1 0 6 HtótQRY - GF THE TROQüOIS.
time, numerous and warlike, and as inimical to
ibe inhabitants of the Carolinas, as they'were
numerous.; They were at war with* the Cdtabas,
thfe. Cowetas, and the Gherokees. ^umherS,
bravery and success, and abundance of animal
food, made them haughty, and they evinced the.
disposition of their northern brethren, by frying
to Subjugate and break down their neighbors.
Whaf they had done with red men, very,
fectually, it must be confessed at least with the
Catabas, they thought they might do with fhe
Huguenots of France, the cavaliers of England,
and the Protestants of the baronetcy of Graffen-
ried, in Germany. It is not improbable, indeed,
that at a prior era, the Tusearoras weijfe-the Very
people who had exterminated the colony left .cm
Roanoke island, under the first attempts oft-Str
Walter Raleigh to Colonize Virginia. But, if
such were the fact—a mere conjecture at best-C-
they mistook their présent neighbors; ~hnd their
own position, in attempting to repeat the aetuf
This scheme was', however,-deeply laid, although
nt appeared to be a matter hastily ex&‘-
cuted. They had long felt a growing jealousy
of the encroaching settlements, and gave vent
to it, the first occasion that offered, by seizing
Lawson, the Surveyor-general of the province,
on a trip up the Neusej and after a kind of trial
before a council, putting him to death. The
Baron Graffenried, who was with him, and was
also condemned, but saved, on an appeal on
the ground of his being a man of rank» and
not an Englishman; but they- kept him a prisoner,
while they proceeded to execute their
ill-advised, and nefarious plot, Which was nothing
less than the massacre of the entire colony in
one day. The day fixed for this tragedy, was
the »,<22d ‘of September, f7Jl. - Williamson*
thinks it was an impulsive movement arising
ftom the killing of Lawson, who.;being a public
officer, they felt themselves committed in.
a war, and reidflyed to proceed with the bloody
work. For this purpose they1.divided; themselves
into, small hands pf six or seven, and
entering the settlements a t various points, they
struck down with the" tomahawk on 6ne day,
one hundred and thirty persons. To conceal
their intentions, they had left their arms, and
relied on their hatchets alone&Ip this plot, they
were assisted by the Sea-coast bands, of Corses-,
Mattamuskeets, and Bear river Indians, some
tbrde.or four tribes^ denoting a league, and mfe
turity indhe attempt. But the plan did not succeed
to their Wishes, -for besides that the colony
consisted • then of, nearly two thousand men,
much spread, it must needs hay® happened that
many at the time- of attack, would he absent,
from their homes.--Thd colonists rallied, and
prepared to carry the war home to their subtle
assailants. They asked tjie aid o,f South Carp?
lina, which came- gallantly to their rescue^ The
legislature of that prMdnce. having granted four
thousand pounds, placed.Col. Barnwell at the
* Hi&ory of* North Carplte?.- |