Geography anatomiz'd, or, The compleat geographical grammar being a short and exact analysis of the whole body of modern geography after a new and curious method / collected from the best authors and illustrated with divers maps by Pat. Gordon ...

§. 11. Carolina.

THIS Country (discover'd at first about the same time with Virginia, and afterwards, Anno 1660 * 1.1 granted by Patent to several Noblemen as Proprietors thereof) is term'd by the French, Caroline; by the Italians, Spani∣ards, Germans, and English, Carolina; so call'd in Honour of His Britannick Majesty, King Charles the Second.

The Air of this Country is reckon'd very healthful to breath in, and so temperate, that 'tis a good Medi∣um * 1.2 between the extremities of Heat and Cold, that are most sensibly felt in divers Parts of the World. The opposite Place of the Globe to Carolina, is that part of the East-Indian Ocean, lying between 120 and 130 Degrees of Longitude, with 29 and 36 Degrees of South Latitude.

The Soil of this Country is for the most part very fruitful, producing in great plenty most sorts of Fruits, * 1.3 Roots, Plants, Herbs, &c. besides variety of English Grain. The length of the Days and Nights in Carolina, is much the same with those in the Southmost Part of Spain, and Northmost of Barbary, they both lying under the same Parallels of Latitude.

The chief Commodities exported hence, are Skins of Otters, Bears, and Leopards; as also Oyl, Olives, * 1.4 Cotton, Indico, Ginger, Tobacco, Sorsaparilla, Tur∣merick, Snakes-Root, &c.

What chiefly deserves the Epithet of Rare in Carolina, is a certain Herb, which goes by the Name of the * 1.5 Country; and remarkable for its long red Root, which draws upon Paper good red Lines, but answers not in Dying.

Archbishopricks, Bishopricks, Universities. None. * 1.6

The Natives of this Country, being naturally Men of good Courage, and for a long time at Wars among * 1.7 themselves, are mightily diminish'd in their Number, by what they were. But those remaining, are generally Persons of a good agreeable Temper, and maintain a firm Friendship with our Colony. The English here residing, are the same in Manners with those here in England.

The Natives have a particular Jargon of their own, which sounds very harsh to the Ear, and seems to * 1.8 Strangers extreamly hard, if not impossible to be acquir'd. The English use their own Language.

King Charles II. having granted Carolina by Letters-Patent, in Propriety to George Duke of Albemarle, * 1.9 Edward Earl of Clarendon, &c. by those Letters, the Laws of England were to be always in force in this Country, only the Lords Proprietors are impower'd (together with the Consent of the Inhabitants) to make or repeal such By-Laws, as shall from time to time be thought expedient, for the better governing of the whole Colony.

The English here residing, are of many and different * 1.10 Perswasions in Matters of Religion, there being a Liberty of Conscience allow'd by the very Constitu∣tion * 1.11 of their Government. The Natives have as yet no reveal'd Knowledge of the True God, but follow the vain Imaginations of their own Minds; however, they are said to acknowledge one Supreme Being, whom they Worship under the Name of Okee, and to him their Priests do frequently Sacrifice; but they believe that he takes no care of Human Affairs, committing them to lesser Dei∣ties. They acknowledge also a Transmigration of Souls, and a Future State of Happiness after this Life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Name.
• * 1.2

  Air.
• * 1.3

  Soil.
• * 1.4

  Commodities.
• * 1.5

  Rarities.
• * 1.6

  Archbishopricks, &c.
• * 1.7

  Manners.
• * 1.8

  Language.
• * 1.9

  Government.
• * 1.10

  Arms.
• * 1.11

  Religion.