They Had Shap'd Them Neatly,
Like The Head Of A Dart; But Which Way They Did It, I Can't Tell.
We had not been at this Town above an Hour, when two of our Company,
that had bought a Mare
Of John Stewart, came up to us,
having receiv'd a Letter by one of Will's Indians, who was very cautious,
and asked a great many Questions, to certifie him of the Person,
e'er he would deliver the Letter. They had left the Trader,
and one that came from South-Carolina with us, to go to Virginia;
these Two being resolved to go to Carolina with us.
{Thursday.}
This Day fell much Rain, so we staid at the Indian Town.
{Friday.}
This Morning, we set out early, being four English-Men,
besides several Indians. We went 10 Miles, and were then stopp'd
by the Freshes of Enoe-River, which had rais'd it so high,
that we could not pass over, till it was fallen. I enquir'd of my Guide,
Where this River disgorg'd it self? He said, It was Enoe-River,
and run into a Place call'd Enoe-Bay, near his Country, which he left
when he was a Boy; by which I perceiv'd, he was one of the Cores by Birth:
This being a Branch of Neus-River.
{Saturday.}
This Day, our Fellow-Traveller's Mare ran away from him;
wherefore, Will went back as far as the lower Quarter, and brought her back.
{Sunday.}
The next Day, early, came two Tuskeruro Indians to the other side
of the River, but could not get over. They talk'd much to us,
but we understood them not. In the Afternoon, Will came
with the Mare, and had some Discourse with them; they told him,
The English, to whom he was going, were very wicked People;
and, That they threatned the Indians for Hunting near their Plantations.
These Two Fellows were going among the Schoccores and Achonechy Indians,
to sell their Wooden Bowls and Ladles for Raw-Skins, which they make
great Advantage of, hating that any of these Westward Indians
should have any Commerce with the English, which would prove a Hinderance
to their Gains. Their Stories deterr'd an Old Indian and his Son,
from going any farther; but Will told us, Nothing they had said
should frighten him, he believing them to be a couple of Hog-stealers;
and that the English only sought Restitution of their Losses, by them;
and that this was the only ground for their Report. Will had a Slave,
a Sissipahau-Indian by Nation, who killed us several Turkies,
and other Game, on which we feasted.
{Monday.}
This River is near as large as Reatkin; the South-side having
curious Tracts of good Land, the Banks high, and Stone-Quarries.
The Tuskeruros being come to us, we ventur'd over the River,
which we found to be a strong Current, and the Water about Breast-high.
However, we all got safe to the North-Shore, which is but poor,
white, sandy Land, and bears no Timber, but small shrubby Oaks.
We went about 10 Miles, and sat down at the Falls of a large Creek,
where lay mighty Rocks, the Water making a strange Noise,
as if a great many Water-Mills were going at once. I take this to be
the Falls of Neus-Creek, called by the Indians, `Wee quo Whom'.
We lay here all Night. My Guide Will desiring to see the Book
that I had about me, I lent it him; and as he soon found
the Picture of King David, he asked me several Questions
concerning the Book, and Picture, which I resolv'd him, and invited him
to become a Christian. He made me a very sharp Reply, assuring me,
That he lov'd the English extraordinary well, and did believe their Ways
to be very good for those that had already practis'd them,
and had been brought up therein; But as for himself, he was too much in Years
to think of a Change, esteeming it not proper for Old People
to admit of such an Alteration. However, he told me,
If I would take his Son Jack, who was then about 14 Years of Age,
and teach him to talk in that Book, and make Paper speak,
which they call our Way of Writing, he would wholly resign him to my Tuition;
telling me, he was of Opinion, I was very well affected to the Indians.
{Tuesday.}
The next Morning, we set out early, and I perceiv'd that these Indians
were in some fear of Enemies; for they had an Old Man with them,
who was very cunning and circumspect, wheresoever he saw any Marks of Footing,
or of any Fire that had been made; going out of his Way, very often,
to look for these Marks. We went, this day, above 30 Miles,
over a very level Country, and most Pine Land, yet intermix'd
with some Quantities of Marble; a good Range for Cattel,
though very indifferent for Swine. We had now lost our rapid Streams,
and were come to slow, dead Waters, of a brown Colour,
proceeding from the Swamps, much like the Sluices in Holland,
where the Track-Scoots go along. In the Afternoon, we met two Tuskeruros,
who told us, That there was a Company of Hunters not far of,
and if we walk'd stoutly, we might reach them that Night.
But Will and He that own'd the Mare, being gone before,
and the Old Indian tired, we rested, that Night, in the Woods,
making a good light Fire, Wood being very plentiful in these Parts.
{Wednesday.}
Next Day, about 10 a Clock, we struck out of the Way,
by the Advice of our Old Indian. We had not gone past two Miles,
e'er we met with about 500 Tuskeruros in one Hunting-Quarter.
They had made themselves Streets of Houses, built with Pine-Bark,
not with round Tops, as they commonly use, but Ridge-Fashion, after the manner
of most other Indians.
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