This day, we pass'd through a great many Towns,
and Settlements, that belong to the Sugeree-Indians, no barren
Land
being found amongst them, but great plenty of Free-Stone, and good Timber.
About three in the Afternoon, we reach'd the Kadapau King's House,
where we met with one John Stewart, a Scot, then an Inhabitant
of James-River in Virginia, who had traded there for many Years.
Being alone, and hearing that the Sinnagers (Indians from Canada)
were abroad in that Country, he durst not venture homewards,
till he saw us, having heard that we were coming, above 20 days before.
It is very odd, that News should fly so swiftly among these People.
Mr. Stewart had left Virginia ever since the October before,
and had lost a day of the Week, of which we inform'd him. He had brought
seven Horses along with him, loaded with English Goods for the Indians;
and having sold most of his Cargo, told us, if we would stay two Nights,
he would go along with us. Company being very acceptable,
we accepted the Proposal.
{Friday.}
The next day, we were preparing for our Voyage, and baked some Bread
to take along with us. Our Landlord was King of the Kadapau Indians,
and always kept two or three trading Girls in his Cabin.
Offering one of these to some of our Company, who refus'd his Kindness,
his Majesty flew into a violent Passion, to be thus slighted,
telling the Englishmen, they were good for nothing. Our old Gamester,
particularly, hung his Ears at the Proposal, having too lately been a Loser
by that sort of Merchandize. It was observable, that we did not see
one Partridge from the Waterrees to this place, tho' my Spaniel-Bitch,
which I had with me in this Voyage, had put up a great many before.
{Saturday.}
On Saturday Morning, we all set out for Sapona, killing, in these Creeks,
several Ducks of a strange Kind, having a red Circle about their Eyes,
like some Pigeons that I have seen, a Top-knot reaching
from the Crown of their Heads, almost to the middle of their Backs,
and abundance of Feathers of pretty Shades and Colours.
They prov'd excellent Meat. Likewise, here is good store of Woodcocks,
not so big as those in England, the Feathers of the Breast
being of a Carnation-Colour, exceeding ours for Delicacy of Food.
The Marble here is of different Colours, some or other of the Rocks
representing most Mixtures, but chiefly the white having black and blue Veins
in it, and some that are red. This day, we met with seven heaps of Stones,
being the Monuments of seven Indians, that were slain in that place
by the Sinnagers, or Iroquois. Our Indian Guide added a Stone
to each heap. We took up our Lodgings near a Brook-side,
where the Virginia Man's Horses got away; and went back to the Kadapau's.
{Sunday.}
This day, one of our Company, with a Sapona Indian, who attended Stewart,
went back for the Horses. In the mean time, we went to shoot Pigeons,
which were so numerous in these Parts, that you might see many Millions
in a Flock; they sometimes split off the Limbs of stout Oaks, and other Trees,
upon which they roost o' Nights. You may find several Indian Towns,
of not above 17 Houses, that have more than 100 Gallons of Pigeons Oil,
or Fat; they using it with Pulse, or Bread, as we do Butter,
and making the Ground as white as a Sheet with their Dung.
The Indians take a Light, and go among them in the Night,
and bring away some thousands, killing them with long Poles,
as they roost in the Trees. At this time of the Year, the Flocks,
as they pass by, in great measure, obstruct the Light of the day.
{Monday.}
On Monday, we went about 25 Miles, travelling through a pleasant,
dry Country, and took up our Lodgings by a Hillside, that was one entire Rock,
out of which gush'd out pleasant Fountains of well-tasted Water.
{Tuesday.}
The next day, still passing along such Land as we had done
for many days before, which was, Hills and Vallies, about 10 a Clock
we reach'd the Top of one of these Mountains, which yielded us
a fine Prospect of a very level Country, holding so, on all sides,
farther than we could discern. When we came to travel through it,
we found it very stiff and rich, being a sort of Marl.
This Valley afforded as large Timber as any I ever met withal,
especially of Chesnut-Oaks, which render it an excellent Country
for raising great Herds of Swine. Indeed, were it cultivated,
we might have good hopes of as pleasant and fertile a Valley,
as any our English in America can afford. At Night, we lay by
a swift Current, where we saw plenty of Turkies, but pearch'd upon
such lofty Oaks, that our Guns would not kill them, tho' we shot very often,
and our Guns were very good. Some of our Company shot several times,
at one Turkey, before he would fly away, the Pieces being loaded
with large Goose-shot.
{Wednesday.}
Next Morning, we got our Breakfasts; roasted Acorns being one of the Dishes.
The Indians beat them into Meal, and thicken their Venison-Broth with them;
and oftentimes make a palatable Soop. They are used instead of Bread,
boiling them till the Oil swims on the top of the Water,
which they preserve for use, eating the Acorns with Flesh-meat.
We travell'd, this day, about 25 Miles, over pleasant Savanna Ground,
high, and dry, having very few Trees upon it, and those standing
at a great distance. The Land was very good, and free from
Grubs or Underwood. A Man near Sapona may more easily clear
10 Acres of Ground, than in some places he can one; there being
much loose Stone upon the Land, lying very convenient for making of dry Walls,
or any other sort of durable Fence.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 18 of 106
Words from 17916 to 18940
of 110081
