A New Voyage to Carolina: Containing the exact description and natural history of that country; together with the present state thereof; and a journal of a thousand miles, travel'd thro' several nations of Indians; giving a particular account of their customs, manners, etc.Lawson, John
History
A New Voyage to Carolina: Containing the exact description and natural history of that country; together with the present state thereof; and a journal of a thousand miles, travel'd thro' several nations of Indians; giving a particular account of their customs, manners, etc.
Lawson, John
Indians of North America -- North Carolina; Indians of North America -- North Carolina -- Early works to 1800; Natural history -- North Carolina -- Early works to 1800; North Carolina -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; South Carolina -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
They set apart the youngest and prettiest Faces for trading Girls;
these are remarkable by their Hair, having a particular Tonsure
by which they are known, and distinguish'd from those engag'd to Husbands.
They are mercenary, and whoever makes Use of them, first hires them,
the greatest Share of the Gain going to the King's Purse,
who is the chief Bawd, exercising his Perogative over all
the Stews of his Nation, and his own Cabin (very often)
being the chiefest Brothel-House. As they grow in Years,
the hot Assaults of Love grow cooler; and then they commonly are so staid,
as to engage themselves with more Constancy to each other.
I have seen several Couples amongst them, that have been so reserv'd,
as to live together for many Years, faithful to each other,
admitting none to their Beds but such as they own'd for their Wife or Husband:
So continuing to their Life's end.
At our Waxsaw Landlord's Cabin, was a Woman employ'd in no other Business
than Cookery; it being a House of great Resort. The Fire was surrounded
with Roast-meat, or Barbakues, and the Pots continually boiling
full of Meat, from Morning till Night. This She-Cook was the cleanliest
I ever saw amongst the Heathens of America, washing her Hands
before she undertook to do any Cookery; and repeated this unusual Decency
very often in a day. She made us as White-Bread as any English
could have done, and was full as neat, and expeditious, in her Affairs.
It happen'd to be one of their great Feasts, when we were there:
The first day that we came amongst them, arriv'd an Ambassador
from the King of Sapona, to treat with these Indians about
some important Affairs. He was painted with Vermillion all over his Face,
having a very large Cutlass stuck in his Girdle, and a Fusee in his Hand.
At Night, the Revels began where this Foreign Indian was admitted;
the King, and War Captain, inviting us to see their Masquerade:
This Feast was held in Commemoration of the plentiful Harvest of Corn
they had reap'd the Summer before, with an united Supplication
for the like plentiful Produce the Year ensuing. These Revels
are carried on in a House made for that purpose, it being done round
with white Benches of fine Canes, joining along the Wall;
and a place for the Door being left, which is so low, that a Man
must stoop very much to enter therein. This Edifice resembles
a large Hay-Rick; its Top being Pyramidal, and much bigger
than their other Dwellings, and at the Building whereof, every one assists
till it is finish'd. All their Dwelling-Houses are cover'd with Bark,
but this differs very much; for, it is very artificially
thatch'd with Sedge and Rushes: As soon as finish'd, they place
some one of their chiefest Men to dwell therein, charging him
with the diligent Preservation thereof, as a Prince commits
the Charge and Government of a Fort or Castle, to some Subject
he thinks worthy of that Trust. In these State-Houses is transacted
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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