Wateree people
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| extinct as a tribe | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( South Carolina) |
|
| Languages | |
| unknown, possibly an Eastern Siouan language | |
| Religion | |
| Native American religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| probably Catawba people |
The Wateree were a Native American tribe in the interior of the present-day Carolinas. They probably belonged to the Siouan-Catawba language family. First encountered by the Spanish in 1567 in western North Carolina, they migrated to the southeast by 1700, where English colonists noted them. They had settled along the Wateree River near what has become present-day Camden, South Carolina. Originally a large tribe, they were diminished by the Yamasee War of 1715 and became extinct as a tribe by the end of the century.
The name Wateree may come from Catawban wateran, "to float on the water."
They were recorded in 1567 by Spanish captain Juan Pardo's scribe Juan de la Bandera during their expedition through the interior of the Carolinas. Bandera called them the Guatari in his journal, which was also given as the name of their village. Bandera described them as ruled by two female chiefs.
The Spaniards noted that Guatari was far from the coast. The settlement is believed to have been in present-day Rowan County, North Carolina. In 1670, English colonists and explorers mentioned the Wateree as inhabiting the area of the upper Yadkin River, to the northwest of their later habitat.
By 1700, when observed by John Lawson's expedition, the Wateree had migrated south to settle near present-day Camden, South Carolina along the Wateree River. The British observed that the chiefs of the Wateree had a higher degree of power than those of other Indian tribes of the region. Originally a large tribe, the Wateree had their power broken during the Yamasee War of 1715 against Carolina colonists. The Wateree became allies in a tribal confederation dominated by the Catawba. The latter tribe absorbed remnant bands of many other tribes of the region from the chaos of intertribal fighting.
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