a sort of Ceder-trees Trees which differ from all other in the World in several respects the Wood whereof is very sweet and well sented The English who settled themselves upon this Isle in the Year 1612 are the only Proprietors Proprietors thereof having now established a powerful Colony there wherein are about five thousand Inhabitants The Island is exceeding strong and defended as it were with a kind of natural Fortification being so fenced about with Rocks that without knowledge of the Passages a Boat of ten Tun cannot be brought into the Haven although by the assistance of a skilful Pilot there is entrance for Ships of the greatest burden And besides the natural strength of those Islands the English have since their settling there added such artificial helps and so strongly fortified the approaches by Block-houses and Forts as renders it impregnable In the Year 1616 which is four Years after the first settling there Captain Tucker is sent over with a new Supply whereupon they applied themselves the more earnestly to the planting of Corn Tobacco and other Commodities so that in about three Years those Isles began to gain so much repute in England that the improving them became a publick business many great Lords and Persons of Quality interesting themselves therein as Adventurers whereupon Captain Buttler was dispatched thither with a new Supply of 500 Men about which time the Isle was divided into Tribes or Counties and the whole reduced to a settled Government both in Church and State after which things succeeded so well that it has been ever since growing to greater perfection A DESCRIPTION OF CAROLINA CAROLINA so called from his late Majesty King Charles the Second of eternal Memory is a new Colony not long since settled by the English in that part of Florida adjoyning to Virginia which makes its Northern bounds in the Latitude of thirty six Degrees Situation and extends its self to the Latitude of 29 Degrees which terminates its extream Southern bounds It is on the East washed with the Atlantick Ocean and is bounced on the West by Mare Pacificum of the South-Sea A New Map of CAROLINA By Robt. Morden This Province of Carolina saith he was in the Year 1663. granted by Letters Patents from his late Majesty in propriety to Edward Earl of Clarendon George Duke of Albemarl William Earl of Craven John Lord Berkley Anthony Lord Ashly since Earl of Shaftsbury Sir George Carteret and Sir John Coleton Knights and Baronets and Sir William Berkley Knight By which Letters Patents the Laws of England are always to be in force in Carolina only the Lords Proprietors have power with the consent of the Inhabitants to make such By-laws as may be thought necessary for the better government of the Province So that no Money can be raised or Law made without the consent of the Inhabitants or their Representatives They are likewise thereby indued with a right to appoint and impower Governours and other Magistrates to grant Liberty of Conscience make Constitutions with many other great Priviledges c. as will sufficiently appear by the Letters Patents And the said Lords Proprietors have there settled a Constitution of Government whereby is granted Liberty of Conscience and wherein all possible care is taken for the equal administration of Justice and for the lasting security of the Inhabitants both in their Bodies and Estates And by their Care and Endeavours and at their very great charge two Colonies are likewise settled in that Province one at Albemarl in the most Notherly part and the other at Ashly-River which is in the Latitude of thirty two Degrees and some odd Minutes Albemarl Albemarl which borders upon Virginia only exceeds it in Health Fertility and Mildness of Winter being in the Growths Productions and other things much of the same nature with it and therefore I shall not trouble my self nor the Reader with a particular Description of that part but apply my self principally to discourse of the Colony settled at Ashly-River This Colony was first settled in the Month of April 1670. by the Lords Proprietors who did at their sole charge furnish out three Ships with a considerable number of able Men and eighteen Months Provision together with Cloth Tools Ammunition and whatsoever else was thought necessary for this new Settlement and continued for several years after to supply the place with all things necessary until the Inhabitants were by their own industry able to live of themselves in which condition they have now been for divers years past and are arrived to a very great degree of plenty so that most sorts of Provisions are cheaper there than in any other of the English Colonies Ashly-River Ashly-River about seven Miles from the Sea divides itself into two branches the Southermost still retains the name of Ashly but the North branch is called Cooper-River Upon the Point of Land which divides those two Rivers the Proprietors in the Year 1680. ordered the Port-Town that should serve for them both to be built calling it Charles-Town which is since considerably advanced to the number of near two hundred Houses more being daily raising by persons of all sorts that repair thither from the more Northern English Colonies in the Sugar-Islands besides those that go from England and Ireland many persons who likewise went thither Servants having since their times were out gotten good stocks of Cattel and Servants of their own built themselves Houses and exercise their Trades Many that went thither in that condition being now worth several hundred Pounds living in a very plentiful condition and continually adding to and increasing their Estates so that Land is already become of that value near the Town that it is sold for twenty Shillings per Acre though pillaged of all its valuable Timber and not cleared of the rest And the Land that is cleared and fitted for planting and fenced is let for ten Shillings per Annum the Acre though twenty Miles distance from the Town and six Men will in six Weeks time fell clear fence in and fit it for planting At this Town as soon as its Foundations were well laid there Rode at one time sixteen Sail of Ships some whereof carried above two hundred Tun that came from divers Parts of the King's Dominions to traffick there which great concourse of Shipping will undoubtedly make it a considerable Town of Trade It 's a Country blessed with a temperate and wholsom Air Temperature neither the heat in Summer nor the cold in Winter being the least troublesom or offensive the latter being so exceeding moderate that it doth not so much as check the growth and flourishing of the Trees and Plants which is occasioned either by reason of its having the great Body of the Continent to the Westward of it and by consequence the North-West Wind which always blows contrary to the Sun and is the freezing Wind as the North-East is with us in Europe or else from the
West other Mountains prevented their sight and the exceeding Coldness prevented further Discovery and compelled them to a speedy return The same Gentleman at another time when he went to make what Discovery he could of the Countrey met with another sort of Indians who were Enemies to the Christians yet venturing amongst them and presenting them with some small Trifles of Glass and Metals found them very kind to him and would fain have obliged him to have setled amongst them by proposing a Match between him and their King's or some other Great Man's Daughter whom he should best fancy nor could he wave their Courtesie nor obtain leave to depart without a Promise of returning again within six Months And South-west from them he found a Nation differing in Government from all the other Indians that inhabit those Parts being rather Slaves than Subjects to their King who was a very grave Man and courteous to Strangers yet horrid barbarous in his Superstition that whilst this Gentleman was there he sent three Youths to kill as many young Women of their Enemies as they could meet withal to serve his Son who was then newly dead in the other World They were not long before they returned with Skins torn off the Head and Faces of several young Girls which they laid at the Feet of their King who received them as the most acceptable Presents CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Whereas by Our Letters Patents bearing date the Twenty Fourth Day of March in the Five and Twentieth Year of Our Reign We were graciously