{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.
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