There Ran, Hard-By This Town, A Pleasant River,
Not Very Large, But, As The Indians Told Us, Well Stor'd
With Fish.
We being now among the powerful Nation of Esaws, our Landlord entertain'd us
very courteously, shewing us, that
Night, a pair of Leather-Gloves,
which he had made; and comparing them with ours, they prov'd to be
very ingeniously done, considering it was the first Tryal.
{Thursday.}
In the Morning, he desired to see the lame Man's affected Part,
to the end he might do something, which (he believ'd) would give him Ease.
After he had viewed it accordingly, he pull'd out an Instrument,
somewhat like a Comb, which was made of a split Reed,
with 15 Teeth of Rattle-Snakes set at much the same distance,
as in a large Horn-Comb: With these he scratch'd the place
where the Lameness chiefly lay, till the Blood came, bathing it,
both before and after Incision, with warm Water, spurted out of his Mouth.
This done, he ran into his Plantation, and got some Sassafras Root,
(which grows here in great plenty) dry'd it in the Embers,
scrap'd off the outward Rind, and having beat it betwixt two Stones,
apply'd it to the Part afflicted, binding it up well. Thus, in a day or two,
the Patient became sound. 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.
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