pleased to give unto our right Trusty and right Well-beloved Couzen and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon Our High Chancellour of England Our right Trusty right entirely Beloved Couzen Counsellour George Duke of Albemarl Master of Our Horse Our right Trusty and Well-beloved William now Earl of Craven Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellour Anthony Lord Chancellour of our Exchequer Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Carteret Knight and Baronet Vice-Chamberlain of Our Houshold Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Sir John Colleton Knight and Barronet and Sir William Berkley Knight all that Territory Province or Tract of Ground called Carolina situate lying and being within our Dominions of America extending from the North end of that Island called Luke-Island which lyeth in the Southern Virginia Seas within six and thirty deg of Northern Latitude and to the West as far as the River of St. Matthias which Bordereth upon the Coast of Florida and within one and thirty deg of Southern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas aforesaid Now know ye that We at the humble Request of the said Grantees in the aforesaid Letters Patents named and as a farther mark of Our particular Favour towards them We are graciously pleased to enlarge Our said Grant unto them according to the Bounds and Limits hereafter specified and in Favour to the Pious and Noble purpose of the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have Given Granted and Confirmed and by this Our present Charter for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns at that Province Territories or Tract of Land situate lying and being within Our Dominions of America aforesaid extending North and Eastward as far as the North end of Carah-Tuck River or Inlett upon a straight Westerly Line to Wianoacke Creek which lyeth within or about thirty six deg thirty min. of Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South-Seas and South and Westward as far as thirty nine deg inclusive Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas together with all and singular Ports Harbours Bays Rivers and Islets belonging unto the Province and Territory aforesaid and also all the Soil Lands Fields Woods Mountains Fenns Lakes Rivers Bays Islets situated or being within the Bounds or Limits last before mentioned with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish Whales Sturgeons and all the Royal Fishes in the Seas Bays Islets and Rivers within the Premises and the Fish therein taken together the Royalty of the Sea upon the Coast within the Limits aforesaid And moreover all Veins Mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered of Gold Silver Gems and Precious Stones and all other whatsoever be it of Stones Marble or any other thing whatsoever found or to be found within the Province Territory Isles and Limits aforesaid And furthermore the Patronage and Advowsons of all the Churches and Chappels which as Christian Religion shall encrease within the Province Territory Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid shall happen hereaf-to be Erected together with Licence and Power to Build and Found Churches and Chappels and Oratories in convenient and fit places within the said Bounds and Limits and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of our Kingdom of England together with all and singular the like and as ample right Jurisdictions Priviledges Prerogatives Royalties Liberties Immunities and Franchises of what kind soever within the Territories Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid to have Use Exercise and enjoy the same as amply and fully and in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham in our Kingdom of England ever heretofore had held used or enjoyed or of right ought or could have use or enjoy and them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns we do by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors make create and constitute the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province or Territory and of all other the Premisses saving always the Faith Allegiance and Sovereign Dominions due to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same to have hold possess and enjoy the said Province Territories Isles Islets and all and singular of them the Premisses unto them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns for ever to be holden of Us Our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of Eastgreen within Our County of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capite nor by by Knight-Service yielding and paying a parly to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same a fourth part of all Gold and Silver Oâ—r which within the Limits hereby granted shall from time to time happen to be found over and beside the yearly Rent of twenty Marks and the fourth part of the Gold and Silver Oar in and by the said recited Letter Patents reserved and payable And that the Province or Territory hereby granted and described may be dignified with as large Titles and Priviledges as any other Part of our Dominions and Territories in that Region Know ye that We of our further Grace certain Knowledge and meer
write or speak Philadelphia the Third of the Sixth Month August 1685. Governour HAving an opportunity by a Ship from this River out of which several have gone this year I thought fit to give a short account of Proceedings as to Settlement here and the Improvement both in Town and Countrey As to the Countrey the Improvements are large and Settlements very much thronged by way of Township and Villages great inclination to planting Orchards which are easily raised and some brought to perfection much Hay-seed sown and much planting of Corn this year and great product said to be both of Wheat Rye and Rice Barly and Oats prove very well besides Indian Corn and Pease of several sorts also Kidney-Beans and English Pease of several kinds I have had in my own Ground with English Roots Turnips Parsnips Carrots Onions Leeks Radishes and Cabbages with abundance of Herbs and Flowers I know but of few Seeds that have miss'd except Rosemary Seed which being English might be old Also I have such plenty of Pumkins Musk-Melons Water Melons Squashes Coshaws Bucks-hens Cucumbers and Simnels of divers sorts admired at by new comers that the Earth should so plentifully cast forth especially the first years breaking up and on that which is counted the worst sort of Sandy Land I am satisfied and many more that the Earth is very fertil and the Lord hath done his part if man use but a moderate diligence Grapes Mulberries and many wild Fruits and natural Plums in abundance this year have I seen and eat of A brave Orchard and Nursery have I planted and they thrive mightily and bear Fruit the first year I endeavour to get choice of Fruits and Seeds from many parts also Hay-Seed and have sowed a Field this Spring for Trial. First I burned the Leaves then had it grubb'd not the Fields but the small Roots up then sow'd great and small Clovers with a little old Grass-Seed and had it only raked over not plowed nor harrowed and it grows exceedingly Also for Experience I sowed some Patches of the same sort in my Garden and dunged some and that grows worst I have planted the Irish Potatoes and hope to have a brave encrease to transplant next year Captain Rapel the Frenchman saith he made good Wine of the Grapes of the Country last year and transplanted some but intends to make more this year also a Frenchman in this Town intends the same for Grapes are very plentiful Now as to the Town of Philadelphia it goes on in Planting and Building to admiration both in the Front and backward and there are about 600 Houses in three years time and since I built my Brick-House the Foundation of which was laid at my going which I design after a good manner to encourage others and that from building with Wood it being the first many take example and some that built wooden Houses are sorry for it Brick Building is said to be as cheap Bricks are exceeding good and better than when I built more makers fallen in and Bricks cheaper they were before at 16 s. English per Thousand and now many brave Brick houses are going up with good Cellars Arthur Cook is building him a brave Brick House near William Frampton's on the Front for William Frampton hath since built a