of North Carolina. 279 



Eeason of it's being so very valuable is, because they not only 

 go a great way for it, but are likewise in great Danger of the 

 Vinegars, or Iroquois, who are mortal Enemies to all our 

 civilized Indians, and are very often by them or others before 

 their return from this Voyage, made their Captives or killed. 

 The Tuskeruros and other Indians, have frequently brought 

 the Seeds of this Plant from the Mountains, but it would 

 never grow in our Land, delighting no where but in the Hilly 

 and Mountainous parts ; with this and the Bears-grease they 

 anoint their Heads and Temples, which is esteemed as Orna- 

 mental as Oil and sweet Powder, or any other thing we can 

 use to our Hair; besides it has the Virtues to kill Lice, and 

 suffer none to abide in their Heads. For want of this Eoot, 

 they sometimes use a Root called Pecoon, which is of a Crim- 

 son colour, but apt to die the Hair of an ugly Hue, they like- 

 wise make use of an Herb called Wasehur, and small Roots 

 called Chappacor, and the Bark of a Tree called Tango- 

 mockonominge; all these are Dyes for several sorts of Eeds, 

 which the Indians use to paint their Faces, Matts and Bas- 

 kets with, but whether they would prove good in Cloath, is 

 not yet known. This, I am certain of, that one of our civil- 

 ized Indians brought me a handful of dryed Flowers and de- 

 sired me to put them in a large Sausepan filled with Water, 

 and boil them with a piece of Linnen Cloath, which made it 

 have such a deep Purple Colour, that the same could not be 

 discharged by any Method used, but the oftner it was washed, 

 the more beautiful and lively it appeared; the Indian would 

 by no means discover the plants the said Flower grew upon, 

 but assured me, that he would procure any Person what 

 quantity they pleased, if they would but satisfie him for his 

 Trouble. They not only paint themselves Red, but with 



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