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
Five Miles from this River, to the N.W. stands the Keyauwees Town.
They are fortify'd in, with wooden Puncheons, like Sapona,
being a People much of the same Number. Nature hath so fortify'd this Town,
with Mountains, that were it a Seat of War, it might easily
be made impregnable; having large Corn-Fields joining to their Cabins,
and a Savanna near the Town, at the Foot of these Mountains,
that is capable of keeping some hundred Heads of Cattle. And all this
environ'd round with very high Mountains, so that no hard Wind ever troubles
these Inhabitants. Those high Clifts have no Grass growing on them,
and very few Trees, which are very short, and stand at a great Distance
one from another. The Earth is of a red Colour, and seems to me
to be wholly design'd by Nature for the Production of Minerals,
being of too hot a Quality, to suffer any Verdure upon its Surface.
These Indians make use of Lead-Ore, to paint their Faces withal,
which they get in the neighbouring Mountains. As for the refining of Metals,
the Indians are wholly ignorant of it, being content with the Realgar.
But if it be my Chance, once more to visit these Hilly Parts,
I shall make a longer Stay amongst them: For were a good Vein of Lead
found out, and work'd by an ingenious Hand, it might be of no small Advantage
to the Undertaker, there being great Convenience for smelting,
either by Bellows or Reverberation; and the Working of these Mines
might discover some that are much richer.
At the Top of one of these Mountains, is a Cave that 100 Men
may fit very conveniently to dine in; whether natural, or artificial,
I could not learn. There is a fine Bole between this Place, and the Saps.
These Valleys thus hemm'd in with Mountains, would (doubtless) prove
a good place for propagating some sort of Fruits, that our Easterly Winds
commonly blast. The Vine could not miss of thriving well here;
but we of the Northern Climate are neither Artists, nor curious,
in propagating that pleasant and profitable Vegetable. Near the Town,
is such another Current, as Heighwaree. We being six in Company,
divided ourselves into Two Parties; and it was my Lot to be
at the House of Keyauwees Jack, who is King of that People.
He is a Congeree-Indian, and ran away when he was a Boy.
He got this Government by Marriage with the Queen; the Female Issue
carrying the Heritage, for fear of Impostors; the Savages
well knowing, how much Frailty possesses the Indian Women,
betwixt the Garters and the Girdle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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