This Breach Is A Passage Through A Marsh
Lying To The Northward Of Sullivans Island, The Pilot's Having
A Look
Out thereon, lying very commodious for Mariners, (on that Coast)
making a good Land-Mark in so level a Country,
This Bar being
difficult to hit, where an Observation hath been wanting for a Day or two;
North East Winds bringing great Fogs, Mists, and Rains;
which, towards the cool Months of October, November,
and until the latter End of March, often appear in these Parts.
There are three Pilots to attend, and conduct Ships over the Bar.
The Harbour 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 Sullivans Island on our Starboard.
The first Place we design'd 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 of Land, being about ten Miles round, where liv'd (at that Time)
a Bermudian, being employ'd here with a Boy, to look after
a Stock of Cattle and Hogs, by the Owner of this Island.
One Side of the Roof of his House was thatch'd with Palmeto-leaves,
the other open to the Heavens, thousands of Musketoes, and other
troublesome Insects, tormenting both Man and Beast inhabiting these Islands.
{Palmeto-trees.} The Palmeto-trees, whose Leaves growing only
on the Top of the Tree, in the Shape of a Fan, and in a Cluster,
like a Cabbage; this Tree in Carolina, when at its utmost Growth,
is about forty or fifty Foot in Height, and two Foot through:
It's worth mentioning, that the Growth of the Tree is not perceivable
in the Age of any Man, the Experiment having been often try'd in Bermudas,
and elsewhere, which shews the slow Growth of this Vegitable,
the Wood of it being porous and stringy, like some Canes;
the Leaves thereof the Bermudians make Womens Hats, Bokeets,
Baskets, and pretty Dressing-boxes, a great deal being transported
to Pensilvania, and other Northern Parts of America,
(where they do not grow) for the same Manufacture.
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