North-Carolina Chronicle
1 '
or, pay
ertevue Kjazeite
N 12, cf Vol. II. j
M O N D A Y, N 0 V'E-M B E R 29, 11790.
M I t1 -
.Tetal No- 64.
IIISTORr.
CARVER's TRAVELS.
Continued.)
A Little to vhe north-weft of the
x headsof thcMsfroricandSt.Pieir-,
ihe Indians further told me, that there
was a natiwft rather fmaller and whiter
than the neighbouring tribes, who culti
vate the ground, and (as far as I could
rather from their cxpreffions) in iorac
rneafure, the arts. To this account they
aJded, that feme of the natUns, whom:
habit thofe parts that he to the weft of
the Shining Mountains, have gold fo
plenty among them ;Hat they make their
raoft common utenfi t of it. Thefe
mountains (which I frail defcribe more
particula:ly hereafter) divide th : wate 1
that fall into the South Sea from thofe
that run into the Atlantic.
The people dwelling near them are
fuppofed to be fome of the different tribes
that were tributary to the Mexican kigs,
and wh fled from their native countiy
to feck an afylum in thefe parts, about
the time of the conqueft of Mexico by
the Spaniards, more than two centuries
,ii"T.
As fome confirmation cf this fuppofi
lion it is remarked, that they have chofen
the moi interior paits fr their retreat,
being fiiliprcpoficired with a notion that
ihe.fta coafts l ave been infefted ever f.ncc
v ith menitefs vomiting fire, and hurling
about thunder and lightning 5 from
vhofc bowels hTued men, who, with un
fren inftruments, or by the power of ma
ric, killed the harmiefs Indians at an
riton:liiingdi;;;;ncc. Fiom fuch as thefe,
their foic-fathers, (according to a tradi-
ion among them that Hill remain un
impaired) fled to the retired abodes'hey
now inhabit. For as thevfound that the
floating mosflers which had thus tenir
ficd them, could net approach the 'land,
ardthat ihcfe who had defcended fiom
their ft Jes did r.or care o make cxcurficns
10 any ccr.fiderablc difiauce frrrn them,
ih-viormrd a lefhuion to betake them
fe'ves to ff'me country that lay tzr from
t!i fea coafts, vhere only they could be
fc:re f m fu-h - diabolical enemies.
'lacy .Kcoid'nigly iei cut with their fa
milies, and after a long pererinatian,
fettled themfelves near thefe mountains,
Vhere they concluded they had found a
place of perfect iecunty. 'i
The Winnebagees, dwelling on the ;
Fox river (hom I have already treated !
of) are 1'ikcwife fuppofed to ht fome ;
ftrolling band from the Mexican coun
tries. .But they are able to give only; an
.imperfect account of their oiiginal rtfi-dcrice.-They
fay they formerly came
a great way-fro an the weftward, and were
driven by wars to take refuge among the ,
Naudoweflies ; but as .they ate entirely
ignorant of the aits, or ot the Value, of
gold, it is rather to be fupofed, that they
were driven fiom their ancient fettle
men' s by the above mentioned emigrants,
as they panned on towards their prefent
habitation.
Thefe fuppofitions, however, may want
confirmation ; for the fmaller tribes of
Indians are fubjecl: to fuch various alter
ations in their places of abode, from the
wars they are continually engaged in,
that it is almbR impeflible to afcertain,
after half a century, tkc original fixati
on of any of them.
That range of mountains, cf which
the Shining Mountains arc a part, begin
at Mexico, and continuing northward on
the back, or to the ealt of California,
feparate the waters cf thofe numerous
ti vers that fall either into the Gulph cf
Mexico, or the Gulph' of California.-
From thence continuing their courfe flill
northward, between the fources of: the
jMiflifippi and -the rivers that run into
the South Sea,1 they appear to end in
about forty feven or ferty eight degrees
c f nor:h latitude, where a number of ri
vers arile, axd empty themfelves either
into the South Sea,, into Kudfon's Bay,
or into the waters that .communicate be
tween thefe two feas.
Among ihefe mountains,. thofe that lie,
to the weft cf the river St. Fierre, are
called the Shining Mountains,' from an
infinite number of chryftal flones, ot: an
amazing fize, with which they' are cover
ed, ad which, when the fun fhines full
up n thea, fparkle 10 as to be fcen at a
very great ciilance.
rfhis extraordinary range cf mcitn
' tair s is calculated to be! njore tkan three
thoul'ani miles in length, without any
very conflderable Intervals, which I he
lieVe furpaffesany thing of .the . kind in
ihk other quarters cf the 1 globp. N ; Pro
bably in future ages they may be ftiund
ta contain more riches in their bowels,
than thofe of; Iridoitan and Malabar, or
thatare produced on the. Gioldcn Coali
ofi "Guinea'; nor will I' except even the
Peruvian mines. To flie cft of theie
mountains, when explored by future Co- .
lufnbdTes or Raleighs, may ; ble fcuiid
oiher (lakes, rive's. - anc countries,
f ull fraught - with- al t the neceffai ies or
lcuries of; life ; and where Ifuture gene--raitions
may isHfl an aiylum,Jwhether dri-!
vej from thtir country by tiie ravages of',
laWlelsfantsr by rejtgibusj perfecu ,
tipns, reludantlykavirigt to rernedy
the inqonveniencics arifingj txcrra4pex
abundant iacreaft of inhabitants;; whe
ther, I fay, impelled by tbfe, cr alltire4
by hopes of eommcrtialaHtaniages,
there is little doubt but their Expectati
ons will bs fully grauSed in thsie rich '
arid unexhaufeed climes, i ;j ;
But to return to the AjSmiails and
Kiliiftiuoes, whom 1 left at the Grand.
Portage, and-from whom I received the
foregoing account of the iakesj that lie
lb the north-weft of this place.
; . : ; ir h J -
The traderi we, expetled bejng later
this feafon than ufbal, and 'our numbers
Very conflderable, for there were more
than three hundred of us, the; flock of
I provifions we had brought wi.tn us was
I nearly fexhaulted, and we i waited wiih
; impatience for their arrival. i :
j One day, whilft we wcfeal! eiprefUng
our wiihes for this defirablef eient and
l0okir from an eminence: in. hepej cf ,
feeing ithem come over thf lakefrke ch;ef
piisft iclonging to the band cf the
inoeskold us, tht he wcupd eneieaVcur !
; to obtain a conference with the Great
Slpirit, anB know from him when the
traders would arrive. I paid little -at-tcnticn
tq this declaration, iuppcfrg
that h wonld beprodufiivej cf fome jug
glirg trick, juft fufi-ciently covered to
dtceive the incr2nt Indians. : But - the
. -ling cf that tribe tellirg rr e that it Jwas
j cjuefiy undertaker by tkeprieftltC allevi
ate my anxiety, ard af'the ame firr.-to:
! cbnvinee Kre -jhew much iivticft'lie l ad
vfith the Great Spirit, J tlicjuglh itnecci-