A New Voyage to Carolina
by John Lawson
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Description
John Lawson's amazingly detailed yet lively book is easily one of the most valuable of the early histories of the Carolinas, and it is certainly one of the best travel accounts of the early 18th-century colonies. An inclusive account of the manners and customs of the Indian tribes of that day, it is also a minute report of the soil, climate, trees, plants, animals and fish in the Carolinas. Lawson's observation is keen and thorough; his style direct and vivid. He misses nothing and recounts show more all from the storms at sea to his impressions of New York in 1700, the trip down the coast to Charleston and his travels from there into North Carolina with his Indian guides. The first edition of this work was published in London in 1709. While various editions followed in the 18th century, including two in German, this edition is a true copy of the original and is the first to include a comprehensive index. It also contains "The Second Charter," "An Abstract of the Constitution of Carolina," Lawson's will and several previously unpublished letters written by Lawson. A number of DeBry woodcuts of John White's drawings of Indian life, sketches of the beasts of Carolina which appeared in the original 1709 edition and Lawson's map contribute additional interest to this volume. show lessTags
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Member Reviews
Lawson was a surveyor/adventurer who made a journey through the Carolinas in the winter of 1700-1701. A New Voyage of Carolina is a journal of that journey, and a start on a natural history of the region and a Native American ethnography.
This is a great edition, printed on good paper, with maps, illustrations and supporting documents. What I really wanted, however, was an attempt at matching the plants and animals Lawson describes to their current common or scientific names. Some things are easy to identify (sugar maples), and some nearly impossible (almond pine?).
This is a great edition, printed on good paper, with maps, illustrations and supporting documents. What I really wanted, however, was an attempt at matching the plants and animals Lawson describes to their current common or scientific names. Some things are easy to identify (sugar maples), and some nearly impossible (almond pine?).
The title describes the book well, "A New VOYAGE to CAROLINA; Containing the Exact Description and Natural History of that COUNTRY: Together with the Present State thereof. And A JOURNAL Of a Thousand Miles, Travel'd thro' several Nations of INDIANS. Giving a particular Account of their Customs, Manners, &c."
He was hired to survey an area that was basically the mid east coast, South Carolina north to Virginia. He does so & his observations, comments & entire journey make for some fascinating reading. The wording & spelling is tough to get through sometimes. I've read it piecemeal over several years. The text & his map are free from Project Guttenberg.
He was hired to survey an area that was basically the mid east coast, South Carolina north to Virginia. He does so & his observations, comments & entire journey make for some fascinating reading. The wording & spelling is tough to get through sometimes. I've read it piecemeal over several years. The text & his map are free from Project Guttenberg.
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Author Information
5 Works 147 Members
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1709
- Important places
- North Carolina, USA
Classifications
- Genres
- Nonfiction, Travel, General Nonfiction, Science & Nature
- DDC/MDS
- 917.56 — History & geography Geography & travel Geography of and travel in North America Southeastern U.S. North Carolina
- LCC
- F257 .L40 — Local History of the United States, Canada and Latin America United States local history North Carolina
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 147
- Popularity
- 223,616
- Reviews
- 2
- Rating
- (3.70)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 14
- ASINs
- 6
