140 lawson's history 



baths we have an account of from the Indians 

 that frequent the hill country, where a great like- 

 lihood appears of making saltpetre, because the 

 earth in many places, is strongly mixed with a 

 nitrous salt, which is much coveted by the beasts, 

 who come at some seasons in great droves and 

 herds, and by their much licking of this earth, 

 make great holes in those banks, which some- 

 times lie at the heads of great precipices, where 

 their eagerness after this salt hastens their end by 

 falling down the high banks, so that th^y are 

 dashed in pieces. It must be confessed that the 

 most noble and sweetest part of this country is 

 not inhabited by any but the savages ; and a great 

 deal of the richest part thereof, has no inhabitants 

 but the beasts of the wilderness ; for, the Indians 

 are not inclinable to settle in the richest land, be- 

 cause the timbers are too large for them to cut 

 down, and too much burthened with wood for 

 their laborers to make plantations of; besides, 

 the healthfulness of those hills is apparent by the 

 gigantic stature and grey heads so common a- 

 mongst the savages that dwell near the mount- 

 ains. The great Creator of all things having most 

 wisely diffused his blessings, by parceling out the 

 vintages of the world into such lots as his won- 

 derful foresight saw most proper, requisite and 

 convenient for the habitations of his creatures. 

 Towards the sea we have the conveniency of trade 

 transportation and other helps the water affords ; 

 but oftentimes those advantages are attended with 



