of North Carolina. 363 



Hunting Matches. The small lied Pease are very common 

 with them, and several other sorts, which they boyle with 

 their Meat, or with Pigeon s or Bears Fat ; this Food makes 

 them break Wind backwards, which the Men frequently do, 

 seem well pleased, and laugh heartily, being accounted no 

 111 Manners amongst them; but the Women are seldom 

 known to be guilty of that indecent Custom. 



At their setting out either for War or Peace, or upon any 

 other extraordinary Expedition, there are several Formali- 

 ties amongst them, and they whose Business it is to attend 

 their hunting Camp, are generally those that are not good 

 or expert Hunters, therefore are employed to carry Bur- 

 thens, to get Bark for their Cabins, and all other servile 

 Work, likewise to go too and fro to their Towns, and bring 

 'News to the old People (whom they leave behind) of their 

 Success and Welfare. 



The Women are likewise obliged to carry their Loads of 

 Grain and other Provisions with them to these randezvous, 

 and provide Firewood to dress Victuals; for a good Hunter 

 or Warrior, in these Expeditions is employed in no other 

 Business than the Affairs of Game or Battle. The great 

 quantities of Fruit that they dry in the Summer over Fires 

 and Hurdles, and in the Sun, are at these times brought into 

 the Field ; as are also the Cahes and Quiddonies of Peaches; 

 with this Fruit and the Bill-herries dried, they stew and 

 make fruit Bread and Cakes, and have variety of other sorts 

 of Fruits preserved, which are brought out upon these occa- 

 sions. 



In some parts of this Province, especially near the Moun- 

 tains, and amongst the Indians in those Places, they have 

 several hundred Gallons of Pigeons Oil or Fat, which they 

 preserve for their Winter Stores, using it with their Pidse, 

 Roots, and Bread, as we do Butter: These Fowl are so 



Zz 2 plenty. 



