University of Virginia Library

The second Booke.

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1

THE SIXT VOYAGE.

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1606.
To another part of Virginia,

where now are
Planted our English Colonies, Whom God
increase and preserve: Discovered and
Described by Captaine John Smith,
sometimes Governour of the Countrey.

BY these former relations you may see what
inconveniences still crossed those good
intents, and how great a matter it was
all this time to finde but a Harbour,
although there be so many. But this
Virginia is a Country in America betweene
the degrees of 34. and 45. of the North
latitude.

The bounds thereof on the
East side are the great Ocean: on the
South lyeth Florida: on the North nova
Francia: as for the West thereof, the limits are unknowne. Of all
this Country we purpose not to speake, but onely of that part which
was planted by the English men in the yeare of our Lord, 1606. And
this is under the degrees 37. 38. and 39. The temperature of this
Country doth agree well with English constitutions, being once
seasoned to the Country. Which appeared by this, that though by
many occasions our people fell sicke; yet did they recover by very
small meanes, and continued in health, though there were other
great causes, not onely to have made them sicke, but even to end
their dayes, etc.

The Sommer is hot as in Spaine; the Winter cold as in France
or England. The heat of sommer is in June, July, and August, but
commonly the coole Breeses asswage the vehemency of the heat.
The chiefe of winter is halfe December, January, February, and
halfe March. The colde is extreame sharpe, but here the Proverbe
is true, that no extreame long continueth.

In the yeare 1607. was an extraordinary frost in most of Europe,
and this frost was found as extreame in Virginia. But the next yeare
for 8. or 10. dayes of ill weather, other 14. dayes would be as Sommer.

The windes here are variable, but the like thunder and lightning
to purifie the ayre, I have seldome either seene or heard in Europe.
From the Southwest came the greatest gusts with thunder and heat.
The Northwest winde is commonly coole and bringeth faire weather
with it. From the North is the greatest cold, and from the East and
Southeast as from the Barmudas, fogs and raines.

Some times there are great droughts, other times much raine,
yet great necessitie of neither, by reason we see not but that all the
raritie of needfull fruits in Europe, may be there in great plentie, by
the industry of men, as appeareth by those we there Planted.

There is but one entrance by Sea into this Country, and that is
at the mouth of a very goodly Bay, 18. or 20. myles broad. The cape
on the South is called Cape Henry, in honour of our most noble
Prince. The land white hilly sands like unto the Downes, and all
along the shores great plentie of Pines and Firres.

The north Cape is called Cape Charles, in honour of the worthy
Duke of Yorke. The Isles before it, Smith's Isles, by the name of
the discoverer.

Within is a country that || may have the prerogative
over the most pleasant places knowne, for large and pleasant
navigable Rivers, heaven and earth never agreed better to frame
a place for mans habitation; were it fully manured and inhabited
by industrious people. Here are mountaines, hils, plaines, valleyes,
rivers, and brookes, all running most pleasantly into a faire Bay,
compassed but for the mouth, with fruitfull and delightsome land.
In the Bay and rivers are many Isles both great and small, some
woody, some plaine, most of them low and not inhabited. This Bay
lyeth North and South, in which the water floweth neare 200.
myles, and hath a channell for 140 myles, of depth betwixt 6 and
15 fadome, holding in breadth for the most part 10 or 14 myles.
From the head of the Bay to the Northwest, the land is mountanous,
and so in a manner from thence by a Southwest line; so that the
more Southward, the farther off from the Bay are those mountaines.
From which fall certaine brookes which after come to five principall
navigable rivers. These run from the Northwest into the Southeast,
and so into the West side of the Bay, where the fall of every River is
within 20 or 15 myles one of another.

The mountaines are of divers natures: for at the head of the
Bay the rockes are of a composition like Mill stones. Some of Marble,
etc. And many peeces like Christall we found, as throwne downe
by water from those mountaines. For in Winter they are covered
with much snow, and when it dissolveth the waters fall with such
violence, that it causeth great inundations in some narrow valleyes,
which is scarce perceived being once in the rivers. These waters
wash from the rocks such glistering tinctures, that the ground in
some places seemeth as guilded, where both the rocks and the earth
are so splendent to behold, that better judgements then ours might
have beene perswaded, they contained more then probabilities. The
vesture of the earth in most places doth manifestly prove the nature
of the soyle to be lusty and very rich. The colour of the earth we
found in diverse places, resembleth bole Armoniac, terra sigillata
ad Lemnia, Fullers earth, Marle, and divers other such appearances.
But generally for the most part it is a blacke sandy mould, in some
places a fat slimy clay, in other places a very barren gravell. But the
best ground is knowne by the vesture it beareth, as by the greatnesse
of trees, or abundance of weeds, etc.

The Country is not mountanous, nor yet low, but such pleasant
plaine hils, and fertile valleyes, one prettily crossing another, and
watered so conveniently with fresh brookes and springs, no lesse
commodious, then delightsome. By the rivers are many plaine
marishes, containing some 20 some 100. some 200 Acres, some more,
some lesse. Other plaines there are few, but onely where the Salvages
inhabit: but all overgrowne with trees and weeds, being a plaine
wildernesse as God first made it.

On the west side of the Bay, we sayd were 5. faire and delightfull
navigable rivers. The first of those, and the next to the mouth of the
Bay hath his course from the West Northwest. It is called Powhatan,
according to the name of a principall country that lyeth upon it.
The mouth of this river is neare three myles in breadth, yet doe the
shoules force the Channell so neare the land, that a Sacre will
overshoot it at point blanke. It is navigable 150 myles,

the shouldes
and soundings are here needlesse to be expressed. It falleth from
Rockes farre west in a Country inhabited by a nation they call
Monacans. But where it commeth into our discovery it is Powhatan.
In the farthest place that was diligently observed, are falles, rockes,
shoules, etc. which makes it past navigation any higher. Thence in
the running downeward, the river is enriched with many goodly
brookes, which are maintained by an infinit number of small
rundles and pleasant springs, that disperse themselves for best
service, as do the veines of a mans body. From the South there fals
into it: First, the pleasant river of Apamatuck. Next more to the
East are two small rivers of Quiyoughcohanocke. A little farther is a
Bay wherein falleth 3 or 4 prettie brookes and creekes that halfe
intrench the Inhabitants of Warraskoyac, then the river of Nandsamund,
and lastly the brooke of Chisapeack. From the North side
is the river of Chickahamania, the backe river of James Towne;
another by the Cedar Isle, where we lived ten weekes upon Oysters,
then a convenient harbour for Fisher boats at Kecoughtan, that so
turneth it selfe into || Bayes and Creekes, it makes that place very
pleasant to inhabit; their cornefields being girded therein in a
manner as Peninsulaes. The most of these rivers are inhabited by
severall nations, or rather families, of the name of the rivers They
have also over those some Governour, as their King, which they
call Werowances. In a Peninsula on the North side of this river are
the English Planted in a place by them called James Towne, in
honour of the Kings most excellent Majestie.

