CAROLINA; OR. A DESCRIPTION Of the Present State of that COUNTRY, AND The Naiurd Excellencies thereof^ The Eealthfulnefs of the Air^ Plcafantnefs of the Pladb, Advantage and Ufefulnefs of thofe Rich Commo-^ ig. lijh Colony, in the Year to 'I IjoHjtiml Srx HwjEcJ ^md Seveaiiy ^ and unckr; wiiofe be¬ nign and happy likluence it no\t; pil^rpers and flouridics. Or from Chdrlcs' the' Ninth of that Name King of France^ in whole Reign a Colony of French Protelhmts wen; tranlported thither^, at the encouragement of Giiffur Coligni, Admiral of that Kingdom, the place of their firft Settlement named in Honour of their Prince Arx Cmlinii; but not long after, that Colony^ with Monfieiir Rihaidt their Leader, were by the Spaniard at once cut off and deftroy’d. Since which, nor French j nor Sfmiard have made any Attempt for its Re-Settlement. Carolina is the Northermoft (part of the fpacious and pleafant Province -df Fbrida; it lies in the Northern temperate Zone, between the Lati¬ tude of Twenty Nine, and Thirty Six De¬ grees , and Thirty Minutes : Its boun¬ ded on the £^ 2 ^, with the. Atlantick, or Nor¬ thern^ on the PVeJij with the Pacifick or Son- B 2 them ( 4 ; them Ocean, on the North, with Virginia, on tht South, with the remaining part of Flori¬ da. The Air of fo-ferene and excellent a tern” per, that the WW Natives prolong dbeirdays to the Extremity of Old Age. And where the hitherto have found no Diftem’- pers either Epidemical or Mortal, but what have had their Rife from. Excels or Origine from Intemperance. In July and Augufl they have fometimes Touches of Agues and Fe¬ vers, but not violent, of fhort continuance, and never Fatal. Englijh Children there born, are commonly ftroiig and lufty, of found , Conftitutions, and frefh ruddy Complexions. The Seafons are regularly difpofed according to Natures Laws j the Summer not.fo torrid, hot and burning as that pf their Sonth&n,m\: the W inter fo rigoroufly fbarp' and cold,. as that of their Norther;/ .' Neighbours. In the Evenings andMornings oi December md Ja¬ nuary, thin congealed Ice,: with hoary Frofts - fometimes appear j, but as foon as the Sun e- levates her felL above the Horkon, as foon (5) they dlfappear and vaniili- Snow having been feen but twice in ten Years, or from its firft beingfettled by the jEwg///?;. The Soil near the Sea, of a Mould Sandy, farther diftant, more clayey, or Sand and Glay mixt j the Land lies upon a Level in fifty or fixty Miles round, having fcarce the leaft Hill or Eminency. Its cloathed with odoriferous and fragrant Woods, flourilhing in perpetual and conftant Verdures, the lofty Pine, the fweet fmelling Cedar and Trees, of both which are compofed good¬ ly Boxes, Chefts, Tables, Scrittores, and Ga- biners. The Duft and Shavings of Cedars laid amongft Linnen or Woollen, deftroys the Moth and all. Verminous Infeds; It ne¬ ver rots, breeding no Worm^ by which ma¬ ny other Woods are eonfiimed and deftroy- ed Of Cedar there are many forts^ this.k Carolina is efteemed of equal Grain, Smell and Golour with the an CedarjwUcho ^all the WejlJndm h^&^M- ed the moft excellent, that in the Caribbe I- flands^ ( 6 ) ibnds and Jmdicci being of a courfea' kind, Oyl and the Spirit of Wine penetrating it , but with this they make Heading for their Cask, which the iliarpch: and moil (catching Liquors does not pierce. With the Berry of the Tree at Bermmb:;;, by Decodioip they make a very veholelbme and (bccreign Drink. This Tree in the Sacred Writ is famous, c- Ipecialiy thole of Lebanon, for their Stately Stature j but thole in the IVefl Indies I obfer- ved to be of a low and humble height. The SaJjjfrtfs is a Medicinal Tree, whole Bark and Leaves yield a pleafing Smell; It profits in all Difeafes of the Blood, and Liver, par¬ ticularly in all Venereal and Scorbutick Di- flempers. There are many other Fragrant fmelling trees,the Myrtle,Bay and L^iW,leveral Others to us wholly unknown. Fruit Trees there are in abundance of various and excel¬ lent kinds, the Orange, Lemon, Pomegra¬ nate, Fig and Almond. Of Erjglif) Fruits, the Apple, Pear, Plumb, Cherry, Quince, Peach, (?) peach,a fort, of Medlar,and Chefnut. Wall- nut Trees there are of two or three forts; but the Black Wallnut for its Grain, is mod cdeem’d: the Wild Wallnut, or Hiquery- Tree, gives the Indim^ by boy ling its Ker¬ nel, a wholefomc Oyl, from whom the Eng- liflj frequently fupply themfelves for their Kitchen ufes: It’s commended for a good Remedy in Dolors, and