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Maps, plates, charts, etc., may be filmed at different reduction ratios. Those too large to be entirely included in one exposure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Les cartes, planches, tableaux, etc., peuvent dtre filmds i des taux de reduction diff^rents. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour dtre reproduit on un seul clichd. il est fiimd & partir de Tangle sup^rieur gauche, de gauche d droite. et de haut en bas. en prenant le nombre d'images n6cessaire. Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la m6thode. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 -/ V. \ A CONCISE ACCOUNT O F NORTH AMERICA: CONTAINI NG A Defcription cf the fevcral British Colonies on that Continent, including the Iflands of Newfoundland, Cape Breton, 6cc. AS to Their Situation, Extent, Climate, Soil, Produce, Rife, Government, Religion, Prefent Boundaries, and the Number of Inhabitants fuppofed to be in each. also of Xhe Interior, or Wcfterly Parts of the Country, \!p^n the Rivers St. Laurence, the Mississipi, Christino, and the Great Lakes. * To which is fuhjoined. An Account of the feveral Nations and Tribes of Indians refiding inthofe Parts, as to their Caftoms, Manners, Go- vernment, Numbers, &c. Containing many Ufeful and Entertaining Fafls, never before treated of. By Major ROBERT ROGERS. LONDON: Printed for the A U T H O R, And fold by J, Mili.an, Boolcfcller, near Whitehall, ' MDCCLXV, 1 ; ." • 1. - ; • ! M ./I ill rlf !l ■' i. >! 'ik *,: ii ('■ n; n \ I t ia J INTRODUCTION. t 4 i ©>*^®HE Britifh Empire in NoRTii ^> T < '^^ America is become fo extenfwc ^?RL^y^ and confiderable, thit it is prcfu- U^*iisi& nipjj any attempts to tranfmit a juft notion of it to the public will be favour- ably received by every Englifliman who wifhes well to his country 5 fdr, without a right know- ledge of a country, new and unfettled, as a great part of this is, fo diftant from the feat of empire, it is not likely that attention will be paid to the defending and peopling it, and to the encouraging commerc: in it, which is in- difpenfibly requifitc to fender it advantageous to the nation in general, as well as to thofe in- dividuals who become adventurers in it. It will not be expcdted, after volumes lip- 6n volunics that have been publiflied concern- ing the Briifli colonies on the eallern (liore of the America continent, that any thing material- a2 1y i t n 1 [ iv ] !y new can be related of them. The only thing I mean to attempt with regard to this 18, to colIe<5l fuch fa(fts and cJrcumftances, as, in a political and commercial view, appear to me to be moft interefting ; to reduce them to an cafy and familiar method, and contradt them within fuch narrow limits, that the whole may be feen as it were at once, and every thing material be coUefted from a few pages, concerning feventeen Provinces ; a minute and circumflantial account of which would fill fo many confiderable volumes. In doing this, where my own knowledge (acquired by travelling fcveral times thro'moft of them) did not ferve me, I have endeavoured to make ufe of the moft authentic materials, colleded from others, and to fet every fadt and circumftance in a true and impartial light, without favour or prejudice to any particular part or party. But the principal objedt I have had in view, and what I look upon to be the moft intereft- ing and defcrving part of this work, is the ac- count I have given of the interior parts of North America, which though eoncife, and vaftly (hort of what I fliould be glad to exhibit, I flatter myfclf is as full and perfed as any at •j^refsnt to be come at. Certain I am, that no • t V ] one man befidcs has travelled over ani fccn fo much of this part of the country as I have done J and if my remarks and obfervations re- lative thereto arc injudicious or wrongly placed, it is not owing to any want of attention to the fuhjedl, but merely to a want of (kill. What is comprehended under the appellation of the * Interior country of America, is of itfelf a larger territory than all the continent of Europe, and is at prefent moftly a defart, uninhabited, ex- cept by favages: ic cannot therefore be reafon- ably expedted that any one man has it in his power to give a juft and minute account of its feveral parts, but that he muft pafs over large tracks of country in very general terms, and ia many things depend upon the reports ofothers,* or proceed upon his own uncertain conjedturcs. This wide-extended country may naturally enough be confidered under three general di- vifions, occafioned by the three great rivers' that take their rife near the center of it, name- ly, St. Lawrence, theChriilino, and the MilTi- ilipi. The firfl: of thefe I have traced, and am pretty well acquainted with the country adjftcent to it as far up as Lake o'jpciior, and with the country from the Green Bay weft- ward to the MirrifTipi, and from thence down to the mouth of the Miifil-'ipi a', ths gulph of l^ii i ! \'[V Ml u t . '< I ' ! t [ *i J bf Mexico. I have alfo travelled th^ country adjacent to the Ohio and its principal branches,' and that between the Ohio and the Lakes Erie and Me(higan, and the countries of the fouth- cm Indians. But as to the country above Lark« Superior, I have my intelligence chiefly from Indians, or from prifoners that have tra- velled with them into it. The fame is the cafe as to the countrv at the head of the Mifli- ffipi, arid that adjacent to the river Mifauris. The Chriftino I have taken wholly from the Indians : and though the accounts they have given me of thefe countries are large, and in fome particulars very inviting, yet I (hall do little more than mention their names, till I have better authority to go upon. In the account I have fubjoined of the Indi- ans, their cuftoms, manners, &c. I have pur- pofely omitted many things related by others who have wrote on that fubjedt ; fome, becaufe they are falfe, and others, becaufe they are trite and trifling ; and have only mentioned fuch as I thought moft diftinguiiliing and ab- folutely neceffary to give a juft idea of the ge- nius and policy of that people, and of the me- thod in which they are to be treated, in order to our having any fafe and advantageous com- Biercc with them. And, without vanity, I may . [ Vli ] may fay, that the long and particular acqnain- lance I have had with feveral tribes and nations, both in peace and war, has at lead furoiOied mc materials to treat the fubjed with propriety, however I may have failed in other refpedls. But 1 am not going to apologize or beg mer- cy at the hands of the Critical-, for it is far from being my ambitioi to ihine as a learned ^ndaccurate hidorian ; the only thing I mean to do is, in a fimple and intelligible manner, to relate fuch matters of fadl as may be ufeful to my country, and (hail without any regret re- fign the plume to any one who performs the talk with greater life and ornament, and in a |;panner more pleating to the public. 1. ' 1 I MM ■% ma I I 1 ^1 ■ 1 i. M M i I I i ii' ADVERTISEMENT. IT is propofed to continue this CONCISE ACCOUNT of NORTH AMERICA in a fccond volume, containing maps of the fc- veral colonies, and of the Interior Country of North America, more corred:, and eafier to be pnderftood than any yet publiflied. To be printed by Subfcription. Subfcriptions to be taken in by J. Milt, an, Bookfeller, near Whitehall^ and by fuch others as he (hall appoint, he being empowered by me for that purpofe, and will give proper re- ceipts to deliver the faid volume, or return tha fubfcription-money, in a limited time. Price to Subfcribers will be one EngJiftj Gui- nea, one half to be paid at fubfcribing, and ^hc other on the delivery of the books. Rob', Rogers. I. il ( ' ) i t *■ Concise Account O F NORTH AMERICA. •ift|S*C4^^iVt E R I C A is divided into North a^g and South, joining at the ifth- jO mus of Dariert. North America, g^v-^agfe?5 ^^ which my obfervations will be at prefent confined, lies be- tween the latitudes of lo and 80 degrees Jiorth, and chiefly between the longitudes of 48 and 130 degrees weft from the meridian of London, and is about four thoiifand two hundred miles from north to fouth, and about five thoufand from eaft to weftj being bounded on the eaft by the At- B ' \ Lin- '1% •M i ' I m 1; ' I ^1 Jl i\ 2 ^ CoaClBE ACCOV li'T of lantick ocean ; by the gulf of Mexico, on the fouth 5 on the weft, by the Pacifick o- ceani and by the northern continent and ocean to the northward, through which, fomc fuppofe, there is a paflage into the Pacifick or Weftern ocean. A great part of this vaft ex- tent of territory is at prefent poffefled by the fubjedls of his Britannick Majefty, and the ori- ginal natives, or Indians, the number of which far exceeds that of the Englilh. And that I may preferve fome order and method, while I attempt a defcription of this country (fo far " as I have been able by my own travels and obfervations, and the information of others, to attain to the knowledge of it) I propofe, Firft, To defcribe the feveral Britifti govern- ments and colonies on the continent (including alfo the iflands of Newfoundland, Cape Breton, and St. John's) feparately ; beginning with the northernmoft, and travelling to the fouth- ward ; in which the reader may expedl a brief account of the rife, prefent extent and boundaries o^ thefe provinces 5 the number of Englifli inhabitants fuppofed to be in each ; the climate, foil, commodities, government, religion, &c. And> NEWFOUNDLAND. 3 And, fccondlv, fome account of the inte- rior or weftern parts of the country, fo far as difcoveries have been made, and of the Indian nations and tribes that are known to us who inhabit it ; as to their fituation, numbers, manners, cuftoms, and the conncdlions and alliances that they have with each other, and with the Englifh and French, &;c. I .' i 1% . ■■' <^A WIl^TwA \5X v»aToX V5DL^^ S®:® fojLXOAXoX loX \o\Yo ti;l ' NEWFOUNDLAND, SO named by the firfl: difcoverer, is the mod confiderable ifland in North Ame- rica for Its extent, being fituated eaft of the gulf of 8t. Lawrence, between 46, 40, and 42 deg. 7 min. north latitude, and 41, 52, and 57 deg. 40 min. weft longitude, is bound- ed eafterly and fouiherly by the Atlantic^ ocean, northerly by the ftreights of Bellifle, and on the weft by the gulf of St. Lawrence, * This ifland was difcovered by the Cabbots, in 1497, ^^^ *^^^ pofTeflion of it in the name of King Henry VIL ; but no colony was planted here till fome confiderable time after. The foil being not the moft fertile, and the B ^ cold \)\ % !■ ^ 'W u-i !| ■' ! I i 1 i ^ ^i Concise A (^ COUNT 0^ cold extremely fevere, were clrcumftances, no doubt, which prevented the Englifh from at- tempting a fettlement here, till feme time in the reign of Henry Vlll. when they were al- lured to it, for the fake of fifhing on the banks which lie off the fouth-eaflerly parts of it. In the reign of Qaeen Elizabeth, Sir Wil- liam Gilbert was fent out with a commifiion, to prohibit all perfons, not being her fubjeds, to fi(h upon the coafts of this ifland. No lands in the ifland were granted till 1610, when King James gave a grant to the fiarl of Southampton, and others, of all that part of Newfoundland, lying between Cape Bona- vifta and Cape St. Mary. Some Briftol mer- chants being joined in the patent, the fettle- ment took the name of the Briftol Plantation. Sir George Calvert purchafed fome lands of this company, upon the fouth-eaft coaft, fent thither a colony, and afterwards followed him- felf, and eredted fome houfes and a fort. But beinjT afterwards created Lord Balti- more, and getting a grant of Maryland, he abandoned the frozen co^Vis of Newfound- land, and began the fettlement of that pro- vince. During 9 t!- he d- ro-* ng NEWFOUNDLAND. I During the protedlorfliip of Cromwell, Sir David Kirk, but without any commifiion, took poffeiHon of this illand, where he lived and diedj after which the original proprietors dropped their projedl of a fettlcment here, and the fettlers that remained lived without any legal government. The French took advan- tage of this fituation ot things, and not only fent their fliips to fi(h upon the coalis, but eredcd a regular fort at Placcntia, garrifoned at the expence of the government, and claimed the fole right to the ifland and fifhery. It continued in this pi)fture during the reigns pf Charles and James II. but, fuon after the re- volution, the Biitifh government renewed their antient claim, and attempted to exclude the French from both the ifland and fi{hery, by the deflrudtion of their fort at Placentia, which however at that time proved abortive. The next fumrner Sir John Norris was fent with a fquadron, and 1500 lattd-forces, with which he raifed a regular fort at St. John's, and, leaving a garrifon, returned to England^ without attempting any thing againft the French. An a(5t of parliament was however pafled, that no foreigner (hould fifh on any of the rivers, lakes, or coafts of Newfoundland ]| l3ut this proved a poor bulwark againft the prench, 4 ! V 1 i\ :it| i' .'If- ■4 i;i i ' >% 11 f li I. 'I ; , ! 14 ■ ti 'I I /!■ ! I |:| !i n I ^ -^ Concise Account oj ifland, n')twithftanding the roughnefs and bar- rcnncfs of foil, and feverity of the climate. The number of Englifh inhabitants on this iflaiid is uncertain and fluduating, there being near double the number in fummer to what there is in t'^e winter. St. John*s, fitaated on the foutherly part of the ifland, is the capital town, containing be- • twcen three and fourfcore houfes. Thefe coafts are obferved to be extremely fubjcdt to logs, occafioncd by the vapours, which are exhaled from the lakes, fwamps and bogs, with which the illand abounds, as is generaUy fuppofcd ; but perhaps is more owing to the vaft llioals of fiih and fea- animals which frequent thefe coafls, whofe breath, warmth, and motion, occalion vapours to rife from the fea ; hence I imagine it is, that, not- withftanding the almoft perpetual fogs here, the air is wholefome and agreeable to moil conftitutions, which would hardly be the cafe if they fprung from bogs, fwamps, and frefti -water lakes. The wiiiters are fevere, attended with al- tnoft continual ftorms of fnow, fleet, 6cc. the fky being generally overeat. Kere are few cattle, llieep, or horfcs; inftead of the latter, the inhabitants make ufe of dogs for CAPE BRETON. .. f. for drawing of wood and other conveyances, which they manage with great dexterity, fixing them in leather collars, to any number they plcafe. The government of this ifland is at prefent vefted in the crown of Great Britain, including with it the illandsof Anticofti and Madelaine, and others of fmaller note, and the coafts of Labrador, from the river St. John's to Hud- fon's ftreighls. The religion profefTed by the inhabitants is that of the eftablifhed church of England. CAPE BRETON. THIS ifland is fituated to the fouthweft of Newfoundland, in 46 deg. north lati- tude, and 58 deg 30 min. well: longitude; dif- tant from Newfoundland about 15 leagues, and fcparated from the continent by a narrow paflage on the weft. Its length is about no miles from north-eaft to fouth-weft, and about 66 wide. 1 .m' v. - c The ! I 'fit' 10 A Concise Account of The foil and climate here are very much the fame as in Newfoundland, and confequent- ly its produce is not greatly different. There have been difcovered, in its moun- tains, fome coal-mines, whicR, it is thought, may be worked to great advantage. There are feveral harbours and bays round the ifland, and, by its (ituation in the gulf of St. Lawrence, may be looked upon as the key of Canada, being a fafe retreat for fhips bound cither to or from thence. This, together with its conveniency for fifli«» ing, induced the French, when they were ex- cluded from Newfoundland and Acadia, to be- gin a fettlement here in 1 7 14, which they con- tinued to increafe, and in 1720 eredted a for- tification ; they were, however, difpoflelTed in 1745 by the New-Englanders, and troops un- der the command of Sir William Pepperel, with the affiftance of fome men of war, com- manded by Commodore, afterwards Sir Peter Warren. It was again ceded to the French by the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, who fpared no pains or expence to ftrengthen and fortify it, and kept the pofTeflion of it till 1758, when it was again reduced by the Britifli troops. Gen. Amherft commanding by land, and Admiral Bofcawen by fea. Since the conqueft of all Canada, St. JOHN'S ISLAND. ii Canada, the fortifications, by orders from the crown of Great Britain, have been blown up, and the town difmantlcd. The port of Louilburg is a league in length, and a quarter of a league broad, with good anchoring-ground, from fix to ten fathom water. The harbour is generally froze from November till IViay. There are fevcral other harbours round this ifland, the moft confiderable of which is Port Thouloufe, where are more inhabitants than at Louifburg, from which it is diftant eighteen leagues. • This ifland is at prefent under the jurif*- didtion of the Governor of Nova Scotia. i-». i ',■ It Ill i I: I St. JOHN'S ISLAND. no it, nit en. iral all ida, THIS ifland, tho*fituated in the neighbour- hood of Cape Breton, being pardy be- tween that and the continent, and confequent- ly has no great difference of climate, yet va- ries widely from it as to the pleafantnefs and fertility of its foil. It is computed to be about C 2 fixty . H :, ; I 'i I !l '1,1^ i M 12 .-^CONCISEAcdotJNT of fixty miles in length, has a commodious har- bour, and great convenicncies for carrying oa the fiihery. It abounds with a variety ot ufe- ful timber, and moft kinds ot wild jjami; com- mon to the country. In the rivers (of which there arc fevcral) is great plenty of falmon, trout, eels, 6cc. The furrounding fea abounds vyith llurgeon, plaice, and moft kinds of (hell-fi(h. — In lliort, fo fer- tile is this ifland, being fo well improved while pofTcfTcd by the French, that it was juft- ly ftiled the granary of Canada, furnilhing them in great abundance with moft kinds of grain, as weU as great quantities of beef, pork, 6cc. ■; This ifland was fettled by the French about the fame time as Cape Breton, and (except- ing that it was not given up when the other was reduced by Sir William Pepperel) has un- dergone the fame revolutions with it j for tho* it was in fome degree (while pofTefted by the French) a diftindl feparate government, yet the commander was fubordinate to the Gover- nor of Cape Breton, from whom he received his orders : and in the laft redudion of Cape Breton this ifland was included in the capitu- lation, and was furrendered to Lieutenant Co- lonel Rollo, when he found upon it 4000 in- :ia NOVA SCOTIA. n bablt:inUs and upwards of 10,000 head of live cattle ; and, what was (hocking, found in the Governor's houfc Icveral P'nglifli fcalps, which were brought there to market by the lavages of Nova Scotia, this being the place where they were r-ipplied and encouraged to carry on their inhuman trade. There are yet confiderable quantities of land uncultivated on this ifland, which, when im^ proved, will render it ftill more valuable. This ifland, at prefent, is under the Gover- nor of Nova Scotia, as are the leflbr iflands adjacent. ^v:-' ^ ?v '1 i, ^ M i ^iJ®*###*^®*#mi?#l^«®®#* I;' ACADIA, or NOVA SCOTIA. TPIIS part of the continent of North America is fituated between 44 and 49 degrees north latitude, and is bounded foutherly by the Adantick ocean ; wefterly by the bay of Fundy, and the province of Main, belonging to the MaiTachufet's bay ; northerly by Canada, or the province of Quebec 3 aad pfterly by the gulf of St. Lawrence. i Tho* , * ri;i \i h t W 14 A Concise Account 0/ Tho* this country was difcoveicd by Scbaf- 1 1 an Cabot in i497> y^^ ^^ ^^y '^^'gJ^<^^^ many years, and und;'erwcnt Icvcrai changes and re- volutions before any confiderabie fectlement w^smade in it. In 1578, Sir Humphrey Gilbert obtained a grant from Queen Elizabeth of all the remote lands he (hould difcover and fettle. He fct out, with a view to this part of America among others j but being loft on the coafts of the continent, the project dropt. In 1621, King James gave a graiU of this province to Sir William Alexander, afterwards Earl of Sterling, and Secretary of State for Scotland, by whom it was called Nova Sco- tia. The French, in the mean time, had at- tempted fome fcttlcments in this territory ; but were difturbed therein by the Governor of Vir- ginia, who fent Captain Argal to remove them in 16 14, which was accordingly done. In 1622, a (hip was fent out by Sir William, with a number of people, and all kinds of ne- ceflaries for beginning a fettlement. Thefc people landed near Cape Sable ; but I cannot find, after all, that they made any fettlement. It is however certain that theily fituation expofcs it to fevere cold and deep fnows in winter 5 but is generally very healthy, and agreeable to Englifli conftitu- tions, as are all the northern provinces.— The foil of this province is various, being in fome parts very rough and biirren j in others exceeding pleafant and fertile, as it is in par- ticular round the Bay of Fundy, and on the afore-mentioned rivers which fall into It, where are large tradts of marfh that extend on the fides of thefe rivers for fifty or fixty miles into the country, and feveral miles from the bay, which, being dyked, is improved to great advantage. The upland in this province is likewife very pleafant aijd fruitful, producing wheat, rye, Indian corn, peafe, beans, hemp, flax, &c. and fome kinds of northerly fruit, to great perfedion. The rivers abound with fal- fnon and other kinds of river- fifh, common to the coafts 5 and feveral fifheries are erefted in diflPerent harbours here, which are carried on with good fuccefs -, nor is it inferior to any of the northern provinces in refpedt to wild beaih and fowls. The commodities exported from this pro- vince to other parts are chiefly lumber, fuch as plank, ftaves, hoops, joifts, &c. and fiih. .% : D 2 There I f ' «'t'-' ;1'' "d" l> I, 'ii ! •: i « ■ J ^l 1f I!' im I 'I Ml 'H 'iV- 11' ilJ I , ! i .1' iil ]! ii! III 4 '' j i i 1 1 '' :.l:i 1 20 A Concise Accouni* of There is a great mixture of religious profef- fions here ; there being fome of the church of England, others Prefbyterians, Congrcgatio- nalifts, Baptids, 6cc. The King is Sovereign of the foil, and ap- points the Governor, who is his Captain- Ge-» neral ; the Lieutenant-Governor and Council arc likewife appointed by his Majcfty, which form the upper houfc, and the lower houfe is formed of the reprefentatives, who are cho- fen by the freeholders i but the Governor can negative their choice. As fi(hing is the flaple commodity, and al« jnoft the only article of trade in the provinces of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, with their dependant iflands ; and as thefe are the only places in Atnerica where trade is carried on to any perfedtior^, it will not, perhaps, be difa^ greeable to the reader to give ior^^ account in this place of the method which they take to cur^ and manufadture the cod-fifh fit for maricet. The fifli caught near the fliore are obferved to be by far the heft ; the vefiels employed in this bufincfs are generally fmall (hallops, which come to (hore every day, where the fifher*- men throw the cod upon a ftagc prepare4 for th« NOVA SCOTIA. 21 that purpofe. One of them, who is called the Beheader, opens the fi(h with a two-edged knife, and cuts off his head ; a fecond hands the fifh on to the carver, who ftands oppofite to him at a table eredted upon the flage ; the carver, with a fingle-edged knife, fix or eight inches long, and very thick on the back to in- creafe its weight, fplits the filh open -, then it is conveyed to the falter, who places it with the fkin undermofl in a barrel, and then very fiightly covers it with fait, laying the fifh re- gularly upon one another. — After leaving the cod in fait three or four days, and fometimes double that time and longer, according to the feafon, they put it into a tub, and wafh it well, afterwards they make it up in piles, and in fair weather fpread it out, with the fkin undermod, on a kind of flage raifed with wat- tels, about two feet from the ground, or upon flones ; before night they turn the fkin upper- moft, which they alfo do whenever it rains t when the fifh has been dried a little, it is raifed into larger piles, where it refls a day or two ; after which it is again expofed to the air, and turned according as there is occafion, before they raife it into larger piles in the fame ^ form, where, after this operation, it fom^^ . 'I ^ 'I vl i.' •il: liMr ^ .! ' 1 22 A Concise Account o/* times remains fifteen days without being mo^ vcd at all j at the end of which it is once more expofed to the air, and, when almoft dry, ga- thered together again, in order to fweat j which operation takes twenty-four hours or more, according to the feafon j then it is opened the laft time to the air, and, when thoroughly dry, houfed. FiQi manufactured in this manner are notonly more fair to the eye, but more grateful to the taftc, than ihofe which are partly prepared at ftsa ; as is the cafe with larger vefTels which go out, and are loaded, before they return open- ing, falting, and packing their iiili in the vef- fel's hold, by which means it is forty or fifty days, and often much longer, before the nc- ceffary operation, to render the fifh good and agreeable, can be attended to. When they re- turn to (hore, they proceed with it as before mentioned. The fifh cured in the fpring, before the great heats, is generally the beit, if properly prepared ^ which depends upon the fkill and diligence of thofe employed about it, and alfo upon the quality of the fait made ufe of; on whigh lad: account the Englifli caught fifh is gjenerally inferior to the American, the fait ..,- they I'* QUEBEC. *3 they make ufe af often having a mineral qua- lity, or perhaps it may be as much owing to their not having the like opportunity to prepare it fcafonably, by reafon of the length of the voyage. The fi(h caught in October or November may continue in fait till March, or the begin- ning of April, without any fenfible damage, when it is waflied and undergoes the proceft above defcribed. . .} i ■; f I ,J The Province of QUEBEC. THIS province is much the largcft of any upon the continent. Qjjebec, which is the metropolis, and near the cen- tre of it, is fituated in 46dcg. ^^ min. north latitude, and 69 deg. 48 min. weft longi- tude J and is bounded north-eafterly by the gulf of St. Lawrence, and the river St. John's; north- wefcerly, by wild uninhabited lands; fouth-wefterly, by the fame ; and foutherly, by the province of New York, the New Eng- land provinces, and the province of Nova i?co- tia, extending from north-eaft to fouth-wefl about five hundred miles, and is upwards of two* I 'i Hi 'lil ■ 1 f . . 'f ^1 ■! ;■' iiH jl ' I m . *: ; I ■ I !'■' 'I f ;| V hi 'l!| ■m Al- i ': I i 24 A CoNCiSE ACC6UKT of two hundred miles wide. This country was flrft fettled by the Frcnchi who kept the pof- feffion and government of it till Sepitcmber 13, 1759, when Quebec was fiirrendcrcd to the Generals Monkton and Townftiend, com- manding the Bfitif.j trbops that had been de- fined for the expedition againft V the pre- ceding fpring, under the command of Gene- ral Wolf; and September 8, 1760, all Gana* da was given up to the Englidi in the capitu- lation at Montreal, agreed upon and iigned by General Amherft, and Monfieur de Vaudreueil the French Governor, and has fince been con- firmed to the Britifh crown by the treaty of Fountainbleau. The French comprehended under the natne of Canada a much larger ter- ritory than the above-mentioned, taking into their claim great part of the New England provinces, and of the provinces of New York and Nova Scotia, and northerly to Hudfon's Bay, and wefterly to the Pacific Ocean ^ and ibutherly to the gulf of Mexico 5 and had created a chain of forts, from the mouth of the river St. Lawrence to their fettleraents at Loui-^ fiana, to fupport their claim. They began the fettlement of this province ia 1605 atQuebcv:, fituated on the north-fhore ,ana* i€H31- .1 de Province of QUEBEC. 2j of the river St. Lawrence, about three hundred miles from the mouth ; and about the lame time fettlements veie begun upon the ifland of Orleans, which is in the river, a little below Quebec, and on each fide of the fiver to the mouth of it, and on feveral fmaller rivers that fall into it. Up the river, from Qnebec about twenty miles, they foon after began a fettle- ment called Jecorty, and eredled a fort at Chamblee, on the river Sorriel, hear where it falls out of Lake Champlain. Soon after this, the foundations of Montreal were laid on the ifland of Montreal, fituated in the river St. Lawrence, above 200 miles above Quebec. Another confiderablc fettlement was made atTrois-Rivieres, or the Three Rivers, fo called from a river's difemboguing itfelf by three mouths or channels into the River St. Law- rence ; and is fituated about half-way between Quebec and Montreal, in a very delightful place, affording a profpedl the mcfl: agreeable to the eye of any in the whole country. There are many other fettlements upon the banks of the river St. Lawrence, and of thofc which empty into it, as well as on the iflands fur- rounded by it ; but none dcfcrving of particu- lar notice in this place, except Quebec and E Mont- r i i[| Mi Hi '•II ■/:l' Hit! \ 4 4 I ! '■ » 11 / 26 -^ Concise Account 0/ Montreal, already mentioned. The former contains upwards of 1500 dwelling-houfcs, well-buiit, befides feveral public buildings, which are (lately and fplendid, and were built for different ufes, fome by charitable perfons, and others by the government of France : there are among thefe feveral hofpitals, and not far from the town without the walls was a nunnery very well built, as was the manfion- lioufe of their Bidiop and Jefuits. This town, bcfides the natural fafety of its fituation, is now well fofuficd. Montreal is near as large and populous as Quebec, and is much more pleafintly fltuated. Tlie {Ireets are regular, the houfes well-built, commodious and agree- able J and you may fee every houfe at one view from the harbour, or from the fouther- moft fide of the river, as the hill, on the fide of which the town (lands, falls gradually* to the water. The public buildings here exceed thofe of Quebec for beauty, and are equal in number, excepting the Bilhop's palace and the cathedral church. The number of inhabitants in Ca- nada is upwtards of 100,000. The ifland of Montreal is exceedingly fertile, and well-im- proved, producing great plenty of greens, and fome fruit j but the ifland of Jefus, to the north I' /*^ Province 0/ QUEBEC. 27 north of Montreal, is more level, and deemed better land. There are feveral other iflands to the north of Montreal, which are formed by the Attawawas River, and which are im- provcdx This river forms alio the ifland of Montreal, by one part at its entering at the weft-end of it into the Lake St. Francis; and the other part pafling north of Montreal, forming the Ifland of Jefus, arid many others of fmaller note, and joins St. Lawrence at the caft-end of the ifland of Montreal. About the center of this ifland arc two mountains, called the Twins, remarkable for bcino: exati- ly alike 5 they are pretty high, and add much to the beauty of the ifland. Jn the Lake St. Francis, fouth-weft of Montreal, are feveral iflands that are inhabited and well-improved; St. Pierre is the moft confiderable of them. Their uppermoft fettlements in this province arc at the Cedars, the wefterly limits of the province, at the bottom of the falls from Lake Ontario. The rivers, branching thro* this extenflve country, are very numerous, and many of them navigable a confiderable way into the country ; but they are all fwallowed up in the river St. Lawrence. This river is eighty miles wide at its entrance into the fea at Cape Rofiers, en E a • ^ the ■1 ■1 m^M ' '(■ \n 'J It! « 1: u. I I i r ' I a8 -^Concise Account of the fide of Nova Scotia j fomcthing to the eaft- ward of which is the ifland of Anticofla, of not much account. The tourfe of the rivcc is nearly through the middle of the province, from the fouth-wcft to the north-eaft, receiv- ing the waters of a great many navigable ri- vers, and forming a great variety of bays, har- bours, and iflands ; the moft pieafant and fruit- ful of which is the illand of Orleans, a littl^ below Quebec. — The foil of this illand is ex- cellent, and, being well improved, is a garden for the city of Quebec, producing in greaf abundance all kinds of grain and vegetables common to the climate. This illand is twen- ty-one miles in length, and three or four wide. The French, while they had poflcflion of this province, very induftrioufly reprefented the navigation of the river v,\. Lawrence to be dif- ficult and dangerous ; but we have fince found the contrary to be the cafe, (liips of the line meeting with no difficulty in going to Quebec. The land in general, on both fides of the ri- ver, is low and level ; indeed oppofite to Que- bec are two confiderable mountains, called the Lady Mountains, which from this place ruti fouth- wefl through the continent to the coun- try of the Creek Indians, at the north-part of ' ■ the :r H run >un- Irt of the the Province o/* QUEBEC. ajj jhc Two Florida's, in one continual ridge; and wherever rivers have forced their way through them, they rife on each fide very lieep to theif common heighth. This ridge of mountains is called the Apalachian Hills; and again at Montreal fome hills appear to the norths weft of it. * The climate here is cold, the winters long and tedious, efpecially in the ntrth-eafterly parts of the province ; notwithllanding which the foil is none of the worft, being in fomc parts both pleafant and fertile, produdtive of mod kinds of Englifli grain and vegetables, common to the climate, in great abundance ; efpecially the ifland of Orleans already men* tioned, and the iflands and lands near it, which are remarkable for their rich and eafy foil. The fummers in this country are exceeding pleafant, and fo prolific that tl.e farmer ex- pedts to reap his crop in fixteen weeks from the fowing of his feed. There is in fome parts of this province very excellent timber, fuch as white pines, oak of different kinds, and fpruce in great abundance. And as the lakes and rivers are well-ftored with (almon, eels, an4 all kinds of fifli common to fuch waters, fo its forefts abound with deer, moofe, bears, 5cc. There are alfo beavers, otters, martins, &c. in II! ' u s t. i v.i' 1- i; 1: 1- i i 1 1 i 1 i I I ; ! h If Hli ^ '? L n 30 >f Concise Account of great plenty. In (Iiort, notwithftanding Its northwardly fituation, it may be juftly deno- minated a healthy, fruitful, and plcafant coun- try, affording mofl: of the necell'aries and con- veniencies of life; having (tho' moflly fituatc within land ) all the advantages of an extend- ed fea-coaft, by means of the river St. Law- rence, which affords an eafy conveyance from one part of the province to another, and a cheap importation of foreign commodities, even to the remotefl parts of it.' The chief commodities exported from this province are timber, furs, deer, elk, and moofe fkins, &;c. The government of this province is the fame as that of Nova Scotia. The religion profefled by the French inha- bitants is that of the church of Rome, they being tolerated in the free exercife of it by an article in the capitulation, vvhich was con- firmed to them by the fubfequent treaty, his Britannick Majefty having the appointment of their Bifliop. The Englifh, refiding here, are pf the church of England, •.. t ■ I ' - NEW V. •'^ i /, ( 31 ) NEW ENGLAND. Til A T part of the continent of America called New England is (ituated between 41 and 43 degrees 5omin. north latitude, and 64 dcg. 40 min. and 73 deg. weft longitude^ is bounded nortlxrcaderly and eafterly by No*- va Scotia and the bay of Fundy, north- wefterly by Canada, wefterly by the province of New York, foutherly by .the Sound, and fouth-eaft- erly by the Atlantic ocean, having its fea-- coafts very irregular and broken by a variety of bays and inlets. This territory is divided into five diftindl diftridls or governments j the moft northerly is the province of Main, which now is called the county of York, being under the jurifdic- tion of the Maftachufet's Bay ; next to this county, and between it and the Maflachufct's Bay, is the province of New Hampftiire ; next to the bay-government is the colony of Rhode ifland ; to the fouth and weft of both of them is the colony of Conncdticut. Thefe feveral diftiidls, in efFed, took their rife from the firft fettlement made by the Englifti in this country, which was the colony of Plymouth, . . fituated j 1" j!lifi 'Ah : t.' \'l i t h; :|il § \ ( ]'■ i ' » ■ ;hi ii 1 i >: ■ j2 -^ConciseAccount^/* fituated near Cape Cod, and which now, as well as the province of Main, is incorporated into that of the Maflachufet's Bay. The colony of Plymouth was begun by a number of adventurers in 1621, who, for the fake of a liberty they could not then enjoy in their native country, were perfuaded to ex- change it for this, at that time a hideous wil- dernefs, whofe only inhabitants were wild beads, or men almoft as wild and as favage as they. They failed from Plymouth in Eng- land in the month of September, with an in- tention to begin a fettlement at the mouth of Hudfon's River, where they had made purchafe of a tra(ft of land of the company to whoni thofe lands had been granted -, but meeting jevith a ftorm, they fell in with Cape Cod the November following, and finding here a fafc harbour, they fixed upon a place for their prefent fettlement, and called it Plymouth, froni the place of their embarkation, which name it ftill retains. It is not to be doubted btit they fuffered hiany hardfhips and inconveniencies at their firft fettlement, for want of accommodations hot prefently to be procured in this new world. They happened however to light on a part of the continent from which the favages had re- tiredj ^M NEW ENGLAND. n * I tired, on account of a war fubfifting between two nations of them ; (o that they continued in quiet poflefl^iOn for a great number of years* Indeed the Indians in the neighbourhood ap- peared difpofed to peace and friendfhip, each of the contending parties perhaps hoping for afliftance from the new-comers. But the emigrants, not depending on the good difpolition of their Heathen neighbours, quickly after their landing inclofed an old In- dian field with palifadoes, and ereded a fort, on which they planted fome cannon to keep them in awe. The following fpring they pur- chafed a tradt of land of one of the Indian chiefs. Having thus laid the foundation of their colony, they proceeded to the choice of their firft Governor for one year, and chofe Mr. John Carver ; but he dying before the year expired, was fuccceded by William Brad- ford, Efqj who was continued their Gover- nor, by an annual eleflion, for feveral years. This infant-colony was annually reinforced by frefh adventurers from the mother-country^ fo that by the year 1628 their numbers and improvements were confiderable ; and being not fatisfied witn their Indian title, they this year obtained a grant from the aforefaid com- pany i I J .!