The first and next the rivers mouth are the Kecoughtans, who
besides their women and children, have not past 20. fighting men.
The Paspaheghes (on whose land is seated James Towne, some 40
myles from the Bay) have not past 40. The river called Chickahamania
neare 250.

The Weanocks 100. The Arrowhatocks 30.
The place called Powhatan, some 40. On the South side this river
the Appamatucks have sixtie fighting men. The Quiyougcohanocks
25. The Nandsamunds 200. The Chesapeacks 100. Of
this last place the Bay beareth the name. In all these places is a
severall commander, which they call Werowance, except the
Chickahamanians, who are governed by the Priests and their
Assistants, or their Elders called Caw-cawwassoughes. In sommer no
place affordeth more plentie of Sturgeon, nor in winter more
abundance of foule, especially in the time of frost. I tooke once 52
Sturgeons at a draught, at another 68. From the later end of May
till the end of June are taken few, but yong Sturgeons of two foot, or
a yard long. From thence till the midst of September, them of two
or three yards long and few others. And in 4 or 5. houres with one
Net were ordinarily taken 7 or 8: often more, seldome lesse. In the
small rivers all the yeare there is good plentie of small fish, so that
with hookes those that would take paines had sufficient.

Foureteene myles Northward from the river Powhatan, is the
river Pamaunkee, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with
Catches and small Barkes 30 or 40 myles farther. At the ordinary
flowing of the salt water, it divideth it selfe into two gallant branches.
On the South side inhabit the people of Youghtanund, who have
about 60 men for warres. On the North branch Mattapament, who
have 30 men. Where this river is divided the Country is called
Pamaunkee, and nourisheth neare 300 able men. About 25. myles
lower on the North side of this river is Werawocomoco, where their
great King inhabited when I was delivered him prisoner; yet there
are not past 40 able men.

Ten or twelve myles lower, on the South
side of this river, is Chiskiack, which hath some 40 or 50 men.
These, as also Apamatuck, Irrohatock, and Powhatan, are their
great Kings chiefe alliance, and inhabitants. The rest his Conquests.

Before we come to the third river that falleth from the mountaines,
there is another river (some 30 myles navigable) that commeth
from the Inland, called Payankatanke, the Inhabitants are
about 50 or 60 serviceable men.

The third navigable river is called Toppahanock. (This is navigable
some 130 myles) At the top of it inhabit the people called
Mannahoacks amongst the mountaines, but they are above the
place we describe. Upon this river on the North side are the people
Cuttatawomen, with 30 fighting men. Higher are the Moraughtacunds,
with 80. Beyond them Rapahanock

with 100. Far above is
another Cuttatawomen with 20. On the South is the pleasant seat of
Nantaughtacund having 150 men. This river also as the two former,
is replenished with fish and foule.

The fourth river is called Patawomeke, 6 or 7 myles in breadth.
It is navigable 140 myles, and fed as the rest with many sweet
rivers and springs, which fall from the bordering hils. These hils
many of them are planted, and yeeld no lesse plentie and varietie
of fruit, then the river exceedeth with abundance of fish. It is
inhabited on both sides. First on the South side at the very entrance
is Wighcocomoco and hath some 130 men, beyond them Sekacawone
with 30. The Onawmanient with 100. And the Patawomekes more

then 200. Here doth the river divide it selfe into 3 or 4 convenient
branches. The greatest of the least is called Quiyough, trending
Northwest, but the river it selfe turneth Northeast, and is still a
navigable streame. On the Westerne side of this bought is Tauxenent
with 40 men. On the North of this river is Secowocomoco with 40.
Somewhat further Potapaco with 20. In the East part is Pamacaeack
|| with 60. After Moyowance with 100. And lastly, Nacotchtanke
with 80. The river above this place maketh his passage downe a
low pleasant valley overshaddowed in many places with high rocky
mountaines; from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant
springs.

The fift river is called Pawtuxunt, of a lesse proportion then the
rest; but the channell is 16 fadome deepe in some places. Here are
infinit skuls of divers kindes of fish more then elswhere. Upon this
river dwell the people called Acquintanacksuak, Pawtuxunt, and
Mattapanient. Two hundred men was the greatest strength that
could be there perceived. But they inhabit together, and not so
dispersed as the rest. These of all other we found most civill to give
intertainement.

Thirtie leagues Northward is a river not inhabited, yet navigable;
for the red clay resembling bole Armoniack we called it
Bolus. At the end of the Bay where it is 6 or 7 myles in breadth, it
divides it selfe into 4. branches,

the best commeth Northwest from
among the mountaines, but though Canows may goe a dayes
journey or two up it, we could not get two myles up it with our boat
for rockes. Upon it is seated the Sasquesahanocks, neare it North
and by West runneth a creeke a myle and a halfe: at the head
whereof the Ebbe left us on shore, where we found many trees cut
with hatchets. The next tyde keeping the shore to seeke for some
Salvages; (for within thirtie leagues sayling, we saw not any, being
a barren Country,) we went up another small river like a creeke 6
or 7 myle. From thence returning we met 7 Canowes of the Massowomeks,
with whom we had conference by signes, for we understood
one another scarce a word: the next day we discovered the small
river and people of Tockwhogh trending Eastward.