Gripes of the Bel¬ ly; whilft new it has a pleafmt Tafte; but after fix Moneths, it decays and grows acid; 1 believe it might make a good Oyl, and of as general an ule as that of the Olive, if it V ere better purified and redified. The Chin- . opn Tree bears a Nut not unlike the ELi^le, the Shell is fofter; Of the Kernel is made Choioljte^ not much inferiour to that made oi the , Tire Fench Tree in incredible Numbers grows Wild : Of the Fruit exprefsd, the Planters compofe apleafint refrefhing Liquor: the Reinainder of the Fruit Iqrvea the Hogg and' Cattle for Provifion. The Mulberry ( 8 ) every-where amidft the Woods grows wild: The Planters^ near their Plantations^ in Rows and Walksj plant them for Ufe^ Ornament and Pleafure: What I obferved of this Fruit was admirable; the Fruit there, was full and ripe in the latter end of Afril and beginning of May, whereas in England and Eurofe, they are not ripe before the lat¬ ter end of Augufl. A Manufadory of* Silk well encouraged might foon be accompliflht, confidering the numeroulhels of the Leaf for Provifion, the clemency and moderatenels of the Climate to indulge and nourilh the Silk¬ worm: To make tryal of its Succefs, was the Intention of thofe French Prot.efiant Pajfengers tranfported thither in His Majefties Frigat the Richmond being Forty Five the half of a greater Number defign’d for that place; but their Defign was too early anticipated: the Eggs which they brought with them being the Worms for want of Provifion were un¬ timely loft and deftroyed. The Olive Tree thrives thrives there very well. Mr. fames Colktoyi^ Brother to Sir Veter^ one of the Honourable Pioprietors, brought an Olive 5 tie^from Fy- dl, (one of the Weflern Iflands) cut off at both Ends to Carolina^ which put into the Ground^ grew and profpered exceedingly j which gave fo great an Encouragement, that fincelleft the place, I hear that ieveral more were brought there, there being great Hopes, that if the Olive be well improved, there maybeexpe^ed from thence perhaps as good OyldiS any the World yields. Vines of divers forts, bearing both Mck and Gray Grapes grow, climbing their high- eft Trees, running and ov^-lpreading their lower Bufties; Five Kinds they have alrea¬ dy diftinguifli’d, three of which by Re-flan- tation, and if well cultivated, they own, will make very good Wine^ fomeof which has been tranfported for England, which by the beft Pallates was well approved of, and more is daily expeded,’tis not doubted, if the Vlan- ters as induftrioufly profecute the Profagati- G m (lo) on of Vineyards as they have begun; but Ca¬ rolina will in a little time prove a Magazine and Stable for Wines to the whole and to, enrich their Variety , fome of the Pro¬ prietors and Planters have lent therp the No- bleft andExcellenteft Fto oiEnrobeyiii, the Rhenijhfilarret, the Mnfcadel and Canary^ &c. His Majefty to,improve fo hopeful a Deiign, gave thole French we carried over their Paf jage free for themfelveSj^^ii^^r, Children Goods and Servants^ they being moll; of them well experienced in the Nature of the Vine, from whofe Dircdions doubtlels the have received and made conliderable Advantages in their Improvements. .; Trees for the Service of building Houfes and Shipping, belides thofe and many more which we have not nam’d; they have all fueh as We in England efteem Good, Lafting, andServiceable, as the of three Ibrts, the White, Blac\ and Five OaJ\^, which for XQtjghnels, and the Goodnels of its Grain i|\Pttch elleemed: -E/zw, Ajh,. Beech, and-Far " " flar, ('0 j^hir^ &c into the Nature, Qualities and Ver* rues of their Herbs, Roots and Flowers, we had little time to make any curious Enquiry: This we were alTured by nnany of the know¬ ing Planters, that they had Variety of (iich whole Medicinal Vertues were rare and admi¬ rable. The China grows plentifully there, whole Root infus’d, yields us that plealant Drink,which we know by the Name of Chi¬ na Ale in England: in Medicirial Ules its ‘far more excellent. Monfieur Tavernier' in hiS late Voyages to Verfia^ oblerves that Nation^ by the frequent ufe of Water in which this Root is boyl’d, are never troubled with th^ Stone or Gout: It mundifies and Iweetens the Blood: Its good in Feversj ScHruy, Gg- norrhuea, and the Cues Venerea.