SOURCE HEADER | URL: https://archive.org/download/historypresentst00beve/historypresentst00beve_djvu.txt | Edition: Robert Beverley, The History and Present State of Virginia, London 1705 | Fetched: 2026-09-14 (UTC) by worker B | Raw OCR/plain text, unedited ---- - .. ■ - . . ■mnimmtm gjrjJSjSgfj 4* THE HIST A N Prefent S VIRGINIA, * • In Four P a r t s. I. The H i s t o r y of the Firft Settlement of Virginity and the Government there¬ of, to the prefent Time. II. The Natural Productions and Conveni¬ ences of the Country, fuited to Trade and Improvement. * \ III. The Native Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Cuftoms, in War and Peace. • IV. The prefent State of the Country, as to the Polity of the Government, and the Improvements of the Land. By a Native and Inhabitant of the P lac e. i L O N DO N : Printed for /?. Parker , at th eVnicorn, under the Piano's of the R^yal-Excbange. . MDCCV, ■ T O T H E Right Honourable, ROBERT HARLEY^, Speaker of the H- of Commons, AND One of Her Majefty’s Principal Secretaries of State. : .. ■ ( I Flatter my felf, that I am not with¬ out Reafon, for imploring Your Protection of the following Difcourfe. It is an honeft Account of the anci- enteft, as well as moft profitable Co¬ lony, depending on the Crown of England ; and therefore ought natu¬ rally to addrefs it felf to the Patron of the Plantations. No Body is better inftru&ed in the true Intereft of England, than Your Self ; No Body is more convinced, ' A a how Epijlle Dedicatory. how much the Plantations advance that Intereft ; and confequently, no Body knows how to fet a jufter Valueupon them. While Tome People, upon ve ry miftaken Principles of Policy, are for loading thofe Countries with hea- ^ ^ ud opprefling them with Rapacious, and Arbitrary Go- vernours ; You, Sir, who are a better Judge of their Importance, are for milder Methods, and for extending the Bleffingsof Juftice, and propert * to all the Lngiifh Dominions. \ * » j» r - . • : ' ■ • ■ - r !• 5 ri - a i . r , happy therefore ought we of the Plantations to think our felves, in the bavour 0f ? Gentleman, whofe Thoughts are diredfed by unbiafs’d Reaton and the real Advantages of Eng, and . Phofe are the Meafures §overn’d by ; and ask to 1 i ei /iieatl?enti than what is due r ,°.ya . e(Jjde’ whofe Lives are de- ) ~?Lcd t0 the Benefit of their Mother- f oumJ- .And hare we can never de- Tau of this Common Juftice, in the ) Reign Epijile Dedicatory . if i fil’i “> Reign of a Gracious Queen, who wiihes the Happinefs of all Her Sub¬ jects. ■ England is infinitely to be envy’d, for lying under the imme¬ diate Influences of Her Goodnefs : While the Plantations, which are far- f « " _ ther remov’d from Her Royal Pre¬ fence, have thofe kindly Beams more weakly reflected on them. Their Di- ftance makes ’em liable to be ill ufed by Men, that over-aCt Her Sacred Au¬ thority, and under-aCt Her Vertues. But we pleafe our felves with the Hopes, that thele Misfortunes will be made lighter to us, by the ^Juftice of the prefent Adminiftration. I muft not prefume t to celebrate Your bright Qualities, becaufe, next to having a great deal of Merit, the hardeft Thing in the World, is to give it a juft Commendation. You have by Your Publick Services, taken Care to convince Mankind of Your Worth. You alone have Abilities not only to fill, but to adorn, at the lame time, Epijile ’Dedicatory » time. Two of the moft important Pofts of the Nation. You, 5/Y, have reconcil’d the long Difference there has been betwixt the Patriot and the Publick Minifter. And ’tis a plain Demonft ration, that the Queen has no other View, than the Happinefs of Her People, when Her Majefty is pleafed to employ fuch Perfons in Her Service, as have all along fig- naliz’d a conftant Love to their Coun¬ try. I am t •» l SIR, T H 1 THE PREFACE- fT ~*IS agreed, that Travellers are of all Men, 1 the mofi fufpebled of Infincerity. This does not only hold , in their private Conventions ; but likewife in the Grand Tours, and Travels, with which they pefier the Publick, and break the Bookfeller. There are no Books, (the Legends of Saints always excepted,) fo fluff d with 1 oeti- cal Stories , as Voyages ; and the more difiant the Countries lie, which they pretend to defcribe, the creator Licenfe thofe priviledg’d Authors take in impofing upon the World. The French -ra¬ vels are commonly more infamous on this Account, than any other, which mufi be imputed to the ■ I }ron g Genius of that Nation to Hyperbole, ana. Romance. They are fond of drejjjng up every thing in their gay Fafhion, from a happy Opinion, that their own Fopperies make any Subject mor entertaining. The Englifh, it mufi be granted invent more within the Compafs of Probability, and are contented to be lefs Ornamental, while they are more Sincere . I make no Queflion, but the following Account will come in for its Share of this Imputation . 1 The PREFACE. fljall be refuted as arrant a Traveller as the refiy ^ and my Credit , ( like that of Women,) will be condemn'd for the Sins of my Company. How¬ ever , I intreat the gentle Reader to be fo jufi, as not to conviffi me upon bare Sufpicion ; let the Evidence be plain, or at leaf amount to a violent Prefumption, and then I don't fear being acquit¬ ted . If an honefl Author might be believ'd in his own Cafe , 1 ivou'd folemnly declare , that I have not knowingly afferted any untrue Thing in the whole Book. On the contrary, 1 fear , I fhall rather be accufed of faying too much Truth , than too little. If 1 have had the Misfortune to have err'd in any Particular this Way , which yet l have ufed] all imaginable Care to avoid, 1 hope the World, with all its Unchar it able nefs , will vouch - fife to forgive my 'Under (landing. If I might be fo happy , as to fettle my Credit with the Reader, the next Favour I world ask of him, fhou'd be, not to Criticize too unmerci¬ fully upon my Stile . 1 am an Indian, and don't pretend to be exact in my Language : But I hope the Plainnefs of my Drefs, will give him the kinder Impreffions of my Honefly, which is what I pre¬ tend to. \ Truth defires only to be underfiood, and never affecls the Reputation of being fine¬ ly equipp'd. It depends upon its own intrinfick Value, and, like Beauty, is rather conceal'd, than fit off, by Ornament . / The PREFACE. 1 wonder no Body has ever prefented the World , with a tolerable Account of our Planta¬ tions. Nothing of that kind has yet appear'd, except fome few General Defer iptions, that have been calculated more for the Benefit of the Book- feller , than for the Information of Mankind . If I may judge of the re (l , by what has been pub - lift'd concerning Virginia, I will take the Liber¬ ty to fayy that there'' s none of 'em either true , or fo much as well invented . Such Accounts are as impertinent as ill Pidlures^ that refemble any Body , as much as the Perfons they are drawn for . For my part , 1 have endeavour'd to hit the Likenefs ; though , perhaps, my Colouring may not have all the Lije and Beauty I cou'd wifh . The Method I have taken in this Performance , is as follows. I have divided the Whole into Four diflinff Parts. The frfl contains , a Chro¬ nological Hiftory, of the mojl remarkable Things that have happen'd in Virginia, ever fmee it was frfl feated by the Englilh. It fJjows a':l the Wars with the Indians, and their Caujes , all the Majf acres , and other Difajlers , occafwn d by the Rejentment of the Natives. It hkewife gives a faithful Account , of all the fucceffive Governours of that Country , and their Admmif ration, toge¬ ther with the principal Laws , that have been enacted in the Time of Each . In the doing of which , I have been careful to mention nothing , but what I can make good by very Autbenticjue a Te* / » i The PREFACE. Teflimony. So that if 1 have taken the Free¬ dom, to reprefent the Mi [managements of fever al Gentlemen , it is their Faulty that acled fuch 'Ir¬ regularities 5 and not mine , that report them to the World . If Men will .pleafe to he unjujf run counter to the Royal Inftruclions, opprefs the People , and offer Violence to all the Laws of a Country , they ought to he known , and abhor Pd by Mankind. The Second Part treats of the Spontaneous Pro - duBions of that Country , and the Original State , wherein the Englifh found it at their frjl Ar¬ rival * 2 his is a very copious Subject, but I have handled it with more Brevity than it de¬ fer ves^ becaufe I am confcious of my want of Skill in the Works of Nature, However 1 flatter my fe If that what I have faid, will be fufficient, to give a Handle to a more compleat Underta¬ king. The World h d jome Tears ago an unhappy Lofis , by the Death of Mr. Ban iff er, who was making curious Collections for a Natural Hilf o- ry ot Virginia : But the fudden Death of that Gentleman, put an End to that excellent Defign . He had great Talents that Way, and if he had liv'd a few Tears longer , he woVd have donefu - Jfice to jo fine a Country, by defer ibing it in all its Native Perfections . The PREFACE. The Third Part gives a true Account of the Indians, together with their Religion , Cuftoms , and Government . There I have added Fourteen Copper Plates, to illuflrate the Drefs , and Way of Living of the Natives, the Draughts of which were taken exactly from the Life. Herein, as well as throughout the whole Book, I have been very fcrupulous, not to wfert any thing, but what I can juftifie, either by my own Knowledge, or by credible Information. In the Fourth Part, I have reprefented the Entdifh Form of Government in that Country, with all the Publick Officers, their Bufmefs and Salary There 1 have mention’d many of their moH material Laws, and Methods of proceeding. 1 have likewife ffiown the fmall Improvements, that the Englifh have made, fince they have een in Poffeffion, and pointed at fever al great Ad¬ vantages, which they might fecure to themfelves, by a due Spirit of Indufry, and Management. 1 have, every-where made it my chief Bujinejs, o avoid Partiality ; and therefore have fairly ex¬ pos’d the Inconveniencies, as well as proclaim d ‘the Excellencies of my Country. The PREFACE. This is the Bill of Fare, of what the Reader may expect to meet with in the following Dip* courfe ; and I fhotdd he very happy , if he wou'd have the Goodnefs ? to think it a tolerable Enter¬ tainment. THE r* THE TABLE BOOK I CHAP. I. yIN Hiftory of the firft attempts to fettle Virginia, be- ^ fore the difcovery of Chelapeak Bay. Page §. r . Sir Walter Raleigh obtains Letters Patent for making Difcoveries in America. i 2. Two Ships jet out on the Difcovery, and arrive at Pamtego. 2 Their account of the Country. ibid Their account of the Natives, . 3 3. Queen Elizabeth names the Country of Virginia, ibid 4. Sir Richard Greeny illV Voyage. 4 He Plants the firft Coltmy under command of Mr Ralph Lane. 5 15. The Difcoveries and Occidents of the firft Colony, 5 6. Their di ft refs by re ant of Provifions. m 6 Sir Francis Drake viftts them. ibid He gives them a Ship and Neceffaries. ibid He tales them array with him. m 7 7. Sir Walter Raleigh and Sir Richard Greenville their Voyages. ibid The fecond Settlement made. _ S 8. Mr John White*/ Expedition f* ibid The firft Indian made a Chriftian there. r 9 The firft Child born there of thrift tan Parentage. ibid The third Settlement, incorporated by the name of The City of Raleigh in Virginia. * Mr 2 The TABLE. &£r White theirGovernour fent home to /illicit for Supplies .9 p. Air Jdhn Whited jecond V yage, the lad attempts i to carry them Recruits. c ibid His difapp ointment . jq 10. Captain Gofnolb V oyage to the Goad 0/CapeCodd.ib. 11. The Briftol Voyages. ^ It $2. A London V oyage, which difcovered New York. 12 CHAP. II. tt^He Vifcovery of Chefapeak Bay, by the Corporation of London Adventurers. Their Colony at James Town, and proceedings during the Government by an EleEHve Prejident and Council. §. 15. The Companies of London and Plymouth obtain Charters . hlcuhkkjj jduicb 1 uvvij jjeana. iDia 16 He fends the Ships homey retaining 108 Men. to keep poffe/ion. ' 1& 17. That Colonies mi [management. 17 - Their misfortunes upon djfcovery of a fuppofed Gold Mine. 18. Their fir ft /applies after Settlement. 18 Their D i fc over ies /and Experiments in Englidi Grain To. An Attempt of fome to de/ert the Colony. 1 9 ip. The firfi Chrifiian Marriage in that Colony. ibid They make three Plantations more. ibid CHAP. III. The Hifiory of the Colony after the Change of their Govern - menty from an EleUive Prefident to a Commifiionated Go - vernoury until the dif/olution of the Company. §• 20* The Company get a new Granty and the Nomination of the Governors in them/elves. 20 They fend 3 Governors tn equal degree. ibid All agoing in one Ship are Shipwrackt at Bermudas. ibid 7 hey build there two /mail Cedar Vejfels. 21 21. Captain Smiths return for England. ibid Mi/managements mine the Colony. ibid The firfl Maffacre and Starving time. ibid The firfi occafion of the ill Character of Virginia. 22 The 500 men left by Captain Smith reduced to 60 in 6 months time. 23 22. The 3 G over nours fail from Bermudas, and arrive at Virginia. . " ' i3, Tbej The T A B L E. 5 23. They tale off the Chriftians that remain'd there , and ^deftpn by way of Newfoundland to return to England. 24 Th7 Lord Delaware arrives , and turns them back, ibid 24 . Sir Tho* Dale arrives Governour with Supplies, ibid 25. Sir Thomas Gates arrives Governor 25 He plants out a new Plantation. ibid 26. Pocahontas made Prifoner, and Married to Mr Rolf, The Indians de/ire of Intermarriage with the Englifh.ib. 27. Peace with the Indians. 26 28. Pocahontas brought to England by Sir Tho. Dale. 27 29. Captain Smiths Petition to the Queen in her behalf. ibid 30. His Vi/it to Pocahontas. An Indians account of the People of England. 31. Pocahontas reception at Courts and Death. 32. Captain Yardley/ Government. 33. Governour Argali 's good Adminift ration. 34. Powhatan’/ Death and Succejjors. Peace renewed by the Succeffrs. 35. Capt. Argali'/ Voyage from Virginia to New England. 36. Hi dijfeats thef rcnch Northward of New England. 35 37. An account of /^French . ibid 38. He alfo dif feats the French in Arcadia. . 3 & ' 39. His Return to England; ibid Sir George Yardley Governour. ibid He re fe 1 ties the deferted Plantation 9 and held the firfz 3* 3* ibid 3* ibid ibid Affembly. The method of that Affembly. 41. The fir ft' Negroes carried to Virginia. 42. Land apportion'd to Adventurers. 43. A Salt-Work and Ironwork in Virginia. 44. Sir Francis Wyat made Governour. King James his Inftruttions in care of Tobacco. Captain Newport’/ Plantation. 4^. Inferiour Courts in each Plantation. Too much familiarity with the Indians. '46. The Maff acre by the Indian?; Anno 1622. 4y. The difeovery and prevention of it at James T own. 4* 48. 7 he occafion of the Mafacre. 42 49. A Plot to deflroy the Indians. 44 <0. The difeour aging effetts of the Ma facre: 44 King ren> ws the Abl concerning the Plant a ions. 5 72. The Laws revifed. • ibi The Church of England jfftablifhed by Law. ibid 73. The Clergy provided for by Law. - • ibid 74. The public k charge of the Government fuftain d by Law, 7 9 • Encourage mens of particular Man ufablures by Law. ' 5 8 76. The InftfuUion for all Ships to enter at James Town £ fxcnfdby Law, ■ \. 77. Indifea, •'* • : • ; d H l ':Wi ■ H II I The TABLE. 5 6 ibid ibid 60 ibid 77. Indian 4 fairs fettled by Lava. 7$. James Town encouraged by Law. 79. Rcfaints upon Sectaries in Religion . 80. A Plot to fubvert the Government. 81. The defeat of the Plot. 82. An Anniverfary Feafl upon that cccafton. 83. The King commands the building a Fort at James ' Town. ' < 61 84. A new reflraint on the Plantations by All of Parliament 85. Endeavours for a Stint in planting Tobacco. ibid 86. Another endeavour at a Stint defeated. 6 2 87. The King fent Infir unions to build Forts , and confine their Trade to certain Ports, 63 88. The dij appointment of thofe Ports. ibid 89. Encour agement of Manufactures enlarg'd. ibid 90. An Attempt to difc over the Country backward. 64 Captain Batl*/ relation of that difcovery. ibid 91 Sir William Berkeley intends to profecute that difcovery in p erf on. 65 9 2. The grounds of Bacon V Rebellion . ibid Four Ingredients thereto. 66 93. if The low price of Tobacco. ibid 2 dly9 The fplitting the Country into Proprieties. 67 Fhe Country fend Agents to complain of the Propriety Grants. ibid 94. 3 dly, New Duties by Aft in England on the Planta¬ tions. 68 9 5. 4 thly, Difiurbances on the Land Frontiers by the In¬ dians. . ibid I/?, By the Indians on the head of the Bay. ibid 2 dly. By the Indians on their own Frontiers. . 69 96. 7 he people rife againjt the Indians. ibid They chufe Nath. Bacon, Jun. for their Leader. 70 97. He heads them , and fends to the Governour for a, Commifion. ibid 98 .'He be gins % his march without a Commijfion. _ yt The Governour fends for him. ibid 90. Bacon goes down in a Sloop with 40 of his Men to the l Governour. ' ibid joo. He goes away in a huffy and is purfued and brought l bid by the Governour, ... ( ibic$ hC \ ■ ~ U .-.vv " f-i §QI. Bacon Rebel. 6 The T A B L E. IC I, Bason y feats privately out of Town, and marches down to the Affembiy with 600 of his Volunteers. 72 102 . The Governour by advice of the Affembiy ftgns a Com - mijjion to Mr Bacon to be General . ibid 1°^ Bacon being march'd away with his Aden is proclaim'd 73 ibid ibid ibid ibid ibid 76 .77 ibid ibid 78 ibid ibid 1 04. Bicon returns with his "Forces to James Town, 105. The Governour flies to Accomack. The people there begin to male terms with him. 10 6. Bacon holds a Convention of Gentlemen. They propofe to tale an Oath to him. 167. The form of the Oath. 108. The Governour males head again ft him. General Bacon*/ death. 1 Op. Bacon followers furrender upon Articles. no. The Agents compound with the Proprietors. 111. Souldiers arrive from England. 11 2. A new Charter to Virginia. 113. The defolation by Bacon’/ Rebellion. _ 1/4. Commifflomrs arrive in Virginia, and Sir William returns to England. yp 1 15. Herbert Jeffreys, Efft Governour , concludes Peace with the Indians. ibid it 6. Sir Henry Chicheley, Deputy Governour , builds Forts again ft the Indian?. 80 The Affembiy prohibited the importation of Tobacco, ibid ibid ibid 81 ibid 82 ibid 1 17. Lord Culpepper, Governour. 1 1 8. Lord Colpepper’/^r/? Affembiy. Fie pajfes fever al obliging AEls to the Country. Penalty for refleEUng on the Governour , &C. lip. He doubles the Governour s Salary. 1 20. He impofes she Perquiftte of Ships Money . - 1 2 r . He by Proclamation raifes the value of Spanish Coins9 and lowers it again. 83; 122. He repeals Laws by Proclamation. _ 84 223. The people difturb'd atthefe proceedings . ibid The fever al other examples of this way of repealing Laws. 224. Sir Henry Chichely, Deputy Governour. _ 85 The Plant cutting . ibid 25. Lord Cal e pepper/ Jecond Affembiy. % 85 He takes away appeals to the Affembiy, ibid I 2j6, His The TABLE. 7 126. His advantage thereby in the propriety of the Northern Neck. - # 87 1 27. He retrenches the new methods of Court proceedings. 88 j 28. He dismantl'd the Forts on the heads of Rivers , and appointed Rangers in their fiead - 89 1 29. Mr Secretary Spencer, Prefdent. ibid 130. Lord Effingham,. Governour. ibid Some of h is extraor d inary methods of getting Money.\b\d po v ibid ibid ibid And ibid ibid 92 ibid Complaints againil him, 1 3 1. Duty on Liquors fir ft raifed. 132 Court of Chancery by Lord Effingham. 133. Coll. Bacon Prefulent. 7 he College deftgnd. 134. Ef quire Nicholfbn, Lieutenant G over nour. He ft udies popularity. The College propofed to him. He refufes to call an Ajfembly. X35. He grants a Brief to the College. 13 6. The Ajfembly addrefs King William and Queen Mary /or a College Charter. ibid 7 ‘he Education intended by this College : ibid The Ajfembly prefent the Lieutenant Governour. 93 Fils method of fee string this prefent. ibid 137. Their Majefty’ s grant the Charter. ibid They grant liberally towards the building and endowing of it. ibid 138. The Lieutenant Governoar encourages Towns and Ma¬ nufactures. 94 Gentlemen of the Council complain of him, and are mi fus'd. IT falls off from the encouragement of the Towns and > Trade . ibid 139. Sir Edmond Andros Governour. ibid The Town-Law fufpended. ibid 140. The projeCi of a Poft-Office . 95 1 41. Sir Edmond Andros diforders their Court proceedings. 142. The College Charter arriv d. ibid The College further endow'd, and the Foundation laid. 96 243. Sir Edmond encouraged Country Manufactures and regulated the Secretaries Office. ibid 1 44. A Child born in the old Age of the Parent 4. 97 145. Francis Nicholfon Governour. ibid • *'v- *■ 1 m The T A B L E. $ His and Collonell Quarry \f Memorials again (t the Plan¬ tation pg J46. His pretended Zeal for the Church and College l ib. I47* P^e removes the General Court Jrom James Town, ib. 148. The vexation fnefs of his Adminiftration ; 99 149. His abttfc of Judicial proceedings. 100 150. His Arbitrary Inclinations df;er the method of Mo- - ibid rocco. [151. His Arbitrary proceedings in Council . 1152. His interrupting and breakingopen Letter sa !S 5 2» His Eve sdr opping and Inquifition Courts . Ii54* The taking of the Pyrate. [155. The Sham Bills (ff 900 /. for New-Yo'k. Collonel Quarry’s unjuft Memorials. ibid ioi ibid I 32 133 134 BOOK II. 2. 3* FTP the Natural ProduElions and Conveniences of Virginia i» its improv dftate, before the Eiigliili went thither C H P. I. Of the Bounds and Coafb of Virginia. T. Of the pre fent Bounds hof Virginia* I Of Chefapeak Bay, and theSea Coafof Virginia. 2 What is meant by the Word Virginia in this Book. 3 CHAP. II. Of the Waters. §. 4. Of the convenience1 of the Bay and Rivers. 4 5. Of the Springs and Fountains depending to the Rivers. *5 6. Of Damageby the Worm in the Salts. ibid Of the Ways of avoiding that Damage. ibid CHAP. III. Of the Earth and Soil. 7. Of the Soil in general. Of the Lands in the Lower In the Aliddle In the Upper 8, Of the Earths and Clays. Of the Coal , Slate and Stone , and why not tifed. y 9. Of Minerals, and therein of the Iron Mine formerly wrought upon. ibid Of the fuppofed Gold Alines lately difcovered. 10 ' That parts of the Rivers. ibid ibid 11 ibid 12 The TABLE. That this Gold Mine was the Supreme Seat of the Indian 7 mples- formerly. That their Chief Altar was there alfi. Mr Whittaker i aecomt of a Silver Aiine. to. Of the Hills in Virginia. Of the Springs in the High Lands. ' C H A P. IV. Of the Wild Fruits. & 1 1 . Of the Spontaneous Fruits in general. 1 3 12. Of the Stoned Fruits, viz. Cherries, Plumbs, and Per- Jfimmons. , 13. Of the Berries , viz. Mulberries, Currans, Hurts, Cranberries , Rasberries , and S rabcrries. 15 14. Of the Nuts, viz. Chef nuts , Chincapins, Hafle-nuts, Hiccsry nuts, Walnuts and Acorns. id I <5. Of Gr ap*s y fix forts. # }7 ■ Some reajons why the J2Jfayi of PCineyards have been in - effectual. *9 The Report of fome French Vigmnons formerly font in thi¬ ther . - 2^ i 6. Of .the Honey and the Sugar Trees. 2t \y. Of the Myrtle Free, and Myrtle Wax. • ,v- , 22 Of the Wax made f rom Cedar Berrie s. 23 Of the Hops growing wild. I B. Of the great varieiyof Seeds, Plants, and Flowers. ibid Of the two Snah'roots. i Of the James Town Weed. 24 Of fome curiam Flowers. ^ . 2c> 15?. Of the creeping Fines bearing Bruit, viz. Melons, Pompions , Macoch, Gourds, and Maracoch. 26 20. Of the other Fruits, Roots, and Plants of //^Indians. 2& Of tie fever al forts of Indian Corn and Pulfe. ibid Of Potattoes. Of Tobacco, as it was order d by the Indians. 1 CHAP V. Of the Fifh. 21- Of the great plenty and variety of Mifh. Of the vafb Shoals of Herrings. Snads, See. 22. Of the Ctmiinuality of the Fijhtry. The names of fome of the be (l edible Fifh , The names of fome that are not eaten. ibid 30 3 1 ibid. ibid t0 The TABLE. 22. Of the Indian Children s catching Fifh. ibid £)f the fever al Inventions of the Indians to take Fifh. 33 24. Of the Fifhing liawh and Bald Eagles, 35 Of the Fifh dropt into the Orchard. 3° J CHAP. VL Of the Wild Fowl and Flunted Game . k iA. Of the Wild Water Fowl. 37 26. Of the Game in the Marfhes and Watry Grounds, ibid 2y. Of the Game in the Highlands and Frontiers. ibid. Of the Foflum. 28. Of fome Indian ways of Hunting. Of Fire Hunting. Of their Hunting Quarters. 29. Cvtclufton. BOOK. III. 38 ibid 3 9 40 ibid f \ F the Indians, their Religion, Laws, and Cuftoms, in v War and Peaces CHAP. L Of the Per fans of the Indians, and their Drefs. 1. ’ Of the Perfon of the Indians, their colour and [hope 1 3. Of the cut of their Hair, and ornament Oj their Head • 2 2. Of their Vefture. 3 4. Of the Garb peculiar to their Prie ft s and Conjurers . 5 e Of the Womens Drefs . ® CHAP. II. Of the Matrimony of f&e Indians, and management of their Children. F 6. Of the conditions of their Marring? . . * 7*. Of the Maidens, and the ftory of their Profit Hti on. ibid 8. Of the management of the young Children. 9 CHAP. HI. Of the Towns , Building , and Fortification of the Indians. §.9. Of the Towns and Kingdoms of the Indians. 10 ao. Of the manner of their Building. ** 1 1. Of their Fewel, or Fire-wood. ** 1 1 Of their Seats and Lodging. ii; Of their Fortifications. The TABLE. 1 1 n H 1 6 ibid 17 •CHAP. IV. Of the Cookery and Food of the Indians. §. 14. Of their Cookery. 15. Of their fever a l forts of Food . 3 6. O their times oj Eating. 17, Of their Drink. 18. Their ways of Dining. ' CHAP. V. Of the Travelling , Reception and Entertainment of the Indians. 19. Of the wanner of their Travelling, and Provifion^ they wake for it. Their n ay of concealing their Courfe. 20. The manner of their reception of Strangers. Of the Pipe of Peace . 21. Of their Entertainment of Honourable Friends. CHAP. VI. Of the Learning and Languages of the Indians 22. That they are without Letters . . Of their defcriptions by Hieroglyphicks. . Of the Heraldry and Arms of the Indians. 23. That they have different Languages. Of their general Language. CHAP. VII. Of the War and Peace of the Indians. §. 24. Of their Confutations and War Dances. 25. Of their Barbarity upon a Victory. 26. Of the dffcent of the Crown. * 27. Of their Triumphs for Viclory. 28. Of their Treaties of Peace, and Ceremonies upon con¬ ch (ion of Peace. 2 7 CHAP. VIII. Of the Religion, Worfhip and SuperJlitJous Cujfoms of the Indians. 29. Of their Quioccafan and Idol of Worfhip. 28 20. Of their notions of God and worfbippirg the evil Spi¬ rit/ . ... 3* gi, Of their Pawwawing or Conjurations . 3 2. Of their Huskanawing. 33. Of the rcafons of this Cuftom. 34. Of their Offerings and Sacrifice. 35. Of their Jet Feafis. 18 ibid 1 9 20 22 23 ibid ibid ibict 24 25 ibid 26 36 33 37 4* 4* The TABLE. %6, Of their account of Time. ibid 37. Of their Super pit ion and Zealotry. 44 38, Of their regard to the Priejh and Magicians. 4^ 39- Of the Places of their Worfbi'p and Sacrifice. 4.6 O their Pawcorances or Alta^Stones. ibrd 40. Of their care of the Bodies of their Princes after death 4.7 CHAP. IX. Of the D if cafes and Cures of the Indians. §• 41* Of their Difeafes in general, and burning for Cure, yp Of their Sucking , Scarifying and Bliflering . ibid Of the Prkfis fecrecy in the Virtues of Plant's.1 50 Of the Words Wy locca n , Wi gb Pea n andWogh Pea n,i b. Of their Phyfick and the method of i-t. ibid $ ibid 54 55 42. Of their Bagnio s and Baths. Of their Oyling af.er Sweating. C A A P. X. Of the Sports and Paftimes of the Indians. §. 43. Of their Sports and Paftimes in general. . r^r .L • o- • '■ J * nomination of Prefident and Maflers , and a power of making Statutes, See. ibid 43. Of College Buildings. 44. Of the Boys and Schooling. ibid ibid 0 CHAP. IX: Of the Military Strength in Virginia. 6. 4<. Of the Forty and Fortifications. 4 6. Of the Lifted Militia. atj. Of the nmnber of the Militia. 48. Of the Service of the Aiilitia. 33 & 45. Uf We service vj we 4^. particulars of the Hoops and Companies. ibid A * - TABL E. CHAP. X. \ \ A • ' «► O/" f/jf Servants and Slaves', v 5°* Of ^ diftinElion between a Servant and a Slave. 25 5 f* Of the work of their Servants and Slaves. 3 <5 5 2. Of the Laws in favour of Servants. 3 j CHAP. XL Of Provifton for the Poor , other publick Charitable works. §• 53r W ^ Legacy to the Poor. ^9 •54. Of the Parifh methods in maintaining their Poor. 40 55* Of F'ree Schools, and Schooling of Children . ibid CHAP. XIL .11 IV . 1'3 Of the tenure of Lands and methods of Grants in ■ Virginia. v 5^- Qf ^e Tenure and Patents of their Lands. 41 57. Of the fever al ways of acquiring Grants of Land* ibid 58. Of Rights to Land. ibid 59. Of Patents upon Survey. ibid 60. Of Grants of Lap fed Land. . .43 61 . Of Grants of Ef cheat Land. ■ 44 J A,' ’ r ♦ t .... \ • * CHAP. XIII. • V Z . f * ^ \ '1 ^ ■* Of the Liberties and Naturalisation of the Aliens in Virginia. §. 62. Of Naturalisations. 44 63. Of the French Refugees at the Monacan Town. 45 : CHAP. XIV. } Of the Currency and T zl nation of Coins in Virginia. V ^4* ^at Coins are current among them , at what rates , and why carried from among them to the Neighbouring Plantations . ^3 t * The TABL E, PART II. Of the Husbandry and Improvements of Virginia. C H A P. XV. Of the People, Inhabitants of Virginia. f^e Peoflif7g °f Virginia. 50 V 3 66* Of the firfi jlcceffion of Wives to Virginia. 67. Of the other Ways by which the Country was encreafcd in People, . CHAP. XVI. Of the Buildings in Virginia, §.68. Of the Publick Buildings. ^2 69. Of the Private Buildings ; 5 3 C H A P. XVI. \ . Of the Edibles , Potables, and Fewel in Virginia, 54 §. 70. Of their Cookery, 71. Of their FI ejh7 and Fijls, 72. Of their Bread, 73. Of their 10 1 chin Cardens, 74 Of their Brinks, 75. Qf their Few el. 55 56 57 The TABLE. CHAP. XVIII. Of the C loathing in Virginia. §. 7 6. Of their Supplies in Cloathing. Of their Slothfidnefs in Handicrafts . — CHAP. XIX. Of the Temperature of the Climate , and the In - conveniencies attending it . §. 77. Of the Natural Temper and Mixture of the Air . 59 78. Of the Climate , and happy Situation of the Country in refpeft of the Latitude . — - 79. Of the Occafions of its general ill Char after, 60 Of the Rural Pie a fares natural to the Place . 6 1 80. Of all the natural Annoyances , or Occafions of Vneafinefs — « Of the load Thunders . 62 Of the Heat of Summer, 63 Of the trouble fome Infefts , wherein of the Frogs y Snakes y Aiitsketas^ Chinches , Seedticks 7 and Red-worms. — . 81. Of the Winters. 67 Of the fudden Changes of the Weather . Ibid. C H A P, XX- Of the Difestfes incident to the Country . X §.82. Of the Difeafes in general 68 83. Of the Seafoning. 69 84. Of the Cachexy and Yaws , Ibid. 85. Of the Gripes, 70 C H A p; J 22 > The TABLE. CHAP. XXI. Of the Recreations and Pafiimes in Virginia, §, 85. Of the Diversions in general, 7 1 87. Of Deer- Hunting, Ibid. 88. Of if arc* Hunting. 72 89. Of Jl nine -Hunting, Ibid. 90. Of taking wildTurkies. 73 91. Of Fi fhing. Ibid. 92. Of the fmall Game , 74 93. Of the Beavor, Ibid. 94. Of Horfe- Hunting* 75 95. Of the Hofpitality * 7 5 C H A P. XXII. Of the Natural Produll of V irginia, and the Ad¬ vantages of Husbandry, §. 95. 0/ Fruits . 77 97. Of the Grain, 79 98. Of Line , S/7£, and Cotton, 80 99. 0/ 2?m Cattle, 8t 100. The Vfefulnefs of the Woods. 82 lot. The Indolence of the Inhabitants. Ibid. Tfo Schedule. I E R R AT Book I. T) \ge 34. line 13. for Who read And. p. 68. 1. 33. for their X r* the- p* 69. 1. 18. dele and. p. 73. 1. 3. for his Excel¬ lency r. the Governour . p. 83. 1. 1 ^ for jwo t.fome mo. p. 87 ^ 1. 19. after he r. having. 1. 20. deled»rf. p. 89. i. 29. for «r. 40 Annual . Book II. Page 1 line 17. before 7i»o infertjfawj. p. 20. 1. 1. for Mr* r. Sir. p. 36. 1. 18. for dropp'd r. let go. Book III. Prge 6. line 29. for Hushan awing read Hushanaw Pen. p. 19.' 1. 34. for 16 r .6. p. 49. 1. 24. for fmoaking r. fucking, p. 62. S, 18. dele i#. Book W. Page 34. line 2$. for them r. the Foot. p. 4*5. 1. i) Here they trafficked with the Indians, as the others had done before them 5 made ffiort Trials of the Soil by Englijh Grain, and found the Indians, as in all other Places, very fair and cour¬ teous at fir ft, till they got more Knowledge or the Englijh, and perhaps thought themfelves over-reach’d, hecaufe one bought better Penny¬ worths than another ^ upon which afterwards they never fail’d to take Revenge as they found their Opportunity or Advantage. ^ So this Company alfo return’d with the Ship, having ranged Forty Miles up Connecticut River, and call’d the Harbour where they lid Penticoft Harbour becauie of their Arrival there on Whit f unday. In all thefe latter Voyages, they never fo much as endeavour d to come* near the Place where the firfi: Settlement was attempted at Cape Hattoras :7 neither had they any Pity on thofe poor Hundred ana Fifteen Souls fettled there in 1^87, of whom there had never fince been any Account, no Re¬ lief fent to them, nor fo much as any Enquiry made alter them, whether they were dead or a- Rve, till about Three Years after this, when Che- j apeak Bay in J^ir^mia was fettled, which hither¬ to had never been feen by any Englifh Man. So flrong was the Defire of Riches, and io eager the Puifuit of a rich Trade, that all Concern for the Lives ot their fellow Chriflians, Kindred, Neighbours and Country-men, weigh’d nothing In the Comparifon } tho’ an Enquiry might have been eafiiy made, when they were Io near them. CHAP. Prefent State of Virginia. i 3 CHAP. II. Containing an Account of the firfl Settlement of Chefapeak Bay , in Virginia, by the Corpo¬ ration of London Adventurers , and their Pro¬ ceedings during their Government by a Prefident and Council Elective. §. ij.rilHE Merchants of London, Briftol , Exeter JL and Plimoitth, foon perceived what great Gains might be made of a Trade this Way, if it were well managed, and Colonies could be right¬ ly fettled; which was fufficiently evinced by the great Profits fome Ships had made, which had not met with ill Accidents. Encouraged by this Pro¬ pped, they join’d together in a Petition to King James the Firfl: ; {hewing forth, That it would be too much for any ftngle Perfon to attempt the Settling of Colonies, and to carry on fo con- fiderable a Trade : They therefore pray’d his Ma- jelly to incorporate them, and enable them to raife a joint Stock for that Purpofe, and to coun¬ tenance their Undertaking. His Ma jelly did accordingly grant their Peti¬ tion, and by Letters Patents bearing Date* the 1 oth oi April, 1 606, did in one Patent incorporate them into Two diltinct Companies to make Two feparate Colonies, viz.. “ Sir Tho. Gates, Sir George w Summers, Knights; Mr. Richard ELackluit, Cleik “ Prebend of Weflminfter , and Edvoard-Maria Wing- “ field, Efq; Adventurers of the City of Lon- “ don, and fuch others as Ihould be join'd unto w them of that Colony, which (hould be call d. The “ Firfl Colony ; with Liberty to begin their firfl: - “ Plan- W.. I 4 The HISTORY and Plantation and Seat, at any Place upon the Coaft of cc Virginia , where they fhould think fit and conve- ccent, between the Degrees of 34 and 41 of Nor- cc them Latitude : And that they fhould extend ct their Bounds from the faid firft Seat of their tc Plantation and Habitation, Fifty English Miles a- cc long the Sea-Coaft each Way ; and include all ct the Lands within an Hundred Miles dire&ly tc over-againft the fame Sea-Coaft, and alfo back cc into the Main-Land One Hundred Miles from ccthe Sea-Coaft: And that no other fhould be permitted or fuffer’d to plant or inhabit behind , or on the Back of them towards the Main- What alfo gave a greater Interruption to this Trade, was an Objedt that drew ail their Eyes and Thoughts afide, even from taking the neceflary Car? for their Prefervation, and for the Support of their Lives; which was this; They found in a Neck of Land, on the Back of James-Town-Ifland , a frelh Stream of Water fprirjging out of a fmalL Bank, which walk’d down with it a yellow fort of Duft-llinglafs, which being cleanfed by the frelh ftreaming of the Water, lay lhining in the Bottom of that limpid Element, and flirr'd up in them an unfeafonable and inordinate Delire after Riches: Fortney, taking all to be Gold that gli- fterd, run into theutmoft Diftra&ion, negleding both the neceffary Defence of their Lives from the Indians , and the Support of their Bodies by fecu- ringof Provilions; abfolutely relying, like Midas, upon the Almighty Power of Gold, thinking, that where this was in plenty nothing could be wanting : But they foon grew feniible of their Error; and found that if this gilded Dirt bad been real Gold, it could have been of no Advantage to them. For, by their Negligence, they were reduced to in ex¬ ceeding i8 The HIST ORY and - ceeding Scarcity of Provifions, and that little they had, was loft by the Burning of their Town, while all Hands were employ’d upon this imaginary Gob* den Treafure } fo that they were forced to live for fometime upon the wild Fruits of the Earth, and upon Crabs, Mufcles, and fuch like, not having a Day’s Provifion before-hand } as fome of the la- zieft Indians , who have no Pleafure in Exercife, and won’t be at the Pains to fifh and hunt : And, indeed, not fo well as they neither } For by this carelefs negle&ing of their Defence againft the /»- dians, many of ’em were deftroy'd by that cruel People^ and the Reft durft not venture abroad, but were forced to be content with what fell juft into their Mouths. §. iS. In this Condition they were, when the firft Ship of the Two before- mention'd came to their Affiftance, but their Golden Dreams overcame all Difficulties : They fpoke not, nor thought of any thing but Gold, and that was all the Lading that moft of them were willing to take Care for \ accordingly they put into this Ship all the yellow Dirt they had gathered, and what Skins and Furs they had trucked for } and filling her up with Ce¬ dar, Pent her away. After fhe was gone, the other Ship arrived, which they ftow’d likewife with thisfuppofed Gold-Duft, defigning never to be poor again} filling her up with Cedar and Clap-board. Thofe Two Ships being thus difpatched, they made feverai Difcoveries in James River, and up Chef apeak Bay, by the Undertaking and Manage¬ ment of Capt. John Smith: And the Year ido8 was the firft Year in which they gather’d Indian Corn of their own planting* While Prefent State of V irginia. 19 While thefe Difcoveries were making by Capt. Smith, Matters run again into Confufion in James Town } and feveral uneafie People, taking Advan¬ tage of his Abfence, attempted to defert the Set¬ tlement, and run away with the finall Veflel that was left to attend upon it *, for Capt. Smith was the only Man . among them that could manage the Difcoveries with Succefs, and he was the only Man too that could keep the Settlement in Order. Thus the English continued to give themfelves as much Perplexity by their own Diftracfion, as the Indians did by their Watch fulnefs and Refent- ments. 19. Anno 1609, John Laydon and Anna Bur¬ row's were marry’d together, the firit Chriftian Marriage in that Part of the World ; and the Year following the Plantation was increafed to near Five Hundred Men. This Year James-Town Pent out People, and made Two other Settlements *, One at Nanfamond in James- River, above Thirty Miles below James- Town , and the Other at Powhatan, Six Miles below the Falls of James-River , (which laft was bought of Powhatan for a certain Quantity of Copper,) each Settlement coniifting of about a Hundred and Twenty Men. Some fmall Time after another was made at Kiquotan by the Mouth of James- River, . 1 * .j * S d *•* IduO’T • w G 2 , f • ■ 1 * V- CHA P. * * \ c ■ V/ f; 4 v i ao The HISTORY and CHAP. III. Shewing rthat happen’d after the Alteration of the Government from an Elective Prefident to a Commiffionated Governour , until the Diffoln- tion of the Company . §. 20. TN the mean while the Treafuret, Council, J|_ and Company of Virginia Adventurers in London , not finding that Return and Profit from the Adventures they expe&ed y and rightly judging that this Difappointment, as well as the idle Quar¬ rels in the Colony, proceeded from a Mifmanage of the Government j petition’d his Majefty, and got a new Patent with Leave to appoint a Governour. Upon this new Grant they fent out Nine Ships, and plentiful Supplies of Men and Provifions y and made Three Joint Commiffioners or Governours in equal Power, viz.. Sir Thomas Gates , Sir George Summers , and Capt .Newport. They agreed to go all together in one Ship. This Ship, on Board of which the Three Gover¬ nors had embarqued, being feparated from the Kelt, was put to great Diftrefs in a fever e Storm *, and after Three Days and Nights conftant Baling and Pumping, was at laft call Alhore at Bermudas , and there ftaved, but by good Providence the Com¬ pany was preferved. Notwithftanding this Shipwreck, and Extremity they were put to, yet could not this common Mif- fortime make them agree. The Belt of it was, they found Plenty of Provifions in that Ifland, and no Indians to annoy them : But ftill they quarrell’d among# Prefent State of Virgin i a. ai* among# themfelves, and none more than the Two Knights*, who made their Parties, built each of them a Cedar Veffel, one call’d the Patience , the other the Deliverance , and uled what they gather’d of the Furniture of the old Ship for Rigging, and Filh-Oil, and Hogs-Greafe mix’d with Lime and Allies inftead of Pitch and Tar: For they found great Plenty of SpanijJ) Hogs in this Hland, which are fuppofed to have fwam afhore from fome Wrecks, and there afterwards increafed. §. 2i. While thefe Things were a&ing in Bermn - das, Capt. Smith being very much burnt by the ac¬ cidental Firing of fome Gun-Powder, as he w7as up¬ on a Difcovery in his Boat, was forced for his Cure fake, and the Benefit of a Surgeon, to take his Paf- fage for England in a Ship that was then upon the Point of Sailing. Several of the Nine Ships that came out with the Three Governours arrived, with many of the Pafien- ’gersj fome of which in their Humours wou’d not fubmit to the Government there, pretending the New Commiflion deltroy’d the Old one ^ that Ga- vernours were appointed inftead of a Prelident, and that they themfelves were to be of the Coun¬ cil } and fo wou’d aflu me an independent Power, infpiring the People with Difobedience *, by which Means they became frequently expofed in great Parties to the Cruelty of the Indians ^ all forts of Difcipline was laid alide, and their ncceflary Defence negle&ed ; fo that the Indians taking Ad¬ vantage of thofe Divilions, form’d a Stratagem to deitroy them Root and Branch, and indeed they did cut many of ’em off, by maflacring whole Companies at a time ^ fo that all the Out-Settle¬ ments were deferted, and the People that were not deftroy’ci took Refuge in JaniesSfoven, except the oa The HISTORY and {mail Settlement at Kiqtiotan, where they had built themfelves a little Fort, and call’d it Algernon Fort: And yet, for all this, they continued their Diforders, wafting their old Provifions, and neg¬ lecting to gather others:, fo that they who remain’d alive were all near faraifti’d, having brought them¬ felves to that Pafs, that they durft not ftir from their own Doors to gather the Fruits of the Earth, or the Crabs and Muhels from the Water-fide : Much lefs to hunt or catch wild Beafts, Fhh or Fowl, which were found in great Abundance there. They continued in thefe fcanty Circumftances till they were at laft reduced to fuch Extremity, as to eat the very Hides of their Horfes, and the Bodies, of the Indians they had killed and fometimes alfo up¬ on a Pinch they wou’d not difdain to dig them up a^ain to make a homely Meal of after they had been buried. And that Time is to this Day remem?* ber3d by the Name of the Starving Time . Thus a few Months indifcreet Management brought fuch an Infamy upon the Country, that to this Day it cannot be wiped away : And the Sickneiles occa- iion’d by this bad Diet, or rather want of Diet are unjuftly remember’d to the Difadvantage of the Country, as a Fault in the Climate } which was on¬ ly the Foolifhnefs and Indifcretion of thofe who aifumed the Power of Governing. I call it affumed becaufe the New Commiftion mention’d, by which they pretended to be of the Council, w7as not in all this time arrived, but remain’d in Bermudas with the new Governours. Here I can’t but admire the Care, Labour, Cou¬ rage and Underftanding that Capt .John Smith ihow’d in the Time of his Adminiftration j who not only founded, but alfo preferved all thefe Settlements in good Order, while he was amongft them. And without him, they had certainly all been de~ ftroy’d Prefent State of V i r g i n r a, a 5 ftroy’d, cither by Famine, or the Enemy long be¬ fore -7 tho’ the Country naturally afforded Sub- fiftance enough, even without any other Labour than that of Gathering and Preferving its Spon¬ taneous Provifions. For the firft Three Years that Capt. Smith was with them, they never had in that whole Time above Six Months Englijh Provifions. But as foon as he had left ’em to themfelves, all went to Ruine } for the Indians had no longer any Fear for themfelves, or Friendfhip for the Englijh. And Six Months after this Gentleman’s Departure, the 500 Men that he left were reduced to Threefcore *, and they too mull of Neceffity have ftarved, if their Relief had been with-held a Week longer. §. 22, In the mean time, the Three Governours put to Sea from Bermudas in their Two fmail Veffels, with their Company, to the Num- . ber of One Hundred and Fifty, and in Fourteen Days, viz,, the 25th of May, 16' 10. they arrived both together in Virginia, and went with their Veffels up to James-Eown, where they found the fmail Remainder of the Five Hundred Men, in that melancholy Way I juft now hinted. §.23. Sir Thomas Gates , Sir George Summers, and Capt. Newport, the Governours, were very compafc fionate of their Condition *, and call’d a Council, wherein they inform’d them, that they had but Sixteen Days Provifion Aboard *, and therefore de- * fired to know their Opinion, whether they would venture to Sea under fuch a Scarcity : Or if they refolved to continue in the Settlement, and take their Fortunes j they would ftay likewife, and fhare the Provifions among them but defired that their Determination might be fpeedy. They foon cams r ' „ tr>) ’ H The HISTORY and to the CoucMon of returning for England : But becaufe their Provifions were fhort, they relblved to go by the Banks of Newfoundland, in Hopes of meeting with fome of the Filhermen, (this being now the Seafon) and dividing thetnfelves among their Ships for the greater Certainty of Provifion, and for their better Accommodation. According to this Refoiution, they all went a- ooard, and fell down to Hog-ljland the 9th of June at Night, and the next Morning to Mulbmy- Jjland Point, which is Eighteen Miles below James - Town, and Thirty above the Mouth of the River : and there they fpied a Long-Boat, which the Lord Telatvar (who was juft arrived with Three Ships) had tent before him up the River founding the Channel. His Lordfhip was made foie Governour, and was accompanied by feveral Gentlemen of Con¬ dition. He caufed all the Men to return again to James-Toven ■, refettled them with Satisfadion, and ftaid with them till March following } and then be¬ ing very lick, he return’d for England , leaving about Two Hundred in the Colony. §. 