Having lost our Grapnell among the rocks of Sasquesahanocks,

we were then neare 200 myles from home, and our Barge about two
tuns, and had in it but 12 men to performe this Discovery, wherein
we lay above 12 weekes upon those great waters in those unknowne
Countries, having nothing but a little meale, oatemeale and water
to feed us, and scarce halfe sufficient of that for halfe that time, but
what provision we got among the Salvages, and such rootes and fish
as we caught by accident, and Gods direction; nor had we a Mariner
nor any had skill to trim the sayles but two saylers and my selfe, the
rest being Gentlemen, or them were as ignorant in such toyle and
labour. Yet necessitie in a short time by good words and examples
made them doe that that caused them ever after to feare no colours.
What I did with this small meanes I leave to the Reader to judge,
and the Mappe I made of the Country, which is but a small matter
in regard of the magnitude thereof. But to proceed, 60 of those
Sasquesahanocks came to us with skins, Bowes, Arrows, Targets,
Beads, Swords, and Tobacco pipes for presents. Such great and
well proportioned men are seldome seene, for they seemed like
Giants to the English, yea and to the neighbours, yet seemed of an
honest and simple disposition, with much adoe restrained from
adoring us as Gods. Those are the strangest people of all those
Countries, both in language and attire; for their language it may
well beseeme their proportions, sounding from them, as a voyce in
a vault. Their attire is the skinnes of Beares, and Woolves, some
have Cassacks made of Beares heads and skinnes, that a mans head
goes through the skinnes neck, and the eares of the Beare fastned to
his shoulders, the nose and teeth hanging downe his breast, another
Beares face split behind him, and at the end of the nose hung a
Pawe, the halfe sleeves comming to the elbowes were the neckes of
Beares, and the armes through the mouth with pawes hanging at
their noses. One had the head of a Woolfe hanging in a chaine for
a Jewell, his Tobacco pipe three quarters of a yard long, prettily
carved with a Bird, a Deere, or some such devise at the great end,
sufficient to beat out ones braines: with Bowes, Arrowes, and clubs,
sutable to their greatnesse. These are scarse knowne to Powhatan.
They can make neare 600 able men, and are pallisadoed in their
Townes to defend them from the Massawomekes their mortall
enemies. Five of their chiefe Werowances came aboord us, and
crossed the Bay in their Barge. The picture of the greatest of them
is signified in the Mappe. The calfe of whose leg was three quarters
of a yard about, || and all the rest of his limbes so answerable to
that proportion, that he seemed the goodliest man we ever beheld.
His hayre, the one side was long, the other shore close with a ridge
over his crowne like a cocks combe. His arrowes were five quarters
long, headed with the splinters of a white christall-like stone, in
forme of a heart, an inch broad, and an inch and a halfe or more
long. These he wore in a Woolves skinne at his backe for his Quiver,
his bow in the one hand and his clubbe in the other, as is described.

On the East side the Bay, is the river Tockwhogh, and upon it
a people that can make 100 men, seated some seaven myles within
the river: where they have a Fort very well pallisadoed and mantelled
with barkes of trees. Next them is Ozinies with sixty men. More to
the South of that East side of the Bay, the river Rapahanock, neere
unto which is the river Kuskarawaock, Upon which is seated a
people with 200 men. After that, is the river Tants Wighcocomoco,
and on it a people with 100 men. The people of those rivers are of
little stature, of another language from the rest, and very rude.
But they on the river Acohanock with 40 men, and they of Accomack
80 men doth equalize any of the Territories of Powhatan, and speake
his language, who over all those doth rule as King.

Southward we went to some parts of Chawonock and the
Mangoags to search for them left by Master White.

Amongst those
people are thus many severall Nations of sundry Languages, that
environ Powhatans Territories. The Chawonockes, the Mangoags,
the Monacans, the Mannahokes, the Masawomekes, the Powhatans,
the Sasquesahanocks, the Atquanachukes, the Tockwoghes, and the
Kuscarawaokes. All those not any one understandeth another but
by Interpreters. Their severall habitations are more plainly described
by this annexed Mappe, which will present to the eye, the way of
the mountaines, and current of the rivers, with their severall turnings,
bayes, shoules, Isles, Inlets, and creekes, the breadth of the
waters, the distances of places, and such like. In which Mappe
observe this, that as far as you see the little Crosses on rivers,
mountaines, or other places have beene discovered; the rest was had
by information of the Savages, and are set downe according to their
instructions.

Of such things which are naturally in Virginia,
and how they use them.

VIRGINIA doth afford many excellent vegetables, and living Creatures,
yet grasse there is little or none, but what groweth in
low Marishes: for all the Countrey is overgrowne with trees, whose
droppings continually turneth their grasse to weeds, by reason of
the rancknes of the ground, which would soone be amended by good
husbandry. The wood that is most common is Oke and Walnut,
many of their Okes are so tall and straight, that they will beare two
foote and a halfe square of good timber for 20 yards long; Of this
wood there is two or three severall kinds. The Acornes of one kinde,
whose barke is more white then the other, and somewhat sweetish,
which being boyled,

at last affords a sweet oyle, that they keepe
in gourds to annoint their heads and joynts. The fruit they eate
made in bread or otherwise. There is also some Elme, some blacke
Walnut tree, and some Ash: of Ash and Elme they make sope
Ashes. If the trees be very great, the Ashes will be good, and melt
to hard lumps, but if they be small, it will be but powder, and not
so good as the other. Of walnuts there is 2 or 3 kindes; there is a
kinde of wood we called Cypres, because both the wood, the fruit,
and leafe did most resemble it, and of those trees there are some
neare three fadome about at the root, very || straight, and 50, 60,
or 80 foot without a branch. By the dwelling of the Salvages are
some great Mulbery trees, and in some parts of the Countrey, they
are found growing naturally in prettie groves. There was an assay
made to make silke, and surely the wormes prospered excellent
well, till the master workeman fell sicke. During which time they
were eaten with Rats.

In some parts were found some Chesnuts, whose wild fruit
equalize the best in France, Spaine, Germany, or Italy. Plums there
are of three sorts. The red and white are like our hedge plums, but
the other which they call Putchamins, grow as high as a Palmeta:
the fruit is like a Medler; it is first greene, then yellow, and red
when it is ripe; if it be not ripe, it will draw a mans mouth awry,
with much torment, but when it is ripe, it is as delicious as an
Apricot.

