We Went This Day
About 30 Miles From The Congerees.
{Friday.}
In the Morning we made no Stay to get our Breakfast, but hasted on our Voyage,
the Land increasing in Marble and Richness of Soil.
At Noon we halted,
getting our Dinner upon a Marble-Stone, that rose it self
half a Foot above the Surface of the Earth, and might contain
the Compass of a Quarter of an Acre of Land, being very even,
there growing upon it in some Places a small red Berry, like a Salmon-Spawn,
there boiling out of the main Rock curious Springs of as delicious Water,
as ever I drank in any Parts I ever travell'd in.
These Parts likewise affords good free Stone, fit for Building,
and of several Sorts. The Land here is pleasantly seated,
with pretty little Hills and Valleys, the rising Sun at once shewing
his glorious reflecting Rays on a great many of these little Mountains.
We went this Day about 20 Miles, our Guide walking like a Horse, 'till we had
sadl'd him with a good heavy Pack of some Part of our Cloaths and Bedding,
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 Goldsmiths use 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.
{Saturday.}
As we were on our Road this Morning, our Indian shot at a Tyger,
that cross'd the Way, he being a great Distance from us.
I believe he did him no Harm, because he sat on his Breech afterwards,
and look'd upon us. I suppose he expected to have had a Spaniel Bitch,
that I had with me, for his Breakfast, who run towards him,
but in the Midway stopt her Career, and came sneaking back to us
with her Tail betwixt her Legs.
We saw in the Path a great many Trees blown up by the Roots,
at the Bottom 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 pass'd over
a pleasant stony Brook, whose Water was of a bluish Cast,
as it is for several hundreds of Miles towards the Heads of the Rivers,
I suppose occasion'd by the vast Quantities of Marble
lying in the Bowels of the Earth. The Springs that feed
these Rivulets, lick up some Potions of the Stones in the Brooks;
which Dissolution gives this Tincture, as 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 Indians talk of many Sorts of Fish which they afford,
but we had not Time to discover their Species.
I saw here had been some Indian Plantations formerly,
there being several pleasant Fields of clear'd Ground, and excellent Soil,
now well spread with fine bladed Grass, and Strawberry-Vines.
The Mould here is excessive rich, and a Country very pleasing to the Eye,
had it the Convenience of a navigable River, as all new Colonies
(of Necessity) require. It would make a delightful Settlement.
We went eight Miles farther, and came to the Wateree Chickanee Indians.
The Land holds good, there being not a Spot of bad Land to be seen
in several Days going.
The People of this Nation are likely tall Persons, and great Pilferers,
stealing from us any Thing they could lay their Hands on,
though very respectful in giving us what Victuals we wanted.
We lay in their Cabins all Night, being dark smoaky Holes,
as ever I saw any Indians dwell in. This Nation is much more populous
than the Congerees, and their Neighbours, yet understand not
one anothers Speech. They are very poor in English Effects,
several of them having no Guns, making Use of Bows and Arrows,
being a lazy idle People, a Quality incident to most Indians,
but none to that Degree as these, as I ever met withal.
Their Country is wholly free from Swamps and Quagmires, being high dry Land,
and consequently healthful, producing large Corn-Stalks, and fair Grain.
{Sunday.}
Next Morning, we took off our Beards with a Razor, the Indians looking on
with a great deal of 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 borrow'd our Razors,
as they had our Knives, Scissors, and Tobacco-Tongs, the day before,
being as ingenious at picking of Pockets, as any, I believe,
the World affords; for they will steal with their Feet.
Yesterday, one of our Company, not walking so fast as the rest,
was left behind. He being out of Sight before we miss'd him,
and not coming up to us, tho' we staid a considerable time on the Road
for him, we stuck up Sticks in the Ground, and left other Tokens
to direct him which way we were gone: But he came not to us that Night,
which gave us Occasion to fear some of the Heathens had kill'd him,
for his Cloaths, or the savage Beasts had devour'd him in the Wilderness,
he having nothing about him to strike Fire withal. As we were debating
which way we should send to know what was become of him, he overtook us,
having a Waxsaw Indian for his Guide. He told us, he had miss'd the Path,
and got to another Nation of Indians, but 3 Miles off, who at that time
held great Feasting.
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