest on the other side of the 
 Hill, which we saw before us; when we 
 were on the top thereof there appeared 
 to us such another clelic'ou'-, rapid 
 stream, as that of the Sapona, hiavinsr 
 large Stones, about the bigness of rn 
 ordinary House, lying up and down the 
 River. As the wind blew cold at the 
 N. W. and we were very wearv and 
 hungry, the Swiftness of the Current 
 gave us some cause to fear; but at last 
 we concluded to venture over that 
 night. Accordingly we stripped, and 
 with great difficulty (by God's assist- 
 ance) got safe to the north side of the 
 famous Hau River, by some called 
 Reatkin; the Indians differing in the 
 names of places, according to their sev- 
 eral Nations. It is called Hau River 
 from the Sissipahau Indians, who dwell 
 upon this Stream, which is one of the 
 Main Branches of Cape Fair River, 
 thjere being Rich Land enough to con- 
 tain some thousands of Families; for 
 which reason I hope in a short time it 
 will be Planted. This River is much 
 such another as Sapoma; both seeming 
 to run a vast way up the Oountrv. 
 Here is good Timber, especially of a 
 Scaly-Bark'd Oak; And as there is 
 
 Stone enough in both Rivers, and the 
 Land is extraordinary Rich, No Man 
 that will be content within the Founds 
 of Reason, can have any grounds to 
 dislike it. And they that are otherwise, 
 are the best Neighbours, when farthest 
 off. 
 
 As soon as it was Day we set out for 
 the Achonechy Town, it being by esti- 
 mation 20 Miles off, which, I believe, is 
 pretty exact. We were got about half 
 Way, (meeting great Gangs of Turkies) 
 when we saw at a distance 30 loaded 
 Horses, coming on the road, with four 
 or five Men, on other Jades, driving 
 them. We charg'd our Piece, and went 
 up to them, Enquiring whence they 
 came from? They told us, from Vir- 
 ginia. The leading Man's name was 
 Massey, who was born about Leeds in 
 Yorkshire. He asked from whence wa 
 aame. We told him. Then he asked 
 again, Whether we wanted anything 
 that he had? telling us that we should 
 be welcome to it. We accepted of two 
 Wheaten Biscuits and a little ammuni- 
 tion; He advised us by all means to 
 strike down the country for Ronoack, 
 and not think of Virginia, because the 
 Sinnagers, of whom they were afraid, 
 tho' so well armed and numerous. They 
 persuaded us also to call on one Enoe 
 Will, as we went to Adshushieer, for 
 that he would conduct us safe amonc 
 the English, giving him the character 
 of a very faithful Indian, which we af- 
 terwards found true by expierience. The 
 Virginia Men asked our Opinion of the 
 Country we were then m? We told 
 them it was a very pleasant one. They 
 were all of the same opinion, and af- 
 firmed That they had never seen 20 
 Miles of such extraordinary rich Land, 
 lying all together, like that betwixt 
 Hau River and the Achonechy Town. 
 Having taken our leaves of each other 
 we set forward; and the country thro' 
 which we passed was so delightful that 
 it gave us a great deal of satisfaction. 
 
30 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 About three a Clock we reachea the 
 town, and the Indians presently 
 brought us a good fat Bear, and Veni- 
 son, which was very acceptable at that 
 time. Their Cabins were hung with a 
 Good Sort of Tapestry, as Fat Bear, 
 and Barbakued or dried Venisen; no In- 
 dians having greater plenty of provis- 
 ions than these. The Savages, do in- 
 deed, still posess the Flower of Caro- 
 lina; the English enjoying only the 
 Fag-end of that country. We had not 
 been in the Town two Hours when 
 Enoe-Will came into the King's Cabin; 
 which was our Quarters. We ask'd him 
 if he would conduct us to the Etnglish, 
 and what he would hiave for his oaing; 
 he answered that he would go alon^ 
 with us, and for what he was to have 
 he left that to our discretion. 
 ('^ The next Morning we set out with 
 Enoe-Will towards Adshusheer, leaving 
 the Virginia Path and striking more to 
 the Eastward for Ronoack. Several In- 
 dians were in our Company belonging 
 to Will's Nation, who are the Shocco- 
 ries, mixed with the Eno Indians, and 
 those of the Nation of Adshusheer. 
 Enoe-Will is their chief Man, and rules 
 as far as the Banks of Reatkin. It was 
 a bad stony Way, to Adshusheer. We 
 went over a small River by Achonechy, 
 and in this 14 Miles, thro' several other 
 streams, which empty themselves into 
 the Branches of the Cape Fair. The 
 Stony Way made me quite Lame, so 
 that I was an Hour or two behind the 
 rest, but Honest Will would not leave 
 me, but bid me welcome when we came 
 to his House, feasting us with Hot 
 Bread and Bear's Oil; which is whole- 
 some Food for Travellers. There runs 
 a Pretty Rivulet by this Town. Near 
 the Plantation, I saw a Prodig-ious 
 overgrown Pinetree, having not seen 
 any of that kind of timber for over 125 
 Miles. They brought us two Cocks, and 
 pull'd their larger Feathers off, never 
 cutting the lesser, but singeing them off. 
 
 I took one of these Fowls in my Hand 
 to make it cleaner thian the Indian had, 
 pulling out his guts and liver, which I 
 laid in a Basin; notwithstanding which, 
 he kept such a struggling for a consid- 
 erable Time, that I had much ado to 
 hold him in my Hands. The Indians 
 laughed at me, and told me that Enoe- 
 Will had taken a Cock of an Indian 
 that was not at Home, and the Fowl 
 was design'd for another Use. I con- 
 jectured that he was designed for an 
 offering to their God, who they say 
 hurts them, (which is the Devil). In his 
 struggles he bled afresh, and there is- 
 sued out of his body more blood than 
 commonly such Creatures afford. Not- 
 withstanding all this, we cooked him 
 and eat him, and if he was designed for 
 him, cheated the Devil. The Indians 
 kept many Cocks, but seldom above one 
 hen, using very such often wicked 
 Sacrifices as I mistrusted this 
 Fowl was design'd for. Our guide 
 and Landlord, Enoe-Will, was of 
 the best and most agreeable 
 Temper I ever met with in an In- 
 dian, being always ready to serve the 
 English, not out of Gain, but real Af- 
 fection; which makes him apprehensive 
 of being poisoned by some wicked In- 
 dians, and was therefore very earnest 
 with me, to promise him to revenge his 
 death should it so happen. He brought 
 some of his chief Men into his Cabin, 
 and two of them having a Drum and a 
 Rattle, sung by us as we laid in bed. 
 and struck up their music Lo serenade 
 and welcome us to their Town. And 
 tho' at last we fell asleep, yet thev con- 
 tinued their Consert until morning. 
 These Indians are fortified in as the 
 former, and are much addicted to a 
 sport they call Chenco, which is carried 
 on with a Staff and Bowl miade of stone, 
 which they trundle upon a smooth 
 place, like a Bowling Green, made for -^ 
 that purpose as I mentioned before. 
 Next Morning we set out with our 
 
OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 
 
 31 
 
 Guide and several other Indians, who 
 intended to go to the English and buv 
 rum. We designed for a Nation about 
 40 Miles from Adshusheer, called the 
 Lower Quarter; the First Night we lay 
 in a Rich Perkoson, or Low Ground, 
 that was hard by a Creek, and erood 
 dry Land. 
 
 The next day we went over several 
 rich Tracts of Land, but mixed with 
 Pine and other indifferent Soil. In our 
 Way there stood a large stone about the 
 size of a large Oven, and BLoUow. This 
 the Indians took great notice of, put- 
 ting some Tobacco into the concavity, 
 and spitting after it. I asked them the 
 reason of their so doing, but they made 
 me no answer. In the evening we pass'd 
 over a pleasant Rivulet, with a fine 
 Gravelly bottxsm, having come over 
 such another that morning. On the 
 other side of this river we found the 
 Indian town, which was a Parcel of 
 nasty, smoakv holes, much like the 
 Wateerees; their town having a great 
 Swamp running directly through the 
 Middle thiereof. The Land here begins 
 to abate of its height, and has some 
 few Swamps. Most of these Indians 
 hiave but one eye; but what Mischance 
 or quarrel has bereaved them of the 
 other I could not learn. They were not 
 so free to us as most of the other In- 
 dians had been; Victuals being some- 
 tv what scarce to them. However, we got 
 enx)ught to satisfy our appetites. I saw 
 amongst these men very long Arrows, 
 headed with pieces of Glass, which they 
 had broken from bottles. They had 
 shaped them neatly like the head of a 
 dart, but which way they did it I can't 
 tell. We had not been at this Town 
 above an Hour, when two of our com- 
 pany who had brought a mare of John 
 Stewart, came up to us, having receiv- 
 ed a letter by one of Will's Indians, 
 who was cautious and asked a erreat 
 many questions to certifle him of the 
 person, e'er he would deliver the letter. 
 
 They had left the trader and one that 
 came from South Carolinia with us to 
 go to Virginia, these two being resolved 
 to go to Carolina with us. 
 
 This day fell much rain, so we stayed 
 at the Indian Town. 
 
 This morning we set out early, being 
 four Englishmen besides several In- 
 dians. We went 10 Miles, and were 
 then stopped by the Freshness of the 
 Enoe River, which had raised it so high 
 that we could not pass over, till it was 
 fallen. I enquired of my guide where 
 this river disgorged itself; He said it 
 was the Enoe River, and ran into a 
 place call'd Enoe Bay near his country, 
 which he left when he was a boyj bv 
 which I perceived that he was one of 
 the Corees by birth; this being a branch 
 of Neus River. 
 
 This day our fellow traveller's Mare 
 ran away from him; wherefore Will 
 went back as far as the lower Quarter, 
 and brought her back. 
 
 The next day early came two Tus- 
 keraro Indians to the other side of the 
 river, but could not get over. Thev 
 talked much to us, but we understood 
 them nx3t. In the afternoon Will oame 
 with the Mare and had some discourse 
 with them; they told him, the English 
 to which he was going were very wick- 
 ed people, and that they threatened the 
 Indians for hunting near their Planta- 
 tions. These two fellows were among 
 the Schoccores andAchonechy Indians, 
 to sell their Wooden Bowls and Ladles 
 for Raw- Skins, which they miake great 
 advantage of, hating that any of these 
 Western Indians should have their 
 commerce with the Engli-sh, which 
 would prove a Hinderance to their 
 Gains. Their Stories deterr'd an old In- 
 dian and his son, from going any fur- 
 ther, but Will told us 1X0 thing thev 
 should say would frighten him, he be- 
 lieving them to be a couple of Hog- 
 Stealers; and that the English onlv 
 sought restitution of their losses by 
 
32 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 them, and that this was the onlv 
 ground for their report. Will had a 
 slave, a Sissipiahau Indian by Nation, 
 who killed us several Turkies and other 
 game, on which we feasted. 
 
 The River is near as large as Reatkin; 
 the south side having curious tracts of 
 good Land, the banks high, and stone 
 Quarries. The Tuskeruros, being come 
 to us we ventured over the river, which 
 we found to be a strong current, and 
 Water about Breast high. However 
 we all got safe to the North Shore, 
 which is but poor, white, sandy Land, 
 land bears no timber, but small shrubby 
 oaks. We went about 10 Miles and sat 
 down at the falls of a large creek, 
 where lay mighty Rocks, the Water 
 making a strange Noise as if a ::reat 
 many Water-Mills were going at once. 
 I take this to be the falls of the Neus- 
 Creek, called by the Indians the Wee 
 quo Whom. We lay here all night. My 
 guide Will desiring to see the book that 
 I had about me, I lent it to him; and 
 as soon as he saw the picture of 
 King David, he asked me several Ques- 
 tions concerning the book, tand picture, 
 which I resolv'd him, and invited him 
 to become a Christian. He made me a, 
 very sharp reply, assuring me that he 
 loved the English extraordinarily well, 
 and did believe their ways to be very 
 good for those that had always prac- 
 tised them, and had been brought up 
 therein, but that for himself, he was 
 too much in years to think of a change, 
 esteeming it not proper for old People 
 to admit such an Alteration. However 
 he told me that if I would take his son 
 Jajck, who was then about 14 years of 
 age, and teach him to talk in that Book, 
 and make paper speak, which they call 
 our Way of Writing, he would whollv 
 resign him to my tuition; temng me he 
 was of opinion, I was very well affected 
 to the Indians. 
 
 The next Morning we set out earlv. 
 and I perceived these Indians were in 
 
 some fear of Enemies; for they had nn 
 old man with them who was very 
 cunning and circumspect, wheresoever 
 he saw any Marks of Footing or anv 
 Fire that had been Made, going out 
 of his Way very often to look for these 
 miarks. We went this day above 30 
 Miles, over a very Level country and 
 Most Pine land, yet intermixed with 
 some quantities of Marble; a good 
 range for Ca ttle though very indifferent 
 for Swine. We here now lost our rapid 
 streams and were come to slow, dead 
 Waters, of a brown color, proceedine: 
 from the Swamps, much like the 
 Sluices in Holland, where the Track 
 Scoots go along. In the afternoon we 
 met two Taskereros, who told us that 
 there was a Company of Hunters not 
 far off, a"nd if we walked stoutlv we 
 might reach them that night. But Will 
 and he that owned the Mare, being 
 gone before, and the old Indian tired, 
 we rested that night in the Woods, 
 making a good light Fire, Wood being 
 very plentiful in these parts. 
 
 The next Morning about 10 o'clock 
 we struck out of the Way, by advice of 
 our old Indian. We had not gone 2 Miles 
 e'er we met with 500 Tuskerercs in one 
 Hunting Quarter. They had made 
 themselves 'Streets of houses built with 
 Pine Bark, not with round tops as 
 they commonly use, but Ridge Fash- 
 ion, after the manner of most other 
 Indians. We got nothing amongst 
 them but corn. Flesh being not olenti- 
 ful by reason of the great number of 
 their people. For tho' they are expert 
 hunters, yet they are too populous for 
 one Range, which makes Venison very 
 scarce to what it is amongst other 
 Nations, that are fewer, no savages 
 living so well for Plenty as those liv- 
 ing near the se(a. I saw amongst these 
 a Hump-Backed Indian, which was the 
 only Crooked one I ever saw withal. 
 About two a Clock we reached one of 
 their Towns, in which there was no- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 33 
 
 body left but an old Woman or two, the 
 rest being gone to their Hunting Quar- 
 ters. We could find no provision at 
 that place. We had a Tuskerero that 
 came in company with us from the 
 lower Quarter, who took us to his 
 Cabin and gave us what it afforded, 
 which was corn-meal. 
 ^ This day we passed through several 
 swamps, and going not above a dozen 
 Miles came to a Cabin, the Master 
 whereof used to trade amongst the 
 English. He told us, if we would stiav 
 two Nights, he would conduct us safe 
 to them, himself designing at that time 
 to go and get some Rumi.; so we re- 
 solved to tarry for his company. Dur- 
 ing our stay, there happened to be a 
 young Woman troubled with Fits. The 
 doctor who was sent for to assist her. 
 laid her on her belly, and made a small 
 incision with Rattle Snake Teeth, then 
 laying his mouth to the place he sucked 
 out near a quart of black conglutinated 
 Blood, and Serum. Our Landlord gave 
 us the Tail of a Beaver, which was a 
 choice food. There happened also to 
 be a burial of one of them, which cer- 
 emony is much the same as that of the 
 Santees, who make a great Feast at the 
 Interment of their Corps. The small 
 runs of water hereabout, afford great 
 plenty of Craw-fish, full as large as 
 those in England, and nothing inferior 
 to their Goodness. 
 
 Sunday Morning our Patron, with 
 Enoe-Will, and his servant, set out 
 with us for the English. In the after- 
 noon we ferried over a River In a 
 Canoe, called by the Indians Chattoo- 
 
 kau, which is the N. W. Branch of 
 Neus River. We lay in the Swamp, 
 where some Indians invited us to go to 
 their Quarters, which some of our 
 Company accepted, but got nothing ex- 
 traordinary except a dozen Miles March 
 out of their Way. The country here is 
 very thick of Indian Towns and Plan- 
 tations. 
 
 We were forced to march this way 
 for want of provisions. About 10 o'clock 
 we met an Indian that had got a Par- 
 cel of Shad fish ready barbakued. We 
 bought 24 of them for a dress'd doe 
 skin, and so went on through manv 
 swamps, finding this Day the long 
 ragged Moss on the Ttees, which we 
 had not seen for above 600 Miles. In 
 the afternoon we came upon the banks 
 of Pampticough, about 20 Miles above 
 the English Plantations by Water, 
 though not so far by Land. The 
 Indian found a Canoe which he had 
 hidden, and we all got over, and went 
 about six Miles farther. We lay that 
 night under two or three Pieces of 
 Bark, at the foot of a large Oak. There 
 fell abundance of Snow and Rain in the 
 Night, with much thunder .and light- 
 ning. 
 
 Next day it cleared up, and it beina; 
 about 12 miles to the Enslishi, about 
 half-way we passed over a deep creek, 
 and came safe to Mr. Richard Smith's, 
 of Pampticough River, in North Claroli- 
 na, where being well received by the in- 
 habitants, and being well pleased with 
 the goodness of the country, we all re- 
 solved to continue. 
 
 Finis. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 The Province of Carolina Is separat- 
 ed from Virg-inia by a Due West Line, 
 which begins at Currituck Inlet, in 36 
 degrees, 30 minutes, of Northern Lat- 
 itude, and extends indefinitely to the 
 Westward, and thence to the South- 
 ward, as far as 29 Degrees, which is a 
 vast amount of Sea Coast. But hiaviner 
 already treated as far as is necessary, 
 concerning South Carolina, I shall con- 
 fine myself in the ensuing Sheets, to 
 give my reader a desicription of that 
 part of the country only which lies be- 
 tween Currituck and Cape Fair River, 
 and is almost 34 degrees North. And 
 this is commonly called North Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 This part of Carolina is faced with a 
 chain of Sand Banks, which defends it 
 from th>9 violence and Insults of the 
 Atlantic Ocean, by which taiarrier a vast 
 Sound is hemmed in, which fronts the 
 Mouths of the Navigable Pleasant 
 Rivers of this Fertile Cbuntry, and in- 
 to which they disgorge themselves. 
 Thro' the same are inlets of several 
 depths of Water. Some of these Chan- 
 nels admit only of Sloops, Brigiantines, 
 small Barks and Ketches; and such 
 are Currituck, Ronoak, and the Sound 
 above Hatteras; whilst others can re- 
 ceive Ships of Burden, as Odacock. 
 Topsail Inlet, and Cape Fair, as ap- 
 pears by my chart. 
 
 The first discovery and settlement of 
 this country was by the Procurement 
 of Sir Walter Raleigh, in conjunction 
 with some public spirited Gentlemen of 
 thiat Age, under the Protection of 
 Queen Elizabeth, for which reason it 
 was then named Virginia, being begun 
 on that part named Ronoak Island, 
 where the ruins of a Fort are to be 
 seen to this day, las well as some old 
 
 English Coins which have been late'v 
 found; and a Brass Gun, one Powder 
 Horn, and one small quarter-deck gun, 
 made of Iron Staves, and hooped with 
 the same metial; which method of mak- 
 ing guns might very probably be made 
 use of in those days; for the Conven- 
 ience of Infant Colonies. 
 
 A farther conflrmation of this we 
 have from the Hateras Indians, who 
 either then lived on Ronoak Island, or 
 much frequented it. These tell us that 
 several of their ancestors were white 
 People, and could talk in a Book, as 
 we do; the truth of which is confirmed 
 by grey Eyes being found frequently 
 amongst these Indians, and no others. 
 They value themselves extremely for 
 their Affinity to the English, and are 
 ready to do them (all friendly offices. It 
 is probable that this settlement mis- 
 carried for want of timely supplies 
 from England, or thro' the treachery 
 of the Natives, for we may reasonably 
 suppose that the English were forced 
 to co-habit with them for relief and 
 conversation, and that in process of 
 Time, they conformed themselves to 
 th9 Manners of their Indian Relations. 
 And thus we see how apt Human 
 Nature is to degenerate. 
 
 I cannot forbear inserting here a 
 pleasant story that passes for an un- 
 contested Tt-uth amongst the Inhabi- 
 tants of this Place; which is that the 
 Ship which brought the first Colonies, 
 does often appear amongst them under 
 sail, in a gallent Posture, which they 
 call Sir Walter Raleigh's Ship; and 
 the truth of this has been aflirmed to 
 me, by men of the best Credit in the 
 Country. 
 
 A second settlement of this country 
 was made about 50 yeiars ago, in that 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 35 
 
 part we now 'call Albemarl-Countrv, 
 and chiefly in Chuwon Precinct, by 
 several substantial planters, from Vir- 
 ginia and o tiler PLantations, who find- 
 ing mild winters and a fertile soil, be- 
 yond Expectation, producing every- 
 thing that was planted to a orodisrious 
 increase; their Cattle, Horses, Sheep 
 and Swine, breeding very fat, and 
 passing the winter without any Assist- 
 ance from the Planter", so that every- 
 thing seemed to come by nature; the 
 Husbandman living almost void of 
 care, and free from those fatigues 
 which are absolutely requisite in Win- 
 ter-Countries; these encouragements 
 induced them to stand their ground, 
 altho' but a handful of people, seated 
 at great distances from each other, and 
 amidst a vast number of Indians from 
 different Nations, who were then in 
 Carolina. Nevertheless I say, the fame 
 of this new discovered Summer-Coun- 
 try spread through the neighbcring 
 Colonies, and in a few years drew a 
 considerable number of families there- 
 to, who all found Land enough to set- 
 tle themselves in, (had they been many 
 thousand more) and that which was 
 very good and ccmmodiously seated, 
 both for Profit and Pleasure. And in- 
 deed, most of the Plantations in Caro- 
 lina, iDaturally enjoy a very noble pros- 
 pect of large and spacious Rivers, 
 pleasant Savannas, and fine Meadows, 
 with their green liveries, interwoven 
 with beautiful flowers of most glorious 
 colors, which the several seasons af- 
 ford, hedged in with famous groves of 
 the ever famous Tulip tree, the stately 
 Laurel, and Bays equalizing the Oak 
 in bigness and growth; Myrtle, "Wood- 
 bines, Jessamines, Honeysuckles, and 
 several other fragiiant "Vines and 
 Evergreens, whose aspiring branches 
 shadow and interweave themselves 
 with the loftiest timbers, yielding a 
 pleasant Prospect, Shade and Smell, 
 propier habitations for the sweet sing- 
 
 ing Birds, that melodiously entertain 
 such as travel thro' the "Woods of Car- 
 olina. 
 
 The Planters possessing all these 
 Blessings, and the Produce of great 
 quantities of "WTieat and Indian Corn, 
 in which this country is very fruitful, 
 as likewise in Beef, Pork, Tallow, 
 Hides, Deer Skins, and Purs; for these 
 commodities the New Englandmen and 
 Bermudians visited Carolina in their 
 Barks and Sloops, and carry'd out 
 whjat they made, bringing them ini ex- 
 change. Rum, Sugar, Salt, Molasses, 
 and some wearing apparel, tho' the 
 last at very extravagant prices. 
 
 As the Land is very fruitful, so are 
 the Planters kind and hospitable to all 
 that come and visit them; there being 
 very few house-keepers, but what live 
 nobly, and give away more provisions 
 to Coasters and Guests who come bo 
 them, than they expend among their 
 own families. 
 
 OF THE INLETS AND HAVENS OF 
 THIS COUNTRY. 
 
 The Bar of Currituck, being the 
 Northmost of this country, Piresents it- 
 self first to be treated of. It lies in 
 36 degrees, 30 minutes, and the course 
 over is S. "W. by "W. having not above 
 7 to 8 ft. on the Bar, tho' a good har- 
 bour when you are over, where you 
 may ride safe and deep enough, but 
 this part of the Sound is so full of 
 Shoals, as not to suffer anything to 
 trade thro' it, that draws above three 
 foot "Water, which renders if very in- 
 commodious. However this affects but 
 some parts of the country, and may be 
 easily remedied by carrying their Pro- 
 duce in small Craft, down to vessels 
 whiich ride near the Inlet. 
 
 Rock Inlet has ten foot of "Water; 
 the course over the Bar is almost W. 
 which leads you thro' the best of 
 channels. The Bar, as well as Curri- 
 tuck, often shifts by the Violence of 
 the N. E. Storms, both lying exposed to 
 
36 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 those winds. Notwithstanding which, 
 a considerable trade might be carried 
 on, provided there was a Pilot to bring 
 them in; for it lies convenient for a 
 large part of this Colony, whose pro- 
 duct would very easily allow of that 
 charge: Lat. 35 deg. 50 min. 
 
 The Inlet of the Hatteras lies to the 
 Westward of the Cape, round which is 
 an excellent Harbour. When the wind 
 blows hiard at N. or N. E. if you keep 
 a small League from the Cape point, 
 you will have 3, 4, and 5 Fathom, the 
 outermost Shoals lying about 7 or 8 
 Leagues from Shoar. As you come into 
 the Inlet, keep close to the south break- 
 ers, till you are over the Bar, where 
 you will have two Fathom at low 
 water. You may come to an anchor in 
 two fathom and a half when you are 
 over, then steer over close (aboard the 
 North Shore, where is four Fathom, 
 close to a Point of Marsh; then steer 
 up the sound a long League, till vou 
 bring the North Cape of the Inlet to 
 bear S. S. E. half E, then steer W. N. 
 W. the East point of Bluff Land at 
 Hatterais as bearing E. N. E., the 
 Southmost large Hammock towards 
 Ocacock, bearing S. S. W. half S., then 
 you are in the Sound, over the bar of 
 sand, whereon is but 6 foot water; then 
 your course to Pamticough is almost 
 West. It flows on these three bars S. 
 E. by E. 1-4 E. about eight of the 
 clock, unless there is a hard gale of 
 wind at N. E. which will make it flow 
 two hours longer; but as soon as the 
 Wind is down, the Tides will have their 
 Natural Course: A hiard gale at N. or 
 N. W. will make the water ebb some- 
 times 24 hours, but still the Tide will 
 ebb and flow, tho' not seen by the 
 turning thereof, but may be seen by 
 the Rising of the Water, and falling: 
 of the same, Lat. 35 deg. 20 min. 
 
 Ocacock is the best Inlet and Har- 
 bour yet in this country, and has 13 
 foot at low water upon the bar. There 
 
 are two channels; one is but narrow 
 and lies close aboard the South Oaoe; 
 the other in the middle, viz-between 
 the Middle Ground and the South 
 Shoar, and is above half a Mile wide. 
 The Bar itself is but half a Cable's 
 length over, \and then you are in 7 or 8 
 Fathom Water; a good Harbour. The 
 course into the Sound is N. W. At 
 High-water, and Neap-tides here is 18 
 foot Water. It lies S. W. from Hat- 
 teras Inlet. Lat. 35 deg. 8 min. 
 
 Topsail Inlet is above two leagues to 
 the Westward of Capt Look-out. You 
 have a fair channel over the Bar, and 
 two Fathom thereon and a good har- 
 bour in 5 or 6 Fathom to come to an 
 anchor. Your course over the bar is 
 almost N. W. Lat. 24 deg. 44 min. 
 
 As for the Inlet and River of Cane 
 Fair, I cannot give you a better infor- 
 mation thereof, than has already been 
 deliver'd by the gentlemen who were 
 sent on purpose, from Barbadoes, to 
 make a discovery of that River, in the 
 year 1663, which is thus: 
 
 From Tuesday the 29th of September 
 to Friday the 2nd of October we ranged 
 along the shoar from Lat. 32 deg. 20 
 min. to lat. 33 deg. 33 min. but could 
 discern no entrance for our Ship, af- 
 ter we had passed to the northward of 
 32 deg. 40 min. On Saturday, October 
 3rd, a violent storm overtook us, the 
 Wind between North and East; which 
 easterly winds and Foul Weather con- 
 tinu'd until Monday the 12th; by reas- 
 on of which storms and Foul Weather, 
 we were forced to get off to Sea, to 
 secure ourselves and Ship, and were 
 driven by the rapidity of the strong 
 current to Cape Hatteras in Lat. 35 
 deg. 30 min. On Monday the 12th, 
 aforesaid, we came to an anchor in 
 seven Fathom at Cape Fair Road, and 
 took the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, 
 and were in Lat. 33 deg. 43 Min.; the 
 wind continuing still Easterly, and 
 Foul Weather until Thursday the 15th, 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Z1 
 
 and on Friday the 16th, the Wind be- 
 ing at N. W. we Weigh'd and sailed 
 up Cape Fair River, some 4 or 5 
 Leagues, and came to an anchor in 6 
 or 7 Fathom, at which time several 
 Indians came on board and brought us 
 great store of fresh Fish, large Mul- 
 lets, young Bass, Shads, and several 
 other sorts of very good, well tasted 
 fish. On Saturday the 17th, we went 
 down to the Cape, to see the English 
 Cattle, but could not find 'em, tho' we 
 rounded the Cape, and having an In- 
 dian guide with us, here we rode till 
 October the 24th. The Wind being 
 against us, we could not go up the 
 River with our Ship, but went on 
 Shoar and viewed the Land of those 
 Quarters. On Saturday we weigh'd 
 and sailed up the River some 4 
 Leagues, or thereabouts. Sunday the 
 25th we weighed again, and rowed up 
 the River, it being calm, and got some 
 14 Leagues from the Harbour's Mouth, 
 where we moored our ship. On Mon- 
 day October 26th, we went down with 
 the Yawl, to Necoes, an Indian Plan- 
 tation, and viewed the Land there. On 
 Tuesday the 27th, we rowed up the 
 main river, with our long-boat, and 12 
 men, some 10 Leagues, or thereabouts. 
 On Wednesday the 28th we rowed up 
 about 8 or 10 Leagues more 
 and came to a tree that lay cross the 
 River; but because our provisions were 
 almost spent, we proceeded no farther, 
 but returned downward before the 
 night, and on Monday the 2nd of No- 
 vember we came on board our ship. 
 Tuesday the third, we lay still to re- 
 fresh ourselves. On Wednesday the 
 4th we went 5 Leagues or 6 up the 
 River, to search a branch that run out 
 of the main river towards the N. W. 
 In which branch we went up 5 or 6 
 Leagues; but not liking the Land we 
 returned on board that night about 
 Midnight, and called that Place 
 Swampy Branch. Thursday, Novem- 
 
 ber the 5th, we stayed aboard. On Fri- 
 day the 6th we went up Green's River, 
 the mouth of it being against the 
 Place at which rode our ship. On Sat- 
 urday the 7th. we proceeded up the 
 said River some 14 or 15 Leagues in 
 all, and found it ended in several small 
 branches; the Land for the most part 
 being marshy and Swamps, we return- 
 ed towards our Ships, and got aboard 
 in the Night. Sunday November the 
 8th, we lay still, and on Monday the 
 9th, went up again the Main River, be- 
 ing well stocked with provisions, and 
 all things necessary, and proceeded 
 upwards until Thursday noon, the 
 12th, at which time we came to a place, 
 where were two Islands in the middle 
 of the river; and by reason of the 
 Crookedness of the River at that Place, 
 several Trees lay across both Branches, 
 which stopped the passage of each 
 branch, so that we could proceed no 
 farther with our boat, but went up the 
 river-side by land, some three or four 
 Miles, and found the River wid- 
 er and wider. So we returned, 
 leaving it as far as we could 
 see up a long Reach, running N. 
 E. we judging ourselves near 50 
 Leagues north from the River's Mouth. 
 In our return we viewed the Land on 
 both sides the River and found as good 
 tracts of dry, well wooded. Pleasant, 
 and delightful Ground, as we have seen 
 anywhere in the World, with abund- 
 ance of long thick Grass on it, the 
 Land being very Level, with steep 
 banks on both sides the River, and in 
 some places very high, the Woods 
 stor'd everywhere with great numbers 
 of Turkies and Deer, we never going 
 to shoar, but we saw of each sort; as 
 also great store of Partridges, Cranes 
 and Conies in several places; we like- 
 wise heard several wolves howling in 
 the Woods, and saw where they had 
 torn a deer in pieces. Also in the riv- 
 er we saw a great store of Ducks, Teal, 
 
38 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Widgeon; and in the Woods great 
 Flocks of Parrakeeto's. Tlie timber 
 that the Woods afford, for the most 
 part, consists of Oaks of four or five 
 sorts, all differing in leaves but all 
 bearing very good acorns. We meas- 
 ured many of the oaks in several 
 places, which we found to be in bigness 
 some two, some three and others al- 
 most four fathom high, before you 
 come to boughs or limbs; forty, fifty 
 and sixty foot and some more; and 
 those Oaks very common in the upper 
 parts of both Rivers; also a very large 
 Tall tree of great bigness, which some 
 call Cyprus, the right name we know 
 not, growing in Swamps. Likewise the 
 Walnut, Birch, Beech, Maple, Ash, 
 Bay, Willow, Alder, and Holly; and in 
 the lowermost parts innumerable 
 Pines, tall and good for Boards or 
 Masts, growing for the most Part, in 
 barren and sandy, but in some cases up 
 the River, in good Ground, being mixed 
 amongst Oaks and other Timbers. We 
 saw Mulberry Trees, Multitudes of 
 Grape Vines, and some grapes which 
 we eat of. We found a very large 
 and good Tract of Land on the N. W. 
 Side of the River, thin of Timber, ex- 
 cept here and there a very great Oak, 
 and full of Grass, commonly as high 
 as a Man's middle, and in many Places 
 to his Shoulders, where we saw many 
 Deer, and Turkies; one Deer having 
 very large Horns and a great Body, 
 we therefore called it Stag park. It 
 being a very pleasant and delightful 
 Place, we traveled in it several Miles, 
 but saw no end thereof. So we return- 
 ed to our boat and proceeded down the 
 River, and came to another Place some 
 25 Leagues from the river's mouth on 
 the same side, where we found a place 
 no less delightful than the former; and 
 as far as we could judge both tracts 
 came Into one. This lower place we 
 call'd Rocky Point, because we found 
 many Rocks and Stones of several 
 
 sizes, up on the Land, which is not 
 common. We sent our boat down the 
 River before us, ourselves traveling 
 by Land many Miles, Indeed we were 
 so much taken with the Pleasantness 
 of che country that we traveled into 
 the Woods too far to recover our Com- 
 pany and boat that night. The next 
 day being Sunday we got to our boat, 
 and on Monday the 16th of November 
 proceeded down to a Place on the 
 East side of the River, some 23 
 Leagues from the Harbour's Mouth, 
 which we call'd Turkey Quarters, be- 
 cause we killed several Turkies there- 
 citouts; we viewed the Land there and 
 found some Tracts of good ground, 
 and high, facing the River about one 
 Mile ioward, but backwards some two 
 Miles, all Pine Land but good Pascure 
 Ground. We returned to our boat and 
 proceeded down some two or three 
 Leagues, where we had formerly view- 
 ed, and found it a tract of as good 
 Land as any we have seen, and had .as 
 good Timber on it. The banks on the 
 River being high, therefore we called 
 it High-Land-Point. Having viewed 
 that, we proceeded down the River, 
 going on Shoar in several places on 
 both sides, it being generally large 
 Marshes, and many of them so dry that 
 they may more fitly be called Mead- 
 ows. The Woodfand against them is 
 for the most part Pine and in some 
 Places as barren as ever we saw Land, 
 but in other Places good Pasture 
 Ground. On Tuesday November 17th 
 we got aboard our Ship, riding against 
 the. Mouth of Green's River, where our 
 Men were providing Wood, and fitting 
 the ship for the Sea. In the Interim 
 we took a view of the country on both 
 sideE of the river there, finding some 
 Good Land but more Bad, and the best 
 not comparable to that above. Friday 
 the 20th was foul weather, yet in the 
 afternoon we weighed went down the 
 River, about two Leagues, and came to 
 
OF NORTH CAROLI:>^A. 
 
 39 
 
 it II Anchor against the Mouth of Hil- 
 ton River, and took a view of the Land 
 there on both sides, which appeared 
 to us much like that of Green's River. 
 Monday the 23rd, we went with our 
 long Boat well Victual'd and Mann'd, 
 up Hilton's River, and when we came 
 thrte Leagues or thereabouts up the 
 same, we found this and Green's River 
 to come into one, and so continu'd for 
 four or five Leagues, which makes a 
 great island betwixt them. "We pro- 
 ceeded still up the river until they 
 parted again, keeping up Hilton's Riv- 
 er on the Larboard side, where we 
 found another large branch of Green's 
 River to come into Hilton's, which 
 makes another great island. On the 
 starboard side going up we proceeded 
 still up the river some four leagues, 
 and returned, taking a view of the 
 Land on both sides, and then judged 
 ourselves to be from oui* ship some 18 
 Leagues W. and by N. One League 
 below this place came four Indians in a 
 canoe to us, and sold us several Bas- 
 kets of Acorns, which we satisfied 
 Lhem for and so left them; but one of 
 them follov/ed us on the Shore some 
 two or three Miles, till he came on the 
 top of a high bank, facing on the Riv- 
 er, and as we row'd underneath it, the 
 Fellow shot an Arrow at us, which 
 very narrowly missed one of our Men 
 and struck in the upper side of the 
 boat, but broke in pieces, leaving the 
 head behind. Thereupon we went all 
 upon the shore (except four to guide 
 the boat) to look for the Indian but 
 could not find him. At last we heard 
 some sing, farther in the Woods, which 
 we looked upon as a challenge to us 
 to come and fight them. We went to- 
 wards them with all speed, but before 
 we came in sight of them heard two 
 guns go off from our Boat; whereupon 
 we retreated as fast as we could to 
 secure our Boat and Men. When we 
 came to them we found all well, and 
 
 demanded the reason of their firing 
 the Guns; they told us that an Indian 
 came creeping along the bank, as they 
 supposed to shoot at them, therefore 
 they shot him at a great distance, with 
 small shot, but thought they did him 
 no hurt, for they saw him run away. 
 Presently after our return to the boat 
 and while we were thus talking, came 
 tv/o Indians to us with their Arrows, 
 crying Bonny, Bonny. We took their 
 bows and arrows from them, and gave 
 them beads to their content, then we 
 led them by their hands to the boat 
 and showed them the arrow head 
 sticking in her side, and related to 
 them the whole passage; which when 
 they understood both of them showed 
 a great Concern, and signed to us by 
 signs that they knew nothing of it. 
 So we let them go, and marked a tree 
 on the top of the place, calling the 
 Place Mount-Skerry. We looked up 
 the river as far as we could discern, 
 and saw that it widened and came 
 running directly down the country. So 
 W2 returned, viewing the Land on both 
 sides the river, and finding the banks 
 steep in some places, but very high 
 in others. The bank-sides are general- 
 ly ciay, and as some of our Company 
 did affirm, some Marl. The Land and 
 Timber up this River is no way in- 
 feiior to the best in the other, which 
 we called the Main-River. So far as 
 we could discern, this seemed as fair 
 if not fairer than the former, and we 
 think runs farther in the country, be- 
 cause a strong current comes down, 
 and a great deal more drift wood. But 
 to return to the business of the Land 
 and Timber, we saw several plots of 
 ground cleared by the Indians, after 
 their weak manner, compassed round 
 with timber trees, which they are no 
 wise able to fell, and so keep the sun 
 from corn fields very much; yet nev- 
 ertheless we saw as large cornstalks or 
 larger than we have seen anywhere 
 
4o 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 else; so we proceeded down the river 
 until we found the Canoe the Indian 
 was in, who shot at us. In the Morn- 
 ing we went on shear and cut the 
 same in pieces. The Indians perceiving 
 us coming towards them ran away. 
 Going to his Hut we pull'd it down 
 and broak his pots and platters and 
 spoons, and tore the Deer-skins and 
 Mats in pieces, and took away a bas- 
 ket of acorns; and afterwards proceed- 
 ed down the river two leagues, or 
 thereabouts, and came to another place 
 of Indians, bought Acorns and some 
 Corn of them, and went downwards 
 two leagues more. At last, espying an 
 Indian peeping over a high bank, we 
 held up a gun to him, and calling to 
 him Skerry, presently several Indians 
 came in sight to us, and made great 
 signs of friendship, saying Bonny, Bon- 
 ny. Then running before us they en- 
 deavored to persuade us to come on 
 shoar, but we answered them with 
 Bt3fn countenances, and called out 
 Skerry, taking our guns and threat- 
 ening to shoot at them, but they still 
 cried E^)imy, Bonny; and when they 
 sav\' they could not prevail or persuade 
 us to come on shoar, two of them came 
 ofC to us in a Canoe, one paddling with 
 a great Cain, the other with his hand. 
 As soon as they overtook us, they laid 
 hold of our boat, sweating and blowing, 
 and told us it was Bonny on Shore, 
 and at last persuaded us to go on 
 shore with them. As soon as we land- 
 ed, several Indians to the number of 
 40 lusty Men, came to us all in a great 
 Sweat and told us Bonny: We showed 
 them the arrowhead in the Boat side, 
 and a piece of the Canoe we had cut 
 in pieces. Whereupon the chief man 
 amongst them made a long speech, 
 threw beads into our boat, which is a 
 gieat sign of love and friendship, and 
 gave us to undei'Stand that when he 
 heaid of the affront which we had re- 
 ceived, it caused him to cry; and that 
 
 he and his men were come to make 
 peace with us, assuring us by signs 
 that they would tye the Arons, and 
 cut off the Head of the Fellow who had 
 done us that wrong, and for a further 
 testimony of their Love and Good- 
 Will towards us, they presented us 
 with two very handsome, proper young 
 Indian Women, the tallest that ever 
 we saw in this country; which we sup- 
 posed to be the King's daughters or 
 persons of some distinction among 
 them. Those young women were so 
 ready to come into our boat, that one 
 of them crowded in and could hardly 
 be persuaded to go out again. We 
 presented the King with a hatchet and 
 several beads, and made presents of 
 beads also to the young women, chief 
 men, and the rest of the Indians as far 
 as our beads would go. They prom- 
 ised us in four days to come on board 
 our ship, and so departed from us. 
 When we left the place, which was 
 soon after, w"e called it Mount BDnny, 
 because we had there concluded a 
 firm peace. Proceeding down from 
 the River further, two or three 
 Leagues , we came to a place where 
 9 or 10 Canoes were; we went ashore 
 there and found several Indians, but 
 (most of them were the same which 
 had made peace with us before. We 
 stayed very little at that place, but 
 went directly down the River and came 
 to our Ship before day. 
 
 Thursday the 26th of November, the 
 wind beine at south, we could not go 
 down the river's mouth, but on Friday 
 the 27th. we weighed at the Mouth of 
 Hilton's River, and got down a League 
 towards the harbour's Mouth. On Tues- 
 day the 21&t of December we made a 
 purchase of the River and Land of 
 Oape Fair, of Wat-Coosa and such 
 other Indians as appeared to us to be 
 the chief of those parts. They brought 
 us store of fresh Fish aboard, as Mul- 
 lets, Shads and other sort, very good. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 41 
 
 This River is all fresh water, fit to 
 drink. Some 8 Leagues within the 
 Mouth, the tide runs up about S5 
 Leiagues, but stops and rises a ereat 
 deal further up. It flows at the Har- 
 bour's Mouth S. E. and N. W. 6 foot at 
 Neap Tides, and 8 foot at Spring Tides. 
 Tlie Channel on the east side by the 
 CaDe-Shoar. is the best and lies close 
 abrofad the Cape-Land, being- three 
 Fathoms at highwater, in the shallow- 
 est part in the Channel, just at the en- 
 trance; but as soon as you are oast 
 that place, half a cable's length inward, 
 you have 6 or 7 Fathoms, in others 4 
 or 5 and in others but 9 or 10 foot, es- 
 pecially where the river is broad. When 
 the river comes to part and grows nar- 
 row, there it is all channel from side lo 
 side, in most Diaces, tho' in some you 
 shall have 5, 6 or 7 Flathoms, but g-en- 
 erally 2 or 3, Sand and Ooze. We viewed 
 the Cape-land and judged it to be lit- 
 tle worth, the woods of it being shrub- 
 by and low, and the Land sandv and 
 barren; in some places Grass and 
 Rushes, in others nothing but clear 
 sand. A Place fitter to starve Cattle in 
 our judgment than to keep 'em alive, 
 yet the Indians as we understand keep 
 the English cattle down there, and suf- 
 fer them not to go off the said Claoe (as 
 we suppose) because the country In- 
 dians shall have no part with them; 
 and therefore 'tis likely they have fall- 
 en out about them^ which shall have 
 the greatest share. They brought on 
 board our ship very good and fat Beef 
 several times, which they sold us at a 
 very reasonable price, also fat and very 
 large Swine, good and cheap; but they 
 may thank their friends of New Eng- 
 land who brought their Hogs to so fair 
 a Market. Some of the Indians brought 
 very good Salt aboard us, and made 
 signs pointing to both sides of the 
 river's Mouth, that there was a great 
 •store thereabouts. We siaw up the 
 river several good places for the set- 
 
 ting up of Corn or Saw-Mills. In that 
 time, as our business called us up and 
 down the River and branches, we killed 
 of wild fowl 4 Swan, 10 Geese, 29 
 Cranes, 10 Turkeys 40 Ducks and Mal- 
 lards, 3 dozen of Parrakettos and 6 
 dozen of other small fowls, ias Curlues, 
 and Plover, etc. 
 
 Whereas there was a writing left in 
 a post, at the Point of Cape Flair River, 
 by those New England Men, that left 
 Cattle with the Indians there, the con- 
 tents whereof tended not only to the 
 Disparagement of the Land about the 
 said River, but also to the great dis- 
 couitazement of all such as should 
 hereafter come into those Parts to 
 settle, in answer to that scandal- 
 ous writing, we whose names are 
 underwritten, do affirm that we have 
 seen facing both sides of the River, and 
 brartches of the Oape-Fair aforesaid, 
 as good land and as well timbered as 
 any we have seen in other parts of the 
 World, sufficient to accommodate thou- 
 sands of our English Nation, and lying 
 commodiously by the River's Side. 
 
 On Friday the 4th of December, the 
 Wind being fair, we put out to Sea, 
 bound for Barbados; and on the 6th of 
 February 1663-4 came to an anchor in 
 Carlisle Bay; it having pleased God 
 after severial apparent dangers both by 
 Sea and Land to bring us all in safety 
 to our long-wish'd-for and much de- 
 sired Port; to render an account of our 
 discovery; the Verity of which we do 
 assert. Anthony Long. William Hil- 
 ton. Peter Fabian. 
 
 Thus you have an account of the Lat- 
 itude, Soil and Advantages of Cape 
 Fair, or Clarendon River, whi'ch was 
 settled in the year 1661, or thereabouts, 
 and had it not been for the irregular 
 practise of some of that Colony against 
 the Indians, by sending away some of 
 their children (as I have been told) 
 under the pretence in instructing them 
 in learning and the principles of the 
 
42 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Christian religion; which so disgusted 
 the Indians, that tho' they had no 
 guns, yet they never gave over until 
 they hiad entirely rid themselves of the 
 English, by their Bows and Arrows; 
 which they did not only take off them- 
 selves, but also their Stocks of Cattle; 
 and this was so much the more ruinous 
 to them, in that they could have no as- 
 sistance from South Carolina, which 
 was not then planted; (and the other 
 Plantations were but in their Infancy. 
 Were it not for such practise, I say it 
 might in all probability have been, at 
 this dlay, the best Settlement in their 
 Lordship's great Province of Carolina. 
 
 'Tlie Sound of Albermarl, with the 
 rivers and creeks of that country, af- 
 ford a rich and durable soil. The Land 
 in most places lies indifferent low, (ex- 
 cept in Chuwon, and high up the 
 Rivers) but bears an incredible Burden 
 of Timber; the low grounds being cov- 
 ered with Beech, and the High-Land 
 yielding Lofty Oaks, Walnut trees and 
 other useful Timber. ' The Country in 
 some Plantations bas yearly produced 
 Indian corn, or some other grain, ever 
 since this country was first seated (vet 
 to all appiearance) it seems not to be in 
 the least impoverish'd neither do the 
 Planters ever miss of a good crop, un- 
 less a very unniatural season visits 
 them, which seldom happens. 
 
 OF THE CORN OF CAROLINA. 
 
 The Wheat of this place is very good, 
 seldom yielding less than thirty-fold, 
 provided the Land is good where it is 
 sown; Not but that there has been 
 sixty-six Increase for one measure 
 sown in Piny-Land, which we account 
 the meanest sort. And I have been in- 
 formed by people of Credit, thiat Wheat 
 which was planted in very rich Land, 
 brought a hundred and odd Pecks for 
 one. If our Planters, when they found 
 such great increase, would be so curi- 
 ous as to make nice Observations of the 
 Soil, and other remarkable Accidents, 
 
 they would soon be acquainted with the 
 nature of the earth and Climate, and be 
 qualified to manage their Agriculture 
 to more Certainty, and greater advan- 
 tage; whereby they might arrive to the 
 Crops and Harvests of Babylon, and 
 those other fruitful countries so much 
 talked of. For I must confess that I 
 never saw one acre of Land Managed 
 as it ought to be in Carolina, since I 
 knew it; and were they as nesrligent in 
 their Husbandry in Europe, as they are 
 in Carolina, their Land would produce 
 nothing but Weeds and Striaw. 
 
 They have tried rye and it thrives 
 very well; but having such plenty of 
 Maiz, they do not regard it because it 
 makes black bread, unless very curi- 
 ously handled. 
 
 Barley has been sown in small quian- 
 tities and does better than can be ex- 
 pected; because that grain requires the 
 ground to be very well worked with re- 
 peated Ploughings, which our general 
 Way of breaking the earth with hoes 
 ctan, by no means, perform, tho' in sev- 
 eral places we have a light, rich, deep, 
 black Mould, which is the particular 
 soil in which barley best thrives. 
 
 The naked Oats thrive extraordinary 
 well, and the other would prove a very 
 bold Grtain, but the Plenty of other 
 Grains makes them not much coveted. 
 
 The Indian corn or maiz proves the 
 most useful grain in the world; and had 
 it not been for the fruitfulness of this 
 spiecies, it would have proved very diffi- 
 cult to have settled some of the Plan- 
 tations in America. It is very nourish- 
 ing whether in bread, sodden or other- 
 wise, and those poor Christian servants 
 in Virginia, Maryland and the other 
 northerly Plantations, that have been 
 forced to live wholly upon it, do mani- 
 festly prove, that it is the most nour- 
 ishing grain, for a man to subsist on, 
 without any other victuals. And this 
 assertion is made good by the neg-ro 
 slaves, who in many places eat nothing 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 43 
 
 except this Indian Corn and Salt. Pigs 
 and Poultry fed with this grain prove 
 the sweetest of all others. It refuses 
 no ground except the barren sand, and 
 when planted in good ground will re- 
 pay the planter seven or eight hundred 
 fold, besides the Stalks bruised and 
 boiled, make very pleasant Beer, being 
 sweet like the Sugar-Cane. 
 
 There are several sorts of rice, some 
 bearded, others not, besides the red and 
 white. But the white rice is the best; 
 yet there is a sort of perfumed rice in 
 the East Indies, which gives a curious 
 flavour in the dressing. And with this 
 sort America is not yet acquainted, 
 neither can I learn that any of it has 
 been brought over to Europe; the rice 
 of Carolina being esteemed the best 
 that comes to that Quarter of the 
 World. It is of great increase, yielding 
 from 800 to 1,000-fold, and thrives best 
 in Wild Land, that has never been 
 broken up before. 
 
 Buckwheat is of great increase in 
 Carolina; but we make no other use of 
 it than instead of Maiz to feed Hogs 
 and Poultry; and Guinea Corn, which 
 thrives well here, serves for the same 
 use. 
 
 Of the pulse kind, we have many 
 sorts. The first is the Bushel-bean, 
 which is a spontaneous Product. They 
 are so called, because they bring a 
 bushel of beans for one that is planted. 
 They are set in the Spring round Ar- 
 bours, or at the feet of poles, up which 
 they will climb, and cover the Wattling, 
 making a very pretty shade to sit 
 under. They continue flowering, bud- 
 ding and ripening all the summer long, 
 till the frost appiroaches, when they 
 forbear their fruit and die. The stalks 
 they grow on come to the thickness of 
 a man's Thumb, and the bean is white 
 and mottled, with a purple figure on 
 each side of it. like an ear. They are 
 very flat and eaten as the Windsor- 
 Bean is, being an extrtaordinary well 
 
 relished Pulse, either by themselves or 
 with Meat. 
 
 We have the Indian Rounceval, or 
 IMiraculous Pease, so called from their 
 long pods and great increase. These 
 are latter Pease, and require a pretty 
 long summer to ripen in. They are 
 very good and so are the Bonavis, Cal- 
 avanicies and Kanticocks, besides sev- 
 eral others of that kind. 
 
 Now I am launched into a Discourse 
 of the Pulse, I must acquiaint you that 
 the European Bean planted here, will 
 in time degenerate into a dwarfish sort, 
 if not prevented by a yearly supply of 
 foreign seed, and an extravagant rich 
 soil; yet these Pigmy-BOans are the 
 sweetest of that kind I ever met withal. 
 
 As for all the sorts of English Pease 
 that we have yet made Tryal of, they 
 thrive very well in Carolina. Particu- 
 larly the white and grey Rouncival, the 
 common field peiase, and Sickle Pease 
 yield very well, and are of a good rel- 
 ish. As for the other sorts I have not 
 seen any made tryal of as yet. but 
 question not their coming to great per- 
 fection with us. 
 
 The Kidney Beans were here before 
 the English came, being very plentiful 
 in the Indian Corn-Fields. 
 
 The garden roots that thrive well in 
 Oarolina, are Carrots, Leeks, Parsnips, 
 Turneps, Potatoes of several delicate 
 sorts, Ground-Artichokes, Radishes, 
 Horse-Radish, Beets, both sorts. 
 Onions, Shallot, Garlick, Gives, and the 
 Wild-Onions. 
 
 The salads are the Lettice. Curl'd, 
 Red, Cabbage, and Savoy. The spinage 
 round and prickly, Fennell, sweet and 
 the common sort, Samphire in the 
 Marshes excellent, so is the dock or 
 wild Rhubarb, Rocket, Sorrel, French 
 and English Cresses of several sorts. 
 Purslain Wild, and that of a larger 
 size which grows in gardens, for this 
 plant is never met withal in the Indian 
 Plantations, and is therefore supposed 
 
44 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 to proceed from Cow-duns, which beast 
 they keep not. Parsley two sorts, As- 
 partagus thrives to a miracle, without 
 hot beds or dunging the Land, White 
 Cabbage from New England or Euro- 
 pean Seed, for the people are negligent 
 and unskilfull and don't take care to 
 provide seed of their own. Colly-Flow- 
 er we have not yet had lan opportunity 
 to make tryal of, nor has the Artichoke 
 ever appeared amongst us that I can 
 learn. Coleworts plain and curl'd, 
 Slavoys; besides the Watermelons of 
 various sorts, very good, which should 
 have gone amongst the fruits. Of 
 Muskmelons we have very large and 
 good, and several sorts of the Golden, 
 Green, Guinea and Orange. Cucumbers 
 long green and prickly, all these from 
 the natural ground, and great increase 
 without any helps of Dung or reflection. 
 Pompions yellow and very large Bur- 
 millions, Cashaws, an excellent fruit 
 boil'd; Squashes, Simnals, Horns, and 
 Gourds, besides many other species of 
 less value, too tedious to name. 
 
 Our pot herbia and others of use, 
 which we already posess, are Angelica 
 wild and tame. Balm, Bugloss, Borage, 
 Burnet, Clary, Marigold, pot Marjoram, 
 and other Marjorams, summer and 
 winter Savory, Columbines, Tansey, 
 Wormwood, Nep, Mallows, several 
 sorts. Drage red and white. Lambs 
 Quarters, Thyme, Hyssop, of a very 
 large growth, sweet Bazil, Rosemary, 
 Lavendar. The more Physical are 
 Carduus Benedictus, the scurvy-grass 
 of America, I never here met any of the 
 European sort; Tobacco of many sorts. 
 Dill, Carawa, Cummin, Anise, Corian- 
 der, all sorts of PHantlain of En^-land, 
 and two sorts spontaneous, good Vul- 
 neraries; Elecampane, Comfrey, Net- 
 tle the seed from England, none 
 native; Monks Rhubarb, Burdock, 
 Asiarum, wild in the woods, reck- 
 oned one oif the Snake Roots, 
 besides the common species, which 
 
 are great Antidotes against the 
 Serpent's Bite, and are easily raised in 
 the garden. Mint, Jamestown weed, so 
 called from Virginia, the seed it bears 
 is very like that of an Onion; it is ex- 
 cellent for curing burns, but taken in- 
 wardly brings on a sort of drunken 
 madness. 
 
 THE PRESENT STATE OF CARO- 
 LINA. 
 
 When we consider the Latitude and 
 Convenient Situation of Carolina, had 
 we no further confirmation thereof, our 
 Reason would inform us that such a 
 Pilace lay fairly to be a delicious coun- 
 try, being placed in that Girdle of the 
 World which affords Wine, Oil, Fi'uit, 
 Grtain, and Silk, with other rich com- 
 modities, besides a Sweet Air, Moder- 
 ate Climate, and Fertile Soil; these are 
 the blessings (under Heaven's Protec- 
 tion) that spin out the thread of life 
 to its utmost extent, and crown our 
 days with the sweets of Health and 
 Plenty, which when joined with con- 
 tent, render the Posessors the happiest 
 Race of Men upon Earth. 
 
 The Inhabitants of Carolina thro' the 
 richness of the soil, live an easy and 
 Pleasant Life. The Land being of sev- 
 eral sorts of Compost, some stiff, others 
 light, some Marl, others rich black 
 Mould; here barren of Pine but afford- 
 ing Pitch, Tar, Masts; there vastly 
 rich, especially on the freshes of the 
 River, one part bearing great Timbers, 
 others being Savannas or natural 
 Meads, where no Trees grow for sev- 
 eral Miles, Adorned by Nature with a 
 Pleasant Verdure, and beautiful Flow- 
 ers, frequent in no other Places, yield- 
 ing abundance of herbage for cattle, 
 Sheep and Horses. The country in 
 General affords pleasiant seats, the land 
 except in some few Places, being dry 
 and high banks, parcell'd our into most 
 convenient necks (by the Creeks) easy 
 to be fenced in for securing their stock 
 to more strict Boundaries whereby. 
 
OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 
 
 45 
 
 with a small trouble of fencing, almost 
 every man may enjoy to himself an en- 
 tire Plantation, or rather Park. These, 
 with other Benefits of Plenty of Fish, 
 Wild-fowl, Venison, and the other con- 
 veniences which this summer country 
 naturally furnishes, has induced a 
 g-reat many families to leave the more 
 Northerly Plantations and sit down 
 under one of the mildest governments 
 in the world; in a country that, with 
 moderate Industry, will afford all the 
 Necessaries of Life. We have yearly 
 abundance of strangers come amongst 
 us, who chiefly strive to go Southerly 
 to settle, because there is a vast tract 
 of rich Land betwixt the Place we are 
 seated in, and Cape Fair and upon the 
 River, and more Southerly which is in- 
 habited by Indians, who are this time 
 well affected to the English, and very 
 desirous of their coming to live amongst 
 them. The more Southerly the Milder 
 Winters, with the advantage of pur- 
 chasing the Lord's Land at the most 
 easy and Modenate Rate of any Lands 
 In America nay, (allowing all advan- 
 tages thereto annexed) I may say the 
 Universe does not afford such another; 
 besides men have a great advantage of 
 choosing good and Commodious Tracts 
 of Land at the first seating of a Coun- 
 try or River, whereas the later set- 
 tlers are forced to purchase smaller 
 Dividends of the old Standers, and 
 sometimes at very considerable rates, as 
 now in Virginia and Maryliand, where 
 a thousand acres of good Land cannot 
 be bought under 20 shillings an acre, 
 besides two shillings every year in Ac- 
 knowledgement of every 100 acres, be- 
 sides which sum, be it more or less, 
 will serve to put the Merchant or 
 Planter here into a good posture of 
 Buildings, Slaves and other Necessities 
 when the purchase of his land comes to 
 him on such easy terms; and as our 
 grain and pulse thrive with us to ad- 
 miration, no less do our flocks of 
 
 Horses, Cattle, Sheep and Swine multi- 
 ply. 
 
 The beef of Carolina equalizes the 
 best that our neighboring colonies af- 
 ford; the oxen are of a greater size 
 when they are suffered to live to a fit 
 age. I have seen fat and good beef at 
 all Times of the year, but O'ctober and 
 the cool months are the seasons we kill 
 our Beeves in, when we intend them 
 for salting or expiortatixsn; for then 
 they are in their Prime of Flesh, all 
 coming from Grass, we never using 
 any other food for our cattle. The 
 Heifers bring Calves at eighteen or 20 
 months old, which makes such a won- 
 derful increase that many of our 
 Planters, from very mean beginnings, 
 have raised themselves, and are now 
 masters of hundreds of Fat Beeves and 
 other Cattle. 
 
 The Veal is very good and white, so 
 is the Milk very rich, there beinff at 
 present considerable quantities of but- 
 ter and cheese made that is very good, 
 not only serving our own necessities, 
 but we send out a great de'al among 
 our neighbors. 
 
 The Sheep thrive very well at pres- 
 ent, having mostly commonly two 
 lambs at one yeaning. As the country 
 comes to be opened they prove to be 
 better, change of pasture being agree- 
 able to that useful creature. Mutton 
 is (generally) exceedingly fat, and of 
 a good Relish; their Wool is very fine 
 and proves of Good Staple. 
 
 The Horses are well shaped and 
 swift; the best of them would sell for 
 10 or 12 pounds in England. They prove 
 excellent Drudges, and will travel in- 
 credible Journeys. They are troubled 
 with very few Distempers, neither do 
 the cloudy-faced grey horses go blind 
 there, as in Europe. As for Spavins, 
 Splints and Ring-Bones, they (are here 
 never met withal as I can learn. Were 
 we to have our Stallions and choice of 
 Mares from England, or any other of a 
 
46 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 good sort, and careful to keep them on 
 the Highlands, we could not flail of a 
 good breed; but having been supplied 
 with our first horses from a neighbor- 
 ing Plantation, which were but mean, 
 they do not as yet come up to the ex- 
 cellency of the Knglish Horse; tho' we 
 generally find that the Colt exceeds in 
 beauty and strength its Sire and Dam. 
 
 The Pork exceeds any in Europe, the 
 great Diversity and Goodness of the 
 Acorns and Nuts whiich the Woods af- 
 ford, making the Flesh of an excellent 
 taste, and produces great Quantities; 
 eo that if Oarolina is not the chief it is 
 not inferior, in this one Commodity, to 
 any Colony in the hands o,f the E!ng- 
 lish. 
 
 As for the Goats, they have been 
 found to thrive and increase well, but 
 being mischievous to orchards and 
 other trees, makes people decline keep- 
 ing them. 
 