They have Cherries, and those are much like a Damson, but
for their tastes and colour we called them Cherries. We saw some
few Crabs, but very small and bitter. Of vines great abundance in
many parts that climbe the toppes of the highest trees in some places,
but these beare but few grapes. Except by the rivers and savage
habitations, where they are not overshadowed from the sunne, they
are covered with fruit, though never pruined nor manured. Of those

hedge grapes we made neere twentie gallons of wine, which was like
our French Brittish wine, but certainely they would prove good
were they well manured. There is another sort of grape neere as
great as a Cherry, this they call Messamins, they be fatte, and the
juyce thicke. Neither doth the taste so well please when they are
made in wine. They have a small fruit growing on little trees,
husked like a Chesnut, but the fruit most like a very small Acorne.
This they call Chechinquamins, which they esteeme a great daintie.
They have a berry much like our Gooseberry, in greatnesse, colour,
and tast; those they call Rawcomens, and doe eat them raw or boyled.
Of these naturall fruits they live a great part of the yeare, which
they use in this manner; The Walnuts, Chesnuts, Acornes, and
Chechinquamins are dryed to keepe. When they need walnuts they
breake them betweene two stones, yet some part of the shels will
cleave to the fruit. Then doe they dry them againe upon a Mat
over a hurdle. After they put it into a morter of wood, and beat it
very small: that done they mix it with water, that the shels may sinke
to the bottome. This water will be coloured as milke, which they
call Pawcohiccora, and keepe it for their use. The fruit like Medlers
they call Putchamins, they cast upon hurdles on a Mat, and preserve
them as Pruines. Of their Chesnuts and Chechinquamins boyled, they
make both broath and bread for their chiefe men, or at their
greatest feasts. Besides those fruit trees, there is a white Popular,
and another tree like unto it, that yeeldeth a very cleare and an
odoriferous Gumme like Turpentine, which some called Balsom.
There are also Cedars and Saxafras trees. They also yeeld gummes
in a small proportion of themselves. Wee tryed conclusions to
extract it out of the wood, but nature afforded more then our arts.

In the watry valleyes groweth a Berry which they call Ocoughtanamnis
very much like unto Capers. These they dry in sommer.
When they eat them they boile them neare halfe a day; for otherwise
they differ not much from poyson. Mattoum groweth as our
Bents.

The seed is not much unlike to Rie, though much smaller.
This they use for a daintie bread buttered with deare suet.

During Sommer there are either Strawberries, which ripen in
Aprill, or Mulberries which ripen in May and June. Raspises, hurts;
or a fruit that the inhabitants call Maracocks, which is a pleasant
wholsome fruit much like a Lemond. Many herbes in the spring
are commonly dispersed throughout the woods, good for brothes
and sallets, as Violets, Purslain, Sorrell, etc. Besides many we used
whose names we know not.

The chiefe root they have for food is called Tockawhoughe. It
groweth like a flagge in Marishes. In one day a Salvage will gather
sufficient for a weeke. These roots are much of the greatnesse and

taste of Potatoes. They use to cover a great many of them with Oke
leaves and Ferne, and then cover all with earth in the manner of a
Cole-pit; over it, on each side, they continue a great fire 24 houres
before they dare eat it. || Raw it is no better then poyson, and
being rosted, except it be tender and the heat abated, or sliced and
dryed in the Sunne, mixed with sorrell and meale or such like, it
will prickle and torment the throat extreamely, and yet in sommer
they use this ordinarily for bread.

They have another roote which they call Wighsacan: as th'other
feedeth the body, so this cureth their hurts and diseases. It is a
small root which they bruise and apply to the wound. Pocones is a
small root that groweth in the mountaines, which being dryed and
beate in powder turneth red. And this they use for swellings, aches,
annointing their joynts, painting their heads and garments. They
account it very precious, and of much worth. Musquaspen is a roote
of the bignesse of a finger, and as red as bloud. In drying, it will
wither almost to nothing. This they use to paint their Mattes,
Targets, and such like.

There is also Pellitory of Spaine, Sasafrage, and divers other
simples, which the Apothecaries gathered, and commended to be
good, and medicinable.

In the low Marishes grow plots of Onyons, containing an Acre
of ground or more in many places; but they are small, not past the
bignesse of the toppe of ones Thumbe.

Of beasts the chiefe are Deere, nothing differing from ours. In
the deserts towards the heads of the rivers, there are many, but
amongst the rivers few. There is a beast they call Aroughcun, much
like a badger, but useth to live on trees as Squirrels doe. Their
Squirrels some are neare as great as our smallest sort of wilde
Rabbets, some blackish or blacke and white, but the most are gray.

A small beast they have they call Assapanick, but we call them
flying Squirrels, because spreading their legs, and so stretching the
largenesse of their skins, that they have beene seene to fly 30 or 40
yards. An Opassom hath a head like a Swine, and a taile like a Rat,
and is of the bignesse of a Cat. Under her belly shee hath a bagge,
wherein she lodgeth, carrieth, and suckleth her young. A Mussascus
is a beast of the forme and nature of our water Rats, but many of
them smell exceeding strongly of Muske. Their Hares no bigger then
our Conies, and few of them to be found.

Their Beares are very little in comparison of those of Muscovia
and Tartaria. The Beaver is as big as an ordinary water dog, but his
legs exceeding short. His forefeete like a dogs, his hinderfeet like a
Swans. His taile somewhat like the forme of a Racket, bare without
haire, which to eat the Salvages esteeme a great delicate. They
have many Otters, which as the Beavers they take with snares, and
esteeme the skins great ornaments, and of all those beasts they use

to feed when they catch them. An Utchunquoyes is like a wilde
Cat. Their Foxes are like our silver haired Conies, of a small proportion,
and not smelling like those in England. Their Dogges of that
Country are like their Woolves, and cannot barke but howle, and
the Woolves not much bigger then our English Foxes. Martins,
Powlecats, Weesels, and Minkes we know they have, because we
have seene many of their skinnes, though very seldome any of them
alive. But one thing is strange, that we could never perceive their
Vermine destroy our Hennes, Egges, nor Chickens, nor doe any
hurt, nor their flyes nor serpents any way pernicious, where in the
South parts of America they are alwayes dangerous, and often
deadly.

Of Birds the Eagle is the greatest devourer. Hawkes there be
of divers sorts, as our Falconers called them: Sparrow-hawkes,
Lanarets, Goshawkes, Falcons and Osperayes, but they all prey
most upon fish. Their Partridges are little bigger then our Quailes.
Wilde Turkies are as bigge as our tame. There are Woosels or
Blackbirds with red shoulders, Thrushes and divers sorts of small
Birds, some red, some blew, scarce so bigge as a Wrenne, but few
in Sommer. In Winter there are great plentie of Swans, Cranes, gray
and white with blacke wings, Herons, Geese, Brants, Ducke, Wigeon,
Dotterell, Oxeies, Parrats, and Pigeons. Of all those sorts great
abundance, and some other strange kinds, to us unknowne by
name. But in Sommer not any, or a very few to be seene.