^ TheyT'aVe three forts of the Rattle-Snal[e Root ^hfcti I have feen; the Comous ot Hairy, Smooth, the Nodous, or KnottedKooti A]! which are ladiferous, or yielding a Juice-, and if I do not very much in my Obfervatildns err, the Leaves of all thefe Roots of a Hearth; C 2 had (n; had the @xad Refemblance: They are all So¬ vereign againft the Mortal Bites of that^nakc, too frequent in the Wefi Indies : In all Fefiilen- tial Difiemfers^^s Plague^ Small Pox, and Ma¬ lignant Fevers, it’s-a Noble when flung, they eat the Root, applying it to the Venemous Wound, or they boyl the Roots in Water, which drunk, fortifies and corro¬ borates the Heart, exciteing ftrong and gene¬ rous Sweats j by which endangered Nature is. relieved, and the Poyfbn carried off, and expelled. ' G.arienn%yex they have not much impro¬ ved or mindod, their. Defigns having other- wife more profitably engaged them in fettling ^,d cultivating their Plantations with good frpvihpns and numerous Stocks of Cattle; wBch two things by Planters are efteemed the Bajts: and Profi of, .all New Plantations and ; hefore, which, be well accom- pliflied .and performed, nothing to any pur- pofe can be effefted; ,and upon which all In- Ujttms,^ ManufaBormy&o have their necer- (i5) lary Dependance. But now their Gardens begin to be fupplied with fuch Eurofean Vlants and Herbs as are necefifary for the Kitchen, Potatoes^ hettice, Colemrts^ Parfnif^ Tur- nif, Carrot and Reddijh: Their Gardens allb begin to be beautified and adorned with fuch Herbs and Flmrs which to the Smell or Eye are pleafing and agreable, ThtRofe^Tu- lif, Carnation and Lilly, &c. Their Provifion which grows in the Field is chiefly Indian Corn, which produces a vafl: Increafe, year¬ ly, yielding Two plentiful Harvefts,of which they make whoiefome Bread, and good Bif ket,which gives a ftrong, found, and npurifli- ing Diet ,• with Milk 1 have eaten it drefsd various ways: Of the Juice of the Corn, when green , the Spaniards with Chocolet, aromatiz’d with Sfices^ make a rare Drink, of an excellent Delicacy. T have feen the Englijh amongft the Caribbes roaft the green Ear on the Coals, and eat it-with a great deal of Pleafure: The Indim M, Carina parch the ripe Corn, then pound k toaPpw- dcr. (>4) der^ putting it in a Leathern Bag : When they ufe it, they take a little quantity ot the Powder in the Palms of their Hands, mixing it with Water, and fup it off; with this they will travel feveral days. In (liort, it’s a Grain of General Ufe to Man and Beaft, many thoufands of both kinds in the Wefi Indies having from it the greater part of their Sub- iiflence. The American Vhyficians obferve that it breeds good Blood, removes and o- pens OfpUations and ObjlruBions. At Caroli¬ na they have lately invented a way ofmake- ing with it good found Beer; but it’s flrong and heady: By Maceration, when duly fer¬ mented, a ftrong Spirit like may be drawn off from it, by the help of an Alembic!^ Pulfe they have of great Variety, not on¬ ly of what Europe yield, vi^. Beans, Veafe, Callavance, Figolaes, and Bonavift, &c. but many other kinds proper to the place, and to ns unknown: Green Veafe at the latter end of A^il, at my being there, I eat as good as ever I did England, Stranaberries Rasberries, Bill- berries, hemes, and BUcJ^erries grow frequently up, and down the Woods. Hemf and Flax thrives exceeding well; there grows a fort of wild Silk Pods, call’d Sill[-Grafs, of which they may make fine and durable Linnen. What What thty have planted has been rather for Experiment and ObfervationjWhe- ther it would be agreeable to the Soil and Climate, than for any fubftance for themfelves, or for Tranfportation abroad; what they have fown, the Planters afiured us grew ex¬ ceeding well; as alfo Barly, Mr. Linch an ingenious Planter,having whilft we were there very good growing in his Plantation, of which he intended to make Malt for brewing. of Englijh Beer and Ale, having all Utenfilsand Conveniencies for it. Tobacco grows very well; and they have of an excellent fort, miftaken by fome of our Englijh Smoakers for Sfanijh Tobacco, and valued from 5 to Sr. the Pound; but finding a great deal of trouble in the Planting and Cure of it, and the great Quantities which and other (, 9 ) of Amhergrife weighing thirty pound ("for its bignels famous in thoie PartsJ having perfed and apparent Roots, equal to the Body in worth and goodnefs. Others, that its the li¬ quid refinous Tears of feme odoriferous Tree, hanging over Seas or Risers, coagulated in that Form which we find it. Dr. Trafkam, an ingenious Phyfitian in Jamaica^ differs lit¬ tle from this laftopinion,thinking it the Gum- mous Juice