Travels Through North America 



to convince the Indians of the real truth of the case, it 

 might unhappily occasion a war with the Cherokee nation, 

 a circumstance of the most calamitous importance. It 

 fortunately happened, however, that the young Indian got 

 safe home; he headed or swam over the great rivers that 

 obstructed his way; concealed himself in the woods during 

 the day, travelled in the night, supported himself with the 

 tuckahoe and other roots and berries, and by that natural 

 sagacity which is characteristic of the Indians * explored 

 his way through an immense extent of trackless woods and 

 forests to his native cabin. At present the only Indian 

 children in Mr. Boyle's school are five or six of the Pamunky 

 tribe, who, being surrounded by and living in the midst of 

 our settlements, are more accustomed to the manners and 

 habits of the English colonists. 



A circumstance similar to the above I find mentioned 

 by Mr. Catesby in his Natural History of Carolina; 

 and it probably refers to the same event. The story, 

 as I have related it, was communicated to 'me by the 

 Hon. and Rev. Mr. Commissary Dawson, President of 

 the College. 



The character of the North American Indians is not to be 

 collected from observations upon the Pamunky, or any other 

 Indian tribe living within the boundaries of the British 

 settlements. These are in many respects changed, per- 



* A melancholy proof of the inferiority of Europeans to Indians 

 in this respect happened in the year 1757, when Col. Spotswood, 

 who v^?as out with a party of rangers formed of Virginia gentlemen, 

 for the protection of the frontiers, unfortunately strayed from his 

 companions, could not find his way back either to them, or to any 

 of our settlements, though constantly used to be out upon hunt- 

 ing-parties, and miserably perished in the woods. 



[190 J 



