reuenged because wee sought by all meanes possible to win them by gentlenesse but that within a few dayes after our departure from euerie such towne the people began to die very fast and many in short space in some townes about twentie in some fourtie in some sixtie in one sixe score which in trueth was very manie in respect of their numbers This happened in no place that wee coulde learne but where wee had bene where they vsed some practise against vs and after such time The disease also so strange that they neither knew what it was nor how to cure it the like by report of the oldest men in the countrey neuer happened before time out of minde A thing specially obserued by vs as also by the naturall inhabitants themselues Insomuch that when some of the inhabitants which were our friends especially the Wiroans Wingina had obserued such effects in foure or fiue towns to follow their wicked practises they were perswaded that it was the worke of our God through our meanes and that wee by him might kil and slai whom wee would without weapons and not come neere them And thereupon when it had happened that they had vnderstanding that any of their enemies had abused vs in our iourneyes hearing that wee had wrought no reuenge with our weapons fearing vpon some cause the matter should so rest did come and intreate vs that we woulde bee a meanes to our God that they as others that had dealt ill with vs might in like sort die alleaging howe much it would be for our credite and profite as also theirs and hoping furthermore that we would do so much at their requests in respect of the friendship we professe them Whose entreaties although wee shewed that they were vngodlie affirming that our God would not subiect him selfe to anie such praiers and requestes of mē that in deede all thinges haue beene and were to be done according to his good pleasure as he had ordained ād that we to shew our selues his true seruāts ought rather to make petition for the contrarie that they with them might liue together with vs bee made partakers of his truth serue him in righteousnes but notwithstanding in such sort that wee referre that as all other thinges to bee done according to his diuine will pleasure ād as by his wisedome he had ordained to be best Yet because the effect fell out so sodainly and shortly after according to their desires they thought neuerthelesse it came to passe by our meanes and that we in vsing such speeches vnto them did but dissemble the matter and therefore came vnto vs to giue vs thankes in their manner that although wee satisfied them not in promise yet in deedes and effect we had fulfilled their desires This maruelous accident in all the countrie wrought so strange opinions of vs that some people could not tel whether to think vs gods or men and the rather because that all the space of their sicknesse there was no man of ours knowne to die or that was specially sicke they noted also that we had no women amongst vs neither that we did care for any of theirs Some therefore were of opinion that wee were not borne of women and therefore not mortall but that wee were men of an old generation many yeeres past then risen againe to immortalitie Some woulde likewise seeme to prophesie that there were more of our generation yet to come to kill theirs and take their places as some thought the purpose was by that which was already done Those that were immediatly to come after vs they imagined to be in the aire yet inuisible without bodies that they by our intreaty for the loue of vs did make the people to die in that sort as they did by shooting inuisible bullets into them To confirme this opinion their phisitions to excuse their ignorance in curing the disease would not be ashemed to say but earnestly make the simple people beleue that the strings of blood that they sucked out of the sicke bodies were the strings wherewithal the inuisible bullets were tied and cast Some also thought that we shot them our selues out of our pieces from the place where we dwelt and killed the people in any such towne that had offended vs as we listed how farre distant from vs soeuer it were And other some saide that it was the speciall woorke of God for our sakes as wee our selues haue cause in some sorte to thinke no lesse whatsoeuer some doe or maie imagine to the contrarie specially some Astrologers knowing of the Eclipse of the Sunne which wee saw the same yeere before in our voyage thytherward which vnto them appeared very terrible And also of a Comet which beganne to appeare but a few daies before the beginning of the said sicknesse But to exclude them from being the speciall an accident there are farther reasons then I thinke fit at this present to bee alleadged These their opinions I haue set downe the more at large that it may appeare vnto you that there is good hope they may be brought through discreet dealing and gouernement to the imbracing of the trueth and consequently to honour obey feare and loue vs. And although some of our companie to wardes the ende of the yeare shewed themselues too fierce in slaying some of the people in some towns vpō causes that on our part might easily enough haue been borne withall yet notwithstanding because it was on their part iustly deserued the alteration of their opinions generally for the most part concerning vs is the lesse to bee doubted And whatsoeuer els they may be by carefulnesse of our selues neede nothing at all to be feared The best neuerthelesse in this as in all actions besides is to be endeuoured and hoped of the worst that may happen notice to bee taken with consideration and as much as may be eschewed The Conclusion Now I haue as I hope made relation not of so fewe and smal things but that the countrey of men that are indifferent wel disposed maie be sufficiently liked If there were no more knowen then I haue mentioned which doubtlesse and in great reason is nothing to that which remaineth to bee discouered neither the soile nor commodities As we haue reason so to gather by the difference we found in our trauails for although all which I haue before spoken of haue bin discouered experimented not far from the sea coast where was our abode most of our trauailing yet somtimes as we made our iourneies farther into the maine and countrey we found the soyle to bee fatter the trees greater and to growe thinner the grounde more firme and deeper mould more and larger champions finer grasse and as good as euer we saw any in England in some places rockie and farre more high and hillie ground more plentie of their fruites more abondance of beastes the more inhabited with people and of greater pollicie larger dominions