of fbme fragrant Plant which, grows on Rocks near the Sea, whole Trunks broken by the rude and boyfterous Waves^ emit that precious Liquor. In Medicinal and' Phyfical ufes it has a high efteem, being pre- fcribed in the richeft Cordials, admirable in the languifhes of the Spirit Paintings, and Deliquium of the Heart,* given as the laft re¬ medy to agms^ng Perlbns. In Perfumes of Linnen Wollen, Gloves, &c, there is none efteemed more coftly or precious. Its of dif¬ ferent Colors, Blac\, Redj the Nutmegs and fir ay Color are held the beft. The great encreafe of their Cattel is rather D 2 to (2o; to be admired than believed: not more than fix or feven years paft the Country was almoft deftitute of Corns, Hogs and Sheep, now they have many thoufand Head. , The Plmer in takes no care for their Provifion,which is a great Advantage; the Nortbeni Planta¬ tions obliging the Planters to /pend great part of their Summer to provide Fodder and Pro- vifion for their Cattle, to pre/cawe them from ftarving in the Winter. The Com the Year round bronzing on the fweet Leaves growing on the Trees and Bullies, or on the whole- /bme Herbage growing underneath; They u- fually call them home in the Evening for their Milk) and to keep them from running wild. Hogs find more than, enough of Fruits in the Summer, and Roots and Nuts in the Winter; from the abundance of their Feeding, great numbers forfake their own Plantations,. run¬ ning wild in the Woods, the Tyger, Wolf, and mid Cat, by devouring them, oftentimes goes Share with the Planter, but when the Stock encreafes and grows ftrong, the -older fur- •(.m) fitfroiiiid the youngef^and hol^ly oftentimes attack their In vack'ts. rTheir, bears good Woolly the Ewes at ^a; time often have 2 or 3 Lambs; they thrive very welJi the Country being fo friendly tQ their NatLires, that ifs oblervedjthey are neitherjiable-orahV cident to any known Difeafe or Diftemper. Of Beads bearing Furrs, they haye gTeat ftore of Variety^ whole Skins ferve the, Iiffi- ans for Clodthing and Bedding,, and the Eng- lij!) for many ufes, befides- the great Advan¬ tage made of them, by their being, for fib EnglanJ. Deer, of which there;is. luch iilifinHe Herdsyhat the whole Country .leems but, one continued. Park, inlomuch, that. Lhave/ofecii heard Matthews, m figenfinsiljen- fleiuan, and Agent to Sir Peter Colleton for liis Adairs in Carolina, that one hunting \hn- dian has yearly kill’d and brough'tdoEsPk'n^ ration more than an ioodbrnetimes -ioodiead of Deer. Bears there, are in great .numbers, .of whofe Fat they makeraaiQyl,which isiofgreat ertLie aiidfEfieacy;in mfingjfhei-EliiFr-to grow. (rO grow, which I obfervedthe///^te/daifyiifed, by which means they not only keep their Hair clear and prelerved from Vermine, but by the nourifiiing faculty of the Oylatufually ex ten¬ ded in length to their middles.T'here are Bevors, Otters^ Foxes, Racoons, Voffums, * MnCqualJes, Mc-sa!i«iccre.u. Hascs mAConejs, Sqninelsot%c HSwhofc Codl' Finds, the flying Squirrel, whole £oV‘ivkj'S delicate Skin is commended for liandfoi^ly imlokil comforting, if applied to a cold in Cotton V/ool!. i ^ 1 T) i ! i Stomack, the Red, the Grey, the Fox and Black Squirrels. Leather for Shoes they have good and w^ell tann’d: The Indians have alfb a way of drelling their Skins rather fofter, tho’ not fb durable as ours in E?iglaiui the Country yields of differing kinds and Colours: For Prey, the Velican, Harrl^, and Eagle, ko For Pleafure, the red, cogged and Mew Bird, wdiich wantonly imitates the various Notes and Sounds of fuch Birds and Beafts which it hears, wherefore, by way of Allufion, it’s call’d the mocking Bird; for which pleafing Property it’s there efteem'd a Rarity. ( 23 ) Birds for Food, and pleafure of Gamc^ are the Swmy Goofe, Duc\^ Mallard, WigeonXeaL Cw'leip, Flover, Fartridge, the Flefli of which is equally as good, tho’ fmaller than ours in England. Figeons and Faral^ittoes ; In Win¬ ter huge Flights of wild Turlies, oftentimes weighing from twenty,thirty,to forty pound. There are alfo great Stocks of tame Fowl, ^ 7 q. Gcefe, Duc\s, Cocl^, Hens, Figeons and Turlies. They have a Bird I believe the; leaft in the whole Creation, named the Huifiming Bird ; in bignefs the Wren being much /upe^ riour,in Magnitude not exceeding the Humble Bee, whofe Body in flying, much reftrnbles It, did not their long Bills, between two and chive Inches, and no higgler than Needles, make the dilfercnce. They are or a