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. We got nothing amongst them but Corn,
Flesh being not plentiful, by reason of the great Number of their People.
For tho' they are expert Hunters, yet they are too populous for one Range;
which makes Venison very scarce to what it is amongst other Indians,
that are fewer; no Savages living so well for Plenty, as those near the Sea.
I saw, amongst these, a Hump-back'd Indian, which was the only crooked one
I ever met withal. About two a Clock, we reach'd one of their Towns,
in which there was no body left, but an Old Woman or two; the rest being gone
to their Hunting-Quarters. We could find no Provision at that Place.
We had a Tuskeruro that came in company with us, from the lower Quarter,
who took us to his Cabin, and gave us what it afforded, which was Corn-meat.
{Thursday.}
This Day, we pass'd through several Swamps, and going not above a dozen Miles,
came to a Cabin, the Master whereof us'd to trade amongst the English.
He told us, If we would stay Two Nights, he would conduct us safe to them,
himself designing, at that time, to go and fetch some Rum;
so we resolved to tarry for his Company.
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