 Our Produce for exportation to Eu- 
 rope and the Islands in America are 
 Beef, Pork, Ttallow, Hides, Deer- 
 Skins. Furs, Pitch, Tar, Wheat, Indian 
 Corn, Pease, Masts, Staves, Heading, 
 Boards, and all sorts of Timber and 
 Lumber for Madeira and the West In- 
 dies; Rozin, Turpentine, and several 
 sorts of Gums and Tars, with some 
 Medical Drugs, are produced here, be- 
 sides Rice, and several other foreign 
 grains, which thrive very well. Good 
 Bricks and Tiles are made, besides 
 several sorts of useful earths, as Bole, 
 Fuller's Earth, Oaker, Tobacco-pipe 
 Clay, in great plenty; Earths for the 
 Potter's Trade, and fine siand for the 
 Glass Maker. In building with bricks, 
 we make our Lime of oyster-shells, tho' 
 we have great store of Lime-stone, to- 
 wards the Heads of our Rivers, where 
 are stones of all sorts that are useful, 
 besides viast quantities of useful Mar- 
 ble. Iron-stone we have plenty of, both 
 in the Low-grounds and on the Hills; 
 Lead and copper has been found, so 
 
 has Antimony heretofore; but no en- 
 deavors have been used to discover 
 those Subteraneous species; otherwise 
 we might in all probability, find out 
 the best of minerals, which are not 
 wanting in Carolina. Hot baths we 
 have an account of from the Indians 
 that frequent the Hill country, where a 
 great likelihood appears of miaking 
 salt-peter, because the earth in many 
 places is strongly mixed with a nitrous 
 Salt, which is much coveted by the 
 Beasts, who come at some seasons in 
 great Droves and Herds, and by their 
 much licking of this earth, make great 
 Holes in those banks, which sometimes 
 lie at the heads of great Precipices 
 where their eagerness after this salt 
 hastens their end, by falling down the 
 high banks, so th/at they are dashed 
 into pieces. It must be confessed that 
 the Most Noble and Sweetest Part of 
 this Country is not inha.bited by any 
 but the Savages; and a great deal of 
 the richest part thereof hias no inhabi- 
 tants but the Beasts of the Wilderness. 
 For the Indians are not inclinable to 
 settle in the Richest Land, because 
 the Timbers are too large for them to 
 cut down, and too much burdened with 
 Wood for their Labourers to make 
 Plantations of; besides, the Healthful- 
 ness of those Hills is apparent, by the 
 Gigantick statue and the Gray Heads 
 so common amongst the Savages that 
 dwell near the Mountains; the great 
 Creator of all Things, having most 
 wisely diffused His Blessings, by par- 
 celling out the Vintages of the World, 
 into such Lots, as His wonderful fore- 
 sight thought most proper, requisite 
 and convenient for the Habitations of 
 His creatures. Towards the Sea, we 
 have the Conceniency of Trade, trans- 
 portation, and other Helps the Water 
 affords, but oftentimes these Advan- 
 tages are attended with indifferent 
 Land, a thick Air, and other Inconven- 
 iences, when backwards near the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 47 
 
 Mountains, you meet with the Richest 
 Soil, a sweet, thin air, dry Roads, 
 pleasant small murmuring- streams, 
 and several beneficial productions, and 
 species which are unknown in the Eu- 
 ropean World. One part of this coun- 
 try affords what the other is wholly a 
 stranger to. 
 
 We have Chalybeate Waters of sev- 
 eral Tastes and different Qualities; 
 some purge, other work by the other 
 emunctories. We have amongst the 
 inhabitants a Water that is inwardly 
 a great Apervive, and outwardly cures 
 Ulcers, Tettiars, and Sores, by wash- 
 ing- therein. 
 
 There has been a Coal-Mine lately 
 found near the Mannakin Town, above 
 the Falls of James River in Virginia, 
 which proves very good, and is used by 
 the Smiths for their Forges; land we 
 need not doubt of the same amongst 
 us, towards the heads of our Rivers, 
 but the plenty of wood, which is much 
 better than our fuel, makes us not in- 
 quisitive after Coal-Mines. Most of the 
 French who lived at that town ojy 
 James River, are removed to Trent 
 River, in North Carolina, where the 
 rest were expected daily to come to 
 them, when I came awiay, which was 
 in August, 1708. They are much taken 
 with the pleasantness of that country, 
 and indeed, are a very industrious peo- 
 ple. At present they make very good 
 linen Cloath, and Thread, and lare very 
 well versed in cultivating Hemp and 
 Flax, of .both which they raise very 
 considerable quantities; and design to 
 try an ess'ay of the Grape, for making 
 of Wine. 
 
 As for those of our own country in 
 Carolina, some of the Men are very 
 Laborious, and make great Improve- 
 ments in their way; but I dare hardly 
 give 'em the chariacter in General. The 
 easy way of living in that Plentiful 
 Country, makes a great many Planters 
 very negligent, which, were they other- 
 
 wise, the Colony might now have been 
 in a far better condition than it is as 
 to trade and other advantages which 
 universal industry would have led 
 them into. 
 
 The Women are the most Industrious 
 Sex in thiat place, and by their food 
 Housewifry, make a good deal of 
 Cloath of their own cotton. Wool and 
 Flax; some of them keeping their fam- 
 ilies (though large) very decently ap- 
 parel'd, both with linnens and Wool- 
 ens, so that they hiave no occasion to 
 run into the Merchant's debt, or lay 
 their Money out on stores for cloath- 
 ing. 
 
 The Christian Natives of Carolina 
 are a straight, clean-limbed People; 
 the Children being seldom or never 
 troubled with Rickets, or those other 
 distempers that the Europeans are 
 visited withal. 'Tis next to a Mirajcle 
 to see one of them deformed in body. 
 The vicinity of the Sun makes no im- 
 pression on Men, who labour out of 
 doors or use the Waters. As for those 
 Women who do not expose themselves 
 to the Weather, they are often very 
 Fair, and generally as Well-Featured 
 as you shall see anywhere, and have 
 very brisk charming eyes, which sets 
 them off to advantage. They miarry 
 very young, some at thirteen and four- 
 teen; and she that stays until twenty is 
 reckoned a Stale Maid; which is a very 
 indifferent character in that warm 
 country. The Women are very fruitful, 
 most of the Houses being full of little 
 ones. It has been observed that wo- 
 men long married, and without chil- 
 dren in other places, have removed to 
 Carolina and become Joyful Mothers. 
 They have very easy Travail in their 
 Child-bearing, in which they are so 
 happy, as seldom to miscarry. Both 
 sexes ^are generally spare of body, and 
 not Cholerick, nor easily cast down at 
 disapipointments and Losses, seldom im- 
 moderately grieving at misfortunes. 
 
48 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 unless for the loss of their nearest Re- 
 lations and Friends, which seems to 
 make a more than ordinary impression 
 upon them. Many of the Women are 
 very handy in Canoes, and will man- 
 age them with great Dexterity and 
 iSikill, which they become (accustomed 
 to in this Watery Country. They are 
 ready to help their Husbands in any 
 Servile Work, as Planting when the 
 season of the weather requires Expedi- 
 tion; Pride seldom preventing Good 
 Housewifry. The girls are not bred up 
 to the wheel and Sewing only, but the 
 dairy land affairs of the House they are 
 very well acquainted withal; so that 
 you shall see them whilst very young, 
 manage their business with a great 
 deal Oif Conduct and Alacrity. The 
 children of both Sexes are very docile, 
 and learn anything with a great deal of 
 ease and Method, and those that have 
 the advantage of education, write good 
 hands and prove good accountants," 
 which is most Coveted, and indeed 
 most necessary in these Parts. The 
 young men are commonly of a bashful 
 sober behaviour; few pi-oving prodigals 
 to consume what the industry of their 
 parents has left them, but commonly 
 Improve it. The marrying so young 
 carries a double advantage with it; 
 that is that the parents see their chil- 
 dren provided for in marriage; and the 
 young married people are taught by 
 their Parents, how to get their living; 
 for their Admonitions make great im- 
 pressions on their children. I have 
 heard, (before I knew this New World) 
 that the Natives of America were a 
 short-lived people, which by all the ob- 
 servations I could ever make, proves 
 quite contrary; for those who are born 
 here, and In other colonies, live to as 
 great ages as any of the Europeans, 
 the Climate being free from consump- 
 tion, which distemper, so fatal to Eng- 
 land, they are strangers to. And as 
 the country becomes more cleared of 
 
 wood, it still becomes more Healthful 
 to the Inhabitants, unless addicted to 
 the Ague; which is incident to most 
 new-comers in America from Europe, 
 yet not mortal. A gentle Emetick sel- 
 dom misses of driving it away, but if 
 it is not too troublesome, 'tis better to 
 let the seasoning have its own course, 
 in which case the party is commonly 
 free from it ever after and very 
 Healthful. 
 
 And now, as to the other Advantages 
 the Country Affords, we do not guess 
 at them at present, because as I said 
 before, the best part of this country is 
 not inhabited by the English, from 
 whence probably will hereafter spring 
 productions thiat this age does not 
 dream of, and of much more advantage 
 to the inhabitants than any things we 
 are yet acciuainted withal. And as for 
 severlal productions of other countries, 
 much in the same latitude, we may 
 expect with good management, they 
 will become familiar to us, as Wine, 
 Oil, Fruit, Silk, and other profitable 
 commodities, such as Drugs, Dyes, etc. 
 And at present the curious may have 
 a large field to satisfy, and divert 
 themselves in as collections of strange 
 Beasts, Birds, Insects, Reptiles, Shells, 
 Pishes, Minerals, Herbs, Flowers, 
 Plants, Shrubs, intricate Roots, Gums, 
 Tars, Rozins, Dyes, Stones, with sev- 
 eral others that yield Siatisfaction and 
 Profit to those whose inclinations tend 
 that Way. And as for what may be 
 hoped for, towards a Happy Life and 
 Being, by such as design to move 
 thither, I shall add this: That with 
 prudent management, I can affirm by 
 experience, with a small beginning one 
 may live very comfortable, and not 
 only provide for the necessaries of life, 
 but likewise for those who are to suc- 
 ceed to him. Provisions being very 
 plentiful, and of Good Variety; to ac- 
 commodiate genteel Housekeeping, and 
 the neighbouring Indians are friendly 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 49 
 
 in many cases and serviceable to us, 
 in making us Wares to catch fish in, 
 for a small matter, which proves of 
 great adviantage to large families, be- 
 cause those engines take great quanti- 
 ties of many sorts and kinds of fish, 
 which are very good and nourishing: 
 Some of them Hunt and Fowl for us 
 at reasonable ilates, the country being 
 as plentifully provided with all sorts of 
 Game as any Part of America; the 
 poorer sort of Planters often get them 
 to Plant for them, by hiring them for 
 that season, or for so much work, 
 which commonly comes very relason- 
 able. Moreover, it is remarkable, that 
 no place on the Continent of America, 
 has seated an English Colony so free 
 from bloodshed as Carolina, but all the 
 others have been more Damaged and 
 Disturbed by the Indians, than they 
 have, which is worthy of notice, when 
 we consider how oddly it was first 
 planted with inhabitants. 
 
 The Fishing-Trade in Carolina might 
 be carried on to a great ladvantage, 
 considering how many sorts of excel- 
 lent fish our Sounds and Rivers af- 
 ford, which cure very well with salt, 
 as has been experienced by some small 
 quantities, which have been sent 
 abroad and yield a good price. As for 
 the whale fishing, it is no otherwise re- 
 garded than by a few People who live 
 on the Sand Banks, and those only 
 work on dead fish cast ashore, none 
 being struck on our coast, as they are 
 to the Northward, although we have 
 plenty of Whales there. Great Plenty 
 is generally the ruin of Industry. Thus 
 our Merchants are not many, nor have 
 those few there be, applied themselves 
 to the European tnade. The Planter sits 
 contented at home, whilst his oxen 
 thrive and grow fat, and his stocks 
 daily increase; the fatted Porkers and 
 Poultry are easily raised to his Table, 
 and his orchard affords him Liquor, 
 so that he eats and drinks away the 
 
 cares of the world, and desires no other 
 Happiness than that which he daily en- 
 joys. Whereas not only the European, 
 but also the Indian trade might be 
 carried on to a great Profit, because 
 we lie as fairly for the body of Indians, 
 as any settlement in English-America. 
 And as for the small trade that has 
 been carried on in that way, the Deal- 
 ers therein have throve as fast as any 
 men, and the soonest iialsed themselves 
 of any people I have known in Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 Lastly, as to the climate it is very 
 healthful; our summer is not so Hot as 
 in other places, to the Eastward, in the 
 same Latitude, neither are we ever 
 visited by any Earthquakes, as many 
 places in Italy and other Southern 
 Countries are. Our northerly winds in 
 summer cool the air, and free us from 
 pestilent fevers, which Spain, Barbary, 
 and the neighboring countries in Eu- 
 rope, etc., are visited withal. Our Sky 
 is generally Serene and Clear, and the 
 Air very Thin, in comparison with 
 many parts of Europe, where the Con- 
 sumptions and CaUarrhs reign among 
 the Inhabitants. The Winter has sev- 
 eral fits of sharp weather, especially 
 when the Wind is at N. W. which al- 
 ways clears the sky, tho' never so thick 
 before. However such weather is very 
 agreeable to European Bodies, and 
 makes them Healthy. The N. E. Winds 
 blowing in Winter, bring with them 
 thick weather, and in the spring some- 
 times Blight the Fruit; but they very 
 seldom endure long, being blown away 
 by westerly winds, and then all be- 
 comes fair and clear again. Our Spring 
 in Carolinfa is very beautiful, and the 
 most pleasant weather a person can 
 enjoy. The Fall is accompanied with 
 cool mornings, which come in toward 
 the latter end of August and so continue 
 with (most commonly) very moderate 
 weather, till about Christmas; when 
 the Winter comes on apace. Tho' these 
 
50 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 seasons are very piercing, yet the cold 
 is of no continuance. Perhaps you will 
 have Cold Weather for three or four 
 days at a time, then pleasant Wlarm 
 Weather follows, such as you have in 
 England, about the latter end of April 
 or beginnin'^ of May. In the year 1707 
 we had the severest winter in Oarolina, 
 that ever was known since the English 
 came to settle there; for our Rivers 
 that were not above half a Mile wide, 
 and fresh waters, were frozen over; 
 and some of them in the north part of 
 this Country were passable for peop,le 
 to wlalk over. 
 
 One of the Great Advantages of 
 North Carolina, is that we are not a 
 Frontier, and near the Enemy; which 
 proves very Chargeable and Trouble- 
 some in Time of War to those Colonies 
 th(at are so seated. Another great ad- 
 vantage comes from its being near Vir- 
 ginia, where we come often to a Good 
 Market, at the return of the Guinea 
 Ships for Negro's and the Remnant of 
 their Stores, which is very Commodi- 
 ous for the Indian trade, besides at 
 War- Time we lie nelar at hand to go 
 under their Convoy and to sell our 
 Provisions to the Tobacco Fleets; for 
 the Planting of Tobacco generally in 
 those Colonies prevents their being 
 supplied with stores, sufficient for vict- 
 ualling their Ships. 
 
 As for the Commodities which are 
 necessary to carry over to this Planta- 
 tion, for use and merchandize, and are 
 therefore requisite for those to have 
 along with them, that intend to trans- 
 port themselves thither; they are Guns, 
 Powder and Shot, Flints, Linnens, of 
 all sorts, but chiefly ordinary Blues, 
 Osnabrugs, Scotch and Irish Linnens, 
 and some fine, 'Mens and Womens 
 Claaths ready made up, some few 
 Broadcloths, Kerseys, and Druggets, 
 to which you must add Haberdashers- 
 Wares, Hats about five or six shillings 
 apiece, and few finer; a few wigs, not 
 
 long and pretty thin hair, thin stuffs 
 for Women, Iron Works, as Nails, 
 Spades, Axes, broad and narrow Hoes, 
 Frows, Wedges, and Saws of all sorts, 
 with other Tools for Carpenters, Join- 
 ers, and Coopers, Shoemakers, Shave- 
 locks, etc., all which and others 
 which are necessary for the Plan- 
 tiations, you may be informed of, 
 and buy at very reasonable rates, of 
 Mr. James Gilbert, Ironmonger, in 
 Mitre-Tavern-Tard near Aldgate. You 
 may also be used very kindly for your 
 Cuttlery-Ware, and other advantage 
 ous merchandizes, and your Cargo's 
 well sorted, by Capt. Sharpi, at the Blue 
 Gate in Cannon street; and for 
 Earthen-Ware, Window glass. Grind- 
 stones, Mill stones. Paper, Ink-Powder, 
 Saddles, Bridles, and what other things 
 you are minded to take with you, for 
 pleasure or ornam.ent. 
 
 And now I shall proceed to the rest 
 of the vegetables, that are common in 
 Carolina, in reference to the Place 
 where I left off, which is the natural 
 history of that country. 
 OF THE VEGBTABLES OF CARO- 
 LINA. 
 
 The Spontaneous shrubs of this Coun- 
 try are the Larkheel Tree, three sorts 
 of honey-suckle tree, the first of which 
 grows in Branches as our Piemento- 
 Tree does-, that is alwiays in low, moist 
 ground, and the other grows in Clear, 
 moist Land, the Flower more cut and 
 Lacerated; the third, Mhich is the mos". 
 beautiful, and I think the most charm- 
 ing flower of its colour, I ever saw, 
 grows betwixt tw'o and three foot high, 
 ■dnd for the most part by the side of a 
 i-iwampy wood, or on the banks of our 
 Rivers, but never near the salt water. 
 All the soriis are white; the last grows 
 in a great bunch of Honeysuckles, set 
 up on one chief stem, and is common- 
 iy the bigness of a large turnip. Noth- 
 ing can appear more beautiful than 
 these, when in their splendour, which 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 51 
 
 is in April and May. The next is the 
 Honeysuckle of the Forest; it grows 
 about a foot high, bearing its flowers 
 on small Pedestals, several of them 
 standing on the Main Stock, which is 
 the thickness of a Wheat-Straw. We 
 have also the Wood-bind, much the 
 same as in England, Princes-Feather, 
 very large and beautiful in the Gar- 
 den; Tres-Colores, branched Sun- 
 flowers. Double Poppies, Lupires, of 
 several pretty sorts, spontaneous; and 
 the Sensitive plant is said to be near the 
 Mountains, which I have not yet seen. 
 Saf-Flowers; (and I believe the Saffron 
 Flower of England woxild thrive here 
 if planted) the yellow Jessimin is wild 
 in our woods, of a pleasant smell; 
 Evergreens are here plentifully found, 
 of a very quick growth, and pleasant 
 shade; Cypress or white Cedar, the 
 Pitch Pine, the Yellow Pine, the white 
 Pine with long leaves; and the smaller 
 Almond Pine, which lasts bears Ker- 
 nels in the Apple, tasting much like 
 an Almond; and in some years there 
 falls such plenty, as to make the Hog^ 
 fat; Horn Beam; Cedar, two sorts; 
 Holly, two s'orts; Bay-tree, two sorts; 
 one of the dwarf-bay aibout 12 foot 
 high; the other the bigness of a mid- 
 dling Pine-Tree, about two foot and a 
 half Diameter; Daurel Trees, in 
 Height equalizing the lofty Oaks; the 
 berries and Leaves of the trees dye a 
 yello'w; the Bay trees yield a wax, 
 which besides its use in Chirurgery, 
 makes candles that in burning gave a 
 fragrant smell. The Cedar-berries are 
 Infused, and made beer of, by the Ber- 
 mudians, they are Carminative, and 
 much of the quality of Juniper berries; 
 Tew and Box I never saw or heard of 
 in this country; there are two sorts of 
 Myrtles, different in Leaf and Berry; 
 the berry yields wax that makes can- 
 dles, the most lasting and of the sweet- 
 est smell imaginable. Some mix half 
 tallow with this wax, others use it 
 
 without mixture, and these are fit for 
 a lady's chamber, and incomparable 
 to pass the line withal and other hot 
 countries, because they will stand 
 when others will melt by the excessive 
 heat down in the Binnacles; Ever- 
 green Oaks, two sorts, and very plen- 
 tiful and growing always in a low 
 swampy ground, and amongst Ponds. 
 We have a Prim or Privet, which grows 
 on the dry, barren, sandy hills, by the 
 sound side; it bears a smaller sort 
 than in England, and grows in a rotund 
 bush, very beautiful. Last 'of bushes 
 (except Savine, which grows every- 
 where wild) is the famous Yaupon, of 
 which I find two sorts if not three. I 
 shall speak first of the nature of this 
 Plant. It grows the most like box, 
 of any Vegetable that I know, being 
 very like in leaf, only dented exactly 
 like Tea, but the Leaf somewhat flat- 
 ter. I cannot say whether it bears any 
 flowers, but a berry it does, about the 
 bigness of a grain of Pepper, being 
 first red, then brown when ripe, which 
 is in December. Some of these hushes 
 grow to be 12 foot high, others are 
 three or four. The Wood thereof is 
 brittle as Myrtle, and affords a light 
 ash-col'ored bark. There is sometimes 
 found of it in swamps and rich low 
 grounds, which has the same figured 
 leaf, only it is larger and of a deeper 
 green. This may be confirmed by the 
 richness that attends the Low Grounds 
 thus situated. The third sort has the 
 same leaf, but never grows a foot 
 High, and is found both in rich low 
 land, and on the Sand Hills. I don't 
 kn)ow that I ever found anj^ seed or 
 berries on the dwarfish sort, yet I find 
 no difference in taste, when the in- 
 fusion is made. Cattle and Sheep de- 
 light in this Plant very much, and so 
 do the Deer, all which crop it very 
 short, and browze thereon whensoever 
 they meet with it. I have transplant- 
 ed the sandbank and dwarfish Yaupon, 
 
53 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 and find that the first year the shrubs 
 stood at a stand, but the second year 
 they throve as well as in their native 
 soil. This plant is the Indian Tea, 
 used and appraved by all the Savages 
 on the doast of Carolina, and from 
 them sent to the Westward Indians, 
 and sold at a considerable price; all 
 which they cure after the same way 
 as they do for themselves which is 
 thus: They take this Plant (not only 
 the leaves but the smaller twigs along 
 with them) and bruise it in a mortar 
 until it becomes blackish, the leaf be- 
 ing wholly defaced. Then they take it 
 out and put it into one of their Earth- 
 en Pots which is over the Fire until it 
 smokes, stirring it all the time until 
 it is cured. Others take it after it 
 is bruised and put it in a bowl, into 
 which they put live coals, lamd cover 
 them with the Taupon, till they have 
 done smoiaking, often turning them 
 over. After all they spread it upon 
 their mats, and dry it in the sun and 
 keep it for Use. The Spaniards in New 
 Spain have this plant very plentiful 
 on the coast of Florida, and hold it in 
 great esteem. Sometimes they oure it 
 as Indians do, or else beat it to a Pow- 
 der, so mix it as coffee; yef before they 
 drink it they filter the same. They 
 prefer it above all Liquids to drink 
 with Phyisick, to carry the same safe- 
 ly and speedily thro' the passage, for 
 which it is admirable, as I myself have 
 experienced. 
 
 In the next place I shall speak of 
 the Timber that Carolina affords, 
 which is as follows: 
 
 Chestnut-Oak; it is a very lofty tree, 
 clear of Boughs and Limbs for 50 or GO 
 foot. They bear sometimes four or 
 five foot through, all clear timber, and 
 are the largest Oaks we have, yielding 
 the fairest Plank. They grow chiefly 
 In lowlands, that is stiff and rich. I 
 have seen of them so high that a good 
 g-un could not reach a turkey, tho* 
 
 loaded with Swan-Shot. They are call- 
 ed chestnuts because of the largeness 
 and sweetness of the acorns. 
 
 White, Soaly-Bark Oak. This is used 
 as the former in building Sloops and 
 Ships. Tho' it bears a large adorn, yet 
 it never grows to the Bulk and height 
 of the Chestnut Oak. It is so called 
 because of a scaly, broken, white-bark, 
 that covers this tree, growing on dry 
 land. 
 
 We have Red-Oaks; sometimes in 
 good land very large and lofty. 'Tis 
 a porous wood, and used to rive inta 
 rails for Fences. 'Tis not very dur- 
 able; yet some use this as well as the 
 two former, for pipe and barrel Staves. 
 It makes good Clap-Bioards. 
 
 White Oak is free to rive, bears a 
 whitish smooth Bark; and' rives very 
 well into Clap-Boards. It is accounted 
 durable, therefore some use to build 
 vessels with it for the sea; it proving 
 well and durable. These all give good 
 mast for the Swine. 
 
 Bastard-Spanish is an Oak betwixt 
 the Spanish and Red-Oak; the chief 
 use is for fencing and clap-boards. It 
 bears good Acorns. 
 
 The next is Black-Oak, which is 
 esteemed a durable wood, under wa- 
 ter; but sometimes it is used in House- 
 Work. It bears a good mast for Hogs. 
 
 White Iron or Ring oak is so called 
 from the durability and lasting quali- 
 ty of this Wood. It chiefly grows on 
 clean, dry ground, and seldom fails of 
 bearing a plentiful crop of acorns. The 
 Wood is found to be very durable and 
 is esteemd to be the best Oak for 
 ship- work that we have in Carolina; 
 for tho' live Oak be more lasting, yet it 
 seldom allows planks of any consider- 
 able length. 
 
 Turkey Oak is so called from a small 
 acorn it bears, 'which the wild Turkles 
 feed on. 
 
 Live-Oak chiefly grows on dry, sandy, 
 KnolLs. This is an evergreen, and the 
 
OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 
 
 53 
 
 most durable Oak all America affords. 
 The shortness of this wood's boll, or 
 trunk, makes it unfit for plank to build 
 ships withal. There are some few trees 
 that would allow a stock of 12 foot, 
 but the firmness and great weig-ht 
 thereof frightens our sawyers from the 
 great fatigue th'at attends the cutting 
 of this Timber. A Nail once driven 
 therein, 'tis next to an imDossibility to 
 draw it out. The linibs thereof are so 
 curved that they serve for excellent 
 Timbers, Knees, etc., for vessels of any 
 sort. The Acorns thereof are as sweet 
 as Chestnuts, and the Indians draw an 
 Oil from them as sweet as that from 
 the Olive, tho' of an Amber colour. 
 With these nuts or Acorns, some have 
 counterfeited the Cocoa, whereof they 
 have made Chocolate, not to be distin- 
 guished by a good Palate, Window 
 Frames, Mallets, land Pins for Blocks 
 are made thereof to an excellent pur- 
 pose. I knew two trees of this kind 
 among the Indians, which were planted 
 ■from the Acorn, and grew in the Fresh- 
 es, and I never s'aw anything more 
 beautiful of that sort. They are of an 
 indifferent quick growth, of which 
 there are two sorts. The Acorns make 
 very fine Pork. 
 
 Willow Oak is a sort of Water Oak. 
 It grows in Ponds and Br'anohes, and 
 is useful for many things. It is so 
 called from the leaf, which very much 
 resembles the Willow. 
 
 The Live Oak grows in the Fresh- 
 water Ponds and Swamps by the river- 
 sides, and in low ground overflown 
 with Water, and is perenni'al Oreen. 
 
 Of Ash we have two sorts, agreeing 
 nearly with the English in the grain. 
 One of our sorts is tough like the Eng- 
 lish, but differs something in the leaf, 
 and much more in the bark. Neither 
 of them bears Keys. The Water-Ash 
 is brittle. The bark is food for the 
 Beavers. 
 
 There are two sorts of Elm. The 
 
 first grows on our highland and ap- 
 proaches our English. The Indians 
 take the bark of its root and beat it 
 whilst green to a pulp, and then dry 
 it in the Chimney, where it becomes of 
 a reddish colour. This they use as a 
 Sovereign Remedy to heal a cut or 
 green Wound, or anything that is not 
 corrupted. It is of a Glutinous Quiali- 
 ty. The other Elm grows in low 
 ground, of whose bark the English and 
 Indians make ropes; for as soon as the 
 sap rises, it strips off with the great- 
 est ease imaginable. It runs in March 
 or thereabouts. 
 
 The Tulip-Trees, which are by the 
 Planters called Poplars, and are near- 
 est approaching that wood in grain, 
 grow to a prodigious Bigness, some of 
 them having been found one and twen- 
 ty foot in Circumference. I have been 
 informed of a Tulip Tree that was ten 
 foot in Diameter, another wherein a 
 lusty man had his bed and household 
 furniture, and lived in it until his La- 
 bour got him a more Fashionable Man- 
 sion. He afterwards became a noted 
 man in his 'country for Wealth and 
 Conduct. One of these sorts bears a 
 white tulip, the other a parti-colour'd 
 mottled one. The Wood makes a very 
 pretty Wainscot, Shingles for Houses, 
 and Planks for several Uses. It is 
 reckoned very lasting, especially un- 
 derground for mill-work. The Buds, 
 made into an ointment, cure Soalds, 
 Infiammations and Burns. I saw sev- 
 eral bushels thereof. The cattle are 
 apt to eat these buds, which give a 
 very odd taste to the Milk. 
 
 Beech is here frequent and very 
 large. The grain seems exactly the 
 same as that in Europe. We make lit- 
 tle use thereof, except for fire use. 'Tis 
 not a durable timber. It affords a very 
 sweet nut, yet the Pork fed thereon 
 (tho' sweet) is very oily, >and ought to 
 be hardened with Indian Corn, before 
 
54 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 it is killed. Another sort called Buck- 
 Beech is here found. 
 
 Horn-Beam grows in some places 
 very plentifully, yet the very plenty of 
 the Wood makes it unregarded. 
 
 The virtues of Sassafras are well 
 known in Europe. This wood some- 
 times grows to be above two feet over, 
 land is very durable and lasting, used 
 for bowls, timbers, posts and houses, 
 and other things that require standing 
 in the ground. 'Tis very light. It 
 bears a white flower, which is very 
 Cleansing to the Blood, being e'aten in 
 the Spring with other Sallating. The 
 berry when ripe is black; 'tis very oily, 
 Carminative, and extremely prevalent 
 in Clysters for the Colick. The Bark 
 of the Root is a Specifick to those af- 
 fected with Gripes. The same in Pow- 
 der and a lotion made therof is much 
 used by the Savages to mundify old 
 Ulcers, and for several other uses; be- 
 ing highly esteemed among them. 
 
 Dog-Wood is plentiful on ou.r light 
 land; inclining to a rich soil, it flowers 
 the first in the Woods; its white blos- 
 soms making the Woods very beauti- 
 ful. It has a finf^ grain and serves for 
 several uses, within doors; but it is 
 not durable. The bark of this root in- 
 fused is held an infallible Remedy 
 against the Worms. 
 
 Laurel, before mentioned; as to its 
 bigness and use I have seen Planks 
 sawn of this wood, but 'tis not found 
 durable in the Weather, yet pretty 
 enough for many uses. 
 
 Bay and Laurel generally delight in 
 a low, swampy ground. I know no use 
 they make of them, but for flre-wood, 
 excepting what I spoke of before, 
 amongst the evergreens. 
 
 A famous Evergreen I must now 
 mention, which was forgotten amongst 
 the rest. It is in leaf like a Jessimin, 
 but larger, and of a hardier nature. 
 This grows up to a large Vine, and 
 twists itself around the trees it grows 
 
 near, making a very fine shade. I never 
 saw anything of that nature outdo it, 
 and if it be 'cut away close to the 
 ground, it will presently spring up 
 again, it being impossible to destroy 
 it, when once it has got a root. 'Tis 
 an ornamental Plant, and worth the 
 Transplanting. Its seed is a black- 
 berry. 
 
 The Scarlet Tl-umpet Vine bears a 
 glorious red flower, like a bell or trum- 
 pet, and makes a shade inferior to none 
 that ever I saw, yet it leaves us when 
 the spring oomes and remains naked 
 till the next spring. It bears a large 
 Cod that holds its seed. 
 
 The Maycock bears a glorious flower, 
 and apple of an agreeable sweet, mixed 
 with an acid taste. This is also a sum- 
 mer vine. 
 
 The Indico grows plentifully in our 
 quarters. 
 
 The Bay-Tulip Ttee is a fine ever- 
 green, which grows frequently here. 
 
 The Sweet-Gum Tree, so called be- 
 cause of the fragrant Gum it yields in 
 the Spring Time upon incision of the 
 Wark or wood. It cures the Herpes 
 and Inflammations, being applied to 
 the Morphew and Tettars. 'Tis an ex- 
 traordinary Balsam, and of grelat value 
 to those who know how to use it. No 
 wood has scarce a better grain; where- 
 of fine Tables, Drawers, and other 
 Furniture might be mlade. Some of it 
 is curiously curled. It bears a round 
 bur with a sort of prickle, which is 
 the seed. 
 
 Of the Black-Gum there grows with 
 us two sorts, both fit for Cart-Naves. 
 The one bears a black, well tasted 
 berry, which the Indians mix with their 
 Pulse and Soups, it giving them b pret- 
 ty flavour and scarlet colour. The 
 Bears crop these trees, for the berries 
 which they mightily covet, yet killed 
 in that season they eat very unfavor- 
 ably; which must be occasioned by this 
 fruit, because at other times when they 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 55 
 
 feed on Mast, Bear's-Flesh is very 
 well-tasted food. The other gum bears 
 a berry in shape like the other, tho' 
 bitter and ill tasted. This tree (the In- 
 dians report) is never wounded by 
 lightning. It has no certain Grain, and 
 is almost impossible to spit or rive it. 
 The White-Gum, bearing a sort of 
 long-bunched flower, is the most curled 
 and knotted wood I ever saw, which 
 would m.ake curious furniture in case 
 it was handled by a good workman. 
 
 The red sort of Cedar is an Ever- 
 green, of which Carolina affords Plen- 
 ty. That on the Salts, growing gener- 
 ally on the Sand-banfes; and thiat in 
 the Freshes is found in the Swamps. 
 Of this wood Tables, Wainscots, and 
 other necess'aries are made, and es- 
 teemed for its sweet smell. It is as 
 dunable a Wood as any we have, there- 
 fore much used in Posts for Houses 
 and Sills; likewise to build Sloops, 
 Boats, etc., by reason the Worm will 
 not touch it for several years. The 
 Vessels built thereof are very durable 
 and good swimmers. Of this Cedar 
 shiploads may be exported. It has 
 been heretofore so plentiful in this set- 
 tlement that they ha,ve fenced in Plan- 
 tations with it, and the Coffins of the 
 dead are generally made thereof. 
 
 White-Cedar, so called, because it 
 nearly approaches the other Cediar in 
 smell, bark and leaf, only this grows 
 taller, being as straight as an arrow. 
 It is extraordinarily light and free to 
 rive. 'Tis good for Yard, Top-Masts, 
 Booms and Boltsprits, being very 
 tough. The best shingles for houses 
 are made of this Wood, it being no 
 strtain to the roof and never rots. Good 
 pails and other vessels, free from leak- 
 age, are likewise miade thereof. The 
 Bark of this and the Red Cedar the 
 Indians use to make their Cabins of, 
 wliich prove firm and resist all weath- 
 ers, 
 cypress is not an Evergreen with us, 
 
 and is therefore ctetlled the Bald Cy- 
 press, because the leaves during the 
 winter season turn red, not recovering 
 their verdure until the spring. These 
 trees are the largest for height and 
 thickness that we have in this part of 
 the world, some of them holding 36 foot 
 in Circumference. Upon incision they 
 yield a sweet-smelling grain, tho' not 
 in great quantities; and the nuts which 
 these trees bear plentifully yield a 
 most odoriferous Balsam, that infal- 
 libly cures all new and green Wounds, 
 which the Inhabitants are well ac- 
 quainted withal. Of these great Tfees 
 the Pereaugers and Canoes are scooped 
 and made; which sort of Vessels are 
 chiefly to pass over the Rivers, Creeks 
 and Bays, and to transport Goods and 
 Lumber from one river to another 
 with. Some are so large as to carry 
 30 barrels, tho' of one entire piece of 
 Timber. Others that lare split down 
 the bottom and a piece added thereto 
 will carry eighty or an hundred. Sev- 
 eral have gone out of our inlets on the 
 Ocean to Virginia, laden with Pork and 
 other Produce of the Country. Of 
 these trees curious boats for pleasure 
 may he made, and other necessary 
 Craft. Some years ago a foolish man 
 in Albemarle and his son had got one 
 of these Canoes decked. She held as 
 I take it 15 barrels. He brought her 
 to the collectors to be cleared for Bar- 
 bados; but the oflBcer took him for a 
 man that had lost his senses, and ar- 
 gued the danger and impossibility of 
 performing such a voyage in a hollow 
 tree; but the fellow would hearken to 
 no advice of that kind until the gen- 
 tleman told him if he did not value 
 his own life, he valued his reputation 
 and honesty, and so flatly refused 
 clearing him; upon which the canoe 
 was sold, and I think remains in being 
 still. This wood is very lasting and 
 free from the rot. A Canoe of it will 
 outlast four boats, and seldom wants 
 
56 
 
 la.wson's history 
 
 repair. They say a chest made of this 
 wood will suffer no Moth, or Vermine 
 to abide therein. 
 
 The Locust, for its enduring the 
 weather, is chosen for all sorts of 
 work that are exposed to it. It bears 
 la leaf nearest the Liquorice Plant. 'Tis 
 a pretty tall tree. Of this the Indians 
 make their choicest bows, it being very 
 tough and flexible. We have little or 
 none of this wood in Pamticough. 
 
 The Honey-Tree bears as great a re- 
 semblance to the Locust, as a Shallot 
 does to an Onion. It is of that species, 
 but more prickly. They bear a Cod, 
 one side whereof contains the Seed; 
 the other the Honey. They will bear 
 in five years from the Kernel. Thev 
 were first brought (by the Indian Trad- 
 ers) and propagiated by their seed, at 
 the Apamatricks in Virginia. Dast 
 year I planted the seed, tand had them 
 sprung up before I came from thence, 
 which was in August. Of the Honey 
 very good Metheglin is made, there be- 
 ing orchards planted in Virginia for 
 that intent. 
 
 The Sorrel, or Sowr-Wood Tree, is so 
 called because the Leaves taste like 
 Sorrel. Some are about a foot or ten 
 inches in diameter. I am unacquaint- 
 ed with its Vertues at present. 
 
 Of pines there are in Carolina at 
 least four sorts. The Pitch Pine grow- 
 ing to a great Bigness, most common- 
 ly Ihas but a short Leaf. Its Wood 
 being replete with abundance of Bi- 
 tumen, is so durable that it seems to 
 suffer no deday, tho' exposed to all 
 weathers, for many ages; and is used 
 in several domestic and plantation 
 uses. This tree affords the four great 
 necessaries, Pitch, Tar, Rozin and Tur- 
 pentine; which two last are extnacted 
 by tapping and the heat of the Sun, 
 the other two by the heat of the Fire. 
 The white and yellow pines are 
 sawed into Planks for several uses. 
 They make Masts, Yards, and a great 
 
 many other necessaries therewith, the 
 Pine being the most useful tree in the 
 woods. 
 
 The Almond Pine serves for Masts 
 very well. As for the Dwarf-Pine, it is 
 for shew alone, being an evergreen, as 
 they all are. 
 
 The Hiccory is of the Walnut kind 
 and bears a nut, as they do, of w^hich 
 there are some three sorts. The first 
 is that which we caill the common 
 White Hiccory. It is not a durable 
 wood for if cut down and exposed to 
 the weather it will be quite rotten, and 
 spoiled in three years; as will likewise 
 the Beech of this country. Hiccory 
 nuts have very hard shells, but excel- 
 lent sweet kernels, with which, in a 
 plentiful year the old Hogs that can 
 crack them, fatten themselves and 
 make excellent Pork. These Nuts are 
 gotten in great quantities by the Sav- 
 ages, iand laid up for stores, of wlhich 
 they make several dishes and Ban- 
 quets. One of these I cannot forebear 
 mentioning; it is this; they take these 
 Nuts and break them very small be- 
 twixt two stones, till the shells and 
 kernels are indifferent small; and this 
 powder you are presented withal in 
 their Cabins, in little Wooden dishes; 
 The kernel dissolves in your Mouth-and 
 the shell you spit out. This tastes as 
 well as any Almond. Another dish is 
 the soup which they make of these 
 Nuts, beaten and put in Venison broth, 
 which dissolves the nut, and. thickens, 
 whilst the shell precipitates, and re- 
 mains at the bottom. This broth 
 tastes very rich. There is another sort 
 which we call red Hiccory, the heart 
 thereof being very red, firm and du- 
 rable; of which Walking- Sticks, Mor- 
 tars, Pestils, and several other fine 
 Turnery-wares are made. The third is 
 called the Flying-Bark Hiccory, from 
 its brittle and S'caly Bark. It bears a 
 Nut with a bitter Kernel, and soft 
 shell like a French Walnut, Of this 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 57 
 
 wood, Ooggs for Mills are made, etc. 
 The leaves smell very fragrant. 
 
 The Walnut tree of America is called 
 Black Walnut. I suppose that name 
 was at first to distinguish it from the 
 hiccories, it having a blacker bark. 
 This tree grows in a good land to a 
 prodigious bigness. The Wood is very 
 firm and durable, of which tables and 
 chests of drawers are made, land prove 
 very well. Some of this is very knot- 
 ty, which would make the best returns 
 for England, tho' the masters of ves- 
 sels refuse it, not understanding its 
 goodness. 'Tis a very good and dura- 
 ble wood, to bottom vessels for the 
 Sea withal; and they say that it is 
 never eaten by the Worm. The Nuts 
 Wave a large Kernel which is very oily, 
 except lain by a long time to mellow. 
 The shell is very thick, as all the 
 Native Nuts of America are. When it 
 has its yellow outward coat on it looks 
 and smells much like a lemon. 
 
 The Maple, of which we have two 
 sorts, is used to make Trenchers, 
 Spinning-wheels, etc., withal. 
 
 Chinkapin is a sort of Chestnut 
 w'hose nuts are commonly very plenti- 
 ful, insomudh that the Hogs get fat 
 with them. They are rounder and 
 sma>ller than a chestnutj but much 
 sweeter. The wiood is much of the 
 nature of Chestnut, havlmg a leaf and 
 grain almost like it. It is used to tim- 
 ber Boats, Shallops, etc. and makes 
 •anything that is to endure the 
 weather. This and the Hiccory are 
 very touch Rods used to whip Horses 
 withal; yet their Wood in substance is 
 very brittle. This tree the Vine much 
 deligihts to twist about. It's good fire- 
 wood, but very sparkling, as Sassa- 
 fras. 
 
 The Birch grows on the Banks of our 
 Rivers, very high up. I never saw a 
 Tree on the Salts. It differs some- 
 thing, in Bark, from the European 
 Birch. Its Buds in April are eaten by 
 
 the Parrakeetes, which resort, from all 
 Parts, at that Season, to feed thereon. 
 Where this wood grows, we are not 
 yet seated, and as to the Wine or oth- 
 er Profits it would yield, we are, at 
 present. Strangers to. 
 
 The Willow, here, likewise differs 
 both in Bark and Leaf. It is frequent- 
 ly found on the Banks of fresh Water, 
 as the Birch is. 
 
 The Sycamore, in these Parts, gro'vs 
 in a low, swampy Land, by River- 
 sides. Its Bark is quite different from 
 the English, and the most beautiful I 
 ever saw, being mottled and clowded 
 with several colours, as white, blue, 
 etc. It has no Keys, but a Bur like the 
 Sweet-Gum. Its Uses I am ignorant 
 of. 
 
 I never saw any Aspin, but in Rap- 
 ahanock-River, from where I brought 
 one (that was presented me there as a 
 great Present), but it died by the way. 
 Of Holly we have two sorts; one hav- 
 ing a large Leaf, the other a smaller. 
 They grow very thick in our low 
 woods. Many of them are very 
 straight, and two foot diameter. They 
 make good Trenches, and other Tlir- 
 nery ware. 
 
 The Red-Bud Tree bears a purple 
 Lark-Heel, and is the best sallad of 
 liny Flower I ever saw. It is ripe in 
 April and May. They grow on trees 
 generally small, but some are a foot 
 Diameter. 
 
 Peliletory grows on the banks and isl- 
 ands. It is used to cure the tooth-ache 
 by putting a piece of tihe bark in the 
 Mouth, which being very hot draws a 
 Rhume from the Mouth and causes 
 much spittle.. The Indians use it to 
 maki- their Composition, which they 
 give to their young men 'and Bovs 
 wlhen they are Husquenaw'd, of which 
 you shall hear further when I come to 
 treat of the customs, etc. of that peo- 
 ple. 
 Arrow-Wood growing on the Banks 
 
58 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 is used by the Indians, for arrows and 
 gun-sticks. It grows as straight as if 
 planed, and is ^of ^all sizes. "Tis as tough 
 and pliable as the smallest canes. 
 
 The Chestnut Tree of Carolina grows 
 up towards the hilly Part thereof, is 
 a very large and durable wood, and lit 
 for houseframes, Palisado's, Sills, and 
 many other uses. The nut is sm'aller 
 than thxjse from Portugal, but sweeter. 
 
 This is no tree but called the Oak- 
 Vine, by reason it betars a sort of Bur 
 as the Oak does, and generally runs 
 up those trees. It's so porous, that 
 you suck liquors tho' a length of two 
 foot. 
 
 Prickly- Ash grows up like a Pole; of 
 Which the Indians and English make 
 poles, to set their Oanoes alonig m 
 Shoal water. Its very light land full of 
 thorns or Prickles, bearing berries in 
 large clusters, of a purple colour, not 
 much unlike the alder. The root of this 
 tree is Cathartick and Emeti-ck, used 
 in Cachexies. 
 
 The Poisin vine is so called because 
 it colours the hands of those who han- 
 dle it. What the effects of it miav be 
 I cannot relate; neither do I believe 
 that any has made an experience 
 thereof. The juice of this will stain 
 Linnen never to wash out. It marks a 
 blackish blue colour, whidh is done 
 only by breaking a bit of the Vine off, 
 and writing what you please there- 
 with. I have thought that the East 
 India Natives set their colours by 
 some such means into their Callicoes. 
 It runs up any tree it meets witlhal and 
 clasps around it. The leaves are like 
 Hemlock and fall off in winter. 
 
 Of Canes and Reeds we have many 
 sorts. The hollow Reed, or Cane, such 
 as Angling rods are made of, and 
 Weavers use, we have great plenty of 
 it, tho' none to the Northward of 
 James River in Virginia. They always 
 grow in Branches and low ground. 
 Their leaves endure the Winter, in 
 
 whidh season our cattle eat then 
 greedily. We have them towards the 
 Heads of our Rivers, so large that one 
 joint will hold above a pint of liquor. 
 
 The small Blamboo is next, which is 
 a certain vine like the rest of these 
 species, growing in low land. They 
 seldom with us grow larger than a 
 man's little finger, and are very tough. 
 Their root is a round ball which the 
 Indians boil as we do garden roots, 
 iand eat them. When these roots have 
 been some time out of the ground, they 
 become hard and make good heads to 
 the Canes, on whidh several oretty 
 Figures may be cut. There are several 
 others of this kind, not thoroug-hly dis- 
 covered. 
 
 That Palmeto grows with us, whicjh 
 we call the dwarfish sort; but the Pal- 
 meto tree I have not met withlal in 
 Carolina, of which you have a descrip- 
 tion elsewhere. We shall next treat of 
 the spontaneous fruits of this country, 
 and then proceed to those that have 
 been transplanted from Europe and 
 other narts. 
 
 Among the natural fruits the Vine 
 first takes place, of wlhich I find six 
 sorts very well known. The first is the 
 black bunch grapes, which yield a 
 crimson juice, these grow common and 
 bear plentifully. They are of a good 
 relish tho' not large, yet well knit in 
 the clusters. They have a thickish skin 
 and large etone, which makes them not 
 yield m'uch juice. There is another sort 
 of black grape like the former, in all 
 respects save that their juice is of a 
 light flesh colour, inclining to a white. 
 I once saw a spontaneous white grrape 
 bunch in North Carolina; but the Cat- 
 tle browzing on the sprouts thereof tn 
 the spring it died. Of those which we 
 dall Fox Grapes, we have four sorts; 
 two whereof are called Summer Grapes 
 because ripe in July, the other two 
 Winter Fruit because not ripe until 
 October or September. The summer 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 59 
 
 Fox Grapes grow not in clusters, or in 
 great bunches, but are about five or 
 six in a bunch, about the bigness of a 
 damson, or larger. They alwlays grow- 
 in Swamps, and low moist Lands, run- 
 ning sometimes very high and being 
 shady and therefore propier for 
 ar'bours. They afford the Largest Leaf 
 I ever saw to my remembrance, the 
 back of which is of a white horseflesh 
 colour. This fruit always ripens in 
 the shade. I have transplanted them 
 into my orclhard, and find they thrive 
 well, if matured. A neighbour of mine 
 has done the same; mine were by slips, 
 his from the roots, which thrive to ad- 
 miratiom, and bear fruit, tho' not so 
 juicy as the European grape, but of a 
 glutinous nature. However it is pleas- 
 ant enough to eat. 
 
 The other winter Fox Grapes are 
 much of the same bigness. These re- 
 fuse no ground, swampy or dry; but 
 grow plentifully on the sand hills 
 along the coast, and elsewhere, and are 
 great Bearers. I have seen near 12 
 bushels upon one vine of the black 
 sort. Some of these when thoroughly 
 ripe have a very pretty vimous taste 
 and eat very well yet are glutinous. 
 The wihite sort are clear and transpar- 
 ent, and indifferent small stones. Being 
 removed by the slip or root they thrive 
 well in our giardens and make pleas- 
 ant shades. 
 
 Persimmon is a tree that agrees with 
 all Lands and soils. Their fruit when 
 ripe is nearest our Medlar; if eaten be- 
 fore draws your mouth up like a purse, 
 being the greatest Astringent I ever 
 met withal, therefore very useful in 
 some cases. The fruit if ripe, will pres- 
 ently cleanse a foul wound, but causes 
 pain. The fruit is rotten when ripe, 
 and commonly contains four flat ker- 
 nels, called stones, which is the seed. 
 'Tie said the Cortex Peruvianus comes 
 .from a Persimmon Tree, that grows in 
 New Spain. I have tried t'he dying of 
 
 this bark to imitate it, which it does 
 tolerably well, and agrees therewith, it 
 is binding enough to work the siame ef- 
 fect. The tree in extraordinary Land 
 comes sometimes to two foot Diameter, 
 though not often. There are two sorts 
 of this fruit; one ripe in the summer, 
 the other when the frost visits us. 
 
 We have three sorts of Mulberries 
 besides the different bigness of some 
 trees fruit. Tbe first is the common 
 red Mulberry, whose fruit is the earli- 
 est we have (except the Strawberries) 
 and very sweet. These trees make a 
 very fine shade, to sit under in sum- 
 mer time. They are found wild in great 
 quantities, whenever the land is light 
 and rich, yet their fruit is much bet- 
 ter when they stand open. They are 
 used instead of Raisins and Currants, 
 and make several pretty Kickshaws. 
 They yield a transptarent crimson li- 
 quor, which would make good wine; 
 but few peoples inclination in this 
 country tend this way. The others are 
 a smooth-leaved mulberry, fit for the 
 Silkworm. One bears a white fruit 
 which is common, the other bears a 
 small red berry, very sweet. They 
 would persuade me there that the 
 black mul'berry with the silk worm 
 smooth leiaf was a white mulberry, and 
 changed its fruit. Tlie wood hereof is 
 very durable, and where the Indians 
 cannot get Locust, they make use of 
 this to make their bows. This tree 
 grows extraordinarily round and pleas- 
 ant to the eye. 
 
 The Hiccory, Walnut, Chinkapin, 
 and Chestnut with their fruits, we 
 have mentioned before. 
 
 The Hazle nut grows plentifully in 
 some places of the country, espiecially 
 towards the mountains; but ours are 
 not so good as the English nuts, hav- 
 ing a much thicker she'll, like all the 
 fruits of America that ever I met 
 withal, which in hardness exceed those 
 of Europe. 
 
6o 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 The Cherries of the Woods grow to 
 be verty large trees. One sort which is 
 rarely found is red and not much un- 
 like the Cornel-berry. But the com- 
 mon cherry grows high, and in 
 bunches like English currants, but 
 much larger. They are of a bitterish- 
 sweet relish, and are equally valuable 
 with our small red Cherries for an in- 
 fusion in Spirits. They yield a crim- 
 son liquor and are great belarers. 
 
 Our Raspberries are of a purple col- 
 our and agreea;ble relish, almost like 
 the English; but I reckon them not 
 quite BO rich.. When once planted 'tis 
 hard to root them out. They run wild 
 all over the country, and will bear the 
 same year you transplant them, as 1 
 have found by experience. 
 
 The Hurts, of Huckleberries or Blues 
 of this country, are four sorts which 
 we are all well acquainted withal; but 
 more species of this sort, and all 
 others. Time and Enquiry must dis- 
 cover. The first sort is the same Blue 
 of Bilberry that grows plentifully in 
 the north of England, and in other 
 places commonly on your Helaths, 
 Co'mmons and Woods, where Braken 
 or Pern grows. 
 
 The second sort grows on a small 
 bush in our Savannas, and Meads and 
 in the Meadows. They are larger than 
 the common fruit and have lareer 
 seed. 
 
 The third grows on a single stem of 
 a stick that grows in low rich land, 
 and on the banks of rivers. They grow 
 three or four foot high, and are very 
 pleasant like the first sort but larger. 
 
 The fourth sort growis upon trees; 
 some 10 and 12 foot high, and about the 
 thickness of a mlan's arm; these are 
 found in the runs and low grounds and 
 are very pleasant and bear wonderful- 
 ly. The English sometimes dry them 
 in the Sun, and keep them to use in 
 the winter instead of currants. The In- 
 dians get many bushels and dry them 
 
 on mats, whereof they make Plum- 
 Bread, and many other Eatables. They 
 are good in Tarts or infused in Liquors. 
 
 In the same ground commonly grows 
 the Piemento, or All-spice tree, whose 
 berries differ in shape from those of 
 the West Indies, being Taper or 
 Oonick, yet not inferior to any of that 
 sort. This tree grows much like the 
 Hurts, and is of the same bigness. I 
 have known it transplanted to high 
 Land, where it thrives. 
 
 Our Dew-berries are very good, but 
 the Black-berries are bitterish, and 
 not so palatable as in England. 
 
 The Sugar-Tree ought to have taken 
 place before. It is found in no other 
 parts of Carolina or America that I 
 ever learnt, but in places that are 
 near the mountains. It's most like one 
 sort of Maple of any Tree and may be 
 ranked amongst that kind. This Tree, 
 which I am told is of a very tedious 
 growth, is found very plentiful to- 
 wards the heads of some of our rivers. 
 The Indians tap it, and make gourds 
 to receive the Liquor, which operation 
 is done at distinct and proper times, 
 when it best yields its juice, of which 
 when the Indians have gotten enough 
 they carry it home and boil it to a just 
 consistence of Sugar, which grains of 
 itself, and serves for the same uses as 
 other sugar does. 
 
 The Papau is not a large tree; I 
 think I never saw one a foot through; 
 but has the broadest leaf or any tree 
 in the woods and bears an apple about 
 the bigness of la hen's egg, yellow, soft 
 and as sweet as anything can well be. 
 They make rare Puddings of this fruit. 
 The Apple contains large stones. 
 
 The wild Fig grows in Virginia upi in 
 the Mountains, as I am informed by a 
 gentleman of my acquaintance, who is 
 a person of Credit and a great Travel- 
 ler in America. I shall be glad to have 
 an opportunity to make Tryal what 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 6l 
 
 improvement might be made of this 
 wild fru'it. 
 
 The wild Plums of Americia are of 
 several sorts. Those which I can give 
 an account of from my own knowl- 
 edge, I will and leave the others till a 
 farther discovery. The most frequent is 
 that which we call the common Indian 
 Plum, of which there are two sorts if 
 not more. One of these is ripe much 
 sooner than the other, and differs in 
 the Bark; one of the Barks being very 
 soaly like our American Birch. These 
 trees when in blossom smell as sweet 
 as any Jessimin, and look as white as 
 a sheet, being something prickly. You 
 may make it grow to what shape you 
 please. They are very ornamental 
 around a house and miake a wonderful 
 shew at a distance, in the spring:, be- 
 cause of their livery. Their fruit is 
 red and very palatable to the sick. 
 They are of a quick growtii and will 
 bear from the stone in five yeiars on 
 their Stock. The English large, black 
 plum thrives well, as does the cherry, 
 being grafted thereon. 
 
 The American Damsons are both 
 black and white, and about the bigness 
 of a European Damson. They grow 
 anywhere if planted from the stone or 
 slip; bear a white blossom and are a 
 good fruit. They are found on the 
 sand-banks alonig the coast of Ameri- 
 ca. I have planted several in my 
 orchard, that came from the Stone, 
 which thrive well amongst the rest of 
 my Trees, but they never grow to the 
 bigness of the other trees now spoken 
 of. These are plentiful Bearers. 
 
 There is a third sort of Plum about 
 the bigness of a Damson. The tree is 
 taller, seldom, exceeding 10 inches in 
 thickness. The plum seems to taste 
 physically, yet I never found any op- 
 eration it had. except to mlake their 
 lips sore that eat them.. The Wood 
 is something porous, but exceeds any 
 box for a beautiful yellow. 
 
 There is a very pretty bushy tree 
 a;bout seven or eight Foot high, very 
 spreading, which bears a winter fruit, 
 that is ripe in October. They call 'em 
 currants, but they are nearer a Hurt. 
 I have eaten very pretty tarts made 
 thereof. They dry them instead of 
 Currants. The Bush Is very beauti- 
 ful. 
 
 The Bermudas Currants grow in the 
 Woods on a bush much like the Euro- 
 pean Currant. Some people eat them 
 very much; but for my part I clan see 
 nothing inviting in them, and reckon 
 them a very indifferent fruit. 
 
 We have another Currant which 
 grows on the Banks of Rivers, or 
 where only Clay has been thrown up. 
 This frudt is red and gone almost as 
 soon as come. They are a pretty fruit 
 whilst they last and the tree (for 'tis 
 not a bush) they grow upon is a very 
 pleasant Vegetable. 
 
 The Haw-thorn grows plentifully in 
 some parts of this country. The Haws 
 are quite different from those in Eng- 
 land, being four times as big, and of a 
 pleasant, agreeable taste. We make no 
 use of this plant nor of any other for 
 Hedges because timber is so plentiful 
 at present. 
 
 In my judgment the Honey Locust 
 would be the fittest for Hedges; be- 
 cause it is very apt to shoot forth 
 many sprouts and Succours from the 
 Roots; besides it is of a quick growth, 
 and very Prickly. 
 
 The Black-Haw grows on a slender 
 Tree, about the height of a Quince 
 tree, or something higher and bears 
 the Black-Haw, which people eat and 
 the birds covet after. What Vertues 
 the fruit or wood is of, I cannot re- 
 solve you at present. 
 
 Thus I have given an account of all 
 the spontaneous fruits of Carolina, 
 that have come to my knowledge, ex- 
 cepting Services, which I have seen in 
 the Indians' hands and eat of them. 
 
6a 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 but never saw nor knew how they 
 grew. There mlay very well be expect- 
 ed a great many more fruits which are 
 the natural product of this Country, 
 when we consider the fruitfulness of 
 the soil and climate, and account for 
 the vast tract of Land (a great part 
 of wlhich is not yet found out) accord- 
 ing to the product of that which is al- 
 ready discovered, which, (as I once 
 hinted before) is not as yet arrived to 
 our knowledge, we having very little 
 or no correspondence amongst the 
 mountainous piarts of this province, 
 and towards the country of Missis- 
 sippi, all which we have strange ac- 
 counts of, (and some with respect to 
 the Large and Noble Fruits and sev- 
 eral other ornaments and blessings of 
 nature which Mississippi possesses; 
 more to be coveted than any of those 
 which we enjoy to the eastward of the 
 Mountains; Yet when I came to dis- 
 course with some of the idolizers of 
 that country, I found it to be rather 
 Novelty than Truth land Reality, that 
 induced those persons to allow it such 
 Excellencies above others. It may be 
 a brave and fertile country, as I be- 
 lieve it is, but I cannot be persuaded 
 that it can be near so advantageous to 
 us as ours, wlhich is much better situ- 
 ated for trade, being faced all along 
 ■with the Ocean, as the English Ameri- 
 -ca is, when the other is only a direct 
 river, in the midst of a Wild Unknown 
 Land, the greatest part of whose pro- 
 duct must be fetched or brought a 
 great way before it dan come to Mar- 
 ket. Moreover such great Rivers com- 
 monly allow of more Princes Terri- 
 tories than one, and thus nothing but 
 War and Contention accompanies the 
 inhabitants thereof. 
 
 But not to trouble my reader with 
 any more of this, we will proceed in 
 the next place to shew what Exotick 
 
 Fruits we have, that thrive well in 
 Carolina; and what others it may rea- 
 sonably be supposed would do well 
 there, were they brought thither and 
 planted. In pursuance of which I will 
 set down a Catalogue of what Fruits 
 we have, I mean species; For should 
 I pretend to give a regular name to 
 every one, it's neither possible for me 
 to do it, nor for any one to understand 
 it when done; if we consider that the 
 chiefest part of our fruit comes from 
 the kernel and some others froim the 
 Succours of sprouts of the tree. First 
 we will begin with apples, which are 
 the Golden Russet, Pearmain, winter 
 and summer; Harvey-Apple, I cannot 
 tell whether the same in England; 
 Winter Queening, Leather Coat, Junit- 
 ing, Codlin, Redstreak, Longstalk, La- 
 dyflnger. The G-olden Russet thrives 
 well. The Pearmains, of both sorts are 
 apt to speck, and rot on the trees; and 
 the trees are damaged and cut off by 
 the Worm, which breeds in the Forks 
 and other Parts thereof, and often 
 makes a clrcumposition by destroying 
 the bark around the branches until it 
 dies. Harvey Apple; that which we 
 call so is esteemed very good for mak- 
 ing cider of. Winster Queening is a 
 durable apple and makes good cider. 
 Leather Coats, both apple and tree 
 stand well. The Juniting is early ripe, 
 and soon gone in these wlarm coun- 
 tries. Codlin; no better and fairer fruit 
 in the world; yet the tree suffers the 
 same disteimper, as the Pearmains, or 
 rather worse; the trees always dying 
 before they come to their growth. The 
 Red-streak thrives very well. Long- 
 stalk is a large apple, with a lone 
 stalk and makes good summer older. 
 
 We beat the first of our Codlin cider 
 against reaping our wheat, which is 
 from the 10th of June to the five and 
 twentieth. 
 
OF NORTH CAROI^INA. 
 
 63 
 
 Lady-Fkiger, the Long Apple, 
 some called Rope-Apples, which are 
 small apples hanging like Ropes of 
 Onions; Flatterings, Grigsons, Cheese- 
 Apples, and a great number of Names, 
 given according to every one's Direc- 
 tion. 
 
 The Warden-Pear here proves a good 
 eating Pear; and is not so long ripen- 
 i<ng as in England. 
 
 Katharine excellent. 
 
 Sugar-pear. 
 
 And several others without Name, 
 The Bergamot we have not, nor either 
 of the Bonne Chretiennes, though I 
 hear, they are all three in Virginia. 
 These sorts of Pears which we have, 
 are as well relisht, as ever I eat any 
 where, but that Fruit is of very short 
 Continuance with us, for they are gone 
 almost as soon as ripe. 
 
 I am not a Judge of the different 
 sorts of Quinces, which they call Bruns- 
 wick, Portugal and Barbary. But as to 
 the Fruit, in general, I believe no Place 
 has fairer and better relisht. They are 
 very pleasant eaten raw. Of this Fruit 
 they make a Wine, or Lriquor, which 
 they call Quince-Drink, and which I 
 approve of beyond any Drink which 
 that Country affords, though a great 
 deal of Cider and some Perry is there 
 made. The Quince-Drink most com- 
 monly purges those that first drink it, 
 and cleanses the Body very well. The 
 Argument of the Physicians, that they 
 bind People, is hereby contradicted, un- 
 less we allow the Quinces to differ in 
 the two Countries. The least Slip of 
 this Tree stuck in the Ground, comes to 
 bear in three years. 
 
