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
{Carolina how bounded.}
The Province of Carolina is separated from Virginia by a due West-Line,
which begins at Currituck-Inlet, in 36 Degrees, 30 Minutes,
of Northern-Latitude, and extends indefinitely to the Westward,
and thence to the Southward, as far as 29 Degrees; which is a vast Tract
of Sea-Coast. But having already treated, as far as is necessary,
concerning South-Carolina, I shall confine myself, in the ensuing Sheets,
to give my Reader a Description of that Part of the Country only,
which lies betwixt Currituck and Cape-Fair, and is almost 34 Deg. North.
And this is commonly call'd North Carolina.
This Part of Carolina is faced with a Chain of Sand-Banks,
which defends it from the Violence and Insults of the Atlantick Ocean;
by which Barrier, a vast Sound is hemm'd in, which fronts
the Mouths of the Navigable and Pleasant Rivers of this Fertile Country,
and into which they disgorge themselves. {Inlets.} Thro' the same
are Inlets of several Depths of Water. Some of their Channels
admit only of Sloops, Brigantines, small Barks, and Ketches;
and such are Currituck, Ronoak, and up the Sound above Hatteras:
Whilst others can receive Ships of Burden, as Ocacock, Topsail-Inlet,
and Cape-Fair; as appears by my Chart.
{First Colony of Carolina.}
The first Discovery and Settlement of this Country was by the Procurement
of Sir Walter Raleigh, in Conjunction with some publick-spirited Gentlemen
of that Age, under the Protection of Queen Elizabeth;
for which Reason it was then named Virginia, being begun on that Part
called Ronoak-Island, where the Ruins of a Fort are to be seen at this day,
as well as some old English Coins which have been lately found;
and a Brass-Gun, a Powder-Horn, and one small Quarter deck-Gun,
made of Iron Staves, and hoop'd with the same Metal; which Method
of making Guns might very probably be made use of in those Days,
for the Convenience of Infant-Colonies.
{Hatteras Indians.}
A farther Confirmation of this we have from the Hatteras Indians,
who either then lived on Ronoak-Island, or much frequented it.
These tell us, that several of their Ancestors were white People,
and could talk in a Book, as we do; the Truth of which is confirm'd
by gray Eyes being found frequently amongst these Indians, and no others.
They value themselves extremely for their Affinity to the English,
and are ready to do them all friendly Offices. It is probable,
that this Settlement miscarry'd for want of timely Supplies from England;
or thro' the Treachery of the Natives, for we may reasonably suppose that
the English were forced to cohabit with them, for Relief and Conversation;
and that in process of Time, they conform'd themselves
to the Manners of their Indian Relations. And thus we see,
how apt Humane Nature is to degenerate.
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