■<;, . I '.;*i ., I. ^ii S iWl 41 i;^i . i li I! n i\ \< $ 1:1 ! ■ \ I t , ! { 34 -^Concise Account of pany of this colony ; and another for all the lands within three miles north of Merrimack River, to three miles fouth of Charles River, where it falls into the fea at the bottom of the Maflachufei's Bay. And the next year fix fhips, with 350 pafTengers, arrived at Salem, with a large flock of cattle of all forts, and other ne- ceffaries. The year following a flill larq;er fleet ar- rived» by which the colony was fo increafed that they judged it moft expedient to divide, fome of them removing and laying the foun- dation of a town called Bofton, which for its convenicncy and fecurity is become the metro- polis of New England. The firfl Governor of Boflon or the MafTachufet^s colony was John Wenthrop, Efq; Numbers continued to flock into thefe new colonies, induced to it either for the fake of religion or trade : and about this time fome religious principles were broached by one Williams, a minifler of Sa- lem, for which he and his followers, refu- fing to recant, were expejled the MafTachu- fet's colony, and built a new town, which they called Providence, upon New-Port River, near Rhode-Ifland. _ , Hitherto M I- lithe mack liver, of the fhips, vith a :r ne- et ar- reafed livide, foun- for its netro- i^ernor 5 John ) flock either about were :>£ Sa- refu- achu- 1 they •, near therto I r. NEW ENGLAND. Hitherto thefe colonies had not been in the leaft molefted by the favages ; but this year a nation called the Pequots, who lived on Con- nedicut river, committed fome murders, for which they were not chaftifed by the Englifh, upon their promifc to deliver up the mur- derers, till fome time afterwards, when they refufed to fu^-ill their promife, and repeated their outrages upon the inhabitants of a vil- lage named Weathersfield upon Connedicut river; for which they were feverely punifhed by a company of no men, commanded by Captain Mafon, who deftroyed one of their forts, and near 400 of them, at one time. I'l J 6^5* "o ^^fs than twenty fail loaded with goods and pafTengers arrired at Bofton, with whom came Mr. Henry Vane, after- wards Sir Henry Vane, intending with tiiefc r people to begin a fettlement on Connedticut riverj but being chofe Governor the year enfu- ing ior the MaiTachufet's, he laid by the defign of beginning a new colony for the prelent j but the next year, on fome religious pretences, he being inclined to favour the A nabaptifts-^ they left him out, and chofe their old Gover- nor Mr* Wenthrop. In 1636, on account of the behaviour of the Pequot Indians before- mentioned, it was thought expedient for the F z fafetyj i y'i i • I 4 \ II i i.r ' t »> I •I ' u ll ■ I li li i i « 5 : ■' !■:;. ' 1^ i I" ..■< :t, . j6 A Concise Account of fafety of both colonies, to make a fettlement uppn Connedlicut river, and towns were built accordingly on boih fides of the river, at Hert- ford, and other places. But this being out of the limits of the ether colonies, they formed themfelves into a feparatc government. In 1637, on account of fome ecclefiaftical fevcrities, then put in practice in England, a new fleet, with a great number of people ori board, and among others Dr. Devenport, who quitted hischurch inColeman-Street, London, arrived in Nev/ England. But finding no con- venient place to fettle in the Mafifachufet's, without retiring further into the country than they chofe, they purchafed from the Indian^ the lands lying on the fea-coafts, between Con- nedlicut River, and Hudfon's River, where they built a town, naming it New Haven, froni whence the colony derived the name of the New Haven colony. And, whilft colonies were thus fettling to the fouthward, others, in- duced by the profits arifing from the fur-trade, fettled themfelves to the north-caft, between the rivers Merrimack and Kennebeck, and formed two diftindt colonies, one named New Hampfhire, and the other (ftill further to the caftvyrard) was cajled the Province of Main. One hi : t \ NEW ENGLAND. 37 One would have thought, that a people who had (o lately (een the fad confeqaences of reli- gious difputes, elpecially when heightened into perfecution, would have carefully avoided every appearance of that kind among themfelvesj but fo it was, that, about this time, there was a fyiiod or convention of Minifters, with their lay elders, or delegates of the churches, called, out of both colonies of Plymouth and the MaiTachufet's, by whom it was moft folemnly decreed, that every perlon, hulcfmg to fome particular opinions then confiderably in vogue among them, and wc^uld not recant or re- nounce thofe opinions, fliould be baniflied out of thofe colonies. Tins thundering fentence from the aweful tribunal they had eredl.d, inftead of reconciling the minds of thofe it wab aimed againft, as is generally the cafe, rendered them more zealous and obllinate, and in the end gave rife to ano- ther diftind: colony, for, baniftied from their countrymen, they purchafed of the natives the ifland of Aquetnet, fo called by the Indians, and made a fettlernent there called the colony of Rhode-llland. Thus, in the fpace of about fifteen years, the Englifh emigrants had taken poiTcffion of this country, from the river Kepncbeck, on the nortji- m iV f i I' \'- : 'I' ' ■'I'' lii 1 :|l \'. iif r^i 1 ii'l I '^ I'l ■« 38 A Concise Account c/* north- eaft, almoft to Hudfon's River fouth- wcft, an extent of upwards of 400 miles on the fea-coafts. Such was the firft rife and origin of the New England colonies, which from thefe filial I beginnings are now become very confiderable, and deferve a feparate de- fcriptton, in which, as their fituaticn hath been already laid down, it is no ways material in what order we take them. The Province of the M A S S A C H IT- SET'S 3 AY. I ' THIS province at prefent contains what were formerly the colonies of Plymouth, Maflachafet's Bay, and the Province of Main ; the latter of which is feparated from the others by the province of New Hampfliire, running in between them about thirty miles wide upon the fea. Indeed for feveral years the province * of New Hampfliire, as well as the fcattering fettlements of Nova Scotia, were under the jurifdidtion of this province. That part of it called the Province of Main, or county of York, is bounded wefterly by New Hampfhire, portherly on Canada, north-eafterly by Nova Scotia, •li: n:M MASSACHUSETS BAY. 39 Scotia, or the river St. John's, fouth-eafterly and fouthwardly by the lea for near 200 mileSi The other part of this province has New Hampfliire for its northern boundary, eafterly and foutherly it is bounded by the fea, fouth- vveft and wefterlv by the colonies of Rhode- Ifland and Conncccicut, and the province of New York. It would fill a volun- - of itfelf to give a particular account of the various remarkable occurrences and revolutions that have happen- ed in church and ftate within this province, from its origin to this time ; I fliall therefore only relate fuch as are the moil diftinguifhed ones. In 1684, for fome political reafons, the colonies of Plymouth, the MalTachufet's, and province of Main, made a refignation of their charters into the hands of the then King, and were thereupon incorporated into one pro- vince; but not with all the privileges they had before enjoyed, they having given reafon to fufped, by fome extraordinary proceedings they had been guilty of, that they would ab- ufe their liberty (unbounded as it had been) into licentioufncfs, if indulged any longer. Mr. Cransfield was by King Charles appointed their firfl Governor, after their incorporation ; and. 1: O I 1 ■ I ' ■I-', M'l i 1 1 I I • •' I M > IS < Hii , K| Hiii 40 ^CoNCtSEAc COUNT '/ and, after him, Jofeph Dudley, Efquirc, by* Kin^ James J who pretty foon, tho' a nativd of New England, had the misfortune to be * fent prifoner to England by his difaffedled countrymen, who rcaffumed their old privi- leges of chufing their own magiftrates. Such was the fituation of things at this time in Great Britain, that this adt of rebellion was in a fort winked at by the government. Indeed Sir Edmund Andrews was fent over to be their Governor j but with inftrudlions to confirm all fubordinate magiftrates agreeable to their choice. Sir Edmund kept his autho- rity no longer than till the news of the Revo- lution arrived, when thty once more afTumed their ancient privilege, and e^edted a Gover- nor and other magiftrates of their own ; which ufurpation they maintained for fome time, un- der countenance of a letter from King William and Queen Mary, dated Auguft 12, 16S9. Having f'^r a long time experienced the in- conveniencles of this unfettled form of govern- ment, they petitioned for the reftoration of their charter upon the former footing, which was refufed them. They however obtained a new charter, by which the appointment of the Governor and feveral other prerogatives were referved I I 4 ■'I 1 1 M ASS AC II U SET'S BAY. 41 refer vcd to the cro\X^n, allowing them to c\\\i(c their firft Governor ; they accordingly made choice of Sir William Phipb*, who had prefcnted their petition at home. — Sir William arrived in May 1692, ami tock upon him the government of the Maflachufet's and New Hampfliirc, agreeable to his Majefty's com- milFion. About this time a mod (liocking tragedy was adled in this province, feveral perfons being accufed, tried, condemned, and exe- cuted, for witchcraft, and others imprifoncd ; but the next year they celebrated a pubhc fail, to beg forgiven nefs of the Almighty for their having murdered the innocent the year be- fore. In 1 74 1 (till which time nothing very ex- traordinary happened) * William Shirley, Efq; was appointed Governor of this province, dif- tina from New Hampfhire, of which Mr. Wentworth had been appointed Governor the year before. Till this time the Governor of the Mpffachufet's Bav had been alfo com-nif- fioned Governor of New Hampdiire, and adl^- * There were feveral Governors between Mr Phips and Mr. Shirley, namely, Mcfi". Shout, Dummer, Be', her, &c. and fince Mr. PownaJ, and Mr. Bernard, the prefentGo- vernor. ' G ed i -.1 1^; 1! .: I >: !i:i iri i I' ^ ! hi:, ilf J i ' i 42 A Concise Account of cd as fuch, cither pcrfonally, or by his de- puty. The town of Bofton is lituated upon a pc- ninfula at the bottom of theMaflachufet's Bay, and contains between 4 and 5000 houfes, which in general arc well-built ; and fevcral of the public buildings are very fpacious and elegant : there are in the town fevcntecn edi- fices appropriated for public worship, a houfc where their council and aflembly, and courts of juftice, (it; another for the Governor's refi- dence ; and a fpacious nriarket, and a hall a- bove it, called Fanniuel-hall, from Mr. Fan- niiiel, who was its generous founder. The number of inhabitants in the whole province is computed to be upwards of 200,000. That part of the province called the Coun- ty of York has a very cold foil, great part of it towards the province of Quebec being mountainous, is entirely unfit for agriculture ; and that towards the fea-coafls is low, covered with fpruce, and white and yellow pines, and fomc oaks, excepting near the banks of rivers, which fall from the mountains (of which there is a great number) on which multitudes of faw- mills are creded. Here may be found plenty of oak, a(h and maple ; and on feveral of thcfe rivers, for many miles together, the land f !)* MASSACHUSETS BAY. 43 land is pretty good; and doubtlcfs would have been belter improved, had not the inhabitants for many years part been kept in almoft conti- nual alarms, and fometimes driven from their plantations by the favages. There are feveral fafe and convenient har- bours along the fea-coafts, the principal of which is Cafco Bay, the moft confiderablc town in the country, where great part of the marts for the royal navy are taken in. There are fome few fifheries begun upon thefe coafts, but are not yet become confider- ablc. This I art of the province is well-ftored with wild game, and from it arc exported confiderable quantities of furs and fkins. The other part of the province has a variety of foil, it being in fon^e places very barren, in others fertile, and abundantly produdtive of Indian corn, rye, oats, barley, flax, peafe, &c. wheat being raifed only in the wefterly parts of it^ The furface is generally rocky and uneven , excepting near the rivers, where are fomp pleafant inter-vales, The timber natural to this foil is chiefly oak, white pine, maple, walnut and chefnut. The country abounds in fruit-trees, fucl^ as apples, pears, peaches, plumbs and cherries of moft kinds. The rivers arc wcH-ftored with fifli, G 2 anc^ i!" \ ; I M I t ' ,1 1 ;ii J ' .'t I ; I I i\i 11 1' • i i 44 A Concise Account of and the neighbouring fea affords a plenty of cod, mackrel, and the like; and feveral fi{h- eries are carried on to great advantage from the fea-coafts of this piovirvce, to the banks of ISIewloundland, Ifle of Sable, &c. efpccially from the town of Marble-Head, where is the moft confiderable fishery in New England. The chief commodities exported from this province are, (hips ready-built, timber, furs, iirti, pot-a(h, caft ironware, oil, tallow, &c. His Britannic Majefty appoints the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secretary, and the officers of the Admiralty, in this province ^ and the freeholders chufe ahoufeof reprefentatives, who chufe a Speaker and Council, or upper houfe. The Governor, however, can negative their choice ; but he and all the officers in the pro- vince (except the Comptroller of his Majefty 's Cuftoms) receive their falarics by a vote of the two houfes, who have never yet been brought to fettle a falary not even upon the Governor, who generally has it in his inftrudlions from his Majefty to infift upon their doin^g it. They however commonly grant him loool. fterling per annum. There arc a number of churches in this province of the Epifcopal perfuafion ^ but by far the greater part are Diflenters, upon the. Congregational ■| I NEW HAMPSHIRE. 45 Congregational or Independent plan, having no fettled plan of church-government, or at leaft no ecclefiailical court that is authorita- tive or decifive ; which, as I am told, is a fource of many inconveniencies to them, being the means of prolonging church-quarrels and divifions among them. It mud hov^ever be faid, that great care is taken of their education, frec-fciiuGls being eftablifhed and fupported by law, in moll of their towns, which are gv.'nerally fupplied with able mafters j and at Cambridge, about fix miles from Borton, is a public feminary, or college, called Harvard, at which are annually graduated, batchelors and maflers, from fifty to fixty young g\*intlemen. Ml The Province of N E W HAMP- SHIRE. M THIS province is bounded on the fouth by M^ifFachufet's Bay, on the weft by the province of New York, on the north by Cana- da, and north-eafterly by the county of York, having r- 1 3^ 'ljj"i ill, - ill flii \\ i :!, Wm .. ) , r ■ i •f ■' i I 'I 1^1 lis Til ^ I' l\ I" f'ji" 46 A Concise Account of having at prefent only thirty miles of fea-coaft allowed to it. The town of Portfmouth, which is the metropolis of this province, contains about 700 dwelling-houfes, and four meeting-houfes and a chapel, is very pleafantly iituated on Pifcataqua Bay, having a fafe and convenient harbour, where the largcft fhips may ride fecurely. From this port annually fail about 200 veflels, loaded chiefly with timber, fifh, &c. for the Weft Indies, which having difoofed of by fale or exchange, they reload, and proceed from thence to Europe, where both veffels and cargoes are fold, and the mariners return paffengcrs. The other confiderable towns for trade in this province, are, Hampton, Cochecha, and Exeter. Londonderry, an inland town about thirty-five miles from Portfmouth, is confider- able for manufadluring of linnen, being peo- pled chie^y with the natives of Ireland. The number of inhabitants in this province is about 70,000, which have greatly increafcd lince the total redudion of Canada, fettlements being yearly begun in many new towns, where formerly they dared not attempt it, through fear of the favages. The NEW HAMPSHIRE. 47 The foil of this province is various, much refembling that of the county of York already defcribed, efpecially the northerly parts of it, being mountainous and broken. The mod confiderable mountains in this province, and indeed in New England, arc thofe called the White Mountains, fo called from their appearance, which is like fnow, confifting, as is generally fuppofed, of a white flint, from which the refledtion of the fun is very brilliant and dazzling, and by their prodi- gious heighth are to be feen at a very great diflance> being often difcovered by the (ea- men coafting the eaftern fhore, when all the intermediate land is entirely concealed. £ cannot learn that any perfon was ever on the top of thefe mountains. I have been told by the Indians that they* have often at- tempted it in vain, by reafon of the change of * air they met withj which I am inclined to believe, having afcerided them myfelf till the alteration of air was very perceptible, and even then I had not advanced half-way up ; the valleys below were then concealed from me by clouds. Indeed there are feveral other moun- tains in this country, whofe tops are above the ordinary clouds, rarely, if ever, receiving the benefit of rain upon them. The -fill i ,. * n. Ill 1 t \'%i ' I f 1. ^ { I- ^; I !■ I I |i:li 1 ; 1 \ 1 :^ '' 1-' 1 , 1 j , t . i (' ! Hi! Ill 48 A, Co NCI SE Ace OV NT of The bafis of the White Mbuntains is a trad of about fifty-five miles fquare, froiii which they rife in cragged heads, one above another^ in an irregular manner, all the way to the top. For the firft four or five miles, as you afcend thern, you will find beach, hemlock, and fomc white pines ; higher up the growth is chiefly black fpruce for fix or feven miles, where the fides are clad with a white mofs; and if you advance ftill further, you will find fcarce any thing growing 5 for which reafon^ if there was no other, the afcent would be very difficult, the mountain being ex:tremely fteep. Theic are many fireams of water gufliing out of the fides, which run down with great rapidity : indeed alf the iafgeft and befl rivers in New England take their rife front feme part of thefe mountains. Saco River rifes fr'om the fouth in feveral fmall rivulets, which in the courfe of a few miles join each other. This river runs through the county of York 5 on the banks of it are fome fine inter- vales, which are annually overflowed when the fnows melt, and thereby greatly enriched. The rivulets breaking out from the fouth- wefl of the mountains, after various windings, fall tnto a lake called Winnipifiokee, out of which iffues '».i- T ^11 ■I 'it New HAMPSHIRE. x§ iflues the river Merrimack, which, by the wa- ters that join it, foon becomes a confiderable flream. There are fine inter-vales upon it, over- flowed and enriched like the former. This river runs through the province of New HampQiire and part of the MalTachufet's, and hath feveral towns or villages upon it pleafantly iituated, but none more fo than a fmall one, in the province of New Hampfhirc, called Pennecook. From the north and weft parts of the aforefaid mountains, Connediciit River takes its rife j the courfe of which is foutherly, running acrofs the provinces of New Hamp{hire, the Maflachufet's and Connedticut, till it empties itfelf into the fea or found, be- tween Connedicut and Long Ifland. This river, like the others, annually overflows its banksj and enriches the adjacent inter-vales^ which in fome places are very extenfive, in each of the provinces it rolls through ; but no where more fo than at a place called the Cohas, in the province of New Hampfhire, a traft of twenty miles in length, and fix in breadth, which, for its beauty and fertility, may be de- ftrvedly fliled the garden of New England. The river Kennebeck, which is a confider- able ftream, likewife takes its rife at thefc mountains at the eaft, running thro' the county H of : !::^^^ J '\^' i '■ 1 i' It, : ■ ! 6 1 :■• .^ii'tl 'il 1 ' '■ ' ^ ■ ^^.'i !;! \ ill j' 1 ■f • ■ i!i ■• ' I ii|ii (I 1 ! 4 II t i : ■ i IS I'll ^ i 1: til ^1' 11 JO -^ Concise Account ^ of York, and is endowed with the fame proper- ties as the former. There is alfo another river, riling from the north part of thefe mountains, which runs into the province of Quebec, and falls into St. Lawrence, or St. Francis j and a part of the river Shedoir alfo rifes at thefe mountains, and flows thro* the fame province, till it joins the river St. Lawrence, twelve miles above Qiiebec ; by all which ftreams the riches of thefe hills, whofe tops are inaccefllble, are annually carried to and diftributed among the neighbouring provinces. In the province of New Hampfhire.is a great plenty and variety of timber; its forefts abound with all kinds of game common to the climate; and its rivers with falmon, Ihad, eels, trout, &c. Some fiflierics are carried on in the fea-ports, but its fcanty limits on the fea for- bid it6 becoming fo confiderable as its neigh- bours in that branch. The produce of the foil is chiefly Indian corn, rye, oats, peafe, it being too cold for wheat ; they alfo raife fome hemp and flax, and breed black cattle, horfes, iheep, &c. but in no great abundance. The chief commodities exported from this province, are, marts for the Royal navy, ilaves, boards, fliingles, furs, &c. . The ci e: i i NEW HAMPSHIRE. 51 The Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Coun- cil, and Secretary, and the officers of the Admiralty in this province, are appointed by his Britannic Majefty, who is abfolut-e fovereigrs^ of the foil. The feveral towns and diftridts chufe their reprefentatives ; and all inferior executive officers are appointed by the Gover- nor, with the advice of his Majefty's Council. I cannot forbear mentioning here an incon- venience which this infant province labours under in judicial matters, namely, that there is but one place in the province at which the courts of juftice are held, viz. at Portfmouth, one of the extremities, for which reafon many of the inhabitants often have to travel 150 or 200 miles on very trifling occafions. The religion profeiTed here is the fame in general as in the adjoining province, there be- ing but one Epifcopal church as yet eredled, viz. in Portfmouth; and it is to be lamented that little pains or care is taken here about the education of children, there being very few fchools regularly kept up, or well fupplied with maflers. H z The : '■I'i 111;^ •1 m . I .•,!« ?• IN '» r t 1* V % iVl !.l i< 1 . ; i 1 i Hi: ■! ■ • [ 1 ; ilLl 52; ^ CdNcist Account e/' The CoLONV of CONNECTICUT. THIS colony comprehends what were originally the colony of Connedticut or Hartford, and that of New Haven, being in- corporated into one in 1692, ftill retaining, by a charter then granted them, all the privi- leges of their ancient charters 5 and, indeed, evrer fince their union, they have kept up tw6 feats of government, viz. Hartford and New Haven, at which places their general court or afTembly fits alternately, for tranfadling the affairs of the colony. This colony is bounded by the Maflachufct's on the north. New York on the weft, fouthcrly by the Sound, and eaftcrly by Rhode- Illand and a part of the Maffachufet's Bay. It hath many fine towns, pleafantly fituated upon the river Connedticut, and along the Sound 5 the principal of which, for trade and commerce, are New London, Hartford, and New Haven j the latter of which, fituated on New Haven Bay, is ele- gantly laid rut in regular ftreets, having a beautiful parade or common in the center : it contains about 200 dwelling-houfes, beiides public buildings, among which is a college that CONNECTICUT. S3 that has a very good appcarnce, and in which, I am told, leaifting flourifhes ; there being near as great a number of young gentlemen annually graduated there as at Harvard in the MafTachufet's. The number of inhabitants in the whole colony is fuppofed to be about two hundred and ten thoufapd. Ths foil of this colony is various, much of it being uheven, rocky, cold and barren; aiifl other parts exceeding pleafant and fertile, efpe- cially on Connedlicut River already mentioned, whofe ihter-valcs produce all kinds of grain and fruit common to the climate in great abundance, rarely difappointing, and often ex- ceeding thie hopes of the huibandman. They alfo breed in thi$ tolony great numbers of black cattle, horfes, and fwine ; make confi- derable proficiency in raifing of hemp add flax ; and a town called Weathers-field, on the river, is remarkable for the produdlion of onions, with which it annually loads feveral yeflels to the neighbouring provinces. The trade of this colony to foreign parts is very inconfiderable, they being chiefly fup- plied with foreign commodities from Bdlon sand 1 '*' i ^'■'' I ; i ■! lit 'i^l- ,1 1 1 .ii I ii 54 A Concise Account of • 5' M ! I 'M :V and New York j in exchange for which they fend beef, pork, flax-feed, onions, 6cc. There are fomc iron-works in this colony carried on to great advantage ; and they (liip fomc lumber and hurfes to th-:; Weft-Indies, and confiderablc quantities of ffiflafras to Hol- land, §cc. But, after all, the obfervation of a nobleman (who, fome years fince, travelled through this and the adjacent provinces) is very juft, namely, that the *« colony of Con-* nedlicut may be compared to a cafk of good liqu-i, tapped at both ends, at one of which Bofton draws, and New York at the other, till little is left in it but lees and fettlings." They have always been exceedingly careful in this colony net to abufe or exceed the rights and privileges granted them by their charter, whereby they might incur a forfeiture of it ; but, in conformity to it, continue arinualiy to chLic their own Governor, Lieutenant-Gover- nor, Afliftants and Deputies, &c. by whom all executive officers are appointed and authorifed. They generally allow their Governor , a very handfome ruaiiilenance, and have good funds for other public exigencies. .__^ The rehgious perfuafions here are the farne as in the other New England governments J but . . there Ml m\' RHODE-ISLAND. 55 ;h they colony ey (liip •Indies, :o Hoi- on of a ravelled ices) is if Con-» Df good ■ which ; other, >» . careful le rights :harter, of it ; laliy to IGover- hom all borifed, a very funds \e farne its 5 but there .-4 there are rrore of the Kpifcopal church here than in all the others ; nor are they behind-hand with the Mairachuiet's in their care and pains in educating of their children ; the fevcral towns being provided wiih fchools, and thofe fupphcd with able mafters. The Colony of RHOD E- ISLAND, THIS colony comprehends what were originally the colonies or plantations of Rhodc-Ifland and Providence, being incorpo- rated into one, by a new charter, about the fame time as the colony of Connecticut ; and, like that, they ftill retain the rights and pri- vileges that were at firft granted them in their fcparate ftate, keeping up likewife two feats of government, viz. Newport and Providence, at which places their general court is lield alter- nately. This colony has but a fmall territory, lying nearly in the figure of an heart, ^nd is bounded north and eaftby the Mallachufet's Bay,fouth- erly by the Qcean, and wefterly by Connecfticut. The ■I.I 11. i I: i t ■ V 1 i ^-k Tit t ' ■ 1' i: 4 I i I [ (il'iril I ! I ' i, i:i 56 ^ Concise Account 0/ The principal towns in it are thofc already mentioned of Newport, fituated on the Ifland called Rhode-Ifland, pleafantly enough, and has a faft and good harbour for ordinary (hip- ping ; and Providence, Htuated not lefs plea- fantly upon Providence River, is a very thriv- ing town, and has a confidcrable trade. The number of inhabitants in this colony is Computed to be about 70,000. The foil is generally low, and inclined to tocks and ftones; however, when properly improved, produces Indian corn, rye, oats; peafe, hemp, flax, and fome wheat, and mofl kinds of fruit common to the climate, in great perfection, efpecially on Rhode-Ifland itfelf, which, for beauty and fertility, is the garden of the colony, and is exceeded perhaps by no fpot in New England. They raife cattle, fheep, and horfes, in abundance, and the latter the beft on the continent. They like wife make confiderable quantities of butter and qheefe in thir* country. The principal commodities exported front hence are, horfes, fheep, cheefe, and the pro- duce they procure from the neighbouring pro- vinces, fuch as fi(h and lumber from the Maf- fachufct's and New Hampftiire ; flour, beef, and pork, from Philadelphia, New York, and Corne^icut> R II O D E - I S L A N D. 57 Connedicnt, which they commonly pay for ia mm, fiigaf, and molalTes, imported from the Weft Indies, in tea from Holland, or in (laves from the coafls of Africa. The form of government here is in all re- fpcdts the fame as in the colony of Connedlicut. They are not, however, fo fcrupulous in keep- ing up to the terms of their charter, often dif- penfing with it in fomc pretty cfTential points, and taking liberties, not only detrimental to the other provinces, but even to the nation, efpccially in times of war, by carrying on an illicit trade with the enemy, and fupplying them with the mod material articles. This they have repeatedly done with impunity, to my certain knowledge, in thecourfeof the late war, when many fcores of vefTels went loaded wi*h beef, pork, flour, Sec, under the pretext of flags, which, for a certain confideration, could at any time be procured from their Governor, when at the fame time perhaps they carried not more than one or two French prifoners, divid- ing the crew of one French merchantman they had taken, among a whole fleet of flags of truce, laden with articles more welcome to the enemy than all the prifoners, with the fhip and cargo, they took from them. Nor can it be greatly wondered al; that their Governor fhould ^I fall or I i: l^. •.i1 1 1 m * '-W"^*9'%*^ ^^iri.\,' '**"' : i Ninl m I I: :r: if ^S A Concise Account of fall in with fo clandefline a method for the procuretnent of a livelihood, when it is con- fidered that they allow him but fifty or iixty dollars per annum for his maintenance j befidcs, as he is annually eledled, fo there are always two or more that are competitors for the government; and generally he that diftributes the moft calli, and gives the befl entertain- ments, let him be merchant , farmer, tradefmen, or what he will, is the man who obtains a majority of votes, which fixes him in the chair (death only excepted) for that year. Thefc cledtion-expences generally run high, as each candidate endeavours to excel his competitor (and, if all put together, would amount to a reafonable maintenance) and muft be refunded fome way or othck' during his reign who happens to be eledled, and provifion made to adt the fame part over again the next year. There are in this colony men of al moft every religious pcrfuafion in the world. The great- eft number arc Quakers, and many have no religion at all, or at leaft profefs none ; on which account no queftions aie here afked, every man being left pretty much to think and adt for himfelf, of which neither the laws nor his neighbours take much cognizance, fo great- ly is their liberty degenerated into licentiouf- ' nefs. NEW YORK. 59 ncfs. This province is infefted with a raicaily fct of Jews, who fail not to take advantage of the ^reat hberty here given to men of all pro- feflions and religions, and are a peft not only to this, but the neighbouring provinces. There is not one free-fchool in the whole colony, and the education of children, general- ly, fliamefully negledled. The PiioviNCE of NEW YORK. THIS province is fituated between 40 and 44, degrees north latitude, and 70 and 76 deg. weft longitude, being bounded caft by the New England provinces, north by the province of Quebec, north- weft and weft by the lands of the Five Nations and part of Penfylvania, fouth-wefterly and foutherly by the province of Jerfey and the Atlantic Ocean, having a very exteniive and valua- ble territory. This province (as well as the Jerfies and Penfylvania) v/as originally fettled by the Swedes, not long after the New England peo- ple fettled at Plymouth 5 and after them fome I 2 , Dutch K \ i.'l I 1 ■ ■' HNiiil >|:iJ|!l ■ i I ill tip !! 1; i; j|.|:, . ? Ill* ^ 60 -^ Concise Acccl^nt ^/^ Dutch adventurers reinforced froi fettled here, who, being om Holland, quickly became the ftrongeft party, and obliged the Swedes to acknowledge them as tlic fole proprietors of this country, paying no regard to the chiim of the Englifii, who had not only difcovered, but traded to it before. The Dutch founded their claim on a pre- tence of having purchafed it of one Captain Hudfon, who had formerly traded on thefe coafts, and gave name to the river called Hud- fon's River, and to the Bay of the fame name to the northward. Under this right, the Weft- India Company fent a number of people to fettle here, but were foon after difpoirefTed by Captain Argal, fent by the province of Virgi- nia, with a proper force for that purpofe. Upon this the above-mentioned Compa- ny begged'^permiflion of King James theFirft, for fome of their people to fettle at this place, pretending that it was convenient for their (hips to call at for refrefliment in their paftage to and from the Brazils. Their requeft was granted, but upon this ex- prefs condition, that the people who fettled there ihould acknowledge themfelves to be under the fubjedlion of the King of England, This they ■A 1 i NEW YORK. 6i they accordingly did for fome years j but, taking advantage of the troubles that followed in the reign of King Charles the Firft, the States of Holland fhook off their dependanCe on the crown of England, and gave the be- fore-mentioned Company a formal grant of this country ; and under this grant they ap- pointed Governors, and ereded forts, calling the country Nova Belgia, or the New Nether- hnds : and they alfo utterly refufed to pay to King Charles the Second the fum they had paid to his father and grand- father, for per- milTion to fidi on the coafts of Great Britain. Thele intriifions and ufurpations did not occa- fion an immediate rupture between the two flates, as might have been cxpedled ; howe- ver, not long after, the King made a grant of what is now the provinces of New York, Ne<«r Jerfey, and Penfylvania, to his brother James, then Duke of York, and High- Admiral, who, in the year 1664, fent out a fleet, underlhe command of Sir Robert Carr, with a fufficient number of land-forces, to take pofTeflion of the country that had been granted him ; who, coming upon the coafts, quickly reduced the fofts the Dutch had eredted there, and obliged them to become Britifh fubjeds, or leave the coun- h: 1 1 i Iff <. :i; m 1 1 5 . i'l- < J' i* il V ': I I. liMil 62 I^ConciseAccountj/" country. The people gladly accepted of the former; whence it is that many of the bcA families in New York, to this day, appear by their names to be o^ Dutch extradlion. New Amfterdam, fituated on an illand at the mouth of Hudfon's River, was pitched up- on for the metropolis, its name being changed to that of New York, in honour of the pro- prietor's title ; and from the name of the city, the county to the eafl and north, and indeed the whole province, goes under the fame appella- tion ; as does like wife the county of Albany, where the Dutch had crcdled a fort, named Orange Fort, receive the name of Albany, from the Duke's other title. The country being thus fubdued, Sir Ro- bert returned, taking with him the greateft part of the land-forces, left Colonel Nichols Governor of the country; and as the States Ge- neral fccmed to give up all claim and pretences thereto, it encouraged many people to remove thither from England, fo that it foon, by the prudent management of Colonel Nichols, and the other fucceeding Governors, became a very flourifhing colony ; Mr. Nichols making it one of his firft ftudies to cultivate a friend- fliip, and enter into a treaty of peace, with the NEW YORK. 63 Mohocks, or Five Nations of the Indians, who have ever fince continued true and faith- ful, and been of great fcrvice to this pro- vince. In 1 673, a war breaking out between Eng- land and the States General, the Dutch fcnt a fleet to recover this colony, and again reduced it to their obedience ; but they kept pofleffion thereof but a very fhort time, it being ceded to the crown of Great Britain (and the Gover- nor replaced) by the treaty which followed in 1674 J ever fince which time it hath been un- der the Englifli government, the people prov- ing peaceable and obedient fubjedls, ready up- on every occafion to exert themfelves in de- fence of the rights of Great Britain, abroad as well as in their own territory ; ovticularly in oppofing and repelling the encroachments of the French from Canada, with whom they have had various encounters, being always joined and affifled by the Mohocks, with three hun- dred of whom, and as many EngliL), Colonel Schyler obtained a compleat vidtory, in the reign of William and Mary, over 700 French regulars, and an equal number of Huron Indians, commanded bv the Governor of Quebec, near the river St. Lawrence, at which ihey Ml' ' - , i' '■'■«■ I !