 All peaches, with us, are standing; 
 neither have we any Wall-Fruit in Car- 
 olina; for we have He«it enough, and 
 therefore do not require it. We have 
 a great many sorts of this Fruit, which 
 all thrive to Admiration, Peach-Trees 
 coming to perfection (with us) as easily 
 as the Weeds. A Peach falling on the 
 
 Ground, brings a Peach-Tree that shall 
 bear in three years or sometimes 
 sooner. Eating Peaches in our Orchards 
 makes them come up so thick from the 
 Kernel, that we are forced to take a 
 great deal of Care to weed them out, 
 otherwise they make our Land a Wil- 
 derness of Peach-Trees. They generally 
 bear so full, that they break great part 
 of their Limbs down. We have like- 
 wise very fair Nectarines, especially 
 the red, that clings to the Stone, the 
 other yellow Fruit, that leaves the 
 Stone; of the last, I have a Tree, that, 
 most Years, brings me fifteen or twenty 
 Bushels. I see no foreign Fruit like 
 this, for thriving in all sorts of Land, 
 bearing its Fruit to Admiration. I want 
 to be satisfied about one sort of this 
 Fruit, which the Indians claim as their 
 own, and affirm, they had it growing 
 amongst them, before any Europeans 
 came to America. The Fruit I will de- 
 scribe, as exactly as I can. The Tree 
 grows very large, most commonly as 
 big as a handsome Apple-Tree; the 
 Flowers are of a reddish, murrey 
 Colour; the Fruit is rather more downy, 
 than the Yellow Peach, and commonly 
 very large and soft, being very full of 
 Juice. They part ifreely from the 
 Stone, and the Stone is much thicker 
 than all the Peach Stones we have, 
 which seem to me that it is a Spon- 
 toneous Fruit of America, yet in those 
 parts of America that we inhabit, I 
 never could hear that any Peach-Tl-ees 
 were ever found growing in the 
 Woods; neither have the foreign In- 
 dians, that live remote from the Eng- 
 lish, any other sort. And those living 
 amongst us have a hundred of this sort 
 for one other; they are a hardly Fruit, 
 and are seldom daznaged by the North- 
 East Blasts, as others are. Of this sort 
 we make "Vinegar; wherefore we call 
 them Vinegar-Peaches, and sometimes 
 Indian-Peaches. 
 This Tree grows to a vast Bigness, 
 
64 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 exceeding most Apple-Trees. They bear 
 well, tho' sometimes an early Spring 
 comes on in February, and perhaps, 
 when the Tree is fully blown the 
 'Cloudy North-East-Winds which at- 
 tend the end of, that Month, or the be- 
 ginning of March, destroy most of the 
 Fruit. The biggest Apricock-Tree I ever 
 saw, as they told me, was grafted on a 
 Peach-Stock, in the Ground. I know 
 of no other sort with us, than the Com- 
 mon. We generally raise this Fruit 
 from the Stone, which never fails to 
 bring the same Fruit. Likewise our 
 Peach-Stones effect the same, without 
 so much as once missing, to produce the 
 same sort that the Stone came from. 
 
 Damson, Damazeen, and a large 
 round black Plum, are all I have met 
 withal in Carolina. They thrive well 
 enough; the last to Admiration, and 
 becomes a very large Tree, if in stiff 
 Ground; otherwise they will not do 
 well. 
 
 Of Figs we have two sorts; One is the 
 low Bush-Fig, which bears a large 
 Fruit. If the Winter happens to have 
 much Frost, the tops thereof die, and 
 in the Spring sprout again, and bear 
 two or three good Crops. 
 
 The Tree-Fig is a lesser Fig, though 
 very sweet. The Tree grows to a large 
 Body and Shade, and generally brings 
 a good Burden; especially if in light 
 Land. This Tree thrives nowhere bet- 
 ter, than on the Sand-Banks by the 
 Sea. 
 
 We have the common red and black 
 Cherry, which bear well. I never sav/ 
 any grafted in this Country, the com- 
 mon excepted, which was grafted on an 
 Indian Plum-stock, and bore well. This 
 is a good way, because our common 
 Cherry-Trees are very apt to put Scions 
 all around the Tree, for a great Dis- 
 tance, which must needs be prejudicial 
 to the Ttee and Fruit. Not only our 
 Cherries are apt to do so, but our Ap- 
 ples and most other Fruit-Trees, which 
 
 may chiefly be imputed to the negli- 
 gence and Unskillfulness of the Garden- 
 er. Our Cherries are ripe a month 
 sooner than in Virginia. 
 
 Gooseberries I have seen of the 
 smaller sort, but find they do not do so 
 well as in England, and to the North- 
 ward. Want of Dressing may be some 
 reason for this. 
 
 Currants, White, Red and Black, 
 thrive here, as well as any where. 
 
 Raspberries, the red and white, I 
 never saw any trial made of. But there 
 is no doubt of their thriving to Ad- 
 miration, since those of the Country do 
 so well. 
 
 The Mulberries are spontaneous. We 
 have no others, than what I have al- 
 ready mentioned in the class of Natural 
 Fruits of Carolina. 
 
 Barberry red, with Stones, and with- 
 out Stones, grow here. 
 
 Strawberries, not Foreign, but those 
 of the Country, grow here in great 
 plenty. Last April I planted a Bed of 
 two hundred feet in Length, which 
 bore the same year. 
 
 Medlars we have none. 
 
 All sorts of Walnuts from England, 
 France and Maderas, thrive well from 
 the Nut. 
 
 No Filberts, but Hazel-Nuts; the Fil- 
 bert-Nut planted, becomes a Hazel-Nut 
 and no better. 
 
 As for that noble vegetable the Vine, 
 without doubt, it may (in this Country) 
 be improved, and brought to the same 
 Perfection, as it is in this Day, in the 
 same Latitude in Europe, since the 
 Chiefest part of this Country is a deep, 
 rich, black Mould, which is up towards 
 the Freshes and Heads of our Rivers, 
 very rich and mixed with Flint, 
 Pebbles, and other Stones. And this 
 sort of Soil is approv'd (by all Garden- 
 ers and Vigneroons) as a proper Earth, 
 in which the Grape chiefly delights; and 
 seems to give a farther Confirmation 
 hereof, is, that the largest Vines, that 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 65 
 
 were ever discovered to grow wild, are 
 found in those parts, sometimes in such 
 Plenty, and are so interwoven with one 
 another, that 'tis impossible to pass 
 through them. Moreover in these 
 Freshes, towards the Hills, the vines 
 are about Ave times bigger than those 
 gererally with us, who are seated in 
 the Front-Parts of this Country, ad- 
 joining to the Salts. Of the Wild Vines, 
 which are most of them great Bearers, 
 some Wine has been made, which I 
 drank of. It was very strong and well 
 relisht; but what detains them all from 
 offering at great quantities, they add, is 
 that this Grape has a large Stone, and 
 a thick Skin, and consequently yields 
 but a small quantity of Wine. Some 
 Essays of this Nature have been made 
 by that Honourable Knight, S'r Nath- 
 anael Johnson, in South Carolina, who, 
 as I am informed, has rejected all 
 Exotick Vines, and makes his Wine 
 from the natural black Grape of Caro- 
 lina, by grafting it upon its own Stock. 
 What improvement this may arrive to, 
 I cannot tell; but in other Species, I 
 own Grafting and Inbudding yields 
 speedy Fruit, tho' I never found that 
 it made them better. 
 
 New planted Colonies are generally 
 attended with a Force and Necessity of 
 Planting the known and approved 
 Staple and Product of the Country, as 
 well as all the Provisions their Fam- 
 ilies spend. Therefore we can enter- 
 tain but small hopes of the Improve- 
 ment of the Vine, till some skillful in 
 dressing Vines shall appear amongst us, 
 and go about it, with a Resolution, that 
 Ordering the Vineyard shall be one- 
 half of their Employment. If this be 
 begun and carried on, with that Assidu- 
 ity and Resolution which it requires, 
 then we may reasonably hope to see 
 this a Wine-Country; for then when It 
 becomes a general Undertaking, every 
 one will be capable to add something 
 to the common Stock, of that which he 
 
 has gained by his own experience. This 
 way would soon make the Burden light, 
 and a great many shorter and exacter 
 Curiosities, and real Truths would be 
 found out in a short time. The trim- 
 ming of Vines as they do in France, 
 that is, to a Stump, must either be not 
 followed, or we are sensible of the exact 
 time, when they ought to be pruned; for 
 Experience has taught us, that the 
 European Grape, suffer'd to run and ex- 
 pand itself at large, has been found to 
 bear as well in America, as it does in 
 Europe; when at the some time the 
 same sort of Vine trimm'd to a Stump 
 as before Spoken of has borne a poor 
 Crop for one Year or two; and by its 
 spilling after cutting, emaciated, and 
 in three or four years died. This ex- 
 periment I believe has never failed; for 
 I have trimm'd the Natural the French 
 way, which has been attended, at 
 last, with the same Pate. Wherefore it 
 seems most expedient, to leave the 
 Vines more Branches here than in 
 Europe, or let them run up Trees, as 
 some do, in Lombardy, upon EJms. 
 The Mulberries and Chinkapin are 
 tough, and trimm'd to what you please, 
 therefore fit supporters of the Vine. 
 Gelding and plucking the Leaves, to 
 hasten the ripening of this Fruit, may 
 not be unnecessary, yet we see the nat- 
 ural wild Grape generally ripens in the 
 Shade. Nature in this and many other?, 
 may prove a sure Guide. The twisting 
 of the Stems to make the Grapes ripe 
 together, loses no Juice and may be 
 beneficial, if done in Season. A very 
 ingenious French Gentleman, and an- 
 other from Switzerland, with whom I 
 frequently converse, exclaim against 
 that strict cutting of Vines, the gener- 
 ally approved Method of France and 
 Germany, and say that they were both 
 out in their Judgment, till of late. Ex- 
 perience has taught them otherwise. 
 Moreover the French in North Carolina 
 assure me, that if we should trim our 
 
66 
 
 lawson's iiistoky 
 
 Ai)|p|<' and olluw Fiiilt-Trees an they do 
 ill IOui(ip(!, wf Hliould Hpoll them. Ah for 
 AppIoH and I'lumB, I have found by Kx- 
 pericnce, what they afllrm to be true. 
 The French from the Mannakin Town 
 on the FreeheB of Jamea Jllver Jn Vir- 
 ginia had, for the most part, removed 
 themBelvea to Carolina, to live there, 
 before 1 came away; and the rent were 
 fiillowing as their Mlnlsler (Monsieur 
 riillip de Itlxbourg) told me, who was 
 at J'.ath-Town, when 1 took my leave of 
 iny Friends, lie assur'd me, that their 
 Intent was to propagate Vines, as far 
 as their present Circumstances would 
 I)erttiit; provided they could get any 
 Slips of Vines, that would do. At the 
 same time 1 had gotten some Grape- 
 Seed, which was of the .Jesuits white 
 Crape, from Madera. The Seed came 
 up very plentifully, and, I hope, will not 
 degenerate, which if it happens not to 
 do, the Seed may prove the beist way 
 to raise a Vineyard, as certainly U is 
 most easy for Transportation. Yet I 
 reckon we should have our Seed frotn 
 a Country, where the Grape arrives to 
 the utmost perfection of ripeness. These 
 French Kefugees have had small En- 
 couragement in Virginia, because at 
 their (Irst coming over, they look their 
 Measures of Living from lO'urope; which 
 was all wrong; for the small Qujintilles 
 of ten, flfleen and twenty acres to a 
 Family did not hold out according to 
 their way of Reckoning, by Reason they 
 made very little or no fodder; and the 
 Winter there being much harder than 
 with UB, their Cattle fall'd; chiefly be- 
 
 cause the English took uj) and survey'd 
 all the Land round about them; so that 
 they were hemm'd in on all Hands from 
 providing more Land for themselve-s or 
 their Children, all which is prejudicial 
 In America, where the generality are 
 bred up to I'lantlng. One of these 
 French men being a Fowling, shot a 
 Fowl in the River, upon which his dog 
 went down the Bank to bring it to his 
 Master; but the iJank was so high and 
 wteep, that he could not get up again. 
 'There upon the French Man went down 
 to help his Dog up, and Breaking the 
 Mould away, accidently with his Feet, 
 he discovered a very ^jch Ooal-Mlne. 
 This Adventure he gaive an Account of 
 amongst the Nolghborhood, and pres- 
 ently one of the (Gentlemen of that Part 
 survey'd the Land, and the poor French 
 Man got nothing by his Discovery. The 
 French are good Neighbours amongst 
 us, and give Examples of Industry, 
 which Is much wanted in this Country. 
 They make good Flax, Hemp, Linen- 
 Cloth and Thread; which they exchange 
 amongst the Neighbourhood for other 
 Commodities, for which they have oc- 
 casion. 
 
 We have hitherto made no Trial of 
 foreign Herbage; but, doubtless It 
 would thrive well; especially, Sanfoin, 
 and those Grasses, that endure Heat, 
 and dry Grounds. As for our Low 
 Lands, such as Marshes, Savannas and 
 I'ercoarson-Ground, which lies low, all 
 of them naturally afford good land for 
 pasturage. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 We will next treat of the Beasts, 
 which you shall have an Account of, 
 as they have beee discover'd. 
 
 The Beasts of Carolina are the 
 
 Buffelo, or wild beef. 
 
 Bear. 
 
 Panther. 
 
 Cat-a-mount. 
 
 Wild Cat. 
 
 Wolf. 
 
 Tyger. 
 
 Polecat. 
 
 Otter. 
 
 Bever. 
 
 Musk-Rat. 
 
 Possum. 
 
 Raccoon. 
 
 Minx. 
 
 Water-Rat. 
 
 Rabbet, two sorts. 
 
 Elks. 
 
 Stags. 
 
 Fallow-Deor. 
 
 Squirrel, four sorts. 
 
 Fox. 
 
 Lfion, and Jackall on the Lake. 
 
 Rats, two sorts. 
 
 Mice, two sorts. 
 
 Moles. 
 
 Weasel, Dormouse. 
 
 Rearmouse. 
 
 The Buffelo is a wild Beast of Amer- 
 ica, which has a Bunch on his Back, as 
 the Cattle of St. Lawrence are said to 
 have. He seldom appears amongst the 
 English Inhabitants, his chief haunt be- 
 ing in the Land of Mississippi, which is 
 for the most part, a plain Country; yet 
 I have known some kill'd on the Hilly 
 Part of Cape-Fear-River, they pasising 
 the Ledges of Vast Mountains from the 
 said Mississippi, before they can come 
 near us. I have eaten of their meat. 
 
 but do not think it so good as our Beef; 
 yet the younger Calves are cry'd up for 
 excellent Pood, as very likely they may 
 be. It is conjectured that these Buf- 
 felos, mixt in Breed with our tame 
 Cattle, would much better the Breed 
 for Largeness and Milk, which seems 
 very probable. Of the wild Bull's Skin, 
 Buff is made. The Indians cut the Skin 
 into Quarters for the Ease of their 
 Transportation, and make Beds to lie 
 on. They «pin the Hair into Garters, 
 Girdles, and Sashes and the like, it be- 
 ing long and curled, acid often of a 
 chestnut or red colour. These Monsters 
 are found to weigh (as I am informed 
 by a Traveler of Credit) from 1,600 to 
 2,400 Weight. 
 
 The Bears here are very common, 
 though not so large as in Greenland and 
 the more Northern Countries of Rus- 
 sia. The Flesh of this Beast is very 
 good, and nourishing, and not inferior 
 to the best Pork in Taste. It stands be- 
 twixt Beef and Pork, and the young 
 Cubs are a Dish for the Greateist Epi- 
 cure living. I prefer this Flesh before 
 any Beef, Veal, Pork or Mutton; and 
 they look as well as they eat, their fat 
 being as white as snow, and the sweet- 
 est of any Creatures in the World. If a 
 man drink a quart thereof melted, it 
 never will rise in his Stomach. We pre- 
 fer it above all things, to fry Fish and 
 other things in. Those that are 
 Strangers to it, may judge otherwise; 
 but I who have eaten a great deal of 
 Bear's Flesh in my Life-time (since my 
 being an inhabitant in America) do 
 think it equalizes, if not excels, any 
 Meat I ever eat in Europe. The Bacon 
 made thereof is extraordinary Meat; 
 but it must be well saved, otherwise It 
 
68 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 will rust. This creature feeds upon all 
 sorts of wild Fruits. When Herrings 
 run, which is in March, the flesh of 
 such of those Bears as eat thereof, is 
 nought, all that season, and eats 
 filthily. Neither is it good, when he 
 feeds on Gum-berries, as I intimated 
 before. They are great Devourers of 
 Acorns, and sometimes meet the swine 
 in the Woods, which they kill and eat, 
 especially when they are hungry, ani 
 can find no other Food. Now and then 
 they get into the fields of Indian Corn, 
 or Maiz, where they make a sad 
 havock, spoiling ten times as much as 
 they eat. The Fotatoes of this Coun- 
 try are so agreeable to them, that never 
 fail to sweep them all clean if they 
 chance to come in their way. They 
 are seemingly a very clumsy Creature, 
 yet are very nimble in running up 
 Trees, and traversing every limb there- 
 of. When they come down they run Tail 
 foremost. At catching Herrings they 
 are most expert Fishers. They sit by 
 the Creek-sides, (which are very nar- 
 row) where the Fish run in; and there 
 they take them up, as fast as it is pos- 
 sible, they can dip their paws into the 
 Water. There is one thing more to be 
 considered of this Creature, which is, 
 that no Man, either Christian or In- 
 dian, has ever killed a She-bear with 
 Young. 
 
 It is supposed, that the She-Bears, af- 
 ter conception hide themselves in some 
 secret acid undiscoverable Place, till 
 they bring forth their Young, which, in 
 Probability, cannot be long; other the 
 Indians who hunt the Woods, like Dogs, 
 would, at some time or other, have 
 found them out. Bear-Hunting is a 
 great Sport in America, both with the 
 English and the Indians. Some Years 
 ago, there were killed five hundred 
 Bears, in two counties of Virginia, in 
 one Winter; and but two She-Bears 
 amongst them all, which were not with 
 Young, as I told you of the rest. The 
 
 English, have a breed of Dogs fit for 
 this soort, about the size of Farmers 
 Dogs, and by Practice come to know 
 the Scent of a Bear which, as soon as 
 they have found, they run him, by the 
 Nose, till they come up with him, and 
 then bark and snap at him, till he trees, 
 when the Huntsman shoots him out of 
 the Trees, there being, for the most 
 part two or three with Guns lest the 
 first should miss, or not quite kill him. 
 Though they are not naturally voraci- 
 ous, yet they are very fierce when 
 wounded. The Dogs often bring him to 
 a Bay, when wounded, and then the 
 Huntsmen make other Shots, perhaps 
 with the Pistols that are stuck in their 
 Girdles. If a Dog is apt to fatsten, and 
 run into a Bear, he is not good, for the 
 best Dog in Europe is nothing in their 
 Pawes, but if they ever get him in their 
 Clutches, they blow his Skin from his 
 Flesh, like a Bladder, and often kill 
 him; or if he recovers it, he is never 
 good for anything after. As the Paws 
 of this Creature are held for the best 
 bit about him, so is the head esteemed 
 the worst, and always thrown away, 
 for what reason I know not. I believe 
 none ever made Trial thereof to know 
 how it eats. The Oil of the Bear, is 
 very Sovereign for Strains, Aches and 
 old Pains. The Fine Fur at the bottom 
 of the Belly, is used for making Hats, 
 in some places. The Fur itself is fit for 
 (several Uses; as for making Muffs, fac- 
 ing Caps, etc., but the black Cub-skin 
 is preferable to all sorts of that kind, 
 for Muffs. Its Grain is like Hog-Skin. 
 
 The Panther is of the Cat's kind; 
 about the height of a very large Grey- 
 hound, of a reddish Colour, the same as 
 a Lion. He climbs Trees with the 
 greatest Agility imaginable, is very 
 strong-limb'd, catching a piece of meat 
 from any Creature he strikes at. His 
 Tail is exceeding long; his Eyes look 
 very fierce and lively, are large, and are 
 of a greyish Colour, his Prey is S wines- 
 
OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 
 
 69 
 
 Flesh, Deer, or any thing he can take; 
 no Creature is so nice and clean, as 
 this, in his Food. When he has got his 
 Prey he fills his Belly with the Slaugh- 
 ter, and carefully lays up the Remain- 
 der, covering it very neatly with 
 Leaves, which if ajiy thing touches, he 
 never eats any more of it. He purrs as 
 Cats do; if taken when Young, is never 
 to be reclaimed from his wild Nature. 
 He hollows like a Man in the Woods, 
 when killed, which is by making him 
 take a Tree as the least Cur will pres- 
 ently do; then the Huntsmen shoot him; 
 if they do not kill him out- right, he 
 is a dangerous Enemy, when wound- 
 ed, especially to the Dogs that approach 
 him. This Beast is the worst Enemy to 
 the Planter, of any Vermine in Caroli- 
 na. His flesh looks as well as any Sham- 
 bles-Meat whatsoever; a great many 
 People eat him, as choice Food; but I 
 never tasted of a Panther, so cannot 
 recommend the Meat, by my own Ex- 
 perience. His Skin is a warm covering 
 for the Indians in the Winter, though 
 not esteemed amongst the choice Furs. 
 This Skin, dress'd. makes fine Women's 
 Shoes, or Mens Gloves. 
 
 The Mountain Cat is so-called, be- 
 cause he lives in the Mountainous Parts 
 of America. He is a Beast of Prey, as 
 the Panther is, and nearest to him in 
 Bigness and Nature. 
 
 The Cat is quite different from these 
 in Europe; being more nimble and 
 fierce, and larger; his Tail does not ex- 
 ceed four Inches. He makes a very odd 
 sort of Cry in the Woods, in the Night. 
 He is spotted as the Leopard is, tho' 
 some of them are not, (which may hap- 
 pen when their Furs are out of Season) 
 he climbs a Tree very dexterously, and 
 preys as the Panther does. He is a 
 great Destroyer of Young Swine. I 
 knew an Island which was possessed by 
 these Vermine, unknown to the Planter, 
 who put thereon a considerable Stock of 
 Swine; but never took one back, for the 
 
 wild Cats destroyed them all. He takes 
 most of his Prey by surprise by get- 
 ting up the Trees, which they pass by 
 or under, and thence leaping directly 
 upon them. Thus he takes Deer (which 
 he cannot catch by running) and fast- 
 ens his Teeth into their Shoulders and 
 sucks them. They run with him till 
 they fall down for want of strength, 
 and become a Prey to the Enemy. 
 Hares, Birds, and all he meets, that he 
 can conquer, he destroys. The Fur is 
 approv'd to wear as a Stomacher, for 
 weak and cold Stomachs. They are 
 likewise used to line Muffs, and Coats 
 withal, in cold Climates. 
 
 The Wolf of Carolina, is the Dog of 
 the Woods. The Indians had no other 
 Curs, before the Christians came 
 amongst them. 'They are made domes- 
 tick. When wild they are neither so 
 large, nor fierce, as the Etiropean 
 Wolf. They are not Man-slayers; 
 neither is any Creature in Carolina, un- 
 less wounded. They go in great Droves 
 in the Night, to hunt Deer, which they 
 do as well as the best Pack of Hounds. 
 Nay, one of these will hunt down a 
 Deer. They are often so poor, that 
 they can hardly run. When they catch 
 no Prey, they go to a Swamp, and fill 
 their Belly full of Mud; if afterwards 
 they chance to get anything of Flesh, 
 they will disgorge the Mud, and eat 
 the other. When they hunt in the 
 Night, that there is a great many to- 
 gether, they make the most hidious 
 and frightful Noise, that ever was 
 heard. The Pur makes good Muffs. The 
 Skin dress'd to a Parchment makes the 
 best Drum-Heads, and if tann'd makes 
 the best sort of Shoes for the Summer- 
 Countries. 
 
 Tygers are never met withal in the 
 Settlement; but are more to the 
 Westward, and are not numerous on 
 this Side the Chain of Mountains. I 
 once saw one, that was larger than a 
 Panther, and seemed to be a very bold 
 
70 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Creature. The Indians that hunt in 
 those Quarters, say, they are seldom 
 met withal. It seems to differ from 
 the Tyger of Asia and Africa. 
 
 Polcats or Skunks in America, are 
 different from those in Europe. They 
 are thicker, and of a great many col- 
 ours; not ill alike, but each differing: 
 from another in the particular Colour. 
 They smell like a Fox, but ten times 
 stronger. When a Dog encounters them, 
 they throw upon him, and he will not be 
 sweet again in a Fortnight or More. 
 The Indians love to eat their Flesh, 
 which has no manner of ill Smell when 
 the Bladder is out. I know no use their 
 Furs are put to. They are easily 
 brought up tame. 
 
 There have been some Otters from 
 the Westward of Caixjlina, which were 
 of a white Colour, a little inclining to 
 yellow. They live on the same Prey 
 here, as in Europie, and are the same 
 in all other Respects; so I shall insist 
 no farther on that Creature. Their 
 Furs, if black, are valuable. 
 
 Bevers are very numerous in Caro- 
 lina, there being labundance of their 
 Dams in all parts of the Country, where 
 I have travel'd. They are the most in- 
 dustrious and greatest Artificers, (in 
 building their Dams and Houses) of 
 any four-footed Creatures in the 
 World. Their Food is chiefly the Bark 
 of Trees and Shrubs, viz.: Sassafras, 
 Ash, Sweet-Gum, and several others. 
 If you take them young they become 
 very tame and domestick, but are very 
 mischievous in spoiling Orchards, by 
 breaking the Trees, and blocking up 
 your Doors in the Night, with the 
 Sticks and Wood they bring thither. If 
 they eat any thing that is salt, it kills 
 them. Their Flesh is a sweet Food; 
 especially their Tail, which is held very 
 dainty. Their Fore-Feet are open, like 
 a Dog's; their Hind-Feet webbed like 
 a Water-Fowl's. The Skins are good 
 Furs for several Uses, which every one 
 
 knows. The leather is very thick; I 
 have known Shoes made thereof in 
 Carolina, which lasted well. It makss 
 the best Hedges Mittens that can be 
 used. 
 
 Musk Rats frequent fresh Streams 
 and no other; as the Bever does. He 
 has a Cell of Musk, which is valuable, 
 as is likewise his Fur. 
 
 The Possum is found no where but in ^ 
 America. He is The Wonder of all the 
 Land-Animals, being the size of a 
 Badger, and near that colour. The Fe- 
 male, doubtless, breeds her Young at 
 her Teats; for I have seen them stick 
 fast thereto, when they have been no 
 bigger than a small raspberry, and 
 seemingly inanimate. She has a Paunch 
 or false Belly, wherein she carries her 
 Young, after they are from those 
 Teats, till they can shift for them- 
 selves. Their Food is Roots, Poultry or 
 Wild Fruits. They have no Hair on 
 their Tails, but a sort of Scale or hard 
 Crust, as the Bevers have. If a Cat has 
 nine Lives, this Creature surely has 
 nin teen; for if you break every Bone 
 in their Skin, and mash their Skull, 
 leaving them for Dead, you may come 
 an hour after, and they will be gone 
 quite away. They lare a very stupid 
 Creature, utterly neglecting their Safe- 
 ty. They are most like Rats of any- 
 thing. I have for necessity in the Wil- 
 derness, eaten of them. Their Flesh is 
 very white, and well tasted; but their 
 ugly tails '^ut me out of conceit with 
 that Fare. They climb Trees as the 
 Raccoons do. Their Fur is not esteemed 
 nor used, save that the Indians spin it 
 into Girdles and Garters. 
 
 The Raccoon is of a dark-grey Colour; 
 if taken young, is easily made tame, 
 but is the drunkenest Creature living, 
 if he can get any Liquor that is sweet 
 and strong. They are rather more un- 
 lucky than a Monkey. When wild they 
 are very subtle in catching their prey. 
 Those that live in the Salt-Water, feed 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 71 
 
 much on Oysters, which they love. They 
 watch the Oyster when it ooens, and 
 nimbly put in their Paw, and pluck out 
 the Fish. Sometimes the Oyster shuts, 
 and holds fast their Paiw till the Tide 
 comes in, that they are drown'd, tho' 
 they swim very well. The way th/at this 
 Animal catches Crabs, which he great- 
 ly admires, and which are plenty in 
 Carolina, is worthy of Remark. When 
 he intends to make a Prey of these 
 Fish, he goes to a Marsh, where stand- 
 ing on the Land, he lets his Tail hans 
 in the Water. This the Crab takes 
 for a Bait, and fastens his Claws there- 
 in, which as the Raccoon perceives, he, 
 of a sudden, springs forward, a consid- 
 erable way, on the Land and brings 
 the Crab along with him. As soon as 
 the Fish finds himself out of his Ele- 
 ment, he presently lets go his hold; and 
 then the Raccoon encounters him by 
 getting him cross-wise in his Mouth, 
 and devours him. There is a small sort 
 oif Land Crab, which we call a Fid- 
 dler, that runs into a Hole when any- 
 thing pursues him. This Crab the Rac- 
 coon takes by putting his Fore-Foot in 
 the Hole, and pulling him out. With a 
 tame Raccoon this sport is very divert- 
 ing. The Chief of his other Foods is all 
 sorts of wild Fruits, green Corn, and 
 such as the Bear delights in. This and 
 the Possum are much of a Bigness. The 
 Fur makes Hats and Linings. The Skin 
 dress'd makes fine Womens Shoes. 
 
 The Minx is an Animal much like the 
 English Fillemart or Polcat. He is 
 long, slender, and every way shap'd 
 like him. His Haunts are chieflv in 
 the Marshes by the Sea- Side and Salt- 
 Waters, where he lives on Pish, Fowl, 
 Mice and Insects. They are bold 
 Thieves and will steal anything from 
 you in the Night, when asleep, as I 
 can tell by Experience, for one Winter 
 by Misfortune, I ran my Vessel 
 a-ground, and went often to the Banks, 
 to kill Wild Fowl, which we did a 
 
 great many. One Night we had a mind 
 to sleep on the Banks (the Weather 
 being fair) and wrapt up the Geese 
 which he had kill'd, and not eiaten. 
 very carefully, in the Sail of a Canoe, 
 and folded it several Doubles, and for 
 their better Security, laid them all. 
 Night under my Head. In the Morning 
 when I wak'd a Minx had eaten thro' 
 every Fold of the Canoes Sail, and 
 Thro' one of the Geese, most part of 
 which was gone. These are likewise 
 found high up in the Rivers, in whose 
 sides they live; which is known by the 
 abundance of Fresh-Water Muscle- 
 Shells (such as you have in England) 
 that lie at the mouth of their Holes. 
 This is an Enemy to the Tortoise 
 whose Holes in the Sand, where they 
 hide their Eggs, the Minx finds out, 
 and scratches up and eats. The Rac- 
 soons and Crows do the same. The 
 Minx may be made domestick, and 
 were it not for his paying a Visit now 
 and then to the Poultry, they are the 
 greatest destroyers of Rats and Mice, 
 that are in the World. Their Skins, if 
 good of that kind, are valuable, pro- 
 vided they are kill'd in Season. 
 
 The Water-Rat is found here, the 
 same as in England. The Water-Snakes 
 are often found to have of these Rats 
 in their Bellies. 
 
 That which the People in Carolina 
 call a Hare, is nothing but a Hed^e- 
 Coney. They never borough in the 
 Ground, but much frequent Marshes 
 and Meadow Lands. They hide their 
 Young in some Places secure from the 
 Discovery of the Buck, as the Euro- 
 pean Rabbits do, and are of the same 
 Colour; but if you start one of them 
 and pursue her, she takes into a hollow 
 Tree, and there runs up as far as she 
 can, in which the Hunter makes a Fire, 
 and smokes the Tree, which brings 
 her down and smothers her. At one 
 time of the Year, great Bots or Mag- 
 gots breed betwixt the Skin and the 
 
72 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Flesh of these Creatures. They eat just 
 as the English ones do; but I never 
 saw one of them fat. We fire the 
 Marshes, and then kill abundance. 
 
 The English, or European Coneys are 
 here found, tho' but in one place that 
 I ever knew of, which was in Trent- 
 River, where they borough among the 
 Rocks. I cannot believe, these are Na- 
 tives of the Country, any other-wise 
 than that they might come from 
 aboard some Wreck; the Sea not being 
 far off. I was told of several that were 
 upon Bodies Island by Roanoke, which 
 came from that Ship of Bodies, but I 
 never saw any. However the banks 
 are no proper Abode Above of Safety, 
 because of the many Minxes in those 
 Quarters. I carried over some of the 
 tame sort from England to South Caro- 
 lina, which bred three times going 
 over, we having a long Passa^^e. I 
 turn'd them loose in a Plantation, and 
 the young ones, and some of the old 
 ones bred great Maggots in their bodies. 
 At last the great Gale in Septem- 
 ber, 1700, brought a great deal of Rain, 
 and drown'd them all in their Holes. I 
 intend to make a second tryal of them 
 in North Carolina, and doubt not but 
 to secure them. 
 
 The Elk is a Monster of the Venison 
 sort. His Skin is used almost in the 
 same Nature as the Buffalo's. Some 
 take him for the red Deer of America; 
 but he is not. For if brought and kept 
 in Company with that sort of the con- 
 trary Sex, he will never couple. His 
 Flesh is not so sweet as the lesser 
 Deers. His Horns exceed (in weierht.) 
 all Creatures which the new World af- 
 fords. They will often resort and feed 
 with the Buffalo delighting in the same 
 as they do. 
 
 The Stags of Carolina are lodg'd in 
 the Mountains. They are not so large 
 as in Europe, but much larger than 
 any Fallow-Deer. They are always fat, 
 I believe, with some delicate Herbage 
 
 that grows on the Hills, for we find all 
 Creatures Ihat graze much taftier and 
 better Meat on the Hills than those on 
 ■the Valleys, I mean towards the 
 Sea. Some Deer on these Mountains 
 afford the occidental Bezoar, not com- 
 ing from a Goat as some report. What 
 sort of Beast affords the Oriental Be- 
 zoar, I know not. The Tallow of the 
 Hearts makes incomparable Candles. 
 Their Horns and Hide are of the same 
 Value, as others of their kind. Fallow 
 Deer in Carolina, are taller and long- 
 er-legg'd, than in Europe; but neither 
 run so fast nor are so well haunch'd. 
 Their Singles are much longer, and 
 their Horns stand forward, as the oth- 
 ers incline backward; neither do they 
 beam, or bear their Antlers, as the 
 English do. Towards the Salts, they are 
 not generally so fat and good Meat, 
 as on the Hills. I Wave known some 
 kill'd on the Salts in January, that 
 have had abundance of Bots in their 
 'Throat, which keep them very poor. 
 As the Summer approaches these Bots 
 come out, and turn into the finest But- 
 terfly imaginable, being very large, and 
 having black, white and yellow Stripes. 
 Deer-Skins are one of the best Com- 
 modities Carolina affords, to ship off 
 for England, provided they be large. 
 
 Of Squirrels we have four Sorts. The 
 first is the Fox-Squirrel, so call'd, be- 
 cause of his large Size, w'hich is the 
 Bigness of a Rabbit of two or three 
 Months old. His Colour is commonly 
 grey; yet I have seen several pied 
 ones, and some reddish and black; his 
 chiefest Haunts are in the Piny land, 
 where the Almond-Pine grows. There 
 he provides his Winter-Store, they be- 
 ing a nut that never fails of bearing. 
 He may be made tame and is very good 
 Meat, when killed. 
 
 The next sort of Sqirrel is much of 
 the Nature of the English, only differ- 
 ing in Colour. Their Food is Natural of 
 all sorts the Country affords and 
 
OF ISORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 12> 
 
 Acorns. They eat well, and like the 
 Bear, are never found with young-. 
 
 The Fly-Squirrel is grey, as well as 
 the others. He is the least of the Three. 
 His Food is much the same with the 
 small grey Squirrels. He has not Wings 
 as Birds and Bats have, there being a 
 fine thin Skin, covered with Hair, as 
 the rest of the parts are. This is from 
 the Fore-Feet to the Hinder-Feet, 
 which is extended and holds so much 
 Air, as buoys him up, from one Tree to 
 another, that are greater distances 
 .asunder, than other Squirrels can 
 reach by jumping or Springing. He is 
 made very tame, is an Enemy to a 
 Corn-Field, (as all Squirrels are) and 
 eats only the germinating Eye of that 
 Grain, which is very sweet. 
 
 Ground Squirrels are so call'd, be- 
 cause they never delight in running up 
 Trees, and leaping from Tree to Tree. 
 They are the smallest of all Squirrls. 
 Their Tail is neither so long or bushy; 
 but flatfish. They are of a reddish 
 Colour, and striped down each side 
 with bteck Raws, which make them 
 very beautiful. They may be kept tame, 
 in a little Box with Cotton. They and 
 the Fly-Squirrels seldom stir out in 
 Cold Weather, being tender Animals. 
 
 The Pox of Carolina is sray, but 
 smells not as the Foxes in Great-Brit- 
 ian, and elsewhere. They have reddish 
 Hair aibout their Ears, and are general- 
 ly very fat, yet I never saw any one 
 eat them. When hunted they make a 
 sorry chase, because they run up Trees 
 when pursued. They are never to be 
 made familiar and tame, as the RJac- 
 coon is. Their Furs if in Season, are 
 used for Muffs and other Ornaments. 
 They live chiefly on Birds and Fowls, 
 and such small Prey. 
 
 I have been informed by the Indians, 
 that on la Lake of Water towiards the 
 Head of Neus River, there Haunts a 
 Creature, which frightens them all 
 from hunting thereabouts. They say, he 
 
 is the Colour of a Panther, but cannot 
 run up Trees; and that abides with him 
 a Creature like an Englishman's Dog, 
 which runs faster than he can, and 
 gets his Prey for him. They add that 
 there is no other of that Kind that ever 
 they met withal and that they have no 
 other way to avoid him, but by running 
 up a Tree. The Certainty of this I can- 
 not affirm by my own Knowledge, yet 
 they all agree in this Story. As for 
 Lions, I never saw any in America; 
 neither can I imagine, how they should 
 come there. 
 
 Of Rats we have two sorts; the 
 House-Rat, as in Europe; and the 
 Marsh-Rat, which differs very much 
 from the other, being more hairy, and 
 has several other Distinctions, too long 
 here to name. 
 
 Mice are the same here, as those in 
 England, that belong to the House. 
 There is one sort that poisons a Cat. 
 as soon as she eats of them, which has 
 some times happened. These Mice re- 
 sort not to Houses. 
 
 The Dormouse is the same as In Ensr- 
 land; and so is the Weasel, which is 
 very scarce. 
 
 The Bat or Bearmouse, the same as 
 in England. The Indian Children are 
 much addicted to eating Dirt, and so 
 are some of the Christians. But roast 
 a Bat on a Skewer, then pull the Skin 
 off, and make the child that eats Dirt, 
 eat the roasted Bearmouse, and he 
 wall never eat Dirt again. This is held 
 as an infallible Remedy. I haav put 
 this among the Beasts, as partaking of 
 both Natures; of the Bird and Mouse- 
 Kind. 
 
 Having mention'dall the sorts of Ter- 
 restrial or Land Animals, which Caro- 
 lina affords and are yet known to use, 
 except the Tame and Domestick Crea- 
 tures (of which I shall give an account 
 of hereafter, when I come to treat of 
 the Ways and Manners of Agriculture 
 in that Province) I shall proceed to the 
 
74 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 known Insects of that Place. Not that 
 I pretend to give an ample amount of 
 the whole Tribe, which is too numer- 
 ous, and contains too great a Diversity 
 of Species, many not yet discovered, 
 and others that have slips my Memory 
 at present; But those that I can re- 
 member, I herewith present by Readers 
 withal. 
 INSECTS OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Allegators, Rattle-Snakes, Ground 
 Rattle-Snakes, Horn-Snakes, Water- 
 Snakes, four sorts. Swamp Snakes, 
 three sorts. Red-bellied Land-Snakes, 
 Red-back'd Snake, Black Truncheon 
 Sciake, Scorpion Lizard, Frogs, many 
 sorts, Long Black Snake, King-Snake, 
 Green-Snake, Vipers, black and gray, 
 Tortois, Terebin, Lamd and Water, 
 Brimstone-Snake, Egg, or Chicken- 
 Snake, Eel-Snake or great Loach, Rot- 
 ten-wood Worm, etc. 
 
 The Allegator is the same as the 
 Crocodile, and differs only in name. 
 They frequent the sides of the Rivers, 
 in the Banks of which they make their 
 Dwellings, a great way under Ground; 
 the Hole or Mouth of their Dens lying 
 commonly under two Foot of Water, 
 after which it rises till it be consider- 
 ably above the surface thereof. Here 
 it is that this amphibious Monster 
 dwells all the Winter, sleeping away 
 his time till the Spring appears, when 
 he comes from his Cave, and Daily 
 swims up and down the Streams. He 
 always breeds in some fresh Stream, 
 or clear Fountain of Water, yet seeks 
 his Prey in the broa'd Salt Waters, that 
 are brackish, tiot on the) Sea-Side, 
 where I never met with any. He never 
 devours Men in Carolina, but uses all 
 ways to avoid them; he kills Swine and 
 Dogs, the former as they come to feed 
 in the Marshes, the others as they 
 Swim over the Creeks and Waters. 
 They are very mischievous to the 
 Wares made foi^ taking Fish, into 
 which they come to Prey on the Fish 
 
 that are caught in the Ware, from 
 which they cannot readily extricate 
 themselves, and so break the Ware in 
 Pieces, being a very strong Creature. 
 This Animal in these Parts sometimes 
 exceeds seventeen Foot long. It is im- 
 possible to kill them with a Gun, un- 
 less you chance to hit them about the 
 Eyes, which is a much softer Place 
 than the rest of their inpenetrable Ar- 
 mour. They roar and make a hideous 
 Noise against bad Weather, and be- 
 fore they come out of their Dens in the 
 Spring. I was pretty much frightened 
 with ocie of these once; which happen- 
 ed thus: I had built a House about 
 half a mile from an Indian Town, on 
 the Fork of Neus-River, where I 
 dwelt by myself, excepting a young In- 
 dian Fellow, and a Bull- Dog that I had 
 along with me. I had not then been 
 so long a Sojourner in America, as lo 
 be thoroughly acquainted with this 
 Creature. Ocie of them had got his 
 Nest directly under my House, which 
 stood on pretty high Land, and by a 
 Creek Side, in whose Banks his enter- 
 ing-place was, hdis Den reaching the 
 Ground directly on which my House 
 stood. I was sitting alone by the Fire- 
 side (about nine a Clock at Night, 
 some time in March) the Indiaci fellow 
 being gone to the Town to see his Re- 
 lations; so that there was nobody in 
 the House but myself and my* Dog; 
 when all of a sudden this ill-favour'd 
 Neighbor of mine, set up such a Roar- 
 ing, that he made the House shake 
 about my Ears, and so continued, like 
 a Bittern, (but a hundred times loud- 
 er if possible) for four or five times. 
 The Dog started, as if he was fright- 
 ened out of his senses; nor indeed could 
 I imagine what it was, having never 
 heard one af them before. Immediate- 
 ly again I had another Lesson; and so 
 a third. Being at that lime amongst 
 nothing but Savages, I began to sus- 
 pect they were working some piece of 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 75 
 
 Conjuration under my House, to get 
 away my Goo'd«; not but that, at aci- 
 other time, I have as little Faith in 
 their, or any other working Miracles, 
 by Diabolical Means, as any Person 
 living. At last my Man came in, to 
 whom, when I had told the Story, he 
 laugh'd at me, and presently unde- 
 ceiv'd me, by telling me what it was 
 that made the Noise. These Allegators 
 lay Eggs, as the Ducks do; only they 
 are larger shap'd, larger and a thick- 
 er shell, than they have. How locig 
 they are in hatching, I cannot tell; but, 
 as the Indians say, it is inost part of 
 the Summer; they always lay by a 
 Spring-Side, the young living in and 
 about the same, as soon as hatched. 
 Their Eggs are laid in nests made in 
 the Marshes, and contain twenty or 
 thirty Eggs. Some of these Creatures 
 afford a great deal of Musk. Their 
 Tail when cut off, looks very fair and 
 white, seemingly like the best of Veal. 
 Some People have eaten thereof, and 
 say it is delicate Meat, when they hap- 
 pen not to be musky. Their Flesh is 
 accounted proper for such as are 
 troubled with the lame Distemper, (a 
 sort of Rheumatism) so ia the fat 
 very prevailing to remove Aches and 
 Pains, by Unction. The teeth of this 
 Creature when dead, are taken out, to 
 make Charges for Gucis, being of sev- 
 eral sizes, fit for all loads. They are 
 white and would make Snuff-Boxes, if 
 Wrought by an Artist. After the Tail 
 of the Allegator is separated from the 
 Body, it will move very freely for four 
 days. 
 
 The Riattle-Snakes are found on all 
 the Main of America, that I ever had 
 any Account of; being so call'd from 
 the Rattle at the end of their Tail, 
 which is a Connection of jointed Cov- 
 erings, of an excrementitious Matter, 
 betwixt the substance of a Nail and a 
 Horn, tho' each Tegmen is very thin. 
 Nature seems to have design'd these. 
 
 on purpose to give Warning of such 
 an approaching Danger, as the venom- 
 ous Bite of these Snakes is. Some of 
 them grow to a very great Bigness, as 
 six Foot in Length, their middle being 
 the thickness of the Small of a lusty 
 Man's Leg. We have an Account of 
 much larger Serpents of this Kind; but 
 I never met them yet, although I have 
 seen and kill'd abundance in my time. 
 They are of an Orange, tawny, and 
 blackish colour on the Back; differing 
 (as all Snakes do) in Colour on the Bel- 
 ly, being of an Ash Colour, inclining 
 to Lead. TTie Male is easily distin- 
 guished from the Femiale, by a black 
 Velvet-Spot on his Head; and besides 
 his Head is smaller shaped, and long. 
 Their bite is venomous, if not speedily 
 remedied; especially if the wound be 
 in a Vein, Nerve, Tendon, or Sinew; 
 when it is very difficult to cure. The 
 Indians are the best Physicians for the 
 Bite of these and all other venomous 
 Creatures of this Country. There are 
 four sorts of Snake-Roots already dis- 
 covered, which knowledge came from 
 the Indians, who have performed sev- 
 eral great Cures. The Rattle- Snakes 
 are accounted the peaceablest in the 
 World; for they never attack any one, 
 or injure them, unless they are trod 
 upon, or molested. The most danger 
 of being bit by these Snakes, is for 
 those that survey Land in Carolina; 
 yet I never heard of any Surveyor that 
 was kill'd or hurt by them. I have 
 myself gone over several of this Sort, 
 and others; yet it pleased God, I never 
 came to any harm. They have the 
 Power, or Art (I know not which to 
 call it) to charm Squirrels, Hares, Par- 
 tridges, or any such thing, in such a 
 manner, that they run directly into 
 their Mouths. This I have seen by a 
 Squirrel and one of these Rattle- 
 Snakes; and other Snakeg have, in 
 some measure, the same Power. The 
 Rattle-Snakes have many small Teeth, 
 
76 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 of which I cannot see they make any 
 use; for they swallow everything 
 whole; but the Teeth which poison, are 
 only four; two on each side of their 
 Upper-Jaws. These are bent like a 
 Sickle, and hang loose as if by a Joint. 
 Towards the setting on of these, there 
 is in each Tooth a little Hole, wherein 
 you may .iust put in the Point of a 
 Small Needle. And here it is that the 
 Poison comes out (which is as green as 
 grass) and follows the Wound made by 
 the Point of their Teeth. They are much 
 more Venomous in the months of June 
 and July, than they are in March, 
 April or September. The hotter the 
 Weather the more Poisonous. Neither 
 may we suppose, that they can renew 
 their Poison as oft as they will; for we 
 have had a Person bit by one of these 
 who never rightly recovered it and 
 very hardly escaped with Life, a sec- 
 ond person bit in the same place by 
 the same Snake, and received no more 
 Harm, than if bitten with a Rat. They 
 caist their Skins every Year, and com- 
 monly abide near the Place where the 
 old Skin lies. These cast Skins are 
 used ici Physick, and the Rattles are 
 reckon'd good to expedite the Birth. 
 The Gall is made up into Pills, with 
 Clay, and Kept for Use; being given in 
 Pestilential Fevers and the Small-Pox 
 It is accounted a noble Remedy, known 
 to few and held as a great Arcanum. 
 This Snake has two Nostrils on each 
 side of hi's Nose. Their Venom, I have 
 Reason to believe, effects no Harm, 
 any otherwise than when darted into 
 the Wound by the Serpents Teeth. 
 
 The Ground R.attle-Snake, wrong 
 nam'd, because it has nothing like Rat- 
 tles. It resembles the Rattle-Snake a 
 little in Colour, but is darker, and nev- 
 er grows to any considerable Bigness, 
 not exceeding a Foot, or fifteen inches. 
 He is reckon'd among the worst of 
 Snakes; and stays out the longest of 
 
 any Snake I know, before he returns 
 (in the Fall of the Leaf) to his Hole. 
 
 Of the Horn Snakes I never saw but 
 two, that I remember. They are like 
 the Rattle- Snake in Colour, but rather 
 lighter. They hiiss exactly like a 
 Goose, when anything approaches 
 them. They strike at their Enemy 
 with their Tail, and kill whatsoever 
 they wound with it, which is arm'd at 
 the End with a horny Substance, like 
 a Cock's Spur. This is their Weapon. 
 I have it credibly reported, by those 
 who said they were Eye-Witnesses, 
 that a small Locust Tree, about the 
 thickness of a Man's arm, being struck 
 by one of these Snakes, at Ten a Clock 
 in the Monaiing, then verdant and 
 flourishing, at four in the Afternoon 
 was dead, and the Leaves red and 
 withered. Doubtless, be it how it will, 
 they are very venomous. I think the 
 Indians do not pretend to cure their 
 Wound. 
 
 Of Water-Snakes there are four 
 sorbs. The first is of the Horn- Snake 
 Colour, tho' less. The mext is a very 
 long Snake, differing in Colour, and 
 will make nothing to swim over a Riv- 
 er a League wide. They hang upon 
 Birches and upon Trees by the Water 
 Side. I had the misfortune once to 
 have one of them leap into my Boat, 
 as I was going up a narrow River; the 
 Boat was full of Mats which I was 
 glad to take out, to get rid of him. 
 They are reckon'd poisonous. A third 
 is much of an English Adder's Colour, 
 but always frequents the Salts, and 
 lies under the Drift Sea- Weed, where 
 they are in abundance, and are ac- 
 counted mischievous, when they bite. 
 The last is of a sooty black Colour, and 
 frequents Ponds and Ditches. What 
 his Qualities are I cannot tell. 
 
 Of the Swamp-S'nakes there are 
 three sorts, which are very near akin 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 11 
 
 to the Water-Snakes, and may be 
 rank'd amongst them. 
 
 The belly of ithe first is of a Carna- 
 tion or Pink Colour; hiis back a dirty 
 brown; they lare large but have not 
 much Venom in them, as ever I learnt. 
 The next is a large Snake, of a brown 
 Dirt Colour, and always abides in the 
 Marshes. The last is mottled, and 
 very poisonous. They dwell in Swamp 
 Sides, and Pccids, land have prodigious 
 wide Mouths, and (though not long) 
 arrive to the Thickness of a Man's 
 Leg. 
 
 The Red Bellied frequent the Land 
 altogether, and are so call'd because of 
 their red Bellies, which incline to an 
 Orange Colour. Some have been bitten 
 with these sort of Snakes and not hurt; 
 when others have suffer'd very much 
 by them. Whether there be two sorts 
 Oif these Snakes, which we make no 
 difference of, I cannot at present de- 
 termine. 
 
 I never saw but one of the Red-Back- 
 ed, which I stept over, and did not see 
 him till he that brought the chain after 
 me, spy'd him. He has a red Back, as 
 the last has a red Belly. They are a 
 long, slender Snake, and very rare to 
 be met withal. I enquired of the Indian 
 that was along with me, whether they 
 were very venomous, who made An- 
 swer, that if he had bitten me, even the 
 Indians could not have cured it. 
 
 This sort of snake might very well 
 have been ramk'd with the Water 
 Snakes. They lie under Roots of 
 Trees, and on ithe Banks of Rivers. 
 When any thing disturbs them, they 
 dart into the Water (which is Sialt) 
 like an Arrow out of a Bow. They are 
 thick, and the shortest Snake I ever 
 isaw. What Good, or Harm, there is 
 in them, I know not. Some of these 
 Water- Snakes will swallow a black 
 Land Snake, half as long again as 
 themselves. 
 
 The Scorpion Lizard, is no more like 
 
 a Scorpion, than a Hedge-Hog; but 
 they very comnmonly call him a Scor- 
 pion. He is of the Lizard kind, but 
 much bigger; his back is of a Dark 
 Copper-Colour; his Belly a,n Orange; 
 he is very nimble in running up trees, 
 or on the Land, and is accounted very 
 Poisonous. He has the most sets of 
 teeth in his Mouth and Throat that ev- 
 er I saw. 
 
 Green Liaards are very Harmless 
 and Beautiful, having a little Bladder 
 under their throat, which they fill with 
 wind and evacuate at their pleasure. 
 They are of a most glorious Green and 
 very tame. They resort to the Walls 
 of houses in the Sumn^er Seiason, and 
 stand gazing on a Man without any 
 concern or fear. There are several 
 other Colours of these Lizards, but none 
 so beautiful as the green ones are. 
 
 Of Frogs we have several sorts; the 
 most famous is the Bull Frog, so call- 
 ed bedause he lows exactly like that 
 beast, which makes Strangers Wonder 
 (When by the side of a Marsh) what's 
 the matter, for they hear the Frogs 
 Low, and can see no Cattle; he is very 
 large. I believe I have seen one with 
 as much meat on him as a Pullet, if he 
 had been dressed. The smJall Green 
 Frogs get upon Trees and make a 
 noise. There are several other colored 
 small Frogs; but th,e common land 
 Frog is likest a Tbad, only he leaios 
 and is not poisonous. He is a great 
 devourer of Ants, and the Snakes de- 
 vour him. These Frogs, baked and beat 
 to powder, and taken with Orrice-Root, 
 cure a Tympany. 
 
 The long. Black Snake frequents the 
 Land altogether, and is the nimblest 
 creature living. His bite has no more 
 Venom than a prick with a pin. He 
 is the best Mouser that can be; for he 
 leaves not one of that Vermin alive, 
 where he comes. He also kills the Rat- 
 tlesnake wheresoever he meets him, by 
 twisting his head about the Neck of 
 
78 
 
 IvAwson's history 
 
 the Rattlesnake, and whipping him to 
 death with his Tail. This Whipster 
 haunts the Dairies of careless house- 
 wives, and never misses to Skim the 
 Milk clear of Cream. He is an ex- 
 cellent Egg Merchant, for he does not 
 suck the Eggs but swiallows them whole 
 (As all Snakes do) He will often 
 swallow all the eggs from under a Hen 
 that sets, and coil himself under the 
 Hen, in the Nest, where sometimes the 
 Housewife finds him. This Snake, with 
 all his agility, is so brittle, that when 
 he is pursued and gets his head in the 
 hole of a tree, if anybody gets hold of 
 the other end he will twist and break 
 himself off in the middle. One of these 
 Snakes, whose neck is no larger than a 
 woman's little finger, will swallow a 
 Squirrel, so much does that part stretch 
 in these Creatures. 
 
 The King Snake is the longest of all 
 others and not common; no Snake (they 
 say) will meddle with them. I think 
 they are accounted very venomous. The 
 Indians make girdles and sashes of 
 their skins. 
 
 Green Snfakes are very small, tho' 
 pretty, (if any Beauty be allowed to 
 Snakes). Everyone makes themselves 
 very familiar with them, and puts them 
 in their bosom, because there is no 
 manner of harm in them. 
 
 The Corn Snakes are but srmall ones; 
 they are of a brown colour, mixed with 
 tawny. There is no more hurt in this 
 than in a green snake. 
 
 Of those we call Vipers there are two 
 sorts. People call these Vipers be- 
 cause they spread a very small head at 
 any time they are vexed. One of these 
 is grayish like the Italian Viper, the 
 other blajck land short; and is reckon- 
 ed amongst the worst of Snakes for 
 Venom. 
 
 Tortois, vulgarly called Turtle; I 
 have ranked these among the Insects 
 because they lay eggs, and I did not 
 know well where to put them. Anwangst 
 
 us there are three sorts; the first Is 
 the Green Turtle, which is not com- 
 mon, but is sometimes found on our 
 coast. The next is the Hawk's Bill, 
 which is common. These two sorts are 
 extraordinary meaty. The third is the 
 Logger-Head, which kind one scarce 
 ever covets, except for the eggs, 
 which of this and all other Turtles are 
 very good Pood. None of these sorts 
 of Creatures' eggs will ever admit the 
 whites to be harder than a jelly; yet 
 the Yelk with boiling becomes as hard 
 as any other egg. 
 
 Of Terebins there are divers sorts, 
 all which, to be brief, we will compre- 
 hend under the distiniction of Land and 
 Water Terebins. 
 
 The Land Terebin is of severtal sizes 
 but, generally round- Mouth'd and not 
 Hawk Bill'd, as some are. The Indians 
 eat them. Most of them are good Meat, 
 except the very large ones; and they 
 are good Food too, provided they are 
 not Musky. They are a bitter Enemy 
 to the Rattle Snake, for when the 
 Terebin nieets him he catches hold of 
 him a little below his neck, and draws 
 his head into his shell, which makes the 
 snake beat his Tail, and Twist about 
 with all the strength and Violence 
 Imaginable, to get away, but the Tere- 
 bin soon dispatches him and there 
 leaves him. These they call in Eu- 
 rope the Land Tortois. Their food is 
 Snails, Tad-poles or young frogs. Mush- 
 rooms, and the Dew and Slime of the 
 Earth and Ponds. 
 
 Water Terebins are small, containing 
 about as n^uch meat as a Pullet, and 
 are extraordinary good Food; especial- 
 ly, in May and June. When they lay 
 eggs, their Eggs are very good; but 
 they have so many enemies that finds 
 them out that the hundredth part nev- 
 er comes to perfection. The Sun and 
 Sand hatch them, which come out the 
 bigness of a small chestnut, and seek 
 their own living. 
 
OF NORTH CAROIvINA. 
 
 79 
 
 We now .come again to the Snakes. 
 The BrimiStone is so called I believe 
 because it is almost of a brimstone col- 
 our. They might as well have called it 
 a glass snake, for it is as brittle as 
 a tobacco P)ipe, so that if you give it 
 the least Touch of a small Twig, it 
 ibreaks into several small pieces. Some 
 affirm that if you leave it where you 
 broke it, it will come together again. 
 What harm, there is in this brittle ware 
 I cannot tell, but I never knew any- 
 body hurt by them. 
 
 The Egg or Chicken Snake is so- 
 called because it frequents the chicken 
 yard, and eats Eggs and Chickens; they 
 are of a dusky soot colour, and will roll 
 themselves round and stick 18 or 20 
 foot high, by the side of a smooth- 
 barked pine, where there is no man- 
 ner of hold, and there sun themselves 
 and sleep all the sunny part of the day. 
 There is no great matter of poison in 
 them. 
 
 The wood worms are of copper, shin- 
 ing colour, sdarce so thick as your lit- 
 tle finger; are often found in rotten 
 trees. They a-re accounted Venomous, 
 in case they bite, tho' I never knew 
 anything hurt by them. They never 
 exceed four or five inches in length. 
 
 The Reptiles, or smaller Insects, are 
 too numerous to relate here, this Coun- 
 try affording innumerable quantities 
 thereof; as the Flying Stags, with 
 horns; Beetles, Butterflies, Grasshop- 
 pers, Locusts, and several hundreds of 
 uncouth shapes, which in the Summer 
 Season are discovered here in Caro- 
 lina, the description of which requires 
 a large volume, which is not my in- 
 tent at present. Besides, what the 
 Mountainous part of this land raay 
 hereafter lay open to our view. Time 
 and Industry will discover, for we that 
 have settled but a small part of this 
 Province, cannot imagine but that there 
 will be a larger number of Discover- 
 ies made by those that shall come here- 
 
 after into the back part of this Land, 
 and make inquiries therein, when, at 
 least, we consider, that the Westward 
 of Carolina is quite different in Soil, 
 Air, Weather, Growth of Vegetables, 
 and several Animals too, which at pires- 
 ent we are total strangers to, and to 
 seek for. As to a right knowledge there- 
 of I say, when another Age is come, the 
 Ingenious Heads then in being upon the 
 Shoulders of them that went before 
 them, adding their own experiments to 
 what was delivered down by their Pre- 
 decessors, then there will be somethiug 
 towards a complete Natural History, 
 (which in these days would be no easie 
 undertaking to any author that writes 
 truly and compendiously, as he ought 
 to do.) It is sufficient at present to 
 write an Honest and Fair Account, of 
 any of the Settlements in this new 
 World, without wandering out of the 
 Path of Truth or bespiattering any 
 Man's Reputation, any wise concern- 
 ed in the Government of the Colony; 
 he that mixes Invectives with Rela- 
 tions of this Nature renders himself 
 suspected of Partiality in whatever he 
 writes. For my part I wish all well, 
 and he that has received any severe 
 dealings from the Mlagistrate or hie 
 Superiors, had best examine himself 
 well, if he was not first in the fault; 
 if so he can then justly blame none 
 but himself for what has happened to 
 him. 
 
 Having thus gone through the insects 
 as in the table, except the Eel-Snake, 
 (so call'd, though very improperly, be- 
 cause he is nothing but a laach that 
 sucks and cannot bite as the Snakes 
 do). He is very large, commonly six- 
 teen inches or a foot and a half lone^ 
 having all the properties that other 
 Loaches have, and dwells in pools land 
 waters as they do. Notwithstanding we 
 have the same Loach as you have, in 
 Bigness. 
 
 This is all that at present I sJiall 
 
8o 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 mention, touching the Insects, and so 
 go on and give and account of the 
 Fowls and Birds, that are properly 
 found in North Carolina, which are 
 these: 
 
 BIRDS IN NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Eagle bald, Eagle Gray, Fishing 
 Hawk, Turkey Vulture or Hawk, Her- 
 ring-Tail Hawk, Goshawk, Falcon, 
 Merlin, Sparrow-hawk, Hobby, Ring- 
 tail, Raven, Crow, Black- Birds, two 
 sorts. Bunting, two sorts. Peasants, 
 Woodcock, Snipe, Partridge, Moorhen, 
 Green Plover, Plover Gray or Whist- 
 ling, Pigeon, Turtle Dove, Parrakeeto, 
 Thrush, Woodpecker, five sorts, Mock- 
 ing Bird, two sorts, Cat Bird, Cuckoo, 
 Blue Bird, Blue Finch, Nightingale, 
 Hedge Sparrow, Wren Sparrows, two 
 sorts. Lark, Red Bird, East Indian Bat, 
 Martins, two sorts, Diveling or Swift, 
 Swallow, Humming Bird, the Tom Tit, 
 or OX Eye, Owls, two sorts, Scritch 
 Owl, Baltimore Bird, Throstle (no sing- 
 er), Phippoo Will, Reed Sparrow, Weet 
 bird, Rice Bird, Cranes and Storks, 
 Snow-Birds, Yellow Wings. 
 
 WATER FOWL ARE 
 
 Swans, called Thompeters, Swans, 
 called Hoopers, Geese, three sorts. 
 Brant gray, Brant white, Sea-pies or 
 pied Curlens, Willets, Great Gray Gulls, 
 Old Wives, Sea Cock, Curlues, three 
 sorts, Coots, Kings-fisher, Loons, two 
 sorts, Bitterns, three sorts. Hern white. 
 Hern gray. Water Pheasant, Little 
 Gray Gull, Little Fisher, or Dipper, 
 Ducks as in England, Ducks, Black all 
 Summer, Ducks pied, build on Trees, 
 Ducks Whistling, at Sapona, Ducks. 
 Scarlet Eye, at Esaw, Blue- wings. Wid- 
 geon, Teal two sorts, Shovelers, Whis- 
 tlers, Black Plu'sterers or Bald Coot, 
 Turkey wild. Fishermen, Divers, Raft 
 Fowl, Bull- necks. Redheads, Tropick 
 birds. Pelican, Cormorant, Gannet, 
 Shearwater, Great black pied Gull, 
 Marsh hens, Blue Peters, Sand-birds, 
 Runners, Tutcocks, Swaddle-bills, Old 
 
 Men, Sheldrakes, Bald-Faces, Water- 
 Witch or Ware Coot. 
 
