of North Carolina. 337 



it: On tlie Day appoiuted they all coint', and after every 

 Aiau's Victuals is dealt to him, oue of their Speakers, or 

 grave old Men makes an Harangue, to the Company to this 

 effect, that Thai Mans House hath been destroyed, together 

 ivith all his Goods. That he and his Family very narrowly 

 escaped. That he is every Mans Friend in that Company, 

 and that it is all their Duties to help him, as he would do any 



of them, had the like Misfortune befallen them. In 



such like Speeches he accosts all that are present, to a charita- 

 ble compliance in behalf of the distressed Person. After this 

 Oration is over, every Man according to his Quality and 

 Ability, throws down upon the Ground some Present, which 

 is commonly Beads, Ronoah, Peak, Shiyis, or Furs, which 

 often amounts to treble the loss he has sustained. The same 

 assistance they give to any Man that wants to build a Cabin 

 or make a Canoe, or any other Convenience that he is not 

 able to perform, and stands in need of: For, they say, it is 

 every Man^s Duty so to do, there being several Works that 

 one Man camiot effect, therefore they must give him their 

 help, otherwise the Society would soon fall, and they should 

 be deprived of those urgent E^ecessaries which Life requires. 

 Their Charity is no less extensive towards Widows, for it 

 often happens that a Woman is destitute of a Husband, either 

 by Wars or otherwise, and hath a great many Children to 

 maintain, such a Person they always help, and make their 

 young Men Plant, Reap, and do every thing she is not capa- 

 ble of doing herself; yet they will not allow any one to be 

 idle (especially in the Harvest time) but employ themselves 

 in some Work or other. As they are unacquainted with the 

 value of Gold, or Silver, they prefer their Indian^Money be- 

 fore it, which is of different Sorts, but all made of Shells, 

 that are found on the Coast of Carolina, and especially the 



22 Uu Conch-shells; 