■ . i 'i : If 1' I \^ . I: il I 64 -^Concise Account^' time he would in all probability have routed the French out of Canada, had he had veflcls to have croflcd the river, and proper artillery. The fame Colonci Schylfr gallantly repulfed them again in 1716, and deftroyed a fort they had creded near Onondago Lake, vf'iih. a view to cut off their communication Vv^ith the Lake Ontario, which is by the way of Albany to Schenedady about twenty miles by land, then up the Mohock river to Lake Oineyda, and from thence to Lake Ontario, without any land- car- riage, except about a mile at the long falls of the Mohock River, four miles from that river to the Wood creek that falls into the Lake Oncyda, and about twenty yards to Schuna falls, near the mouth of Onondoga River, which runs from that lake into Lake Ontario. Soon after this our fort at Ofwego was eredled, where hath fince been carried on the greateft Indian tradeof any in America, commanding that of the northern and weftern Indians; and the French, to make up their lofs, while we were fupine and carelefs, eredlcd forts on the river Chamblee or Soriel, at Crown Point, at Niagara, &c. which have fince been the fource of infinite mifchief to this and the New England pro- vinces, till happily reduced, and the French excluded '" " l^E^ tORK. 6s excluded fern', this part of America by the late war. • ;: - • - The city of Ne\V York, which is governed by a Mayor and Aidernienj is fituated on an illancl bounded by Hudfon's River on the weft, the Bay and Sound on the fouth and eaft, and a fmall creek or channel communicating with the Sound and Hudfon's River, about lixteen miles north from the city. In the city arc be- tween 2 and 3000 houfe?, generally pretty well built i but the ftreets very irregular. It hath feveral fpacious public buildings, among which the college and the court-houfe are the moft confiderable, and the Governor's manfion- houfe within the fort j the houfes for public worfhip are no-wajrs defpicable, efpecially the two Englifli churches. The public worfhip in this city is every Sunday performed in different churches, in the Englifh, the French, the German, and Low-Dutch languages. This city abounds with many wealthy merchants, who carry on a large trade to foreign parts, and arc obferved to deal very much upon honour ; excepting fome Jews, who have been tolerated to fettle here, having a fynagogue in the city, who fuftain no very good charader, being many of them felfifli and K knavifb. 'i'.-^ I • •r :!i riif w d: mB r t ■ pi I I ■i i 6.ii III 'Ml « ■ II 66 ^ Concise Account of knavifli (and where they have an opportunity) an oppreffive and cruel people. The next confi- derable place in this province is the city of Albany, fituated upon the wcfl-fide of Hud- fon's River, 150 miles above New York, con- taining near 400 houfes i others are Shcnec- ; :idy - 1 the Mohock River, fifteen miles above Aibai y; Efbpus, half-way between Albany and York; .fjrdPeckeepfy, about ten miles further down the nver. The number of inhabitants in the whole province are about 150,000. The foil of this province is generally very plcafant and fertile, producing in great abun- dance all forts of grain and fruit, common to the climate ; efpecially the inter-vales, which are many, and large, upon its extended rivers, of which Hudfon's River is the chief. This river heads within twenty or thirty miles of Lake Champlain,and runs fouth for about fifty or fix- ty miles, crofling in its way fome fmall lakes, of which Scanderoon is the moil confiderable j it then bends more eaflerly to the carrying- pi ace, where Fort Edward ftands; and then fouth- ward, till it empties itfelf into the fea at New York, or Sandy Hook, having on it fome ex- ceeding fine inter-vales at Saratoga, Still Wa- ter, Half Moon, the Flats, 6cc. and below Al- bany ■■? ~t of Ktunity) xtconfi- e city of if Hud- rk, con- Shcnec- cs above )anyand s further labitants 00. ally very at abun- nmon to , which d rivers, his river of Lake ty or fix- lakes, of able \ it g-place, fouth- atNew ome ex- till Wa- llow Al- bany NEW YORK. (^7 bany are fome iflands in it of moft excellent land. This river is navigable for velTels of an hundred tons as high as Albany, and Hiallops can go eight or ten miles higher. About eight miles above Albany the Mohock River empties itfelf at feveral mouths, called the Sprouts, into this. This river takes its rife in the Mohock country, and is navigable (ex- cepting fome few falls) for whale-bo^ts and battoes, for upwards of one hundred n.le its courfe is eaftwardly, and has adj?. 'nt lO it many fine inter-vales, particularly \i"^ called the German Flats, being fettlei' with Ger- mans, and is extended along thcrwci* for fifty miles in length, and about two in width. This tra6t of land is exceeded by none in America, being cafy to cultivate, and pro^ ducing, in the greateft abundance, wheat, bar-^ ley, peafe, hemp, or whatever is put into it. About two miles from where this joins with Hudfon's River is a fall or cataradt, at which the whole ftream defcends perpendicular for about feventy feet. This part of the province abounds with faw-mills, having great plenty of timber, efpecially pines. In the before-mentioned rivers is great plenty of fiih, fuch as fliad, ail-wives, ftur* K 2 geon, i Til' vf 31 1 !S ■ . [ w ) 1 ! S\ I % I ri \M "• U: if it. 1 ■ Jf iu i 63 A Concise Account of ■'!,, I ' ' I ^ geon, &c. and alfo a variety of frerti water iifli. In this part of the province are alfo feveral iron-works, carried on to great advan- tage; particularly Mr. Levingfton's, at his manor upon Hudfon's River, which is faid to manufadlure the befl iron of any in America. There are alfo very fine lands upon the Eaft- River, or Sound, tho' very rocky, as indeed is mod of the upland within this province, up- on the main land^ being mountainous and hard to fubdue, yet, when once brought to, it richly rewards the labour of the hufbandman, There are alfo feveral ptcafant and fruitful if- lands to the fouth and fouth-eaft of the city; . and, among thefe, that called Long Ifland de- ferves the iirft notice. In the fea adjacent to this ifland are fea-bafs and black-fifh in great plenty, which are very good when frcfli. This ifland is about 1 50 miles in length, and in fomc places twenty miles wide; the middle of the ifland is fomewhat barren, but both ends arc mofl: excellent foil, improved perhaps to as great advantage as any lands in America, producing all kinds of grain and fruit^^ to He found in this part of the country, to great perfection ; and abounds with black cattle, flicep, fwine, horfes, &c. beypn^ any other part water | re alfo | advan- jJ at his i| faid to M nerica. ^ e Eaft- M deed is | ei up- ^ id hard J to, it '■ id man, tful if^ 1 e city 5 M ,nd de- ■ :ent to I I great 1 ength, 1 ), but 1 }roved I ads ia 1 1 fruit, I great 1 cattle, ■ other 1 part 1 NEW YORK. 6g part of the province I am told that the pro- duce of fome fingle acres ^t the weft-end, which is handy to New York market, annual- ly amounts to near a hundred pounds fterling. And fo productive is this ifland of the humaa fpecies, that no lefs than a hundred families an- nually remove from hence to other places, ge- nerally carrying with them an handfome fum to begin with J and a much greater number of women are annually married from hence into the neighbouring plantations. There are feveral oth^r illands belonging to the province, not inferior to this in pleafant- nefs and fertility of foil, tho* of much lefs ex* tent ; as Streightcn Illand, oppofite to the weft-end of Long Ifland, forming the Narrows orStreights, thro* which is the paftage for fhips bound to or from the fea to New York j and Fi(her*s Ifland, lying in the Sound, betwccai Long Ifland and the colony of Connedicut, 6a the main ; and feveral others, both in the Bay and Sound ; one of which in the latter, called Barn Ifland, about 25 miles from New York, has obtained a charter for erecting a city, andr fome advances are made towards it. The fituation of New York is extremely happy for trade, having a fafe and convenient har- ^^' '; ■ Ml .1' a !.■; ■;<■ I ' .1: A' M ..! ■ ■ I 't*> I fi; '1 !! \t } } I': ^ \i\ V i I is ■ •' i'i 70 A Concise Account of harbour, acccfribic three different ways for fhips of common burthen, viz. by way of the Sound, between Long Ifland and Streighten Ifland (which is the mod ufual and eafy entrance) ; and again between Streighten Ifland and the Jerfey-fhore. There are eafy conveyances to and from it by water, upon its rivers and lakes (except fome few carrying- places) to Montreal and Quebec northward, and to the great lakes Erie, Ontario, &c. weftward, for 600 miles 5 and upon the fea k has not only the advantage of its own coafts, but alfo of Connedlicut and the Jerfies, their trade in great meafure centering here, where they exchange their fcveral commodities for foreign goods. • ? The commodities exported from hence are therefore thofe of the three governments, fuch as wheat, flour, beef, pork, furs, and caftor, in great abundance; flaves, plank, lumber, flax-feed, pig and bar iron, and fome cop- per. And, of late, great encouragement is given- to feveral manufasftories, efpecially that of hemp, the railing of which is encou- raged by a large bounty given by the pro- vince : and in the city a fociety is formed, who fit at ftatcd times, to confult methods r.ii NEW YORK. 7« .'i< for promoting trade and hulbandry in their various branches, and the manufadiuing of linnen, wool, iron, £cc. and confiderablc premiums are allotted to fuch as exceli in thefe branches of bufinefs; which condudl will doubrlefs have a tendency to prefervc the cre- dit of this province, to enrich the inhabi- tants, by increafing their exports, and ren- der them lefs v^ ^pendant on foreign countries for their commodities and manufadlures of fe- veral kinds. His Britannic Majctly is abfolute Sovereign of the foil of this province, and by him the Governor, Lieutenant-Governor, Secreta- ry, Council, &c. are appointed; the free- holders of the feveral counties cleding their own reprefentatives, to form a legiflalive body with them. The cities of New York and Albany have likewife the privilege, by their charters, of making by-laws for themfelves, (provided they are not inconfiftent with the laws of the province, nor of the realm) which are enadled by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Com- mon Council of the refpedlive cities, annually ele(fled by the free-men of each ; thefe likewife form a court of judicature, called the Mayor's court. r .! mw '.\<\ >, ^' , I' 1 'i The Illil .'i i ii ^2 A Concise AcGouNT^ < The religious perfuafions here are very nu- merous; there being Epifcopalians.. Luther- ans, PrefbyterianSj^ A^;abaptill$, Moravians, Quakers, and Jews, wht) not only worfliip in all their various forms, but, as hath been men- tioned, in different languages. Learning oif late hath been much encouraged in this pro- vince, the college being well eflabliflied, and furnifhed with a prefident, profeflbrs, and tutors, and a good library ; feveral young gentlemen are annually graduated at it, and the city and country in general are well furnifh- cd with fchools. I J I !.;:!' 1., r. The Province of NEW JERSEY. THIS province is fituated between New York and Penfylvania, in a triangulaf form, having the province of New York nor- therly, Penfylvania weflerly and foutherly, and the Atlantic Ocean eafterly, from the mouth of Hudfon*s River to the mouth of De- laware River. This province, like New York, was originally fettled by the Swedes, and was deemed a part of what the Dutch had • '■ J poflefieci NEW JERSEY. n poflefkd thenifelves of, by the name of Novii Belgia, and was contained in the grant made by King Claries to his brother James, Duke of York, in 1663, who the year followirg made a grant of that part called New Jerfey to Lord Berkley and Sir George Carteret. Thefe two proprietors fent Philip Carteret, Efq; as Governor ; and the lands being granted to the fettlers for fix or fcven years, free of quit- rents, induced many, efpecially Diffenters, to come from England, and fettle in this coun- try 5 fo that the inhabitants, being a compo- fition of Swedes, Dutch, and Engli{h, among whom were fome of almoft every religious pcrfuafion und^r heaven ; they were like fo many jarring elements pent up together, and could not be reduced and reconciled to any fettled form of government, but by a military force : they indeed continued within fome bounds while they Vvcrc excufed paying quit- rents; but after the exoiration of the term aibove mentioned, when that indulgence was no longer allowed them, and the quit-rents afterwards being confiderably in arrear, upon the proprietors infifting on payment thereof, they broke out into open rebellion, depofcd the Governor, and fct up a fort of government L of ;S,::!V P % .,* ■■M-: Hi « \ .11 J 1 i ii r t ' I i .' -.1' 1 ! I i 74. ' ^ Concise Account cf of their own, under which they continued till 1673, when they were attacked andfubdued by theDutchj but the country being again reftored to the Englifii by the treaty made the follow- ing year, Mr. Carteret returned to his govern- ment, and the proprietors making fome con- ceffions, the inhabitants continued pretty quiet for fome time. Lord Berkley icon after af- figned over his right to iMr. William Penn and three other affignecs with whom Sir George Carteret agreed to divide the country into two equal parts, by running a line from the fouth- eaft point of Little Egg Harbour, almo'i due north ; the eaflermoft part Vv'hereof, which on fuch partition was allotted to Sir George, was and flill is called Eafl New Jerfey ; and the other part which was allotted to iVir. Pcnn and the other proprietors, w^as then diftinguifhed by and ftill retains the name of Weft New Jerfey, and fo became for fome time two feparate and diftin(!l governments. Sir George afterwards died, and his truftees thereupon fold his right therein to Mr. Penn, and eleven other pur- chafers ; and they not long after fold a part of theirs to the Earl of Perth, and eleven others 3 all which divifions and fubdivifions caufing the land to be branched out into fuch numerous por- NEW JERSEY, 7S nued till idued by reftorcd ; follow- govern- me con- :tty quiet after af- Penn and r George into two le ibuth- mo'"' due ivhich on )rge, was and the ?cnn and fhed by vv Jerfey, rate and crwards lis right iier pur- a part of others j fing the umerous por« i portions, that the refpcdivc owners thereof, taking little or no notice of their intcrcfls there- in, no proper care being taken to fettle and fix proper lines and boundaries to their eftates, it became difficult, if not impoflible, to afcer- tain their refpedive rights ; which caufing from time to time great uncertainty of pro- perty^ it occafioned fo many mohs and tu- multuous rifmgs, that the proprietors, being quite wearied out, they in the year 1702 fur- rendered the entire government of both the Jerfies to the crown, referving only to thern- felves all their other rights and privileges^ and flipulating alfo for feme privileges in fa- vour of the people, which were to be given in charge to all future Governors appointed by the crown, as part of their inflrudlions. Up- on this furrender, the government of the Two Jerfies was by the crown annexed to the go- vernment of New York, in which flate they continued till the year 17^6, when the two Jerfies became one government, and Lewis Morris, Efq; was appointed their fiifb Gover- nor ; but they dill retain a !eiU of povern- ment in each divifion, at which their afiem- bly and fupreme court of judicature fi: alter- nately, VIZ. at Burlington in Wefb Jerfey, L 2 an4 ' i,»''t till fli ■1! ^11 11$ 'I 4 'm 'i! j, 76 ^Concise Account (?/ and Perth Amboy in Eaft Jerfcyj which two placcij, though no ways coniiderablc either for their numbers or trade, have city-privileges j as haih the city of New Brunfwick, (ituated upon the River Rariton, about eight miles a- bove Amboy (which ftands at the mouth of the river), and is faid to be the moft flourifh- ing place in the vvhole province. The num- ber of inhabitanrs in this province is comput- ed to be about 100,000. The f^>il of this province is very uniform, good and eafy, natural to wheat and all kinds of Engiifh grain, abounding in ; U kinds of fruit common to the climate ; and is faid to produce the bed cyder of any on\he conti- nent. The timber is tall, and their oak is in good efleem for ihip-buiidi^y, 1 iiis province abounds in ftreams of water, convenient for mills, furnace^, or any kind of water- works; and having grcai. quantities of iron ore, there are in it feveral furnaces and iron works, and one flitting mill, which arc carried on to good advantage. It is likewife fuppofed to be rich in copper and filver ore, fome of both kinds having been found in feveral parts of the pro- vince; but none hath been worked to any great advantage, excepting Schyler*s copper- " mine ■* L of hich two either for rivileges ; (ituated miles a- nouth of flourifh- he num- comput- uniform, all kinds k'inds of is faid to be conti- oak is in province lient for -works; e, there ks, and to good ) be rich h kinds the pro- to any copper- mine NEW JERSEY. 77 mine in Eail New Jerfey, about twenty miles weR- from the citv of New York, the pro- duce of which hath already made fevcral fine eflates. There arc no rivers of any note that ex- tend far into this province ; that called Paf- faick, which empties itklf into the lea at the northerly part of it, ha:, about twenty miles from its mouth a remarkable fall orcatarad:, where the whole flreum falls fevcnty foot from a rock whofc face is perpendicular. The lands in this province are chiefly taken up and improved, fo that they have but little wild game of any kind ; but what greatly ob- flrud:s the growth of this province, and hin- ders it from thriving in proportion to the goodnefs and fertility of its foil, and making thofe improvements it is other wife capable of, is the great uncertainty of their tides, and the continual difputcs and law-fuits which thence ari(c among the inhabitants, no meii owing rich here lo fad as the irentlemen of uie law. Befides, this province lufxl^rs the . 'me fate from Philadelphia and New Yor" , that the colony of Connecfticut does from New York: and Bofton j having no conlldefable foreign Jrade of their owfi^ they exchange their corn- modi- ' ' ' il 1 ' I ' { W. il ¥ §1 78 A Concise A c c o u N T f 4), 4. i t Mi H l|li*i 1' moditii^s at tbofe t\\ places for for )reign goods, and confcquently leave a profit there, which otherwife they might have thcmfelves. The chief exports of this province arc wheat, flour, timber, pig and har iron, cop- per ore, and black cattle, v^hich they drive in great numbers to Pliiladclphia, on whofe rich pafturcs they are generally grazed for foinc time, before they are killed for market. The form of government here is the fame as that of Newr York, and the religious per- ftiafions are no iefs numerous, and much the fame as in that province. Here is like- wife a college founded at Prince-Town, about thirty miles frorr the city of Philadelphia, which is faid to be extremely well furnillied and regulated, and is much reforted to, not only by the yoong Gentlemen of this, but by many of the neighbouring provinces. .•. . . * The which ( 79 ) The Piovince of P E N S Y L V A N I A. 'r ■' ' ^ " :e arc , cop- rive in fe rich r lomc s fame IS per- much 5 like- , about elphia, nillied not but The THIS province was by the Dutch ef- teemed a part of their Nova L'clgia> and was, as fuch, fuppofed to be included in the grant made by King Charles tiie Second ta his brother James the Duke of Yoik, in 1663, though it does not appear to have been particularly defcribed in the grant. It is fituated between 39 and 42 degrees latitude, and 72 and 78 degrees weft longitude, being bounded north-eafterly by the Jerfeys, iiorth by lands of the Five Nations, weft by the Apalathian mountains, and foutherly by Maryland. In 1681, Mr. Penn obtained a patent from King Charles for the upper or inland part of this province j and afterwards, from the Duke of York, he obtained a grant of the fea-coafts from the town of Delaware, now Newcaftle, to Cape Henlopen. In the country, contained within this lafl: grant, were many i:Hvcdes, Dutch, nod Englidi fettled, who chofc to re- main under a diftindl jurifdidton of their own, but are under the fame Governor, and belong to ibe fame proprietor. One of the funda- mental xc^gulationii cf this pru'vhicc is, *' that " Lill »' I m i ,■ t. i ' > l:i I ; 80 ji Concise Account 0/ cc <( C( '* none who believe in God Almighty, and ** live peaceably, fliall be moklled on account *' of their religious perAialion, or be com- " pelled to frequent or fupport any religious *' worfliip contrary to their declared fenti- ** mentsj" and, " that all pcrfons who pro- •* fefs to believe in Jefus Chrifl, fhall not be incapable of ferving the government in any capacity on account of any peculiarities in their religious opinion?, they folemnly pro- ** mifing, when required, allegiance to the " crown of Great Britain, and fidelity to the ** Proprietor and Governor of the province." Soon after Mr. Penn had obtained his f^rant- he engaged and embarked with a confiderable number of people to fettle in this country, mod of whom were Quiakers, Mr. Penn himfeif be- ing of that perfuafion j but fo upright was ht in his proceedings, that although he had, bjr charter from the King, a right to a large ex- tent of country, yet he v/ould not pretend to take pcirefHon, or make uny divifion of the lands among his followers, till he had fairly purchafed the country of the native Indians, in whom he judged the original property and oldeft right was vefted ; and at the fame time he encraofed the feveral nations of Indians, in- habiting or claiming this territory, t# promife that I PENSYLVANIA. 8r that they would not ftll or difpofc of any of their lands, but to him, or fuch as fliould be authorifed by him to purchafe the fame, giv- ing orders to his agents not to take pofTeflion, or fuffer any pcrfon to take pofTefTion of any lands, till they had firflmade a fair purchafe of them from the Indians. This generous pro- cedure of his not only recommen 'ed him ftrongly to the natives, who conceiveil a very high opinion of his honour and inugrifv, but laid a foundation for a lafting peace with them, and effcdtually prevented many of thofo tra- gical calamities which feveralofthc American provinces fuffered in their infant Hare. Mr. Penn continued in the country upwards of two years, in which time he formed fuch an ex- cellent plan for the government of t'e pro- vince as hath fmce engaged more foreigners to refide here than in any other part of America. Helikewife laid the foundations of the city of Philadelphia, and formed the plan of it, which, for beauty, not only far excells any other in America, but is, perhaps, exceeded by few in the world. This city is fituated be- tween two navigable rivers, Delaware on the north, and the Schulkill on the fouth, which join each other a few miles below, and is near loo miles from the bay where the river emp- M tics 'i'l Ik I, 1 m ■ $ ■) • if i ! I lii ' ■ I 82 /f Concise Account of •tics itfelf. The flrccts arc wide and fpanous, with a dry defended walk on each fide, and are cxadtly ftrait and parallel to each other : thehoufesin general are well built, and make a good appearance, efpecially fomc of the public building?, which are not excelled by any in the country 5 fuch, in particular, i^ the academy, the ftate-houfe, and feveral of the churches. The proprietor's feat, which is the ufual place of the governor's refidence, and is about a mile above the town, exceeds any private building in America, both in its magnificence and the pleafantnefs of its litua- tion. This city has exceeding beautiful bar- racks for the reception of the King's troops, and has the fineft market of any on the con- tinent, being of a prodigious extent and well built, and as well regulated and fupplied ; in fhort, fcarce any thing can afford a more beau- tiful landfcape than this city and the adjacent country, which for fome miles may be com- pared to a well-regulated flourifhing garden, being improved, as I have been informed, to as great advantage as almoft any lands in Eu- rope ; there are in the city about four thou- fand houfes, and about twenty thoufand inha- bitants. Other (i •l ■i .,x ft PENSYLVANIA. S3 Other confiderable places in this province are, firft, Lancaftcr, about fixty or fevienty miles from Philadelphia, on the road to Fort Du Qnefne or Pittfburg, which is near as large as the city of New York ; and about the fame diftancc trom Lancaftcr, on the fame road is Carliflc, and about twenty or twenty- five miles beyond it, is Shippefburg ; the country between r .duclphia and Pitilburg, which are three hundred miles afunder, being pretty well fettled for two hundred miles from the for- mer, the land being uniformly good. The number of inhabitants in the whole province of Penfylvania are upwards of three hundred and fifty thoufand. The moft remarkable rivers in this province are the Delaware and the Sufquahanah ; the firft of thefc takes its rife in the country of the Mohocks or Five Nations, and flows into the fea at Delaware Bay or Cape Henlopen. This river is navigable for near i5o.m.les up, af- ter which it hath feme falls in it, the letde- ments upon this river extend 1 50 miles from the city of Philadelphia. The l^nds adjacent to it are excellent, and fcarce ever fail to rcm ward the toil of the hufbandman in a plentiful manner. This river alfoaffords great plenty and variety of fuch fifh as are common to the cli- M 2 mate J '1,1 *i i > 'i - f IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) k A V ■^ '/., '^ 1.0 I.I 2.2 1^ |Z8 |2.5 |50 ^** Rl ■it lii IL25 HI 1.4 1.6 V Photographic Sciences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STREET WiBSTERN.Y. MS0O (716) 872-4S03 %^ \ iV >^ "% v ^\ 4^ ) ', t i ': i ''•ii 84 A' Concise Account of mate, efpecially fturgeon, which nrc here tai M ■ I •l^'J \i l! ! ■( l! ! T 'i 92 ACoNCisE Account of a difpate arifing between an Im^lan and one of Sir Richarci's followers, thcv imprmit iitly burrt the Indian town, cicllioycJ il.tn corn, and did them other cop.liderahle daniaiiCSi v.'hich gave i!;e Indians very unlavourable id ea'j o f tbej e lic'A -colliers, and was, it may be fuppolcd, tht* ciud; cf their behaving in a quite different cn.jnr;ei from what they had done formei y i:ir K ichard, return I nir to England, left on 'he hiand Roanoke up- wards of hiinnr'id rnt'j, to mak'j a fettlcment there, under the care of one Mr. Lane; hut they met with fo many interruptions from the Indians were fo frequently in danger of be- ing cut off by them, and in fine reduced to luch (iiftrefs, that they were glad to return to England with Sir Francis Drake, who called there in his return from an expedition againft the Spaniards. Sir Walter Raleigh had, before thefe peo- ple arrived in England, fent out a fhip with provifions and other neceffaries, for the fupply of the infant-colony. Sir Richard Grenville following foon after with three fhips more : but this firlt fliip, not finding any of the peo- ple, returned to England ; and upon Sir Richard's arrival he neither fopnd the fhip nor VIRGINIA. 93 ' I d one It iitly corn, laiiCS J LI r able t may ^ in a y had ig lo e ijp- cmcnt ; but m the of be- :cd to urn to called igainft pco- with |uppiy fnvillc nore : pco- Sic (hip nor l\ nor the people he had left there the year be- fore. This greatly (lilcouraged him; howe- ver, not to give up the undertaking, he left fifty men at the fort on Roanoke, with a fup- ply of neccflaries for two years* and failed for England. The next fpring three (hips more were fent out, under diredion of Captain White, with a Tipply ofprovifion and men, who upon his arrival found nothing but a (Ice- leton of one of the people, and the fort de- (Iroyed 3 what became of the reft was never known. Thefe repeated misfortunes however did pot dilmay thof^ adventurers; for, in fpite of the difafters their countrymen had met with, they determined to cred: a fort, and keep pof- fefTion of the ifland they were then upon, called Cape Hatreras; and Mr. White, by the ciioice of the rell, was fent home to folicit a frc(h fupply ; but, upon his arrival, an em- bargo was laid upon all (hipping, on account of the cxocded invafion from the famous Sp'dnifh \rmado. However^ after great im- portunity, and much difficulty, he obtained pv^rmiilian to fiil with two fmall (hips, both of v^/hich were intercepted by the Spaniards, plundered^ and obliged to put back to Eng- land. - ^ t Ht': a 4 •■ .,' . ^■.. "i\ i 94 y/ C N CI s r. Account of Uiid. Kq care after this was taken to fcml .relief to the brave adventurers, till the montii of March 1590, when three (liips were fitted out at the cxpence of fomc merchants, to whom Sir WaUcr Ralcifi-h hv\ alTi^ned over «... ... ° . . his riglu to Virginia; but tliOngh they lailed from Plymouth in March, they never arrived at Cape Ilatteras till the next Augufl:, ha- ving employed themfclvcs all that time in plundering fomc Spanifli iflinds. When White arrived he could find no figns of his countrymen, but the word Croatian cut on a wooden pod ; for it had been agreed when White Ic'tt that ifland, that, in cafe they were obliged to remove, they {liould leave fomc fuch fTr;nal, widi the name of the place they jnfendcd to remove to. It was therefore ima- ghied they were gone to an ifland of that ' .name, but now called C'npc L.jk-out. Ac- .cordingly they dired:ed tlieir courfe for that : place; but, meeting with bad weather, his people [\rew uneafy. Being impatient to get home with their plunder, they obliged him to fleer for England, without once fearching the Ifland Croatan for their unfortunate country- men ; and, it is prefumed, they all either pe- rilled with hunger, or were dellroyed by the favag es. ' '1 '' n jf ' 1; V I R C I N I A, 95 uvnp,c?, ab roncot them wa? lvli heard of af- tcrvvarclf, thouj^'h fliips were iinmcJiatciy fcnt out hv Sir Walter Rnlei'/h in Icruch of them. All thoughts cf fcttlir.g Virginia (whieh was then a general name lor th.e vvliolc Northern Continent) were now laid afidc for Tome years; but fb favourable were the. accounts of the country, tliat the prtjccl was revived again in i6o6, when two companies were formed, confilling not only of merchants, but feveral Noblemen and Gentlemen joined in the de- fign; one of thefe companies was for the fouthern, the other for the northern colony. Sir Thomas Smith, a rich merchant in Lon- don, andoneof thofeto whom Sir Walter Ra- leigh had alligned over his right, was preli- dcnt of the former company, by whom three (liips were fitted out with men, provilions, and every necelTary for making a fettlcmcnt, with proper diredions for eflablinnng a form of go- vernment. Ihey arrived at Virginia in April, at the mouth of Chefcpeak Bay, lying be- ttvecn two capes, to which they gave the names of Cape Henry and Cr.pc Charles, after the King's two fon?. Here they fcaith- ed for fome lime in qucfi: of a proper place to cred a fort, and begin a letdcmcnt; and at i 'ilt i ' . u '«■ i •I V, 96 A Concise Account oj Jaft pitched upon a peninfuln, about forty miles from the mouth of the River Pacoha- tan. To this place they gave the name of James Town, from whence the river has fincc obtained the name of James River. The Indians, for fcveral days after they landed, kept ihem in conflant alarms, by fre- quently attacking them ; but not long after they fued for peace, which was the more rea- dily granted them on account of their fliips re- turning to England 5 which they did a few days after, leaving one hundred men^ many of whom were foon after taken iick, owing, as was fuppofed, to their bad provifions. One Wingfield, who was fent out as their Prefidentj behaved in fuch a manner that they were obliged to deprive him of his prefidency, and elcdl another. But the management of affairs chiefly depended on Captain Smith, who had during the paflage been very ill ufed, and foi^ three months confined by Wingfield ; but on their coming on (horc. Smith infifted upon being hrought to trial, where his innocence appeared £0 confpicuous, that Wingfield was condemned in two hundred pounds damages ^ which reco- very Mr. Smith generoufly gave up for the fer- Tice of the colony. It was owing to the pru- dence. d \' VIRGINIA. ^7 many wing, One ident, were and fFairs had dfor ut on dence, iudgment, and fjoftitude pf this G^ntk*- man, that thefe adven'turers were not* likp their predeceirors, deftroyed. By his exampi? he encouraged his con^panion^-to labour; hie courage was a terror to the favages, vvhofc treacherous fchcrnes f6r the dcftrudion oi the fettlemcnt he feafonably difcovcred, and wifely prevented their taking cffed:. It was through his intJuence and perfuafiori that his compa- nions did not abandon the fettlement and re- turn "to Europe, in a bark that had been left them, in order that they might extend their trade with the natives, and make further dif- coveries up the country. But, notwithftand- ing fuch iignal fervices, cnvy^ the conftant at- tendant on true merit, was employed in rai- fing objedlions to Mr. Smith's eondudlj and, having nothing of more importance to find fault with, blamed him for not going in fearch oi the head of Chick ahomina River. Though it was not of the lead confcquence to the co- lony, yet he refolved to remove this cavil, by endeavouring to find the fource of the river. He embarked in a barge, and going as far as that would carry them, with two Engli{hmen and two Indians, he took to a canoe, leaving orders with thofc in the barge, that not any of "■f^ O them I 98 A Concise Account of I'li \-\ them ihould go afhore till he returned ; hut fcarce had he turned his back before his or- ders were difobcyed, and they furprifcd by a party of Indians, confiiling of 300, headed by a brother of the King of Pamunkey ; one, George Caflan, was taken prifoner, the reft narrowly cfcaped : the chieftain, called Ope- chankanough, extorted from CafTan which way Mr. Smith was gone, and then cruelly put him to death. Captain Smith, having pro- ceeded up the river till it terminated in a fwamp, left the canoe in care of two Englifh- men, while he himfelf went to kill feme pro- vifions. The two men were furprifed afleep, and killed by the before mentioned party, who tracked the Captain and furrounded him ; he however made a brave defence, killed three of the Indians, and wounded feveral others, fo that none cared to approach nim ; he received a flight wound in his thigh, and had feveral arrows fticking in his deaths ; but, attempt- ing to gain his canoe, he fiiddenly fell into a bog up to his middle. Being benumbed and almoft dead with cold, they drew him out, carried him to the fire where his men had been killed, and rubbed and chaffed his be- numbed limbs« ■vaj .( Upon I; but lis or- I by a beaded ' ; one, he reft 1 Ope- which cruelly ig pro- d in a nglifli- me pro- afleep, yr, who 11 ; he iree of crs, fo jceived feveral tcmpt- linto a led and out. In had lis be- Upon VIRGINIA. 99 Upon Mr. Smith's recovering his fenfes, he was brrught before Opechankanough, to whom he prefented an ivory compafs. The favaee was very much furprifed at the motion of the needle, which he could lee through the glals, but was unable to touch, and was much aftoniflied on having the ules of it explained to him : yet foon after the Indians tied Mr. Smith to a tree, and were preparing to (hoot him, but were prevented by their chief hold- ing up the compafs. They then carried him off in great triumph to a hunting town, much re- forted to by King Pawhatan and his family, called Orapakcs, carrying the Englifh fwords and mulquets, the trophies of their vidtory, be- fore them, and Captain Smith under a guard of fix Indians. The women and children flocked out to behold one of their fpecies fo very unlike any they had hitherto feen, but treated Mr. Smith with whatever their town afforded ; and one of them, tor a trifling pre- fent of beads, returned him his coat, which feafonably defended him againlt the inclemen- cy of the weather, it being ex'remely cold. During thefe tranfadlions, Mr. Smith had a very narrow tfcape; the father of one of the Indians he had wounded, in making his de- J •;:')- . O 2 fcnco, \* ,H n . iv ..w»tr VIRGINIA. i<5j them two great guns and a grinci-ftone, to carry to their Emperor ; but their weight be- ing fupf^iior to their ftrcngth, he dilmiflcd them with i'uch prtfcnts tor their mailer, and his people, as prc^ved agreedble. AfFiirs at Jameb Town, in his ahfence, had got into great confufion, the people were dif- fpirited, and ah^ ut to quit the iniiofpitablc fliore in the vciTcl that nad been Irft thtm ; but upon his repretcnting to them the ablur- dlty oi fuch a refolution, the plenty in which he had fecn the natives live, and the fertility of the foil, he brought them to a different mind, they relolving to maintain their fort, and provide for thenifclves in the bed: maaner podible. They were confirmed in ihis refo- lutiun a few days aher, when Focahantas came to the fort with a numerous train, bringing a large fupply of all kinds of provifions which the country then afforded ; which (he conti- nued to do every four or five days, for fompi years afterwards : for Mr. Smith's behaviour, while amongft them, had given the Indians a very high opinion of the courage and know- ledge of the Englifli, and the moft terrible ap- prehenfions of their inftruments of war. This doubtlefs paved the way for Pocahantas to fave V his ;( < ■ (I 1.^' ^:1. 11 I m • (***' Art4Vli«"* p ; ' • 10| ^CoNCISEAcCOUNTi?/ his life, which her paflion fpr him induced her to do, and afterwards to vifit and fupply the fort : fo that the pafTion of this favage Prin- cefs, then about fourteen years of age, fcems to have, in fome fort, laid a foundation for the firft Chriftian fettlement in America, or at Icaft to have contributed much to the efta- ftlilhment of it. In 1607 ^^^ colony received a fupply, two fhips having been fent out by the company, with 120 men, provifions, 6cc. which were loaded back with furs, fkins, and other pro- duce of the country. Captain Smith had by this time gained a pretty thorough knowledge of the adjacent country, and the feveral rivers in it 5 but the company in England, by the infinuations of one Captain Newport, fell up- on meafures which Mr* Smith could not ap- prove of, forefeeing that they would be detri- mental to the colony* This made Newport his declared enemy, and during his ftay in the country his condudt was fuch as quite altered the opinion they had conceived of the Eng- lifh 5 fo that, upon Newport's departure, Mr. Smith found it d'fficult to procure a fufficiency of proviiions, and would have been cutofl ii) an excurlion he made with a party for this endj had < i( ■ i n ■.