24 
THE HISTORY OF 
to come to short allowance, and consequently to worjc hard without filling 
their bellies. Though this was very severe upon English stomachs, yet the 
people were so far from being discomfited at it, that they still kept up their 
good humour, and merrily told a young fellow in the company, who looked 
very plump and wholesome, that he must expect to go first to pot, if matters 
should come to extremity. This was only said by way of jest, yet it made 
him thoughtful in earnest. However, for the present he returned them a very 
civil answer, letting them know that, dead or alive, he should be glad to be 
useful to such worthy good friends. But, after all, this humorous saying had 
one very good effect, for that younker, who before was a little inclined by his 
constitution to be lazy, grew on a sudden extremely industrious, that so there 
might be less occasion to carbonade him for the good of his fellow travellers. 
While our friends were thus embarrassed in the Dismal, the commissioners 
began to lie under great uneasiness for them. They knew very well their 
provisions must by this time begin to fall short, nor could they conceive any 
likely means of a supply. At this time of the year both the cattle and hogs 
had forsaken the skirts of the Dismal, invited by the springing grass on the 
firm land. All our hopes were that Providence would cause some wild game 
to fall in their way, or else direct them to a wholesome vegetable for their 
subsistence. In short they were haunted with so many frights on this occa- 
sion, that they were in truth more uneasy than the persons whose case they 
lamented. W"e had several visiters from Edenton, in the afternoon, that came 
with Mr. Gale, who had prudently left us at Coratuck, to scuffle through that 
dirty country by ourselves. These gentlemen, having good noses, had smelled 
out, at thirty miles’ distance, the precious liquor with which the liberality of 
our good friend Mr. Mead had just before supplied us. That generous per- 
son had judged very right, that we were now got out of the latitude of drink 
proper for men in affliction, and therefore was so good as to send his cart 
loaded with all sorts of refreshments, for which the commissioners returned 
him their thanks, and the chaplain his blessing. 
21st. The surveyors and their attendants began now in good earnest to be 
alarmed with apprehensions of famine, nor could they forbear looking with 
some sort of appetite upon a dog v/hich had. been the faithful companion of 
their travels. Their provisions were now near exhausted. They had this 
morning made the last distribution, that so each might husband his small pit- 
tance as he pleased. Now it was that the fresh coloured young man began 
to tremble every joint of him, having dreamed, the night before, that the In- 
dians were about to barbacue him over live coals. The prospect of famine 
determined the people, at last, with one consent, to abandon the line for the 
present, which advanced but slowly, and make the best of their way to firm 
land. Accordingly they set off very early, and, by the help of the compass 
which they carried along with them, steered a direct westwardly course. 
They marched from morning till night, and computed their journey to amount 
to about four miles, which was a great way, considering the difficulties of the 
ground. It was all along a cedar swamp, so dirty and perplexed, that if they 
had not travelled for their lives, they could not have reached so far. On their 
way they espied a turkey buzzard, that flew prodigiously high to get above 
the noisome exhalations that ascend from that filthy place. This they were 
willing to understand as a good omen, according to the superstition of the 
ancients, who had great faith in the flight of vultures. However, after all this 
tedious journey, they could yet discover no end of their toil, which made 
them very pensive, especially after they had eaten the last morsel of their 
provisions. But to their unspeakable comfort, when all was hushed in the 
evening, they heard the cattle low, and the dogs bark, very distinctly, whiclT^ 
to men in that distress, was more delightful music than Faustina or Farinelli 