good Brick House by his Brew-house and Bake-house and lett the other for an Ordinary John Wheeler from new-New-England is building a good Brick House by the Blew Anchor and the two Brick-makers a double Brick House and Cellars besides several other going on Samuel Carpenter has built another House by his I am building another Brick House by mine which is three large Stories high besides a good large Brick Cellar under it of two Bricks and a half thickness in the Wall and the next Story half under ground the Cellar has an arched Door for a Vault to go under the Street to the River and so to bring in Goods or deliver out Humphrey Murry from New-York has built a large Timber-House with Brick Chimneys John Test has almost finished a good Brick House and a Bake-house of Timber and N. Allen a good House next to Thomas Wynn's Front-Lot John Day a good House after the London fashion most Brick with a large Frame of Wood in the Front for Shop-windows all these have Balconies Thomas Smith and Daniel Pâ—ge are Partners and set to making of Brick this year and they are very good Also Pastours the German Friend Agent for the Company at Frankford with his Dutch People are preparing to make Bricks next year Samuel Carpenter is our Lime-burner on his Wharf Brave Lime stone is found here as the Workmen say being proved We build most Houses with Balconies Lots are much desired in the Town great buying one of anothe We are now laying the Foundation of a large plain Brick House for a Meeting-House in the Center sixty foot long and about forty foot broad and hope to have it soon up there being many hearts and hands at work that will do it A large Meeting-house fifty foot long and thirty eight broad also going on the front of the River for an Evening-Meeting the Work going on apace many Towns-people setling their Liberty-Lands I hope the Society will rub off the Reproaches some have cast upon them We now begin to gather in something of our many great Debts I do understand three Companies for Whale-catching are designed to fish in the Rivers-mouth this Season and find through the great plenty of Fish they may begin early A Fisherman this year found a way to catch Whitings in this River and it is expected many sorts of Fish more than has been yet caught may be taken by the skilful Fish are in such plenty that many sorts on Tryal have been taken with Nets in the Winter-time The Swedes laughing at the English for going to try have since tried themselves The River is so big and full of several sorts of brave Fish that it s believed except frozen over we may catch any time in the Winter It is great pity but two or three experienced Fishermen were here to ply this River to salt and serve fresh Fish to the Town A good way to pickle Sturgeon is wanting such abundance being in the River even before the Town many are catcht boyled and eaten Last Winter great plenty of Deer were brought in by the Indiands and English from the Country We are generally very well and healthy here but abundance dead in Maryland this Summer The Manufacture of Linnen by the Germans goes on finely and they make fine Linnen Samuel Carpenter having been lately there declares They had gathered one Crop of Flax and had sown the second and saw it come up well and they say might have had forwarder and better had they had old Seed and not stayed so long for the growth of the new Seed to sow again I may believe it for large has my experience been this year though in a small piece of ground to
as Brazil Ebony and the like Cassia Cinnamon Cotton Pepper Tobacco Indico Ginger Potatoes Pine-Apples and Sugar-Canes grow likewise there in great plenty and a certain living or sensible Plant esteemed one of the admirablest rarities in the World which as soon as touch'd with the hand falls down and the Leaves run together as if they were suddenly withered but so soon as the hand is removed and the party gone it presently rises up and flourisheth again from whence it is called by some The Chaste Plant in regard it will not endure to be touched without expressing its resentments of its injury There are not many venomous Creatures Venomous Creatures to be found in this Island nor in any of the Caribbees but yet there are many Snakes and Serpents of many colours and forms some whereof are nine or ten foot long and near as big as a Man's thigh one whereof being killed a whole Hen feathers and all were found in her belly besides a dozen Eggs upon which the Hen was sitting when the Serpent seized her which shews them to be very large notwithstanding they are not poysonous but pleasure the inhabitants by freeing their Houses from Rats and other such like Vermine which they kill and devour There is another sort of Serpent above an Ell long and not above an Inch about which feed upon Frogs and Birds and are in colour of so lovely green that they are very delightful to the eye But there are two sorts of Snakes that are very hurtful and dangerous the first is gray on the back and feels soft like Velvet the other is either yellow or red very dreadful to look on their heads being flat and broad and their jaws exceeding wide and armed with eight or ten teeth as sharp as Needles from whence they produce their poyson which lies in little purses near the roots of their teeth they do not chew their Food but swallow it down whole for if they should the inhabitants say they would poyson themselves they are so exceeding venomous that if a man chance to be hurt by them if help be not immediately had the wound in two hours proves incurable nor have they any other vertue that deserves commendation but this they never hurt any man which doth not first molest them A DESCRIPTION OF THE Islands of BERMVDAS OR THE SUMMER-ISLANDS EAst of Virginia and Carolina which is a part of Florida lies the Isles of Bermudas so called from John Bermudas by whom they were first discovered or the Summer-Islands as they are likewise sometimes called from the Shipwreck which Sir George Summers an English-man suffered upon that Coast they are a great multitude of Isles being no less than 400 in number as some affirm that lie distant 1600 Leagues from England from Madera 1000 from Hispaniola 400 and from Carolina which is the nearest part of land about 300 Leagues AESTIVARUM INSULAE â— BARMUDAS Lat. 32 D 25 m 3300 miles from London 500 from Roanoke in Virginia by R. Morden A. Sands Fort B. Warwick Fort C. Davers Fort D. Cavandish F. E. Pagets Fort F. Smiths Fort G. Pembrak F. H. Kings Castle I. Charles F. K. Tuckers Tom. L Smiths I. Circasoltitium aestirum Anno 16â—6 solvere ex his Insulis quinque viri in Schapha superne aperta trium doliorum majorum capacitatis et post septem hebdomadarum navigationuÌ„ omnes incolumes in Hiberniam appulerunt quale ab hominum memoria vix accidiss creditur The biggest of these Isles is called St. Georges St. Georges and is about five or six Leagues long and in the broadest place not a League broad all the rest being much less The whole cluster do together form a body much like a Crescent and inclose several very good Ports the chief whereof are those of the Great Sound Harrington's Inlet South-hampton and Pagets which with their Forts of Dover and Warwick take their names from the several Noblemen that have been concerned as Adventurers The Earth in those Isles is exceeding fertile yielding two Crops every Year Fertility which they generally gather in about the Months July and December They have several sorts of excellent Fruits Fruits as Oranges Dates Mulberries both white and red in the Trees whereof breed abundance of Silk-worms which produce great plenty of that Commodity and Tobacco there has been found some Pearl and Amber-grease They have likewise there plenty of Tortoise their flesh being counted there very delicious they have good store of Hogs and great variety of Fowls and Birds amongst which are Cranes and a sort of Sea-Fowl which breeds in holes like our Rabits and such is the fruitfulness and the delightful verdure wherein these Isles always appear that Summers seemed to take pleasure in his Shipwreck and neglecting his return for England endeavoured with the assistance of Sir Thomas Gates to settle a Plantation there At their first coming ashore they found themselves supplied by a vast variety of Fowl which were taken without difficulty no less than one thousand of one kind somewhat bigger than a Pigeon being caught by them in two or three hours