24. On the 1 oth of May, 1 61 1 , Sir Thomas Dale being then made Governour, arriv’d with Three Ships, which brought Supplies of Men, Cattle and Hogs. He found them growing again into the like Diforders as before, taking no Care to plant Corn and wholly relying upon their Store, which then had but Three Months Provifion in it. He there¬ fore fee them to work about Corn, andtho’it was the Middle of May before they began to prepare tne Ground, yet they had an indifferent good Crop. §. 25. In Augutt the fame Year Sir Thomas Gates ariivd at James-Town with Six Ships more, and a plentiful Supply of Hogs, Cattle, Fowls, 0-f. Prefent State of Virginia. 25 with a good Quantity of Ammunition , and all other Things neceflary for a new Colo¬ ny, and befides this a Reinforcement of Three Hundred and Fifty chofen Men. In the Beginning of September he fettled a new Town at Arrahattncky about Fifty Miles above James-Town , Paling in the Neck above Two Miles from the Point, from one Reach of the River to the other. Here he built Forts and Centry-Boxes, and in Honour of Henry Prince of Wales, call’d it Henrico . And alfo run a PalifTado on the other Side of the River at Coxcndde, to fecure their Hogs. §. 2 6. Anno 1612, Two Ships more arriv’d with Supplies: And Capt .Argali, who commanded one of them, being fent in her to Patowmecl to buy Corn, he there met with Pocahontas^ the Excellent Daughter of Powhatan j and having prevail’d with her to come Aboard to a T reat, he detain d her Prifoner, and carried her to James-Town, dehgning to make Peace with her Father by her Releafe : But on the Contrary, that Prince refented the A [front very highly ; and although he loved his Daughter with all imaginable Tendernefs, yet he would not be brought to Terms by that unhandfome 1 rear Fie¬ ry • till about Two Years after a Marriage be¬ ing propofed between Mr. John Polfe , an £ng ijn Gentleman, and this Lady *, which Powhatan taking to be a fincere Token of Friendftnp, he vouchfated to confent to it, and to conclude a Peace. Intermarriage had been indeed the Method pio- pofed very often by the Indians in the Beginning, urging it frequently as a certain Rule, that the Png- li(h were not their Friends, if they refufed it. And I can’t but think it wou’d have been happy for that Country, had they embraced this Propoial : tor, the JealQufie of the Indians, which I take to be the a6 The HISTORY and i * *-■ » •' Caufe of molt of the Rapines and Murders they committed, wou’d by this Means have been altoge¬ ther prevented, and confequently the Abundance of Blood that was filed on both iides wou’d have been fav 'id \ the great Extremities they were fo of¬ ten reduced to, by which fo many died, wou’d not have happen’d } the Colony, inftead of all thefe Lodes of Men on both Sides, wou d have been en* creafing in Children to its Advantage } the Coun¬ try wou’d have efcaped the Odium which undefer- vedly fell upon it, by the Errors and Convulfions in the firlt Management ; and, in all Likelihood, many, if not moll, of the Indians would have been converted to Christianity by this kind Method \ the Country would have been full of People, by the Prefervation of the many Chrifiians and Indians that fell in the Warsbetween them. Befides, there would have been a Continuance of all thofe Nations of Indians that are now dwindled away to nothing by their frequent Removals, or are fled to other Parts j not to mention the Invitation that fomuch Succefs and Profperity would have-been for others to have gone over and fettled there, inllead of the Fright s and Terrors that were produced by all thofe Misfortunes that happen’d. §. 27. Pocahontas being thus married in the Year 1613, a firm Peace was concluded with her Father, tho’ he would not trull himfelf at her Wedding. Both the EngUJh and Indians thought themfelves intirely fecure and quiet. This brought in the Chickahomony Indians alfo, tho’ not out of any Kind- nefs or Refpe£t to the Englifhy but out of Fear of being, by their Alfiltance, brought under Powha¬ tan’s abfolute Subje&ion, who ufed now and then to threaten and tyrannize over them. Prefen t State of Virginia. 27 . * • v. - 6 28. Sir Thomas Dak returning for England Anno 1616. took with him Mr. Rolf and his Wife Tocahontas , who upon the Marriage, was Chriften d, and call’d Rebecka. He left Capt. George Tardly Deputy-Governour during his Abfence, the Coun¬ try being then intirely at Peace \ and arnv d at Plimouth the \ 2th of June . . ^ , Capt. John Smith was at that Time in England, and hearing of the Arrival of Pocahontas at Portfl mouth , ufed all the Means he could to exprets- his Gratitude to her, as having formerly preferv d his Life by the Hazard of her own : For, }when by the Command of her Father, Capt. Smtns Head was upon the Block to have his Brains knock d out, Ihe faved his Head by laying her’s clofe upon it. He was at that Time fuddenly to imbark foi ew- England , and fearing he fhould fail before fhe got. to London , he made an humble Petition to the Queen in her Behalf, which 1 here choofe to give you in his own Words, becaufe it will ave me the Story at large. §. 29. Capt. Smith’i- Petition to Her Majefty, m Behalf of Pocahon¬ tas, Daughter to the Indian Emperor Powhatan. To the moft High and Vertuous Princefs, Queen Anne, of Great Britain. Moft Admir’d' Madam, THE Love 1 bear my God , my KJng and Coun¬ try hath Jo often embolden d me in the rvorjl of extream Dangers, that now Hone fly doth con- J ~ (tmn mbe HISTORY and firain me to prefume thus far beyond my felf to frefent your Majefly this Jhort Difcourfe. If In¬ gratitude be a deadly Poifon to all honefl Vertues , I mufi be guilty of that Crime, if 1 jhould omit my Means to be thankful . So it was , That about Ten Tears ago , being in Virginia, and taken Prifbner by the Power of Powhatan, their chief Kjng , 1 receiv'd from this great Sa¬ vage exceeding great Coxrtefie, effect ally from his Son Nantaquaus ; the manliejl, comhef , boldejl Spirit I ever Jaw in a Savage ; and his Sifter Po¬ cahontas, the KJngfs mojl dear and well beloved Daughter , being but a Child of Twelve or Thir¬ teen Tears of Age, whole lompafjionate pitiful Heart of my defp crate Efiate gave me much Caufe to refpett her . 1 being the firji Chriftian this proud Kjng and his grim Attendants ever faw, and thus inthralPd in their barbarous Power ; I cannot fay I felt the leaf Occafion of Want, that was in the Power of thofe my mortal Foes to pre¬ vent , notwithstanding all their Threats . After fame Six Weeks Fatting amongH thofe Savage Courtiers , at the Minute of my Execution (he ha¬ zarded the Beating out of her own Brains to five mine , and not only that, but fo prevail'd with her Father, that 1 was fife ly conducted to James- Town, where I found about Eight and Thirty mi fa able, poor and fick Creatures to keep Poffefjion for all thofe large Territories of Virginia. Such was the Weaknejs of this poor Commonwealth , as had not the Savages fed us, we dire oily had flaw'd* Prefent State 0/ V i r g i n i a. 29 And this Relief \ moft Gracious Queen, was commonly brought us by this Lady Pocahontas, notwiihftmding all thefe Pajfages, when uncon - jlant fortune turn’d our Peace to War, this ten¬ der Virgin would fl ill not fare to dare to vifit us ; and by her our jars have been oft appeafed , and our Wants fill fupplied. Were it the Policy of her Father thus to employ her , or the Ordinance of God thus to make her His Infer ument , or her extraordinary Affection to our Nation , I know not : But of this I am fure, when her Father , with the utmofe of his Policy and Power , fought to fur- prize me, having but Eighteen with me , the dark Night could not affright her from coming through the irkfome Woods, and, with water’d Eyes , give me Intelligence, with her bejl Advice to efcape his Fury , which had he known , he had furely fain her * James-Town, with her wild Train , floe as freely frequented as her Father’s Habitation ; and during the time of Two or Three Tears , jhe , next under God , was JhH the lnfirument to preferve this Colony from Death 7 F 'amine , and utter Con - jufeton, which if in tbofe Times , had once been dife folv’dy Virginia might have lain , as it was at our firjl Arrival , till this Day . Since then, this Bufmefs having been turn’d and varied by many Accidents from what I left it, it is mofi certain y after a long and troublefome War, fence my De¬ parture, betwixt her lather and our Colony , all which Time ffe was not heard of about Two Tears after jhe herjelf was taken Prifoner , being jo de¬ tain'd near Two Tears longer, the Colony by that Means go The HISTORY and Means was reliev'd , Peace concluded , and at lafl , rejecting her barbarous Condition, (he was married to an Engiilh Gentleman , with whom at this Pre* fent (he is in England. 2 he firft Chriftian ever of that Nation : The fir (l Virginian ever [fake Englifh, or had a Child in Marriage by an Eng- lifh Man. A Matter furdy , if my Meaning be truly confider'd and well under flood , worthy a Prince's Information. Thus , moft Gracious Lady, I have related to your Majefly what at your befl Leifure our approv'd Hiftories will recount to you at large , as done in the Time of your Majefly' s Life : And , however this might be prefented you from a more worthy Pen , it cannot frcrm a more honefl Heart . As yet I never begg'd any thing of the State, or any ; and it is my want of Ability , and her ex¬ ceeding Defer t * your Birth , Means and Author i~ ty ; her Birth , Vertue, Want and Simplicity , doth make me thus bold , humbly to befeech your Ma~ jefly to take this Knowledge of her , tho' it be from one fo unworthy to be the Reporter as my (elf: Her Husband's Eft ate not being able to makt her ft to attend your Majefly. The most and leasl I can do, is to tell you this , and the rather becaufe of her being of fo great a Spirit, however her Stature. If (he (hould not be well receiv'd, feeing this Kjngdom may rightly have a Kjngdom by her Means • her prefent Love to us, andChriflianity , might turn to Juch Scorn and Fury, as to divert all this Good to the worfl of Evil : Where finding that fio Great a Queen (hould do her more Honour than (he can imagine , Prefent State o/ Virginia. 51 for having been kind to her Subjects and Ser¬ vants , ’ twou'd fo ravijh her with Content , as to endear her dearejl Blood to ejfett that your Ma - jejly and all the fang's honefi Subjects most ear¬ nestly dejire. And Jo I humbly ktfs your graciotss Hands , &c. ( Sign'd ) Dated June, 1616 . John Smith, §. 30. This Account was prefented to her Maje- fty, and gracioufly received : But before Captain Smith fail’d for Ncw-England^ the Indian Princefs arrived at London , and her Husband took Lodgings for her at Branford , to be a little out of the Smoak of the City, whither Capt. Smith , with fome of her Friends, went to fee her, and congratulate her Arrival, letting her know the Addrefs he had made to the Queen in her Favour. Till this Lady arrived in England , Hie had all along been inform’d that Capt. Smith was dead, be- caufe he had been diverted from that Colony by making Settlements in the Second Plantation, now call’d Nerv-England : For which Reafon, when (he fee him, Ihe feem’d to think herfelf much affront¬ ed, for that they had dared to impofe fo grofs an Untruth upon her, and at firft Sight of him turn’d away. It coil him a great deal of Intreaty, and fome Hours Attendance, before fhe would do him the Honour to fpeak to him : But at lafl fhe was reconcil’d, and talk’d freely to him. She put him in mind of her former Kindnefles, and then upbraided him for his Forgetfulnefs of her, (hew¬ ing by her Reproaches, that even a State of Na¬ ture teaches to abhor Ingratitude. 3a The HISTORY and She had in her Retinue a Great Man of her own Nation, whofe Name was Vttamaccomack : This Man had Orders from Powhatan, to count the Peo¬ ple in England, and give him an Account of their Number. Now the Indians having no Letters a- mong them, he at his going afliore provided a Stick, in which he was to make a Notch for every Man he fee ^ but this Accomptant foon grew weary of that tedious Exercife, and threw his Stick away : And at his return, being asked by his King, How many People there were He de fired him to count the Stars in the Sky , the Leaves upon the 'Trees , and the Sand on the Sea-fore, for fo many People (he faid) were in England. §.31. Pocahontas had many Honours done her by the Queen upon Account of Gapt. Smith’s Story *, and being introduced by the Lady Delawarr , (he was frequently admitted to wait on her Majefty, and was publickly treated as a Princess Daughter 3 (he was carried to many Plays, Balls, and other publick Entertainments, and very refpe&fully re¬ ceiv’d by all the Ladies about the Court. Upon all which Occafions (he behaved herfelf with fo much Decency, and (how’d fo much Grandure in her De¬ portment, that (he made good the brighteft Part of the Chara&er Capt. Smith had given of her. In the mean while (he gain’d the good Opinion of every Body, fo much that the poor Gentleman her Huf- band had like to have been call’d to an Account for prefuming to marry a Princefs Royal without the King’s Confent becaufe it had been fuggefted that he had taken Advantage of her being a Prifoner, and forc’d her to marry him. But upon a more perfed Reprefentation of the Matter, his Majelty was pleated at laft to declare himfelf fatisfied. Every Prefen t State of V IRGINIA. 5^ Every Body paid this young Lady all imaginable Refpeft } and it is fuppofed, Hie wou’d have fuffi- ciently acknowledged thofe Favours, had fhe lived to return to her own Country, by bringing the In¬ dians to have a kinder Difpoiition towards the Eng- lifh. But upon her Return fhe was unfortunately taken ill at Grave fend , and died in a few Days after, giving great Teftimony ail the Time fhe lay fick, of her being a very good Chriftian. She left Iflue one Son, nam’d Thomas Rolfe , whofe Pofterity is at this Day in good Repute in Vir¬ ginia* §. 32. Captain Tardly made but a very ill Go¬ vernour, he let the Buildings and Forts go to Ruine *, not regarding the Security of the People againft the Indians , negledtingthe Corn, and apply¬ ing all Hands to plant Tobacco, which promifed the mod: immediate Gain. In this Condition they were when Capt. Samuel Argali was lent thither Gover- nour, Anno 1617. who found the Number of Peo¬ ple reduc’d to fomething more than Four Hun¬ dred, of which not above Half were fit for Labour. In the mean while the Indians mixing among ’em, got Experience daily in Fire- Arms, and forne of ’em were inftruded therein by the Englijh themfelves, and employ’d to hunt and kill wild Fowl for them. So great was their Security upon this Marriage : But Governour Argali not liking thofe Methods, regu¬ lated them on his Arrival, and Capt. Tardly return’d to England. §. 33. Governour Argali made the Colony flourilh and increafe wonderfully, and kept them in great Plenty and Quiet. The next Year, viz** Anno 1618, the Lord Delawarr was fent over again with Two Hundred Men more for the Settlement, with other NeceiFaries fuitable : But Sailing by the D We- 34 The HISTORY and Weftern Iflands, they met with contrary Winds, and great Sicknefs; fo that about Thirty of them died, among which the Lord Delawarr was one. By which Means the Government there Hill conti- nued in the Hands of Capt. Argali. §. 34. Powhatan died in April the fame Year, lea¬ ving his Second Brother Itopatin in Poileffion of his Empire, a Prince far ihort of the Parts of Oppechan- canough , who by fome was faid to be his Elder Bro¬ ther, and then King of Chickahomony 3 but he ha¬ ving debauch’d them from the Allegiance of Pow¬ hatan, was difinherited by him. This Oppechanca- nough was a cunning and a brave Prince, who foon grafp’d all the Empire to himfclf ' But at frrlt they jointly renew’d the Peace with the Enghjh, up¬ on the Acceffion of Itopatin to the Crown. §. 35. Governour Argali fkmrilhing thus under the Bleffings of Peace and Plenty, and having no Occafton of Fear or Dilturbance from the Indians, fought new Occafions of incouraging the Plantati¬ on. To that End he intended a Coafling V oyage to the Northward, to view the Places where the Eng¬ lish ships had fo often laded 3 and if he mifs’d them, to reach the Filheries on the Banks of Newfound¬ land, and fo fettle a Trade and Correfpondence either with the One or the Other. In Accom- plifhing whereof, as he touch d at Cape Codd , he was inform’d by the Indians, That fome White people like hint were come to inhabit to the North¬ ward of them, upon the Coalt of their Neighbour¬ ing Nations. Capt. Argali not having heard of any Enqlilh Plantation that Way, was jealous that it might be (as it proved) the People of fome other Nation. And being very zealous for the Ho¬ nour and Benefit of England, he refolved to jnake Search according to the Information he had Prefent State of V irginia. 35 receiv’d, and fee who they were. Accordingly he found the Settlement, and a Ship riding before it. This belong’d to fome French Men, who had fortified themfelves upon a fmall Mount on the North of Nei v-England. §. 3 6, His unexpe&ed Arrival Fo confound¬ ed the French , that they cou’d make no Prepara¬ tion for Pvefiftance on Board their Ship 3 which Captain Argali drew fo clofe to, that with his fmall Arms he beat all the Men from the Deck, fo that they cou’d not ufe tjieir Guns, their Ship ha¬ ving only a fingle Deck. tunong others, there were Two Jefuits on Board, one of which being more bold than wife, with all that Difadvantage, endea¬ vour’d to fire one of their Cannon, and was fhot dead for his Pains. Capt. Argali having taken the Ship, landed and went before the Fort, fummoning it to furren- der. The Garrifon ask’d Time to advife : But that being denied them, they ftole privately away, and fled into the Woods. Upon this Capt. Argali en¬ ter’d the Fort, and lodged there that Night } and the next Day the French came to him, and furrender’d themfelves. It feems the King of France had grant¬ ed them a Patent for this Settlement, but they gave it up to Capt. Argali to be canceled. He ufed them very well, and fuffer’d fuch as had a Mind to re¬ turn to France , to feek their Paffage among the Ships of the Fifhery : But obliged them to defert this Settlement. And thofe that were willing to go to Virginia, he took with him. §. 37. Thefe People were under the CondmS of Two Jefuits, who upon taking a Pique againft their Governour in Acadia , named Biencoart , had r lately feparated from a French Settlement at Port* D 2 Royal) 36 The HISTORY and Royal , lying in the Bay, upon the South-Weft Part of Acadia. * §. 38. As Governour Argali was about to return to Virginia, Father Biardy the furviving Jefuit (out of Malice to Biencourt. ) told him of this French Settlement at Fort-Royal , and offer’d to Pilot him to it j which Governour Argali readily accepted of. With the fame Eafe he took that Settlement alfo \ where the French had Tow’d and reap’d, built Barns, Mills, and other Conveniences, which Capt .Argali did no Damage to: But unfettlad them, and obliged them to make a Defertion from tnence. He gave thefe the fame Leave he had done the Others to difpofe of themfelves} fome whereof return’d to France , and others went to fettle upthe River of Canada . After this Governour Argali return’d fatisfied with the Provifion and Plunder he had got in thofe T wo Set¬ tlements. §. 39. The Report of thefe Exploits foon reach’d England *, and whether they were approved or no, bemg a&ed without particular Direction, I have not learn’d : But certain it is, that in April following there arrived a fmall Velfel, which did not ftay for any Thing, but took on Board Governour Argali , and return’d for England. He left Captain Natha¬ niel Powell Deputy: And foon after Captain Tard- ly being Knighted, was fent Governour thither again. §, 40. Very great Supplies of Cattle and other Provilions were feiit there that Year, and likewife .1000 or 1200 Men. They refettled all their old Plantations that had been defer ted, made Additions to the Number of the Council* and call’d an Affem- bly of Burgefles from all Parts of the Country, which Prefent State of V i r g i n i a . 37 which were to be elected by the People in their fe~ veral Plantations. Thele Burgeffes met the Governour and Council at James- Town in May^ i 620, and fate in Couful rati¬ on in the fame Houfe with them, as the Method of the Scots Parliament is, debating Matters for the Im¬ provement and good Government of the Country This was the Firft General Aflembly that ever was held there. I heartily wifh, tho’ they did not unite their Houfes again, they wou’d however unite their Endeavours and Affections for the Good of the Country. §,41. I n Augufi folio wing a Dutch Man of War landed Twenty Negroes for Sale ^ which were the Firft of that kind that were carried into the Coun¬ try. §. 42. This Year they bounded the Corporations, (as they call’d them :) But there does not remain among the Records any one Grant of thefe Cor- rations. There is enter’d a Teftimony of Go¬ vernour Argali , concerning the Bounds of the Corporation of James City, declaring his Know¬ ledge thereof j and this is in one of the New tranicribed Books of Records: But there is not to be found one Word of the Charter or Patent it felf of this Corporation. Then aifb they apportion’d and laid out Lands in feveral Allotments, viz., to the Company in fe-v veral Places, to the Governour, to a College, to Glebes , and to feveral particular Perfons^ "many new Settlements were made in J fines and York Rivers. The People now knew their own Property, and having the Encouragement of Working for their own Advantage, many became very induftri? ous, and began to vie one with another, in Plant¬ ing, Building, and other Improvements. Two D 3 Qent|e- 38 The HIST ORY and .Gentlemen went over as Deputies to the Company, for the Management of their Lands, and thofe of the College. All Thoughts of Danger from the Indians were laid afide. Several great Gifts were made to the Church and College, and for the Bringing up Young Indians at School. Forms were made, and Rules appointed for granting Patents for Land, upon the Condition of importing Goods and Perfons to fupply and increafe the Colony. And all there then began to think themfelves the happielt People in the World. §. 43. Thus Virginia continued to fiourilh and increafe, great Supplies continually arriving, and new Settlements being made all over the Coun¬ try. A Salt-Work was fet up at Cape Charles , on the Eaftern Shore 3 and an Iron- Work at Falling - Creek , in James River, where they made Proof of good Iron Oar, and brought the whole Work fo near Perfection, that they writ Word to the Com¬ pany in London , that they did not doubt but to finifh the Work, and have plentiful Provifion of Iron for them by the next Eafter . At that time the Fame of the Plenty and Riches in which the Englijh lived there, was very great : And Sir George Hardly now had all the Appearance of making mends for the Errors of his former Government* Neverthelefs he let them run into the fame Sleepy- liefs and Security as before, neglecting all Thoughts of a necelTary Defence, which laid the Foundation of the following Calamities. » • §. 44. But the Time of his Government being near expired, Sir Francis IVyat, then a young Man, had a Commiflaon to fucceed him. The People be¬ gan to grow numerous, Thirteen Hundred fettling there that Year 3 which was the Occalion of ma¬ king fo much Tobacco, as to overftock the Market. Wher$- Prefent State of V i r g i n i a, 39 Wherefore his Majelty, out of Pity to the Coun¬ try, fent his Commands, That they ihould not Puf¬ fer their Planters to make above One Hundred Pounds of Tobacco per Man for the Market was fo low, that he couMnot afford to 'give ’em above Three Shillings the Pound for it. He advifed them rather to turn their fpare Time towards providing Corn and Stock, and towards the Making of Pot- alh, or other Manufactures. It was, Ottcber , 1621, that Sir Francis Wyat ar¬ rived Governour, and in November Capt. Newport arrived with Fifty Men imported at his own Charge, befides Paffengers ^ and made a Plantation on New - port's News, naming it after himfelf. The Gover- liour made a Review of all the Settlements, and fuffer’d new Ones to be made even as tar Patow- meck River. This ought to be obferved of the Eaftern Shore Indians , that they never gave the Englijh any Trouble, but courted and befriended them from firlt to lafh Perhaps the Enalijb , by the T ime they came to fettle thofe Parts, had con- fider’d how to rectifie their former Mifmanagement, and learn’d better Methods of regulating their Trade with the Indians , and of treating them more kindly than at firlt, §.45. Anno y 1622, Inferior Courts were f rit ap¬ pointed by the General Allembly, under the Name of County Courts , for 1 ryal of Minute Caufes , the Governour and Council Itill remaining Judges ot the Supream Court of the Colony. In the mean time, by the great Increafe of People, and the long' Quiet they had enjoy’d among the Indians, Unce the Marriage of Pocahontas , and the AcceOioi: of Oppechancanough to the Imperial Crown ^ ail Men were lull’d into a fatal Security, and became every where familiar with the Indians , Fating, Drinking and Sleeping nmongfl: them ^ by which Means they p 4 be* 4o The HISTORY and’ became perfe&ly acquainted with all our Eagli/h Strength, and the life of our Arms : Knowing at all Times, when and where to find our People; whether at Home, or in the Woods ; in Bodies, or difperffc ; in Condition of Defence, or indefen- cible. ThisExpofing of their Weeknefs gave them Occalion to think more contemptibly of them, than otherwife, perhaps, they would have done ; for which Reafon they became more peevifh, and more hardy to attempt any thing againlt them. §. 4d. Thus upon the Lofs of one of their lead¬ ing Men, (a War Captain, as they call himj who was likewife fuppofed to be juftly kill’d, Oppe - chaucanough took Affront, and in Revenge laid the Plot of a general MaTacre of the Evglijb, to be executed on the 22d of Afarch , 1522, a little be¬ fore Noon, at a Time when our Men were all at Work abroad in their Plantations, difperfl and unarm’d. This Hellifli Contrivance was to take Ef¬ fect upon all the feveral Settlements at one and the fame Inflant, except on. the Eaflern Shore, whither this Plot did not reach, d he Indians had been made lb familiar with the Englijh^ as to borrow their Boats and Canoes to crofs the Rivers in, when they went to con lu It with their Neighbouring Indians upon this execrable Confpiracy. And, to colour their Delign the better, they brought Prefents of Deer, Turkies, Fifh and Fruits to the English the Even¬ ing before, d he very Morning of the Maflacre, they came freely and unarnfd among them, eating with them, and behaving themfelves with the fame Free¬ dom and Friendlhip as formerly, till the very Mi¬ nute they were to put their Plot in Executi¬ on. Then they fell to Work all at once every where, knocking the Englijh unawares on the Head, fome with their Fiatchets, which they call Immahavksj others with the Hows and Axes of the Prefent State of Vi rg i n i a. 41 the Etiglifli themfelves, fhooting at thofe who efcap'd the Reach of their Hands; fparing neither Age nor Sex, but deftroying Man, Woman and Child, according to their cruel Way of leaving none behind to bear Refentment. But whatever was not done by Surprize that Day, was left undone, and many that made early Reiiftance efcaped. By the Account taken of the Chriftians mur¬ der’d that Morning, they were found to be Three Hundred Forty Seven, molt of them falling by their own Inftruments, and Working-Tools. §. 47. The Maflacre had been much more ge¬ neral, had not this Plot been providentially difco- ver’d to the EngliJlj fome Hours before the Execu¬ tion. It happen’d thus: Two Indians that ufed to be employ’d by the Eng¬ lish to hunt for them, happen’d to lie together, the Night before the Maflacre, in an Englijh Man’s Houfe, where one of them was employ’d. 1 he Indian that was the Gueft fell to perfwading the- other to rife and kill his Matter, telling him, that he would do the fame by his own the next Day. Whereupon he difcover’d the whole Plot that was defign’d to be executed on the Morrow. Put the other, inttead of entering into the Plot, and murdering his Matter, got up (under Pretence of going to execute his Comrade’s Advice) went into his Matter’s Chamber, and reveal’d to him the whole Story that he had been told. The Matter hereupon arofe, fecur’d his own Houfe, and before Day got to James -Town , which, together with fuch Plantations as coud receive Notice time enough, was faved by this Means; the reft, as they happen’d to be watch¬ ful in their Defence, alio efcaped : But fuch as were furpriz’d, were maflacred. Captain Crojnaw In his Veil'd at Patowmeck , had Notice alio given The HISTORY and him by a young Indian , by which means he came off untouch’d. §.48. The Occafion upon which Oppechancanougb took Affront was this. The War Captain men¬ tion’d before to have been kill’d, was called Ne- mattanow . He was an a&ive Indian , a great War- riour, and in much Efteem among them \ fo much, that they believed him to be invulnerable, and immortal, becaufe he had been in very many Confli&s, and efcaped untouch’d from them all. He was alfo a very cunning Fellow, and took great Pride in preferving and increasing this their Superftition concerning him, affe&ing every thing that was odd and prodigious to work upon their Admiration. For which Purpofe he wou’d often drefs himfelf up with Feathers after a fantaftick Manner, and by much Ufe of that Ornament, ob¬ tain’d among the English the Nickname of Jack of the Feather . This Nemattanow coming to a private Settle* ment of one Morgan, who had feveral Toys which he had a mind to, perfwaded him to go to Pa- mrnky to difpofe of them. He gave him Hopes what mighty Bargains he might meet with there, and kindly offer’d him his Affiftance. At laft Mor¬ gan yielded to his Perfwafion : But was no more heard of *, and it is believ’d, that Nemattanoro kill’d him by the Way, and took away his Trea* fure. For within a few Days, this Nemattanoro return’d to the fame Houfe with Morgan’s Cap upon his Head } where he found Two fturdy Boys, who ask’d for their Matter. He very frankly told them, he was dead. But they, knowing the Cap again, fufpeded the Villain had kill’d their Matter, and wou’d have had him before a Juttice of Peace : But he refufed to go, and very info- lently abufed them. Whereupon they (hot him down. 7,5 Prefent State of Virginia. 43 down, and as they were carrying him to the Go¬ ve rnour, he died. As he was dying, he earneftly prefsd the Boys to promife him Two Things •, Firft, That they won d not tell how he was kill’d ^ and. Secondly, That they wou d bury him among the Englijh. So great was the Pride of this vain Heathen, that he had no other Thoughts at his Death, but the Ambition of being efteem’d after he was dead, as he had endeavour’d to make them believe ot him while he was alive, viz.. That he was In¬ vulnerable and Immortal *, tho7 his increaling Faint- tiefs convinc’d himfelf of the Falfity of both. He imagined that being buried among the English, pei- haps, might conceal his Death from his own Nation, who might think him tranflated to fome happier Country, Thus he pleafed himfelf to the laft Gafp with the Boys Promifes to carry on the Delufion. This was reckon’d all the Provocation given to that haughty and revengeful Man OppecbancanoHgh. , to aft this bloody Tragedy, and to take indefati¬ gable Pains to engage in fo horrid Villany all the Kings and Nations bordering upon th z Englijh Settle¬ ments, on the Weftern Shore of Chefepeak. §. 49. This gave the English a fair Pretence of endeavouring the total Extirpation of the Indians^ but more-efpecially of Oppecancanongh , and his Na¬ tion. Accordingly they fet themfelves about it, making ufe of the Roman Maxim, ( Faith is not to be kept with Hereticks) to obtain their Ends. For, after fome Months fruitlefs Purfuit of them, who cou d too dexteroufly hide themfelves in the Woods, the Endifh pretended Articles of Peace, giving them all manner of fair Words and Promifes ol Oblivi¬ on. They defign’d thereby (as their own Letters now on Record, and their own Aftions thereupon, prove) o ,Yr j: rr&r • 44 The HISTORY, and prove) to draw the Indians back, and intice them to plant their Corn on their Habitations neareft adjoining to thi Englijh j and then to cut it up when the Summer fhould be too far fpent to leave them Hopes of another Crop that Year ^ by which Means they propofed to bring them to want Neceffa- ries, and ftarve. And the English did fo far ac- eomplifh their Ends, as to bring the Indians to plant their Corn at their ufual Habitations, where¬ by they gain’d an Opportunity of repaying them fome part of the Debt in their own Coin ^ for they fell fuddenly upon them, cut to Pieces fuch of them as could not make their Efcape, and af¬ terwards totally deftroy'd their Corn. §. 50. Another Effed of the Maflacre of the Englifh , was the Reducing all their Settlements again to Six or Seven in Number, for their better Defence. Befides, it was fuch a Difheartening to fome good Projects, then juft advancing, that to this Day they have never been put in Execution, namely, the Glafs-Houfes in James-Town7 and the Iron- Work at Falling-Creek7 which has been already mention’d. The Maflacre fell fo hard upon this laft Place, that no Soul was faved, but a Boy and a Girl, who, with great Difficulty, hid them- felves. The Superintendant of this Iron-Work had alfo difcover’d a Vein of Lead Oar, which he kept pri¬ vate, and made ufe of it to furnifti all the Neigh¬ bours with Bullets and Shot. But he being cut off with the,reft, and the Secret not having been communicated, this Lead Mine could never after be found 7 till Colonel Byrd, fome few Years ago, prevail’d with an Indian , under Pretence of Hunt¬ ing, to give him a Sign, by dropping his Toma¬ hawk at the Place, (he not daring publickly to dif- Prefent State o/ Virginia. 45 difcover it, for fear of being murder’d.) The Sira was accordingly given, and the Company at that Time found feveral Pieces of good Lead Oar upon the Surface of the Ground, and mark’d the Trees thereabouts : Notwithstanding which, I know not by what Witchcraft it happens, but no Mortal to this Day could ever find that Place again, tho’ it be upon part of the Colonel’s own Pofleflions. And fo it refts, till Time and thicker Settlements difcover it. §.51. Thus the Company of Adventurers having, by thofe frequent Ads of Mismanagement, met with vaft Lodes and Misfortunes ^ Many grew Tick of it, and parted with their Shares y and others came into their Places, and promoted the fending in frelh Recruits of Men and Goods. But the chief Defign of all Parties concern’d was to fetch away the Treafure from thence, aiming more at fudden Gain, than to form any regular Co¬ lony, or eftablifh a Settlement in fuch a Man¬ ner, as to make it a lafbing Happinefs to the Country. . Several Gentlemen went over upon their par¬ ticular Stocks, feparate from that of the Company, with their own Servants and Goods, each de- figning to obtain Land trom the Government, as Capt. Newport had done } or, at lead:, to obtain Patents according to the Regulation tor granting Lands to Adventurers. Others fought their Grants of the Company in London , and obtain’d Autho¬ rities and Jurifdidions, as well as Land, diftincr from the Authority of the Government, which was the Foundation of great Difordei , and the Occafion of their following Misfortunes. A- mong others, one Capt. JMartin^ having madeveiy confiderable Preparations towards a Settlement, ob- 46 The HISTORY and obtain’d a fui table Grant of Land, and was made of the Council there. But he grafpiug ftill at more, hanker’d after Dominion, as well as Pofleffion, and caufed fo many Differences, that at laft he put all Things into Diftra&ion* infomuch, that the In¬ dians, Hill feeking Revenge, took Advantage of thefe Diffentions, and fell foul again of the Eng- HJh, gratifying their Vengence with new Blood- flied. . §.52. The fatal Confequences of the Company's Male-Adminiftration cried fo load, that King Charles the Firft, coming to the Crown of Eng- land^ had a tender Concern for the poor People that had been betray’d thither, and loft. Up¬ on which Confideration he dilfolv’d the Company in the Year 1626 , reducing the Country and Go¬ vernment into his own immediate Dire&ion, ap¬ pointing the Governour and Council himfelf, and ordering all Patents and Procefs to ifTue in his own Name } referving only to himfelf an ealie Quit- Rent of Two Shillings for every Hundred Acres of Land, and fo pro rato . Prefent State of Virgin i a. 47 CHAP. IV. Containing the Hiftory of the Government from the Diffolution of the Company, to the Tear 1704. § SS-HPH E Country being thus taken into the £ King’s Hands, his Majefty was pleafed to eftablilh the Conftitution to be by a Governour, Council and Aftembly, and to confirm the former Methods and Jurifdi&ions of the feveral Courts, as they had been appointed in the Year 1620, and* placed the laffc Refort in the AlTernbly. Pie likewife confirm’d the Rules and Orders made by the firft: AfTembly for apportioning the Land, and granting Patents to particular Adven¬ turers. §. 54. This was a Conftitution according to their Hearts Defire, and Things feem’d now to go on in a happy Courfe for Encouragement of the Colo¬ ny. People flock’d over thither apace ^ every one took up Land by Patent to his Liking , and, not minding any thing but to be Masters of great Tra&s of Land, they planted themfelves feparate- ly on their feveral Plantations. Nor did they teai the Indians, but kept them at a greater Dilfance than formerly: And they for their Parts, iceing the Enflifb fo fenfibly increafe in Number, were glad to keep their Diftance, and be peaceable. This Liberty of taking up Land, and the Am¬ bition each Man had of being Lord of a va , t o unimprov’d Territory, together with the Advan tags of the many Rivers, which afford a commo- 48 The HISTORY and dious Road for Shipping at every Man’s Door, has made the Country fall into fuch an unhappy Settle- mem: and Courfe of Trade* that to this Day they have not any one Place of Cohabitation among them, that may reafonably bear the Name of a Town. §.55. The Conftitution being thus firmly efta- blifhed, and continuing its Courfe regularly for fome time, People began to lay afide ail Fears of any future Misfortune. Several Gentlemen of Con¬ dition went over with their whole Families } fome for bettering their Ellates; others for Religion, and other Reafons belt known to'themfelves. A- mong thofe, the Noble C&cilim Calvert, Lord Balte - more^ a Roman Catholick, thought for the more quiet Exercife of his Religion to retire, with his Family, into that new World. For this Purpofe he went to Virginia , to try how he liked the Place : But the People there look’d upon him with an evil Eye, on Account of his Religion, for which alone he fought this Retreat *, and by their ill Treatment difcouraged him from fettling in that Country. §.56. Upon that Provocation, hisLordlhip refolv’d upon a further Adventure. And finding Land e- nough up the Bay of Chefapeak , which was like- wife blefs’d with many brave Rivers, and as yet altogether uninhabited by the Englifh • he began to think of ‘making a new Plantation of his own. And for his mot e certain Dire&ion in obtaining a Grant of it, he undertook^ Journey Northward, to difcover the Land up the Bay, and obferve what might molt conveniently fqnare with his Intent. His Lordlhip finding all Things in this Difcovery according to his Wifh, return’d to England. And becaufe the Virginia Settlements at that Time reach- % ed no further than the South Side of Patowmeck River* Prefent State ofV IRGINIA. 49 River* his Lordfhipgot a Grant of the Propriety of Maryland , bounding it to the South by Patow- tneck River* on the Weftern Shore, and by an Eaft Line from Point Look-out, on the Eaftern Shore : But died himfelf before he could embark for the promifed Land. Maryland had the Honour to receive its Name from Qyeen Mary , Royal Confort to King Charles the Firft. §. 57. The old Lord Baltemore being thus taken off, and leaving his Defignsunfinilh’d, his Son and Heir, in the Year 1633, obtain’d a Confirmation of the Patent to himfelf, and went over in Perfon to plant his new Colony. By this unhappy Accident, a Country which Nature had fo well contriv’d for one, became Two feperate Governments. This produced a moil unhappy Inconvenience to both ^ for, thefe Two being the only Countries under the Domi¬ nion of England , that plant Tobacco in any Quan¬ tity, the Confequence of that Divijfion is, that when one Colony goes about to prohibit the Trafh of that Commodity, to help the Market ^ then the other, to take Advantage of that Market, pours into England ail they can make, both good and bad, without Diffinction. This is very injurious to the other Colony, which had voluntarily fufFerM fo great a Diminution in the Quantity to mend the Quality. §. 58. Neither vras this all the Mifchief that happen’d to poor Virginia upon this Grant , for the Example of it had dreadful Confequences, and tv as in the End one of the Occafions of another Maflacre by the Indians. For this Precedent of my Lord Baltemores Grant, which intrench’d upon t.bc Charters and Bounds of Virginia, was Bint enough E for 5o The H I STORY and for other Courtiers, (who never intended a Settle* ment, as my Lord did) to find out fomething of the fame kind to make Money of. This was the Occa* fion of feveral very large Defalcations from Virginia within a few Years afterwards -0 which were for- warded and affifted by the Contrivance of the Go- vetnour Sir John Harvey. Infomuch, that not only the Land it felf, Quit-Rents and all : But the Au¬ thorities and Jurifdi&ions that belonged to that Colony, were given away*, nay, fometimes in thofe unjufi: Grants he included the very Settlements that had been before made 7 countenancing them with the ufual Pretence of his Majefty’s Inftru- dions. §. 59. As this Gentleman was irregular in this, fo he was very unjufi: and arbitrary in his other Methods of Government. He improved the Fines and Penalties, which the unwary Aflemblies of thofe Times had given chiefly to himfelf. He was fo haughty and furious to the Council, and to the belt Gentlemen of the Country, that his Tyranny grew at lafi: unfupportable 7 fo that in the Year 16 39, the Council fent him a Prifoner to London , and with him Two of their Number to maintain the Articles againlt him. This News being brought to King Charles the Firft, his Majefty was very much dif- pleafed 7 and, without hearing any thing, caufed him to return Governour again : But by the next Shipping he was gracioufly pleafed to change him 7 and fo made Amends for this Man’s Male-Admini- itration, by fending in the good and jufl; Sir William Berkeley to fucceed him. §.60. While thefe Things were tranfading, there was fo general a Diifatisfa&ion, occafion’d by the Oppreflions of Sir John Harvey , and the Difficul¬ ties in getting him out -7 that the whole Colony was hi Prefent State of V irginia. 51 in Confufion. The fubtle Indians, who took all Ad¬ vantages, refented the Incroachments upon them by his Grants. They fee the Englijh nneafie and difunited among themfelves, and by the Dire&ion of Oppecamanough their King, laid the Ground- work of another Maflacre •, wherein by Surprize they cut off near Five Hundred Chriftians more. But this Execution did not take fo general Efledt as former¬ ly } becaufe the Indians were not fo frequently fuf- fer’d to come among the inner Habitations of the Englijh. And therefore the Maffacre fell fevereft on the South-fide of James River, and on the Heads of the other Rivers ; but chiefly of Tor k River, where the Emperor Oppechancanough kept the Seat of his Government. §. 6 1. This Oppechanc anough was a Man of large Stature, noble Prefence, and extraordinary Parts. Tho’hehad no Advantage of Literature, (that be¬ ing no where to be found among the Indians ,) yet he was perfedtly skill'd in the Art of Governing his rude Country-men. He caufed all the Indians far and near to dread his Name, and had them all en- 1 tirely in Subjedtion. This King in Smith's Hiftory is call’d Brother to Powhatan , but by the Indians he was not fo efteenf d. For they fay he was a Prince of a Foreign Nation, and came to them a great Way from the South- Weft : And by their Accounts, we fuppofe him to ! have come from the Spanish Indians , iome-where near Mexico , or the Mines of St. Barhe : But, be that Matter how it will, from that Time till his Captivity, there never was the leaft Truce between them and the Englijh. §.62. Sir William Berkeley, upon this Arrival, fhow’d fuchan Oppolition to the unjuit Grants made i by Sir John Harvey , that very few of them took I E z * • • 54 The HISTORY and Effeft *, and fuch as did, were fubje&ed to the fet¬ tled Conditions of the other Parts of the Govern¬ ment, and made liable to the Payment of the foil Quit-Rents. He encouraged the Country in feve* ral Eflays of Pot-Aflr, Soap, Salt, Flax, Hemp, Silk and Cotton. But the Indian War enfuing up¬ on OpfechancanoHgW s Mallacre, was a great Ob- ftrudion to thefe good Defigns, by requiring all the fpare Men to be employ’d in Defence of the Country. ' * 'I §. 63. Oppecbancanough , by his great Age, and the Fatigues of War, (in which Sir William Berkeley follow’d him ciofe) was now grown fo decrepit, that he was not able to walk alone } but was car¬ ried about by his Men, where-ever he had a Mind to move. His Flefh was all macerated, his Sinews flackend, and his Eye-lids became fo heavy, that he could not fee, but as they were lifted up by his Servants. In this low Condition he was, when ^ Sir William Berkeley hearing that he was at fome Diftance from his ufual Habitation, refolved at all Adventures to feize his Perfon, which he happily ef¬ fected. For, with a Party of Horfe he made a fpeedy March, furprized him in his Quarters, and brought him Prifoner to james-Town *, where, by the Gover- nour’s Command, he was treated with all theRefped and Tendernefs imaginable. Sir William had a mind to fend him to England^ hoping to get Reputation, by prefenting his Majefty with a Royal Captive^ who at his Pleafure, could call into the Field Ten times more Indians than Sir William Berkeley had EnglijJi in his whole Government. Befides, he thought this ancient Prince wou’d be an Inftance of the Healthi- nefs and long Life of the Natives of that Country. However, he could not preferve his Life above a Fortnight } For one of the Soldiers, refenting the Calamities the Colony had fuffer’d by this Prince’s Means, Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 53 Means, bafely fhot him thro’ the Back, after he was made Prifoner ^ of which Wound he died. He continued brave to the lad Moment of his Life, and Ihow’d not the lead Dejection at his Captivity. He heard one Day a great Noife of the Treading of People about him } upon which he caufed his Eye-lids to be lifted up and finding that a Crowd of People were let in to fee him, he call’d in high Indignation for the Go- vernour ^ who being come, Oppechancanough fcorn- fully told him, That had it been his Fortune to take Sir William Berkeley Prifoner, he fhould not meanly have expofed him as a Show to the People.. §. 