"Surely there is no place in the World where the Inhabitants live with less Labour than in N Carolina. It approaches nearer to the Description of Lubberland than any other, by the great
felicity of the Climate, the easiness of raising Provisions, and the Slothfulness of the People.
Indian Corn is of so great increase, that a little Pains will Subsist a very large
Family with
Bread, and then they may have
meat without any pains at all, by the Help of the Low Grounds, and the great Variety of Mast that grows on the High-land. The Men, for their Parts, just like the Indians, impose all the
Work upon the poor Women. They make their Wives rise out of their Beds early in the Morning, at the same
time that they lye and Snore, till the Sun has run one third of his course, and disperst all the unwholesome Damps. Then, after Stretching and Yawning for half an Hour, they light their Pipes, and, under the Protection of a cloud of Sinoak, venture out into the open
Air; tho’, if it happens to be never so little
cold, they quickly return Shivering into the Chimney corner. When the weather is mild, they stand leaning with both their arms upon the corn-field fence, and gravely consider whether they had best go and take a Small Heat at the Hough: but generally find reasons to put it off till another
time.
Thus they loiter away their Lives, like
Solomon’s Sluggard, with their Arms across, and at the Winding up of the Year Scarcely have
Bread to Eat.
To speak the
Truth, tis a thorough Aversion to Labor that makes People file off to N Carolina, where Plenty and a Warm Sun confirm them in their Disposition to Laziness for their whole Lives."
-- William Byrd II