 As the Eagle is reckoned the King of 
 Birds I have begun with him. The first 
 I shall speak of is the Bald Eagle; so 
 called becHause his head to the middle of 
 his neck, and his tail is as white as 
 snow. These Birds continually breed 
 the year around; for when the young 
 Eagles are just downed with a sort of 
 white woolly Feathers, the hen Eagle 
 lays again, which eggs are hatched by 
 the wiarmth of the young ones in the 
 nest, so that the flight of one brood 
 makes room for the next that are just 
 hatched. They prey on any living thing 
 they can catch. They are heavy of 
 flight and cannot get their food by 
 swiftness, to help which there is a 
 Fishhawk which catches Fishes, and 
 suffers the Eagle to take them from 
 her, altho* she is long-winged and 
 swift flying and can make far better 
 way in her flight than the Eagle can. 
 The Bald Eagle attends the Gunner 
 in Winter, with all the obsequiousness 
 imaginable, and when he shoots and 
 kills any fowl the Eagle surely comes 
 in for his Bird; and besides those that 
 are wounded and escape the Fowler 
 coime into the Eagle's share. He is aJi 
 excellent artist at stealing young Pigs, 
 which prey he carries alive to his Nest, 
 at which time the poor pig makes such 
 a strange noise over-head, that strang- 
 ers that have heard themi cry, and not 
 seen the Bird and his Prey, have 
 thought that there were flying Sows 
 and Pigs in that country. The Eagle's 
 nest is made of twigs, sticks and rub- 
 bish. It is big enough to fill a hiand- 
 some Cart's body, and commonly so 
 full of nasty bones and carcasses that 
 it stinks most offensively. This Eagle 
 is not bald until he is one or two years 
 old. 
 
 The gray Eagle is altogether the same 
 sort of a Bird, as the Eagle in Europe, 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 8i 
 
 therefore we shall treat no further of 
 him. 
 
 The Fishing Hawk is the Eagle's 
 Jackal, which most commonly (tho' 
 not always), takes his prey for him. 
 He is a large bird, being above two- 
 thirds as large las the Eagle. He builds 
 his Nest as the Eagles do, that is in 
 a young cypress Tree, either standing 
 in, or hard by the Water. The Eagle 
 and this bird seldom sit on a living 
 tree. He is of a gray pied Colour, and 
 the most dexterous Fowl in Nature at 
 Catching of Fish, which he wholly 
 lives on, never elating any flesh. 
 
 The Turkey-Buzzard of Carolina is 
 a small Vulture, which lives on any 
 dead carcasses. They are about the 
 Bigness of a Fishing Hawk, and have 
 a nasty smell with them. They are of 
 the Kite's Colour, and are reported to 
 be an enemy to snakes, by killing all 
 that they meet withal of that kind. 
 
 The Herring, or Swallow-Tailed 
 Hawk, is about the bigness of a falcon, 
 but a much longer bird. He is of a del- 
 icate Aurora Colour. The Pinions of 
 his Wings and End of his Tail are 
 Black. He is a very beautiful bird, and 
 never appears abroad but in the sum- 
 mer. His prey is chiefly Snakes, and 
 he will kill the biggest we have with 
 a great deal of Dexterity land Ease. 
 
 Goshawks are very beautiful in Car- 
 olina. They are not seemingly so 
 large as those from Muscovy, but ap- 
 pear to be a very brisk bird. 
 
 The Falcon is much the same as in 
 Europe, and promises to be la brave 
 bird, tho' I never had any of them in 
 my hand, neither did I ever see any 
 of them in any other posture than on 
 the Wing, which always happened to 
 be in an evening, and flying to the 
 westward; therefore I believe we may 
 expect to find them and several other 
 species that we are at present strtansr- 
 ers to. 
 
 The Merlin is a small bird in Eu- 
 
 rope, but much smaller here; yet he 
 very nimbly kills the smaller sorts of 
 birds, and sometimes the Partridge; If 
 caught alive he would be a great rar- 
 ity, because of his beauty and smalT- 
 ness. 
 
 The Sparrowhawk in Carolina is no 
 bigger than a fieldfare in England. He 
 flies at the Bush and sometimes kills 
 a snuall Bird, but his chiefest food is 
 reptiles, as Beetles, Grasshoppers and 
 such small things. He is exactly as 
 the same colour as the Sparrowhawk 
 in England, only has a blackish Hood 
 by his Eyes. 
 
 Hobbies are the same here as in 
 England and are not often met withal. 
 
 The Ringtail is a short-winged hawk, 
 preying on mice and such vermin in 
 the Marshes, as in England. 
 
 Ravens the same as in England, 
 though very few. I have not seen 
 above six or eight in a year's time. 
 
 Crows are here less than in England. 
 They are as good meat as Pigeons; and 
 never feed on any Carrion; they are 
 great enemies to the cornfields and cry 
 and build almost like rooks. 
 
 Of Blackbirds we have two sorts, 
 which are the worst Vermin in Ameri- 
 ca. They fly sometimes in such flocks 
 that they destroy everything before 
 them. They (both sorts) build in hol- 
 low trees, as Starlings do. The first 
 sort is near as big as a Dove 
 and is white and delicate food. 
 The other sort is very beautiful 
 and aibout the bigness of an Ous^. 
 Part of their head next to the bill, and 
 the pinions of the wings, are of an or- 
 ange and glorious crimson colour. They 
 are as good meat as the "former, tho' 
 very few here, (where large fowl are 
 so plenty) ever trouble themselves to 
 kill or dress them. 
 
 Of the Bunting-Larks we have two 
 sorts, though the heel of this bird is 
 not so long as in Europe. The first 
 of these often accompany the Black- 
 
82 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 birds, and sing as the Bunting-Larks 
 in England do, differing very little. The 
 first sort has an onange colour on the 
 tops of their wings, and are as good 
 meat as those in Europe. The other 
 sort is something less of a lighter col- 
 our, nothing differing therein as to col- 
 our, bigness and meat. 
 
 The Pheasant of Carolina differs 
 some small matter from the English 
 Pheasant, being not so big and havins 
 some difference in feather; yet he is 
 not anywise inferior in delicacy, but is 
 as good Meat, or rather nner. He 
 haunts the Backwoods and is seldom 
 found near the Inhabitants. 
 
 The Woodcocks live and breed here, 
 though they are not in great plenty 
 as I have seen them in some oarts of 
 England and other places. They want 
 one-third of the English Woodcock in 
 bigness; but differ not in shape or 
 feather, save that their breasts are of 
 a carnation Colour; and they make a 
 noise (when they are on the wing) like 
 the bells about a hawk's legs. They are 
 certainly as dainty Meat as any in the 
 world. Their aibode in lall parts of this 
 country is in low and boggy ground, 
 Springs, Swamps and Percoarsons. 
 
 The Snipes here frequent the same 
 places as they do in England, and dif- 
 fer nothing from them. They are the 
 only wild bird that is nothing different 
 from the species of Europe and keeps 
 with us all the year. In some places 
 there are la great many of these Snipes. 
 
 Our Partridges in Carolina very of- 
 ten take upon the Trees, and have a 
 sort of whistle and call quite different 
 from those in England. They are a 
 very beautiful bird and great destroy- 
 ers of the pease in Plantations; where- 
 fore they set traps and catch many of 
 them. They have the same feather as 
 in Europe; only the cock wants the 
 horse-shoe, in lieu of which he has a 
 fair half-circle over each eye. These 
 as well as the Woodcock .are less than 
 
 the European Bird, but far finer meat. 
 They might be easily transported to 
 any place, because they take to eating 
 after caught. 
 
 The 'Moorhens are of the Blackgame. 
 I .am informed that the Gray game 
 haunts the hills. They come not into 
 the settlements, but keep in their hilly 
 parts. 
 
 Jays are here common and very mis- 
 chievous, in devouring our fruit and 
 spoiling more than they eat. They are 
 abundantly more beautiful and finer 
 feathered than those in Europe, and 
 not above half so big. 
 
 The Lap-wing or Green Plover are 
 here very common. They cry pretty 
 much as the English Plovers do; and 
 differ not much in feather, but want a 
 third of their bigness. 
 
 The Gray or Whistling Plover are 
 very scarce among us. I never saw 
 lany but three times that fell and set- 
 tled on the ground. They differ very 
 little from those in Europe, as far as 
 I could discern. I have seen several 
 great flocks of them fly overhead; 
 therefore believe that they inhabit the 
 Valleys over the Mountains. 
 
 Our Wild Pigeons are like the Wood 
 Pigeons or Stock Geese, only they Wave 
 a longer tiail. They leave us in the 
 summer time. This sort of Pigeon, as 
 I said before, is more like the Stock 
 Dove or Wood Pigeon that we have in 
 England; only these differ in their 
 tails, which are very long, much like a 
 Parekeeto's. You must understand that 
 these birds do not breed amongst lis, 
 (who are settled at or neiar the mouths 
 of the rivers, as I have intimated to 
 you before) but come down (specially 
 in hard winters) amongst the Inhabi- 
 tants in great flocks, as they were seen 
 to do in the year of 1707, which was the 
 hardest winter that ever was known, 
 since C!tarolina w^as seated by the 
 Christians. And if that country had 
 such hard winters, what must be ex- 
 
OF NORTH CAROUNA. 
 
 83 
 
 pected of the severe winters in Penn- 
 sylvania, Nevf York and New Ene:- 
 land, where winters are ten times, if 
 possible, colder than with us. Al- 
 though the flocks are in such Extremi- 
 ties, very numerous, yet they are not 
 to be mentioned in comparison with 
 the great and infinite numbers of the 
 fowls, that are met withal about a 
 hundred or a hundred and fifty miles 
 to the Westw^ard of the places where 
 we at present live; and where the 
 Pigeons come down in quest of a small 
 sort of acorn, which in those parts 
 are plentifully found. They lare the 
 same we call Turky-Acorns, because 
 the wild Turkeys feed very much there 
 on, and for the same reason those 
 trees that bear them are called Tur- 
 key Oaks. I saw such prodigious 
 flocks of these pigeons in January 
 and February, 1701-2 (which were m 
 the hilly country between the great na- 
 tion of the Esaw Indians and the 
 pleiasant stream of Sapona, which is 
 the west branch of Clarendon, or Cape 
 Fair River, that they had broke down 
 the limbs of a great many large trees 
 all over those Woods, whereon they 
 chanced to sit and roost; especially 
 the great pines which are more brittle 
 wood, thian our sorts of Oak are. These 
 Pigeons, about sunrise, when we were 
 preparing to march on our journey, 
 would fly by us in such Vast Flocks 
 that they would be near a quarter of 
 an hour before they iwere all passed 
 by; and as soon as thiat flock was 
 passed another would come, and so 
 successively one after another for a 
 greater part of the Morning. It is ob- 
 servable that wherever these fowl come 
 in such large numbers, as I saw them 
 then, they clear aJll before them, scarce 
 leaving one acorn upon the ground, 
 which would doubtless be a great prej- 
 udice to the planters that 'would seat 
 there, because their swine would be 
 thereby deprived of the nrnst. When I 
 
 saw such flocks of the Pigeons I now 
 speak of, none of our company had any 
 sort of a shot than that which is cast 
 in Moulds and was so very large that 
 we could not put above ten or a dozen 
 of them into our largest pieces. Where- 
 fore we made but an indifferent hand 
 of shooting them; although we com- 
 monly killed a Pigeon for every shot. 
 They were very fat and as good Pig- 
 eons as ever I eat. I enquired of the 
 Indians that live in those parts, where 
 it was that those Pigeons bred, and 
 they pointed towards the vtast ridge of 
 Mountains and said that they bred 
 there. Now whether they make their 
 nests in the holies of those rocks, or in 
 the mountains, or build in trees I could 
 not learn; but they seem to me to be a 
 wood-pigeon that build in trees, be- 
 cause of their frequent sitting thereon, 
 and their roosting on trees always at 
 night, under which their dung com- 
 monly lies half a foot thick, and kills 
 everything that grows where it falls. 
 
 Turtle-doves are here very plentiful; 
 they devour the peas, for which reason 
 people make traps and catch them. 
 
 The Parrakeetos are of a green col- 
 our, and orange-coloured half way up 
 their heads. Of these and the AUeea- 
 tors there is none found to the north- 
 ward of this Province. They visit us 
 first when mulberries are ripe, which 
 fruit they love extremely. They peck 
 the apples to eat the kernels, so that 
 the fruit rots and perishes. They are 
 Mischievous to Orchards. They are 
 often taken alive and will become fa- 
 miliar and tame in two days. They 
 have their nests in hollow trees in low 
 swamp ground. They devour the Birch 
 Buds in April, and lie hidden when the 
 weather is frosty and hard. 
 
 The Thrushes in America are the 
 siame as in England, and red under the 
 wings. They never appear amongst us 
 but in hard weather, and presently 
 leave us again. 
 
84 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Of Wood-Peckers we have four sorts. 
 The first is as big as a piigeon. being 
 of a dark brown colour, with a white 
 cross on his back, his eyes circled with 
 white, .and on his head stands a tuft of 
 beautiful scarlet feathers. His cry is 
 heard a long way; and he flies from one 
 rotten tree to another, to get Grubs, 
 which is the Food he lives on. 
 
 The second sort are of an Olive Col- 
 our, striped with ydllow. They eat 
 Worms as well as Grubs, and are about 
 the bigness of those in Europe. 
 
 The third is the same bigness as the 
 last. He is pied with black and white 
 and has a crimson he^ad without a top- 
 ping, and is a plague to the corn and 
 fruit; especially the apples. He opens 
 the covering of the young corn so that 
 the rain gets in and rots it. 
 
 The fourth sort of these Wood-Peck- 
 ers is a iblack and white speckled or 
 mottled; the finest I ever siaw. The 
 Cock has a red crown; he is not near 
 so big as the others; his food is 
 grubs, corn and other creeping insects. 
 He is not very wild, but will let one 
 come up to him, then shifts on the 
 other side of the tree, from your sight, 
 and so dodges you for a long time al- 
 together. He is about the size of an 
 English Dark. 
 
 The Mocking Bird is about as big as 
 the Throstle in England, but longer; 
 they are of a white and gray colour, 
 and are held to be the Choristers of 
 America, as indeed they are. They 
 sing with the greatest diversity of 
 notes that is possible for a bird to 
 change to. They may be bred up and 
 will sing with us tame in cages; yet 
 I never take any of their nests, altho' 
 they build yearly in my fruit trees, be- 
 cause I have their company, as much 
 as If tame to tne singing part. Thev 
 often sit upon our chimneys in sum- 
 mer, there being then no fire in them, 
 and sing the whole evening and most 
 part of the night. They are always at- 
 
 tending our dwellings, and feed upon 
 mulberries and other berries and 
 fruits, especially the 'Mechoacan-berry 
 which grow® here very plentifully. 
 
 There is another sort called the 
 ground Mocking Bird. She is the same 
 bigness and of a Cinnamom colour. 
 This bird sings excellently well, but is 
 not BO common amongst us as the for- 
 mer. 
 
 The Oat-Bird, so named because it 
 makes a noise, exactly like young cats. 
 They have a blackish head and an 
 ash-coloured body, and have no other 
 note that I know of. They are no big- 
 ger than a Dark, but will fight any 
 other great bird that I know of. 
 
 The Cuckoo of Carolina may not 
 properly be so called, because she never 
 uses that cry; yet she is of the same 
 bigness and feather and sucks the 
 Sn>all birds' eggs, as the English 
 Cuckoo does. 
 
 A Blue-Bird is of the exact siame big- 
 ness as a Robin Redbreast. The Cock 
 has the same coloured breast as the 
 Robin has, and his back and the rest 
 of him are of as fine a blue as can 
 possibly be seen in any part of the 
 world. He has a cry and a whistle. 
 They liide themselves all the winter. 
 
 Bulfinches in America differ some- 
 thing from those in Europe, in their 
 feathers, tho' not in their bigness. I 
 never knew any one tame, therefore 
 know not what they might be brought 
 to. They are good Birds to turn a 
 Cage with bells, or if taught as the 
 Bullfinch is, I believe would prove very 
 docile. 
 
 East India Bats or Musquito Hawks, 
 are the bigness of a Cuckoo, and n>uch 
 of the same colour. They are so called 
 because the same sort is found in the 
 East Indies. They appear only in Sum- 
 mer, and live on Plies, which they 
 catch in the Air, as Gnats, Musquitos, 
 etc., etc. 
 
 Martins are here of two sorts. The 
 
OF NORTH CAROI^INA. 
 
 85 
 
 first is the same as in England; the 
 other as big as a Black-Bird. They 
 have white throats and Breasts, with 
 black Backs. The planters put Gourds 
 on standing Poles, on purpose for these 
 fowls to build in, because they are a 
 very warlike bird, and beat the Crows 
 from the Plantations, The Swift or 
 Diveling, the same as in England. 
 Swallows, the same as in England. 
 
 The Humming Bird is the Miracle of 
 all Winged Animals. He is feathered 
 as a Bird and gets his living as the 
 Bees, by sucking the Honey from 
 each Flower. In some of the lareer 
 sorts of Flowers he will bury himself, 
 by diving to suck the bottom of it, so 
 that he is quite covered, and often- 
 times Children catch them in these 
 flowers, and keep them alive for five or 
 six days. They are of different Col- 
 ours, the Cock differing from the Hen. 
 The Cock is of a Green, Red, Aurora, 
 and other Colours mixed. He is much 
 less than a Wren and very nimble. His 
 Nest is one of the Greatest pieces of 
 Workmanship the whole tribe of 
 Winged Animals can sheiw, it common- 
 ly hanging on a single Briar, most ar- 
 tistically woven, a small hole being 
 left open to go in and out of. The 
 Eggs are the bigness of Pease. 
 
 The Tom Tit or Ox-Eye as in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Of Oiwls we have two sorts; the 
 smaller sort is like ours in England: 
 the other sort is as big as a middling: 
 Goose, and has a prodigious head. They 
 make a fearful Hollowing in the Night 
 time, like a man, whereby they often 
 make strangers lose their way in the 
 Woods. 
 
 Scritch Owls, much the same as in 
 Euroce. 
 
 The Baltimore Bird, so called trow, 
 Lord Baltimore, Proprietor of all 
 Maryland, in which province many of 
 them are found. They are the bigness 
 
 of a Linnet, with Yellow Wings and 
 beautiful in other Colours. 
 
 Throstle, the same size and Feather 
 as in Europe, but I never could hear 
 any of them sing. 
 
 The Weet, so called because he cries 
 always before the rain; he resembles 
 nearest the Fire-Tail. 
 
 Cranes use the Savannas and Low 
 Grounds and eat Frogs; they are above 
 fiAe foot high, when extended; are of 
 a Cream Color and have a Crim>.on 
 Spot on the top of their Heads. Their 
 Quills 'are excellent for Pens; their 
 flesh make.'- the best broth, yet it is 
 very hard to digest. Among them fre- 
 quent Storks, which are here seen, and 
 nowhere besides in Ameri'ca, that I 
 have yet heard of. The Cranes are 
 easily bred up tame, and are excellent 
 in a garden to destroy Frogs, Worms 
 and other Vermiin. 
 
 The Snow Birds are the most numer- 
 ous in the North Parts of America, 
 where there are great Snows. They 
 visit us pom.etimes in Carolina when 
 the Weather is Harder than Ordinary. 
 They are like the Stones Smach, or 
 Wheat Ears, and are delicate Meat. 
 
 The Yellow Wings are a very small 
 Bird, of a Linnett's Colour, but Wings 
 are as Yellow as Gold. They frequent 
 high up in our Rivers and Creeks, and 
 keep themselves in the thick bushes, 
 very difficult to be seen in the Spriner. 
 They sing very prettily. 
 
 Whippoo-Will, so named because It 
 makes those Words exiac';l\'. They are 
 the Bigness of a Thrush, and call their 
 notes under a Bush, on the Ground, 
 hard to be seen, though you hear them 
 eviir so plain. They are more Plentiful 
 in Virginia than with us in Carolina, 
 for I never heard but ore that was 
 i\ear the Settlement, ani that was 
 hard by an Irdian Town. 
 
 Th'j Red Sparrow n&arest resembles 
 a sparrow and is the most common 
 
86 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 small bird we have, therefore we call 
 theiii so. They are brown, and red. 
 Cinnamon Colour, striped. 
 
 Of the S\A'ans we have two sorts; the 
 one we call Trompeters because of a 
 sort of Trompeting Noise they make. 
 These are the largest sort we have; 
 which come in great Flocks in the 
 Winter, and stay, commonly in the 
 fresh Rivers, until February, when the 
 Spring comes on, when they go to the 
 Lakes to breed. A Cygnet, that is a 
 last year's Swan, is accounted a deii- 
 Oate dish, as indeed it is. They are 
 known by their Head and Feathers, 
 which are not quite so white as Old 
 ones. 
 
 The sort of Swans called the Hoop- 
 ers, are the least. They abide more in 
 the Salt Water and are equally valua- 
 ble, for Food, with the former. It is 
 observtable that neither of these have 
 a black piece of horny Flesh down the 
 Head, and Bill, as they have in Eng- 
 land. 
 
 Of Geese, we have three sorts, dif- 
 fering from each other only in size. 
 Ours are not the comm»on geese that 
 are in the Fens in England, 'but the 
 others sorts with black Heads and 
 Necks. 
 
 The Gray Brant or Barnicle, is here 
 very plentiful, as all other Water Fowl 
 are, in the Winter Season. Thev are 
 the same which they call Sarni'cles in 
 Great Britain, and are a very p-ood 
 Fowl, and eat well. 
 
 There is also a White Brant which 
 is very plentiful in America. The Bird 
 is all over as White as Snow, exce»t 
 the tips of his wings and those are 
 Black. They eat the Roots of Sedare 
 and Grass in the Marshes and Savan- 
 nas, which they tear up like Hogs. The 
 best way to kill these Fowl, is to bum 
 a piece of Marsh or Savanna, and as 
 soon as it is burnt they will come in 
 great flocks to get the roots, where you 
 kill what you please of them. They are 
 
 as good meat as the other, only their 
 feathers are stubbed and good for lit- 
 tle. 
 
 The Sea-Pie, or gray Curlue, is about 
 the bigness of 'a very large Pigeon but 
 longer. He has a long bill, as other 
 Curlues have, which is the Colour of 
 an English Owsel's, that is yellow, as 
 his Legs are. He frequents the sand 
 beaches of the sea-side, and when 
 killed is inferior to no Fowl that I ever 
 eat. 
 
 Will Willet is so called from his crv, 
 which he very exactly calls Will Wil- 
 let when he flies. His Bill is like a 
 Curlue's or Woodcock's, and he nas 
 much such a body as the other, yet not 
 so tall. He is good Meat. 
 
 The great Gray Gulls are Good Meat, 
 and as large as a Pullet. They lav 
 large eggs, which are found in very 
 great quantities, on the Islands in our 
 Sound, in the months of June and July. 
 The young Squabs are very good Vict- 
 uals and often prove a relief to Travel- 
 lers by Water, that have spent their 
 Provisions. 
 
 Old Wives are a black and White Pied 
 Gull with extraordinary long Wine:s, 
 and a golden Coloured Bill and Feet. 
 He makes a dismal Noise as he flies, 
 and ever and anon dips his Bill in the 
 Salt Water. I never knew him eaten. 
 
 The Sea Cock is a Gull that Crows at 
 break of day, and in the Morning, ex- 
 actly like a Dunghill Cock, which cry 
 seems very pleasant in those uninhab- 
 ited Places. He is never eaten. 
 
 Of Curlues there are three sorts and 
 vast numbrs of each. Thev have all 
 long Bills, and differ neither in Colour, 
 nor Shape, only in size. The largest is 
 as big as a Good Hen, the smallest the 
 bigness of a Snipe, or something big- 
 ser. 
 
 We have three sorts of Bitterns in 
 Carolina. The flrst is the same as in 
 England; the second of a deep brown, 
 with a great topping, and a Yellowish 
 
OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 
 
 87 
 
 ■white Throat and breast, and is lesser 
 than the former; the last is no bifreer 
 than a Wood-cock and near the Colour 
 of the second. 
 
 We have the sanme Herns as in Eng- 
 land. White Herns are here very plen- 
 tiful. I have seen above thirty sit on 
 one tree at a time. They are as white 
 as Milk and fly very sloiwly. 
 
 The Water Pheasant, (very improp- 
 erly called so) are a Water Fowl of 
 the Duck kind, having a Topping of 
 pretty Feathers, which sets them out. 
 They are a very good Meat. 
 
 The little Gray Gull is of a curious 
 Gray Colour, and abides near the Sea. 
 He is about the Bigness of a Whistling 
 Plover, and a delicate food. 
 
 We have the Little Dipper or Fisher, 
 that catches fish, so dexterously, the 
 same as you have in the Islands of 
 Scilly. 
 
 We have of the same Ducks and Mal- 
 lards with green heads in great flocks. 
 They are accounted the coarsest sort of 
 Water Fowl. 
 
 The Black Duck is fully as large as 
 the other and good Meat. She stays 
 with us all Summer and breeds. 
 These are made tame by some and 
 prove good Domesticks. 
 
 We have another Duck that stays 
 with us all the Summer. She has a 
 great Topping, is pied and very beauti- 
 ful. She builds her nest in a Wood- 
 Pecker's Hole, very often sixty or sev- 
 enty foot high. 
 
 Towards the Mountains, in the hilly 
 country, on the West Bnanch of the 
 Cape Fear Inlet, we saw great flocks 
 of pretty pied Ducks, that whistled as 
 they flew or as they fed. I did not kill 
 any of them. 
 
 We killed a curious sort of Ducks in 
 the Country of the Esaw Indians, 
 which were of many beautiful colours. 
 Their eyes were red, having a red cir- 
 cle of flesh for their Eye-Lidis; and 
 were very p^ood to eat. 
 
 The Blue Wings are less than a 
 Duck, but fine Meat. These are the 
 first Fowls that appear to us in the 
 fall of the Leaf, coming then in Kr?at 
 flocks, as we suppose from Canadta, and 
 the Lakes that lie behind us. 
 
 Widgeons, the same as in Europa, are 
 here in great plenty. 
 
 We have the same Teal as In Eng- 
 land, and another Sort that frequents 
 the Fresh Water, and are always nod- 
 ding their heads. They axe smaller 
 than the common Teal, and dainty 
 Meat. 
 
 Shovellers (a sort of Duck) are gray 
 with a black head. They are very good 
 Fowl. 
 
 Whistlers are so called fr'Oim the 
 Whistling Noise that they make, as 
 they fly. 
 
 Black Flusterers; some call these Old 
 Wives. They are as black as ink. The 
 Cocks have white faces. They always 
 remain In the midst of Rivers, and feed 
 upon Drift Grass, Camels, or Sea Net- 
 tles, They are the fattest Fowl I ever 
 saM , and sometimes so heavy with 
 flesh, that they cannot rise out of the 
 water. They make an odd sort of noise 
 when they fly. What meat they are 
 I oould never learn. Some call these 
 the Great Bald Coot. 
 
 The Wild Turkeys I should have 
 spoken of when I spoke of the i^and 
 Fowl. There are great Flocks of these 
 in Carolina. I have seen about five 
 hundred of these in a Flock; some of 
 these very large. I have never weigh- 
 ed any myself, but have been inform- 
 ed of one that weighed nearly sixty 
 pound. I have seen half a Turkey feed 
 eight hungry men two meals. Some- 
 times the wild breed with the tame 
 ones, which they reckon breeds them 
 very hardy, as I believe it must. I see 
 no manner of difference betwixt the 
 wild Turkies and the Tame ones; only 
 the wild are ever of one Colour, viz a 
 
88 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 dark gray or brown, and are excellent 
 food. 
 
 They feed on Acorns, Huckle-Berries, 
 and many other >sorts of Berries that 
 Carolina affords. The Eggs taken 
 from the Nest arnd hatched under a 
 Hen, will yet retain a Wild Nature, and 
 commonly leave you, and run wild at 
 last, and will tiever be got into a house 
 to roost, but will always perch on 
 some high tree hard-by the House and 
 separate themselves from the tame 
 sort, although (at the same time) they 
 tread and breed together. I have been 
 informed that if you will take these 
 wild eggs just on the point of being 
 hatched, and dip them (for some small 
 time) in a Bowl of Milk-warm Water, 
 it will take off their wild nature and 
 make them as tame and domestic as 
 the others. Sonne Indians have brousrht 
 these wild breeds hatched at home to 
 be a Decoy to bring others to roost 
 near their cabins, which they have 
 shot. But to return to the Water- 
 Fowl. 
 
 Fishermen are like a Duck, but have 
 a narrow Bill, with Sets of Teeth. They 
 live on very small fish which they 
 catch as they go along. They taste 
 fishy. The best way to order them, is 
 upon occasion, to pull out the oil box 
 from the rump, and then bury them 
 five or six hours underground. Then 
 they become tolerable. 
 
 Of Divers there are two sorts, the 
 one pied and the other gray; both good 
 meat. 
 
 Raft-Fowl include all the sorts of 
 Ducks and small Teal, that go in 
 Rafts along the Shoar and are of sev- 
 eral sorts that we know no name for. 
 
 Bull-Neckis are a whitish fowl about 
 the bigness of a Brant; they come to 
 us after Christmas in very great flocks 
 In all our Rivers. They are a very 
 good Meat, but hard to kill because 
 hard to oome near. They will dive and 
 endure a good deal of shot. 
 
 Red Head's, a lesser Fowl than Bull 
 Necks, are very sweet food and plen- 
 tiful in our Rivers and Creeks. 
 
 Tropick-Birds are a white Mew, witli 
 a forked Tail. They are so called be- 
 cause they are plentifully met withal 
 under the Tropicks, and thereabouts. 
 
 The Pellican of the Wilderness can- 
 not toe the same as ours; this being a 
 Water Fowl with a great natural Wen 
 or Pouch under his throat, in which he 
 keeps his prey of fish which he lives 
 on. He is Webb-Footed like a Goose, 
 and shaped like a Duck, but is a very 
 large Fowl, bigger than a Goose. He 
 is never eaten as Food; they make To- 
 bacco Pouches of his Maw. 
 
 Cormorants are very well known in 
 some parts of England; we have great 
 flocks of them with us, especially 
 against the Herring run, which is in 
 March and April; then they sit upon 
 Logs of Dry Wood in the Water and 
 catch the Fish. 
 
 The Gannet is a large white Fowl, 
 having one part of his Wing black; He 
 lives on Fish as the Pellican. His Fat 
 or Grease is as yellow as Saffron, and 
 the best thing known to preserve Fire- 
 Arms from Rust. 
 
 Shear- Waters are a longer Fowl than 
 a Duck; some of them lie on the Coast 
 while others range the Seas all over. 
 Sometimes they are met five hundred 
 Leagues from Land. They live without 
 drinking any fresh water. 
 
 We have a great pied Gull, black and 
 white, which seems to have a black 
 Hood over his head; these lay very fair 
 Eggs which are good; as are the young 
 ones in the Season. 
 
 Marsh Hen much the same as in Eu- 
 rope, only she makes another sort of 
 Noise and shriller. 
 
 Blue-Peters, the same as you call 
 Water Hens in England, are here very 
 numerous and not regarded for eat- 
 ing. 
 
 The Sand Birds are about the Big- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 89 
 
 ness of a Lark, and frequent our Sand 
 Beaches; they are a dainty food if you 
 will bestow Time and Ammunition to 
 kill them. 
 
 Runnerrs are so called because if you 
 run after them they will run along the 
 Sand and not offer to get up; so that 
 you may often drive them together to 
 shoot at as you please. They are a 
 pleasant small bird. 
 
 Tutcock is a sort of Snipe, but sucks 
 tiot his food; they are almost the same 
 as in England. 
 
 Swaddle-Bills are a sort of an Ash- 
 Coloured Duck, which have an extraor- 
 dinary broad bill, and are good meat; 
 they are not common as the others 
 are. 
 
 The Mew is the same as in England, 
 being a white slender bird with Red 
 Felt. 
 
 The Shel-Drakes are the same as in 
 England. 
 
 The Bald, or White Faces are a good 
 Fowl. They camnot dive, and are easily 
 shotten. 
 
 Water-Witch or Ware-Coots, are a 
 Fowl with Down and no Feathers; 
 they dive Incomparably, so that no 
 Fowler can hit them. They can neith- 
 er fly nor go, but get into the Fish- 
 wares and cannot fly over the Rods, 
 and S'O are taken. 
 
 Thus have we give an account of 
 what Fowl has come to our knowledge, 
 since our abode in Carolina; except 
 some that perhaps have slipped our 
 memory and so are left out of the cat- 
 alogue. Proceed we now to treat of the 
 Inhabitants of the Watery Element, 
 which tho' we can as yet do very im- 
 perfectly, yet we are willing to oblige 
 the Curious with the best Account that 
 it is in our Power to present them with- 
 al. 
 
 The Fish in the salt, and fresh Wa- 
 ters of Carolina are: 
 
 Whales, several sorts. Thrashers, 
 Divel-Fish. Sword Fish. Crampois. 
 
 Bottle-Noses. Porpoises. Sharks, two 
 sorts. Dog-Fish. Spanish Mackerel. 
 Cavallies. Boneto's. Blue-Fish. Drum, 
 Red. Drum-Fish, black. Angel Fish. 
 Bass or Rock Fish. Sheeps-Heads. 
 Plaice. Flounder. Soles. Mullets. 
 Shads. Fat Backs. Guard, white. 
 Guard, Green. Scate or Stingray. 
 Thornback. Congar-Eels. Lamprey- 
 Eels. Eels. Sun-Fish. Toad-Fish. 
 Sea-Tench. Trouts of the Salt Water. 
 Crocus. Herring. Smelts. Breams. 
 Taylors. 
 
 Fresh- Water Fish are: 
 
 Sturgeon. Pike. Trouts. Gudgeon. 
 Pearch, English. Pearch, White. 
 Pearch, brown or Welsh Men. Pearch, 
 flat and mottled, or Irishmen. Pearch, 
 small and flat with red ^ots, called 
 Red Robins. Carp. Roach. Dace. 
 Loaches. Sucking-Fish. Cat-Fish. 
 Grindals. Old Wives. Fountain-Fish. 
 White Fish. 
 
 The Shell-Fish are: 
 
 Large Crabs called Stone Crabs. 
 Small Flat Crarbs. Oysters, Great and 
 Small. Cockles. Clams. Muscles. 
 iConks. Skellop. Man of Noses. Peri- 
 winkles or Wllks. Sea-Snail-Horns. 
 Fidlars. Runners. Spanish or Pearl 
 Oysters. Flattings. Tortois and Tere- 
 bin, accounted for among the Insects. 
 Finger Fish. Shrimps. 
 
 Fresh-Water Craw-Fish and Mus- 
 cles. 
 
 Whales are very numerous on the 
 coast of North Carolina, from which 
 they make Oil, Bone, etc., to the great 
 advantage of those inhabiting the Sand 
 Banks, along the Ocean, where these 
 Whales come ashore, none being struck 
 or killed with a Harpoon in this Place, 
 as they are to the Northward or else- 
 where; all those Fish being found dead 
 on the Shoar, most commonly by those 
 that inhabit the banks and sea-side 
 where they dwell, for the Intent and 
 for the Benefit of the Wrecks, which 
 sometimes fall in upon that Shoar. 
 
90 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Of these Monsters there are four 
 sorts; the first, which is most choice 
 and rich, is the Sperma-Ceti Whale 
 from which the Sperma-Ceti Oil is ta- 
 ken. These are rich prizes; but I nev- 
 er heard of but one found on this coast, 
 which was near Currituck Inlet. 
 
 The other sorts are of a prodigious 
 bigness. Of these the Bone and Oil 
 is made; the Oil being the Blubber or 
 Oily flesh, or Fat of that Fish boiled. 
 These differ not only in Colour, some 
 being pied, others not, but much 'n 
 shape, one being called a Bottle-Nosed 
 Whale, the other a Shovel-Nose, which 
 is as different as a Salmon from a 
 Sturgeon. These Fish seldom come 
 ashore with their Tongues in their 
 heads, the Thrasher, (which ie the 
 ■whale's mortal enemy wheresoever he 
 meets him) eating that out of his head, 
 as soon ais he and the Sword-fish have 
 killed him. For when the Whale- 
 catchers (in other parts) kill any of 
 these Fish, they eat the Tongues and 
 esteem it an excellent dish. 
 
 There is another sort of these Whales 
 or great Fish, tho' not common. I nev- 
 er knew of above one of that sort, 
 found on the Coast of Carolina, and he 
 was contrary in shape to all others 
 ever found before him; being sixty foot 
 in length and not aibove three or four 
 foot in diameter. Some Indians in 
 America will go out to Sea, and get 
 upon a Whale's back, and peg or plug 
 his Spouts and so kill him. 
 
 The Thrashers are large fish, and 
 mortal enemies to the Whale, as I have 
 said before. They make good Oil; but 
 are seldom found. 
 
 The Divel Fish lies at soine of our 
 Inlets, and, as near as I can describe 
 him, is shaped like a Scate, or Stin- 
 gray; only he has on his head a pair 
 of very thick strong Horns, and is of 
 a nxinstrous Size and Strength; for 
 this Fish has been known to weigh 
 a Sloop's anchor, and run with the 
 
 Vessel a league or two and bring bep 
 back against Tide, to almost the seme 
 Place. Doubtless, they may afford 
 good Oil; but I havfe no experience of 
 any Profits which arise from them. 
 
 The Sword-Fish is another of the 
 Whale's Enemies, and joins with the 
 Thrasher to destroy thiat Monster. Af- 
 ter they overcome hin*, they eat his 
 Tongue, as I have said before, and the 
 Whale drives ashore. 
 
 Crampois is a large Fish and by sozne 
 accounted a young Whale; but it is not 
 so; neither is it more than ;'5 or 30 foot 
 long. They spout as the Whale does, 
 and when taken yield good Oil. 
 
 Bottle-Noses are between Crampois 
 and Porpois, and lie near the Sound- 
 ings. They are never seen to swim leis- 
 urely, ©s sometimes all other fish do, 
 but are continually running after their 
 prey in great Shoals, like wild Horses, 
 leaping now and then above the Wa- 
 ter. The French esteem them good 
 Food, and eat them both fresh and 
 salt. 
 
 Porpoises are frequent, all over the 
 Oceans and Rivers that are Salt; nay, 
 we have a Fresh Water Lake in the 
 Great Sound of North Carolina, that 
 has Porpoises in it. And several other 
 sorts of unknown fish, as the Indians 
 say, that we are wholly strangers to. 
 As to the Porpoises, they make good 
 Oil; they prey upon other fish, as 
 Drums, yet never are known to take 
 a Bait, so as to be catched with a hook. 
 
 Of sharks there are two sorts, one 
 called Paracooda-Noses; the other 
 Shovel-Noses; they cannot take their 
 Prey before they turn themselves on 
 their Backs; wherefore some iNegroes 
 and others that can swim and dive 
 well, go naked into the Water with a 
 knife in their Hand, and fight the 
 Shark and very commionly kill him, or 
 wound him so that he turns tail and 
 runs away. Their livers make good Oil 
 to dress Leathers withal; the bones 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 91 
 
 found in their Head are said to hasten 
 the Birth, and ease the Stone, by 
 bringing it away. Their Meat is eaten 
 in scarce times, but I never could away 
 with it, though a great lover of Fish. 
 Their Back-Bone is of one entire thick- 
 ness. Of the Bones or Joints I have 
 known buttons made, which serve well 
 enough in scarce times or remote 
 places. 
 
 The Dog-Fish are a small sort of the 
 Shark kind; and are Caught with the 
 Hook and Line, fishing for Drums. 
 They say they are good Meat, but we 
 have so many other sorts of delicate 
 Meat, that I shall hardly ever miake 
 Tryal what they are. 
 
 Spanish Mackerel are in colour and 
 shape, like the common Mackerel, only 
 much thicker. They are c*aught with 
 Hook and Line at the Inlets, and 
 sometimes out a little way at sea. They 
 are very fine hard fish and of good 
 taste. They are about two foot long, 
 or better. 
 
 Oavallies, are taken in the same 
 places. They are of a brownish colour, 
 having exceedingly small scales, and 
 a very thick skin. They are as 
 firm a Fish as ever I saw, wherefore 
 will keep sweet (in the hot Weather) 
 two days, when others will stink in less 
 than half a day unless salted. They 
 ought to be scaled as soon as taken, 
 otherwise you rrkust pull off the skin 
 and scales when boiled; the Skin being 
 the choicest of the fish. The Meat, 
 which is w'hite and large, is dressed 
 with the fish. 
 
 Boneto's are a very palatable Fish, 
 and near a yard long. They haunt the 
 Inlets and Water near the Ocean; and 
 are killed with the Harpoon and Fish- 
 gig. 
 
 The Blue-Fish is one of our best fish- 
 es, and alwaj^ very fat. They are as 
 long as a salmon, and indeed I think, 
 full as good meat. These Fish come 
 (in the fall of the year) generally after 
 
 there has been one black frost, when 
 there appear great shoals of them. 
 The Hatteras Indians, and others, run 
 into the Sands of the Sea, and strike 
 them, tho' some of these fish have 
 caused Sickness and violent burnings 
 after eating of them, which is found to 
 proceed from the Gall that is broken in 
 some of them, and is hurtful. Some- 
 times many cartloads of these are 
 thrown and left dry on the sea-side, 
 which comes by their eager pursuit of 
 the small Fish, in which they run 
 thennselves ashore, and the Tide leav- 
 ing them, they cannot recover the Wa- 
 ter again. They are called Blue-Fish 
 'because they are of that Colour, and 
 have a forked Tail and are shaped like 
 a Dolphin. 
 
 The Red Drum is a large fish, much 
 larger than the Blue-Fish. The body 
 of this is good, firm Meat but the head 
 is beyond all Fish I ever met withal 
 for an excellent dish. We have great- 
 er number of these fish than of any 
 other sort. People go down and catch 
 as many barrels full as they please, 
 with Hook and Line, especially at 
 every young flood, when they bite. 
 These are salted upi and transported to 
 other colonies, that are bare of Provis- 
 ions. 
 
 Black Drums are a thicker-made fish 
 than the Red Drums, being shaped like 
 a fat pig; they are a very good fish, 
 but not so common with us as to the 
 iNorthward. 
 
 The Angel-Fish is shaped like an 
 English Bream. He is so called for his 
 golden colour which shines all around 
 his head and belly. This is accounted 
 a very good fish, as are most in these 
 parts. The Bermudians have the same 
 sort of fish, and esteem them very 
 much. 
 
 Bass or Rock is both in Salt and 
 Fresh Water; when young he much re- 
 sembles a Grayling, but grows to the 
 size of a large Cod-Fish. They are 
 
92 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 very good, firm fish. Their Heads are 
 fouced, and make a noble Dish, if 
 large. 
 
 Sheeps-Head has the general Vogue 
 of being the choicest Fish in this place. 
 Indeed it is a very delicate Pish and 
 well relished, vet I think there ai'e sev- 
 eral others full as good as the Stieeps- 
 Head. He is much of the bigness of 
 the Angel Fish, and flat as he is. They 
 sometimes weigh two or three pound 
 •weight. This Fish has teeth like a 
 sheep and is therefore so called. 
 
 Plaice are here very large and plen- 
 tiful, being the same as in England. 
 
 Flounders should have gone amongst 
 the Fresh-Water Fish, because they 
 are caught here in great plenty. 
 
 Soles are a flsh that we have but 
 lately discovered; they are as good as 
 In any other Part, 
 
 Mullets are the same as in England, 
 and great plenty in all places where the 
 water is salt or brackish. 
 
 Shads are .a sweet fish, but very 
 bony; they are very plentiful at some 
 seasons. 
 
 Fat-Backs are a small flsh like Mul- 
 lets, but the fattest ever known. They 
 put nothing into the pan to fry these. 
 They are excellent sweet food. 
 
 The white Guard Fish Is shaped al- 
 miost like a Pike, but slender; his 
 Mouth has a long small bill set with 
 teeth, in which he catches small fish; 
 his Scales are knit together like ar- 
 mour. When they dress him they skin 
 him, taking off scales and skin togeth- 
 er. His meat is very white and rather 
 looks like Flesh than flsh. The English 
 account them no good flsh, but the In- 
 dians do. The Gall of this fish is 
 green and a violent Cathartick, if taken 
 Inwardly. 
 
 The Green Guard is shaped, in all re- 
 spects, like the other save that his 
 scales are very small and fine. He is 
 indifferent Meat. His bones when 
 boiled or fry'd, remain as green as 
 
 grass. The same sort of fish comes 
 from before the Mackerel in England. 
 
 Scate or Stingray, the same as In 
 England, and very common; but the 
 great plenty of other fish makes these 
 not regarded, for few or none eat them 
 in Carolina, tho' they are almost at 
 every one's door. 
 
 Thorn Backs are the same as in Eng- 
 land. They are not so common as the 
 Scate and Whip-Rays. 
 
 Congar Eels always remain in the 
 Salt-Water; they are much more 
 known in the northern parts of Amer- 
 ica than with us. 
 
 Lampreys are not common; I never 
 saw but one. which was large, and was 
 naught by the Indians in a Ware. They 
 would not eat him but gave him to me. 
 
 Eels are nowhere in the World bet- 
 ter or more plentiful than in Carolina. 
 
 Sun-Fish are flat and rounder than a 
 Bream, and are reckoned a flne-tasted 
 Fish, and not without a reason. They 
 are much the size of Angel-Fish. 
 
 Toad Fish are nothing but a Skin 
 full of Prickles, and a few bones; they 
 are as ugly as a Toad and are pre- 
 served to look upon, and good for noth- 
 ing else. 
 
 Sea-Tench are taken by a bait near 
 the Inlet, or out at Sea a little Way. 
 They are blackish and exactly like a 
 Tench, except in the Back Fins, which 
 have Prickles like a Pearch. They are 
 as good, if not better than any Tench. 
 
 Trouts of the Salt Water are exact- 
 ly shaped like the Trouts in Europe, 
 having blackish, not red spots. They 
 are in the Salts and are not red with- 
 in, but white, yet a very good Fish. 
 They are so tender that if they are m 
 or near fresh water, and a sudden 
 frost comes they are benum'd, and 
 float on the Surface of the Water as if 
 dead; and then they take up Canoe- 
 Loads of them. If you put them Into 
 Warm Water they presently recover. 
 
 The Crocus is a Flsh, in shape like a 
 
OF NORTH CAROUNA. 
 
 93 
 
 Pearch, and in shape like a Whiting. 
 They croke and make a noise in your 
 hand when taken with a hook or net. 
 They are very good. 
 
 The Herring in Carolina are not 
 so large as in Europe. They spawn 
 there in March and April, running up 
 the fresh rivers, and small fresh runs 
 of water in great shoals, where they 
 are taken. They become red if salted; 
 and dress'd with Vinegar and Oil, re- 
 semble an Anchovy very much; for 
 they are far beyond an English Her- 
 ring when pickled. 
 
 Smelts are the same ©s in England. 
 They lie down a great way in the 
 Sound, towards the Ocean, where, (at 
 some certain seasons) are a great many 
 very fine ones. 
 
 The Fresh Wtater affords no such 
 Bream as in England, that I have as 
 yet discovered; yet there is a Sea 
 Bream which is a flat and thin Fish, as 
 the European Bretams are. 
 
 The Taylor is a Fish about the big- 
 ness of a Trout, but of a bluish green 
 colour, with a forked Tail such as a 
 Mackerel has. They are a delicate 
 fish and plentiful in our salt-waters. 
 Infinite numbers of other species will 
 be hereafter discovered, as yet un- 
 known to us; although I have seen and 
 eaten of several other sorts of fish, 
 which are nowhere mentioned, because 
 as yet, they have no certain names as- 
 signed to them. Therefore I shall treat 
 no further of our Salt-Water Fish, but 
 proceed to the Fresh. 
 
 The first of these is the Sturgeon, of 
 which we have plenty, all the fresh 
 parts of our rivers being stored with 
 them. The Indians upon and towards 
 the Heads and Falls of our Rivers 
 strike a great many of these and eat 
 them; yet the Indians near the Salt- 
 Waters will not eat them. I have seen 
 an Indian strike one of these Fish sev- 
 en Feet long, and leave him on the 
 Sands to be eaten by the Gulls. In 
 
 'May they run up towards the heads of 
 the Rivers, where you see several hun- 
 dreds of them in one day. The Indians 
 have another way to take them, which 
 is by Nets at the End of a Pole. The 
 bones of these fish make good nutnieg- 
 graters. 
 
 The Jack, Pike or Pickerel, is exactly 
 the same in Carolina as they are In 
 England. Indeed I never saw this fish 
 so big and large in America, as I have 
 seen in Europe, these with us being sel- 
 dom above two foot long, as far as I 
 have yet seen. They are very plentiful 
 with us in Carolina, all our creeks and 
 Ponde being full of them. I once took 
 out of a Ware above three hundred of 
 these Fish at a time. 
 
 Trouts, the same in England as in 
 Carolina; but ours are a great way up 
 the Rivers and Brooks that are fresh, 
 having Swift Currents and Stony and 
 Gravelly Bottoms. 
 
 The same Gudgeons as in Europe are 
 found In America. The same sort of 
 Pearch as arc in England we have like- 
 wise in Carolina, tho' I think ours nev- 
 er rise to be so large as in England. 
 
 We have a White Pearch, so called 
 because h? is of a silver Colour, oth- 
 erwise like the English Pearch. These 
 we have in great plenty, and they are 
 preferable to the red ones. 
 
 The Brown Pearch, which some call 
 Welsh-Men, are the largest sort of 
 Pearches that we have, and very firm, 
 white and sweet fish. These grow to 
 be larger than any Carp, and are very 
 frequent in every Creek and Pond. 
 
 The flat or mottled Pearch are shap- 
 ed almost like a Bream. They are 
 called Irishmen, being freckled or mot- 
 tled with black or blue spots. They are 
 never taken anywhere but In the fresh 
 water. They are a good fish, but I do 
 not approve of them, no more than of 
 the other sorts of Pearch. 
 
 We have another sort of Pearch 
 which is the least sort of all, but as 
 
94 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 good meat as any. These are distin- 
 guished from the other sorts, by the 
 nsLToe of Round-Robins, being flat and 
 very round shaped; they are spotted 
 with red spots, very beautiful, and are 
 easily oaught with an Angle, as all the 
 other sort of Pearchee are. 
 
 We have the same Carp as you have 
 in England, and the same Roach, only 
 scarce so large. Dtace are the same as 
 yours, too, but neither of these so large 
 nor plentiful as with you. Loach are 
 the same as in England. Sucking Fish 
 are the nearest in Taste and shiapie to a 
 Barbel, only they have no barbs. 
 
 Catfish are round, blackish fish, with 
 a Great Flat He*ad, a wide Mouth, and 
 no scales. They sometimes resemble 
 Eels in taste. Both this sort and an- 
 other, that frequents the salt water, 
 are very plentiful. 
 
 Grindals are a long, scaled fish with 
 small eyes; and frequent Ponds, Lakes 
 and Slow Running Creeks and Swamps. 
 They are a soft, sorry Fish, and good 
 for nothing, though some eat them for 
 good Fish. 
 
 Old Wives are a Bright, Scaly Fish 
 which frequent the Swamps and Fresh 
 Runs; they seem to be between an 
 English Roach and a Bream, and eat 
 much like the latter. The Indians kill 
 abundance of these and barbakue 
 them, until they are crisp, then trans- 
 port them in Wooden Hurdles, to their 
 Towns and Quarters. 
 
 The Fountain Fish are a white sort 
 which breed in the Clear Running 
 Springs and Fountain waters, where 
 the clearness thereof makes them very 
 difficult to be taken. I cannot say how 
 good they are; because I have never as 
 yet tasted of them. 
 
 The White Fish are very large; some 
 being two foot and a half long or more. 
 They are found a great way up in the 
 Freshen of the Rivers; and are firm 
 meat and an extraordinary well relish- 
 ed Fish. 
 
 Barbouts and Millers-Thumbs, are 
 the very same here in all respects, as 
 they are in England. What more are 
 in the fresh waters we have not yet 
 discovered, but are satisfied that we 
 are not acquainted with one-third part 
 thereof; for we are told by the In- 
 dians of a great many strange and un- 
 couth shapes and sorts of fish which 
 they have found in the Lakes laid down 
 in my charts. However, as we can 
 give no further account of these than 
 by Hear-say, I proceed to treat of the 
 Shell-fish that are found in the Salt 
 Water eo far as they have already 
 come to our knowledge. 
 
 The large Crabs which we call Stone- 
 Crabs are the same sort as in England, 
 having black tips at the end of their 
 claws. These are plentifully met with- 
 al, down in Core Sound, and the South 
 Parts of North Carolina. 
 
 The smaller flat Crabs I look upon to 
 be the sweetest of all species. They are 
 the breadth of a lusty man's hand, or 
 rather larger. These are innumerable, 
 lying in most prodigious quantities, all 
 over the Salts of Carolina. They are 
 taken not only to eat, but are the best 
 bait for all sorts of fish, that live in the 
 Salt Water. These Fish are mischie- 
 ous to night hooks, because they get 
 away all the bait from the Hooks. 
 
 Oysters great and small are found al- 
 most in every Creek and Gut of Sea- 
 water, and are very good and well 
 relished. The large oysters are excel- 
 lent pickled. 
 
 The one Cockle in Carolina is as big 
 as five or six in England. They are 
 often thrown upon the sands on the 
 Sound Side, where the Gulls are al- 
 ways ready to open and eat them. 
 
 Clams are a sort of Cockles, only dif- 
 fering in shell, which is thicker and not 
 streaked or ribbed. These are found 
 throughout all the Sound and saltwater 
 Ponds. The meat is the same for Look 
 and Taste as the Cockle. These make 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 95 
 
 an excellent strong Broth, and eat we;l 
 either roasted or pickled. 
 
 The Muscles in Carolina have a very 
 large shell, striped with dents. They 
 grow by the sides of ponds and creeks 
 in Salt- Water, wherein you may get as 
 many of them as you please. I do not 
 like them so well as the English 
 muscle, which is no good Shell-Fish. 
 
 Some of the Shells of the Conks are 
 as large as a man's Hand, but the less- 
 er sort are the best meat, and those 
 not extraordinary. They are shaped 
 like the end of a Horse's Yard, uf 
 their shells the Peak or Wampum is 
 made, which is the richest commodity 
 amongst the Indians. They breed like 
 a long thing shaped like a snake, but 
 containing a sort of joints in the hol- 
 lowness whereof are thousands of small 
 Conks, no bigger than small grains of 
 pepper. 
 
 The Skellops, if well dressed, are a 
 pretty shell fish; but to eat them roast- 
 ed without any other addition, in my 
 judgment are too luscious. 
 
 Man of Noses are a Shell Fish com- 
 monly found amongst us. They are 
 valued for increasing vigour in Man, 
 and making barren Women fruitful; 
 but I think they have no need of that 
 fish; for the Women in Carolina are 
 fruitful enough without their help. 
 
 Wilks or Periwinkles are not so large 
 here as in the Islands of Scilly, and in 
 other parts of Europe, though very 
 sweet. 
 
 The Sea Snail Horn is large and very 
 good Meat; they are excellently shaped, 
 as other Snail Horns are. 
 
 Fidlars are a sort of small crabs, that 
 lie in holes in the marshes. The Rac- 
 coons eat them very much. I never 
 knew any one try whether they were 
 good meat or not. 
 
 Runners live chiefly on the Sand, but 
 sometimes run into the Sea. They have 
 Holes in the Sand Beaches and are a 
 whitish sort of a Crab. Though 
 
 small they run as fast as a Man, and 
 are good for nothing but to look at. 
 
 Spanish Oysters have a very thin 
 Shell, and rough on the outside. They 
 are very good shell-fish and so large 
 that half a dozen are enough to satisfy 
 an hungry stomacn. 
 
 The Flattings are enclosed in a broad 
 thin shell, the whole fish being Flat. 
 They are inferior to no shell-fish this 
 country affords. 
 
 Finger Fish are very plentiful in this 
 country; they are of the length of a 
 Man's finger, and lie in the bottom of 
 the Water, about one or two feet deep. 
 They are very good. 
 
 Shrimps are here very plentiful and 
 good, and are to be taken with a 
 small box net in great quantities. 
 
 The small Cockles are about the big- 
 ness of the largest English Cockles, and 
 differ nothing from them, unless in the 
 shells, which are striped cross-wise as 
 well as long-wise. 
 
 The Freshwater Shell Fish are: 
 
 Muscles, which are eaten by the In- 
 dians, after five or six hours' boiling to 
 make them tender, and then are good 
 for nothing. 
 
 Craw-Fish in the Brooks and small 
 rivers of water, amongst the Tuskeruro 
 Indians, and up higher, are found very 
 plentifully, and as good as any in the 
 world. 
 
 And thus I have gone through the 
 several species of fish, so far as they 
 have come to my knowledge, in the 
 eight years that I have lived in Caro- 
 lina. I should have made a larger dis- 
 covery when travelling so far towards 
 the Mountains, and amongst the Hills, 
 had it not been in the Winter Season, 
 which was improper to make any in- 
 quiry into any of the species before re- 
 cited. Therefore, as my intent was, I 
 proceed to what remains of the Pres- 
 ent State of Carolina, having already- 
 accounted for the Animals and Vegeta- 
 bles as far as this volume should al- 
 
96 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 low of; whereby the remainder, though 
 not exactly known, may yet be guessei 
 at if we consider what Latitude Caro- 
 lina lies in, which reaches from 29 to 
 36 degrees 30 min. Northern Latitude, 
 as I have before observed. Which 
 Latitude is as Fertile and Pleasant as 
 any in the World, as well for the pro- 
 duce of Minerals, Frruit, Grain and 
 Wine, as other rich Commodities. And 
 indeed, all the experiments that have 
 been made in Carolina, of the Fertility 
 and Natural Advantages of the Coun- 
 try, exceed all expectation, as affording 
 some Commodities, which other places 
 in the same Latitude do not. As for 
 Minerals, as they are subterraneous 
 IProducts, so, in all new countries, they 
 are the species that are L.3t discover- 
 ed; and especially in Carolina, where 
 the Indians never look for anything 
 lower than the Superficies of the 
 Earth, being a race of Men the least 
 addicted to delving of any People that 
 inhabit so fine a country as Carolina is. 
 As good, if not better mines than those 
 the Spanish possess in America, lie full 
 west from us; and I am certain that we 
 have as Mountainous Land, and as 
 great probability of having Rich Min- 
 erals in Carolina, as any of those parta 
 that are already found to be so rich 
 therein. But, waiving this subject, ta 
 some other opportunity, I shall now 
 give you some observations in general, 
 concerning Carolina; which are that 
 first it lies as convenient for Trade as 
 any of the Plantations in America; that 
 we have plenty of Pitch, Tar, Skins of 
 Deer, and Beeves, Furs, Rice, Wheat, 
 Rye, Indian Grain, sundry sort of 
 Pulse, Turpentine, Rozin, Masts, Yards, 
 Planks and Boards, Staves and Lum- 
 ber. Timber of many common sorts, fit 
 for use. Hemp, Flax, Barley, Oats, 
 Buckwheat, Beef, Pork, Tallow, Hides, 
 Whalebone and Oil, Wax, Cheese, But- 
 ter, Etc., besides Drugs, Dyes, Fruit, 
 Silk, Cotton, Indico, Oil and Wine that 
 
 we need not doubt of as soon as we 
 make a regular essay, the Country be- 
 ing adorned with Pleasant Meadows, 
 Rivers, Mountains, Valleys, Hills and 
 blessed with wholesome pure Air, espe- 
 cially a little backward from the Sea, 
 where the wild Beasts inhabit, none of 
 which are voracious. The Men are ac- 
 tive, the Women fruitful to admiration, 
 every house being full of children, and 
 several women that have come hither 
 barren, have presently proved fruitful. 
 There cannot be a richer Soil, no place 
 abounding more in Flesh and Fowl, 
 both wild and tame, besides Fish, 
 Fruit, Grain, Cider, and many other 
 pleasant Liquors; together with several 
 other necessaries for Life and Trade, 
 that are daily found out as 
 new discoveries are made. The 
 Stone and Gout seldom trouble us; 
 the Consumption we are wholly 
 strangers to, no place affording 
 a better remedy for that distemper, 
 than Carolina. For Trade, we lie so 
 near to Virginia that we have the ad- 
 vantage of their Convoys; as also let- 
 ters from thence at two or three Days 
 at the most; and from some places in 
 a few hours. Add to this that the 
 great number of Ships that come with- 
 in those Capes for Virginia and Mary- 
 land take off our Provisions, and give 
 us Bills of Exchange for England, 
 which is Sterling Money. The Planters 
 in Virginia and Maryland are forced 
 to do the same, the great quantities 
 of tobacco that are planted there mak- 
 ing provisions scarce, and Tobacco is 
 a commodity sometimes so low as to 
 bring nothing, whereas provisions and 
 naval stores never fail of a market. Be- 
 sides, where these are raised, in such 
 plenty as in North Carolina, there al- 
 ways appears good housekeeping, and 
 plenty of all manner of delicate eat- 
 ables. For instance the Pork of Caro- 
 lina is very good, the young pigs, fed 
 on Peaches, Maiz, and such other nat- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 97 
 
 ural Produce, being some of the sweet- 
 est Meat that the World affords, as 
 is acknowledged by all the strangers 
 that have been there. And as for the 
 beef, in Pampticough, and the South- 
 ward parts it proves extraordinary. We 
 have not only Provisions plentiful, but 
 Cloaths of our own manufacture, which 
 are made, and daily increase, Cotton, 
 Wool, Hemp and Flax, being of our 
 own growth, and the Women to be 
 highly commended for their Industry 
 in Spinning, and ordering their house- 
 wifry to so great advantage as they 
 generally do; which is much more easy 
 by reason this happy Climate, visited 
 with so mild Winters, is much warmer 
 than the Northern Plantations, which 
 saves abundance of Cloaths, fewer 
 serving our necessities, and those of our 
 Servants; but this is not all, for we 
 can go out with our Commodities, to 
 any other Part of the West Indies, 
 or elsewhere in the Depth of Winter; 
 whereas those in New England, New 
 York, Pennsylvania, and the Colonies 
 to the northward of us, cannot stir 
 for ice, but are fast locked in their 
 Harbours. Besides we can trade with 
 South Carolina and pay no duties or 
 customs, no more than their own Ves- 
 sels, both North and South being under 
 the Lords- Proprietors. We have, as I 
 observed before, another great advan- 
 tage in not being a Frontier, and so 
 continually being alarmed by the ene- 
 my; and what has been accounted a 
 Detriment to us, proves one of the 
 greatest Advantages any people could 
 wish, which is our Country's being 
 faced with a Sound near ten Leagues 
 over in some places, through which, al- 
 though there be water enough for as 
 large ships to come in at, as in any 
 part 'litlierto seated in North Carolina; 
 yet the difficulty of that Sound to 
 strangers hinders them from attempt- 
 ing any hostilities against us; and, at 
 
 the same time, if we consider the ad- 
 vantages thereof, nothing can appear 
 to be a better situation, than to be 
 fronted with such a Bulwark, which 
 secures us from our Enemies. Further- 
 more our distance from the sea hinders 
 us from two curses, which attend 
 most other parts of America, viz; Mus- 
 keetos, and the Worm-biting, which 
 ects ship's bottoms out, whereas at 
 Bath-Town there is no such thing 
 known, and as for Muskeetos, they 
 hinder us from as little rest ts they 
 do in England. Add to this the unac- 
 countable quantities of Fish this Great 
 Water or Sound supplies us withal, 
 whenever we take the Pains to fish 
 for them; Advantages I have no where 
 withal met with in America, except 
 here. As for the Climate, we enjoy a 
 very wholesome and serene sky, a pure 
 and Serene Air, the Sun seldom miss- 
 ing to give us his Daily Blessing, un- 
 less now and then on a Winter's Day, 
 which is not so often; and when 
 Cloudy, the first Appearance of a 
 North West Wind clears the Horizon, 
 and restores the Light of the Sun; the 
 Weather in Summer is very Pleasant, 
 the Hotter Months being refreshed 
 with continual breezes of cool reviving 
 Air, and the Spring being as pleasant 
 and beautiful as in any place I ever 
 was in. The Winter, most commonly 
 is so mild, that it looks like an Au- 
 tumn, being now and then attended 
 with thin North West Winds, that are 
 sharp enough to regulate English Con- 
 stitutions, and free them from a great 
 many dangerous Distempers, that a 
 single summer afflicts them withal, 
 nothing being wanted as to the natural 
 ornaments and blessings of a country, 
 that conduce to make reasonable men 
 happy. And for those that are other- 
 wise, they are so much their own Ene- 
 mies, where they are, that they will 
 scarce ever hi' any one's Friends or 
 
98 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 their own, when they are transplanted; 
 so it's much better for all sides that 
 they remain as they are. Not but that 
 there are several Good People, that 
 upon just grounds may be uneasy un- 
 der their present Burdens; and such 
 I would advise to remove to the place 
 I have been treating- of, where they 
 may enjoy their Peace and Religion, 
 and Peaceably eat the Fruits of their 
 Labour, and drink the Wine of their 
 own Vineyards, without the alarms of 
 a troublesome Worldly life. If a man 
 be a botanist, here is a plentiful Field 
 of plants to divert him in. If he be a 
 gardener and delight in that pleasant 
 and happy life, he will meet with a 
 Climate and Soil that will "further pro- 
 mote his designs in as great measure, 
 as any man can wish for; and as for 
 the Constitution of this Government, it 
 is so mild and easy in respect to the 
 Properties and Liberties of a Subject, 
 that without reheasing the Particulars, 
 I say once for all, . it is the mildest 
 and best established government in the 
 world, and the Place where any Man 
 may peaceably enjoy his own, without 
 being invaded by another. Rank and 
 Superiority ever giving Place to Justice? 
 and Equity, which is the golden rule 
 that every country ought to be built 
 on, and regulated by. Besides, it is 
 worthy our notice, that this province 
 has been settled, and continued the 
 most free from Insults, and Barbari- 
 ties of the Indians of any Colony that 
 was ever seated in America; which 
 must be esteemed as a particular Provi- 
 dence of God handed down from Heav- 
 en to these People; especially when we 
 consider how irregularly they settled 
 North Carolina, yet how undisturbed 
 they have remained, free from any for- 
 eign danger or loss even to this very 
 day. And what may be well looked 
 upon for as great a Miracle, this is a 
 Place where no Malefactors are found, 
 
 deserving death, or even a Prison for 
 Debtors, there being no more than two 
 persons, as far as I have been able to 
 learn, ever suffered death as criminals, 
 although it has been a settlement near 
 sixty years; one of whom was a Turk 
 that committed Murder, the other an 
 old woman for Witchcraft. These, 'tis 
 true, were on the Stage and acted 
 many vears before I knew the Place; 
 but as for the last, I wish it had been 
 undone to this day; although they give 
 a great many arguments to justify the 
 deed, which I had rather they should 
 have a Hand in than myself; seeing 
 I could never approve taking life away 
 upon such accusations, the justice 
 whereof I could never yet understand. 
 