64.. After this, Sir William Berkeley made a new Peace with the Indians , which continued for a long time unviolated } infomuch, that all the Thoughts of future Injury from them were laid afide. But he himfelf did not long enjoy the Benefit of this profound Peace: For, the unhappy Troubles of King Charles the Fird encreafing in England , proved a great Didurbance to him and to all the People. They, to prevent the Infection from reaching that Country, made fevere Laws againd the Puritans , tho’ there were as yet none among them. But; all Correfpondence with England was interrupt¬ ed, the Supplies lefTen’d, and Trade obdrucD ed. In a Word, all People were impatient to know what would be the Event of fo much Coir- fufion. ■ * „ 1 - n' '■ ■ . ■ •* r> ■ r ; - . f §. 65. At lad the King was traitermifly be¬ headed in England, and Oliver indall’d Protector. However, his Authority was not acknowledged in Virginia for feveral Years after, till they were forced to it by the lad Neceffity. For in the Year 1651, by Cromwell's Command, Capt .Dennis, wjth a Squar dron of Men of War, arriv’d there from the Car, ^ r 0 # ‘ 'T . ' 1 * “ v ’ . < f 54 The HISTORY and ribbee Iflands, where they had been fubduing Bar- dots. The Country at firfc held out vigoroufly againft him ^ and Sir William Berkeley , by the Afliftance of fuch Dutch VefTels as were then there, made a brave Refiftance. But at laft Dennis contriv’d a Stratagem, which betray’d the Country. He had got a coniiderable Parcel of Goods aboard, which belong’d to Two of the Council :, and found a Me^ thod of informing them of it. By this means they were reduced to the Dilemma either of fubmitting, or loling their Goods. This occafion’d Fadions a- mong them ^ fo that at laft, after the Surrender of all the other English Plantations, Sir William was forced to fubmit to the Ufurper on the Terms of a general Pardon. However, it ought to be re¬ member'd, to his Praife, and to the immortal Honour of that Colony, that it was the laft of all the King’s Dominions that fubmitted to the Ufurpation, and afterwards the firffc that call it off. §. 66. Oliver had no fooner fubdued the Plan¬ tations^ but he began to contrive how to keep them under, that fo they might never be able for the Time to come to give him further Trouble. To this End he thought it neceflary to break off their Correfpondence with all other Nations \ thereby to prevent their being turnifh’d with Arms, Ammunition, and other Warlike Provifions. According to this Defign, he contrived a fevere Ad of Parliament, whereby he prohibited the Plan¬ tations from receiving or exporting any European Commodities, but what fhould be carried to them by EngHJh Men, and in Englijh built Ships. They were abfolutely forbid correfponding with any Na¬ tion or Colony, not fubjed to the Crown of Eng¬ land, Neither was any Alien fuffer’d to manage Prefent State of Virginia, 55 a Trade or Fa&ory in any of them. In all which Things the Plantations had been till then indulged, for their Encouragement. §.67. Notwithftanding this A& of Navigation, the Prote&or never thought the Plantations enough fecured * but frequently changed their. Governours, to prevent their intriguing with the People. So that during the fmall time of his Prote&orlhip, they had jio lefs than Three Governours there, namely, &ggs, Bennet and Mathews, §. 68. Theftrange Arbitrary Curbs he put upon the Plantations, exceedingly afflidted the People, He had the Inhumanity to forbid them all man¬ ner of Trade and Correfpondence with other Na¬ tions, at a Time when England it felf was in Di- ftra&ion •, and could neither take off their Common dities, norfupply them fufficiently with its own. Neither had they ever been ufed to fupply them with half the Commodities they expended, or to take off above half the Tobacco they made. Such violent Proceedings made the People defperate, and infpired them with a Delire to ufe the laft Remedy, to relieve themfelves from his Lawlels llfurpation. In a Ihort time afterwards a fair Op¬ portunity happen'd : For Governour Mathews dkd? and no Perfon was fubftituted to fucceed him in the Government. Whereupon the People apply’d them¬ felves to Sir William Berkeley , (who had continued all this time upon his own Plantation in a private Capacity) and unanimoufly ehofehira their Cover* nour again. §,69. Sir William Berkeley had all along retain^ an unlhaken Loyalty for the Royal Family and therefore generoufly told the People, That he couiq j}qt approve of the Protestor's Opprf®on| and was 56 The HISTORY and refolved never to ferve any Body, but the lawful Heir to the Crown •, and that if he accepted the Government, it fhould be upon their {oleum Pro- niife, after his Example to venture their Lives and Fortunes for the King, who was then in France. , This was their dearelt Wifi,, and therefore with an unanimous Voice they told him, That they were ready to hazard all for the King. Now, this was adually before the King’s Return for England, and proceeded from a brave Principle of Loyalty, for which they had no Example. Sir William Berkeley embraced their Choice, and forthwith proclaim’d Charles the Second King of England, Scotland , France, Ireland and Virginia, and caufed all Procefs to be iiliied in his Name. Thus his Majefty wasadual- ly King in Virginia, before he was fo in England. But it pleafed God to reftore him foon after to the "1 hrone of his Anceftors •, and fo that Country e- fcaped being chaftifed for throwing off the Ufur- pation. §■ 70- Upon the King’s R dioration, he fent Sir William Berkeley a new Com million, with Leave to return to England, and Power to appoint a Deputy in his Abfence. For his Majefty in his Exile had received Intelligence of this Gentleman’s Loyalty, and during that Time had renew’d his Commillion. §.71. Upon this, Sir William Berkeley appointed Colonel Francis ddorripm Deputy-Governour, and went for England to wait on his Majefty, by whom he was kindly receiv’d. At his Return he carried his Majefty s preiling Inftruclions for encouraging the People in Husbandry and Manufactures ; but jnoie dpecially to promote Silk and Vineyards. There Prefent State of Virginia. 57 There is a Tradition, that the King, in Compli- ment to that Colony, wore at his Coronation a Robe made of the Silk, that was fent from thence. • But this was all the Reward the Country had for their Loyalty } for the Parliament was pleafed to renew the A d contrived by the Ufurper for dis¬ couraging the Plantations, with feverer Reftraints and Prohibitions by Bonds, Securities, &c . §. 72. During the Time of Sir William Berke¬ ley's Abfence, Colonel Morrifon had, according to his Diredions, revifed the Laws, and compiled them into one Body, ready to be confirm’d by the Afiembly at his Return. By thefe Laws, the Church of England was confirm’d the eftablifh- cd Religion the Charge of the Government fu- ftain’d, Trade and Manufadures were encouraged, a Town projeded, and all the Indian Affairs fet¬ tled. §. 73. The Parilhes were likewife regulated, com¬ petent Allowances were made to the Miniffers to the Value of about Fourfcore Pounds a Year, befides Glebes and Perquifites, and the Method of their Preferment was fettled. Convenient Churches and Glebes were provided, and ail neceffary Parifh- Officers inftituted. Some Steps were made alfo to¬ wards a Free-School, and College, and all the Poor efFedqally provided for. §. 74. For Support of the Government the Duty of Two Shillings fer Hogfhead on all Tobacco’s, and that of One Shilling fer Tun Fort Duty on Ship¬ ping, were made perpetual*, and the Colledors were obliged to account for the fame to the Gene¬ ral Alfembly. S.-7J- 5§ The HISTORY and §. 75. For Encouragement of Manufadures, Prices were appointed for the Makers of the belt Pieces of Linnen and Woollen Cloth, and a Reward of Fifty Pounds of Tobacco was given for each Pound of Silk, All Perfons were enjoin’d to plant Mulberry-Trees, for the Food of the Silk-Worm, according to the Number of Acres of Land they held. Tan-houfes were fet up in each County, at the County Charge 5 and publick Encouragement was given to a Salt- work on the Eaftern Shore. A Reward wasap- pointed in Proportion to the Tonnage of all Sea- Vellels built there, and an Exemption allow’d from all Fees and Duties payable by fuch Shipping, §. 75. The King had commanded, that all Ships trading to Virginia^ lhould go to Jamcs-Towny and there enter before they broke Bulk : But the Af- fembly, from the Impradicablenefs of that Com¬ mand, excufed all, except the James-River Ships, from that Order. They did not oblige them to any certain Station, in the Rivers they were bound to, but fuffer’d them to ride difpers’d, as the Com¬ manders pleafed ^ . by whofe Example the James- River Ships were no fooner enter’d with the Offi¬ cer at James-Towriy but they alfo difpers’d them* felves to unload, and trade all over the River. By this Means the Defign of Towns was totally baulk’d, and this Order prov’d only an Eafe to the Officer of James-River , and a Means of creating a good Place to him. 77. Peace and Commerce with the Indians was fettled by Law, and their Boundaries prefcribed. Several other good Ads were made fuiting the Neceffity ctf the Government } fo that nothing then feem’d to remain, but the Improvement of the Country, and Encouragement of thofe Manudures Prefent State of Virginia. 59 the King had been pleafed to recommend, toge¬ ther with fuch others as lhould be found bene¬ ficial. S. 78. Sir William Berkeley being then again in full Polfelfion of his Government, and at perfect Peace with the Indians, fet all Hands induftiioully to Work in making Country Improvements. He pais d a new Aft for Encouragement of James-1 own , whereby feveral Houfes were built therein, at the Charge of feveral Counties. However, the mam Ingredient for the Advancement of Towns was ftill wanting, namely, the Confinement ot all Shipping and Trade to them only •, by Detect ot which all the other Expedients avail d nothing ; for moll of the Buildings were foon converted in¬ to Houfes of Entertainment. tip. 14 i.v. :• Ss The HISTORY anS §. 1 1 9. By palling fome Laws that obliged the Cotin-* try, the Lord Colepepper carried one that was ve¬ ry pleating to himfelf, viz.. The Adi for railing a publick Revenue for the better Support of the Go¬ vernment. By this he got the Duties contain’d therein to be made perpetual j and that the Mo¬ ney which before ufed to be accounted for to the Alfembly, fhould be from thenceforth difpofed of by his Majefty’s foie Direction, for the Support of the Government. When this was done, he obtain’d of the King a Salary of Two Thoufand Pounds per Annum , "inltead of One Thoufand, which was for¬ merly allow’d. Alfo One Hundred and Fifty Pounds per Annum for Houfe-Rent, belides ail the ufual Perquilites. §. 120. In thofe fubmilTive Times his Lordfhip reduced the greatefl Perquilite of his Place to a Cer¬ tainty, which before that was only Gratuitous ^ that is, inftead of the Mailers of Ships making Prefents of Liquors or Pfovilions towards the Governour’s Houfe-keeping, as they were wont to do, he de¬ manded a certain Sum of Money, remitting that Ciiilom. This Rate has ever fince been demand¬ ed of all Commanders as a Duty * and is Twen¬ ty Shillings for each Ship or Veffel, under an Hun¬ dred Tuns, and Thirty Shillings for each Ship up¬ wards of that Burden, to be paid every Voyage, or Port-clearing. §.121. This Noble Lord was skilful in all the Ways of getting Money, and never let flip any Op¬ portunity of doing it. To this End he feern’d to lament the unhappy State of the Country, in relation to their Coin. He was tenderly concern'd that all their Calh Ihould be drain’d away by the Neigh¬ bouring Colonies, which had not fet fo low an Elti** mate Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 8 ^ mate upon it as Virginia y and therefore he propofed the Raifing of it. This was what the Country had formerly deiired, and the Aflembly was at that time making a Law for it: But his Lordlhip ftopt them, alledging it was the King’s Prerogative, by Virtue of which he wou’d do it by Proclamation. This they did not approve of, well knowing, if that were the Cafe, his Lordlhip, and every other Governour, would at any time have the fame Prerogative of altering it y and fo People fhou’d never be_ at any Certainty, as they quickly after found from his own Piactice. For his Drift in all this Proceeding, tho’ gilded over with an affeffed Kindnefs to the Country, was only to make Advantage of paying the Soldiers •, the Mo¬ ney for that Purpofe being put into his Lordlhip s Hands. He had prudently provided light Pieces of Eight, which he with this V icw had bought at a cheap Rate. When his Contrivance was ripe for Execution, be extended the Royal Preiogative, air. iffued forth a Proclamation, for railing the Value of Pieces of.. Eight from Five to Six Shillings y and as foon as they were admitted current at that Value, he produced an Order for paying and dif- banding the Soldiers. Then thofe poor Fellows, and fuch as had maintain’d them, were forced to take their Pay, in thofe light Pieces of Eight, at Six Shillings. But his Lordlhip foon after himlell found the Wbnvenience of that Proclamation y tor People began to pay their Duties, and their Ship- Money, in Coin of that high Eftimate, which was like to cut Ihort both his Lordfhip’s Salary, and Peiqui- fites y and.fo he was forced to make uie of the fame Prerogative, to reduce the Money again to its former Standard. i jr X §. I 23" 84 The HIST ORY and §. 122. According to this Defpotick way of Go* vernment, this Noble Lord tried another Experi¬ ment in' the tender Part of their Conftitution : But did it fo cautiouOy, that it feem’d to take off all Refledion. He put out a Proclamation to repeal feveral Laws, which had been made fince Bacons Rebellion : But all of them related to the Traufadions of Bacon's Time, and were virtually, tho’ not exprefly re¬ peal’d, by the Ad of Indemnity and Oblivion. §. 1 23. However, this Arbitrary Method of doing Bullnefs,had like to have had a very unhappy EfFed j infomuch, that if the late Misfortunes of Bacon , had not been fo frelh in Memory, it might, perhaps, have occalion’d a new Commotion. For, at this rate of proceeding. People look’d upon their Ads of Aflembly, to be of no more Force, than the Laws of an Ottoman Province, which are liable to be fufpended or repeal’d, at the Pleafure of the Ba - -jbaiv. In fhort, it bred fuch a Mutiny in the Country, that the fucceeding Aflembly was forced to make a particular Law, to provide againft the Ill Confequences of it. Some few Inftances of repealing Ads of Alfembly after this abfolute manner, were alfo attempted in the Time of the Lord Effingham* s Government. But, notwithftanding his Proclamations, the Laws there¬ by pretended to be repeal’d, are allow’d to be of as great Force in all Courts of juftice, as they were before thofe Proclamations } the Law for paying the Quit-Rent only excepted. This Law allow¬ ed them to pay Quit-Rents in Tobacco at Two Pence per Pound} but Tobacco after that fal¬ ling low, the Proclamation repeal’d that Law, and demanded the Payment in Money, according to the Tenour of their Patents } or elfe in To¬ bacco Prefent State of Virginia. 85 bacco at One Penny per Pound. And this Impo-- iition has been generally fubmitted to, rather than any fingle Man would Hand a Law-Suit againft a Governour ^ efpecially feeing that by the Words of his Patent, the Quit-Rent was referved in Money. Afterward Colonel Nicholfon , when he was Lieu¬ tenant-Go vernour under the fame Lord Effingham , among the many Arbitrary Proceedings which he boafts to have learn’d formerly in the Kingdom of Morocco , was pleafed by his Proclamation officioufly to repeal a Law, which had been before repeal’d to his Hand, by another Law. And thefe are all the At¬ tempts that have been made in that Colony, of the French Method of governing by Edids. §. 1 24. In lefs than a Year the Lord Colcpepper re¬ turn’d to England , leaving Sir Henry Chichcley De?* puty-Governour. The Country being then fettled again, made too much Tobacco for the Market } and the Merchants, would hardly allow the Planter any thing for it. This occafon'd much Uneafinefs again, and the People, from former Experience, defpairing of fuc- ceeding in any Agreement with the Neighbouring Governments, refolved a total Deftrudion of the Tobacco in that Country, efpecially of the Sweeu fcented \ becaufe that was planted no where elfe. In Purfuance of which Defign, they contrived, that all the Plants Ihould be deftroy'd, while they were y$t in the Beds, and after it was too late to fow more. Accordingly the Ring-leaders in this Projed be,, gan with their own frit, and then went to cut up the Plants of fuch of their Neighbours as were not willing to do it themfelves. However, they had not Refolutioii enough to go through with their Work Q 3 Tm 86 The HISTORY and ** t i This was adjudged Sedition and Felony. Several People were committed upon it, and fome con¬ demn’d to be bang’d. And afterwards the Aflembiy pafs’d a Law to make fuch Proceedings Felony for the future. §. 125. After this Accident of Plant-cutting, the Lord Olepepper return’d, and held his Second Af- fembly, in which he contrived to gain another great Advantage over the Country. His Lordfhip in his firft Voyage thither, perceiving how eafily he could twill and manage the People, conceived new Hopes of retrieving the Propriety of the Northern Neck, as being fo fmall a Part of the Co¬ lony. He conceiv’d that while the Remainder efca- ped free, which was far the greater Part, they would not engage in the Interell of the lelFer Number j efpecially considering the Difcourage- ments they had met with,before in their former Sol¬ icitation; 1 ho’ all this while, and for many Years afterwards, his Lordfhip did not pretend to lay pub- lick Claim to any Part of the Propriety. It did not fquare with this Projedt that Appeals Ihould be made to the General AlFembly, as till then had been the Cuftom. He fear’d the Bur¬ geses would he too much in * cording to the Difference of Situation, either in the lower Parts of the Country, the Middle, or that on the Heads of the Rivers. The Land towards the Mouth of the Rivers is generally of a low, moift and fat Mould, fuch as the heavier fort of Grain delight in, as Rice, Hemp, Indian Corn, &c. This alfo is varied here and there with Veins of a cold, hungry, fandy Soil, of the fame Moift u re, and very often lying un¬ der Water. But this alfo has its Advantages-, for on fuch Land, generally grow the Huckle-berries, Cran-berries, Chincapins, &c. Thefe low Lands are for themoft part, well ftor’d with Oaks, Poplars, Pines, Cedars, Cyprefs, and Sweet-Gums , the Trunks of which are often Thirty, Forty, Fifty, fome Sixty or Seventy Foot high, without a Branch or Limb. They likewife produce great Variety of Evergreens, unknown to me by Name, befides thebeauteous Holly, Sweet-Myrtle, Cedar, and the Live Oak, which for Three Quarters of the Year is continually dropping its Acorns, and at the fame time budding, and bearing others in their Stead. 2. The Land higher up the Rivers throughout the whole Country, is generally a level Ground, with fhalV low Vailies, full of Streams and pleafant Springs of clearWater, having interfpers’d here and there among the large Levels, fome fmall Hills, and extentive Vales. The Mould in fome Places is black, fat, and thick laid \ in others ioofer, lighter, and thin. The Foundation of the Mould is alfo yarions \ fome- times Clay3 then Gravel, and Rocky Stones •, and f-' A a 4 ' 7 8 The HISTORY and fometimes Marie, The Middle of the Necks, cr Ridges between the Rivers, is generally poor, being either a light Sand, ora white or red Clay, with a thin Mould : Yet even thefe Places are ftored with Chefnuts, Chinkapins, Acorns of the Shrub-Oak, and a Reedy Grafs in Summer, very good for Cattle. The rich Lands lie next the Rivers and Branches, and are ilored with large Oaks, Walnuts, Hickories, Afh, Beech, Poplar, and many other Sorts of Timber, of furprizing Bignefs. 3 The Pleads of the Rivers afford a Mixture of Hills, Vallies and Plains, fome richer than ether, whereof the Fruits and Timber-Trees are alfo va¬ rious. In, fome Places lie great Plats of low and very rich Ground, well Timber’d } in others, large Spots of Meadows and Savanna’s, wherein are Hun¬ dreds of Acres without any Tree at all} but yield Reeds and Grafs of incredible Height : And in the Swamps and funken Grounds grow Trees, as vaftly big, as I believe the World affords, and Hand fo clofe together, that the Bi*anclies or Boughs of many of them, lock into one another } but what leilens their Value is, that the greateft Bulk of them are at fome L>iftance from Water-Carriage. The Land of thefe upper Parts affords greater Variety of Soil, than any other, and as great Variety in the Foundations of the Soil or Mould, of which good Judgment may be made, by the Plants and Herbs that grow upon it. The Rivers and Greeks do in many Places form very fine large Marfhes, which are a convenient Support for their Flocks and Herds. §.8. There is likewife found great Vaiiety of Earths for Phylick, Cleanfing, Scouring, and ma¬ king all Sorts of Potters-Ware} fuch as Antimony, Talk, yellow and red Qker, Fuilers-Earth, Pipe- Prefent State of Virginia. 9 Clgy, and other fat and fine Clays, Marie, &c . In a Word, there are all kinds of Earth fit for Ufe. They have befides in thofe upper Parts, Coal for Firing, Slate for Covering, and Stones for Building, and Flat-Paving in vaft Quantities , as likewife Pibble-Stones. Neverthelefs, it has been confidently affirm’d by many, who have been there, that there is not a Stone in all the Country. If fuch Travellei s knew no better than they faid, my Judgment o£ them is, that either they were People of ex- tream Ihort Memories, or elfe of 'very narrow Ob- ! fervation. For tho’ generally the lower Parts are flat, and fo free from Stones, that People feldom Shoe their Horfes ^ yet in many Places, and par¬ ticularly near the Falls of the Rivers, are found vail Quantitits of Stone, fit for all kind of Ufes. However, as yet there is feldom any Ufe made of them, becaufe commonly Wood is to be had at much lefs Trouble. And as for Coals, it is not likely they fhould ever be ufed there in any thing, but Forges and great Towns, if ever they happen to have any *, for, in their Country Plantations, the Wood grows at every Man’s Door fo fail, that ! after it has been cut down, it will in Seven Years time, grow up again from Seed, to fubftantial Firer ; Wood j and in Eighteen or Twenty Years ’twill come to be very good Board-Timber. I %. 9. For Mineral Earths, ’tis believ’d, they have great Plenty and Variety, that Country being in a good Latitude, and having great Appearances of ! them. It has been proved too, that they have both Iron and Lead, as appears by what was Paid, before, concerning the Iron- Work, fet up at bal- ling-Creek. , in James River, where the Iron proved yeafonably good : But before they got into the Body pf the Mine, the People were cut offin that fatal Maifacre ; and the Projed has aever been fet on io The HISTORY and Foot fince. However, Col. Byrd , who is Proprietor of that Land, is at this Time boring, andTearching after the richeffc Veins, near the Place of the former Work which is very commodious for fuch an Un^ dertaking, by reafon of the Neighbourhood of a- bundance of Wood, running Water, Fire-Stone, and other Neceflaries for that Pnrpofe. It is alfo faid, that there is found good Iron Ore at Corotoman , and in feveral other Parts of the Country. The Gold-Mine, of which .there was lately fo much Noife, may, perhaps, be found hereafter to be fome good Metal, when it comes to be fully examined. But, be that as it will, the Stones, that are found near it in great Plenty, are valuable ^ their Luftre approaching nearer to that of the Diamond, than thofe of Briftol or Kerry . There is no other Fault in them, but their Soft- nefs, which the Weather hardens, when they have been fome time expofed to it, they being found unr der the Surface of the Earth. This Place is about a Day’s Journey from the Frontier Inhabitants of James River. This I take to be the Place in Pttrchafe s Fourth Book of Pilgrimage, called Vttamajfach , where was formerly the principal Temple of the Country, and the Metropolitan Seatf of the Priefts, in Powhatan s Time. There Hood the Three great Houfes, near Sixty Foot in Length, which he reports to have been fill’d with the Images of their Gods^ there were like- wife preferved the Bodies of their Kings. Thefe Houfes they counted fo holy, that none but their Prieits and Kings durft go into them, the common People not prefuming, without their particular Di¬ rection, to approach the Place. There alfo was their great Pawcorance , or Altar- Stone, which, the Indians tell us,was a folid Chryftal, of between Three and Four Foot Cube, upon which. Prefent State of Vi rg i n i a. i i in their greateft Solemnities, they ufed to facrifice. This, they would make us believe, was To clear, that the Grain of a Man’s Skin might be feen through it j and was fo heavy too, that when they remov’d their Gods and Kings, not being able to carry it away, they buried it thereabouts : But the Place has never been yet difcover’d. Mr. Alexander Whittaker , Minifter of Henrico , on James River, in the Company’s Time, writing to them fays thus : T welve Miles from the Falls , there is a Chryftal Rock , wherewith the Indians do head many of their Arrows , and Three Days Journey from thence , there is a Rock and Stony Hill found , which is on the Top covered over with a perfeSl and moft nth Sil¬ ver Ore. Our Men that went to difcover thofe Parts, had hut Two Iron Pickaxes with them , and thofe fo ill temper d, that the Points of them turn d again^ and bow'd at every Stroke } fo that we could not farch the Entrails of the Place : Yet fome Trial was made of that Ore with good Succefs . §. io. Some People that have been in that Coun¬ try, without knowing any thing about it, haveaL firm'd, that it is all a Flat, without any Mixture of Hills, becaufe they fee the Coaft to Seaward per¬ fectly level: Or elfe they have made their Judg¬ ment of the whole Country, by the Lands lying on the lower Parts of the Rivers (which, perhaps, they had never been beyond ) and fo conclude it to be throughout plain and even. When in truth, upon the Heads of the great Rivers, there are valt high Hills } and even among the Settlements, there are fome fo topping, that I have flood upon them, and view’d the Country all around over theTops of the higheft Trees, for many Leagues toge¬ ther } particularly, there are Mawhorn Hills in the Frefhes of Jamet River , a Ridge of Hills about four- h. - . r . - * 17 The HISTORY and Fourteen or Fifteen Miles up Mattapony River } Toli¬ vers Mounts upon Rappahannock River j and the Ridge of Hills in Stafford County, in the Frelhes of Patowmeck River } all which are within the Bounds of the EngU jh Inhabitants. But a little farther backward, there are Mountains, which indeed de- ferve the Marne of Mountains, for their Height and Bignefs. But fince I have not feen them my felf, I fhall not pretend to give an Account of them, but refer you to BatP s Report, Pag. 64. of the Firft Book. Thefe Hills are not without their Advantages j for, out of almoft every riling Ground, throughout the Country, there iflue Abundance of molt plear fant Streams, of Pure and Chryltal Water , than which certainly the World does not afford any more delicious. Thefe are every-where to be found in the upper Parts of this Country } and ma¬ ny of them flow out of the Sides of Banks very high above the Vales, which are the moll fuitable Places for Gardens : Where the finefl: Water-works in the World may be made, at a very fmall Expence. There are likewife feveral Mineral Springs, eaiily difcoverable by their Tafte, as well as by the Soil, which they drive out with their Streams. But I am not Naturalift skilful enough, todefcribe them with the Exa&nefs they deferve. CHAP. Prefent State of Virgini a. 13 CHAP. IV. Of the wild Fruits of the Country. §. n. /\F Fruits natural to the Country there is great Abundance, but the feveral Species of them, are produced according to the Dif¬ ference of the Soil, and the various Situation of the Country : It being impoiTible that one Piece of Ground, fhould produce fo many different Kinds in¬ termix’d. Of the better Sorts of the wild Fruits, that I have met with, 1 will barely give you the Names, ! not defigning a Natural Hiftory. And when I have done that, poffibly I may not mention one half of what the Country affords, becaufe 1 never went out of my Way, to enquire after any Thing of this Nature. §. 12. Of ftoned Fruits* I have met with Three good Sorts, viz.. Cherries, Plums, and Perfim- mons. _ , i . Of Cherries natural to the Country, and grow¬ ing wild in the Woods, I have feen Three Sorts. Two of thefe grow upon Trees, as big as the common Englijh white Oak, whereof one grows in Bunches like Grapes. Both thefe Sorts are black without, and but one of them red within that which is red within, is more palatable than the Eng- liflo black Cherry, as being without its bitternefs. The Other, which hangs on the Branch like Grapes, is Water-colour’d within, of a faintifh Sweet, and greedily devour’d by the fmall Birds. The 1 bird fort is call’d the Indian Cherry, and grows higher tm in the Country, than the Others do. It is com- L " monly 14 The HISTORY and monly found by the Sides of Rivers, and Branches, on fmall (lender Trees, fcarce able to fupport them- felves, about the Bignefs of the Peach-Trees in England, This is certainly the moll delicious Cherry in the World } it is of a dark Purple when ripe, and grows upon a iingle Stalk, like the Eng- lljh Cherry, but is very fmall } though, I fuppole, it may be made larger by Cultivation, if any Body wou’d mind it. Thefe too are fo greedily de¬ vour’d by the fmall Birds, that they won’t let them remain on the Tree, long enough to ripen*, by which Means, they are rarely known to any, and much more rarely tailed} though perhaps at the fame time, they grow juft by theHoufes. 2. The Plums which I have obferv’d to grow wild there, are of Two forts, the Black, and the* Murrey Plum, both which are fmall, and have much the fameRelilh with the Damaline. 3. The Perlimmon is by Harlot call’d the Indian Plum *, and fo Smith , Tar chafe , and Da Lake , call it after him } but I can’t perceive that any of thofe Authors, had ever heard of the Sorts I have juft now mention’d, they growing high up in the Coun¬ try. Thefe Perfimmons amongft them retain their Indian Name. They are of feveral Sizes, be¬ tween the Bignefs of a Damafme and a Burgamot Pear. The Tafte of them is fo very rough, it is not to be endured, till they are fully ripe, and then they are a pleafant Fruit. Of thefe fome Fer- tuofi make an agreeable kind of Beer } to which Purpofe they dry them in Cakes, and lay them up for life. .Thefe, like moft other Fruits there, grow as thick upon the Trees, as Ropes of Onions } the Branches very often break down by the mighty Weight of the Fruit. Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 15 §. 13. Of Berries there is a great Variety, and all very good in their Kinds. <^ur Mulberries are of Three forts, two Black and one White *, the long Black fort are the heft, being about the bignefs of a Boy’s Thumb*, the other Two forts are of the ‘Shape of the Englijh Mulberry, Ihort and thick, but ! their Tafte does not fo generally pleafe, being of a faintifh Sweet, without any Tartnefs. They grow upon well fpread, large bodied Trees, which run up ifurprizingly fait. Thefe are the proper Food of the Silk- Worm. 2. There grow naturally Two Sorts of Currants, one red, and the other black, far more pleafant than thofe of the fame Colour in England. They grow upon fmall Bufhes. 1 3. There are Three Sorts of Hurts, or Huckle¬ berries, upon Bufhes, Two to Ten Foot high. They grow in the Vallies and funken Grounds, | having different Relilhes } but are all pleafing to the Tafte. The large!! fort grow upon the largeft Bufhes, and, I think, are the beft Berries. 4. Cranberries grow in the low Lands, and bar¬ ren funken Grounds, upon low Bufhes, like the ! Goofeberry, and are much of the fame Size. They are of a lively Red, when ripe, and make very good | Tarts. I believe, thefe are the Berries, which I Capt. Smith compared to the Englijh Goofeberry, I and called Ramomens } having, perhaps, feen fome ! of them green, but none ripe. 5. The wild Rasberry is by fome there, preferred I to thofe, that were tranfplanted thither from Eng¬ land } but I cannot be of their Opinion. 6. Strawberries they have, as delicious as any in the World, and growing almoft every where in the Woods, and Fields. They are eaten almoft by all I Creatures*, and yet are fo plentiful, that very tew Ferfons take care to tranfplant them, but can find enough . 16 The HISTORY and enough to fill their Baskets, when they have a mind, in the deferted old Fields. 1 t §. 14. There grow* wild feveral Sorts of good Nuts, •viz.. Chefnuts, Chinkapins, Hafel-nuts, Hickories, Walnuts, &c. 1. Chefnuts are found upon very high Trees, growing in barren Ridges. They are fomething I els than the Trench Chefnut j but, I think, not dif¬ fering at allinTafte. 2. Chinkapins have a Tafte fomething like a Chefnut, and grow in a Husk or Bur, being of the fame fort of Subftance, but not fo big as an Acorn. They grow upon large Bullies, about as high as the common Apple-Trees in England, and either in the high or low, but always barren Ground. 3. Hafel-nuts are there in infinite Plenty, in all the Swamps \ and towards the Heads of the Rivers, whole Acres of them are found upon the high Land. 4. Hickory -nuts are of feveral Sorts, all grow¬ ing upon great Trees, and in an Husk, like the French Walnut, except that the Husk is notfo thick, and more apt to open. Some of thefe Nuts are in- clofed in fo hard a Shell, that a light Hammer will hardly crack them *, and when they are crack’d, their Kernel is fatten’d with fo firm a Web, that there’s no coming at it. Several other Sorts I have feen with thinner Shells, whofe Kernel may be got with lefs Trouble. There are alfo feveral Sorts of Hickories, call’d Pig-nuts, fome of which have as thin a Shell as the belt French W alnuts, and yield their Meat very eafily. 5. They have a fort of Walnut they call, Black-Walnuts, which are as big again as any I ever faw in England , but are very rank and oily, ha¬ ving a thick, hard, foul Shell, and come not clear of the Husk, as the Walnut in France doth. 6. Their Prefent State of \ irginia. 17 6. Their Woods likewife afford a vaft Variety of r\. co ms , Seven Sorts ot which ha\e fallen und^i my Obfervation. That which grows upon the Live Oak, buds, ripens, and drops off the T ree, almoft the whole Year round. All their Acorns are very fat and oily \ but the Live-Oak Acorn is much more lo than the reft \ and 1 believe the making Oil of them, would turn to a good Account : But how they only ferve as Malle for the Hogs, and hther wild Creatures, as do all the other Fruitsafore- imention’d ^ together with feveral other forts of Malle growing upon the Beech, Pine, and other! rees. The fame Ufe is madealfoof divers Sorts of Pulfe, and other Fruits, growing upon wild Vines •, fuch as Peas, Beans,. Vetches, Squalhes, Maycocks, Mara- cocks, Melons, Cucumbers, Lupines, ano an Infim- jty of other Sorts of Fruits, which I cannot name. §. 15. Grapes grow wild there in an incre- iible Plenty, and Variety ; feme of which are ve¬ ry fweet, and pleafant to the Taile, otncrs tough and harfli, and, perhaps, fitter for Wine or Bran¬ dy. 1 have feen great Trees covered with Angle Vines, and thofe Vines almoll hid with the Grapes. Of thefe wild Grapes, befides thofe large ones in the Mountains, mention’d by Batt. in his Oifco. very, I have obferved Six very different Kinds, vtz,. 1. Two of thefe Sorts grow among the Sand- sanks, upon the Edges of the low Grounds, and Hands next the Bay, and Sea. They grow thin is mall Bunches, and 'upon very low Vines. 1 hme ire noble Grapes ^ and tho’ they are wild in the Woods, are as large as the Dutch Gooieuerry. One Species of them is white, the cihei purp e, !jut both much alike in Flavour. . . 2. A Third Kind is produced througnout the whole Country, in the Swamps and Sides o> Hi a b in® iS The HISTORY and Thefe alfo grow upon fmall Vines, and in fmall Bunches } but are themfelves as big as the English Bullace, and of a rank Tafle when ripe, refembling the Smell of a Fox, from whence they are called Fox-Grapes. Allthefe Three Sorts, when ripe, make admirable Tarts, being of a fteihy Subfiance, and, perhaps, if rightly managed, might makegood Rai- fins. 3. There are Two Species more, that are common to the whole Country, fome of which are black, and fome blue on the Outfide, but are both red within. They grow upon vaft large Vines, and bear very plentifully. The nice Obferver might, perhaps, diflinguifti them into feveral Kinds, be- caufe they differ in Colour, Size, and Relifh *, but I (hall divide them only into Two, viz.. The ear¬ ly, and the late ripe. The early ripe common Grape is much larger, fweeter and better than the other. Of thefe fome are quite black, and others blue \ fome alfo ripen Three Weeks, or a Month before the other. The Diftance of their Ripening, is from the latter End of to the latter End of Ottobcr. The late ripe common Grapes are lefs than any of the other, neither are they fo pleafant to the Tafte. They hang commonly till the latter End of November , or till Chriftmas . Of the former of thefe T wo Sorts ,the French Refugees at the Mona¬ can Town have lately made a fort of Clarret, tho* they were gather’d off of the wild Vines in the Woods. I was told by a very good judge, who tailed it, that it was a pleafant, flrong, and full body’d Wine. From which we may conclude, that if the Wine was but tolerably good, when made of the wild Grape, which is fhaded by the Woods, from the Sun, it would-be much better, if produc’d of the fame Grape cultivated in a regular Vineyard. Prefent State of Virgin i a. 19 But here I find an Objection thrown in my Way, that Vineyards have been attempted both in Vir¬ ginia and Carolina •, and that feveral French Men went over to Carolina , on purpofe to make Wine} and yet they could not fncceed in it, but mifcarried in all their Attempts. This I readily own: But I’ll tell you what Progrefs they made, and why at lalt it came to nothing. The Pine-Tree and Fir are naturally very noxious to the Vine } and the Vine is obferved never to thrive, where' it is any ways influenced by them. Now, all the lower Parts of their Rivers naturally 'produce thefe Trees } infomuch, that if a Man clear the Land there, of the Wood, he will certainly Ifind that the Pine is the firit Tree that will grow up again, tho’ perhaps there was not a Pine in that Spot ; of Ground before. Again } the Vine thrives belt on the Sides of Hills, Gravelly Ground, and in the Neighbourhood of frefli Streams. But the Experi- jments that have been made of Vineyards, both in Virginia and Carolina , have not only been near the malignant Influence of the Salt-Water, but alfo 'upon the low Lands, that are naturally fubjed to the 1 Pine. The Experiment that Mr. Jfaac Jamart , a French Merchant, made below Archers- FJope- Creek^ on James River, in Virginia , was attended with thefe Difadvantages. And fo was that of Sir Wilr liam Berkeley , tho’ his Project had a further bad iCircumftance : For, to fave Labour, he planted Trees for the Vines to run upon. But as he was ful of Projects, fo he was always very fickle, and fet them on Foot, only to (hew us what might be done, and not out of Hopes of any Gain to himfeif , fo never minded to bring them to Perfection. With the fame laconveniencies, the French in G - \rolina Yfent about their Vineyards. They planted I them near the fait Rivers, in Piney Ground, and I made ufe of low Land into the Bargain, they having B b 2 no 2o The HISTORY and no other clear’d at that Time. Mr ..Nathaniel johnfor ?, the prefer! t Governour of Carolina, has indeed of late made fome likely Eflays towards a Vineyard, ha¬ ving planted it upon the Hills: But he being now involv’d in Differences with the People, I am a- fraid that will be alfo neglected. 4. The Sixth Sort is far more palatable than the reft, and of the Size of the white Mufcadine in Eng¬ land ^ but thefe are peculiar to the Frontiers, on the Heads of the Rivers. They grow upon very fmall Vines, which climb not higher than the Shrub, or fmall eft Bullies, on which they generally reft, or on the Plants, which annually fpring out of the Ground : But thefe are fo greedily eaten by the fmall Birds, and other wild Creatures, to whom they hang conve¬ nient, by the Lownefs of their Vine, that (as it was faid of th z Indian Cherry) it is a great Rarity to find any of them ripe though they are in great Plenty to be met with, while they are green. Thefe, in all Likelihood, would make admirable Wine } unlefs the Earlinefs of their Ripening, may be an Ob- je&ion. The Year before the Maftacre, Anno 1622 , which deftroy’d fo many good Proje&s for Virginia fome French Vignerons were fent thither, to make an Experiment of their Vines. Thefe People werefo in Love with the Country, that the Character they then gave of it, in their Letters to the Company in England , was very much to its Advantage-, namely, That it far excell’d their own Country of Languedoc , The Vines growing in great abundance and Variety all over the Land : That fome of the Grapes were of that unufual Bignefs, that they did not believe them to be Grapes, until by opening them, they had feen their Kernels : That they had planted the Cuttings of their Vines at Michaelmas , and had Grapes from thofe very Cutting', the Spring fol¬ lowing. Adding in the Conclunon, That they had no! Prefent State of Virginia, a i not heard of the like in any other Country : Nei¬ ther was this out of the Way for I have made the fame Experiment both of their natural Vine, and of ithe Plants fent thither from England. The Copies of the Letters here quoted to the Company in England , are (till to be feen ai:d Fur - \ chafe in his 4th Volume of Pilgrims, has very jnllly I quoted fome of them. j §. 1 6. The Honey and Sugar-Trees are likewife Tpontaneous, near the Heads of the Rivers. 1 he jHoney-Tree bears a thick fwelling Pod, full of Ho¬ ney, appearing at a Diftance like the bending Pod 1 of a Bean or Pea. The Sugar-Tree yields a kind of Sap or Juice, which by boiling is made into Su¬ gar. This Juice is drawn out, by wounding the Trunk of the Tree, and placing a Receiver under the Wound. The Indians make One Pound of Su- I gar, out of Eight Pounds of the Liquor. Some of -this Sugar I examined very carefully. It was bright and moift, with a large full Grain •, the Sweetnefs of it being like that of good Mufcovada. Though this Difcovery has not been made by the Englljh above Twelve or Fourteen Years yet it has been known among the Indians , longer than any now living can remember. It was found out by the Englijh after this manner. The Soldiers | which were kept on the Land Frontiers, to clear Ithem of the Indians^ taking their Range through ! a Piece of low Ground, about Forty Miles above the inhabited Parts of PatowmeckKwox, and refi¬ ling themfelves in the Woods of thofe low Grounds* | obferv’d an infpihate Juice, LkeMolahes, diftilling | from the Tree. The Heat of the Sun had candied Tomeof this Juice, which gave the Mena Curioiity totafle it. They found it fweet, and by thisPrq- jcefs qf Nature, leanfd to improve it into SugT, [ But thefe Trees growing fo far above the Chriftiaii | & k 3 ' Ifp a a The HISTORY and Inhabitants, it hath not yet been tried, whether for Quantity, or Quality it may be worth while to cultivate this Difcovery. Thus the Canada Indians make Sugar of the Sap of a Tree. And Peter Martyr mentions a Tree that yields the like Sap, but without any Defcription. The Eleomeli of the Ancients, a fweet Juice like Ho¬ ney, is faid to be got by wounding the Olive- Tree: And the Eaft-Indians extract a fort of Su¬ gar, they call Jagra, from the juice, or potable Liquor, that flows from the Coco-Tree : The whol$ Procefs of Boiling, Graining and Refining of which, is accurately fet down by the Authors of Hortns M dab art cits. i §. 17. At the Mouth of their Rivers, and all a- longupon the Sea and Bay, and near many of their Creeks and Swamps, grows the Myrtle, bearing a Berry, of which they make a hard brittle Wax, of a curious green Colour, which by refining becomes al- 111 oft tranfparent. Of this they make Candles, which are never greaiie to the Touch, nor melt with ly¬ ing in the hottelb Weather: Neither does the Snuff of thefe ever offend the Smell, like that of a Tallow- Candle i but, inltead of being difagreeable, if an Ac¬ cident puts a Candle out, it yields a pleafant Fra- graucy to all that are in the Room \ infomuch, that nice People often put them out, on purpofe to have the Incenfe of the expiring Snuff The Melting of thefe Berries, is faid to have been firft found out by a Surgeon in Nerp-England, who perform’d wonderful Things, with a Salve made of them. This Difcovery is very modern, notwithftanding thefe Countries have been fo lone fettled. 