A New Voyage to Carolina | Page 5

large Ships to come over their Bar up to the
Town, where is a very commodious Harbour, about 5 Miles distant
from the Inlet, and stands on a Point very convenient for Trade, being
seated between two pleasant and navigable Rivers. The Town has very
regular and fair Streets, in which are good Buildings of Brick and
Wood, and since my coming thence, has had great Additions of
beautiful, large Brick-buildings, besides a strong Fort, and regular
Fortifications made to defend the Town. The Inhabitants, by their wise
Management and Industry, have much improv'd the Country, which is
in as thriving Circumstances at this Time, as any Colony on the
Continent of English America, and is of more Advantage to the Crown
of Great Britain, than any of the other more Northerly Plantations,
(Virginia and Maryland excepted.) This Colony was at first planted by
a genteel Sort of People, that were well acquainted with Trade, and had
either Money or Parts, to make good Use of the Advantages that offer'd,
as most of them have done, by raising themselves to great Estates, and
considerable Places of Trust, and Posts of Honour, in this thriving
Settlement. Since the first Planters, abundance of French and others
have gone over, and rais'd themselves to considerable Fortunes. They
are very neat and exact in Packing and Shipping of their Commodities;
which Method has got them so great a Character Abroad, that they
generally come to a good Market with their Commodities; when
oftentimes the Product of other Plantations, are forc'd to be sold at
lower Prizes. They have a considerable Trade both to Europe, and the

West Indies, whereby they become rich, and are supply'd with all
Things necessary for Trade, and genteel Living, which several other
Places fall short of. Their co-habiting in a Town, has drawn to them
ingenious People of most Sciences, whereby they have Tutors amongst
them that educate their Youth a-la-mode.
Their Roads, with great Industry, are made very good and pleasant.
Near the Town is built a fair Parsonage-house, with necessary Offices,
and the Minister has a very considerable Allowance from his Parish.
There is likewise a French Church in Town, of the Reform'd Religion,
and several Meeting-houses for dissenting Congregations, who all
enjoy at this Day an entire Liberty of their Worship; the Constitution of
this Government, allowing all Parties of well-meaning Christians to
enjoy a free Toleration, and possess the same Priviledges, so long as
they appear to behave themselves peaceably and well: It being the
Lords Proprietors Intent, that the Inhabitants of Carolina should be as
free from Oppression, as any in the Universe; which doubtless they will,
if their own Differences amongst themselves do not occasion the
contrary.
They have a well-disciplin'd Militia; their Horse are most Gentlemen,
and well mounted, and the best in America, and may equalize any in
other Parts: Their Officers, both Infantry and Cavalry, generally appear
in scarlet Mountings, and as rich as in most Regiments belonging to the
Crown, which shews the Richness and Grandeur of this Colony. They
are a Fronteer, and prove such troublesome Neighbours to the
Spaniards, that they have once laid their Town of St. Augustine in
Ashes, and drove away their Cattle; besides many Encounters and
Engagements, in which they have defeated them, too tedious to relate
here. What the French got by their Attempt against South Carolina, will
hardly ever be rank'd amongst their Victories; their Admiral Mouville
being glad to leave the Enterprize, and run away, after he had suffer'd
all the Loss and Disgrace he was capable of receiving. They are
absolute Masters over the Indians, and carry so strict a Hand over such
as are within the Circle of their Trade, that none does the least Injury to
any of the English, but he is presently sent for, and punish'd with Death,
or otherwise, according to the Nature of the Fault. They have an entire
Friendship with the neighbouring Indians of several Nations, which are
a very warlike People, ever faithful to the English, and have prov'd

themselves brave and true on all Occasions; and are a great Help and
Strength to this Colony. The Chief of the savage Nations have
heretofore groan'd under the Spanish Yoke, and having experienc'd
their Cruelty, are become such mortal Enemies to that People, that they
never give a Spaniard Quarter; but generally, when they take any
Prisoners, (if the English be not near to prevent it) sculp them, that is,
to take their Hair and Skin of their Heads, which they often flea away,
whilst the Wretch is alive. Notwithstanding the English have us'd all
their Endeavours, yet they could never bring them to leave this
Barbarity to the Spaniards; who, as they alledge, use to murder them
and their Relations, and make Slaves