 But to return to the subject in Hand; 
 we there make extraordinary good 
 Bricks throughout the Settlement. All 
 sorts of Handicrafts, as Carpenters, 
 Joiners, Masons, Plainsters, Shoemak- 
 ers, Tanners, Taylors, Weavers and 
 most others, may with small begin- 
 nings and God's blessings, thrive very 
 well in this Place and Provide for their 
 Children, Land being sold at a muc.i 
 cheaper rate than at any Place in 
 America, and may as I suppose be 
 purchased of the Lords Proprietors herQ 
 in England, or of the Governour there 
 for the time being, by any that shall 
 have a mind to transport themselves to 
 that Country. The Farmers that go 
 thither, (for which sort of Men it is 
 a very thriving Place) should take 
 with them some particular seeds of 
 grass, as Tresfoil, Clover-grass, all 
 sorts, Sanfoin, or common grass, that 
 which is a Rarity in Europe, especially 
 what has sprung and rose first from a 
 warm Climate, and will endure the Sun 
 without Flinching. Likewise if there 
 be any extraordinary sort of grain for 
 increase of hardiness, and some Fruit 
 Trees of choice kinds, they will be both 
 profitable and pleasant to have with 
 
OF NORTH CAROI.INA. 
 
 99 
 
 you, where you may see the fruits of 
 your labour in perfection in a few 
 years. The necessary Instruments of 
 Husbandry I need not acquaint the 
 Husbandman withal; Hoes of all sorts; 
 Axes may be had, with Saws, Wedges, 
 Augurs, Nails, Hammers, and what 
 other things may be necessary for 
 building with brick or stone, which sort 
 your Inclination and Conveniency 
 lead you to. For, after having looked 
 over this Treatise, you must needs be 
 acquainted with the nature of the Coun- 
 try, and therefore cannot but be judges, 
 what it is that you will chiefly want. 
 As for Land, none need want it for 
 taking up, even in the Places there 
 seated on the Navigable Creeks, Riv- 
 ers and Harbours, without being driven 
 into remoter Holes and Corners of the 
 Country, for settlements, which all are 
 forced to do, who, at this day, set- 
 tle in most or all of the other English 
 Plantations planted in America; which 
 are already become so populous, that a 
 New Comer cannot get a beneficial and 
 commodious Seat, unless he purchases, 
 when, in most places in Virginia and 
 Maryland, a thousand acres of good 
 Land, seated on a Navigable Water 
 
 will cost a thousand Pounds; whereas 
 with us, it is at present obtained for the 
 fiftieth part of the money. Besides our 
 Land pays to the Lords but an easy 
 Quit-Rent, or yearly Acknowledgement, 
 and the other Settlements pay two 
 shillings per Hundred. All these things 
 duly weighed, any rational man that 
 has a mind to purchase Land in the 
 Plantations for a settlement of himself 
 and family will soon discover the ad- 
 vantages that attend the Settlers and 
 purchasers of Land in Carolina, above 
 all other Colonies in the English Do- 
 minions in America. And as there is a 
 free exercise of all Persuasions amongst 
 the Christians, the Lords Proprietors 
 to encourage Ministers of the Church 
 of England, have given free Lands to- 
 wards the Maintenance of a Church 
 and especially for the Parish of St. 
 Thomas in Pampticough, over-against 
 the Town, is already laid out for a 
 Glebe of two hundred and twenty-three 
 acres of rich well-situated Land, that a 
 Parsonage House may be built upon. 
 And now I shall proceed to give an ac- 
 count of the Indians, their Customs and 
 Ways of Living, with a short Diction- 
 ary of their Speech. 
 
 LOFC. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The Indians, which were the Inhabi- 
 tants of America, when the Spaniards 
 and other Europeans discovered the 
 several Parts of that Country, are the 
 people which we reckon the Natives 
 thereof; as indeed they were, when we 
 first found out those Parts, and appear- 
 ed therein. Yet this has not wrought 
 in me a full satisfaction, to allow these 
 People to have been the Ancient Dwell- 
 ers of the New World, or the Tract of 
 Land we call America. The reasons 
 that I have to think otherwise, are too 
 many to set down here; but I shall 
 give the Reader a few, before I pro- 
 ceed; and some others he will find scat- 
 tered in my writings elsewhere. 
 
 In Carolina (The Part I now treat of) 
 are the fairest Marks of a Deluge (that 
 at some time has probably made 
 strange Alterations, as to the Station 
 that Country was then in) that ever 
 I saw, or I think, read of, in any His- 
 tory. Amongst the other Subterrane- 
 ous Matters, that have been discov- 
 er'd, we found, in digging of a Well 
 that was 26 foot deep, at the Bottom 
 thereof, many large Pieces of the Tulip- 
 Tree, and several other sorts of Woou, 
 some of which were cut and notch'd 
 and some squared, as the Joices of a 
 House are, which appear'd (in the 
 Judgment of all that saw them) to be 
 wrought with Iron Instruments; it 
 seeming impossible for anything made 
 of Stone, or what they were found to 
 make use of, to cut wood in that man- 
 ner. It cannot be argued that the 
 Wood so cut, might float from some 
 other Continent; because Hickory and 
 the Tulip-Tree are spontaneous in 
 America, and in no other places, that 
 I could ever learn. It is to be acknowl- 
 
 edged that the Spaniards give us rela- 
 tions of magnificent Buildings, which 
 were raised by the Indians of Mexico 
 and other Parts, which they discovered 
 and conquered; amongst whom no Iron 
 Instruments were found; but 'tis a 
 great misfortune that no Person in that 
 Expedition was so curious, as to take 
 an exact Draught of the Pabricks of 
 those People, which would have been a 
 discovery of great Value, and very ac- 
 ceptable to the Ingenious; for as to the 
 Politeness of Stones, it may be effected 
 by Collision, and Grinding, which is of 
 a contrary Nature, on Several Ac- 
 counts, and disproves not my Argu- 
 ments in the least. 
 
 The next is, the Earthen Pots that 
 are often found under Ground, and at 
 the Foot of the Banks where the Water 
 has often washed them away. They are 
 for the most part broken in pieces; but 
 we find them of a different sort of com- 
 parison of those the Indians use at 
 this day, who have had no other ever 
 since the English discovered America. 
 The Bowels of the Earth cannot have 
 altered them, sdnce they are thicker, 
 of another Shape, and Composition, and 
 nearly approach to the Urns of the An- 
 cient Romans. 
 
 Again, the Peaches, which are the 
 only tame Fruit, or what is Foreign, 
 that these people enjoy, which is an 
 eastern Product, and will keep and re- 
 tain its vegetative and growing Fac- 
 ulty, the longest of anything of that na- 
 ture, that I know of. The Stone, as I 
 elsewhere have remarked, is thicker 
 than any other sort of Peaches in Eu- 
 rope, or of the European sort now 
 growing in America, and is observed 
 to grow if planted, after it has been 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 lOI 
 
 for several Years laid by; and it seems 
 very probable that these people might 
 come from some Eastern Country; for 
 when you ask them whence their fore- 
 fathers came, that first inhabited the 
 Country, they will point to the West- 
 ward and say. Where the Sun Sleeps, 
 our Forefathers came Thence, which 
 at that distance may be reckoned 
 among the Eastern Parts of the World. 
 And to this day they are a shifting, 
 wandering People, for I know some 
 Indian Nations that have changed their 
 settlements many Hundred Miles, 
 sometimes no less than a thousand, as 
 is proved by the Savanna Indians, who 
 formerly lived on the banks of the 
 Mississippi, and removed thence to the 
 Head of one of the Rivers of South 
 Carolina; since which (for some dis- 
 like) most of them are removed to live 
 in the quarters of the Iroquois or Sin- 
 nagars, which are on the Heads of the 
 Rivers that Disgorge themselves into 
 the Bay of Chesapeak. I once met with 
 a young Indian Woman that had been 
 brought from beyond the Mountains, 
 and was sold for a Slave into Vir- 
 ginia. She spoke the same language 
 as the Coranine Indians, that dwell 
 near Cape-Look-Out, allowing for some 
 few words, which were different, yet 
 no otherwise, than they might under- 
 stand one another very well. 
 
 The Indians of North Carolina are a 
 well-shaped, clean-made People, of dif- 
 ferent Statures, as the Europeans are, 
 yet chiefly inclined to be tall. They 
 are a very straight People, and never 
 bend forwards, or stoop in the shoul- 
 ders, unless overpowered by Old Age. 
 Their limbs are exceedingly well- 
 shaped. As for their Legs and Feet 
 they are generally the handsomest in 
 the World. Their Bodies are a little 
 Flat, which is occasioned by their be- 
 ing Laced hard down to a Board in 
 their Infancy. This is all the Cradle 
 they have, which I shall describe at 
 
 large elsewhere; their Eyes are black 
 or of a Dark Hazel; The White is mar- 
 bled with red Streaks, which is ever 
 common to these people, unless when 
 sprung from a white Father or Mother. 
 Their Colour is of a Tawny, which 
 would not be so dark, did they not 
 dawb themselves with Bear's Oil and 
 a Colour like burnt Cork. This is be- 
 gun in their Infancy and is continued 
 for a long time, which fills the Pores, 
 and enables them better to endure the 
 Extremity of the Weather. They are 
 never bald on their Heads, although 
 never so old, which I believe proceeds 
 from their Heads being always uncov- 
 ered, and the Greasing their Hair (so 
 often as they do) with Bear's Fat, 
 which is a great Nourisher of the Hair, 
 and causes it to grow very fast. 
 Amongst the Bear's Oil, (when they in- 
 tend to be fine) they mix a certain red 
 powder that comes from a Scarlet Root, 
 which they get in the hilly country, 
 near the foot of the great ridge of 
 Mountains, and it is no where else to 
 be found. They have this Scarlet Root 
 in great esteem, and sell it for a great 
 Price, one to another. The reason of 
 its Value is, because they not only go 
 a long way for it, but are in great 
 danger of the Sinnagars or Iroquois, 
 who are mortal Enemies to all our In- 
 dians, and very often take them Cap- 
 tives, to kill them before they return 
 from their Voyage. The Tuskeruros 
 and other Indians have often brought 
 this seed with them from the Moun- 
 tains, but it would never grow in our 
 Land. With this and Bear's Grease 
 they anoint their Heads and Temples, 
 which is esteemed as ornamental, as 
 sweet Powder to our Hair. Besides 
 this Root has the Virtue of Killing 
 Lice and suffers none to abide or breed 
 in their Heads. For want of this Root 
 they sometimes use Pecoon-Root, 
 which is of a Crimson Colour, but it is 
 apt to dye the Hair of an ugly Hue. 
 
I02 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 Their Eyes are commonly full and 
 manly, and their Gate sedate and ma- 
 jestic. They never walk backward and 
 forward as we do, nor contemplate on 
 the Affairs of Loss and Gain; the 
 things which daily perplex us. They are 
 dexterous and steady both as to their 
 Hands and Feet, to Admiration. They 
 will walk over deep Brooks, and Creeks, 
 on the smallest Poles, and that without 
 any Fear or Concern. Nay an Indian 
 will walk on the ridge of a Barn or 
 House and look down the Gable-end 
 and spit upon the Ground, as uncon- 
 cerned as if he were walking on Terra 
 Firma. In Running, Leaping or any 
 such other exercise, their Legs seldom 
 miscarry and give them a fall; and as 
 for letting any thing fall out of their 
 hands, I never yet knew one Example. 
 They are no Inventors of any Arts or 
 Trades worthy of mention; the reason 
 of which I take to be that they are 
 not possessed with that Care and 
 Thoughtfullness how to provide for the 
 Necessaries of Life as the Europeans 
 are; yet they will learn anything very 
 soon. I have known an Indian stock 
 Guns better than most of our Joiners, 
 although he never saw one stocked be- 
 fore, and besides his Working-Tool was 
 only a sorry Knife. I have also known 
 several of them that were Slaves to 
 the English, learn Handicraft Trades 
 very handily and speedily. I never saw 
 a Dwarf among them nor one that was 
 Hump-backed. Their teeth are yellow 
 with Smoking Tobacco, which both 
 Men and Women are much addicted to. 
 They tell us, that they had Tobacco 
 amongst them, before the European 
 made any discovery of that Continent. 
 It differs in the Leaf from the sweet- 
 scented, and Oroonoko, which are the 
 Plants we raise'and cultivate in Ameri- 
 ca. Theiri differs likewise much in the 
 Smell, when green, from our Tobacco 
 before cured. They do not use the same 
 
 way to cure it as we do; and therefore 
 the Difference must be very consider- 
 able in Taste; for all Men (that know 
 Tobacco) must allow, that it is the Or- 
 dering thereof which gives a Hogoo to 
 that Weed, rather than any natural 
 rel'.sh it possesses when green. Al- 
 though they are great Smokers, yet 
 they never are seen to take it in Snuff 
 or chew it. 
 
 They have no hairs on their Faces 
 (except seme few,) and those but little. 
 They are continually plucking it away 
 
 from their Faces, by the Roots 
 
 .Althought we reckon these a very 
 smooth People, and free from Hair; yet 
 I once saw a middle-aged Man, that 
 was hairy all down his back, the Hairs 
 being above an inch long. As there 
 are found very few or scarce any, De- 
 formed or Cripples, amongst them, so 
 neither did I ever see but one Blind 
 Man, and then they would give me no 
 account how his Blindness came. They 
 had a Use for him, which was to lead 
 him with a Girl, Woman, or Boy, by 
 a string; so they put what burden they 
 pleased upon his back and made him 
 very serviceable upon all such occa- 
 sions. No people have better Eyes, or 
 see better in the Night or Day, than 
 the Indians. Some allege, that the 
 Smoke of the Pitch-Pine, which they 
 chiefly burn, doth both preserve and 
 streiigthen the Eyes, as perhaps it may 
 do, because that Smoke never offends 
 the Eyes, tho' you hold your Face over 
 a Great Fire thereof. This is occasion- 
 ed by the volatile Part of the Turpen- 
 tine which rises with the Smoke, and 
 is of a friendly, balsamick Nature; for 
 the Ashes of the Pine Tree afford no 
 fix'd salt in them. They let their 
 Nails grow very long, which, they reck- 
 on, is the Use nails are design'd for, 
 and laugh at the Europeans for pairing 
 theirs, which they say, disarms them of 
 that which Nature design'd for them. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 103 
 
 They are not of so robust and strong 
 bodies, as to lift great Burdens and 
 endure Labour and Slavish work, as 
 the Europeans are, yet some that are 
 Slaves prove very good and laborious; 
 but of themselves, they never work as 
 the English do, taking care for no fur- 
 ther what is than absolutely necessary 
 to support life. In Travelling and 
 Hunting they are very indefatigable; 
 because that carries a Pleasure along 
 with the Profit.- I have known some 
 of them very strong; and as for Run- 
 ning and Leaping they are extraordi- 
 nary Fellows, and will dance for sev- 
 eral Nights together with the greatest 
 Briskness imaginable, their Wind never 
 failing them. 
 
 Their Dances are of Different Natures 
 and for every sort of Dance they have 
 a tune which is allotted for that Dance; 
 as, if it be a War-Dance they will 
 have a War-Like Tune, wherein they 
 express with all the passion and Ve- 
 hemence imaginable what they intend 
 to do with their Enemies; how they 
 will kill, roast, scalp, beat and make 
 Captive, such and such numbers of 
 them, and how many they have de- 
 stroy'd before. All these Songs are 
 made New for every Feast, nor is one 
 and the same song sung at two sev- 
 eral Festivals. Some one of the Nation 
 (which have the best Gift of express- 
 ing their Design) is appointed by the 
 King, and War- Captains, to make these 
 Songs. 
 
 Others are made for Feasts of an- 
 other Nature; as, when several Towns, 
 or different Nations have made Peace 
 with one another; then the Song suits 
 both Nations and relates, how the Bad 
 Spirit makes them go to War, and De- 
 stroy one another; but it shall never be 
 so again, but that their Sons and 
 Daughters shall marry together, and 
 the two Nations love one another and 
 become as one People. 
 
 They have a third sort of Feasts 
 and Dances, which are always when 
 the Harvest of corn is ended, and m 
 the Spring. The one to return thanks 
 to the Good Spirit for the Fi'uits of the 
 Earth, the other to beg the same bless- 
 ings for the succeeding Tear. And, 
 to encouraee the Young Men to la- 
 bour stoutly, in Planting their Maiz 
 and Pulse, thev set a sort of an idol 
 in the field, which is dressed up ex- 
 actly like an Indian, having all the 
 Indian habits, besides abundance of 
 Wamoum, and their Money, made of 
 Shells, that hang about his Neck. The 
 Imae:e none of the young Men dare 
 approach; for the Old Ones will not 
 suffer them to com.e near him, but tell 
 them that he is some famous Indian 
 Warrior, that died a great while ago, 
 and now is come amongst them to see 
 if they work well, which, if they do, 
 he will go to the good Spirit and 
 soeak to Him to send them. Plenty of 
 Corn and make all the young Men ex- 
 pert hunters and Mighty Warriors. All 
 this While, the King and Old Men sit 
 around the Image, and seemingly pay 
 a profound Respect to the same. One 
 great Help to these Indians in carrying 
 on these Cheats, and inducing the 
 Youths to do what thev please is the 
 uninterrupted silence which is ever 
 kept and observed, with all the Respect 
 and Veneration imaginable. 
 
 At these Feasts, which are set out 
 with all the magnificence their fare al- 
 lows of, the Masquerades begin at 
 night and not Before. There is com- 
 monlv a Fire made in the Middle of 
 the House, which is the largest in the 
 Town, and is very often the Dwelling 
 of their King, or War-Captain, where 
 sit two men on the Ground, upon a 
 Mat; one with a rattle made of a 
 Gourd, with some Beans in it; the 
 other with a Drum rriade of an 
 Earthen Pot, covered with a dressed 
 
I04 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Deer Skin, and one Stick in his Hand 
 to beat thereon, and so they both be- 
 p:in the Song appointed. At the same 
 time one Drums and the other Rat- 
 tles, which is all the artificial Music 
 of their own Making I ever saw among 
 them. To these two Instruments they 
 sing, which carries no Air with it, 
 but is a sort of unsavory Jargon; yet 
 their Cadences and raising of their 
 Voices are formed with that Equality 
 and Exactness, that (to us Europeans) 
 it seems admirable how they should 
 continue their Songs, without once 
 missing to agree, each with the other's 
 Note and Tune. 
 
 As for their Dancinfir. were there 
 Masters of the Profession amongst 
 them, as there are with us, they would 
 dearly earn their money; for these 
 Creatures take the most pains with it 
 that Men are able to endure. I have 
 seen thirty odd together a-dancing 
 until everv one dropp'd down with 
 Sweat, as if Water had been poured 
 down their Backs. They use those hard 
 Labours to make them able to endure 
 Fatigue, and improve their Wind, 
 which indeed is very long and durable, 
 it beina: a hard matter, in any exer- 
 cise, to dispossess them of it. 
 
 At these Feasts they meet from all 
 the Towns within Fifty or Sixty Miles 
 around, where they buy and sell sev- 
 eral Commodities, as we do at Fairs 
 and Markets. Besides, they game 
 very much, and often strip them- 
 selves of all they have in the World, 
 and what is more, I have known sever- 
 al of them sell themeselves away, so 
 that they have remained the Winner's 
 Servants, till their Relations or them- 
 selves could raise the mone^ to re- 
 deem them; and when this happens the 
 Loser is never dejected or melancholy 
 at the loss, but laughs and seems no 
 less contented than if he had won. 
 They never differ at Gaming, nor did I 
 
 ever see a Disoute about the Legality 
 thereof, so much as rise amongst 
 them. 
 
 The chiefest Game is a sort of Arith- 
 metic, which is managed by a Parcel of 
 small split Reeds, the thickness of a 
 small Bent; these are made very nice- 
 ly, so that they part and are tractable 
 in their Hands. They are flfty-one in 
 number, their length about seven inch- 
 es; when they play they throw part of 
 them to their Antagonist; the art is to 
 discover, upon sight, how many you 
 have, and what you throw to him that 
 plays with you. Some are so expert 
 with their numbers that they will tell 
 ten times together what they threw 
 out of their Hands. Although the whole 
 Play is carried on with the quickest 
 Motion its possible to use, yet some are 
 so expert at this game as to win great 
 Indian Estates by this Play. A good 
 set of these reeds, fit to Play withal, 
 are valued and sold for a dressed Doe 
 Skin. 
 
 They have several other Plays and 
 Games, as with the Kernels or Stones 
 of Persimmons, which are in effect the 
 same as our Dice, because Winning or 
 Losing depend on which side appears 
 uppermost, and how they happen to 
 fall together. 
 
 Another Game is managed with a Ba- 
 toon and a Ball, and resembles our 
 Trap-ball; besides several Nations have 
 several Games and Peetimes which 
 are not used by others. 
 
 These Savages live in Wigwams, or 
 Cabins built of Bark, which are made 
 round like an Oven to prevent any 
 danger by hard Gales of Wind. They 
 make the Fire in the middle of the 
 House, and have a Hole at the top of 
 the Roof, right above the Fire, to let 
 out the smoke. These Dw^ellings are as 
 Hot as Stoves, where the Indians sleep 
 and Sweat all night. The Floors there- 
 of are never paved nor swept, so that 
 they have always loose earth on them. 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 105 
 
 They are often troubled with a multi- 
 tude of Fleas, especially near the 
 Places where they dress their Deer- 
 Skins, because that Hair harbours 
 them, yet I have never felt any ill, un- 
 savory Smell in their Cabins, whereas, 
 should we live in our Houses as they 
 do, we should be poisoned with our 
 own Nastiness; which confirms these 
 Indians to be, as they really are, some 
 of the sweetest People in the world. 
 The Bark they make their Cabins 
 withal is generally Cypress, or red or 
 white Cedar, and sometimes when they 
 are a great way from any of these 
 Woods, they make use of Pine Bark, 
 which is the Worser sort. In building 
 these fabricks they get very long Poles 
 of Pine, Cedar, Hickory or any other 
 "Wood that will bend; these are the 
 thickness of the small of a Man's Leg, 
 at the thickest end of which they gen- 
 erally strip off the bark, and warm 
 them well in the fire, which makes 
 them tough and fit to bend; afterwards 
 they stick the thickest ends of them in 
 the ground, above two yards asun- 
 der, in a circular form, the distance 
 they design the Cabin to be (which is 
 not always round but sometimes oval); 
 then they bend the tops and bring 
 them together and bind their ends with 
 bark of trees, that is proper for that 
 use, as Elm is, or sometimes the Moss 
 that grows on the Trees, and is a yard 
 or two long and never Rots; then they 
 brace them with other poles, so that 
 they are very warm and tight, and will 
 keep firm against all the Weathers that 
 blow. They have other sorts of Cabins 
 without Windows, which are for their 
 Granaries, Skins, and Merchandizes; 
 and others that are covered overhead 
 and the rest left open for air. These 
 have Reed Hurdles like Tables, to lie 
 and sit on in summer, and serve for 
 pleasant Banqueting Houses in the Hot 
 Season of the Year. The Cabins they 
 dwell in have Benches all around, ex- 
 
 cept where the door stands. On these 
 they lay Beasts-Skins and Mats made 
 of Rushes, whereon they sleep and loll. 
 In one of these several Families com- 
 monly live, though all related to one 
 another. 
 
 As to the Indians Food, it is of sev- 
 eral sorts, which are as follows: 
 
 Venison, and Fawns in the Bag, cut 
 out of the Doe's Belly; Fish of all 
 sorts, the Lamprey-Eel excepted, and 
 the Sturgeon our Salt-Water Indians 
 will not touch; Bear and Beaver; Pan- 
 ther; Pole-Cat; Wild-Cat; Possum; 
 Raccoon; Hares and Squirrels roasted 
 with their Guts in; Snakes, all Indians 
 will not eat them, tho' some do; all 
 wild Fruits that are Palatable, some of 
 which they dry and keep against Win- 
 ter, as all sorts of Fruits, and Peaches 
 which they dry, and make Quiddonies, 
 and Cakes, that are pleasant, and a lit- 
 tle tartish; young Wasps when they are 
 white in the Combs before they can 
 fly, this is esteemed a dainty; All sorts 
 of Tortoise and Terebins; Shell-Fish 
 and Stingray or Scate, dryed; Gourds; 
 Melons; Cucumbers; Squashes; Pulse 
 of all sorts; Rockahomine Meal, which 
 is their Maiz, parched and pounded in- 
 to powder; Fowl of all sorts, that are 
 eatable; Ground-Nuts or Wild Pota- 
 toes; Acorns and Acorn Oil; Wild- 
 Bulls; Beef, Mutton, Pork, etc., from 
 the English; Indian Corn, or Maiz, 
 made into several sorts of Bread; Ears 
 of Corn roasted in the Summer or pre- 
 served against the Winter. 
 
 The Victuals is Common, through- 
 out the whole Kindred Relations, and 
 often to the whole Town; especially, 
 when they are in Hunting-Quarters, 
 then they all fare alike, whichsoever 
 of them kills the Game. They are very 
 kind and charitable to one another, but 
 more especially to those of their own 
 Nation; for if any one of them has suf- 
 fered any Loss by Fire or otherwise, 
 they order the grieved persons to make 
 
io6 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 a Feast, and invite them all thereto, 
 which, on the day appointed, they come 
 to, and after every Man's mess of Vic- 
 tuals is dealt to him, one of their 
 Speakers or grave old Men, makes an 
 Harangue, and acquaints the Company 
 That that Man's House has been burnt, 
 wherein all his Goods were destroyed; 
 That he and his Familjf very narrowly 
 escaped; That he is every Man's friend 
 in that 'Companj^; and, That it is all 
 their Duties to help him, as he would 
 do to any of them, had like Misfortune 
 befallen them. After this Oration is 
 over, every Man, according to his qual- 
 ity, throws him down upon the Ground 
 some Present, which is commonly 
 Beads, Ronoak, Peak, Skins or Furs, 
 and which very often amounts to treble 
 the amount he has suffered. The same 
 assistance they give to any Man that 
 wants to build a Cabin, or make a Ca- 
 noe. They say it is our Duty thus to 
 do; for there are several Works that 
 one Man cannot effect, therefore we 
 must give him our help, otherwise our 
 Society will fall, and we shall be de- 
 prived of those urgent Necessities 
 which life requires. They have no 
 Fences to part one anothers Lots in 
 their Corn-Fields; but every Man 
 knows his own, and it scarce ever hap- 
 pens that they rob one another of so 
 much as an Bar of Corn, which if any 
 is found to do. he is sentenced by the 
 Elders to work, and plant for him that 
 was robbed, till he is recompensed for 
 all the damage he has suffered in his 
 Corn-Field; and this is punctually per- 
 formed, and the Thief held in Disgrace 
 that steals from any of his Country- 
 Folks. It often happens that a Woman 
 is destitute of her Husband, and has a 
 great many Children to maintain; such 
 a Person they always help, and make 
 their young men plant, reap and do 
 everything for her that she is not cap- 
 able of doing for herself; yet they do 
 not allow any one to be idle, but to em- 
 
 ploy themselves in some Work or oth- 
 er. 
 
 They never fight with one another, 
 unless Drunk, nor do you ever hear any 
 scolding amongst them. They say tho 
 Europeans are always wrangling and 
 uneasy, and wonder they do not go out 
 of this World, since they are so uneasy 
 and discontented in it. All their Mis- 
 fortunes and Losses end in Laughter; 
 for if their Cabins take fire, and ail 
 their Goods are burnt therein, (indeed 
 all will strive to prevent further Dam- 
 age whilst there is any possibility) yet 
 such a misfortune ends in a hearty Jsit 
 of laughter, unless some of their Kins- 
 folk and Friends have lost their Lives; 
 but then the Case is altered and they 
 become very pensive, and go into deep 
 Mourning, which is continued for 
 a considerable time; sometimes 
 longer or shorter, just accord- 
 ing to the Dignity of the Person, and 
 the Number of Relations he had near 
 to him. 
 
 When an Indian is dead the greater 
 person he is the more expensive is his 
 Funeral. The first thing which is done 
 is, to place the nearest Relations near 
 the Corps, who mourn and weep very 
 much, having their hair hung down 
 their Shoulders, in a very forlorn man- 
 ner. After the dead Person has laid a 
 Day and a Night in one of their Hur- 
 dles of Canes, commonly in some out- 
 House made for that purpose, those 
 that ofl^ciate about the Funeral go into 
 Town, and the first young Men they 
 Meet withal that have Blankets or 
 Match Coats on, whom they think fit 
 for their Turn, they strip them from 
 their Backs, who suffer them to do so 
 without any Resistance. In these they 
 wrap the dead Bodies, and convey them 
 with two or three Mats wh'ch the In- 
 dians make of Rushes or Cane; and 
 last of all they have a long Web of 
 woven Reeds, or hollow Canes, which 
 is the Coffin of the Indians, and is 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 107 
 
 brought around several times and is 
 tied fast at both ends, which indeed 
 looks very decent and well. Then the 
 Corps is brought out of the House 
 into the Orchard of Peach-Trees, where 
 another Hurdle is made to receive it, 
 about which comes all the Relations 
 and Nation that the dead person be- 
 longed to, besides several from other 
 Nations in Alliance with them; all 
 which sit down on the Ground, upon 
 Mats spread there for that purpose; 
 where the Doctor or Conjurer appears, 
 and, after some time, makes a sort of 
 O-yes, at which all are very silent. 
 Then he begins to give an account who 
 the dead person was, and how stout a 
 man he approved himself; how many 
 Enemies and Captives he had killed 
 and taken; how strong, tall and nim- 
 ble he was; that he was a great Hunt- 
 er, a lover of his Country, and possess- 
 ed of a great many beautiful Wives 
 and children, esteemed the greatest of . 
 Blessings among these Savages, in 
 which they have a true Notion. Thus 
 this Orator runs on, highly extolling 
 the dead Man, for his Valour, Conduct, 
 Strength, Riches and Good Humour; 
 and enumerating his Guns, Slaves and 
 almost everything he was possess'd of, 
 when living. After which, he addresses 
 himself to the People of that Town or 
 Nation, and bids them Supply the 
 Dead Man's Place, by following his 
 stepd, who he assures them, is gone into 
 the Country of Souls (which they think 
 lies a great way off, in this World, 
 which the Sun visits, in his ordinary 
 Course) and that he will have the en- 
 joyment of handsome young Women, 
 great Store of Deer to hunt, never Meet 
 with Hunger, Cold or Fatigue, but ev- 
 erything to answer his Expectation an I 
 Desire. This is the Heaven they pro- 
 pose to themselves: but on the con- 
 trary, for those Indians that are lazy, 
 thievish amongst themselves, bad 
 Hunters and no Warriours, nor of 
 
 much use to the Nation, to such they 
 allot in the next World, Hunger, Cold, 
 Troubles, Ugly Old Women for their 
 Companions, with Snakes and all sorts 
 of Nasty Victuals to feed on. Thus is 
 marked out their Heaven and Hell. Af- 
 ter all this Harangue, he diverts I;ha 
 People with some of their Traditions, 
 as when there was a Violent hot Sum- 
 mer or very hard Winter; when any 
 notable Distempers raged amongst 
 them; when they were at War with 
 such and such Nations; how victorious 
 they were, and what were the Names 
 of their War-Captains. To piove the 
 times more exactly, he produces tho 
 Records of the Country, which are a 
 Parcel of Reeds of different lengths, 
 with several distinct marks known to 
 none but themselves; by which they 
 seem to guess, very exactly, at Acci- 
 dents that happened many years ago; 
 nay two or three Ages or more. The 
 reason I have to believe what they 
 tell me, on this Account, is because I 
 have been at the meetings of several 
 Indian Nations; and they agree 'ii re- 
 lating the same Circumstances, as to 
 Time, very exactly; as, for example 
 they say, there was so hard a winter 
 in Carolina 105 years ago, that the 
 great Sound was frozen over and thfi 
 Vv'ild geese came into the Wooas to eat 
 Acorns and they were so tame (I sup- 
 pose through Want) that they were 
 killed abundantly in the Woods by 
 knocking them on the Head with 
 Sticks. 
 
 But, to return to the dead Man. When 
 this Long Tale is ended by him thai, 
 spoke first; perhaps a second begins 
 another long Story; so a third and 
 fourth if there be so many Doctors 
 present; which all tell one and the 
 same thing. At last the Corps is 
 brought away from that Hurdle to the 
 Grave, by four young Men, attended 
 by the Relations, the King, Old Men 
 and all the Nation. When they come 
 
io8 
 
 l.^wson's history 
 
 to the Sepulchre, which is about six 
 foot deep, and eight foot long, having 
 at each end, (that is, at the Head and 
 Foot) a Light-Wood or Pitch-Pine 
 Fork driven close down the sides c£ 
 the Grave, firmly into the Ground; 
 (these two forks are to contain a 
 Ridge-Pole, as you shall understand 
 presently) before they lay the Corps 
 into the Grave thev cover the bottom 
 two or three times over with Bark of 
 Trees, then they let down the Corps 
 (with two Belts, that the Indians carry 
 their Burdens withal very leisurely 
 upon the said Barks; then they lay 
 over a Pole of the Same Wood, in the 
 two Forks, and having a great many 
 Pieces of Pitch-Pine logs, about two 
 foot and a half long, they stick them 
 in the sides of the Grave down each 
 end, and near the top thereof, where 
 the other Ends lie on the Ridge-Pole, 
 so that they are declining like the roof 
 of a House. These being very thick- 
 plac'd they cover them (many times 
 double) with Bark; then they throw 
 the Earth thereon, that came out of 
 the Grave, and beat it down very firm, 
 by this means the Dead Body lies in a 
 Vault, nothing touching him; so that 
 when I saw this way of burial, I was 
 mightily pleased with it, esteemng it 
 very pleasant and decent, as having 
 seen a great many Christians buried 
 without the tenth part of that Cere- 
 mony and Decency. Now when the 
 Flesh is rotten and Moulder'd from 
 the Bones they take up the Carcass and 
 clean the Bones, and joint them to- 
 gether; afterwards they dress them up 
 in pure white dressed Deer-Skins, and 
 lay them amongst their Grandees and 
 Kings in the Quiogozon, which is their 
 royal Tomb or Burial-Place of their 
 Kings and War-Captains. This is a 
 very large Magnificent Cabin, (accord- 
 ing to their Building) which is raised 
 at the Publlck Charge of the Nation, 
 and maintained in a great deal of form 
 
 and Neatness. About seven foot high 
 is a Floor or Loft made, on which lie 
 all their Princes and great Men, that 
 have died for several Hundred years, 
 all attired in the dress I have before 
 told you of. No person is to have his 
 bones lie here and be thus dressed, un- 
 less he gives a round sum of their 
 Money to the Rulers, for Admittance. 
 If they remove never so far, to live in 
 a Foreign Country, they never fail to 
 take all these dead Bones with them, 
 tho' the Tediousness of their short 
 daily Marches keeps them never so 
 long on their Journey. They reverence 
 and adore this Quiogozon, with all the 
 Veneration and Respect that is possible 
 for such a People to discharge, and had 
 rather lose all than have any Violence 
 or Injury offer'd thereto. These Sav- 
 ages differ some small matter in their 
 Burials; some burying right upwards, 
 and otherwise, as you are acquainted 
 withal from my Journal from South to 
 North Carolina. Yet they all agree in 
 their Mourning, which is to appear 
 every night at the Sepulchre, and howl 
 and weep in a very dismal manner, 
 having their Paces dawb'd over with 
 Light-Wood Soot, (which is the same 
 as Lamp-Black) and Bears Oil. This 
 renders them as black as it is possible 
 to make themselves, so that theirs very 
 much resembles the Faces of Executed 
 Men boil'd in Tar. If the Dead Per- 
 son was a Grandee, to carry on the 
 Funeral Ceremonies, they hire people 
 to crv and Lament over the Dead 
 Body. Of this sort, there are seve /al 
 that practice this for a livelihood, and 
 are very expert at shedding Abund- 
 ance of Tears, and howling like Wolves 
 and so discharging their office with 
 abundance of Hypocrisy and Art. The 
 Women are never Accompanied with 
 these Ceremonies after Death; and to 
 what World they allot that sex I never 
 understood, unless to wait on their 
 dead Husb2,nds; but they have more 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 109 
 
 wit than some of the Eastern Nations; 
 who sacrifice themselves to accompany 
 their Husbands into the next World. It 
 is the Dead Man's relations, by Blood, 
 as his Uncles, Brothers, Sisters, Cous- 
 ins, Sons and Daughters, that moani 
 in good earnest; the Wives think'ng 
 their Duty is discharged, and that they 
 are become free, when their Husband 
 is dead; so, as fast as they can, look 
 out for another, to supply his Place. 
 
 As for the Indian Women, which nov*' 
 happen in my Way; when young, and 
 •at Maturity, they are as fine-shap'd 
 Creatures (take them generally) as any 
 In the Universe. They are of a tawny 
 Complexion, their Eyes very brisk and 
 amorous; their Smiles afford the finest 
 Composure a face can possess; their 
 Hands are of the finest make, with 
 small long Fingers, and as soft as their 
 Cheeks; and their Whole bodies of a 
 Smooth Nature. They are not so un- 
 couth or unlikely, as we suppose them. 
 They are most of them mercenary, ex- 
 cept the married Women, who some- 
 times bestow their favors also to some 
 or other, in their Husband's absence, 
 For which they never ask any reward. 
 As for the Report that they are never 
 found unconstant, like tne Europeans, it 
 is wholly false; for were the Old World 
 and the new one put into a Pair of 
 Scales (in point of constancy) it would 
 be a hard Matter to discern which was 
 
 the heavier The Indian Traders 
 
 are those which travel and abide 
 amongst the Indians for a long space 
 cf time; sometimes for a Year, two, or 
 three. These Men commonly have their 
 Indian Wive=;, whcieby they soon learn 
 the Indian Tongue and keep a friend- 
 ship with the Savages. They find these 
 Indian Girls very serviceable to them, 
 on account of dressing their Victuals 
 and instructing 'em in the Affairs and 
 Customs of the Country. Moreover 
 such a Man gets a great trade with the 
 Savages; for when a person that lives 
 
 amongst them is reserv'd from the Con- 
 versation of their Women, 'tis impossi- 
 ble for him ever to accomplish his De- 
 signs amongst that People. It is a cer- 
 tain rule and Custom, amongst all the 
 Savages of America that I was ever ac- 
 quainted withal, to let the children al- 
 ways fall to the Women's lot. And 
 therefore, on this Score, it ever seems 
 impossible for the Christians to get 
 their Children (which they have by 
 these Indian Women) away from them; 
 whereby they might bring them up in 
 the Knowledge of the Christian Prin- 
 ciples. Nevertheless, we often find, 
 that English Men and other Europeans 
 that have been accustom'd to the Con- 
 versation of these Savage Women and 
 their Way of Living, have been so al- 
 lur'd with that careless sort of Life, as 
 lo be constant to their Indian Wife and 
 her relations, so long as they Liv'd, 
 without ever desiring to return again 
 imongst the English, altho' they had 
 very fair Opportunities of Advantages 
 am.ongst their Countrymen, of which 
 sort I have known several. As for the 
 Indian Marriages, I have read and 
 heard of a great deal of Form and Cer- 
 emony used, which I never saw, nor yet 
 could learn in the time I have been 
 amongst them, any otherwise than I 
 shall here give an Account of; wh.ch is 
 as follows. When any young Indian 
 has a mind for such a Girl to his Wife, 
 he, or some one for him, goes to the 
 Young Woman's Parents, if living; if 
 not to her nearest Relations; where 
 they make Offers of the Match betwixt 
 the Couple. The Relations reply, they 
 will consider of it, which serves for a 
 sufficient Answer, till there be a second 
 meeting about the Marriage which is 
 generally brought into Debate before all 
 the Relations (that are Old People) on 
 both Sides; and sometimes the King 
 with all his great Men give their Opin- 
 ions therein, if it be agreed on, and the 
 young Woman approves thereof (for 
 
no 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 these Savages never give their children 
 In Marriage without their own consent) 
 the man pays so much for his Wife; 
 and the Handsomer she is, the greater 
 Price she bears. Now^, it often happens 
 that the Man has not so much of their 
 Money ready as he is to pay for his 
 Wife; but if they know him to be a 
 good Hunter, and that he can raise the 
 Sum, agreed for, in some few Moons, 
 or any little time, they agree, she shall 
 go along with him as betroth'd. Yet the 
 Women are quite contrary, and those 
 Indian Girls that have convers'd with 
 the English and other Europeans never 
 care for the conversation of their own 
 Countrymen afterwards. The Indian 
 men nio not so vigorous and impatient 
 in their Love as we are. They never 
 marry so near as a first Cousin; and al- 
 though there is nothing more coveted 
 amongst them than to marry a Woni;\n 
 of their own Nation, yet when che Na- 
 tion consists of a A'^ry few People (au 
 nowadays it often happens, so that they 
 are all of them related to one another) 
 then they look out for Husbands an J 
 Wives amongst strangers. An Indian 
 is allowed to marry two Sisters, or his 
 Brother's Wife. The Marriages of 
 these Indians are no farther binding 
 than the Man and Woman agree to- 
 getlier. Either of them has Liberty to 
 leave the other upon any frivolous ex- 
 cuse they can make, yet whoever takes 
 the Woman that was another Man's be- 
 fore, and bought by him, as they all 
 are, muet certainly pay to her former 
 Husband, whatsoever he gave for hei-. 
 Nay, if she be a Widow and her Hus- 
 band died in debt, whoever takes her 
 to Wife, pays all her Husband's Ob- 
 ligations, tho' never so many; yet the 
 Woman is not required to pay any- 
 thing (unless she is willing) that was 
 owing from her Husband, so long as she 
 keeps single. You may see Men sell- 
 ing their Wives as Man do horses in 
 a Fair, a Man being allow'd not only to 
 
 change as often a 3 he pleases, but like- 
 wise to have as Many Wives as he is 
 able to Maintain. I have often seen 
 very Old Indian Men (that have been 
 Grandees in their Own Nation) have 
 three or four very likely young Indian 
 Wives, which I have much wondered at. 
 They are never to boast of their In- 
 trigues with the Women. This pro- 
 ceeds not on the score of Reputation, 
 for there is no such thing known 
 amongst them; yet they retain and 
 possess a Modesty which requires those 
 
 pajssions never to be Divulged The 
 
 Indians say, that the Woman is a 
 weak creature, and easily drawn away 
 by the Man's Persuasions; for which 
 reason they lay no blame upon her, but 
 the Man (who ought to be the master 
 of his Passion) for persuading her to it. 
 
 They are of a very hale Constitution, 
 their breaths are as sweet as the air 
 they breathe in, yet their Love is nev- 
 er of that Force and Continuance that 
 any of them ever runs Mad or makes 
 away with themselves on that score. 
 They never love beyond retrieving their 
 first indifferences and when slighted are 
 as ready to untie the knot at one end 
 as you are at the other. Yet I knew an 
 European man who after living with 
 one of these Indian women married a 
 Christian, and when he went to visit 
 his Indian Mistress she made answer 
 that she then had forgot she ever 
 knew him, so fell a crying and went out 
 of the Cabin (away from him) in great 
 disorder. 
 
 The Indian Women's work is to cook 
 the Victuals for the Whole family, and 
 to make Mats, Baskets, Girdles, of Pos- 
 sum-Hair and such like. They never 
 plant the Corn amongst us, as they do 
 amongst the Iroquois, who are always 
 at war and hunting. Therefore, the 
 Plantation Work is left for the Women 
 and Slaves to perform, and look after; 
 whilst they are wand'ring all over the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 Ill 
 
 Continent betwixt the two Bays of 
 Mexico and St. Lawrence. 
 
 The Mats the Indian Women make 
 are of Rushes, and about five Foot hig-h 
 and two fathom long, and sew'd dou- 
 ble, that is, two together; whereby 
 they become very commodious to lay 
 under our Beds or to sleep on in the 
 Summer Season in the day-time and for 
 our Slaves in the Night. There are 
 other Mats made of Flags, which the 
 Tuskeruro Indians make and sell to the 
 Inhabitants. The Baskets our Neigh- 
 boring Indians make are all made of a 
 very fine sort of bulrushes, and some- 
 times of Silk-Grass, which they work 
 with figures of Beasts, Birds, Fishes, 
 etc. A great way up in the Country 
 both Baskets and Mats are made of the 
 Split Reeds, which are only the out- 
 ward shining part of the Cain. Of these 
 I have seen Mats, Baskets, and Dress- 
 ing-Boxes, very artificially done 
 
 The Indian Wife never fails of prov- 
 ing so good a Nurse as to bring her 
 child up free from the Rickets and Dis- 
 asters that proceed from the Teeth, 
 with many other Distempers which at- 
 tack our Infants in England and other 
 Parts of Europe. They always Nurse 
 their own children themselves, unless 
 Sickness or Death prevents. The Hus- 
 band takes care to provide a Cradle, 
 which is soon made, consisting of a 
 piece of flat wood, which they hew 
 with their Hatchets to the likeness of a 
 Board; It is about two foot long and 
 a foot broad; to this they brace and tie 
 the child down very close. Some Na- 
 tions have very flat Heads, which is 
 made whilst tied on this Cradle. These 
 Cradles are apt to make the body flat; 
 yet they are the most portable things 
 that can be invented; for there is a 
 string which goes from one Cornet* of 
 the Board to the other, whereby the 
 Mother flings her Child on her Back; 
 so the infant's back is toward's hers 
 and its face looks up towards the sky. 
 
 If it rains, she throws her Leather or 
 Woolen Match-Coat over her head, 
 which covers the Child all over, and 
 secures her and it from the injuries of 
 rainy Weather. I never knew any of 
 their Women, that had not children 
 when Married. The Womens Dress is, 
 in severe Weather, a hairy Match-Coat 
 in the Natui-e of a Plad, which keeps 
 out the cold, and (as I said before) de- 
 fends their Children from the Preju- 
 dices of the Weather. At other times 
 they have only a sort of Flap or Apron 
 containing two Yards in Length, and 
 better than half a Yard Deep. Some- 
 times, it is a Deer-Skin, dressed white, 
 and pointed or slit at the bottom, like 
 fringe. When this is clean, it becomes 
 them very well. Others wear Blue or 
 Red Flaps made of Bays and Plains, 
 which they buy of the English, of both 
 which they tuck in the corners, to fas- 
 ter the garment, and sometimes make it 
 fast with a belt. Sometimes, they wear 
 Indian Shoes, or Moggizons, which are 
 made after the same manner as the 
 Men's are. The Hair of their Heads is 
 made into a long Roll like a Horse's 
 Tail, and bound around with Ronoak 
 or Porcelan, which is a sort of Beads 
 they make of the Conk-Shells. Others 
 that have not this, make a Leather- 
 String serve. 
 
 The Indian Men have a Match-Coat 
 of Hair, Furs, Feathers, or Cloth, as 
 the Women have. Their Hair is rolled 
 up, on each Ear, as the Women's, only 
 much shorter, and oftentimes a roll on 
 the Crown of the Head or Temple, 
 which is just as they fancy; there be- 
 ing no Strictness in their Dress. They 
 wear a Loin-Cloth, that is tuck'd in 
 by a Belt, both before and behind, 
 which decency they never Practised 
 before the Christians came amongst 
 them. 
 
 They wear Shooes, of Bucks, and 
 sometimes Bears-Skin, which they tan 
 in an Hour or two; with the Bark of 
 
112 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Trees Boiled, wherein they put the 
 Leather whilst Hot, and let it remain 
 a little while, whereby it becomes so 
 qualified, as to endure water and Dirt 
 without growing Hard. These have no 
 Heels and are made as Fit for the Feet 
 as a Glove for the Hands, and are 
 very easy to travel in when one is 
 used to them. When these Savages 
 live near the Water, they frequent 
 the Rivers in summer time very much, 
 where both Men and Women very of- 
 ten in a day go in Naked to wash 
 themselves, tho' not both sexes to- 
 gether. 
 
 Their Feather Match-Coats are very 
 pretty, especially some of them, which 
 are made extraordinary charming, 
 containing several pretty figures 
 wrought in Feathers, making them 
 seem like a fine Fower Silk-Shag, and 
 when new and Fresh, they become a 
 Bed very well instead of a Quilt. Some 
 of another sort are made of Hare, 
 Racoon, Bever or Squirrel-Skins, which 
 are very warm; others again are made 
 of the Green part of the Skin of a Mal- 
 lard's Head, which they sew very pret- 
 tily together, their Thread being either 
 the Sinews of a Deer divided very 
 small, or Silk Grass. When these are 
 finished they look very finely, tho' they 
 must needs be very troublesome to 
 make. Some of their Great Men, as 
 Rulers and Such, that have plenty of 
 Deer Skins by them, will often buy the 
 English-made Coats, which they wear 
 on Festivals and other Days of Visit- 
 ing. Yet none ever buy any Breeches, 
 saying that they are too much confin- 
 ed in them, which prevents their speed 
 in running, etc. 
 
 We have some Indians that are more 
 civilized than the rest, which wear 
 Hats, Shoes, Stockings and Breeches, 
 with very tolerable linnen Shirts, 
 which is not common amongst these 
 Heathens. The Paspitank Indians did 
 
 formerly keep Cattle and make But- 
 ter. 
 
 These are them that wear the Eng- 
 lish Dress. Whether they have Cattle 
 now or no I am not certain; but I am 
 of the Opinion that such Inclinations 
 in the Savages should meet with En- 
 couragement, and every Englishman 
 ought to do them justice, and not de- 
 fraud them of their land, which has 
 been allotted them formerly by the 
 Government, for if we do not show 
 them examples of Justice and Virtue, 
 we can never bring them to believe us 
 to be a worthier Race of Man than 
 themselves. 
 
 The Dresses of these People are so 
 different, according to the Nation that 
 they belong to, that it is impossible to 
 recount all the whimsical figures that 
 they sometimes make by their Antick 
 Dresses. Besides Carolina is a warm 
 Country, and very Mild in its Winters, 
 to what Virginia, Maryland, Pennsyl- 
 vania, New York and the Jerseys, and 
 New England are; wherefore our In- 
 dian habit very much differs from the 
 dresses that appear among the Sav- 
 ages who inhabit those cold Countries; 
 in regard to their cheapest cloathing 
 for the Winter Season is made of Furs 
 of Bever, Raccoon and other Northern 
 Furs, that our Climate is not acquaint- 
 ed withal, they producing some Furs, 
 as the Monack, Moor, Marten, Black 
 Fox, and others, to us unknown. 
 
 Their Dress in Peace and War is 
 quite different. Besides when they go 
 to War, their Hair is combed out by 
 the Women, and done over very much 
 with Bears Grease, and Red Root, with 
 Feathers, Wings, Rings, Copper and 
 Peak, or Wampum, in their Ears. 
 Moreover, they buy Vermillion of the 
 Indian Traders, wherewith they paint 
 their faces all over red, and commonly 
 make a Circle of Black about one eye, 
 and another Circle of white about the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 113 
 
 other, whilst others bedawb their 
 Faces with Tobacco-Pipe Clay, Lamp- 
 Black, Black Lead, and divers other 
 Colours, which they make with the 
 several sorts of Minerals and earths 
 that they get in their Different Parts 
 of the Country, where they Hunt and 
 Travel. When these Creatures are thus 
 painted, they make the most frightful 
 Figures that can be imitated by men, 
 and seem more like Devils than Hu- 
 mane Creatures. You may be sure that 
 they are about some Mischief, when 
 you see them thus painted; for in all 
 the Hostilities which have ever been 
 acted against the English at any time 
 in several of the Plantations of Amer- 
 ica, the Savages appeared in the Dis- 
 guise whereby they might never be 
 discovered, or known by any of the 
 Christians, that should happen to see 
 them after they had made their es- 
 cape; for it is impossible ever to know 
 an Indian under these colours, al- 
 though he has been at your home a 
 thousand times, and you know him at 
 other times as well as you do any Per- 
 son living. As for their Women they 
 never use any paint on their Faces; 
 neither do they ever carry them along 
 with them into the field, when they i*-- 
 tend any Expedition, leaving them at 
 home with the old Men and Children. 
 
 Some of the Indians wear great Bobs 
 in the Holes thereof they put Eagles 
 and other Birds Feathers for a Trophy. 
 When they kill any Fowl they com- 
 monly pluck off the downy Feathers, 
 and stick them all over their Heads. 
 Some (Both Men and Women) wear 
 great Necklaces of their Money, made 
 of Shells. They often wear Bracelets 
 made of Brass, and sometimes of Iron 
 Wire. 
 
 Their Money is of different sorts, but 
 ail made of Shells, which are found on 
 the Coast of Carolina, which are very 
 large and Hard, so that they are very 
 difHcult to cut. Some English smiths 
 
 have tried to drill this sort of shell 
 money, and thereby thought to get ad- 
 vantage, but it proved so hard that 
 nothing could be gained. They often- 
 times make of this shell a sort of 
 Gorge, which they wear about their 
 Neck in a String; so it hangs on their 
 Collar, whereon sometimes is engraven 
 a Cross, or some odd sort of figure 
 which comes next in their fancy. There 
 are other sorts, valued at a Doe-Skin, 
 yet the Gorges will sometimes sell for 
 three or ,four Buck-Skins ready dress'd. 
 There be others, that eight of them go 
 readily for a Doe-Skin, but the general 
 and Current Species of all the Indians 
 in Carolina, and, I believe, all over the 
 Continent, so far as the Bay of Mex- 
 ico, is that which we call Peak and 
 Ronoak, but Peak more especially. 
 This is that which at New York they 
 call Wampum, and have used it as 
 Current Money among the Inhabitants 
 for a great many years. This is what 
 many writers call Porcelan, and is 
 made at New York in great quantities, 
 and with us in some Lieasure. Five 
 Cubits of this purchase a Dressed Doe- 
 Skin, and seven or eight make so much 
 of this Wampum, for five or ten times 
 the Value; for it is made out of a vast 
 great Shell, of which the Country af- 
 fords Plenty; where it is ground small- 
 er than the small end of a Tobacco- 
 Pipe, or a large Wheat-Straw. Four 
 or five of these make an inch, and 
 every one is to be drilled through and 
 made as smooth as Glass, and so 
 strung as Beads are, and a cubit of the 
 Indian measure contains as much in 
 length, as will reach from the elbow to 
 Che end of the little finger. They 
 never stand to question whether it is a 
 tall man or a short one, that measure 
 it; but if this Wampum Peak be black 
 or Purple, as some part of that Shell 
 is, then it is twice the Value. This 
 the Indians grind on stones and other 
 
114 
 
 IvAwson's history 
 
 things until they make it Current, 
 but the drilling is the most difficult to 
 the Englishmen, which the Indians 
 manage with a Nail stuck in a Cane 
 or Reed. Thus they roll it continually 
 on their Thighs, with their Right 
 Hand, holding the Bit of Shell with 
 their Left, so in time they drill a Hole 
 quite, through it, which is very tedious 
 work; but especially in making their 
 Ronoak, four of which will scarce 
 make one Length of Wampum. The 
 Indians are a People that never value 
 their Time, so that they can afford to 
 make them, and never need to fear the 
 English will take the trade out of their 
 Hands. This is the Money with which 
 you may buy Skins, Furs, Slaves or 
 anything the Indians have; it being 
 the Mammon (as our Money is to us) 
 that entices and persuades them to do 
 anything, and part with everything 
 they possess, except their Children, 
 for Slaves. As for their Wives they 
 are often sold, and their Daughters 
 Violated for it. With this they buy off 
 murders; and whatsoever a Man do 
 that is ill, thi-s Wampum will quit him 
 of, and make him, in their opinion, 
 good and virtuous, though never so 
 black before. 
 
 All the Indians give a Name to their 
 Children, which is not the same as the 
 Fathers or Mothers, but what they 
 Fancy. This name they keep (if Boys) 
 until they arrive to the age of a War- 
 riour, which is 16 or 17 years; then 
 they take a name to themselves, some- 
 times Eagle, Panther, AUegator. or 
 some such wild creature; esteeming 
 nothing on earth worthy to give them 
 a name, but these Wild Fowl and 
 Beast. Some again take the name of a 
 Fish, which they keep as long as they 
 live. 
 
 The King is the Ruler of the Natioa, 
 and has others under him to assist 
 him, as his War Captains and Coun- 
 
 sellors, who are pick'd out and chosen 
 among the ancientest Men of the Na- 
 tion he is King of. These meet him in 
 all general Councils and Debates, con* 
 cerning War, Peace, Trade, Hunting 
 and all the Adventures and Accidents 
 of Humane Affairs, which appear 
 within their Verge; where all affairs 
 are discoursed of and argued pro and 
 con, very deliberately, (without mak- 
 ing any manner of Parties or Divisions 
 for the Good of the Publick; for, as 
 they meet there to treat, they dis- 
 charge their duty with all the Integrity 
 imaginable, never looking towards 
 their own interest before the Publick 
 Good. After every Man has given his 
 Opinion, that which has most Voices, 
 or, in Summing up, is found most rea- 
 sonable, that they make use of with- 
 out any Jars and Wrangling, and put 
 it in Execution, the first Opportunity 
 that offers. 
 
 The Succession falls not to the 
 King's Son, but to his Sister's Sou, 
 vA'hich is a sure Way to prevent Impos- 
 ters in the Succession. Sometimes they 
 Poison the Heir to make way for an- 
 other, wihch is not seldom done, when 
 they do not approve of the Youth that 
 is to succeed them. The King himself 
 is commonly Chief Doctor in that Cure. 
 
 They are so well versed in Poison, 
 that they are often found to poison 
 whole families; nay, most of a town; 
 and which is most to be admired, they 
 will poison a running Spring, or Foun- 
 tain of Water, so that whosoever 
 drinks thereof, shall infallably die. 
 When the Offender is discovered, his 
 very Relations Urge for Death, whom 
 nothing will appease but the most cruel 
 Torture imaginable, which is executed 
 in the most Publick manner that Is 
 possible to act such a Tragedy in. For 
 all the whole Nation, and all the In- 
 dians within a hundred Mile (if it is 
 possible to send for them), are sum- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 115 
 
 moned to come and appear at such a 
 place and time, to see and rejoice at 
 the Torments and Death of such a 
 Person, who is the common and pro- 
 fess'd Enemy to all the friendly In- 
 dians thereabouts, who now lies under 
 the Condemnation of the whole Nation, 
 and accordingly is to be put to death. 
 Then all appear (Young and Old) from 
 all the adjacent Parts, and meet with 
 all the Expressions of Joy, to consum- 
 mate this Horrid and Barbarous Feast, 
 which is carried on after this Dismal 
 manner. First they bring the Prisoner 
 to the place that is appointed for his 
 Execution, where he is set down on 
 his Breech on the Ground. Then they 
 all get around him and you shall not 
 see one sorrowful or dejected Coun- 
 tenance amongst them, but all vei-y 
 merrily disposed, as if some comedy 
 was to be acted, instead of a Tragedy. 
 He that is appointed to be the Chief 
 Executioner, takes a Knife and bids 
 him to hold out his Hands, which ha 
 does, and then cuts around the "Wrist 
 through the Skin, which is Drawn off 
 like a Glove, and flead quite off at the 
 Fingers Ends; then they break his 
 Joints and Bones and torment him af- 
 ter a very inhumane Manner, till some 
 Violent Blow perhaps ends his days; 
 then they burn him to Ashes and 
 throw them down the River. After- 
 wards they Eat, Drink and are Merry, 
 repeating all the Actions of the Tor- 
 mentors and the Prisoner, with a great 
 deal of mirth and satisfaction. This 
 accusation is laid against an Indian 
 Heroe sometimes wrongfully, or when 
 they wish to get rid of a Man that has 
 more Courage and Conduct than his 
 neighbouring Kings or Great Men; 
 then they allege the Practice of pois- 
 oning Indians against him, and make a 
 Rehearsal of every Indian that died for 
 a year or two, and say that they were 
 poisoned by such an Indian; which re- 
 
 ports stir up all the Relations of the 
 deceased against the said Person, and 
 by such means make him away pres- 
 ently. In some Affairs, these Savages 
 are very reserv'd and politick, and will 
 attend a long time with a great deal 
 of Patience, to bring about their De- 
 signs; they being never impatient or 
 hasty in bringing about any of their 
 Designs of Revenge. 
 
