North.
And This Is Commonly Call'd North Carolina.
This Part of Carolina is faced with a Chain of Sand-Banks,
which defends it from the Violence and
Insults of the Atlantick Ocean;
by which Barrier, a vast Sound is hemm'd in, which fronts
the Mouths of the Navigable and Pleasant Rivers of this Fertile Country,
and into which they disgorge themselves. {Inlets.} Thro' the same
are Inlets of several Depths of Water. Some of their Channels
admit only of Sloops, Brigantines, small Barks, and Ketches;
and such are Currituck, Ronoak, and up the Sound above Hatteras:
Whilst others can receive Ships of Burden, as Ocacock, Topsail-Inlet,
and Cape-Fair; as appears by my Chart.
{First Colony of Carolina.}
The first Discovery and Settlement of this Country was by the Procurement
of Sir Walter Raleigh, in Conjunction with some publick-spirited Gentlemen
of that Age, under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth;
for which Reason it was then named Virginia, being begun on that Part
called Ronoak-Island, where the Ruins of a Fort are to be seen at this day,
as well as some old English Coins which have been lately found;
and a Brass-Gun, a Powder-Horn, and one small Quarter deck-Gun,
made of Iron Staves, and hoop'd with the same Metal; which Method
of making Guns might very probably be made use of in those Days,
for the Convenience of Infant-Colonies.
{Hatteras Indians.}
A farther Confirmation of this we have from the Hatteras Indians,
who either then lived on Ronoak-Island, or much frequented it.
These tell us, that several of their Ancestors were white People,
and could talk in a Book, as we do; the Truth of which is confirm'd
by gray Eyes being found frequently amongst these Indians, and no others.
They value themselves extremely for their Affinity to the English,
and are ready to do them all friendly Offices. 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.
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