space this sort of Fowl lay speckled Eggs as large as Hens on the Sand and this they do every day without being frighted though Men sit down by them The greatest inconveniency that attends the place is their want of fresh Water there is none for their occasions but what is to be found in Wells Pits there being neither Fountain nor Stream in all these Isles The Sky is almost continually serene and clear and the Air Air. so exceeding temperate and healthy that it is rare to hear of a Man's dying of any other distemper than that of Old Age which has occasioned many to remove from England thither barely for the enjoyment of a long and healthful Life and when they have continued there for any considerable time they are exceeding fearful of removing out of so good an Air lest it should hasten their removal to the grave However when the Sky is at any time darkened with Clouds it Thunders and Lighten and the Weather proves exceeding stormy and tempestuous the Wind sometimes rather thundering than blowing from every quarter for forty eight hours together The North and North-West Winds cause Winter in December January and February which is however so very moderate that young Birds and Fruits and other Concomitants of the Spring are seen there in those Months The Isle of St. Georges which is the biggest and of more fame than all the rest and to which the name of Bermudas is more generally given is situated in thirty two Degrees and thirty Minutes of North-Latitude No venomous Beasts Beasts are to be found in this Island neither will they live if brought thither their Spiders are no way poysonous but are of sundry and various colours and in hot weather make their Webs so exceeding strong that the small Birds are sometimes entangled and caught therein There grows in this Island
plant there and called it New-Netherland but Sir Samuel Argal Governour of Virginia routed them after which they got leave of King James to put in there for Fresh-Water in their Passage to Brazile and did not offer to plant till a good while after the English were setled in the Countrey In 1664. His late Majesty King Charles the Second sent over four Commissioners to reduce the Colony into bounds that had been encroached upon by each other who marched with three hundred Red-Coats to Manhadees and took from the Dutch the chief Town then called New-Amsterdam now New-York and Aug. 29. turned out their Governour with a Silver Leg and all the rest but those who acknowledged Subjection to the King of England suffering them to enjoy their Houses and Estates as before Thirteen days after Sir Robert Car took the Fort and Town of Aurania now called Albany and twelve days after that the Fort and Town of Arasapha then Delaware-Castle manned with Dutch and Swedes so that now the English are Masters of three handsom Towns three strong Forts and a Castle without the loss of one man The first Governour of these Parts for the King of England was Colonel Nicols one of the Commissioners It is a Countrey of a rich and fertil Soyl It s Fertility well watered with Rivers as in Mary-Land already spoken of and is found to produce the same Beasts Birds Fish Fruits Commodities Trees c. and in as great plenty and it is reported that one Bushel of European Wheat has yielded an hundred in one year The most considerable Town is that of New-York It s Situation being well seated both for Trade Security and Pleasure in a small Isle called Manahatan regarding the Sea made so by Hudson's River which severeth it from Long-Island which said River is very commodious for Shipping being about two Leagues broad The Town is large containing about five hundred well-built Houses built with Dutch-Brick and the meanest not valued under one hundred Pounds to the landward it is encompassed with a Wall of good thickness and fortified at the entrance of the River so as to command any Ship which passeth that way by a Fort called James-Fort and for Civil Government it hath a Mayor Alderman Sheriff and Justices of the Peace for their Magistrates The Inhabitants are most English and Dutch who have a very considerable Trade with the Indians for the Skins of Elks Deer Bears c. also for those of Beaver Otter Racoon-skins with other rich Furs and are supplied with Venison and Fowl in the Winter and Fish in the Summer by the Indians at an easie price This Province formerly contained all that Land which is seated in the North part of America betwixt England and Mary-Land the length toward the North being not fully known the breadth is about 200 Miles The chief Rivers are Hudson-River Raritan River and Delaware-Bay and the principal Islands are the Manahatan-Island Long-Island and Stater-Island Manahatan-Island so called by the Indians lieth within land betwixt forty one and forty two Degrees of North Latitude and is in length about fourteen Miles and two broad New-York is seated on the West-end of this Island having a small Arm of the Sea which divides it from Long-Island on the South Long-Island runs Eastward above a hundred Miles and in some places eight twelve and fourteen Miles broad inhabited from one end to the other having a rich Soil for all English-Grain the Fruits Trees and Herbs very good in May you may see the Woods and Fields so richly bedecked with Roses and variety of other delightful Flowers as equal if not excel many Gardens in England This Country is also possessed with sundry sorts of People Its Inhabitants not much unlike the Indians of Virginia being well-proportioned swarthy black-haired very expert in their Bow and Arrows which are their chief Weapons of War they are very serviceable and courteous to the English being of a ready Wit and very apt to recieve Instruction from them but there are now but few Indians upon the Island being strangely decreased since the English first settled there for not long ago there were six Towns full of them which are now reduced to two Villages the rest being cut off by Wars among themselves or some raging mortal Diseases They live principally by Hunting Fowling and Fishing their Wives tilling the Land and planting the Corn they feed on Fish Fowl and Venison likewise Pol-cats Turtles Racoon and the like they build small moveable Tents which they remove three times a year chiefly quartering where they plant their Corn besides their Hunting and Fishing-Quarters Their principal Recreation are Foot-ball and Cards at which they will play away all they have except a Flap to cover their nakedness they are very great lovers of Strong-drink so that without they have enough to be drunk they care not to drink at all if their company be so great that they have not enough to make them all drunk they usually chuse so many as are proportionable to that quantity and the rest must be spectators if any happen to be drunk before he has taken his share which is ordinarily a quart of Brandy Rum or Strong-waters to shew their Justice they will pour the rest down his Throat in which debauches they often kill one another which the Friends of the dead revenge upon the Murtherer unless he purchase his Life with Money which is made of Periwinkle-shell both black and white strung like Beads They observe several Ceremonies in their Reigious Rites Their Religion and are said to Worship the Devil which usually they perform once or twice a Year unless upon some extraordinary occasion as the making of War or the like when their Corn is ripe which is usually about Michaelmas The day being appointed by their Chief Priest or Pawaw most of them go a Hunting for Venison when they are all assembled if the Priest wants Money he then tells them their God will accept no Offering but Money which the People believing every one gives according to his ability the Priest takes the Money and putting it into some Dishes sets them upon the top of their low flat-roofed Houses and so falls a calling upon their God to come and receive it which with many loud hollows and out-crys striking the ground with sticks and beating themselves is performed by the Priest and seconded by the People After being thus wearied a Devil by his conjuration appears amongst them sometimes in the shape of a Fowl a Beast or a Man which so amazeth the people that they dare not stir the Priest improves the opportunity and stepping out makes sure of the Money and then returns to lay the Spirit who is often gone before he comes back having taken some of the company along with him but if at such times any English come among them it puts a period to their proceedings and they will desire his absence saying Their God will not come till
