It Is Probable,
That This Settlement Miscarry'd For Want Of Timely Supplies From England;
Or Thro' The Treachery Of The
Natives, for we may reasonably suppose that
the English were forced to cohabit with them, for Relief and Conversation;
and
That in process of Time, they conform'd themselves
to the Manners of their Indian Relations. And thus we see,
how apt Humane Nature is to degenerate.
{Sir Walter Raleigh's Ship.}
I cannot forbear inserting here, a pleasant Story that passes
for an uncontested Truth amongst the Inhabitants of this Place;
which is, that the Ship which brought the first Colonies,
does often appear amongst them, under Sail, in a gallant Posture,
which they call Sir Walter Raleigh's Ship, And the truth of this
has been affirm'd to me, by Men of the best Credit in the Country.
{Second Settlement of North-Carolina.}
A second Settlement of this Country was made about fifty Years ago,
in that part we now call Albemarl-County, and chiefly in Chuwon Precinct,
by several substantial Planters, from Virginia, and other Plantations;
Who finding mild Winters, and a fertile Soil, beyond Expectation,
producing every thing that was planted, to a prodigious Increase;
their Cattle, Horses, Sheep, and Swine, breeding very fast,
and passing the Winter, without any Assistance from the Planter;
so that every thing seem'd to come by Nature, the Husbandman living
almost void of Care, and free from those Fatigues which are absolutely
requisite in Winter-Countries, for providing Fodder and other Necessaries;
these Encouragements induc'd them to stand their Ground,
altho' but a handful of People, seated at great Distances one from another,
and amidst a vast number of Indians of different Nations,
who were then in Carolina. Nevertheless, I say, the Fame of this
new-discover'd Summer-Country spread thro' the neighbouring Colonies,
and, in a few Years, drew a considerable Number of Families thereto,
who all found Land enough to settle themselves in, (had they been
many Thousands more) and that which was very good and commodiously seated,
both for Profit and Pleasure. {Pleasantness of Carolina.}
And indeed, most of the Plantations in Carolina naturally enjoy
a noble Prospect of large and spacious Rivers, pleasant Savanna's,
and fine Meadows, with their green Liveries, interwoven with
beautiful Flowers, of most glorious Colours, which the several Seasons afford;
hedg'd in with pleasant Groves of the ever-famous Tulip-tree,
the stately Laurel, and Bays, equalizing the Oak in Bigness and Growth;
Myrtles, Jessamines, Wood-bines, Honysuckles, and several other
fragrant Vines and Ever-greens, whose aspiring Branches
shadow and interweave themselves with the loftiest Timbers,
yielding a pleasant Prospect, Shade and Smell, proper Habitations
for the Sweet-singing Birds, that melodiously entertain such as travel
thro' the Woods of Carolina.
The Planters possessing all these Blessings, and the Produce
of great Quantities of Wheat and Indian Corn, in which this Country
is very fruitful, as likewise in Beef, Pork, Tallow, Hides, Deer-Skins,
and Furs; for these Commodities the New-England-Men and Bermudians
visited Carolina in their Barks and Sloops, and carry'd out what they made,
bringing them, in Exchange, Rum, Sugar, Salt, Molosses,
and some wearing Apparel, tho' the last at very extravagant Prices.
As the Land is very fruitful, so are the Planters kind and hospitable
to all that come to visit them; there being very few Housekeepers,
but what live very nobly, and give away more Provisions to Coasters and Guests
who come to see them, than they expend amongst their own Families.
Of the Inlets and Havens of this Country.
{Currituck Inlet.}
The Bar of Currituck being the Northermost of this Country, presents itself
first to be treated of. It lies in 36 deg. 30 min. and the Course over
is S.W. by W. having not above seven or eight Foot on the Bar,
tho' a good Harbour, when you are over, where you may ride safe,
and deep enough; but this Part of the Sound is so full of Shoals,
as not to suffer any thing to trade thro' it, that draws above
three Foot Water, which renders it very incommodious. However,
this affects but some part of the Country, and may be easily remedied,
by carrying their Produce, in small Craft, down to the Vessels,
which ride near the Inlet.
{Ronoak Inlet.}
Ronoak Inlet has Ten Foot Water, the Course over the Bar
is almost W. which leads you thro' the best of the Channel. This Bar,
as well as Currituck, often shifts by the Violence of the N.E. Storms,
both lying expos'd to those Winds. Notwithstanding which,
a considerable Trade might be carry'd on, provided there was a Pilot
to bring them in; for it lies convenient for a large Part of this Colony,
whose Product would very easily allow of that Charge; Lat. 35 deg. 50 min.
{Hatteras Inlet.}
The Inlet of Hatteras lies to the Westward of the Cape,
round which is an excellent Harbour. When the Wind blows hard
at N. or N.E. if you keep a small League from the Cape-Point,
you will have 3, 4, and 5 Fathom, the outermost Shoals lying
about 7 or 8 Leagues from Shoar. As you come into the Inlet,
keep close to the South Breakers, till you are over the Bar,
where you will have two Fathom at Low-Water. You may come to an Anchor
in two Fathom and a Half when you are over, then steer over close aboard
the North Shoar, where is four Fathom, close to a Point of Marsh; then steer
up the Sound a long League, till you bring the North Cape of the Inlet
to bear S.S.E. half E. then steer W.N.W. the East-point of Bluff-Land
at Hatteras bearing E.N.E. the Southermost large Hammock towards Ocacock,
bearing S.S.W. half S. then you are in the Sound, over the Bar of Sand,
whereon is but 6 Foot Water; then your Course to Pampticough
is almost West.
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