rāke differing from other halfe a fadome or a yarde and the holes also in euery ranke as much By this meanes there is a yarde spare ground betwene euery hole where according to discretion here and there they set as many Beanes and Peaze in diuers places also among the seedes of Macócqwer Melden and Planta Solis The ground being thus set according to the rate by vs experimented an English Acre conteining fourtie pearches in length and foure in breadth doeth there yeeld in croppe or ofcome of corne beanes and peaze at the least two hūdred London bushelles besides the Macócqwer Melden and Planta Solis When as in England fourtie bushelles of our wheate yeelded out of such an acre is thought to be much I thought also good to note this vnto you if you which shall inhabite and plant there maie know how specially that countrey corne is there to be preferred before ours Besides the manifold waies in applying it to victuall the increase is so much that small labour and paines is needful in respect that must be vsed for ours For this I can assure you that according to the rate we haue made proofe of one man may prepare and husbane so much grounde hauing once borne corne before with lesse thē foure and twentie houres labour as shall yeelde him victuall in a large proportiō for a twelue mōeth if hee haue nothing else but that which the same groūd will yeelde and of that kinde onelie which I haue before spoken of the saide groūd being also but of fiue and twentie yards square And if neede require but that there is ground enough there might be raised out of one and the selfsame ground two haruestes or ofcomes for they sowe or set and may at anie time when they thinke good from the middest of March vntill the ende of Iune so that they also set when they haue eaten of their first croppe In some places of the countrey notwithstanding they haue two haruests as we haue heard out of one and the same ground For English corne neuertheles whether to vse or not to vse it you that inhabite maie do as you shall haue farther cause to thinke best Of the grouth you need not to doubt for barlie oates and peaze we haue seene proof of not beeing purposely sowen but fallen casually in the worst sort of ground and yet to be as faire as any we haue euer seene here in England But of wheat because it was musty and hat taken salt water wee could make no triall and of rye we had none Thus much haue I digressed and I hope not vnnecessarily nowe will I returne againe to my course and intreate of that which yet remaineth appertaining to this Chapter There is an herbe which is sowed a part by it selfe is called by the inhabitants Vppówoc In the West Indies it hath diuers names according to the seuerall places countries where it groweth and is vsed The Spaniardes generally call it Tobacco The leaues thereof being dried and brought into powder they vse to take the fume or smoke thereof by sucking it through pipes made of claie into their stomacke and heade from whence it purgeth superfluous fleame other grosse humors openeth all the pores passages of the body by which meanes the vse thereof not only preserueth the body from obstructiōs but also if any be so that they haue not beene of too long continuance in short time breaketh them wherby their bodies are notably preserued in health know not many greeuous diseases wherewithall wee in England are oftentimes afflicted This Vppówoc is of so precious estimation amongest then that they thinke their gods are maruelously delighted therwith Wherupon sometime they make hallowed fires cast some of the pouder therein for a sacrifice being in a storme vppon the waters to pacifie their gods they cast some vp into the aire and into the water so a weare for fish being newly set vp they cast some therein and into the aire also after an escape of danger they cast some into the aire likewise but all done with strange gestures stamping somtime dauncing clapping of hands holding vp of hands staring vp into rhe heauens vttering therewithal and chattering strange words noises We our selues during the time we were there vsed to suck it after their maner as also since our returne haue found maine rare and wonderful experiments of the vertues thereof of which the relation woulde require a volume by it selfe the vse of it by so manie of late men women of great calling as else and some learned Phisitions also is sufficient witnes And these are all the commodities for sustenance of life that I know and can remember they vse to husband all else that followe are founde growing naturally or wilde Of Rootes Openavk are a kind of roots of round forme some of the bignes of walnuts some far greater which are found in moist marish grounds growing many together one by another in ropes or as thogh they were fastnened with a string Being boiled or sodden they are very good meate Okeepenavk are also of round shape found in dry grounds some are of the bignes of a mans head They are to be eaten as they are taken out of the ground for by reason of their drinesse they will neither roste nor seeth Their tast is not so good as of the former rootes notwithstanding for want of bread somtimes for varietie the inhabitants vse to eate them with fish or flesh and in my iudgement they doe as well as the houshold bread made of rie heere in England Kaishúcpenauk a white kind of roots about the bignes of hen egs nere of that forme their tast was not so good to our seeming as of the other and therfore their place and manner of growing not so much cared for by vs the inhabitāts notwithstanding vsed to boile eate many Tsinaw a kind of roote much like vnto the which in England is called the China root brought from the East Indies And we know not anie thing to the cōtrary but that it maie be of the same kind These roots grow manie together in great clusters and doe bring foorth a brier stalke but the leafe in shape far vnlike which beeing supported by the trees it groweth neerest vnto wil reach or climbe to the top of the highest From these roots while they be new or fresh beeing chopt into small pieces stampt is strained with water a iuice that maketh bread also being boiled a very good spoonemeate in maner of a gelly and is much better in tast if it bee tempered with oyle This Tsinaw is not of that sort which by some was caused to be brought into England for the China roote for it was discouered since and is in vse as is afore saide but that which was brought hither is not yet knowne neither by vs nor by the inhabitants to serue for any vse or purpose although the rootes in shape are very
it maie seeme vppon their credite and reputation that hauing been a twelue moneth in the countrey it woulde haue beene a great disgrace vnto them as they thought if they coulde not haue saide much wheter it were true or false Of which some haue spoken of more then euer they saw or otherwise knew to bee there othersome haue not bin ashamed to make absolute deniall of that which although not by thē yet by others is most certainely ād there plētifully knowne And othersome make difficulties of those things they haue no skill of The cause of their ignorance was in that they were of that many that were neuer out of the Iland where wee were seated or not farre or at the leastwise in few places els during the time of our aboade in the countrey or of that many that after golde and siluer was not so soone found as it was by them looked for had little or no care of any other thing but to pamper their bellies or of that many which had little vnderstanding lesse discretion and more tongue then was needfull or requisite Some also were of a nice bringing vp only in cities or townes or such as neuer as I may say had seene the world before Because there were not to bee found any English cities nor such faire houses nor at their owne wish any of their olde accustomed daintie food nor any soft beds of downe or fethers the countrey was to them miserable their reports thereof according Because my purpose was but in briefe to open the cause of the varietie of such speeches the particularities of them and of many enuious malicious and slaūderous reports and deuises els by our owne countrey men besides as trifles that are not worthy of wise men to bee thought vpon I meane not to trouble you withall but will passe to the commodities the substance of that which I haue to make relation of vnto you The treatise where of