A New Voyage to Carolina | Page 6

of them to build their Forts and
Towns.
This Place is more plentiful in Money, than most, or indeed any of the
Plantations on the Continent; besides, they build a considerable
Number of Vessels of Cedar, and other Wood, with which they trade to
Cuirassau, and the West Indies; from one they bring Money, and from
the other the Produce of their Islands, which yields a necessary Supply
of both to the Colony. Their Stocks of Cattle are incredible, being from
one to two thousand Head in one Man's Possession: These feed in the
Savannas, and other Grounds, and need no Fodder in the Winter. Their
Mutton and Veal is good, and their Pork is not inferior to any in
America. As for Pitch and Tar, none of the Plantations are comparable
for affording the vast Quantities of Naval Stores, as this Place does.
There have been heretofore some Discoveries of rich Mines in the
mountanous Part of this Country; but being remote from the present
Settlement, and the Inhabitants not well vers'd in ordering Minerals,
they have been laid aside 'till a more fit Opportunity happens. There are
several noble Rivers, and spacious Tracts of rich Land in their
Lordships Dominions, lying to the Southward, which are yet
uninhabited, besides Port Royal, a rare Harbour and Inlet, having many
Inhabitants thereon, which their Lordships have now made a Port for
Trade. This will be a most advantageous Settlement, lying so
commodiously for Ships coming from the Gulph, and the Richness of
the Land, which is reported to be there. These more Southerly Parts
will afford Oranges, Limons, Limes, and many other Fruits, which the
Northerly Plantations yield not.
The Merchants of Carolina, are fair, frank Traders. The Gentlemen

seated in the Country, are very courteous, live very nobly in their
Houses, and give very genteel Entertainment to all Strangers and others,
that come to visit them. And since the Produce of South and North
Carolina is the same, unless Silk, which this Place produces great
Quantities of, and very good, North Carolina having never made any
Tryal thereof as yet, therefore I shall refer the natural Produce of this
Country, to that Part which treats of North Carolina, whose Productions
are much the same. The Christian Inhabitants of both Colonies pretty
equal, but the Slaves of South Carolina are far more in Number than
those in the North. I shall now proceed to relate my Journey thro' the
Country, from this Settlement to the other, and then treat of the natural
History of Carolina, with other remarkable Circumstances which I have
met with, during my eight Years Abode in that Country.

A JOURNAL of A thousand Miles Travel among the Indians, from
South to North Carolina.

{Saturday.} On December the 28th, 1700, I began my Voyage (for
North Carolina) from Charles-Town, being six English-men in
Company, with three Indian-men, and one Woman, Wife to our
Indian-Guide, having five Miles from the Town to the Breach we went
down in a large Canoe, that we had provided for our Voyage thither,
having the Tide of Ebb along with us; which was so far spent by that
Time we got down, that we had not Water enough for our Craft to go
over, although we drew but two Foot, or thereabouts. This Breach is a
Passage through a Marsh lying to the Northward of Sullivans Island,
the Pilot's having a Look out thereon, lying very commodious for
Mariners, (on that Coast) making a good Land-Mark in so level a
Country, this Bar being difficult to hit, where an Observation hath been
wanting for a Day or two; North East Winds bringing great Fogs, Mists,
and Rains; which, towards the cool Months of October, November, and
until the latter End of March, often appear in these Parts. There are
three Pilots to attend, and conduct Ships over the Bar. The Harbour
where the Vessels generally ride, is against the Town on Cooper's River,
lying within a Point which parts that and Ashley-River, they being
Land lock'd almost on all Sides.
At 4 in the Afternoon, (at half Flood) we pass'd with our Canoe over

the Breach, leaving Sullivans Island on our Starboard. The first Place
we design'd for, was Santee River, on which there is a Colony of
French Protestants, allow'd and encourag'd by the Lords Proprietors. At
Night we got to Bell's-Island, a poor Spot of Land, being about ten
Miles round, where liv'd (at that Time) a Bermudian, being employ'd
here with a Boy, to look after a Stock of Cattle and Hogs, by the Owner
of this Island. One Side of the Roof of his House was thatch'd with
Palmeto-leaves, the other open to the Heavens, thousands of Musketoes,
and other troublesome Insects, tormenting both Man and Beast
inhabiting