One Of Our Company,
That Had Traded Amongst These Indians, Told Us, That One Of The Cabins
Was His Father's-
In-Law; he call'd him so, by Reason the old Man had given him
a young Indian Girl, that was
His Daughter, to lie with him, make Bread,
and to be necessary in what she was capable to assist him in,
during his Abode amongst them.
When we came thither first, there was no Body at Home, so the Son made bold
to search his Father's Granary for Corn, and other Provisions.
He brought us some Indian Maiz and Peas, which are of a reddish Colour,
and eat well, yet colour the Liquor they are boil'd in,
as if it were a Lixivium of red Tartar. After we had been
about an Hour in the House, where was Millions of Fleas,
the Indian Cabins being often fuller of such Vermin, than any Dog-Kennel,
the old Man came in to us, and seem'd very glad to see his Son-in-Law.
This Indian is a great Conjurer, as appears by the Sequel.
The Seretee or Santee Indians were gone to War against
the Hooks and Backhooks Nations, living near the Mouth of Winyan-River.
Those that were left at Home, (which are commonly old People and Children)
had heard no News a long Time of their Men at Arms. This Man,
at the Entreaty of these People, (being held to be a great Sorcerer
amongst 'em) went to know what Posture their fighting Men were in.
His Exorcism was carry'd on thus: He dress'd himself in a clean white
dress'd Deer-Skin; a great Fire being made in the Middle of the Plantation,
the Indians sitting all round it, the Conjurer was blind-folded,
then he surrounded the Fire several Times, I think thrice;
leaving the Company, he went into the Woods, where he stay'd
about half an Hour, returning to them, surrounded 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 about the Fire several Times,
at last fell all into it, and were visibly consum'd. Immediately after
the Indian-Conjurer made a huge Lilleloo, and howling very frightfully,
presently 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 some Time he recover'd his Strength, assuring them, that their Men
were near a River, and could not pass over it 'till so many Days,
but would, in such a Time, return all in Safety, to their Nation.
All which prov'd true at the Indians Return, which was not long after.
This Story the English-man, his Son-in-Law, affirm'd to me.
The old Man stay'd with us about two Hours, and told us we were welcome
to stay there all Night, and take what his Cabin afforded; then leaving us,
went into the Woods, to some Hunting-Quarter not far off.
{Friday.}
The next Morning early we pursu'd our Voyage, finding the Land
to improve it self in Pleasantness and Richness of Soil.
When we had gone about ten Miles, one of our Company tir'd,
being not able to travel any farther; so we went forward,
leaving the poor dejected Traveller with Tears in his Eyes,
to return to Charles-Town, and travel back again over so much bad Way,
we having pass'd thro' the worst of our Journey, the Land here
being high and dry, very few Swamps, and those dry, and a little Way through.
We travell'd about twenty Miles, lying near a Savanna
that was over-flown with Water; where we were very short of Victuals,
but finding the Woods newly burnt, and on fire in many Places,
which gave us great Hopes that Indians were not far of.
{Saturday 20 Miles.}
Next Morning very early, we waded thro' the Savanna, the Path lying there;
and about ten a Clock came to a hunting Quarter, of a great many Santees;
they made us all welcome; shewing a great deal of Joy at our coming,
giving us barbacu'd Turkeys, Bear's Oil, and Venison.
Here we hir'd Santee Jack (a good Hunter, and a well-humour'd Fellow)
to be our Pilot to the Congeree Indians; we gave him a Stroud-water-Blew,
to make his Wife an Indian Petticoat, who went with her Husband.
After two Hours Refreshment, we went on, and got that Day about twenty Miles;
we lay by a small swift Run of Water, which was pav'd at the Bottom
with a Sort of Stone much like to Tripoli, and so light,
that I fancy'd it would precipitate in no Stream, but where it naturally grew.
The Weather was very cold, the Winds holding Northerly.
We made our selves as merry as we could, having a good Supper
with the Scraps of the Venison we had given us by the Indians,
having kill'd 3 Teal and a Possum; which Medly all together
made a curious Ragoo.
{Sunday 15 Miles.}
This Day all of us had a Mind to have rested, but the Indian
was much against it, alledging, That the Place we lay at,
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 mov'd forwards,
and about twelve a Clock came to the most amazing Prospect I had seen
since I had been in Carolina; we travell'd by a Swamp-side,
which Swamp I believe to be no less than twenty Miles over,
the other Side being as far as I could well discern, there appearing
great Ridges of Mountains, bearing from us W.N.W. One Alp with a Top
like a Sugar-loaf, advanc'd its Head above all the rest very considerably;
the Day was very serene, which gave us the Advantage of seeing a long Way;
these Mountains were cloth'd all over with Trees, which seem'd to us
to be very large Timbers.
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