116 
A JOURNEY TO 
of papaw trees, the wood whereof the Indians make very dry on purpose to 
rub fire out of it. Their method of doing it is this : they hold one of these 
dry sticks in each hand, and by rubbing them hard and quick together, rarify 
the air in such a manner as to fetch fire in ten minutes. Whenever they 
offer any sacrifice to their God, they look upon it as a profanation to make 
use of fire already kindled, but produce fresh virgin fire for that purpose^ 
by rubbing two of these sticks together that never had been used before on 
any occasion. 
8th. After fortifying ourself with a bear breakfast, major Mayo took what 
help he thought necessary, and began to survey the land, with which the 
commissioners of Carolina had presented him upon this creek. After running 
the bounds, the major was a little disappointed in the goodness of the land, 
but as it had cost him nothing it could be no bad pennyworth, as his upper 
tract really was. While that business was carrying on, I took my old friend 
and fellow traveller, Tom Wilson, and went to view the land I had entered 
for upon this creek, on the north of the country line. We rode down the 
stream about six miles, crossing it sundry times, and found very wide low 
grounds on both sides of it, only we observed, wherever the low-grounds 
were broad on one side the creek, they were narrow on the other. The 
highlands we were obliged to pass over were very good, and in some 
places descended so gradually to the edge of the low-grounds, that they 
formed very agreeable prospects and pleasant situations for building. About 
four miles from the line. Sugar Tree creek emptied itself into the Hico, which 
with that addition swelled into a fine river. In this space we saw the most, 
and most promising good land we had met with in all our travels. In our 
way we shot a doe, but she not falling immediately, we had lost our game had 
not the ravens, by their croaking, conducted us to the thicket where she fell. 
We plunged the carcass of the deer into the water, to secure it from these 
ominous birds till we returned, but an hour afterwards were surprised with 
the sight of a wolf which had been fishing for it, and devoured one side. We 
knocked down an ancient she bear that had no flesh upon her bones, so 
we left it to the free-booters of the forest. In coming back to the camp we 
discovered a solitary bull buffalo, which boldly stood his ground, contrary to 
the custom of that shy animal, we spared his life, from a principle of never 
slaughtering an innocent creature to no purpose. However, we made our- 
selves some diversion, by trying if he would face our dogs. He was so far 
from retreating at their approach, that he ran at them with great fierceness, 
cocking up his ridiculous little tail, and grunting like a hog. The dogs in the 
mean time only played about him, not venturing within reach of his horns, and 
by their nimbleness came off with a whole skin. All these adventures we 
related at our return to the camp, and what was more to the purpose, we 
carried to them the side of venison which the wolf had vouchsafed to leave 
us. After we had composed ourselves to rest, our horses ran up to our camp 
as fast as their hobbles would let them. This was to some of us a certain 
argument that Indians were near, whose scent the horses can no more en- 
dure than they can their figures ; though it was more likely they had been 
scared by a panther or some other wild beast, the glaring of whose eyes are 
very terrifying to them in a dark night. 
9th. Major Mayo’s survey being no more than half done, we were obliged 
to amuse ourselves another day in this place. And that the time might not 
be quite lost, we put our garments and baggage into good repair. I for my 
part never spent a day so well during the whole voyage. I had an imperti- 
nent tooth in my upper jaw, that had been loose for some time, and made me 
chew with great caution. Particularly I could not grind a biscuit but with 
much deliberation and presence of mind. Tooth-drawers we had none 
