first known as Weapomeiok, change to Albemarle; and the Katoline
River soon loses its Indian designation, and is known to the settlers
who made their homes on its banks as the "Little River."

With the establishment of George Durant on the peninsula now called by
his name, the connected history of North Carolina begins. And it is a
matter of pride to the citizens of the Old North State that our first
settler, with a sturdy honesty and a sense of justice shown but seldom
to the red man by the pioneers in the colonies, bought from the Indian
chief, Kilcokonen "for a valuable consideration" the land on which he
established his home. The deed for this tract of land is now in the old
court-house in Hertford, North Carolina, and is the earliest recorded
in the history of our State. The following is an exact copy of this
ancient document:

"George Durant's Deed
from
Kilcokonen:

"Know all men these Presents that I, Kilcokonen King of the Yeopems
have for a valuable consideration of satisfaction received with ye
consent of my People sold and made over and delivered to George
Durant, a Parcel of land lying and being on a river called by ye name
of Perquimans, which issueth out of the North side of the aforesaid
Sound, and which land at present bears ye name of Wecameke. Beginning
at a marked oak tree which divideth this land from ye land I formerly
sold Samuel Precklove and extending easterly up ye said Sound at a
point or turning of ye aforesaid Perquimans River and so up ye east
side of ye said river to a creek called Awoseake to wit, all ye land
between ye aforesaid bounds of Samuel Precklove and the said creek
whence to ye head thereof. And thence through ye woods to ye first
bounds. To have and to hold ye quiet possession of ye same to him,
his heirs forever, with all rights and privileges thereto forever
from me or any person or persons whatsoever, as witness my hand this
first day of March 1661.

"KILCOKONEN.

"Test: Thos Weamouth, Caleb Callaway."

Having thus fairly and justly bought his lands, as this and other deeds
from Kilcokonen testify, Durant proceeded to establish his belongings on
his estate, and to take up the strenuous life of a pioneer in a new
country.

And a fairer region never gladdened the eyes of men making a new home in
a strange land. In the virgin forests surrounding the settlers' homes,
the crimson berried holly tree