«,»! '•*A4vii'h"' VIRGINIA. •105 had It not been for his faithful friend the Prin- cefs Pocahantas, who ventured herfelf through the darknefs of the night, to give him intelli- gence of the Indians dtfign. Pawhatan had been fupplied privately from the fort at James Town, by fome villains that were confederates with him, vith fome mufqiiets, fwords, pow- der and (hot. Notwithftanding Mr. Smith's wife and prudent conduct, which had now more than once faved the colony from entire ruin; yet fuch complaints by fome ilUminded perfons were carried home againft him, as greatly leiTened his credit with the company, who being likewife difappointed in their fan- guine expedlations of golden hills and filver mountains in this country, applied for a new charter j vvhich was eafily obtained, and grant- ed to a numbtjr of noblemen, gentlemen, and merchants, who ftill flattered themfelves that higher up the country were rich and valuable mines. So many perfons of rank and fortune engaging in the de{igi)y the fum raifed by them enabled the managers to fit out nine (hips, with 500 fettlers, and all neceiTaries for them. They embarked in May 1609. Sir Tnomas Gates, Sir George Summers, and Captain Newport, being all in one fhip, were fepara- F ted io6 A Concise Account of ted in a gale of wind from the reft, and flilp- wrcckcd anriong the Bermuda Iflands. The reft of the fleet, excepting one bark, arrived fafe at Virginia. Mr. Smith found it very difHcult to procure fubjcdion to his government from thefc new-comers, as they daily expedlcd he v/ould be (upcrfeded in the direction of af- fairs; he however carried his point, and would have maintained his authority till the new com- miflion arrived, and in all probability have prc- ferved the colony from thofe diflreiles it after- wards fell into, had it not been for the misfor- tune that befcl him in his return from the Falls of James River, where he had been to make a new^ fcttlcment; as he was fleeping in his boat, his powder-fla/li, by fome accident, took fire, which wounded him to that degree as put him to exquilite pain, and greatly en- dangered his life ; being in this fituation una- ble to quell thole fadlions which daily arofe, and not properly provided at this place with a furgeon and medicines, he embarked for Eng- land, leaving the colony well fupplied with all neceffaries, and their neighbours the Indians fubdued, and terrified at the very name of an Englifliman : fo that this Gentleman is juftly efteemed the firft founder of an Englifli colony in •" ' n! . I Virginia; 107 in America. But fuch was the return he met with for all his fervicf s, that, no fooner had he brought the enterprize to bear, than he was fuperfeded in his commaiui, and never re- ceived the leafl benefit or reward for all he had Q.-^ne. The three Gentlemen who fuffered (liip- wreck on the Bermuda lilands found means to get from thence, by building two fmall barks, and arrived at Virginia in the month of May the year following, where they found matters in the greatefl confulion, the colony being re- duced by famine, and other accidents, to fixty men, women and children, out of near five hundred left there by Mr. Smith about eight months before j for the Indians, apprized of Mr. Smith's departure, did not only refufe to furnifh them with any provifions, but mur- dered the people where and whenever they could ; among which unhappy vidlims was Mr. RatclifF, one of Mr. Smith's greatefl ene- mies, who, confiding in the infidious promifes of Pawhatan, was cut off with thirty men. The above Gentlemen, finding the dftrelTed fituation of the colony, determined to leave the unfortunate fliore and return toEn;>;land; and accordingly embarked, leaving the fort P 2 iland- II » M Ir 'iii i ' i^ \:h f-V :,»4»ti >MJ«v^*>"» > 1 'ic8 A Concise Accoukt of {landing ; but before they reached the niouih of the river they were met by Lord Delaware, with three Hiips, from Ki^gUml, lo^dvd with all kinds of flore> and nccefl'aries for the ule of the colony, and a f-ipply of perjple, with whom they all rtturncd to James Town, where his Lordfliip having landed and opened liis commifnon, his rank, joined to his per- fonal endowments, procured him great au- thority, and rcflorcd peace, indullry, and fru- gality among the people j and, by fome well- timed feveritles to the Indians, he checked their incurfions, and by lenity and ads of kindnefs won over others, fo that the colo- ny was plentifully fupplied v;ith corn ; but their hogs and poultry having been entirely deftroyed. Sir George Summers failed for Ber- mudas, to fetch a frefh fupply, but was there taken fick and died ; and the crew, inftead of returning to Virginia, failed for England, Lord Delaware being obliged to return to England for the recovery of his health, the government devolved upon Sir Thomas Dale, who now arrived from England with three (hips, having on board a reinforcement of men for the colony, a large fupply of provi- ^oi:s, and a number of live cattle, which they * . . ' , were '.•t«I^A«liv^M'< VIRGINIA. ic^ were more particularly in want of. This Gentle- man brought over a body of laws, by virtue of which he divided the lands, obliging every one to plant corn for his own fuoply. Sir Thomas Yates arrived this \cnr, in Auijull, with fix fliips, 300 men, 100 heid of live cattle, 200 hogs, ammunition and ne(< (lai ies of ail kinrs ; to whom Sir Thr mab Dale refi^ncd his com- mand, as being the rupcri>)r officer, and pro- cctdcd to make a feulcmcnt higher up in the country, at the mouth of Appomatox River; but the fupplies from England this year were fo fcanty, that they were obliged to purchale corn of the Indians. Captain Argal, who commanded one of the laft Ihips that arrived, was fent to the River Potomack for that purpofc; for Fawhatan and the neighbouring Indians refa- fed to deal with them. At the court of Japa- zaws, King of Potomack, was Pocahantas, who for a trifling prefent was yielded up to Argal. This Princefs, though (lie continued a, friend to the Englifh, had never vifited James Town after the departure of Captain Smith : it was attempted by means of Pocahantas to bring Pawhatan to terms, but to no purpofe ; he refufed to ranfom her, or to deal with them, till Sir Thomas Dale, taking with bim 150 !■ ;"-, •i 1. '1' 1 ' 1 1 > ■l 1 '«; ( 1 * 1 a I « } • ^ \ . in '!; ,|, I !l i|*>"' 'i ' i r ) i 'JIB'' :N ^!-.i mi^ \ X. lio A Concise Account of 150 men, went to his capital, and thrcatene(i to burn it and all that belonged to him. In the mean time Pocahantas had gained the af- fcdtions of one Mr. Rolfe, a youig Gentleman of characfler in the colony, and a marriage be- ingagreedupon byallparties, they were djarried in April 16 1 3, in prefence of her uncle and two brothers, whom her father fent to be wit- nefTes, refufing to be prefent himlelf, or up- on any occafion to put himfelf in the hands of the Englilli. From this marriage are defcended fome of the firft families in Virgi- nia. ' In 1616 Sir Thomas Dale arrived in Eng- land, leaving the government to his Deputy, Mr. George Yeardly. Argal being appointed Deputy-Governor, occafioned fome diftur- bances by his extraordinary proceeding?, which induced the Lord Delaware (ever anxious for the good of the colony) once more to offer his fervice in it ; but upon his pafiage he died at the mouth of Delaware Bay, from whence it derives its name. Sir George Yeardly was then appointed Governor, who called the firfl affembly, which confided of the Gentlemen of the Council, and two members from each of their boroudis, the country at that time not being f** »*»' Ar.«V^*>4** .?;•; VIRGINIA. Ill being divided into counties ; from whence the lower houfe of aflembly to this day is cal- led the houfe of burgelTes. Great improve- ments were made, and many ufeful regula- tions fet on foot,during the government of Sir George; lands were laid out and affigned for the fupport of public ufes, and the colony was in a moft-flourifliing fituation. Nothing material happened till 1622, whea the utter deftrudion of the whole colony was concerted by the Indians, now commanded by Opechankanough, his brother Pawhatan be- ing dead. The Indians were particularly in- cenfed at this time at the death of one of their chiefs, v/ho was killed by two fervants, in re- venge for his having killed their mafter j how- ever, this fubtle commander and his people /b artfully difguifed their lefentmcnt and cruel in- tentions, that the Englilh had not the lead miftruft of their plot, and would have been wholly unprepared to have prevented the exe- cution of it (which was to have been on the 2 2d day of March) had it not been for ant Indian who was converted to ChriAianity, and lived with one Mr. Pace. This Indian's bro- ther, coming to flcep with him the night be- fore, informed him of what was ii:.te;ndcd the next ■':'l 4 ':) M !■' ji2 -^f Concise Account of ■ ' ; Vh !i^ '■i I next day, which he communicated to Mr* Pace the next morning, who took all poflible pains to fpread the alarm, that the Englifll might be prepared for their enemies, who were pofted in parties over the whole country : but, in fpite of precautions, the favages killed 350 men, women and children 3 when find- ing the fettlements alarmed, they retreated with precipitation. The out- plantations upon this were deferted, their corn and cattle de- flroyed, great difficulties enfued to the colo- ny 5 but, being reinforced from England, they made reprifals on the Indians, plundered their towns, and killed them wherever they found them, burnt their houfes, and left many of them !o perifh in the woods with mere famine 5 their frightened remaiiiS were glad to retire to a great diftance, leaving our people mafters of their country. But their perfidious leader furvived to create new troubles afterwards, when he took advantage of fome political difturbances and confufions that happened in the colony, and determined once more to attempt the de- ftrudtion of it ; in which he fo far fucceeded as to cut ofF great numbers of the back-inhabi- tants. About this time the government was taken frpm the company, and vefted in the , crown. great Ranees )lony, le de- led as Ihabi- t was In the :own. VIRGINIA. 1^3 crown, retaining very near the fame form and laws ; ani Sir John Hcrvey was appointed the firft King's Governor, whofe defpotic and partial adminiftration gave great uneafinefs, and produced repeated complaints againft him, which not being liftened to, the council and affemblv united in feizing him, and fending him prifoner to England, where his accuiers could not be admitted a hearing (their con- duct being an adt of open rebellion) and he was fent back with as ample authority as ever j but fcai'ce had he embarked before he was re- called, and Sir William Berkley appointed in his room, whofe adminiflration being quite the reverfe of the other's, quickly put a new face on the affairs of the colony, which upon his arrival he found in the utmoft confulion and conftcrnation ; for the Indians had fallen fuddenly on the back-fettlers, and had killed 500 men, women and children. Sir William loon retaliated upon them ; for, having intel- ligence that Opechankanough with his follow- ers was encamped at the head of James River, he went with a feledl body of horfe, fell fud- denly upon them, and obtained a compleat vidtory. Their leader was killed, and the fe- veral tribes he commanded now feparatcd, chufmg Kings of their own, and fued for Q_ peace, nr i'!^ #:^^! • J m ■m ' i; < 3 114 A Concise Account of peace, which was granted them, and the back- lettlements fecured, the people made eafy, in- crealing in richtfs and numbers ; fo that by his wife and prudent management this province, when the civil war broke out in England, could raife feveral thoufands of fighting men. Sir William retained his command till after the decollation of King Charles, when the parliament fent out a fleet to reduce Virginia ; which the Governor would have oppofed, but the Council and affembly declaring againft it, he was obliged to fubmit, after procuring a general indemnification for himfelf and the colony. He then lived retired upon his own plantation till a little before the death of Cromwell, when Matthews, Cromwell's Go- vernor^ dying, and no provifion being made in cafe of fuch a contingency, the people applied to Sir William, to take upon him the govern- ment, which he refufed, unlefs, with him, they would venture their lives and fortunes, and declare for the King ; which they agreed to, and Charles the Second was proclaimed, in whofe name he adted and iflued all his or- ders. This brave and loyal condu(51: was highly approved of by the King ; upon his re* deration, Sir William's commifiicn was re- newed, and he permitted to ccme to Eng- ' • land, ii .•' VIRGINIA. '15 land, after appointing a Deputy- Governor, where the King gave him a mod favourable reception, and made him one of the patentees of South Carolina. Sir William returned to his government in 1662, where he foon found fome uneafinefs and difcontent, on account of fome adls ha- ving pafTed, limiting the trade of the colonies, from which fome of the Protectors foldiers, who had retired here, took encouragement to form a party, and fet up an independent go- vernn^ent of their own ; but their defign was feafonably difcovercd and prevented, by hang- ing fome o£ the ringleaders. Soon after this another fadtion broke out, headed by one Bacon, a young Gentleman of fortune in the colony, on pretence of being re- venged on the Indians, who had committed fome outrages on the frontiers ; they made fome extraordinary demands, which not be- ing fully gratified in, they burnt James Town; but their leader dying, and a general pardon being promifed them, they returned to their obedience, and Sir William returned to Eng- land, to whom fucceeded Lord Culpeper, and after him General Spotfwood ; and fo a fucccflion of Governors to the prefent Sir Jef- frey Amherft, the province commonly being M 9 iy ml '" } ■Mf Qa governed -1! ■ < ii} iM^j^iii,L i? f ■ [ 1:! * I 'Hi i li li- 1 . I ? • li'; Ifl^ ii6 -^ Concise Account c/' governed by Tome Nobleman or General Of-^, ficcr. Nothing very material has happened in the province from that time to the beginning of the late war, in which its frontiers TufFered greatly from the French and Indians ; tho* the province has not been backward in raifing and fupporting troops, and in granting all rea- fonable affjftance during the whole war. The remains of the Virginian Indians, after Sir William Berkley, were fet upon by the Mo- hock or Five Nations, who drove them out of the province, from whence they difperfed to ' different points of the compafs, and to various Indian nations for protedion -, fo that the very name of them is now loft, Virginia has a very extenfive territory, be^ ing fituated between 36 and 39 degrees north latitude, ahd 74 and 80 degrees weft longi- tude ) indeed by their charter they have right to the whole country weft and north weft to the Sotith-fea. It lies upon the Great Bay of Chefepeak, formed by the two Promontories called Cape Henry and Cape Charles j and is perhaps as fine an inland bay as any in the world, running up thro* Virginia and Mary- land near due north 130 miles, and is navigable the whole way for large fhips, being in moft 5) places VIRGINIA. 117 places twenty miles acrofs. This province has alfo four fine rivers flowing into the weft-lide of the bay, which take their rife in the Apa- lachian mountains, running from north-weft to fouth-eafti the fouthern-moft of thefe is James River (called by the Indians Pawhatan) about two miles broad, and navigable at leaft for fourfcore miles. The next is York River, (called by the Indians Pamunky) which is alfo navigable a great way up, and in fome places comes very near the former. A little further north is the River Rappahanock, navigable a great way, and in fome places comes within a few miles of York River. The northern-moft is the great River Potomack, which is naviga- ble quite to the Falls being accounted 200 miles, and is in many places nine miles over, Thefe four rivers or creeks, which flow into them, being navigable for Imall craft, render this country the moll commodious for water- carriage cf any in America ; for as moft of the plantations arefituated upon or very near thefe rivers, every planter has the conveniency of ihipping his own goods for England, or where- everhc fends them; and receiving from thence, in return, fuch neceffaries as they ftand in need of: hence it is, that many of the planters live ppon their own eflates, and have no occafion ^o 1 . 1. W-: ■'■■ . *»' |I.<4«''>«4V»1«*V II i ) : pII •■' l-r -^S r* 1 ■I, )i < !' :l- . 1 1 3 ^ C N c I f- E Account of to apply to merchants in any of the fea ports j and this is the reafon that there are no conli- derable towns in this province. The town of moft note in it is WiUiamfburg, to which the feat of government hath ''cn transferred from James Town, on accf ant of its being both a more commodious and heahhy fitua- tion. This town is within land, between two navigable creeks running out of York and James Rivers, by which means it hath an cafy communication with both ; and chiefly con- fifts of one flrcight flreet, about a mile long from eaft to weft : at ihe weft- end ftands the college, and on the right hand of the ftreet that leads to the college ftands the Governor's houfe, built by the province for his refidence, an elegant feat, being enclofed with beautiful walks of trees, and elegantly finiftied both in- fide and out ; the court- houfe likewife, and other public buildings, are very fpacious and elegant. As wc approach this country from the ocean, the face of it appears low and level, and for an hundred miles within land fcarce a hill is to be feen, or a ftone to be found ; the foil fertile, producing wheat, barley, Indian corn, and tobacco j which laft is the ftaple commo- dity of this province and Maryland. Above the VIRGINIA. 119 i^m. the Falls the country grows hilly, and after- wards mountainous, interfperfed with valleys, extremely pleafant as v/ell as fruitful. The fur- ther you travel into the country, the more healthful it is -, fo that the inland parts of the province will probably hereafter be the mod populous r*nd pleafant. From thefe mountains defcend the rivers that have been mentioned, and feveral that flow weftvvard into the Ohio, by which there is an eafy communication be- tween the Mifliflipi and Lake Erie. This \yhole country was called by the natives Sa- vannas, or the Low Country, it being, as hath been obferved, for a great way from the fea, one entire plain. The trees grow very lofty ; nor is the ground incumbered with under- wood, fo as to hinder their being travelled thro* on horfeback, affording a commodious fliade to thofc who pafs thro' them. The heat and cold, both here and in Ma- ryland, arc governed by the winds ; the north and north-weft winds are commonly cold and dear, the fouth-eaft moift, hazy, and very hot ; in winter, the air is clear and dry : the frofts do not continue long, but are fometimes very fevere, frc?!zing the rivers over, tho' three miles acrofs j the fnow falls fometimes in large quantities, but rarely continues long. The months I ■' ,■ I r ' h'it ill ! M«»f AAiVtiA m i I V- 1 20 ^Concise Account cf months of May and June are very pleafant^ July and Auguft are gcncrr4lly exctfiive hot ; and in Septeniber and Odtchcr the rains fall, when the inhabitants, for the moft part, be- come fickly, being fubjcdl to agues, intermit- ting fevers, &;c. Altho' the foil of thcfe pro- vinces is generally fnallow and fandy, yet no country produces fuch excellent tobacco j the lands indeed foon wear out, unlcfs improved by digging and manuring. The woods a- boi'nd with great variety of flowers of fwect- fcented flirubsj here is the large tulip laurel, the bark of whofe roots, in intermitting fevers, has been found to anfwer all the purpofcs of the famous Peruvian Bark. If the planters did not find fufficicnt emo- luments arife from rai/ing tobacco, they might here manufadlure moft kinds of naval ftores, fuch as pitch, tar, turpentine, mafts, yards, planks, 6cc. The chief exports from thefe provinces, be- fides tobacco, arc iron, beef, pork, pipe-flaves, and other lumber. Belides the animals in common, fuch as black cattle, horfes, ifheep, hogs, &c. which are very numerous, they have many peculiar to the country, as there are in the other provinces of America. Poul- try VIRGINIA. 121 ii:y here is remarkable cheap, and wild fowl, even during the winter fcafon, are in the great- eft plenty. But all other commodities and produdions of this country are fwallowed up in that of tobacco, the importance of which trade to Great Britain will eafily appear from the fhipping employed, and the quantity im- ported from hence, and again exported to fo- reign markets J it being computed, that general- ly one year with another, 200 large (hips arc freighted with that commodity^ and that 100,000 hogftieads are yearly exported, each Weighing 400 weight, out of which it is fup- pofed, that 40,000 hogfliead?! are confumed at home, and the other 60,000 exported from Great Britain to foreign markets (moft of it after being manufadlured at home) for which we either receive cafh, or fuch articles as other- vi^ife we fhould be obliged to pay cafh for. " This is fufficient, fays a modern author, to (hew how much this commodity alone contributes to preferve the general ballance of trade in our favour, and how much it imports us not only to protedl the colonies of Virginia ahd Mat-yland, but alfo to prevent as much as poffible their labouring men from being drawn away from their labour, in order to defend themfelves and their country. But befides the R \ tobacco, ^ >i. ■•!•: r I, J 1^1 * I il ^ii Hi J iili >: t 122 A Concise Account of tobacco, we have many other forts of goods imported from Virginia and Maryland, as every one may fee from the bills of entry from thence j and as the foil is in general good, in many parts rich, we may exped that imports of all kinds will increafc, efpecially when we confider that it is not yet 150 years fincc our iirrt: colony fettled in this country. ** Add to thefe advantages, the vaft number of people that are employed, maintained, and many of them enriched here at home, by the induflry of their countrymen, in thefe colonics; for except their dally food, there is fcarce any thing they make ufe of, but what is manufac- tured in, or fent there from the mother coun- try ; and the fliipping employed in the trade fupports a conilderable number of our moft expert feamenj which adds greatly to our naval force. But the two laft advantages we reap from all our colonies in America, 5cc." The annual revenue arifing to the crown from tobacco only, is very confiderable ; and feveral hunr'.red thoufands are employed in, and fupported by, raifing and manufaduring it. There is alfo a confiderable revenue arifing to the crown, from a quit-rent paid annually by the owners of all lands granted by patent; from a duty on all paflengers who come into '- - the VIRGINIA. 125 the province, from a duty on liquors and Haves, and from fines and forfeitures. It huth already been obfervcd, that tlie King of Great Britain has the appointment of the Governor in this province, and in him and I'.is council the fuprcmc jurifdidion of civil affairs is lod|;cd, who fit twice a year for that pur- pofe with the Burgcfil*s, or reprefcntatives of the people. There are but three public officers befidci the Governor that are commifTioned immedi- ately from the King, viz. the Auditor of the Revenue, the Receiver General, and Secretary; in the office of the latter are proved and record- ed all deeds, wills, &c. The Public Treafurer is appointed by the afiembly. The Governor is, by bis commifiion, Lieutenant General of the militia of the province, who appoints in each county a Colonel, and Lieutenant Colonel, and all other commifiioncd officers. All between the ages of fixteen and fixty years (not otherways excufed) are obliged to bear arms, and attend a general mufter once a year in the county where they dwell, and four times a year in fmaller parties, or fingle companies. The number of inhabitants in this province is about 200, doo whites, and it is fupoofed th^re are half that number of negroes or ilaves. K 2 ThQ 1'^ U -^r T> ' ill i 124 ^ Concise Account <^^ The religion profefTed in this province by the generality is that of the church of Eng- land. Ecclefiaflical affairs are under the infpedion of a Commifi'ary, authorifed by the Bifhop of London, who prefides over all the colonie^in religious matters. For the promotion of learning in this pro- vince, a college was early founded at William- Iburg, confiding of a Prefident, fix ProfciTors, and one hundred ftudents ; for endowing which King William not only gave 2000 1. but granted 20,000 acres of land, and a penny per pound on all tobacco exported ; it hath alfo received ieveral other valuable donations, and, upon the whole, is one of the richcfl: colleges in America. ■VI NORTH and SOUTH CAROLINA, and GEORGIA. THESE, which are now three diflindt go- vernments, were originally but one, cx- * tending from 30 to 36 degrees of north latitude, anJ from js ^^ ?^ 4^gf9^8 weft longitude, •"' ... J.. . _. , being \m 't ICC by Eng- edion lop of is pro- lliam- fcffors, lowing sooo 1. penny ith alfo s, and, olleges '^^ tINA, ^6tgo- le, cx- dtude, ritudcy being N.tfwrf S.CAROLINA, £?r. 125 being bounded on the north by Virginia, eaft by the Atlantic Ocean, fouth by St. John's Ri- ver, and weft by the Mifliffippi. This extenfive territory is a part of the dif- coveries made by the Cabots in 1497 > ^"^ nothing haying been done here in confequencc of their difcovery, the Spaniards, in 1512, at- tempcd a fettlement on that part of the conti- nent which they called Florida ; but not fuc- ceeding,they abandoned the country, which lay negleded by the Europeans, till 1562, when Ccligni, the famous French Admiral, fent out two ihlps, under the command of one Mon- fieur Ribaut, to make a fettlement on the coafts of Florida*. Accordingly Ribaut land- ed in ieveral places to the north of Altamaha River, taking pofTeflion of the country in the name of his mafter, which he called Carolina, in honour of his fovereign Charles IX. and at laft, fettling at the mouth of Albemarle River, ereded a fort there, to which he gave the name of Charles Fort. But a civjl war breaking out in France foon after, he was pnder neceffity, for want of fupplies, to aban- don the fettlement ; and had he not met with an Englifli ihip, which furnifticd him with provifions, he and his people would have, in ^li probability, pcrifhed by famine. Coligni, V • not i,' ■» % «ur><''u>iVlt< ;r T' f'i u li 'j ^u II 1 26 ^i C o x\ c I s E A c c o u N r of not (lilLcartcncd by this, ifitted out fix fliips, under tlie com ni and of Monlieur Ribaut and one Laudoncr, in 1564 and iS^S^ to re-efla- bliili the fettlement, of which the Spaniards having 'received informatioHj they fent out a force to oppofe hira, and reduced the fort ; Ribaut being firft killed in defending it, and Laudoner with the remains of his people was obliged to return to France. The Spaniards left a garrifon in the fort, as if they intended to keep and enlarge their acquifition, but being attacked by the French, commanded by one De Gorques, they were drove out of the coun- try. De Gorques demoliftiing all the forts they had eredted, and laid wafle their fettle^ ments, returned to France, and the civil war flill continuing, no further attempts were made towards a fettlement in CaroHna, and this fine country lay unnoticed for almoll a whole century, that is, till 1663, when our King diaries II. refolved to iiflert his right to it ; and to encourage the planting of a colony here, he granted it by patent, bearing date March 24, 1663, including all the territory from the north-end of Chikehauk Ifland, in 36 degrees north latitude, fouth to the river Matteo, now Altamaha, in 31 degrees north latitude., and To weft as far as the South-Seas, to eight vi I ) I N. ami 3. CAROLINA, e?c. 127 proprietors, viz. the Duke of Albemarle, the Earl of Clarendon, Lord Craven, Lord Berke- ley, Lord Afl^ley (afterwards created Earl oF Shaftibury), Sir George Carteret (anceftor to the prefent Earl of Granville), Sir William Berkeley, and Sir John Colleton ; but there being fome errors in the patent, with regard to the boundaries, a new one was made out two years afterwards, by which both the fouthern and northern boundaries were extended, the former to St. John's River, and the latter to Virginia. A furm of government was drawn up, and 1 2, cool, raifed by the proprietors, to defray the charges of tools, Sec. for thofe who were fent over to begin the fettlement ; but what greatly contributed to the fudden peo- pling of this colony, were fome feverities ufed at home towards dillenters, who, on that ac- count, flocked here in great numbers, full to- leration being given to people of every profef- fion, fo that in 1670 a numerous colony was fent over under Col. William Sayle, who was appointed the firft Governor. The year fol- lowing they were reinforced, and received a good fupply of neceflaries. The lands were laid out to each man in pr-portion to the num- ber of his family, fubjctf. to a fmall quit-rent» with ,!' 1 •: I. t r W- 128 jd CojiClBE ACCOUNt of ' ! •■'•■ m- i ill ill ■*i \vith an obligation to clear and plant a certaifl quantity of land within a time fpecified. Efy this prudent regulation, the colony was foori able to provide itfclf w«ih moft neceflaries, and having niet with no difturbance from the na- tives, they were enabled to carry on two fet- tlcments at the fame time, viz. one at thd mouth of Ronoack River to the north, and another fouthward, at the confluence of Afhlcy and Cowper Rivers. This lad town was, in honour to the then reigning King, called Charles-Town, which has linee bccri the metropolis of South Carolina. The natives gave no interruption to thd planters for the firft ten years, nor till their avarice and injuftice excited them to it, fof they fct up the (hameful trade of purchafing ef the Indians fuch prifoners as they took in their wars with one another^ and afterwards fold them as flaves, either to the Spaniards, or to our own planters in the Weft-India iflands, at which the Indians were fo cxafperated, that they took up the hatchet again ft them ; but however, fuch was the courage and good con- duct of Mr. Jofeph Weft, their Governor at that time, that no very ill confcqucnces fol- lowed upon this rupture, the Indians being foon reduced to terms of peace, and the colo- ny or inds, that but [eing colo- • N. W S. CAROLINA, ^o. 129 tiy reded in quiet, till difturbed by their own domedick jarrs and animofities, which firft arofe on account of the quit-rents they were obliged to pay to the proprietors, or their af- figns, each of whom had a deputy, who by their conftitution had each a feat in the afTem- bly. The quit-rents many of the plr.nters re- fufed to pay; this confequentlv produced adif- pute between the deputies of the proprietors and the reprefentatives of the people. This flamed, however, to no great degree, till blown lip by a difputed eledion of a Governor, on the deceafe of Jofeph Blake, Efq; for it had been the cuftom, that the proprietors deputies chofe a fucceflbr to the government, who was by the proprietors either confirmed, or another fent in his room. The Gentleman elecfled at this time, contrary to the minds of the greater part of the people, was James Moore, Efq; who found intereft to be confirmed, and by feveral inftances rendered himfelf ftill niore odious to thofe who oppofed him; efpecially by a fruit- )efs and unfuccefsful expedition, which he made, in 1702, againifl the Spaniili fettlement at St. Auguftine. The murmurs and com- plaints that cnfued obliged the proprietors to difplace him ; and in his room they appointed Mr. Nathaniel Johnfon, who, in 1704, per- S fedtiv ; i •' ■ 11 Win J .li I ! 130 A Concise Account of fedly complcatcd the difaffcdion of great numbers, by procuring an adt that no DifTen- ter fhould be allowed a feat in the aflcmbly ; and another for eftablifliing the Church of England, ereding of churches, and making provifion for the maintenance of the clergy j which by the DifTcnters were refcnted as adts of the higheft oppreffion and tyranny. They fent home an agent, to folicit redrcfs from the Palatine Lord Granville ; but were refufcd it. In 1705 they petitioned to the Houfe of Lords, who condemned the above laws, as repugnant to the charter, dcftrudlivc of trade, and tending to ruin and depopulate the province. They were likewife condemned by the board of trade, to whom her Majefly the Queen referred the whole matter for exa- mination. They alfo reported, that fuch adls were an abufc and forfeiture of the charter, and advifed her Majefty to reaflume the fame. Upon this the ads were declared void, and or- ders given to the Attorney and Solicitor to profecute by a quo warranto ; but the proprie- J tors had intereft enough tp evade the profe- cution. About this time feveral tribes of In- dians entered into a confederacy, and took up the hatchet againft the Engiifli : they cut off feveral of the out-fettlements, and mur- * r dered great ibly j :h of aking crgy; 3 adts N. anJ S. CAROLINA, 6?r. 131 dered many of the frontier-inhabitants ; but, being properly fupplied with fire-arms, &c. they gave the favages fevcral iignal defeats, particularly one under the condudt of Colonel Barnwell, in North Carolina, in 17 12. The Indians continued the war till 17 16, when, having aflembled a large army, they marched towards the coalls; which Col. Craven, who was then Governor, having intelligence of, colledled what troops he could, and marched againft the Indians, who were pofted near Combatree River, to the fouthward of Charles Town, where a bloody battle was fought, in which the Indians were entirely routed ; and being far from the mountains, the place of their ufual retreat, great numbers of them were cut off in their flight, and others taken prifoners and fold into (lavery ; fome of the remains confented to a treaty, and others re- tired to a great diftance. In 1722, a general peace was concluded v^ith all the Indians, including the Cherokees, then the mod powerful nation of Indians in North America. About this time the coafts of this and the neighbouring provinces were fo infefted with pirates, as tvO put a great ftop to trade and navigation. To fupprefs thefe lawlcfs mifcreants, the province of South Ca- S 2 . rolina, •( «4»(;i»m»Hv. ■C ' 1 U'. _ ■' n .iJ: i; 132 -^ConciseAccounto/' rolina fitted out two floops, the command of which was given to Col Rhott, who, after aa ' engagement of fome hours, took a pirate lloop, commanded by Major Stead Bennet, who with his abandoned crew was condemn- ed and executed at Charles Town. But Blackbeard and others continued ftill to ' ifeft thecoafts for two or three years longer, efpe- cially about Carolina. One of thefe cham- pions was fo audacious, that, having taken a velTel oft the bar of Charles Town, on board of which were feveral people of rank, bound to England, he detained them as hoftages, fent his boat up to town, demanding a chert of medicines, and a fupply of other neeeflaries, threatening, in cafe of a refufal, and his boat was not fuffered to return in fafety, that he would put every one of the paflengers to death; and iuch was the debility of the province at that time, that they were obliged to comply with his demands. Thefe misfortunes, added to their internal divifions and animofities, threw the colony in* to fuch confufion, that, upon feven of the proprietors con fen ting to fell out, the crown agreed to give each of them for his eighth ihare the fum of 2500 1. and a further fum of 5000 1. to be divided ao^ong them for the '^i^i ■ quitTf yV4«i;3AA«V^M* ternal itnof r the N. /7W S. CAROLINA, G?r. 133 quit-rents that were then due ; which agrcc- nient was confirmed by adt of parHament, ia 1728. But Lord Carteret, now Earl Gran- ville, referved his eighth part, both of the pro- perty and quit-rents then in arrear, and all his rights, titles and privileges, as if no fuch a6t had pafTed ; and h- ' fince had his eighth part divided to him, unich is about fixty milts on the fea^coafls from North to South, adjoining to Virginia, and from the Atlantic Ocean eaft, to the South Sea weft. As foon as the proper- ty and jurifdidVion of this colony were thus vefted in the crown, i.t was divided into two diftindl provinces, each of which have a Go- vernor, Council, Sec. the form of their go- vernment being much the fame as is common to all King's governments on the continent* There is however this difference in the two go- vernments, namely, that North Carolina is divided into counties, each of which hath a Sheriff and court of jufticej but in South Ca- rolina they have an officer, called the Provdft Marlhal, who ads as Sheriff of the whole pro- vince; and all courts of juftice, excepting thofe of (ingle juftices of the peace, arc held at Charles Town : which regulations are attended with inconveniencies I have heard greatly com- plained of, as greatly increafmg the expcnce of lav^r- •< .J V v«jt ^ : Aft. «v f\ *^*«' 'f!' yy J34 A Concise Account of law-fuits to the parties, and ofrcn rendering the attendance of jurymen and witncfles very difHcult. NORTH CAROLINA is fituated upon the ica-coafts about three hundred miles, and is bounded eaft by the Atlantic Ocean, north by Virginia, well by the Apalachian Hills, and fouth by South Carolina. The coafts of this province are extremely broken by bays, creeks and rivers, in the openings of which are many bars and fhcals, which ren- der the navigation difficult to ftrangers^ there are, however, feveral fafe and good harbours, and rivers navigable far into the country. The principal rivers are Ronoak or Albemarle Ri- ver, Neufe River, and Cape Fear or Clarendon River; upon which are fituated th^ principal towns in the province, viz. Wilmington, on Cape Fear ; Neuborn, on the Neufe ; and E- denton, on Albemarle ; at which three places their general court or afiembly for enading laws fit alternately. But Wilmington is the largeft town, and has much the largcfl: trade of any in the pro- vince. The number of inhabitants , in the whole province are computed to be about 70,000 whites, and 20,000 negroes. The country^ .iH^-IiAnJVfTK N. and S. C /V R O L I N A, G^^. 