In About Six Hours Time, From Our Mens Departure, The Indian Came Back To Us
In The Same Canoe He Went In, Being Half Drunk, Which Assur'd Us
They Had Found Some Place Of Refreshment.
He took us three into the Canoe,
telling us all was well:
Padling our Vessel several Miles thro' the Woods,
being often half full of Water; but at length we got safe to the Place
we sought for, which prov'd to lie the same Way the Indian and I
guess'd it did.
When we got to the House, we found our Comrades in the same Trim
the Indian was in, and several of the French Inhabitants with them,
who treated us very courteously, wondering at our undertaking such a Voyage,
thro' a Country inhabited by none but Savages, and them of so different
Nations and Tongues.
After we had refresh'd our selves, we parted from a very kind, loving,
and affable People, who wish'd us a safe and prosperous Voyage.
Hearing of a Camp of Santee Indians not far of, we set out
intending to take up our Quarters with them that Night. There being
a deep Run of Water in the Way, one of our Company being top-heavy,
and there being nothing but a small Pole for a Bridge, over a Creek,
fell into the Water up to the Chin; my self laughing at the Accident,
and not taking good Heed to my Steps, came to the same Misfortune:
All our Bedding was wet. The Wind being at N.W. it froze very hard,
which prepar'd such a Night's Lodging for me, that I never desire
to have the like again; the wet Bedding and freezing Air
had so qualify'd our Bodies, that in the Morning when we awak'd,
we were nigh frozen to Death, until we had recruited our selves
before a large Fire of the Indians.
{Tuesday.}
Tuesday Morning we set towards the Congerees, leaving the Indian Guide
Scipio drunk amongst the Santee-Indians. We went ten Miles
out of our Way, to head a great Swamp, the Freshes having fill'd them all
with such great Quantities of Water, that the usual Paths
were render'd unpassable. We met in our Way with an Indian Hut,
where we were entertain'd with a fat, boil'd Goose, Venison, Racoon,
and ground Nuts. We made but little Stay; about Noon, we pass'd by
several large Savannah's, wherein is curious Ranges for Cattel,
being green all the Year; they were plentifully stor'd with Cranes,
Geese, &c. and the adjacent Woods with great Flocks of Turkies.
This Day we travell'd about 30 Miles, and lay all Night at a House
which was built for the Indian Trade, the Master thereof
we had parted with at the French Town, who gave us Leave
to make use of his Mansion. Such Houses are common in these Parts,
and especially where there is Indian Towns, and Plantations near at hand,
which this Place is well furnish'd withal.
These Santee-Indians are a well-humour'd and affable People;
and living near the English, are become very tractable.
They make themselves Cribs after a very curious Manner,
wherein they secure their Corn from Vermin; which are more frequent
in these warm Climates, than Countries more distant from the Sun.
These pretty Fabricks are commonly supported with eight Feet or Posts,
about seven Foot high from the Ground, well daub'd within and without
upon Laths, with Loom or Clay, which makes them tight, and fit to keep out
the smallest Insect, there being a small Door at the gable End,
which is made of the same Composition, and to be remov'd at Pleasure,
being no bigger, than that a slender Man may creep in at,
cementing the Door up with the same Earth, when they take Corn
out of the Crib, and are going from Home, always finding their Granaries
in the same Posture they left them; Theft to each other being
altogether unpractis'd, never receiving Spoils but from Foreigners.
Hereabouts the Ground is something higher than about Charles-Town,
there being found some Quarries of brown free Stone, which I have seen
made Use of for Building, and hath prov'd very durable and good.
The Earth here is mix'd with white Gravel, which is rare,
there being nothing like a Stone to be found, of the natural Produce,
near to Ashly-River.
{Wednesday.}
The next Day about Noon we came to the Side of a great Swamp,
where we were forc'd to strip our selves to get over it,
which, with much Difficulty, we effected. {Septem. 5. 1700.}
Hereabouts the late Gust of Wind, which happen'd in September last,
had torn the large Ciprus-Trees and Timbers up by the Roots,
they lying confusedly in their Branches, did block up the Way,
making the Passage very difficult.
This Night we got to one Scipio's Hutt, a famous Hunter:
There was no Body at Home; but we having (in our Company)
one that had us'd to trade amongst them, we made our selves welcome
to what his Cabin afforded, (which is a Thing common)
the Indians allowing it practicable to the English Traders,
to take out of their Houses what they need in their Absence,
in Lieu whereof they most commonly leave some small Gratuity of Tobacco,
Paint, Beads, &c. We found great Store of Indian Peas, (a very good Pulse)
Beans, Oyl, Thinkapin Nuts, Corn, barbacu'd Peaches, and Peach-Bread;
which Peaches being made into a Quiddony, and so made up into Loves
like Barley-Cakes, these cut into thin Slices, and dissolv'd in Water,
makes a very grateful Acid, and extraordinary beneficial in Fevers,
as hath often been try'd, and approv'd on by our English Practitioners.
The Wind being at N.W. with cold Weather, made us make a large Fire
in the Indian's Cabin; being very intent upon our Cookery,
we set the Dwelling on Fire, and with much ado, put it out,
tho' with the Loss of Part of the Roof.
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