These Sewees Have Been Formerly A Large Nation, Though Now
Very Much Decreas'd, Since The English Hath Seated Their Land,
And all other Nations of Indians are observ'd to partake of the same Fate,
where the Europeans come, the Indians
Being a People
very apt to catch any Distemper they are afflicted withal;
the Small-Pox has destroy'd many thousands of these Natives,
who no sooner than they are attack'd with the violent Fevers,
and the Burning which attends that Distemper, fling themselves over Head
in the Water, in the very Extremity of the Disease; which shutting up
the Pores, hinders a kindly Evacuation of the pestilential Matter,
and drives it back; by which Means Death most commonly ensues;
not but in other Distempers which are epidemical, you may find among 'em
Practitioners that have extraordinary Skill and Success in removing
those morbifick Qualities which afflict 'em, not often going above 100 Yards
from their Abode for their Remedies, some of their chiefest Physicians
commonly carrying their Compliment of Drugs continually about them,
which are Roots, Barks, Berries, Nuts, &c. that are strung upon a Thread.
So like a Pomander, the Physician wears them about his Neck.
An Indian hath been often found to heal an English-man of a Malady,
for the Value of a Match-Coat; which the ablest of our English Pretenders
in America, after repeated Applications, have deserted the Patient
as incurable; God having furnish'd every Country with specifick Remedies
for their peculiar Diseases.
{Rum.}
Rum, a Liquor now so much in Use with them, that they will part with
the dearest Thing they have, to purchase it; and when they have got a little
in their Heads, are the impatients Creatures living, 'till they have enough
to make 'em quite drunk; and the most miserable Spectacles when they are so,
some falling into the Fires, burn their Legs or Arms, contracting the Sinews,
and become Cripples all their Life-time; others from Precipices break
their Bones and Joints, with abundance of Instances, yet none are so great
to deter them from that accurs'd Practice of Drunkenness, though sensible
how many of them (are by it) hurry'd into the other World before their Time,
as themselves oftentimes will confess. The Indians, I was now speaking of,
were not content with the common Enemies that lessen and destroy
their Country-men, but invented an infallible Stratagem to purge their Tribe,
and reduce their Multitude into far less Numbers. Their Contrivance was thus,
as a Trader amongst them inform'd me.
They seeing several Ships coming in, to bring the English Supplies
from Old England, one chief Part of their Cargo being for a Trade
with the Indians, some of the craftiest of them had observ'd,
that the Ships came always in at one Place, which made them very confident
that Way was the exact Road to England; and seeing so many Ships
come thence, they believ'd it could not be far thither,
esteeming the English that were among them, no better than Cheats,
and thought, if they could carry the Skins and Furs they got,
themselves to England, which were inhabited with a better Sort of People
than those sent amongst them, that then they should purchase
twenty times the Value for every Pelt they sold Abroad,
in Consideration of what Rates they sold for at Home. The intended Barter
was exceeding well approv'd of, and after a general Consultation
of the ablest Heads amongst them, it was, `Nemine Contradicente',
agreed upon, immediately to make an Addition of their Fleet,
by building more Canoes, and those to be of the best Sort,
and biggest Size, as fit for their intended Discovery. Some Indians
were employ'd about making the Canoes, others to hunting,
every one to the Post he was most fit for, all Endeavours tending towards
an able Fleet and Cargo for Europe. The Affair was carry'd on
with a great deal of Secrecy and Expedition, so as in a small Time
they had gotten a Navy, Loading, Provisions, and Hands ready
to set Sail, leaving only the Old, Impotent, and Minors at Home,
'till their successful Return. {They never hearing more of their Fleet.}
The Wind presenting, they set up their Mat-Sails, and were scarce
out of Sight, when there rose a Tempest, which it's suppos'd
carry'd one Part of these Indian Merchants, by Way of the other World,
whilst the others were taken up at Sea by an English Ship,
and sold for Slaves to the Islands. The Remainder are better satisfy'd
with their Imbecilities in such an Undertaking, nothing affronting them more,
than to rehearse their Voyage to England.
There being a strong Current in Santee-River, caus'd us to make
small Way with our Oars. With hard Rowing, we got that Night
to Mons. Eugee's House, which stands about fifteen Miles up the River,
being the first Christian dwelling we met withal in that Settlement,
and were very courteously receiv'd by him and his Wife.
Many of the French follow a Trade with the Indians,
living very conveniently for that Interest. There is about seventy Families
seated on this River, who live as decently and happily, as any Planters
in these Southward Parts of America. The French being
a temperate industrious People, some of them bringing very little of Effects,
yet by their Endeavours and mutual Assistance amongst themselves,
(which is highly to be commended) have out-stript our English,
who brought with 'em larger Fortunes, though (as it seems) less endeavour
to manage their Talent to the best Advantage. 'Tis admirable to see
what Time and Industry will (with God's Blessing) effect.
Carolina affording many strange Revolutions in the Age of a Man,
daily Instances presenting themselves to our View, of so many,
from despicable Beginnings, which in a short Time arrive
to very splended Conditions. Here Propriety hath a large Scope,
there being no strict Laws to bind our Privileges. A Quest after Game,
being as freely and peremptorily enjoy'd by the meanest Planter,
as he that is the highest in Dignity, or wealthiest in the Province.
Deer, and other Game that are naturally wild, being not immur'd,
or preserv'd within Boundaries, to satisfy the Appetite of the Rich alone.
A poor Labourer, that is Master of his Gun, &c. hath as good a Claim
to have continu'd Coarses of Delicacies crouded upon his Table,
as he that is Master of a greater Purse.
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