they are departed They are much addicted to go to War against one another but they sight no pitch'd Battel but upon their Enemies approach having first secured their Wives and Children in some Island or thick Swamp armed with Guns and Hatchets they way-lay their Enemy and it 's counted a great Fight when seven or eight are slain they seldom give quarter to any but the Women and Children whom they reserve and make use of for the increasing their strength When an Indian dies they bury him upright Their way of Burial sitting upon a Seat with his Gun Money and Goods to furnish him in the other World which they believe to be Westward where they shall have great store of Game for Hunting and live at ease at his Funeral his Relations paint their Faces black making at his Grave once or twice every day sad Lamentations thus continuing till the blackness is wore off their Faces and after that once a Year they mourn afresh for him visiting and trimming up the Grave not suffering any Grass to grow near it fencing it with a Hedge and covering it with Mats for a shelter from the Rain Notwithstanding all this bustle when an Indian is dead his Name dies with him none daring ever after to mention his Name it being not only a breach of their Law but an affront to his Friends and Relations as if done on purpose to renew their grief And every person bearing the same Name instantly changes it for another which every one invents for himself some call themselves Rattlesnakes others Buckshorn or the like yea if a person die whose Name is some Word used in common Speech they change that Word and invent a new one which makes their Language very troublesom When any one is sick after his Friends have used all possible means every one pretending skill in Physick but all proving ineffectual they send for a Pawaw or Priest who sitting down by the sick person without the least inquiring after the Distemper expects a Fee or Gift according to which he proportions his work beginning with a low voice to call sometimes upon one God and then on another still raising his vice beating his naked breasts and sides till the sweat runs down and his breath is almost gone and what remains he breaths upon the face of the sick person three or four times together so takes his leave Their Weddings are performed without any Ceremony Their Marriages the Match being first made by Money which being agreed on and given to the Woman makes a Consummation of the Marriage if we may so call it after which he keeps her during pleasure and upon the least dislike turns her away and takes another It is no offence for their married Women to lie with another Man provided she acquaint her Husband or some of her nearest Relations therewith but if not they account it such a fault as is sometimes punishable by death When any Woman finds herself quick with Child she keeps herself chaste or untouched by Man until her delivery the like she observeth in her giving such a strange Custom which our European Ladies would not well relish An Indian may have two or three or more Wives if he please but it is not now so much used as before the English came they being inclined to imitate them in things both good and bad Any Maid before she is married lies with whom she pleases for Money without the least scandal or aspersion it being not only customary but lawful They are extream charitable to one another for if any one has to spare he freely imparts to his friends and whatever they get by Gaming or otherwise they share one with another leaving commonly the least part to themselves When their King or Sachen sits in Council he hath a company of armed Men to guard his person great respect being shewed him by the people which chiefly appears by their silence after he has declared the cause of their convention he demands their Opinions ordering who shall first begin who having delivered his mind tells them he hath done for no man interrupts him though he makes never so many long stops and halts till he says he hath no more to say the Council having all delivered their Opinions the King after some pause gives the definitive Sentence which is commonly seconded by a shout from the people thereby signifying their assent or applause If any person be condemned to die which is seldom but for Murder or Incest the King himself goes out in person for they have no Prisons and the guilty person flies into the Woods to seek him out and having found him the King shoots first though at never such a distance and then happy is the man that can shoot him down who for his pains is made some Captain or Military Officer Their Clothing Their Clothing is a yard and a half of broad Cloth which they hang on their Shoulders and half a yard of the same being put between their Legs is tied up before and behind and fastened with a Girdle about their middle and hangs with a slap on each side they wear no Hats but commonly tye either a Snakes-skin about their â—eads a Belt of their Money or a kind of Ruff made with Deers-hair and dyed of a Scarlet-colour which they esteem very rich they grease their Bodies and Hair very often and paint their Faces with divers Colours as Black White Red Yellow Blew which they take great pride in every one being painted in a several manner Thus much for the Customs of the Indians and the Colony of New-York Hudson's River runs by New-York Northward into the Country towards the head of which is seated New-Albany a place of a very considerable Trade with the Natives betwixt which and New-York being above an hundred Miles distance is as good Corn-land as the World affords it was reduced to his Majesties obedience by Col. Nicholas and a League of Friendship concluded between the Inhabitants and the Indians by whom they have never been since disturbed but every man hath sate under his own Vine and hath peaceably reaped and enjoyed the Fruits of his own Labour which God continue A DESCRIPTION OF NEW ENGLAND It s Discovery new-NEw-England was first discovered as well as the other Northern-Coasts of America by Sebastian Cabot in the Year 1497. and in 1584. Mr. Philip Amadas and Mr. Arthur Barlow were the first Christians that took possession thereof for Queen Elizabeth The Year following Sir Richard Greenvile conveyed an English Colony thither under the government of Mr. Ralph Lane who continued there till the next Year but upon some extraordinary occasion returned with Sir Francis Drake into England being accounted by some the first discoverer thereof It is seated on the North of Mary-Land It s Situation and on the South Virginia lying about 40 and 41 Degrees of North-Latitude and it is reported to have 70 Miles of Sea-Cost where are found divers good Havens
several of which being capable to harbour five hundred Sail of Ships from the rage of the Sea and Winds by reason of the interposition of several Isles to the number of about 200 which lie about this Coast The Account of the Worship and Ceremonies of the Indians hath been much perfected by the Industry and Voyages of Capt. Gosnold Capt. Hudson Capt. Smith and others the last of which gives a very large Account this Captain being taken Prisoner by the Natives and while he stayed among them observed their Magical Rites three or four days after his being seized seven of their Priests in the House where he lay each with a Rattle making him sit down by them began about Ten in the Morning to sing about a fire which they encompassed with a Circle of Meal at the end of every Song which the Chief Priest begun the rest followed in order they laid down two or three Grains of Wheat then the Priest disguised with a great Skin his Head hung round with little Skins of Weasles and other Vermine and a Cornet of Feathers painted as ugly as the Devil at the end of every Song he used strange and vehement Gestures throwing great Cakes of Deer-Suet and Tobacco into the fire thus these howling Devotions continued till Six a Clock at Night and held so three days This they pretended was to know of their God whether any more English should arrive and what they intended to do in that Country They sed Capt. Smith so high that he much doubted they would have sacrificed him to their Chief Deity the Image of whom is so deformed that nothing can be more monstrous the Women likewise after