1 he Method of managing thefe Berries, is by boiling them in Water, till they come to be in- ti rely dillolv’d, except the Stone, or Seed, in the Middle, S a Prefent State of Virgin i a. 23 Middle which amounts in Quantity to about half the Bulk of the Berry i the Biggeit of which is fome- thing lefs than a Corn of Pepper. The Cedar-Berries alfo have been experienced, to yield the fame fort of Wax as the Myrtle, their Berries being as much larger than Pepper, as thole of the Myrtle are lefs. . - There are alfo in the Planes, and rich Grounds of the Frelhes, abundance of Hops, which yield their Produd without any Labour of the Husbandman, in Weeding, Hilling, or Poling. c 18. All over the Country, is interfpers’d here and there, a furprizing Variety of curious Plants and Flowers. They have a fort of Brier, giowing fomething like the Sarfaparilla. The Berry of this is as big as a Pea, and as round, being of a bright Crimfon Colour. It is very hard, and finely po¬ lic’d by Nature ; fo that it might be put to di¬ vers Ornamental Ufes. > There are feveral Woods, Plants and Earths, which have been fit for the Dying of curious Co¬ lours. They have the Puccoon and Mufquafpen, Two Roots, with which the Indians ufe to paint themfelves red : There’s the Shumack and the Safla- fras which make a deep Yellow. Mr. Her tot tells us of feveral others, which he found at Tamtego , and gives the Indian Names of them : But that Language being not underftood by the Virginians, 1 am not able to diftinguilh which he means. Particularly he takes Notice of Wafebttr , an Herb } Chapaconr , a Root ; and Tangomochnominge, a Bark. . There’s the Snake -Root, fo much admired in England for a Cordial, and for being a great An¬ tidote in all Peftilential Diftempers. There’s the Rattle-Snake-Root, to which no Re¬ medy was ever yet found comparable ^ for it ct- feftually cures the Bite of a Rattle-Snake, which R b foiA5r H The HISTORY and fometimes has been mortal in Two Minutes. If this Medicine be early applied, it prefently removes the Infe&ion, and in Two or T hree Hours, reftores the Patient to as perfeft Health, as if he had never been hurt. This operates by violent Vomit, and Sweat. The Jamestown Weed (which refembles the Thorny Apple of Pern? and I take to be the Plant fo call'd) is fuppofed to be one of the greatelf Coolers in the World. This being an early Plant, was gather’d very young for a boil’d Salad, by Pome of the Soldiers Pent thither, to pa- cifie the Troubles of Baton j and fome of them eat plentifully of it, the Ef Ted of which was a very 7 pleafant Comedy } for they turn’d natural Fools up¬ on it for feveral Days : One would blow up a Fea«» ther in the Air , another wou’d dart Straws at it with much Fury *, and another Hark naked was fitting up in a Corner, like a Monkey, grinning and making Mows at them } a Fourth would fondly kifs, and paw his Companions, and Pnear in their Faces, with a Countenance more antick, than any in a Dutch Droll. In this frantick Condition they were confined, left they fhould in their Folly deftroy themPelves } though it was obPerved, that all their . A&ions were full of Innocence and good Nature. Indeed, they were not very cleanly } for they would have wallow’d in their own Excrements, if they had not been prevented. A Thoufand Puch Pimple Tricks they play’d, and after Eleven Days, return’d to themPelves again, not remembring any thing that had paPs’d. Of fpontaneous Flowers they have an unknown Variety : The fineft Crown Imperial in the World } the Cardinal-Flower, Po much extolfd for its Scar- ' let Colour, isalmoft in every Branch} the Mocca- fin Flower, and a Thoufand others, not yet known, to EajrhJh Herbalifis. A 1 moil all the Year round, 1 the Prelent State of Virginia, a 5 the Levels and Vales are beautified with Flowers of one Kind or other, which make their Woods as fra¬ grant as a Garden. From thefe Materials their wild Bees make vaft Quantities of Honey, but their Magazines are very often rifled, by Bears, Raccoons, and fuch like liquorifh Verinine. About Two Years ago, walking out to take the Air, 1 found, a little without my Paffure Fence, a Flower as big as a Tulip, and upon a Stalk re- fembling the Stalk of a Tulip. The Flower was of a Flefh Colour, having a Down upon one End, while the other was plain.The Form of it refernbled the Puden¬ da of a Man and Woman lovingly join’d in one. Not long after I had difeover'd this Rarity, and while it was It ill in Bloom, I drew a grave Gentleman, ar bout an Hundred Yards, out of his Way, to fee this Curiofity, not telling him any thing more, than that it was a Rarity, and fuch, perhaps, as he had never feen, nor heard of. When we ar¬ rived at the Place, I gather’d one of them, and put it into his Hand, which he had no fooner call his Eye upon, but he threw it away with Indignation, as being afham’d of this Waggery of Nature. It was impolPible to perfwade him to touch it again, or fo much as to fquint towards fo immodeit a Reprefentation. Neither would I prefume to men¬ tion fuch an Indecency, but that l thought it un¬ pardonable, to omit a Production fo extraordinary. There is alfo found, the fine Tulip-bearing Law- reLTree, which has the pleafanteH Smell in the World, and keeps Bloffoming and Seeding feveral Months together : It delights much in Gravel¬ ly Branches of Chryftal Streams, and perfumes the very Woods with its Odour. So alfo do the large Tulip-Tree, which we call a Poplai, the Locuft, which refembles much the Jafmine, and the Perfuming Crab-Tree, during their Seafon. With one fort or other of thefe, as well as many other Sweet- ■ 11: lit! !:t 1 *6 The HISTORY and N Sweet-flowering Trees not named, the Woods are almoft every-where adorn’d, and yield a fur- prizing Variety to divert the Traveller. They find a World of Medicinal Plants likewife in that Country ; and amongft the reft, the Planters pretend to have a Swamp-Root, which infallibly cures all Fevers, and Agues. The Bark of the Saf- fafras-Tree has been experimented to partake very much of the Virtue of the Cortex Peruviana. The Bark of the Root, of that which we call the Prickly Afh, being dried and powder’d, has been found to be a Specifick, in old Ulcers, and Long-running Sores. Infinite is the Number of other valuable Vegetables of every Kind : But Natural Hiftory not having been much my Study, I am unwilling to do Wrong to my Subjeft, by an unskilful De- fcription. §. 19, Several Kinds of the Creeping Vines bearing Fruit, the Indians planted in their Gar*' dens or Fields, becaufe they wou’d have Plenty of them always at hand } fuch as, Musk-melons, Water-melons, Pompions, Cufhaws, Macocks, and Gourds. 1. Their Musk-melons refemble the large Italian Kind, and generally fill Four or Five Quarts. 2. Their Water-melons were much more large, and of feveral Kinds, diftinguifhed by the Colour of their Meat and Seed ^ fome are red, fome yellow, and others white meated, and fo of the Seed , fome are yellow , fome red , and fome black , but thefe are never of different Colours in the fame Melon. This Fruit the Mufcovites call Arpus, the Turks and Tartar j, Karpus , becaufe they are extreamly cooling : The Perfians call them ,#W- nanes, becaufe they had the firft Seed of them from the Indies. -They are excellently good, and very pleafant to the Tafte, asalfo to the Eye, having the Prefent State of Virginia. 27 Rind of a lively green Colour, ftreak’d and waier’d the Meat of a Carnation, and the Seed black, an fliinning, while it lies in the Melon. _ Their Porapions I need not defcnbe, but mull fay they are much larger and finer, than any ever heard, of in England. _ nf a 4. Their Cnjhaws are a kind of ‘ bluilh green Colour, llreaked with White, when they are fit for Ufe. They are larger than the Pom- pions, and have a long narrow Neck : Pei haps this may be the Ecnjhaw of T. Harriot. < . Their Macocks are a fort of Mclopepones, 01 Tell fort of Pompion, of thefe they have great Van - ty, but the Indian Name Macock ferves for all, which Name is ftill retain’d among them. Clyfeau are fometimes call’d ire fome others alfo) from the Lenten Cake of that Name, which many of them very much referable. Sy«<#, or iliTSf »*•?«■», Theft being boil’d »h.>«, "he. the Apple is young, and the Shell tender, an with Cream or Butter, relilh very well with all forts of Butcher’s Meat, either frefh or fait. .And w here- as the Pompion is never eaten till it be r p , are never eaten after they are ripe. 6. The Indians never eat the Gourds, butp them for other Ufes. Yet the Perfmvs, who like wife abound with this fort of Fruit, eat the Lagenar^ which they call Kabach, boiling it while ffreen before it comes to it’s full Maturity , For when’ it is ripe, the Rind dries, andgrowsas fe,”5S Kofi Tree, ,«d .he M«t ».*;» » fo confumed, and dried away, that there is tto nothing left but the Seed, which the ^ clean out, and afterwards ufe the Shells ^ad Flagons and Cups -, as is done glio in Papts pf the World. The I 28 The HISTORY and , The Mar acock, which is the Fruit of what we call the Paffion Flower, our Natives did not take the Pains to plant, having enough of it growing every where ^ tho" they eat it with a great deal of Plea- fure j this Fruit is about the Size of a Pullet’s Egg. 20. Befides all thefe, our Nativ’es had origi¬ nally amongft them, Indian Corn, Peas, Beans, Pota¬ toes, and Tobacco. This Indian Corn was the Staff* of Food, upon which the Indians did ever depend • for when Sick- neis, bad feather, VVar, or any other ill Accident xcept them from Hunting, Fifhing and Fowling • this, with the Addition of fome Peas, Beans, and fuch othei Fruits of the Earth, as were then in Seafon, was the Families Dependance, and the Support of their Women and Children. There are Four Sorts of Indian Corn, Two of which are early ripe, and Two, late ripe^ all growing in the fame manner j every lingle Grain of this when planted, pioduces a tall upright Stalk, which hasfe- veral Ears hanging on the Sides of it, from Six to Ten Inches long. Each Ear is wrapt up in a Cover of many folds, to proted it from the Injuries of the Weather. In every one of thefe Ears, are feveral Rows of Grain, let clofe to one another, with no other Partition, but of a very thin Husk. So that oftentimes the Increafe of this Grain amounts to a- bove a Thoufand for one. 7 Two Sorts which are early ripe, are diflin- guifh d only by the Size, which /hows it felf as well in the Grain, as in the Ear, and the Stalk. There is fome Difference alfo in the Time of ri¬ pening. The leffer Size of Early ripe Corn, yields an Ear not much larger than the Handle of a Cafe Knife and grows upon a Stalk, between Three and Four Foot high. Of this are commonly made Two Crops! Prefent State of Virgin i a. 2 9 Crops in a Year, and, perhaps, there might be Heat enough in England to ripen it. The larger Sort differs from the former only in Largenefs, the Ear of this being Seven or Eight Inches long, as thick as a Child’s Leg, and growing upon a Stalk Nine or Ten Foot high. This is fit tor eating about the latter End of May , whereas the fmaller Sort (generally fpeaking) affords Ears fit to roalt by the Middle of May. The Grains of both thefe Sorts, ate as plump and fwell d, as it the Shin were ready to built. The late ripe Corn is diverfify’d by the Shape of the Grain only, without any Rcfpect to the ac¬ cidental Differences in Colour, fome being blue, fome red, fome yellow, fome white, and tome ftreak’d. That therefore which makes the Diitin- efion is the Plumpnefs or Shrivelling of the Grain ; the one looks as fiflooth, and as full as the early ripe Corn and this they call Flint -Corn , the other has a larger Grain, and looks Ihrivell’d with a Denton the Back of the Grain, as if it had never come to Perfection i and this they call She -Corn. This is efteem’d by the Planters, as the belt tor Ir.creafe, and is univerfally chofen by them for planting •, yet 1 can’t fee, but that this alfo produces the Flint-Corn, accidentally among the other. All thefe Sorts are planted alike, in Lows, Three, Four or Five Grains in a Hill, the larger Sort at Four or Five Foot Diflance, the leffer Sort nearer. The Indians ufed to give it One or 'I vyo Weedings, and make a Hill about it, and fo the Labour was done. They likewife plant a bean in the fame Hill with the Corn, upon whofe Stalk it & Th vlldians fow’d Peasfometimes in the Intervals of the Rows of Corn, but more generally in a Patch of Ground by themfelves. They have an unknown Variety of them, (but all of a Kidney-Shape) fome. -*w . . 30 ' The HISTORY and of Which I have met with wild ; but whence they had their Indian Corn, I can give no Account } for I don’t believe'that it was fpontaneous in thofe Parts. Their Potatoes are either red or white, about as long as aBoy’s Leg, and fometimes as long and big as both the Leg and Thigh of a young Child, and very much refembling it in Shape. I take thefe Kinds to be the fame with thofe, which are reprefented in the Herbals, to be Spanijh Potatoes. I am fure, thofe call’d Enclijh or Irijh Potatoes are nothing like thefe, ei¬ ther in Shape, Colour, or Tafte. The Way of pro¬ pagating Potatoes there, is by cutting the final! ones to Pieces, and planting the Cuttings in Hills of loofe Earth : But they are fo tender, that it is very difficult to preferve them in the Winter } for the leaft Frofl coming at them, rots and deftroys them \ and therefore People bury ’em under Ground, near the Fire-Hearth, all the Winter, until the iTime comes, that their Seedings are to be fet. How the Indians order’d their Tobacco, I am not certain, they now depending chiefly upon the Englifa for what they fmoak: But lam inform’d, theyufed to let it all run to Seed, only fuccouring the Leaves, to keep the Sprouts from growing upon, and llar- ving them } and when it was ripe, they pull’d off the Leaves, cured them in the Sun, and laid them up for Ufe. But the Planters make a heavy Buttle with it now, and can’t pleafe the Market neither. 1 1 1 ■■ in i Hi '■ 'ir» n . - ■■■■ . f- , CHAP. V. Of the Fi{h» §, 2i. \ SforFiffi, both o£ Freffi $ud Salt-Wa- ter, of Shell-Fiffi, and others, no Country can boatt of more Variety, greater Plenty, or of better in their feveral Kinds. In Preient State of V irginia. 31 In the Spring of theYear,Herrings come up in fuch Abundance into their Brooks and Foards, to fpawn, that it is almoft impoffible to ride through, without treading on them. Thus do thofe 'poor Creatures !expofe their own Lives to fome Hazard, out of their Care to find a more convenient Reception for their Young, which are not yet alive. Thence it is, that at this Time of the Year, the Frelhes of ithe Rivers, like that of the Broadruck , ftinkof Filh. Befides thefe Herrings, there come up likewife in¬ to the Frelhes from the Sea, Multitudes of Shads, Rocks, Sturgeon, and fome few Lampreys, which fatten themfelvesto the Shad, as the Remora of lm- Mratus is faid to do to the Shark of Tiburone. They Continue theirftay there about Three Months. The Shads at their firft coming up, are fat and flelhy ; jbut they watte foextreamly in Milting and Spawn¬ ing, that at their going down they are poor, and feem fuller of Bones, only becaufe they have lets iFletti. It is upon this Account, (1 fuppofe) that thofe in the Severn , which in Gloucejler they call Twain, are faid at firft to want thofe intermufculary Bones, which afterwards they abound with. As thefe are 1 in the Frelhes, fo the Salts afford at; certain Times of the Year, many other Kinds of Filh in infinite Shoals, fuch as the Old-Wife, a Filh not much unlike an Herring, and the Sheep’s-Head, a Sort ot Filh, which they efteem in the Number ot their ! belt. §. 22. There is likewife great Plenty of other Filh all the Summer long •, and almoft: in every Part of the Riversiand Brooks,there are found of different Kinds Wherefore I fhall not pretend to give a Detail of them j but venture to mention the Names only ot fuch as I have eaten and feen my felf, and fo leave the reft to thofe, that are better skill’d in Natural Hiftory. However, I may add, that befides all thofe ( 32 The HISTORY and that I have met with my felf, I have, heard of a great many very good forts, both in the Salts and Frelhes , and fuch People too, as have not always fpent their Time in that Country have commended them to me* beyond any they had ever eat before. Thofe which I know of my felf, I remember by the Names, Of Herrings, Rocks, Sturgeons, Shads, Old-Wives, Sheep’s-Heads, Black and red Drums, Trouts, Taylors, Green-Fifh, Sun-Filh, Bafs, Chub, Place, Flounders, Whitings, Fatbacks, Maids, Wives, Small-Turtle, Crabs , Oifters, Muflels , Cockles, Shrimps, Needle-Fifh, Breme, Carp, Pike, Jack, Mullets, Eels, Conger-Eels, Perch, and Cats, &c. Thofe which I remember to have feen there, of the Kinds that are not eaten, are the Whale, Por-* pus, Shark, Dog-Fifh, Garr, Stingray, Thornback, Saw-Filh, Toad-Fiih, Frog-Fifh, Land-Crabs, Fid- lers, and Perivvinckles. One Day as I was hailing a Sain upon the Salts, I caught a fmali Fifh, about Two Inches and an Half long, in Shape fomething refembling a Scorpion, but of a Dirty dark Colour; I was a little fhie of handling it, tho’, I believe, there was no Hurt in it. This I judged to be that Fifh, which Mr. Parcnafe in his Pilgrims , and Capt* Smith in his General Hiftory, Pag. 28, affirm to be extreamly like St. Georges Dragon, except only that it wants Feet and Wings, §.23. Before the Arrival of the Englijh there, the Indians had Fiffi in fuch vaft Plenty, that the Boys and Girls wou’d take a pointed Stick, and flrike the leffier fort, as they Swam upon the Flats. The larger Fiffi, that kept in deeper Water, they *vere put to a little more Difficulty to take *, But for thefe they made Weyrs \ that is, a Hedge of fmali riv’d Sticks, or Reeds, of the Thicknefs of a Man’s Finger, thefe they wove together in a Row, with Straps of Green Prefent State of V i r g i n i a, 33 'een Oak, or other tough Wood, fo clofe that 2 fmall Fifh cou’d not pafs through. Upon High- rater Mark, they pitched one End of this Hedge, d the other they extended into the River, to the bpth of Eight or Ten Foot, fattening it with akes, making Cods out from the Hedge on ie tide, almott at the End, and leaving a Gap jrthe Fifh to go into them, which were contri- |d fo, that the Fifh could eafily find their Paffage to thofe Cods, when they were at the Gap, but not fc their Way out again, when they w>ere in : Thus they offered to pafs through, they were taken. jSometimes they made fuch a Hedge as this, quite brofs a Creek at High-Water, and at Low woo’d • into the Run, fo contracted into a narrow Com- fs, and take out what Fifh they pleafed. At the Falls of the Rivers, where the Water is allow, and the Current ftrong, the Indians ufe other kind of Weir, thus made : they make a of loofe Stone, whereof there is plenty at hand, "ite a-crofs the River, leaving One, T wo, or more pees or T tunnels, for the Water to pafs thro’ ^ at |e Mouth of which they fet a Pot of Reeds, wove in rm of a Cone, whole Bafe is about 1 hree Foot, d perpendicular Ten, into which the Swiftnefs • the Current carries the Fifh, and wedges them fo f, that they cannot pofTibly return. The Indian Way of Catching Sturgeon, when they me into the narrow part of the Rivers, was by a afl’sclapping a Noofe over their Tail, and by keep- g faft his hold. T hus a Fifh finding it felf intangled, Du’d flounce, and often pull him under \\ ater, and en that Man was counted a Cockaroufe , or brave How, that wou’dnot let go- till with Swimmings rading, and Diving, he had tired the Sturgeon, d brought it alhore. Thefe Sturgeons would alio jten leap into their Canoes, in crofting the River, as dny of them do Rill every \ear, into the Boats of e Evgiijh* C e They The HISTORY and They have alfo another Way of Fifliing lil thofe on the Euxine Sea, by the Help of a bl zing Fire by Night. They make a Hearth inti Middle of their Canoe, raiflng it within Two Ii ches of the Edge \ upon this they lay their burnin Light-Wood, fplit into fmall Shivers, each Splints whereof will blaze and burn End for End, like a Cai die : ?Tis one Man’s Work to tend this Fire and kee it flaming. At each End of the Canoe Hands an b dian, with a Gig, or pointed Spear, fettingtheO noe forward with the Butt-end of the Spear, < gently as he can, by that Means Healing upon tt Fifh, without any Noife, or diHurbing of the W2 ter. Then they with great Dexterity, dart thel Spears into the Fifh, and fo take ’em. Now there a double Convenience in the Blaze of this Fire *, fc it not only dazzles theEyesof the Fifh, which wi lie Hill, glaring upon it, but like wife difco vers tl Bottom of the River clearly to the Fifher-maj which the Day-light does not. The following Print, (as all the others in th Book,) was drawn by the Life, and I may juHlya firm it, to be a very true Reprefentationof the Ind dian Fifhery. Tab. /. Reprefents the Indians in a Canoe wit a Fire in the Middle , tended by a Boy and a Gir In fine End is a Net made of Silk Grafs , which thi ufe in Fifhing their Weirs . Above is the Shape of the Weirs , and the Manner of fettinq- a Weir-Wedqe _ t erofs the Month of a Creek. Note, That in Fifhing their Weirs, they lay the Side 1 the Canoe to the Cods of the Weir , for the more convert ent coming at them , and not with the End going ini the Cods , as is fet down in the Print : Bat we could not c therwife represent it here , left we fhould have confounde , the Shape of the Weir , with the Canoe. In the Air you fee a Fifhing-' Hawk flying away with Fijb, and a Bald-Eagle pur flings to take it from him } th Bah Prefent State of Virginia. 35 'ald-Eaole has always his Head and Tail white, and they _ zrry fuch a Luflre with them , that the white thereof tay be difeertfd as far as you can fee the Shape of the Yird. 6 24. ’Tis a good Diverfion to obferve the Man- sr of the Filhing-Hawks preying upon Filh, which lay be feen every fair Day all the Summer long, and [pecially in a Morning. At the hi it coming of the ilh in the Spring, thefe Birds of Prey are furprizing- ■j eager. I believe, in the Dead of W inter, they Filh irtheroffat Sea, or remain among the craggy unin- abited Iflands, upon the Sea Coafc. I have often been ileafantly entertain’d, by feeing thefe Hawks take he Filh out of the Water, and as they were flying way with their Quarry, the bald Eagles take it rom them again. 1 have often obferv d the nilt or hefe hover over the Water, and reft upon the Wing, fome Minutes together, without the lealt ;hanse of Place, and then from a vaft Height, lart directly into the Water, and there plunge lownfor theSpace of Half a Minute, or more, and. it laft bring up with him a Filh, which he could hardly rife with •, then, having got upon the Wing igain, he wou'd lhake himfelf fo powerfully, that he threw the Water like a Mift about him } afterwards away he’d fly to the Woods with his Game, it he were not overlook’d by the Bald-Eagle, and robb 4 by the Way, which very frequently happens. For the Bald-Eagle no fooner perceives a Hawk that has taken his Prey, but he immediately purfues, ana ftrivestoget above him in the Air, which if lie can once attain, the Hawk for fear of being torn by him, lets the Filh drop, and fo by the Lofs of his Dinnci , compounds for his own Safety. The poor Fifi>lsnQ foorxer loofed from the HawkVl alions^but the Eag e {boots himfelf, with wonderful Swiftnefs, attests aad catches it in the Air, leaving all tin t.»et l m ni . c m (BSP c. . , - / ^ The HISTORY and of the Hawk, which has no other Remedy, but to go and fiifh for another. Walking once with a Gentleman in an Orchard by the River-lide, early in the Spring, before the Fifh were by us perceiv’d to appear in Shoal-Water, or near the Shores, and before any had been caught by the People we heard a great Noife in the Air juft over our Heads, and looking up, we fee an Eagle in clofe purfuit of a Hawk, that had a great Fifh in his Pounces. The Hawk was aslow as the Apple- Trees, before he wou’d let go his Fifh, thinking to recover the Wood, which was juft by, where the Eagles dare never follow, for fear of bruifing them- feives. But, notwithllanding the Fifh was dropp’d fo low, and tho’ it did not fall above Thirty Yards from us, yet we with our Hollowing, Running, and calling up our Hats, could hardly lave the Fifh from the Eagle, and if it had been dropp’d Two Yards higher, he wou’d have got it: But we at lafl took Pofleflion of it alive, carried it Home, and had it d refled forthwith. It ferv’d Five of us very plentifully, without any other Addition, and iome to the Servants. This Filhwas a Rock near Two Foot long, very fat, and a great Rarity for the Time of Year, as well as for the Manner of its being taken. Thefe Fifliing-Hawks, in more plentiful Seafons, will catch a Fifh, and loiter about with it in the Air, on purpofe to have a Chace with an Eagle ; and when he does not appear foon enough, the Hawk will make a fawcy Noife, and infolently defie him. This has been frequently feen, by Perfons who have obfei v’d their Fifhings. CHAR Prefent State of Virginia. 37 'CHAP. VI. 1 Of wild Fowl, and hunted Game. §. 25. A Sin Summer, the Rivers and Creeks are fill’d with Filh, fo in Winter they are in many Places cover’d with Fowl. There are fuch a Multitude of Swans, Geefe, Brants, Sheldrakes, Ducks of feveral Sorts, Mallard, T eal, Blewings, and many other Kinds of Water-Fowl, that the Plenty of them is incredible. I am but a fmall Sports- man, yet with a Fowling-Peice, have kill’d above T wenty of them at a Shot. In like manner are the Mill- Ponds, and great Runs in the Woods fiord with thefe Wild- Fowl, at certain Seafons of the Year. t .. • •. 1 §. 26. The Shores, Marfhy Grounds, Swamps, and Savanna’s, are alfoftor’d with the like Plenty of other Game, of all Sorts, as Cranes, Curlews, He¬ rons, Snipes, Woodcocks, Saurers, Ox-eyes, Plover, Larks, and many other good Birds for the 1 able that they have not yet found a Name for. Not to mention Beavers, Otters, Musk- Rats, Minxes, and an infinite Number of other wild Creatures. §. 27. Altho’ the Inner Lands want thefe Benefits, (which, however, no Pond or Slafh is without,) yet j even they, have the Advantage ot Wild 1 urkeys, of an incridible Bignefs, Pheafants, Partridges, Pigeons, and an Infinity of fmall Birds, as well as Deer, : Hairs, Foxes, Raccoons, Squirrels, Pofiums. And upon the Frontier Plantations, they meet with Fears, Panthers, Wild-Cats, Elks, Buffaloes, and Wild Hogs, which yield Pleafure, as well as Profit to the Sports- man. And tho’ forne of thele Names may • foor 1! \ 38 The HISTORY and feem frightful to the Englifa who hear not of them in their own Country \ yet they are not fo there \ for all thefe Creatures ever fly from the Face of Man, doing no Damage but to the Cattle and Hogs, which the Indians , never troubled themfelves about. Here 1 can't omit a Arrange Rarity in the Female Toffum , which I my felf have feen. They have a falfe Belly, or loofe Skin quite over the Belly ^ this never fticks to the Flefh of the Belly, but may be look’d into at all Times, after they have been con¬ cern’d in Procreation. In the Hinder-part of this, is an Overture big enough for a fmall Hand to pafs into : Hither the young Ones, after they are full hair’d, and ftrong enough to run about, do fly when ever any Danger appears, or when they go to reft, or fuck. This they continue till they have learn’d to live with¬ out the Dam: But, what is yet ftranger, the young Ones are bred in this falfe Belly, without ever being within the true One. They are form’d at the Teat, and there they grow for feveral Weeks together into perfed Shape, becoming vilibly larger, till at laft they get Strength, Sight, and Hair *, and then they drop off, and reft in this falfe Belly, going in and out at Pleafure. I have obferved them thus faften’d at the Teat, from the Bignefs of a Flie, until they became as large as aMoufe. Neither is it any Hurt to the old One to open this Budget, and look in upon her Young. §. 28. The Indians had no other Way of taking their Water or Land-Fowl, but by the Help of Bows, and Arrows : Yet, fo great was their Plenty that with this Weapon only, they kill’d what Num¬ bers they pleafed. And when the Water-Fowl kept far from Shore, fas in warmer Weather they fome- times didj they took their Canoes, and paddl’d after them. Prefent State of Virgini a. 39 But they had a better Way of killing the Elks, Buffaloes, Deer, and greater Game, by a Method which we call Fire-Hunting : That is, a Company of them wou’d go together back into the Woods, a- nv time in the Winter, when the Leaves were fal¬ len and fo dry, that they wou’d burn •, and being come to the Place defign’d, they wou’d Fire the Woods, in a Circle of Five or Six Miles Compals j and when they had compleated the firft Round, they retreated inward, each at his due Diftance, and put Fire to the Leaves and Grafs afrefh, toacceleiate the Work, which ought to be finifhed with the Day. This they repeat, till the Circle be fo contracted, that they can fee their Game herded all together in the Middle, panting and almoft ftifled with Pleat and Smoak -, for the poor Creatures being frighten d at the Flame, keep running continually round, think¬ ing to run from it, and dare not pafs through the Fire t by which Means they are brought at la t into a very narrow Compafs. Then the Indians let flie their Arrows at them, and (which is very ftrange) tho’ they ftand all round quite clouded in Smoak, yet they rarely fhoot each other. By this means they deftroy all the Beafts, colleded within _ that Circle. They make all this Slaughter only for theftkeof the Skins leaving the Carcafes to penlh in the Woods. Father Z°bUft, in his Defcription of the Empe¬ ror of China’s Voyage into the Eafternr^t^ Ann 16S2 gives an Account of a Way of Hunting tt Tartar i have, not much unlike this, only whereas the Indians furround their Game w ith Fn e, the Ta tars do it with a great Body of a™ed Men who ha. ving environ’d the Ground they defig to di ive, march equally inwards,whicli, foil as; the Ring e ens, brings the Men nearer each other, till at length t - wild Beafts are incompaifed with aliving Wall. - The Indians have many pretty Inventions, to dif- cover and come up to the Deer, Iur'ejsai il i I m n > r 40 The HISTORY and Game undifcernd ^ but that being an Art, known to very tew Englijh there, I will not be fo acceila- ry to the Ueftrudion of their Game, as to make it publick. I fhall therefore only tell you, that when they go a Hunting into the Out-lands, they com¬ monly go out for the whole Seafon, with their Wives and Family. At the Place where they find the moft Game, they build up a convenient Number of fmall Cabbins, wherein they live during that Seafon. Thefe Cabbins are both begun, and finifhed in Two or 1 hree Days, and after the Seafon is over, they make no further Account of them. §. 29. This and a great deal more was the natural Produdionof that Country, which the Native Indi¬ an* enjoy’d, without the Curfe of Induftry, their Di« verfion alone, and not their Labour, fuppiying their Neceffities. 1 he Women and Children indeed, were fo far provident, as to lay up fome of the Nuts, and Fruits of the Earth, in their Seafon, for their fur¬ ther Occasions : But none of the Toils of Husban¬ dry were exercifed by this happy People j except the bare planting a little Corn, and Melons, which took up only a few Days in the Summer, the reft be¬ ing wholly fpent in the Purfuit of their Pleafures. And indeed all that the Englijh have done, fince their going thither, has been only to make fome of thefe Native Pleafures more fcarce, by an inordinate and unfealonable life of them \ hardly making Improve¬ ments equivalent to that Damage. I fhall in the next Book give an Account of the Indians themfelves, their Religion, Laws, and Cu- ftoms j that fo, both the Country, and its primitive Inhabitants may be confider'd together, in that ori¬ ginal State of Nature, in which the Englijh found them. Afterwards 1 will treat of the prefent State of th e Englijh there, and the Alterations, I can’t call them Improvements, they have made at this Day. The Lnd of the Second Book, r Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 33 Green Oak, or other tough Wood, fo clofe that the fmall Fifh cou’d not pafs through. Upon High- Water Mark, they pitched one End of this Hedge, and the other they extended into the River, to the Depth of Eight or Ten Foot, fattening it with Stakes, making Cods out from the Hedge on one fide, almoft at the End, and leaving a Gap for the Fifh to go into them, which were contri¬ ved fo, that the Fifh could eafily find their Paffage into thofe Cods, when they were at the Gap, but not fee their Way out again, when they were in : 1 hus if they offered to pafs through, they were taken. Sometimes they made fuch a Hedge as this, quite a-crofs a Creek at High-Water, and at Low wou d go into the Run, fo contracted into a narrow Com- pafs, and take out what Fifh they pleafed. V At the Falls of the Rivers, where the \A ater is fhallow, and the Current ftrong, the Ind.am ufe another kind of Weir, thus made : They make a Dam of loofe Stone, whereof there is plenty at hand, quite a-crofs the River, leaving One, T wo or more Spaces or Trunnels, for the Water to pais thio , at the Mouth of which they fet a Pot of Reeds, wove in Form of a Cone, whofe Bale is about 1 hree Foot, and perpendicular Ten, into which the Swiftuefs of the Current carries the Fifh, and wedges them fo faft, that they cannot poflihly return. The Indian Way of Catching Sturgeon, when they came into the narrow part of the Rivers, was my Man’s clapping a Noofe over their Tail, and by keep¬ ing faff his hold. Thus a Fifh finding it felt untangled, wou’d flounce, and often puil him under Watei au^ then that Man was counted a Cockareuje, oi brave Fellow, that wou’d not let go-, till with Swimming, Wading, and Diving, he had tired the Siurg„o , and brought it aihore. Theft St»^ons would aLo often leap into their Canoes, in croffing the Rivei , as many ofPthem do Gill every Yew, into the Bows of the Enj'Ip1- They 34 The HISTORY and They have alfo another Way. of Fifliing like' thofe on the Euxine Sea, by the Help of a bla¬ ming Fire by Night. They make a Hearth in the Middle of their Canoe, raifing it within Two In¬ ches of the Edge ; upon this they lay their burning Light- Wood, fplit into fmall Shivers, each Splinter whereof willblaze and burn End for End, like a Can¬ dle : ’Tis one Man’s Work to tend this Fire and keep it flaming. At each End of the Canoe Hands an In¬ dian, with a Gig, or pointed Spear, fettingtheCa- noe forward with the Butt-end of the Spear, as gently as he can, by that Means Healing upon the Fifh, without any Noife, or difturbing of the Wa¬ ter. Then they with great Dexterity, dart thefe Spears into the Fifh, and fo take ’em. Now there is a double Convenience in the Blaze of this Fire j for it not only dazzles the Eyes of the Fifh, which will lie Hill, glaring upon it, but likewifedifcovers the Bottom of the River clearly to the Fi(her-man which the Day-light does not. The following Print, (as all the others in this Book,) was drawn by the Life, and I may juftly af¬ firm it, to be a very true Reprefentationof the Indi- dian Fifhery. Tab. /. Represents the Indians in a Canoe with a Fire in the Middle , tended by a Boy and a Girh In one End ts a TJet made of Silk Crafty which they nfe in Fifhing their Weirs . Above is the Shape of their Weirs , and the Manner of fitting a Weir-Wedge^ a- crofs t he ATouth of a Creek. Note, That in Fifhing their Weirs , they lay the Side of the Canoe to the Cods of the Weir , for the more conveni¬ ent coming at them , and not with the End going into the Codsj as is fet down in the Print : Bat we could not o~ therwife reprefent it here , left we jhould have confounded the Shape of the Weir , with the Canoe. In the Air you fee a Fibbing- Hawk flying away with a Fijh} and a Bald-Eagle pnrfaing^ tQtakeitfromhiWythc ' ■ Bald- • v:" v ■ - ' Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 55 B aid- Eagle has always his Head and Tail white , and they carry fuch a Luftre with them , that the white thereof may be difcerrfd as far as you can fee the Shape of the Bird. §. 24. ’Tis a good Diverfion to obferve the Man¬ ner of the Fifhing-Hawks preying upon Fifh, which may be fesn every fair Day all the Summer long, and efpeciallyina Morning. At the firft coming of the Filh in the Spring, thefe Birds of Prey are furprizingr ly eager. I believe, in the Dead of Winter, they Filh farther off at Sea, or remain among the craggy unin¬ habited Iflands, upon the Sea Coaft. I have often been pleafantly entertain’d, by feeing thefe Hawks take the Filh out of the Water, and as they were flying away with their Quarry, the bald Eagles take it from them again. 1 have often obferv’d the firft of thefe hover over the Water, and reft upon the Wing, fomc Minutes together, without the leaft change of Place, and then from a vaft Height, dart dire&ly into the Water, and there plunge down for the Space of Half a Minute, or more, and at laft bring up with him a Fifh, which he could hardly rife with then, having got upon the Wing again, he wou?d lhake himfelf fo powerfully, that he threw the Water like a Mift about him } afterwards away he’d fly to the Woods with his Game, if he were not overlooks by the Bald-Eagle, and robb’d by the Way, which very frequently happens. For the Bald-Eagle no fooner perceives a Hawk that has taken his Prey, but he immediately purfues, and ftrives to get above him in the Air, which if he can once attain, the Hawk for fear of being torn by him, lets the Fifh drop, and fo by the Lofs of his Dinner, compounds for his own Safety. The poor Fifh is no fooner loofed from the Hawk’sTailons,but the Eagle fhoots himfelf, with wonderful Swiftnefs, after it and catches it in the Air, leaving all further Pmfuit Ce 2 Gi • ••• • l». • The HISTORY and of the Hawk, which has no other Remedy, bat to go and fiiih for another. Walking once with a Gentleman in an Orchard by the River-lide, early in the Spring, before the Fifh were by us perceiv’d to appear in Shoal-Water, or near the Shores, and before any had been caught by the People *, we heard a great Noife in the Air juft over our Heads, and looking up, we fee an Eagle in clofe purfuit of a Hawk, that had a great Fifh in his Pounces. The Hawk was aslow as the Apple- Trees, before he wou’dlet go his Fifh, thinking to recover the Wood, which was juft by, where the Eagles dare never follow, for fear of bruifing them- felves. But, notwithftanding the Fifh was dropp’d fo low, and tho’ it did not fall above Thirty Yards from us, yet we with our Hollowing, Running, and calling up our Hats, could hardly fave the Fifh from the Eagle, and if it had been dropp’d Two Yards higher, he wou’d have got it : But we at la ft took PofleiTion of it alive, carried it Home, and had it drefted forthwith. It ferv’d Five of us very plentifully, without any other Addition, and fome to the Servants. This Fifh was a Rock near Two Foot long, very fat, and a great Rarity for the Time of Year, as well as for the Manner of its being taken. Thefe Fifhing-Hawks, in more plentiful Seafons, will catch a Fifh, and loiter about with it in the Air, on purpofe to have a Chace with an Eagle \ and when he does not appear foon enough, the Hawk will make a fawcy Noife, and infolently defie him. This has been frequently feen, by Perfons who have obferv’d their Fifhings. CHAP. Prefent State ^Virginia. 37 CHAP. VI. I Of wild Fowl , and hunted Game. 2<. A S in Summer, the Rivers and Creeks are fill’d with Fifh, fo in Winter they are j in many Places cover’d with Fowl. There at e luch a Multitude of Swans, Geefe, Brants, SheldraKes, Ducks of feveral Sorts, Mallard, Teal, Blewings, and many other Kinds of Water-Fowl, that the Plenty of them is incredible. I am but a fmall Sports- man, I yet with a Fowling-Peice, have kill’d above Twenty of them at a Shot. In like manner are the Mill- i Ponds, and great Runs in the Woods ftor d with thefe Wild- Fowl, at certain Seafons of the Year. §. 2 6. The Shores, Marfliy Grounds, Swamps, and Savanna’s, are alfo stor’d with the like Plenty ol other Game, of all Sorts, as Cranes, Cui lews, He¬ rons, Snipes, Woodcocks, Saurers, Ox-eyes, Plover, Larks, and many other good Birds for the Fable that they have not yet found a Name tor. Not to mention Beavers, Otters, Musk- Rats, Minxes, ^nd an infinite Number of other wild Creatures. §. 27. Altho’ the Inner Lands want thefe Benefits, (which, however, no Pond or Slafh is without,) yet even they, have the Advantage of Wild 1 urkeys, ot an incridible Bignefs, Pheafant^, Paitridges, Pigeons, and an Infinity of finall Birds, as well as Deer Hairs, Foxes, Raccoons, Squirrels, Pofiums. Ana upon the Frontier Plantations, ifiey meet with Bears Panthers, Wild-Cats, Elks, Buffaloes, and Wild Hogs which yield Pleafure, as well as Profit to the Sports-man. And thef fome of tbeie Names may ?8 The HISTORY and ieem frightful to the Englijh, who hear not of them in their own Country , yet they are not fo there i for all thefe Creatures ever fly from the Face of Man, doing no Damage but to the Cattle and Hogs, which the Indians, never troubled themfelves about. Here I can’t omit a ftrange Rarity in the Female Pofnm, which I my felf have feen. They have a falfe Belly, or loofe Skin quite over the Belly : this never fticks to the Flelh of the Belly, but may be look’d into at all Times, after they have been conr cern d in Procreation. In the Hinder-part of this, js an Overture big enough for a fmall Hand to pafs into : Hither the young Ones, after they are full hair’d, and ftrong enough to run about, do fly when ever any Danger appears, or when they go to reft, or fuck. Tins they continue til] they have learn’d to live with¬ out the Dam : But, what is yet ftranger, the young Ones are bred in this falfe Belly, without ever being within the true One. They are form’d at the Teat, and there they grow for feveral Weeks together into perfed Shape, becoming vifibly larges, till at lafl: they get Strength, Sight, and Hair * and then they drop off, and reft in this falfe Belly, going in and out at Pleafure. I have obferved them thus faiten’d at the Teat, from the Bignefs of a Flie, until they became as large as a Moufe. Neither is it any Hurt to the old One to open this Budget, and look in upon her Young. §. 28. The Indians had no other Way of taking their Water or Land-Fowl, but by the Help of Bows, and Arrows : Yet, fo great was their Plenty that with this Weapon only, they kill’d what Num- bei s they pleafed. And when the Water-Fowl kept fai from Shoie, fas in warmer Weather they fome- times didj they took their Canoes, and paddl’d after them. But Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 39 But they had a better Way of killing the Elks, Buffaloes, Deer, and greater Game, by a Method which we call Fire-Hunting : That is, a Company ! of them wou’d go together back into the Woods, a- ny time in the Winter, when the Leaves were fal¬ len, and fo dry, that they wou’d burn } and being | come to the Place defign’d, they wou’d Fire the Woods, in a Circle of Five or Six Miles Compafs ^ and when they had compleated the firlt Round, they I retreated inward* each at his due Diftance, and put Fire to the Leaves and Grafs afrelh, to accelerate I the Work, which ought to be finifhed with the Day. This they repeat, till the Circle be fo contra&ed, that they can fee their Game herded all together in the Middle, panting and almolt ftifled with Heat and Smoak } for the poor Creatures being frighten’d at ! the Flame, keep running continually round, think¬ ing to run from it, and dare not pafs through the Fire } by which Means they are brought at lait into a very narrow Compafs. Then the Indians let flie their Arrows at them, and (which is very llrange) tho’ they Hand all round quite clouded in Smoak, yet they rarely Ihoot each other. By this means they | ieltroy all the Bealls, colle&ed within that Circle, i They make all this Slaughter only for the fake of the I Skins, leaving the Carcafes to perifh in the Woods. Father Terbiaft^ in his Defcription of theEmpe- ror of Chinas Voyage into the Eaftern Anno 1682, gives an Account of a Way of Hunting the Tartars have, not much unlike this, only whereas the Indians furround their Game with Fire, the Tar~ ! tars do it with a great Body of armed Men, who ha** ving environ’d the Ground they defign to drive, I march equally in wards, which, (till as the Ring leffens, brings the Men nearer each other, till at length the I wild Bealls are incompafled with a living Wall. The Indians have many pretty Inventions, to dis¬ cover and come up to the Deer, Turkeys and other Game 4o The HISTORY and Game undifcern’d *, but that being an Art, known to very few English there, I will not be lo acceila- ry to the Deftru&ion of their Game, as to make it publick. I fhall therefore only tell you, that when they go a Hunting into the Out-lands, they com- monly go out for the whole Seafon, with their Wives and Family. At the Place where they find the moft Game, they build up a convenient Number of fmall Cabbins, wherein they live during that Seafon. Thefe Cabbins are both begun, and finifhed inTwo or Three Days, and after the Seafon is over, they make no further Account of them. t §. 29. This and a great deal more was the natural Production of that Country, which the Native Indi¬ ans enjoy’d, without the Curfe of Induftry, their Di- verfion alone, and not their Labour, fupplying their Neceffities. The Women and Children indeed, were fo far provident, as to lay up fome of the Nuts, and Fruits of the Earth, in their Seafon, for their fur¬ ther Occafions : But none of the Toils of Husban¬ dry were exercifed by this happy People } except the bare planting a little Corn, and Melons, which took up only a few Days in the Summer, the reft be- in0- wholly fpent in the Purfuit of their Pleafures. And indeed all that the Englifh have done, fince their going thither, has been only to make fome of thele Native Pleafures more fcarce, by an inordinate and unfeafonable life of them * hardly making improve¬ ments equivalent to that Damage. I (hall in the next Book give an Account of the Indians themfelves, their Religion, Laws, and Cu- ftoms * that fo, both the Country, and its primitive Inhabitants may be confider’d together, in that ori¬ ginal State of Nature, m which the EngUJh iound them. Afterwards 1 will treat of the prefent State of the Englijh there, and the Alterations, I can t call them improvements, they have made at this Day. The End of the Second Book . '■/ f ! \ '1 C . P THE : - 1 j. . j . .. -x f AND Prefent State i • 4 5 | . e . y - ■ O F Book III. <* i Of the Indians, their Religion, laws, and Cufloms , in War and Peace. CHAP. I. Of the Verfons of the Indians, and their Drefs . §• Indians are of the middlingand largeft ftature of the Englijh : They are ftraight and well proportion’d, _ _ having the cleaneft and molt exaft Limbs in the World : They are fo perfect in their ' A * * * out. m Tv it I l! ?: i The HISTORY and outward fame, that I never heard of one Angle Indian^ that was either dwarfiAi, crooked, bandy¬ legged, or otherwife mif-Aiapen. But if they have arty fuch praftice among them, as the Romans had, of expoAng fuch ChiLdren till they dyed, as were weak and mifihapen at their Birth, they are very fhy of confefling it, and I could never yet learn that they had. Their Colour, when they are grown up, is a Chefnut brown and tawny *, but much clearer in their Infancy. Their Skin comes afterwards to harden and grow blacker, by greafing and Sun¬ ning themfelves. They have generally coal black Hair, and very black Eyes, which are moft com¬ monly grac’d with that fort of Squint which many of the Jews are obferv’d to have. Their Women are generally Beautiful, poffeffihgan uncommon delicacy of Shape and Feattires, and wanting no Charm, but that of a fair Complexion. §. 2. The Men wear their Hair cut afrer feveral fanciful Fafhions, fometimes greas’d, and fome- times painted. The Great. Men, or better fort, preferve a long Lock behind for diftin£Hon. They pull their Beards up by the roots with a Mufcle- ftell ; and both Men and Women do the fame by the other parts of their Body for Cleanlinefs fake. The Women wear the Hair of the Head very long, either hanging at their Backs, or brought before in a Angle Lock, bound up with a Fillet of Peak, or Beads-, fometimes alfo they wear it neatly tyed up in a Knot behind. It is commonly greaied, and fhining black, but never painted. The People of Condition of both Sexes, wear a fort of Coronet on their Heads, from 4 to 6 inches broad, open at the top, and compofed of Peak, or Beads, or elfe of both interwoven together, and workti'nto Figures, made by a nice mixture of the Co- -v- * • „ y *fc \ v ; ■ .; -t j, *$■: ^ - - ,v . ■ ?;• ' */ • 1 » ; 'f -’■i ‘ ’/ * j‘‘ ■ 4 ' ' , i - .