The People Of Carolina
Make Of The Fans Of This Tree, Brooms Very Serviceable,
To Sweep Their Houses Withal.
We took up our Lodging this Night with the Bermudian; our Entertainment
was very indifferent, there being no fresh Water to be had on the Island.
The next Morning we set away thro' the Marshes; about Noon we reach'd
another Island, call'd Dix's Island, much like to the former, tho' larger;
there liv'd an honest Scot, who gave us the best Reception
his Dwelling afforded, being well provided of Oat-meal,
and several other Effects he had found on that Coast;
which Goods belong'd to that unfortunate Vessel, the Rising Sun,
a Scotch Man of War, lately arriv'd from the Istmus of Darien,
and cast away near the Bar of Ashley River, the September before,
Capt. Gibson of Glasco then commanding her, who, with above an hundred Men
then on Board her, {Septem. 5. 1700.} were every Soul drown'd
in that terrible Gust which then happen'd; most of the Corps being taken up,
were carefully interr'd by Mr. Graham, their Lieutenant, who happily
was on Shore during the Tempest.
After Dinner, we left our Scotch Landlord, and went that Night
to the North East Point of the Island: It being dark ere we got there,
our Canoe struck on a Sand near the Breakers, and were in great Danger
of our Lives, but (by God's Blessing) got off safe to the Shore,
where we lay all Night.
{Monday.}
In the Morning we set forwards on our intended Voyage. About two a Clock
we got to Bulls Island, which is about thirty Miles long,
and hath a great Number of both Cattel and Hogs upon it;
the Cattel being very wild, and the Hogs very lean. These two last Islands
belong to one Colonel Cary, an Inhabitant of South Carolina.
Although it were Winter, yet we found such Swarms of Musketoes,
and other troblesome Insects, that we got but little Rest that Night.
{Tuesday.}
The next Day we intended for a small Island on the other Side of Sewee-Bay,
which joining to these Islands, Shipping might come to victual or careen;
but there being such a Burden of those Flies, that few or none
cares to settle there; so the Stock thereon are run wild.
We were gotten about half Way to Racoon-Island, when there sprung up
a tart Gale at N.W. which put us in some Danger of being cast away,
the Bay being rough, and there running great Seas between the two Islands,
which are better than four Leagues asunder, a strong Current of a Tide
setting in and out, which made us turn Tail to it, and got our Canoe
right before the Wind, and came safe into a Creek that is joining to
the North End of Bulls Island. We sent our Indians to hunt,
who brought us two Deers, which were very poor, and their Maws
full of large Grubs.
{Wednesday.}
On the Morrow we went and visited the Eastermost Side of this Island,
it joining to the Ocean, having very fair sandy Beeches,
pav'd with innumerable Sorts of curious pretty Shells, very pleasant
to the Eye. Amongst the rest, we found the Spanish Oyster-Shell,
whence come the Pearls. They are very large, and of a different Form
from other Oysters; their Colour much resembles the Tortoise-Shell,
when it is dress'd. There was left by the Tide several strange Species
of a muciligmous slimy Substance, though living, and very aptly mov'd
at their first Appearance; yet, being left on the dry Sand,
(by the Beams of the Sun) soon exhale and vanish.
At our Return to our Quarters, the Indians had kill'd two more Deer,
two wild Hogs, and three Racoons, all very lean, except the Racoons.
We had great Store of Oysters, Conks, and Clanns, a large Sort of Cockles.
These Parts being very well furnish'd with Shell-Fish,
Turtle of several Sorts, but few or none of the green,
with other Sorts of Salt-water Fish, and in the Season, good Plenty of Fowl,
as Curleus, Gulls, Gannets, and Pellicans, besides Duck and Mallard,
Geese, Swans, Teal, Widgeon, &c.
{Thursday.}
On Thursday Morning we left Bulls Island, and went thro' the Creeks,
which lie between the Bay and the main Land. At Noon we went on Shore,
and got our Dinner near a Plantation, on a Creek having
the full Prospect of Sewee-Bay: We sent up to the House,
but found none at Home, but a Negro, of whom our Messenger purchas'd some
small Quantity of Tobacco and Rice. We came to a deserted Indian Residence,
call'd Avendaugh-bough, where we rested that Night.
{Friday.}
The next Day we enter'd Santee-River's Mouth, where is fresh Water,
occasion'd by the extraordinary Current that comes down continually.
With hard Rowing, we got two Leagues up the River, lying all Night
in a swampy Piece of Ground, the Weather being so cold all that Time,
we were almost frozen ere Morning, leaving the Impressions of our Bodies
on the wet Ground. We set forward very early in the Morning,
to seek some better Quarters.
{Saturday.}
As we row'd up the River, we found the Land towards the Mouth,
and for about sixteen Miles up it, scarce any Thing but Swamp and Percoarson,
{Percoarson, a Sort of low Land.} affording vast Ciprus-Trees,
of which the French make Canoes, that will carry fifty or sixty Barrels.
After the Tree is moulded and dug, they saw them in two Pieces,
and so put a Plank between, and a small Keel, to preserve them
from the Oyster-Banks, which are innumerable in the Creeks and Bays
betwixt the French Settlement and Charles-Town. They carry two Masts,
and Bermudas Sails, which makes them very handy and fit for their Purpose;
for although their River fetches its first Rise from the Mountains,
and continues a Current some hundreds of Miles ere it disgorges it self,
having no sound Bay or Sand-Banks betwixt the Mouth thereof, and the Ocean.
Notwithstanding all this, with the vast Stream it affords at all Seasons,
and the repeated Freshes it so often allarms the Inhabitants with,
by laying under Water great Part of their Country, yet the Mouth is barr'd,
affording not above four or five Foot Water at the Entrance.
As we went up the River, we heard a great Noise, as if two Parties
were engag'd against each other, seeming exactly like small Shot.
{Sewee Indians.} When we approach'd nearer the Place, we found it to be
some Sewee Indians firing the Canes Swamps, which drives out the Game,
then taking their particular Stands, kill great Quantities of both Bear, Deer,
Turkies, and what wild Creatures the Parts afford.
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