58 SIOUAN TRIBES OF THE EAST. [ 



BUREAU OF 

 ETHNOLOOV 



tbe Spanish government to keep tlie knowledge of sucli expeditions a 

 secret; but from the vivid traditions still retained by the Cherokee of 

 North Carolina, as recounted to the author, it is evident that the Si^an- 

 iards made many expeditions into the mountains and carried on mining 

 operations in different places during the period of their occupancy of 

 Florida and tlie adjacent coast of Georgia and South Carolina. 



The next visit to the Sara of which records are known was 130 years 

 later than De Soto. In 1G70 Lederer, after passing successively through 

 the territories of the Saponi, Occaneechi, Eno, Shoccoree, and Wateree 

 arrived among the Sara. He describes their village as being near 

 the mountains, whicli at this point became lower and turned from 

 their general southward or southwestward direction and veered west- 

 ward. As the tribes next met by him were the Waxhaw and Catawba, 

 it is evident that he found the Sara about where De Soto had 

 found them in 1540. He states that the neighboring mountains were 

 called Sara, which tlie Spaniards made Suala — another evidence of 

 Spanish presence in this upper region. Beyond the mountains, west 

 and north of tlie Sara, lived the Eickohockan (Cherokee). From 

 these mountains the Sara got quantities of cinnabar, which they used 

 as paint. They had .also cakes of white salt. As the Cherokee and 

 gulf tribes generally used no salt, and no considerable salt deposits 

 were found in their country, it is probable that the Sara obtained their 

 supply from the Mohetan or some other tribe farther northward. 

 Lederer made no long stay with the tribe, perhaps, as already stated, 

 on account of having become involved in a dispute with a youthful 

 savage, who attempted to shoot the traveler's horse and when prevented 

 turned his attentions to the traveler himself (Lederer, 8). 



Some time after this the S.ara removed northward and settled on 

 Dan river. This removal may have been due to the incursions of the 

 Sj)aniards, as a document of 1054 indicates that the Eno, living then 

 in central North Carolina, were doing their utmost to check the north- 

 ern advance of the Spaniards (Hawks, 1). As early as 1G73, and perhaps 

 earlier, the Sara had acquaintance with English traders from Virginia 

 (Byrd, IG). Their village was on the southern bank of the Dan, shortly 

 below the entrance of Irvin (Smith) river from the opposite side, and 

 about due north of the present Wentworth in Ivockingham county, 

 North Carolina. Their fields extended along both banks of the river 

 for severtil miles below the village. Byrd, who visited the site in 1733, 

 thus describes it : 



It innst have been a great misfortune to them to be oblig'd to abantlon so beauti- 

 ful a dwelliug, where the air is wholesome, and the soil equal in fertility to any in 

 the world. The river is about 80 yards wide, always confin'd within its lofty banks, 

 and rolling down its waters, as sweet as milk, and as clear as crystal. There runs a 

 charming level, of more than a mile square, that will bring forth like the lands of 

 Egypt, without being overflow'd once a year. There is scarce a shrub in view to 

 intercept your prospect, but grass as high as a man on horseback. Towards the 

 woods there is a gentle ascent, till your sight is intercepted by an eminence, that 

 overlooks the whole landskape. This sweet place is bounded to the cast by a fine 