• . #T> (* - '4 .« > . ■ * ■ .o • •• . ■ *■>>; V >: ;&> . •■X safc, ■ ,;/ j au^ «T” ' •' >V ■ V '■ ' ' i- '.rvv r- "*> • j' ' i Vf‘ X- 1 9 ‘ t- 0 : -> . - * ; . A ■ I I I ] I E [ I I ■ i 1 1 r _ . . : ■ I- [ r V I* Prefent State of Virginia. 3 Colours, Sometimes they wear a Wreath of Dyed Furrs • as liltewife Bracelets on their Necks and Arms.’ The Common People go bare-headed, only llicking large lhining Featheis about their Heads, as their fancies lead them. $ 7 Their Cloathsare a large Mantle, carelefsly wrapped about their Bodies, and fometimes gitc dole in the middle with a Girdle. 1 he upper part of this Mantl e is drawn clofe upon the Shoul¬ ders, and the other hangs below their Knees. When, that’s thrown off, they have only for Mo- deft v fake a piece of Cloath, or a fmall Skin, tyed round their Wafte, which reaches down to the middle of the Thigh. The common fort rye only a String round their Middle, and pa fs a piece of CLoath or Skin round between their 1 highs, which they turn at each end over the String. Their Shoes, when they wear any, are made ot an entire piece of Buck-Skin ; except when they low a piece to the bottom , to thicken the Soal. They are fatten’d on with running Strings , the Skin being drawn togethei like a Purfe on the top of the Foot and tyed round the Ankle. The Indian name of this kind of Shoe ts But becaufe a Draught of thefe things will m- form thclleader moreat firft view, than a defcription in many words,! (hall prefe.lt him with the follow- ins Prints*, wherein he is to take notice, that the air of the Face, as well as the ornaments of the Body, are exa&ly reprelented, being all drawn by the Life. fab. a. Is an Indian man in his SummerDrefs. The upper part of bis Hair is cut Jhort, to flake ridee, which (lands up like the Comb of a Lock, he reftJs either .(horn off. , or knotted behind, his * A * * n, r 4 The H I STORY and Ear . On hit Head are fuck three leathers of the' Wild fur key, Pheafant , Hawk , or fuch like . ilr his Ear is hung a fine Shell with Fear l 7 Drops, At his Brea ft is a Tablet or fine Shelf fmooth aspoliftfd Marble , which fome times alfo has etched on it , a Star, Half Moon , Figure , according to the makers fancy. Upon his Week , rf/zi Wrifts , Strings of Beads , Roenoke. His Apron is made of a Deer skin , ga/hed round the edges, which hang like Tajfels or Fringe at the upper end of the Fringe is an edging of Peak , make it finer . His Quiver is of a thin Bark \ but fometimes they make it of the Skin of a Fox, or young Wolf, with the Head hanging to it, which hat a wild fort of Terror in it 5 <2zz ferv’d to hang down, even in old Women. They commonly go naked as far as the Navel downward, and upward to the middle of the Thigh, by which fine Limbs, and compleat Shape. Tab. 5. Is a couple of Young Women. o. - 0 . The Jirfi wearing a Coronet fNecklace ,and Brace¬ let of Peak * the feconl a wreath of Furs on her Head, and her flair is bound with a f illet of Peak and Beads. Between the two , is a W or/tan under a Tree, making a Basket of Si 1 kGrafs.i after their own manner . > r Tab 6. Is a Woman, and a £>oy running after her. One oj her Hands refts in her Necklace of Peak and the other holds a Gourd , in which they put Water , or other liquid , The Boy wears a Necklace of Runtecs , in his right hand is an Indian Rattle , and in his left a roafiing Ear of Corn . Round his Wafie is a [mail firing , and another brought crsfs thro his Crotch , and for decency a foft skin is fifin' 1 before. A * * * 4. C H .;Y-x’ 8 The H I S T O R Y and CHAP. II. Of the Marriage/ among jl the Indians, and management of their Children : §• r“gjSHE Indians have their folemnities of Mar- X riage, and efteem the Vows made at that time, as molt facred and inviolable. Notwith- ftanding they allow both the Man anff the Wife to part upon difagreement •, yet fo great is the di Re¬ putation of a Divorce, that Marry ci people, to avoid the Character of Inconftant and Ungenerous, very rarely let their Quarrels proceed to a Separa¬ tion. However, when it does fo happen, they reckon ail the ties of Matrimony diuolv’d, and each hath the liberty of marrying another. But In¬ fidelity is accounted the molt unpardonable of all Crimes in either of the Parties, as long astheCon- traft continues. In thefe Separations, the Children go, according to the affeftion of the Parent, with the one or the other *, for Children are not reckon’d a Charge among them, but rather Riches, according to the bleiling of the Old Teftament^ and if they happen to differ about dividing their Children, their me¬ thod is then, to part them equally, allowing the Man the firit choice. §• 7* Tho the young Indian Women are faid to proihtute their bodies for Wampom Peak, Runtees^ Beads, and other fuch like fineries •, yet I never ' could find any ground for the accufation, and be¬ lieve it only to be an unjuft fcandal upon them. This I know, that if ever they have a Child while they are iingle, it is fuch a difgrace to them, that they never after get Husbands. Befides, I muff do ’em * Prefent State of Virginia. 9 ’em the juftice to fay, I never heard of a Child any of them had before Marriage, and the Indians themfelves difown any fuch cuftom * tho they ac- : knowledge at the fame time, that the Maidens are entirely at their own difpofal, and may manage their perfons as they think fit. Indeed I believe this Story to be an afperfion call on thofe innocent Creatures, by reafon of the free¬ dom they take in Converfation, which uncharitable Cfiriftians interpret as Criminal, upon no other ground, than the guilt of their own Confidences. The Indian Damfels are full of fpirit, and from thence are always infpir’d with Mirth and good 1 Humour. They are extreamly given to laugh , which they do with a Grace not to be refitted. The exqefs of Life and Fire, which they never fail to ! have, makes them frolickfom, but without any real imputation to their Innocence. However, this \s ground enough for the Englifh , who are not very nice in diftingullhing betwixt guilr, and harmless I freedom, to think them Incontinent : Tho it be with as little juftice, as the jealous Spaniards condemn the liberty usd by the Women o {'France, \ which are much more chaft than their own Ladies, 1 which they keep under the ftri&eft confinement. §. 8. The manner of the Indians treating their young Children is very ttrange, for inftead of keeping them warm, at their firft entry into the World, and wrapping them up, with I don't know how many Cloaths, according to our fond cuftom *, the firft thing they do, is to dip the Child c-vTer Head and Ears in cold Water, and then to bind it naked to a convenient Board, having a hole fitly : .plac'd for evacuation ^ but they always put Cotton, Wool, Furr, or other foft thing, for the Body to reft eafy on, between the Child and the Board. In this pollute they keep it feveral months, till the Bones begin to harden, the Joy ms to knit, and the i o The HIST O T Y and Limbs to grow flrong ^ and then they let it loofe from the Board , fuffering it to crawl about, except when they are feeding, or playing with it. - While the Child is thus at the Board, they ei* ther lay it flat on its back, or fet it leaning on one end, or elfe hang it up by a firing Faften’d to the upper end of the Board for that purpofe. The Child and Board being all this while carry’d about together. As our Women undrefs their Children to clean them and fhift their Linnen, fo they do theirs to wafh and greafe them. The method the Women have of carrying their Children after they are fuffer’d to' crawl about, is very particular *, they carry them at their backs in Summer, taking one Leg of the Child under their Arm, and the Counter-Arm of the Child in their Hand over their Shoulder $ the other Leg hanging down, and the Child all the while holding fait with its other Hand ; but in Winter they carry them in the hollow of their Match-coat at their back, leav¬ ing nothing but the Childs Head out, as appears by the Figure. - j « CHAP. Ill, Of the Towns, Buildings and Fortifications of the Indians. j. Hp H E method of the Indian Settlements is JL altogether by Cohabitation, in Town, (hips, from fifty to five hundred Families in a Town, and each of thefe Towns is commonly a Kingdom. Sometimes one King has the command of feveral of thefe Towns, when they happen to be united in his Hands, by Decent or -Conqueff *, but in fuch cafes Prefent State of V i r g ini a. it cafes there is always a Viceregent appointed in the dependent Town/, who is at once Governour , Judge, Chan^ellour, and has the fame Power and Authority which the Kinghimfelf has in the Town trchere he refides. This Viceroy is oblig’d to pay phis Principal fome fmall Tribute, as anacknow* gledment of his fubmiflion, as likewife to follow him to his Wars, whenever he is requir’d. - . i ] §. io. The mariner the Indians have of building their Houfes, is very flight/ arid cheap \ when they would ereflt a Wigwang, , which is the Indian name for a Houfe, they flick Saplins into the ground by dne end, and bend the other at the top, fattening them together by firings made of fibrous Roots, the rind of Trees, or of the green Wood of the white ,0a k, which will rive into Thongs. The imalleft fort of thefe Cabbins are conical like a Bee-hive * but the larger are built in an oblong form, and both ,are cover'd with the Bark of Trees, which will rive off into great flakes. Their Windows are l ittle holes left open for the paffage of the Light, which in bad weather they flop with Shut¬ ters of the fame Bark, opening the Leeward Win¬ dows for Air and Light. Their Chimney, as a- inong the true Born Irifh , is a little hole in the top of the Houfe, to let out the Smoak, having no fort of Funnel, or any thing within, to confine the Smoke from ranging through the whole Roof of the Cabbins, if the vent will not let it out faft enough. The Fire is always made in the middle of the Cabbin. Their Door is a Pendent Mat, when they are near home-, but when they go abroad, they barricado it with great Logs of Wood fet a- gainft the Mar, which are fufficient to keep out Wild Beafts. There’s never more than one Room in a Houfe, except in feme Houfes of State, or Re- 12 The H I S T O R Y and. ligion, where the Partition is made only by Mats. and loofe Poles. 1 . ; v -W ■[ , _ j>v * 1 1. Their Houfesor Cabbins, as we call them, are by this ill method of Building, continu¬ ally Smoaky, when they have Fire in them • but to eafe that inconvenience, and to mdke the Srnoak lefs troublefome to their Eyes, they generally burn Pine, or Lightwood, (that is3 the fat knots of dead Pine) the Smoak of which does riot offend the J)yes, but fmuts the Skin exceedingly, and is per¬ haps another occafion of the darknefs of their Com¬ plexion* "> ' * s ■ j- * ' ■ ' ‘ ' * • » " ’ - - 4 / i r §. 12. Their Seats, like thofea in the Eaftern part of the World, are the ground itfelf * and as the People of Diftinflion amongft them ufed Carpets, lb cleanlinefs has taught the better fort of thefe, to fpread Match-coats and Mats, to fit on. They take up their Lodging in the fides of their Cabbins upon a Couch made of Board, Sticks, or Reeds, which are rais’d from the Ground upon Forks, and cover'd with Mats or Skins. Sometimes they lye upon a BearSkin, or other thick Pelt dreft wi th the Hair on, and laid upon the Ground near a Fire, covering themfelves with their Match-coats. In warm weather a fingle M*it is their only Bed, and another rolfd up, their Pillow. In their Tra , yels, a Grafs-plat under the covert of a fhady Tree, is all the lodgings they require, and is as pleafant and refrefhing to them, as a Down Bed and fine Holland. Sheets are to us. . §• i?- Their Fortifications confift only of a Pa- lifado, oi about ten or twelve foot high ^ and when they would make themfelves very fafe, they treble the Pale. They often encompafs their whole Town : But for the molt part ’ only their Prefent State of Virginia. i * their Kings Houfes, and as many others as they i judge fufficient to harbour all their People, when ‘an Enemy comes againft them. They never fail | to fecure within their Palifado, all their Religi¬ ous Reliques, and the Remains of their Princes. Within this Inclofure, they likewife take care to | have a fupply of Water, and to make a place for | a Fire, which they frequently dance round with great folcmnity. • * »■ t . t CHAP. IV. v . * ''V * cV ■ . . cV •• /' > v. Of their Looker) and Food. 1 4. ’•^T'Heir Cookery has nothing commenda- X blc in it, but that it is perform’d with little trouble. They have no other Sauce but a good Stomach, which they feldom want. They boil, broil, or toft all the Meat they eat, and it is very common with them to boil Fifh as well as Flelh with their Homony \ This is Indian Corn foaked, broken in a Mortar, husked, and then boil’d in Water over a gentle Fire, for ten or twelve houts, to the confidence of Furmity : The thin of this is, what my Lord Bacon calls Cream of Maize, and highly commends for an excellent fort of nutriment. They have two ways of Broyling, viz. one by laying rhe Meat itfelf upon the Coals, the other by laying it upon Sticks rais’d upon forks at feme diftance above the live Coals, which heats more gently, and drys up the Gravy •, . this they, and we alio from them, call Barbacueing. They skin and paunch all forts of Quadrupeds ^ they draw, and pluck their Fowl *, but their Fifli they drefs with their Scales on, without gutting * but i4 77>e HISTOR Y and but in eating they leave the bcales, Entrails and Bones to be thrown away. They never ferve up different forts or Victuals in one Diftu asRoaft and Boy FA, Eifli andFlefh* but always ferve them up in feve-ral Veffels. They bake their Bread either in Cakes before the Fire, or in Loaves on a warm Hearth, cover¬ ing the Loaf firft with Leaves, then with warm Aihes, and afterwards with Coals over all* Tab. 9. Reprefents the manner of their Roa fling and Barbacueing ,, with the form of their Baskets for common ufes , and carrying Fijh. 1 y. Their Food is Fifh and Flefli of all forts* and that which participates of both •* as the Beavor, a fmall kind of Turtle, or^ Tarapins ( asr we call them ) and feveral Species of Snakes. They like wile eat Grubs, the Nymph £ of Wafps, fome kinds of Scarab&i^ Cicada , &c, Thele laft are fuch as are lold in the Markets of Fefs^ and fuch as the Arabians , Lybians , Parthians and Ethiopi¬ ans commonly eat *, fo that thefe are not a new Pyet, tho a very (lender one 1 and we are in¬ form’d, that St John, was dyeted upon Locufts, and “Wild Honey. _ 14ir ,f . , They make excellent Broth, of the Head and limbi es of a Deer, which they put into the Pot all bloody. This feems to referable the jus nigrum of the Spartans , made with the Blood and Bowels of a Hare. They eat not the Brains with the Head, but drv and referve them to drels their Leather with. . i _ A , . They eat all forts of Peas, Beans, and other Puljfe, both parched and boiled. They make their Bread of the Indian C orn. Wild Oats* or the Seed of the Sunflower. But when they eat their Bread* thev eat it alone s and not with their Meat* • * - Prefer State of V i r g i n i a. 15 They have no Salt among them, but for feafon- ing, ufe the Allies of Hiccory, Stickweed, or fome otHer Wood or Plant, affording a Salt alh. They delight much to feed on Roafting.ears ; that is, the Indian Corn, gathered green and milky" before it is grown to its full bignefs, and roafted before the Fire, in the Ear. For the fake of this Dyet, which they love exceedingly, they are very ireful to procure all the feveral forts 'of Indian porn before mentioned, by which means they con¬ trive to prolong their Seafon. And indeed this is |a very fweet and pleafing Food. ! They have growing near their Towns, Peaches, Strawberries, Cufhawes, Melons, Pompions, Ma- cocks, &c. The Culhaws and Pompions they lay by, which will keep feveral months good after they are gather’d ; the Peaches they fave, by dry¬ ing them in the Sun ^ they have likewife feverai forts of the Thafeoli . ! In die Woods, they gather Chincapins, Chefnuts, Hiccories, and Walnuts. The. Kernels of the Hic- K>ries they beat in a Mortar with Water, and make a White Liquor like Milk, from whence they call ^ur Milk Hickory . Hazlenuts they will not med¬ dle with, tho they make a fhift with Acorns fome- dmes, and eat all the other Fruits mentioned 3efore, but they never eat any fort of Herbs or Leaves. # They make Food of another Fruit call’d Cutta * Vimmons, the Fruit of a kind of Arum, grovving in the Marfhes ; They are like Boy Ed Peas, or Capers to look on, but of an inhpid earthy taffe. Paptain Smith in his Hiftory of Virginia calls them Oc ought anamnk, and T head, de Bry in his jlfanflation, Sacquenummcner . I vOut of the Ground they digTrubbs, Earth-nuts, Wild' Onions, and a Tuberous Root they call Tuckakoe , which while crude i f a very hot and virulent 1 6 The HISTORY and virulent quality : but they can manage itfo as in cafe of necefhty, to make Bread of it, juft as the Eajt Indians and thofe of Egypt, are fata to do of Colo- cajjta. It grows like a Flagg in the miry Marfhes, having Roots of the magnitude andtafte of Irijh Potatoes, which are eafy to be dug up. 1 6. Theyaccuftom thcmfelves to no fet Meals, but eat night and day, when they have plenty of Provifions, or if they have got any thing that is a rarity. They are very patient of Hunger, when by any accident they happen to have nothing to eat * which they make more eafy to them by girding up > their Bellies, juft as the wild Arabs are faid to do,’ in their lcng marches ♦, by which means they arelefs fenfible of the impreffions of Hunger. §. 17. Among all this variety of Food, Nature hath not taught them the ufe of any other Drink than Watery which tho they have in cool and plea- fant Springs every where, yet they will not drink that, if they can get Pond Water, or fuch as has been warm’d by the Sun and Weather. Baron Lahontan tells of a fweet juice of Maple, which the Indians to the Northward gave him, mingl'd with Water •, but our Indians ufe no fuch Drink. For r their Strong drink, they are altogether beholding; to us, and are fo greedy of it, that moft of them will be drunk as often as they find an opportunity * notwithftanding which, it is a prevailing humour : among them, not to tafte any Strong drink at all, unlefs they can get enough to make them quite drunk, and then they go as folemnly about it, as if it were part of their Religion. - §. 1 8. Their falhion of fitting at Meals, is on a Mat fpread on the ground, -with their Legs lying out at length before them, and the Dim between their 1 ■fc 1 -i-t' a . . . ■: 5«g« . . .Vv- Prefent State 0/ V 1 r g i n i a. 1 7 their Legs, for which reafon, they feldom or never, fit more than two together at a Difh, who may with convenience mix their Legs together, and have the Difh ftand commodioufly to them both. As appears by the figure. The Spoons which they eat with, do generally hold half a pint* and they laugh ar the Englijb for ufing fmall ones, which they muftbe forc'd to carry fo often to their Mouths, that their Arms are in ! danger of being tir’d, before their Belly. |.' r f* r\ • * ■ ", *'-» • ' #>ft * • V- ' f * ' ‘ Tab. 10. Is a Man and his Wife at Dingier. No 1. Is their Pot boiling with Homony and Fijh in it. 2. Is a Bowl of Corn , which they gather up with their Fingers , to feed themfelves. 3. The Tomahawk, which he lays by at Dinner. 4. His Pocket johich is htfewifeflript off, ’ that he may be at full liberty. 5. A Fijh . i 1 both ready for dref- 6 . A heap of roafling Ears , 7. The Go urd of Water. 8. A Cockle Jhelf which they fometimes ufe in • flead of a Spoon . 9. The Mat they fit on . All other matters in this Figure , are underflood by the foregoing , and following Defer ipt ions . / B** * CHAP. i8 Z%e H I StT OKY and I U Of the Travellings Reception, and Entertain -i#* I T 1 • §'. i . t * > Concerning the Religion , and Worjhip of the Indians. S. 2Q. T Don’t pretend to have div’d into all the jl myfteries of the Indian Religion, nor have hadfuch opportunities of learning them, as Father Henepin and Baron Lahontan had, by living much imong the Indians in their Towns y and becauie ny rule is to fay nothing but the naked Truth, I ntend to be very brief upon this Head. In the Writings of thofe two Gentlemen, 1 can¬ not but obferve direCt contradictions, altho they tra- /ell’d the fame Country, and the accounts they pre- ;endtogive,are of the fame Indians. One makes ’em iave very refin’d notions of a Deity, and the other ' ft allow them fo much as the name of a God. For s\ \ ■i. • . • « -A- 1- • . • 2 8 The HISTORY and For which reafon, I think my felf oblig’d fincerely to deliver what I can warrant to be true upon cny own knowledge 5 it being neither my Intereft, nor any part of my Vanity to impofe upon the World. I have been at feveral of the Indian Towns, and converted with fome of the molt fenfible ot them in that Country-, but I cou’d learn little from them , it being reckon’d Sacriledge, to divulge the Principles of their Religion. However, the following Adventure difcover’d fomething of it- As I was ranging the Woods, with lome other friends, we fell upon their Quioccofan ( which is their Houfe of Religious Worlhip) at a time, when the whole Town were gathered together in another place, to confult about the bounds of the Land given them by the Englifh. Thus finding our felves Mailers of fo fair an opportunity, (becaufeweknew the Indians were en¬ gaged,) we refoived to make ufe of it, and to exa¬ mine their ^uicceafan, the infide of which, they never fuffer any Englifh Man to fee * and having removed about fourteen Loggs from the Door, with which it was barricade ’d, we went in, and at fiiit found nothing but naked Walls, and a Fireplace in the middle. This Houle was about eighteen foot wide, and thirty foot long, built after the manner of their other Cabbins, butlarger,withaHole in the middle of the Roof, to vent the Smoke, the Door being at one end : Round about the Houfe, at fome tnftance from ir, were fet up Polls, with Faces caived on them, and painted. We did not oblerve any Window, or pafiage for the Light, except the Door, ai^d the vent of the Chimney. At lalf, we oblcivd, that at the farther end, about ten foot of the Room, was cut off by a Partition of very clofe Mats ; and it was difmal dark behind that Partition. We were at firll fcrupiilous to enter this obfeure Prefent State of V IRGINIA, 19 obfcure place, but atlaftwe ventur'd, and groping ! about, we felt Tome Polls in the middle * then reach¬ ing our hands up thofe Polls, we found large I Shelves, and upon, thefe Shelves three Mats, each of which was roll’d up> and fow’d fall. Thefe we handed down to the light, and to fave time in un¬ lacing the Seams, we made ufe of a Knife, and ripp'd them, without doing any damage to the Mats. In one of thefe we found fome vafl: Bones, which we judg'd to be the Bones of Men, particu¬ larly we mealur’d one Thigh-bone, and tound it two foot nine inches long : In another Mat, we fcund fome Indian Tomahawks finely grav’d, and painted. Thefe refembl'd the wooden Faulchion us’d by the Prize-fighters in England , except that they have no guard to fave the Fingers. They were i made of a rough heavy Wood, and the lhape of them is reprefentedin the Tab. io. No 3. Among thefe Tomahawks was the largelt that ever I law ; there was fatten’d to it a Wild Turky’s Beard painted red, and two of the longelt feathers of his Wings hung dangling at it, by a firing of about 6 Inches long, ty'd to the end of the Tomahawk . ! In the third Mat there was fomething, which we i took to be their Idol, tho of an underling fort, and wanted putting together. The pieces were thefe, firft a Board three foot and a half long, with one indenture at the upper end, like a Fork, to fallen the Head upon, from thence halfway down, were Half hoops nail’d to the edges of the Board, at about four Inches diftance, which were bow’d out, to reprefent the Breaft and Belly * on the lower half was another Board of half the length of the other, fatten'd to it by Joynts or pieces of Wood, which being fet on each fide. Hood out about 14 inches from the Body, and half as high ^ wefupposd the ufe of thefe to be for the bowing out of the Knees, when the Image was fet up. There were packs _ _ 5o 7^ HIS TORY and packt up with thefe things, red and blue pieces of Cotton Cloath, and Rolls made up for Arms, Thighs and Legs, bent to at the Knees, as is reprefented in the Figure of their Idol, which was taken by an exa& Drawer in The Country. It wou’d be diffi¬ cult to fee one of thefe Images at this day, becaufe the Indians are extreme my of expofing them, We put the Cloaths upon the Hoops for the Body, and iaften’d on the Arms and Legs, to have a view of the reprefentation : But the Head and rich Bracelets, which itisufually adorn’d with, were not there, or atleaftwe did not find them. We had not leifure to make a very narrow fearch*, for having Ipent about an hour in. this enquiry, we fear’d the bufinefs of the Indians might be near over 5 and that if we ftaid longer, we might be caught offering an affront to their Superftition $ for this reafon we wrapt up thefe Holy materials in their feveral Mats again, and laid them on the Shelf, where we found them. This Image when drelt up , might look very venerable in that dark place ^ where Tis not poffible to fee it, but by the glimmering light, that is let in, by lifting up a piece of the Matting, which we obferv’d to be conveniently hung for that purpofe 5 for when the light of the Door and Chimney, glance in feveral direQions, upon the Image thro that little paflage, it muft needs make a ftrange reprefentation, which thofe poor people are taught to worfhip with a de¬ vout Ignorance. There are other things that contri¬ bute towards carrying on this 1m pollute *, firft the chief Conjurer enters within the Partition in the dark, and may undifcern’dmove thelmage as he pleafes : Secondly , a Prieft of Authority Hands in the room with the people, to keep them from being too inquifitive, under the penalty of the Deity’s dif* plea lure, and his own cenfure. Their t Ptefent State of V 1 r gin i a. 3 1 Their Idol bears a feveral name in every Nation, as Okce, Quioccos , K 'mafa . They do not look up*, on it, as one Tingle Being, but reckon there are; many of them of the fame nature *, they likewife be- lfeve, that there are tutelar Deities in every Town.* O ■. .4 Tab. it. Their Idol in his Tarbernacle. ' T he Dark edging fhews the Sides and Roof the Honfe , vobirb conjift of Saplins and Bark. The pie? Edging fhiws the Mats , by which they make, a, Pcrlitivn, of about ten foot, at the end of the Houfe , for the Idols abode. The Idol is Jet upon his Seat cf Mats , within his dark recefss above the peoples Heads , and the Curtain is drawn up before him . §. 30. Father Henepin in his Continuation, pag. ip. will not allow that the Indians have any belief ofa Deity, nor that they are capable of the Argu¬ ments, and Reafonings that are common to the reft of Mankind. He Briber fays, that they have not any outward -Cerembny to denote their Worfhip of a Deity, nor have any word to exprefs God by : That there’s no Sacrifice, Prieft, Temple, or any other token of Religion among them. Baron fa- hontan , on the other hand, makes them have fiich refin’d Notions, as feem almoft to confute his own belief ofChriftianity. The firft I cannot believe, tho written by the Pen of that Pious father * becaufe, to my own knowledge, all the Indians in thefe parts, are a Su- perftitious and Idolatrous peop] e $ and becaufe all other Authors, who have written of the American Indians , are agarnft him. As to the other ac¬ count, of fthe juft thoughts the Indians have of Religion,! mufftarriblyintreat the Barons pndon, becaufe l am very fare, they have forne unworthy Conceptions of God- and another World. There¬ fore what that Gentleman tells thePdblick.con cer 1 % The HISTORY and ing them, is rather to (how his own Opinions, than thofe of the Indians. Once in my Travels, in very cold Weather, I met at an Englijh man’s Houfe with an Indian , of whom an extraordinary Chara&er had been given me, for his Ingenuity and Underftanding. When I fee he had no other Indian with him, I thought I might be the more free * and therefore I made much of him, fearing him clofe by a large Fire, and giving him plenty of ftrong Cyder, which I hop'd wou’d make him good Company, and open-hearted. After I found him well warm’d (for unlefs they be furprized fome way or other,they will not talk freely of their Religion) I asked him concerning their God, and what their Notions of Him were > He freely told me, they believ’d God was univerfally beneficent, that his Dwelling was in the Heavens above, and that the Influences of his Goodnefs reach’d to the Eatth beneath. That he was incomprehenfible in his Excellence, and enjoy’d all poffible Felicity : That his Duration was Eternal, his Perfeftion boundlefs, and that he poffefles everlafting Indolence and Eafe. I told him, I had heard that they Worfhipped the Devil, and asked why they did not rather Worfhip God, whom they had fo high an opinion of, and who wou’d give them all good things, and pro¬ tect them from any Mifchief that the Devil could do them > To this his anfwer was, That,’tis true, God is the giver of all good things, but they flow naturally and promifcuoufly from him * that they are fhowr’d down upon all Men indifferently with¬ out diftin&ion •, that God do’s not trouble himfeif, with the impertinent affairs of Men, nor is con¬ cern’d at what they do : but leaves them to make the moft of their Free Will, and to fecure as many as they can, of the good things that flow from nim. That therefore it was to no, purpofe either to fear, Prefent State of Virgin i a. 33 or Worfhip him : But on the contrary, if they did | not pacify the Evil Spirit, and make him propiti¬ ous, he wou’d take away, or fpoil all thole good | things that God had given, and ruine their Health, their Peace and their Plenty, by fending War, Plague and Famine among them 5 for. Paid he, this Evil Spirit, is always bufying himfelf with our affairs, and frequently vifiting us, being pre¬ fent in the Air, in the Thunder, and in the Storms. He told me farther. That he expefted Adoration and Sacrifice from them, on pain of his difplea- fure -, and that therefore they thought it conveni¬ ent to make their Court to him. I then asked him concerning the Image, which they Worfhip in their Quioccafan 5 and affur’d him, that it was a dead infenfible Log, equipt with a bundle of | Clouts, a meer helplefs thing made by Men, that could neither hear, fee, nor fpeak * and that fuch a , ftupid thing could no ways hurt, or help them. To I this he anfwer’d very unwillingly, and with much hefitation ; However, he at laft deliver’d himfelf in thefe broken and imperfe£t fentences 5 It is the Priejls— — they ??iake the people believe , and.- - Here he paus’d a little, and then repeated to me, that it ivaj the Priefls - and then gave me hopes that he wou’d have faid fomething more, I but a qualm croft his Confidence, and hinder’d him from making any farther Confefiion. G 31. The Priefts and Conjurers have a great fway in every Nation. Their words are looked upon as Oracles, and confequentiy are of great ! weight among the common people. They per¬ form their Adorations and Conjurations, in the i general Language before fpoken of, as the Ca- ! tholicks of all Nations do their M ifs in the La - tin. They teach, 'that the Souls of Men furvive their Bodies, and that thofe who have done well C * * * here, V ?4 ^HISTORY and here, enjoy moft tranfporting Pleafures in their Elizium hereafter ; that this Elizium is ftor’d with the higheft perfection of all their Earthly Pleafures * namely, with plenty of all forts of Game, for Hunting, Fifhing and Fowling ^ that it is bleft with the moft charming Women, which enjoy an eternal bloom, and have an Univerfai defire to pleafe. That it is deliver’d from excefles of Cold or Heat, and flourifhes with an everlafting Spring. But that, on the contrary, thofe who are wicked, and live fcandaloufly here, are condemn’d to a filthy flanking Lake after Death, that conti¬ nually burns with Flames, that never extinguifh * where they are perfecuted and tormented day and night, with Furies in the Shape of Old Women. They ufe many Divinations and Inchantments, and frequently offer Burnt Sacrifice to the Evil Spirit. The people annually prefent their firft Fruits of every Seafon and Kind, namely, of Birds, Beafts, Fifh, Fruits, Plants, Roots, and of all other things, which they eiteem either of Profit or Pleafure to themfelves. They repeat their Of¬ ferings, as frequently as they have great fucceffes in their Wars, or their Fifhing, Fowling or Hunt- ing. Captain Smith defcribes the particular manner of a Conjuration that was made about him, while he was a Prifoner amongft the Indians , at the Pa- inaunkic Town, in the firft fettlement of the Coun¬ try ; and after that, Ill tell you of another of a more modern date, which I had from a very good hand. Smiths words ate thefe. *• Early in the Morning a great Fire was made « in a long Houfe, and a Mat fpread on the one « fide and on the other : On the one they caus'd him cc to fit, and all the Guard went out of the Houfe * tc and prefently there came skipping in a great grim “ Fellow7, all painted over with Coal mingl’d with Prefeit State of V i r g i n i a. 35 “with Oyl, and many Snakes and Wealel Skins 144 ftufft with Mofs, and all their Tails ty’d toge- « ther, fo as they met in the Crown of his Head, ! « like’ a Toffii , and round about the Tcffil 'ccwasa Coronet of Feathers, the Skins Jiang- jK ing round about his Head, Back and Shoul- “ders, and in a manner covering his Face; j“ with ’a hellifh Voice, and a Rattle in his Hand, i“ whh moft ftrange geftures and poftures he began “ his Invocation, and environ'd the Fire with a Cir- “ cle of Meal which done, three more fuch like “ Devils came ruffling in with the like Antick 44 Tricks, painted half black, half red =, but all i 44 their Eyes were painted white, and feme great i « ftrokes, like Muftachoes along their Cheeks : “ Round about him thefe Fiends danced a pretty ! “ while ; and then came in three more as ugly as « the reft, with red Eyes and white ftrokes over “ their black Faces : At laft they all fat down right “ againft him, 3 of them on one hand of the Chief j 44 Prieft, and three on the other. Then all of them “ with their Rattles began a Song •, which ended, > the Chief Prieft laid down five Wheat Corns-, 44 then {training his Arms and Hands with fuch I 44 violence that he fweat, and his Veins fwelfd, « he began a fhort Oration : At the conclufion I 44 they all gave a fhort groan, and then laid down | 44 three grains more after that, began their Song 4< again, and then another Oration, ever laying I 44 down fo many Corns as before, till they nad 44 twice encircled the Fire: That done, they took ! 44 a bunch of little Sticks prepar'd for that pur-. ! “ pole, continuing (till their Devotion and at 44 the end of every Song and Oration they laid 44 down a Stick betwixt the divifions of Corn. 44 Till night neither he nor they did eat or drink, ! 44 and then they feafted merrily, with the beft pro- ! 44 yiftons they could make. Three days they tried The HISTORY and “ this Ceremony, the meaning whereof they told “ him, was to know, if he intended them well or “ no. The Circle of Meal fignified their Country, “ the Circles of Corn, the bounds of the Sea, and « the Sticks his Country. They imagined the World w to be flat and round like a Trencher, and they . “ in the midft. Thus far is Smith’s Story of Conjuration com cerning himfelf, but when he fays they encircled the Fire with Wheat, I am apt to believe, he means their Indian Corn •, which fome, contrary to thecuftome of the reft of Mankind, will ftill call by the name of Indian Wheat. The later Story of Conjuration is this. Some few years ago, there happen’d a very dry time, to¬ wards the heads of the Rivers, and efpecially on the upper parts of James River , where Collonel Byrd had feveral Quarters of Negroes. This Gentleman has for a long time been extreamly re- fpeQed, and fear’d by all the Indians round about, who, without knowing the Name of any Go* vernour, have ever been kept in order by Him. During this drowth, an Indian , well known to one of the Collonel’s Overfeers, came to him, and ask’d if his Tobacco was not like to be fpoyl’d > The Overfeer anfwer’d Yes, if they had not Rain very fuddenly : The Indian , who pretended great kindnefs for his Mafter, told the Overfeer, if he would promife to give him two Bottles of Rum, he would bring him Rain enough : The Overfeer did not believe any thingof the matter, not feeing at that time the leaft appearance of Rain, nor lo much as a Cloud in the Sky ; however, he promis’d to give him the Rum, when his Mafter came thither, if he wou’d be as good as his word : Upon this the Indian went immediately a Pauwamng, as they call it - and in about half an hour, there came up a black Cloud into the Sky, that fhower’d down Rain enough Prefent State ^Virginia. 37 enough upon this Gentlemans Corn and Tobacco, but none at all upon any of the Neighbours, except a few drops of the Skirt of the Shower . The Indian for that time went away, without returning to the Overfeer again, till he heard of his Mailers arrival at the Ez/Zr, and then he came to him, and de¬ manded the two Bottles of Rum. The Collonel at firft feem’d to know nothing of the matter, and ask’d the Indian , for what reafon he made that de¬ mand } (altho his Overfeer had been fo overjoy’d at what had happen’d, that he could not reft till he had taken a Horfe and rid near forty Miles to tell his Mailer theftory.) The Indian anfwer’d with fome concern, that he hop’d the Overfeer had let him know thefervice he had done him, by bringing a Shower of Rain to fave his Crop. At this the Collonel, not being apt to believe fuch Stories, fmil’d, and told him, he was a Cheat, and had feen the Cloud a coming, otherwife he could neither have . brought the Rain, nor fo much as foretold it. The Indian at this feeming much troubl’d, reply ’d, Why then had nor fuch a one, and fuch a one, (ha* ming the next Neighbours) Rain as well as your Overfeer, for they loft their Crops •, but I lov’d you, and therefore I fav’d yours > The Collonel made fport with him a little while, but in the end order’d him the two Bottles of Rum, letting him underftand however, that it was a free Gift, and not the cenfequence of any Bargain with his Overfeer. 32. The Indians have their Altars and places of Sacrifice. Some fay they now and then facrifice young Children : but they deny it, and adore us, that when they withdraw thefe Children, it is not to Sacrifice them, but to Confecrate them to The fervice of their God. Smith tells of one of thefe Sacrifices in his time, from the Teftimony of forr«e C * * * 3 people, 3 8 The HISTORY and people, who had been Eye-witneffes. His words are thefe. “ Fifteen of the propereft young Boys between cc ten and fifteen years of Age they painted white, ci having brought them forth, the people fpent K the Forenoon in Dancing and Singing about cc them with Rattles. In the Afternoon they put cc thefe Children to the Root of a Tree. By them cc all the Men flood in a Guard, every one having u a Bajtjnado in his Hand, made of Reeds bound c: together $ they made a Lane between them all Ci along, through which there were appointed five Young Men to fetch thefe Children : So every cc one of the five went through the Guard, to fetch cc a Child each after other by turns $ the Guard u fiercely beating them , with their Bciftinadoes , cc and they patiently enduring arid receiving all, de- £C fending the Children with their naked Bodies from the unmerciful blows, that pay them found- u ly, though the Children efcape. All this while, cc the Women weep and cry out very paflionately, cc providing Mats, Skins, Mofs, and dry Wood, cc as things fitting for their Childrens Funeral. Af~ ci ter the Children were thus paft the Guard, the ct Guards tore down the Tree, Branches and Bows cc with fuch violence, that they rent the Body, tc made Wreaths for their Heads, and bedeck'd cc their Flair with the Leaves. ct What elfe was done with the Children was “ not feen, but they were all call on a heap in a “ a Valley as dead, where they made a great Feaft ct for all the Company. c< The-Werowance being demanded the meaning of this Sacrifice, anfwefd, that the Children f: were not dead, but that the Okee or Devil did “ fuck the “Blood from the Left Breaft of thefe, 45 who chanc'd to be his by lot, till they were V dead, but the reft were kept in the Wildernefs " 1 ' ' ^ by Prefent State of Virginia. 55? 44 by the young men, till nine months were ex* a pited, during which time they mult not converfe “ with any ; and of thefe were made their Priefts and whoever ; refufes to undergo this Procefs, • dare not remain I among them. Several of thofe odd preparatory Fopperies are premis’d in the beginning, which have been before related •, but the principal part of the bufinefs is to carry them into the Woods, . and there keep them under confinement, and deftitute i of all Society, for feveral months *, giving them no other fuftenance, but the Infufion, or Decocfion C * * * 4 of l! 4o Tk HISTORY and of fome Poifonous Intoxicating Roots * by virtue of which Phyfick, and by the ieverity of the difci- pline, which they undergo , they become ftark flaring Mad : In which raving condition they are kept eighteen or twenty days. During thefe ex¬ tremities, they are fhut up, night and day, in a ftrong Inclofure made on purpofe «, one of which Ifaw, belonging to the P aumaunkie Indian r, in the year 1694. It was in fhape like a Sugar-loaf, and every way open like a Lattice, for the Air to pafs through, as in Tab. 4. Fig. 3. In this Cage thirteen young Men had been Huskanavd d, and had not been a month fet at liberty, when I faw it. Upon this occafion it is pretended, that thefe poor Creatures drink fo much of that Water of Lethe , that they perfectly lofe the remembrance of all former things, even of their Parents, their Treafure, and their Language. When the Doftors find that they have drank fufficiently of the Wyjoccart , ( fo they Vail this mad Potion) they gradually reftore them to their Sences again, by leffening the Intoxication of their Diet •, but before they are perfectly well, they bring them back into their Towns, while they are ill wild and crazy, through the Vio¬ lence of the Medicine. After this they are very fearful of difcovering any thing of their former re¬ membrance * for if inch a thing fhould happen to any of them, they mult immediately be Huska- n azad again *, and the fecond time the ufagc is fo fevere, that feldom any one efcapes with Life. Thus they mull pretend to have forgot the very ufe of their Tongues, fo as not to be able to fpeak, nor underftarid any thing that is fpoken, rill they learn it again- Now whether this be real or coun¬ terfeit, I don’t know*, but certain it is, that they will not for fome time take notice of any body, nor any thing, with which1 they were before ac¬ quainted/ being ftilL under the guard of their / V. ' *' - : Keep* Prefent State of Virginia. 4 1 Keepers, who conftantly wait upon them every¬ where, ’till they have learnt all things perfeaiy over again. Thus they unlive their former lives, and commence Men, by forgetting that they ever have been Boys. If under this Exercife any one (hould dye, I fuppofe the Story of Okee, menti¬ on’d by Smith , is the Salvo for it : For (fays he) Okee was to have fuch as were his by lot ; and fuch were faid to be Sacrificed. Now this Conjefture is the more probable, tie- caufe we know that Okee has not a (hare in every Hmkan awing -, for tho two young men happen’d to come fhort home, in that of the Yamaunkie In- i dians, which was perform’d in the year 1694, yet the Appamat tucks , formerly a great Nation, tho now an inconfiderable people, made an tiuskanaw in the year 1690, and brought home the fame num¬ ber they carried out. ! (■. 3 3. I can account no other way for the great i pains and fecrecy of the Keepers, during the whole procefs of this difeipline, but by alluring you, that it is the molt meritorious thing in the World to difeharge that truft well, in order to their prefer¬ ment to the greateft polls in the Nation, which they claim as their undoubted right, in the next promotion. On the other hand, they are fure of a fpeedy Pafsport into the other World, if they fhouldby their Levity or Negleft, (how themfelves in the leal! unfaithful. • Thofe which I ever obferv’d to have been Hus- kanawed , were lively handfome well timber d young men, from fifteen to twenty years of age or upward, and fuch as were generally reputed rich. I c'onfefs, I judged it at firft fight to be only an Invention of the Seniors, to engrols the young mens Riches to themfelves $ for, after fullering this operation, they never pretended to call to mind any i / 4l TkHlSTOTY and any thing of their former property : But their Goods were either fhared among the old men, or brought to fome publick ufe * and fo thofe Younkers were oblig'd to begin the World again. But the Indians deteft this opinion, and pre¬ tend that this violent method of taking away the Memory, is to releafe the Youth from all their Childifh impreffions, and from that ftrong Partia. lity to perfons and things, which is contrafted be¬ fore Reafon comes to take place. They hope by this proceeding, to root out all the prepofleffions and unreafonable prejudices which are fixt in the minds of Children. So that, when the Young men come to themfelves again, their Reafon may aft freely, without being byals’d by the Cheats of Cuftom and Education. ^Thus alfo they become difcharg’d from the remembrance of any tyes by Blood, and are eftablifht in a ftate of equality and perfect freedom, to order their actions, and dif- pofe of their perfons, as they think fit, without any other Controul, than that of the Law of Nature. By this means alfo they become Qualify ’d, when they have any Publick Office, equally and imparti¬ ally to adminifter Juftice, without having refpeO: cither to Friend or Relation. 34. The Indians offer Sacrifice almoft upon every new occafion ; as when they travel, or begin a long Journey, they burn Tobacco inftead ofln- cenfe, to the Sun, to bribe him to fend them fair Weather, and a profperous Voyage : When they crofs any great Water, or violent Frefh, or Torrent, they throw Tobacco, Puccoon, Peak, or. fome other valuable thing, that they Jjappen to have about them, ro intreat the Spirit prefiding there, to gram them a fife paffage. It is call’d a Frefh, when alter very great Rains, or (as we luppofe ) after a great Thaw of the Snow and Ice lying upon the Moun¬ tains PrefentState o/V irginia. 