Of fish we were best acquainted with Sturgeon, Grampus, Porpus,
Seales, Stin- || graies, whose tailes are very dangerous. Bretts,

Mullets, white Salmonds, Trowts, Soles, Plaice, Herrings, Conyfish,
Rockfish, Eeles, Lampreys, Catfish, Shades, Pearch of three sorts,
Crabs, Shrimps, Crevises, Oysters, Cocles, and Muscles. But the
most strange fish is a small one, so like the picture of St. George his
Dragon, as possible can be, except his legs and wings, and the
Toadefish, which will swell till it be like to burst, when it commeth
into the ayre.

Concerning the entrailes of the earth, little can be said for
certaintie. There wanted good Refiners; for those that tooke upon
them to have skill this way, tooke up the washings from the mountaines,
and some moskered

shining stones and spangles which the
waters brought downe, flattering themselves in their owne vaine
conceits to have beene supposed what they were not, by the meanes
of that ore, if it proved as their arts and judgements expected. Onely
this is certaine, that many regions lying in the same latitude, afford
Mines very rich of divers natures. The crust also of these rockes
would easily perswade a man to beleeve there are other Mines then
yron and steele, if there were but meanes and men of experience
that knew the Mine from Spar.

Of their Planted fruits in Virginia, and how they use them.

THEY divide the yeare into five seasons. Their winter some call
Popanow, the spring Cattapeuk, the sommer Cohattayough, the
earing of their Corne Nepinough, the harvest and fall of leafe Taquitock.
From September untill the midst of November are the chiefe feasts
and sacrifice. Then have they plentie of fruits as well planted as
naturall, as corne, greene and ripe, fish, fowle, and wilde beasts
exceeding fat.

The greatest labour they take, is in planting their corne, for
the Country naturally is overgrowne with wood. To prepare the
ground they bruise the barke of the trees neare the root, then doe
they scortch the roots with fire that they grow no more. The next
yeare with a crooked peece of wood they beat up the weeds by the
rootes, and in that mould they plant their Corne. Their manner is
this. They make a hole in the earth with a sticke, and into it they
put foure graines of wheate and two of beanes. These holes they
make foure foote one from another; Their women and children do
continually keepe it with weeding, and when it is growne middle high,
they hill it about like a hop-yard.

In Aprill they begin to plant, but their chiefe plantation is in
May, and so they continue till the midst of June. What they plant
in Aprill they reape in August, for May in September, for June in
October; Every stalke of their corne commonly beareth two eares,
some three, seldome any foure, many but one, and some none.
Every eare ordinarily hath betwixt 200 and 500 graines. The stalke
being greene hath a sweet juice in it, somewhat like a sugar Cane,
which is the cause that when they gather their corne greene, they
sucke the stalkes: for as we gather greene pease, so doe they their
corne being greene, which excelleth their old. They plant also pease
they call Assentamens, which are the same they call in Italy, Fagioli.
Their Beanes are the same the Turkes call Garnanses, but these they
much esteeme for dainties.

Their corne they rost in the eare greene, and bruising it in a
morter of wood with a Polt, lap it in rowles in the leaves of their
corne, and so boyle it for a daintie. They also reserve that corne
late planted that will not ripe, by roasting it in hot ashes, the heat
thereof drying it. In winter they esteeme it being boyled with beanes
for a rare dish, they call Pausarowmena. Their old wheat they first
steepe a night in hot water, in the morning pounding it in a morter.

They use a small basket for their Temmes, then pound againe the
great, and so separating by dashing their hand in the basket, receive
the flower in a platter made of wood, scraped to that forme with
burning || and shels. Tempering this flower with water, they make
it either in cakes, covering them with ashes till they be baked, and
then washing them in faire water, they drie presently with their
owne heat: or else boyle them in water, eating the broth with the
bread which they call Ponap. The groutes and peeces of the cornes
remaining, by fanning in a Platter or in the wind, away, the branne
they boyle 3 or 4 houres with water, which is an ordinary food they
call Ustatahamen. But some more thriftie then cleanly, doe burne the
core of the eare to powder, which they call Pungnough, mingling that
in their meale, but it never tasted well in bread, nor broth. Their
fish and flesh they boyle either very tenderly, or broyle it so long
on hurdles over the fire, or else after the Spanish fashion, putting
it on a spit, they turne first the one side, then the other, till it be as
drie as their jerkin Beefe in the west Indies, that they may keepe
it a moneth or more without putrifying. The broth of fish or flesh
they eat as commonly as the meat.

In May also amongst their corne they plant Pumpeons, and a
fruit like unto a muske mellon, but lesse and worse, which they call
Macocks. These increase exceedingly, and ripen in the beginning of
July, and continue untill September. They plant also Maracocks a
wild fruit like a Lemmon, which also increase infinitely. They begin
to ripe in September, and continue till the end of October. When
all their fruits be gathered, little els they plant, and this is done by
their women and children; neither doth this long suffice them, for
neare three parts of the yeare, they onely observe times and seasons,
and live of what the Country naturally affordeth from hand to
mouth, etc.

The Commodities in Virginia, or that may be had by Industrie.

THE mildnesse of the ayre, the fertilitie of the soyle, and situation
of the rivers are so propitious to the nature and use of man, as
no place is more convenient for pleasure, profit, and mans sustenance,
under that latitude or climat. Here will live any beasts, as horses,
goats, sheepe, asses, hens, etc. as appeared by them that were carried
thether. The waters, Isles, and shoales, are full of safe harbours for
ships of warre or marchandize, for boats of all sorts, for transportation
or fishing, etc. The Bay and rivers have much marchantable
fish, and places fit for Salt coats, building of ships, making of Iron,
etc.

Muscovia and Polonia doe yearely receive many thousands, for
pitch, tarre, sope-ashes, Rosen, Flax, Cordage, Sturgeon, Masts,
Yards, Wainscot, Firres, Glasse, and such like; also Swethland for
Iron and Copper. France in like manner, for Wine, Canvas, and
Salt. Spaine asmuch for Iron, Steele, Figges, Reasons, and Sackes.
Italy with Silkes and Velvets consumes our chiefe Commodities.
Holland maintaines it selfe by fishing and trading at our owne
doores. All these temporize with other for necessities, but all as
uncertaine as peace or warres. Besides the charge, travell, and
danger in transporting them, by seas, lands, stormes, and Pyrats.
Then how much hath Virginia the prerogative of all those flourishing
Kingdomes, for the benefit of our Land, when as within one hundred
myles all those are to be had, either ready provided by nature, or
else to be prepared, were there but industrious men to labour.
Onely of Copper we may doubt is wanting, but there is good
probabilitie that both Copper and better Minerals are there to be
had for their labour. Other Countries have it. So then here is a
place, a nurse for souldiers, a practise for mariners, a trade for
marchants, a reward for the good, and that which is most of all,
a businesse (most acceptable to God) to bring such poore Infidels
to the knowledge of God and his holy Gospell.

