Position is on the warmer side of the temperate _Zone_, but yet the Heat
is not so sultry nor offensive, as in Places under the same Latitude in
the _Old World_; to which moderation of Heat, as well as the healthiness
of it, the vast _Atlantick_ Ocean, lying to the East and South of it,
may perhaps not a little contribute, an instance whereof some think
_China_ to be; to which deservedly admir’d Countrey _Carolina_ exactly
answers in its Position and Latitude, the trending from North-East to
South-West of its Coast, and the lowness of its Shore, and wants nothing
but Inhabitants, to make it equal, if not excell, in all conveniences of
Life, as it doth in richness of Soil, that flourishing Empire. The
healthiness of the Air is such, that it is not onely benign and
favorable to the home-bred _Indians_, and Constitutions accustom’d to
it, but the _English_-men who first Planted on _Ashley_ River, though
for some other Conveniences they Planted on the side, or almost middle
of a Morass, and were encompass’d with a salt Marsh, where the Air, pent
up with Woods that surrounded them, had not that freedom it hath in open
and cultivated Countreys, yet lost not in a whole years time, of a
considerable number, any one Person, of any Disease to be imputed to the
Countrey, those few that dy’d in that time sinking under lingring
Distempers which they brought with them, and had almost worn them out
before they came thither. The _Bermudians_ (who being accustom’d to the
pure Air of their own Island, cannot without hazard of their Lives put
themselves into any other Place) assur’d of the healthiness of this
Place, which is the next Land to them, and under the same Latitude,
venture hither. And generally all the _English_ Planting in the
_West-Indies_, are so taken with the Conveniences of this Countrey,
which, as some of the most considerable of the _English_ in those Parts
say of it, promises all that the Heart of Man can wish, that they send
the overplus of their People hither; to which the Inhabitants of
_Barbados_, a skilful and wary sort of Planters, well knowing in all the
parts of the _West-Indies_, have been found to remove the Hands they
could spare. As the Summer is not intolerably nor offensively hot, so
the Winter is not troublesom nor pinching, but enough to correct the
Humors of Mens Bodies, the better to strengthen them, and preserve their
Healths, and so far to check the growth of Plants, that by this stop
they may put out more regularly, and the Corn and other Fruits the
better ripen together, and be ready seasonably at the Harvest, the want
whereof in some Countreys hinders the beneficial Growth of several
valuable Commodities, the continual Spring all the year long making that
their Crops are never ready, their Trees being laden with green and ripe
Fruit at the same time, which is to be seen in the Vines growing between
the _Tropicks_, where, though they bear excellent Grapes, yet they
cannot make any Wine, whilest the mixture of ripe and sowre Grapes upon
the same Branch, renders them unfit for the Press, which from Grapes so
blended, though of a good kind, would squeeze out a very crude and
useless Liquor. This also is the reason why many Parts where our Wheat
will grow very well, do yet lose the benefit of it, whilest the several
Ears ripening unequally, never make the Crop fit for the Sickle. But
this Countrey hath Winter enough to remove that Inconvenience, and to
put such a stop to the Rise of the Sap, and the Budding of Plants, as to
make the several kinds of Fruits Bud and Blossom in their distinct
Seasons, and keep even pace till they are fit to be gather’d.
[Sidenote: Nature, Constitutions, and Manners of the Inhabitants.]
