very pleasant Fruit, and much like to our Blues, or Huckle-berries,
that grow on Heaths in England. Hard by the Savanna's we found the Town,
where we halted; there was not above one Man left with the Women,
the rest being gone a Hunting for a Feast. The Women were very busily
engag'd in Gaming: The Name or Grounds of it, I could not learn,
tho' I look'd on above two Hours. Their Arithmetick was kept
with a Heap of Indian Grain. When their Play was ended,
the King, or Cassetta's Wife, invited us into her Cabin. The Indian Kings
always entertaining Travellers, either English, or Indian;
taking it as a great Affront, if they pass by their Cabins,
and take up their Quarters at any other Indian's House.
The Queen set Victuals before us, which good Compliment they use generally
as soon as you come under their Roof.

The Town consists not of above a dozen Houses, they having
other stragling Plantations up and down the Country, and are seated upon
a small Branch of Santee-River. Their Place hath curious dry Marshes,
and Savanna's adjoining to it, and would prove an exceeding thriving Range
for Cattle, and Hogs, provided the English were seated thereon.
Besides, the Land is good for Plantations.

These Indians are a small People, having lost much of their former Numbers,
by intestine Broils; but most by the Small-pox, which hath often visited them,
sweeping away whole Towns; occasion'd by the immoderate
Government of themselves in their Sickness; as I have mention'd before,
treating of the Sewees. Neither do I know any Savages that have traded
with the English, but what have been great Losers by this Distemper.

We found here good Store of Chinkapin-Nuts, which they gather in Winter
great Quantities of, drying them; so keep these Nuts in great Baskets