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Lib. C. B.
p. 146
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Good Credit came this Day to Viana and gave me Notice
that there is not One Indian, Man, Woman or Child to be
found in Either of Our Towns, and that they are well assured
that there is not One Indian of Either Sex or Size in Dor-
chester County: I am also informed by some of the Inhabi-
tants of Broad Creek, that the Broad Creek Indians have all
left that Town, and that all the aforesaid Indians are drawn
together at Pocomoke Swamp at a Place called Winnasoccum
under a Pretence of Hunting, which I think seems to be a
slender Excuse, and ought not to be credited, for if they only
intended to hunt they would not carry with them all the Old
Men Women and Children that could not be of any Service
to them in hunting, but would have left them at the Towns to
take Care of their Cornfields &c, they have carried away all
their Goods from the afd Towns, and all their Corn destroyed,
which they would have taken Care to preserve, had they de-
signed to have lived in the same peaceable Manner as hereto-
fore they did live; The above Facts I do certainly believe to
be as true as that I am now living, and whether on the whole
they look like a Design of War or Peace I refer to your better
Judgment, and only beg Leave to say that I am of Opinion,
that We ought immediately to use a necessary Caution to be
in Readiness for Defence &c and not too great a Thought of
Security is the direct Way to expose a People or Nation to the
greatest Danger and make them an easy Prey to their Enemies
which concludes me
Sir
Your humble Servant
J Ennals
Their being so very conformable in applying for a Protec-
tion to hunt in the Neighbourhood gives Room for some Sus-
picion, for it's observable in all Parts where they have had
Wars, that when the Indians appear to be the most conforma-
ble to Laws and Customs, and appear more friendly than
common they intend the Greatest Mischiefs, however as you
are capable of making as good a Judgment of the Affair as
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