 Now I am gone so far in giving an 
 account of the Indian's Temper, I will 
 proceed; and can give you no other 
 character of them, but that they are a 
 very wary People, and are never hasty 
 or impatient. They will endure a great 
 many Misfortunes, Losses and Dissap- 
 pointments without shewing them- 
 selves, in the least vex'd or uneasy. 
 When they go by Water, if there 
 proves a Head Wind, they never vex 
 and fret as the Europeans do, and let 
 what Misfortune come to them, as wUl 
 or can happen, they never relent. Be- 
 sides there is one Vice very common 
 everywhere, which I never found 
 amongst them, which is envying other 
 ivlen's Happiness, because their station 
 is not equal to, or above their Neigh- 
 bours. Of this Sin, I cannot say I ever 
 saw an Example, though they are a 
 People that set as great a Value upon 
 themselves, as any sort of Men in the 
 World; upon which account they find 
 something valuable in themselves 
 above Riches. Thus, he that is a good 
 Warriour, is the proudest Creature liv- 
 ing, and he that is an expert Hunter is 
 esteemed by the People and himself; 
 yet all these are Natural Vertues and 
 Gifts, and not Riches, which are as 
 often in possession of a Fool as a Wise 
 Man. Several of the Indians are pos- 
 sessed of a great many Skins, Wam- 
 pum, Ammunition and what other 
 things are esteemed riches amongst 
 them; yet such an Indian is no more 
 esteemed among them, than any other 
 
ii6 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 ordinary Fellow, provided he has no 
 personal endowments, which are the 
 ornaments that must gain him an 
 esteem among them; for a great Dealer 
 amongst the Indians, is no otherwise 
 respected and esteemed, than as a Man 
 that strains his Wits, and fatigues 
 himself, to furnish others with the 
 Necessaries of life, that live much 
 easier and enjoy more of the World, 
 than he himself does with all his Pelf. 
 If they are taken Captives, and ex- 
 pect a Miserable exit they Sing; if. 
 Death approaches them in Sickness 
 they are not afraid of it, nor are any 
 heard to say. Grant me some time. 
 They know by instinct and daily ex- 
 ample that they must die, wherefore 
 they have that great and noble Gift to 
 submit to everything that happens, 
 and value nothing that attacks them. 
 Their Cruely to their Prisoners cf 
 War is what they are seemingly Guilty 
 of an Error in, (I mean as to a natural 
 Failing) because they strive to invent 
 the most inhumane Butcheries for 
 them, that the Devils themselves could 
 invent, or hammer out of Hell, they 
 esteeming Death no punishment, but 
 rather an Advantage to him, that is ex- 
 ported out of this into another world. 
 Therefore they inflict on them Tor- 
 ments, wherein they prolong life in 
 that Miserable state as long as they 
 can, and never miss skulping of them, 
 as they call it, which is to cut off the 
 Skin from the Temples, and taking the 
 whole Head of Hair with it, as if it 
 were a Night-Cap. Sometimes they 
 take the top of the Head along with 
 it, all which they preserve and care- 
 fully keep by them, for a Trophy of 
 their Conquest over their Enemies. 
 Others keep their Enemies Teeth, 
 which are taken in War, while others 
 split the Pitch-Pine into Splinters, and 
 stick them into the Prisoner's Body yet 
 alive. Thus they light them, which 
 
 burn like so many torches; and in this 
 manner they make him dance around a 
 great Fire, every one buffeting and de- 
 riding him, till he expires, when every 
 one strives to get a bone or some relic 
 of this unfortunate Captive. One cf 
 the Young Fellows that has been at 
 the Wars, and has had the fortune to 
 take a Captive, returns the Proudest 
 Creature on the Earth, and sets such 
 a Value on Himself that he knows 
 not how to retain his Senses. The 
 Iroquois, or Sinnagars, are the most 
 War-like Indians that we know of, be- 
 ing always at War and not to be per- 
 suaded from that Way of living by any 
 Argument that can be used. If you go 
 to persuade them to live peaceably 
 with the Tuskeruros, and let them be 
 one People, in case those Indians 
 desire it and will submit to them, they 
 will answer you, that they cannot live 
 without War, which they have been 
 ever used to; and that if Peace be 
 made with the Indians they now war 
 withal, they must find out some others 
 to Wage War against; for, for them to 
 live in Peace ie to live out of their 
 element. War, Conquest and Murder 
 being what they delight in, and value 
 themselves for. When they take a 
 Slave, and intend to keep him to work 
 in their Fields, they cut the Skin from 
 the setting of his Toes to the middle 
 of his Foot, so cut off one-half of his 
 Feet, wrapping the Skin over the 
 Wounds and healing them. By this 
 cruel Method the Indian Captive is 
 hindered from making his escape, for 
 he can neither run fast nor go any- 
 where, but his Feet are more easily 
 traced and discovered. Yet I know 
 one Man who made his escape from 
 them, tho' they had thus disabled him, 
 as you will see in my Journal. 
 
 The Indians ground their Wlars on 
 Enn^iitv, not on Interest, as the Euro- 
 oeans do; for the Loss of the Meanest 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 117 
 
 Derson in the N'ation they wi.l go to 
 War and lay all at Stake, and Prose- 
 cute their design to the utmost; till 
 the Nation they were injured by, be 
 wholly Destroyed or make them that 
 Satisfaction which they demand. They 
 are very Politick in Waging and carry- 
 ing on their Wars, first by ad\'1sinff 
 with all the ancient Men of Conduct 
 and Reason, that belong to their Na- 
 tion, such as superannuated War-Cap- 
 tains, and those that have been Coun- 
 sellors for many yeiars, and whose ad- 
 vice has commonly succeeded very 
 well. They have likewise their FielJ 
 Counsellors, who are accustomed to 
 Amibuscades, and Surprises, which 
 Methods are commonly used by th? 
 Savages, for I scarce ever heard of a 
 field battle fought amongst them. 
 
 One of their expeditions afforded an 
 Instance, worthy of Mention, which 
 wias thus: Two Nations of Indians 
 here in Carolina were at War with 
 each other, and a Party of each were 
 in the Forest, ranging to see what 
 Elnemies they could take. The lesser 
 Number found they were discovered, 
 and could not well get over a Rivei 
 (that lay betwixt them and their 
 home) without engaging the other 
 Plarty, whose nurrnber was much the 
 greater; so they called a Coanji , 
 which met, and baving weighed their 
 Present Circumstances with a greac 
 deal of Argument and Debate, for a 
 considerable time, and found their en- 
 emies' Advantage and thtat they cou'.d 
 expect no Success in Engaging such an 
 unequal number, they at last c^ncui- 
 ed on this Strataeem, which, in m-y 
 opinion, carried a great deal of Pol- 
 icy with it. It was, thiat the same 
 Night, they should make a great Fire, 
 whidh they were certain would be Dis- 
 covered by the adverse Party, and 
 then dress up logs of Wood in their 
 CLoaths, and make them exactly seem 
 like Indians, that were asleep by the 
 
 Fireside: (which is their way when in 
 the Woods) so, said they, our Enemies 
 will fire upon these Imlages. supposing' 
 them to be us, who will lie In Ambus- 
 cade, and. after their Guns are un- 
 loaded, shall deal well enough with 
 them. This result was immediately put 
 in Execution, and the fire was made by 
 the Side of a Valley, where they lay 
 perdu very advantvageously. Thus, a 
 little before break of day, (which is 
 commonly the Hour they surprise their 
 Enemies) the Indians came down to 
 their Fire and at once fired in upon 
 those Logs in the Indians' Cloaths, 
 and run up to them, expecting they 
 had killed every Man dead; but they 
 found themselves mistaken, for then 
 the other Indians, who had lUin all the 
 ni^ht stark naked in the Bottom, at- 
 tacked them with their Loaded Pieces, 
 which so Surprised them that every 
 man was taken Prisoner and brought 
 in bound to their Town. 
 
 Another Instance was betwixt the 
 Machapunga Indians, and the Cora- 
 nines, on the Sand-Banks; which was 
 as follows: The Machapungas were in- 
 vited to a Feast by the Coranines; 
 (which two Nations had been a lone 
 time at War together, but had lately 
 concluded a Peace) Thereupon, the 
 Machapunga Indians took the advan- 
 tage of coming to the Coranine's Feast, 
 which was to avoid all suspicion, and 
 their King, who, of a Savage, is a 
 great Politician and very stout, order- 
 ed all the Men to cari-y their Toma- 
 hauks along with them, hidden under 
 their Match Coats; which they did, 
 and being acquainted when to fall on, 
 by the Word given, they 'all (upon 
 this design) set forward for the Feast, 
 and came to the Coranine town, where 
 they had gotten Victuals, Fruit and 
 such things as make an Indian Enter- 
 tainment, all ready to make these new 
 Friends welcome, which they did, and 
 after Dinner, towards the Evening, (as 
 
ii8 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 it is customary among-st tliem) they 
 went to dancing, altogether; so when 
 the Machapun^a King saw the test 
 opportunity to offer, he gave the Word 
 and their Men pulled their Torr.ahauks 
 from under the Match Coats and IciU- 
 ed several and took the rest Prisoners, 
 except some few that were not pres- 
 ent and four or Ave that escaped. The 
 Prisoners they sold as Slaves to the 
 Ensrlish. At the time this was done, 
 those Indians had nothing but bows 
 and Arrows, neither side having Guns. 
 
 The Indians are very Revengeful, 
 and never forget an Injury done, till 
 they have received Satisfaction. Tet 
 they are the freest People from Heats 
 and Passions (which possess the Eu- 
 ropeans) of any I ever heard of. They 
 never call any Man to an account of 
 what he did when he was Drunk; but 
 say it was the Drink thiat caused his 
 misbehaviour; therefore he ought to be 
 forgiven. They never frequent a Chris- 
 tian's House that is given to Passion, 
 nor will they ever buy or sell with 
 him, if they can get the same Commo- 
 dities of any other Person; they say 
 such Men are Mad Wolves and no more 
 Men. 
 
 Thev know not wh>at Jeaiojsy is, be- 
 cause they never think their Wives are 
 Inconstant, unless they are Eye-wit- 
 nesses thereof. They are generally very 
 bashful, espiecially the young Maids, 
 who when they come into a strange 
 Cabin, where they are not acquainted, 
 never ask for ^anything, though never 
 so hungry or thirsty, but tit down 
 wi hout speaking a word (be it ever so 
 loi g) till some of the House asks them 
 a question, or falls into Discourse, 
 with the Stranger. I never saw a Scold 
 amongst them, and to their Children 
 they are extraordinary tender and in- 
 dulgent. Neither did I ever see a 
 Parent correct a Child, excepting one 
 Woman Who was the Kings Wife, 
 and she, indeed, did possess a temper 
 
 that is not commonly found amongst 
 them. They are free fromi all manner 
 of Compliments, except shaking of 
 Hands, and Scratching on the Shoul- 
 der, which two are the greatest mark* 
 of friendship, that can be shewed one 
 to another. They cannot express fare 
 you well, but when they leave thes 
 House will say, I go straightway, 
 which is to intimate their Denarture; 
 and if the Man of the House has any 
 Message to send by the gt-ing Man, 
 he may acquaint him there wiih. Their 
 Tongues allow not to say, Sir, I am 
 your servant, because they have no 
 different titles for Man, cnly King, 
 War-Captain, Old Man or Young Man, 
 which respects the Stiations and Cir- 
 cumstances Men are employed in, and 
 arrived to, and not Ceremony. As for 
 Servant, they have no such thing, ex- 
 cept Slave, and their Dogs, Oats, Tame 
 or Domestick Beasts, and Birds, are 
 called bv the same Name; for the In- 
 dian Word for Slave includes them all. 
 So when an Indian tells you he has got 
 a Slave for you, it miay (in general 
 Terms, as they use) be a young Eagle, 
 a Dos, Otter, or any other thing of 
 that nature, which is obseouiously to 
 denend on the Master for its Susten- 
 ance. 
 
 They are never fearful in the night, 
 nor do the thoughts of spirits tioub'e 
 them; such as the many Hobgoblins 
 and Buffbears as that we suck in with 
 our milk, and the foolery of our Nurses 
 and Servants suggest to us; who, by 
 their idle Tales of Fairies and 
 Witches, Make Imipressions on our ten- 
 der Years, that at Maturity we carry 
 Pigmiies' Souls in Giant Bodies and 
 ever after are theiefcy ro much derriv- 
 ed of reason, and Unmann'd, as never 
 to be Masters of half the Braverv Na- 
 ture desierned for us. 
 
 Not but what the Indians have as 
 Many Lying Stories of Spirits and Con- 
 jurers as any people in the Wcrid; 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 119 
 
 but they tell it with no disadvantiase 
 to themselves; for the great esleem 
 which the old Men bring themselvts to 
 is by making the others believe their 
 Familiarity with Devils and Spirits 
 and how great a Correspondence they 
 have therewith, which if it once gains 
 credit, they are ever after held in the 
 greatest Veneration, and whalevet- 
 they after impose on the People, is re- 
 ceived as Infallible. They are so little 
 Startled at the thoughts of Ancther 
 World that they not seldom murder 
 Themselves, as for instance a Bear 
 River Indian, a very likely young Fel- 
 low, about 20 years of Age, whose 
 Mother was angiy at his drinking ot 
 too much Rum. and chid him for it, 
 thereupon he replied he would have 
 her satisfied, and he would do the like 
 no more; upon which he made his 
 Words good, for he went aside and 
 shot himself dead. This was a son of 
 the Politick KLing of the Machapung^a, 
 I SDoke of before, and was the naost 
 Cunniner of any Indian I ever Met 
 withal. 
 
 Most of the Savages are much ad- 
 dicted to Drunkenness and Vice they 
 never were acquainted with, till the 
 Christians came amongst them. Some 
 of them refrain from drinking strong 
 liquors, but very few of that sort are 
 found amongst them. Their chief 
 Liquor is Rum, without any mixture. 
 This the English bring an-.onsst them, 
 and buv Skins, Furs, Slaves and ether 
 of their Commodities therewith. They 
 never are contented with a little, but 
 when once besun, they mjust make 
 themselves quite drunk; otherwise 
 they will never rest, but sell all they 
 have in the World, rather than not 
 have their full dose. In these drunken 
 r'rolics, which are always carried on ir 
 the Night, they sometimes murder one 
 another, fall into the Fire, fall down 
 Precipices, and break the^r Necks. 
 with several other Misfortunes which 
 
 this drinking of Rum brings upon 
 them; and tho' they are sensible of it, 
 yet they have no Power to refrain from 
 this Enemy. About five years ago, 
 when Landgrave Daniel was Gover- 
 nour, he summoned all the Indian 
 Kines and Rulers to Meet, and in a 
 full meeting of the Government and 
 Council with those Indi^ans, they 
 aereed upion a firm Peace, and the In- 
 dian Rulers desired no Rum might be 
 sold them, which was granted and a 
 Law made, that inflicted a Penalty to 
 those that sold Rurm to the Heathens: 
 but it Was never s;.rictly obsezvei, and 
 besides the young Indians were so dis- 
 gusted at that ariicle, that they 
 threatened to kill the Indians that 
 made it, unless it was laid aside, and 
 they might have Rum sold them, when 
 they went to the Englishmen's houses 
 to buy it. 
 
 Some of the heathens are eg verv 
 poor that they have no manner of 
 Cloaths. save a Wad of Moss to hide 
 their Nakedness. They are either 
 lusty and will not work; otherwise 
 they are giving to Gaming and 
 Drunkenness, yet these get Victuals 
 as well of the rest, because that Is 
 common amongst them. If ihey are 
 caught in Theft, they are slaves until 
 they repay the Person (as I mentioned 
 before) but to steal from the Enelish 
 they reckon no harm. Not but that I 
 have known som.e few Savages that 
 have been as free from theft as any 
 of the Christians. When they have a 
 desire to lie with a Woman, which they 
 cannot obtain any otherwise than by 
 a larger reward than they aie able to 
 give, then they strive to make her 
 drunk, which a great many of them 
 will be. then they take the advantage 
 to do with them what they please, and 
 sometimes in their Drunkenness cut off 
 their Hair and sell it to the Enslish, 
 which is the greatest affront that can 
 be offered them. They never value 
 
I20 
 
 i.a.wson's history 
 
 time, for if they be going out to Hunt, 
 Pish, or any other indifferent Business 
 you may keep themi in talk as long 
 as you please, so you but keep them 
 In Discourse, and seemed pleased with 
 their Company; yet none are more ex- 
 peditious and safer Messengers than 
 they, when any extraordinary Business 
 that they are sent about requires it. 
 
 When they are upon traveling the 
 Woods, they keep a constant Pace, 
 neither will they stride over 'a tree 
 that lies across the Path, tout always 
 go round it, which is quite contrary to 
 the custom of the English and other 
 Europeans. When they cut with a 
 Knife, the edge is toward them, where- 
 as we always cut and whittle from us. 
 Nor did I ever see one of them left- 
 handed. Before the Christians came 
 amongst them, not knowing the use of 
 Steel and Flints, they got their fire 
 with Sticks, which by vehement colli- 
 sion, or Rubbing together, take Fire. 
 This method they will sometimes prac- 
 tise now, when it has happened thro- 
 rainy weather, or some other accident, 
 that they have wet their spiunk, wh.ch 
 is a sort of soft, corky substance, gen- 
 erally of a Cinnamon Colour, and 
 grows in the Concave part of an Oak, 
 Hiccory, and several other Woods, be- 
 ing dug out with an Ax, and always 
 kept by the Indians, instead of Tinder 
 or Touch-Wood, both which it ex- 
 ceeds. You are to understand that the 
 two sticks which they use to strike fire 
 withal, are never of one sort of Woof, 
 but always differ from eiach other. 
 
 They are expert Travellers, and tho' 
 they have not use of our artificial Com- 
 pass, yet they understand the North 
 Point exactly, let them be in never so 
 great a wilderness. One Guide is a 
 short Moss, that grows upon some 
 trees, exactly on the north side thereof. 
 
 Besides they have n'ames for eight of 
 the thirty-two points; and call the 
 Winds by their Several Names, as we 
 
 do. but indeed more properly, for the 
 North- Wind is called the Cold Wind; 
 the Northeast the Wet Wind; the 
 South the Warm Wind; and so aaree- 
 ably to the rest. Sometimes it happens, 
 that they have a large River or Dake 
 to jDass over, and the Weather is vary 
 foggy, as it often happens in the 
 Spring and flail of the Leaf, so that 
 they cannot see wihich course to stear. 
 In such Case thev, toeing on one side 
 of the River, or Lake, know well 
 enough what Course such a Place, 
 (which they intend for) bears from 
 them. Therefore they get a gieat many 
 sticks and chunks of wood, in their 
 Canoe, and then set off directly for 
 their Port, and now and then throw 
 over la Piece of Wood, which directs 
 them by seeing how the stick bears 
 from theCanoe stern, which they al- 
 ways observe to keep right aft; and 
 this is the Indian compass by which 
 they will go over a broad Water of ten 
 or twenty Leagues wide. They will 
 find the head of any River, though it 
 is five or six hundred miles off, and 
 they were never there in their lives 
 before: as is often proved by their ap- 
 pointing to meet on the Head of such 
 a Ri\'er, v.'here porhaps none of them 
 ever was before, but where they shall 
 rendezvous exactly at the prefixed 
 time, and if they meet with any ob- 
 struction, they shall leave certain 
 marks in the way, where they that 
 come after will understand how many 
 have passed by alre'adv, and wh.ch 
 way they have gone. Besides, in their 
 War expeditions they have very cer- 
 tain Hieroglyphi'cks, whereby each 
 party informs the other of the success 
 or Losses they have met withal; all 
 of which is so exactly performed by 
 their Sylvan Marks and Characters 
 that they are never at a loss to un- 
 derstand one another. Yet there was 
 never found any letters amiong the 
 Savages of Caro'ina; nor, I believe, 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 121 
 
 amon^ any other natives of America, 
 that were possessed of any Manner of 
 Writing or Learning, throughout all 
 the Discoveries of the New Woild. 
 They will draw Maps very exactly of 
 all the Rivers, Towns, Mountains, and 
 Roads, or what you shall inquire of 
 them, which you may draw by their 
 Directions and come to a small Matter 
 of Latitude, reckoning- by their day's 
 Journeys. These nraaps they will draw 
 in the Ashes of the Fire, and some- 
 times upon a Mat or piece of Bark. I 
 have Diut a Pen and Ink into a Sav- 
 age's Hand, and he has drawn the Riv- 
 ers, Bays and other parts of the Coun- 
 try, which afterwards I have found to 
 agree with a great deal of Nicety. Bat 
 you must be very much in their fav- 
 our, otherwise they will never mike 
 these Discoveries to you, especially ,if 
 it be in their own Quarters. And as for 
 Mines of Silver and other Metal, we 
 are siatisfied we have enow, and those 
 very rich, in Carolina, and its adja- 
 cent Parts; some of which the Indians 
 are acquainted withal, although no in- 
 quiries thereof are made, but what 
 came and were discovered by Chance, 
 yet thev ssuy, it is this metal that the 
 English covet, as they do their Peak 
 and Ronoak. and that we have gained 
 Ground for them wherever we have 
 come. Now, say they, if we should 
 discover these Minerals to the Enerlish, 
 they would settle at or near thess 
 Mountains, and bereave us of the best 
 Hunting Quarters we have, as they 
 have already done where^ver they 
 have inha;bitedj so by that means we 
 shall be driven into some unknown 
 country, to live, hunt, and get our 
 bread in. These are the reasons that 
 the Savages give, for not making 
 known what they are acquainted with- 
 al, of that Nature. And, indeed, all 
 Men that have ever gone upon those 
 Discoveries, allow them to be good; 
 more especially my ingenious Friend, 
 
 Mr. Francis Louis Mitchell, of Bern, 
 in Switzerland, who has been for sev- 
 eral years, very indefatigable and 
 strict in his discoveries amongst those 
 vast Ledges of Mounttains, and spa- 
 cious Tracts of Land, lying towards 
 the Heads of the Great Bays and Riv- 
 ers of Virginia and Maryland, and 
 Pennsylvania, where he has discovered 
 a spacious Country inhabited by none 
 but the Savages, and not many of 
 them; who yet are of a very friendlv 
 nature to the Christians. This Gen- 
 tleman has been employed by the Can- 
 ton of Bern, to find out a tract of 
 Land In the English America, where 
 that Republick might settle some of 
 their People, which Proposal, I believe, 
 is now in a fair way towiard a Conclu- 
 sion, between Her Majesty of Great 
 Britain and that Canton. Which 
 must needs be of a great advantage 
 to us both, and as for ourselves. I be- 
 lieve, no Man that is in his Witi?, and 
 understands the Situation and affairs 
 in America, but will allow, no thins 
 can be of more security, and advan- 
 tage to the Crown and Subjects of 
 Gretat Britain, than to have our Fron- 
 tiers secured by a War-Like People, 
 and our Friends, as the Switzers are; 
 especially ,when we have more Indians 
 than we can civilize, and so manv 
 Christian enemies lying on the back o- 
 us. that we do not know how long or 
 short a time it be before they mav 
 visit us. Add to these, the Effects and 
 Products that may be expected from 
 those Mountains, which may hereaf- 
 ter prove of great advantage to the 
 British Monarchy, and none more tit 
 than an industrious people, bred in a 
 Mountainous Country, and inur'd to 
 all the Patieues of War and Travel, 
 to improve a Country. Thus we have 
 no room to doubt, but as soon as any 
 of these Parts are seated by the Switz- 
 ers, a great many Britains wi 1 strive 
 to live amongst them, for the benefit 
 
122 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 of the sweet air and healthful Climate 
 which that country affords, were it 
 only for the cultivation of Hemp, Flax, 
 Wine and other valuable Stapleg, 
 which those People are fuly acquaint- 
 ed withal; not to mention the advan- 
 tages already discovered by that 
 worthy gentleman I just now spcke of, 
 who is hishly deserving of the con- 
 duct and Management of such an af- 
 fair, as that Wise Canton has en- 
 trusted him withal. 
 
 When these Savages go a hunting, 
 they commonly go out in great Num- 
 bers, and oftentimes a great many 
 days journey from home, beginning 
 at the coming in of Winter; that is 
 when the Leaves are fallen from the 
 Trees, and are becoming Dry. 'Tis 
 then they burn the Woods, by set- 
 ting fire on the Leaves, and wither'd 
 Bent and Grass, which they do with 
 a Match made of the Black Moss that 
 hangs on the Trees in Carolina, and 
 is sometimes above six foot long. 
 This, when dead, becomes black, (tho' 
 of an Ash-Colour before) and will then 
 hold fire as well as the best match 
 we have in Europe. In Places where 
 this Moss is not found, (as towards 
 the Mountains) they make Lintels of 
 the Bark of Cypress beaten, which 
 serves as well. Thus they go and fire 
 the Woods for Many Miles, and drive 
 the Deer and other Game into small 
 Necks of Land and Isthmus's, where 
 they kill and destroy what they please. 
 In these Hunting-Quarters they have 
 their Wives and Ladies of the Camp, 
 where they Eat all the Fruits and 
 Dainties of that Country and live in 
 all the Mirth and Jollity, which is 
 Possible for such People to enter- 
 tain themselves withal. Here it is that 
 they get their Complement of Deer- 
 Skins and Furs to trade with the 
 English, (the Deer Skins being in Sea- 
 son in Winter, which is contrary to 
 England.) All small game, as Tarkies, 
 
 Ducks and small Vermine, they com- 
 monly kill with bow and arrow, think- 
 ing it not worthy throwing Powder 
 and Shot after them. Of Turkies they 
 have abundance, especially in Oak- 
 Land, as most of it is that lies any 
 distance backwards. I have been of- 
 ten in their Hunting-Quarters, where 
 a roasted or barbakued Turkey, eaten 
 with Bear's Fat, is held a good Dish; 
 and indeed I approve of it very well; 
 for the Bear's Greese is the sweetest 
 and least offensive to the stomach (as 
 I said before) of any Fat of animals 
 I ever tasted. The Savage Men never 
 beat their corn to make bread; but 
 that is the Woman's work, especially 
 the Girls, of whom you shall see four 
 beating with long great pestils in a 
 narrow wooden mortar; and every one 
 keeps her stroke so exactly, that 'tis 
 worthy of admiration. Their Cookery 
 continues from Morning until Night. 
 The Hunting makes them Hungry and 
 the Indians are a People that eat 
 very often, not seldom getting up 
 at midnight to eat. They Plant a 
 great many sorts of Pulse, part of 
 which they keep green in Summer, 
 keeping great quantities of their Win- 
 ter store, which they carry along with 
 them into the Hunting-Quarters, and 
 eat them. 
 
 At their setting out, they have 
 Indians to attend their Hunting 
 Camp, that are not good and expert 
 Hunters; therefore are employ'd to 
 carry burdens, to get Bark for the Cab- 
 ins and other servile work; also to 
 go backward and forward to their 
 Towns, to carry News to the old Peo- 
 ple, whom they leave behind them. The 
 Women are forced to carry their Loads 
 of Grain and other Provisions, and 
 get Fire- Wood; for a good Hunter or 
 Warrior in these expeditions, is em- 
 ploy'd in no other business than the 
 Affairs of Game and Battle. The Wild 
 Fruits, which are dry'd in Summer 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 123 
 
 over Fires, on Hurdles and in the 
 Sun, are now brought into the Field; 
 as are likewise the Cakes and Quid- 
 donies of Peaches, and that Fruit and 
 Bilberries dry'd, of which they stew 
 and make Fruit, Bread and Cakes. In 
 some parts where Pigeons are penti- 
 ful, they get of their Fat enough to 
 supply their Winter Stores. Thus they 
 abide in these quarters all the Winter 
 long, till the time approach for plant- 
 ing their Maiz and other fruits. In 
 these quarters at spare hours the Wo- 
 men make Baskets and Mats to lie 
 upon, and those that are not extra- 
 ordinary Hunters, make Bowls, Dish- 
 es and spoons of Gum- Wood, and the 
 Tulip-Tree, others (where they find a 
 vein of White Clay fit for that pur- 
 pose) make Tobacco-Pipes, all which 
 are often transported to other Indians 
 that have perhaps greater Plenty of 
 Deer and other Game; so they buy, 
 (with these Manufactures) their Raw- 
 Hides with the Hair on, which our 
 neighbouring Indians bring to their 
 Towns, and, in the summertime make 
 the Slaves and sorry Hunters dress 
 them, the Winter Sun being not strong 
 enough to dry them; and those that 
 are dry'd in the Cabins are black and 
 nasty with the Light-Wood Smoke, 
 which they commonly burn. Their 
 way of dressing their Skins is by 
 soaking them in Water, so they get 
 the Hair off with an Instrument made 
 of the Bone of a Deer's Foot; yet 
 some use a sort of Iron Drawing Knife, 
 which they purchase of the English, 
 and after the Hair is off they dissolve 
 Bear's Brains, (which before-hand are 
 made in a Cake and baked in the 
 Embers) in a Bowl of Water, so soak 
 the Skins therein, till the Brains have 
 sucked up the Water; then they dry 
 it gently and keep working it with an 
 Oyster Shell, or some such thing, to 
 scrape withal, till it is dry; whereby 
 it becomes soft and pliable. Yet those 
 
 so dress'd will not endure wet, but 
 becomes hard thereby; which to pre- 
 vent they either cure them in Smoke, 
 or tan them with Bark, as before ob- 
 served; not but that the young Indian 
 Corn, beaten to a Pulp, will effect the 
 same as the Brains. They are not 
 only good Hunters of the Wild Beasts 
 and Game of the Forest, but very 
 expert in taking Fish of the Waters 
 and Rivers near which they inhabit, 
 and are acquainted withal. Thus they 
 that live a great way up the Rivers 
 practise striking Sturgeon and Rock- 
 Fish, or Bass, when they come up 
 the Rivers to spawn; besides the vast 
 shoals of Sturgeon which they kill 
 and take with Snares, as we do Pike 
 in Europe. The Herrings in March 
 and April run a great way up the 
 Rivers and fresh Streams to spawn, 
 where the Savages make great Wares, 
 with Hedges, and hinder their passage 
 only in the Middle, where an artificial 
 Pond is made to take them in; so that 
 they cannot return. This method is in 
 use all over the fresh Streams, to catch 
 Trout and the other species of Fish 
 which those streams afford. Their tak- 
 ing of Craw-Fish is so pleasant that 
 I cannot pass it without mention: 
 When they have a mind to get these 
 Shell-Fish, they take a piece of Veni- 
 son, and half barbakue or roast it; 
 then they cut it into thin Slices, which 
 slices they stick through with reeds 
 about six inches asunder, betwixt piece 
 and piece; then the Reeds are made 
 sharp at one end; and so they stick 
 a great many of them down in the 
 Water (thus baited) in the small 
 Brooks and Runs, which the Craw- 
 Fish frequent. Thus the Indians sit 
 by and tend those baited Sticks, every 
 now and then taking them up to see 
 how many are at the bait; where they 
 generally find abundance, so take them 
 off and put them in a Basket for the 
 purpose, and stick the reeds down 
 
124 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 again. By this Method, they will, in 
 a little time, catch several bushels, 
 which are as good as any I ever eat. 
 Those Indians that frequent the Salt- 
 Waters, take abundance of Fish, some 
 very large, and of several sorts, which 
 to preserve, they first barbakue them, 
 then pull the Fish to pieces, so dry it 
 in the Sun, whereby it keeps for 
 Transportation; as for Scates, Oysters, 
 Cockles, and several sorts of Shell-Fish 
 they open and dry them upon Hur- 
 dles, having a constant fire under 
 them. The Hurdles are made of Reeds 
 or Canes, in the shape of a Gridiron. 
 Thus they dry several Bushels of these 
 Fish, and keep them for their Necessi- 
 ties. At the time when they are on 
 the Salts, and Sea-Coast, they have 
 another Fishery, that is for a little 
 Shell-Fish, which those in England call 
 Blackmoors Teeth. These they catch 
 by tying Bits of Oysters to a long 
 String, which they lay in such places 
 as they know those Shell-Fish haunt. 
 These Fish get hold of the Oysters 
 and suck them in, so that they pull 
 up those long strings and take great 
 Quantities of them, which they carry 
 a great way into the Main-Land, to 
 trade with the remote Indians, where 
 they are of great value; but never 
 near the Sea, where they are common; 
 therefore not esteemed. Besides the 
 Youth and Indian Boys go in the 
 night, and one holding a Light-Wood 
 torch, the other has a Bow and Ar- 
 row, and the fire directing him to see 
 the Fish, he shoots them with the 
 Arrows; and thus they kill a great 
 many of the smaller Fry and some- 
 times pretty large Ones. It is an es- 
 tablished Custom amongst all these 
 Natives that the young Hunter never 
 eats of that Buck, Bear, Fish or any 
 other game, which happens to be the 
 first they kill of that sort; because 
 they believe if they eat thereof, they 
 would never thereafter be for- 
 
 tunate in Hunting. The like fool- 
 ish ceremony they hold, when they 
 have made a Ware to catch these fish 
 withal; if a big belly'd Woman eat 
 of the first fish that is caught in it, 
 they say that Ware will never take 
 much Fish; and as for killing of 
 Snakes, they avoid it, if they lie in 
 their Way, because their opinion is 
 that some of the Serpents Kindred 
 would kill some of the Savages Rela- 
 tions that should destroy him. They 
 have thousands of these foolish Cere- 
 monies and Beliefs which they are 
 strict observers of. Moreover several 
 Customs are found in some Families, 
 which others keep not; as for example 
 two families of the Machapunga In- 
 dians, use the Jewish customs of Cir- 
 cumcision, and the rest do not; neither 
 did I ever know any others amongst 
 the Indians that practis'd any such 
 thing; and perhaps, if you ask them, 
 what is the reason they do so, they 
 will make you no manner of Answer; 
 which is so much as to say, I will 
 not tell you. Many other Customs 
 they have for which they will render 
 no reason or Account; and to pretend 
 to give a true Description of their Re- 
 ligion, it is impossible, for there are 
 a great many of their Absurdities, 
 which, for some reason, they reserve 
 as a secret amongst themselves; or 
 otherwise they are jealous of their 
 Weakness in the pi'actising of them; 
 so that they never acquaint any Chris- 
 tians with the Knowledge thereof, let 
 Writers pretend what they will; for 
 I have known them amongst their 
 Idols and Dead Kings in their Quiogo- 
 zon for several Days, where I could 
 never get admittance, to see what 
 they were doing, though I was at great 
 friendship with the King and Great 
 Men; but all my Persuasions availed 
 me nothing. Neither were any but the 
 King, with the Conjurer, and some 
 old Men, in the House; as for the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 125 
 
 young Men and chiefest Numbers of 
 the Indians, they were kept as Ignor- 
 ant of what the Elders were doing as 
 myself. 
 
 They all believe that this World is 
 round, and that there are two Spirits, 
 the Good and the Bad one; The Good 
 one they reckon to be the Author and 
 Maker of everything, and say that it 
 is he that gives them the Fruits of 
 the Earth, and taught them to Hunt, 
 Fish and be wise enough to over- 
 power the Beasts of the Wilderness 
 and all other Creatures, that they 
 may be assistant, and beneficial to 
 Man; to which they add that the 
 Quera or Good Spirit, has been very 
 kind to the Englishmen, to teach them 
 to make Guns and Ammunition, be- 
 sides a great many other Necessaries 
 that are helpful to man, all which they 
 say will be delivered to them when 
 the Good Spirit sees fit. They do not 
 believe that God punishes any Per- 
 son, either in this Life, or that to 
 come; but that he delights in doing 
 good, and in giving the Fruits of the 
 Earth, and in instructing us in mak- 
 ing several useful and ornamental 
 things. They say it is a bad Spirit 
 (who lives separate from the good one) 
 that torments us with Sicknesses, Dis- 
 appointments, Losses, Hunger, Travel, 
 and all the Misfortunes that Human 
 Life is incident to. How they are 
 treated in the next World I have al- 
 ready mentioned, and, as I said be- 
 fore, they are very resolute in dying, 
 when in the hands of Savage Ene- 
 mies; yet I saw one of their young 
 Men, a very likely Person, condemn'd 
 on a Sunday for killing a Negro, and 
 burning the House. I took good no- 
 tice of his behaviour when he was 
 brought out of the House to die, 
 which was the next Morning after 
 Sentence, but he changed his Counte- 
 nance with Trembling, and was in the 
 greatest Fear and Agony. I never saw 
 
 any Person under his Circumstances, 
 which perhaps might be occasioned by 
 his being delivered up by his own 
 Nation (which was the Tuskeruro's) 
 and executed by us, that are not their 
 Common Enemies, though he met with 
 more favor than he would have re- 
 ceived at the Hands of the Savages; 
 for he was only hanged on a Tree, 
 near the place where the Murder was 
 committed; and the three Kings that 
 just the Day before showed such a 
 Reluctancy to deliver him up (but 
 would have given another in his 
 room) when he was Hanged, pulled 
 him by the Hand and said. Thou wilt 
 never play any more Rogues Tricks 
 in this World; whither art thou gone 
 to shew thy Tricks now? Which shows 
 these Savages to be what they really 
 are, (viz) a People that will save their 
 own Men if they can, but if the Safety 
 of all the People lies at Stake, they 
 will deliver up the most innocent Per- 
 son living, and be so far from Con- 
 cern'd when they have made them- 
 selves easy thereby, that they will 
 laugh at their Misfortunes, and never 
 pity or think of them more. 
 
 The Priests are the Conjurers and 
 Doctors of the Nation. I shall men- 
 tion some of their Methods and Prac- 
 tises; and so leave them to the judg- 
 ment of the People. As I told you be- 
 for, the Priests make their Orations 
 at every Feast or other Great Meet- 
 ing of the Indians. I happened to be 
 at one of these great Meetings, which 
 was at the Funeral of one of these 
 Tuskeruro Indians, that was slain with 
 lightning at a Feast, the day before, 
 where I was amongst the rest. It was 
 in July and a very Fair Day, where 
 in the afternoon, about six or seven 
 a Clock, as they were dealing out their 
 Victuals, there appeared a little Black 
 Cloud to the Northwest, which spread 
 and brought with it Rain, Wind and 
 Lightning; so we went out from the 
 
126 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 Place where we were all at Victuals, 
 and went down to the Cabins, where 
 I left the Indians and went to lie in 
 my Canoe, which was convenient 
 enough to keep me dry. The Light- 
 ning came so terrible, and down in 
 long streams, that I was afraid it 
 would have taken hold of a Barrel of 
 Powder I had in my Vessel, and so 
 blow me up; but it pleased God that 
 it did me no harm; yet the Violence 
 of the Storm had blown all the Water 
 away, where I rid at Anchor, so that 
 my Canoe lay dry, and some Indian 
 Women came with Torches in their 
 Hands to the side of the Canoe, and 
 told me an Indian was killed with 
 Lightning. The next day, (I think) 
 he was buried, and I stayed to see 
 the Ceremony, and was very tractable 
 to help the Indians to trim their 
 Reeds, and make the Coffin, which 
 pleased them very much, being be- 
 cause I had a Mind to see the Inter- 
 ment. Before he v/as interr'd accord- 
 ing to their Custom, they dealt every 
 one some hot Victuals, which he took 
 and did what he would with. Then 
 the Doctor began to talk and told the 
 people what Lightning was, and that 
 it kill'd everything that dwelt upon 
 the Earth; nay the very Fishes did 
 not escape, for it often reach'd the Por- 
 poises and other Fish, and destroyed 
 them; that everything strove to shun 
 it except the Mice, who, he said were 
 the busiest in eating the Corn in their 
 Fields when it was lightning the Most. 
 He added that no Wood or Tree could 
 withstand it, except the Black Gum, 
 and that it would run around that 
 Tree a great many times, to enter 
 therein, but could not effect it. Now 
 you must understand, that sort of Gum 
 will not split or rive; therefore I sup- 
 pose the story must arise from thence. 
 At last he began to tell the most ri- 
 diculous absurd Parcel of Lyes about 
 Lightning that could be; as that an 
 
 Indian of that Nation had once got 
 Lightning in the Likeness of a Part- 
 ridge; That no other Lightning could 
 harm him, whilst he had that about 
 him; and that after he had kept it 
 for several years it got away from 
 him; so that he then became as liable 
 to be struck as any other person. 
 There was present at the same time 
 an Indian that had liv'd from his 
 youth chiefly in an English house; so 
 I call'd him and told him what a 
 Parcel of Lyes the Conjurer told, not 
 doubting that he thought so as well 
 as I, but found to the contrary: For 
 he replied that I was much mistaken, 
 for that Old Man (who I believe was 
 upwards of an Hundred Years old) did 
 never tell Lyes; and, as for what 
 he said, it was very true, for he knew 
 it himself to be so. Thereupon, seeing 
 the Fellow's Ignorance, I talked no 
 more about it. Then the Doctor pro- 
 ceeded to tell a long Tale of a Rattle- 
 Snake, which, a great while ago, lived 
 by a Creek in that River (which was 
 Neus) and that it kill'd abundance of 
 Indians, but last a Bald Eagle killed 
 it and they were rid of a Serpent 
 that used to devour Great Canoes full 
 of Indians, at a time. I have been 
 something tedious upon this subject, on 
 purpose to shew what strange ridicu- 
 lous stories these Wretches are inclina- 
 ble to believe. I suppose these Doctors 
 understand a little better themselves, 
 than to give credit to any such Fcol- 
 eries; for I reckon them amongst the 
 cunningest Knaves in all the Pack. I 
 will therefore begin with their Phys ck 
 and Surgery, which is next. You must 
 know that the Doctors cr Conjurers, to 
 gain a greater Credit aniongst thesa 
 People, tell them that all Distempers 
 are the effects of Evil Spirits, cr the 
 Bad Spirit which has struck them with 
 this or that Malady; therefore none 
 of these Phyficims underiakes any 
 Distemper, but that he comes, to an 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 127 
 
 Exorcism, to effect the Cure, and ac- 
 quaints the sick piTty's frends th it 
 he must converse "wi'h the Go d Spirit 
 to know whether the patient will re- 
 cover or not: if so. then he will drive 
 out the Bad Spirit, and the Pati ;nt will 
 become well. Now the general way of 
 their behaviour in curing the Sick, (^ 
 Kreat deal of which I have seen a'^d 
 shall give some account thereof, in as 
 brief a manner as possible) is, when 
 as Indian is Sick, if they think there 
 is much Danger of Life, and that he 
 is a great Man or hath good friends, the 
 Doctor is sent for. As soon as th- 
 Doctor comes to the Cabin the sck Per- 
 son is sat on a Mat or Skin, stark- 
 naked, lying on his back, and all un- 
 covered except some small t-ifle that 
 covers their Nakednes- when rp-. 
 otherwise, in very young Childr n. th-r^ 
 is nothing about them. In thi- man- 
 ner the Patient lies when the Conjurer 
 appears; and the King of that Nat>n 
 comes to attend him With a Rat'l^ 
 made of a Gourd with Pease in it 
 This the King delivers into the Doc- 
 tor's hand, whilst another bings a 
 Bowl of Water and sets it down: then 
 the Doctor begins and ulters some few 
 Words very softly: afterwards h^ 
 smells of the Patients Navel and Belly, 
 and sometimes scarifies him a little 
 with a flint, or an instrument made 
 of rattlesnake's skin for that purpose: 
 then he sucks the wounds and gets 
 a mouthful of Blood and Serum, but 
 Serum chiefly: which, may perhaps b^ 
 a better Method in nviny cases, than 
 to take away gre'at quantities of Blood, 
 as is commonly practised, which he 
 spits into the Bowl of Water. Then he 
 begins to mutter and talk a space, and 
 at last to cut Capers and clap his hands 
 on his breech and sides, so that he 
 gets into a sweat, so that a Stranser 
 would think he was running Mad; now 
 and then sucking the Patient, and .so, 
 at times, keeps sucking till he has got 
 
 a great quantity of i 1-co! ured natter 
 out of the Belly, Arms, Breast, Fore- 
 head, Temples, Neck and most p^.tLs, 
 still continuing his Grlrmaces, and an- 
 tick postures, which are not to be 
 matched in Bedlam. At last you will 
 see the Doctor all over a dropping 
 Sweat and scarce able to utter one 
 Word, having quite spent himself: then 
 he will cease for a while and so be^in 
 ae-ain, till he comes in the same Pitch 
 of Raving and Seeming Madness, as b- 
 fore (all this time the sick Body never 
 so much as moves, though doubtless 
 the Lancing and Sucking must b» a 
 great punishment to then; bat th^y 
 certainly are the patientiest and most 
 steady people under any Burden that 
 I have ever saw in all my Life.) At 
 last the Conjurer makes an end and 
 le'ls the Patient's Friends, v/hether the 
 Person will Live or Die, and then om 
 that waits at this ceremony takes the 
 blood away (which remains in a Lump 
 in the middle of the Water) and buries 
 it. Now, I believe a great deal of im- 
 Piosture in these fellows; though 1 
 have never seen their judgment fail, 
 and I have seen them giA'e their cpn- 
 ion after this Manner several times: 
 Some afRrm that there is a smell of 
 Brim(<='tone in the Cabins when they are 
 Conjuring, which I cannot contradict. 
 Which way it may come. I will not ar- 
 gae, but proceed to a rel ition or two 
 which I have from a great menv pe- 
 sons, and some of them worthy of 
 credit. 
 
 The first is of a certain Indian that 
 one rainy night undermined a House 
 made of Logs (such as the Swedes in 
 America very often make, and are very 
 strong) which belonged to Seth South- 
 well, Esq., Governor of North Carolina, 
 and one of the Proprietors. There was 
 but one place the Indian could get in 
 at and that was very narrow; the rest 
 was secured by having barrels of Pork 
 and other provisions set against: the 
 
128 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 side of the house, so that if this Indian 
 had not exactly hit the place he under- 
 mined, it would have been impossible 
 for him to have got therein, because of 
 the full barrels that stood around the 
 house, and barricaded it within. The 
 Indian stole 60 or 80 dressed deers 
 skins, besides Blankets, Powder, Shot 
 and Rum, (this being- the Indian store- 
 house where the Trading- Goods were 
 kept.) Now the Indian had made his 
 escape, but dropped some of his goods 
 by the way, and they tracked his foot- 
 steps and found him to be an Indian, 
 then they guessed who it was, because 
 none but that Indian had lately been 
 near the house. Thereupon the Grovern- 
 or sent to the Indian town that he be- 
 longed, to which was the Tuskeruros, 
 and acquainted them that if they did 
 not deliver up the Indian who had 
 committed the Robbery, he would take 
 a course with them that would not be 
 very agreeable. Upon, this, the In- 
 dians in the town he belonged to, 
 brought him in, bound, and delivered 
 him up to the Governor, who laid him 
 in Irons. At the same time it happen- 
 ed that a Robbery was committed 
 among themselves, at the Indian Town, 
 and their prisoner was one of their 
 Conjurors; so the Indians came down 
 to the Governor's house and acquaint- 
 ed him what had happened amongst 
 them, and that a great quantity of 
 Peak was stolen away out of one of 
 the cabins, and no one could find out 
 the thief, unless he let the Prisoner 
 conjure for it, who was the only man 
 they had at .making such discoveries. 
 The Governor was content he should 
 try his skill for them, but not to have 
 the Prisoner's Irons taken off, which 
 was very well approved of. The In- 
 dian was brought out in his fetters, 
 where were the Governor's Family, 
 and several others of the Neighborhood, 
 
 now living, to see this experiment; 
 wihich he performed thus: 
 
 The Conjuror ordered three fires to 
 be made, in a Triangular Form, which 
 was accordingly done, then he was 
 hood- winked very securely with a 
 dressed deer-skin, two or three doubles 
 over his face. After he had made some 
 motions, as they always do, he went 
 directly out of one of the three Gaps, 
 as exactly as if he had not been blind- 
 folded, and kept muttering to himself, 
 having a stick in his hand, with which 
 after some time, he struck two strokes 
 very hard upon the ground, and made 
 thereon a Cross, after which he told 
 the Indian's name that had stolen the 
 g-oods, and said that he would have a 
 Cross on his back; which proved true; 
 for when they took and searched him, 
 there appeared two g-reat Wheals on 
 his back, one across the other; for the 
 thief was at Governor Southwell's 
 house, and was under no apprehension 
 of being discovered. The Indians prof- 
 fered to sell him " as a slave to the 
 Governor but he refused to buy him, 
 so they took him bound away. 
 
 Another instance of the like Nature 
 happened at the same House. One of 
 the Tuskeruro Kings had brought in a 
 slave to the same Governor, to 
 whom he had sold him' and be- 
 fore he returned fell sick at the 
 Governor's House; upon which 
 the Doctor that belong'd to this 
 King's Nation, was sent for, being- a 
 Man that was held to be the greatest 
 Conjuror amongst them. It was three 
 days before he could arrive, and he ap- 
 peared (when he came) to be a very 
 little Man, and so old that his hair was 
 as white as ever was seen. When he 
 approached the sick King he ordered a 
 bowl of Water to be brought him, 
 and three Chunks of Wood, which was 
 immediately done. Then he took the 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 129 
 
 Water and set it by him, and spurted 
 a little on him, and with the three 
 pieces of Wood he made a Place to 
 stand on, whereby he was raised high- 
 er; (he being a very low-statured Man) 
 then he took a String of Ronoak, which 
 is the same as a small string of beads; 
 this he held by one end between his 
 fingers; the other end touched the 
 King's Stomach, as he stood on 
 the Logs. Then he began to talk 
 and at length the by-standers 
 throught really, that they had 
 heard somebody talk to them, but saw 
 no more than what first came in. At 
 last, this String of Beads which hung 
 thus perpendicular, turn'd up as an 
 Eel would do, and without any motion 
 of his they came all up (in a lump) 
 under his Hand, and hung so for a con- 
 siderable time, he never closing his 
 Hand, and at length returned to their 
 pristine Length and Shape, at which 
 the spectators were much frightened. 
 Then he told the Company that he 
 would recover, and that his distemper 
 would remove into his Leg, all which 
 happened to be exactly as the Indian 
 Doctor had told. These are Matters of 
 Fact, and I can, at this day, prove the 
 truth thereof by several substantial 
 Evidences, that are Men of Reputation, 
 there being more than a dozen present 
 when It was performed; most of whom 
 are now alive. 
 
 There are a great many other Stories, 
 of this Nature, which are seemingly 
 true, being told by persons that af- 
 firm that they were eye-witnesses 
 thereof; as, that they have seen one 
 Roncommock, (a Chuwon Indian and 
 a great Conjuror) take a reed about 
 two foot long in his mouth, and stand 
 by a Creek- Side, where he called twice 
 or thrice with the Reed in his mouth, 
 and at last, has opened his Arms and 
 fleed over the Creek, which might be 
 near a quarter of a Mile wide or more: 
 
 but I shall urge no Man's belief, but 
 tell my own, which is: that I believe 
 the two first accounts, which were 
 acted at Mr. Southwell's Plantation, as 
 firmly as any Man can believe any 
 thing of that which is told him by 
 honest Men, and he has not seen; not 
 at all doubting the credit of my Au- 
 thors. 
 
 The Cures that I have seen performed 
 by the Indians are too many to relate 
 here. So I shall only mention some 
 few and their methods. They cure 
 Ccald-Head infallibly and never miss. 
 Their Chief Remedy, that I have seen 
 them make use of, is, the Oil of Acorns, 
 cut from which sort of Oak, I am not 
 certain. They cure Burns beyond credit. 
 I have seen a Man burnt in such a 
 manner (when drunk) by falling into 
 a fire, that I did not think he would 
 ever recover, yet they cured him in ten 
 days so that he went about. I knew 
 another blown up with Powder and 
 they cured him to admiration. I never 
 saw an Indian have an Ulcer or foul 
 Wound in my life; neither is there any 
 such thing to be found amongst them. 
 They cure the Pox by a berry, that 
 salivates as Mercury does; yet they use 
 Sweating and Decoctions very much 
 with it; as they do almost on every 
 occasion; and when they are thorough- 
 ly heated they leap in the Water. The 
 Pox is frequent in some of these Na- 
 tions; amongst which I knew one Wo- 
 man to die of it; and they could not, 
 or would not cure her. Before she died 
 she was worn away to a skeleton, yet 
 she walked up and down to the last. 
 We had a planter in Carolina who had 
 got an Ulcer in his Leg, which had 
 troubled him a great many years; at 
 last he applied himself to one of these 
 Indian Conjurors, who was a Pampti- 
 cough Indian, and was to give the val- 
 ue of fifteen shillings for the cure. 
 Now, I am not positive whether he 
 
I30 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 washed the Ulcer with anything, be- 
 fore he used what I am now going to 
 speak of; which was nothing but the 
 rotten doated Grains of Indian Corn, 
 beaten to a Powder and the soft down 
 growing on a Turkey's Rump. This 
 dried up the Ulcer immediately, and no 
 Fontanel was made to discharge the 
 matter, he remaining a healthful Man 
 until the time he had the Misfortune 
 to be drowned, which was many years 
 after. Another instance, (not of my 
 knowledge, but I had it confirmed by 
 several dwellers in Maryland, where It 
 was done, was of an honest Planter, 
 that had been possessed with a strange 
 lingering Distemper, not usual amongst 
 them, under which he emaciated, and 
 grew every month worse than another, 
 it having held him several years, in 
 which he had made Tryal of several 
 Doctors, as they call them, which, I 
 suppose, were ship-surgeons. In the 
 beginning of this distemper the patient 
 was very well to pass, and was pos- 
 sessed of several slaves, which the 
 Doctors purged all away and the Poor 
 Man was so far from mending that he 
 grew worse and worse every day. But 
 it happened that one day as his Wife 
 and he were commiserating his miser- 
 able Condition, and that he could not 
 expect to recover, but looked for Death 
 very speedily, and condoling the Misery 
 he should leave his Wife and Family 
 In, since all his Negroes were gone. At 
 that time, I say, it happened, that an 
 Indian was in the same room, who had 
 frequented the House for many years 
 and so had become as one of the Fam- 
 ily, and would sometimes be at this 
 Planter's house, and at other times 
 amongst the Indians. 
 
 This Savage, hearing what they talk- 
 ed of, and having a great Love for the 
 Sick Man, made this reply to what he 
 had heard. Brother, you have been a 
 long time sick; and, I know you have 
 
 given away your Slaves to your Eng- 
 lish Doctors; what made you do so and 
 now become poor? They do not know 
 how to cure you; for it is an Indian 
 Distemper, which your People know 
 not the Nature of. If It had been an 
 English disease probably they would 
 have cured you; and had you come to 
 me at first I would have cured you for 
 a small matter, without taking away 
 your Servants, that made Corn for you 
 and your Family to eat; and yet if 
 you will give me a blanket to keep me 
 warm, and some Powder and Shot to 
 kill Deer withal, I will do my best to 
 make you well still. The Man was low 
 in Courage and Pocket too, and made 
 the Indian this reply. Jack, my Dis- 
 temper is past cure, and if our English 
 Doctors cannot cure it, I am sure the 
 Indians cannot. But his wife accosted 
 her Husband in very mild terms, and 
 told him he did not know but that God 
 might be pleased to give a blessing to 
 that Indian's undertaking, more than 
 he had done to the English; and 
 farther added if you die, I cannot be 
 much more miserable, by giving this 
 small matter to the Indian, so I pray 
 you my Dear, take my advise and try 
 him, to which by her persuasions he 
 consented. After the bargain was 
 concluded the Indian went into the 
 Woods, and brought in Herbs and 
 Roots, of which he made a Decoction, 
 and gave it to the Man to drink, and 
 bade him go to bed, saying it should 
 not be long before he came again, 
 which the patient performed as he was 
 ordered; and the potion he had ad- 
 ministered made him Sweat after the 
 most violent manner that could be, 
 whereby he smelt very offensive both 
 to himself and they that were about 
 him; but in the Evening, towards 
 Night, Jack came with a great Rattle- 
 Snake in his hand, alive, which 
 frightened the People almost out of 
 
OF NORTH CAROUNA. 
 
 131 
 
 their senses; and he told his Patient 
 that he must talte that to bed to him; 
 at which the Man was in a great Con- 
 sternation, and told the Indian he was 
 resolved to let no Snake come into his 
 Bed; for he might as well die of the 
 Distemper that he had as to be killed 
 by a bite of that Serpent. To which 
 the Indian replied that he could not 
 bite him now, nor do him any harm; 
 for he had taken out his Poison-Teeth, 
 and shewed him that they were gone. 
 At last, with much Persuasion, he ad- 
 mitted the Snake's Company, which 
 the Indian put about his Middle, and 
 ordered no body to take him away up- 
 on any account, which was strictly ob- 
 served, although the Snake Girded him 
 as hard (for a great while) as if he had 
 been drawn in by a Belt, which one 
 pulled at with all his might. At last 
 the Snakes Twitches grew weaker and 
 weaker, till by degrees he felt him not; 
 and opening the Bed he was found 
 dead, and the Man thought himself 
 better. The Indian came in the morn- 
 ing and seeing the Snake dead, told the 
 Man that his Distemper was dead, 
 along with that Snake, which proved 
 so as he said, for the Man speedily re- 
 covered his Health, and became per- 
 fectly well. 
 
 They cure the Spleen (which they are 
 much addicted to), by burning with a 
 reed. They lay the Patient on his 
 Back, so put a hollow cane into the 
 fire, where they burn the End thereof 
 till it is very hot, and on Fire at the 
 end. Then they lav a mVce of thin 
 leather on the Patient's Belly, between 
 the Pit of the Stomach and the Navel. 
 so press the hot reed on the Leather, 
 which burns the Patient so that you 
 may ever after see the impression of 
 the Reed where it was laid on, which 
 mark never goes off so long as he lives. 
 This is used for the Bellyache some- 
 
 times. They can color their hair black, 
 tho' sometimes it is reddish, which 
 they do with a seed of a Flower that 
 grows commonly on their Plantations. 
 I believe this would chans-e tne rea- 
 dest Hair into perfect Black. They 
 make use of no Minerals in their 
 Physick, and not much of Animals; but 
 chiefly rely on Vegetables. They havt 
 several Remedies for the Tooth- ache, 
 which often drives away the Pain; but 
 if they fail, they have recourse to 
 punching out the Tooth, with a small 
 cane set against the same, on a bit of 
 Leather. Then they strike the Reea 
 and so drive out the Tooth; and how- 
 ever it may seem to the Europeans. I 
 prefer it before the common way of 
 drawing Teeth by those Instruments, 
 that endanger the Jaw and a Flux of 
 Blood often follows, which this Method 
 of Punching never is attended withal: 
 neither is it half the pain. The Spon- 
 taneous Plants of America the Savage 
 is well acquainted withal: and a Flux 
 of Blood never follows any of their 
 operations. They are wholly strang- 
 ers to Amputation, and for what nat- 
 ural issues of blood happen immedi- 
 ately, they are not to seek for a cer- 
 tain speedy cure. Tears, Rozins, and 
 Gums I have not discovered that they 
 make much use of; and as for the 
 Purging and Emeticks, so much in 
 fashion with us, they never apply 
 themselves to, unless in drinking va.5t 
 quantities of their Taupon Tea, and 
 vomiting it up again, as clear as they 
 drink it. This is a custom amongst all 
 those that can produce that Plant, in 
 which manner they take it every morn- 
 ing or oftener; by which Method they 
 keep their Stomachs clean without 
 pricking th" Coats, and straining Na- 
 ture, as every Purge is an Enemy to. 
 Besides, the exeat Diuretick Quality of 
 
132 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 their Tea carries off a great deal, that 
 perhaps might prejudice their Health 
 by Agues, and Fevers, which all Wa- 
 tery Countries are addicted to; for 
 which reason, I believe it is, that tht 
 Indians are not so much addicted to 
 that Distemper, as we are, they pre- 
 venting its seizing uDon them by this 
 Plant alone. Moreover I have re- 
 marked that it is only those Places 
 bordering on the Ocean and Great Riv- 
 ers, that this distemper is frequent in, 
 and only on and near the same places 
 this evergreen is to be found; and none 
 up towards the Mountains where this 
 Ague seldom or never appears. Nature 
 having provided suitable Remedies in 
 all Countries, proper for the Maladies 
 that are common thereto. The Sav- 
 ages of Carolina have this Tea in Ven- 
 eration, above all the Plants they are 
 acquainted withal, and tell you the dis- 
 covery thereof was by an infirm Indian, 
 that laboured under the Burden of 
 many rugged Distempers, and could 
 not be cured by all their Doctors: so 
 one day he fell asleep and dreamt that 
 if he took a Decoction of the Tree thai 
 grew at his Head he would certainly 
 be cured; upon which he awoke and 
 saw the Taupon or Cassena Tree. Which 
 was not there when he fell asleep. He 
 followed the directions of his dream 
 and became well in a short time. Now, 
 I suppose no Man has so little sense 
 as to believe this Fable, yet it lets us 
 see what they intend thereby, and that 
 it has doubtless, worked Feats enough 
 to gain it such an esteem amongst 
 these Savages, who are too well versed 
 In Vegetables, to be brought to a con- 
 tinual use of any one of them, upon 
 a mere Conceit or Fancy, without some 
 apparent Benefit they found thereby; 
 especially when we are sensible they 
 arink the Juices of Plants, to free 
 
 Nature of her Burdens, and not out 
 of Foppery and Fashion, as other Na- 
 tions are oftentimes found to do. 
 Amongst all the discoveries of Amer- 
 ica by the Missionaries of the French 
 and Spaniards, I wonder none of them 
 was so kind to the World as to have 
 kept a Catalogue of the Distempers 
 they found the Savages capable of Cur- 
 ing, and their Method of Cure; which 
 might have been of some advantage 
 to our Materia Medica at home, when 
 delivered by Men of Learning, and 
 other Qualifications, as most of them 
 are. Authors generally tell us that 
 the Savages are well enoue-h acquaint- 
 ed with those Plants which their Cli- 
 mates afford, and that some of them 
 effect srreat Cures, but by what means 
 and bv what Form we are left in the 
 dark. 
 
 The Bark of the Root of the Sassa- 
 fras Tree. I have observed is much 
 used by them. They generally tor- 
 refy it in the Embers, so strip off the 
 Bark from the Root, beating it to a 
 consistence fit to spread, so lay it on 
 the grieved part; which both cleanse« 
 a foul Ulcer, and after Sacrification, 
 being applied to a Contusion or Swell- 
 ing, draws forth the Pain, and re- 
 duces the part to its Pristine state of 
 Health, as I have often seen effected. 
 Fats and Unsruent-t?. npver appear in 
 their Chirurgery, when the Skin is 
 once broken. The Fats of Animals are 
 used by them to render their Limbs 
 pliable, and when wearied to relieve 
 the Joints, and this not often, because 
 they approve of the Sweating House 
 (in such cases) above all things. The 
 Salts they mix with their Bread and 
 Soups, to give them a Relish, are Alka- 
 lis, (viz) Ashes, and calcined Bones 
 of Deer and other Animals. Salads, 
 they never eat any; as for Mustard 
 and Pepper, they reckon us little bet- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 133 
 
 ter than Madmen to make use of it 
 amongst our victuals. They are never 
 troubled with the Scurvy, Dropsy, nor 
 Stone. The Phthisick. Asthma, and 
 Diabetes, they are wholly Strangers to; 
 neither do I remember I ever saw one 
 Paralytick among them. The Gout, I 
 cannot be certain whether they know 
 what it is, or not. Indeed, I never saw 
 any Nodes or Swellines. which attend 
 the Gout in Europe; yet they have a 
 sort of Rheumatim or Burning of the 
 Limbs, which tortures them grievously, 
 at which time, their Legs are so hot 
 that they employ the young people con- 
 tinually to pour Water down them. I 
 never saw but one or two thus af- 
 flicted. The Struma is not uncommon 
 amonest these Savages, and another 
 Distemper, which is in some respects 
 like the Pox, but is attended with no 
 Gonorrhea. This not seldom bereaves 
 them of their Nose. I have seen three 
 or four of them renrlprori most miser- 
 able spectacles by this Distemper. Yet, 
 when they have been so negligent, as 
 to let it run on so far without curbing 
 it; at last they may shift to patch 
 themselves up, and live for many 
 Years: and such Men commonly turn 
 Doctors. I have known two or three 
 of these no-nose Doctors in great es- 
 teem among the Savages. The Juice 
 of the Tulio Tree is nspd as a proper 
 remedy for this Distemper. What 
 knowledge they have in Anatomy, I 
 cannot tf^Il, neither did I ever see them 
 employ themselves therein, unless as 
 I told you before, when they make the 
 Skeletons of their Kings and Great 
 Men. 
 