4? tains to the North Weft, the Water defcends, in iuch abundance into the Rivers, that they over¬ flow the Banks which bound their Streams at other times. Likewifewhen the Indians return from War, from Hunting, from great Journeys, . or the like, they offer fome proportion ol their Spoils, ot their chiefeft Tobacco, Furs and Paint, as alio the fat, and choice bits of their Game, §.35. I never could learn that they had any certain time or fet days for their Solemnities: but they have appointed Feafts that happen according to the feveral Seafons. They folemnize a day for the plentiful coming of their Wild Fowl, fuch as Geefe, Ducks, Teal, ©V. for the returns of their Hunting Seafons, and for the ripening of certain Fruits : but the greateft Annual Feaft they have, is at the time of their Corn-gathering , at which they revel feveral days together. To thefe they univerfally contribute, as they do to the gathering in the Corn. On this occafion they have their great- eft variety of Paftimes, and more efpecially of their War- Dances, and Heroick Songs ; in which they boaft, that their Corn being now ga¬ ther’d, they have ftore enough for their Women and Children -, and have nothing to do, but to go to War, Travel, and to feek out for New Adven¬ tures. §. 7,6. They make their Account by units, tens, hundreds, OV. as we do ; but they reckon the Years by the Winters, or Cohonks, as they call them; which is a name taken from the note of the W lid Geefe, intimating fo many_ times of the W ud Geele coming to them, which is every Winter. ^ iiiey diftinguifti the feveral parts of the Year, by rive Seafons, viz. The budding or bloiioming , oy tie • ’ 4 Spring * ■ j > 1 - $■ ■ - ■ .v 44 The HISTORY and Spring * the earing of the Corn, or roafting ear time ^ the Summer, or higheft Sun 5 the Corn- gathering, or fall of the Leaf * and the Winter, or Cobonks . They count the Months likewife by the Moons, tho not with any relation to fo many in a year, as we do : but they make them return again by the fame name, as the Moon of Stags, the Corn Moon, the firft and fecond Moon of Cohonks , Cfc. They have no diftinftion of the hours of the Day, but divide it only into three parts, the Rife, Powd¬ er, and lowering of the Sun. And they keep their account by knots on a firing, or notches on a Stick, not unlike the Peruvian ^ uippoes . §.57. In this Rate of Nature, one would think they fhould be as pure from Superfiition, and over¬ doing matters in Religion, as they are in 0- ther things : but I find it is quite the contrary • for this Simplicity gives the cunning Prieft a greater advantage over them , according to the Romifh Maxim, Ignorance is the Mother oj De¬ votion. For, no bigotted Pilgrim appears more zealous, or ftrains his Devotion more at the Shrine, than thefe believing Indians do, in fheir Idolatrous Adorations. Neither do the molt refin’d Catho- licks undergo their pennance with fo much fub- miffion as thefe poor Pagans do the fe verities, which their Priefts infiift upon them. They have likewife in other cafes many fond and idle Su perditions, as for the purpofe, by the falls of James River upon Collonel Byrd's Land, there lies a Rock which I have feen, about a mile from the River, wherein is fairly impreft feveral marks like the footftepsof a Gigantick Man, each Rep being about five foot afunder : Thefe they aver to be the track of their God. This is not unlike what the Fathers of the Ro- wiJJi Church tell us, that our Lord left the print of Prefent State of Virginia- 45 of his Feet on the Stonea whereon heftood while he talkt with St Veter -, which Stone was after¬ ward preferv'd as a very Sacred Relique, and af¬ ter feveral tranflations, was at laft fix’d in the Church of St Sebaflian the Martyr, where it is kept, and vifited with great expreffions of Devoti¬ on. So that the Indians , as well as thefe, are not without their pious frauds. §. 38. As this people have a great reverence for the Prieft, fo the Prieft very oddly endeavours to preferve their refpeft, by being as hideoully ugly as he can, efpecially when he appears in publick ^ for befides, that the cut of his Hair is peculiar to his Function, as in Tab. 4. Pag. 6. and the hang¬ ing of his Cloak, with the Fur reverft and falling down in flakes, looks horridly (hagged, he like- wife bedaubs himfelf in that frightful manner with Paint, that he terrifies the people into a veneration for him. The Conjurer is a Partner with the Prieft, not only in the Cheat, but in the advantages of it, and fometimes they officiate for one another. When this Artift is in the Aft of Conjuration, or of Van* wawing , as they term it, he always appears with an air of Hafte, or elfe in fome Convulfive pofture,that feems to ftrain all the faculties,like the 5y^/A,when they pretended to be under the Power of infpiration. At thefe times, he has a black Bird with expanded Wings fatten’d to his Ear, differing in nothing but colour, from Mahomet' s Pidgeon. He has no cloathing but a fmall skin before, and a Pocket at his Girdle, as in Tab. 4. Pag. 6. ^ ^ The Indians never go about any cohfkf table En¬ terprise, without firft confulting their Priefts and Conjurers ^ for the molt ingenious among!! them are brought up to thofe functions, and by that means become better inftrufted in their Hiftoms, than 4 6 The HISTORY and than the reft of the people. They likewife engrofs to themfelves all the knowledge of Nature, which is handed to them by Tradition from their Fore¬ fathers • by which means they are able to make a truer judgment of things, and confequently are more capable of advifing thofe that confult them upon all occafions. Thefe Reverend Gentlemen are not fo entirely given up to their Religious Au- fterities, but they fometimes take their pleafure (as well as the Laity) in Fifhing, Fowling and Hunt¬ ing. §. 39. The Indians have Pofts fix’d round their ghiioccafan^ which have Mens Faces carved upon them, and are painted. They are likewife fet up round fome of their other celebiated places, and make a Circle for them to dance about, on certain folemn occafions. They very often fet up Pyra- midical Stones, and Pillars, which they colour with Fuccoon , and other forts of Paint, and which they adorn with Feak, Roenoke , &c. To thefe they pay all outward figns of Worfhip and Devo¬ tion ; not as to God, but as they are Hierogly- phicks of the permanency and immutability of the .Deity 5 becaufe thefe, both for figure and fub- ftance, are, of all Sublunary Bodies, the leaft fub- je£t to decay or change ^ they alfo for the fatite tea- fon keep Baskets of Stones in their Cabbins. Upon this account too, they offer Sacrifice to Running Streams, which by the perpetuity of their Motion, typifie the Eternity of God. They ereU Altars where-ever they have any re- maskable occafion •, and becaufe their principal Devotion confilts in Sacrifice, they havea profound jefpeQ for thefe Altars. They have one particular Altar, to which, for fome myftical reafon, many of -their Nations pay an extraordinary Veneration * of this fort was the Cryftal Cube, mention’d Book Prefent State of V i r g i n i a. 47 II. Chap. 3. §.8. The Indians call this by the ! name of Fawcorance , from whence proceeds the great Reverence they have for a fmall Bird that I ufes the Woods, and in their note continually found that name. This Bird flys alone, and is only heard in the twilight. They fay this is the Soul of one of their Princes * and on that fcore, they wou’d not hurt it for the World. But there was once a profane Indian in the upper parts of James River, who, after abundance of fears and fcruples, was at laft brib'd to kill one of them with his Gun •, but the Indians fay he paid dear for hispre» fumption, for in few days after he was taken a* way, and never more heard of. When they travel by any of thefe Altars, they take great care to inftruft their Children and I Young people in the particular occafion and time of their ereftion , and recommend the refpeft I which they ought to have for them 5 fo that their ! careful obfervance of thefe Traditions, proves as good a Memorial of fuch Antiquities, as any Writ- ! ten Records ^ efpecially for fo long as the fame people continue to inhabit in, or near the fame I place. ! I can’t under ftand that their Women ever pre- ! tended to intermeddle with any Offices, that relate to the Priefthood, or Conjuration. §. 40, The Indians are Religious in preferving the Corpfes of their Kings and Rulers after Death, I which they order in the following manner. Firft, they neatly flay off the Skin as entire as they can, ! flitting it only in the Back ; then they pick all the I Flefh off from the Bones as clean as poiTible, leav¬ ing the Sinews faftned to the Bones, that they ; may preferve the Joynts together ^ then they dry ! the Bones a little in the Sun, and put them into the 48 The HISTORY and the Skin again, which in the mean time has been kept from drying or fhrinking 5 when the Bones are placed right in the Skin, they nicely fill up the vacuities, with a very fine white Sand. After this they few up the Skin again, and the Body looks as if the Flelh had not been removed. They take care to keep the Skin from fhrinking, by the help of a little Oyl or Greafe, which faves it alfo from Corruption. The Skin being thus prepar'd, they lay it in an Apartment for that purpofe, upon a large Shelf rais’d above the Floor. This Shelf is fpread with Mats, for the Corps to reft eafie on, and fkreen’d with the fame, to keep it from the Duft. The Flefh they lay upon Hurdles in the Sun to dry, and when it is throughly dryed, it is few- ed up in a Basket, and fet at the Feet of the Corps, to which it beiortgs. In this place alfo they fet up a Quioccos, or Idol, which they believe will be a Guard to the Corps. Here night and day one or other of the Priefts muft give his Attendance, to take care of the Dead Bodies. So great an Honor and Veneration have thefe ignorant and unpolifht people for their Princes , even after they are dead. The Mat is fuppos’d to be turn’d up in the Fi¬ gure, that the Infide may be viewed. Tab. 12. Represents the Burial of the Kings. Prefent State ©/Virginia. 49 CHAP. IX. Of the Difeafes , and Cures of the Indians; f 41. E Indians are nor fubjeft to many A Difeafes, and fuch as 11107 have, ge¬ nerally come from exceflive heats, and fudden Colds, which they as fuddenly get away by Sweating. But if the Humour happen to fix, and make a pain in any particular Joynt, or Limb, their general cure then is by burning, if it be in any part that will bear it *, their me¬ thod of doing this, is by little Sticks of Light- wood, the Coal of which will burn like a not Iron the (harp point of this they run into tjne Flefh, and having made a Sore, keep it running till the Humour be drawn oft : Or elle they take Punck, ( which is ;a fort of a foft Touch- wood, cut out of the knots of Oak or Kiccory Trees, but the Hiccory affords the btft, ) this they (hape like a Cone, ( as the Japonefes do their Moxa for the Gout) and apply the Ba¬ ils of it to the place afte&ed. Then they fee fire to it, letting it burn out upon the part, which makes a running Sore effectually. They ufe Smoaking frequently and Scarrifying, which, like the Mexicans , they perform with a Rattle-Snakes Tooth. They feldom cut deeper than the Epidermis , by which means they give paffage to thofe (harp waterifh Humours, that lye between the two Skins, and caufe Inflamations. Some¬ times they make ufe of Reeds for Caute- rizeing, which they heat over the Fire, till they are ready to flame, and then apply them upon a piece of thin wet Leather, to the place ag- D * * * griev d, V . V* 5o The HISTOR Y W griev’d, which, makes the Heat more pierce- Xli Their Priefts are always Phyficians , and by the method of their Education in the Priefthood, ure made very knowing in the hidden qualities of Plants, and other Natural things, which they count a part of their Religion to conceal from every body, but from thofe that are to fucceed them in their holy Funftion. They tell us, their God will be angry with them, if they fllould difco* ver that part of their knowledge * fo they fuffer only the Rattle Snake Root to be known, and fuch other Antidotes, asmuft be immediately apply Jd* becaufe their DoHors can’t be always at hand to remedy thofe fudden misfortunes, which generally happen in their Hunting or Travelling. They call their Phyfick W/f ocean, not from the name of any particular Root or Plant, but as it fignines Medicine in general. So tnat Heriot , De Bry, Smith , Purchafs and De Laet , feem all to be miftaken in the meaning of this word Wighfacan , which they make to be the name of a particular Root : And fo is P arkinfon in the word Woghfdcan> which he will have to be the name of a Plant. Nor do I think there is better authority for applying the word Wifank to the Plant Vintetoxicim lniianum Germanicum , or Win an k to the Saffafrafs Tree. The Phyfick of the Indians , confifts for the molt part, in the Roots and Barks of Trees, they very rarely ufing the Leaves either of Herbs or Trees $ what they give inwardly, they infufe in Water, and what they apply outwardly, they ftamp or bruife, adding Water to it, if it has not moi- ffure enough of it felf ; with the thin of this they bathe the part aflefled , then lay on the thick, after tfie manner of a Pultis, and common¬ ly drefs round, leaving the fore place bare. 5 1 Prefenc State of Virginia. l . • • §. 42. They take great delight in Sweating, and therefore in every Town they have a Sweat- I ing-Houfe, and a Do£tor is paid by the Publick to attend it. They commonly ufe this to refrefh themfelves , after they have been fatigu’d with | Hunting , Travel , or the like, or elfe when they are troubl’d with Agues, Aches, or Pains in their Limbs. Their method is thus, the Doctor takes three or four large Scones, which after ha- i ving heated red hot, he places ’em in the middle of ! the Stove, laying on them tome of the inner Bark of Oak beaten in a Mortar, to keep them 'from ! burning. This being done, they creep in fix or eight at a time, or as many as the place will hold, I and then cloto up the mouth of" the Stove, which 'is ufually made like an Oven, in tome Bank near the Water fide. In the mean while, the Doftor, to raile a Steam, after they have been ftewing a little while, pours cold Water on the | Stones, and now and then fprinkles the Men to ! keep them from fainting. After they have fweat j as long as they can well endure it, they faily out, and (tho it be in the depth of Winter ) forthwith plunge themfelves over Head and Ears in cold Wa¬ lter, which inftantly clofes up the Pores, and pre- j ferves them from taking cold. The heat being thus fuddenly driven from the extream parts to the I Heart, makes them a little feeble for the prefent, but their Spirits rally again, and they inftantly ! recover their Strength, and find their Joynts as | fupple and vigorous as if they never had traveled, ; or been indifpos’d. So that I may lay as Bellonius \ does in his Obfervations on the Turkijh Bagnios, i All the Crudities contracted in their Bodies, are I by this means evaporated and carry’d off. The Mufcovites and Finlanders are faid to ufe this ! way of Sweating alto, u It is almoft a Miracle, D * * * 2 fays 52 The HISTORY and “ favs Olearius , to fee how their Bodies, ac- “ cuftom'd to, and harden’d by Cold, can endure — ^ -r 1 1^ t. fnotf n “ fo intenfe a Heat, and how that when they are “ not able to endure it longer, they come out of _ « . 1 _ U /%vK R n An cc c. ct the Stoves as naked as they were born, both Men and Women, and plunge into cold_Water, or caufe it to be pour d on them, inav, intef Mufc.'l.i-p. 67. . . t . . , The Indians alfo pulverize the Roots of a land of An cb ufe or yellow Alkane t , which they call Puccoon, and of a fort of wild Angelica , and mixing them together with Bears Gyl, make a yellow Ointment, with which, after they have bath’d they anoint themfelves Capapee 5 this fupnles the Skin, renders them nimble and active, and withal fo clofes up the Pores, that they lofe but few of their Spirits by Perforation. Pifo relates the lame of the Bnajilians , and my Lord. Bacon afferts, that Oyl and fat things do no lefs conferve the fubftance of the Body , thin Uyl colours, and Varnilh do that of the Wood. They have alfo a a further advantage or this Ovntment, for it keeps all Lice, Fleas, and other troublefome Vermine from coming -near them* which otherwife, by reafon of the naftinefs ol their Cabbins, they would be very much lnlelted Smith talks of this Puccoon K as if it only grew on the Mountains, whereas it is common to all the Plantations of the Englifh, except only to thofe fituated in very low Grounds. CHAP Prefent State of V i r:g i n i a, 5 j CHAP. X. Of the Sports, andVaJlims of the Indians. 4;. 'Tp’H E I R Sports and Paftimes are Sing- * I. ing, Dancing, Inftrumental Mufick , and fotne boifterous Plays, which are perform'd by Running, Catching and Leaping upon one another * they have alfo one great Diverfion, to the praai- fing of which, are requifite whole handfuls of Sticks or hard Straws, which they know how to count as faft, as they can caft their ^ Eyes upon mem, and can handle with a furprizing dexteri* ^Their Singing is not the moft charming that I have heard, it confifts much in exalting the voice, and is full of flow melancholy accents. How¬ ever, I muft allow even this Mufick to contain fome wild Notes that are agreeable. Their Dancing is perform'd either by few or 3 great Company, but without much regard either to 1 Time or Figure. The firft of thefe is by one or two perfons, or at moft by three. In the mean while, the Company fit about them in a Ring upon the Ground, finging outrageoufly and fhaking their Rattles. The Dancers fometimes Sing, and fometimes look menacing and terrible, beating their Feet furioufly againft the Ground, and fhowing ten thoufand Grimaces and Diftortions. The other is perform’d by a great number of people, the Dancers themfelves forming a Ring, and moving round a Circle of carv’d Polls, that are let up tor that purpofe ^ or elie round a Fire, made in a convenient part ol the Town ^ and then each has bis Rattle in his hand, or what other thing ne D* ** j fancies 54 Be HISTORY and fancies moft, as his Bow and Arrows, or his Toma* hawk. They alfo drefs themfelves up with Branches of Trees, or fome other ftrange accoutre¬ ments. Thus they proceed, Dancing and Singing, with all the antick poftures they can indent * and he’s the braveft Fellow thatfias the moft prodigious geftures. Sometimes they place three young Women in the middle of the Circle, as you may fee in the Figure. Tab. 1 3* Reprefents a folemn Feftival Dance of the Indians, round their carv’d Pods* Tbofc which on each fide are hopping upon their Hams , take that way oj coming up to the Ringy and when they find an opportunity fir ike in among the, reft . ct 6C Captain Smith relates the particulars of a Dance made for his Entertainment, by Pocahontas , Daugh¬ ter of the Emperor Powhatan , to divert him, till Ter Father came, who happen’d not to be at home when Smith arriv’d at Ms Town. Gen . Hi ft. p. 67. “• In a fair plain Field they made a Fire* before which he fat down upon a Mat, when fuddenly amongft the Woods was heard fuch a hideous noife and (hrieking , that the Englijh betook themfelves to their Arms, and feized on two or three Old Men by them , fuppofing Pow - tc hatan , with ail his Power, was coming to fur* €c prize them. But prefentiy Pocahontas came , &c willing him to kill her, if any hurt were in- cc tended * and the beholders, which were Men, cc Women and Children, fatisfied the Captain that f4 there was no fuch matter. Then prefentiy they f were prefented with this Amick *, thirty young • - • ■ ■ ■ ' “Wo > w,; * ‘4&. . Prefent State of Vi r g i n i a. 55 46 Women came naked out of the Woods, only 44 cover'd behind and before with a few Green 44 Leaves, their Bodies all painted, fome of one "colour, fome of another, but all differing ^ 44 their Leader had a fair pair of Bucks Horns 44 on her Head, and an Otters Skin at her Girdle, 44 and another at her Arm, a Quiver of Arrows at 44 her Back, a Bow and Arrows in her Hand ; 44 The next had in her Hand a Sword, another a iece that is foft and dry, like a Spindle on its nke, by which it heats, and a: length burns 5 to this \ Prefent State of Virginia. 6 1 this they put fometimes alfo rotten Wood, and dry ! Leaves to haften the Wor k . §. 48. Under the difadvantage of fuch Tools they made a fhift to fell vaft great Trees, and clear the Land of Wood, in places where they had occafion. They bring down a great Tree, by making a final! Fire round the Root, and keeping the Flame from ! running upward, until they burn away fo much of the bafis, that the lealt puff of Wind throws it down. When it is proftrate, they burn it off to • what length they would have it, and with their Stone Tomahawks break off all the Bark , which when the Sap runs, will eafily ftrip, and at other times alfo, if it be well warm’d with Fire. When it is ! brought to a due length, they raife it upon a Bed to a convenient height for their working, and then begin by gentle Fires to hollow it, and with ferapers rake the Trunk, and turn away the Fire from one place to another, till they have deepen'd the Belly . of it to their defire : Thus alfo they fliape the ends, till they have made it a fit Veffel for eroding the | Water, and this they call a Canoe, one of which I have feen thirty foot long. When they wanted any Land to be clear’d of the Woods, they chopp’d a Notch round the Trees quite through the Bark with their Stone Hatchets, or Tomahawks , and that deaden’d the Trees, fo that they fprouted no more, but in a few years fell down. However, the Ground was plantable, and would produce immediately upon the withering of the Trees : but now for all thefe ufes they em* j ploy Axes, and little Hatchets, which they buy of the Englijh . The occafions aforementiond, and building of their Cabbins, are ftill the greateft 6t The H I S T O R Y and ufe they have for thefe Utenfils , becaufe they trouble not themfeives with any other fort of Handicraft, to which fuch Tools are neceffary. Their Houfhold Utenfils are Baskets made of Silk grafs, Gourds, which grow to the fhapes they defire them, and Earthen rots to boil Victuals in, which they make of Clay. Tab. 14. Shews their manner of Yelling great Trees ( before they had Iron Injlruments ) by Sire* brh ‘ ' ' ' ing the Root\ and bringing them to Jit lengths , ani Jhaping them for ufe , by Sire alone . The Indians of Virginia are almoft wafted, but fuch Towns, or People as retain their Names, and live in Bodies, are hereunder fet down* All which together can’t raife five hundred fighting men. They live poorly, and much in fear of the Neighbouring Indians . Each Town, by the Articles of in Peace 1677. PaYs 3 Indian Arrows for their Land, and 20 Beaver Skins for pro¬ tection every year. In Ace mack are % Towns, viz. Mat om kin is much decreafed of late by the Small Pox, that was carried thither. Gingoteque . The few remains of this Town are joyn’d with a Nation of the Maryland Indians . Kiequotank. , is reduc’d to very few Men. Matchopungo , has a fmall number yet living. Occahanock , has a fmall number yet living. Yungoteque . Govern’d by a Queen, but a fmall Nation. Oanancock. , has but four or five Families. Chiconejfex , has very few, who juft keep the name. A landuye. A Seat of the Emprefs. Not above 20 ■ I Prefent State of Virginia. 6% 20 Families, but (he hath all the Nations of this Shore under Tribute. In Northampton . Gangafcoe , which is almoft as numerous as all the foregoing Nations put toge¬ ther. In Prince George . Wyanoke, is almoft wafted, and now gone to live among other Indians . In Charles City. Appomattox. Thefe Live in Col- lonel Byrd's Pafture, not being above feven Families. In Surry. Nottavoayes, which are about a hundred Bow men, of late a thriving and increafing People. By Nanfamond. Menheering , has about thirty Bow-men, who keep at a ftand. Nanfamond . About thirty Bow-men : They have increafed much of late. In King Williams County , 2. Pam un/de , has a- bout forty Bow-men, who decreafe. Chickahomonie , which had about fixteen Bow¬ men, but lately increas’d. In Effcx. Rappahannock, is reduc’d to a few Families , and live fcatter’d upon the Englijh Seats. In Richmond. Port-Tabago , has bout five Bow¬ men, but Wafting. In Northumberland. Wiccocomoco , has but three men living, which yet keep up their Kingdom, and retain their Fafhion \ they live by themfelves, fepa- rate from all other Indians , and from the Englijh. §. 4?. Thus I have given a fuccinft account of the Indians ^ happy, I think, in their Ample State of Nature, and in their enjoyment of Plenty, with¬ out the Curfe of Labour. They have on feveral accounts reafon to lament the arrival of the Europe¬ ans ■, by whofe means they feem to have loft their Felicity, as well as their Innocence. The Englijh have taken away great part of their Country, and confequemly made every thing left plenty amongft them. 64 The HISTORY and hem. They have introduc’d Drunkennefs and Luxury amongft them , which have mnltiply’d their Wants, and put them upon defiring a thou- fand things, they never dreamt of before. I have been the more concife in my account of this harm- lefs people , becaufe I have inferred feveral Fi¬ gures, which I hope have both fupplied the de¬ left of Words, and render’d the Defcriptions more clear, I fhall in the next place proceed to treat of Virginia, , as it is now improv’d, ( I fhould rather fay alter’d, ) by the Englijh *, and of its pre- fent Conftitution and Settlement. The End of the Third Book BOOK. I Henrico 5rince George Charles- Ciry Surry Me of Wight jNanlamond Norfolk ,'Princefs Anne James-City York Warwick [Elizabeth- City New Kent King William King and Queen Glocefter Middlefex Effex Richmond [Stafford Weffmorland Lancaffer Northumberland Accomack Northampton Anno 2703. Taken from the Lifts of the preceding Year. Counties Names. 2 5 Counties. Acres of Numb Tithe Wome N° of N°oft 8° of Fo Land. of Soul s ablet dj'ChMiUtia Horfe. ft' Drag 14875; 247; 9 25 249 345 98 247 16123c ? 404 140c 263 6 25 203 4225 12105c 223c 88 c *35 35o 62 288 1427 9* 271^ 84) 187 5i4 140 374 132172 253c IOlg J5i 592 142 449 1 1 2015 2275 71/ 257 380 48 332 9^3°5 2037 686 235 284 69 22 5 10&302 299c 2297 I 269; 401 223 278 00767 23 57 1 2o8 1 2 141 390 68 322 38444 2377 482 89? 207 49 IJ2 29000 1188 469 72j 196 5+ 142 273104 3374 1325 2045 420 120 300 84324 1834 803 2031? , f 132716 2842 2=44 1596s69* 189 509^ 242450 5834 2628 320 6 504 r 2 1 473 49500 1632 77 6 856 299 56 *43 140920 240c 109c 1310 438 *39 299 * • 2622 1392 1230 5°4 I 22 382 • 203 3 863 1170 345 84 261 • 2? 36 1131 1605 45i 133 318 • * 2155 947 1214 27 1 42 229 • .. » 2099 1168 93i 522 130 392 200923 2804 2047 1763 456 IOI 355 99384 2087 712 2369 347 70 277 2164232I606062 5023 3 5583 9522 2363 1 7159 tse/iae the N° and Names of Pari foes in each County. S. f applied. V. 'vacant. 1-; ii 2 2 3 1 T 4 3i 1 2 1 2 Martin°Brandon, sZBriftol» Wianoke, S. j^Weftover, 5. Southwark, V. Lyons Creek, S. . Warwick Squeek, 5. Newport, 5. Upper, V Lower Parifh’s, V. Chuckatuck, V. Elizabeth River; 5. Lyn haven, V. KSf”* * Witoiujmp.S. James-City, S. Merchants-Ilundred. fO _ Hampton, York, S. Newpocofon, S. ' f ^Bruton, S- Denby, V. Mulberry Ifland, V. J Elizabeth-City, S. Blifsland, S. Saint Peters, S. Saint Johns, S. Stratton Major, S. Saint Stephens, S. S-. Abbington, 5. Ware, 5. Kingfton, S. Chrxft Church, S. South Farnham, S."> North Farnham, s. /Sittenburn, V. Saint Maries, $, Saint Paul, V. Overworton, S. Copeley, S. Walhington, S. Chrift-Church, 5. Saint Maries White Chappel, S. E airfield and Bowtracy,#^ Wiccocomoco, S. Accomack, V. Hungers, V. ‘ Nor. Neck-1 °f which, 34 are Supplied , and 15 Vacant. The French Refugees are not accounted within this Lift. 1 < . I - BOOK IV. Of the Trefent State o/Vug .inu , As this Book mufl confifl of two Parts , Firfiy The Polity of the Government j Secondly , The Husbandry and Improvements of the Coun¬ try ; fo I Jhall handle them Separately, Part I. ‘ : - ' ' J Of the Civil Polity and Government of Vir¬ ginia. CHAP. I. Of the Confutation of Government in Virginia. §. x w Have already hinted , that the firft H Settlement of this Country, was under the dire&ion of a Company of Mer- chants incorporated. That the firft Conftitution of Government ap¬ pointed by them, was by aPrefident and Council, which Council was nominated by the Corpora¬ tion, and the Prefident annually chofen by the Pe°ple< Au, That 2 The H I S T O R Y and That in the year 1610 this Conftitution was altered, and the Company obtain’d a new Grant of his Majefty ,* whereby they themfelv.es' had the nomination of the Governor ; who was oblig’d to adt only by advice in Council That in the year 1620, an Affembly .of Bur- geffes was firft call’d ffrom all the inhabited parts of the Country, who fat in confultation with the Go¬ vernor and Council, for fetling the Publick Af¬ fairs of the Plantation ,* and fo the form of Go¬ vernment became perfect. That when the Company was diffolv’d, the King continued the fame method of Govern¬ ment, by a Governour, Council, and Burgeffes ; which three being united, were call’d the Gene¬ ral Affembly. ■■■—- - - - That this General Affembly debated all the weighty Affairs of the Colony, and enaded Laws for the -better government of the People ^ and tffe Governor and Council were to put them in execution. That the Governor and Council were ap¬ pointed by the King, and the Affembly chofen by the People. Afterwards the Governor had a more extenfive • • ^ .. Power put into his hands, fo that his Affent in all affairs became abfolutely neceffary ; yet was he ftill bound to ad by Advice of Council Until the Rebellion 1676, the Governor had no power to 'fufpend the 'Councellors, nor to re¬ move any of them from the Council-Board. Then a power was given him of Sus¬ pending them, but with Provifo, that he gave fubftantial Reafons for fo doing j and was an- fwerable to his Majefty for the truth of the Accu- fation. - Then alfo this Model of ‘Government by a Governor, Council and Affembly, was confirm’d • ■' '• " to. *» S*3®SHali ’ v • 4.« i 4M; .y ■ rjo Pre/cnt State Virginia, 3 to them Charter, with a further Claufe, That if the Governor fhould happen to die, or be re¬ moved/ and no other Perlonin the Country no¬ minated by the Crown to fupply his Place ; then the Prescient, or eldeft Councellor, with the af- iiftance of any five of the Council , fhould take upon him the Adminiftration of the Govern¬ ment. Before the year 1 680, the Council fat in the fame Houfe with the Burgeffes of Affembly,much refe ta¬ bling the .Model of the Scots Parliament; and then the Lord Colepepper taking advantage of fome Bif- putes among them., procur’d the Council to lit apart from the Affembly ; and fo they became two didind Houfes, in imitation or the two Houfes of Parliament in England , the Lords and Commons ; and fo is the Conditution at this day. . « • { • §. 2. The Governor is appointed by the Crown ; his Commiffion is under the Privy Seal, and runs during Pleafure. He reprefents the Queen’s Perfon there in all things, and is fubjed to her Indrudipns, viz,. In affenting to, or diffenting from the Laws, agreed upon by the Council and Affembly. In giving his Ted to all Laws fo affented to. In Calling, Prorogueing, and Diffolving the Affembly. In calling, and prefid ing in all Councils of State. In appointing Commiffioners and Officers for the adminidration of Judice. Ip granting Commiffions to all Officers of the Militia, under the degree of a Lieutenant-Gene¬ ral, which Title he bears himfelf. A a a a 2 In 4i Ihe HISTORY dnd In ordering and dilpofing the Militia for the defence of the Country, according to Law. In telling Proclamations. In difpofmg of the Queens Land according to the Charter, and the Laws bf that Country ; fot which end, and for other publick Occafions, the Seal of the Colony is committed to his keep¬ ing. All IlTues of the publick Revenue muft bear his Tell. And by virtue of a Commiffion from the Ad¬ miralty, he takes uponhimfelf the Office of Vice- Admiral. The Governors Salary till within thefe thirty years laft paft, was no more than a Thoufand pounds a year,* befides which he had about five hundred more in Perquifites : Indeed, the Ge¬ neral Affembly by a publick Adi, made an Ad¬ dition of two hundred pounds a year to Sir William Berkeley in particular, out of the great Relped and Efteem they bore to that Gentleman, who had been a long time a good and juft Go¬ vernor ; and who had laid out the greateft part of his Revenue ia Experiments, for the Advan¬ tage and Improvement of the Country ,* and who had befides fuffered extremely in the time of the Ufurpation. But this Addition was to de¬ termine with his Government.. Sir William Berkley after the fhort Interval of Jeffery s and Cbicbleys being Deputy-Governors , was fucceeded by the Lord Colepepper ; who un¬ der pretence of his being a Peer of England , ob¬ tain’d of King Charles II. a-Salary of 2000 /. be¬ fides 170 t. a year for Houfe-Rent, becaufe there was ho Houfe appointed by the Country for the Governors Reception. This Prefent State ^Virginia, 5 This Noble Lord made his ad-vantage of the ponfufions, in which he found the Country, that had not recover’d the Calamities of Bacons Re¬ bellion. He obferv’d, that abundance of People had been concern’d in thofe Troubles ,• and con- fequently, he concluded they wou’d not fcruple to grant him any thing, to protect themfelves from Profecution. By this means he not only obtain’d the Concurrence of the Aflembly to his Money-Grants, but likewife prevail’d with them to make the Impofition of two Shillings per Hogfhead, and the Fort-Duties perpetual ; and to make them fubjed to his Majefties direction, to be difpofed of for the ufe of the Government. This increas’d Salary has been continued ever fince, to all the fucceeding Governors, and the Perquifites are now alfo increaled. If the Adminiftration of the Government hap¬ pen to fall into the hands of the Prefident and Council, there is then ufually allow’d to the Pre¬ fident, the Addition of five hundred pounds a year only ,• and to the Council, no more than what is given them at other tigies. §. 3. The Gentlemen of the Council are ap¬ pointed by Letter or Inftru&ion from her Ma- efty, which fays no more, but that they be ; worn of the Council. The number of the Councellors when corn- pleat, is Twelve ,* and if at any time by Death pr Removal, there happen to be fewer than nine refiding in the Country, then the Governor has Power to appoint and fwear into the Council, fuch of the Gentlemen of the Country, as he fhall think fit, to make up that number, without expecting any direction from England . The bufinefs of the Council is to advife and gfllft the Governor in all Important Matters of A a a a : ' Govern- 6 7he HISTORY and Government, and to be a reftraint upon him, if he fhould attempt to exceed the bounds of his Commiffion : They are enabled to do this , by having each of them an* equal Vote with the Governor, in moil things of Confeqencc, viz,. In calling Affemblies. In difpofing of the Publick Revenue, and in- fpeCfcing the Accounts thereof. In placing, and difplacing Naval Officers, and Collectors of all publick Duties. In all Votes and Orders of Council. In the nomination of all Commiffibn-Offi- cers, either of honorary or profitable Places. In publifhing Proclamations. In making Grants, and palling all the Patents for Land. In the General Affembly, the Council make the Upper- Lloufe, and claim an intire Negative Voice to all Laws, as the Lloufe of Lords in Eng¬ land. The Salary of the Council is in all but 3^0 /. per Ann. to be proportion’d among them accord¬ ing to their Attendance on General Courts, and Aifemblies. §. 4. The BurgefTes of Affembly are elected, and return’d from all parts of the Country, viz. from each County two, and from jaims City one ; which make up in all fifty one BurgefTes, beiides one Burgefsto be lent by the Colled ge, as the Charter directs. They are conven’d by Writs ilfued from the Secretaries Office, under the Seal cf the Colony, and the Tell of the Governor. Thefe are directed to the Sheriff of each County reipeCHvely, and ought to bear date at leaf! for¬ ty days before the return. The Freeholders are the only Electors, and where-ever they have a Free-bold, fif they be not Women, or under Prelent State ^Virginia. 7 Age) they have a Vote in the Election. The Method of fummoning the Free-holders, is by publication of the Writ, together with the day appointed by the Sheriff for Election., at every Church and Chappel in the County* two feve- ral Sundays fucceffively. The Ele&ion is con¬ cluded by plurality of Voices ; and if either Par¬ ty be diffatis fie d^ or thinks he has not fair Treat¬ ment^ he may demand a Copy of the Poll., and upon Application to the Houfe of Burgefles, ftall have his Complaint inquired into. But to prevent undue Ele&ions, many A. by Du¬ ties upon Trade, and a Poll-Tax, which they call Levies/ Of the Duties upon Trade, Ihavefpo- ken fufficiently in the preceding Chapter : I come therefore now to fpeak of the Levies , which are a certain Rate, or Proportion of To¬ bacco, charged upon the head of every Titha- Bbbb ble i8 7be HISTORY and ble Perfon in the Country, upon all alike, with¬ out diftindion. They call all Negroes above fixteen years of Age Tithable, be they Male or Female ,• and all white Men of the fame Age. But Children and white Women, are exempted from all man¬ ner of Duties. That a true account of all thefe Tithable Perfons may be had, they are annually lifted in Crop-time, by the Juftices of each County refpedively ,• and theMafters of Families are ob¬ liged under great Penalties, then to deliver to thofe Juftices, a true lift of all the Tithable Perfons in their Families. Their Levies are of three forts, viz. Publick, County, and Parifh Levies. §• 19* Publick Levies are fuch as are propor¬ tion d, and laid equally by the General Aflem- bly, upon every Tithable Perfon throughout the whole Colony. Thefe ferve to defray feveral expences appointed by Law, to be (o defrayed ^ fuch as the executing of a Criminal Slave, who mu ft be made good to his Owner. The taking up of Run-aways, and the paying of the Mili¬ tia, when they happen to be imployed upon Ser¬ vice. Out of thefe they likewife pay the feveral Officers of the Aflembly, and lome other Publick Officers. They further defray the charge of the Writs, for the meeting of the Houfe of Burgeffes, and fuch like. The Authority for Levying this Rate, is giv¬ en by a ffiort Ad of Aflembly, conftantly pre¬ pared, for that purpofe. §. 20. The County Levies are fuch as are peculiar to each County, and laid by the Jufti¬ ces Prefeht State of V irginIa^ \q Upon all Tithable Perfons, for defraying the charge of their Counties ; fuch as the building and repairing their Court-Houfes, Prifons, Pil¬ loried Stocks, &c. and the payment of all Services, tender’d to the County in General. §. 21. The Parilh Levies are laid by the Veftry, for the payment of all charges incident to the feveral Pariihes, fuch as the buildings furniihing, and adorning their Churches and Chappels ; buying Glebes, and building upon them,- pay ing their Minifters, Readers, Clerks, and Sex¬ tons. CHAP. VI. Of the Courts of Law in Virginia. §i 22.T Have already in the Chronology of the 1 Government , hinted what the Con- flitution of their Courts was in old time, and that Appeals lay from the General Court to the Affembly. That the General Court from the beginning, took cognizance of all Caufes what- foever, both Ecclefialtical and Civil, determi¬ ning every thing by the Standard of Equity and good Confcience. They us’d to come to the me¬ rits of the caufe, as foon as they could without Injuftice, never admitting fuch impertinences of Form and Nicety, as were not abfolutely ne- ceflary : and when the fubftance of the cafe was fufficiently debated, they us’d direftly to bring the Suit to a Decifion. By this Method all fair A&ions were profecuted with little Atten- B b h b z dance. 10 The H 1 S T O R Y and dance, all juft Debts were recover'd with the leaft expence of Money and Time ,• and all the tricking, and Foppery of the Law happily ^void¬ ed. The Lord Cole pep per, who was a Man of ad¬ mirable Senfe, and well Skilled in the Laws of England , admired the conftitution of their Courts, and kept them clofe to this plain Me¬ thod, retrenching fome ' Innovations, that were then creeping into them, under the notion of Form ,• although, at the fame time, he was the occafion, of taking away the liberty of Appeals to the Aftembly. But the Lord Howard who fucceeded him, ftho’ he was himfelf a Man abfolutely unskilled in the legal proceedings of England ,) endea¬ vour’d to introduce as many of the Englijh Forms as he could, being dire&dy oppofite to the Lord Colepepper in that point. After him Sir Edmund Andros , when he was Governor, caufed the Statutes of England to be allowed for Law there ,• even fuch Statutes, as were made of late time, fince the grant of the laft Charter. And Laftly, Governor Nicholfon , a Man un¬ acquainted with all Law, except that of Mo¬ rocco, where he learnt the way of governing by force , has endeavour’d to introduce all the quirks of the Englijh Proceedings, by the help of fome wretched Pettifoggers, who have had the diredfion both of his Confcience and his Under- ftanding. §. 23. They have two forts of Courts, that differ only in Jurifdi&ion ; namely, the General Court, and the County-Courts. I don’t menti¬ on the Court of Admiralty, of which there isnei- thcr Prefent State of Virginia. 21. ther Judge, nor any Salary appointed for him ; and indeed, upon thefe terms, no Man of any Rank or Abilities, wou’d care to undertake fuch a troublefom Office. Neither is there the leaft occafion of any fuch charge , becaufe their County-Courts fitting fo frequently, have hi¬ therto fupplied their place ,* and upon extraordi¬ nary occafion of dilpatch in Maritime Affairs , the firft Juftice in Commiflion is authorifed by Law, to call Courts out of courfe, to determine them. . - - * -• f 9 24- The General Court, is a Court held by the Governour and Council, who by Cuftom, are the Judges of it, in all civil Difputes : but in all criminal Cafes, they are made Judges by the Charter. This Court, as it did from the beginning, fo it does ftill, take cognizance of all Caufes, Cri¬ minal, Penal, Ecclefiaftical and Civil. From this Court there is no Appeal, except the thing in demand exceed the value of three hundred pounds Sterling ,* in which cafe, an Appeal is allowed to the Queen and Council in England , and there determin’d by a Committee of the Privy Coun¬ cil, call’d the Lords of Appeals ,* the like Cu¬ ftom being ufed for all the other Plantations. In Criminal cafes I don’t know that there’s any Ap¬ peal from the Sentence of this Court ; but the Governor is authorifed , to pardon Perfons found guilty of any Crime whatsoever, except of Treafon, and willful Murder ,• and even in thofe cafes, he may reprieve the Criminal, ifthe Court reprefent him, to be an objed of Mercy ; which Reprieve ftands good, and may be continued,until her Majeftie^ pleafure be fignified therein. B b b b 5 §. 2f. This 12 ¥k HIST OR Y and ' * . . . '' , V §. 2$\ This Court is held twice a year, begin¬ ning on the t ph of April, arid on the i $ th of O- Bober: Each time it continues eighteen Days3 ex¬ cluding Sundays., if the bufinefs hold them fo And thefe are the only times of Goal-De- r • < • *• 1 ' 'y { : a i hs • > yinti §, 26. The Officers attending this Court , are the Sheriff of the County, wherein it fits, and his Under-Officers. Their bufmefs^ is to call the Litigants , and the Evidences into Court, and to impannel juries : But each She¬ riff in his refpe&ive County, makes Arrefts, and returns the Writs to this Court. ■ §. 27. The way of impanneling Juries to ferve in this Court, is thus : The Sheriff and his De¬ puties every Morning that the Court fits,' goes a- bout the Town, fummoning the belt of the Gen¬ tlemen, who refort thither, from all parts of the Country, i'he Condition of this Summons is, that they attend the Court that day, to ferve up¬ on the Jury, ( it not being known whether there will be occafion or no : ) And if any caufe hap¬ pen to require a Jury, they are then fworn to try the iffue, otherwife they are in the Even¬ ing of courfe, difmift from all further Atten¬ dance • though they be not formally difcharged by the Court. By this means are procur’d the beft Juries this Country can afford ,* for if they fhould befummon’d by Writ of Venire, from any particular County, that County cannot afford fo many qualify 3d Perfons as are here to be found, becaufe of the great refort of Gen¬ tlemen, from ail parts of the Colony to thefe Courts as well to fee Fafliions, as to difpatch their particular Bufinefs. Nor is Vifinage neceffary there Prefen t State (/Virginia. there, to diftinguifh the feveral Cuflomsof parti¬ cular places, the whole Country being as one Neighbourhood, and having the fame Tenures of Land, Ufages and Cuftoms. , y % The Grand-Juries are impanneled much after the fame manner ; but becaufe they require a greater number of Men, and the Court is al¬ ways defirous to have fome, from all parts of the Country, they give their Sheriff order the Morn¬ ing before, to provide his Pannel. §. 28. In Criminal Matters this Method is a little altered ,* becaufe a knowledge of the Life, and Converfation of the Party, may give light to the Jury in their Verdid. For this reafon a Writ of Venire iffues in fuch cafes, to fummon fix of the neareft Neighbours to the Criminal, who mufl be of the lame County wherein he liv’d ,• which Writ of Venire is return’d by the Sheriff of the refpe&ive County, to the Secretaries Office, and the Names are taken from thence,by the She¬ riff attending the General Court, and put in the front of the Pannel, which is fill’d up with the Names of the other Gentlemen fummon’d in the Town, to be of the Petty-Jury for the Tryal of that Criminal. If the Prifoner have a mind to challenge the Jurors, the fame liberty is al¬ lowed him there as in England ; and if the Pan¬ nel fall fhort, by reafon of fuch challenge, it mufl then be made up of the By-flan ders. §. 