135 country, for near an Inindrcd miles from the Tea, is flat, level ai.d fandvi the Toil (liallow and lean, being covered over vvitii pitch and yel- low pines ; from which they manufadture pro- digious quantities of tar, pitch, and turpen- tine, in whicli laborious and dirty bufinefs their droves of negroes are employed round the year. This foil will produce fcarce any thing but. Indian corn, and not even that to any perfedion without fome kind of manure. There are feme fwamps of reeds in the fouth- ern parts, and on Cape Fear River marfhcs, which produce rice when properly cultivated ; and on the north, towards Virginia, are fome oak-lands, like thofe of Virginia, on which they raife tobacco. About an hundred miles in the country the land rifes gradually to the A- palachian mountains, where the foil in fome places is very good, and produces plenty of wheat and other grain ; the timber being oak, intermixed with pine; they alfo here raife hemp and flax, and have fome fruit. In this part of the province is plenty of wild game, cfpecially deer; and the number of their cattle and fwine is very great; fome fingle planters owning a thoufand head of horned cattle, which run in the woods all the year round, the calves being marked in the fpring, that each may know his U \\ !'F i it' ^\^V■: • l» 136 A Concise Account of his own. Thcfc cattle they fold in herds, to manure the poor lands for Indian corn, which is the chief fubfidence of the country-people, as well as of the flaves, who grind or pound it^ and boil it in milk. The grfcateft number of inhabitants are in this wellerly part of the province, as the foil here is the mod fruitful and plealant. The air here IS agreeable enough in winter, but very hot in fummer ; and the inhabitants are very fubjedl to ague:-., fevers, cholicks, &c. There ftill re- main fome Indian towns in this province : part of the nation, called the Ttfk.iraraF, in the middle part j and the Cotawpees in the fou- thern, near the bounr^s r,f South Carolina ; but they have met with very li:tle dlAuibmce from the Indians Iince they were made a King's go- verment, tdl the late war v^ith theCherokees, in which their frontiers have fufPered, with thofe of their neighbours. The principal ex- ports from this province are great quantities of pitch, tar and turpentine, to Europe and the neighbouring provinces ; to the northward, pork, beef, and corn, to the Weft Indies, droves of live cattle to Virginia, by which way they generally export their northern produce of tobacco. The ilh. N. and S. CAROLINA, {i?^. 137 The religious peiTuafions in this province are fomc of the Epifcopalians ; but a much greater number of the various fc(fls of DifTcn- ters. if The bounds of SOUTH CAROLINA arc very much reduced from their original extent j Georgia being taken off to the fouihward, as far as the river vSavanna, which runs in a curve round the fouth and v;eft part of this pro- vince, out of North Carolina. The extent of the province upon the Atlantic Ocean to the caft is upwards of 100 miles, and weft from the fea upwards of 200 miles, to where Geor- gia and North Carolina meet. The face of this country, for fixty or feventy miles from the fea, is like that of North Carolina, low and level; then it gradually rifes into hills. But the foil is vaftly different, and infinitely better; and may be divided into pine-land, oak.land, fwamps, and marfhes. The pine- land is by far of the grcateft extent, and is a dry whitifh foil, naturally producing a great variety of ihrubs, and a coarfe kind of grafs, not very agreeable to cattle, unlefs in the mea- dows, or Savanna. Peaches growr here in great abundance, and the white mulberry-tree, which is the food of filk-worms. The oak- T land :*m \\J. Hi • .lii: ,;' ? M ^ 1-, ■ i -if m fi ■ il''\i i I* ii: If , 138 A Concise Account of land commonly lies in narrow flips between pine-land, and fwamps, creeks> or rivers ; this foil is a blackidi fand, producing feveral kinds of oak, bay, afh, laurel, boilfted, &c. On thcfc lands arc found the black mulberry, the American cherry, fox and cluftcr grapes, as they are called by the inhabitants, the former about the fize of a fmall cherry, the latter of , a white currant 1 thefe lands are the moft ef- teemed, producing in great abundance rice^ corn, &c. The fwamp- lands are covered with Cyprus, or reeds 5 and, when properly cultivated, arc very produdivc of rice. The marfhes are of no ufe but pafture. This province likewife abounds with cattle and fwine, even beyond North Carolina; and its forefts are ftored with deer, beyond any of its neighbours, and many other kinds of wild game j nor are its rivtrs and feas deflitute of iifh and fowl, common to the climate in which it lies : in fhort, this is a very rich and fertile province, and is peopled by many wealthy inhabitants, who live in great cafe and fplendor. The ftaple-commodities are rice and indigo 5 of the former is annually exported upwards of 100,000 cafk.s, which weigh from 500 to 600 lb. each s and of the latter, from 400,000 to 500,000 weight ia N. and S. CAROLINA, Gfr. 139 is annually exported 5 and great improvements are continually making in the cultivating and manufadluring of it. It is alfo found that the wefterly part of this province produces wheat to great perfedlion, which no doubt will now be improved that way, being freed from the fear of thofe favages who lately infefted their frontiersc They alfo raife flax, which, as their numbers increafe, may like wife become a very confidcrable article to the province. This country alfo has a great variety of vegetables and fruits, as Spanifh potatoes, pompions, melons, peafe, beans, pears, peaches, pome- granates, oranges, 6cc. fo that upon the whole it is calculated to be an exceeding rich and valua- ble territory, abounding not only with the ne- cefTaries, but many of the conveniencics of life, and having a great redundancy of both to fparc to its neighbours. Its navigation is eafy and fafe upon the rivers Podee, Santee, and Sa- vanna ; from its diflferent ports annually fail upwards of three hundred veflels laden with the produce of the country, among which may be reckoned deer-fkins as no inconfideravr ble article, the deer b?ing fo plenty, that the back'inhabitants fcarce need any other meat; and there is no doubt but that laborious ani- ?nal the filk-worm may be employed here to T2 great lu v'^ M \'\ i! K 140 ACoNCisE Account of great advantage, here being his natural food in great plenty. Some attempts that way have been made with good fuccefs, but not fo as to render it very confiderable. But, notwith- flanding thefc delightful and inviting circum- ilances of this country, it has alfo its difagree- ables ; the air or climate is not fo pleafant and healthy as could be wifhed for. The winters are fhort, and the fpring delightful ; but from May to September, and fometimcs longer, it is cxccffively hot, with a thick fultry air in the forepart of the day, which thofe who are not ufed to it can fcarcely breathe in ; when the fun breaks out, it is with the moft intenfe heat ; the moft: (harp and heavy thunder and lighten- ing frequently happen here, and very fuddeii changes and alterations in the weather, which render the fummer-feafon very unhealthy for ftrangers, and fubjecfl the inhabitants and na- tives themfelves to fevers, dyfenteries, and va- rious didempers : add to all thefe the miriads of mufquetoes, which are enough to devour one during the fummer-feafon. It is difficult to fleep without a fmoak in your bed-cham- ber, to expell them, or abate their impetuofi- ty. You cannot otherways avoid being either fiifled with the heat, or dinned and tormente4 by thefe animals* Charles :u N.^w^ S.CAROLINA, &c. 141 Charles Town is the metropolis of this pro- vince, fituated between two navigable rivers, Afhley on the weft and fouth, and Cowper River on the eaft. The ftreets are wide and flreight, interfering each other at right an- gles ; thofe running eaft and weft extend froni one river to the other about a mile. Here arc two very handfome churches built with brick, belides feveral other edifices for public worfhip belonging to the difFcrerit feds of DifTenters. Near the center of the town is a neat market- houfe J and near by it is the ftate-houfe, which is a ftately commodious brick-building ; in the neighbourhood of the town are convenient barracks fufficient for a thoufand men. There are in the town about one thoufand dwelling- houfes, four thoufand male inhabitants, and fix thoufand negro Haves. The number of inha- bitants in the whole province is about 60,000 whites, and more than double the number of blacks. The religious perfuafions here arc fnuch the fame as in North Carolina. :i ■I : ;. i I ' ■' I,, ,1 I Wl ! H arles PEORGI4. I .J *■ 'I 'A' m ' !/f Concise Account j/* Province of G E R G I A. '" Kf I.: ^1 I K THIS province is about a hundred miles wide upon the fca, by which it is bounded caftward; foutherly, by Eaft Flori- da ; wcfterly, by the low lands of the Creeks, and partly by the fouth-end of the Apalachian mountains j and northerly, by the river Sa- vanna, which divides it from South Carolina. There are alfo feveral fmall but very fruitful iflands included in this province, which lay off at a fmall diHance from the continent. This country was divided from South Caro- lina, and a fettlement begun here, in 1732, in confequcnce of a reprefentation made to his Majefty King George the Second, by fome ge- nerous and compaflionate Noblemen and Gen^ tlemen,in behalf of diftreffcd imprifoned debt- ors, the number of which at that time was very great in England, This territory lying wafte and uninhabited, tho' capable of the moft va- luable improvements, thefe worthy perfons formed a delign at the fame time to advance the public weal, and aflift diftrefled individuals, and petitioned his Majefty for a grant of thefe lands, and that they might be incorporated as truftees for fettling thp fame.; which being r?s^- '1^'- .\'.% GEORGIA. HS readily granted, a charitable fubfcription was fet on foot for coUedting benefadions, which fucceeded (o well that they were enabled to relieve and fend out one hundred perfons, provi- ded with all manner of neceffaries, fuch as arms, tools for agriculture, and proviiions for their fupply for fome time after their landing. Lieut. Colonel Oglethorpe, a truly zealous pro- moter of the defign, was appointed to have the condudt and management of the intended fet- tlement, wliich he began upon the river Sa- vanna, about ten miles up, laying the founda- tion of the prefent town of Savanna. This Gentleman prudeiitly cultivated a friendfhip with the neighbouring Indians, who not only fuffcred them peaceably and quietly to go on with their fettlement, but often fupplied them with provifions. The next fpring they were reinforced by a number of new fettlers, arriving with a fupply of all kinds of necef- faries i and great encouragement was given to this new fettlement, not only by private bene- fadlors, but feveral large fums granted by par-' liamcnt ; fo that in 1734 the truftees were en- abled to fend out 491 perfons upon the chari- ty, befides feveral mafters carrying with them 106 mcn-fervants at their own charge; in all amounting to 6 1 8 perfons. I'i ■: , I. n ^ 1 I f "I ! ti III;- 1*:!^ ,1 ; ''in il [l 144 A Concise Account of In 1735, a quantity of rice and rawfilk,thd produce of this province, was fcnt home to England, which gave a new fpring to chari- table contributions in favour of it; and an adt of parliament was pafied, giving the fame en- couragement for the (hipping of rice, the pro- duce of Georgia, as was given to that of the produce of Carolina. This province, by the wife, prudent and ge- nerous conduct of Mr. Oglethorpe, and others^ continued to flourifh and increafe j thfe friend- fhip of the Indians being fecured, nothing ma- terial happened till 1752, wh«n the truflees furrendered their charter to the crown 5 iince which the Governor is appointed by his Bri- tannick Majefty, and the form of government thcj fame that is common to all King's govern- ments. The foil, air, and produce of this province much refemble thofe of South Carolina ; rice is faid to grow better here than in Carolina, which with corn and indigo may be efteemcd at prefent its principal commodities. They have made fome beginnings towards cultivat- ing vines, and the making of raw liik ; both which branches, if attended to, and improved uj on, may hereafter become confiderable, the climate and foil being very fuitable for them, GEORGIA. HS thctn, as hath been fufiiciently povcd by a va- riety of cxpf^iimcnts. What has been fald of the heat, unhealthi- nefs, thunder and lightening at Carohna, may with the^'Utmoll propriety be faid of them here, Georgia lying flil) more to the fouth- ward. The thunder and lightening often do very great damage to the planters, not only de- ftroying their timber, houfes, &c. but killing their flaves and cattle, in both of which they abound ; and this province,'if pofTible, is more feverely infefted than South Carolina, with all manner of venomous and poifonous animals, from allegators of twelve feet long, to mites fcarcely difcernible by the eye ; the allegators keep in frefh watfer rivers, and the favanna abounds with them. The principal towns in Georgia are, Savan- na and Frederica. The former is the metropo- lis, and is very pleafantly fituated j but is re- markable for nothing fo much as the famous Orphan-Houfe, founded by Mr. Whitfield ; but neither this houfe, nor the charity, learn- ing, and regulations of it, are any ways equal to the tumult and noifc that have been niade in the world about them ; and, it is faid, they are no ways equal to the contributions col- leded by that itinerating Gentleman for their U fup. 1 ,. ■ t \ ' 1'. ■ h4l ■ \b: : 'H ■ iL^.,^iii\ 146 A Concise Account of fupport. The number of inhabitants in Geor- gia is about 8000 whites, and 20,000 blacks. The inhabitants arc a mixture of Epifcopa- lians and Diffenters. A. i'i m\\ V- EAST and WEST FLORIDA. THE country fouth of Georgia, and be- tween that and the Mifliflippi River, an extent of about 600 miles, was by the Spa- niards called Florida, which name it ftill re- tains \ but is now divided by the English into two provinces, viz. Eaft and Weft Florida. EAST FLORIDA is bounded north by Georgia, or ^t. John's River, which divides them ; eaflwardly an J fouthwardly, by the Gulph of Florida; fouth- weft, by Weft Flori- da ', and north- weft, by the country of the Creek Indii^ns. The Spaniards attempted a fettlement at St. Auguftine in this province in 1512 ; however they were obliged to abandon this attempt, by rcafon ot the favages, and other inconvenien- cies, they not being properly fupplied with ne- ceflaries to go through with it. In 1565 they agarn took pofleflion, and eredtcd a fort called St. Au- Geor- )1acks. fcopa- 3 A. nd be- River, le Spa- m re- ih into rida. rlh by divides by the Flori- of the t at St. )wever pt, by 7enien- ith ne- 5 they called t. Au- E. andW. FLORIDA, Cfr. 147 St. Auguftinc, which commanded a convenient harbour for their fhips trading between Spain and America j but there being a conrtant war between the Spaniards and Creek Indians, greatly prevented the enlarging their fcttle- ments here. They maintained their garrifon (though leveral attempts were made to reduce it by the Carolinians, and afterwards by Gene- ral Oglethorpe) till the conclufion of the late war, when the garrifon and the whole terri- tory of Florida was ceded to the crown of Great Britain, by the treaty of Fohtainbleau, in 1762. His Britannick Majefty being abfo- lute Sovereign of the foil, has the appointment of the Governors in both of the Floridas. The foil of Eaft Florida is not fo good as that of Georgia in general; but the northerly part of it adjacent to Georgia is much like it, and may be improved to all the purpofes that Georgia is, viz. for railing of corn, rice, in- digo, filk, wine, &c. and again, in the weft * part of the province is fome very good land, capable of being improved to greut advan- tage. The center or Cape of Florida is a more fai\dy foil ; however, there arc fome good fet- tlements begun in this province, under the di- redion of Colonel Grant, the prcfent Gover- U 2 nor ' • I' ii i! 11 wm ' J II :| i 1 1 il I ' i 1 1 .1 (' \ 1 18 -/^Concise Account o/' nor of it, and there is a profped of its foon be- coming a flourifliing province ; and as inhabi- tants are flucking to it from fcveral countries in xi)urope, there is no doubt but in a fliort time it will be confiderablc. Their exports at prefcnt an* but fmall, the produce of their trade with the Indians being the chief they have to fpare. As the country was three years lince almoft entirely unculti- vated, and the number of inhabitants as yet b'" fmajl, no great improvements and produc- tions are at prefent to be expedlcd ; but, un- doubtedly, this country is capable of producing rice, indigo, filk, wine, oil, and other valuable commodities in great abundance. As the country is new, it has great plenty of all kinds cf wild game, common to the climate. The metropolis of rhe province is St. Auguftine. The number of inhabitants, exclufive of his Myjcfty's troops garrifoned there, is, as I am told, about 2000. It may well be fuppofed, from its foutherly fituation, that the air and climate of this pro- vince is not more agreeable and healthy than that of Georgia, aiid that it is no lefs infeftcd with poifonous and troublefome animals of va- rious fhapes and fizcs. ; ft WEST It E. afjd W. F L O TM D A, f^c. 149 WEST FLORIDA was icizcd upon by the French, who began a fcttlcmcnt in it at Penfacola, in 1720, and they enjoyed it till the before nu-ntioned treaty of Fontainbleau in 1762, when this was ceded to and formed into a government by his Britanrjck Majefly. It is bounded, eaftwardly, by Eall: Florida ; fouthwardly, by the Gulf of Mexico; weft- wardly, by the MiiTiflipi River, and the Lak« St. Pier; and northwardly, by the country of the Chikltavvs. The principal town is Penfacola; and as many of the Fiench, who inhabited here before the ticaty, have chole to become Britifh fubjedts for the fake of keeping tneir ellates, this will con- tribute to the Ipeedy peopling this province, and no doubt render the feulcments coufiderable very foon, cfpecially as the laiid in this pro- vince h moflly very good, vaflly preferable to the eaOern province, its foil being capable of producing all the valuable commodities office, indigo, wine, oil, &c. in the greateft abun- dance J and its fituation for trade is extremely good, having the River MiflifTipi for its wcft- ern boundary. They already carry on a very confiderable trade with the Indians, and export great quan- tities of deer-lkins and furs. The French in- habitants I. , v) hi N 150 A Concise Account of habitants here ralfe confiderable quantities of rice, and build fome vellbls. There are at prefent, as I am told, about 6000 inhabitants in this province, which in- creafc very fad, it being much more heahhy and inviting than Eaft Florida ; efpecially the wcftern parts upon the banks of the Mifliffipi, where it is faid to be agreeable enough to Eng- li(h conflitutions. In flicrt, it is not to be doubted but that in a few years this will be a rich and flourifliiiig province, nature having denied it nothing that is necefTary to make it fo. The country, taken together, muft appear to be no fmall part of the Briijfh empire, or at leaft of no fmall importance to it, if we con- fider its extent, the number of its inhabitants, the variety of its produce, and the great in- creafe of trade and navigation thereby occa- fioned. There are in this country no lefs than one million fix hundred thoufand Britifh fubjedts. From its fever.il ports annually fail between three and four thoufand vefTcls, laden with the produce of this, to other countries ; the greateft part of which produce is given in exchange for goods of BritiQi manufadturing or importing} fo that that which but a few years ago was an in*- one (jedts. ween :h the leatefl ;cfor [ting ; fas an in* E. and\V. FLORIDA, G'r. 151 inconfiderable rivulet, may now be compared a ftream of wealth, flowing into the feat of the Briti(h empire, continually increafing, and growing more and more inexhauftible, and fending forth a greater variety of riches every year. The INTERIOR COUNTRY. THE Indians on the continent of North America are moftly retired from the fca-coafts (where formerly they were very nu- merous) into the interior or wefterly parts of the country, few of them being to be ^ound within iefs than two or three hundred milt^ of the fea : for tho* many of them have been chriftianifed, and in fome meafure civilifed, and parcels of lands have been allotted them in feveral of the Britilh colonies, where they have been formed into focittics ; yet it is ob- fervable, that, in proportion as they lay by their favage cuftoms, and conform to our methods of livirg, they dwindle away, either bccaufc thefe methods are difagreeable and noxious to their conftitutions, or elfe (which I am in- clined to believe is the cafe) when fettled a- mong * f \\ :il' , 'I a I 152 -^Concise Account of mong the Englifli, they have greater oppor- tunitics of procuring fpirituous liquors, of which they are generally, male and femalej inordinately fond : and very little care has ever been taken to prevent thcfe, who are inclined to take advantages of them in trade, from de- bauching them ; by which means, where there were conficlerable fettlemenls of them, a few years lince, their name is now almoll totally ex- tind:. Thofe who ftiU remain have moftly join- ed themfelves to other nations in the interior country, v;ho have generally eredted their towns upon the banks of lakes and rivers, where they enjoy fea-coafts of their own, to all their purpofes, as effedlually as if they poiTefled the eaftern fliore of the continent. The principal rivers in North America are, St. Lawrence, communicating with the fea at the Gulf of St. Lawrence; the Mifliilipi, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico ; and the Chnftinoux, which difeharges itfelf in- to Hudfon's Bay. There are great num- bers of fmaller note, that join thefe in their courfe from the heights of the country tQ» the fea. r** ='i Th ( HI ) The RIVER Sr. LAWRENCE. ■^HIS river takes its rife 'upwards of two. tlioufand miles from its mouthj at a lake called by the Luiians Nipp-iTong, (which in their language iignifies a large body of water) iituate nordi-wfit fruin Lake Superior, in lati- tude 52 degrees north. The northerly bank of this lake is a bog, or morafs, that is near four hundred miles long from north-eaft to fouth-weft, and about one hundred and fifty miles broad. North of this bog is a ridge of mountains, extending from north-eafl tofouth- wcd, the whole length of the marfliy coun- try, and beyond it to the weftward. Thcfe mountains arc very high and fteep, and are called by the Indians the Head of the Country, meaning thereby that they are fituated in the center, and are the higheft land on the conti- nent of North America; which indeed feems to be the cafe : for, fouth-eaft of thefe rifes the River St. Lawrence, having its courfe from thence fouth-eafterly ; north-eaft rifes the Ri- ver Chriftino, and runs north-eaft wardly ; and from the fouth, and fouth-weft of thefe moun- tains^ rifes the Mifliffipi, and runs foutherly : fo that by thefe rivers the continent is divided X into ii: I- hil . i . [154 A Concise Account of v. I'ii nfi ^\.h ,1v '! %\ into fo many departments, as it were, from a center, which is the before-mentioned moun- tains. The Indians who inhabit round Lake Nip- pIlTong, the head of the River St. Lawrence, are called the Lake Indians or NippiiTcngs, and are in number about ^^^ or fix thor.fand men. They chiefly live upon the weft, fouth, and fouth-eaft of the lake, and on the iflands in it, where the lands are tolerably good ; the other . parts being cither marfhy or mountainous. Their country is of cunfiderablc extent, but of very difficult acccfs; on which account they have never had but very little commerce with the Engliili or French. They have no fire- arms, but hunt with bows and arrows. They have little or no war or connections with any other tribe o^ Indians, but Hve almofl: as inde- pendent as if they had a whole world to them- fclves. They fometimes go thro* the Chrifti- naux country to Hudfon's Bay, and purchafe fome cloathing from the company; but their chief cloathing is the produce of their own country, the fkins of beafls. They never fliavc or cut the hair from their heads or any pp'*'' of their bodies, on which account the other In- dians efieem them a very favage and unpolitc herd, and do not chufe any correfpondencc or con- Ml the RIVER St. LAWRENCE. 155 conncdions with a people (o rude and uncul- tivated. Tiieir food is fuch us the lake and wild defarts afford them, fuch as deer, moofe, bear, beaver, &c. and in the lake are in great abundarcc a kind of fifli called the fucker ; and in fome places is found a kind of wild maife or rice, which they make ufe of. They never pretend to plant er improve the land by labour. From hence the River St. Lav/rence runs through a rough, broken, uninhabited coun- try, to Lake Superior, having in its courfe fe- veral falls or catarads ; the moft reniarkablc of which is about fifteen miles from the lake where the water falls perpendicular from a great height. The river is here a quarter of a mile wide ; a rock extends ftrait acrofs the ftrcam, over which it falls with a noifc that may. be heard at the diftance of feveral miles. Below thefe falls is great plenty of f^{h, cfpe- cially trout, which arc very large and good. At the entrance of the river into the lake is a town of Indians, called the Souties or Attawa- was ', which nation inhabit all along at the mouths of the rivers that fall into Lake Supe- rior, and on the north of the lakes Mechigan and Huron. They can raife about 12,000 fighting men. Thefe Indians are more im- % z proved iMM I ^ J - i\ I '■' '. I 1 iki £ III 1 ' '''"^1 , ' * ^ • '" 1 ! :tli'li| ■. \ ■'. . '* t' ■ > , v\ ' 1 ' i 1 '% 1 ji ' - 1 ■ , '•■ 1 1 . i \ i ^^^ ^_^^^JmJ. iM "" '^■j'i ' I) ^ 156 A Concise Account of proved than the Nippifiongs, having had con- fiderahlc commerce with the French. They live in houl'es ct" huts rhat are built in the form of cones } the hafe is G;enerallv from fix- teen to twenty feet wide, containing common- ly ten or twelve perfjns ; the top of the cone is left open for about iwo feet, which aperture fervcs tbtm both for a chimney and a window, their fire being kindled in the center. Toren* dcr thefe huts a defence againfl: the cold, ccc. they cover them with mats of rufhes, which they have the art of weaving and placing in fuch a manner as to rcMider them warm and comfortable, and their appearance is very ele- gant, dilcovering the exadeft: order and good workmanrtiip. When they remove for any time from one place to another for the fake of hunting, fifhing, or any other convenience, they carry this external covering with them j by which means they are able, in a very (hott time, to ered: new towns, with all the ele- gance and convenience of their old ones. They generally change their habitations ia fpring and autumn, fpending the fummer- fcafon upon the banks of the rivers and lakes^ where they fifli and raife corn, and the win- ter among the mountains, fometimcs two or three hundred miles diflant, for the fake of better Hn*t*iHn4i(v«« ,e of /^^ RIVER St. LAWRENCE. 15^7 better hunting ; and the food you meet with among them> is according to the fcafon iri which you vilit them. They, as yet, make but little ufe of fpirituous liquors, nor do ihey nianutadture any kind of drink, except the juice of the mapple-treCj of which they like- wife makefugar; but Uve upon the fimplc gifts of nature when in health, and when fick, the woods and ic^kes furnidi them with all the drugs they make ufe of; in the application of which fome indeed are allowed to excell in {kill, but afk no fee or reward for their trou* ble. And altbo' there is fuch a thing as pri* vate property among them, which they trans^ fer to one another, by way of bargain and ex- change, and if taken t ut of the compafs of fair dealing, the aggrc'.br is ftigmatifed, and punilhcJ with dildain : yet no individual or family is allowed to fuffer by poverty, fickrtcfs, or any misfortunes, while their neighbours caa fupply their wants ; and ai this from the fim-' pie natural confideration, that they and their families are liable to the fame unhappy cir* cumftances they fee their friends in. At the north of Lake Superior is another tnh^ or divihon of thefe Indians, who call themfelves the Bulls ; thefe inhabit round the Bay, ealkd by the French Merduouft, or the North-^ Af « i' n «*« ■■■ 1 > 1 1 ■ » l(X»W\*\«v i ^!: liiin |6o -^Concise Account oJ being To light that a fingle Indian will carry one of a middling fizc, when they come to any clift or cataradl, till they think proper to lake the water again. Th*^ River St. Lawrence flows from Lake Sfeiperior to Lake Huron, upwards of one hun- dri.d and fifty miles, and joins it about twen- ty miiwa eaft of the Straits of Michilimakana. The ftrcam here is generally very rapid, and has one confiderable fall, round which the Indians are obliged to carry their canoes whea they pafs this way. The land adjacent to the river between the two lakes is broken and hilly ; but much of it is capable of being im-' proved to good advantage. The timber is thick and lofty ; and iron ore is here found in the greateft plenty, and is faid to be the beft in America ; and here are ftreams fufficient for any kind of water-works. A little to the weft of where the river joins Lake Huron, is a town of Soutics, or Ottawa^ was Indians, who came here from thefouth of Lake Superior, their original country ^ and to the north- eaft of the lake is another town of the fame Indians ^ and on the weft-fide of the lake the Saganongs inhabit at the head of a bay, called Saganong Bay. There are alfo fe^ veral towns of the Souties, or Ottawawas, upon the i»«*«(«<^(IVI, LAKE HURON. i6i upon the rivers flrnving into the caft: and fouth-eaft of the lake. Thefc Indians have much the lame cufloms as thole on Lake Su- perior. The LAKE HURON is ofa triangular form ; one of the extremities points to the north-eaft, where a confiderable dream flows into it, called the Souties River, from which there is but a fhort carrying -place to the A ta awas River, that joins St. Lawrence Riv . nc w- Montreal. Another extremity points to ii^o north- weft, at the Straits of Michlimakan ; the other to the fouth, v/here the River St. jua.vrencc ilTucs out as from the point of a heart. This Lake is about 900 miles in circumfe- rence : the country on the north and north- well: of it is rocky and mou.uainoiis ; on the fouth -ea(l the land is low, and covered with tall timber, Inch as white pine, oak, walnut, afh, maple, 6cc. en the fourh-ueft, between Lake Huron and the LakeMechigan, the country is level and plain, having very few trees upon it of any kind ; the ibil is tolerably good. This wide extended plain is covered with tall grafs, among which are deer, elks, bears, rackoons, 6cc. in great plenty. This country alfo abounds in a great variety of land and water fowls, and indeed leems to Y be Hr ;| 'f..* i' 'if II rii ii'i ':, , ,. 5i. \ ': -I c ;: ■';?' 162 ^ConciseAccountc/ be dcftitutc of nothing that is neceffary to fup- ply the natural wants of the human fpecies. The number of Indians that inhabit round Lake Huron is about 3000, 600 of which aie warriors, or fighting men. LAKE MECIIIGAN is fituated weft from Lalce Huron, and is very much j\ the fame form, excepting ihat it is longer, txtending further to the fou.h. There is a communica- tion between the two lakes, by a ftrait called the Strait of Mlchlimakana. It is. fifteen miles wide, and forty in length, running near- ly caft from the north of Lake M'^chigan. On the north-end of Lar.e Mechigan are fe- veral towns of Indians. At the loiuh txt e- mity the R* St. Jofeph fli^ws into it, about 300 miles ^ eft of Detroit. The country bctv/cen the two lake? is level, and generally of an excellent lo'i, the timber lofty and fair. It is well watered by a v^nsety of ftreams, running lomie into one lake, Icme into the other. At the point adjoining Lake Mtxhigan, and for Rvc or fix miles from it, fou.h, ih laiul is landy. Here ftands our fort of IVlichlimaka- ra, a good ftockade, near twenty feet high. There are, at this place, fome French mhabi- tants, who come here for the fake of trading with GREEN BAY. 163 with the Indians, and for the trout-fifhery, which is here very vakiable, the trout in thtfe ftrnirs being exceeding plenty, and of an ex- traordinary fizc J fnme have been taken that weighed opward'^i of fourfcore pounds. The Indians from all the udi-icent countries annu- ally retort hither lor tiie fak*- of thefc firti, not- withftanding which ihtir numbers Iccm not to be dimiiiiihed. On the fouth-eaft fide of Lake Mechigan are fome towns of the Souiies, and at the fouih end live the Puttawatamies, which nation like- wife inhabit the weft- fide, and have feveral villages on that part of the lake. The Indians round Lake Mechigan amount to about 4000 fighting men. '^'''' On the north weft part of Lakr'Mechigan enters another ftrait from theGrcen Bay. 1 his ftrait is about 40 miles wide, and ico long, and in it are many iflands varioviij^f tranfpofed, fome of which are inhabited by the Pottawata^ mies, and others by the Attawawas. The GREEN BAY is of confiderable extent. Into the north end of it flows a large river, that rifes between Lake Superior and the Mtf- fiffippi, which is called the river of Foxes, on which live a nation ®f Indians, called the pox Indians, whofe number is not lefs than 4 Y a OK 104 A Concise Account of !■> I ' t va . Ji; }S or 5000 men ; and further foutliward the country is inhabited by the Kckabouze, whofc numhtT is about 500 intn. The wide extended coiintrv upon tliis river, the Green Bay, and the iiraits from thence to Lake Mechigan, is uniformly pleafant, th'fe foil good and fertile, and wants nothing but tivi- lifed indullrlous inhabitants to render it truly delightful. It is at prefrnt well (lored with a variety of wild game, the natural flocks and herds of its flivnge inhabitants. The timber is tall, hut not fo thick as to pre- vent the growth of grafs, which is here very luxuriant, it beino; generally five or fix feet high, which fufhcienlly indicates the goodncfs of the foil. This invites hither the greateft plenty of deer, elks, buffaloes, wild cows, bears, beaveis, ^c. add to thefe the fifli with which the waters teem, and it certainly appears a mod defirable region, for the air is not lefs agreeable than the foil. The winters are never fevere, and great part of the year the country wears a verdure. Here likevvife grow fpontancoufly a great variety of grapes, which are agreeable enough to the palate, and doubtlefs might be maiju- fadlured to advant:ige. The; Indians have learned, that the juice of thefe grapes will make NORTH AMERICA. i6s make glad tlic heart of man, making from them a kind of rough claret ; but their want of knowledge how to manage it properly, no doubt, renders it vaftly inferior to what it might be made. They depc.fit this liquor in their empty rum-kegs. This country alfo pro- duces a kind of wild oats, or rice, which hath already bc'n mentioned as growing upon Lake Superior and Ni p'flong; but here it grows in the greateH: plenty in the ihual water, where a canoe miy be leaded ni a very fliort time j it grows tv\o or thrte ^eet above the water. Its tofltrl rcfcmbles oiUb, but ihc kernel is more like rice. The Indians in this country raife Indian corn, and hav: horics in threat ^^'entv. Their cabins, or houfes ar i k- iliofc; on Lake Su- perior, alreadv ciclrr.l eJ. From this iliurt account ('f the Lakes Fluron and ivlcchigaiijtl e Green B.iv. and h^ aHjacrnt country, which I am ceitain is no ua)S exag- gerate.!, nor even up to what wi'.i be found true of its beauty and f rtillty, it muft appear to be a very valuable territory, capable ot rich im- provements, and that the promoting a fpeedy fettlcment in it, and fecuring its advantageous pofts, is even of a national importance. I'i.^e French were fo fcnfible of this, that they had » advanced 1^ •';: ni m a M* '*7 \h i lU'. ! Hi- !h J ' K- i u h 1 66 -^Concise Account «/* advanced pods at the River Si. Jofeph, at the Green Bay, and at ihe Falls of 'cU Marie, at the time when Canada w?s ceded to the crown of Gres.t Britain, all which have been fince de- flroyed by the Indians j and the only port we now have in this part of the country is at Mlchiimakana, which is garrifoncd with loo men. From the fouth point of Lake Huron, the River bt. Lawrence runs eafterly, inclininc- to rhe fuuth for about eighty miles, where it flows into Lake Eric in its way, paffing thro* Lake Sinclair, which is about twenty-five miles above Lake Erie. The river at Lake Huron is a- bout 500 yards wide, but much wider before it reach ::s the other Lake, there being feveral flreams which join it on each fide. The country on both fides the river is level and i^ood, the timber is white pine, oak, maple, 6cc. of a good growth. The river wheie it enters Lake Sinclair, is divided into feveral branches, by which are formed five or fix iflands of various dimenfions. The Law'C' Sinclair is nearly circular, and is a- bout eighteen miles acrofs. On the eafi:-fide are large marfhes of eight- or ten miles extent from the watery and near the lower end, on the eaft-fide, a river enters it of a confiderable big- nefSn I f NORTH AMERICA. 