European contact In 1701, English explorer
John Lawson, on an expedition over 1,000 miles, contacted the Keyauwee tribe, a small group which numbered about 500 people. Lawson found the tribe on Caraway Creek in the Caraway mountain range, about fourteen miles south of
High Point, North Carolina. Lawson's vivid account of his visit describes the village surrounded by high wooden walls, large cornfields, a large cave where about 100 people could have been able to dine in, all situated by very high mountains. These geographical features of their village are what made the Keyauwee vulnerable to attack.
Language and ties to other tribes The language and name of the Keyauwee Indian Tribe was derived from that of the
Siouan family with whom they merged. Tribal merging in North Carolina was inhibited by relationships built on exchange and alliance, and circular rounds of war, peace, and trade. The Keyauwees were motivated to merge with the surrounding North Carolina tribes due to threats of warfare with other tribal nations. Although the merge with the
Tutelos and
Sapponys was successful, continuous attacks were still experienced by the Keyauwees and their newly combined tribe. Later, the Keyauwees moved towards the Albemarle Sound region, situated on the northeastern coast of North Carolina, to form settlements with the Occaneechi and Shakori tribes. Ultimately, the Keyauwee moved southward from here, moving to the Pee Dee region of South Carolina to merge with the
Cheraw tribe, and potentially the
Eno and
Shakori tribes. It is here where the Keyauwee engaged in deerskin trade along with Charleston traders. According to the Jefferys Atlas of 1761, the Keyauwee settlements appear to be on the North Carolina/South Carolina border, along the Pee Dee River. After fighting along with their Indian allies in the
Yamassee War against South Carolina colonists, it is believed that the Keyauwee merged with the
Catawba tribe. The Keyauwee tribe merged with local tribes throughout their time due to factors like geographic proximity and
Siouan language family. == References == == External links ==