for your more readie view easier vnderstanding I will diuide into three speciall parts In the first I will make declaration of such commodities there alreadie found or to be raised which will not onely serue the ordinary turnes of you which are and shall bee the plāters and inhabitants but such an ouerplus sufficiently to bee yelded or by men of skill to bee prouided as by way of trafficke and exchaunge with our owne nation of England will enrich your selues the prouiders those that shal deal with you the enterprisers in general and greatly profit our owne countrey men to supply them with most things which heretofore they haue bene faine to prouide either of strangers or of our enemies which commodities for distinction sake I call Merchantable In the second I will set downe all the cōmodities which wee know the countrey by our experience doeth yeld of it selfe for victuall and sustenance of mans life such as is vsually fed vpon by the inhabitants of the countrey as also by vs during the time we were there In the last part I will make mention generally of such other cōmodities besides as I am able to remember and as I shall thinke behoofull for those that shall inhabite and plant there to knowe of which specially concerne building as also some other necessary vses with a briefe description of the nature and maners of the people of the countrey THE FIRST PART OF MARCHANTABLE COMMODITIES Silke of grasse or grasse Silke There is a kind of grasse in the countrey vppon the blades where of there groweth very good silke in forme of a thin glittering skin to bee stript of It groweth two foote and a halfe high or better the blades are about two foot in length and half inch broad The like groweth in Persia which is in the selfe same climate as Virginia of which very many of the silke workes that come from thence into Europe are made Here of if it be planted and ordered as in Persia it cannot in reason be otherwise but that there will rise in shorte time great profite to the dealers therein seeing there is so great vse and vent thereof as well in our countrey as els where And by the meanes of sowing plāting in good ground it will be farre greater better and more plentifull then it is Although notwithstanding there is great store thereof in many places of the countrey growing naturally and wilde Which also by proof here in England in making a piece of silke Grogran we found to be excellent good Worme Silke In manie of our iourneyes we found silke wormes fayre and great as bigge as our ordinary walnuttes Although it hath not beene our happe to haue found such plentie as elsew here to be in the coūtrey wehaue heard of yet seeing that the countrey doth naturally breede and nourish them there is no doubt but if art be added in plantig of mulbery trees and others fitte for them in commodious places for their feeding and nourishing and some of them carefully gathered and husbanded in that sort as by men of skill is knowne to be necessarie there will rise as great profite in time to the Virginians as there of doth now to the Persians Turkes Italians and Spaniards Flaxe and Hempe The trueth is that of Hempe and Flaxe there is no great store in any one place together by reason it is not planted but as the soile doth yeeld it of it selfe and howsoeuer the leafe and stemme or stalke doe differ from ours the stuffe by the iudgemēt of men of skill is altogether as good as ours And if not as further proofe should finde otherwise we haue that experience of the soile as thas there cannobee shewed anie reason to the contrary but that it will grow there excellent well and by planting will be yeelded plentifully seeing there is so much ground whereof some may well be applyed to such purposes What benefite heereof may growe in cordage and linnens who can not easily vnderstand Allum There is a veine of earth along the sea coast for the space of fourtie or fiftie miles whereof by the iudgement of some that haue made triall heerein England is made good Allum of that kinde which is called Roche Allum The richnesse of such a commoditie is so well knowne that I neede not to saye any thing thereof The same earth doth also yeelde White Copresse Nitrum and Alumen Plumeum but nothing so plentifully as the common Allum which be also of price and profitable Wapeih Wapeih a kinde of earth so called by the naturall inhabitants very like to terra sigillata and hauing beene refined it hath beene found by some of our Phisitiōs and Chirurgeons to bee of the same kinde of vertue and more effectuall The inhabitāts vse it very much for the cure of sores and woundes there is in diuers places great plentie and in some places of a blewe sort Pitch Tarre Rozen and Turpentine There are those kindes of trees which yeelde them abundantly and great store In the very same Iland
where wee were seated being fifteene miles of length and fiue or sixe miles in breadth there are fewe trees els but of the same kind the whole Iland being full Sassafras Sassafras called by the inhabitantes Winauk a kinde of wood of most pleasand and sweete smel and of most rare vertues in phisick for the cure of many diseases It is found by experience to bee farre better and of more vses then the wood which is called Guaiacum or Lignum vitae For the description the manner of vsing and the manifolde vertues thereof I referre you to the booke of Monardus translated and entituled in English The ioyfull newes from the West Indies Cedar Cedar a very sweet wood fine timber wherof if nests of chests be there made or timber therof fitted for sweet fine bedsteads tables deskes lutes virginalles many things else of which there hath beene proofe made already to make vp fraite with other principal commodities will yeeld profite Wine There are two kinds of grapes that the soile doth yeeld naturally the one is small and sowre of the ordinarie bignesse as ours in England the other farre greater of himselfe iushious sweet When they are plāted and husbandeg as they ought a principall commoditie of wines by them may be raised Oyle There are two sortes of Walnuttes both holding oyle but the one farre more plentifull then the other When there are milles other deuises for the purpose a commodity of them may be raised because there are infinite store There are also three seuerall kindes of Berries in the forme of Oke akornes which also by the experience and vse of the inhabitantes wee finde to yeelde very good and sweete oyle Furthermore the Beares of the countrey are commonly very fatte and in some places there are many their fatnesse because it is so liquid may well be termed oyle and hath many speciall vses Furres All along the Sea coast there are great store of Otters which beeyng taken by weares and other engines made for the purpose will yeelde good profite Wee hope also of Marterne furres and make no doubt by the relation of the people but that in some places of the countrey there are store although there were but two skinnes that came to our handes Luzarnes also we haue vnderstāding of although for the time we saw none Deare skinnes Deare skinnes dressed after the manner of Chamoes or vndressed are to be had of the naturall inhabitants thousands yeerely by way of trafficke for trifles and no more wast or spoile of Deare then is and hath beene ordinarily in time before Ciuet cattes In our trauailes there was founde one to haue beene killed by a saluage or inhabitant and in an other place the smell where one or more had lately beene before whereby we gather besides then by the relation