Of the naturall Inhabitants of Virginia.

THE land is not populous, for the men be few; their far greater
number is of women and children. Within 60 myles of James
Towne, there are about some 5000 people, but of able men fit for
their warres scarce 1500. To nourish so many || together they have
yet no meanes, because they make so small a benefit of their land,
be it never so fertile. Six or seaven hundred have beene the most
hath beene seene together, when they gathered themselves to have
surprised mee at Pamaunkee, having but fifteene to withstand the
worst of their fury. As small as the proportion of ground that hath
yet beene discovered, is in comparison of that yet unknowne: the
people differ very much in stature, especially in language, as before
is expressed. Some being very great as the Sasquesahanocks; others
very little, as the Wighcocomocoes: but generally tall and straight,
of a comely proportion, and of a colour browne when they are of
any age, but they are borne white. Their hayre is generally blacke,
but few have any beards. The men weare halfe their heads shaven,
the other halfe long; for Barbers they use their women, who with
two shels will grate away the hayre, of any fashion they please. The
women are cut in many fashions, agreeable to their yeares, but ever
some part remaineth long. They are very strong, of an able body
and full of agilitie, able to endure to lie in the woods under a tree

by the fire, in the worst of winter, or in the weedes and grasse, in
Ambuscado in the Sommer. They are inconstant in every thing, but
what feare constraineth them to keepe. Craftie, timerous, quicke of
apprehension, and very ingenuous. Some are of disposition fearefull,
some bold, most cautelous, all Savage. Generally covetous of
Copper, Beads, and such like trash. They are soone moved to
anger, and so malicious, that they seldome forget an injury: they
seldome steale one from another, least their conjurers should reveale
it, and so they be pursued and punished. That they are thus feared
is certaine, but that any can reveale their offences by conjuration
I am doubtfull. Their women are carefull not to be suspected of
dishonestie without the leave of their husbands. Each houshold
knoweth their owne lands, and gardens, and most live of their owne
labours. For their apparell, they are sometime covered with the
skinnes of wilde beasts, which in Winter are dressed with the hayre,
but in Sommer without. The better sort use large mantels of Deare
skins, not much differing in fashion from the Irish mantels. Some
imbrodered with white beads, some with Copper, other painted
after their manner. But the common sort have scarce to cover their
nakednesse, but with grasse, the leaves of trees, or such like. We
have seene some use mantels made of Turky feathers, so prettily
wrought and woven with threads that nothing could be discerned
but the feathers. That was exceeding warme and very handsome.
But the women are alwayes covered about their middles with a
skin, and very shamefast to be seene bare. They adorne themselves
most with copper beads and paintings. Their women, some have
their legs, hands, breasts and face cunningly imbrodered with
divers workes, as beasts, serpents, artificially wrought into their
flesh with blacke spots. In each eare commonly they have 3 great
holes, whereat they hang chaines, bracelets, or copper. Some of
their men weare in those holes, a small greene and yellow coloured
snake, neare halfe a yard in length, which crawling and lapping
her selfe about his necke oftentimes familiarly would kisse his lips.
Others weare a dead Rat tyed by the taile. Some on their heads
weare the wing of a bird, or some large feather with a Rattell. Those
Rattels are somewhat like the chape of a Rapier, but lesse, which
they take from the taile of a snake. Many have the whole skinne of
a Hawke or some strange foule, stuffed with the wings abroad.
Others a broad peece of Copper, and some the hand of their enemy
dryed. Their heads and shoulders are painted red with the roote
Pocone brayed to powder, mixed with oyle, this they hold in sommer
to preserve them from the heate, and in winter from the cold.
Many other formes of paintings they use, but he is the most gallant
that is the most monstrous to behold.

Their buildings and habitations are for the most part by the
rivers, or not farre distant from some fresh spring. Their houses are
built like our Arbors, of small young springs bowed and tyed, and
so close covered with Mats, or the barkes of trees very handsomely,
that notwithstanding either winde, raine, or weather, they are as
warme as stooves, but very smoaky, yet at the toppe of the house
there is a hole made for the smoake to goe into right over the fire.

Against the fire they lie on little hurdles of Reeds covered with
a Mat, borne from the ground a foote and more by a hurdle of
wood. On these round about the house they lie heads and points
one by th'other against the fire, some covered with Mats, some with
skins, and some starke naked lie on the ground, from 6 to 20 in a
house. Their houses are in the midst of their fields or gardens, which
are small plots of ground. Some 20 acres, some 40. some 100. some
200. some more, some lesse. In some places from 2 to 50

of those
houses together, or but a little separated by groves of trees. Neare
their habitations is little small wood or old trees on the ground by
reason of their burning of them for fire. So that a man may gallop
a horse amongst these woods any way, but where the creekes or
Rivers shall hinder.

Men, women, and children have their severall names according
to the severall humor of their Parents. Their women (they say) are
easily delivered of childe, yet doe they love children very dearely.
To make them hardie, in the coldest mornings they wash them in
the rivers, and by painting and oyntments so tanne their skinnes,
that after a yeare or two, no weather will hurt them.

The men bestow their times in fishing, hunting, warres, and
such manlike exercises, scorning to be seene in any woman-like
exercise, which is the cause that the women be very painefull, and
the men often idle. The women and children doe the rest of the worke.
They make mats, baskets, pots, morters, pound their corne, make
their bread, prepare their victuals, plant their corne, gather their
corne, beare all kind of burdens, and such like.

Their fire they kindle presently by chafing a dry pointed sticke
in a hole of a little square peece of wood, that firing it selfe, will so
fire mosse, leaves, or any such like dry thing, that will quickly burne.
In March and Aprill they live much upon their fishing wires;

and
feed on fish, Turkies, and Squirrels. In May and June they plant
their fields, and live most of Acornes, Walnuts, and fish. But to
mend their dyet, some disperse themselves in small companies, and
live upon fish, beasts, crabs, oysters, land Tortoises, strawberries,
mulberries, and such like. In June, July, and August, they feed
upon the rootes of Tockwough berries, fish, and greene wheat. It is
strange to see how their bodies alter with their dyet, even as the
deere and wilde beasts they seeme fat and leane, strong and weake.
Powhatan their great King, and some others that are provident,
rost their fish and flesh upon hurdles as before is expressed, and keepe
it till scarce times.

