Jl^'^ A JOURNEY To 



of papaw trees, the wood whereof the Indians make very dry on purpose to 

 rub fire out of it. Their method of doing it is this : they hold one of these 

 dry sticks in each hand, and by rubbing them hard and quick together, rarify 

 the air in such a manner as to fetcli fire in ten minutes. Whenever they 

 offer any sacrifice to their God, they look upon it as a profanation to make 

 use of fire already kindled, but produce fiesh virgin fire for that purpose, 

 by rubbing two of these sticks together that never had been used before on 

 any occasion. 



8th. After fortifying ourself with a bear breakfast, major Mayo took what 

 help he thought necessary, and began to survey the land, with which the 

 commissioners of Carolina had presented him upon this creek. After running 

 the bounds, the major was a little disappointed in the goodness of the land, 

 but as it had cost him nothing it could be no bad pennyworth, as his upper 

 tract really was. While that business was carrying on, I took my old friend 

 and fellow traveller, Tom Wilson, and went to view the land I had entered 

 for upon this creek, on the north of the country line. We rode down the 

 stream about six miles, crossing it sundry times, and found very wide low 

 grounds on both sides of it, only we observed, wherever the low-grounds 

 were broad on one side the creek, they were narrow on the othei*. The 

 highlands we were obliged to pass over were very good, and in some 

 places descended so gradually to the edge of the low-grounds, that they 

 formed very agreeable prospects and pleasant situations for building. About 

 four miles from the line. Sugar Tree creek emptied itself into the Hico, which 

 with that addition swelled into a fine river. In this space we saw the most, 

 and most promising good land we had met with in all our travels. In our 

 way we shot a doe, but she not falling immediately, we had lost our game had 

 not the ravens, by their croaking, conducted us to the thicket where she fell. 

 We plunged the carcass of the deer into the water, to secure it from these 

 ominous birds till we returned, but an hour afterwards were surprised with 

 the sight of a wolf which had been fishing for it, and devoured one side. We 

 knocked down an ancient she bear that had no flesh upon her bones, so 

 we left it to the free-booters of the forest. In coming back to the camp we 

 discovered a solitary bull buffalo, which boldly stood his ground, contrary to 

 the custom of that shy animal, we spared his life, from a principle of never 

 slaughtering an innocent creature to no purpose. However, we made our- 

 selves some diversion, by trying if he would face our dogs. He was so far 

 from retreating at their approach, that he ran at them with great fierceness, 

 cocking up his ridiculous little tail, and grunting like a hog. The dogs in the 

 mean time only played about him, not venturing within reach of his horns, and 

 by their nimbleness came off with a whole skin. All these adventures we 

 related at our return to the camp, and what was more to the purpose, we 

 carried to them the side of venison which the wolf had vouchsafed to leave 

 us. After we had composed ourselves to rest, our horses ran up to our camp 

 as fast as their hobbles would let them. This was to some of us a certain 

 argument that Indians were near, whose scent the horses can no more en- 

 dure than they can their figures ; though it was more likely they had been 

 scared by a panther or soixie other wild beast, the glaring of whose eyes are 

 very terrifying to them in a dark night. 



9th. Major Mayo's survey being no more than half done, we were obliged 

 to amuse ourselves another day in this place. And that the time might not 

 be quite lost, we put our garments and baggage into good repair. I for my 

 part never spent a day so well during the whole voyage. I had an imperti- 

 nent tooth in my upper jaw, that had been loose for some time, and made me 

 chew with great caution. Particularly I could not grind a biscuit but with 

 much deliberation and presence of mind. Tooth-drawers we had none 



