of North Carolina. 327 



together: They never Dung their Land, but set Fire to the 

 Weeds, which makes very good Maruire; when the Land is 

 to be planted, the King commands one of the Men to assem- 

 ble his Subjects every Day to Labour, and when the Maze is 

 gathered, it is all carried into a common Store-House, where 

 it is distributed to every one as there is occasion; they sel- 

 dom sow more than what will serve them for six Months, 

 and that very sparingly; for during the Winter they retire 

 into the Woods to hunt, or fish, where they have plenty of 

 various kinds of wild Beasts, Birds and Fishes. To en- 

 courage the young Men to labour in planting their Maze and 

 Pulse, they place a kind of Idol in the Field, dressed up 

 exactly like an Indian, with a great quantity of Wampum, 

 or Money that is made of Conk-Shells, hanging about his 

 Xeck. This Image none of the young Men dare presume to 

 approach, the old ones will not suffer them, but tell them 

 that it is some famous Warrior that died many Ages ago, 

 and now is come among them, to see if they work well, which 

 if they do, he will go to the good Spirit, and speak to him 

 to send them plenty of Corn, and to make them expert Hunt- 

 ers, and mighty Wariors ; and many other incredible Stories, 

 with which they amuse their Youth. All this while the 

 King and the old Men sit round the Image, and seemingly 

 pay the most profound Respect and Veneration imaginable 

 to the same. One great help to them in carrying on these 

 Cheats, and inducing their Youth to do what they please is, 

 the uninterrupted Silence which is ever kept and observed 

 amongst them. 



At these Feasts, which are set out with all the Magnificence 

 imaginable, or that their Fare will allow of, the Masquerade 

 begins always at Night. There is a Fire commonly made in 

 the middle of the largest House in the Town, which frequently 



hajjpens 