deep,&cen, ihadow’4 with a Murry,aipt-much gniike the color of (ome Doves tfley take their Food hummingpr flying,,feedingpn the ex¬ uberant Moiflures of fwcet odoriferousLeaves ind Flowers. I have frequently-feen thenrin many parts of the VVelf Imlies, but never obfere^cd (h; abferved them to have any Mnhcal Air^but a loud Note to Admiration, crying Chw', Chir^ Chnr^hc. which at thedihance of half a mile is plainly heard: their Eggs, of which they produce three or four young at a time, not unlike fmall white Pcafe;they con¬ tinue between the Tropiques the whole year round, as I have obferved at Berbams' and Jamaica ; but I am informed,that in the more Northernpmso^Atnerka thty deep the whole Winter; atBerbadoestht Jews curioufiy skin thefe little Birds, filling them with fine Sand, and perfuming their Feathers, they are fent into Europe as pretty Delicacies for Ladies, who hang them at their Breads and Girdles. There are in Carolina great numbers of Fire Flies , who carry their Lan- thorns in their Tails in dark Nights, dying through the Air, fhining like Sparks of Fire, enlightning it with their Golden Spangles. I have feen a larger fort at Jamau ca^ which Dr. Hejlin in his Cofmography^ enu¬ merates amongft the Rarities and Wonders ( 25 ) of Hifpamola, an Ifland under the King of Spain, diftant between 20 and 30 Leagues from "fmaicct : Thefe have two Lights above their Eyes^ and a third in their Tails, in dark- nights they fhine like Candles; for which I have often at a diftance miftaken them, fuppofeing them to have been the Lights of Ibme adja¬ cent Plantation ^ and in this I have not been the hrft that has been fo deceived. Amongft large Orange Trees in the Night, I have leen many of thofe Flies, whofe Lights have ap¬ peared like hanging Candles, or pendant Flambeaus, which amidft the Leaves and ripe Fruit yielded a Sight truly glorious to be¬ hold : with 3 of thefe included in a Glals Bot¬ tle, in a very dark Night I have read very fmall Charaders: When they are kill’d, their IgneomprLuminom Matter does not immedi¬ ately, (till half an hour, or an hour after their Deaths) extinguilb. As the Earth, the Air, &c. are enrich’d and replenidied with the Blellings of themoft High, the Seas and Rivers of the fameboun- E ty 00 equally participate in the Variety of excel¬ lent and wholefome FiCh which it produces, vi^, Sturgeon^ of whofe Sounds^ of whofe Koes Caviare are made: Mullet^ a delicious Iweet Fifh, of whofe Roeror Sfami Botargo is made: Whale, Salmon,. Troutr,Baff, Drum, Cat-filh, whok Head and glaring Eyes rtfemble a Cat, it s efteem d a very good Fith; it hath a fharp thorny Bone on its Back, which ftrikes at luch as endeavor to take it: which by Seamen is held venemous ; yet i faw one of our Seamen, the back of whofe Hand was pierced with it, yet no poylbnous Symptoms of Inflammation or Rancor ap- , peard on the Wound, which quickly heal’d, that I concluded it was either falfe, or that of thisFifh there were more kinds than one: ’flake, Eeh, Crabs, Vran^ns twice as large as ours in England: Oyflers of on Oblong or 0- w/Form; their number inexhaulliblej a man may eafily gather more in a day than he can well eat in a year; feme of whi(S'dfe mar- ptiferous, yielding bright 'fdiind ©riewtal Pearl _ The ( 2 ?) The Tnrtoifejimrc commonly call’d by our Wep Indians thc Tunkj are of three forts^the Haip\s'Bill^ whole Shell is that which we call the Turtle or Tortoife Shell ■ the Green Turtle^ whofe Shell, being thin is little regarded, but its FJelli is more efteemed than thtHa^J^-bill Tortoife : The Lo^erhead Turtle, or Tortoife has neither good Shell or Flefli^ lb is little minded or regarded. They are a fort ofcrjsa- tures which live both on Land and Water. In the day ufually keeping the Sea^ fwiming on the Surface of the Water, in fair Wea¬ ther delighting to expole themlelves to the Sun, oftentimes falling alleep, lying, as I have leen feveral times, without any Motion on the Waters, till difturbed by the approach of fonie Ship or Boat, being quick of hear¬ ing, they dive away. In the Night they oft¬ en come alhoretofeed and lay their E^s in the Sand, which once covered,they leave to.the Influence of the Sun, which indue time pro¬ duces her young ones, which dig their Pal^ E 2 fage (28; fageout of the Sand immediately making their way towards the Water. At this Sea- fbn, when they moft ufiially come afliore^ which is in Afril, May and Juneyh^ Seamen or Ti/rtfaj^atibme convenient