of North Carolina. 271 



There is an Office here which is worth our JSotice, viz. 

 the Gimpowder-Office, which hath continued ever since the 

 last War with the Indians, at which time there was a Law 

 made, by which all Vessels trading to those Parts were liable 

 to pay three Shillings and four Pence, Carolina Money per 

 Ton, or the Value in Gun Powder, except the said Vessel 

 was built in the Country, or that the Merchant had a Planta- 

 tion there, then the Vessels were liable to pay half Pees, or 

 one Shilling and eight Pence per Ton to the Powder-Office. 

 The lessening of these Fees was to encourage Merchants to 

 build and settle in this Country. They nominated at their 

 General Assemblies such Persons as they judged proper in 

 each County to receive the said Pees, which were to be laid 

 out in a sufficient Magazine or Store of Gunpowder, which 

 was to be always in readiness for the use of the Christians 

 against the Indians, whenever they made any Attempts, 

 which there is no danger of their ever doing for the future ; 

 yet this Office continued 'till the Year 1733, being about that 

 time laid aside as unnecessary, as I have been informed 

 since my return from those parts. 



The Planters are very Hospitable and Charitable to each 

 other, and especially if any have had the misfortune to have 

 their Houses burnt, or any other grievous Affliction befall 

 them. On these occasions they readily contribute to make 

 up the loss of the Sufferers, whereby they generally become 

 more wealthy than they were before this misfortune hap- 

 pened. 



Thus have I given an Account of the Advantages and Dis- 

 advantages that attend the Christian Inhabitants of this 

 Pro\dnce ; having nothing more in view than to satisfie my 

 Readers with the best Account I could learn (during my 

 Residence there) I shall proceed to give a short Account of 



the 