To this happy Climate the native Inhabitants are very well suited, a
strong, lusty, and well shap’d People, who to their well knit and active
Bodies, want not stout and vigorous Minds; they are a People of a good
Understanding, well Humor’d, and generally so just and Honest, that they
may seem to have no notice of, as their Language hath no word for,
Dishonesty and Cheating; and the worst Name they have for ill Men is,
that they are not good. They are a stout and valiant People, which
appears in the constant Wars they are engag’d in, not out of
covetousness, and a desire of usurping others Possessions, or to enrich
themselves by the Spoils of their Neighbors, but upon a pitch of Honor,
and for the glory of Victory, which is their greatest joy, there being
no parts of their Lives wherein they enjoy so much satisfaction, and
give themselves so wholly to Jollity, as in their Triumphs after
Victory. Valor therefore is the Vertue they most esteem and reward, and
he which hath behav’d himself well in the Wars, is suffer’d to wear the
Badges of Honor, and is advanc’d beyond others with some Marks of his
Courage; which amongst some is blacking the Skin below his Eyes with
black Lead, in fashion something of an Half-Moon; which Mark of Courage
is not suffer’d to be worn by any, but those who by some brave Action,
as killing the Enemy’s Leader, _&c._ hath signaliz’d himself in their
Encounters. They are faithful to their Promises, fair and candid in
their Dealings, and so far from Dishonesty, that they want even the
Seeds of it, _viz._ Forecast and Covetousness; and he will be very
little apt to deceive you to Day, who troubles not himself much about to
Morrow, and trusts for the Provisions of the Day to the Day it self;
which proceeds not in them for want of Wit, but desire of Content and
Quiet, or by the help of their natural Reason they enjoy that Happiness
which the Philosophers could not by their Study and Reading attain to,
whilest these Men cut off those Desires which Learning could never help
the other to Govern; and which if once permitted to run out beyond the
present, are capable of no Rest nor Bounds. In their Conversation they
are courteous and civil, and in their Visits make Presents to one
another; when they meet, their way of Salutation is stroaking on the
Shoulders, and sucking in their Breath; and if he be a great Man whom
they Salute, they stroak his Thighs too; as civil an Address, as those
Patterns of good Breeding, the Hero’s, us’d to their Princes, who in
their greatest Courtships, we are told, embrac’d their Knees: After
their Salutation they sit down; and it is usual with them to sit still
almost a quarter of an hour before they speak, which is not an effect of
stupidity or sullenness, but the accustom’d Gravity of their Countrey;
for they are in their Tempers a merry, frollick, gay People, and so
given to Jollity, that they will Dance whole Nights together, the Women
sitting by and Singing, whilest the Men Dance to their Ayrs, which
though not like ours, are not harsh or unpleasing, but are something
like the Tunes of the _Irish_: So that if we will not let our selves too
fondly admire onely the Customs we have been bred up in, nor think Men
are to be valu’d for making Legs after our Mode, or the Clothes they
wear, which, the finer and gayer they are, always the more to be
suspected of Luxury and Effeminateness; if we will allow but these Men
to follow the Garbs of their own Countrey, and think them fine enough in
a shape onely to hide their Nakedness before, or a Deer-skin hanging
loosely on their Shoulders, and their Women not ill Dress’d in Garments
of Moss, and Necklaces of Beads, whilest the Fashion of their Courts
require no other Ornaments; if, I say, a long and pleasant Life, without
Distemper or Care, be to be valu’d, without the incumbrance of
unnecessary Trinkets; if Men are to be esteem’d for Valor, Honesty,
Friendship, Humanity and good Nature, though Strangers to the
ceremonious Troubles we are accustom’d to, the Natives of _Carolina_
will as little, or perhaps less, deserve the Name of _Miserable_, or
_Salvage_, as those that give it them. ’Tis true, the _French_ and
_Spaniards_ who have Planted amongst them, or with little Armies
travell’d their Countrey, have been ill handled by them; but yet the
_Indians_ never did them any harm, or treated them otherwise than
Friends, till those _Europeans_ by their breach of Faith and several
Outrages, had provok’d their just Revenge; and they did nothing but what
most virtuous and generous sort of Men are apt to do, to revenge those
Affronts, which did not agree with their Tempers tamely to endure. That
this did not proceed from treachery and inconstancy in their Natures, is
apparent in the contrary Correspondence they have had with the _English_
Setled amongst them, to whom they have been all along very kind, as they
were at first very covetous of their Company; for after that some of
their King’s Relation had been at _Barbados_, and had seen and admir’d
the Temper, Fashions and Strength of the _English_ there, and had been
very civilly Treated in that Island, they were so well satisfi’d with
them, that at the coming of the _English_ to Settle there, the several
little Kingdoms strove with all the Arts and Arguments they could use,
each of them to draw the _English_ to Plant in their Dominions, by
commending the richness of their Soil, conveniency of their Rivers, the
healthiness of their Countrey, the disparagement of their Neighbors, and
whatever else they judg’d might allure the _English_ to their
Neighborhood. Nor was this onely the first heat of Men fond of
Novelties, and as soon weary of them again, but ever since the _English_
first Planted at _Albemarle Point_, on _Ashley_ River, they have
continu’d to do them all manner of friendly Offices, ready on all
occasions to supply them with any thing they have observ’d them to want,
not making use of our Mens Necessities, as an opportunity to enhance the
Price of their Commodities, a sort of fair Dealing we could scarce have
promis’d them amongst civiliz’d, well bred, and religious Inhabitants of
any part of _Europe_; and though they are much frighted with our Guns,
both small and great, yet like innocent and well-meaning People, they do
not at all distrust our Power, but freely, without suspicion, trust
themselves, both Men and Women, even their Kings themselves, in our
Town, Lodging and Dancing there frequently whole Nights together, upon
no other Pledges but the bare confidence of our mutual Friendship; nor
do our Men use any greater caution in Conversing with them, stragling up
and down, and travelling singly and unarm’d through their Woods for many
Miles about, and are so far from receiving any injury or ill treatment
from them, that on the contrary they are kindly us’d and Entertain’d,
and guided by them in their Way whenever they desire it; and when any of
our Men meet them in their Walks, the _Indians_ all stand still till
they are gone by, civilly Saluting them as they pass. Nor doth this
Assurance of theirs bound it self within their own Homes, they of their
own accords venturing themselves aboard our Ships, have gone voluntarily
with our Men to _Virginia_ and _Barbados_. Nor have the _English_ been
wanting on their parts in any thing that may preserve this Amity, being
very cautious of doing them any injury, bartering with them for those
things they receive of them, and buying of them even the waste Land they
make no use of.
