ations to enquire after them. They
were still Scuffleing in the Mire, and could not Possibly forward the
Line this whole day more than one Mile and 64 Chains. Every Step of
this Day's Work was thro' a cedar Bog, where the Trees were somewhat
Smaller and grew more into a Thicket. It was now a great Misfortune to
the Men to find their Provisions grow less as their Labour grew
greater. . . . Tho' this was very severe upon English Stomachs, yet
the People were so far from being discomfited at it, that they still
kept up their good Humour, and merrily told a young Fellow in the
Company, who lookt very Plump and Wholesome, that he must expect to go
first to Pot, if matters shou'd come to Extremity.

This was only said by way of Jest, yet it made Him thoughtful in
earnest. However, for the present he return'd them a very civil
answer, letting them know that, dead or alive, he shou'd be glad to be
useful to such worthy good friends. But, after all, this Humourous
Saying had one very good effect; for that younker, who before was a
little enclin'd by his Constitution to be lazy, grew on a Sudden
Extreamly Industrious, that so there might be less Occasion to
carbonade him for the good of his Fellow-Travellers.

THE TUSCARORA INDIANS AND THEIR LEGEND OF A CHRIST.

(_From History of the Dividing Line._)

_1729, November._--By the Strength of our Beef, we made a shift to
walk about 12 Miles, crossing Blowing and Tewaw-homini Creeks. And
because this last Stream receiv'd its Appellation from the Disaster of
a Tuscarora Indian, it will not be Straggling much out of the way to
say something of that Particular Nation.

These Indians were heretofore very numerous and powerful, making,
within time of Memory, at least a Thousand Fighting Men. Their
Habitation, before the War with Carolina, was on the North Branch of
Neuse River, commonly call'd Connecta Creek, in a pleasant and
fruitful Country. But now the few that are left of that Nation live on
the North Side of MORATUCK, which is all that Part of Roanok below the
great Falls, towards ALBEMARLE Sound.

Formerly there were Seven Towns of these Savages, lying not far from
each other, but now their Number is greatly reduc'd. . . . . . . .

These Indians have a very odd Tradition amongst them, that many years
ago, their Nation was grown so dishonest, that no man cou'd keep any
Goods, or so much as his loving Wife to himself. That, however, their
God, being unwilling to root them ou