167 nefs, from which hy a fliort carrying- place is an eafy conveyance to Lake Ontario, ufed by the Indians who inhabit the banks of this river, who arc a branch of the Souties or Attawawas. The land on the weft-fide of the lake is alfo tolerably good, the timber chiefly beach and maple. At the fouth-fide of the lake, where the river St. Lawrence leaves it, itluddcnly divides into two branches, forming thereby an ifland of confiderable extent, fituated near the center of it; the eaftermoft branch keeps a pretty ftrait courfe, but that which turns to the weftward forms a large bay, leaving a point of land be- tween that and the lake called Long Point* From this bay it returns and joins the otlier branch, forming the aforefaid ifland in the opening of the bay, and from thence ke^ps its courfe fouthw:irdly to Lake Erie ; the land on each fide of the river is level, good and Icrtile, quite from on^j lake to the other j on the t^nft- ward fide of the river, a little below Ld-^c Sinclair, is a town of the Attawawas, i;.nd far- ther down towards Lake Erie, on the lame fide, is a town of Hurons ; the river between thefe two lakes is near 800 yards wide ; on the weft" fide, below the before mentioned bay, is the fort of Detroit. The French inhabitants here are t i 1 ' li "I ! i! f I I.S i f 11 " ' I 'A ^i 'il i ,M , I '' ; i: :i.,i: Wiif M il 168 jd! Concise Account of 1/ are fetkd on both fiJes of the river for abo?]t eight miles. When 1 took poireirion of the country foon after the lurrender of Canada, they were about 2500 in number, there being near 500 that bore arms (to whom I admini- ftered oaths of allegiance) arid near 300 dwell- in ^-houles. Our fort here is built of llocka- does, is about twenty-five feet high, and 1200 yards in circumference; the fituation of this place is pkafant, and the land very good; the inhabitants raife wheat and other grain in a- bundance, and have plenty of cattle, but they enrich themfelves chiefly by their trade with the Indians, which is here very large and lucrative. Below Detroit, on the fame fide of the river, liciar where it enters Lake Ejie, is an Indian .town of the Pottawatamie?, avd below that the River Rouge, or the Red River, enters it oppofite the Vvcd-endof an iujnd, which divides the River St. Lawrence into two branches as it flows into the lake; there are alfo a little above this, two or three fmail.^r idands, which are very bcautilul ; the river is heie about two miles wide. Lake Erie is 300 miles in length, from the fouth-wefl to the north-eail, and eighty or ninety miles wide at the vv'eilerly cnd,and about forty I) LAKE SANDUSKY. 169 I' forty at the lower end, where it tapers off to feven or eight n^ilcs, before the river leaves it. The river enters the lake at the north-weft corner ; and twenty or thirty miles fouth of this, at the weft-end of the lake, the river Mia- mee flows into it. This river has an eafv com- munication with the Ohio, by the river Wal- bach, there being no more than twelve miles land carriage between the two rivers *. At the fouth-weft corner of Lake Erie, the Lake Sandufky communicates with it, by a ftrait of half a mile wide. The Lake Sandufky is thirty miles in length, and eight or ten miles wide. Into the fouth- weft corner of this lake the river Sandufky, or Huron, flows. Upon the banks of this river, and round the Lake Sandufkv, the Huron In- dians are fettled in feveral different towns, in a very plcafant fertile country. This nation of Indians can raife about 6 or 700 fighting men. They differ fomcthing in their manners from the Souties, or any yet mentioned. 'Ihey build regular framed houfes, and cover them with bark. They are efteemed the richeft Indians * Half-way between the river Miamee, and the Straits of Sandufky, the river Huron fl6ws in, on which tliere are fome valuable fprings. Z ' upon '\ ' ■ 1 ! 1 '. 'w '. . •,fi ♦ 1 ■■ if :i' it i ,;^v;'ntage, would equal any of the Britifli colonics on the fea- coafts. The cou'itry on the fouth Mq of Lake Erie is claimed by the Five Nation Indians, but nut inhabited by vhea? ; they keep it for the fake of hunting. This alfo is a fine level country towards the fouth, from the lake, for feveral miles, having many dreams flowing thro' it into the lake, from the hig;h lands be- tween this and the Ohio. Our fen at Prefqne lile is upon this fide of the lake, about 100 mi*vS from the eafl-end. From this fort is a carrying-place of about twelve or fourteen . miles i;' ! 'V .i LAKE ER'IE. 17T miles to the French Creek, a branch of the Ohio. The country from this fort, down to where the river flows out of the lake, is fome- what rocky and hilly; up a river that flows in- to the eafl-end of the lake, about ten miles fouth of where St. Lawrence leaves it, is a town of the Five Nation Indians. The coun- try on the northward fide of the lake is alfo level, the timber tall, but not near fo good as on the fouth-fide. There are feveral flreams which water this country, and flow into the lake on this fide. This country is inhabited, or rather frequented by the MtfUfTaugau In- dians, who tarry no longer in a place chan wild game is plenty in it. They are a branch of the Souties, or Attawawas. Upon this fide of the lake, and oppofite to Prefque Ifle on the other fide, is a peninfula called Long Poxnt, which extends into the lake 2r miles, and is fix miles wide in the widefl y ce, but where it joins the main not more than 100 yards. There are alfo feveral iflands in the lake, at the wefl-end, which, tho' fomewhat rocky, are good land, and might be improved to ad- vantage. From the eafl-end of Lake Erie, the river St. Lawrence runs northealte *y, inclining to the north, about fifty miles, to Lake Ontario. Z 2 Nearly V '< ipl m ipifil 'i; >t Ml ii; I ,1 i •I !■ ' ffl !■* 172 A Concise Account of Nearly oppolite to where it iflbes out of the lake, is a new fort, eredled on the northerly fide, called Fort Erie. Soon after the river forms itf If, the current is rapid, on account of the rocks and falls in it, for about a mile; over which, notwithftanding, we work up veffels by the help of windlalTcs. A little below thefe ripples are feveral fm ill iflands, and at about fix or feven miles dillancc ihe river is divided into two branches, by the fouth-wefl: end of the Great Ifliind, which extends almoft down to Little Niagara Fort, and contains no lefs than 40,000 acres of land, which is very good. The country on both fides the river to Little Niagara appears to be good and fruitful, and is wholly uninhabited. Little Niagara Fort is nothing more than a flockade, and is about two miles diftant from the eafterly end of the Great llland, on the eaft-fide of the river. Near this fort is a remarkable fall, or cata- rad, in the river, which dcferves a particular dcfcription. This catar^d is called the Falls of Niagara, which, in the language of the Five Nations, fignifies a fall of water. The courfe of the river here is fouth-fouth-eaft, and about half a mile wide, where the rock crofTcs it, not in a diredt line, but in the form of an half- moon. NIAGARA FALLS. 173 ) I moon. Above the fall is an ifland of about half a mile in length, the lower end of which comes to the ed^e of the fall. The current of the river above tfie id uid is quite flow j but as it approaches the ifland and is divided by it, it runs more Iwiftly, and, before it comes to the fall, with iiu.h violence, as often throws the water to a confiJeiable height, efpccially on the Well fide of the llluid, the whole fiream appearing in a foam, for even here the dtf'ccnt is equal to the fide of a pretty flecp hill. W hen it comes to the perpendicular fa l^ which is an hundred and fifty feet, no words can exp^efs the conflcrnation of travellers at firfl view, feeing fo great a body of water falling, or ra- thci violently thrown, from fo great an height, upon the rocks below, from which it again re- bounds to a very great height, appearing white as fnow, being all converted into foam, thro' thofc repeated violent agitations. The noifc of this fall is often heard at the diflance of fif- teen miles, and fomctimes much further. The vapour arifing from the fall mayfometimes be fcen at a great diftance, appearing like a cloud, or pillar of fmoak, and in it the appearance of a rainbow, whenever the fun and the pofition of the travel ler favours. Many bcafls and fowls here lofc their lives, by attempting to fwim I 'i < • T'" t. <'if!^ i ■!; i 174 -^ Concise Account of fwim or crofs the /Iream in the rapids, and are found daflicd in pieces below ; and fonietimes the Indians have met with the hke fate, cither thro* their carcUfiliefs or drunkennefs. There arc fnjaiier falls in the river for feveral miles below, which renders it unnavigable. The bank of the river, on the cail-fide from the fall downwards, is 300 feet high, till you come to another fort of ours, diRant from Little Nia- gara nine miles, and this length they are o- bliged to carry by land, on account of the ra- pids above and below the catarad;. The land on the other fide rifes gradually, and perhaps no place in the world is frequented by fuch a number of eagles as this, invited hither by the carnage before mentioned, that is here made of deer, elks, bears, &:c. on which they feed. The land on the well-fide of the river St. Law-* rence, from this fort, or landing place, to Lake Ontario, is owned by the MeffilTaugaus, and is tolerably good. The timber is chiefly chcfnut. The j^'afterlv fide is owned bv the Five Nations, and is thinly timbered with lofiy oaks, which, at firfl view, one would be apt to think were artificially tranfpofed. The river enters Lake Ontario at the fouth-wefl corner, at which place is Nia;^ara Fort, an handfome, well-built fortification, of confiderable flrength. A large bay . t ! i LAKE ONTARIO. 7? bay iL'jotc up from tlvj entrance of the river vvcdward. The form of this lake is oval, beiFig about 260 milco in length, and 150 wide in the middle. The country on the weft and north of the lake, down to the river Toronto, which is about fifty miles, is very good. At the weft-end a river runs in, from which are cairying-placcs, both to Lake Sinclair and Lake Erie, or to rivers that flow into them. The country upon the lake, between St, Lawrence and Toronto, is inhabited or owned by the McffifTaugaus, and, by the fair and lofty timber upon it, is a good foil. Here is likewife great plenty of grape-vines. By one of the branches of the river Toronto is an eafy com- munication with the rivers flowing into Lake Huron. Upwards of a hundred miles from Toronto, at the north-eafterly corner of the lake, the river Cataraqua flows into it ; there are likewife fevcral fmaller ftreams betweea thefe. From Cataraqua is a carrying-place to the Attawawc: River, which joins St. Law- rence near Montreal. This country is alfo owned by the MeflHTangaus, as far northward as Cataraqua ; they likewife claim all the weft- fide of Lake Ontario, and north of Lake Erie, but live a roving unfettlcd life, literally with- out \v m it t I. Ml t 'I { If,: I n-. 111 f ip4 Hi'* m 176 ^ CoNCisfi Account of out any continuing city, or abiding habitation> as hath been already remarked of them. At the eafterly corner of the lake flows in the River Ofwego, where we have another fort crcdcd, and a girrifon kept up of a con- fiderable force ; this is about 200 miles from Niagara. The River Ofwego rifes from the Oneoida Lake, which is about thirty miles in length. At the eaft-end of this lake ftands a royal blockhoufe, which ': garrifoned to keep up a communication with the lakes j and on the weft-end of this lake is Fort Brewerton, another poft, built for the fame purpofc j and about half-way between this and Ofwego is an- other blockhoufe, to command a ferry over the Seneca River. The Oneoida Lake is dif- tant fifty or fixty miles from the Lake Ontario. From the Oneoida is an eafy communication with the Mohock (and confequently with Hud- fon*s) River, by the way of the Wood Creek. The country upon the Lake, between Ofwe- go and St. Lawrence, is level and good for fcve- ral miles from the lake. ■ This country is owned by the Five Nations. There are feveral rivers flowing thro' it to the lake ; the moft confiderable is the River Sable, which joins the lake eighty or ninety miles caft of Niagara, and rifes near a branch of NORTH AMERICA. 177 of tlic Ohio. There are feveral falls upon it, and cnc lii^hcr than ihc Vulh of Nla^^ara. The A.cam is about 200 feet wide for a great way up. Jt is very tnnch concealed from ti)e tra- veller, as he pafies icon the Lake, by an ifland f:ruated before the mouth cf it. Abrut 150 miles up tliis river, are thofe remarkable .^^iiugs, greatly efleemed by the Indians as a remedy for almofl every difeafe j they are cal- led the oil-fpiings, on account of an oleous fubflance that ifllies forth with the water, and rifes upon the furface of it. The Indians ufe thefe fprings for confumptions, adhmas, and various internal diforders, by drinking the wa- ter J and for rheumntick pain?, drains, d'flo^ cations, &c. by bathing, with great fuccefs. A little further call ward flow in the rivers Arun- dicat and ChineTee. In the rivers round Lake Ontario are falmon in great plenty during the fumtiier-feafon ; and at the entrance of the river St. Lawrence are, durin^ the winter-fcaibn, an abundance cf a kind of fifli, called white-lifli, which feem to be peculiar to this place, there bcinj, none luch any where elfe in America, exceprintr fome few at Long Point, nor can 1 learn that any fuch are to be ken in Europe. In fummer they difappear, and are fuppoled to lie during A a that ,1; } r 1 :i i ' t m t^ if u IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) &^ {./ /. i/.s V 1.0 I.I 11.25 U|28 US 1^ I I 25 2.2 2.0 1^ U 116 VQ /. 4^ V ' Photographic Sciences Corporation iV <^ ■^ <> [V 4a V^- c> 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. 14580 (716) S72-4S03 V^^" V ^ ^V" .V "4^^ Zi ^ m \ I 178 u4 Concise Account of that feafon in the deep water, out of found- ings. They are about the (ize of fiiad, and very agreeable to the palate, flerc is great plenty cf water-fovv], and game of all kinds common to the climate. In a word, the country round this lake Is plcafant, and appa- rently feitjle, and capable of valuable improve- ments. The Five Nations have their towps, not ad- jacent to the lake, but at fomc didance from it, and mollly upon the riveis that liov/ into it. Tiie river St. Lawrence takes it^ leave of Lake Ont;irio at the nr^rih -call: -corner of it. Near the lake it is ten or twelve miles wide, liavin'^ feveral iflands in it, on one of which, tlie mofl: northerly, at the head of the rifts, is a fmall furtrefs, ereded by the French, and now kept up by us. A litiic fcuth of this ifland a confiderable flr^am flows in, which rifes near PIudfon*s River, and is called Ofwe- aotehy, and has frequent falls after you afccnd it forty or lifty miles. The above-mentioned iiland is about twenty miles down from the li.ke. Here the river grows narrower. From Lake Ontario to the Cedars, the pre- fent weftern boundary of the province of Que- bec, is abouf eighty miles, and from thence to Lake St. Francis, which may be called the next NORTH AMERICA. J79 next ftage of St. Lawrence, is near the fame diftance. On the fouth-fide of the river, at the bot- tom of the rifts, is a fmall viliafre of the Five Nations, and another on the fame Hdc towards Montreal. In the river, and in the Lake St. Francis, are feveral iflinds, which are moftly fettled by the French, belonging to the province of Que- bec. The country on both fides the river is tole- rably good, and is capable of fupporting many thonfaiids of inhabitants. On the norrherly-fide of the Lake St. Fran- cis, the Attawawas River flowf, in and joins the river St. Lawrence, as hath been already men- tioned. The Attawawas rifes ead: ot Luke Su- perior, from a fmall lake, where is an Indian tribe, who call themfelves Roundccks ; and oppofite to the north-eafl-corner of Lake Hu- ron is another fmall lake, which the Lidians call Nippiflbng (in their language a lake.) The ftream which flows from it is joined by another of fome confiderable bignefs, that rifes from feverai fmall lakes among the mountains. Where thefe two rivers unite are many iflands, which render the pafTage very difficult to find. From the head of the weft branch of this river, A a 2 there 'lih (, 1^ i8o J Concise /Vccount of there is but a (liort port.i^e to another that falls into Lake Haron, by wlach way ouv traders fodfjetinies cany their goods to and fron:i the Indians in this part of the country; but thia way is much in.^re ditH'^ult than that oi; Niagara, being obfhuded by a great number ol fails round whith they are obliged to carry their goods and canoes. There is another v-ry fmall fcttlement of the Roundocks upon the river, between the iflands and its jundion with the river St. Lawrence; which ju!i(ftion, after a fouth-cafl-courfc, is by three difiercnt chwinnels ; one flows into the Lake St. Francis, and the other two form the Ifland of Jefus, north of Montreal, and meet and unite with the river St. Lawrence, at the cad-end of the Illand Montreal. The country upon the banks of this river is broken, and not very good, till you come near the river St. Lawrence. The timber is chiefly white pine, of a tall growth*. The winters are cold, and fubjcdt to deep fnows, much more fo than the main river, as we have traced it down. There is, however, great plenty of beaver in this country, and the river, for fome way up, abounds with falmon, which two ar- ticles are the chief fubfi ence of the Indians refiding here, who pretend not to keep any animals NORTH AMERICA. i8i animals but dogs. Bat after all, even this country, by a civiUjcd indiiftiious people, might be rendered fertile and delightful, be- yond many in the world that are now very po- pulous. There are feveral fettlemcnts, of the St. John's, Cape Sable, and feveral other tribes of Indians, upun the Itrcanii. tailing into St. Law- rence frurii the fo ;th, betwfcn that and Nova Scotia, and round the cult ot St. Lawrence, bc- tvvecn that and the l>.iy of Fundy, and the coafls of the province of Mam, whofe chief fubfiflencc is the wild game of the country, for they raifc but little corn, and keep no cattle. There are alfo feme Indians upon the north- fide of St. Lawrence, near Quebec, called Hu- rons,, but none of any great account. About ihirty or forty miles below Quebec, a river flows in from the north, that heads near . Hadfon*b Bay, or James River, on the banks of which live fome oihcr tribes of the Round- ocks; but all the Indians on the lakes, exccpt- ting the riurons and Five Nations, have an alhnity in their language, nnd appear to be originally from the fame nation. From this account of the country upon the river St. Lawrence, above what is now called • the 1 . i I'l ill -'? n '< .lt 182 -^Concise Account of the province of Quebec, tliere fcems a prof- pcdt in future, not only of a flourifhing pro- . vince, but a rich and -rcat kingdom, exceed- ing in extent of territory mofl of the kingdoms in Europe, and exceeded by ^evv, if any, in the fertility of its foil, or the falubrity of its air, and in its prefent uncultivated ftate, abounding with many of the necelliriries and convenien- cies of life ; and tho' it has no open communi- cation with the fea, yet great amends are made for this defcdl bv its numerous lakes and ftreams running to and from them, by which there is an cafy communication from one part of the country to another, almoft through the whol^. In a word, there is no part of North America at prefent difcovered, excepting that on the Mi/iifippi, that appears better worth fettling, improving, and defending than this. It is in many rcfpedts preferable to any of the colonies on the fea-coafls, exclufive of their improvements, and has a larger territory than any fix of them. This country, if any in America, will al- ways have the advantage of the fur and peltry trade, on account of its large lakes, and the extended uninhabitable country to the north- ward of it, both of which will tend to keep up that NOPvTH AMERICA. 183 that valuable .ird lucrative branch of com- merce here to the cud of time. 3B®^i^^'^UJ^Q'^iJ 0Si3i^ iM^)^t^'<£>^}^ The RIVER CHRISTINO. In I- ! THIS river is f j called from the Indians, the CiniitiiiHUx, who polTefa the coun- try adjacent to it. Its higheft fource is, as hath been mentioned, at the north-eafl of the central mountains, called by the Indians the Head of the country. It rifes in fcverai Arcams, all which bend their courfe towa:\is Hudfon's Bay, and fall in with each other at different places, till, in the courfe of about i sO niWcs from their fource, they all unite, Uy which ct)nf]uence a very large bay is fornicd, round which is a tribe or divi- iion of Chriflinaux live. As vou advance further down the river, there arc fame few hkc$, hut none large, or deft^rving of a particular defcription. There are feveral fmall ftreams which flow in on each fide of the river, from a low boggy country, by which its waters are increafed, till finally f. /.■ H ! 1^^ 1i i I 1 »; ; i ! •I ( T ('i I . '1 '. ^ t ,'■' ;if-iii 1 84 u^ Co N c I s K A c c o u V -i* rj^ finally it difchargcs iilllf into Hudfon's Bay, near 200 miles north of York Fort, and about 500 nriiles from the betoic-mcntioned mcun- taiiis. The country adjacent to this river is vaftly inferior to that on the lakes and the river St. Lavi^rcnce, as may well be luppofcd from its northerly fituation, it lying between ^^ and 60 degrees of north latitude. The win- ters are long and fevere, the fnow deep, and continues on the earth great part of the ye.:r. The foil is cold and barren, and fcarce- ly capable of any valuable improvements ; fo that this country, excepting its wild game, feems to have very little to invite any of the ^uman fpcxic: into it, or to fubfill them upon when they vifit it. Near the bay, and for a confiderable way up the river, the land is higii, and lo thickly covered with fpruce, hemlock, &c. that it is difficult to travel thro' it without being entan- gled, but nearer the :T;)untains the foil is bet- ter. The timber here is beech and maple, tho' fome of it is low and marlliVjl^nd covered with hemlock, where it is unfit iov iJ-rain or fruit of any kind. There are in the river fome kindb of fifh, and the beaver are taken here in great abun- dance. NaRTH AMERICA. 185 dance, and feme ermines, elks, moofe, bears, &c. There is alio an aniiir.il refembling the moofe, but much fmaller, which feems to be peculiar to this country. 1 he lifn and wild n;amc are the folc fubfiilcnce ol fhe i'lhabitanrs for tl:cy raife no kind of gr.iin, nor do they keep any animals exce'^t dogs. The number ot Indian waniors in this country is fuppofed to be about 2000. They generally cover their houfes, or huts, with the fkuis of Wild beads, and not only make them warm and fecure, but, according to their taAe, very neat and elegant. Thefe Indians have very near the fame language with thofe on the lakes, and north of the river St. Lawrence ; according to their own hi (lory, or account of themfeWes^, they all came round from the north into this country. Tho' the only hiftory they have is a verbal one, handed down from father to fon, they however pretend in this way to have an exadt account tor many generations back ; and certain it is, that tho' they negledl the educa- tion of their children in almofl every other re- fpedt, they are exiremely careful and folicitous in this way. to acquaint them with the hiftpry or flory of their ancellors. Further northward ftill, are fome other ri- vers that flow into Hudfon's Bay; but the coun- B b try t' 1 , ■ ,f m I iii n I ■L m ii ith i86 ji Concise Account of try adjacent to them being ftill more norther- ly, is inferior, if pofliblc, to that of the Chrilli- naux. The Indians who inhabit it are much the fame; only this fctms obfcrvablc in gene- ral, that the further norrh you travel on the American continent, the more iavage and un- improved the nations appear to be. Thefe Indians, and cvui the Chiiflinaux, rarely travel fouth of the central mountains ; fome few of the laucr have been known to vifit our traders at Laic Huron and Alelhi-* gaaj but their chief trade is to Iliidfon's Bay, to which place the Nippiifongs, round the lake of that name, fomctiincs Cc.ny their furs thro* the country of the Chiifuiuux. it is probable that all the.e northern li.u.ai;s ?re only diffe- rent tribes or divifions of the faiiic nation, their manners, language, and eulloms, being fimilar. From James's Bay, and along the coaHs of Labrador, the country is inhabited, or rather frequented by a nation called the Eflclmaux, who are a wandering unfettled generation, roving in large parties during the fummer-Jea- fon, and come quite from Hudfon's Bay north- ward to the Straits of Belle I fie, which they fometimes crofs over to Ncvv'foundland. "Thefe r NORTH AMERICA. 1S7 Tlicfe Indians give a diffcrcnc accoar.t of ihcmfclves from tlic others : they Inv, that they ciorted liudlon'sbtraits into this cuune;y ; from which it i'^ liippofed, by Ibme, that ir.cy came iVom Ta. tary ; and, indeed, their cuf- tonis and n^thcds of hving favour this opi- nion. NotwiihAanding this prodigious extent of country over which they ramble, tlicy are not very nuiriCroup, being but abvur 4000 men. They fubfifi: chiefly upon animals which they take out of thefc northern feas, futh as whales, feals, and the like; i. id cat or rather devour and gormandize raw tleih, when they cannot with conveniency cook it. Thefe Indians cloatiie themfelves with the furs and fkins of fuch animals as they take in the woods and waters; during the winter- fea- fon they abide in caverns under ground, and- feed chiefly on v;hale-oil and blubber, unlefs raw flefh chance to be thrown in their way. They travel chiefly by water, in a kind of ca- noes peculiar to themfelves, which are ^o con- trived as to ride through almoftany ftorm that can happen; for, in cafe of bad weather, they can lace or inclofe themfelves in and keep dry, while the canoe is rolled over and over with- out damage. . Thefe canoes arc made of fldns ilretqhed over a frame of fmall timber, very P b 2 neasT !■ I I. -■A : i fi :(;., il. i88 A Concise Account of near in the ftiape of the bark-i:anocs, and then lined or ceiled over with ikins ; which lining or ceiling is (I wed f;»fl: to the keel and the gunwale, and then left lb long as tn meet and lace together in the middle, il there (liould be occafion. In tiie center between the two ends is a partition whicli diviiics the canoe into two ap*rline:its } in cue of whivh, wheii a llorm threatens, or tb.cic is danger o* ovtrkrrin^s one pcrlon is ItationcJ, b.:in^ laced up tighv r.>und the body with the atorcUid linii.g, and, in cafe of overfetting, it is hi^. bufincls to right again, while the other (for ti.' ic is ncvf.r more or lefs than two in a canoe wiu n they venture far) is fccurely inclofcd ar the other end. They fome- timcs venuire feveral leagues to fea in thofc ca- noes in puriuit of whales, feals, &c. Their chief trade is to our fort on James's Bay, and with fuch veflcls as frequent their coaft for the fake of trading with them. The Indians on the Ifland of Newfound- land appear to be much the fame fort with ihofe lail mentioned. » They are called Micmacks 5 they both bear the greateft refemblance of the wild beads of any favages that wc are acquainted with ; - » . ■ * • then ining i the t and kibe NO K T fl A iM ERIC A. 189 on which account they are confidercd and hated as a barbarous and bcaftly people by all other Indiuis ir) the nci^^hhourliood, who have but iicilc coiiiiiicicc o: coricfpoiidcnce with them. 1! ^ IS a i two ilotm J, one r.>und n cafe again, or lefs far) is bme- c ca- on qucnt lem. ound- with bear beafts ith ; on The M I S S I S S I IM. TH IS river takes iis rife at t^.e fouther- ly part of the central mountains, up- wards f { 30C0 n)ilcs, as tl.e rivt-r lups from its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Its hi^heft fonrce is a lake of confiderahle bigrefs, oppo- fitc to or north- wc!l of which is ? notch or opening in the mountain, from which a large ftr^aai flows to tlie Irko. carrvmg vvjth it a icd fulphurcous fuhftantc, by wl.icii the water it diicolo'.ired ; on which account this is called the Red L>ke. It has a fine ("ertile country on the louth and fouth-eall- par* of it. The courfe oi' the jMiflidipi from the Red Lake is r.Larjy fouthwefl: for upwards of two hundred miles, where it is joined by a fmal- ler liream from the wcftwMrd, and its courfe is turned nearly fouth-eaft for more than three hundred miles, where it is joined by the Mud- untry is more agreeable and fertile. The lakes and rivers here abound with fiih, and the wild oats or rice before-men- tioned grow& h.ere in great plenty. On the wide-cx'^^T'ded plains are n^.ultitudes of wild cattle, which much refembletheSpanifli cattle. ' - ' • Thera ij N O R T n AMERICA. 191 There is alio great pknty oi deer, elks, buffa- Igcs, and foinc beavtis, hares af»d panthers, and wild fowls in abundance, clpccially turkeyi^, and another kind ofwoodi'owl, much larger, and almoft as tali as a man ; thefe run very Iwift, . but cannot fly, unlefs it be from fome emi- nence, and a faiall fpace at a time. This fruit- ful country is at prefent inhabited by a nation of Indians, called by the others the White In- * dians, on account of their complexion, they being much the faireil Indians on the conu- nent j they' have however Indian eyes, and a certain guilty Jewifh cafl with them. This nation is very numerous, being able to raifc between 20 and 30,000 fighting men. They ufc no weapons but bows and arrows, tomahawks, and a kind of wooden pikes, for which reafon diey often fuffcr greatly from the eaftern Indians, who have the ufe of fire-arnis, and frequently viiit the White Indians on the banks of the eaiierly branch, and kill or cap- tivate them in great numbers; fuch as full a- live into their hands, they generally fell for Haves. Thefe Indians live in large towns, and have commodious houles ; they raife Indian corn, tame the wild cows, and ule both their milk and fiefli -, they keep grent numbers of iiogs, and are very dexterous in hunting* They l\ > S-. Ill ; t r;?j kf; igz A Concise Account of , ..' \ '^■'■\ ;!. P. ! ? ■ r have little nor no commerce with any nation that we at prefent are acquainted with. From the confluence of the Muddy River the courfc of the Mifljflipi is nearly fouth for two hundred miles (the current ftiong, and in fome places rapid) where it is joined by a large ftrf^am from the weft, which riles four hun- dred miles from the central mountains, and its waters chiefly fpring from the north and north-eafterly part of the Mifauri Ridge, a chain, or rather a double chain of mountains, fo called, which reach over towards the lAh- ttius of Darien. This is called by the Indians the Bloody River, on account of the long and bloody wars which have happened between the Indians here and thofe to the eafliward. Four hundred miles further down, another river flows in from the north- weft, which ri- fcs near the Bloody River. The two laft- mcntioncd rivers are both inhabited by the Illinois Indians, who likcwife poffcfs the wef- tcrn banks of the Mifliffipi for feveral hundred miles, and till you come to the river that flows into it from the eaft, and rifes near the Green Bay, having but a (hort carrying- place to the ftream that empties into that, and to another that falls into Lake Mefhigan, near Fort St. Jofeph. The country adjacent to this branch r c NORTH AMERICA. 193 of the Mifliflipi was cnce inhabited by the Illi- nois Indians 5 but they are now moftly re- tired to the weft-fide of the Mifliflipi ; fomc few ftill remain at the mouth of the aforefaid river, where the French had likewife begun a fettlement, which extended for fifty miles along the Mifliflipi, and a coniiderable way up the River Illinois. There they raifed excellent to- bacco, and carried on a large trade with the Indians up the Miffiffipi, and on the lakes. They alfo raife here excellent wheat, barley, and other grains. They had formerly a good fort here, well garriibned, for the protection of the colony; but, fince this place was ceded to the crown of Great Britain, the French have eredted a garrifon on the other fide of the ri- ver, where the greateft part of the inhabitants have retired ; thofe of them who were Ger- mans (of which there is a coniiderable num- ber) chofe to tarry on this fide, and become Britifh fubjeds. Near this fort is a village of Indians ; but their largell fettlement is on the "weft-lidc, fome miles above this, where they have a town containing near 8000 men ; and above that, about an hundred miles, is ano- ther. They have alfo many large towns oa the branches that fall into the river from the weft. C c Thcfc \\ lit' 11' I • ■ ? ! I • 1 I m ■ I I , f ■''J 43 1 .1 \ i I'll) II I li r' • ■ '! M .' > 'I' !!■:(« lit'''' tun ig4. '^Concise Account 0/ Thcfe Indians live very well, have com- fortable houfes, make great ufe of horfes ; their country abounds with deer, elks, buffaloes, &c. In fome parts of this country the timber is fair and tall ; in other parts, for feveral hundred miles, there is fcarce any timber to be found. The foil and air are pleafant and agreeable. About an hundred and fifty, or two hundred miles below, where the Illinois flows into the Mifliflipi on the eafl-fide, the Mifauris joins it on the weft. This river takes its rife from the eaft and fouth-eaft of the before- mentioned Mifauris ridge of mountains, in many different ftreams, for near 1000 miles on this fide, which unite with each other at different places, and, after an eaflerly and foutherly courfe of near 2000 miles, as the river runs, it flows in- to the Miniffipi. There is perhaps no finer country in the world than that which lies s^xtended on each fide of the Mifauris, whether we regard the falubrity of the air, or the fer- tihty of the foil. There are in this country near a thoufand Indian towns. The inhabi- tants on this river are called the Mifauri In- dians, who are able to raife great numbers of fighting men ; and have much the fame cuf- toms and manners as the Illinois, who are likc- i u I NORTH AMERICA. 15)5 likewife very numerous. The gocdnefs of the country which they both inhabit, if polfible, muft render life agreeable and eafy to perfons who, hke then); are content with having the demands of nature anfwered, without endea- vouring to increafe thefe demands by any flu- died refinements in drefs, equipage, or the modes of Uving. In fliort, thefe people^ of any upon earth, feem blefled in this world : here is health and joy, peace and plenty -, care and anxiety, ambition end the love of gold, and every uneafy paffion, feem banidied from this happy region, at leaft to a greater degree than in almoft any other part of the world. The River Mifliflipi, after being joined by the Mifauris, is about fix miles wide, and conti* nues its courfe foutherly; it is joined by no confiderable ftream after this for between two or three hundred miles, where the Ohio fiov.'S into it, and makes a large addition to its wa-' ters. The country, on each fide the MiflifTipi to this place, is much the fame as that already defcribed 3 but the climate is fomething war- mer, and is owned by the Tweeghtwees, or Yeahtanees, on the eaft-fide down to the Ohio, and eaftwardiy from theMifliffipi as far as the Wabach, Qq z Th© ■I Mf H'i '.' \*'\ ^ ■ I ! 196 y^ Concise Accounts/ Hil.i m IWi W:>' ,. f 'To,' im The River Ohio rifes in fcveral branches, one of which is near Prcfque Ifle, on the Lake Ontario, and within fix miles of the lake j a- bout ten miles down this branch flands Fort Du Bcauf, from which place it is navigable for Canoes and final! boats quite to the mouth. The courfe of this branch is foutherly for fe- vcnty or eighty miles below Fort Du Beauf, where we had another fort, called Venango*. About twenty miles above this laft fort, on the banks of the flream, are fcveral little towns of the Mingo Indians, who removed hither from Hudfon's River, and now belong to thofe cal- led the Five Nation Indians. Oppofite to Ve- nago Fort this branch is joined by another large one from the north-eaft, which rifes in the country of the Five Nations, and renders the navigation ftill more fcafable ; and about half- way from thence to Fort Pitt, there is another which joins it from the north-eaft, and after their meeting it is called the Ohio River, till you come to Fort Pitt, where it is joined by the Monongahela, which rifes from the weft-fide of the Allegana mountains in a great number * Venango, Fort du Beauf, and Prefque Ifle, vrcre all deftroyed by the Indians in 1763; and whether they are rebuilt, I cannot tell. it! - |sf nil- pf NORTH AMERICA. 197 of fmall ftreams, that unite at no great dlftance from the mountain, and form this dream. Fort Pitt is a regular well-built fortrefs, is kept in good order, and well garrifoned; it is a very neceffary pod for the protedlion of our frontiers ; indeed none is more lb in this country, excepting Niagara and Detroit. Fort Pitt ftands upon the point of land be- tween the rivers Monongahela and Ohio. From this the general courfe of the river is weft, inclining to the fouth for near a thoufand miles, as the river runs, where it joins the Mif- fiflipi. At Fort Pitt it is a mile wide, but grows much wider before itsjundion with the Mifliffipi* being joined by fevsral dreams in its courfe thither, as the Mofkongom and Wa- bach from the north, and the Tanefec from the fouth. The Mofkongom fifes towk rds Lake Erie, and the Wabach near the river Miamee, the carrying-place .between them being but twelve miles long, at which place was formerly a fmall fort ; at the didance of an hundred and fifty or two hundred miles from this ibrt, an- other dream flows, that rifes near the Il- linois, and from which the Indians have a car- rying-place to it, and often pafs this way, when bound to Detroit from the Illinois country; where the dream joins the Wabach, dood the Ycah- lU\ t I r : i r I i I'll ■i':. . ■ I' ' ) I"; I IjI 11 I ft!' .1 •ill 5j)i . „ liiii ^'tfflV:^:. V i$3 -<^ Concise Account c/* Yeahtanccs Fort, Co called from the Indians of that name, inhabiting tlic adjacent country. The Moikongom Kivcr rifcs near one that flows into Lake Erie, about forty miles caft of Sandufky ; and, by a fliort carrying-place, the Indians convey their commodities this way to the Ohio. As far down the Ohio as the River Wa- bach, the country on each fide is claimed by the Five Nations j the Shawanecs at prefent inhabit it, who can raife about three hundred fighting men 5 and further eaftward, towards Lake Erie, live the Delawares, who can raife about five hundred fighting men. Thefe are in league with the Five Nations, and hold their lands under them, and arc fometimes called th^, Sixth Nation 5 and al- together, fince this alliance, which is of fome years (landing, have the general appellation of the Six Nation Indians. The Mohocks are the head or chief nation, and preferve a fuperiority over the others. The Delawares and Shawanees raife but little corn, and fubfifl themfelves chiefly by their hunting, at which they are very expert; their houfes, tho* covered with bark, are very comfortable. ^ . Wefl NORTH AMEPwICA. 