Besides the simplicity of the _Indians_ Diet, it is very remarkable,
that they have a general aversion to those two things which are most
acceptable to our Palates, and without which few of us either eat or
drink with any delight; for in their Meats they cannot endure the least
mixture or rellish of Salt; and for their Drink, they utterly abominate
all manner of strong Liquor; to the latter whereof, their large Growth
and constant Health, is perhaps not a little owing.
[Sidenote: Their manner of Government.]
Every little Town is a distinct Principality, Govern’d by an Hereditary
King, who in some places is not Son, but Sisters Son to the precedent
King, the Succession of the Blood-Royal being continu’d by the safer
side. The great Business of those Princes is to lead their Men out
against their Enemies in War, or against the Beasts in Hunting; for
unless it be to appoint them where to Hunt, or else to Consult about
making some Attempt upon their Enemy, he hath but small trouble in the
Government of his Subjects, who either through their own Honesty, or the
few occasions they have for Controversies in their _extempore_ way of
Living, need few Laws, and little Severity to keep them in order; but
yet they Govern their People without Contract, and fail not of a ready
Obedience to their Commands; so that when some of them have bought
things of such of the _English_, who by the Orders made amongst our
selves were not to Traffick with the _Indians_, they have, upon
Complaint made to their _Casiques_, been restor’d again, though in
strict Rules of Law they were neither bound by, nor oblig’d to take
notice of the Rules which were made onely to Govern our own People, and
had at just Prices bought what they carry’d away; such is the Honesty of
Men, whose Principles not being corrupted with Learning and Distinction,
are contented to follow the Dictates of right Reason, which Nature has
sufficiently taught all Men for the well ordering of their Actions, and
enjoyment and preservation of humane Society, who do not give themselves
up to be amus’d and deceiv’d by insignificant Terms, and minding what is
just and right, seek not Evasions in the Niceties and Fallacies of
Words.
[Sidenote: _Carolina_ granted by Patent to several Noble Persons by His
Majesty.]
The same is to be said of the first Discovery of this Countrey, as hath
been formerly said of _Virginia_ and _Florida_, of both which it
partakes; but as to the present Interest and Propriety, the _English_,
besides all _Virginia_ intirely, have also so much of _Florida_ as makes
up this considerable Province of _Carolina_, which soon after the happy
Restauration of His present Majesty King _Charles_ II. from whom it
receives Denomination, was granted by Patent to _Edward_ Earl of
_Clarendon_, L. Chancellor of _England_, _George_ Duke of _Albemarle_,
_William_ Earl of _Craven_, _John_ Lord _Berkley_, _Anthony_ Lord
_Ashley_, Sir _George Carteret_, Vice-Chamberlain of His Majesty’s
Houshold, Sir _William Berkley_, Knight and Baronet, and Sir _John
Colleton_, Knight and Baronet.
[Sidenote: Their care for Setling and Improving of this Plantation.]
