t of
the fleet that was to sail from Barbadoes and Bermuda with one Mr.
West, who was to be deputy governor of said place. As soon as the
fleet came in, the smallest vessels that were with us sailed up the
river to a place called the Oyster Point; there I continued about
eight months, all which time being almost starved for want of
provisions: I and five more traveled through the wilderness till we
came to the Tuscarora country.
"There the Tuscarora Indians took us prisoners because we told them
that we were bound to Roanock. That night they carried us to their
town and shut us up close, to our no small dread. The next day they
entered into a consultation about us, and, after it was over, their
interpreter told us that we must prepare ourselves to die next
morning, whereupon, being very much dejected, I spoke to this
effect in the British [Welsh] tongue: 'Have I escaped so many
dangers, and must I now be knocked on the head like a dog!' Then
presently came an Indian to me, which afterward appeared to be a
war captain belonging to the sachem of the Doegs (whose original, I
find, must needs be from the Old Britons), and took me up by the
middle, and told me in the British [Welsh] tongue I should not die,
and thereupon went to the emperor of Tuscarora, and agreed for my
ransom and the men that were with me.
"They (the Doegs) then welcomed us to their town, and entertained
us very civilly and cordially four months, during which time I had
the opportunity of conversing with them familiarly in the British
[Welsh] language, and did preach to them in the same language three
times a week, and they would confer with me about any thing that
was difficult therein, and at our departure they abundantly
supplied us with whatever was necessary to our support and well
doing. They are settled upon Pontigo River, not far from Cape
Atros. This is a brief recital of my travels among the Doeg
Indians.
MORGAN JONES,
"the son of John Jones, of Basateg, near Newport, in the County of
Monmouth. I am ready to conduct any Welshman or others to the
country.
"New York, March 10th, 1685-6."
Other accounts of his "travels" among the "Doegs" of the Tuscarora
nation were published much earlier, but no other has been preserved. His
veracity was never questioned. W
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