110 



A JOURNEY TO 



farther to a plentiful run of very clear water, and quartered on a rising 

 ground a bow-shot from it. We had no sooner pitched the tents, but one of 

 our woodsmen alarmed us with the news that he had followed the track of 

 a great body of Indians to the place where they had lately encamped. That 

 there he had found no less than ten huts, the poles whereof had green leaves 

 still fresh upon them. That each of these huts had sheltered at least ten 

 Indians, who, by some infallible marks, must have been northern Indians. 

 That they must needs have taken their departure from thence no longer ago 

 than the day before, having erected those huts to protect themselves from the 

 late heavy rains. These tidings I could perceive were a little shocking to 

 some of the company, and particularly the little major, whose tongue had 

 never lain still, was taken speechless for sixteen hours. I put as good a 

 countenance upon the matter as I could, assuring ray fellow travellers, that 

 the northern Indians were at peace with us, and although one or two of them 

 may now and then commit a robbery or a murder, (as other rogues do,) yet 

 nationally and avowedly they would not venture to hurt us. And in case 

 they were Catawbas, the danger would be as little from them, because they 

 are too fond of our trade to lose it for the pleasure of shedding a little Eng- 

 lish blood. But supposing the worst, that they might break through all the 

 rules of self-interest, and attack us, yet we ought to stand bravely on our 

 defence, and sell our lives as dear as we could. That we should have no 

 more fear on this occasion, than just to make us more watchful and better 

 provided to receive the enemy, if they had the spirit to venture upon us. 

 This reasoning of mine, though it could not remove the panic, yet it abated 

 something of the palpitation, and made us double our guard. However, I 

 found it took off the edge of most of our appetites, for every thing but the 

 rum bottle, v/hich was more in favor than ever, because of its cordial quality. 

 I hurt my other knee this afternoon, but not enough to spoil either my 

 dancing or my stom.ach. 



26th. We liked the place so little that we were glad to leave it this morn- 

 ing as soon as we could. For that reason we were all on horseback before 

 nine, and after riding four miles arrived at the mouth of Sable creek. On 

 the eastern bank of that creek, six paces from the mouth, and just at the 

 brink of the river Dan, stands a sugar tree, which is the beginning of my 

 fine tract of land in Carolina* called the Land of Eden. I caused the initial 

 letters of my name to be cut on a large poplar and beech near my corner, 

 for the more easy finding it another time. We then made a beginning of 

 my survey, directing our course due south from the sugar tree above- 

 mentioned. In a little way we perceived the creek forked, and the western 

 branch was w?Cte enough to merit the name of a river. That to the east 

 was much less, which we intersected with this course. We ran southerly a 

 mile, and found the land good all the way, only towards the end of it we saw 

 the trees destroyed in such a manner that there were hardly any left to 

 mark my bounds. Having finished this course, we encamped in a charming 

 peninsula, formed by the western branch of the creek. It contained about 

 forty acres of very rich land, gradually descending to tlie creek, and is a de- 

 lightful situation for the manor house. My servant had fed so intemperate- 

 ly upon bear, that it gave him a scouring, and that was followed by the piles, 

 which made riding worse to him than purgatory. But anointing with the 

 fat of the same bear, he soon grew easy again. 



27th. We were stirring early from this enchanting place, and ran eight 

 miles of my back line, which tended south eighty-four and a half westerly. 

 We found the land uneven, but tolerably good, though very thin of trees, 

 and those that were standing fit for little but fuel and fence-rails. Some 

 eonflagration had effectually opened the country, and made room for the air 