The Lords-Proprietors of this Countrey, for the better Settlement of it
according to their Patent granted unto them by His Majesty, and for the
enlargement of the King’s Dominions in those parts of _America_, have
been at great Charge to secure this so rich and advantageous a Countrey
to the Crown of _England_, to whom of ancient Right, by the Discovery of
Sir _Sebastian Cabott_ in the time of _Henry_ the Seventh, it doth
belong, and for its Situation, Fertility, Neighborhood to our other
Plantations and several other Conveniences, of too valuable
consideration to be negligently lost: By the Care therefore and
Endeavors of those Great Men, it hath now two considerable Colonies
Planted in it, the one of _Albemarle_, on the North side, bordering on
_Virginia_, where are some hundreds of _English_ Families remov’d
thither from _New England_, and some of our other Plantations in the
_West-Indies_; and another towards the middle of the Countrey, at
_Charles-Town_, or _Ashley-River_, a Settlement so hopeful, for the
healthiness of the Land, and convenience of access by a large deep
Navigable River, and so promising in its very Infancy, that many of the
rich Inhabitants of _Barbados_ and _Bermudas_, who are now crowded up in
those flourishing Islands, and many in our other _American_ Plantations,
are turning their Eyes and Thoughts this way, and have already remov’d
part of their Stock and Servants thither. Nor is it to be doubted, but
that many, following the Example of those who went to _Albemarle_, will
be drawn to this better Plantation at _Ashley-River_, from
_New-England_, where the heat of their Zeal, and the coldness of the
Air, doth not agree with every Man’s Constitution; and therefore it is
to be thought, that many well temper’d Men, who are not much at ease
under such Extreams, will be forward to remove hither.
[Sidenote: Fair Terms propos’d to whomsoever shall remove thither.]
The Lords-Proprietors, for the comfortable subsistence, and future
enrichment of all those who shall this Year 1671. Transport themselves
and Servants thither, allow every Man a hundred Acres _per_ Head, for
himself, his Wife, Children and Servants, he carries thither, to him and
his Heirs for ever, paying onely one Peny an Acre, as a Chief-Rent;
which Peny an Acre is not to be paid these nineteen years; and those
Servants who go along thither with their Masters, shall each also have a
hundred Acres upon the same Terms, when he is out of his Time. But
though these Conditions are very advantageous, and the Countrey promises
to the Planter Health, Plenty and Riches at a cheap Rate, yet there is
one thing that makes this Plantation more valuable than all these, and
that is the secure possession of all these things with as great
certainty as the state of humane Affairs, and the transient things of
this Life are capable of, in a well continu’d Form of Government,
wherein it is made every Man’s Interest to preserve the Rights of his
Neighbor with his own; and those who have the greatest Power, have it
limited to the Service of the Countrey, the Good and Welfare whereof
whilest they preserve and promote, they cannot miss of their own, the
Lords Proprietors having no other aim, than to be the greatest Men in a
Countrey where every one may be happy if it be not his own fault, it
being almost as uncomfortable, and much more unsafe, to be Lord over,
than Companion of a miserable, unhappy, and discontented Society of Men.
With this Design the Lords-Proprietors, who are at great Charge for
carrying on this Plantation, have put the framing of a Government into
the Hands of one, whose Parts and Experience in Affairs of State are
universally agreed on, and who is by all Men allow’d to know what is
convenient for the right ordering Men in Society, and setling a
Government upon such Foundations, as may be equal, safe, and lasting;
and to this hath a Soul large enough to wish well to Mankind, and to
desire, that all the People where he hath to do might be happy. My Lord
_Ashley_ therefore, by the consent of his Brethren, the rest of the
Lords Proprietors, hath drawn up, to their general satisfaction, some
fundamental Constitutions, which are since, by their joynt approbation,
confirm’d to be the Model and Form of Government in the Province of
_Carolina_; the main Design and Ballance thereof (according to the best
of my memory, having had a Copy thereof) in short is as followeth:
[Sidenote: The Model drawn up by the Lord _Ashley_ for the Government of
_Carolina_.]
1. Every County is to consist of forty square Plots, each containing
twelve thousand Acres. Of these square Plots each of the Proprietors is
to have one, which is to be call’d a _Signiory_. Eight of these square
Plots are to be divided amongst the three Noble-men of that County,
_viz._ a _Landgrave_, who is to have four of them; and two _Casiques_,
who are to have each of them two apiece; and these square Plots
belonging to the Nobility, are to be call’d _Baronies_. The other twenty
four square Plots, call’d _Colonies_, are to be the Possession of the
People: And this Method is to be observ’d in the Planting and Setting
out of the whole Countrey; so that one Fifth of the Land is to be in the
Proprietors, one Fifth in the Nobility, and three Fifths in the People.