For fishing, hunting, and warres they use much their bow and
arrowes. They bring their bowes to the forme of ours by the scraping
of a shell. Their arrowes are made some of straight young sprigs,
which they head with bone, some 2 or 3 ynches long. These they
use to shoot at Squirrels on trees. Another sort of arrowes they use
made of Reeds. These are peeced with wood, headed with splinters
of christall, or some sharpe stone, the spurres of a Turkey, or the
bill of some bird. For his knife he hath the splinter of a Reed to cut
his feathers in forme. With this knife also, he will joynt a Deere, or
any beast, shape his shooes, buskins, mantels, etc. To make the
nock of his arrow he hath the tooth of a Beaver, set in a sticke,
wherewith he grateth it by degrees. His arrow head he quickly
maketh with a little bone, which he ever weareth at his bracer, of
any splint of a stone, or glasse in the forme of a heart, and these they
glew to the end of their arrowes. With the sinewes of Deere, and the
tops of Deeres hornes boyled to a jelly, they make a glew that will
not dissolve in cold water.

For their warres also they use Targets that are round and made
of the barkes of trees, and a sword of wood at their backes, but
oftentimes they use for swords the horne of a Deere put through
a peece of wood in forme of a Pickaxe. Some a long stone sharpned
at both ends, used in the same manner. This they were wont to
use also for hatchets, but now by trucking they have plentie of the
same forme of yron. And those are their chiefe instruments and
armes.

Their fishing is much in Boats. These they make of one tree by
burning and scratching away the coales with stones and shels, till
they have made it in forme of a || Trough. Some of them are an
elne deepe, and fortie or fiftie foote in length, and some will beare
40 men, but the most ordinary are smaller, and will beare 10, 20,
or 30. according to their bignesse. In stead of Oares, they use Paddles
and stickes, with which they will row faster then our Barges. Betwixt
their hands and thighes, their women use to spin, the barkes of
trees, Deere sinewes, or a kind of grasse they call Pemmenaw, of these
they make a thread very even and readily. This thread serveth for
many uses. As about their housing, apparell, as also they make nets
for fishing, for the quantitie as formally braded as ours. They make
also with it lines for angles. Their hookes are either a bone grated
as they nock their arrowes in the forme of a crooked pinne or fish-hooke,
or of the splinter of a bone tyed to the clift of a little sticke,
and with the end of the line, they tie on the bait. They use also long
arrowes tyed in a line, wherewith they shoote at fish in the rivers.

But they of Accawmack use staves like unto Javelins headed with
bone. With these they dart fish swimming in the water. They have
also many artificiall wires, in which they get abundance of fish.

In their hunting and fishing they take extreame paines; yet it
being their ordinary exercise from their infancy, they esteeme it a
pleasure and are very proud to be expert therein. And by their
continuall ranging, and travell, they know all the advantages and
places most frequented with Deere, Beasts, Fish, Foule, Roots, and
Berries. At their huntings they leave their habitations, and reduce
themselves into companies, as the Tartars doe, and goe to the most
desert places with their families, where they spend their time in
hunting and fowling up towards the mountaines, by the heads of
their rivers, where there is plentie of game. For betwixt the rivers
the grounds are so narrowe, that little commeth here which they
devoure not. It is a marvell they can so directly passe these deserts,
some 3 or 4 dayes journey without habitation. Their hunting houses
are like unto Arbours covered with Mats. These their women beare
after them, with Corne, Acornes, Morters, and all bag and baggage
they use. When they come to the place of exercise, every man doth
his best to shew his dexteritie, for by their excelling in those qualities,
they get their wives. Fortie yards will they shoot levell, or very neare
the marke, and 120 is their best at Random. At their huntings in
the deserts they are commonly two or three hundred together.
Having found the Deere, they environ them with many fires, and
betwixt the fires they place themselves. And some take their stands
in the midsts. The Deere being thus feared by the fires, and their
voyces, they chase them so long within that circle, that many times
they kill 6, 8, 10, or 15 at a hunting. They use also to drive them into
some narrow poynt of land, when they find that advantage; and
so force them into the river, where with their boats they have
Ambuscadoes to kill them. When they have shot a Deere by land,
they follow him like bloud-hounds by the bloud, and straine, and
oftentimes so take them. Hares, Partridges, Turkies, or Egges, fat or
leane, young or old, they devoure all they can catch in their power.
In one of these huntings they found me in the discovery of the head
of the river of Chickahamania, where they slew my men, and tooke
me prisoner in a Bogmire, where I saw those exercises, and gathered
these Observations.

One Salvage hunting alone, useth the skinne of a Deere slit on
the one side, and so put on his arme, through the neck, so that his
hand comes to the head which is stuffed, and the hornes, head, eyes,
eares, and every part as artificially counterfeited as they can devise.
Thus shrowding his body in the skinne by stalking, he approacheth
the Deere, creeping on the ground from one tree to another. If the
Deere chance to find fault, or stand at gaze, he turneth the head
with his hand to his best advantage to seeme like a Deere, also
gazing and licking himselfe. So watching his best advantage to

approach, having shot him, he chaseth him by his bloud and straine
till he get him.

When they intend any warres, the Werowances usually have
the advice of their Priests and Conjurers, and their allies, and
ancient friends, but chiefely the Priests determine their resolution.
Every Werowance, or some lustie fellow, they ap- || point Captaine
over every nation. They seldome make warre for lands or goods, but
for women and children, and principally for revenge. They have
many enemies, namely, all their westernly Countries beyond the
mountaines, and the heads of the rivers. Upon the head of the
Powhatans are the Monacans, whose chiefe habitation is at
Rasauweak, unto whom the Mowhemenchughes, the Massinnacacks,
the Monahassanughs, the Monasickapanoughs, and other nations
pay tributes. Upon the head of the river of Toppahanock is a
people called Mannahoacks. To these are contributers the Tauxanias,
the Shackaconias, the Ontponeas, the Tegninateos, the Whonkenteaes,
the Stegarakes, the Hassinnungaes, and divers others, all
confederates with the Monacans, though many different in language,
and be very barbarous, living for the most part of wild beasts and
fruits. Beyond the mountaines from whence is the head of the river
Patawomeke, the Salvages report inhabit their most mortall
enemies, the Massawomekes, upon a great salt water, which by all
likelihood is either some part of Cannada, some great lake, or some
inlet of some sea that falleth into the South sea. These Massawomekes
are a great nation and very populous. For the heads of all those
rivers, especially the Pattawomekes, the Pautuxuntes, the Sasquesahanocks,
the Tockwoughes are continually tormented by them: of
whose crueltie, they generally complained, and very importunate
they were with me, and my company to free them from these
tormentors. To this purpose they offered food, conduct, assistance,
and continuall subjection. Which I concluded to effect. But the
councell then present emulating my successe, would not thinke it
fit to spare me fortie men to be hazzarded in those unknowne regions,
having passed (as before was spoken of) but with 12, and so was lost
that opportunitie. Seaven boats full of these Massawomekes wee
encountred at the head of the Bay; whose Targets, Baskets, Swords,
Tobacco pipes, Platters, Bowes, and Arrowes, and every thing
shewed, they much exceeded them of our parts, and their dexteritie
in their small boats, made of the barkes of trees, sowed with barke
and well luted with gumme, argueth that they are seated upon
some great water.