he was freed and President of the Company made him a very odd Entertainment thirty of them came out of the Woods only covered before and behind with a few green Leaves their Bodies painted of different colours the Commander of these Nymphs had on her Head a large pair of Stag's Horns and a Quiver of Arrows at her Back with Bow and Arrows in her hand the rest followed with Horns and Weapons all alike they rushed through the Streets with hellish shouts and crys dancing about a fire which was there made for that purpose for an hour together then they solemnly invited him to their Lodging where he was no sooner come but they all surrounded him and crying Love you not me after which they feasted him with great variety cook'd after their mad fashion some singing and dancing all the while and at last lighted him home with a Firebrand instead of a Torch to his Lodgings And although this Country is seated in the midst of the Temperate Zone yet is the Clime more uncertain Temperature as to the heat and cold than those European Kingdoms which lie Parallel with it and as to Virginia this may be compared as Scotland is to England The Air The Air. is found very healthful and agreeable to the English which makes them possess many Potent Colonies being very numerous and powerful When they design to make War they first consult with their Priests and Conjurers no People being so Barbarous almost but they have their Gods Their Religion Priests and Religion they adore as it were all things that they think may unavoidably hurt them as Fire Water Lightning Thunder our Great Guns Muskets and Horses yea some of them once seeing an English Boar were struck with some terror because he bristled up his Hairs and gnashed his Teeth believing him to be the God of the Swine who was offended with them The chief God they Worship is the Devil which they call Okee they have conference with him and fashion themselves into his shape In their Temple they have his Image ill-favouredly Carved Painted and Adorned with Chains Copper and Beads and covered with a Skin The Sepulchre of their Kings is commonly near them whose Bodies are first Imbowelled dried on a Hurdle adorned with Chains and Beads and then wrapped in white Skins over which are Matts they are afterwards Intombed orderly in Arches made of Matts their Wealth being placed at their feet But for their common Burials they dig a hole in the Earth with sharp Stakes and the Corps being wrapped in Skins and Matts they lay them in the Ground placing them upon sticks and then cover them with Earth the Burial ended the Women having their Faces painted black with Cole and Oyl sit Mourning in the House twenty four hours together howling and yelling by turns The Natives are cloathed with loose Mantles made of Deers Skins and Aprons of the same round their Middle Their Cloathing all else being naked of Stature like to us in England They Paint themselves and their Children and he is most Gallant who is most deformed The Women Imbroider their Legs Hands and other Parts with several Works as of Serpents and the like making black spots in their Flesh Their Houses are made of small Poles round and fastened at the top in a circle like our Arbours covered with Matts twice as long as broad they are exact Archers and with their Arrows will kill Birds flying or Beasts running full speed One of our Men was with an Arrow shot through the Body and both the Arms at once Another Indian shot an Arrow of an Ell long through a Target that a Pistol Ballet could not pierce their Bows are of tough Hazle and their Strings of Leather their Arrows of Cane or Hazle headed with Stones or Horn and Feathered Artificially They soon grow heartless if they find their Arrows do no execution They say there is Men among them of above two hundred years of Age. Though the Planting of this Country was designed by several of the English yet it lay much neglected 'till a small company of Planters under the Command of Captain George Popham and Captain Gilbert was sent over at the charge of Sir John Popham in 1606. to begin a Colony upon a Tract of Land about Saga de hoch the most Northernly part of new-New-England but that design within two years expired with its Founder Soon after some Honourable Persons of the West of England commonly called the Council of Plymouth being more certainly informed of several Navigable Rivers and Commodious Havens with other places sit either for Planting or Traffick newly discovered by many skilful Navigators obtained of King James the First a Patent under the Great Seal of all that part of North America called New-England from forty to forty eight Degrees of North Latitude This vast Tract of Land was in 1612. Cantoned and divided by Grant into many lesser Parcels according as Adventurers presented which Grants being founded upon uncertain and false Descriptions and reports of some that Travelled thither did much interfere one with another to the great disturbance of the first Planters so that little profit was reaped from thence Nor was any greater Improvement made of those Grand Portions of Land saving the erecting some few Cottages for Fishermen
wholsom though the rigour of the Winter season and the excels of Heats in Summer doth detract something from it due praise The Island of New-found-land was first discovered by Sebastian Cabot The first Discoverer likewise Fabian gives an account that in the time of Henry the Seventh three men being taken in New-found-land were brought to the King And Robert Thorn writes that his Father and one Mr. Eliot were the Discoverers of the New-found-land in 1530. Mr. Hore sets out for a further Discovery but was brought to such extremity by Famine that many of his Company were killed and eaten by their fellows and those which returned were so altered that Sir William Butts a Norfolk Knight could not know his Son Thomas who was one of this starved number but only by a Wart that grew upon one of his knees After the first Discovery the business of Trading thither was laid aside for many years In the mean time the Normans Portugals and Brittains of France resorted to it and changed the Names which had been given by the English to the Bays and Promontories but the English would not so soon relinquish their Pretensions And therefore in 1583. Sir Humphrey Gilbert took Possession thereof in the Name and by the Commission of Queen Elizabeth forbidding all other Nations to use Fishing and intending to have setled an English Colony there but being wrack'd in his return the setling of the Colony was discontinued till 1608. and then undertook by John Guy a Merchant of Bristol who in twenty three days failed from thence to Conception Bay in New-found-land In 1611. they had scarce six days of Frost in October and November which presently thawed the rest of the Months being warmer and dryer than in England neither were the Brooks frozen up three nights together with Ice able to bear a Dog They had Filberds Fish Mackerel and Foxes in the Winter White Patridges in the Summer larger than ours who are much afraid of Ravens They kill a Wolf with a Mastiff and a Greyhound In 1612. they found some Houses of the Natives which were nothing but Poles set round and meeting on the top ten foot broad the fire in midst covered with Deer-skins The People are of a reasonable Stature Beardless Broad-faced their faces covered with Oker Some of them went naked only their Privities covered with a Skin They believe in one God who Created all things but have many whimsical Notions and ridiculous Opinions for they say That after God had made all things he took a number of Arrows and struck them in the Ground from whence Men and Women first sprung up and have multiplied ever since A Sagamore or Governour being asked concerning the Trinity answered There was only one God one Son one Mother and the Sun which were four yet God was above all Being questioned if they or their Ancestors had heard that God was come into the World he said That he had not seen him Some among them speak visibly to the Devil and he tells them what they must do as well in War as other matters One Samuel Chaplain in 1603. gives an acconnt of a Feast made by one of their Great Lords in his Cabbin eight or ten Kettles of Meat were set on several Fires some yards asunder The men sate on both sides the Room each of them having a Dish of the Bark of a Tree one of which was appointed to give every man his