of North Carolina. 345 



cipally owing to the steadiness in their Limhs and the shar}) 

 Sight with which they are endued. They take a great deal of 

 pains when they buy a Gun first, to find out if it has any 

 fault in the Barrel, which they generally take out of the 

 stock and cut a ^N'otch in a Tree where they make it streight, 

 if there be occasion, and after shoot several times at markes, 

 that they may be acquainted with its faults and perfections, 

 this they do before they go to kill Deer, or any other kind of 

 Game that is to be met with as they hunt in Woods. It is 

 remarkable in them that they will seldom stir or go abroad 

 into the Woods to Hunt before the Sun is an Hour or two 

 heigh, and hath exhaled most part of the Dew from the 

 Earth, then are they indefatigable in walking from Morn- 

 ing till Xight in pursuit of their Game. When they are 

 Traveling in the Woods together, they always keep a con- 

 stant Pace, neither will they stride over a Tree that lyes 

 across a path in their way, but always go round it, which is a 

 quite contrary custom to the Europeans, but for what reason 

 the Indians use this Ceremony I never cou'd learn, though I 

 have frequently importuned them on that Head. And what 

 is worthy of Observation is, that none of the Indians in 

 North-Carolina are to be met with Left Handed; whether 

 this be owing to their method of Cursing, or otherwise, I 

 cannot account for. When ever they cut wdth a Knife, they 

 always turn the Edge towards themselves, whereas the Euro- 

 peans cut and Whittle from them. 



Before the Arrival of the Europeans in these parts of 

 America, these Savages not knowing the use of Steel and 

 Flints, they got their fire from Sticks, which by vehement 

 collision or rubbing together kindle and take fire. This 

 method they will sometimes practice even now when it has 

 happened through rainy Weather, or some other accident, 



Xx that 



