of North Carolina. 265 



they make their abode in the Day, at which time they are 

 not to be seen or heard in the Woods. 



But these kind of wild Beasts are not very plenty (except 

 the Wolves) near the Settlements, the Planters continually 

 destroying them as they hunt and travel in the Woods, and 

 in process of time will be lessened as this Country begins to 

 be better Inhabited. This Country affords many and large 

 Swamps, which are generally overflowed or under Water in 

 the Winter, yet I never met with any Bogs, but plenty of 

 good Pit Coal in many places, of which they make no man- 

 ner of use at present, all kind of Timber being so plenty, and 

 proper for fireing; so that all other kinds of Fuel are dis- 

 regarded and made no use of by the Inhabitants of this 

 Province. 



It will not be improper, in this place, to give an account 

 how the Turpentine, Tar, Pitch, and Rosin are made, being 

 all the produce of one Tree, and a very good Stable Commod- 

 ity in these parts. The Planters make their Servants or 

 Negroes cut large Cavities on each side of the Pitch-Pine 

 Tree (which they term Boxing of the Tree) wherein the 

 Turpentine runs, and the Negroes with Ladles take it out 

 and put it into Barrels : These Trees continue thus running 

 most commonly for three Years, and then decay, but in proc- 

 ess of time fall to the Ground, which is what they call 

 Light-Wood, of which their Pitch and Tar is made, (viz.) 



The Planters at certain Seasons of the Year, and espe- 

 cially in Winter, make their Negroes gather great quantities 

 of this Light-ivood, which they split about the thickness of the 

 small of a Man's Leg, and two or three Feet in length ; when 

 they have got a sufficient quantity of it in readiness, they set 

 their Kilns on some rising Ground or Earth thro'svn up for 

 that purpose, in the center whereof they make a hollow 



LI place. 



