INTRODUCTION. XV 



Carolina should be as free from oppression as 

 any in the universe, which doubtless they will, if 

 their own differences amongst themselves do not 

 occasion the contrary. 



They have a well disciplined militia; their 

 horse are most gentlemen and well mounted, and 

 the best in America, and may equalize any in 

 other parts. Their officers, both infantry and 

 cavalry, generally appear in scarlet mountings, 

 and as rich as in most regiments belonging to the 

 crown, which shows the richness and grandeur of 

 this colony. They are a frontier, and prove such 

 troublesome neighbors to the Spaniards, that they 

 have once laid their town of St. Augustine in 

 ashes, and drove away their cattle, besides many 

 encounters and engagements, in which they have 

 defeated them, too tedious to relate here. 



What the French got by their attempt against 

 South Carolina, will hardly ever be ranked a- 

 mongst their victories ; their admiral Mouville, 

 being glad to leave the enterprise, and run away, 

 after he had suffered all the loss and disgrace he 

 was capable of receiving. 



They are absolute masters over the Indians, 

 and carry so strict a hand over such as are within 

 the circle of their trade, that none does the least 

 injury to any of the English, but he is presently 

 sent for and punished "with death, or otherwise, 

 according to the nature of the fault. They have 

 an entire friendship with the neighboring Indians 

 of several nations, which are a very warlike peo- 