of the people that there are some in the countrey good profite will rise by them Iron In two places of the countrey specially one about fourescore and the other sixe score miles from the Fort or place where wee dwelt wee founde neere the water side the ground to be rockie which by the triall of a minerall man was founde to holde Iron richly It is founde in manie places of the countrey else I knowe nothing to the contrarie but that it maie bee allowed for a good marchantable commoditie considering there the small charge for the labour and feeding of men the infinite store of wood the want of wood and deerenesse thereof in England the necessity of ballasting of shippes Copper A hundred and fiftie miles into the maine in two townes wee founde with the inhabitaunts diuerse small plates of copper that had beene made as wee vnderstood by the inhabitantes that dwell farther into the countrey where as they say are mountaines and Riuers that yeelde also whyte graynes of Mettall which is to bee deemed Siluer For confirmation whereof at the time of our first arriuall in the Countrey I sawe with some others with mee two small peeces of siluer grosly beaten about the weight of a Testrone hangyng in the eares of a Wiroans or chiefe Lorde that dwelt about fourescore myles from vs of whom thorowe enquiry by the number of dayes and the way I learned that it had come to his handes from the same place or neere where I after vnderstood the copper was made and the white graynes of mettall founde The aforesaide copper wee also founde by triall to holde siluer Pearle Sometimes in feeding on muscles wee founde some pearle but it was our hap to meete with ragges or of a pide colour not hauing yet discouered those places where wee hearde of better and more plentie One of our companie a man of skill in such matters had gathered to gether from among the sauage people aboute fiue thousande of which number he chose so many as made a fayre chaine which for their likenesse and vniformitie in roundnesse orientnesse and pidenesse of māny excellent colours with equalitie in greatnesse were verie fayre and rare and had therefore beene presented to her Maiestie had wee not by casualtie and trough extremity of a storme lost them with many things els in comming away from the countrey Sweete Gummes Sweete Gummes of diuers kindes and many other Apothecary drugges of which wee will make speciall mention when wee shall receiue it from such men of skill in that kynd that in taking reasonable paines shall discouer them more particularly then wee haue done and than now I can makc relation of for want of the examples I had prouited and gathered and are nowe lost with other thinges by causualtie before mentioned Dyes of diuers kindes There is Shoemake well knowen and vsed in England for blacke the seede of an hearbe called Wasewówr little small rootes called Cháppacor and the barke of the tree called by the inhabitaunts Tangomóckonomindge which Dies are for diuers sortes of red their goodnesse for our English clothes remayne yet to be proued The inhabitants vse them onely for the dying of hayre and colouring of their faces aud Mantles made of Deare skinnes and also for the dying of Rushes to make artificiall workes withall in their Mattes and Baskettes hauing no other thing besides that they account of apt to vse them for If they will not proue merchantable there is no doubt but the Planters there shall finde apte vses for them as also for other colours which wee knowe to be there Oade A thing of so great vent and vse amongst English Diers which cannot bee yeelded sufficiently in our owne countrey for spare of ground may bee planted in Virginia there being ground enough The grouth therof need not to be doubted when as in the Ilandes of the Asores it groweth plentifully which is in thesame climate So likewise of Madder Suger canes Whe carried thither Suger canes to plant which beeing not so well preserued as was requisit besides the time of the yere being past for their setting when we arriued wee could not make
that proofe of them as wee desired NotwithstaÌ„ ding seeing that they grow in the same climate in the South part of Spaine and in Barbary our hope in reason may yet continue So likewise for Orenges and Lemmons there may be planted also Quinses Wherbi may grow in reasonable time if the action be diligently prosecuted no small commodities in Sugers Suckets and Marmalades Many other commodities by planting may there also bee raised which I leaue to your discret and gentle considerations and many also may bee there which yet we haue not discouered Two more commodities of great value one of certaintie and the other in hope not to be planted but there to be raised in short time to be prouided and prepared I might haue specified So likewise of those commodities already set downe I might haue said more as of the particular places where they are founde and best to be planted and prepared by what meanes and in what reasonable space of time they might be raised to profit and in what proportion but because others then welwillers might bee therewithall acquainted not to the good of the action I haue wittingly omitted them knowing that to those that are well disposed I haue vttered according to my promise and purpose for this part sufficient THE SECOND PART OF SVCHE COMMODITIES AS VIRGINIA IS knowne to yeelde for victuall and sustenaÌ„ce of mans life vsually fed vpon by the naturall inhabitants as also by vs during the time of our aboad And first of such as are sowed and husbanded Pagatowr a kinde of graine so called by the inhabitants the same in the West Indies is called Mayze English men call it Guinney wheate or Turkie wheate according to the names of the countreys from whence the like hath beene brought The graine is about the bignesse of our ordinary English peaze and not much different in forme and shape but of diuers colours some white some red some yellow and some blew All of them yeelde a very white and sweete flowre beeing vsed according to his kinde it maketh a very good bread Wee made of the same in the countrey some mault whereof was brued as good ale as was to bee desired So likewise by the help of hops therof may bee made as good Beere It is a graine of marueilous great increase of a thousand fifteene hundred and some two thousand fold There are three sortes of which two are ripe in an eleuen and twelue weekes at the most sometimes in ten after the time they are set and are then of height in stalke about sixe or seuen foote The other sort is ripe in fourteene and is about ten foote high of the stalkes some beare foure heads some three some one and two euery head coÌ„taining fiue sixe or seueÌ„ hundred graines within a fewe more or lesse Of these graines besides bread the inhabitants make victuall eyther by parching them or seething them whole vntill they be broken or boyling the floure with water into a pappe OkindgÃer called by vs Beanes because in greatnesse partly in shape they are like to the Beanes in England sauing that they are flatter of more diuers colours and some pide The leafe also of the stemme is much different In taste they are altogether as good as our English peaze Wickonzówr called by vs Peaze in respect of the beanes for distinction sake because they are much lesse although in forme they little differ but in goodnesse of tast much are far better then our English peaze Both the beanes and peaze are ripe in tenne weekes after they are set They make them victuall either by boyling them all to pieces