66 OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



one assists till it is finished. All their dwelling 

 houses are covered with Kark, but this differs 

 very much ; for it is very artificially thatched with 

 sedge and rushes. As soon as finished, they 

 place some one of their chiefest men to dwell 

 therein, charging him with the diligent preserva- 

 tion thereof, as a prince commits the charge and 

 government of a fort or castle, to some subject he 

 thinks worthy of that trust. In these state houses 

 is transacted all public and private business rela- 

 ting to the affairs of the government, as the audi- 

 ence of foreign ambassadors from other Indian ru- 

 lers, consultation of waging and making war, pro- 

 posals of their trade with neighboring Indians, or 

 the English who happen to come amongst them. 

 In this theatre, the most aged and wisest meet, 

 determining what to act, and what may be most 

 convenient to omit. Old age being held in as 

 great veneration amongst these heathens, as 

 amongst any people you shall meet withal in any 

 part of the world. 



Whensoever an aged man is speaking, none ev- 

 er interrupts him, (the contrary practice the Eng- 

 lish and other Europeans too much use,) the com- 

 pany yielding a great deal of attention to his tale 

 with a continued silence and an exact demeanor, 

 during the oration. Indeed, the Indians are a 

 people that never interrupt one another in their 

 discourse ; no man so much as offering to open 

 his mouth till the speaker has uttered his intent : 

 When an Englishman comes amongst them, per- 