29. All A&ions are in that Country brought to a Determination the third Court at farthefl, unlefs fome fpecial extraordinary reafon be fhewn, why the Party can’t make his Defence fo foon. The courfe is thus ,* upon the Defendant’s Non- appearance, order goes againft the Bail, (for a B b b b 4 Capas 14 The Vi I STORYS Capas is always their firft Procefs) on condition, that unlefs the Defendant appear, and plead at the next Court, Judgment fhall then be awarded for the Plaintiff : When the Defendant comes to the next Court, he is held to plead,* and if his Plea be Dilatory, and over-rul’d, he is held to plead over immediately ,* and if it can be, the Merits are tryed that Courts but the next it is ended without fail, except fomething happen to make it highly unreafonable. Thus a year and half ends a Caufe in the General Court, and three Months in the County-Court. If any one Appeal from the Judgment of the County- Court, the Tryal always comes on, the fucceed- ing General Court ; fo that all bufinefs begun in the County-Court, tho* it runs to the ucmoft of the Law, (without fome extraordinary event) is fmifhed in nine Months. §. jo. Every one that pleafes, may plead his own Caufe, or elfe his Friends for him, there be¬ ing no reftraint in that cafe, nor any licenfed Practitioners in the Law: If any one be dif- fatisfied with the Judgment of the County- Court, let it be for any Sum, little or great, he may have an Appeal to the next General Court, giving Security to anfwer, and abide the Judgment of that Court : but an Action cannot originally be brought in the General Court, un¬ der the value of ten pounds Sterling, or of two thoufand pounds of Tobacco. §• 3 r. The County-Courts are conflicted by Commiffion from the Governor, with advice of Council They confift of eight or more Gentle¬ men of the County, called Juflices of the Peace, the Sheriff being only a Minifterial Officer. This Court is held Monthly,, and has Jurifditfion of all Prefent State 0/ V irginia. 1 f all Caufes within the County , not touching Life or Member : But in the cafe of Hog-fteal- ing, they may Sentence the Criminal to lole his Ears ; which is allow’d by a particular Ad for that purpofe. In all things they proceed in the fame manner as the General Court. 32. Befi.des this Monthly Courts there is a day appointed, to be kept annually by the Juftices of the faid Court, for the care of all Orphans and of their Eftates ; and for the binding out, and well ordering of fuch fatherlefs Chil¬ dren, who are either without any Eftate, or have very little. At thefe Courts, they inquire into the keeping and management of the Orphan, as to his Sufte- nance and Education: They examine into; his Eftate, and the Securities thereof; If the Sureties continue to be Refponfible, if his Lands and Plantations be kept improving, and in Re¬ pair, &c. If the poor Orphan be bound an Ap¬ prentice to any Trade, then their bufinefs is to in^ quire,how he is kept to his Schooling,and Trade ; and if the Court find he is either mifufed, or un¬ taught, they take him from that Mafter, and put him to another of the fame Trade, or of any other Trade, which they judge belt for the Child. Another charitable Method in favour of the poor Orphans there, is this; That befides their Trade and Schooling, the Mafters are generally obli¬ ged, to give them at their Freedom, Cattle, Tools, or other things, to the value of five, fix, or ten pounds, according to the Age of the Child when bound, over and above the ufual quantity of Corn, and Cloaths. The Boys are bound till one and twenty years of Age, and the Girls till eigh¬ teen ; At which time, they who have taken any care 2 6 The H I S T O R Y and care to improve themfelves* generally get' well Married^, and live in Plenty* tho they had not a farthing of paternal Eftate. Though thefe Courts be yearly appointed for that ufe* yet the Juftices do not fail every Coun¬ ty-Court* as occafion happens* to do every thing that can be for the benefit of Orphans ; ;and this Annual Court feems to be only a review of their years Work* or a RetrofpedUon into the obfer-r vance of their former Orders. CHAP. VII. Of the Church and Church Affairs. §• 35.‘*T^Heir Parities are accounted large or .I. final!* in proportion to the number of Tithables contain d in them* and not according to the extent of Land. For the Particulars of thefe* and the nuniber of the Parilhes in each County* fee the Lift in the conclufion of this Book*, which will anfwer the end of a Prolix Defcription. §. 54. They have in each Parifh a convenient Church* built either of Timber* Brick* or Stone* and decently adorn’d with every thing neceffary for the celebration of Divine-Service. If a Parifh be of greater extent than ordina¬ ry * it hath generally a Chappel of Eafe * and fome of the Parifhes have two fuch Chappels* oefides the Church* for the greater convenience of the Parifhioners. In thefe Chappels the Mini- Iter preaches alternately* always leaving a Read¬ er* to read Prayers and a Homily* when he can’t attend himfelf. §,35-. We Prefent State of Virginia. %y role §. 3 7. The People are generally of the Church of England, which is the Religion eftablifht by Law in that Country, from which there are very few Diffenters. Yet liberty of Confidence is given to all other Congregations pretending to Chriftia- nity, on condition they fubmit to all Pari/h Duties. They have no more than five Conventi¬ cles among!! them., namely., three fmall Meetings of Quakers, and two of Presbyterians. ’Tis ob- ferv’d, that thofe Counties where the Presbyte¬ rian Meetings are., produce very mean Tobacco $ and for that reafon cant get an Orthodox Mi- nifter to Hay among!! them 3 but whenever they con’d, the People very orderly went to Church : As for the Quakers,, ’tis obferv’d by letting them a- lone,, they decreafe daily. §. 36. The Maintenance for a Minifter there,, is appointed by Law at 16 , 000 pounds of To¬ bacco per Annum , (be the Parifh great or Imall) as alfo a Dwelling-Houfe and Glebe, together with certain Perquifites for Marriages, and Fu¬ neral Sermons. That which makes the difference in the Benefices of the Clergy, is the value of the Tobacco, according to the diftind: Species of it, or according to the place of its Growth ; Befides in large and rich Parilhes, more Marria¬ ges will probably happen, and more Funeral Ser¬ mons. The Fee by Law for a Funeral Sermon, is forty Shillings, or four hundred pounds of To¬ bacco 3 for a Marriage by Licence, twenty Shil¬ lings, or two hundred pounds of Tobacco, and where the Banes are proclaim’d, only 5 j. or jo /. of Tobacco. When thefie Salaries were granted, the AiTe no¬ bly valued Tobacco at 10 Shillings per Hundred 3 at 28 n,e HISTORY^ at which Rate, the 1 6, ooo l. conies to fourfcore pounds Sterling ,• but in all Parilhes where the Sweet-fented grows, it has generally been fold of late, for near double that value, and never under. In fome Parities likewife there are flocks of Cattle and Negros, on the Glebes, which are alfb allow d to the Minifter, for his Ufe and Incou- ragement ,* he only being accountable for the lurrender of the fame value, when he leaves the Pari lh. §. 3% Porthe Well-governing of thefe, and all other I arcchial Affairs, a Veftry is appointed in each Parilh. Thefe Veftries confift of twelve Gen¬ tlemen of the Pari/h, and were at firft chofen by tiie Vote of the Parifhoners ,* but upon the Death or one,have been continued by the Survivor’s eledf- xng another in his place. Thefe are the Patrons of i G in the Name of theParifh, have the Prelentation of Minifters, as well as the fble power of all Parifh Affeflments, They are qua¬ lified for this Employment, by fubfcribine;, to be conformable to the Dodrine and Difcipline of nie Church of England. If there be a Mini- fler incumbent, he is always chief of the Ve¬ ftry. For the eafe of the Veftry in General, and for !l charging the Bufinefs of the Pari/h, they choofe two from among themfelves, to be Church- Wardens, which mud; be annually chang’d, that the burden may lie equally upon all. The bufi- neis of thefe Church-Wardens, is to fee the Or¬ ders, and Agreements of the Veftry perform’d ; to colled: all the Parifh Tobacco’s, and diftribute them to the feveral Claimers ; to make up the Accounts of the Pari/h, and to prefent $11 Pro- lanenefs and Immorality, ~ " Prefent State of V i rg i n i a. z 9 ' «• »■* 1 . . . ®y thefe the Tobacco of the Minifter is col¬ lected, and brought home to him in Hog/heads convenient for Shipping; fo that he is at no fur¬ ther trouble, but to receive it in that Conditi¬ on. This was ordain'd by the Law of the Coun¬ try, for the eafe of the Minifters, that fo they being delivered, from the trouble of gathering iii their Dues, may have the more time to apply themfelves to the Exercifesof their Holy Functi¬ on; and live in a Decency fuitable to their Or¬ der. It may here be obferv’d, that the Labour of a dozen Negroes, does but anfwer this Sala¬ ry, and feldom yields a greater Crop of Sweet- -iented Tobacco, than is allow’d to each of their Minifters. < §. 38. Probates of Wills and Adminiftrations, are according to their Law , grantable by the County Courts ,* but the Commiffion muft be fign’d by the Governor without Fee. Marriage- Licenfes are iffued by the Clerks of thofe Courts, and fign’d by the firft Juftice in Commiffion, or by any other Perfon deputed by the Gover¬ nor; for which a Fee of twenty Shillings muft be paid to the Governor. The power of Inducti¬ on upon Prefentation of Minifters, is alfo by their Law lodged in the Governor’s hands. All which ACts are contain’d in the firft revifal of their Laws, fince which her Majefty, and her Royal Prede- celfors, have always been pleafed to give an in- ftruCtion to their Governors to that purpofe. In the year 1642, when the Sectaries began to fpread themfelves fo much in England , the Affembly made a Law again it them, to pre¬ vent their Preaching, and propagating their DoCtrines in that Colony. They admitted none to preach in their Churches, but Minifters or¬ dain d by fome Reverend Bifhop of the Church of England :■ 5o The HISTORY and England ; and the Governor for the time being, as the rnoft fuitable publick Perfon among them, was left foie Judge of the Certificates of fuch Ordination, and fo he has continued ever fince. . • ; i , 't §. 39. The only thing I have heard the Cler¬ gy complain of there, is what they call Precari- oufnefs in their Livings ; that is, they have not Ind unions generally,* * and therefore are not intituled to a Free-hold : But are liable with¬ out Tryal or Crime alledged, to be put out by the Veftry : And though fome have pre¬ vail’d with their Veftries, to prefent them for IndudHon ,* yet the greater number of the Minifters have no Induction : But are enter¬ tain’d from year to year, or for term of years, by agreement with their Veftries,* yet are they very rarely turn’d out, without fome great pro¬ vocation ; and then if they have not been a- bominably Scandalous , they immediately get other Pariihes : For there is no Benefice what- foever in that Country that remains without a Parfon, if they can get one, and no qualified Minifter ever yet return’d from that Country, for want of Preferment. They have now about a dozen vacant Pariflies. CHAP, VIII. • • • .* *-■ u. . j '■ ,j f ■ /. j \ *. Concerning the College . §. 4a. -pH E College, as has been hinted > X was founded by their late Majefties, King William and Queen Mary of happy Me¬ mory, in the Year 1 69*. Towards the found¬ ing, V Prefeflt State of V i r g i n i a. 3 1 Ing of which, they gave 1985- 1.14 s. 10 J. They gave moreover towards the Indowment of k, 20,000 Acres of Land,’ the Revenue of 1 d, per pound on Tobacco, exported to the Plan¬ tations from Virginia and Maryland ; and the Sur¬ veyor General’s Place of that Colony then void, and appointed them alfo a Burgefs to reprefent them in the Aftemblies. The Land hither¬ to has yielded little or no Profit- the Duty of 1 4- p^ Pound, brings in about 200 pounds a year,- and the Surveyor-General’s Place, about fo l. a year. To which the AlTembly has added a Duty on £kins anc[ purs exported, worth a- bout an hundred pounds a year. §: 41. By the fame Charter likewife, their Ma- jefties granted a Power to certain Gentlemen, and the Survivors of them, as Truftees, to Build and Stablifh the College by the Name of Willi¬ am and Mary College ,- to confift of a Prefident, and fix Mafters, or Profeffors, and an hundred Scholars, more or lefs. Graduates, or Non-Gra¬ duates ; enabling the faid Truftees,as a Body Cor¬ porate, to enjoy Annuities Spiritual and Tempo- ral, of the value of 2000 /. Sterling per vinnum^ with Provifo, to convert it to the building and adorning the College ^ and then to make over the remainder to the Prefident and Mafters , and their Succeffors : who are likewife to become a Corporation, and be enabled to Pur- chafe, and hold to the value of 2000 /. a year, but no more. §. 42. The Perfons nam’d in the Charter for Truftees, are made Governors and Vifitors of the College, and to have a perpetual Succeflion, by the name of Governors and Vifitors, with power to fill up their own Vacancies, happening by the Tk HISTORY W the Death or Removal of any of them. Their compleat number may be 18, but not to exceed 20^ of which one is to be Retftor, and annually chofen by themfelves, on the firft Monday after the 2$th of March.. Thefe have the nomination of the Prefident and Mafters of the College, and all other Offi¬ cers belonging to it,* and the power of ma¬ king Statutes and Ordinances, for the better Rule and Government thereof. §. 43. The Building is to confift of a Qua¬ drangle^ two Tides of which, are yet only car¬ ried up. In this part are already finifhed all conveniences of Cookings Brewing, Baking, &c, and convenient Rooms for the Reception of the Prefident, and Mafters, with many more Scholars than are as yet come to it ; in this part are alfo the Hall, and School-Room. §. 44. 'When the laft Governor was removed, which was before any room was finifhed in the College , and the Boys were taught by the College-Mafter, in a little School-Houfe clofe by it / it had more Scholars than it has now. Which Misfortune has happen’d, by reafon of the late confufion,occafion’d by the furious proceed¬ ings of the prefent Governor, fo that many chofe to fend their Sons to England, and others to keep theirs at Home, rather than put them to the hazard of being haraffed, and living in the Combuftion which that Gentleman makes among them. The Method of Teaching is likewife very much impair’d by the chief Mafters mind¬ ing his Country Affairs : For by this means he' is obliged to live feveral Miles from the College, upon his own Plantation 3 fo that he can- Prefent State of V i a g i n i a, 3 j he cannot give that Attendance and Application, which wasdefign’d, by appointing fo good a Sa¬ lary, as 100 L per Annum befides Perquifites. The College Revenue is behind-hand, and the Maryland Duty of i d. per Pound, has not been paid in of late, fo that feveral of the Eftablifhed Salaries are in arrear. CHAP. IX. Of the Militia in Virginia. §• 4J-THE Militia are the only {landing For- JL ces in Virginia. They have no Fortrefs, nor fo much as any Cannon fit for Service. Neither are any of thefe made ufe of, except fix fmall Pieces, that formerly were mounted on the Fort at James Town,* but thefe are now re-, mov’d to Williamsburg, where they are of no ufe, but to fire upon fome Joyful Occafions. They are happy in the enjoyment of an Everlafting Peace, which their Poverty and want of Towns fecure to them. They have the Indians round about in Subjedlion, and have no fort of Ap- prehenfion from them : And for a Foreign Ene¬ my, it can never be worth their while to carry Troops fufficient to conquer the Country ; for the Scattering Method of their Settlement, will not anfwer the charge of an Expedition to plun¬ der them. So that they feel none but the diflant effects of War, which, however keep ’em fo poor, that they can boalt of nothing but the fecurity of their Perfons, and Habitations. They fear no other Enemy, but only now and then, an infolent and oppreffive Governor, who is pleas’d to abufe the Queen's Authority, by perverting it C c c c into The H I S 'T O R Y and into Arbitrary Power, arid to exafperate the Peo¬ ple by their barbarous Treatment. n ■ U *. .v ' §. 4 6. The Governor fe Lieutenant-General by his Commiffion, and * in each County do’s appoint the Colonel, ' Lieutenant-Colonel, and Major, who have under them Captains , and o- ther Commiflion’d, and Subaltern Officers. Every Freeman, (by which Denomination they call all, but indented, or bought Servants j from Sixteen, to Sixty years of Age, is lifted in the Militia; which by a Law, is to be Mufteted in a General Mufter for each County, once a year ; and infingle Troops and Companies, three or four times more ; and the moft convenient Situation for each Troop and Company, is appointed for them to beExercifed in. The People there are very Skilful iri the ufe of Fire-Arms, being all their Lives accuftorrid to fhoot in the Woods. This, together with a little exercizeing would foon make the Militia little inferior to Regular Troops. * ; t! §.47. The number of the Militia is 2363 Light-HoiTe , and 715-9, Foot and Dragoons: But as very few of the Planters are without Hor- festo ride on, fo great part of them may eafily be made into Dragoons, if occafion ffiould require. The particular Proportion of each County, may be feen in the Table at the end of this Book. §. 48. Inftead of the Soldiers they formerly kept conftantly on Foot, under the name of Ran¬ gers, to fcour the Frontiers clear of the Indian E- nemy, they have lately appointed the Militia to March out upon fuch occafions, under the Com¬ mand of the chief Officer of the County, where this ffiall be neceffary. And if they upon fuch Ex¬ pedition Preient State »/ Virginia. 3 7 pedition remain in Arms, three Days and up¬ wards, they are then intituled to pay for the whole time ; but if it prove a falfe Alarm, and they have no occafion to continue out fo long, they can demand nothing. §. 49. The number of Soldiers in each Troop of Light-Horfe, and Dragoons, are from Thirty to Forty, as the convenience of the County will admit of the Divifion,* and in a Company of Foot about Fifty. The prefent Governor has reduc’d ’em to this, whereas formerly a Troop of Horfe confifted of fifty and upwards, and a Company of Foot of feventy effedive Men. A Troop or Company may be got together in lefs than a days warning. . , • • ! ' C H A P. X. Of 'the Servants and Slaves in Virginia. ( . r §• P* TpHeir Servants, they diftinguifh by the L Names of Slaves for Life, and Servants for a time. . Slaves are the Negroes, and their Pofterity, following the condition of the Mother, accor¬ ding to the Maxim, partus fequitur ventrem. They are call’d Slaves, in refpedl of the time of their Servitude, becaufe it is for Life. Servants, are thofe which ferve only for a few years, according to the time of their Indenture, or the Cuftom of the Country. The Cuftom of the Country takes place upon fuch as have no Indentures. The Law in this cafe is, that if fuch Servants be under Nineteen years of Age, they muft be brought into Coum, to have their Age C c c c z adjudg- 3 6 Toe HISTORY and adjudged ,* and from the Age they are judg’d to be of, they mu ft ferve until they reach four and twenty : But if they be adjudged upwards of Nineteen, they are then only to be Servants for the term of five Years. t §. £ i. The Male-Servants, and Slaves of both Sexes, areimployed together in Tilling and Ma¬ nuring the Ground, in Sowing and Planting To¬ bacco, Corn, &c. Some Diftindfion indeed is made between them in their Cloaths, and Food ; but the Work of both, is no other than what the Overfeers, the Freemen, and the Planters them- felves do. Sufficient Diftindfcion is alfo made between the Female-Servants, and Slaves,* for a White Wo¬ man is rarely or never put to work in the Ground, if fhe be good for any thing elfe ; And to Dif- courage all Planters from ufing any Women fo, their Law impofes the heavieft Taxes upon Fe¬ male-Servants working in the Ground,while it fuf- fers all other white Women to be abfolutely ex¬ empted : Whereas on the other hand, it is a com¬ mon thing to work a Woman Slave out of Doors ; nor does the Law make any Diftindfcion in her Taxes , .whether her Work be Abroad, or at Home. ' • -> f AV . ‘ ■ f ' * . ' V A i, * V §. f2, Becaufe I have heard how ftrangely cruel, and fevere, the Service of this Country is reprefented in fome parts of England •> I can’t forbear affirming, that the work of their Ser¬ vants, and Slaves, is no other than what every common Freeman do’s. Neither is any Servant requir’d to do more in a Day, than his Over- feer. And I can aflure you with a great deal of Truth, that generally their Slaves are not work¬ ed pear fo hard, nor^fo many Honrs in a Day, as Prefent State ^Virginia. $7 as the Flusbandmen, and Day-Labourers in Eng¬ land. An Overfeer is a Man, that having ferved his time; has acquired the Skill and Character of an experienced Planter, and is therefore intrud¬ ed with the Direction of the Servants and Slaves. But to compleat this account of Servants, I fliall give you a fhort Relation of the care their Laws take , that they be ufed as tenderly as pofti- ble. By the Laws of their Country. 1. All Servants whatfoever, have their Com¬ plaints heard without Fee, or Reward ,• but if the Mafter be found Faulty, the charge of the Complaint is caft upon him, otherwife the bufi- nefs is done ex Officio. 2. Any Juftice of Peace may receive the Com¬ plaint of a Servant, and order every thing rela¬ ting thereto, till the next County-Court, where it will be finally determin'd. 5. All Matters are under the Correction, and Cenfure of the County-Courts, to provide for their Servants, good and wholftne Diet, Clothing, and Lodging* They are always to appear, upon the firft Notice given of the Complaint of their Servants, otherwife to forfeit the Service of them, until they do appear. f. All Servants Complaints are to be receiv’d at any time in Court, without Procefs, and fliall not be delay’d for want of Form ; but the Me¬ rits of the Complaint mutt be immediately in¬ quir’d into by the Juftices ,• and if the Mafter caufe any delay therein, the Court may remove fuch Servants, if they fee Caufe, until the Ma¬ tter will come to Tryal. Cccc i e. # 1% 7he HISTORY^ 6. If a Mailer fhall at any time difobey an Order of Courts made upon any Complaint of a Servant ; the Court is impower’d to remove fuch Servant forthwith to another Mailer, who will be kinder ,* Giving to the former Mailer the pro¬ duce only, (after Fees dedudbed) of what fuch Servants fhall be fold for by Publick Outcry. 7. If a Mailer fhould be fo cruel, as to ufe his Servant ill, that is fain Sick, or Lame in his Ser¬ vice, and thereby render’d unfit for Labour, he muil be remov’d by the Church-Wardens out of the way of fuch Cruelty, and boarded in fome good Plant¬ ers Houfe, till the time of his Freedom, the charge of which muil be laid before the next County- Court, which has power to levy the fame from time to time, upon the Goods and Chattels of the Mailer,* After which, the charge of fuch Board¬ ing is to come upon the Pariih in General. 8. All hired Servants are intituled to thefe Priviledges. 9. No Mailer of a Servant, can make a new Bargain for Service, or other Matter with his Ser¬ vant, without the privity and confent of a Ju- flice of Peace, to prevent the Mailer’s Over¬ reaching, or fcareing fuch Servant into an un- reafonable Comply ance. 10. The property of all Money and Goods fent over thither to Servants, or caary’d in with them • is referv’d to themfelves, and remain in- tirely at their difpofal. 11. Each Servant at his Freedom, receives of his Mailer fifteen Buihels of Corn, ( which is fuf- ficient for a whole year J and two new Suits of Cloaths, both Linnen and Woollen,* and then becomes as free in all refpeds , and as much entituled to the Liberties , and Priviledges of the Country, as any other of the Inhabitants or Natives are. ' * . ' • 1 ■* « 12. Each I Prefent State of Vi rgini a. %9 12. Each Servant has then alfo a Right to take tip fifty Acres of Land, where he can find any unpatented: But that is no great Privilege, for any one may have as good a right for a piece of Eight. # • This is what the Laws prefcribe in favour of Servants, by which you may find, that the Cru¬ elties and Severities imputed to that Country, are are an unjuft Reflection. For no People more abhor the thoughts of fuch Ufage, than the Vir* g'mians , nor take more precaution to prevent it. CHAP. XT. Of the other Puhlick Charitable Works , and particularly , their Provijion for the Poor . §• yj. THey live in fo happy a Climate,~and have fo fertile a Soil, that no body is poor enough to* beg, or want Food, though they have abundance of People that are lazy enough to deferveit. I remember the time, when five pound was left by a charitable Teftator, to the Poor of the Parifh he lived in ; and it lay nine years, before the Executors could find one poor enough, to be intitul’d to any part of this Legacy ,* and at laft it was all given to one old Woman, So that this may in truth, be term’d the belt poor Man’s Country in the World. But as they have no body that is poor to beggary, fo they have few that are rich ; becaufe their Goods are fo heavily burden’d with Duties in England ^ that they feldom can make any advantage of £m. Cgcc 4 §. 14, When 4o Tk H I S T O RY ani §. ^4. When it happens, that by Accident or Sicknels, any Perfon is difabled from Working, and fo is forc’t to depend upon the Alms of the Parifh, he is then very well provided for ; not at the common rate of fome Countries, that give but juft fufficient, to preferve the poor from pe¬ nding : But the unhappy Creature is receiv’d into fome charitable Planter’s Houfe, where he is at the Publick Charge, boarded very plentiful¬ ly. Many when they are very Aged, or by long Sicknels, become Poor, will fometimes ask to be free from Levies and Taxes ; but very few do ever ask for the Parifh-Alms, or indeed, fo much as ftand in need of them. $ f. There are large tracftsof Land, Houfes, and other things granted to Free-Schools, for the Education of Children, in many parts of the Country,* and fome of thefe arefo large, that of themfelves they are a handfom Maintenance to a Mafter : But the additional Allowance,which Gen¬ tlemen give with their Sons, render them a com¬ fortable Subfjftence. Thefe Schools have been foun¬ ded by the Legacies of well inclin’d Gentlemen, and the Management of them, hath commonly been left to the Direction of the County-Court, or to the Veftry of the refpedive Parifhes, and I have never heard, that any of thofe Pious Ufes have been Mif-apply’d. In all other Places, where fuch Indowments have not been already made, the People joyn, and build Schools for their Children, where they may learn upon very cafie Terms. 7 r 7 / Prefent State (^Virginia. 41 CHAP. XII. Of the Tenure ly which they hold their Lands ; and of their Grants . §• 5'^npH E Tenure of their Land there,is free 1. and common Soccage, according to Cuftom of Laf -Greenwich ; and is created by Let¬ ters Patents., iffuing under the Seal of the Colo¬ ny, and under the Teft of the Governour in Chief for the time being ; and I don’t find, that the Name of any other Officer is neceffary, to make the Patent valid ; but it mull be granted by confent of Council. §. 5-7, There are three ways of obtaining from her Majefty, a Title to Land there, viz,. ifi3 By Right and Survey. 2 d3 By Petition for Land Lapfed. By Petition for Land Efcheated. The Conditions of the two former, are the En¬ try of Rights ,* the Condition of - the third, a Compofition of two pounds of Tobacco for e- very Acre. §. s' 8. A Right, is the Title any one hath by the Royal Charter, to fifty Acres of Land, in Confideration of his Perfon?! Tranfportation in¬ to that Country, to fettle and remain there ; by this Rule alfo, a Man that removes his Family, is intituled to the fame Number of Acres, for his Wife, and each of his Children. §. 5-9. A Patent for Land upon Survey, is ac¬ quired thus. Fir£, the Man proves his Rights ; that is, he makes Oath in Court, of the Importa¬ tion 42 Tlx HISTORY and tion of fo many Perfons, with a Lift of their Names. This Lilt is then certified by the Clerk of that Court, to the Clerk of the Secretaries Office,- who examines into the Validity of them, and files them in that Office, attefting them to be regular. When the Rights are thus certified, they are produced to the Surveyor of the County, and the Land is fhewed to him who thereupon is bound by his Oath to make the Survey, if the Land had been not Patented before. Thefe Rights to Land, are as commonly fold by one Man to a- nother, as the Land itfelf,* fo that any one, not having Rights by his own Importation, may have them by Purchase. It is the bufmefs of the Surveyor alfo, to take care, that the Bounds of his Survey be plainly marked, either by natural Boundaries, or elfe by chopping Notches in, the Trees, that happen in the lines of his Courfes : But this is done at the charge of the Man that employs him. This Survey being made, a Copy thereof is carried, with the Certificate of Rights to the Se¬ cretaries Office, and there (if there be no Ob¬ jection) a Patent rauft of courfe be made out upon it, which is prefented to the Governor and Council for. them to pafs ,* the Patentee having no more to do, but to fend for it when it is per¬ fected, and to pay the Fee, at the firft Crop, to the Sheriff of the County, by whom annually the Fees are collected. This Patent gives an Eftate in Fee-fimple, upon Condition, of paying a Quit-Rent of twelve pence for every fifty Acres, and of Planting or Seating thereon, within three years, according to their Law ; that is, to clear, plant, and tend an Acreof Ground with Corn, or to build an Houfe, and keep a flock of Cattle, for one whole year to¬ gether upon the Landj after which Tis prefum’d j Prefent State of Virginia. 45 * they will continue the Settlement, and not let the Stock be loft , which after it has got a taft of thofe new Plantations, will never after¬ wards without Confinement, remain at an old one. I know that a certain grave Author ot much Learn¬ ing, and little Knowledge of the Plantations, Ridi¬ cules this Law, in his Difcourfes on the Trade of England, Part 2. Pag. 2 36. Rut I believe if he had Land there, under the Conditions ot that Law, he wou’d not, with all his Skill in ihifting, be able ei¬ ther to avoid paying the Quit-rents, or to conti¬ nue his Right, by »ereding a Hutt of Bark, as he calls it. This Adventrous Gentleman, has fe- veral unjuft Reflections upon that Country : But I impute them all to his Writing wholly in favour of the Propriety -Government, and upon other Peoples Information, who know as little of the Matter as himfelf. §. 60. Lapfed Land, is when any one having obtain’d a Patent as before, doth not Seat or Plant thereon Within three years, as the Condi¬ tion of the Patent requires,* but leaves it ftill al¬ together uninhabited, and uncultivated : In fuch cafe it is faid to be Lapfed, and any Man is at liberty to obtain a new Patent of it in his own Name ; the method of acquiring which Patent, is thus. The Party muft apply himfelf by Petition to the General Court, fetting forth all the Circum- ftances of the Lapfe. If this Petition be allow d, the Court makes an Order, that a Patent be pre¬ pared for the Petitioner, upon the fame Condi¬ tion, of Seating or Planting within three years, as was in the former Patent. Thus Land may be lapfed or loft feveral times, by the negligence of the Patentees ,* who by fuch Omiflion, lofc not only the Land, but all their Rights, and Charges into the bargain. r ®ut 44 Ux H I S T O R Y and k But if within the three years after the Date of the Patent, .the Patentee fhall Seat or Plant the raid Land, as the Law directs ; It cannot after¬ wards be forfeited, but by Attainder, or Efcheat, in which cafe it returns to her Maiefly a— gain. ' } __ §• When Land is fuppofed to Efcheat, the Governor iffues his Warrant to the Efcheator, to make Inqueft thereof : And when upon fuch Inqueft, Office is found for the Queen, it muft be recorded in the Secretaries Office, and there kept nine Months, to fee if any Perfon will lay claim to it, or can traverfe the Efcheat. If any fuch appear, upon his Petition to the General Court, he is heard, before any Grant can be made. If no Perfon oppofe the Inqueft, the Land is given to the Man that /hews the beft equita¬ ble right thereto ,• and if there be none fuch it is then granted to any one, that the Gover¬ nor and Council fhall think fit , the Grantee always paying two pounds of Tobacco per Acre into the Treafury of the Country, as a Fine of Compqfition with her Majefty for her Efcheat • And thereupon a Patent ilfues reciting the Pre- mifes. & CHAP. XIII. Of the Liberties and Naturalization of Aliens in Virginia, y 62.^~'iHnftimi5 of all Nations, have equal free- become ur °'?„tllere \ afld upon their Arrival, become I{f» facie, entituled to all the Liberties :< : . , ■/ and Prefent State of V irginu. 4 T and Priviledges of the Conn try , provided they take the Oaths of Obedience to the Crown, and Government. The Method of obtaining Naturalization is thus ; the Party defiring it, goes before the Go¬ vernor., and tenders his Oath of Allegiance, which the Governor thereupon Adminifters, and immediately makes Certificate of it under the Seal of the Colony. By this means, the Perfon Alien, is compleatly Naturalized to all Intents and Purpofes. §. 63. All the French Refugees fent in thither by the Charitable Exhibition of his late Ma jelly King William , are Naturalized. In the year 1699, there went over in about three hundred of thefe, and the year following about two hundred more, and fo on, till there arrived in all, between feven and eight hundred Men, Women, and Children, who had fled from France on account of their Religion. Thofe who went over the firlt year, were ad- vifed to Seat on a piece of very rich Land, a™ bout twenty Miles above the Falls of James Ri¬ ver, on the South fide of the River ; which Land was formerly the Seat of a Great and Warlike Nation of Indians , call'd the Monacans , nohe of which are now left in thofe Parts ,* but the Land Hill retains their Name, and is call'd the Mona¬ can Town. The Refugees that arrived the fecond year, went alfo firlt to the Monacan Town, but after¬ wards upon fome Difagreement, feveral difpers’d themfelves up and down the Country ; and thole that have arriv'd fince, have follow’d their Ex¬ ample, except fome few, that fettl'd like wife at the Moacdn Town. J Our 4 6 The HISTORY and The Affembly was very bountiful to thofe who remain’d at this Town, befto wing on them large Donations, Money, and Provifions for their Sup¬ port ,* they likewife freed them from every Pub- lick Tax, for feveral years to come, and addreft the Governor, to grant them a Brief, to entitle them to the Charity of all well-difpos’d Perfons throughout the Country, which together with the Kings Benevolence, fupported them very comfortably, till they could fufficiently fupply themfelves with Necefiaries, which now they do indifferently well, and begin to have Stocks of Cattle, which are Paid to give abundantly more Milk, than any other in the Country. I have heard that thefe People are upon a. defign, of get¬ ting into the breed of Buffaloes, to which end they lie in wait for their Calves, that they may tame, and raife a Stock of them : In which if they Succeed, ’twill in all probability be greatly for their Advantage ; for thefe are much larger than other Cattle, and have the benefit of being natu¬ ral to the Climate. They now make many of their own Cloaths, and are refolved, as foon as they have improv’d that Manufacture, to apply themfelves to the making of Wine and Brandy, which they do not doubt to bring to Perfection. The laft year they began an Effay of Wine, which they made of the wild Grapes gather’d in the Woods ,* the effeCt of which, was Noble ftrong- bodied Claret, of a curious flavour. I heard a Gen¬ tleman, who tailed it, give it great Commenda¬ tion. Now if fuch may be made of the wild Vice in the Woods, without Pruning, Weeding, or re¬ moving it out of the Shade, what may not be produc’d from a Vinyard skilfully Cultivated? I mull not here omit doing Juilice to the Goodnefs and Generolity of Colonel Byrd , to¬ wards Prefent State of Virginia. 47 wards thefe diftreffed Hugonots. Upon their firft Arrival in that Country , he receiv’d them with all the tendernefs of a Father ; and ever fince has conftantly given them the utmoft Affi~ fiance. He not only relieves them, but with a Charity very uncommon, is fond of doing it. He makes them the objecft of his particular care, employing all his Skill, and all his Friends, to advance their Intereft, both publickly and pri¬ vately. He fpares no Expence, and what is more than that, he refufes no trouble for their Incouragement. What Liberties has he not all along allow’d them, upon his own Plantations, to furniih themfelves from thence with Corn, and other Neceflaries ? His Mills have been at their Service, to grind their Corn Toll-free, and his People are order’d upon all occafions to aflift them. How kind has he been in procuring them Contributions from other People ? With what Zeal did he reprefent their Caufe to the Aflem- bly ? And with what earneftnefs did he prefs all his Friends in their favour, who other wife told him, they could not have believ’d their Cafe to be, as he related it ? For even Poverty in all its Diftrefs, cou’d not guard them from ill Reports, which wou’d have had a fevere effedf upon them, had they not been protected by the Intereft, and Credit of this Honourable Gentleman. With what delight did he afterwards gather in the Be¬ nevolence, that was given ? How frequently do’s he continue ftill to vifit their Families, and with what Importunity do’s he prefs them, to make their wants known to him, that takes pleafure in „ relieving them ? It is eafie to imagin, how ne- ceffary to an Infant Settlement, are the Aftiftan- ces or fo generous a Friend. When feveral hun¬ dred Families of Men, Women, and Children are fet aihoar Naked and Hungry, in a ftrange < - ' * Land, I 'l 48 Tfe HISTORY and Land, they have not only neceffity to ftruggle with, but likewife with the Envy of Ill-natur'd People, who fancy they come to eat the Bread out of their Mouths : All thefe Difficulties be¬ fell thefe poor Refugees at their firft Arrival there ; but God Almighty rais'd up this Gentle¬ man, not only to Succour them with his own Charity, but to folicit the Liberalities of other People. By thefe Helps they have hitherto Sub- fified, and been put into fome Condition to fhift for themfelves. However, they are notyetfo far advanc'd, but that their Patron, may Hill have an opportunity, of fhewing his Kindnefs towards them ,• which is to prevail with the Affembly, to befiow upon them a certain Title to the Land they now poffefs, to which as yet they have no other Right, but the bare fitting down upon un- feated Land. This feems to be worthy of an early care, left the Land which they have improv’d by their Induftry from wild Woods, fhould here¬ after unjuftly be taken away from their Chil¬ dren. CHAP. XIV. Of the Currency and V a l nation of Coins in Vir* ginia. §. 64."T“'H E Coin which chiefly they have a- _L mong'em, is either Gold, of the Stamp of Arabia , or Silver and Gold, of the Stamp of the Spanifh America : But they have now very little Mo¬ ney there, and are Itill like to have rather lefs, than more, while matters remain in the ill Condition they are. For while they are for¬ bid raifing the Coin, and the Neighbouring Go¬ vernments Pre/cnt State 0/ V 1 r g r ft i a . 49 vernments all around, are allow’d to enhance the rate of it with them, to above thirty per Cent* more than the Intrinfick Value ,• all their Mo¬ ney will be carry’d thither, which feems to be the greatell hardihip in the World upon that Co¬ lony. It were much to be wifh’d, that all the Co¬ lonies of the Continent under the Dominion of England , were oblig’d to have one and the fame Standard for their Coin ,• that fo one Govern¬ ment might not luffer by the unreafonable ad¬ vances of another. The Inconveniences to Virginia , by the drawing away all the Specie, are inexpreffible. For People want Money for travel¬ ing Expencesj and for paying the fmall Jobbs of - Labourers, and Artificers, who wou’d other- wife fave abundance of time to the mfelves, which is now loll in looking after trivial De^ts ; befides the diladvantage of not being able to turn the Penny. By having no Ready-Money , many Law-liiits commence, to demand thofe Debts, which by this means ar e contracted ,• befides the being forc’d to keep a thoufand unnecelfary Ac¬ counts. Spanijh Piftoles pafs current there at 17 s. 6 d. Arabian Che^uins at 10 j. Pieces of Eight, if. they Weigh 16 PennyWeight, (except of Peru,) at 5* h French Crqwns at 5 s. Peru pieces of Eight and Dutch Dollars, at 4 s . And all Englijh Coin, as it go’s in England* 1 ' Dddd PAHT t ' I jo Part II. <•’ * * * § * * * * *** Of ihe Husbandry^ and Improvements of Vir¬ ginia. CHAP. XV. i Of the People , Inhabitants of Virginia. • ' » s V §• IF* Can eafily imagin with Sir Jofiah § Child , that this., as well as all the reft of H the Plantations., was for the molt part JiL at firft peopled by Perfons of low Circumllances., and by fuch as were willing to Peek their Fortunes in a Foreign Country. "Nor was it hardly poffible it fliould be otherwile ; for ’tis not likely that any Man of a plentiful Eftate_, fhouid voluntarily abandon a happy Cer¬ tainty ^ to roam after imaginary Advantages., in a New "World. Befides which in certainty., he mult have propos’d to himfelf, to encounter the infinite difficulties and Dangers., that attend a New. Settlement. Thefe Dilcouragements were fufficient to terrifie any Man., that cou d live ea- fy in Engl arid, from going to provoke his For¬ tune in a ftrange Land, *** * . •». ^ ; • §. 66 . Thofe ♦ Prelent State of Virginia. 51 §, 66. Thofe that went over to that Country firft, were chiefly fingle Men, who had not the Incumbrance of Wives and Children in England ; and if they had, they did not expofe them to the fatigue and hazard ot. fo long a Voyage, until they faw how it fhould fare with the mfelves. From hence it game to pafs, that when they were let- led there in a comfortable way of Subfiding a Family, they grew fenlible of the Misfortune of wanting Wives, and fuch as had left Wives in Eng¬ land, lent for them ; but the fingle Men were put to their Shifts. They excepted againd the Indian Women, on account of their being Pagans, and for fear they fhou d confpire with thofe of their own Nation, to dedroy their Husbands. Un¬ der this Difficulty they had no hopes, but that the Plenty in which they liv’d, might invite Mo- dell Women of fmall Fortunes, to go over thither from England. However, they won d not receive any, but fuch as cou’d carry fufficient Certificate of their Modedy, and good Behavi¬ our. Thole if they were but moderately quali¬ fied in all other Refpe&s, might depend upon Marrying very well in thofe Days, without any Fortune. Nay, the fird Planters were fo far frojn expetding Money with a Woman, that Jtwas a common thing for them to buy a defer- ving Wife, at the price of ioo Pound, and make themfelves believe ^ they had a hopeful bar¬ gain. §. 67. But this way of Peopling the Colony was only at fird ; for after the advantages of the Climate, and the fruitfulnefs of the Soil were well, known, and all the dangers incident to In¬ fant Settlements were over'. People of better Condition retir’d thither with their Families, ei- P d d d 2 thor 5 2 Toe HISTORY and ther to increafe the Eftates they had before, or elfe to avoid being perfecuted for their Principles' of Religionj or Government: Thus in die time of ? the Rebellion in England , feveral good Cavalier families went thither with their Effe<5b, to efcape the Tyranny of the Ufurper. And lb again, upon theRedoration, many People of the oppofite Party took Refuge there, t‘o fhelter themfelves from the King’s Refentment. But they had not many of thefe lad, becaufe that Country was famous, for holding out the longed: for the Royal Family, of any of th c-EngliJh Dominions^ for which reafon, the Roundheads went for the molt part to ddnv-England , as did molt of thofe, that in the Reign of King Charles II. were mo- Idled on the account of their Religion, though home of thefe fell like wife to the Ih are of Virginia . As for Malefa&ors condemn’d to Tranfportation, they haye always receiv’d very few, and for ma^ ny years lad pad, their Laws have been fevere a- gaind them. C HA P. XVI, Of the Buildings in Virginia. §. 68. *lpHere are two fine Publick Buildings ! in this Country, which are the mod Magnificent of any . in America : One of which is the College before fpoken of, and the other the Capitol or State-PIoufe, as it was formerly call’d ; That is, the Houfe for Convention of the General Afiembly,for the Setting of the Gene¬ ral Court, for the Meeting of the Council, and for keeping of their feveral Offices. Not far from this, is alfo built the publick' PrT fon of the Country, which is a large and con¬ venient Prefent State of Vijlghsia. 5 $ venient Structure, with Partitions for the diffe- rent Sexes; and diftinct Rooms for Petty-Offen- ders. To this is alfo annexed a convenient Yard to Air the Criminals in; for prefervation of their Life and Healthy till the time of their Trial . Thefe are all ere&ed at Middle-Plantation, now nam’d frfiUiamsburgh, where Land is laid out for a new Town. The College; and Capitol are both built of Bricky and cover’d with Shingle. §,. 69. The Private Buildings are of late very much improved ; feveral Gentlemen there, ha¬ ving built themfelves large Brick Houfes of ma¬ ny Rooms on a Floor; and feveral Stories high? as alfo fome Stone-Houfes : but they don’t covet to make them lofty; having extent enough of Ground to build upon ,* and now and then they are vifited by high Winds, which wou’d incom¬ mode a towring Fabrick. They always contrive to have large Rooms, that they may be cool in Summer. Of late they have made their Stories much higher than formerly; and their "Windows large, and fhafht with Criftal Glafs ; and with¬ in they adorn their Apartments with rich Fur¬ niture. All their Drudgeries of Cookery ; Wafting* DarieS; &c . are perform’d in Offices detacht from the Dwelling-HoufeS; which by this means are kept more cool and Sweet. Their Tobacco-Houfes are all built of Wood* as open and airy as is confftent with keeping out the Rain ; which fort of Building; is molt convenient for the curing of their Tobacco. Their common covering for Dwell ing-Hou- fes is Shingle* which is an Oblong Square of Cyprefs or Pine-Wood,* but they cover their Tobacco-Houfes with thin Clap-board and tho’ D d d d 3 they 54 HIST OR Y and they have Slate enough in Tome particular parts of the Country, and as ftrong Clay as can be defired for making of Tile, yet they have very few tiled Houles • neither has any one-yet thought it worth his while, to dig up the Slate, which will hardly be made ufe of, till the Carriage there becomes cheaper, and more common. CHAP. XVI I. * Of the Edilles , Potables , and Fewel in Vir¬ ginia. • §• yo.npH E Families being altogether on i Country-Seats, they have their Gra¬ ziers, Seedfmen, Gardiners , Brewers , Bakers , Butchers, and Cooks within themfelves : they have a great Plenty and Variety of Provifions for their Table,* and as for Spicery, and other things that the Country don’t produce , they have coii- ftant fuppiies of ’em from England. 'The Gentry pretend to have their Vi duals dr eft, and ferv’d up as Nicely, as at the beft Tables in London. §. 