Portion Before the Meat was boyled one took his Dog and Danced about the Kettles and when he came before the Sagamore threw the Dog down and then another succeeded in the like Exercise After the Feast they Danced with the Heads of their Enemies in their hands singing all the while Their Canoes are of the Bark of Birch strengthned with little Wooden Hoops they have many Fires in their Cabbins ten Housholds sometimes live together lying upon Skins one by another and their Dogs with them which are like Foxes At another Feast the Men cause all the Women and Maids to sit in Ranks themselves standing behind Singing suddenly all the Women threw off all their Mantles of Skins and strip themselves stark naked being not at all ashamed their Songs ended they cryed with one Voice Ho Ho Ho and then covered themselves with their Mantles and after a while renewed their former Songs and Nakedness When a Maid is fourteen or fifteen years of Age she hath many Lovers and uses her Pleasure with as many of them as she pleases for five or six years and then takes whom she likes for a Husband providing he be a good Hunter living Chastly with him all her life after except for Barrenness he forsakes her When any dies they make a Pit and therein put all his Goods with the Corps covering it over with Earth Their Iurials and setting many pieces of Wood over it and a stake Painted red They believe the immortality of the Soul and that the Dead go into a far Country to make merry with their Friends If any fall sick they send to one Sagamon Memberton a great Conjurer who made Prayers to the Devil and blowed upon the Party and cutting him sucks the Blood if it be a Wound he heals it after the same manner applying a round slice of Beaver Stones for which they make him a Present of Venison or Skins If they desire News of things absent the Spirit answers doubtfully and sometimes false When the Savages are hungry they consult with this Oracle and he tells them the place where they shall go if they find no Game the excuse is the Beast hath wandered and changed his place but most times they speed which makes them to believe the Devil to be God though they do not Worship him When these Conjurers consult with the Devil they fix a staff in a Pit to which they tie a Cord and putting their Head into the Pit make Invocation in an unknown Language with so much stirring and pains that they sweat again when the Devil is come the Wizard persuades them he holds him fast with his Cord forcing him to answer before he lets him go Then he begins to sing something in praise of the Spirit who hath discovered where there are some Deer and the other Savages answer in the same Tune they then Dance and Sing in a strange Tongue After which they make a Fire and leap over it putting an half Pole-out of the top of the Cabbin wherein they are with something tied thereto which the Devil carrieth away Memberton wore about his neck the mark of his Profession which was a Triangle Purse with something within it like a Nut which he said was his Spirit This Office is Hereditary they teaching this Mystery of Iniquity to their Sons by Tradition In 1613. fifty four English-men six Women and two Children Wintered there they killed Bears Otters and Sables sowed Wheat Rye Turnips and Coleworts Their Winter was dry and clear with some Frost and Snow Several had the
Scurvey against which their Turnips proved a sovereign Remedy There are Musk-Cats and Musk-Rats and near the Coasts is great killing of Marses or Sea-Oxen a small Ship in a small time slew fifteen hundred of them They are bigger than an Ox the Hide dressed is as thick again as a Bull 's they have Teeth like Elephants about a foot longer growing downwards out of the upper Jaw and therefore less dangerous It is sold dearer than Ivory and by some thought ns great an Antidote as the Vnicorn's Horn. The young ones eat like Veal which the old will defend to the utmost holding them in their Arms or Fore-feet out of the Bellies of five of these Fishes which live both on the Land and Water they make an Hogshead of Train-Oyl They sleep in great Companies and have one Centinel or Watchman to wake the rest upon occasion Their Sâ—ins are short-haired like Seals theirfaces resembles a Lion's and may therefore more justly be called Sea-Lyons than Sea-Oxen or Horses East of New-found-land over against Cape-Ray at the distance of about 70 Miles from that Shore lies a Bank or Ridge of Ground extending about 300 Miles in length and not above 75 in breadth where broadest This great Bank is covered with Water when the Sea is high and uncovered and dry on the Ebb on all sides whereof the Sea is 200 fathom deep so that ships of a considerable Burthen may ride over it And about this Bank lies dispersed several small Isles called by St. Sebastian Cabot the first Discoverer Los Boocaloos or the Isles of Cod-Fish from that Prodigious quantities of Cod-fish there found which were said to obstruct the passage of his Vessels It is almost incredible how many Nations yearly Trade thither Their Trade amounting to between three or four hundred Sayl of Ships that are assured to find sufficient Freight of Cod and Poor John one man catching an hundred in an hour they Fish with Hooks which are no sooner thrown into the Sea but the greedy Fish snapping the Bait is taken and drawn on Ship-board where they lay him on a Plank one cutting off his Head another guts and takes out its biggest Bones another salts and barrels it which being thus ordered is hence transported by the European Nations to all parts of Christendom and through most other parts of the World They fish only in the Day the Cod not biting in the Night nor doth the Fish last all Seasons but begins towards Spring and ends in September for in Winter they retire to the bottom of the Sea where Storms and Tempests have no power Near these Coasts is another kind of Fishing for Cod which the call Dried as the other Green-Fish The Fishermen retire into some Harbour and every Morning send out their Shallops two or three Leagues into the Sea who fail not of their Load by Noon or soon after which they bring to Land and order as the other After this Fish has lain some days in Salt they take it out and dry it in the Wind laying it again in heaps and exposing it daily to the open Ayr till it be dry which ought to be good and temperate to make the Fish saleable for Mists moisten it and make it rot and the Sun causes yellowness At this their Fishing the Mariners have likewise the pleasure of taking Fowl without going out of their Vessels for baiting their Hook with the Cod's Livers these Fowls are so greedy that they come by Flocks and fight who shall get the Bait first which soon proves its Death and one being taken the Hook is no sooner thrown out but another is instantly catcht And were the English diligent to inspect the advantage that might accrue to this Nation by setling Plantations on the Island and raise Fortifications for the security of the Place we might give Laws to all Foreigners that come to Fish there and in few years engross the whole Fishery to our selves the greatest Ballance perchance of Foreign Trade In the Year 1623. Sir George Calvert Knight and Principal Secretary of State and afterwards Lord Baltemore obtained a Patent of part of New-found-Land which was erected into a Province and called Avalon where he caused a Plantation to be setled and a stately House and Fort to be built at Ferryland and afterwards transported himself and Family thither and continued the Plantation by his Deputy till by Descent after his Lordships Decease it came to his Son and Heir the right Honourable Caecilius now Lord Baltemore who by Deputies from time to time was no less careful to preserve his interest there which tho' during the last Troubles in England was by Sir David Kirk's means for some years discontinued he was soon re-invested in the same by His Majesties most happy Restauration A DESCRIPTION OF THE Island of TOBAGO THis Island of Tobago is situaated in 11 degrees Iss Situation 30 minutes North Latitude and in 53 degrees 6 minutes Longitude West from the Lizard and about 40 League distance from Barbados its extent not exceeding 32 Miles in Length and about 11 in Breadth It is a Countrey blest with a temperate and wholesom Air It s Temperature by reason of a warm and temperate heat being moderated by a continual Brieze of Wind so that here is no Summer spent on