of North Carolina. 371 



the Doctor began to talk, and told the People what Ligkining 

 was, that it kill'd every thing upon the Earth, that the very 

 Fishes did not escape, for it often reach'd the Whales, Por- 

 poises, and other Fishes, and destroyed them; that every- 

 thing strove to shun it, except the Mice, who he said were 

 the busiest in eating their Coi-n in the Fields when it 

 Lightned and Thunderd the most. He likewise added, that 

 no Wood or Tree cou'd withstand it, except the Blach-Gum, 

 and that it wou'd run round that Tree a gTeat many times to 

 enter therein, but cou'd not effect it. Xow" you must un- 

 derstand that sort of Gum will not split or rive; therefore 

 I suppose the Story might arise from thence. Lastly he 

 began to tell ridiculous absurd lyes about Lightning, that 

 cou'd be invented; as that an Indian of their Xation had 

 once got Lightning in the likeness of a Partrige, that no 

 other Lightning cou'd hurt him whilst he had that about 

 him, that after he had kept it for several Years it got away 

 from him, and that then he became as liable to be struck 

 with Lightning as any other Man; thus they amuse the 

 People with a Thousand such like ridiculous stories, which 

 they receive for the most infallible Truths. 



They likewise deliver the hearers several traditional sto- 

 ries of great Battles that were fought by their Ancestors, 

 of strange Beasts and Birds that were to be met with many 

 Years ago, and that a great Rattle Snake that lived in a 

 Creek in North-Carolina kill'd abundance of Indians, but 

 at last a Bald Eagle kill'd it, and they were rid of a Serpent 

 that us'd to devour whole Canoes full of Indians at a time. 

 So that you may see how easie these Wretches are to be im- 

 pos'd upon by these old Cunting Knaves, who I am per- 

 swaded understand a little better than to give credit to any 

 such Fooleries. 



Aaa2 I 



