110 
A JOURNEY TO 
farther to a plentiful run of very clear water, and quartered on a rising 
ground a bow-shot from it. We had no sooner pitched the tents, but one of 
our woodsmen alarmed us with the news that he had followed the track of 
a great body of Indians to the place where they had lately encamped. That 
there he had found no less than ten huts, the poles whereof had green leaves 
still fresh upon them. That each of these huts had sheltered at least ten, 
Indians, who, by some infallible marks, must have been northern Indians. 
That they must needs have taken their departure from thence no longer ago 
than the day before, having erected those huts to protect themselves from the 
late heavy rains. These tidings I could perceive were a little shocking to 
some of the company, and particularly the little major, whose tongue , had 
never lain still, was taken speechless for sixteen hours. I put as good a 
countenance upon the matter as I could, assuring my fellow travellers, that 
the northern Indians were at peace tvith us, and although one or two of them 
may now and then commit a robbery or a murder, (as other rogues do,) yet 
nationally and avowedly they would not venture to hurt us. And in case 
they were Catawbas, the danger would be as little from them, because they 
are too fond of our trade to lose it for the pleasure of shedding a little Eng- , 
lish blood. But supposing the worst, that they might break through all the 
rules of self-interest, and attack us, yet we ought to stand bravely on our 
defence, and sell our lives as dear as we could. That we should have no 
more fear on this occasion, than just to make us more watchful and better 
provided to receive the enemy, if they had the spirit to venture upon us. 
This reasoning of mine, though it could not remove the panic, yet it abated 
something of the palpitation, and made us double our guard. However, I 
found it took off the edge of most of our appetites, for every thing but the 
rum bottle, which was more in favor than ever, because of its cordial quality. 
I hurt my other knee this afternoon, but not enough to spoil either my 
dancing or my stomach. 
26th. We liked the place so little that we were glad to leave it this morn- 
ing as soon as we could. For that reason we were all on horseback before 
nine, and after riding four miles arrived at,- the mouth of Sable creek. On 
the eastern bank of that creek, six paces from the mouth, and just at the 
brink of the river Dan, stands a sugar tree, which is the beginning of ray 
fine tract of land in Carolina, called the Land of Eden. I caused the initial 
letters of my name to be cut on a large poplar and beech near my corner, 
for the more easy finding it another time. We then made a beginning of 
my survey, directing our course due south from the sugar tree above- 
mentioned. In a little way we perceived the creek forked, and the western 
branch was wide enough to merit the name of a river. That to the east 
was much less, which we intersected with this course. We ran southerly a 
mile, and found the land good all the way, only towards the end of it we saw 
the trees destroyed in such a manner that there were hardly any left to 
mark my bounds. Having finished this course, we encamped in a charming 
peninsula, formed by the western bf’anch of the creek. It contained about 
forty acres of very rich land, gradually descending to the creek, and is a de- 
lightful situation for the manor house. My servant had fed so intemperate- 
ly upon bear, that it gave him a scouring, and that was followed by the piles, 
which made riding worse to him than purgatory. But anointing with the 
fat of the same bear, he soon grew easy again. 
27th. We were stirring early from this enchanting place, and ran eight 
miles of my back line, which tended south eighty-four and a half westerly. 
We found the land uneven, but tolerably good, though very thin of trees, 
and those that were standing fit for little but fuel and fence-rails. Some 
conflagration had eftectually opened the country, and made room for the air 