diftance watch their opportunity^ getting between them, and the Sea^ turn them on their Backs^, from whence they are unable ever to rifcjby which means the Seamen or Turtiers fbmetimes turn 40 or 50 in a nighty fome of 2^ 3^ 400 weight: If they are far diftantfrom the Har¬ bor or Market to which theydefign to bring them^ they kill^ cutting them to pieces^which Salted, they Barrel: This is the way of kil¬ ling at the Caymana\ an Ifland lying to . Leeward of Jamaica. Turtle ^ Barreled and Salted, if well condition’d, is worth from 18 to 25 fhillings the Barrel. If near their Market or Harbor they bring them in Sloops aliye, and afterwards keep them in Crauls, which is a particular place of Salt Water of Depth and Room for them to fwina in,pallifado’d or flaked, in roundabove* the (= 9 ) the Waters Surface, where, upon occafion they take them out, and kill them, and cut¬ ting them to pieces, fell their Flelh for two pence or three pence the pound: the Belly, which they call the Gallofe of the Turtle,pep¬ per d and falted,or roafted andbaked,isan ex¬ cellent Dilh, much efteemed by our Nation in the Wefilndier, the reft of the Flefh boil’d, makes as good and nourifhing Broath,as the beft Capon in England, elpecially if Ibme of the Eggs are mixt with it j they are lome white, and others of a yellow or golden Co¬ lour, in largenels not exceeding a Walnut, wrapt in a thin Skin or Membrane, fweet in Tafte,nourifhing and wholelbme: and of this property, that they never grow hard by boil¬ ing: the Liver is black j it freely opens'and.; purgesthe Body: if little of it be eaten,it dies theExcrements of a deep black Colour: The Fat in Color inclines to a Sea Green; in Tafte it’s ftveet and lufcious, equalling, if not • furpafling the beft MarrbW, if freely eaten, it ‘deeply ftains the Urine of its Color : Ifs of ( 3 °) a very penetrating piercing quality^ highly comended in Strains and Aches; Of it the Turtlers oftentimes make an Oyh which in Lamps burns much brighter and Tweeter than common Lamp or Train Oyl. In general, the Flefti is commended for a good Antifcor- hutique and an Antivenereal Diet j many in the former, and fbme that have been far gone in ConfimptionfjWiththe conftant ule alone of this Diet,have been thoroughly recovered and cured in 3 or 4 months. It hath 3 Hearts, by thin Pellicules only feparated,which has cauftd Ibme to Phiiolbphize on its Amphibious Nature, alluding to thole participating and ajfmulating Qualities which it has to the reft of the Unb verfe, it fwiming like a Fifh, laying Eggs like a Fowl,and feeding on Graft like an Ox. This I am affured of, that after it’s cut to pieces, it retains a Senfation of Life three times longer than any known Creature in the Creation: Before they kill them they are laid on their Backs, where hopeleft of Relief, as if fenfible of their future Condition, for feme hours (30 hours they mourn out their Funerals, the Tears plentifully flowing from their Eyes,a companied with paffionate Sobs and Sighs, in my Judgment nothing more like than fuch who" are furrounded and overwhelmed with Troubles, Cares and Griefs, which raifes in Strangers both Pity and Compaflion. Gom- pleatly fix hours after the Butcher has cut them up and into pieces, mangled their Bo¬ dies, I have feen the Callofe when going to be ftafoned, with pieces of their Flefli ready to cut into Stakes, vehemently contrad with great Reludancy rife againfl: the Knife, and jbmetimes the whole Mafi of Flefli in a vifi- ble Tremulation aud Concuflion, tohimwho firft fees it feems ftrahge and ddmirabk There is farther to the Sonthmardo^ Cmlim^ e^ecially about the Shorn and Rivers o^Hif- niolit and Cuba a. Yi(h in Nature fbmething like the former, call’d the Manacy or Sea- Com, of an extraordinary Bignefs, fometimes of 1000 pound weight: It Ms on the Banks, and Shoar fides on the gdidy Herbage, like- a (30 Tortoifej but that which is more wonderful of this Creature is,that fhe gives her young Ones Suck from hcrDuggs j fhe is headed like a Cotp, of a green Colour,her Flefh by feme efteem- cd the moft delicate in the World, (weeter than the tendereft Fealjoid at fmam,where it’s fometimes brought for 6 ^. the pound: It hath a Stone in the Head which is a gallant Remedy againft. the Pains and Dolors of the Stone; fo are the Bam of its Body to provoke Urine,when pulveriz’d and exhibited in convenient Liquors. Its Skin makes excel¬ lent Whips for Horfes, if prudently us’d, which are very ferviceable