At Night, We Lay By
A Swift Current, Where We Saw Plenty Of Turkies, But Pearch'd Upon
Such Lofty Oaks, That Our Guns Would Not Kill Them, Tho' We Shot Very Often,
And Our Guns Were Very Good.
Some of our Company shot several times,
at one Turkey, before he would fly away, the Pieces being loaded
with large Goose-shot.
{Wednesday.}
Next Morning, we got our Breakfasts; roasted Acorns being one of the Dishes.
The Indians beat them into Meal, and thicken their Venison-Broth with them;
and oftentimes make a palatable Soop. They are used instead of Bread,
boiling them till the Oil swims on the top of the Water,
which they preserve for use, eating the Acorns with Flesh-meat.
We travell'd, this day, about 25 Miles, over pleasant Savanna Ground,
high, and dry, having very few Trees upon it, and those standing
at a great distance. The Land was very good, and free from
Grubs or Underwood. A Man near Sapona may more easily clear
10 Acres of Ground, than in some places he can one; there being
much loose Stone upon the Land, lying very convenient for making of dry Walls,
or any other sort of durable Fence. This Country abounds likewise
with curious bold Creeks, (navigable for small Craft) disgorging themselves
into the main Rivers, that vent themselves into the Ocean.
These Creeks are well stor'd with sundry sorts of Fish, and Fowl,
and are very convenient for the Transportation of what Commodities
this Place may produce. This Night, we had a great deal of Rain,
with Thunder and Lightning.
{Thursday.}
Next Morning, it proving delicate Weather, three of us separated ourselves
from the Horses, and the rest of the Company, and went directly
for Sapona Town. That day, we pass'd through a delicious Country,
(none that I ever saw exceeds it.) We saw fine bladed Grass, six Foot high,
along the Banks of these pleasant Rivulets: We pass'd by
the Sepulchres of several slain Indians. Coming, that day, about 30 Miles,
we reach'd the fertile and pleasant Banks of Sapona River,
whereon stands the Indian Town and Fort. Nor could all Europe
afford a pleasanter Stream, were it inhabited by Christians,
and cultivated by ingenious Hands. These Indians live
in a clear Field, about a Mile square, which they would have sold me,
because I talked sometimes of coming into those Parts to live.
This most pleasant River may be something broader than the Thames
at Kingston, keeping a continual pleasant warbling Noise,
with its reverberating on the bright Marble Rocks. It is beautified
with a numerous Train of Swans, and other sorts of Water-Fowl,
not common, though extraordinary pleasing to the Eye. The forward Spring
welcom'd us with her innumerable Train of small Choristers,
which inhabit those fair Banks; the Hills redoubling, and adding Sweetness
to their melodious Tunes by their shrill Echoes. One side of the River
is hemm'd in with mountainy Ground, the other side proving as rich a Soil
to the Eye of a knowing Person with us, as any this Western World can afford.
We took up our Quarters at the King's Cabin, who was a good Friend
to the English, and had lost one of his Eyes in their Vindication.
Being upon his march towards the Appallatche Mountains,
amongst a Nation of Indians in their Way, there happen'd a Difference,
while they were measuring of Gunpowder; and the Powder, by accident,
taking fire, blew out one of this King's Eyes, and did a great deal
more mischief, upon the spot:
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