 The Indians are very careless and 
 negligent of their Health, as by Drunk- 
 enness and by Wading in the Water, 
 irregular Diet and Lodging, and a 
 thousand other disorders, (that would 
 kill an European), which they daily 
 
 use. They boil and roast their Meat 
 extraordinary much and eat abundance 
 of Broth, except the Savages, whom 
 we call the naked Indians, who never 
 eat any Soupe. They travel from the 
 banks of the Mississippi to war against 
 the Sinnagars or Iroquois, and are (if 
 equal Numbers) commonly too hard 
 for them. They would lie and sleep in 
 the Woods without fire, being inured 
 thereto. They are the hardiest of all 
 Indians, and run so fast, that they are 
 never taken, neither do any Indians 
 outrun them, if they are pursued. 
 Their Savage Enemies say their Nim- 
 bleness and Wind proceeds from their 
 never eating any Broth. The Small- 
 Pox has been fatal to them; they do 
 not often escape, when they are seized 
 with that Distemper, which is a con- 
 trary one to what they ever kne-v. 
 Most certain it had never visited Amer- 
 ica before the Discovery thereof by 
 the Christians. Their running into the 
 Water in the Extremity of this Disease, 
 strikes it in, and kills all that use it. 
 Now they are become a little wiser, but 
 formerly it destroy'd whole Towns, 
 without leaving one Indian alive in the 
 whole village. The Plague was never 
 known amonst them, that I could learn 
 by what enquiry I have made. These 
 Savages use Scarriflcation almost in all 
 Distempers. Their chief Instrument for 
 that operation is the Teeth of Rattle- 
 snakes, which they poison withal. They 
 take them out of the Snake's Heads 
 and suck out the Poison with their 
 Mouths, (and so keep them for use) and 
 spit out the Venom, which is green, and 
 are never damaged thereby. The Small- 
 Pox and Rum have made such a de- 
 struction among them, that on good 
 grounds, I do not believe there is the 
 sixth Savage living within two hun- 
 dred Miles of our Settlement as there 
 were fifty years ago. These poor Crea- 
 tures have so many Enemies to destroy 
 
134 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 them, that it is a wonder one of them 
 is left alive amongst us. The Small- 
 Pox I have acquainted you withal 
 above, and so I have of Rum, and so I 
 shall only add, that they have got a 
 way to carry it back to the Westward 
 Indians, who never knew what it was 
 till within a very few years. Now they 
 have it brought them by the Tuskeru- 
 ros and other Neighbour Indians, but 
 the Tuskeruros chiefly, who carry it in 
 Rundlets several hundred Miles, 
 amongst other Indians. Sometimes 
 they cannot forebear breaking their 
 Cargo, but sit down in the Woods and 
 drink it all up, and then hollow and 
 shout like so many Bedlamites. I ac- 
 cidentally once met with one of these 
 drunken Crews, and was ama'zed to see 
 a Parcel of Drunkards so far from any 
 Englishman's house, but the Indians 1 
 had in company informed me that they 
 were Merchants, and bad drunk all 
 their stock, as is very common for 
 them to do. But when they happen 
 to carry it safe (which is seldom with- 
 out drinking some part of it, and fill- 
 ing it up with water) and come to an 
 Indian Town, those that buy rum of 
 them have so many MouthfuUs for a 
 Buck-Skin, they never using any other 
 Measure; and for this purpose the 
 Buyer always makes choice of his 
 Man, which is one that has the great- 
 est Mouth, whom he brings to the 
 Market with a Bowl to put it in. The 
 Seller looks narrowly to the Man's 
 Mouth that measures it, and if he hap- 
 pens to swallow any down, either 
 through wilfulness or otherwise, the 
 Merchant or some of the other Party 
 does not scruple to throw the Fellow 
 down, exclaiming against him for false 
 
 Measure. Thereupon, the Buyer finds 
 another Mouthpiece to measure the 
 rum by; so that this trading is very 
 agreeable to the Spectators, to see such 
 a deal of quarreling and controversy, 
 as often happens about it, and is di- 
 verting. 
 
 Another Destroyer of them is the Art 
 they have, and often practise, of pois- 
 oning one another, wTiich is done by a 
 large white spungy Root, that grows 
 in the Fresh-Marshes, which is one of 
 their Poisons; not but that they have 
 many other Drugs, which they poison 
 one another withal. 
 
 Lastly the continual Wars these Sav- 
 ages maintain, one Nation against an- 
 other, which sometimes hold for some 
 ages, killing and making Captives un- 
 til they become so weak thereby, that 
 they are forced to make Peace for want 
 of Recruits to supply their Wars; and 
 the Differences of Languages that is 
 found amongst these Heathens, seems 
 altogether strange. For it often ap- 
 pears that every dozen Miles you meet 
 with an Indian Town, that is quite dif- 
 ferent from the others you last parted 
 withal; and what a little supplies this 
 Defect is, that the most powerful Na- 
 tion of these Savages scorns to treat 
 or Trade with any others (of fewer 
 numbers and less power) in any other 
 Tongue but their own, which serves for 
 the Lingua of the Country, with which 
 we travel and deal; as for example we 
 see that theTuskeruro'sare most num- 
 erous in North Carolina, therefore 
 their Tongue is understood by some in 
 every Town of all the Indians near us. 
 And here I shall insert a small diction- 
 ary of every Tongue, though not alpha- 
 betically digested. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 One 
 
 Two 
 
 Three 
 
 Four 
 
 Five 
 
 Six 
 
 Seven 
 
 Eight , 
 
 Nine 
 
 Ten 
 
 Eleven 
 
 Twelve 
 
 Twenty 
 
 Thirty 
 
 Hundred 
 
 Thousand 
 
 Rum 
 
 Blankets 
 
 White 
 
 Red 
 
 Black or Blue the 
 
 same 
 
 Gunpowder 
 
 Shot 
 
 Axe 
 
 Knife 
 
 Tobacco 
 
 Shirt 
 
 Hat 
 
 Fire 
 
 Water 
 
 Goat 
 
 Awl or Needle 
 
 A Hoe 
 
 Salt 
 
 Paint 
 
 Ronoak 
 
 Peak 
 
 Gun 
 
 Gun-Locks 
 
 Flints 
 
 A Flap 
 
 Belt ; 
 
 Scissors and Tobac- 
 co Tongues 
 
 A Kettle 
 
 A Pot 
 
 Acorns 
 
 A Pine Tree 
 
 Englishman 
 
 Indians 
 
 TUSKERURO. 
 
 Unche 
 
 Necte 
 
 Ohf-fah 
 
 Untoc 
 
 Ouch-whe 
 
 Houeyoc 
 
 chauc-noc 
 
 nec-kara 
 
 wearah 
 
 wartsaus 
 
 unche seauwhau... 
 nectec seaukhau . 
 wartsau seaukhau 
 ossa te wartsau... 
 
 youch fe 
 
 qi you se 
 
 oonaquod 
 
 Oorewa 
 
 Ware-occa 
 
 Cotcoo-rea 
 
 Caw-hunshe 
 
 Ouku 
 
 Cauna 
 
 Au-nika 
 
 Oosocks-nauh 
 
 Charho 
 
 Ough-tre's 
 
 Oo-roso-so 
 
 Trossa 
 
 Utchar 
 
 Awoo 
 
 Ouswax or Ka- 
 
 whitchra 
 
 Oose-waure 
 
 Wauche-wocnoc .. 
 
 Cheek-ha 
 
 Quaunt 
 
 Nauh-hou-eot 
 
 Chu-teche 
 
 Auk-noc 
 
 Ooteste 
 
 Ou-negh-ra 
 
 Oonoa-teste 
 
 Cheh-ra 
 
 Oowaiana .. 
 
 Ocnock , 
 
 Kooawa . . . . 
 
 Heigta , 
 
 Nickreruroh 
 Unqua 
 
 PAMPITCOUGH. 
 
 weembot 
 
 neshinnauh ... 
 nish-wonner .. 
 Yau-Ooner .... 
 
 umperren 
 
 Who-yeoc 
 
 Thap-po-osh.. . 
 Nauhaushohoo. 
 Nach-ic-conk . 
 Cosh 
 
 Weesaccon 
 
 Mattosh 
 
 Wopposhaumosh 
 Mish-cosk 
 
 Mow-cottov/osh 
 
 Pungue 
 
 Ar-rounser 
 
 Tomma-hick ... 
 
 Rig-cosa 
 
 Hooh-pau 
 
 Mottau-quahanu 
 
 Tinda 
 
 Umpe 
 
 Taus-won 
 
 Moc-cose 
 
 Rosh-shocquon 
 
 Chuwon 
 
 Mis-kis-su 
 
 Ronoak 
 
 Gau-hooptop . . 
 Gun-tock-Seike 
 
 Hinds 
 
 Rappatoc 
 
 Maachone 
 
 Ooonosf a . . . 
 Tosh-Sl-onte 
 Nuppin 
 
 Tonne 
 Num-perre 
 
 Nam-mee 
 
 Pannum-punne 
 
 Webtau 
 
 Is-sto 
 
 Nommis-fau 
 
 Nupsau 
 
 Weihere 
 
 Soone noponne 
 
 Tonne hauk pe 
 
 Soone nomme 
 
 Winnop 
 
 Yup-fe 
 Roo-inne 
 Waurraupa 
 Yauta 
 
 Yah-te-stea 
 
 Rooeyam 
 
 Week 
 
 Tau-unt-a winnik 
 
 Wee 
 
 uucoone 
 
 Tacca-pitteneer 
 
 Wee-kessoo 
 
 Intome-posswa 
 
 Yau 
 
 Ejau 
 
 Rummissau 
 
 Woonshe-shee 
 
 Rooe-pau 
 
 Whooyeonne 
 
 Rummaer 
 
 Erroco 
 
 Wittape 
 
 Nookossa 
 
 Matt-teer 
 
 Roseyau 
 
 W^ee-kau 
 
 Toc-koor 
 
 Toosewan 
 
 Roosomme 
 Hooheh 
 Wintsohore 
 Yauh-he 
 
136 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 A Horse 
 
 Swine 
 
 Moss , 
 
 Raw skin undress'd 
 
 Buck-Skin 
 
 Fawn-Skin 
 
 Bear-Skin 
 
 Fox-Skin 
 
 Raccoon-Skin 
 
 Squirrel-Skin 
 
 Wildcat-Skin 
 
 Panther-Skin 
 
 Wolf , 
 
 Mink 
 
 Otter 
 
 A Mat 
 
 Basket 
 
 Feathers 
 
 Dresst Skin 
 
 A Turkey 
 
 A Duck 
 
 A King 
 
 Fat 
 
 Soft 
 
 Hard or Heavy 
 
 A Rope 
 
 A Possum 
 
 A Day 
 
 A Pester 
 
 A Mortar , 
 
 Stockings 
 
 A Creek 
 
 A River 
 
 A Man 
 
 Old Man 
 
 Young Man 
 
 Woman 
 
 Old Woman 
 
 Wife 
 
 A Child ... 
 
 A Boy 
 
 Infant 
 
 E'ars 
 
 Fishgig 
 
 A Comb 
 
 A Cake Baked 
 
 A Head 
 
 Hair 
 
 Brother 
 
 I 
 
 Thou 
 
 There 
 
 Hom^ne 
 
 Bread , 
 
 Broath 
 
 Corn 
 
 TUSKERURO. 
 
 A hots . , 
 
 Watsquerre 
 
 Auoona hau 
 
 Ootahawa 
 
 Ocques 
 
 Ottea 
 
 Occhehara 
 
 Che-chou 
 
 Roo-Sotto 
 
 Sost 
 
 Cauhauawa-ana 
 
 Caunerex 
 
 Squarrena 
 
 Chau-Kauene . . . 
 
 Chaunoc 
 
 Ooyethne 
 
 Ooyaura 
 
 Ooshooqua 
 
 Cotcoo 
 
 Coona 
 
 Sooeau 
 
 Teethha 
 
 Ootsaure 
 
 Utsauwanne .... 
 Waucots nio . . . 
 
 Utsera 
 
 Che-ra 
 
 Ootauh-ne 
 
 Tic-caugh-ne ... 
 Ootic caugh-ne . 
 
 Wayhaushe 
 
 Wackena 
 
 Abunt wackena 
 
 Entequos 
 
 Occoonahawa . . . 
 
 Quottis 
 
 Con-noowa 
 
 Cusquerre 
 
 Kateocca 
 
 Woccanookne . . 
 
 Wariaugh 
 
 Usterosta 
 
 Ooethnat 
 
 Ootosne 
 
 Oonaquitchra ... 
 
 Ooneck 
 
 Ootaure 
 
 Oowaara 
 
 Caunotka 
 
 Ek 
 
 Eets 
 
 Ka 
 
 Cotquerre 
 
 Cotocnare 
 
 Ook-heo 
 
 Oonaha 
 
 Oonave 
 
 wocco. 
 
 Yenwetoa 
 
 Nommewarraupau 
 
 Itto 
 
 Teep 
 
 Rookau 
 
 Wisto 
 
 Ourka 
 
 Hannatockore 
 
 Auher 
 
 Tehau 
 
 Wattau 
 
 Tire Kiro 
 
 Soccon 
 
 Wetkes 
 
 Soppepepor 
 
 Rookeappa 
 
 Soppe 
 
 Rauhau 
 
 Yauta 
 
 Welka 
 
 Reamore 
 
 Yendare 
 
 Roosomme 
 
 Itte teraugh 
 
 Trauhe 
 
 Miyau 
 Y OS SCO . 
 
 Yossoo 
 
 Yicau 
 Yeccauan 
 
 Weetipsa 
 Sacketoome posswa 
 
 Poppe 
 
 Tumme 
 
 Yaukauhe 
 
 Roocauwa 
 Ikettau 
 
 Cose 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ^Z7 
 
 Pease 
 
 A Bag 
 
 Fish 
 
 A Louse 
 
 A Flea 
 
 Potatoes 
 
 A Stick 
 
 Wood 
 
 House 
 
 A Cow 
 
 A Snake 
 
 A Rat 
 
 A Goose 
 
 A Swan 
 
 Allegator 
 
 A Crab 
 
 A Canoe 
 
 A Box 
 
 A Bowl 
 
 A Spoon 
 
 A Path 
 
 Sun or Moon 
 
 Wind 
 
 A Star 
 
 Rain 
 
 A Rundlet 
 
 An Eel 
 
 A Cable 
 
 Small Ropes 
 
 A Button 
 
 Breeches 
 
 Stockings 
 
 Day 
 
 Mad 
 
 Angry 
 
 Afraid 
 
 Smoke 
 
 A Thief or Rogue 
 
 A Dog 
 
 A Reed 
 
 Lightwood 
 
 Tomorrow 
 
 Now 
 
 To-day 
 
 A Little while ago 
 
 Yesterday , 
 
 How many 
 
 How far 
 
 Will you go 
 
 Will you go along with me 
 
 Go you 
 
 Give it me 
 
 That's all 
 
 A Cubit Length 
 
 Dead 
 
 Oofare 
 
 Oosha 
 
 Saugh-he 
 
 Uittaqua 
 
 Cunshe 
 
 Cheecq 
 
 Nauocq 
 
 Unto ne 
 
 Chinqua 
 
 Ouyunkgue 
 
 Oinouse 
 
 Ous-sarunt 
 
 Us-quauh-ne 
 
 Rusquine 
 
 Au-hoohaha 
 
 Oorhast 
 
 Utsererauh 
 
 Rouare cou 
 
 Ooshunnawa 
 
 Ooanoo 
 
 Ortse 
 
 Oughquere 
 
 Wauh-hauhne . . . 
 
 Heita 
 
 Hoonoch 
 
 Uttewiraratse .... 
 
 Untuch 
 
 Oosottoo 
 
 Oohunawa 
 
 Cuhna-na 
 
 Utquichra 
 
 Utsera utquichra 
 
 Tic-hah 
 
 Wahunshe 
 
 Oowissera 
 
 Wouwoc-hook . . . , 
 
 Cosserunte 
 
 Cotcheroore 
 
 Werricauna 
 
 Oo-teighne 
 
 Katlchhei 
 
 Cheeth 
 
 Cauna 
 
 Kakoo 
 
 Jureha 
 
 Kahunk 
 
 Kawa 
 
 Kakwoowa 
 
 Oousooto 
 
 Ut-tewots 
 
 Untateawa 
 
 Unta hah 
 
 Its warko 
 
 Cotshau 
 
 Ut chat 
 
 Kihoosocca 
 
 Whaharia 
 
 Coosauk 
 Ekoorryomon 
 Yacunne 
 Eppesyau 
 
 Wauk 
 
 Yonne 
 
 Ouke 
 
 Nappinjure 
 
 Yau-hauk 
 
 Wittau 
 
 Auhaun 
 
 Atter 
 
 Monwittetau 
 
 Wunneau 
 
 Watt 
 
 Yopoonitsa 
 
 Cotsoo 
 
 Cotsau 
 
 Yauh 
 
 Wittapare 
 
 Yuncor 
 
 Wattapi-Untakeer 
 
 Yawowa 
 
 Yantoha 
 
 Ynpyupseunne 
 
 Rummissauwouna 
 
 Rooeyaukitte 
 
 Roosoo possoo 
 
 Waukhaway 
 
 Rockcumme 
 
 Roocheha 
 
 Reheshiwau 
 
 Too-she 
 
 Tauh-he 
 Weekwonne 
 Sek 
 Kittape 
 
 Yauka 
 
 Yottoha 
 
 Tontarinte 
 
 Quauke 
 
 Yuppa me 
 
 Mothei 
 
 Cuttaune 
 
 Ishewounaup 
 
 Caure 
 
138 
 
 i^awson's history 
 
 ENGLISH. 
 
 TUSKERtJRO. 
 
 "WOCCO. 
 
 A Gourd or Bottle 
 
 A Laxy Fellow 
 
 Englishman is thirsty 
 
 I will sell you goods very 
 
 cheap 
 
 All the Indians are 
 
 drunk 
 
 Have you got anything to 
 
 eat 
 
 I am sick 
 
 A Fish hook 
 
 Don't loose it 
 
 A Tobacco Pipe 
 
 I remember it 
 
 Let it alone 
 
 Peaches 
 
 "Walnuts , 
 
 Hicerry nuts 
 
 A Jews Harp 
 
 I forgot it 
 
 Northwest wind 
 
 Snow 
 
 Utchaawa 
 
 Wattatoo watse 
 
 Oukwockaninniwock 
 
 Wattape 
 Tontaunete 
 
 Wausthanocha 
 
 Connaugh jost twane 
 
 Nau hau hoore ene 
 Nonnupper 
 
 Utta-ana-wox 
 
 Connauwox 
 
 Oos-skinna 
 
 Oon est nonne it quost 
 
 Oosquaana 
 
 Oonutsuka 
 
 Thot-saur-auweek 
 
 Roo-ooe 
 
 Rootau-ooe 
 
 Rootau 
 
 Ooratsa 
 
 Merrauka 
 
 Hothooka 
 
 Acaunque 
 
 Noccoo Eraute 
 Waurepa 
 
 Intone 
 
 Auccommanto 
 Sauhau 
 Yonne 
 
 Nimmia 
 Wottiyau 
 
 Wawawe 
 
 To repeat more of this Indian Jar- 
 gon, would be to trouble the reader; 
 and as an account of how imperfect 
 they are in their Moods and Tenses, 
 has been given by several already, I 
 shall only add that their Languages 
 or Tongues are so deficient, that you 
 cannot suppose the Indians ever could 
 express themselves in such a Flight 
 of style, as Authors would have you 
 believe. They are so far from it, that 
 they are just able to make one an- 
 other understand readily what they 
 talk about. As for the two Consonants 
 D and F, I never knew them in any 
 Indian Speech, I have met withal; 
 yet I must tell you that they have 
 such a way of abbreviating their 
 speech when in their great Councils 
 and Debates, that the young Men do 
 not understand what they treat about 
 when they hear them argue. It is 
 wonderful, what has occasion'd so 
 many different Speeches as the Sav- 
 ages have. The three Nations I now 
 mention do not live over ten Leagues 
 distant, and two of them, viz, the Tus- 
 
 keruro's and the Woccon, are not two 
 Leagues asunder, yet in their Speech 
 differs in every word thereof, except 
 one, which is Tsaure Cockles, wh'ch 
 is in both Tongues the same, and 
 nothing else. Now this difference of 
 Speech causes Jealousies and Fears 
 amongst them, which bring Wars, 
 wherein they destroy one another; oth- 
 erwise the Christians had not (in all 
 possibility) settled America so easily 
 as they have done, had these Tribes 
 of Savages united themselves into one 
 People or general Interest, or were 
 they so but every Hundred Miles. In 
 short, they are an odd sort of People, 
 under the Circumstances they are at 
 present, and have some such un- 
 couth Ways in their Management and 
 Course of living that it seems a Mira- 
 cle to us, how they bring about their 
 Designs, as they do when their Ways 
 are commonly quite contrary to ours. 
 I believe they are (as to this life) a 
 very Happy People; and were it not 
 for the Feuds amongst themselves, 
 they would enjoy the happiest State, 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 ^39 
 
 (in this World) of all Mankind. They 
 met with Enemies when we came 
 amongst them; for they are no nearer 
 Christianity now, than they were at 
 the first Discovery, to all appearances. 
 They have learnt several vices of the 
 Europeans, but not one Vertue as I 
 know of. Drunkenness was a Stran- 
 ger when we found them out, and 
 Swearing their speech cannot express; 
 yet those that speak English, learn to 
 Gwear the first thing they talk of. Its 
 true they have some Vertues and some 
 Vices; but how the Christians can 
 bring these People into the Bosom of 
 the Church, is a Proposal that ought 
 to be formed and followed by the 
 wisest Heads and best Christians. Af- 
 ter I have given one remark or two 
 further, of some of their Strange 
 Practices and Notions, I will give my 
 Opinion, how I think in all probability 
 it may be possibly be effected, and so 
 shall conclude this Treatise of Caro- 
 lina. 
 
 They are a very craving People, and 
 if a Man give them anything of a 
 Present, they think it obliges him to 
 give them another; and so until he 
 has given them all he has; for they 
 have no Bounds of Satisfaction in 
 their way, and if they give you any- 
 thing it is to receive twice the value 
 of it. They have no Consideration 
 that you will want what you give 
 them; for their way of Living is so 
 contrary to ours, that neither we nor 
 any one can fathom one another's de- 
 signs and Methods. They call Rum and 
 Physick by one name, which implies 
 that Rum makes People sick, as when 
 they have taken any Poisonous Plant, 
 yet they cannot forbear Rum. They 
 make offerings of their First-Pruits, 
 and the more serious sort of them 
 throw into the Ashes, the first bit or 
 spoonful of every Meal they sit down 
 to, which, they say is the same to 
 them, as the pulling off our Hats, and 
 
 talking when we go to Victuals is to 
 us. They name the Months very 
 agreeably, as one is the Herring- 
 Month, another the Strawberry-Month, 
 another the Mulberry-Month. Others 
 name them by the Trees that blossom; 
 especially the Dog-Wood Tree; or they 
 say, we will return when Turkies gob- 
 ble, that is in March and April. The 
 age of the Moon they understand, but 
 know no different Name for the Sun 
 and Moon. They can guess well at 
 the time of the Day, by the Sun's 
 Height. Their Age they number by 
 Winters, and say such a Man or Wo- 
 man is so many Winters old. They 
 have no Sabbath, or Day of Rest. 
 Their Slaves are never over-burdened 
 with work, and so not driven by Se- 
 verity to seek for that Relief. Those 
 that are acquainted with the English 
 and speak the Tongue, know when 
 Sunday comes; besides the Indians 
 have a distinct Name for Christmas, 
 which they call Winnick Keshuse, or 
 the Englishman's Gods Moon. There 
 is one most abominable custom 
 amongst them, which they call Hus- 
 quenawing, their Young Men; which 
 I have not made any mention of as 
 yet, so will give you an account of 
 it here. You must know, that most 
 commonly, once a Year, or at farthest 
 once in two Years, these People take 
 up so many of their Young Men, as 
 they think are able to undergo it, and 
 Husquenaugh them, which is to make 
 them obedient and respective to their 
 superiors, and (as they say) is the 
 same to them, as it is to send our 
 Children to School, to be taught good 
 Breeding and Letters. This House of 
 Correction is a large strong Cabin, 
 made on purpose for the Rt.ception 
 of the Young Men and Boys, that have 
 not passed their graduation already; 
 and it is always at Christmas that 
 they Husquenaugh their Youth, which 
 is by bringing them into this House 
 
140 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 and keeping them dark all the time, 
 where they more than half starve 
 them. Besides they give them Pelli- 
 tory Bark and several intoxicating 
 Plants, that make them go raving Mad 
 as ever were an" People in this 
 World; and you may hear them make 
 the most dismal and Hellish cries, and 
 Howlings, that ever Human Creatures 
 ever expressed; all which continues 
 about five or six weeks, and the littie 
 Meat they eat is the nastiest loath- 
 some stuff, and mix'd with all man- 
 ner of filth it's possible to get. After 
 the time expires they are brought out 
 of the Cabin, which never is in Town, 
 but always a distance off, and guard- 
 ed by a Jaylor or two, who watch 
 them by turns; now when they first 
 come out they are as poor as any 
 Creatures ever were; for you must 
 know several die under this diaboli- 
 cal Purgation. Moreover, they either 
 really are, or pretend to be, dumb and 
 do not speak for several Days; I think 
 twenty or thirty; and look so ghastly, 
 and so changed that it's next to an 
 impossibility to know them again, al- 
 though you were ever so well acquaint- 
 ed with them before. I would fain 
 have gone into the Mad-House and 
 seen them in their time of Purgatory, 
 but the King would not suffer it, be- 
 cause he told me they would do me, 
 or any other white man, an injury, 
 that ventured in amongst them, so I 
 desisted. They play this Prank with 
 Girls as well as Boys, and I believe 
 it a miserable Life they endure, be- 
 cause I have known several of them 
 to run away at that time and thus 
 avoid it. Now, the Savages say, if 
 it was not for this they could never 
 keep their Youth in Subjection, bo- 
 sides that it hardens them hereafter 
 to the Fatigues of War, Hunting, and 
 all Manner of Hardship, which their 
 Way of living exposes them to. De- 
 sides, they add, that it carries off those 
 
 infirm weak Bodies, that would have 
 been only a disgrace and burden to 
 their Nation, and saves the Victuals 
 and Cloathing for better People, that 
 would have been expended on such 
 useless Creatures. These Savages are 
 described in their proper Colours but 
 by a very few; for those that gener- 
 ally write Histories of this new World 
 are such as Interest, Preferment, and 
 Merchandize, drew thither, and know 
 no more of the People than I do of 
 the Laplanders, which is only by Hear- 
 Say. And if we will make just Re- 
 marks, how near such Relations gen- 
 erally approach Truth and Nicety, we 
 shall find very few of them worthy 
 of Entertainment; and as for the other 
 part of the Volume, it is generally 
 stuffed with Invectives against the 
 Government they lived under, on which 
 Stage is commonly acted greater Bar- 
 barities, in Murdering worthy Men's 
 Reputations, than all the Savages in 
 the new World are capable of equal- 
 ing, or so much as imitating. 
 
 And since I hinted at a regulation 
 of the Savages, and to propose a Way 
 to convert them to Christianity, I will 
 first particularize the several Nations 
 of Indians that are our Neignbours, 
 and then proceed to what I promised. 
 
 Tuskeruro Indians, are fifteen Towns 
 viz. Haruta, Waqui, Contah-nah, An- 
 na Ooka, Conauh-Kare, Harooka, Una 
 Nauhan, Kentanuska, Chunaneets, 
 Kenta, Eno, Naur-hegh-ne, Oonos- 
 soora, Tosneoc, Nonawharitse, Nursoo- 
 rooka; Fighting Men 1,200. Waccon 
 Towns 2, Yupwarereman, Tooptatmeer, 
 Fighting Men 120. Machapunga, Town 
 1, Maramiskeet, Fighting Men 30. Bear 
 River, Town 1, Raudauqua-quank, 
 Fighting Men 50. Maherring Indians, 
 Town 1, Maherring River, Fighting 
 Men 50. Chuwon Indians, Town 1, 
 Rennets Creek, Fighting Men 15. Pas- 
 patank Indians, Town 1, Paspatank 
 River, Fighting Men 10. Poeskeit, 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 141 
 
 Town 1, North River, Fighting Men 
 30. Nottaway Indians, Town 1, Wino- 
 ack Creek, Fighting Men 30. Hatteras 
 Town, 1, Sand-Banks, Fighting Men 
 16. Connamox Indians, Towns 2, Cor- 
 anine, Raruta, Fighting Men 25. Neus 
 Indians, Towns 2, Chattooka, Rouc- 
 coonk, Fighting Men 15. Jaupin In- 
 dians, 6 People. Pampticough Indians, 
 Town 1, Island, Fighting Men 15. These 
 five Nations of the Totero's, Sapona's, 
 Keiauwee's, Aconeches, and Schocco- 
 ries, are lately come amongst us, and 
 may contain, in all, about 750 Men, 
 Women and Children. Total 4,780. Now 
 there appear to be one thousand, six 
 hundred and twelve Fighting Men, of 
 our Neighbouring Indians; and prob- 
 ably there are three-Fifths of Women 
 and Children, not including Old Men, 
 which amounts to four thousand ani 
 thirty Savages, besides the live Na- 
 tions lately come. Now, as I before 
 hinted, we will see what grounds there 
 are to make these People serviceable 
 to us, and better themselves thereby. 
 
 On a fair Scheme, we must first al- 
 low these Savages, what really be- 
 longs to them, that is what good Quali- 
 ties and Natural Endowments they 
 possess, whereby they being in their 
 proper Colours, the Event may be bet- 
 ter guessed at, and fathom'd. 
 
 First they are as apt to learn any 
 Handicraft as any People that the 
 World affords; I will except none, as 
 is seen by their Canoes and Stauking 
 Heads, which they make themselves; 
 but to my purpose the Indian Slave.? 
 in South Carolina, and elsewhere, 
 make any argument good. 
 
 Second we have no disciplin'd Men 
 in Europe, but what have at one time 
 or another, been branded with Mutin- 
 ing and Murmuring against their 
 Chiefs. These Savages are never found 
 Guilty of that Crime in a Soldier; I 
 challenge all Mankind to tell me one 
 instance of it; besides they never 
 
 prove Traitors to their Native Coun- 
 try, but rather chuse Death than par- 
 take and side with the Enemy. 
 
 They naturally possess the Right- 
 eous Man's Gift; they are Patient un- 
 der all Afflictions, and have a great 
 many other Natural Vertues, which 
 I have slightly touched on throughout 
 the Account of these Savages. 
 
 They are really better to us than 
 we are to them; they always give 
 us Victuals at their Quarters and take 
 care that we are armed against Hun- 
 ger and Thirst; we ^o not so by them 
 (generally speaking) but let them walk 
 by our Doors Hungry and do not often 
 relieve them. We look upon them with 
 Scorn and Disdain, and think them lit- 
 tle better than Beasts in Human 
 Shape, tho' if well examined, we shall 
 find that for all our Religion and Edu- 
 cation, we possess more moral De- 
 formities, and Evils that these Sav- 
 ages do, or are acquainted withal. 
 
 We reckon them slaves in compari- 
 son to us, and Intruders, as oft as 
 they enter our Houses, or Hunt near 
 our Dwellings. But if we will admit 
 Reason to be our Guide, she will in- 
 form us that these Indians are the 
 freest People in the World, and so 
 far from being Intruders among us 
 that iwe Shave abandoned our own 
 Native soil, to drive them out, and 
 possess theirs; neither have we any 
 true balance in judging of these Poor 
 Heathens, because we neither give al- 
 lowance for their Natural Disposi- 
 tion, nor the Sylvian Education, and 
 strange Customs (uncouth to us) they 
 lie under and have ever been trained 
 up to; these are false Measures for 
 Christians to take, and indeed no man 
 can be reckon'd a Moralist only, who 
 will not make choice and use of better 
 Rules to walk and act by. We trade 
 with them, 'tis true. But to what 
 End? Not to show them the steps of 
 Vertue, and the Golden Rule, to do 
 
142 
 
 lawson's history 
 
 as we would be done by. No, we have 
 furnished them with the vice of 
 Drunkenness, which is the open Road 
 to all others, and daily cheat them 
 in everything we sell and esteem it 
 a Gift of Christianity not to sell them 
 so cheap as we do to the Christians, as 
 we call ourselves. Pray let me know 
 where there is to be found one Sacred 
 Command or Precept of our Master, 
 that counsels us to such behaviour? 
 Besides, I believe it will not appear 
 but that all the Wars which we have 
 had with the Savages, were occasioned 
 by the unjust dealings of the Chris- 
 tians towards them. I can name more 
 than a few which my own Enquiry 
 has given me a right Understanding 
 of, and I am afraid the remainder (if 
 they come to the test) will prove 
 themselves Birds of the same Feather. 
 As we are in Christian Duty bound, 
 so we must act and behave ourselves 
 to these Savages, if we either intend to 
 be serviceable in converting them to 
 the Knowledge of the Gospel, or dis- 
 charge the Duty which every Man, 
 within the Pale of the Christian Church, 
 is bound to do. Upon this score, we 
 ought to show a Tenderness for these 
 Heathens under the weight of Infidel- 
 ity; let us cherish their Good Deeds, 
 and, with Mildness and Clemency, make 
 them sensible and forewarn them of 
 their ill ones; let our Dealings be just 
 with them in every Respect, and show 
 no ill Example whereby they niay think 
 we advise them to practice that which 
 we will not be conformable to our- 
 selves; Let them have cheap penni- 
 worths, (without Guile in our Trading 
 with them), and learn them the Mys- 
 teries of our Handicrafts, as well as 
 our Religion, otherwise we deal unjust- 
 ly by them. But it is highly necessary 
 to be brought in Practice, which is to 
 give Encouragement to the Ordinary 
 People, and those of a lower Rank, that 
 
 they might marry with these Indians, 
 and come into Plantations, and Houses, 
 where so many Acres of Land and sonw 
 Gratuity of Money (out of a public 
 stock) are given to the new-married 
 couple, and that the Indians might have 
 encouragement to send their Children 
 Apprentices to proper Masters that 
 would be kind to them, and make them 
 Masters of a Trade, whereby they might 
 be drawn to live amongst us, and be- 
 come members of the same Ecclesiasti- 
 cal and Civil Government we are un- 
 der; then we should have great ad- 
 vantages to make daily Conversions 
 amongst them, when they saw that we 
 were kind and just to them in all our 
 Dealings. Moreover, by the Indians 
 Marrying with the Christians, and com- 
 ing into Plantations with tneir Eng- 
 lish Husbands, or Wives, they would 
 become Christians, and their Idolatry 
 would be quite forgotten, and in all 
 probability, a better Worship come in 
 its Stead; for were the Jews engrafted 
 thus, and alienated from the Worship 
 and Conversation of Jews their aboni- 
 inations would "Vanish and be no more. 
 Thus we should be let into a better 
 understanding of the Indian Tongue by 
 our new Converts; and the whole body 
 of these people would arrive to the 
 Knowledge of our Religion and Customs 
 and become as one People with us. By 
 this Method also, we should have a 
 true knowledge of all the Indian's skill 
 in Medicine and Surgery; they would 
 inform us of the Situation of our Riv- 
 ers, Lakes and Tracts of Lands in the 
 Lords' Dominions, where by therr As- 
 sistance, greater Discoveries may be 
 made than has been hitherto found out, 
 and by their Accompanying us in our 
 Expeditions, we might Civilize a great 
 many other Nations of the Savages, 
 and daily add to our strength in Trade 
 and Interest; so that we might be suf- 
 
OF NORTH CAROLINA. 
 
 143 
 
 ficiently enabled to conquer or main- 
 tain our Ground against all the Ene- 
 naies to the Crown of England in Amer- 
 ica, both Christian and Savage. 
 
 What Children we have of theirs to 
 learn Trades, etc., ought to be put into 
 those Hands, that are Men of the best 
 Lives and Characters, and that are not 
 only strict Observers of their Religion, 
 ■but also of a mild, winning and sweet 
 Disposition, that these Indian Parents 
 may often go and see how tvell their 
 Children are dealt with, which would 
 much win them to our Ways of Living, 
 Mildness being a Vertue that Indians 
 are in love withal, for they do not prac- 
 tice beating and correcting their Chil- 
 dren as we do. A general Complaint 
 is that it seems impossible to convert 
 these People to Christianity, a.^, at 
 first sight it does; and as for those in 
 N"ew Spain, they have the prayers of 
 that Church in Latin by Rote, and 
 know the external Behavior of Mass 
 and Sermons; yet scarce any of them 
 are steady and abide with Constancy 
 in Good Works, and the Duties of the 
 Christian Church. We And that the 
 Puentes and several other of the noted 
 Indian Families about Mexico, and in 
 other parts of New Spain, had given 
 several large Gifts to the Altar, and 
 outwardly seem'd fond of their New 
 Religion; yet those that were the great- 
 est Zealots outwards, on a strict En- 
 
 quiry were found guilty of Idolatry and 
 Witchcraft; and this seems to proceed 
 from their co-habiting, which, as I have 
 noted before, gives opportunities of 
 Cabals to recall their ancient pristine 
 Infidelity and Superstitions. They nev- 
 er argue against our Religion, but with 
 all imaginable indifference own, that 
 it is most proper for us that have been 
 brought up in it. 
 
 In my Opinion, its better for Chris- 
 tians of a mean fortune to marry with 
 the Civilized Indians^ than to suffer the 
 Hardships of four or five Tears Servi- 
 tude, in which they meet with Sickness 
 and Seasonings amidst a Crowd of other 
 afflictions, which the Tyranny of a bad 
 Master lays upon such poor Souls, all 
 which those acquainted with our To- 
 bacco Plantations are not Strangers to. 
 
 This seems to be a more i-easonable 
 Method of converting the Indians, than 
 to set up our Christian Banner in a 
 Field of Blood, as the Spaniards have 
 done in New Spain, and baptise one 
 hundred with the Sword for one at the 
 Font. Whilst we make way for a 
 Christian Colony, through a field of 
 blood, and defraud, and make away 
 with those that one day may be wanted 
 in this World, and in the next appear 
 against us, we make way for a more 
 potent Christian Eneniy to Invade us 
 hereafter, of which we may repent, 
 when too late. 
 
 (the end.) 
 
Col. Wm. Byrd's Survey of Dividing Line. 
 
 The Colonies of Virginia atid North Carolina Set Off From Each Other — 
 The Virginia Gentleman' s Humorous and Caustic Comments on Men 
 and Manners — First Expedition Sent Out by Sir Walter Raleigh to 
 These Shores — Queen Elizabeth' s First Experience With the "Bewitch- 
 irig Weed'' {Tobacco) — Tribute to Presbyterians — ''Secret History" of 
 William Pc7in — Pays Respects to Saints of New England — Hard on 
 North Carolinians. 
 
 Raleigh, Oct. 2.— A number of per- 
 sons have written me, expressing a de- 
 Bire for the republication of Col. Wil- 
 liam Byrd's History of the Dividing 
 Line between Virginia and North Car- 
 olina." While the book is not a large 
 one, it will not be necessa.ry to repub- 
 lish it, but merely to give some ex- 
 tracts from it. The book is of very 
 great ir.terest and is rare. The copy of 
 it frctn these extracts are made is the 
 property of Bishop Josepn Blount Ches- 
 hire, who purchased it in 1S73 and it 
 bears this inscription: "Wilh the re- 
 spects of Ed Ruffin." Mr. RufRn and 
 his brother, Julian, publishes what are 
 known as the Westover Manuscripts in 
 1841, at Petersburg. Edmund Ruffln 
 was the man who fired the first gun at 
 Fort Sumter. 
 
 The manuscripts of Col. William 
 Byrd, of Westover, Va., date from 1728 
 to 1736, and are in a large folio vol- 
 ume, bound in parchment. The manu- 
 scripts show that they were written for 
 the amusement of the author, his family 
 and friends, and not with any view to 
 their being printed, Col. Byrd in his 
 "History of the Dividing Line," run in 
 the year 1728, begins by a recital of the 
 formation of the various British colo- 
 r.ies fronting on the Atlantic Ocean, 
 showing how one after another they 
 
 were carved out of Virginia, by royal 
 grants. All that part of the continent 
 stretching as far as the Cape of Flor- 
 ida, went at first under the general 
 name of Virginia, the only distinction 
 in those early days being that all the 
 coast south of Chesapeake Bay was 
 called South Virginia, and all to the 
 north of that bay was called North 
 Virginia, Col. Byrd says: "The first 
 settlement of this foreign country was 
 owing to that great ornament of the 
 British nation, Sir Walter Raleigh, who 
 obtained a grant thereof from Queen 
 Elizabeth, of ever-glorious memory, by 
 letters patent, dated March 25, 1584, but 
 whether the gentleman ever made a 
 voyage hither himself is uncertain, 
 because those who have favored the 
 public with an account of his life men- 
 tion nothing of it. However, this much 
 may be depended on, that Sir Walter 
 invited sundry persons of distinction 
 to share his charter and join their 
 purses with his in the laudable pro- 
 ject of fitting out a colony to Virginia. 
 Accordingly two ships were sent away 
 that very year, under the command of 
 his good friends Amidas and Barlow, 
 to take possession of the country in 
 the name of his royal mistress, the 
 Queen of England. These worthy com- 
 manders, for the advantage of the 
 
146 
 
 BYRD S SURVEY 
 
 trade winds, shaped their course first 
 to the Charibbe. (Carribean) Islands, 
 thence stretching away by the Gulf of 
 Florida, dropped anchor not far from 
 Roanoke inlet. They ventured ashore 
 near that place, upon an island now- 
 called Colleton Island, where they set 
 up the arms of England and claimed 
 the adjacent country in right of their 
 sovereign lady, the Queen, and this 
 ceremony being duly performed, they 
 kindly invited the neighboring Indians 
 to traffic with them. These poor people 
 at first approached the English with 
 great caution, having heard much of 
 the treachery of the Spaniards, and not 
 knowing but these strangers might be 
 as treacherous as they. But, at length, 
 discovering a kind of good nature in 
 their looks, they ventured to draw near 
 and barter their skins and furs for the 
 bawbles and trinkets of the English. 
 These first adventurers made a very 
 profitable voyage, raising at least 1,000 
 per cent, on their cargo. Among other 
 Indian commodities they brought over 
 some of that bewitching vegetable, to- 
 bacco. And this being the first that 
 ever came to England, Sir Waller 
 thought he could not do less than make 
 a present of some of the brightest of 
 It to his royal mistress, for her smok- 
 ing] The Queen graciously accepted it, 
 but finding her stomach sicken after 
 two or three whiffs, it was presently 
 whispered by the Earl of Leicester'.s 
 faction that Sir Walter had certainly 
 poisoned her. But her majesty soon 
 recovering her disorder, obliged ihe 
 Countess of Nottingham and all her 
 maids to smoke a whole pipe out among 
 them. As it happened some ages be- 
 fore to the fashion to saunter to the 
 Holy Land, and go upon other Quixote 
 adventures, so it was now grown the 
 humor to take a trip to America. The 
 Spaniards had lately discovered rich 
 
 mines in their part of the West Indies, 
 which made their maritime neighbors 
 eager to do so too. This modish frenzy 
 being still more inflamed by the 
 charming account of Virginia by the 
 first adventurers, made many fond of 
 removing to such a paradise. Happy 
 was he, and still happier she, that could 
 get themselves transported, fondly ex- 
 pecting their coarsest utensils in that 
 happy place would be of massive silver. 
 This made it easy for the company to 
 produce as many volunteers as they 
 wanted for their new colony; but, like 
 most other undertakers who have no 
 assistance from the public, they starved 
 the design by too much frugality, for, 
 unwilling to launch out at first in too 
 much expense, they shipped off but few 
 people at a time and those but scanti- 
 ly provided. The adventurers were be- 
 sides idle and extravagant, and expect- 
 ed they might live without work in so 
 plentiful a country. These wretches 
 were set ashore not far from Roanoke 
 Inlet, but by some fatal disagreement, 
 or laziness, were either starved or cut 
 to pieces by the Indians. Several re- 
 peated misadventures of this kind did, 
 for some time, allay the itch of sailing 
 to this new world, but the distemper 
 broke out again about the year 1666. 
 Then it happened that the Earl of 
 Southampton and several other per- 
 sons, eminent for their quality and »»s- 
 tates, were invited into the company, 
 who applied themselves once more to 
 people the then almost abandoned col- 
 ony. For this purpose they embarked 
 about a hundred men, most of them 
 reprobates of good families, and relat- 
 ed to some of the company, who were 
 men of quality and fortune. The ships 
 that carried them made a shift to find 
 a more direct way to Virginia and ven- 
 tured through the capes into the bay of 
 Chesapeake. The same night they 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE. 
 
 147 
 
 came to an anchor at the mouth of the 
 Powhatan, the same as James river, 
 where they built a small fort at a plac; 
 called Point Comfort. This settlement 
 stood its ground from that time for- 
 ward, in spite of all the blunders and 
 disagreements of the first adventurers, 
 and the many calamities that befell the 
 colony afterwards. These found the 
 first adventurers in a very starving 
 condition, but relieved their wants with 
 the fresh supply they brought with 
 them. From Kiquotan they extended 
 themselves as far as Jamestown where, 
 like true Englishmen, they built a 
 church that cost no more than fifly 
 pounds, and a tavern that cost five 
 hundred. They had now made peace 
 with the Indians, but there was one 
 thing wanting to make that peace last- 
 ing. The natives could by no means 
 persuade themselves that the English 
 were heartily their friends, so long aa 
 they disdained to intermarry with 
 them. And, in earnest, had the English 
 consulted their own securitv and the 
 good of the colony: had they intended 
 either to civilize or convert these gen- 
 tiles, they could have brought their 
 stomachs to embrace this prudent al- 
 liance. The Indians are generally tall 
 and well-proportioned, which may 
 make full amends for the darkness >)f 
 their complexion. Add to this, they 
 are healthy and strong, with constitu- 
 tions untainted bv lewdness, and not 
 enfeebled by luxury. Besides, morals 
 and all considered, I cannot think the 
 Indians were much greater heathens 
 than the first adventurers, who, had 
 they been good Christians, would have 
 had the charity to take this only meth- 
 od of converting the natives to Chris- 
 tianity. For, after all that can be 
 said, a spiightly lover is the most pre- 
 vailing missionary that can be seut 
 amongst these, or any other infidels. 
 
 Besieges, the poor Indians would bive 
 less reason to complain that the Eng- 
 lish took away their lands if they had 
 received it by way of portion with their 
 daughters. Had such affinities beea 
 contracted in the beginning how much 
 bloodshed would have been prevente'l, 
 and how populous would the country 
 have become, and consequently, hovsr 
 considerable. Nor would the shade of 
 the skin been any reproach at this day, 
 for if a Moor may be washed white in 
 three generations, surely an Indian 
 might have been blanched in two. The 
 French for their rarts have not been 
 so squeamish in Canada, who upon 
 trial find an abundance of attraction in 
 the Indians. Their late grand monarch 
 though it not below even the dignity 
 of a Frenchman to become one flesh 
 with these people, and therefore order- 
 ed 100 livres for ai.y of his subjects, 
 man or woman, that would intermarry 
 with a native. By this piece of policy 
 we find the French interest very mucn 
 strengthened amongst the natives, and 
 their religion, such as it is, propagated 
 just as far as their love. And I hearti- 
 ly wish this well-contracted schema 
 does not hereafter erive the French an 
 advantage over his majesty's good sub- 
 jects on the northern continent of 
 America. About the same time New 
 England was pared off from Virginia 
 by letters patent, bearing date April 
 10, IGOS. Several gentlemen of the 
 town and neighborhood of Plymouth 
 obtained this grant, with the Lord 
 Chref Justice Popham at their head. 
 Their bounds were specified to extend 
 from 3S to 45 desrrees of northern lati- 
 tude, with a breadth of one hundred 
 miles from the sea-shore. The first 
 fourteen years this company encoun- 
 terered many difficulties, and lost many 
 men, though far from being discourag- 
 ed, they sent over numerous recruits of 
 
148 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 Presbyterians, every year, who for all 
 that, had much ado to stand their 
 ground, with all their fighting and 
 praying. But about the year of 1620 
 a large swarm of dissenters fled thither 
 from the severities of their stepmother, 
 the Church. These saints, conceiving 
 the same aversion to the copper com- 
 plexion of the natives with that of 
 the first adventurers to Virginia, would 
 on no terms contract alliances with 
 them, afraid, perhaps, like the Jews of 
 old, lest they might be drawn into idol- 
 atry by those strange women. What- 
 ever disgusted them, I cannot say, but 
 this false delicacy creating in the In- 
 dians a jealousy that the English were 
 ill-affected towards them, was the 
 cause that many of them were cut off, 
 and the rest exposed to various dis- 
 tresses. This re-enforcement was land- 
 ed not far from Cape Cod, where, for 
 their greater security, they built a fort 
 and near it a small town, which in 
 honor of the proprietors, was called 
 New Plymouth. But they still had 
 many discouragements, to struggle 
 with, though, by being well supported 
 from home, they by degrees triumphed 
 over them all. Their brethren, after 
 this, flocked over so fast, that in a few 
 years they extended the settlement one 
 (hundred miles along the coast, includ- 
 ing Rhode Island and Martha's Vine- 
 yard. Thus the colony throve apace, 
 and was thronged with long detach- 
 ments of indepedents and Presbyte- 
 rians who thought themselves perse- 
 cuted at home. Though these people 
 may be ridiculed for some Pharisaical 
 particularities in their worship and be- 
 havior, yet they were very useful sub- 
 jects, as being frugal and Industrious, 
 giving no scandal or bad example, at 
 least by any open and public vices. By 
 which excellent qualities they had 
 much the advantage of the Southern 
 
 colony, who thought their membership 
 of the established Church sufficient to 
 sanctify very loose and profligate mor- 
 als. For this reason New England im- 
 proved much faster than Virginia, and 
 in seven or eight years New Plymouth, 
 like Switzerland, seemed too narrow a 
 territory for its inhabitants. But what 
 wounded Virginia deepest was the cut- 
 ting of Maryland from it, by charter 
 from King Charles I to Sir George Cal- 
 vert, afterwards Lord Baltimore, bear- 
 ing date the 20th of June. 1632. The 
 truth of it is, it begat much specula- 
 tion in those days, how it came about 
 that a good Protestant King should be- 
 stow so bountiful a grant upon a zeal- 
 ous Roman Catholic. But it is proba- 
 ble it was one fatal instance amongst 
 many others of His Majesty's com- 
 plaisance of the Queen. The proprie- 
 tors of New Jersey, finding more trou- 
 ble than profit in their new dominions, 
 made over their right to several other 
 persons, who obtained a fresh grant 
 from his royal highness, dated March 
 14, 1682. Besides the hope of being safe 
 from persecution in this retreat, the 
 new proprietors inveigled many over 
 by their tempting account of the coun- 
 try, that it was a place free from those 
 three great scourges of mankind, 
 priests, lawyers and physicians. Nor 
 did they tell them a word of a lie, for 
 the people were yet too poor to main- 
 tain these learned gentlemen, who, ev- 
 erywhere, love to be well paid for what 
 they do; and, like the Jews, cannot 
 breathe in a climate where nothing is 
 to be gotten. The Jerseys continued 
 under the government of these pro- 
 prietors till the year 1702, when they 
 made a formal surrender of the domin- 
 ion to the Queen, reserving, however, 
 the property of the soil to themselves. 
 So soon as the bounds of New Jersey 
 came to be distinctly laid off. it ap- 
 
OF THE DIVIDING UNE. 
 
 149 
 
 peared there was still a narrow slip of 
 land, lying betwixt the colony and 
 Maryland. Of this, William Penn, a 
 man of worldly wisdom, and some em- 
 inence among the Quakers, got early 
 notice, and, by the credit he had with 
 the Duke of York, obtained a patent for 
 it, dated March 14, 1860. It was a little 
 surprising to some people how a Quak- 
 er should be so much in the good 
 graces of a Popish prince, though, af- 
 ter all it may be pretty well account- 
 ed for. This ingenious person had not 
 been bred a Quaker, but in his earlier 
 days had been a man of pleasure about 
 the town. He had a beautiful form and 
 very taking address, which made him 
 successful with the ladies, particularly 
 with a mistress of the Duke of Mon- 
 mouth. By this gentlewoman he had 
 a daughter, who had beauty enough 
 to riiae her to be a duchess, and con- 
 tinued to be a toast full 30 y?ars. But 
 this armour had like to have brought 
 our fine gentleman in danger of a duel, 
 had he not discreetly sheltered hin^- 
 self under his peaceable persuasio. 
 Besides his father having been a flag 
 officer in the navy while the Duke of 
 York was lord high admiiral, might 
 have recommended the son to his fa- 
 vor. This piece of secret history I 
 thought proper to mention, to wipe off 
 'the suspicion of his having been Po- 
 pishly inclined. But the French and 
 Spaniards haid, in the name of their 
 respective monarchs, long ago taken po- 
 session oif that part of the northern 
 continent that now goes by the name 
 of Carolina, but finding it produced 
 neither gold nor silver, as they greed- 
 ily expected, and meeting such return 
 from the Indians as their own cruelty 
 and treachery deserved, they totally 
 abandoned it. In this deserted condi- 
 tion the country lay for the space of 
 ninety years, till King Charles II find- 
 
 ing it a derelict, granted it away to 
 the Earl of Clarendon and others by 
 his royal charter, dated March 24, 138G. 
 The boundary of that grant towards 
 Virginia was a due west line from 
 Luck Island, (the same as Colleton Isl- 
 and) lying 36 degrees of north latitude, 
 quite to the South Sea. But afterwards 
 Sir "William Berkeley, who was one of 
 the grantees and that time Governor 
 of Virginia, finding territory of 31 miles 
 in breadth between the inhabited part 
 of Virginia and the above mentioned 
 boundary of Carolina, advised Ixird 
 Clarendon of it, and his lordship had 
 interest enough with the King to ob- 
 tain a second patent to include it, dated 
 June 30, 1665. 
 
 "This last grant describes the bounds 
 between Virginia and Carolina in 
 these words: to run from the north end 
 of Coratuck inlet due west to Weyan- 
 oke creek, lying within or about the 
 degree of 36 and 30 minutes of north- 
 ern latitude and from thence west in 
 a direct line as far as the South Sea." 
 Without question this boundary was 
 well known at the time the charter 
 was granted, but in the long course of 
 years Weyanoke creek lost its name, so 
 that it became a controversy where it 
 lay. Some ancient persons in Virgin- 
 ia affirmed it was the same with Wic- 
 cocon, and others again in Carolina 
 were as positive it was Nottoway river. 
 In the meantime the people on the fron- 
 tiers entered for land and took out 
 patents by guess, either from the King 
 or the lords proprietors, but the crown 
 was like to be the loser by this uncer- 
 tainty because the terms both of tak- 
 ing up and seating land were much 
 easier in Carolina. T^e yearly rental 
 taxes to the public were likewise there 
 less burdensome, which laid Virginia 
 under a plain disadvantage. This con- 
 sideration put Virginia upon entering 
 
I50 
 
 BYRD'S SUR\EY 
 
 into measures with North Carolina to 
 terminate the dispute and settle a cer- 
 tain boundary between the colonies. 
 All the difRculty was to find out which 
 was truly Weyanoke croek. The differ- 
 ence was too considerable to be given 
 up by either side, there being a terri- 
 tory of 15 nr>iles betwixt the two 
 streams in controversy. However, till 
 that matter could be adjusted, it was 
 agreed on both sides that no lands at 
 all should, be granted within the dis- 
 puted bounds. Virginia observed this 
 agreement punctually, but I am sorry 
 I cannot say the same of North Caro- 
 lina. The great officers of that prov- 
 ince were loath to lose the fees accu- 
 ing from the grants of land, and so 
 private interest got the better of pub- 
 lic spirit and I wish that there were 
 places in the world where such polities 
 were fashionable. All the steps that 
 were taken afterwards in that affair 
 will best appear by the report of the 
 Virginia commissioners. It must be 
 owned the report of those gentlemen 
 was severe upon the then commission- 
 ers of North Carolina and particularly 
 upon Mr. Moseley. I will not take it 
 upon me to say with how much justice 
 they said so many hard things, though 
 it had been fairer play to have given 
 the parties accused a copy of such 
 representation, that they might have 
 answered what they could for them- 
 selves. But since that was not done, 
 I must beg leave to say this much in 
 behalf of Mr. Moseley, that he was not 
 much in the wrong to find fault with 
 the quadrant produced by the sur- 
 veyors of Virginia, because that instru- 
 ment placed the mouth of Nottoway 
 river in the latitude of 37 degrees, 
 whereas by an accurate observation 
 made since it is found that there is an 
 error of nearly 30 minutes. The lieu- 
 tenant Governor of Virginia at that 
 
 time. Col. Spotswood, searching into 
 the bottom of this affair, made very 
 equitable proposals to Mr. Eden, at 
 that time Governor of North Carolina, 
 in order to put an end to this contro- 
 versy. These, being formed into pre- 
 liminaries, were signed by both Gov- 
 ernors and transmitted to England, 
 where they had the honor to be rati- 
 fied by his late majesty and assented 
 to by the lords proprietors of Caro- 
 lina. Accordingly an order was sent 
 by the late king to Mr. Gooch, after- 
 wards Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 
 to pursue those preliminaries exactly. 
 In obedience thereunto, he was pleas- 
 ed to appoint three of the Council of 
 that colony to be commissioners on the 
 part of Virginia, who in conjunctioa 
 with others to be named by the Gov- 
 ernor of North Carolina, were to set- 
 tle the boundary between the two gov- 
 ernments upon the plan of the above 
 mentioned articles." 
 
 In the appendix to Col. Byrd's jour- 
 nal is quoted the commission issued by 
 Governor Richr.rd Everard in ooedi- 
 ence to the king's order. This commis- 
 sion runneth in part as follows: "Sir 
 Richard Everard, Baronet, Governor, 
 Captain General, Admiral and Com- 
 mander-inChief of the said province, to 
 Christopher Gale, Esq., chief justice; 
 John Lovick, Esq., secretary; Edward 
 Moseley, Esq., surveyor general, and 
 William Little, Esq., attoreny general, 
 greeting: Whereas many disputes and 
 differences have formerly been between 
 the inhabitants of this province and 
 those of his majesty's colony of Vir- 
 ginia, concerning the boundaries and 
 limits between the said two govern- 
 ments, which have been duly consid- 
 ered by Charles Eden, Esq., late Gov- 
 ernor of this province, and Alexand-Dr 
 Spotswood, Esq., late Governor of 
 Virginia, they agreed to certain pro- 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 151 
 
 posals for determining the said con- 
 troversy and humbly offered the samr^ 
 for his majesty's royal approbatioii 
 and the consent of the true and abso- 
 lute lords proprietors of Carolina." 
 Governor Everard then directed them 
 to join in making the survey. He gave 
 this order at the council chamber in 
 Edenton, February 21, 1727. The com- 
 missioners for Virginia were William 
 Byrd, Richard Fitz-William, and Wil- 
 liam Dandridge. The surveyors for 
 North Carolina were Edward Moseley 
 and Samuel Swan, while Alexander Ir- 
 vin and William Mayo were the sur- 
 veyors for Virginia. The Rev. Peter 
 Fountain was the chaplain for the en- 
 tire party. The total expense of run- 
 ning the line was 1,000 pounds, or $5,000 
 Bay, in our money, and this sum was 
 discharged by a warrant out of his 
 majesty's quit rents from the lands of 
 Virginia. 
 
 What may be called the real history 
 of the dividing line is in a shape of u, 
 diary, which begins February 27, 1728, 
 and says: "The surveyors for Virginia 
 ■were Mr. Mayo, who made the accu- 
 rate map of Barbadoes, and Mr. Irvin, 
 the mathematics professor of William 
 and Mary College. .n.nd because a good 
 number of men were to go upon this 
 expedition a chaplain was appointed to 
 attend them, and the rather because 
 the people on the frontiers of North 
 Carolina, who have no minister near 
 them, might have an opportunity to 
 get themselves and their children bap- 
 tized. Sir Richard Everard, of North 
 Carolina, appointed four members of 
 the council of that province to take 
 care of the interests of the lords pro- 
 prietors. Of these, Mr. Moseley was to 
 serve in a double capacity, both as 
 commissioner and surveyor. For that 
 reason there was but one other sur- 
 veyor from thence, Mr. Swan. All the 
 
 persons being thus agreed upon, they 
 settled the time of the meeting to be 
 at Curatuck, March 5, 1728. It was just 
 noon before we arrived at Coratuck in- 
 let. We saw a small New England 
 s'oop riding in the sound. She had 
 cme in at the new inlet, as all other 
 vessels have done since the opening 
 of it. The trade hither is engrossed by 
 the saints of New England, who carry 
 off a great deal of tobacco without 
 troubling themselves with paying that 
 impertinent duty of a penny a pound. 
 Curatuck inlet is now so shallow that 
 the breakers fly over it with the hor- 
 rible sound, and at the sanie time af- 
 ford a "ery wild prospect. About 2 
 o'clock in the afternoon we were joined 
 by two of the Carolina commissioners, 
 attended by Mr. Swan, their surveyor. 
 The other two were not quite so punc- 
 tual, which was the more unlucky for 
 us, because there could be no sport un- 
 til they came. These gentlemen, it 
 seems, had the Carolina commission in 
 their keep, notwithstanding which they 
 could not forbear paying too much re- 
 gard to a proverb, fashionable in their 
 country, not to make more haste than 
 good speed. The commissioners from 
 Carolina came better provided for the 
 belly than for the business. They 
 hrought not above two men along with 
 then-i that could put their hands to 
 anything but the kettle and the frying- 
 pan. These spent so much of their 
 industry that way that they had as lit- 
 tle spirit as inclination for work. On. 
 the 6th, at noon, having perfect obser- 
 vation, we found the latitude of Cura- 
 tuck inlet to be 36 degrees and 31 min- 
 utes. About 3 in the afternoon the two 
 lag commissioners arrived and after a 
 few decent excuses for making us wait 
 told us they were ready to enter upon 
 business as soon as they pleased. Our 
 first step was to produce our respective 
 
152 
 
 BYRD'S SURVEY 
 
 powers and the commission from each 
 Governor was distinctly read, and cop- 
 ies of them interchangebly delivered. 
 It was observed by our Carolina friends 
 ■that the latter part of the Virginia 
 commission had something- in it a little 
 too lordly and positive. In answer to 
 which we told them it was necessary 
 to make it thus peremptory, lest the 
 present comn-jissioners might go upon 
 as fruitless an errand as their prede- 
 cessors. The former commissioners 
 were tied down to act in exact con- 
 junction with those of Carolina, and 
 so could not advance one step farther 
 or one jot faster than they were pleas- 
 ed to oermit them. The memory of that 
 disappointment therefore induced the 
 government of Virgii.ia to give fuller 
 powers to the present commissioners, 
 by authorizing them to go on with the 
 work themselves, in case those of Car- 
 olina should prove unreasonable, and 
 refuse to join with them in carrying 
 tLe business to execution. And all this 
 ■was done lest his majesty's gracious in- 
 tention should be frustrated a second 
 tin-.e." 
 
 The survey was begun under the 
 greatP'^t difficulties, the party wading 
 through bogs from knee to hip deep. 
 They found quagmire after quagmire. 
 The people flocked to see them and 
 what astonished the natives most was 
 how this surveying party with all its 
 hard work could be so light-hearted. 
 "The Sabbath," said Col. Byrd, "gave 
 some ease to the jaded people, who 
 rested religiously from every work but 
 that of cooking the kettle." The narra- 
 tives goes on to &ay: "We observe very 
 few corn-fields in our walks and those 
 very small, which seemed the stranger 
 to us because we could see no other 
 tokens of husbandry or improvement, 
 but we were given to understand peo- 
 ple only made corn for themselves and 
 
 not for their stocks, which know very 
 well how to get their own living. Both 
 cattle and hogs ramble into the neigh- 
 boring marshes and swamps, where 
 they maintain themselves the whole 
 winter long and are not fetched home 
 until the spring. Thus these indolent 
 wretches during one-half of the year 
 lose the advantage of the milk of their 
 cattle and many of the poor creatures 
 perish in the marches by this ill-man- 
 agement. Some who pique themselves 
 upon more industry than their neigh- 
 bors will now and then, in compliment 
 to their cattle, cut down a tree whose 
 limbs are covered with the long hang- 
 ing grey moss. The trouble would be 
 too great to climb the tree in order to 
 gather this moss, but the shortest way 
 (which in this country is always count- 
 ed the best) is to fell it, just like the 
 lazy Indians, who do the same by such 
 trees as bear fruit, and so rr^ake one 
 harvest for all. The only business here 
 is raising hogs which is managed with 
 the least trouble and affords the diet 
 they are most fond of. The truth of it 
 is, the inhabitants of North Carolina 
 devour so much swine's flesh that it 
 fills them full of gross humors. For 
 want of a constant supply of salt, 
 they are commonly obliged to eat fresh 
 pork, and that begets the highest taint 
 of scurvy. Thus whenever a severe cold 
 happens to constitutions thus vitiated 
 it is apt to improve into the yaws, 
 called there very justly the country 
 distempc'* which no preparation of 
 mercury will touch. First it seizes the 
 throat, next the palate and lastly shows 
 its spite to the poor nose, in which it 
 is apt to in a small time, treacherously 
 undermine the foundation. This calam- 
 ity is to comimpn and familiar here that 
 it ceases to be a soandal and in the 
 disputes that happen about beauty, the 
 noses have in some companies having 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 153 
 
 much ado to carry it. Nay it is said 
 thf-it once, after three good pork years, 
 a motion had like to have been made 
 in the House of Burgesses that a man 
 with a nose should, be incapable of 
 holding any place of profit in the prov- 
 ince, which extraordinary motion could 
 never have been intended without 
 some hopes of a majority. Thus, con- 
 sidering the foul and pernicious effects 
 of eating swine's flesh in a hot coun- 
 try, it was wisely forbidden and made 
 an abomination to the Jews, who lived 
 much in the same latitude with Caro- 
 lina. We came upon a family of mu- 
 lattoes that called then-i?elves free, al- 
 though by the shyness of the master of 
 the house, who took care to keep least 
 In sight, their freedom seemed a little 
 doubtful. It is certain many slaves 
 shelter themselves in this obscure part 
 of the world, nor will any of their right- 
 eous neighbors discover them. On the 
 contrary, they find their account in 
 settling such fugitives on some out-of- 
 the-way corner of their land, to raise 
 stocks for a mean and inconsiderable 
 share, well knowing their condition 
 makes it necessary for them to submit 
 to any terms. Nor were these worthy 
 borderers content to shelter runaway 
 slaves, but debtors and criminals hav- 
 ing often met with like indulgence. But 
 if the government of North Carolina 
 has encouraged this un-neighborly pol- 
 icy in order to 'increase the population, 
 it is no more than ancient Romie did 
 before them, which was made a city of 
 refuge for all debtors and fugitives, and 
 from that wretched beginning grew up 
 In time to be mistress of the greater 
 part of the world. And, considering 
 how fortune delights in bringing great 
 things out of small, who knows but 
 Carolina may, one time or other, come 
 to be the seat of some other great em- 
 pire? 
 