into a broth or boiling them whole vntill they bee soft and beginne to breake as is vsed in England eyther by themselues or mixtly together Sometime they mingle of the wheate with them Sometime also beeing whole soddeu they bruse or pound them in a morter thereof make loaues or lumps of dowishe bread which they vse to eat for varietie Macócqwer according to their seuerall formes called by vs Pompions Mellions and Gourdes because they are of the like formes as those kindes in England In Virginia such of seuerall formes are of one taste and very good and do also spring from one seed There are of two sorts one is ripe in the space of a moneth and the other in two moneths There is an hearbe which in Dutch is called Melden Some of those that I describe it vnto take it to be a kinde of Orage it groweth about foure or fiue foote high of the seede thereof they make a thicke broth and pottage of a very good taste of the stalke by burning into ashes they make a kinde of salt earth wherewithall many vse sometimes to season their brothes other salte they knowe not Wee our seiues vsed the leaues also for pothearbes There is also another great heaÅ•be in forme of a Marigolde ahout sixe foote in height the head with the floure is a spanne in breadth Some take it to bee Planta Solis of the seedes heereof they make both a kinde of bread and broth All the aforesaide commodities for victuall are set or sowed sometimes in groundes a part and seuerally by themselues but for the most part together in one ground mixtly the manner thereof with the dressing and preparing of the grouÌ„d because I will note vnto you the fertilitie of the soile I thinke good briefly to describe The ground they neuer fatten with mucke dounge or any other thing neither plow nor digge it as we in England but onely prepare it in sort as followeth A fewe daies before they sowe or set the men with wooden instruments made almost in forme of mattockes or hoes with long handles the women with short peckers or parers because they vse them sitting of a foote long and about fiue inches in breadth doe onely breake the vpper part of the ground to rayse vp the weedes grasse old stubbes of corne stalkes with their rootes The which after a day or twoes drying in the Sunne being scrapte vp into many small heapes to saue them labour for carrying them away they burne into ashes And whereas some may thinke that they vse the ashes for to better the grounde I say that then they woulde eyther disperse the ashes abroade which wee obserued they doe not except the heapes bee too great or els would take speciall care to set their corne where the ashes lie which also wee finde they are carelesse of And this is all the husbanding of their ground that they vse Then their setting or sowing is after this maner First for their corne beginning in one corner of the plot with a pecker they make a hole wherein they put foure graines with that care they touch not one another about an inch asunder and couer them with the moulde againe and so through out the whole plot making such holes and vsing them after such maner but with this regard that they bee made in rankes euery
with greater townes and houses Why may wee not then looke for in good hope from the inner parts of more and greater plentie as well of other things as of those which wee haue alreadie discouered Vnto the Spaniardes happened the like in discouering the maine of the West Indies The maine also of this countrey of Virginia extending some wayes so many hundreds of leagues as otherwise then by the relation of the inhabitants wee haue most certaine knowledge of where yet no Christian Prince hath any possession or dealing cannot but yeeld many kinds of excellent commodities which we in our discouerie haue not yet seene What hope there is els to be gathered of the nature of the climate being answerable to the Iland of Iapan the land of China Persia Jury the Ilandes of Cyprus and Candy the South parts of Greece Italy and Spaine and of many other notable and famous countreis because I meane not to be tedious I leaue to your owne consideration Whereby also the excellent temperature of the ayre there at all seasons much warmer then in England and neuer so violently hot as sometimes is vnder between the Tropikes or nere them cannot bee vnknowne vnto you without farther relation For the holsomnesse thereof I neede to say but thus much that for all the want of prouision as first of English victuall excepting for twentie daies wee liued only by drinking water and by the victuall of the countrey of which some sorts were very straunge vnto vs and might haue bene thought to haue altered our temperatures in such sort as to haue brought vs into some greeuous and dāgerous diseases secondly the wāt of English meanes for the taking of beastes fishe and foule which by the helpe only of the inhabitants and their meanes coulde not bee so suddenly and easily prouided for vs nor in so great numbers quantities nor of that choise as otherwise might haue bene to our better satisfaction and contentment Some want also wee had of clothes Furthermore in all our trauailes which were most speciall and often in the time of winter our lodging was in the open aire vpon the grounde And yet I say for all this there were but foure of our whole company being one hundred and eight that died all the yeere and that but at the latter ende thereof and vpon none of the aforesaide causes For all foure especially three were feeble weake and sickly persons before euer they came thither and those that knewe them much marueyled that they liued so long beeing in that case or had aduentured to trauaile Seing therefore the ayre there is so temperate and holsome the soyle so fertile and yeelding such commodities as I haue before mentioned the voyage also thither to and fro beeing sufficiently experimented to bee perfourmed thrise a yeere with ease and at any season thereof And the dealing of Sir Water Raleigh so liberall in large giuing and graūting lande there as is alreadie knowen with many helpes and furtherances els The least that hee hath graunted hath beene fiue hundred acres to a man onely for the aduenture of his person I hope there remaine no cause wherby the action should be misliked If that those which shall thiter trauaile to inhabite and plant bee but reasonably prouided for the first yere as those are which were transported the last and beeing there doe vse but that diligence and care as is requisite and as they may with eese There is no doubt but for the time following they may haue victuals that is excellent good and plentie enough some more Englishe sortes of cattaile also hereafter as somehaue bene before and are there yet remaining may and shall bee God willing thiter transported So likewise our kinde of fruites rootes and hearbes may bee there planted and sowed as some haue bene alreadie and proue wel And in short time also they may raise of those sortes of commodities which I haue spoken of as shall both enrich them selues as also others that shall deale with them And this is all the fruites of our labours that I haue thought necessary to aduertise you of at this present what els concerneth the nature and manners of the inhabitants of Virginia The number with the particularities of the voyages thither made and of the actions of such that haue bene by Sir Water Raleigh there in and there imployed many worthy to bee remembred as of the first discouerers of the Countrey of our generall for the time Sir Richard Greinuile and after his departure