88 OP NORTH CAROLINA. 



rags, some hones and large pebbles in great abun- 

 dance, besides free stone of several sorts ; all very 

 useful. I knew one of these hones made use of 

 by an acquaintance of mine, and it proved rather 

 better than any from old Spain or elsewhere. The 

 veins of marble are very large and curious on this 

 river and the banks thereof. 



Five miles from this river, to the 'N, "W., stands 

 the Keyauwees town. They are fortified in with 

 wooden puncheons, like Sapona, being a people 

 much of the same number. Nature has so forti- 

 fied this town with mountains, that were it a seat 

 of war, it might easily be made impregnable ; 

 having large corn fields joining to their cabins, 

 and a savanna near the town at the foot of these 

 mountains, that is capable of keeping some hun- 

 dred heads of cattle. And all this environed round 

 with very high mountains, so that no hard wind 

 ever troubles these inhabitants. Those high cliffs 

 have no grass growing on them, and very few trees, 

 which are very short, and stand at a great distance 

 one from another. The earth is of a red color 

 and seems to me to be wholly designed by nature 

 for the production of minerals, being of too hot a 

 quality to sufter any verdure upon its surface. 

 These Indians make use of lead ore to paint their 

 faces withal, which they get in the neighboring 

 mountains. As for the refining of metals, the 

 Indians are wholly ignorant of it, being content 

 with the realgar. But if it be my chance once 

 more to visit these hilly parts, I shall make a Ion- 



