The history of Carolina : containing the exact description and natural history of that country, together with the present state thereof and a journal of a thousand miles traveled through several nations of Indians, giving a particular account of their customs, manners, &c., &c

Front matter

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Book.

THE

Preface To Re-publication

In offering to tlie public a re-publication of Lawson's History of North Carolina, the undersigned will briefly state tlic reasons tliat led to the undertaking. But two copies of the original edition (one in the State Library, presented by President Madison, and one at the University,) are now to be found within the State ; and possibl}', a century hence, or in less time, they will have been destroyed. Hence the necessity of a reprint — and the undersigned flatter themselves that they will receive the thanks of posterity at least, if by their instrumentality, the pages of Lawson shall be perpetuated in all their originality and sprightliness. Subsequent historians have copied more or less from our author — thus endorsing his claim to be considered a faithful chronicler of his time, and showing the importance of preserving entire whatever tends to elucidate the history of our good old State — the pride and boast of us all. Influenced by these considerations, and prompted by the solicitations of many friends,

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the subscribers undertook the re-publication, and

they trust tliat they have done no mean service in

thus rescuing from "the wreck of matter " such

interesting pages in the annals of their country's

legends.

0. II. PEREY & CO.

Baleigh, March 28, 1860.

PREFACE;

'Tis a great misfortune that most of our travellers, who go to this vast continent in America, are persons of tlie meaner sort, and generally, of a very slender education ; who being hired by the merchants to trade amongst the Indians, in which voyages they often spend several years, are yet, at their return, incapable of giving any reasonable account of what they met withal in those remote parts ; though the country abounds with curiosities worthy a nice observation.

In this point, I think the French outstrip us.

First: by their numerous clergy, their missionaries being obedient to their superiors in the highest degree, and that obedience being one great article of their vow, and strictly o])served amongst all their orders.

Secondly : They ahvays send abroad some of their gentlemen in company of the missionaries, who, upon their arrival, are ordered out into the wilderness, to make discoveries, and to acquaint themselves with the savages of America ; and are obliged to keep a strict journal of all the passages they meet withal, in order to present the same not only to their governors and fathers, but likewise

VI PREFACE.

to their friends and relations in France ; which is industriously spread about that kingdom, to their advantage. For their monarch being a very good judge of men's deserts, does not'T)ften let money or interest make men of parts give place to others of less worth.

This breeds an honorable emulation amongst them, to outdo one another, even in fatigues and dangers ; whereby they gain a good correspondence with the Indians, and acquaint themselves with tlieir speech and customs ; and so make considerable discoveries in a short time. '"Witness their journals trom Canada to the Mississippi, and its several branches, where they have eftected great matters in a few years.

Having spent most of my time, during my eight years abode in Carolina, in travelling, I not only surveyed the sea-coast, and those parts which are already inhabited l)y the christians, but likewise viewed a spacious tract of land lying betwixt the inhabitants and the ledges of mountains, from whence our noblest rivers have their rise, running towards the ocean, where they water as pleasant a country as any in Europe ; the discovery of which being never yet made public. I have in the following sheets, given you a faithfuh account thereof ; wherein I have laid down every thing Avith impartiality, and truth, which is indeed, the duty of every author, and preferable to a smooth style, accompanied with falsities and hyperboles. Great part of this pleasant and healthful country is inniEFACE. VII

habited bj none but savages, wlio covet a cbristian neigliborliood, for the advantage of trade, and enjoy all tlic comforts of life, free from care and want.

But not to amuse my readers any longer with the encomium of Carolina, I refer them, to my journal, and other more particular description of that country and its inhabitants, which they will iind after the natural history thereof, in which I have been very exact, and for method's sake arranged each species under its distinct and proper head.

DEDICATION,

TO HIS EXCELLENCY

William Lord Craven, Palatine ; The most noble, Henry Duke of Beaufort ; The right Honorable John Lord Carteret ; The Honorable Maurice Ashley, Esq.; Sir John Colleton, Baronet, John Danson, Esq ; And the rest of the true and absolute Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina in America. My Lords, As debts of gratitude aught most punctually to be paid, so, where the debtor is incapable of payment, acknowledgments ought, at least to be made, I cannot, in tlie least, pretend to retaliate your lordships favors to me, but must farther intrude on that goodness of which I have already had so good experience, by laying these sheets at your lordships' feet, where they beg protection, as having nothing to recommend them but truth — a gift which every author may be master of, if he will.

I here present your lordships with a description of your own country, for the most part, in her natural dress, and therefore less vitiated with

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fraud and luxury. A country, whose inliabltants may enjoy a life of the greatest ease and satisfaction, and pass away their hours in solid contentment.

Those charms of liberty and right, the darlings of an English nature, which your lordships grant and maintain, make you appear noble patrons in the eyes of all men, and we a happy people in a foreign country ; which nothing less than ingratitude and baseness can make us disown.

As heaven has been liberal in its gifts, so are your lordships favorable promoters of whatever may make us an easy people, which, I hope, your lordships will continue to us and our posterity; that we and they may always acknowledge such favors, by banishing from among us every principle which renders men factious and unjust; which is the hearty prayer of,

My Lords,

Your Lordships most obliged, Most humble and

JOim LAWSOjST.