of our Gouernour there Master Rafe Lane with diuers other directed and imployed vnder theyr gouernement Of the Captaynes and Masters of the voyages made since for transportation of the Gouernour and assistants of those alredie transported as of many persons accidēts and thinges els I haue ready in a discourse by it self in maner of a Chronicle according to the course of times and when time shall bee thought conuenient shall be also published Thus referring my relation to your fauourable constructions expecting good successe of the action from him which is to be acknowledged the authour and gouernour not only of this but of all things els I take my leaue of you this moneth of Februarii 1588. Finis THE TRVE PICTVRES AND FASHIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT PARTE OF AMERICA NOVV CALLED VIRGINIA DISCOWRED BY ENGLISMEN sent thither in the years of our Lorde 1585. att the speciall charge and direction of the Honourable SIR WALTER RALEGH Knigt Lord Warden of the stannaries in the duchies of Corenwal and Oxford who therin hath bynne fauored and auctorised by her MAAIESTIE and her letters patents Translated out of Latin into English by RICHARD HACKLVIT DILIGENTLYE COLLECTED and DRAOWne by IHON WHITE who was sent thiter speciallye and for the same purpose by the said SIR WALTER RALEGH the year abouesaid 1585. and also the year 1588. now cutt in copper and first published by THEODORE DE BRY att his wone chardges THE TABLE OF ALL DE PICTVRES CONTAINED IN this Booke of Virginia I. The carte of all the coast of Virginia II. The arriuall of the Englishemen in Virginia III. A Weroan or great Lorde of Virginia IIII. On of the chieff Ladyes of Secota V. On of the Religeous men in the towne of Secota VI. A younge gentill woeman doughter of Secota VII A chieff Lorde of Roanoac VIII A chieff Ladye of Pomeiooc IX An ageed manne in his winter garment X. Their manner of careynge ther Childern and atyere of the chieffe Ladyes of the towne of Dasamonquepeuc XI The Coniuerer XII Their manner of makinge their Boates. XIII Their manner of fishynge in Virginia XIIII The browyllinge of their fishe ouer the flame XV. Their seetheynge of their meate in earthen pottes XVI Their Sitting at meate XVII Their manner of prayinge with their Rattels abowt the fyer XVIII Their danses whych they vse at their hyghe feastes XIX The towne of Pomeiooc XX The towne of Secota XXI Ther Idol Kiwasa XXII The Tombe of their
their dances be ended and they goe to make merrye as is expressed in the 16. figure XIX The Tovvne of Pomeiooc The townes of this contrie are in a maner like vnto those which are in Florida yet are they not soe stronge nor yet preserued with soe great care They are compassed abowt with poles starcke faste in the grownd but they are not verye stronge The entrance is verye narrowe as may be seene by this picture which is made accordinge to the forme of the towne of Pomeiooc Ther are but few howses therin saue those which belonge to the kinge and his nobles On the one side is their tempel separated from the other howses and marked with the letter A. yt is builded rownde and couered with skynne matts and as yt wear compassed abowt With cortynes without windowes and hath noe ligthe but by the doore On the other side is the kings lodginge marked with the letter B. Their dwellinges are builded with certaine potes fastened together and couered with matts which they turne op as high as they thinke good and soe receue in the lighte and other Some are also couered with boughes of trees as euery man lusteth or liketh best They keepe their feasts and make good cheer together in the midds of the towne as yt is described in they 17. Figure When the towne standeth fare from the water they digg a great poude noted with the letter C. wherhence they fetche as muche water as they neede XX. The Tovvne of Secota Their townes that are not inclosed with poles aire commonlye fayrer Then suche as are inclosed as appereth in this figure which liuelye expresseth the towne of Secotam For the howses are Scattered heer and ther and they haue gardein expressed by the letter E. wherin groweth Tobacco which the inhabitants call Vppowoc They haue also groaues wherin thei take deer and fields vherin they sowe their corne In their corne fields they builde as yt weare a scaffolde wher on they sett a cottage like to a rownde chaire signiffied by F. wherin they place one to watche for there are suche nomber of fowles and beasts that vnless they keepe the better watche they would soone deuoure all their corne For which cause the watcheman maketh continual cryes and noyse They sowe their corne with a certaine distance noted by H. other wise one stalke would choke the growthe of another and the corne would not come vnto his rypeurs G. For the leaves therofare large like vnto the leaues of great reedes They haue also a seuerall broade plotte C. whear they meete with their neighbours to celebrate their cheefe solemne feastes as the 18. picture doth declare and a place D. whear after they haue ended their feaste they make merrie togither Ouer against this place they haue a rownd plott B. wher they assemble themselues to make their solemne prayers Not far from which place ther is a lardge buildinge A. wherin are the tombes of their kings and princes as will appere by the 22. figure likewise they haue garden notted bey the letter I. wherin they vse to sowe pompions Also a place marked with K. wherin the make a fyre att their solemne feasts and hard without the towne a riuer L. from whence they fetche their water This people therfore voyde of all couetousnes lyue cherfullye and att their harts ease Butt they solemnise their feasts in the nigt and therfore they keepe verye great fyres to auoyde darkenes ant to testifie their Ioye XXI Ther Idol Kivvasa The people of this cuntrie haue an Idol which they call Kiwasa yt is carued of woode in lengthe 4. foote whose heade is like the heades of the people of Florida the face is of a flesh colour the brest white the rest is all blacke the thighes are also spottet with whitte He hath a chayne abowt his necke of white beades betweene which are other Rownde beades of copper which they esteeme more then golde or siluer This Idol is placed in the temple of the towne of Secotam as the keper of the kings dead corpses Somtyme they haue two of thes idoles in theyr churches and somtine 3. but neuer aboue which they place in a darke corner wher they shew tetrible Thes poore soules haue none other knowledge of god although I thinke them verye Desirous to know the truthe For when as wee kneeled downe on our knees to make our prayers vnto god they went abowt to imitate vs and when they saw we moued our lipps they also dyd the like Wherfore that is verye like that they might easelye be brongt to the knowledge of the gospel God of his mercie grant them this grace XXII The Tombe of their Werovvans or Cheiff Lordes The builde a Scaffolde 9. or 10. foote hihe as is expressed in this figure vnder the tōbs of theit Weroans or cheefe lordes which they couer with matts and lai the dead corpses of their weroans theruppon in manner followinge first the bowells are taken forthe Then layinge downe the skinne they cutt all the flesh cleane from the bones which the drye in the sonne and well dryed the inclose in Matts and place at their feete Then their bones remaininge still fastened together with the ligaments whole and vncorrupted are couered a gayne with leather and their carcase fashioned as yf their flesh wear not