Page:American Historical Review, Volume 12.djvu/333

 Letters of Thomas Nezue frovi South Carolina, 16S2 323 were seamen, one dyed of the scurvey, the other fell overboard, the third was a woman in child bed, her child died shortly after her. As for the Countrey I can say but little of it as yet on my one knowledge, but what I hear from others. The Town which two years since had but 3 or 4 houses, hath now about a hundred houses in it,' all which are wholy built of wood, tho here is excellent Brick made, but little of it. All things are very dear in the Town ; milk 2 d a quart, beefe 4 d a pound, pork 3 d, but far better then our English, the common drink of the Countrey is Molossus and water, I don't hear of any mault that is made hear as yet. The English Barly and Wheat do thrive very well, but the Indian corn being more hearty and profitable, the other is not much re- garded. I am told that there is great plenty of all things in the Countrey, whither I intend to go as soon as conveniently I can dispose of my goods, which I fear will not be soon, nor to such advantage as we expected. Severall in the Country have great stocks of Cattle and they sell so well to new comers that they care not for killing, which is the reason provision is so dear in the Town, whilst they in the Country are furnisht with Venison, fish, and fowde by the Indians for trifles, and they that understand it make as good butter and cheese as most in England, The land near the sea side is generally a light and sandy ground, but up in the Country they say there is very good land, and the farther up the better, but that which at present doth somewhat hinder the selling [settling] farther up, is a war that they are ingaged in against a tribe of Barbarous Indians being not above 60 in number, but by reason of their great growth and cruelty in feeding on all their neighbours, they are terrible to all other Indians, of which, there are above 40 severall Kingdoms, the strength and names of them all being known to our Governer who upon any occasion summons their Kings in. We are at peace with all but those common enemies of mankind, those man eaters before mentioned, by name the Westos,^ who have lately killed two eminent planters that lived far up in the Country, so that they are re- solved now if they can find their settlement (which they often change) to cut them all off. There is a small party of English out after them, and the most potent Kingdome of the Indians armed by us and continually in pursuit of them. When we came into Ashley river we found six small vessels in the Harbour, but great ones may and have come in by the assistance of a good Pilot, and if they can make good wine hear, which they have great hopes of, and this year will be the time of tryall which if it hits no doubt but the place will flourish exceedingly, but if the vines do not prosper I question whither it will ever be any great place of trade. On Sunday the 14th of this instant a small vessell that came ' The removal to Oyster Point, between the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, had taken place in 1680. Samuel Wilson, An Account of the Province of Carolina, 1682 (Carroll, II. 24), confirms this estimate of one hundred houses. 2 For the war with them, sec Calendars of State Papers, Colonial, 16S1-168S, pp. 508-510.