The planters as freely made use of their arms in defence of their
property, and several Indians were killed during their depredations. This
occasioned a war, and the Indians poured their vengeance
indiscriminately, as usual, on the innocent and guilty, for the loss of
their friends. Governor West found it necessary to encourage and reward
such of the colonists as would take the field against them for the public
defence. Accordingly, a price was fixed on every Indian the settlers
should take prisoner, and bring to Charlestown. These captive savages
were disposed of to the traders, who sent them to the West-Indies, and
there sold them for slaves. This traffic was deemed by some an inhuman
method of getting rid of troublesome neighbours; yet, at this period, the
planters had some reasons to plead in its vindication. Lands indeed were
given as the reward of valour; but lands, without hands to cultivate
them, were rather a burden, than any way beneficial, to men who were
allowed more by the proprietors than they could turn to any profit. But
the planters had an immediate reward for Indian prisoners, and while it
encouraged bold adventurers, it was made a profitable branch of trade.
Whether the rum which was imported into the colony, in return for these
Indians, proved of beneficial consequence or not, we shall not pretend to
determine, as this depended on the use or abuse that was made of it.
Where the water is bad, a little rum mixed with it is accounted wholesome
and nourishing; but excess in drinking, every where, destroys the
constitution, and proves a fruitful spring of pains, diseases, and death.

[Sidenote] A general description of the climate.

Though Carolina lies in the same latitude with some of the most fertile
countries on the globe, yet he is in danger of error who forms his
judgment of its climate from the latitude in which it lies. Many local
circumstances concur to occasion a difference between it and Palestine,