the gentleness of their habits, the simplicity of their lives,
and their solicitude in behalf of strangers, are necessary
to furnish the moral of those fortunes, the beginning of which
was so severe and perilous. "There are," says he, "about seventy families
seated on this river, WHO LIVE AS DECENTLY AND HAPPILY AS ANY PLANTERS
IN THESE SOUTHWARD PARTS OF AMERICA. THE FRENCH BEING A TEMPERATE,
INDUSTRIOUS PEOPLE, some of them bringing very little of effects,
YET, BY THEIR ENDEAVORS AND MUTUAL ASSISTANCE AMONG THEMSELVES
(which is highly to be commended), HAVE OUTSTRIPT OUR ENGLISH,
WHO BROUGHT WITH THEM LARGER FORTUNES, though (as it seems) less endeavor
to manage their talent to the best advantage. 'Tis admirable to see
what time and industry will (with God's blessing) effect," &c. . . .
. . . "We lay all that night at Mons. EUGEE'S (Huger), and the next morning
set out farther, to go the remainder of our voyage by land.
At ten o'clock we passed over a narrow, deep swamp, having left
the three Indian men and one woman, that had piloted the canoe
from Ashley river, having hired a Sewee Indian, a tall, lusty fellow,
who carried a pack of our clothes, of great weight.
Notwithstanding his burden, we had much ado to keep pace with him.
At noon we came up with several French plantations.
Meeting with several creeks by the way, THE FRENCH WERE VERY OFFICIOUS
IN ASSISTING US WITH THEIR SMALL DORIES TO PASS OVER THESE WATERS:
whom we met coming from their church, BEING ALL OF THEM VERY CLEAN
AND DECENT IN THEIR APPAREL; their HOUSES AND PLANTATIONS SUITABLE
IN NEATNESS AND CONTRIVANCE. They are all of the same opinion
with the church of Geneva,** there being no difference among them
concerning the punctilios of their Christian faith; WHICH UNION
HATH PROPAGATED A HAPPY AND DELIGHTFUL CONCORD IN ALL OTHER MATTERS
THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE NEIGHBORHOOD; LIVING AMONGST THEMSELVES
AS ONE TRIBE OR KINDRED, EVERY ONE MAKING IT HIS BUSINESS TO BE ASSISTANT