L'Jandro, where we got our Dinner;
there coming some French Ladies whilst we were there,
who were lately come from England, and Mons.
L'Grand, a worthy Norman,
who hath been a great 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 Acknowledgments of their Favours.
About 4 in the Afternoon, we pass'd over a large Ciprus run
in a small Canoe; the French Doctor sent his Negro to guide us
over the Head of a large Swamp; so we got that Night
to Mons. Galliar'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; and I think the most difficult Way I ever saw,
occasion'd by Reason of the multitude of Creeks lying along the Main,
keeping their Course thro' the Marshes, turning and winding
like a Labyrinth, having the Tide of Ebb and Flood twenty Times
in less than three Leagues going.
{Monday.}
The next Morning very early, we ferry'd over a Creek that runs near the House;
and, after an Hour's Travel in the Woods, we came to the River-side,
where we stay'd for the Indian, who was our Guide, and was gone round
by Water in a small Canoe, to meet us at that Place we rested at.
He came after a small Time, and ferry'd us in that little Vessel
over Santee River 4 Miles, and 84 Miles in the Woods,
which the over-flowing of the 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 with us; who are excellent Artists in managing
these small Canoes.
Santee River, at this Time, (from the usual Depth of Water)
was risen perpendicular 36 Foot, always making a Breach from her Banks,
about this Season of the Year: The general Opinion of the Cause thereof,
is suppos'd to proceed from the overflowing of fresh Water-Lakes
that lie near the Head of this River, and others, upon the same Continent:
But my Opinion is, that these vast Inundations proceed from
the great and repeated Quantities of Snow that falls 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 Particles,
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 distant
from her Banks; tho' the French and Indians affir'm'd to me,
they never knew such an extraordinary Flood there before.
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