71. When I come to fpeak of their Cattle, I can't forbear charging my Country-men with exceeding Ill-Husbandry, in not providing fu.f- ficiently for them all Winter, by which means they ftarve their young Cattle, or at leaft ftint their Growth j fo that they feldom or never grow lo large as they wouid do, if they were well manag’d ; for the humour is there, if Peo¬ ple can but have the lives of their Cattle, tho’ they Buffer them to be never fo poor in the Win¬ ter, yet they will prefently grow fat again in the Spring, which they efteem fufficient for their pur- Prefent State of Virgin i a. 55: pofe. And this is the occafion, that their Beef, and Mutton are feldom or never fo large, or fo fat as in England : And yet with the leaft feed¬ ing imaginable, they are put into as good cafe, as can be defired. But the Pork, Bacon, and Fowls of all forts, both Dunghil-Fowl , and Water-Fowl, Tame and Wild, niuft be allowed to have very much the advantage in their feveral kinds, of thofe in England. Their Fifh is in vaft plenty and variety , and extraordinary good in their kind. Bed and Pork are commonly fold there, from one Penny, to two Pence the Pound ,• their fatteft and large# Poulets at Sixpence a piece ,* their Capons at eight-pence or nine-pence a piece ; their Chickens at three or four Shillings the Do¬ zen ,* their Ducks at Eight-pence, or Nine-pence a piece ; their Geefe at Ten pence or a Shilling 5 their Turkey-Hens at Fifteen or Eighteen pence ; and their Turky-Cocks at two Shillings or half a Crown. But Oyfters, and Wild-Fowl are not fo dear, as the things I have reckon’d before, being in their Seafon the cheapeft Victuals they have. Their Deer are commonly fold for eight, ten, or twelve Shillings a Head, according to the Tear- city. §. 72. The Bread in Gentlemen’s Houfes, is generally made of Wheat, but fome rather choofe the Pone, which is the Bread made of Indian Meal. Many of the poorer fort of People fo little regard the Englijh Grain, that though they might have it with the lea# trouble in the World, yet they don’t mind to Tow the Ground, be- caufe they won’t be at the trouble of making a Fence particularly for it. And therefore their conftant Bread is Pone, not fo called from the D d d d 4 Latine, 56 ^HISTORY ani ' Latine, Eanisy but from the Indian Name Op- pone, ' ‘ $•7?* A Kitchin-Garden ndon’jt thrive better or l after in any part of the Univerfp, than there. They have all the Culinary Plants that grow in Eng- land, and in far greater perfection, than in Eng¬ land : Befides thefe, they have feveral Roots,, Herbs, Vine- fruits, and Salate-Flowers peculiar to themfelves, molt of which will neither increafe, nor grow to Perfection in England. Thefe they dilh up various ways, and find them very deli¬ cious Sauce to their Meats, both Roaft and Boild, frefh and Salt ^ fiich are the Red-Bud§, Saffafras- i lowers, Cymnels, Melons, and Potatoes, where¬ of I have fpoken at large in the 4^ Chapter of the Second Book. It is faid of New -England, that feveral Plants will not grow there, which thrive well in Eng- land3 fuch as Rue, Southernwood, Rofemary, Bays, and Lavender : And that others degene¬ rate, and will not continue above a year or two at the moil,- fuch are July-Flowers , Fennel, Lnula Campana, Clary, and Blood wort : But I don t know any Englifb Plant, Grain, or Fruit, that milcarries in Virginia • but moft of them bet¬ ter their kinds very much, by being fowed or j ^ ft was formerly faid of the Red¬ rop Turnip , that there in three or four yedK time, it degenerated into Rape ,* but that hap¬ pen’d merely by an Error in faving the Seed ; ror now it appears, that if they cut off the top of fuch a .turnip, that has been kept out of the Ground all the AVintej, and plant that top alone without the Body of the Root, it' yields a Seed, which mends the Turnip in the next fow- ing. / * - \ r V \ I • 74. Their 5 7 Prefent State of Virginia. §. 74. Their Small-drink is either Wine and Water, Beer, Milk and Water, or Water a- lone. Their richer fort generally Brew their Small-Beer with Malt, which they have from England , though they have as good Barley of their own, as any in the World ,• but for want of the convenience of Malt-Houfes, the Inha¬ bitants take no care to fow it. The poorer fort brew their Beer with Mollalfes and: Bran - with Indian Corn Malted by drying in a Stove ; with Perfimmons dried in Cakes, and baked j with Potatoes ,* with the green' Balks of Indian Corn cut fmall, and bruifed ,* with Pompions ; and with the Batates Canadenfis, or Jerufalem Ar¬ tichoke, which fome People plant purpofely for that ule, but this is the leaft efteem’d, of all the forts before mention’d. Their Strong Drink is Madera Wine, which is a Noble ftrong Wine j and Punch, made either of Rum from the CarMee Blands, or Brandy di- ftilled from their Apples, and Peaches ; befides French-Brandy , Wine, and ftrong Beer, which they have continually from England. §. Their Fewel is altogether Wood, which every Man burns at Pleafure, it being no other charge to him, than the cutting, and carrying it home. In all new Grounds it is fuch an Incum¬ brance, that they are forced to burn great heaps of it, to rid the Land. They have very good Pit-Coal (as is formerly mention’d) in feveral pla¬ ces of the Country, but no Man has yet thought it worth his while to make ufe of them, having Wood in Plenty , and lying more convenient for him. CHAP. 5 8 The HIST O R Y and , CHAP. XVIIJ, Of the Cloathingin Virginia. \ • * # §' 76. '*¥'*Hey have their Cloathing of all forts l_ from England , as Linnen, Woollen, Silk, Hats, and Leather. Yet Flax, and Hemp grow no where in the World, better than there ; their Sheep yield a mighty Increafe, and bear good Fleeces, but they jhear them only to cool them. The Mulberry-Tree, whofe Leaf is the proper Food of the Silk-Worm, grows there like a Weed, and Silk-Worms have been obferv’d to thrive extreamly, and without any hazard. The very Furrs that their Hats are made of, perhaps go firft from thence • and molt of their Hides lie and rot, or are made ule of^ only for covering dry Goods, in a leaky Houfe. Indeed fome few Hides with much adoe are tann d, and made in¬ to Servants Shoes ,* but at fb carelefs a rate, that the Planters don t care to buy them, if they can get others ,* and fometimes perhaps a better ma¬ nager than ordinary, will vouchfafe to make a pair of Breeches of a Deer-Skin. Nay, they are fuch abominable Ill-husbands, that tho’ their Country be over-run with Wood, yet they have all their Wooden Ware from England ; their Oa- binets. Chairs, Tables , Stools, Chefts, Boxes , Cart-Wheels, and all other things, even fo much as their Bowls, and Birchen Brooms, to the E- ternal Reproach of their Lazinefs. CHAP. 4 5 9 Prefent State of Virginia. CHAP. XIX. Of the Temperature of the Climate , and the In - conveniences attending it. §. yy.T'H E Natural Temperature of thelnna^- j[ ed part of the’ .Country, is hot and moift * tho’ this Moifture I take to be occafion'd by the abundance of low Grounds , Mar/hes, Creeks, and Rivers, which are every where a- mong their lower Settlements ; but more back¬ ward in the Woods, where they are now Seating, and making new Plantations , they have abun¬ dance of high and dry Land, where there are only Cryftal Streams of Water, which flow gent¬ ly from their Springs, and divide themfelves in¬ to innumerable Branches, to moiften and enrich the adjacent Lands. §. 78. The Country is in a very happy Si¬ tuation , between the extreams of Heat and Cold, but inclining rather to the fir ft. Certain¬ ly it mu ft be a happy Climate, fince it is very near of the fame Latitude with the Land of Promife. Befides, As Judaea was full of Rivers, and Branches of Rivers ,* So is Virginia : As that was feated upon a great Bay and Sea, wherein were all the conveniences for Shipping and Trade ; So is Virginia. Had that fertility of Soil ? So has Virginia , equal to any Land in the known World. In fine, if any one impartially confiders all the Advantages of this Country, as Nature made it • he muft allow it to be as fine a Place, as any in the Univerfe ; but I confels I am afham’d to fay any thing of its Improvements, becaufe I muft The H I S T O R Y and . at the fame time reproach my Country -Men with a Lazinefs that is unpardonable. If there be any excufe for them in this Matter, ?tis the .exceeding plenty of good things, with which Nature has bieft thepi ,* for where God Almighty is fo Merciful as to work for People, they never work for themfelves. All the Countries in the World, feated in or near the Latitude of Virginia , are efteem’d the Fruitfulleft , and Pleafantelt of all Clymates. As for Example, Canaan , Syria , Perjia, great part of India, China and Japan , the More a , Spain , Por¬ tugal, and the Coalf of Barbary, none of which dif¬ fer many Degrees of Latitude from Virginia . Thefe are reckon’d the Gardens of the World, while Virginia is unjuftly negle&ed by its own Inhabi¬ tants, and abus’d by other People. §» 79* That which makes this Country molt unfortunate, is, that it muft fubmit to receive its Character from the Mouths not only of un¬ fit, but very unequal -Judges ,• For, all* its Re¬ proaches happen after this manner. Many of the Merchants and others that go thi¬ ther from England, make no diftindtion betweena cold, and a hot Country : but wifely go fwel- tering about in their thick Cloaths all the Sum¬ mer, becaule they ufed to do fo in their Ncr- thern Climate ,* and then unfairly complain of the heat of the Country. They greedily Surfeit with their delicious Fruits, and are guilty of great Intemperance, through the exceeding Ge- neioiity of the Inhabitants ,* by which means they fall Sick, and then unjuftly complain of theun- healthinefs of the Country. In the next place, the Sailers for want of Towns there, are put to the hardihip of rowling moll of the Tobac¬ co, a Mile or more, to the Water-fide : this Splin- ters Preferif State of Virginia, ters their Hands fometimes, and provokes ’em to curfe the Country. Such Exercife, and a bright Sun, makes them hot, and then they impru¬ dently fall to drinking cold Water, or perhaps New Cyder, which in its Seafon, they find at every Planter’s Houfe ,* Or elfe they greedily de¬ vour all the green Fruit, .and unripe Trafh they, can meet with, and fo fall into Fluxes, Fevers, and the Belly-Ach ; and then, to fpare their own Indifcretion, they in their Tarpawlin Language, cry, God D - the Country. This is the true State of the cafe, as to' the Complaints of its being Sickly ,* For, by the moft impartial Obfer- vation I can make, if People will be perfwaded to be Temperate, and take due care of them- felves, I believe it is as healthy a Country, as any under Fleaven : but the extraordinary pleafarit- n-efs of the Weather, and .the goodnefs of the Fruit, lead People into many Temptations. The clearnefs and brightnefs of the Sky, add new vi¬ gour to their Spirits, and perfectly remove all Splenetick and fullen Thoughts. Here they en¬ joy all the benefits of a warm Sun, and by their' fhady Groves, are prote&ed from its Inconveni¬ ence. Here all their Senfes are entertain d with an endlefs Succeffion of Native Pleafures. Their Eyes are ravifhed with the Beauties of naked Nature. Their Ears are Serenaded with the perpetual mur¬ mur of Brooks, and the thorow-bafe which the Wind plays, when it wantons through the Trees ; the merry Birds too, join their pleafing Notes to this rural Confort , efpecially the Mock-birds, who love Society fo well, that whenever they fee Mankind,, they will perch upon a Twigg very near them, and fing the fweeteft wild Airs in the World : But what is. moft remarkable in thefb Melodious Animals, they will frequently fly at final! diftances before a Traveller, warbling out their 6z The HISTORY and t ' * ' • • i their Notes feveral Miles an end, and by their Muiick, make a Man forget the Fatigues of his Journey. Their Tafte is regaled with the molt delicious Fruits, which without Art, they hare in great Variety and Perfection. And then their fmell is refreshed with air eternal fragrancy of Flowers and Sweets , with which Nature perfumes and adorns the Woods almollthe whole year round. Have you pleafure in a Garden ? All things thrive in * it, molt furprifeingly • you can’t walk by a Bed of Flowers , but beffdes the enter¬ tainment of their Beauty, your Eyes will be faluted with the charming colours ot the Hum¬ ming Bird , which revels among the Flowers, and licks off the Dew and Honey from their tender Leaves , on which it only feeds. It’s lize is not half fo large as an Englijh Wren, and its colour is a glorious fhining mixture of Scar¬ let, Green, and Gold. Colonel Byrd, in his Gar¬ den, which is the fineft in that Country, has a Summer-Houfe fet round with the Indian Honey¬ suckle, which all the Summer is continually full of fweet Flowers, in which thefe Birds delight exceedingly. Upon thefe Flowers, I have feen ten or a dozen of thefe Beautiful Creatures to¬ gether, which fported about me fo familiarly, that with their little Wingsthey often fann’d my Face. §. 80. On the other fide, all the Annoyan¬ ces and Inconveniences of the Country, may fairly be fummed up, under thefe three Heads, Thunder, Heat, and troublefom Vermin. I confefs, in the hotteft part of Summer, they have fometimes very loud and furprizing Thun¬ der, -but rarely any Dam mage happens by it. On the contrary, it is of fuch advantage to the cooling Prefent State of Virginia^ 6 j cooling and refining of the Air, that it is oftner willed for, than fear'd. But they have no Earth¬ quakes^ which the Caribbee Iflands are fo much troubled with. Their Heat is very feldom trot! blefome, and then only by the accident ofaperfed Calm, which hap¬ pens perhaps two or three times in a year, and lafts but a few Hours at a time; and even that Inconvenience is made eafie by cool Shades, by open Airy rooms, Summer-Houfes, Arbors,, and Grottos : But the Spring and Fall, afford as pleafant W eather, as Mahomet promis'd in his Paradife. All the troublefom Vermin e, that ever I heard any Body complain of, are either Frogs, Snakes, Musketa’s, Chinches, Seedticks, or Red-worms, by fome call’d Potato-lice. Of all which I fhall give an account in their Order. Some People have been fo ill inform’d, as to lay, that Virginia, is full of Toads , though there never yet was feen one Toad in it. The Marlhes, Fens, andWatry Grounds, are indeed full of harmlefs Frogs, which do no hurt , ex¬ cept by the noife of their croaking Notes : but in the upper parts of the Country, where the Land is high and dry, they are very fcarce. In the Swamps and running Streams, they have Frogs of an incredible bignefs, which are call’d Bull-frogs, from the roaring they make. Laft year I found one of thefe hear a Stream of frefh Water, of fo prodigious a Magnitude, that when I extended its Leggs, I found the diftance betwixt them, to be feventeen Inches and an half. Iam confident , fix French-Men might have made a comfortable Meal of its Carcafe. Some People in England, are ftartled at the very Name of the Rattle-Snake, and fancy every cor¬ ner of that Province fo much pefter'd with them, that a Mangoes in conftant danger of his Life, that ' . 64 %e H I S T O R Y W th&t walks abroad in the Woods. But this is as grofs , a Miftake, as moft of the other ill reports of this Country. For in the fir'll place, this Snake is very rarely keen ; and when that hap- pens., it never do’s the leaft Mifchief, unlefsyou offer to diflurb it, and thereby provoke it to bite in its own defence. But it never fails to give you fair warning, by making a noife with its Rattle, which may be heard at a convenient di- Ban ce. For my own part, I have travell d the Country as much as any Man in it of my Age, by Night and by Day, above the Inhabitants, as well as among them ,* and yet I never fee a Rattle-Snake alive, and at liberty, in all my Life. I have feen them indeed after they have been killed, or pent up into Boxes to be fent to England . The bite of this Viper, without feme immediate Application, is certainly Death / but Remedies are fo well known, that none of their Servants are ignorant of them. I never knew any that had been hurt by thefe, or any other of their Snakes, although I have a general know¬ ledge all over the Country, and have been in every part of it. They havefeveral other Snakes which are feen more frequently, and have ve¬ ry little or no hurt in them, viz,', fuch as they call Black-Snakes , Water-Snakes , and Corn- Snakes. The black Viper-Snake , and the Cop¬ per-bellied Snake, are faid to be as Venemous as the Rattle-Snake, but they alfo are as feldom feen ,* thefe three poifonous Snakes, bring forth their young alive, whereas the other three forts lay Eggs, which are hatched afterwards ; and that is the diftxn&ion they make,, efteeming only thofe to be Venemous, which are Viviparous. They have likewife the Horn-Snake, fo call’d from a fliarp Horn it carries in its Tail, .with which it af- faults any thing that offends it, with that force, that it ; / ' '• Prefent State of V i a g i n i a. 6 5 it will ftrike its Tail into the But-end of a MuR quet, from whence it is not able to dif engage it iblf. All forts of Snakes will charm both Birds, and Squirrels, and the bidians pretend to charm them. Several Perfons have feen Squirrels run down a Tree, dire&ly into a Snakes mouth; they have like wife feen Birds fluttering up and down, and chattering at thefe Snakes, till at laft they have dropt down juft before them. Some few years agoe, I was a Bear-Hunting in the Woods above the Inhabitants, and having ftraggled from my Companions, I was entertain'd at my return, with the Relation of apleafantRen- counter, between a Dog and Rattle-Snake, about a Squirrel* The Snake had got the Head and Should ders of the Squirrel into his Mouth, which being fomething too large for his Throat, it took him up fome time to moiften the Furr of the Squirrel with his Spawl, to make it flip down. The Dog took this Advantage, feiz’d the hinder parts of the Squirrel, and tugg’d with all his Might. The Snake on the other fide- wou’d not let go his hold for a long time, till at laft, fearing he might be bruifed by the Dog’s running away with him, he gave up his Prey to the Enemy, which he eat, and we eat the Snake, which was dainty food* Musketaes are a fort of Vermin, of lefs dan¬ ger, but much more troublefom, becaufe more frequent. They are a long tail’d Gnat,fuch as ard in all Fens, and low Grounds mEngland^ and I think,have no other difference from them than the Name. Neither are they troubled with ’em any where, but in their low Grounds, and Marfhes* Theib Infedts I believe are ftronger, and conti¬ nue longer there, by reafon of the warm Sun> than in England, Whoever is perfecuted with £ e e € thena 66 TfeHISTO RY and them in' his Houfe there, may get rid of them, by this eafie Remedy. Let him but fet open his Windows at Sun-fet, and fliut them again before the Twilight be quite {hut in, and all the Muf- ketars in the Room, will go out at the Windows, and leave the Room clear. Chinches are a fort of flat Bug, which lurks in ^the Beadfteads and Bedding, and disturbs Peo¬ ple's Relt a-nights. Every neat Houfe-Wife con¬ trives there, byfeveral Devices, to keep her Beds clear of them. But the belt way I ever heard, ef¬ fectually to deftroy them, is by a narrow fearch among the Bedding early in the Spring, before thefe Vermin begin to Nitt, and run about for they lie fnug all the Winter, and are in the Spring large and full of the Winters Growth, having all their Seed within them ,• and fo they become a fair Mark to find, and may with their whole Breed be deftroy ’d. Seed-Ticks, and Red-Worms are fmall InfeCb, that annoy People by day,asMusketaes, and Chin¬ ches do by Night: but both thefe keep out of your way, if you will keep out of theirs,* for Seed-Ticks are no where to be met with, but in the track of Cattle,, upon which the great Ticks faften, and fill their Skins lb full of Blood, that they drop off, and where-ever they happen to fall, they produce a kind of Egg, which lies about a Fort- night, before the Seedlings are Hatcht. Thefe Seedlings run in Swarms up the next blade of Grafs, that lies in their way, and then the firft thing that brufhes that blade of Grafs, gathers off moft of thefe Vermin e, which flick like burrs, upon any thing that touches them. Red-Worms lie only in old dead Trees, and, rotten Loggs ,* and without fitting down upon f uch, a Man never meets with them, norat any other Sea fan, but only in the midft of Summer* A Prelent State ^Virginia* &? A little warm Water , immediately brings off both Seed-Ticks, and Red-Worms, tho5 they lie never fo thick upon any part of the Body : hui without feme fuch Remedy, they are fo finally that nothing will lay hold of them, but the point of a Pen-Knife, Needle, or fuch like. And tho1 nothing be done to remove them, yet the itching they occafion, goes away after two days. §. 8 1. Their Winters are very fhort, and don't continue above three or four Months, of which they have feldom thirty days of unpleafant Wea¬ ther, all the reft being bleft with a clear Air, and a bright Sun. However, they have very hard Froft fometimes, but it rarely lafts above three or four days, that is, till the Wind change $ for if it blow not between the North-Eaft , and North-Weft Points, from the cold Appellatian Mountains, they have no Froft at all. Butthefe Frofts are attended with a Serene Sky, and are otherwife made Delightful , by the tame- nefs of the Wild-fowl and other Game, which by their incredible Number, afford the pleafant- eft Shooting in the World. Their Rains, except in the depth of Winter, are extreamly agreeable and refreftung. All the Summer long they laft but a few Hours at a time, and fometimes not above half an Hour , and then immediately fucceeds clear Sun-ibine again : but in that fhort time it rains fo power¬ fully, that it quits the debt of a long Drought, and makes every thing green and gay. I have heard that this Country is reproaciit with fuddain, and dangerous changes of Wea¬ ther but that Imputation is unjuft : For tho’ ic be true, that in the Winter, when the Wind comes over thofe vaft Mountains to the North-Weft, which are fuppofed to retain mighty Maga- E e e e % zincs 68 Toe H l S T O R Y zmes of Ice, and Snow, the Weather is then ve¬ ry rigorous • yet in Springs Summer, and Au¬ tumn, fuch Winds- are only cool and pleafant Bree¬ zes, which ferve to refrefli the Air, and corred thofe Exceffes of Heat , which the Situation wou’d otherwife make that Country liable to. CHAP. XX. Of the Difeafes incident to Virginia. §• 82. \%7 Hile we are upon the Climate, and v V its Accidents, it will not be impro¬ per, to mention the Difeafes incident to Virginia . Diftempers come not there by choaking up the Spirits , with a foggy and thick Air, as in fome Northern Climes j nor by a Hiding Heat, that exhales the vigour of thofe, that dwell in a more Southerly Latitude : But by a wilful and foolifh indulging themfelves in thofe Plea- fures, which in a warm and fruitful Country, Nature lavifties upon Mankind, for their Happi- nefs, and not for their Deftrudion. Thus I have feen Perfons impatient of Heat, lie almoft naked upon the cold Grafs in the Shades, and there often forgetting themfelves fall afleep. Nay, many are fo imprudent, as to do this in an Evening, and perhaps lie fo all Night • when between the Dew from Heaven, and the Damps from the Earth, fuch impreffions are made upon the humours of their Body, as occafion fatal Diftempers. Thus alfo have I feen Perfons put into a great heat by excefljve Addon, and in the midft of that Heat, ldrip off their Cloaths, and expofe their open Pores to the Air. Nay, I have known fome Prefent State of Virginia. 69 fome mad enough in this hot Condition, to take huge draughts of cold Water, or perhaps of Milk and Water, which they efteem much more cold in Operation, than Water alone. And thus like wife have I feen feveral People, (efpecially New-Comers) fo intemperate in de¬ vouring the pleafant Fruits, that they have fal¬ len into dangerous Fluxes, and Surfeits. Thefe, and fuch like Diforders, are the chief occafions of their Difeafes. '4 §. 83. The firft Sicknefs that any New-Com¬ er happens to have there, he unfairly calls a Sea- foning, be it Fever, Ague, or any thing elfe, that his own folly, or exceffes bring upon him. Their Intermitting Fevers , as well as their Agues, are very troublefome, if a fit Remedy be not apply’d ,♦ but of late the Doctors there, have made ufe of the Cortex Teruviana with Suc- cefs, and find that it feldom or never fails to remove the Fits. The Planters too, have feveral Roots natural to the Country, which in this cafe they cry up as Infallible, They have the Hap- pinefs to have very few Do&ors, and thofe fuch as make ufe only of funple Remedies, of which their Woods afford great Plenty. And indeed, their Diftempers are not many, and their Cures are fo generally known, that there is not Myftery enough, to make a Trade of Phyfick there, as fhe Learned do in other Countries, to the great pppreffion of Mankind. §. 84. When thefe Damps, Colds, and Difor¬ ders, affedb the Body more gently, and do not feize People violently at firfb ,• then for want of fome tin^ely Application, (the Planters abhor¬ ring all Phyfick, 'except in defperate cafes,) thefe fmali Diforders are fuffer’d to go on, until they E e e e 3 grow 7o TfeHISTORY and grow into a Cachexie , by which the Body is o- ver-run with obftinate fcorbutick Humours. And this in a more fierce, and virulent Degree, I take to be the Yaws. §, 8 t . The Gripes is the Diftemper of the Ga* ribbee Iflands, not of that Country* and feldom gets footing there * and then only upon great Provocations ; Namely , by the Intemperances before mentioned, together with an unreafona^ ble life of filthy and unclean Drinks. Perhaps too it may come by new and unfine Cyder, Per¬ ry, or Peach-drink, which the People are impath ent to Drink before they are ready ; or by the exceffive fife of Lime-Juice, and foul Sugar in Punch and Flip ,* or elfe by the conftant drink¬ ing of uncorredted Beer, made of fu.ch windy, finwhoifom things, as fpme People make ufe of jn Brewing. Thus having fairly reckon’d up all the princi¬ pal Inconveniences of the Climate , and the Piftemper5 incident to the Country, I lhall add a Chapter of the Recreations and Amufements fifed there, and then proceed to the natural Bene¬ fits they enjoy. After which, I fhall conclude with feme hints concerning their Trade, and Improve- ment-So C H A >. Pre/ent State of Virginia. 71 » . . . . CHAP. XXI. Of the Recreations, and Pajlimes ufed /// Vir¬ ginia. §. 86.T?OR their Recreation, the Plants a- I? ons, Orchards, and Gardens conftantly afford ’em fragrant and delightful Walks. In their Woods and Fields, they have an unknown vari¬ ety of Vegetables, and other rarities of Nature to difcover and obferve. They have Hunting, Fifliing, and Fowling, with which they enter¬ tain themfelves an hundred ways.. Here is the moft Good-nature, and .Holpitality pradtisd in the World, both towards Friends and Strangers : but the worft of it is, this Generality is attended now and then, with a little too much Intemper ranee. The Neighbourhood is at much the fame diftance, as in the Country in England ; but with this Advantage , that all the better fort of People have been abroad, and feen the World, by which means they are free from that ftiffnels and formality , which difcover more Civility, than Kindnefs : And befides, the good- nefs of the Roads, and the fairnefs of the W ear ther, bring People oftcyer together. §. 87. The Indians, as I have already mbferv’d, had in their Hunting, a way of concealing them¬ felves, and coming up to the Deer, under the blind of a Stalking-Head, in imitation of which, many People have taught their Horfes to {talk it, that is, to walk gently by the Huntf- nian’s fide, to cover l;im from the fight of tire E e e e 4 Deer. 7i The H I S TO R Y anh Deef Others cut down Trees forthq Deer to browze upon, and lie in wait behind them. O- thers again fet Stakes, at a certain diftance within their Fences, where the Deer have been ufed to leap over into a Field of Peas, which they love extreamly thefe Stakes they lo place, as to run into the Body of the Deer, when he Pitches, by which means they Impale him. §• 88. They Hunt their Hares, f which are ve- ry numerous) a Foot, with Mungrils or fwift Dogs, which either catch them quickly, or force them to hole in a hollow Tree, whither all their Hares generally tend, when they are clofely pur- iued. ^ As foon as they are thus holed, and have crawl d up into the Body of the Tree, the bu- linefs is to kindle a Fire, and fmother them with Smoak, till they let go their hold, and fall to the bottom iliried ,- from whence they take them. It they have a mind to Ipare their Lives, upon turning them loofe, they will be as fit as e- ver to hunt at another time,- for the mifchief done them by the Smoak, immediately wears off again0 ' 1 • - ' - ■ ! §• They have another fort of Hunting, which is very diverting, and that they call Ver- £une Hunting - It is perform’d a Foot, with imall Dogs in the Night, by the Light of the Moon or Stais. Thus in Summer-time they find abundance of Raccoons^ Opoffums, and Fox¬ es in the Corn-Fields , and about their Planta- tions : but at other times, they muft go into the Woods for them. The Method is to go' out with three or four Dogs, and as foon as they come to the place, they bid the Dogs feek out, and all the Company follow immediately. Where- ever a Dog barks, yon may depend upon' find- J i • Kt ■ ! i t V ■ : i i o Prefent State of Virginia, y\ ing the Game ; and this Alarm, draws both Men and Dogs that way. If this Sport be in the Woods, the Game by that time you come near it, is perhaps mounted to the top of an high Tree, and then they detach a nimble Fellow up after it, who mull have a fcuffle with the Beaft, before he can throw it down to the Dogs ,* and then the Sport increafes, to fee the Vermine en¬ counter thofe little Currs. In this fort of Hunt¬ ing, they alfo carry their great Dogs out with them, becaufe Wolyes, Bears, Panthers, Wild- Cats, and all other Beafts of Prey, are abroad in the Night. For AVolves they make Traps, and fet Guns bated in the Woods, fo that when he offers to feize the Bate, he pulls the Trigger, and the Gun difcharges upon him. What Elian and V li¬ ny write, of the Horfes being benummed in their Legs , if they tread in the Track of a Wolf, does not hold good here ; for I my felf, and many others, have rid full Speed after Wolves in the Woods, and have feen live ones taken out of a Trap, and drag’d at a Horfes Tail ; and yet thofe that follow’d on Horfe-back , have not perceived any of their Horfes to falter in their pace. §. 90. They have many pretty devices be¬ sides the Gun, to take wild Turkeys ; And a- mong others, a Friend of mine invented a great Trap, wherein he at times caught many Tur¬ keys, and particularly feventeen at onetime, but he could not contrive it fo, as to let others in after he had entrapped the firft flock, until they were taken out0 ■a* » \ - * ‘ •• * t §. 91. The Indian Invention of Weirs in Fifh- Jng, is mightily improved by the English be- •• ’ • - ' ' ‘ fides 74 ^HISTORY and lldes which, they make life of Seins, Trolls, CafL fbg-Netts, Setting-Netts, Hand-fitting, and Ang¬ ling, and in each find abundance of Diverfion. I have fet in the /hade, at the Heads of the Rivers Angling, and fpent as much time in taking the Filh off the Hook, as in waiting for their taking it.. Like thofe of the Euxine Sea, they alfo Fiif with Spilyards, which is a long Line flaked out •in the River, and hung with a great many Hooks on ttort firings, fatten'd to the main Line, a- bout three or four Foot afunder. The only dif¬ ference is, our Line is fupported by Stakes, and theirs is buoyed up with Gourds. $\92- Their Fowling is anfwerable to their Fitting for plenty of Game, in its proper Sea- fon, no Plantation being fo ill flored, as to h$ without a great deal They have a vaft variety of it, feveral forts of which, J have not yet mention'd, as Beaver, Otter, Squirrels, Partridges, Pigeons, and an infinite number of fmall Birds, &c* *§•■9?- The admirable Oeconomy of the Bea¬ vers, deferves to be particularly remember'd. They cohabit in one Houfe, are incorpara- ted in a regular Form of Government, fome- thing like Monarchy, and have over them a Su¬ perintendent, which the Indians call Bericu. He leads them cut to their feveral Imployments, which con lift in Felling of Trees, biting off the Branches, and cutting them into certain lengths, fuitable to the bufinefs they defign them for, all which they perform with their Teeth. When this is done, the Governor orders feveral of his Subj’edls to. joyn together, and take up one of thofe Logs, which they mutt carry to their Houfe or Damm, as occafion requires. He walks in State by them ail the while, and fees that every one bear Prefent State of Virginia. 7 5 his equal fhare of the burden ; while he bites with his Teeth, and tallies with his Tail, thofe that lag behind, and do not lend all their Strength. They commonly build their Houfes in Swamps, and then to raife the Water to a con¬ venient height, they make a Tamm with Logs, and a binding fort of Clay, fo firm, that though the Water runs continually over, it cannot walk it away. Within thefe Damms, they’l inclofe Water enough to make a Pool, like a Mill-pond ,• and if a Mill happen to be built upon the fame Stream, below their Damm, the Miller in a dry Seafon, finds it worth his while to cut it, to fupply his Mill with Water. Upon which Dif- after,the Beavers are fo expert at their Work, that in one or two Nights time, they will repair the breach, and make it perfectly whole again. Some¬ times they build their Houles in a broad Marik, where the Tide ebbs and flows, and then they make no Damm at all. The Doors into their Hou¬ fes are under Water. I have been at the Demo- lifhing one of thefe Houfes, that was found in a Marik, and was ftirpriz’d to find it forcify’d with Logs, that were fix Foot long, %pd ten Inches through, and had been carried at leaft one hun¬ dred and fifty yards. This Houfe was three Sto¬ ries high, and contain’d five Rooms, that is to fay, two in the lower, and middle Stories, and but one at the top. Thefe Creatures have a great deal of Policy, and know how to defeat all the Subtilty and Stratagems of the Hunter, who fel- dom can meet with them, tho’ they are in great •numbers all over the Country. * ' • . t* §. 94. There is yet another kind of Sport , which the young -People take great Delight in, and that is, the Hunting of wild Horfes which they purfue fometimes with Dogs, and fometimes T 1 * with- 76 The H I S T O R Y and without. You mu# know they have many Hor- ies foaled in the Woods of the Uplands, that ne¬ ver were in hand, and are as fhy as any Savage Creatuie. Thefe having no mark upon them, belong to him, that firft takes them. However, the Captor commonly purchafes thefe Horfes very dear, by fpoiling better in the purfiiic ,• in which cafe, he has little to make himfelf amends, befides the pleafure of the Chace. And very of- ten this is all he has for it, for the wild Horfes are fo fwift, that tis difficult to catch them * and when they are taken, tis odds but their Greale is melted, or elfe being old, they are fo lullen, that they can’t be tam’d. §• 9 S’* The Inhabitants are very Courteous to Travellers, who. need no other Recommen¬ dation, but the being Human Creatures. A Stranger has no more to do, but to inquire upon the Road, where any Gentleman, or goodHoufe- keeper Lives, and there he may depend upon being received with Hofpitality. This good Na¬ ture is fo general among their People, that the Gentry when *hey go abroad, order their Princi¬ pal Servant to entertain all Vifitors, with every thing the Plantation affords. And the poor Plant¬ ers, who have but one Bed, will very often fit up, or lie upon a Form or Couch all Night, to make room for a weary Traveller, to repofe him¬ self after his Journey. f If there happen to be a Churl, that either out of Covetoufnefs , or Ill-nature , won’t comply with this generous Cuftom, he has a mark of Infamy fet upon him, and is abh.orr’d by all. But I muff confefs, (and am heartily forry for the oc- cafion) that this good Neighbourhood has of late been much depraved by the prefent Governor, who practices, the deteftable Politicks of governing Preferit State of Virgin r a. 77 by Parties $ by which,, Feuds and Heart-burnings have been kindled in the Minds of the Peo¬ ple ; and Friendlhip , Hofpitality, and Good- Neighbourhood, have been extreamly difcoura- ged. . CHAP. XXII. Of the Natural Frodutt of Virginia, and the Advantages of their Husbandry. §. 96. "r* H E extream fruitfulnefs of that Coun- l try, has been fufficiently Ihewn in the Second Book, and I think we may jultly add, that in that particularly it is not exceeded by any other. No Seed is Sowed there, but it thrives, and molt Plants are improved, by being Tranfc planted thither. And yet there’s very little Im¬ provement made among them, nor any thing us’d in Traffique, but Tobacco. Befides all the natural Productions mention’d in the Second Book, you may take notice, that Apples from the Seed, never degenerate into Crabs, or Wildings there, but produce the fame, or better Fruit than the Mother-Tree, (which is not fo in England }) and are wonderfully im¬ proved by Grafting and Managing ,• yet there are very few Planters that graft at ail, and much lewer that take any care to get choice Fruits. The Fruit-Trees are wonderfully quick of growth, fo that in fix or feven years time from the Planting, a Man may bring an Orchard to bear in great plenty, from which he may make, ftore, of good Cyder , or diftill great quanti¬ ties of Brandy,* for the Cyder is* very ltrong, and yields abundance of in Spirit. Yet they have very *9 ft HISTORY and very few, that take any care at all for an Or¬ chard j nay, many that have good Orchards, are fo negligent of them, as to let them go toruine, and expofe the Trees to be torn, and barked by the Cade. Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricocks, as well as Plums and Cherries, grow there upon Standard Trees. They commonly bear in three years from the Stone, and thrive fo exceedingly, that they feem to have no need of Grafting or Inocula¬ ting, if any Body would be fogood a Husband ; and truly I never heard of any that did Graft either Plum, Nectarine, Peach or Apricock in that Country. Peaches and Nectarines I believe to be Spon¬ taneous fome-where or other on that Con¬ tinent , for the Indians have, and ever had greater variety, and finer forts of them than the EngUjlu The beft fort of thefe cling to the Stone, and will not come off clear, which they call Plum-Necta¬ rines, and Plum-Peaches, or Cling-Stones. Some of thefe are 12 on; Inches in the Girt. , TJiefe forts of Fruits are raifed fo eafily there, that fome good Husbands plant great Orchards of them, purpofely for their Hogsj and others make a Drink of them, which they callMobby, and ei¬ ther drink it as Cyder, or Diftil it off for Bran¬ dy. This makes the beft Spirit next to Grapes. Grape-Vines of the Englijh Stock, as well as thofe of their own Production, bear moft abun«* dandy, if they are fuffered to run near the Ground, and increafe very kindly by Slipping ; yet very few have them at all in their Gardens, much lefs mdeavour to improve them by cutting. Or laying. Indeed my Curiofity the laft year, caufed me to lay fome of the white Mufcadine, which came of a Stock removed thither from England , and they increafed by this method Prefent State 0/ Virginia. 79 to Admiration: 1 likewife fet feveral Slips of the cuttings of the fame Vine, and the Major part of the Sets bore Grapes in perfection the firft year, I remember I had feven full Bunches from one of them. When a fingle Tree happens in clearing the Ground, to be left handing with a Vine upon it, open to the Sun and Air • that Vine generally produces as much as 4 or five others, that re¬ main in the Woods. I have feen in this cafe, more Grapes upon one fingle Vine, than wou’d load a London Cart. And for all this, the People never remove any of them into their Gardens, but content themfelves throughout the whole Country, with the Grapes they find thus wild ; much lefs can they be expected to attempt the making of Wine or Brandy from the Grape. The Almond, Pomgranate and Fig, ripen there very well, and yet there are not ten People in the Country, that have any of them in their Gar- dens,much lefs endeavour to preferveany of them for future fpending, or to propagate them to make a Trade. A Garden is no where fooner made than there, either for Fruits, or Flowers. Tulips from the Seed-flower the fecond year at faytheft. All forts of Herbs have there a perfection in their flavour, beyond what I ever tafted in a more Northern Climate. And yet they han’t many Gardens in the Country, fit to bear that name. §. 97. All forts of Engtifh Grain thrive, and increafe there, as well as in any other part of the World as for Example, Wheat, Barley, Oats, Rye, Peas, Rape, &c. And yet they don’t make a Trade of any of them. Their Peas indeed, are troubled with Wivels, which eat a Hole 8o The HISTORY and Hole in them But this Hole does neither darn^ mage the Seed, nor make the Peas unfit for Boiling. And fuch as are fow’d late, and gather’d after Augujt , are clear of that Inconve¬ nience. It is thought too much for the fame Man, to make the Wheat, and grind it, bolt it, and bake it himfelf. And it is too great a charge for eve¬ ry Planter, who is willing to fow Barley, to build a Malt-FIoufe, and Brew-Houfe too, or elfe to have no benefit of his Barley; nor will it an- fwer , if he wou’d be at the Charge* Thefe things can never be expected from a Tingle Fa¬ mily : But if they had cohabitations, it might be thought worth attempting. Neither as they are now' fettled, can they find any certain Mar¬ ket for their other Grain, which if they had Towns, would be quite otherwife. Rice has been tried there, and is found- to grow as well , as in Carolina , or in any other part of the Earth : But it labours under the fame inconvenience, the want of a Community, to husk and clean it ,• and after all, to take it off the Planters Hands. §.98. I have related at large In the firft Book,) how Flax, Hemp, Cotton, and the Silk-Worms have thriven there, in the feveral effays made upon them ; how formerly there was Incou- ragement given for making of Linnen, Silk, and how all Perfons not performing feveral things towards produceing of them were put under a Fine : But now all Incouragement of fuch things is taken away, and People are not only fuffer d to negled them, but fuch as do go about them, are difcouraged by their Governor, according to the Maxim laid down in the Me** morials before recited. Pre/cnr Scare of Virginia. 81 Silk-grafs is there fpontaneous in many places, and may be cut feveral times in a Year. I need not mention what Advantage may be made of fo ufeful a Plant, whole Fibres are as fine as Flax, and much ftronger than Hemp. Mr. Purchas tells us, in his Fourth Pilgrim , Page 1786, That in the firft Difcovery of this part of the World, they prefented Q. Elizabeth with a Piece of Gro- gram that had been made of it. Arid yet to this Day they make no manner of ufe of this Plant, no, not fo much as the Indians did, before the Eng¬ lish came among them, who then made their Bas-* kets, Fifhing Nets, and Lines, of it. §. 99. The Sheep increafe well, and bear good Fleeces, but they generally are fuffer’d to be tom off their Backs by Briers, and Bullies, inftead of being Ihorn , or elfe are left rotting upon the Dunghil with their Skins. Bees thrive there abundantly, and will very eafily yield to the careful Hufwife, two Crops of Honey in a Year, and befides lay up a Winter- ftore fufficient to preferve their Stocks. The Beeves, when any Care is taken of them in the Winter, come to great Perfection. They have noble Marfhes there, which, with the Charge of draining only , would make as fine Paftures as any in the World ,• and yet there is not an hundred Acres of Marlli drained through¬ out the whole Country. Hogs fwarm like Vermine upon the Earth, and are often accounted fuch, infomuch that when an Inventory of any confiderable Mans Eftate is taken by the Executors, the Flogs are left out, and not lifted in the Appraifement. The Hogs run where they lift, and find their own Support in the Woods, without any Care of the Owner ; and in many Plantations it is, F f f ( well 8z 1 be HISTORY and well, if the Proprietor can find and catch the tigs, or any part of a Farrow, when they are young, to mark them ,• for if there be any markt in a Gang of Hogs, they determine the Property of the reft , becaufe they feldom mifs their Gangs ,* but as they are bred in Com¬ pany, fo they continue to the End. §. i oo. The Woods produce great Variety of Incenfe and fweet Gums, which diftil from fe- veral Trees ,• as alfo Trees bearing Honey, and Sugar, as before was mention'd : Yet there's no ufe made of any of then?, either for Profit oj? Re- fre/hment, All forts of Naval Stores may be produced there, as Pitch, Tar, Rofin, Turpentine, Plank, Timber, and all forts of Mails, and Yards, be- fides Sails, Cordage, and Iron, and all thefe may be tranfported, by an eafy Water-Carfiage. §. i oi. Thefe and a Thoufand other Advantages that Country naturally affords, which its Inhabi¬ tants make no manner of ufe of. They can fee their Jslaval Stores daily benefit other People, who fend thither to build Ships,- while they, inftead of pro¬ moting fuch Undertakings among themfelves, and eafingliichas are willing to go upon them, allow fhem no manner of Encouragement, but rather the contrary. They receive no Benefit nor Re- freihment from the Sweets, and precious things they have growing anjongft them, but make ufe of the Induftry of England for all fuch things. What Advantages do they fee the Neighbour¬ ing Plantations make of their Grain and Pro- viiions, while they, who can produce them in¬ finitely better, not only neglecft the making a Trade thereof, but even a neceflary Provifiori againft an accidental Scarcity, contenting them- Prefent State q/ Virginia, 85 felves with a f apply of Food from hand to rnbuth, fo that if it Should pleafe God, to fend them an unfeafonable' Year, there wou’d not be Found ih the Country, Provifion fufficient to fup- port the People for three Months extraordinary. By reafon of the unfortunate Method of the Settlement, and want of Cohabitation, they cannot make a beneficial ufe of their Flax, Hemp, Cotten, Silk, Silk-grals, and Wool, which might other wife fupply their Neceftities, and leave the Produce of Tobacco to enrich them, when a gainful Market can be found for it. Thus they depend altogether upon the Libe¬ rality of Nature, without endeavouring to im¬ prove its Gifts, by Art or Induftry. They fpunge upon the Bleffings of a warm Sun, and a fruits ful Soil, and almoil grutch the Pains of gather¬ ing in the Bounties of the Earth. I ihould be afiiam’d to publilh this flothful Indolence of my Countrymen, but that I hope it will roufe them out of their Lethargy, and excite them to make the molt of all thole happy Advantages which Nature has given them ,* and if it does this, I am fure they will have the Goodneft to forgive me, t ... v * ' -v*' a : * ■ v • » * Finis . * *