TheHijtoryof BookII. 



there can no certain account be given of it, inafmuch as thefe 

 Nations have commonly no other Annals than their own me- 

 mories : But in regard thofe people ordinarily live two hun- 

 dred years, it is not to be thought ftrange that the occurrences 

 happening among them, mould be tranfmitted to pofterity to 

 three or four Generations. And to confirm this, we may aver 

 that there are many men and women among them who can 

 give an exadt account of the firft arrival of the Spaniards in 

 America, as if it had happened but yefterday : So that the re- 

 membrance of the departure of the Caribbians out of Florida, 

 and the wars they have had tbere, being yet frefh among the 

 Apalachites, thofe who have heard them difcourfe, conje&ure 

 that it may be about five hundred years fince thofe things came 

 to pafs. But if it be further queftion'd, why they did not en- 

 deavour to make their way back again into Florida, to be re- 

 veng'd of the Apalachites ,and thofe of their own Nation, who 

 had forc'd them thence, efpecially after they had multiply 'd 

 and recruited themfelves fb powerfully in the Iflands ? it may- 

 be anfwered. That the difficulty of Navigation, which is very 

 eafie from the Caribbies to Florida, but very dangerous from 

 Florida to the Caribbies, the winds being commonly contrary, 

 chill'd the earneftnefs they might have to make any fuch at- 

 tempt. In the next place it is to be noted, that the air of the 

 Iflands being warmer, and the foil as good, and in all appea- 

 rance more fuitable to their conftitution than that of Florida, 

 they apprehended, that thofe who had forc'd them thence, 

 had, contrary to their intentions, procured them a greater hap- 

 pinefi than they could have defir'd, and, thinking to make 

 them miferable, had made them fortunate in their exile. 



CHAP. VIII. 



By way of Digrejpon giving an account of the Apala- 

 chites, the Nature of their Country their Manners , and 

 their ancient and modern Religion. 



Since we have had occafion to fpeak fo much concerning the 

 Apalachites, and that above one half of the ancient Caribbi- 

 ans, after the expulfion of thofe among them who would not 

 adore the Sun, have to this prefent made up one people and 

 one Common-wealth with thofe Apalachites, it will be confb- 

 nant to our defign, efpecially fince the fubjeft thereof is rare 

 and little known, if we give fome account of the nature of 

 their Country, and the moft remarkable things that are in it 3 

 as alfoof the manners of the Inhabitants, the Religion they 



have 