2. The _Signories_ and _Baronies_, that is, the hereditary Lands
belonging to the Proprietors and Nobility, are all entirely to descend
to their Heirs, with the Dignity, without power of alienation, more than
for three Lives, or one and twenty years, or two Thirds of their
_Signiories_ and _Baronies_, and the rest to be _Demesne_.
3. There will be also some Mannors in the Colonies, but none less than
three thousand Acres in a Piece, which, like the rest of the Colony
Lands, will be alienable, onely with this difference, that it cannot be
parcell’d out, but if sold, it must be altogether.
4. There is to be a Biennial Parliament, consisting of the eight
Proprietors, the _Landgraves_ and _Casiques_, and one out of every
Precinct, that is the six neighboring Colonies, for the People, chosen
by the Freeholders; these are to sit and Vote altogether for the making
of Laws, which shall be in force no longer than sixty years after their
Enacting, the great mischief of most Governments, by which not onely the
People are mightily entangled by multiplicity of Rules and Penalties,
and thereby laid open to the Malice and Designs of troublesom Men and
cunning Projectors; but, which is far worse, the whole frame of the
Government in tract of time comes to be remov’d from its original
Foundation, and thereby becomes more weak and tottering.
5. There are eight supream Courts for the dispatch of all publick
Affairs; the first consists of the _Palatine_, who is the eldest of the
Proprietors, and hath power to call Parliaments, and dispose of publick
Offices. The other seven supream Courts are, 1. The chief Justices for
the determining of Controversies of _Meum_ and _Tuum_, and judging of
Criminals. 2. The Chancellors, for passing of Charters, and managing the
State Matters of the Province. 3. The High-Constables, for Military
Affairs. 4. The Admirals, for Maritime Affairs. 5. The High-Stewards,
for Trade. 6. The Treasurers, for the publick Stock; and 7. The
Chamberlains, for Ceremonies, Fashions, Marriages, Burials, _&c._ These
are the seven supream Courts, to whom lies the ultimate Appeal in all
Causes belonging to them. Each of these Courts consists of one
Proprietor, and six other Councellors, whereof two are chosen by the
Nobility, and two by the People. All the number of these eight Courts
joyn’d together make the Grand Council, which are in the nature of a
Council of State, and are entrusted with the management of Affairs of
greatest concernment. There is also in every County a Court, and in
every Precinct another; from the Precinct Court there lies an Appeal to
the County Court, and from the County Court to the Proprietors Court, to
which the Matter in question belongs, and there is the last decision and
determination thereof, without any farther Appeal. And to keep the
People from the Charges and vexation of long Suits, to the enriching of
Men cunning in Words, care is taken, that no Cause shall be Try’d more
than once in any one Court, and that profess’d Pleaders for Money shall
not be allow’d.
_Liberty of Conscience_ is here also allow’d in the greatest latitude,
but yet so, that neither Atheists, or Men of no Religion, are permitted;
Atheism, Irreligion, and vicious Lives being condemn’d, as disagreeable
to humane Nature, inconsistent with Government and Societies, and
destructive to all that is useful to, or becoming of Mankind; as on the
other hand, rigorous Imposing of, and hot Contentions about the
Ceremonies and Circumstances of Religion, is an occasion of perpetual
Strife, Faction and Division, keeps Men from sedate and temperate
Enquiries after Truth, eats out the great Cement of humane Conversation,
_Charity_, and cannot be found in any one, who hath but modesty enough
to think himself less than a _Pope_, and short of _Infallibility_.
There is also to be a Register of all Grants and Conveyances of Land, to
prevent even the occasions of Controversies and Law-Suits.
There are several other less considerable Particulars in this
Government, all contriv’d and design’d for the good and welfare of the
People; all which are so well put together, and in such equal proportion
ballance each other, that some judicious Men who have seen it, say, it
is the best and fairest Frame, for the well-being of those who shall
live under it, of any they have seen or read of.
[Illustration]
CHAP. III.
Florida.
[Sidenote: Situation and Bounds.]
South-West of _Virginia_ lieth the spacious Countrey of _Florida_,
remarkable hitherto rather by the great pains which the _Spaniards_ have
taken, and the ill Successes they have met with in the discovery and
search of this Province, than by any thing else they have discover’d in
it answerable to their desires. On the East it hath the _Atlantick
Ocean_, or _Mare del Nordt_; on the South, and South-West, the Gulph of
_Mexico_ and _Mare Virginium_; and full West, part of _New Gallicia_,
and some other Countreys, not yet perfectly known.
[Sidenote: _Ponce_’s Expedition.]
[Sidenote: Water to make old People look young.]