Wateree
(perhaps from Catawba wateran, 'to float on the water.' Gatschet).
One of the early tribes of the Carolinas, probably Siouan. As described by
Juan de la Vandera in his account of the expedition of Juan de Pardo in
1567, they then lived at a great distance from the coast, near the
Cherokee frontier. In 1670 Lederer, whose statement is doubtful, places
them apparently in North Carolina, on the extreme upper Yadkin, far to the
north west of their later habitat, with the Shoccore and
Eno on the north east and the
Cheraw on the w. In 1700 they lived on
Wateree river, below the present Camden, S. C. On a map of 1715 their
village is placed on the west bank of Wateree river, perhaps in Fairfield
county. Moll's map of 1730 locates their village on the east bank of the
river. When Lawson met them, in 1700, they were a much larger body than
the Congaree, and spoke an entirely different language, which was
unintelligible to the latter people. The Yamasee war broke the power of
the Wateree, and according to Adair (1743) they became confederates of the
Catawba, though still retaining their own village and language. Vandera
says they were ruled by two
female chiefs, who held dignified court, with a retinue of young men and
women. He also describes them as being rather the slaves than the subjects
of their chiefs, which agrees with what Lawson says of the Santee.
Lederer, who speaks from hearsay only, mentions the killing of women of a
hostile tribe, by a chief, in order that their spirits might serve his
dying son in the other world. Lawson says that their houses were as poor
as their industry; that the men were tall and well-built, friendly, but
great pilferers, and very lazy, even for Indians.
See Mooney, Siouan Tribes of the East,
80, 1894.