taken away They lapp eache corps in his owne skinne after thesame in thus handled and lay yt in his order by the corpses of the other cheef lordes By the dead bodies they sett their Idol Kiwasa wher of we spake in the former chapiter For they are persuaded that thesame doth kepe the dead bodyes of their cheefe lordes that nothinge may hurt them Moreouer vnder the foresaid scaffolde some on of their preists hath his lodginge which Mumbleth his prayers nighte and day and hath charge of the corpses For his bedd he hath two deares skinnes spredd on the grownde yf the wether bee cold hee maketh a fyre to warme by withall Thes poore soules are thus instructed by natute to reuerence their princes euen after their death XXIII The Marckes of sundrye of the Cheif mene of Virginia The inhabitāts of all the cuntrie for the most parte haue marks rased on their backs wherby yt may be knowen what Princes subiects they bee or of what place they haue their originall For which cause we haue set downe those marks in this figure and haue annexed the names of the places that they might more easelye be discerned Which industrie hath god indued them withal although they be verye sinple and rude And to confesse a truthe I cannot remember that euer I saw a better or quietter people then they The marks which I obserued a monge them are heere put downe in order folowinge The marke which is expressed by A. belongeth tho Wingino the cheefe lorde of Roanoac That which hath B. is the marke of Wingino his sisters husbande Those which be noted with the letters of C. and D. belonge vnto diverse
heads Their foreheads cheeks chynne armes and leggs are pownced About their necks they wear a chaine ether pricked or paynted They haue small eyes plaine and flatt noses narrow foreheads and broade mowths For the most parte they hange at their eares chaynes of longe Pearles and of some smootht bones Yet their nayles are not longe as the woemen of Florida They are also deligtted with walkinge in to the fields and besides the riuers to see the huntinge of deers and catchinge of fische V. On of the Religeous men in the towne of Secota The Priests of the aforesaid Towne of Secota are well stricken in yeers and as yt seemeth of more experience then the comon sorte They weare their heare cutt like a creste on the topps of thier heades as other doe but the rest are cutt shorte sauinge those which growe aboue their foreheads in manner of a perriwigge They also haue somwhat hanginge in their ears They weare a shorte clocke made of fine hares skinnes quilted with the hayre outwarde The rest of thier bodie is naked They are notable enchaunters and for their pleasure they frequent the riuers to kill with their bowes and catche wilde ducks swannes and other fowles VI. A younge gentill woeman doughter of Secota Virgins of good parentage are apparelled altogether like the woemen of Secota aboue mentionned sauing that they weare hanginge abowt their necks in steede of a chaine certaine thicke and rownde pearles with little beades of copper or polished bones betweene them They pounce their foreheads cheeckes armes and legs Their haire is cutt with two ridges aboue their foreheads the rest is trussed opp on a knott behinde they haue broade mowthes reasonable fair black eyes they lay their hands often vppon their Shoulders and couer their brests in token of maydenlike modestye The rest of their bodyes are naked as in the picture is to bee seene They deligt also in seeinge fishe taken in the riuers VII A cheiff Lorde of Roanoac The cheefe men of the yland and towne of Roanoac reace the haire of their crounes of theyr heades cutt like a cokes cōbe as thes other doe The rest they wear lōge as woemen and truss them opp in a knott in the nape of their necks They hange pearles stringe copper a threed att their eares and weare bracelets on their armes of pearles or small beades of copper or of smoothe bone called minsal nether paintinge nor powncings of them selues but in token of authoritye and honor they wear a chaine of great pearles or copper beades or smoothe bones abowt their necks and a plate of copper hinge vpon a stringe from the nauel vnto the midds of their thighes They couer themselues before and behynde as the woemē doe with a deers skynne handsomley dressed and fringed More ouer they fold their armes together as they walke or as they talke one wjth another in signe of wisdome The yle of Roanoac is verye pleisant ond hath plaintie of fishe by reason of the Water that enuironeth thesame VIII A cheiff Ladye of Pomeiooc About 20. milles from that Iland neere the lake of Paquippe ther is another towne called Pomeioock hard by the sea The apparell of the cheefe ladyes of dat towne differeth but litle from the attyre of those which lyue in Roanaac For they weare their haire trussed opp in a knott as the maiden doe which we spake of before and haue their skinnes pownced in thesame manner yet they wear a chaine of great pearles or beades of copper or smoothe bones 5. or 6. fold obout their necks bearinge one arme in the same in the other hand they carye a gourde full of some kinde of pleasant liquor They tye deers skinne doubled about them crochinge hygher about their breasts which hange downe before almost to their knees and are almost altogither naked behinde Commonlye their yonge daugters of 7. or 8. yeares olde do waigt vpon them wearinge abowt them a girdle of skinne which hangeth downe behinde and is drawen vnder neath betwene their twiste and bownde aboue their nauel with mose of trees betwene that and thier skinnes to couer their priuiliers withall After they be once past 10. yeares of age they wear deer skinnes as the older sorte do They are greatlye Diligted with puppetts and babes which wear brought oute of England IX An ageed manne in his winter garment The aged men of Pommeioocke are couered with a large skinne which is tyed vppon their shoulders on one side and hangeth downe beneath their knees wearinge their other arme naked out of the skinne that they maye bee at more libertie Those skynnes are Dressed with the hair on and lyned with other furred skinnes The yonnge men suffer noe hairr at all to growe vppon their faces but assoone as they growe they put them away but when thy are come to yeeres they suffer them to growe although to say truthe they come opp verye thinne They also weare their haire bownde op behynde and haue a creste on their heads like the others The contrye abowt this plase is soe fruit full and good that England is not to bee compared to yt X. Their manner of careynge ther Childern and a tyere of the cheiffe Ladyes of the towne of Dasamonquepeuc In the towne of Dasemonquepeuc distant from Roanoac 4. or 5. milles the woemen are attired and pownced in suche sorte as the woemen of Roanoac are yet they weare noe worathes vppon their heads nether haue they their thighes painted with small pricks They haue a strange manner of bearing their children and quite contrarie to ours For our woemen carrie their children in their armes before their brests but they taking their sonne by the right hand bear him on their backs holdinge the left thighe in their lefte arme after a strange and conuesnall fashion as in the picture is to bee seene XI The Coniuerer They haue comonlye coniurers or iuglers which vse strange gestures and often cōtrarie to nature in their enchantments For they be verye familiar with deuils of whome they enquier what their enemys doe or other suche thinges They shaue all their heads sauinge their creste which they weare as other doe and fasten a small black birde aboue one of their ears as a badge of their office They weare nothinge but a skinne which hangeth downe from their gyrdle and couereth their priuityes They weare a bagg by their side as is expressed in the figure The Inhabitants giue great credit vnto their speeche which oftentymes they finde to bee true XII The manner of makinge their boates The manner of makinge their boates in Virginia is verye wonderfull For wheras they want Instruments of yron or other like vnto ours yet they knowe howe to make them as handsomelye to saile with whear they liste in their Riuers and to fishe with all as ours First they choose some longe and thicke tree accordinge to the bignes of the boate which they would frame and make a fyre on the grownd abowt the Roote therof kindlinge