199 Wefl: of the VVabach, as far as the Miflif- (ipi fouth, to where the Ohio johis it, and north to the heads of the Wabach and Yeahtanecs Rivers, the country is owned by the Twecgh- twees or Yeahtances Indians, who can furnifh out about two thoufand fighting men. Their chief fettlements aie at th<" heads of the before- mentioned rivers. Too much cap hardly be faid in commcn* dation of this wide extended country upon the Ohio, the Wabach, Yeahtanees, and other ftreams flowing into it. The country between the lakes and the jundlion of the Ohio and Mifiiflipi, for feveral hundred miles, and all the country between Fort St. Jofeph and the Green Bay, and be- tween Detroit and the Illinois, and evea much further north than Detroit, is level, the foil excellent, ths climate healthy and f'^greeable, and the winters moderate and fhort. Its natural produdlions are numerous and va- luable. It is fufficienily, but not too thickly timbered ; what there is, is tall and fair, and fit for any common ufe. In fhort, no Coun- try in this quarter, if any in the wprld, is ca- pable of larger or richer improvements than this. Ther« . ( i'l Ml \h H ' »■ im\ M ■ f 20O A Concise Account of There is a good coal-mine near Fort Pitt, ' made ul'e of by the garrifon for fuel ; and what is ftill more in commendation of this country, it is extremely well watered by fpirngs and rivulets, and has an eafy communication with the whole world from the mouth of the MifTiflippi, and with great part of the interior country of North America, by its feveral branches, the Wabach, Mifauris, Yeahtanees, the Ohio, &c. and with the great lakes by way of Prefquc Iflc, where a fmall expcnce would turn the waters of the lakes into the Ohio. At prefent the portage is but a fmall diflance, and the land level. Indeed fach is the fituation of this country, that, at or near the jundlion of the Ohio and Mifliffipi, in my opinion, within a century or two, it will be the largeft city in the world ; for hither flow, and here center, the exports of all the country upon the Mifliflipi, above and upon the Ohio, the Mifauris, the Wabach, theTanefee, the great lakes, &c. &c. The imports to this country will be moft eafy and natural up the rivers St. Law- rence and Hudfon, by way of Montrlal and Albany, and up the Delaware to Philadelphia, and from thence over the mountains, the navi- gation up the Mifliflipi being difficult. ' Below NORTH AMERICA. 201 Below the river Ohio, on the eaft-fide of the Miflifllpi, down to its mouth, the country is owned and inhcibitcd by the Chickctaws for near two hundred miles to theeaftward. This nation can raife 10,000 fii?,hting men. The foil of their coum-y is fandy, and not fo good as that above dcfcribed -, however it produces rice and indigo to good perfedion, of whl-h the French have made fufficicnt proof. The Chicketaws generally live in large towns, their chief fcttlements are not far from the banks of the Ohio, on the flreams that flow into it from the eaft. Their houfes arc not very elegant; however they have the art of making them tight, which neceflity obliges them to do, to fecure them- felves againft the flies, which are here very troublefome at fome fcafons of the year. They keep cows, hogs andhorfes, the latter in great abundance. They raife plenty of corn, beans, potatoes, &c. but have very little game, ex- cept deer. The Cherokees inhabit the fouth-wefl: end of the Apalachian mountains, from the head of the Tanefee River, which flows into the Ohio, about a hundred miles before its jundion with the Mifliflipi. The extent of their country from north' eaft to fouth-wcft is about four t) d hundred t'li ; ; ;♦ I '' s ! . Vi''r m to2 A Concise Account of hundred miles, and about two hundred miles wide. It is very mountainous and broken, and difficult of accefs any way. They live in as good order as any favagcs on the continent. They build their houfcs with wood, and ciel them with clay mixed with ftraw, fo as to ren- der them tight and comfortable. They have many Anall towns difperfed among the moun- tains on the branches of the rivers Tancfee rnd Savanna. They have great plenty of horfes, fomc black cattle, and many fwinc. They raife corn in abundance, and fence in their fields (which no other Indians do) ; they alfo keep poultry, and have orchards of peach- trees. They liicewife attend to gardening. They iire very famous for hunting, and their country abounds with deer, bears, and fome elks and turkeys in great plenty in the fertile vallies between the mountains. The Chcrokees can raife about 2000 fight- ing men. The Tanefee is wholly uninhabited below the mountains to where it joins the O- hio ; but the country upon it is claimed by the Chickefaws, a brave warlike people, who have but one town, fituated on a plain by a fm all creek that rifcs about thirty miles fouth of the •Tancfee. 'Their town is picquetcd in, and for» tificd With a fort. They baud their houfes much NORTH AMERICA. .203 much ill the fame form as the Chicktaws. They raifc corn in great abundance, and have large droves of hoiTcs, fome black cattle and fwine. They can raifc about five hundred fighting men. The Creek Indians hve fouth-weil of the Chcrokees, partly between them and the Chicktau'S, St. Augudin and Georgia, and have a level country. They live in the fame manner, and have the fame commodities as the Chicktaws and Chcrokees, and can raife about 2000 fighting men. All the country of the Creeks is infcAcd with alienators and fnakcs of a very large fize, and flics, that at certain feafons are a very great torment to them. From the MiHuiris down to the wed-fiJc of the Mifillfipi the foil is good, till yf;u come near the mouth of it. The French liave a fettlemcnt (a little above where the Ohio flows in) on the weft-fidej about an hundred miles farther down, another fcattered fettlcraent of theirs begins, and is continued for near an hundred miles, from whence to New Orleans the country is better fettled. The produce of this country is rice, Indian corn, and fome wheat. The Ifland of Orleans is a very beau- tiful and fertile fpot of ground, on which tha P d 2 French pW^'^ ■ i^i- I ' ■ 204 -^Concise Account, C^c. French have a confiderablc town. The number of French in this province is about 100,000. The Negroes are very numerous. The foil towards the fouth is well adapted to rice and Indigo, and towards the noth to wheat. The number of inhabitants iucreafes verv faft, and will in a Ihort time become a large colony; and, if pofTclTed by thofc ambi- tious neighbours the French, will be capable of creating frcfh troubles to the Britifh fub- jedts in America ; efpecially as in it and adja- , cent to it are great numbers of favages, who are Hill in their intereft, and whom they ne- ver yet failed to excite and encourage to acta of hoflility, even in times of peace. On the weft-fide of the Mifiiffipi, adjoining to the French feitlement, arc the Chataw Indians; their country is much like that already defcri- bed, oppofitc to it on the eaft-fide, and their maaners and mcthodi of living the fame with the Chickctaws and Cherokces, i cus- [ 2°S ] CUSTOMS, MANNERS, ^c. of the INDIANS. » HAVING thus endeavoured to give a fl^etch of the interior country of North America, fo far as I have any knowledge or intelligence concerning it, .1 will now more particularly, bat briefly, mention the cuftoms, manners and connedtions of the Indians who inhabit there. Thofe of them who have any concerns or commerce with the Englifh, are fuch as inha- bit from the ead-fide of the Miflifiipi to the fouth-iidc of the River Chriltinoj and among all the nations and tribes in this vaR extent of country, thofe called the Five Nation iiidians ftand diflinguidied, and are deferving of the fir ft notice. They are dreaded and revered by all the others for their fuperior undcrftand- ing, adivity and valour in war, in which con- flant pradice renders them expert, they being in almcft continual wars with one nation or other, and fometimes with fcveral together. Their cuftoms, manners, and modes ofdrcfs,are adopted by many of the other tribes as near as pot- i 1 Ni n ;!' i^^ :.i^ ■'I ti « If I 'A *4 i ! 5'! •■ ir^ I* i|i r./ H' ills 206 -/fCoNcisE Account of pofliblc. In fliort, thofe Indians arc general- ly among the other nations edeeined the po- litcft and beft bred who the neareft refemble ihcfe. Their moll northern fetdcmcnt is a town called Chockonawa?;o, on the louth of the River St. Lawrence, oppcfite to Montreal; but their largeft fettlements are between Lak-e Ontario and the provinces of New York and Penfylvania, or the heads of the Mohock, Tancfec, Oneoida and Onondaga Rivers. They claim all the country foiuh of the River St. Lawrence to the Ohio, and down the Ohio to the V/abach, from the mouth of the Wa- bach to the bounds of Virginia 5 wcfterly, to the Lakes Ontario and Erie, and the River Miamce ; their ci^Acrn boundaries are Lake Champlain, and the B^itidi colonies. When the Engli(h firfl fetiled in America, they could raifc 15,000 fighting men j but now, includ- ing the Dclawares and Shawanees, they do not amount to more than between three or four thoufand, having been thus reduced by the inceflant wars they have maintained with the other Indians, and with the French, in Canada. The Mohocks were formerly the moft nu- raerous tribe amongd: them, but now they arc "ixQ fmalleft -, however, they ilill preferve a fu- pcriorlty iral- po. Tjble is a h of reali Lake and lock, [vers. ^iver Ohio Wa- ly, to iRivcr ake Vhen could clud- o not r four ' the with hj in [t nu- ty arc a fu- [iority NORTH AMERICA. 207 perlority and ainhority over the red, as the mod honourable nation, and are ccnfulted and appealed to by the others iu all great emergen- cies. About 100 years ago they dcftroycd the greateft part of the Hurons, who then lived on the fouth-fidc of Lake Ontario, and the re- mains fled to the French in Canada for pro'- tcdion; but the greateft part have fince re- turned to their own country again, and live, by permifTion from the Five Nations, on the lands at the weft-end of Lake Erie. They alfo took prifoners the whole nation of the Shawanees, who lived upon the Wabach, and afterwards, by the mediation of Mr. Penn, at the firft fcttlement of Pcnfilvania, gave them liberty to fettle in the w^efterly parts of that province -, but obliged them, as a badge of their cowardice,, to wear petticoats for a long time : they gave them, howeverj the appella- tion of coufins, and allowed them to claim kindred with the Five Nations, as their uncles. They conquered the Delavvarcs about the fame time, and brought them into the like fubjec- tion ; and alfo the Mickanders, or Mohegons, that lived on the banks of Hudfon's River. They fuffered the two laft mentioned nation? to live in any uninhabited part of their fouth" ern territory but the latter, upon condition of paying 111. is; 1 1 •f '\'h m i\;\ : 1 .;■ m hi i, \l I miP 208 -^ Concise Account of paying them an annual tribute. They alfo conquered fevcral tribes upon the frontiers of New England. Some nations to this day are not allowed to appear ornamented with paint at any general meeting or congrcfs where the Five Nations attend, that being an cxprefs ar- ticle in the capitulations. They have bctn in- veterate enemies to the French ever fince their firft fettling in Canada, and are almoft the only Indians within many hundred miles, that have been proof againft the folicitations of the French to turn againft us 5 but the great- eft part of them have maintained their inte- grity, and been our ftedfaft friends and faithful allies. They once burnt great part of the city of Montreal, and put the French into great con- ftcrnation ; they have alfo conquered moft of the Abnaques, or eaftern Indians. They now maintain a conftant war with the Cherokees, Creeks, and Chickefaws, and m^iny of their young men are annually employed that way j others of them go againft the Mifauri ; and, in fliort, they fometimes carry their hoftilities al- moft as far fouth as the ifthmus of Darienj but they have long lived in peace with the Indians op the lakes, and with the Twecghtwees, thofe two nations being too n.ar, and well pro- vided, '1 'It' NORTH AMERICA. ^^09 vided to retaliate any affront they msy offer them. The Indians do not want for natural good fcnfe and ingenuity, many of them difcovering a great capacity for any art or fcicnce, liberal or mechanical. Their imaginations are fo flrong, and their memories fo retentive, that when they have once been at a place, let it be ever fo diftant, or obfcure, they will readily find it again. The Indians about Nova Scotia and the Gulf of St. Lawrence have frequently paflcd over to the Labrador, which is thirty or forty leagues, without a compafs, and have landed at the very fpot they at firft intended : and even in dark cloudy weather they will di- redt their courfe by land with great exadlnefs j but this they do by obferving the bark and boughs of trees, the north-fide, in this country, being always mofiy, and the boughs on the fouth-fide the largcft. It is alfo obfervable, that you will rarely find among the Indians a perfon that is any way deformed, or that is deprived of any fenfe, or decrepid in any limb, notwithftanding the little care taken about the mother in the time of her pregnancy, the negledt the infant is treated with when born, and the fatigues the youth is obliged to fuffer ; yet generally they are E e I t *:■ I is I :4 : I fi: til 1^ i^i^j- MM r^.-f: ■ !.; ' 'Mli'v ii9i 1 ^>^l^ |H|i, # 210 ^ Concise Account ^Z of a hale, robuft, and firm conftitution ; but fpirituous liquors, of which they are infatiably fond, and the women as well as the men, have already furprizingly lefTened their num- bers, and will, in all probability, in one century more nearly clear the country of them. Indeed the mothers, in their way, take great care of their children, and arc extremely fond of them. They feldom wean them till they are two years old, or more, and carry them on their backs till the burden grows quite infupportable to them. When they leave the cradle they are very much at liberty to go when and where they pleafe ; they are how- ever careful to inflrudl them early in the ufc of arms, efpecially the bow, and arc often re- counting to them the exploits and great at- chievements of their anceilors, in order to in- ipire them with great and noble fentiments, and lead them on to brave and heroic actions. They introduce them very young into their public councils, and make them acquainted with the moil important affairs and tranfac- tions, which accuftoms them to fecreiy, gives them acompofed and manly air, infpircs them with emulation, and makes them,bold and en- terprifing. They feldom chaftife their child- ten ', wh«n they arc young, they fay, bccaufc they i i; NORTH AMERICA. 211 • they arc not endued with reafon to guide them right, otherwifc they would not do wrong; when they are more advanced in life, they fay, becaufe they arc capable of judging, and ought to be niafters of their own adlions, and are not accountable to any one. Thcfc maxims arc carried fo far that parents fometimcs fufFer themfclves to be abufcd by their children ; and in the fame way they will excufe any ill treat- ment they meet with from a drunk'in man : Should we blame or punifh him, fay they, when he docs not know what he docs, or has not his reafon ? When a mother fees her daughter «. If.Ji.ms of America, tlv.in amonu; the Ch:i.ii:ins of Europe ; and feme of tiiein are very facc^jfsful in pei funding tlie fiiultitude that thc-y are filled witli a divine ^nthufivifm, and a kind of infpiration, few knowing better how to acfl their part in this lacred juggle than they- They ofucn perfuade the people that they have revelations of future events, and that they are authorifed to com- mand them to purfue fuch and fuch meafurcs. They not only prefcribe laws and rules, and perfuade the populace to believe them ; but undertake to unfold the myfterics of religion and a future ftate, to folve and interpret all their dreams and vifions, &,c. They reprefent the other world as a place abounding with an in- exhauftlble plenty of every thing defirable, and that they fliall enjoy the mofi: full and exqui- fite gratification of all their fenfes : and hence it i?, no doubt, tbr.t the Indians meet death with fuch indifi^^rence and compofureof mind, no Indian being in the leall: difmayed at the news that he has but a few hours- or minutes to live ; but with the greateft intrepidity fees bimfelf upon tlic brink of beinc^ fenarated from F f ter- I :f| 2i8 A Concise Account of '^[ W: m^ El 4' ' ■ '> '■ )'..( hn m ■ '■ \ terreftrial things, and with fpirit and compo- fure harangues thofe who are round him 5 and thus a father leaves his dying advice to his children, and takes a formal leave of all his friends. The Indians generally bury their dead with great decency, and eredl monuments over their graves. They depofit in the grave fuch things as the deceafed had made the greateft ufe of, and been mod attached to 5 as pipes, tobacco, bows, arrows, &c. that he may not be in want of any thing v/hen he comes to the other country. The mothers mourn for their children a long time, and the neighbours make prefents to the bereaved father, vaiich he retaliates by giving them a feaft. The Indian feads, whether at a funeral, a triumph, a vlilt, or whatever the occafion be, are very fimplc ar.d inartful. The favage does not mortify his friend Vv'ith a fplendid appear- ance, bat makes him chearful by dividing his riches with him, and values not fpending the fruits of a whole feafon's toil, to convince him that he is welcome ; nay, thinks himfelf hap- py in having fuch an opportunity to oblige him. The gueft is fure to be treated with an unaffedted gravity and complaifance, and that he (hall not be the fubjed of whifpering ridi- . — ; cule i (fl ; NORTH AMERICA. 219 cule and banter while prcfent, nor of cruel re- marks when departed ; which certainly is a pri- vilege they do not always enjoy among more civih'zed nations. Nor is a fcrvile regard paid to the diflindlions of high and low, rich and poor, noble and ignoble, fo as to leffen the fpi- rit and pleafure of converfation, when the com- pany happens to be made up cf a mixture of thefe. The Indians being both of a very adlive and revengeful difpofition, they are eafily induced at any time to make wars, and feldom refufe to engage when folicited by their allies ; very often the moft trifling provocations roufe them to arms, and 'prove the occalions of blocdilied and murder ; their petty private quarrels being often decided this way, and expeditions of this kind may be undertaken without the know- ledge or cotifentof a general council, or any formal declaration of war. Thefe private e^:- curlions are winked at, cxcufed, and encou- raged, as a means of keeping their young men alert, and of acquainting them with the difci- pline and exercifes of war. And indeed thefe petty wars feem neceflary, fince their laws and penalties are infufficient to reftrain them with- in the bounds of reafon and common juftice, and are a poor fecurity of private property a^ F f ^ gainft !^ I m h i \ i ■Mil m. m$ ; .i ■ . ! \ :;? y^u 220 J Concise Account, of gainfi: the infults and dc:prcdations of any onej but when war becomes a national afTair, it is entered upon with great deliberation and fo- lemnity, and profecutcd with the utmoll Ic- crecy, diligf;nce and attention, both in making preparations and in carrying their fchemes in- to execution. Their method of declaring war is very folcmn and pompous, attended with many ceremonies of terror. In th.e fird place, they call an aflembly of the Sachems and Chief Warriors, to deliberate upon the affair, and determine upon matters, how, when, and in what manner it (hall be entered upon and profecutcd, &c. In which general congrefs, a- mong the northern Indians and the Five Na- tion?, the women ijave a voice as well as the men. V/hen they are aflembled, the Prefi- dent or chief Sachem propofes the affair they have met to confult upon, and, taking up the hatchet (which lies by him) fays, Who a- niong you will go and fight again ft fuch a na- tion ? Who among you will go and bring cap- tives from thence, to replace our deceafed friends, that our wrongs may be avenged, and our name and honour maintained as lonz as rivers f.ow, grafs erows, or the fun and moon endure ? He having thus laid, one of tl^.c prin- cipal warriors riles, and harangues the vvhole " r ail'em- 11 h one J it is d fo- a le- aking es in- gwar I with place, s and affair, n, and n and efs, a- ' e Na- as the Prefi- they ip the fho a- a na- Ig cap- Iceafed ^i, and ing as imoon prin- I whole all'em- NORTH AMERICA. 221 afTembly; and then addrcfle? himfclf to the young men, and inquires, who among them will go along with him and fight their ene- mies ? when they generally rife, one after an- other, and fall in behind him, while he walks round the circle or parade, till he is joined by a fufficicnt number. Generally at fuch a con- grefs they have a deer or fon^e beaft roafted whole ; and each of them, as they confent to go to war, cuts off a piece and eats, faying, this way will 1 devour our enemies, naming the na- tion they are going to attack. All that clmfe, having perforriicd this ceiemony, and thereby folcmnly engaged to behave with fidelity and as a good warrior, the dance begins, and they fing the war-fong ; the matter <.f which relates to their intended expedition and coriquell, or to their own fkill, courage and dcxicrity in fight- ing, and to the m. nncr in wliich they will vanquiQi .nd extirpate their enemies ; all which is exprefled in the ftrongefl: and mod pathetic manner, and with a tone of terror. So great is the eloquence or influence of their women in tbefe confultations, that the final refult very much depends upon them. If any one of thefe nations, in conjundtion with the Chiefs, has a mind to excite one, who does not immediately depend upon them, to take part in I II 1 ; ill -'i. mm Z22 A Concise Account of in the war, either to appcafe the manes of her hufhand, fon, or near relation, or to take pri- foners, to ftipply the place of fuch as have died in h?r family, or are in captivity, (he pre- fents, by the Iiiinds of fome trufty young war- rior, a firing of waippum to the pcrfon whofe help file folicits ; which invitation feldom fails of its defined eircdl. And when they foli- cit the alliance, offenfive or defenfivc, of a •whole nation, they fend an embafly with a large belt of wampun:!, and a bloody hatchet, inviting them to come and drink the blood of their enemies. The vvampiim made ufe of upon thefe. and other occafions, before their acquaintance wiih the Eur^^oeans, was nothing but fmall fliells, which they picked up by the fea-coaf»s and on the banks of the lakes ^ and now it is nothing but a kind of cylindrical beads, made of (liells white and black, which are efleemed among: them- r.s filver and gold arc among us. The black they call the mofl valuable, and both (nfrether are their greatefl riches and ornaments ; th^'fe amonc^ them an- fwering all the ends that money c^oes among us. They have the art of flringinp;, twifring, and interweaving thefe into their belts, collars, blankets, mogafons, &:c. in ten thouTand dif- ferent lizes, forms and figures, fo £S to he or- i-^^^^' ' n anient 3 ■\w f her have spre- war- vhofe fi fails foli- os a vith a itcher, ood of ufe of e their othing bv the and ndrical which Id gold e moft reateft m an- among jfring, collars, nd aif- hc or- kinients N O Pv T fl AMERICA. 223 nnments for every part of drefs, and exprefiivc to them of -all their imp.vtaiit tranfadions. Tliey dye the wampum of various colours and fhades, and mix and difpofe them with great ingenuity and order, and fo as to he fignificant among themfelves of almofl any thing they pleafe j fo that by tliefe their records are kept, and their thoughts communicated to one. ano- ther, as our's are by writing. The belts that pafs from one nation to another, in all trea- ties, declarations, and important iranfadions, are carefully preferved in the palaces or cab- bins of their Chiefs, and ferve, not only as a kind of record or hiflory, but as a public trea- fure. It muil:, hovvxver, be an affair of natio- nal importance in which they ufe collars or belts, it being looked upon as a very great ab- ufe and abfurdity to ufe them on trifling occa- iions. Nor is the calumet or pipe of peace of lefs importance, or lefs revered among them in many tranfudions, relative both to war and peace. The bowl of this pipe is made of a kind of ioit red ilone, which is eafily wrought and hollowed out -, the ftem is of cane, elder, or fome kind of light wood, painted with dif- ferent colours, and decorated with the heads, tails, and feathers of the mofl: beautiful birds, &c. The ufe of the calumet is, to fmoak ei- . . thcr '1 J ill i If t i(;l' I! t fisjif ^^ 'vr 224 A Concise Account of tlier tobacco, or ibme bark-leaf or herb, which ur:y often life inftead of it, when they enter into an alliance, or on any leiiuus occafion, or i •' nn engagement } this being among them th. mid ficrcfi oath that can betaken, the violatioi of whiwh is efteemed mofl infamous, and defciving of fevere piinifliment from hea- ven. When tiicy treat of^war, the whole pipe and all its (.rn.i/n.nts ure red -, fometimes it is red only on one fide, and by the difjpofition of the feathers, Sec. one acquainted with their ciiftoms will know, at lirfl fight, what the na- tion who prcf-.^ts k inteads or defires. Smoak- ing the calumet is alfo a relif^ious ceremony upon fome occafions, and in all treaties is con- fidered as a witnefs hervvecn the parties,- or rather as an inilrument by which they invoke the fun and moon to witnefs their /inceritv, and to be, as it were, guarantees of the treaty between them. This cuP*om of the Indii^^ns, tho* to appearance fomewbat ridiculous, b not without its reafons ; for, they finding hr.oak- ing tended to difperfe the vapours of the brain, to raife the fpirits and qnalify them for thinking and judging properly, introduced it into their councils, where, after their refolves, the pipe was confidered as a leal of their decrees, and, as a pledge of their performance thereof, it was fent NORTH AMERICA. 225 fent to thofe they were confulting an alliance or treaty with : fo that fmoaking among them in the fame pipe is equivalent to our drinking together, and out of the fame cup. The iize and decorations of their calumets are commonly proportioned to the quality of the perfons they are prefented to, and the ef- teem or regard theyjiave for them, and alfo to the importance of the occafion. ' Another inflrument of great efleem and im* portancc among them is the tomahawk. This is an ancient weapon univerfally ufed by them in war, before they were taught the ufe of iron jand fteel j iince which hatchets have been fub* flituted in lieu of them. But this inftriiment flill retains its ufe and importance in public tranfadtions, and, like the pipe, is often very fig-» nificant. This weapon is formed much like an hatchet, having a long ftem or handle ; the head is a round ball or knob of folid wood well enough calculated to knock men's brains out^ which on the other fide of the ftem terminates in a point where the e^'ge would be, if made a£i hatch;it, which point is fet a little hooking or coming towards theflemj and near the cen- ter, where the ftem or handle pierces the head, another point projedts forward of a confidera- G g ble i\ ' «'■• • u \ i I I i. 226 A Concise Account (f V. " iiii ■iisM '.If i M 'Mt , il blc length, which fervcs to thruft with like a fpear, or pike-pole. The tomahawk likewife is ornamented with feathers and paintings, difpofed and va- riegated in many fignificant forms, according to the occafion and end for which it is ufed ; and on it they keep journals of their marches, and moft important andiioted occurrences, in a kind of hieroglyphics. When the council is ^ called to deliberate on war, the tomahawk is painted all over red, and when the council fits it is laid down by the chief; and if war is con- cluded upon, the captain of the young warriors takes it up, and with it in his hands dances and lings the war-fong, as before-mentioned ; when the council is over, this hatchet, pr fomc 'other of the kind, is fent by the hands of fomc warrior to every tribe concerned, and with it \\t prefents a belt of wampum, and deHvers his mefTage, throwing the hatchet on the ground, which is taken up by one of their moft expert warriors, if they chufe to join j if not, they return it, and with a bell of their wam-» pum fuitable to the occafion. Every nation or tribe have their diftinguifli-. ing enfigns or coats of arms, which is gene- rally fome beaft, bird, or fi(h. Thus among the Five Nations arc the bear, otter, wolf, tor- toiie NORTH AMERICA. 227 toife and eagle; and by thefe names the tribes are generally diftinguiflied, and they have the fliapes of thefe animals curioufly pricked and painted on feveral parts of their bodies ; and when they march through the woods, gene- rally at every encampment they cut the figure of their arms on trcci, efpecially if it be from a fuccefsful campaign, that travellers that way may know they have been therr .ecording alfo, in their way, the number of fcalps or pri- foners they have taken. . Their military drefs has fomething in it very romantic and terrible, efpecially the cut of their hair,and the paintings and decorationsthey make yfe of. They cut ofF, or pull out all their hair, excepting a fpot about the fize of two Englifii crowns near the crown of their heads, their beards and eye-brows they totally dcftroy. The lock left upon their head is divided into feveral parcels, each of which is ftiffened and adorned with wampum, beads, and feathers of various fhapcs and hues, and the whole twifted. turned, and conneded together, till it takes a form much refembling the modern Pompadour upon the top of their heads. Their heads are painted red down to the eye- brows, and fprinkled over with white down. The griftles of their ears are fplit almoft quite ^ G g 2 round. . i: ■4f 'i ii * V i If I'' I ■ I n ! ''W:- ' 22S y^CoKCISE'AcCOUNTc/' round, and then diftenJcd with wire or fplin- ters, lb as to naect and tie togetlicr in the knap of their necks. Thefc alfo arc hung with or- naments, and have generally the tigure of fome bird or beaft drawn upon them. Their jiofes are like wile bored, and hung with trin- kets of beads, and their f«ces painted with di- vers colours, which are fq difpofed as to make an aweful appearance. Their breads are a-, domed with a gorget, or medal of brafs, cop- per, or fome other metal -, and that horrid wea- pon the fcal ping-knife hangs by a flrhig which goes round their necks. Thus attired, and equipped with the other armour they make ufe of, and warlike flores, th€y march forth, finging the war-fong, till they lofc fight of the caftle or village from which they marched, and are generally followed |)y their women for fome coniiderable fpacc,who tflifl them in carrying their baggage, whether by land or water, but commonly return before they proceed to any adlion. When a fmall party goes out, they feldom have more than one commander, i. e. if the number docs not exceed ten, which is one of tlicir companies -, if there be twenty, they have two commanders ; if forty, four, &;c. and when it comes to ico or upwards, a general is ap- pointed V r NORTH AMERICA. 22? fplln- knap ;h or- irc of Their i trin- tth di- makc are a« I, cop- d wea- which c other (lores. g , till from lowed c,who hether before feldom if the one of [y have when is ap- pointed pointed over the others, not properly to com- mand, but to give his opinion and advice, which they make nofcruplcto difrdgard, if it does not happen to tally with their own ; however, it is very rare that the diredlions of the general is difregarded, efpecially if countenanced and fupportcd by the advice of the old men, which fijems 10 be the highert authority both in the ftate and army amongft them. The gcneraliflimo, or commander in chief, as well civil as military, amorig all the Indians to the northward, who fpcak the Roundock dialed:, is ekdlive, which eledion is attended with many ceremonies of finging and dancing; and the chief, when chofe, never fails making a panegyric upon the perfon to whom he fuc- ceeds. The Indians have no ftated rules of difci- pline, or fixed methods of profecuting a war j they make their attacks in as many different ways as there are occafions on which they make them, but generally in a very fecrct, fkulking, underhand manner, in flying parties that are equipped for the purpofe, with a thin light drefs, generally confifting of nothing more than a (hirt, (lockings, and mogafons, ahd fometimes almoft naked. «».AJ i ~* 1 i ^ TC ^ ' " ;n The ' n ! , 1 , • it , •1 ( I '' h si L m ' I 230 ^Concise Account^ The weapons ufcd by thofc who have com- merce with the Englilh and French, arc com- monly a firelock, hatchet, and Icalping-knife j the others ufe bows, tomahawks, pikes, «Scc. In any confiderable party of Indians, you will generally find a great number of head- men, or chiefs, becaufe they give that title to all whoever commanded ; but all thefc are fubordinate to the commander of the party, who, after all, is a general without any real au- thority, and governs by advice only, not by or- ders ; for he can neither reward nor punilh, and every private man has a right to return home when he pleafcs, without afligning any reafon for it ; or any number may leave the main body, and carry on a private expedition, when, how, and where they pleafe, and are ne- ver called to account for fo doing. .• The commander every morning harangues the detachment under his command, and gives his advice for the condud: of affairs during the day. If he wants to detach a party for recon- noitering, or on any occafioa, he propofes the matter, and gives his opinion how, vvhcn> where, what number, 6cc. and it feldom hap- pens that he is oppofed in any of his meafures. So greatly are the favages influenced by afenie ©f honour, and the love of their country, that coercive NORTH AMERICA. 231 :om- .om- cc. vou bead- ,tle to *e are party, alau- Dy or- uniih, return ig any ve the lition, irene- ngues gives o the o ecoa- les the .vhcn> hap- fures. fenfe that ;rcive coercive penal laws are ncedlefs to rcftrain and govern them upon thcfe occafions; but thca it fliould he obfervedjthat the quahfications in- difpcnfjbly neceflary to recommend a perfon to the chief command among them, arc, that he muft be fortunate, brave, and difinterefted ; and no wonder that they chcarfully obey a perfon in whom they firmly believe that all thcfe qualifications are united ; to which may be added, that of fccrccy in all his operations ; in which art they greatly excell, their dcfigns being feldom known to any but themfelvcs, till they are upon the point of being executed. The chiefs feldom ipeak much themfelvcs at general meetings, or in public afifemblics, counting it beneath their dignity to utter their own fentiments upon thcfe occafions in an audible manner; they therefore intruft them with a perfon to declare for them, who is cal- led their fpeaker or orator, there being one of this proftffiion in every tribe and town j and their manner of fpcaking is generally natural and cafy, their words ftrong apd expreflive, their flile truly laconic, nothing being faid but what is to the purpofe, either to inform the judg- ment, or raife fuch paflions as the fubjedt-mat- ter naturally excites. Thofc .' Ur:^\^'-"' ■,-. t.-ii'V I; , lU' t M W life- ':i m 'ii mil- ii' i i I ■mU \ ! mi : I 332 -4 CoNcrsf, Acco^Nt ^ Thofe who profefs oratory, make it their bufi- ncfs to be thoroughly acquainted with the fub- jedt they are to fpeak upon, and have the whole matter and method well fixed in their me- mories beforehand, that they may be at no lofs what to fay, or how to expref3 themfclves ; and tho* they hold no regular parliaments, or courts of juftice, yet they have frequent op* portunities to difplay their talents this way> they being almoft conftantly bufied in mak- ing frefli, or renewing former treaties, in ten- ders of their fervices, in folicitations, in ad- drefles on the birth, death, or advancement of fome great perfon, .&c. In their private petty debates, not only the orators, but every pcrfbn is heard who chufes i to intermiddle in it ; and generally, if one has given a prefent to a fachem for his vote one way or another, he is pretty fure to have it, for they feldom fail of performing engage- ments of this kind, which renders juftice in the redrcfs of private grievances very preca- rious. But this is not attended with fo bad confe- quences as one would imagine, for their con- tent'iOns of a private nature are few, and are generally compromifed by the interpoiition of friends. Avarice, , il NORTH AMERICA. 233 Avarice, and a defire to accumulate thofe great difturbers of the peace of fociety, arc un- known to them ; they are neither prompted by ambition, nor aiftuated by the love of iSoK!; and the dirtindions of rich and poor, hif h rul low, noble and ignoble, do not fo f.;r rake place among them as to create the leaft unea- iinel's to, or excite the refentment of any in-, dividual ; the brave and delervi ig, let their families or circumftances be what they will, SLtG fure to be efteemed and rewarded. In fliort, the great and fundamental prin- ciples of their policy are, that every man is na- turally free and independent ; that no one or more on earth has any right to deprive him of his freedom and independency, and that no- thing can be a compenlation for the lofs of it. When the Indians return from a fuccefsful campaign, they manage their march fo as not to approach their village till towards the even- ing. When night comes on, they fend two or three forwards to acquaint their chief, and the whole village, with the moft material cir- cumftances of the campaign. At day-light next morning they cloathe their prifoners with new cloaths, adorn their heads with feathers, print their faces with various colours, and put H h irio I';' !