At The Sight Of This Fair Prospect, We Stay'd All Night; Our Indian
Going About Half An Hour Before Us, Had Provided Three Fat Turkeys
E'er 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 thro' a steep Bank, at the Foot of which,
begins this Valley, where you may go dry for perhaps 200 Yards,
then you meet with a small Brook or Run of Water, about 2 or 3 Foot deep,
then dry Land for such another Space, so another Brook, thus continuing.
The Land in this Percoarson, or Valley, being extraordinary rich,
and the Runs of Water well stor'd with Fowl. It is the Head
of one of the Branches of Santee-River; but a farther 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 appears here, when you stand on the Ridge,
(where our Path lay) as if it were one pleasant, green Field,
and as even as a Bowling-green to the Eye of the Beholder;
being hemm'd in on one Side with these Ledges of vast high Mountains.
Viewing the Land here, we found an extraordinary rich, black Mould,
and some of a Copper-colour, both Sorts very good; the Land in some Places
is much burthen'd with Iron, Stone, here being great Store of it,
seemingly very good: The eviling Springs, which are many in 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 Beginning of the Night,
we were awaken'd with the dismall'st and most hideous Noise
that ever pierc'd my Ears: This sudden Surprizal incapacitated us of guessing
what this threatning 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 that Swamp-side, there being
endless Numbers of Panthers, Tygers, Wolves, and other Beasts of Prey,
which take this Swamp for their Abode in the Day, coming in whole Droves
to hunt the Deer in the Night, making this frightful Ditty 'till Day appears,
then all is still as in other Places.
{Monday.}
The next Day it prov'd a small drisly Rain, which is rare,
there happening not the tenth Part of Foggy-falling Weather
towards these Mountains, as visits those Parts. Near the Sea-board,
the Indian kill'd 15 Turkeys this Day; there coming out of the Swamp,
(about Sun-rising) Flocks of these Fowl, containing several hundreds
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.
Early the next Morning, we set forward for the Congeree-Indians,
parting with that delicious Prospect. By the Way, our Guide kill'd
more Turkeys, and two Polcats, which he eat, esteeming them before
fat Turkeys. Some of the Turkeys which we eat, whilst we stay'd there,
I believe, weigh'd no less than 40 Pounds.
The Land we pass'd over this Day, was most of it good, and the worst passable.
At Night we kill'd 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 kill'd good Store of Provision with his Gun,
he always shot with a single Ball, missing 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 Ways crooked, they take the Barrel out of the Stock, cutting a Notch
in a Tree, wherein they set it streight, sometimes shooting away
above 100 Loads of Ammunition, 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 that stand full of Water, naturally breed Fish in them,
in great Quantities. We cook'd our Supper, but having neither Bread, or Salt,
our fat Turkeys began to be loathsome to us, altho' we were never wanting
of a good Appetite, yet a Continuance of one Diet, made us weary.
{Wednesday.}
The next Morning, Santee Jack told us, we should reach
the Indian Settlement betimes that Day; about Noon, we pass'd by
several fair Savanna's, 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 Black-berries,
very pleasant Fruit, and much like to our Blues, or Huckle-berries,
that grow on Heaths in England. Hard by the Savanna's we found the Town,
where we halted; there was not above one Man left with the Women,
the rest being gone a Hunting for a Feast. The Women were very busily
engag'd in Gaming: The Name or Grounds of it, I could not learn,
tho' I look'd on above two Hours. Their Arithmetick was kept
with a Heap of Indian Grain. When their Play was ended,
the King, or Cassetta's Wife, invited us into her Cabin. The Indian Kings
always entertaining Travellers, either English, or Indian;
taking it as a great Affront, if they pass by their Cabins,
and take up their Quarters 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 stragling Plantations up and down the Country, and are seated upon
a small Branch of Santee-River. Their Place hath curious dry Marshes,
and Savanna's adjoining to it, and would prove an exceeding thriving Range
for Cattle, and Hogs, provided the English were seated thereon.
Besides, the Land is good for Plantations.
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