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. — John Shaqi
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
After the Dogs had fled the Room, the Company was summon'd by Beat of Drum;
the Musick being made of a dress'd Deer's Skin, tied hard upon
an Earthen Porridge-Pot. Presently in came fine Men dress'd up with Feathers,
their Faces being covered with Vizards made of Gourds;
round their Ancles and Knees, were hung Bells of several sorts,
having Wooden Falchions in their Hands, (such as Stage-Fencers commonly use;)
in this Dress they danced about an Hour, shewing many strange Gestures,
and brandishing their Wooden Weapons, as if they were going
to fight each other; oftentimes walking very nimbly round the Room,
without making the least Noise with their Bells, (a thing I much admired at;)
again, turning their Bodies, Arms and Legs, into such frightful Postures,
that you would have guess'd they had been quite raving mad: At last,
they cut two or three high Capers, and left the Room. In their stead,
came in a parcel of Women and Girls, to the Number of Thirty odd;
every one taking place according to her Degree of Stature,
the tallest leading the Dance, and the least of all being plac'd last;
with these they made a circular Dance, like a Ring,
representing the Shape of the Fire they danced about: Many of these
had great Horse-Bells about their Legs, and small Hawk's Bells
about their Necks. They had Musicians, who were two Old Men,
one of whom beat a Drum, while the other rattled with a Gourd,
that had Corn in it, to make a Noise withal: To these Instruments,
they both sung a mournful Ditty; the Burthen of their Song was,
in Remembrance of their former Greatness, and Numbers of their Nation,
the famous Exploits of their Renowned Ancestors, and all Actions of Moment
that had (in former Days) been perform'd by their Forefathers.
At these Festivals it is, that they give a Traditional Relation of what
hath pass'd amongst them, to the younger Fry. These verbal Deliveries
being always publish'd in their most Publick Assemblies,
serve instead of our Traditional Notes, by the use of Letters.
Some Indians, that I have met withal, have given me
a very curious Description of the great Deluge, the Immortality of the Soul,
with a pithy Account of the Reward of good and wicked Deeds in the Life
to come; having found, amongst some of them, great Observers of Moral Rules,
and the Law of Nature; indeed, a worthy Foundation to build Christianity upon,
were a true Method found out, and practis'd, for the Performance thereof.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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