A Book of American ExplorersHigginson, Thomas Wentworth
History
A Book of American Explorers
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth
America -- Discovery and exploration; United States -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
[The remains of this fortress of Charlesfort are undoubtedly
those still to be seen on “Old Fort Plantation,” near Beaufort,
S.C., at the junction of Beaufort River with Battery Creek.
The compiler of this book was encamped on this plantation
for several months during the civil war, and visited the
fortifications very frequently. They are built of a kind of
concrete made with oyster-shells, and called _coquina_, this
being the material also employed in Spanish buildings of
the same period at St. Augustine. There is another similar
fortification a little farther up Beaufort River.]
II.――ALONE IN THE NEW WORLD.
[The thirty Frenchmen left behind at Port Royal by Ribaut
were probably the first Europeans who deliberately undertook to
remain without ships upon the Atlantic shore of North America.
Parkman says of them, “Albert and his companions might watch
the receding ships.... They were alone in those fearful solitudes.
From the north pole to Mexico there was no Christian denizen but
they.”――PIONEERS OF FRANCE, p. 35.
The following is from the narrative of their adventures written
by Laudonnière, who afterwards came to search for them, but did
not arrive till they had gone.]
OUR men, after our departure, never rested, but night and day did
fortify themselves, being in good hope, that, after their fort was
finished, they would begin to discover farther up within the river. It
happened one day, as certain of them were in cutting of roots in the
groves, that they espied, on the sudden, an Indian that hunted the deer,
which, finding himself so near upon them, was much dismayed; but our
men began to draw near unto him, and to use him so courteously, that
he became assured, and followed them to Charlesfort, where every man
sought to do him pleasure. Capt. Albert was very joyful of his coming,
which after he had given him a shirt, and some other trifles, he asked
him of his dwelling. The Indian answered him, that it was farther
up within the river, and that he was vassal of King Audusta: he also
showed him with his hand the limits of his habitation. After much other
talk, the Indian desired leave to depart, because it drew toward night,
which Capt. Albert granted him very willingly....
[They afterward went to a feast among these Indians.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account