and lading; with one of thefe Mmaty Strapps, I have feeh a Bar of Iron cut and dented: It cuts fo fe- vere and deep, that by the Publick Autho¬ rity at Jamaica, Mafters are forbidden and prohibited with it to ftrike their White Ser¬ vants. There is in the mouth of their Rivers, or in Lakes near the Sea a Creature well known in the Wefi Indies, call’d the Alligator or Cro- ( 33 ) coMe^ whofe Scaly Back is impenitrable/efufing a Mufquet Bullet to pierce it^but under the Bel¬ ly,that or an Arrow finds aneafiePafTage .to de- ftroy it: it lives both on Land and Water, be¬ ing a voracious greedy Creature, devouring whatever it feizes on, Man only excepted,which on the Land it has not the courage to attacque, except when afleep or by furprize: In the Wa¬ ter it’s more dangerous j it fometimes grows to a great length, from 16 to 20 foot, having a long Mouth, befet with (harp keen Teeth j the Body when full grown as large as a Horfe, de¬ clining towards the Tailj it’s flow in motion, and having no Joynt in the F mehrnes or Back Bone, but with its whole length is unable to turn, which renders it the lefs mifehievous j yet Nature by Inftindl has given mofl: Creatures timely Caution to avoid them by their ftrong musky Smell, which at a confiderable diftance is perceiveable, which the poor Cattle for their own Prefervation make good ufe of: their Flefli cuts very whiter the young ones are eatable; the Flefli of the older fmells lo flrong of Musk, that it naufeates j their Stones at leaft fo called, F are ( 34 ) are commended for a rich lading Perfume. Mends or Minerds I know not of any, yet its fuppofed and generally believed, that the^^- fdatean Mountains which lie far up within the Land,yields Ore both of Gold and Silver,that the Spmiardsinthdic running Searches of this Coun¬ try law it, but had not time to open them, or at lead, for the prefent were unwilling to make any farther Dilcovery till their Mines of Peru and Mexico were exhaufted, or as others, that they were politically fearful that if the Rich¬ es of the Country fhould be expofed, it would be an Allure to encourage a Foreign Invader, Poverty preferving, Riches oftentimes the caufe that Property is loft, ufurped and invaded, but whether it be this or that reafon time will difeo- ver. The Natives of the Country are from time immemorial, ab Origine Indians^ of a deep Cheft nut Colour, their Hair black and ftreight, tied various ways/ometimesoyl’dandpainted^ ftuck through wdth Feathers for Ornament or Gal¬ lantry; their Eyes black and fparkling, little or no Hair on their Chins, well limb’d and fea¬ tured. . ^ 55 ); .. turedjpainting their Faces with different Figures of a red or fanguine CoIour,whether for Beauty or to render themfelves formidable to their Ene¬ mies I could not learn. They are excellent Hun¬ ters; their Weapons the Bow and Arrow^ made of a Read, pointed with lliarp Stones, or Fifh Bones; their Cloathing Skins of the Bear or Deer, the Skin dreft after their Country Faftiion. MamfoBures, or Arts amongft them I have heard of none, only little Basl^ts made of pain¬ ted Reeds and Leather dreft fbmetimes with black and red Chequers coloured. In Medicine, or the Nature of Similes, fome have an exqui- fite Knowledge; and in the Cure of Scorhmk\, Venereal, and Malignant Diflemprs are admira¬ ble : In all External Difeafes they fuck the part affeded with many Incantations, Thiltres and Charms : In Amorous Intrigues they are. excellent either to procure Love or Hatred: They are not very forward in Difcovery of their Secrets, ' which by long Experience are religioufly tranf , mitted and conveyed in a continued Line from one Generation to another, for which thofe skill’d in this Faculty are held in great Vonefa- F 2 ■ tion tlon and Efteem^ Their Religion chiefly con- lifts in the Adoration of the Sm and Moon : At the Appearance of the New Moon I havi: obferved them with open extended Arms then folded; with inclined Bodies, to make their Adorations with much Ardency and Paftion: They are divided into many Divifions or Na¬ tions, Govern’d by Regulij or Petty Princes, which our Englijh call Cacicoes : Their Diet is of Fijh, Flejh, and Fowl, with Indian Maiz or Corn; their Drink Water, yet Lovers of the Sfirits of Wine and Sugar. They have hither¬ to lived in good Correfpondcnce and Amity with the Fnglijh, who by their juft aud equi¬ table Carlage have extreamly winn’d and ob¬ liged them ; Juftice being exadfly and imparti¬ ally