s it. Which
our pedling about the Countrey did greatly forward and promote. For
speaking well the Language and going with our Commodities from place
to place, we used often to entertain discourse with the Countrey
people; viz. concerning the ways and the Countreys, and where there
were most and fewest inhabitants, and where and how the Watches laid
from one Countrey to another; and what Commodities were proper to
carry from one part to the other, pretending we would from time to
time go from one place to another, to furnish our selves with ware
that the respective places afforded. None doubted but we had made
these inquiries for the sake of our Trade, but our selves had other
designs in them. Neither was there the least suspition of us for
these our questions: all supposing I would never run away and leave
such an estate as in their accounts and esteem I had.

[The most probable course to take, was Northwards.] By diligent inquiry
I had come to understand, that the easiest and most probable way to
make an escape was by travailing to the Northward, that part of the
Land being least inhabited. Therefore we furnished our selves with such
wares as were vendible in those parts, as Tobacco, Pepper, Garlick,
Combs, all sorts of Iron Ware, &c. and being laden with these things,
we two set forth, bending our course towards the Northern Parts of
the Island, knowing very little of the way; and the ways of this
Countrey generally are intricate and difficult: here being no great
High-ways that run thro the Land, but a multitude of little Paths,
some from one Town to another, some into the Fields, and some into
the Woods where they sow their Corn; and the whole Countrey covered
with Woods, that a man cannot see any thing but just before him. And
that which makes them most difficult of all, is, that the ways shift
and alter, new ways often made and old ways stopped up. For they cut
down Woods, and sow the ground, and having got one Crop off from it,
they leave it, and Wood soon grows over it again: and in case a Road
went thro those Woods, they stop it, and contrive another way; neither
do they regard tho it goes two or three miles about: and to ask and
inquire the way for us white men is very dangerous, it occasioning the
People to suspect us. And the Chingulays themselves never Travail in
Countreys where they are not experienced in the ways without a guide,
it being so difficult. And there was no getting a guide to conduct
us down