^ n-' \;\ ■,'ti'l Mr' m i. W T'i ■ Ml:i m n..,; 11 'a!. fsljfUj, fii;f m '-'i '(■ I M' 234 ji Concise Account of into their hands a white ftafF or wand, toffeled round with the tails of deer. When this is done, the war-captain or commander in this expedition fets up a cry, and gives as many holloos or yells as he has taken Icalps and pri- foners, and the whole village aflemble at the water-fide, if there be one near. As foon as the warriors appear, four or five of their young men, well cloathed, get into a canoe, if they came by water, or otherwife march by land 2 the two firfl carry each a calumet, and go finging to fearch the prifoners, whom they lead in triumph to the cabin where they are to re- ceive their doom. It is the prerogative of the owner of this cabin to determine their fate, tho* verv often it is left to fome woman, who has loft her hulband, brother, or fon, in the war ; and, when this is the cafe, (lie generally adopts him into the place of the deceafed, and faves his life. The prifoner, after having been prefented, has victuals immedintely given him to eat, and while he is at this repaft a conful- tation is held; and if it be refolved to fave the prifoner's life, two yoUng men untie him, and, taking him by the hands, lead him diredlly to the cabin of the perfon into whofc family he is to be adopted. But if the fentence be death, the whole village fct up the death holloo or cry, &' 1 mk feled lis is I this nany 1 pri- it the )on as ^cung f they land : nd gQ :y lead NORTH AMERICA. 235 cry, and the execution is no longer deferred than till they can make the necefTary prepara- tions for it. They firft ftrip the perfon who is to fuffcr from head to foot, and, fixing two pods in the ground, they faflen to them two pieces crofTways, one about two feet from the ground, the other about five or fix feet higher ; they then oblige the unhappy vidim to mount up- on the lower crofs piece, to which they tie his legs a little afunder. His hands are extended, and tied to the angles formed by the upper crofs piece; and in this pofture they burn him all over the body, fomenmes firft daubing him with pitch. The whole village, men, wo- men, and children, aflemble round him, and every one has a right to torture him in what manner they pleafe, and as long as there is life in him. If none of the byftanders are incli- ned to lengthen out his torments, he is not long kept in pain, but is either fhot to death with arrows, or inclofed with dry bark, to which they fet fire : they then leave him on the frame, and in the evening run from cabin to cabin, and ftrike with fmall twigs their fur- niture, the walls and roofs of their cabins, to prevent his fpirit from remaining there to take vengeance for the evils committed on his body; ' : -^ Hh 2 the !i I i in ■tit : I !l!i It in :i i> : t^ -i i! ■ Mfl Im a>. 236 j4 Concise Account cf- the remainder of the day, and the night fol- lowing, is fpent in rejoicings. The above is their molt ufual method of executing prifoners 5 but fooietimes they faf- ten theni to a fingle ftake, and build a firq round them ; at other times they gafh and cut off the fingers, toes, 5cc. of their prifoners, joint by joint; and at other time^ they fcalu them to death. They often kill their prifoners on the fpot where they take them, or in their way home, when they have any fear of their efcaping, or when they find it inconvenient to carry them further. But if they have been unfuc^efsful, things wear quite a different face ; they then return, and enter the village without ceremony by day, with grief and melancholy in their counte- nances, keeping a profound filence: or if they have fuftained any lofs, they enter in the even- ing, giving the death hoop, and naming thofe they have loll, either by ficknefs or by the cneiiiy. The village being aflembled, they fit down with their heads covered, and all weep together, without fpeaking a fingie word for foine confiderable time. When this filence is over, they begin to lament aloud for their com- panions, and every thing wears the face of mourning among thetn for. feveral days. ^^* . . ' Such 1. NORTH AMERICA. m Such in general are the manners and cuf- toms of the Indians called the Five Nations, which in the main agree to thofe of all the Indians with whom we have any connexions or commerce, as they all endeavour to imitate thcfe.. But all the tribes have fome things pe- culiar to themfelves. Among the Hurons (who are called fathers by the Five Nations, and who are doubtlcfs of the fame nation) the dignity of Chief is hereditary, and the fuccef- fion is in the female line : fo that, on the death of the Chief, it is not his fon, but his fifter*s fon, thatfucceeds him, and, in default of him, his ncarell relation in the female line ; and in cafe this whole line (hould be extind, the moft noble matron of the tribe or town makes choice of any one fhe pleafes for a Cliief. If the perfon who fucceeds is not arrived to years fufRcient to take the charge of the government, a regent is appointed, who has the whole au- thority, but ad;s in the name of the minor. The Delawares and Shawanees are remark- ed for their deceit and perfidy, paying little or no regard to their word and moft foleipn en- gagements. , ,The Tweeghtwees and Yeahtanecs are re- markably mild and fedate, and feem to have fubdued their paflioQS beyond any other Indi- ans !', II -. f ill lit' j!) i I'- Mi A •3 1 H ¥&'■ r Ml ■ y 1 * f •■;iM ml '(' i lit 'im 1' f'ffi'Mi: M'K I: 238 y/ Concise Account of ans on the continent. They have always been fleady friends to the Engli{l>, and are fond of having them in their country ; they might no doubt be made very ufeful fubjed:s, were pro- per ftcps taken to chriftianize and civilize them. The Cherokees are governed by feveral Sachems or Chiefs (fomething Hke the United Provinces or States of Holland) which are eledtcd by their different tribes or villages. The Creeks and Chiftaws are governed in the fame manner. The Chickefaws have a King, and a Council for his affiflance, and are edeem- cd a brave people ; they are generally at war with all the other Indians eaft of the Mifliffipi ; the Chidlaws, Creeks, and Cherokees, and thefe Southern Indians, often fight pitched battles with them on the plains of their coun- try j having horfes in plenty, they ride to the field uf battle, and there difmounl, where the women fight as well as the men, if they are hardly pu(hed. It is luppofed that the Chickefaws came from South America, and introduced horfes into the North. The Creeks and Chiftaws punifh their women when they prove difloyal to their hufbands, by cutting off their hair, which they will not luffer to grow again till the corn is NORTH AMERICA. Ifrom the inifh Itheir I they n is ripe 239 ripe the next fcafon. The Chickcfaws, their neighbours, are not at all .;oublcd with a fpi- rit of jealoufy, and fay it demeans a man to fufpedt a woman's chaflity. They are tall, well-fhaped, and handfome-featured, efpecial- ly their women, far exceeding in beauty any other nation to the fouthward ; but even ihefe are exceeded by the Huron women upon Lake Erie, who are allowed to be the beft fliaped and mod beautiful favages on the continent, and are univerfally cfleemed by the other na- tions. They drefs much neater than any o- thers, and curiouily adorn their heads, necks, wrifts, &c. notwithftanding which you will fcldom find a jealous hulband, either among the Hurons or the Five Nation Indians. The men of the Ottawawas, or Souties, are lufty, fquare, and ftrait limb*d. The women fhort, thickj and but very indifferent for beauty, yet their hufbands are very prone to be jealous of them ; and whenever this whim comes in their heads, they cut off the tip of the fufpedt- ed wife's nofe, that (he may for ever after be diftinguifhed by a mark of infamy. The Indians on the lakes are generally at peace with one another, having a wide extend- ed and fruitful country in their pofllflion. They are formed into a fort of empire, and . the :!* I !^ T m J ii-! 11 t'>l ^46 j4 Concise Account of the Emperor is eleded from the cldeft tribci which is the Ottawawas, fome of whom inha- bit near our fort at Detroit, but are moft(y further weftward towards the Mifiiffipi. Pon- tcack is their prefent King or Emperor, who has certainly the largcft empire and greatell authority of any Indian Chief that has appear- ed on the continent fince our acquaintance with it. He puts on an air of majcfty and princely grandeur, and is greatly honoured and revered by his fubjefts. He not long fince formed a deliirn of uniiincr all thfe Indian na- tions together under his authority, but mifcar- ried in the attempt. In the year 1760, when I commanded and marched the firil detachment into this country that was ever fent there by tlie Englirti, I was met in my way by an embafTy from him, of fome of his warriors, and feme of the chiefs of the tribes that are under him ; the purport of which was, to let me know, that Ponteack was at a fmall diftance, coming peaceably, and that he defired me to halt mv detachment till fuch time as he could f 2 me with his own eyes. His ambafladors had alfo ordcrn to in- form me, that he was Ponteack, the King and Lord of the country I was in. At firft falutation when we met, he de- manded my buiinefs into his country, and how it tribei inha- Pon- who ■eatell )pcar- itance \f and ;d and ' fince in na- nifcar- ;d and ountry I was inn, of icfs of ort of [nteack ;eably, . ment 3 own to in- g and le de- how • It NORTH AMERICA. 241 it happened that I dared to enter it without his leave ? When I informed him that it was not with any defign againft the Indians that I came, but to remove the French out of his country, who had been an obilacle in our way to mutual peace and commerce, and acquaint- ed him with my inftrudtions for that purpofe. I at the fame time delivered him feveral friendly mellages, or belts of wampum, which he received, but gave me no other anfwer, than that he flood in the path I travelled in till next morning, giving me a fmall firing of wampum, as much as to fay, I mufl not march further without his leave. When he departed for the night, he enquired whether I wanted any thing that his country afforded, and he would fend his warrior to fetch it ? I afTured him that any provifions they brought fhould be paid for j and the next day we were fupplied by them with feveral bags of parched corn, and feme other neceffaries. At our fe- cond meeting he gave me the pipe of peace, and both of us by turns fmoaked with it^ and he aiTured me he had made peace with me and my detachment ; that I might pafs thro' his country unmolefted, and relieve the French garrifon ; and that he would protedt me and my partv from ary iiifults that might be offer- li cd i' ' I rti; ■/ ■ ) mil 1-1 242 A Concise Account of cd or intended by the Indians $ and, as an ear- ned of his frlcndfliip, he (ent ico warriors to prote^fl and aflid us in driving 100 fat cattle, which we had brought for the ufe of the dc- tachment from Piitfluirg, by the way ot Prefque Ille. He hkewifc fent to the fcveral Indian towns on the fouth-fide and weft -end of Lake Erie, to inform them that I had his confent to come into the country. He attend- ed rne conftantly after this interview till I ar- rived Detroit, and while I remained in the coun^-;/, and was ine means of prcfcrving the detachment from the fury of the Indians, who - had ailemblcd at the mouth of the flrait with an intent to cut us ofl'. I had fcveral conferences with him, in which he difcovered great fi:rer.gih of judgment, and a thirft after knowledge. Ke endeavoured to inform himicif of our military order and dif- cipline. He offe i intimated to me, that he could be con lent to rc'.gn in his country in fub- - ordination to the King of Great Britain, and was willing to pay him fuch annual acknow- ledgment as he was able in furs, and to call him his uncle. He was curious to know our methods of manufadturing cloth, iron, &c. and exprefled a great defire to fee England, ' and offered me a part of his country if I would condufl: li;.) ' (.•■•! Hi, NORTH AMERICA. 243 condu(ft him there. He aflured me, that he was inclined to live peaceably with the Englidi while they ufed him as h--. ^^cfcrvcd, and to encouTiiige their fettling in his country ; hut intimated, that, if they treated him with neg- ledl, he fliould (liut np the way, and exclude them from it ; in fliort, his whole converfuion ftsfficicntly indicated that he was far from confidering himfelf as a conquered Prince, and that he expcdled to be treated with the refped: and honour due to a King or Emperor, by all who came into his country, or treated with him. In 1763, this Indian had the art and ad- drefs to draw a numbsr of tribes into a con- federacy, with a defign fird: to reduce the Eng- lidi forts upon the lakes, and then make a peace to his mind, by which he intended to cftablifli hlmfelf inhis Imperial authority; and fo wifely were his msafures taken, that, in fif- teen days time, he reduced or took ten of our garrifons, which were all we had in his coun- try, except Detroit ; and had he carried this garrifon alfo, nothing was in the way to com- plete his fcheme. Some of the Indians left hina, and by his coiifent made a feparate peace ; but he would not be adl'.ve or perfbnally con- cerned in it, faying, that when he made a 1 i 2 peace. \, i 1 !i( I 1 r If m 244 A Concise Account cf peace, it fliould be fuch an one as would be ufeful and honourable to himfelf, and to the King of Great Britain : but he has not as yet propofcd his terms. In 1763, when I went to throw provifions into the gnrrifon at Detroit, 1 lent this Indian a bottle of brandy hy a Frenchman. His . counfellors advifed him not to taftc it, infinu- ating that it was poifoned, and fcnt with a de- fign to kill him j but For.'eack, with a noble- nefs cf mind, laughed at their lufpicions, Tay- * ing it was not in my power to kill him, who had fo lately faved my life. In the late war of his, he appointed a com- mifTary, and began to make money, or bills of credit, which he hath fince pundlually redeem- ed. His money was the figure of what he wanted in exchange for it, drawn upon bark, and the Ihape of an otter (his arms) drawn under it. Were proper meafurcs taken, this Indian might be rendered very ferviceable to the Britidi trade and fettlemcnts in this coun- try, more extenfively fo than any one that hath ever been in alliance with us on the continent. In travelling northward from Montreal, to- wards the Ottawawas river, you meet with fome few villages belonging to the Round Heads, and Ottawawas. The Round Heads are :.t,1 NORTH AMERICA. 245 arc fo called from the (liapc of their heads, there being all p^iTiblc pains taken by their mothers to make their heads round in their infancy, this being eftecmed a great beauty. On the banks of the river St. Jofcph, that flows into Lake xVIefhigan, are two towns fettled not long fince by the Pottawatamees and Yeahtanees. The Miamee Indians were formerly fettled upon this river, but are now defperfed into feveral parts of the country, up- on the Miamee and the Wabach that empties into the Ohio ; the laft are now known by the name of the Yeahtanees ; they are remarkably good-humoured and well-difpofed, and always treat their prifoners with kindnefs, contrary to the practice of moft other Indians. The language of almoft all the Indians to the northward, is undoubtedly derived either from that of the Five Nations or the Ottawa- was 5 and any one who is mafter of thefe two tongues, may make himfelf thoroughly under- ftood by upwards of 100 tribes of Indians j for though each tribe has fome peculiarities in their language, no great difficulty arifes therefrom in converfation. The Ottawawas, of the two, is underftood and fpoke by the greateft number. Indeed the [ 4 ' <^i rsi** hi i [J ff. J"' , im^).: 246 j^ Concise Account of the Five Naricns fpeak five diflindl dialeds, tho* they pe;fed!y nnderftand each other. The Mohock dialcdl is the mod copious, pathetic, and noble. Their difcourfes run li|;e a gentle flowing flream, without noife or tu- mult. Their lips fcarcely move through a whole fpeech. The Ottav^^awas is fpokc quick- er, and with greater emotion^ but both Ian- gages are (Irong and exprefijve; and, what is more remarkable, they are obferved univerfal- ly ^o utter thernfelvcs with great propriety; a falfe fyntax, or wrong pronunciation, is fel- dom known among them. Their language is in many refpecfts very deficient, as they have few words exprefTive of our abftraded ideas, for before their acquaintance with us they talk- ed r.bout few things mat were not prefent and fen'io'e; fo that we are obliged, in order to communicate fome of our ideas to them, to make ufeof numberlefs circum!ocutions,which are tedious and perplexing both to fpcaker and hearer. The Indians, efpecially to the fouthward, do not negledl to fortify thf mfelves, many of their toW'is being well flockadoed, fo as to Hand a long fingG againfl an enemy unacquainted with the arts of war. The Five Nations were for- merly accounted the befl architeds on the continent, NORTH A M ERICA. 2^7 continent, and are now inferior to thofe only near Lake Superior, t*rid for^ie nations to the weftward. The Indi.in Iiunting houfes are generally but the vvoik of half an hour at the mod, and fometimes they range thtough the woods for months together, witiiout anyhoufe at all, or any covering but afliin or blanket. It is very difagrceable travelling with them, on account of their being enemies to conver- iation ; for they not only never fpeak them- felves but when necefTity obliges them, but are difpleafed with their company if they talk or converfe upon a march by land, or a voyage by water. Among the Chickefaws, Creeks, Cherokees, and others to the fouthward, you will find a conjuror in almoft every village, who pretends to great things, both in polnicks and phyfick, undertaking to reveal the mofl hidden fccrets, and to tell what pafles in the moll: fecret cabinets, and caufe the niofl diffi- cult negotiations to fucceed, to procute ^jood fortune to their warriors and hunters, 6cc. The conjuror, to prepare himfelf for theft- e^'plgits, takes a found fweat in a ftove, aiid d redly af- ter it plunges into a river or lake, be it ever fo 'cold. But the principal ^m.ployment of thefe artifts, is the pradice of phyfick and fargery. The Indiaiii have few diilempcrs among them, ( » 240 A Concise Account of A'\r m i .. 11' ■ ' them, in comparifon of what we have. The gout, gravel, bilious cholic, apoplexy, and many other diforders common to us, are un- known to them ; nor was the fmall pox a- mong them till we gave them the infediion, iince which it hath greatly thinned the num- bers of feveral tribes. They niakeufe of fim- ples in wounds, fradlures, diflocations, &;c, pouring in the juice or infufion of roots, herbs, &c. into the wound, or into an incifion made for the purpofe. They likewife make fre- quent ufe of bathing, and, during the courfe of the means, the patient has very little nourifli- ment allowed him ; and when thefe limple means (which almofl: every one among them knows h©w to apply) prove ineffedual, the conjuror is called, who exercifes his legerde- main over the patient 5 and whether the pati- ent lives or dies, the worthy dodor is fure to fave his credit ; for when he fees all hope of re- covery paft, he never fails to prefcribe fome- thing that cannot be procured or performed, pretending it to be indifpenfibly necefTary, and its efficacy in the prefent cafe infallible. The Indians certainly have remedies that feldom fail in many diforders of their defired effed:, particularly in the palfy, dropfy, and the venereal diforder. They frequently make ufe of ■' I The and i un- >x a- ftion, num- ■ fim- , &c. lerbs, made : fre- irfe of urifh- fimple I them , the erde- pati- ure to of re- fome- med, , and that lefired the .e ufe of NORTH AMERICA. 249 of cupping and phlebotomy 5 but their mod univerfal remedy is fweating, and the cold bath immediately after it. They very often take a fweat by way of refrefliment, to compofe their minds, and to enable them to fpeak with great- er fluency in publick. They never think a perfon very dangeroufly iick till he refufes all kinds of nourifhment ; and, when this is the cafe, frequently attri- bute the diforder to witchcraft, and then the conjuror is fure to be called, who, after fweat- ing, crying, and beating himfelf, and invok- ing his genius, confidently afligns the caufe of the diforder and a remedy. The favages who inhabit, 6r rather wander upon the coafts of Labrador, about the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and the ftraits of Belleifle, bear very little refemblancc to any of the other Indians in America. They wander in large parties, are great cowards ; their horrid ap- pearance is the chief thing to be feared from them ; they muffle themfelves up in fuch manner as almoft conceals their faces, their fhirts terminating in a kind of hood about th^ir head, and at top comes out a tuft of hair that hangs over their foreheads; their coat hangs behind as low as their thighs, and terminates bcfoie in a point a litde below their 1 K k girdle . i. 250 -^ Concise Account tf W''X i':!> M girdle 5 from their girdle hangs, a border of trinkets, (hells, bones, 6:c. Their chief cloath- ing are fkins and furs, which th^y put on one over another, to a great number 3 notwithftand- ing which heavy drefs they appear to be fuple and adtivc. They are governed by the old men of each tribe, who form a kind of a fenate. Our acquaintance with the Sia»'JX Nippiffongs, and other northern Indians, is jj^t but very (lender ; but, by the accounts w^e nave, they are idle, favage, cruel, and beaftly, beyond any other nations on the continent. The Seguntacooks, or the Abnaques, fettled in New England, were formerly very numerous, as were the Miinaux in Nova Scotia. Of the Penobfcots, Narigeewalks, the Saint John In- dians, and many others to the eatlward and fouthward of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, there are now fcarce any footfteps to be found, ex- cept a few families dKperfed up and down. The bark- canoes, ufed by the Indians, feera for their curious workmaniliip to deferve parti- cular notice. They are made of two kinds of bark, viz. elm and birch. Thofe made of elm are generally (horttr than the others, and not fo neatly conftruded. The birch-canoes are ufed by the Engli(h as well as the Indians up- on the inliad lakes and rivers; they dill t;nd the der of :loath- Dti one iftand- ; fuple le old 1 of a Siaax ans, is ints we Dcaftly, ent. , icttled iierous. Of the nn lu- d and , there d, ex- ivn. 1 s, feein e parti- inds of of elm nd not oes are OS up- Idiil^nd the NORTH AMERICA. 251 the bark, which is very thick, upon a frame of cedar or pine ; between the bark and the frame they put fmall fphnters, which help to ftifFcn and flrengthcn the canoe. The two ends rife gradually, and terminate in (harp points exadly alike. He that fits behind fleers, and he that is forward looks out to prevent their running foul of any thing that might damage the vef- fel. They fit flat on the bottom, or kneel up- on it J their paddles are five or fix feet in length, and are in general made of maple. When they go againft a current, they ufe fetting poles ; but in doing this great care mufl be taken to preferve an equilibrium ; the ca- noes being very light, are cafily overfet. The bark ribs and bars are fewed to 'ether with fpruce or pine roots, fplit to a fuilable fize, which are more pliant, and do not dry fo quick as the elm-bark. All the feam.s are be- fmeared with gum, infide and out, and every day they examine them. A large canoe will carry twelve men, and fome of them more. Among all the favages the Ottawawas are the beft builders. The Indians, in the months of February and March, extradt the juice from the maple -tree, which is wholefome and delicious to the pa- late. The way they extradt it is by cutting a JC k 2 notch ■ I* i| t. i " ) ■< I' '' ,!.''!•;' ) . 252 ^' Concise Account of notch in the body of the tree, and, by mean? of a piece of wood cr ouill, convey the juice from the tree to a .xlTel placed to re- ceive it. The fame tree may be tapped for feveral years fucceflively. The liquor is as clear as fpring- water, and is very refrefliing. It is accounted a very good pedloral, and wag never known to hurt any one, tho' he drank ever fo freely of if. This liquor will not freeze, but, when kept any time, becomes ex- cellent vinegar. The Indians, by boiling it, make from it a kind of fugar, which has a tafte very much like honey, but is milder, and anfwers all the ends of fugar for fweetening ; and, no doubt, was it properly manufadlured, might be rendered equal to that extraded from fugar-cane. A manufadtory of this kind is begun in the Province of New York, near South Bay, which I am told anfwers very well, and produces coniiderable quantities of powder and loaf fugar.' There have been many conjed:u res concern- ing the different nations of Indians in America, as who, what, and from whence they are, it being vakea for granted that they are emigrants from fome other country. But as the Indians are very felicitous and careful to hand down their own Itory from father 10 fon, perhaps the account NORTH AMERICA. 253 acccount they give of themfelves is moft de- fcrving of credit. The Hurons and Five Na- tion Indians, and all the other nations to the fouthward (except the Chlckefaws) agree that they camefi-om the fetting of the fun into this country. The Chickefaws came from South America fince the Spaniards took pofTeflion of it. 1 he Indians on the great lakes north of the River St. Lawrence, and thofe between that river and the Bay of Fundy, and quite lo Hudfon's Bay northward (except the Efki- maux) tell us that they came from the norths ward. It will perhaps be agreeable to fome tofub- join here an account or the moft remarkable animals in America, and of the manner m which the favages take them. And among tbefe the Beaver is deferving of the firft no- tice. This animal was not unknown in Eu- rope before the difcovery of America. It is an amphibious quadrupede, that continues not long at a time in the water, but yet cannot live without frequently bathing in it. A large beaver will weigh 60 or 70 lb. Their colour is different, according to the country they are taken in. To the northward they are quite black, and to the fouthward they are almoft white, and u* the country of the Illinois they are 1 / 1 ! , ' '' ' I m 'r ;;■ im} :ll \m. 2J4 -^ Concise Account of are almon: the colour of the deer, and fomc have been ft-en of a yellowifh or liraw colour ; but it is obferved, that the lighter their colour, tile lefs valuable is their fur. The beaver lives to a great age j the fe- males general!'* briiv forth four young; ones at a time. Its js . s at^: furnifJied with two cut- ters and eight grindtio - ^he upper cutter is two inches and a halF long, aiid tiie lower fome- ihing longer. The upper jaw projt d.s over the lower one ; the head is Hiaped like the head of a rat, and is fmall in proportion to the body ; its fnout is long, iis eyes r.re fmall and ihort, and round andfliaggy on the outfide, but have no hair within. Its fore- feet are not more than five or fix inches long, the nails are in- dented, and hollow like a quill ; the hind-fiset are flat, and webbed between the toes like thofe of a duck ; they walk very flow, but fwim fad J the tail is fliaped hke the blade of a paddle, is four inches broad where it joins the body, five or fix in the middle, and three at the extremity, about an inch thick, and a foot long J and there is no flefli, fowl, or fifli, that is more agreeable to the palate and the ftomach than this part of the beaver; it is co- vered with a fcaley flcin, the fcales being near a NORTH AMERICA. 255 a quarter of an inch long, and fold over each other like thofe of a fifli. The muilc bags or caflor taken from thefc aniaials is of great ufe among druggifls, but it is faid are not fo good in America as in Ruf- fia. The Indians alfo ufc them in many dif- orders. They drefs themfelves in mantles made of their fkins, which after they have wo'^-' for fome time grow more valuable, for -tiiS long hair drops cfif, and the fur remains n 'j. * iit for the hat-makers ufe than when ravj :: frefh taken. The induftry, forefight, and good manage- ment among thcfe animals is very furprizing, and fcarcely credible to thofe who never faw them. When they v^^ant to make a fettlement, three, four or more aflcmble together, and firft agree, or pitch upon a place where they may have provifions (which is the bark of trees, lilly-roots, or grafs) and every thing ne- ceiTary for ereding their edifices, which rauft be furrounded with water ; and if there is nei- thej lake nor pond convenient, they make one by flo|ppiag the courfc of fome river or brook with a dam. For this end, they cut down trees above the place they are refoived to build itj and they always take their meafures fo well, as to make the tree fall towards the wa- ter. . V^i J^ -If- - .i 1 1 i a;"i '■ '!* ■\V' 556 A Concise AccotJNT of ter, that they may have the lefs diftance to roll it when cut to pieces. This done, they float them down to the place appointed, and thefe pieces they cut bigger or lefs, longer or fhorter, as the cafe requires. Sometimes they ufe the trunks of large trees, which they lay flat in the water j at others, they faften flakes in the botom of the channel, and then inter- weave fmall branches, and fill up the vacancies with clay, mud and mofs, in fuch manner as renders it very tight and fecure. The con- ftrui^ion of their houfes is no Icfs artful and ingenious 5 they arc generally built upon piles in their ponds at fome diftance from the fliore, but fometimes upon the banks of rivers -y their form is round, with a flat roof; the walls are two feet thick, and fometimes more, and they are built of the fame materials as their dams 5 every part is fo well finiflied that no air can poflibly enter ; about two-thirds of the edifice is raifcd above the water, and in this they lodge, having the floor ftrewed with fplinters, &c. to render the lodging comfortable, and they are very careful to keep it clean. They have generally r .tee or four different avenues to each houle, but all their doors are under water. As faft as they peel off the bark from the billets of wood laid up for their fubfiftence, they IJORTII AMERICA. nee to ;, they d, and nger or iCs they ley lay 1 ftakcs I inter- cancies nner as le con- ful and on piles e (here, s i their alls are d thev dams ; air can edifice they II inters, |e, and They Ivenues lunder from tence, they they convey them to their dam to f^renrjthca that, or clfc pile them on the tops of fhcir houftj;, and laiicn them there v.ith mud. You Vvill fomctimes tiiid eight or ten l)eavers in one houfe, at others, not more than. three or four, and he the number what it will they all lodge tipon one floor. Thefc animals are never found unprovided], by a fudden and unexped:ed approach of win- ter ; all their bufinefs is compleated by the end of September, and their flores laid in. 1 hey lay up their provilions in piles near their houfes in fuch a manner that it keeps under the wa- ter fit for their ufe, the but-ends being fadened in the mud or clay at the bottom, fo that the current cannot carry it away. When the fnows melt and raife the flream, they leave their houfes, and every one goes his own way till the feafon returns for repairing them, or for build- ing new ones, which is the month of July, when they re-aflemble, or elie form new aficciations. The Ground -Beaver J as they arc called, condud: their affairs in a different manner ; all the care they take is, to make a kind of co- vered-way to the water. They are eafiiy known from the others by their hair, whijch is much fhcrter. They arc always very poor. L 1 ,h me li^ ^ li ^|/;'' im ■"i ¥u: imn P-58 -/^CoNCISrAcCoUNTt/ the natural ccnfcquence of their idlenefs. The Indians never hunt ihcfe bat out of mere ne- ceffity. The manner of hunting beaver is very fimple and eafy, for this animal has not flrcngth enough to defend ilfeif. The In- dians hunt them from November to April, in which fcafon their fur is the beft. They ei- ther decoy them into traps, or (hoot them ; but the latter is very difficult, by reafon of the quicknefs of their fight and motion j and fhould they happen to vi^ound them morially in the water, it is chance if they ever get them out. They lay their traps in the patlis frequented by the beaver, and bait them with frclhcut poplar boughs, which they are very fond of, and ramble abroad for, notwithflanding their winter-flore. Sometimes the Indians open the i',c near the beaver-houfes, at which opening one ftands, while another diftarbs the houfe i the beaver haftens upon this to make his ef- cape at the opening, and feldom fails of hav- ing his brains beat out the moment he raifes his head above water. The beaver which frequent the lakes, be- fides their houfes in the water, have a kind of country-houfe, two or three hundred yards from NORTH AMERICA. 259 from it, and the Indians here hunt them from one to the other. When thcfe animals difco- vcr an enemy of any kind, they haftcn into the water, and give warning to their companifHis, by flapping the water with their tails, which may be heard at a confiderable diilancc. The Miijk'Rat refembles the beaver in every part, except its tail, wh'ch is round like a rat's. One of thefe animals weighs about five or fix pounds ; during the fummer feafon the m.ile and female keep together, but feparate at the approach of winter, and each feck a n:iclter in fome hollow tree, without laying up any provifion. Scarce any thing among the Indians is un- dertaken with greater folemnity than hunting the Bear 5 and an alliance with a noted bear- hunter, who has killed feveral in one day, is more eagerly fought after, than that of one who has rendered himfelf famous in war ; the rcafon is, becaufe the chace fupplies the fami- ly with both food and rayment. So expert are fome ot the Indians at pafling thro' the woods and thickets, that they have run down the bears in autumn when they are fat, and then drove them with Twitches to their towns. L 1 ^ The i II; ■M^ [is''" ii 260 -^ Concise Account ofl The bears lodge, during the winter, either in hollow trees, or caves ; they lay up no provi- fion, and have no nourifhment during this feafon, but what they fu.:k from their o\va claws, yet they retain hoth tlicir (Irength and fat without any fenfible diminution. t The bear is not naturally fierce, unlefs when wounded, or opprelled with hunger. They run thc.mft'lves very poor in the month of July, and it is fonhewhat dangerous lo meet them till this appclitc is fati^-fied, and they recover their flcfi), which they do very fud- denly. 1 hefe animals are very fond of grapes, and moll kinds of fruit. When provifions are fcarce in the woods they venture out among thi I ■! !■■ m m 2p2 -^Concise A c cj o u n t of kind of wool. Thofe to the northward about Hudfon's Bay have ihe befl wool upon them, and in the grcatcA abundance. There are in this country Ibme Panibers, which prey upon almoft every living thing that comes in their wav. Their flefli is white like veal, and agreeable to the palate, and their fur is valuable. Here are likewife Foxes of various colours, black, grey, red, and white, w^ho by their craft and cunning make great havock among the water-fowl by a thouiand deceitful capers, which they cui upon the banks of the lakes and rivers. Th« Skunck or Fole-Cat is very common, and is called by the Indians the Stinking Beaji^ on account of its emitting a difagreeable favour to a coiifiderable diftarice when purfued or difturbed. It is about the fize of a fmall cat, has (liining hair of a grey colour, with two white lines, that form an oval, on its back. The fur of this animal, with that of the Ermin, Otter, and Martin, make up what they call the fmall peltry. The Ermin is about the fize of the fquirrel, its fur is ex- \ tremely white, its tail long, and the tip of it \ as black as jet. -.^ • The \ • v • NORTH AMERICA. 263 bout lem, hers, thing ;vhite their lours, their >mong ;apers, ; lakes imon, Bealh favour ed or U cat, two back. )f the what iiin is is ex- of it The i The Martm^ or Sable^ lives principally among the mountains, is as long as a common cat, but very flender; the fur is very fine and valuable. The Oppofum is a remarkable animal in this country, having under its belly a bag or falfe belly, in which they breed their young. The young ones proceed from the teats to which they ftick, as a part thereof, till they take life, and ilTue forth, or rather drop ofF. And to this falfe belly they fly for flielter and protedtion in cafe of any alarm. The Porcupine is as large as a fmall dog* Its quills are about two inches and a half long, white, and hollow, and very flrong, efpccially on its back; they are exceeding fliarp, and bearded in fuch manner, that if they once enter the flcfh of a perfon, they quickly bury themfelves, and occafion great pain. The favages make great ufe of thefe quills for ornamenting their cloaths, belts, arms, 6oc. The Moofe is larger than a large horfe, and is one of the deer-kind, every year changing his horns ; the colour of this animal is a dark brown, the hair coarfe. He has a mane like a horfe, adulap like a cow, a very large head, and a fliort tail. During the ftimmer he fre- quents bogs and fwamps ; in the winter, the north :fir i't ''1 if:. m: ■M, m $ I ;i;i' * I,-!: '^ i. 264 -^Concise Actcviit 0/ north fides of hills and mountains, where tl e fun will not melt the fnow. Their common pace of travelling is a trott, but when hunted are very fwift. It hath been fufficiently remarked, as we have travelled through this extenfive country, that it every where abounds with fiih, fowl, and variety of game, that in its forefts are moft kinds of ufeful timber, and a variety of wild fruit; and, no doubt, every kind of Eu- ropean fruit might be cultivated and raifed here in great perfedtion. In a w^ord, this coun- try wants nothing but that cultare and im- provement, which can only be the effed of time and induftry, to render it equal, ii not fuperior, to any in the \vorld. ^ V I N I S. I: il /