purpose for Winter-provisions because all the year long both Herbage and Fruit bud up by a perpetual Spring And the Island is so well stored with Materials for Building that provided you bring dextrous Hands and good Artificers you may in a short time with little Charge build both Houses Towns and Fortifications The Soyl doth naturally produce Indian-Corn Corn Grain such as grows at Virginia New-York Carolina c. But no English Grain grows here however there are English Pease of divers sorts and Beans and Pulse enough likewise there is Guinea-Corn Bonevis the French-Pea the Kidney-Pea the Pigeon-Pea the French-Bean c. Here are excellent Fruits in great abundance Its Fruits as the Cushen-Apple which are both Meat and Drink only made distinguishable by the Art of Boyling whose Nut if preserved you may eat and of the Rinds while green make an excellent Lamp-Oyl which by small Labour is easily obtained Here is a Fruit called a Bonano which may be eaten raw or bettered by an easie decoction of Fire Here is also the Fig-tree such as is that in Spain and Portugal and several parts in America Then there is the Prickle-Apple the Pomegranate the Pine-Apple Pome Citrons Oranges of three sorts the sower for Sawce and the Flowers for Essences the sweet ones are eaten for Recreation But the China-Orange that grows here in America super-excels those in Europe beyond expression Of Limons here are two sorts the sower one for Limonadoes and the sweet one for Delectation So of Limes also here are sweet and sower with the last of which they make Limeads and Punch Guavers is a Fruit that is exceeding stony there is the
Complexion Stature Customs Dispositions Laws Religion Apparel Diet Houses c. are much the same with those of Virginia already treated of being likewise many different Tribes or sorts of People and each governed by their particular King There are many strange Rites and Ceremonies used by the Native Indians Their Religion they believe there are several Gods which they call Mantaac but of different sorts and degrees yet there is but one absolute God from all eternity who when he made the World created other Gods to be as a Means and Instrument used in the Creation and that the Sun Moon and Stars are petty Gods out of the Waters they affirm all the variety of Creatures were made for Mankind that Woman was made first who by the assistance of one of the Gods conceived and brought forth Children but know not how long it was since this was done having no Arithmetick nor Records but only Tradition from Father to Son they make the Images of their Gods in the shape of Men placing one at least in their Houses or Temple where they worship sing pray and make Offerings They believe that after this Life the Soul shall be disposed of according to its Works here either to the habitation of the Gods to enjoy perpetual happiness or to a great Pit or Hole in the furthest part of their Countrey toward Sun-set which they count the furthermost part of the World there to burn continually which place they call Popogusso and relate that one that was buried was the next day seen to move upon his Grave whereupon his Body was taken up again who when he was revived declared that his Soul was near entring into Popogusso had not one of the Gods saved him and suffered him to return and warn his Friends to avoid that terrible place another being taken up related that his Soul was alive while his Body was in the Grave and had been travelling in a long broad way on both sides whereof grew delicate Trees bearing excellent Fruits and at length arrived at most curious houses where he met his Father that was dead before who charged him to go back and shew his Friends what good they were to do to enjoy the pleasures of this Place and then to return to him again Whatever Tricks or Subtilty the Priests use the Vulgar are hereby very respectful to their Governors and careful of their actions though in criminal Causes they inflict punishments according to the quality of the Offence they are great Negromancers and account our Fire-works Guns and Writing to be the works of God rather than Men. When one of their Kings was sick he sent to the English to pray for him Some of them imagine that we are not mortal men nor born of Women but say we are an old Generation revived and believe that there are more of us yet to come to kill their Nation and take their places who are at present invisible in the Air without Bodies and that at their intercession they cause those of their Nation to die who wrong the English Their Idol they place in the innermost Room of the House of whom they relate incredible Stories they carry it with them to the Wars and ask counsel thereof as the Romans did of their Oracles they sing Songs as they march towards Battel instead of Drums and Trumpets their Wars are exceeding bloody and have wasted the people very much Once a year they hold a great Festival meeting together out of several Villages each having a certain Mark or Character on his Back whereby it may be discerned whose Subject he is the place where they meet is spacious and round about are Posts carved on the top like a Nuns Head in the midst are three of the fairest Virgins lovingly embracing and clasping each other about this living Image and artificial Circle they dance in their savage manner Their chief Idol called Kiwasa in made of wood four foot high the Face resembling the Inhabitants of Florida painted with flesh-colour the Breast white the other parts black the Legs only sported with white with Chains and Strings of Beads about his neck This Idol is the Keeper of the dead Bodies of their Kings which are advanced on Scaffolds nine or ten foot high this Kiwasa or Guardian being placed near them and underneath liveth a Priest who there mumbles his Devotions night and day This Province of Mary-Land His Majesty King Charles the First in Anno 1632. granted by a Patent to the Right Honourable Caecilius Calvert Lord Baltemore and to his Heirs and Assigns and by that Patent created him and them the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the same saving the Allegiance and Sovereign Dominion due to His Majesty his Heirs and Successors thereby likewise granting to them all Royal Jurisdictions both military and Civil as Power of enacting Laws martial Laws making of Warand Peace Pardoning Offences conferring of Honours coyning of Money c. and in acknowledgment thereof yielding and paying yearly to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors two Indiâ—n Arrows at Windsor-Castle in the County of Berks on Easter-Tuesday together with the fifth part of all the Gold and Silver-Oar that shall be found there The Lord Baltemore hath his Residence at Mattapany about eight miles distance from St. Maries where he hath a pleasant Seat though the general Assemblies and Provincial Courts are kept at St. Maries and for the better inviting of People to settle here his Lordship by the Advice of the General Assembly of that Province hath long since established a Model of good and wholsom Laws for the ease and benefit of the Inhabitants with toleration of Religion to all sorts that profess the Faith of Christ which hath been a principal motive to many to settle under that Government rather than in another where Liberty of Conscience was denied them NEW ENGLAND And NEW YORK by Rob Morden i Charles Towne k Cambridg l Water town m Naâ—ton n Dabham o Medfeild p Chensford q Ballerica r Sudbury a Roxbury b Deâ—byster c Miltem d â—â—ymouth e Bâ—â—â—bry f Malden g Wiâ—â—sunt h Farmington The Inhabitants being in number about 16000 have begun the building of several Towns which in few years 't is hoped may come to some perfection as Calverton Herrington and Harvey-Town all commodiously seated for the benefit of Trade and conveniency of Shipping but the principal Town is St. Maries seated on St. Georges River being beautified with divers well-built Houses and is the chief Place or Scale of Trade for the Province A DESCRIPTION Of NEW-YORK ADjoyning to Mary-Land Northwards is a Colony called New-York from our present Gracious Sovereign when Duke of York the Proprietor thereof by Grant from His Majesty and is that part of new-New-England which the Dutch once possessed it was first discovered by Mr. Hudson It s Discovery and sold presently by him to the Dutch without Authority from his Sovereign the King of England in 1608. The Hollanders in 1614. began to