31.}
On Saturday, the Indians brought in some Swans, and Geese,
which we had our Share of.
One of their Doctors took me to his Cabin,
and shew'd me a great Quantity of medicinal Drugs, the Produce of those Parts;
Relating their Qualities as to the Emunctories they work'd by,
and what great Maladies he had heal'd by them. This Evening,
came to us the Horses, with the Remainder of our Company, their Indian Guide
(who was a Youth of this Nation) having kill'd, in their Way, a very fat Doe,
Part of which they brought to us.
{Sunday.}
This day, the King sent out all his able Hunters, to kill Game
for a great Feast, that was to be kept at their Departure, from the Town,
which they offer'd to sell me for a small matter. That Piece of Ground,
with a little Trouble, would make an Englishman a most curious Settlement,
containing above a Mile square of rich Land. This Evening,
came down some Toteros, tall, likely Men, having great Plenty of Buffelos,
Elks, and Bears, with other sort of Deer amongst them,
which strong Food makes large, robust Bodies. Enquiring of them,
if they never got any of the Bezoar Stone, and giving them a Description
how it was found, the Indians told me, they had great plenty of it;
and ask'd me, What use I could make of it? I answer'd them,
That the white Men us'd it in Physick, and that I would buy some of them,
if they would get it against I came that way again. Thereupon, one of them
pull'd out a Leather-Pouch, wherein was some of it in Powder;
he was a notable Hunter, and affirm'd to me, That that Powder,
blown into the Eyes, strengthen'd the Sight and Brain exceedingly,
that being the most common Use they made of it. I bought, for 2 or 3 Flints,
a large Peach-Loaf, made up with a pleasant sort of Seed;
and this did us a singular Kindness, in our Journey. Near the Town,
within their clear'd Land, are several Bagnios, or Sweating-Houses,
made of Stone, in Shape like a large Oven. These they make much Use of;
especially, for any Pains in the Joints, got by Cold, or Travelling.
At Night, as we lay in our Beds, there arose the most violent N.W. Wind
I ever knew. The first Puff blew down all the Palisadoes that fortify'd
the Town; and I thought it would have blown us all into the River,
together with the Houses. Our one-ey'd King, who pretends much
to the Art of Conjuration, ran out in the most violent Hurry,
and in the Middle of the Town, fell to his Necromantick Practice;
tho' I thought he would have been blown away or kill'd,
before the Devil and he could have exchang'd half a dozen Words;
but in two Minutes, the Wind was ceas'd, and it became as great a Calm,
as ever I knew in my Life. As I much admir'd at that sudden Alteration,
the old Man told me, the Devil was very angry, and had done thus,
because they had not put the Sinnagers to Death.
{Monday.}
On Monday Morning, our whole Company, with the Horses,
set out from the Sapona-Indian Town, after having seen some of the Locust,
which is gotten thereabouts, the same Sort that bears Honey.
Going over several Creeks, very convenient for Water-Mills,
about 8 Miles from the Town, we pass'd over a very pretty River,
call'd Rocky River, a fit Name, having a Ridge of high Mountains running
from its Banks, to the Eastward; and disgorging itself into Sapona-River;
so that there is a most pleasant and convenient Neck of Land,
betwixt both Rivers, lying upon a Point, where many thousand Acres
may be fenced in, without much Cost or Labour. You can scarce go a Mile,
without meeting with one of these small swift Currents,
here being no Swamps to be found, but pleasant, dry Roads
all over the Country. The Way that we went this day, was as full of Stones,
as any which Craven, in the West of Yorkshire, could afford,
and having nothing but Moggisons on my Feet, I was so lam'd
by this stony Way, that I thought I must have taken up some Stay
in those Parts. We went, this day, not above 15 or 20 Miles.
After we had supp'd, and all lay down to sleep, there came a Wolf
close to the Fire-side, where we lay. My Spaniel soon discover'd him,
at which, one of our Company fir'd a Gun at the Beast; but, I believe,
there was a Mistake in the loading of it, for it did him no Harm.
The Wolf stay'd till he had almost loaded again, but the Bitch making
a great Noise, at last left us and went aside. We had no sooner laid down,
but he approach'd us again, yet was more shy, so that we could not get
a Shot at him.
{Tuesday.}
Next day, we had 15 Miles farther to the Keyauwees. The Land
is more mountainous, but extremely pleasant, and an excellent Place
for the breeding Sheep, Goats, and Horses; or Mules, if the English
were once brought to the Experience of the Usefulness of those Creatures.
The Valleys are here very rich. At Noon, we pass'd over
such another stony River, as that eight Miles from Sapona.
This is call'd Heighwaree, and affords as good blue Stone for Mill-Stones,
as that from Cologn, good Rags, some Hones, and large Pebbles,
in great abundance, besides Free-Stone of several Sorts, all very useful.
I knew one of these Hones made use of by an Acquaintance of mine,
and it prov'd rather better than any from Old Spain, or elsewhere.
The Veins of Marble are very large and curious on this River,
and the Banks thereof.
Five Miles from this River, to the N.W. stands the Keyauwees Town.
They are fortify'd in, with wooden Puncheons, like Sapona,
being a People much of the same Number.
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