{No Discovery Of Mines.}
And As For Mines Of Silver And Other Metals, We Are Satisfied We Have Enow,
And
Those very rich, in Carolina and its adjacent Parts; some of which
the Indians are acquainted withal, although no Enquirers
Thereafter,
but what came, and were discover'd, by Chance; yet they say, it is this Metal
that the English covet, as they do their Peak and Ronoak;
and that we have gain'd Ground of them wherever we have come.
Now, say they, if we should discover these Minerals to the English,
they would settle at or near these Mountains, and bereave us
of the best Hunting-Quarters we have, as they have already done
wherever they have inhabited; so by that means, we shall be driven
to some unknown Country, to live, hunt, and get our Bread in.
These are the Reasons that the Savages give, for not making known
what they are acquainted withal, of that Nature. And indeed,
all Men that have ever gone upon those Discoveries, allow them to be good;
{Mr. Mitchell.} more especially, my ingenious Friend
Mr. Francis-Louis Mitchell, of Bern in Switzerland, who has been,
for several Years, very indefatigable and strict in his Discoveries
amongst those vast Ledges of Mountains, and spacious Tracts of Land,
lying towards the Heads of the great Bays and Rivers of Virginia, Maryland,
and Pensylvania, where he has discover'd a spacious Country
inhabited by none but the Savages, and not many of them;
who yet are of a very friendly Nature to the Christians. This Gentleman
has been employ'd by the Canton of Bern, to find out a Tract of Land
in the English America, where that Republick might settle
some of their People; which Proposal, I believe, is now in a fair way
towards a Conclusion, between her Majesty of Great-Britain and that Canton.
{Switzers Settlement in America.} Which must needs be of great Advantage
to both; and as for ourselves, I believe, no Man that is in his Wits,
and understands the Situation and Affairs of America,
but will allow, nothing can be of more Security and Advantage
to the Crown and Subjects of Great-Britain, than to have our Frontiers
secured by a warlike People, and our Friends, as the Switzers are;
especially when we have more Indians than we can civilize,
and so many Christian Enemies lying on the back of us, that we do not know
how long or short a time it may be, before they visit us. Add to these,
the Effects and Product that may be expected from those Mountains;
which may hereafter prove of great Advantage to the British Monarchy,
and none more fit than an industrious People, bred in a mountainous Country,
and inur'd to all the Fatigues of War and Travel, to improve a Country.
Thus we have no room to doubt, but as soon as any of those Parts
are seated by the Switzers, a great many Britains will strive
to live amongst them, for the Benefit of the sweet Air and healthful Climate,
which that Country affords, were it only for the Cultivating of Hemp,
Flax, Wine, and other valuable Staples, which those People
are fully acquainted withal: Not to mention the Advantages
already discover'd by that worthy Gentleman I just now spoke of,
who is highly deserving of the Conduct and Management of such an Affair,
as that wise Canton has entrusted him withal.
{Hunting of the Savages.}
When these Savages go a hunting, they commonly go out in great Numbers,
and oftentimes a great many Days Journey from home, beginning at
the coming in of the Winter; that is, when the Leaves are fallen
from the Trees, and are become dry. 'Tis then they burn the Woods,
by setting Fire to the Leaves, and wither'd Bent and Grass,
{Moss Match.} which they do with a Match made of the black Moss
that hangs on the Trees in Carolina, and is sometimes above six Foot long.
This, when dead, becomes black, (tho' of an Ash-Colour before)
and will then hold Fire as well as the best Match we have in Europe.
In Places, where this Moss is not found, (as towards the Mountains)
they make Lintels of the Bark of Cypress beaten, which serve as well.
Thus they go and fire the Woods for many Miles, and drive
the Deer and other Game into small Necks of Land and Isthmus's,
where they kill and destroy what they please. In these Hunting-Quarters,
they have their Wives and Ladies of the Camp, where they eat
all the Fruits and Dainties of that Country, and live in all
the Mirth and Jollity, which it is possible for such People
to entertain themselves withal. Here it is, that they get
their Complement of Deer-Skins and Furs to trade with the English,
(the Deer-Skins being in Season in Winter, which is contrary to England.)
All small Game, as Turkeys, Ducks, and small Vermine, they commonly kill
with Bow and Arrow, thinking it not worth throwing Powder and Shot after them.
Of Turkeys they have abundance; especially, in Oak-Land,
as most of it is, that lies any distance backwards. I have been often
in their Hunting-Quarters, where a roasted or barbakued Turkey,
eaten with Bears Fat, is held a good Dish; and indeed, I approve of it
very well; for the Bears Grease is the sweetest and least offensive
to the Stomach (as I said before) of any Fat of Animals I ever tasted.
{Beating of Corn.} The Savage Men never beat their Corn to make Bread;
but that is the Womens Work, especially the Girls, of whom you shall see
four beating with long great Pestils in a narrow wooden Mortar;
and every one keeps her Stroke so exactly, that 'tis worthy of Admiration.
Their Cookery continues from Morning till Night. The Hunting
makes them hungry; and the Indians are a People that always
eat very often, not seldom getting up at Midnight, to eat.
They plant a great many sorts of Pulse, Part of which they eat green
in the Summer, keeping great Quantities for their Winter-Store,
which they carry along with them into the Hunting-Quarters, and eat them.
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