628 INDIAN LAND CESSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES [eth.ann.18 



Hitlieito, as a general rule, the relations between tlie settlers and the 

 natives had been peaceful, and for the greater part friendly. It appears 

 that as early as 1703 there had been some petty disputes concerning 

 lands and trade, and it is probable that the war grew out of some dis- 

 satisfaction on this account, as intimated by Graftenried. This seems 

 apparent from the wording of an act passed by the general assembly 

 in 1715, "For restraining the Indians from molesting or injuring the 

 inhabitants of this government and for secui'ing to the Indians the 

 right and property of their own lands," The fourth section of this act 

 is as follows : 



Ami vrlieieas there is great reason to believe tliut disputes concerning land has 

 already been of fatal consequence to the peace and welfare of this colony, Beit fur- 

 ther enacted, hi/ the authority aforesaid, That no wliite man shall, for any considera- 

 tion whatsoever, purchase or buy any tract or parcel of land claimed, or actually in 

 possession of any Indian, without special liberty for so doing from the Governor and 

 Council Jirst had and obtained, under the penalty of twenty pounds for every hun- 

 dred acres of land so bargained for and purchased, one half to the informer and 

 other half to him or them that shall sue for the same : to ho recovered hy hill, plaint, 

 or information, in any court of record within this government; wherein no ession, 

 protection, injunction, or wager of law, shall be allowed or admitted of.' 



After this the only natives of any coiise(iuence with whom the colo- 

 nists had to contend were the Cherokee, who dwelt on their western 

 frontier. The Tuskarora, who had remained at peace during the con- 

 flict, were removed in 1717 to a reservation on the uorthern bank of 

 Eoanoke river, in what is now Bertie county ; the remnant of the hos- 

 tiles abandoned the country and joined the Iroquois. There is another 

 fact which should not be overlooked in this connection, namely, that a 

 considerable portion of the state was absolutely uninhabited. This 

 will be apparent to anyone who will follow Lawson' closely in his 

 travels through the two Caroliuas. He also remarks that "it must be 

 confessed that the most noble and sweetest part of this country is not 

 inhabited by any but 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 on the richest land because the 

 timbers are too large for them to cut down, and too much burtheued 

 with wood for their laborers to make plantations of." 



In 174S an act was passed "for ascertaining the bounds of a certain 

 tract of land formerly laid out by treaty to the use of the Tuskarora 

 Indians, so long as they, or any of them, shall occupy and live upon the 

 same; and to prevent any iierson or persons taking up lands, or settling 

 within the said bounds." As parts of this act are of historical impor- 

 tance in this connection, they are quoted here: 



Whereas complaints are made by the Tuskarora Indians, of divers incroachments 

 made by the English on their lands, and it being but just that the ancient inhabit- 

 ants of this i)rovince shall have and enjoy a quiet and convenient dwelling place in 

 this their native country; wherefore, 



1 Laws of Coloni.tl and State Goveruments Relating to Indian Aflairs (1832), ji. 162. 



2 Jobn Lawson, Hi-story of Fi)i>er Soutb Carolina. 



