THE DIVIDING LINE. 
89 
Roanoke. This wretched machine, at first setting out, met with a very rude 
cheque, that broke a case-bottle of cherry brandy in so unlucky a manner 
that not one precious drop was saved. This melancholy beginning foreboded 
an unprosperous journey, and too quick a return, to the persons most imme- 
diately concerned. 
In our way we crossed Fountain creek, which runs into Meherrin river, 
so called from the disaster of an unfortunate Indian trader who had foniK'rly 
been drowned in it, and, like Icarus, left his name to that fatal stream. We 
took up our quarters on the plantation of John Hill, where we pitched our 
tent, with design to tarry till such time as the surveyors could work their 
way to us. 
22d. This being Sunday, we had an opportunity of resting from our la- 
bours. The expectation of such a novelty as a sermon in. these parts 
brought together a numerous congregation. When the sermon was over, 
our chaplain did his part towards making eleven of them Christians. 
Several of our men had intermitting fevers, but were soon restored to 
their health again by proper remedies. Our chief medicine was dogwood 
bark, w'hich we used, instead of that of Peru, with good success^ Indeed, it 
was given in larger quantity, but then, to make the patients amends, they 
swallowed much fewer doses. 
In the afternoon our provision horses arrived safe in the camp. They had' 
met with very heavy rains, but, thank God, not a single biscuit received the 
least damage thereby. We were furnished by the neighbours with very 
lean cheese and very fat mutton, upon which occasion it will not be improper 
to draw one conclusion, from the evidence of North Carolina, that sheep 
would thrive much better in the woods than in pasture land, provided a care- 
ful shepherd were employed to keep them from straying, and, by the help of 
dogs, to protect them also from the wolves. 
23d, The surveyors came to us at night, though they had not brought the 
line so far as our camp, for which reason we thought it needless to go for- 
ward till they came up with us. They could run no more than four miles and 
five poles, because the ground was every where grown up with thick bushes. 
The soil here appeared to be very good, though much broken betwixf Foun- 
tain creek and Roanoke river. The line crossed Meherrin river the fifth and 
last time, nor were our'people sorry to part with a stream the meanders of 
which had given them so much trouble. 
Our hunters brought us four wild turkeys, which at that season began to 
be fat and very delicious, especially the hens. These birds seem to be of the 
bustard kind, and fly heavily. Some of them are exceedingly large, and weigh 
upwards of forty pounds ; nay, some bold historians venture to say, upwards 
of fifty pounds. They run very fast, stretching forth their wings all the time, 
like the ostrich, by way of sails to quicken their speed. They roost commonly 
upon Xiery high trees, standing near some river or creek, and are so stupified 
at the sight of fire, that if you make a blaze in the night near the place 
where they roost, you may fire upon them several times successively, before 
they will dare to fly away. Their spurs are so sharp and strong, that the 
Indians used formerly to point their arrows with them, though now they 
point them with a sharp white stone. In the spring the turkey-cocks begin 
to gobble, which is the language wherein they make love. 
It rained very hard in the night, with a violent storm of thunder and light- 
ning, which obliged us to trench in our tent all round, to carry off the water 
that fell upon it. * 
24th. So soon as the men could dry their blankets, we sent out the survey- 
ors, who now meeting with more favourable grounds, advanced the line seven 
miles and eighty-two poles. However, the commissioners did not think proper 
to decamp that day, believing they might easily overtake the surveyors the 