 "The line cut many plantations, leav- 
 ir^ part in Virginia, part in Carolina, 
 to the great inconvenience of the own- 
 ers, who were therefore obliged to take 
 out two patents and pay for a new sur- 
 vey in each government. We could not 
 be tempted to lodge in houses; we 
 chose rather to lie in the open field, 
 for fear of growing too tender. A 
 clear sky spangled with stars, was our 
 canopy, which, being the last thing we 
 saw before we fell asleep, gave us mag- 
 nificent dreams. The truth of it is we 
 took so much pleasure in that natural 
 kind of lodging, that I think at the 
 foot of the account mankind are great 
 losers by the luxury of feather beds and 
 warm apartments. The curiosity of be- 
 holding so new and withall so sweet a 
 method of encamping, brought one of 
 the Senators of North Carolina to make 
 us a midnight visit. But he was so 
 very clamorous in his commendations 
 of it, that the sentinel not seeing his 
 quality, either through his habit or 
 behaviour, had like to have treated 
 him roughly. After excusing the un- 
 reasonableness of his virit, and letting 
 us know he was a Parliament man, he 
 swore he was so taken with our lodg- 
 ing that he would set fire to his house 
 as soon as he got home, and teach 
 his wife and children to lie like us, in 
 the open field. On the 13th, early in 
 the morning, our chaplain repaired to 
 us with the men we had left at Mr. 
 Wilson's. We sent for them the even- 
 ing before to relieve those who had 
 the labor-oar from Curatuck inlet. But 
 to our great surprise they petitioned 
 not to be relieved, hoping to gain im- 
 mortal reputation by being the first of 
 mankind that ventured through the 
 great Dismal swamp, but the rest be- 
 ing equally desirous of the same hon- 
 o-^ it was but fair to decide their pre- 
 tensions by lot. After fortune had de- 
 
154 
 
 BYRDS SURVEY 
 
 Glared herself, those which she had ex- 
 cluded, offered money to the happy per- 
 sons, to go in their steac" But Her- 
 cules would have as soon sold the glory 
 of cleansing the Augean stables, which 
 ■was pretty near the same sort of woik. 
 "On the 13th before 9 o'clock in the 
 morning, the provisions, bedding and 
 other necessaries, were made up into 
 packs for the men to carry on their 
 shoulders into the Dismal. They were 
 victualled for eight days at full al- 
 lowance, nobody doubting but that 
 would be abundantly sufficient to car- 
 ry them through that Inhospitable 
 place, nor indeed was it possible for 
 the poor fellows to stagger under more. 
 As it was their loads weighed from 60 
 to 70 pounds, in just proportion to the 
 etrength of those who were to bear 
 them. It would have been unconscion- 
 able to have saddled thei.i with bur- 
 de.is heavier than that, when they were 
 to lug them through a filthy bog, which 
 was hardly practicable with no burden 
 at all. Besides this luggage at their 
 backs they were obliged to measure the 
 dir.tance, mark the trees, and cUar the 
 way for the surveyors every step they 
 went. It was really a pleasure to see 
 with how much cheerfulness they un- 
 dertook and with how r.-uch spirit they 
 went through all this drudgery. For 
 their greater safety the commission- 
 ers took care to furnish them with Pe- 
 ruvian bark, rhubarb, hipocoacauah, in 
 ca^e they might happen in that wet 
 journey to be taken with fevers or 
 fluxes. Although there was no need of 
 example to inflame persons already so 
 cheerful, yet to enter the people with 
 the better grace, the author and 
 two more of the commissioners accom- 
 panied them half a mile into the Dis- 
 mal. The skirts of it were thinly plant- 
 ed with dwarf reeds and gall bushes, 
 but when we got into the Dismal itself 
 
 we found the reews grew there much 
 taller and closer, and to mend the mat- 
 ter were so intei laced with bamboo 
 briars that there was no scuffling 
 through them without the help of the 
 pioneers. At the same time we found 
 the ground moist and trembling under 
 our feet like a quagmire, insomuch that 
 it was an easy matter to run the head 
 of a ten-foot pole up to the head of it, 
 without exerting any uncommon 
 strength to do it. Two of the men, 
 whose burdens were the least cumber- 
 some, had orders to march before with 
 their tomahawks and clear the way. in 
 order to make an opening for the sur- 
 veyors. By their assistance we made a 
 shift to rush a line half a mile in 
 three hours, and then reached a small 
 piece of flrm land, about ICO yards wide, 
 standing up above the rest like an isl- 
 anl. Here the people were glad to lay 
 down their loads and take a little re- 
 freshments, while the happy man whose 
 lot it was to carry the jug of rum, be- 
 gan already, like Aesop's bread-car- 
 rier, to find it grow a good deal light- 
 er. 
 
 "In the meantime the three commis- 
 sioners returned out of the Dismal the 
 same way they went in, and having 
 joined their brethren proceeded that 
 night as far as Mr. Wilson's. This 
 worthy person lives within sight of the 
 Dismal, in the skirts whereof his stock 
 ranges and maintain themselves all the 
 winter, and yet he knev as little of It 
 as he did of Terra Australia Incognita. 
 He told a Canterbury Tale of a North 
 Briton whose curiosity spurred him a 
 long way into this great desert, as he 
 called it, near twenty years ago, bJt 
 he having no compass, nor seeing the 
 sun for several days together wandered 
 about until he was almost famished, 
 but at last he bethought himself of a 
 secret his countrymen make use of to 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 155 
 
 corr^ out. being for the most part ap- 
 pilot themselves a dark day. He took 
 a fat louse out of his collar, and ex- 
 posed it to the open day light on a 
 pi^ce of white paper, which he brought 
 along with him for his journal. The 
 poor insect, having no eyelids, turned 
 himself about until he found the dark- 
 est part of the heavens, and so made 
 the best of his way towards the north. 
 By this direction he steered himself 
 safe out and gave such a frightful ac- 
 count of the monsters he saw and the 
 distresses he underwent tMt nobody 
 sin-e had been hardy enough to go 
 upon the like dangerous discovery. 
 
 "The Quakers prevailed much in this 
 part of the country, for want of min- 
 isters to pilot the people a decenter 
 way to heaven. Th" ill-reputation of 
 tobacco planted in the lower Virginia 
 parishes makes the clergy unwilling to 
 accept of them, unless it be such who?e 
 aLilities are as mean as their pay. It 
 is a wonder no Popish missionaries are 
 sent from Maryland to labor in this 
 neglected vineyard, v.ho we know have 
 zeal enough to traverse sea and land 
 on the meritorious errand of making 
 converts. Nor is it less strange that 
 some wolf in sheep's clothing arrives 
 not from New England to lead astray 
 a flock that has no shepherd. People 
 uninstructed in any religion are ready 
 to embrace the first that offers. It <s 
 natural for helpless man to adore his 
 Maker in some form or other, and were 
 there any exceptions to this rule I 
 should suspect it to be among the Hot- 
 tentots of the Cape of Good Hope and 
 of North Carolina. Since the surveyors 
 had entered the Dismal they had laid 
 eys on no living creature. Not ro 
 much as a frog can endure so aguish 
 a situation. It had one beauty how- 
 ever, that delighted the eye, though at 
 the expense of all the other senses. The 
 
 moisture of the soil makes every plant 
 an evergreen, but at the same time the 
 foul damps ascend without ceasing, 
 corrupt the air and render it unfit for 
 reppiration. Not eve.i a turkey-buzzard 
 will venture to fly oa er it. In these sad 
 circumstances the kindest thing we 
 could do for our suftering friends was 
 to give themi a place in Litany. Our 
 chaplain, for his part, did his office and 
 rubbed us up with a seasonable ser- 
 mon. This was quite a new th'ing to 
 our brethren of North Carolina, who 
 live in a climate where no clergymen 
 can breathe any more than spiders in 
 Ireland. For want of men in holy 
 orders, both the members of the coun- 
 cil and justices of the peace are em- 
 powered by the laws of that country to 
 marry all those who will not take one 
 another's word, but for the ceremony 
 of christening their children they trust 
 that to chance. If a parson comes In 
 their way Will crave a cast of 12 hia 
 office, as they call it, else they are con- 
 tent their offspring should remain as 
 arrant pagans as themselves. They ac- 
 count it anr.ong their greatest advan- 
 tages that they are not priest-ridden, 
 not remembering that the clergy is 
 rarely guilty of bestriding such as have 
 the misfortune to be poor. One thing 
 may be said for the inhabitants of 
 North Carolina, they that are not 
 troubled with any religious fumes, and 
 have the least superstitions of any peo- 
 ple living. They do not know Sunday 
 fron-j any other day, any more than 
 Robinson Crusoe did, which would give 
 them a great advantage were they 
 given to be industrious. But they keep 
 so many Sabbaths every week that 
 their disregard of the seventh day has 
 no manner of cruelty in it either to 
 servants or cattle. Whole flocks of wo- 
 men and children flew hither to stare 
 at u='. Some boidsrers, too, had a pfreat 
 mind to know where the line would 
 
156 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 prehensive lest their lands should be 
 taken into Virginia. In that case thej' 
 must have submitted to some sort of 
 order and government, whereas in 
 North Carolina every one does what 
 seems best in his own eyes. There were 
 some good women that brought their 
 children to be baptized, but brought no 
 capons along with them to make the 
 solemnity cheerful. In the meantime it 
 was strange that none came to be mar- 
 ried in such a multitude, if it had only 
 been for the novelty of having their 
 hands joined by one in holy orders. 
 Yet so it was that though our chap- 
 lain chr'istened above a hundred he did 
 not marry so much as one couple dur- 
 ing the entire expedition. 
 
 "We began to be very greatly alarm- 
 ed about our people who were in the 
 Dismal, the 22nd being the 9th day 
 since they entered into that inhospita- 
 ble swamp, and consequently we ha^i 
 reason to believe their provisions were 
 quite spent. In the midst of our con- 
 cern we were most agreeably surpris- 
 ed with the news that they were all 
 safe. The blessed tidings were brought 
 us by Mr. Swan, the Carolina surveyor, 
 who came to us in a very tattered con- 
 dition. Our surveyors told us they had 
 measured ten miles in the Dism.al and 
 computed the distance they had since 
 marched to amount to about five more, 
 so they made the whole breadth to be 
 15 miles. It may be computed at a 
 medium to be about 30 miles long and 
 ten miles broad, though where the line 
 crossed it completed 15 miles wide. The 
 exhalations that continually rise from 
 this vast body of mire and nastiness 
 infect the air for many miles around, 
 and render it very unwholesome for the 
 bordering inhabitants. It makes them 
 liable to agues, pleurises and many 
 other distempers that kill abundance of 
 people and make the rest look no bet- 
 ter than ghosts. It would require a 
 
 great sum of money to drain it, but 
 the public treasury could not be better 
 bestowed than to preserve the lives of 
 his majesty's leige people and at the 
 same time render so great a tract of 
 ."■iwamp very profitable, besides the ad- 
 vantage of making a channel to trans- 
 port by water carriage goods from Al- 
 bemarle sound to Nansemond sound 
 and Elizabeth river in Virginia. On the 
 24th, being Sunday, we had a num>er- 
 ous congregation which flocked to us 
 from all the adjacent country. The 
 news that our surveyors were come 
 out of the Dismal increased the num- 
 ber very much, because it would give 
 them on opportunity of guessing at 
 least whereabouts the line would cut, 
 whereby they might form some judg- 
 ment whether they belonged to Vir- 
 ginia or Carolina. Those who had 
 taken up land within the disputed 
 bounds were in great psin lest it 
 would be found to lie in Virginia, be- 
 cause this being done contrary to an 
 express order of that governm,ent, the 
 patentees had great reason to fear 
 they should in that case have lost their 
 land. But their apprehensions were 
 now at an end when they understood 
 that all the territory which had been 
 controverted was like to be left in Car- 
 olina. It approaches nearer to the de- 
 scr'iption of lubber land than any other, 
 by the great felicity of the climate, the 
 easiness of raising provisions and the 
 slothfulness of the people. The men, 
 for their part, just like the Indians, Im- 
 pose all the work upon the poor wo- 
 men. They make their wives rise out 
 of their beds early in the morning, at 
 the same time that they lie and snoro 
 till the sun has risen one-third of its 
 course and dispersed all the unwhole- 
 some damps. Then, after stretching and 
 yawning for half an hour, they light 
 their pipes and under the protection of 
 to secure them, so that the building is 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 157 
 
 a cloud of smoke venture out into the 
 open air, though if it happens to be 
 never so cold, they quickly return shiv- 
 ering into the chimney corners. When 
 the weather is mild they stand leaning 
 with both their am>s upon the corn- 
 field fence and gravely consider wheth- 
 er they had best go and take a small 
 heat at the hoe, but generally find 
 reasons to put it off to another time. 
 Thus they loiter away their lives, like 
 Bolomon's sluggard, with their arms 
 croS'Sed, and at the winding up of the 
 year scarcely have enough bread to 
 eat. To speak the truth it is a thor- 
 ough aversion to labor that makes 
 people file off to North Carolina, where 
 plenty and a warm climate confirm 
 them in their disposition to laziness for 
 their whole lives. Since we were like 
 to be confined in this place till the peo- 
 ple returned out of the Dismal, it was 
 agreed that our chaplain might safely 
 take a turn to Edenton, to preach the 
 Gospel to the infidels there and chris- 
 ten their children. He was accompanied 
 thither by Mr. Little, one of the Caro- 
 lina commiissioners, who to show his 
 regard to the Church, offered to treat 
 him on the road with a fricasse of rum. 
 They fried half a dozen rashers of 
 very fat bacon in a pint of rum, both 
 of which being dished up together, 
 served the company at once both for 
 meat and drink. Most of the ruin 
 they get in this country comes from 
 New England and is so bad and. un- 
 wholesome that it is not improperly 
 called 'Kill Devil.' Their molasses 
 comes froni the same country and has 
 the name of 'long sugar' in Carolina. 
 I suppose from the ropiness of it, and 
 serves all the purposes of sugar, both 
 In their eating and driijking. Ve-y 
 few in this country have the industry 
 to plant orchards, which in a dearth of 
 rum might supply them with much bet- 
 
 ter liquor. The truth is there is one 
 inconvenience that easily discourages 
 lazy people from making this improve- 
 ment. Very often in autumn when the 
 apples begin to ripen they are visited 
 with numerous flights of paroqquets, 
 that bite all the fruit to pieces in a 
 moment for the sake of the kernals. 
 The havoc they make is son-jatimes so 
 great that whole orchards are laid 
 waste in spite of all the noises that can 
 be made or mawkins that can be 
 dressed up to frighten them away. 
 These ravenous birds visit North Caro- 
 lina only during the warm season and 
 so soon as the cold begins to come on 
 retire back towards the sun. They 
 rarely venture so far north a:: Virginia 
 except in a very hot summer, when 
 they visit the most southern parts of 
 it. They are very beautiful, but like 
 some other pretty creatures are apt to 
 be loud and mischievous. Betwixt this 
 and Edenton there are many whortle- 
 berry slashes, which afford a conven- 
 ient harbor for wolves and foxes. The 
 first of these wild beasts is not so large 
 and fierce as they are in other coun- 
 tries more northerly. They will not at- 
 tack a man in the keenest hunger, but 
 will run away from him as from an an- 
 im.al more mischievous than them- 
 selves. The foxes are much bolder, and 
 will sometimes not only make a stand 
 but likewise assault any one that would 
 balk them of their prey. The inhabi- 
 tants hereabouts take the trouble to 
 dig abundance of wolf pits, so deep 
 and perpendicular that when a wolf is 
 once trapped Into them, he can no more 
 scramble out of them than a husband 
 who has taken the leap can scramble 
 out of matrimony. Most of the houses 
 in this part of the country are log 
 houses, covered with pine and cypress 
 shingles, three feet long and one 
 broad. They are hung upon laths with 
 
158 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 pegs and their doors too turn upon 
 woodon hinges and have wooden locks 
 finished without nails or other iron 
 Avoik. At Edentcn there may be forty 
 of fifty houses, most of them small and 
 t)uilt without expense. A citizen hare 
 i~ counted extravagant if he has ambi- 
 tion enough to aspire to a brick chim- 
 ney. Justice herself is but indifferent- 
 ly lodged, the court houses having 
 m.uch the air of a common tobacco 
 house. I believe this is the only me- 
 tropolis in the Christian or Mohame- 
 tan world where there is neither 
 church, chapel, mosque, synagogue, or 
 any other place of public worship of 
 any sect or religion whatsoever. What 
 liitle devotion there may happen to be 
 is much more private than their vices. 
 The people seem easy without a minis- 
 ter, as long as they are exempted from 
 paying him. Sometimes the Society 
 for Propagating the Gospel has had 
 the charity to send over njissionaries 
 to this country, but unfortunately the 
 priest h:is been too lewd for the peo- 
 ple, or, which oftener happens, they too 
 lewd for the priest. For these reasons 
 these reverend, gentlemen have always 
 left their flocks as arrant heathens as 
 they found them. This much, how- 
 ever, may be said of the inhabitants 
 of Edenton, that not a soul has the 
 least taint of hypocrisy or supersti- 
 tion, acting very frankly and above 
 board in all their excesses. Provisions 
 here are extremely good, so that people 
 may live pleniifully at a trifling ex- 
 pense. Nothing is dear but law, physic 
 and strong drink, which are all bad in 
 their kind, and the last they gtt with 
 so much difRculty that they are never 
 guilty of the sin of suffering it to sour 
 upon their hands. They are rarely 
 guilty of flattering for making any 
 court to their Governors, but treat 
 them with all the excesses of freedom 
 
 and familiari'y. They are of opinion 
 their rulers would be apt to grow in- 
 solent if they grew rich and for that 
 reason take care to keep them poorer 
 and more dependent if possible than 
 the saints in Xew England used to lo 
 their Governors. They have very lit- 
 tle corn, so ihey are forced to carry 
 on their horr^e traiHc with paper money. 
 This is the only cash that will tary in 
 the country, and for that reason the 
 discount goes on increasing between 
 that and real money and will do so to 
 the end of the chapter. Our time oass- 
 ed heavily on our hands, when we were 
 quite eloyed with the Carolina felicity 
 of having nothing to do. It is really 
 more insupportable than the greatest 
 fatigue and made us even envy the 
 drudgery of our friends in the Dismal. 
 In making our survey care was taken 
 to erect a post in every road that our 
 lines ran through, with 'Viginia' carved 
 on the north side of it and North Car- 
 olina' carved on the south. By per- 
 mission of the Carolina commissioners 
 Mr. Swan was allovAod to go home as 
 s'oon as the survey of the Dismal was 
 finii'hed. He rr<et with this indulgence 
 for a reason that might very well have 
 excused his coming at all, nam.ely that 
 he was lately married. What remained 
 of the drudgery for this season was 
 left to Mr. Moseley, who had hitherto 
 acted only in the capacity of a com- 
 missioner. They offered to employ Mr. 
 Joseph Mayo as their surveyor in Mr. 
 Swan's s;ead. but he thought it not 
 proper to accept of it, because he had 
 hitherto acted as a volunteer in behalf 
 ci Virginia, and did not care to changei 
 sides though it might mave been to his 
 advantage. We christened two of the 
 children of our landlord, Mr. Paiker, 
 which might have remained infidels all 
 their lives had we not carried Christi- 
 anity home to his own door. The truth 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 159 
 
 of it is our neighbors of North Caro- 
 lina are not so zealous as to go nr^uch 
 out of their way to procure this bene- 
 fit for their children. Otherwise bein^ 
 so near Virginia they might without 
 exceeding much trouble maice a journey 
 to the next clergyman upon so gcod .in 
 errajid, and, indeed, should the neigh- 
 boring ministers once in two or ihree 
 years vouchsafe to take a turn among 
 these Gentiles, to baptize them and 
 their children, it would look a little 
 apostolical and they might hope to be 
 requitted for it hereafter, if that be not 
 thought too long to tarry for their re- 
 ward. Wherever we passed we con- 
 stantly found the borderers laid it to 
 heart if their land was taken into Vir- 
 ginia. They chose much rather to be- 
 long to Carolina, where they paid no 
 tribute either to God or to Caesar. 
 Another reason was that the govern- 
 ment there is so loose and the laws 
 are so feebly executed that, i;ke those 
 in the neighborhood of Sidon formerly, 
 every one does just what seems good. 
 in his own eyes. Besides thare might 
 have been sonrje danger in venturing to 
 be rigorous, for fear of undergoing the 
 fate of an -honest justice in Curatuck 
 precinct. This bold magistrate, taking 
 it upon him to order a fellow to the 
 stocks for being disorderly in his drink, 
 was for his intemperate zeal, carried 
 thither himself and narrowly escaped 
 being whipped by the rabble into the 
 bargain. We found the mouth of Notto- 
 way river to lie no n>ore than half a 
 minute farther to the northward than 
 Mr. Lawson had formerly done. 
 
 Col. Byrd says that on the 2nd of 
 April, three of the Mtherrin Indians 
 paid the commissioners and surveyors 
 a visit. He adds: "They told us the 
 small remains of their nation had de- 
 serted their ancient town, situated near 
 th3 mouth of the Meherrin river, for 
 
 fe:.r of the Cat?.wbas, who had killed 
 fourteen of their people the year be- 
 fore, and the few that survived that 
 calamity had taken refuge amongst 
 the English on the east side of Chow- 
 a.i river. If the c-mplaint of these In- 
 dians was true, they are hardly used 
 b;- our Carolina friends, but they are 
 the least to be pitied because they have 
 e\cr been reputed most false and 
 treacherous to the English of all tho 
 Indians in the neighborhood. Becau.se 
 the spring was now pretty forward and 
 the rattlesnakes beg..n to crawl out of 
 their winter quarters end might prove 
 dangerous both to the men and to their 
 horses, it was determined on the 5tli 
 of April to proceed no farther with the 
 line until the fall. Besides the uncom- 
 r.cn fatigue the people had undergone 
 for near six weeks together, and the 
 inclination they all had to visit their 
 respective families, made a recess high- 
 ly reasonable. The surveyors were em- 
 ployed a greater part of the day in 
 forming a correct and elegant map of 
 the line from Currutuck Inlet to the 
 place where they left off. They found 
 tl J whole distance they had run was 
 73 miles, of the map they made two fair 
 copies, which, agreeing exactly, were 
 subscribed by the commisb-oners of 
 both colonies, and one of them was de- 
 livered to those on the part of Virgin- 
 ia and the other to those on the part 
 of North Carolina. On the 6th we thus 
 finished our spring campaign and hav- 
 ing taken leave of our Carolina friends, 
 we agreed to meet them on the 10th of 
 Se.Jtember following, at the same place. 
 On the following day we dispatched a 
 runner to the town of the Nottoway 
 Indians to let them know we intended 
 them a visit that evening. Accordingly 
 in the afternoon we marched In good 
 order to the town, where the female 
 scouts stationed on an eminence for 
 
i6o 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 that purpose had no sooner spied us, 
 but that they gave notice of our ap- 
 proach to their fellow-citizens by con- 
 tinual whoops and cries, which could 
 not have been possibly more dismal 
 at the siffht of their most implicable 
 ei-omies. This signal assembled all 
 their great cnen, who received us in a 
 body and conducted us to the fort. This 
 fort was a square piece of ground en- 
 closed with substantial puncheons, or 
 strong palisades, about ten feet high, 
 and leaning a little outwards to make 
 a scalade more difficult. Each side 
 of the square might be about a hun- 
 dred yards long, with loop-holes at 
 proper distances, tnrough which they 
 may fire upon the enemy. Within this 
 inclosure we found bark cabins suffi- 
 cient to lodge all their people, in case 
 young men had pained themselves in a 
 These cabins are no other but close ar- 
 bours made of saplings, arched at the 
 top and covered so well with bark as 
 to be proof against all weather. The 
 fire is made in the middle, according 
 to the Hiberian fashion, the smoke 
 whereof finds no otiier vent than at the 
 door, and so keeps the whole family 
 warm at the expense of their eyes and 
 complexion. The Indians have no 
 standing furniture in their cabins, but 
 hurdles to repose their persons upon, 
 Tvhich they cover with mats and deer 
 skins. We were conducted to the best 
 apartments in the fort, which just be- 
 fore had been made ready for our re- 
 ception, and adorned with new mats 
 that were very sweet and clean. The 
 young men had painted themselves in a 
 hideous manner, not so much for orna- 
 ment as terror. In that frightful equip- 
 age they entertained us with songs and 
 war dances, wherein they endeavored 
 to look as formidable as possible. The 
 instrument they danced to was an In- 
 dian drum, that is a large goard with 
 
 a skin braced tight over the mouth of 
 it. The dancers all sang to the music 
 keeping exact time with their feet 
 while their heads and arms were screw- 
 ed into a thousand menacing postures. 
 Upon this occasion the ladies had ar- 
 rayed themselves in all their finery. 
 They were wrapped in their red and 
 blue match coats, thrown so negligent- 
 ly about them that their mahogany 
 skins appeared in several parts. Their 
 hair was braided with white and blue 
 peaks and hung gracefully in a large 
 roll upon their shoulders. This peak 
 consists of small cylinders cut out of a 
 conch shell, drilled through and strung 
 like beads. It serves them both for 
 money and jewels, the blue being of 
 much greater value than the white, for 
 the same reason that Ethiopian mis- 
 tresses in France are dearer than 
 French, because they are more scarce. 
 The women wear necklaces and brace- 
 lets of these precious materials when 
 they have a mind to appear lovely. 
 Though their complexions be a little 
 sad-colored, yet their shapes are very 
 straight and well-proportioned. Their 
 faces are seldom handsome, yet they 
 have an air of innocence and bashful- 
 ncss, that with a litle less dirt, would 
 not fail to tnake them desirable. Such 
 charms might have had their full ef- 
 fect upon men who had been so long 
 deprived of female conversation, but 
 that the whole winter soil was so 
 crusted on the skin of those dark an- 
 gjls that it required a very strong ap- 
 petite to approach them. The bear's 
 oil with which the anoint their persons 
 all over makes their skins soft and at 
 the same time protects them from every 
 species of vermin that used to be 
 troublesome to other uncleanly people. 
 It is by no means a loss of reputation 
 among the Indians for damsels that 
 are single to have intrigues with the 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 l6l 
 
 men; on the contrary they account it 
 an argument of superior merit to be 
 liked by a great number of gallants. 
 However, like the ladies in that gam*?, 
 they are a little mercenary in their 
 amours, and seldom bestow their favors 
 out of stark love and kindness. But 
 after these women have once appro- 
 priated their charms by marriage they 
 are henceforth faithful to their vows 
 and will hardly ever be tempted by an 
 agreeable gallant or be provoked by a 
 brutal or even careless husband to go 
 astray. The little work that is done 
 among the Indians is done by the poor 
 women, while the men are quite idle 
 or employed at most in the gentleman- 
 ly diversions of hunting and fishing. In 
 this, as well as in their wars, they use 
 nothing but firearms, which they pur- 
 chase of the English for skins. Bows 
 and arrows are grown into disuse, ex- 
 cept only amongst their boys, nor is 
 it ill policy, but on the contrary, very 
 prudent, to furnish the Indians with 
 firearms, because it makes them de- 
 pend entirely on the English not only 
 for their trade, but even for their sub- 
 sistance. Besides they were really able 
 to do nriiore mischief while they made 
 use of arrows, of which they would 
 silently let fly several in a minute, with 
 wondorful dexterity, whereas nov.- they 
 hardly ever discharge their firelocks 
 more than once, which they insidious- 
 ly do from behind a tree and then re- 
 tire as nimbly as the Dutch horse used 
 to do now and then formerly in Flan- 
 ders. We cheered their hearts with 
 what rum we had left, which they love 
 better than they do their wives and 
 children. Though these Indians dwell 
 close upon the English and see in what 
 plenty a little industry enables them 
 to live, yet they choose to continue in 
 their stupid idleness and to suffer all 
 
 the inconveniences of dirt, coll and 
 want, rather than to disturb their 
 heads with care or to defile their 
 hands with labor. The whole number 
 of people belonging to the Nottoway 
 town, if you include women and chil- 
 dren, amount to about 200. These are 
 only Indians of any consequence now 
 remaining within the limits of Virgin- 
 ia. The rest are either removed or 
 dwindled to a very inconsiderable nun>- 
 ber, either by destroying one another, 
 or else by the small-pox or other dis- 
 eases, though nothing has been so un- 
 favorable to them as their ungovern- 
 able passion for rum, with which, I am 
 sorry to say, they have been put too 
 liberally supplied by the English that 
 live near them. Many children of our 
 neighboring Indians have been brought 
 up in the college of William and Mary. 
 They have been taught to read and 
 write and have been carefully instruct- 
 ed in the rrinciples of the Christian re- 
 ligion till they came to be men. Yet, 
 after they returned home, instead of 
 civUizing and converting the rest, they 
 immediately relapsed into infidelity and 
 barbarism themselves. Some of them, 
 too, have made the worst use of the 
 knowledge they acquired among the 
 English, by employing it against their 
 benefactors. Besides, as they unhappi- 
 ly forget all the good that they learn 
 and ren.ember all the ill, they are apt 
 to be more vicious and disorderly than 
 the rest of their countrymen. I ought 
 not to nuit this subject without doing 
 justice to the great prudence of Col, 
 Spots wood in this affair. That gentle- 
 man was Lieutenant Governor of Vir- 
 ginia when Carolina was engaged in 
 her bloody war with the Indians. At 
 that critical time it was thought ex- 
 pedient to keep a watchful eye upon 
 our tributary savages, who we knew. 
 
l62 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 had nothing to keep them to their duty 
 but their fears. Then it was that he 
 demanded of each nation a conapetent 
 number of their great men's children to 
 be sent to the college, where they 
 served as so many hostages for the 
 good behavior of the rest and at the 
 same time were themselves principled 
 in the Christian religion. He also 
 placed a school-master among the 
 Saponi Indians to instruct their chil- 
 dren. I must be of opiuion that there 
 is but one way of converting these 
 poor infidels and reclaiming them from 
 barbarity, and that is charitably to in^ 
 terniarry with them. Had the English 
 done this at first settlement of the 
 colony this at first settlement of the 
 been worn out at this day with their 
 dark complexions and the country had 
 swarmed with people uiore than it 
 does with insects. It was certainly an 
 unreasonable nicety that prevented 
 their entering into so good-natured an 
 alliance. All nations of men have the 
 same natural dignity and we know that 
 very bright talents may be lodged in 
 a very dark skin, the principal difEer- 
 ence between one people and another 
 proceeding only from the different op- 
 portunities of Improvement. The In- 
 dians by no means want understand- 
 ing and are in their figures tall and 
 well-proportioned. Even their copper- 
 colored complexion would admit of 
 success. Indeed it was given in larger 
 blanching, if not in the first, at the 
 farthest in the second generation. I 
 may safely venture to say the Indian 
 women would have made altogether as 
 honest wives for the first planters as 
 the damsels they used to purchase from 
 aboard the ships. It is strange, there- 
 fore, that any good Christian should 
 have refused a wholesome, straight 
 bed-fellow, when be might have so fair 
 
 a portion with her as the merit of sav- 
 ing her soul." 
 
 The agreement with the commission- 
 ers of Carolina was to meet again on 
 the 10th of September, but when that 
 came it was thought a little too soon 
 to resume work on account of the 
 snakes, so it was agreed to put it off 
 to the 20th of said month, of which due 
 notice was sent to the Carolina com- 
 missioners. The actual work was re- 
 sume! on the 21st, and on the next day, 
 which was Sunday, Col. Byrd dryly 
 says: "When the sermon was over our 
 chaplain did his part towards making 
 eleven of them Christians. Several of 
 our men had intermittent fevers, but 
 were soon restored to their health 
 agaii- by proper remedies. Our chief 
 medicine was dog-wood bark, which we 
 used instead of that of Peru, with good 
 quantities, but then to make the pa- 
 tients amer-Js they swallowed much 
 fewer doses. Our hunters brought us 
 four wild turkeys, which at that seas- 
 on began to be fat and very deUcious, 
 especially the hens. These birds seem 
 to be of the bustard kind and fly heav- 
 ily. Some of them arc exceedingly 
 large and weigh upwards of 40 pounds; 
 nay, some bold historians venture to 
 say upwards of 50 pounds. They run 
 very fast, stretching fortn their wings 
 all the time like the ostrich, by way of 
 sail to quicken their speed. Their spurs 
 are so sharp and strong that the In- 
 dians used formerly to point their ar- 
 rows with them, though now they point 
 them with a sharp white stone. I found 
 son e plants of that kind of rattlesnake 
 root called star-grass. The leaves shoot 
 our circulars and grow horizontally 
 near the ground. The root is in shape 
 not unlike the rattle of that serpent 
 and is a strong antidote against tha 
 bite of it. It is very bitter and w'here 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 163 
 
 It meets with any poison, works by 
 violent sweats, but where it meets with 
 none, has no sensible u^jeration but that 
 of putting the spirits in a great hurry, 
 and so of promoting perspiration. The 
 rattlesnake has a strong antipathy to 
 this plant, insomuch that if you smear 
 your hands with the juice of it you 
 you may handle it safely. This much I 
 can say from my own experience, that 
 once i^i July, when these snakes are in 
 their greatest vigor, I besmeared a 
 dog's nose with the powder of this root 
 and made him trample on a large 
 snake several times, which, however, 
 was so far frorri biting him that it per- 
 fectly sickened at the dog's approach 
 and turned his head from him with the 
 utmost aversion. 
 
 "In the stony grounds we rode over 
 we found a great quantity of the true 
 Ipocoacanna, (Col. Byrd must have 
 meant ipecac) which in this part of the 
 world is called Indian physic. This 
 has several stalks growing up from 
 the same root about a foot high, bear- 
 ing a leaf resembling that of a straw- 
 berry. It is not so strong as that of 
 Brazil, but has the same happy efCects 
 if taken in a somewhat larger dose. 
 There is abundance of it in the 
 upper part of the country, where it 
 delights most in a stony soil intermix- 
 ed with black mould. On the 28th our 
 surveyors crossed the Roanoke river, 
 which rolls down a crystal stream of 
 very sweet water, insomuch that when 
 there comes to be a great monarch in 
 this part of the world he will cause all 
 the water for his own table to be 
 brought from Roanoke, as the great 
 kings of Persia did tlieirs from the Nile 
 and Choaspis, because the waters cf 
 those rivers were light and not apt to 
 corrupt. We crossed at a ford called 
 by the Indians Moni-Seep, which signi- 
 
 fit.j shallow water. This Is the ford 
 where the Indian traders used to cross 
 with their horses on their way to the 
 Catawba nation. On the 29th a messen- 
 ger we had sent returned with five 
 Saponi Indians. We agreed with one 
 of them to hunt for us. His hunting 
 name was Bear Skin, and either by his 
 skill or good luck he supplied us plen- 
 tifully all the way with meat, seldom 
 discharging his piece in vain. The 
 woods in the uplands we found had 
 been destroyed either by fire or catei> 
 pillars, which is often the case in the 
 uplands, and such places are called 
 poison fields. We here killed our first 
 bear. He was very poor, which was a 
 disappointment to our woodsmen, who 
 commonly prefer the fiesh of bears to 
 every other kind of venison. This flesh 
 is regarded by the Indians as the 
 greatest promoter oi! vitality and of 
 child-bearing and we proved it to be 
 such. Some of our people shot a great 
 wild cat, which is as big again as any 
 household cat, and much the fiercest 
 inhabitants of the woods. Whenever it 
 is disabled it will tear its own flesh 
 for madness. On the third of October, 
 as we marched tdong we saw many 
 buffalo tracks, but we saw not the ani- 
 mals, which either smelt us out, bav- 
 in- that sense very quick, or else were 
 alarmed at the noise of our marching. 
 At the sight of a man they will snort 
 and grunt, cock up their ridiculous 
 short tails and tear up the ground with 
 a sort of timorous fury. They hardly 
 ever range alone, but herd together, 
 and delight much in canes and reeds.. 
 On the 5th of October, to our very great 
 Bi:rprlse, the commissioners of Carolina 
 acquainted us with their resolution to 
 return home. This declaration of theirs 
 seemed the more abrupt because they 
 had not been so kind as to prepare ua 
 
164 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 by the least hint of their Intentions to 
 desert us. We. therefore, let them un- 
 derstand they appeared to us to aban- 
 don the business they came about with 
 too much precipitation, this being but 
 the 15th day since we came out the 
 last time. But although we were to be 
 so unhappy as to lose the assistance 
 of their great abilities, yet we who 
 were concerned for Virginia determin- 
 ed by the grace of God not to do our 
 work by halves, but all deserted as we 
 were like to be, should think it -^ur 
 duty to push the line quite to the 
 mountains, and if their government 
 should refuse to be bound by so much 
 of the line as was run without their 
 commission, yet at least It would bind 
 Virginia and stand as a direction how 
 far his majesty's lands extend to the 
 southward. On the 6th, being Sunday, 
 we lay still on the bank of Hico river, 
 and had only prayers, our chaplain not 
 having spirits enough to preach. The 
 gentlemen of Carolina assisted not at 
 our public devotion because they were 
 taken up all the morning in making a 
 formidable protest against our proceed- 
 h-S with the line without them. When 
 the divine service was over the sur- 
 veyors set about making the plots of 
 so much of the line as we had run this 
 last campaign. Our pious friends of 
 Carolina assisted in this work with 
 some seeming scruples, pretending it 
 was a violation of the Sabbath, which 
 we were the more surprised at, be- 
 cause it happened to be the first qualm 
 of conscience they had ever been 
 troubled with during the whole jour- 
 ney. They made no bones of staying 
 from prayers to hammer out an unnec- 
 essary protest, though divine service 
 was no sooner over than an unusual fit 
 of godliness made them fancy that fin- 
 ishing the plots, which was now a 
 
 matter of necessity, was a profanation, 
 of the day. However, the expediency 
 of losing no time for us who thought 
 it our duty to finish what we had un- 
 dertaken, made such labor pardona- 
 ble. Mr. Fitz-William, one of the Vir- 
 ginia commissioners, declared it his 
 opinion, that by his majesty's order 
 they could not proceed further on the 
 line but in conjunction with the com- 
 missioners of Carolina, for which reas- 
 on he intended to retire the next morn- 
 ing with those gentlemen. This looked 
 a little odd in our brother commission- 
 er, though in justice to him, as well as 
 to our Carolina friends, they stuck by 
 us as long as our good liquor lasted 
 and were so kind to us as to drink our 
 good journey to the mountains in the 
 last bottle we had left. On the 7th 
 those of Carolina delivered their pro- 
 test which was by this time licked into 
 form and signed by them all. After 
 having adjusted all our affairs to the 
 Carolina commissioners and kindly 
 supplied them with bread, to carry 
 them back, which they hardly deseiw^- 
 ed at our hands, we took leave both 
 of them and of our colleague, Mr. Fitz- 
 William. 
 
 "On the 13th, this being Sunday, we 
 rested from our fatigue and had leisure 
 toreflect on the signal mercies of Prov- 
 idence. Our hunters brought in three 
 brace of wild turkies and told us they 
 could see the mountains distinctly from 
 every eminence. We examined our 
 friend Bear Skin concerning the re- 
 ligion of his country, and he explained 
 it to us without any of the reserve to 
 which the nation Is subject. He told 
 us he believed there was one Supreme 
 God, who had several subaltern deities 
 under Him, and that this master god 
 made the world a long time ago. Then 
 he told the moon, the sun and stars 
 
OF THE DIVIDING UNE. 
 
 165 
 
 their business, in the beginning-, which 
 they, with gtiod looking after, have 
 faithfully performed ever since. That 
 the same power which made all things 
 at first has taken care to keep them 
 In the same method and motion ever 
 since. He believed that God had form- 
 ed many worlds before he formed this, 
 but that those worlds either grew old 
 and ruinous, or were destroyed for the 
 dishonesty of the inhabitants. That 
 God is ever just and good, ever pleased 
 with those men who possess those 
 good qualities. That he takes good 
 people into his protection, makes them 
 rich, fills their bellies plentifully, pre- 
 serves them from sickness and from 
 being surprised or overcome by their 
 enemies. But all such as tell lies and 
 cheat those that have dealings with 
 them, he never fails to punish with 
 sickness, poverty and hunger, and af- 
 ter all that, suffers them to be knocked 
 on the head and scalped by those that 
 fight against theim. He believed that 
 after death both good and bad people 
 are conducted by a strong guard into 
 a great road, in which departed souls 
 travel together for some time, till at a 
 certain distance this road forks into 
 two paths, the one extremely level and 
 the other stony and mountainous. Here 
 the good are parted from the bad by 
 a flash of lightning, the first being 
 hurried away to the rxght, the others 
 to the left. The right hand road leads to 
 a charming warm country, where the 
 spring is everlasting and evtry month 
 Is May, and as the year is always in 
 its youth, so are its people, and par- 
 ticularly the women are bright as stars 
 and never scold. That in this happy 
 climate there are deer, turkeys, elk, 
 and buffaloes innumerable, perpetually 
 fat and gentle, while the trees are 
 loaded with delicious fruit, quite 
 
 throughout the four seasons. That the 
 soil brings forth corn spontaneously, 
 without the curse of labor, and so very 
 wholesome that none who have the 
 happiness of eating it ever grow sick 
 or old or die, near the entrance into 
 this blessed land sits a venerable old 
 man on a mat richly woven, who ex- 
 amines strictly all that are brought be- 
 fore him, and if they Lchave well, the 
 guards are ordered to open the crystal 
 gate and let them enter into the land 
 of delight. The left path is very rug- 
 ged and uneven, lea^.ag to a dark and 
 barren country where it is always win- 
 ter. The ground is the whole year 
 round covered with snow, and nothing 
 to be seen upon the trees bat icicles. 
 All the people are hungry, yet have 
 not a morsel of anytning to eat, except 
 a bitter kind of potato that gives them 
 the dry gripes, and fill:^ their whole 
 body with loathsome ulcers, that stink 
 and are insupportably painful. Here all 
 the women are old and ugly, having 
 claws like a panther's, with which they 
 fly upon the men that rlight their pas- 
 sion. For it seems these haggard old 
 furies are intolerably fond and expect 
 a great deal of cherishing. They talk 
 much and exceedingly shrill, giving ex- 
 quisite pain to the drum of the ear, 
 which in that place of tonment is so 
 tender that every sharp note wounds 
 it to the quick. At the end of this path 
 sits a dreadful old woman on a toad- 
 stool, whose head is covered with rat- 
 tlesnakes instead of tresses, with glar- 
 ing white eyes that strike terror un- 
 speakable into all that behold her. This 
 hag pronounces seiitence of woe upon 
 all the miserable wretches that hold 
 up their hands at her burial. After 
 this they are delivered over to huge 
 turkey- buzzards, like harpies, that fly 
 away with them to the place above 
 
i66 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 mentioned. Here, after they have been 
 tormented a certain number of years, 
 according' to their several degrees of 
 guilt, they are driven back again into 
 the wor'd to try again to mend their 
 manners if they will, and cnerit a 
 place next time in the regions of bliss. 
 This was the substance of Bear Skin's 
 religion, and was as much to the pur- 
 pose as could be expected -rom a mere 
 state of nature, without one glimpse 
 of revelation or philosophy; it contain- 
 ed, however, the three great articles of 
 natural religion; the t.lief in a God 
 the moral distinction betwixt good 
 and evil, and the expectation of re- 
 wards and punishments in another 
 world. Indeed the Indian notion of fu- 
 ture happiness is a little gross and 
 sensual like Mahomet's paradise. But 
 how can it be otherwise in a people 
 that are contented with naLure as they 
 find her, and have no other lights 
 than what they receive from purblind 
 tradition? 
 
 "The Indians can subSiSt several days 
 upon a little rockanominy, which is 
 parched Indian corn redujsd to pow- 
 der. This they moisten in the hollow 
 • f their hands with i. little water, and 
 Is hardly credible how small a quan- 
 tity of it will support them. It is true 
 they grow a little lank upon it, but 
 to make themselves feel well they gird 
 up their loins very tight with a belt 
 trking up a hole every day. With this 
 simple substance they are able to trav- 
 el very long journeys, but then to make 
 themselves amends, when they do meet 
 with good cheer they eat without ceas- 
 ing, till they have ravened themselves 
 into another famine. 
 
 The Indians had some strange no- 
 tions about game, for Col. Byrd says: 
 "Our Indian was very superstiiious 
 about the matter of our men boiling 
 
 venison and turkeys together, these 
 wUh the addition or a little rice or 
 French barley making- excellent soup, 
 and what happens rarely in other good 
 things it never cloys, no more than an 
 engaging wife would do, by being a 
 constant dish. Our Indian told us with 
 a face full of concern that if we con- 
 tinued to boil venison and turkey to- 
 gether we should for the future kill 
 nothing, because the spirit that pre- 
 sided over the woods woi d drive all 
 the game out of our sight. We were 
 entertained at night by the yells of the 
 whol"^ family of wolves. These beasts 
 of prey kept pretty much upon our 
 track being tempted by the garbage of 
 tht; creatures we killed every day, for 
 which we were serenaded almost every 
 night. This beast is not so untamable 
 as the panther, but the Indians know 
 how to gentle their whelps and use 
 them about their cabins instead of 
 dogs. On the 11th we came upon the 
 River Dan a second time. Hereabout, 
 from one of the highest hills, we made 
 the first discovery of the mountains, 
 on the northwest of our course. They 
 seemed to lie off at a vast distance 
 and looked like ranges of blue clouds 
 rising one above another. We made 
 god cheer upon a very fat buck. The 
 Indian likewise shot a wild turkey, 
 bu': confessed he would not bring it 
 to us, lest we should continue to pro- 
 voke the guardian of the lorest by 
 coking the beasts of the field and the 
 birds of the air together in one ves- 
 sel. The instance of Indian supersti- 
 tion I confess is countenanced in some 
 measure by the L.evitlcal law, which 
 forbade the mixing things of a differ- 
 ent nature together in the same field, 
 or in the same ganment, and why not 
 then in the same kettle? But after all 
 If the Jumbling of things together be 
 
OF THE DIVIDING UNE 
 
 167 
 
 a sin the good people of England would 
 have a great deal to answer for In 
 beating up so many different ingredi- 
 ents into a pudding. The Indian killed 
 a very fat doe and came across a bear 
 which had been killed and was half de- 
 voured by a panther. The last of these 
 brutes reigns absolute monarch of the 
 woods, and In the keenness of his hun- 
 ger will venture to attack a bear, al- 
 though then it is ever by surprise. 
 Their play is to take the poor bears 
 napping, they being very drowsy ani- 
 mals, and though they be exceedingly 
 strong, yet their strength is heavy, 
 while the panthers are too nimble and 
 cunning to trust themselves within 
 their hug. In South Carolina they call 
 this beast a tiger, though improperly, 
 and so they do in some parts of the 
 Spanish West Indies. Some of their au- 
 thors, a little more properly, complete 
 it with the name of a leopard. But j.one 
 of these are the growth of America, 
 that we know of. On the 17th we cross- 
 ed the Dan, which now began to run 
 away more southerly, we being well 
 assured by the Indians that it runs 
 through the tnountains. The atmos- 
 phere was smoky all around us, due to 
 the firing of the woods by the Indians, 
 for we were now near the route the 
 Northern savages take when they §ro 
 out to war against the Catawbas and 
 other Southern Indians. The Northern 
 Indians have an implacable hatred to 
 those of the South. Their wars are 
 everlasting, without any peace, en- 
 mity being the only inheritance among 
 them that descends from father to son, 
 and either party will march a thous- 
 and miles to take revenge upon such 
 hereditary enemies. Some Indian, re- 
 markable for his bravery, and a war 
 captain declares his intention of vis- 
 iting some Southern nation, and here- 
 
 upon as many of the young fellows as 
 have a strong thirst for blood or glory, 
 place themselves under his command. 
 With these volunteers he goes from 
 one confederate town to another, list- 
 ing all the rabble he can, till he gath- 
 ered together a competent number for 
 mischief. Their arms are a gun and a 
 tomahawk and all the provisions they 
 carry from home is a iouch of rock- 
 ahominy. Thus they txiarch towards 
 the enemy's country, not in a body or 
 by a certain path, but straggling along 
 in small numbers for the greater con- 
 venience of hunting and passing along 
 undiscovered. If they are able to find 
 the camp of any Southern Indians, 
 they squat down in some thicket and 
 keep themselves hushed and' snug until 
 it is dark, then, creeping up softly, 
 they approach near enough to observe 
 all the motions of the enemy and about 
 2 o'clock in the mnorning, when they 
 conceive them to be in a profound 
 sleep, for they never keep watch and 
 ward, pour in a volley upon them, each 
 singling out his man. The moment 
 they have discharged their pieces, they 
 rush in with the tomahawks and make 
 sure work of all that are disabled. 
 Sometimes when they find the enemy 
 asleep around their little fire they first 
 pelt them with little stones to wake 
 them and when they get up fire in 
 upon them, being in that posture a bet- 
 ter mark than when prostrate on the 
 ground. Those that are killed of the 
 enemy or disabled they scalp. The pris- 
 oners they happen to take alive they 
 put to all the tortures that ingenious 
 malice and cruelty can invent, and they 
 never fail to treat those with greatest 
 inhumanity that have distinguished 
 themselves most by their bravery, and 
 if he be a war captain they do him the 
 honor to roast him alive and distribute 
 
1 68 
 
 BYRD'S SURVEY 
 
 a coUop to all that had a share in steal- 
 ing the victory. They are very cunning 
 in finding out new ways to torrrient 
 their unhappy captives, though like 
 those in hell their usual method is by 
 fire. Sometimes they barbecue them 
 over live coals, taking them off now 
 and then to prolong their misery; 
 at other times they will stick sharp 
 p/ieces of lightwood in the flesh to the 
 very bone, and when they take a stout 
 fellow that they believe able to endure 
 a great deal they will tear all the flesh 
 off his bones with red hot pinchers: If 
 such cruelties happen to be executed in 
 their towns they employ their children 
 in 'tormenting the prisoners, in order 
 to extinguish in them betin^e all senti- 
 ments of humanity. In the meantime, 
 while these poor wretches are under all 
 the anguish of this inhuman treatment, 
 they disdain so much as a groan, sigh 
 or to show the least sign of dismay or 
 concern, but make it a point of honor 
 all the time to soften their features and 
 look as pleased as if they were actual- 
 ly enjoying some delight, and if they 
 never sang before in their lives they 
 will be sure to be delodious on this sad 
 and dismal occasion. So prodig'ious a 
 degree of passive valor in the Indians 
 is the more to be wondered at because 
 in all articles of danger they are apt 
 to behave like cowards. And what is 
 still nwre surprising, the very women 
 discover on such occasions as great for- 
 titude and contempt both of pain and 
 death as the gallantest of their men 
 do. 
 
 On the 25th, the air clearing up, we 
 w^ere again agreeably surprised with 
 a full prospect of the mountains, which 
 discovered themselves both to the 
 north and south of us on either side, 
 not distant above ten miles. "We could 
 now see those to the north rise in four 
 distinct ledges, one above another, but 
 
 those to the south formed only a single 
 ledge, and that broken and interrupt- 
 ed in many places. The next day we 
 found our way grow still more moun- 
 tainous, and we came to a rivulet that 
 ran with a sWift current toward the 
 south. This we fancied to be another 
 branch of the Irvin river, though some 
 of the men who have been Indian trad- 
 ers judged it rather to be the head of 
 Deep river, that discharges its stream 
 into that of Pee Dee, but this seemed 
 a wild conjecture. The bread began 
 to grow scanty and the winter seemed 
 to advance upon us. We had reason to 
 apprehend being intercepted by deep 
 snows, and the swelling of many waters 
 between us and home, obliging us to 
 winter in those desolate woods. These 
 considerations determined us to stop 
 here and push our adventures no far- 
 ther. The last tree we marked was a 
 red oak on the bank of the river. We 
 found the whole distance from Cora- 
 tuck Inlet to the rivulet where we left 
 off to be in a straight line 241 miles and 
 from the place where the Carolina com- 
 missioners deserted us 72 miles. One 
 of the men picked up a pair of elks' 
 horns and discovered the track of the 
 elk that had shed them. The elk is 
 fully as big as a horse and of the deer 
 kind. Their sw*iftest speed is a large 
 trot and in that motion they turn their 
 horns back upon their necks and cock 
 their noses aloft in the air, nature hav- 
 ing taught them this attitude to save 
 their antlers from being entangled in 
 the thickets, which they always retire 
 to. We all agreed to wear in our hats 
 the maosti, which is in Indian the 
 beard of a wild turkey-cock, and on our 
 breasts the figure of that fowl with Its 
 Wings extended and holding in its claws 
 a scroll with this motto: 'Vice coturnd- 
 cum,' meaning that we had all been 
 supported by them in the wilderness in 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE 
 
 169 
 
 the roam of quails. It is not improba- 
 ble that a few miles farther the course 
 of our line nrkight carry us to the most 
 northerly towns of the Cherokees. It 
 was a great pilty that the want of bread 
 and the weakness of our horses hin- 
 dered us from making the discovery. 
 Our traders have now to travel about 
 BOO miles to take goods to the Chero- 
 kees. The discovery of a shorter way 
 would certainly prove an unspeakable 
 advantage to this colony by facilitat- 
 ing the trade with so considerable a 
 nation of Indiajis, whilch have 62 towns 
 and more than 4,000 fighting men. Of 
 late the new colony of Georgia has 
 made an act abliging us to go 400 miles 
 to take out a license to traffic with these 
 Oherokees, though many of their towns 
 lie out of their bounds, and we car- 
 ried on this trade 80 years before that 
 colony was thought of. I would fur- 
 nlish our foresters for going into this 
 great wilderness with portable provis- 
 ions, namely gluebroth and rockahomi- 
 ny. The Indians, who have no way of 
 traveling but on the hoof, making noth- 
 ing of going 25 miles a day and carry- 
 ing their necessaries at their backs and 
 sometimes a stout pack of skins in the 
 bargains and they laugh at the Eng- 
 lish, who cannot stir to the next 
 neighbor without a horse and say that 
 two legs are too much for such lazy 
 people who cannot visit their next 
 neighbor without six. For their part 
 they were utter strangers to all our 
 beasts of burden or carriage, before the 
 slothful Europeans came amongst them. 
 Although practice will soon make a 
 man of tolerable vigor an able footman, 
 yet a^ a help to bear fatigue, I used to 
 chew a root of gingseng as I walked 
 along, this held up my spirits and 
 made me trip away nimbly in n>y half 
 pack-boois as younger men would do 
 in their shoes. We rested our horses by 
 
 walking and custom had made travel- 
 ing on foot so familiar that we were 
 able to ■walk ten miles with pleasure. 
 One of the men had the luck to meet 
 with a young buffalo on the 11th of No- 
 vember, the beast being two years old, 
 but notwithstanding as big as an old 
 ordinary ox. The hair growing on his 
 neck and head is shaggy and so soft it 
 will spin Into thread not unlike mohair. 
 Some people have stock'ngs n^ade of it 
 that would have served an Israelite 
 during his 40 years march through 
 the wilderness. His horns are short 
 and strong, of which the Indians make 
 large spoons which they say will split 
 and fall to pieces whenever poison Is 
 put Into them. Buffaloes may be easily 
 tarried when they are taken young. The 
 best way to catch them is to carry a 
 mulch mare Into the woods and when 
 you find a cow and a calf to kill the 
 cow and then having caught the calf 
 to suckle it upon the mare, when it will 
 follow her home and become as gentle 
 as another calf. If we could only get 
 into the breed of them they might be 
 made very useful, not only for the 
 dairy, by giving an ocean of milk, but 
 also for drawing vast and cumbersome 
 weights by their prodigious strength. 
 The men were so delighted with the 
 diet of buffalo meat that the gridiron 
 and frying-pan had no more rest at 
 night. 
 
 "The Tuscarora Indians were once 
 very numerous and powerful, making 
 within time of memory at least a 
 thousand fighting men. Their habita- 
 tion, before the war with Carolina, 
 was on the north branch of Neuse riv- 
 er, commonly called Connecia creek, but 
 now the few that are left alive are on 
 the north side of Moratuck, which Is 
 all that part of Roanoke below the 
 great falls towards Albemarle sound. 
 
170 
 
 byrd's survey 
 
 But the greatest consumption of these 
 savages happened by the war about 
 25 years ago, on account of some in- 
 justice the Inhabitants of Carolina had 
 done them about their lands. It was on 
 that provocation they resented their 
 wrongs a little too severely upon Mr. 
 L/awson, who under color of being sur- 
 veyor-general had encroached too much 
 upon their territories, at which they 
 were so enraged that they waylaid him 
 and killed him, but at the same time 
 released the Baron De Graffenreid, 
 whom they had seized for company, 
 because it appeared plainly he had 
 done them no wrong. This blow wai 
 followed by some other bloody actions 
 on the part of the Indians, which 
 brought on the war, wherein many 
 were cut off and obliged to flee for ref- 
 uge to the Senecas, so that now 
 there remains so few that they are in 
 danger of being quite exterminated by 
 the Catawbas, their mortal enemies. 
 We crossed the Trading Path, which is 
 the route the traders take with their 
 caravans when they g'^ to trade with 
 the Indians. The goods lor the Indian 
 trade consist chiefly of guns, powder 
 shot, hatchets (which the Inu^ans call 
 tomahawks), kettles, red and blue 
 planes, Dufflelds, Stroudwater, blank- 
 ets and some cuttlery wares, brass 
 rings and other triii.^ets. The course 
 of this path lies through a fine coun- 
 try, watered by several beautiful riv- 
 ers, those of the greatest note being 
 Tar river, which is the upper part of 
 Pamlico; Flat river, Little river and 
 Eno river, all three branches of Neuse. 
 Between Eno and Saxapahaw rivers 
 are the Haw Old Fields, which have 
 the reputation of containing the most 
 fertile highland In this part of the 
 world, lying in a body of about 50,000 
 acres. This Saxapahaw is the upper 
 
 part of Cape Fear river, the falls of 
 which lie many miles below the Trad- 
 ing Path. Not far from thence the 
 Path crosses Aramanchy river, a 
 branch of the Saxapahaw, and alwut 
 40 miles beyond that the Path Inter- 
 sects the Yadkin river,, which is there 
 half a mile over and is supposed to be 
 the south branch of the same Pee Dee. 
 About three score mues more bring 
 you to the first town of the Catawbas, 
 called Nauvasa, situated on the banks 
 of the Santee river. These Indians 
 were all called formerly by the general 
 name of the Usherees. 
 
 "On the Roanoke river, at the plan- 
 tation of Cornelius Keith, I beheld the 
 wretohedest scene of poverty I have 
 ever met with in this happy part of 
 the world. This man, his wife and six 
 children lived in a pen like so many 
 cattle, without any roof over their 
 heads but that of heaven. This was 
 their airy residence In the day-time, 
 but then there was a fodder-stack not 
 far from this enclosure, in which the 
 whole family sheltered themselves at 
 night and in bad weather. However, 
 it was almost worth while to be as 
 poor as this man was to be as perfect- 
 ly contented. All his wants proceeded 
 from indolence and not frotn misfor- 
 tune. All the grandees of the Sappona 
 Indians came to meet us, with four 
 young ladies of the first quaVty, the 
 price set upon whom was not at all 
 exorbitant, as a princess for a pair ^^ 
 thoughrdear. 5,The Saponas are now 
 of red stockings cannot surely be ^^ 
 made up of the remnants of several 
 other nations, of which the most con- 
 siderable are thw- Occaneches and 
 Stoukenhocks, who have united them- -'* 
 selves into one body and all go under 
 the name of the Saponas. The Saponas 
 have now removed in a body to the Ca- 
 
 -j - )^ Ml - ■ii-n.^TiM ^ y^OHKrM^ 
 
OF THE DIVIDING LINE. 
 
 171 
 
 tawbas, and the daugrhter of the Kins 
 of the Teteros went away with them, 
 but being: the last of her natioti, and 
 fearing: she should not be treated ac- 
 cording- to her rank, she poisoned her- 
 self, like an old Roman, with the root 
 of the trumpet-plant. She was the last 
 of 'her race. 
 
 "Thus ended our second expedition. 
 In which we extended the line within 
 the shadow of the Chariky mountains, 
 where we were oblig-ed to set up our 
 pillars like Hercules and return home. 
 His Majesty has been pleased to de- 
 cUre, notwithstanding the desertion of 
 the Carolina cotnmissioners, that the 
 line run by us shall hereafter stand as 
 the true boundary between the govern- 
 ments of Virginia and North Caro- 
 lina." 
 
 The narrative of Col. Byrd also con- 
 tains notes of a journey to what he 
 called "The Land of Eden," that being: 
 his name for his property In North 
 Carolina. He began this journey Sep- 
 tember 11, 1733. On the 1st of October 
 he crossed the Dan river near the place 
 where the Irvin river runs Into It and 
 then came to an opening of large ex- 
 tent, where the Sauro Indians once 
 lived, who, he says, had been a consid- 
 erable nation, but hua been so inces- 
 santly annoyed by the frequent inroads 
 of the Senecas that they had been 
 obliged to remove irom this fine situa- 
 tion about the year 1700. They then 
 retired more southerly, as far as the 
 
 Kewawees, where Col. Byrd says a 
 remnant of them still survived in 1733. 
 On Hatcher's creek he found a lar^re 
 beech tree, with these words cut upon 
 it, "J. H., H. H., B. B., lay here the 
 24th of May, 1673." Inese men, he says, 
 were Joseph Hatcher, Henry Hatcher, 
 and Benjamin Bullington, Indian trad- 
 ers, who had lodged near .^nat place 
 60 years before on their way to the 
 Sauro town. Col. Byrd had the good 
 luck to shoot a young buffalo. He says: 
 "I pitched my tent on the very spot 
 I had done so when we ran the divid- 
 ing line between Virginia and Caro- 
 lina. The beech tree whose bark re- 
 corded the names of the Carolina com- 
 missioners was still standing, and we 
 did theim the justice to add to their 
 names a sketch of their characters. 
 Major Mayo, my companion, began to 
 survey the land which the commission- 
 ers of Carolina had presented him with 
 on Sugartree creek. In coming back to 
 our cacnp from an observation, we 
 found a wolf eating a deer which we 
 had out In the water to preserve It 
 from the ravens. We shot an old she 
 bear atid discovered a solitary bull buf- 
 falo, which boldly standing his ground, 
 contrary to the custom of that shy ani- 
 mal, we spared his life, from a prin- 
 ciple of never slaughtering an Inno- 
 cent creature to no purpose." 
 
 FRED A. OLDS. 
 (The End.) 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
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