adminift red, prevents Jealoufies, and main¬ tains between them a good Underftanding,that the Neighbouring Indiam are very kind and ferviceable, doing our Nation luch Civilities and good Turns as lie in their Power. This Country was firft difcover’d by Sir Se- haflm Gabon,hy the order,andat the expeticeof King Henry VII. from which Difcovery our Sue- ( 37 ) Succefflve Princes have held their Clainij inpur- fuance to which, in the Seventeenth Year of His Majefties Reign it was granted unto his Grace George Duke of Albemarle^ unto the Right Honourable Edmrd Earl of Clarendon^ William Earl of Craven^ John LoxABerhley^ Anlhor^ Lord AJhley, now Earl of Shaftibury, to the Honourable Sir George Carteret, and Sir John Colleton Knights and Baronetts, to Sir William Ber}\ley Knight, with a full and pleni¬ potentiary Power, to Colonize, Enad Laws, Execute Jufticc, &c. The Regalias of Premier Sovereignty only referved. The Principal place where the Englijh are now fettled lies Ici- tuated on a point of Land about two Leagues ■from the Sea, between and Cooper Rivers, fo named in Honour to the Right Honourable the Earl of Shaftsbnry, a great Patron to the Affairs of Carolina. The place called Charles Tom,hy an exprels Order from the Lord Pro¬ prietors in the Year One thoufand fix hundred and eighty, their Ordnance and AmmunitiQn beirig removd thither from Old Charles Tom, which lay about a League higher from Afhly River (#) River, both for its Strength and Commerce Its very comsnodioufly (cituated from many other Navigable Rivers that lie near it on which the Planters are feated; by the Advantage of Creeks, which have a Communication from one great River to another j at the Tide or Ebb the Planters-may bring their Commo¬ dities ta the Town as to the Common Mar¬ ket and Magazine both for Trade and Ship¬ ping. The Town is regularly laid out into large and capaci!)us Streets, which to Buildings is a great Ornament and Beauty. In it they have referved convenient places for Building of a Church, Town-Houfe and other^nblick Stru- dures, an Artillery Ground for the Exercife of their Militia, and Wharfs for the Conve¬ nience of their Trade and Shipping. At our being there was judged in the Country a looo or 1200 Souls; but the great Numbers of Fa¬ milies from EwgW, Ireland, Berhadoes, Jamai¬ ca, and the Carihees, which daily Tranlport themfelves thither,have more than doubled that Number. The Commodities of the Country as yet proper for England, are Furrs and Cedar: (- 39 ) For Berbadoes, Jamaica and the Caribhie Iflands: Provifions, Pitchy Tarr and Clapboard, for which they have in Exchange Sugar, Rumm^ Melajfes and Ginger, &c. iiich things which are proper and requifite for the Planter to be fto^ red with before he leaves Englarid for his better Settlement there at his ArrivM,chiefly Servants;: All kind of Iron Work for the clearing of Land,pruning of Vines,for the Kitchen and for Building.Commodities proper for the Merchant to Tranfport thither for his Advantage,Cloath- ing of all kinds,both Linnen and Woollen, Hats, Stockins,‘Shoes; all kind of Ammunition,Guns, Fowling-pieces, Powder, Match, Bullet, Nails, Locks & Knives; all Haberdafliers Ware ,• Cor¬ dage, and Sails for Shipping, Spirits and Spi¬ ces, Cloves, Nutmegs and Cinnamon^ Finally, to encourage People to Tranfport themfelves thither, the Lord Proprietors give unto all Matters and Mittreffes of Families, to their Children, Men-Servants and Maid-Ser- vants,if above fixteen years of Age, fifty to a)I fuch under forty Acres of Land to be held for ever, annually paying a Peny an Acre to the ( 4 °) the Lord Proprietors to commence in 2 Years after it’s furvey’d. Sir, Thus in an Abilrad I have given you the Draught of this excellent Country, begining with its Name,Scituation &c. and when firft fet¬ tled, regularly proceeding to the Nature of the Soil, Quality of the Air, the Difeafes and Lon- gaevity of its Inhabitants, the Rarity of its pro¬ duce in Trees, Fruits, Roots and Herbs, Beafis, Fifhj Fon?l and InfeBs] the Natur^ and Dilpo- fition of the Indims, the ProgreS the Engtijh have made fince their firft Settlement, what Commodities they abound with, in what defe- dive; in all which from the Truth I have nei¬ ther fwerved nor varied: Indeed in fome other things I might have farther enlarged and expatiated,which I fhall refer to a Perfonal Dif courfe, when I have the Honour to wait upon you again j in the mean time I am Tour himbk Servm FINIS, X A.