Return of
Explorer
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tty JOIH LAWSON
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 ere we met with
about five hundred 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 rea¬
son of the great Number of their Peo¬
ple. For though they arc expert
Hunters, yet they are too populous for
one Range, which makes Vension very
scarce to what it is amongst other In¬
dians, that arc fewer: no Savages living
so well for Plenty as those near the
Sea.
I saw amongst these a Hump-backed
Indian, which was the only crooked
one I ever met withal. About two a
Clock we reached 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 Tuskcruro that came in com¬
pany with us from the lower Quarter,
who took us to his Cabin and gave us
what it afforded, which was Corn-meal.
This Day we passed through several
Swamps, and going not above a dozen
Miles came to a Cabin, the Master
whereof used to trade amongst the
THE STATE. JULY 23. 1960
"They hod mode rhcm»cl»c» Slrecl» ot Houtet built »ilh Pine bork, not with round
Тор», о»
they
commonly utc, but Ridge- Fothion "
English. He told us. If we would stay
Two Nights, lie would conduct us safe
to them, himself designing, at that time,
to go and fetch some Rum; so we re¬
solved to tarry for his Company.
Our Landlord gave us the Tail of a
Bcver. which was a choice Pood. I here
happened also to l>e a Burial of one
of their Dead, which Ceremony is much
the same with that of the Santces. who
make a great Feast at the Interment
of their Corpse. The small Runs of
Water hereabout afford great Plenty of
Craw-Fish, full as large as those in
England, and nothing inferior in Good¬
ness.
Saturday Morning, our Patron, with
Enoe Will and his Servant, set out with
us for the English. In the Afternoon
we ferried over a River, (in a Canoe),
called by the Indians Chattookau.
which is the N. W. Branch of Ncus
River. We lay in the Swamp, where
some Indians invited us to go to their
Quarters, which some of our Company
accepted, but got nothing extraordi¬
nary. except a dozen Miles’ March out
of their Way. The Country here is very
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ttiuclutlis Ihr ill cvlrwl» from |hr
“IIMoo
«I
North Carolina," III. uicounl of a !rl|i
lu Ihr frontier In 1700 ti> John I a» >011. tunryor*
irnrral of Hi. «linn .
thick of Indian Towns and Plantations.
We were forced to march this day
for Want of Provisions. About ten a
Clock we met an Indian that had got
a parcel of Shad-Fish ready barbakued.
We bought twenty-four of them for a
dressed Doe-Skin, and so went on
through many Swamps, finding this day
the long ragged Moss on the Trees,
which we had not seen for above six
hundred Miles.
In the Afternoon we came upon the
Banks of Pampticough. about twenty
Miles above the English Plantations by
Water, though not so far by Land. The
Indian found a Canoe which lie had
hidden, in which we all got over, and
went about six Miles. We lay that Night
under two or three Pieces of Bark, at
the Foot of a large Oak. There fell
abundance of Snow and Rain in the
Night, with much Thunder and Light¬
ning.
Next Day it cleared up. and it being
about twelve Miles to the English,
about half way we passed over a deep
Creek, and came safe to Mr. Richard
Smith's of Pampticough River, in
North Carolina; where, being well re¬
ceived by the Inhabitants and pleased
with the Goodness of the Country, we
all resolved to continue.
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