the same by little and little with drie mosse of trees and chipps of woode that the flame should not mounte opp to highe and burne to muche of the lengte of the tree When yt is almost burnt thorough and readye to fall they make a new fyre which they suffer to burne vntill the tree fall of yt owne accord Then burninge of the topp and bowghs of the tree in suche wyse that the bodie of the same may Retayne his iust lengthe they raise yt vppon potes laid ouer cross wise vppon forked posts at suche a reasonable heighte as rhey may handsomlye worke vppōyt Then take they of the barke with certayne shells thy reserue the innermost parte of the lennke for the nethermost parte of the boate On the other side they make a fyre accordinge to the lengthe of the bodye of the tree sauinge at both the endes That which they thinke is sufficientlye burned they quenche and scrape away with shells and makinge a new fyre they burne yt agayne and soe they continne somtymes burninge and sometymes fcrapinge vntill the boate haue sufficient bothowmes This god in dueth thise sauage people with sufficient reason to make thinges necessarie to serue their turnes XIII Their manner of fishynge in Virginia They haue likewise a notable way to catche fishe in their Riuers for whear as they lacke both yron and steele they faste vnto their Reedes or longe Rodds the hollowe tayle of a certaine fishe like to a sea crabb in steede of a poynte wehr with by nighte or day they stricke fishes and take them opp into their boates They also know how to vse the prickles and pricks of other fishes They also make weares with settinge opp reedes or twigges in the water which they soe plant one within another that they growe still narrower and narrower as appeareth by this figure Ther was neuer seene amonge vs soe cunninge a way to take fish withall wherof sondrie sortes as they fownde in their Riuers vnlike vnto ours which are also of a verye good taste Dowbtless yt is a pleasant sighte to see the people somtymes wadinge and goinge somtymes sailinge in those Riuers which are shallowe and not deepe free from all care of heapinge opp Riches for their posterite content with their state and liuinge frendlye together of those thinges which god of his bountye hath giuen vnto them yet without giuinge hym any thankes according to his desarte So sauage is this people and depriued of the true knowledge of god For they haue none other then is mentionned before in this worke XIIII The brovvyllinge of their fishe ouer the flame After they haue taken store of fishe they gett them vnto a place fitt to dress yt Ther they sticke vpp in the grownde 4. stakes in a square roome and lay 4 potes vppon them and others ouer thwart thesame like vnto an hurdle of sufficient heigthe and layinge their fishe vppon this hurdle they make a fyre vnderneathe to broile the same not after the manner of the people of Florida which doe but schorte and harden their meate in the smoke onlye to Reserue thesame duringe all the winter For this people reseruinge nothinge for store thei do broile and spend away all att once and when they haue further neede they roste or seethe fresh as wee shall see heraffter And when as the hurdle can not holde all the fishes they hange the Rest by the fyrres on sticks sett vpp in the grounde a gainst the fyre and than they finishe the rest of their cookerye They take good heede that they bee not burntt When the first are broyled they lay others on that weare newlye broughte continuinge the dressinge of their meate in this sorte vntill they thincke they haue sufficient XV. Their seetheynge of their meate in earthen pottes Their woemen know how to make earthen vessells with special Cunninge and that so large and fine that our potters with lhoye wheles can make noe better ant then Remoue them from place to place as easelye as we candoe our brassen kettles After they haue set them vppon an heape of erthe to stay them from fallinge they putt wood vnder which being kyndled one of them taketh great care that the fyre burne equallye Rounde abowt They or their woemen fill the vessel with water and then putt they in fruite flesh and fish and lett all boyle together like a galliemaufrye which the Spaniarde call olla podrida Then they putte yt out into disches and sett before the companye and then they make good cheere together Yet are they moderate in their eatinge wher by they auoide sicknes I would to god wee would followe their exemple For wee should bee free from many kynes of diseasyes which wee fall into by sumptwous and vnseasonable banketts continuallye deuisinge new sawces and prouocation of gluttonnye to satisfie our vnsatiable appetite XVI Their sitting at meate Their manner of feeding is in this wise They lay a matt made of bents one the grownde and sett their meate on the mids therof and then sit downe Rownde the men vppon one side and the woemen on the other Their meate is Mayz sodden in suche sorte as I described yt in the former treatise of verye good taste deers flesche or of some other beaste and fishe They are verye sober in their eatinge and trinkinge and consequentlye verye longe liued because they doe not oppress nature XVII Their manner of prainge vvith Rattels abowt te fyer Vvhen they haue escaped any great danger by sea or lande or be returned from the warr in token of Ioye they make a great fyer abowt which the men and woemen sist together holdinge a certaine fruite in their hands like vnto a rownde pompiō or a gourde which after they haue taken out the fruits and the seedes then fill with smal stons or certayne bigg kernellt to make the more noise and fasten that vppon a sticke and singinge after their manner they make merrie as myselfe obserued and noted downe at my beinge amonge them For it is a strange custome and worth the obseruation XVIII Theirdanses vvhich they vse att their hyghe feastes At a Certayne tyme of the yere they make a great and solemne feaste wherunto their neighbours of the townes adioninge repayre from all parts euery man attyred in the most strange fashion they can deuise hauinge certayne marks on the backs to declare of what place they bee The place where they meet is a broade playne abowt the which are planted in the grownde certayne posts carued with heads like to the faces of Nonnes couered with theyr vayles Then beeing sett in order they dance singe and vse the strangest gestures that they can possiblye deuise Three of the fayrest Virgins of the companie are in the mydds which imbrassinge one another doe as yt wear turne abowt in their dancinge All this is donne after the sunne is sett for auoydinge of heate When they are weerye of dancinge they goe oute of the circle and come in vntill