20. Delights of New England
BY REV. FRANCIS HIGGINSON (1630)[89]
THE variety of the soil of New England is to be admired. It appears in
the abundance of grass which grows everywhere, very thick and very high
in different places; but it grows very wild with a great stalk
and broad wide blade, because it has never been cropped by
cattle, nor mown with the scythe, and seldom trampled under
foot. It can scarcely be believed how our cows and goats,
horses and pigs, do thrive and prosper here in this country.
In our plantation we can already buy a quart of
milk for a penny. The abundant increase of grain proves this
country to be a wonder. Thirty, forty, and Sixty fold harvests
are ordinary here. Our planters hope to have more than a
hundred-fold here this year. Our children, by planting corn,
may earn more than their own support.
This country abounds with roots of great variety which are
good to eat. Our turnips, parsnips, and carrots are both
bigger and sweeter than those ordinarily found in England.
Barberries grow in plenty, and pennyroyal, sorrel and
water-cress, leeks and onions. There also is an abundance of
other wild herbs, delightful to smell, whose names we do not
know. There is a plenty of single damask roses, very sweet;
and two kinds of herbs which bear two kinds of flowers,
which they say are as good to make cordage or cloth as our
hemp or flax. We have mulberries, plums, raspberries,
currants, chestnuts and walnuts, all of which grow in plenty
here.
New England has water enough, both salt and fresh, as the
Atlantic sea runs all along this coast. We have a number of
excellent harbors, such as Cape Ann and Massachusetts Bay
and Salem. The abundance of sea-fish is almost beyond
believing, and usually I can scarce believe it with my own
eyes. I often see a great number of whales, mackerel, and
codfish taken in. Then there is a fish called bass, as
sweet and wholesome a fish as ever I did eat. It is altogether
as good as our fresh herring. They come in June, and again
three months later. Of this fish one may take many hundreds
together. Indeed, their nets ordinarily take more than the
fishermen are able to haul to land, so that they want for
boats and men and often are forced to let many go that they
have taken. Besides bass, we took plenty of thornbacks, and
an abundance of lobsters, so that the smallest boy in the
plantation may both catch and eat as many as he may wish
of them.
The air of New England is one special thing that
commends this place. Experience shows that there is hardly
a more healthful place to be found in the world, or one that
agrees better with our English bodies. Many who were weak
and sickly in Old England, by coming hither, have been
safely healed, and grown healthful and strong. A sup of New
England's air is better than a whole draught of Old England's
ale.
[[89]]
The writer of this piece is the same Francis
Higginson, whose voyage we read about in the last chapter. He is here
writing home to his friends, urging them to come; and thousands of
English people did come over at that time.