Against all these enemies the Powhatans are constrained sometimes
to fight. Their chiefe attempts are by Stratagems, trecheries,
or surprisals. Yet the Werowances women and children they put
not to death, but keepe them Captives. They have a method in
warre, and for our pleasures they shewed it us, and it was in this
manner performed at Mattapanient.

Having painted and disguised themselves in the fiercest manner
they could devise. They divided themselves into two Companies,
neare a hundred in a company. The one company called Monacans,
the other Powhatans. Either army had their Captaine. These as
enemies tooke their stands a musket shot one from another; ranked
themselves 15 a breast, and each ranke from another 4 or 5 yards,
not in fyle, but in the opening betwixt their fyles. So as the Reare
could shoot as conveniently as the Front. Having thus pitched the
fields: from either part went a messenger with these conditions, that
whosoever were vanquished, such as escape upon their submission
in two dayes after should live, but their wives and children should
be prize for the Conquerours. The messengers were no sooner
returned, but they approached in their orders; On each flanke a
Serjeant, and in the Reare an Officer for Lieutenant, all duly keeping
their orders, yet leaping and singing after their accustomed tune,
which they use onely in Warres. Upon the first flight of arrowes
they gave such horrible shouts and screeches, as so many infernall
hell hounds could not have made them more terrible. When they
had spent their arrowes, they joyned together prettily, charging and
retyring, every ranke seconding other. As they got advantage they
catched their enemies by the hayre of the head, and downe he
came that was taken. His enemy with his wooden sword seemed to
beat out his braines, and still they crept to the Reare, to maintaine
the skirmish. The Monacans decreasing, the Powhatans charged
them in the forme of a halfe Moone; they unwilling to be inclosed,
fled all in a troope to their Ambuscadoes, on whom they led them
very cunningly. The Monacans disperse themselves among the
fresh men, whereupon the || Powhatans retired, with all speed to
their seconds; which the Monacans seeing, tooke that advantage to
retire againe to their owne battell, and so each returned to their
owne quarter. All their actions, voyces, and gestures, both in charging
and retiring were so strained to the height of their qualitie and nature,
that the strangenesse thereof made it seeme very delightfull.

For their Musicke they use a thicke Cane, on which they pipe
as on a Recorder. For their warres they have a great deepe platter
of wood. They cover the mouth thereof with a skin, at each corner
they tie a walnut, which meeting on the backside neere the bottome,
with a small rope they twitch them together till it be so tought and
stiffe, that they may beat upon it as upon a drumme. But their
chiefe instruments are Rattles made of small gourds, or Pumpeons
shels. Of these they have Base, Tenor, Countertenor, Meane, and
Treble. These mingled with their voyces sometimes twenty or
thirtie together, make such a terrible noise as would rather affright,
then delight any man. If any great commander arrive at the habitation
of a Werowance, they spread a Mat as the Turkes doe a Carpet
for him to sit upon. Upon another right opposite they sit themselves.

Then doe all with a tunable voice of shouting bid him welcome.
After this doe two or more of their chiefest men make an Oration,
testifying their love. Which they doe with such vehemency, and so
great passions, that they sweat till they drop, and are so out of
breath they can scarce speake. So that a man would take them to
be exceeding angry, or stark mad. Such victuall as they have, they
spend freely, and at night where his lodging is appointed, they set
a woman fresh painted red with Pocones and oyle, to be his bed-fellow.

Their manner of trading is for copper, beads, and such like,
for which they give such commodities as they have, as skins, foule,
fish, flesh, and their Country Corne. But their victualls are their
chiefest riches.

Every spring they make themselves sicke with drinking the
juyce of a roote they call Wighsacan, and water; whereof they powre
so great a quantitie, that it purgeth them in a very violent manner;
so that in three or foure dayes after, they scarce recover their
former health. Sometimes they are troubled with dropsies, swellings,
aches, and such like diseases; for cure whereof they build a Stove
in the forme of a Dove-house with mats, so close that a few coales
therein covered with a pot, will make the patient sweat extreamely.
For swellings also they use small peeces of touchwood, in the forme
of cloves, which pricking on the griefe they burne close to the
flesh, and from thence draw the corruption with their mouth. With
this roote Wighsacan they ordinarily heale greene wounds. But to
scarrifie a swelling, or make incision, their best instruments are some
splinted stone. Old ulcers, or putrified hurts are seldome seene
cured amongst them. They have many professed Phisicians, who
with their charmes and Rattles, with an infernall rout of words and
actions, will seeme to sucke their inward griefe from their navels,
or their grieved places; but of our Chirurgians they were so conceited,
that they beleeved any Plaister would heale any hurt.

Of their Religion.

THERE is yet in Virginia no place discovered to be so Savage, in
which they have not a Religion, Deere, and Bow, and Arrowes.
All things that are able to doe them hurt beyond their prevention,
they adore with their kinde of divine worship; as the fire, water,

lightning, thunder, our Ordnance, peeces, horses, etc. But their
chiefe God they worship is the Devill. Him they call Okee, || and
serve him more of feare then love. They say they have conference
with him, and fashion themselves as neare to his shape as they can
imagine. In their Temples they have his image evill favouredly
carved, and then painted and adorned with chaines of copper, and
beads, and covered with a skin, in such manner as the deformitie
may well suit with such a God. By him is commonly the sepulcher
of their Kings. Their bodies are first bowelled, then dried upon
hurdles till they be very dry, and so about the most of their joynts
and necke they hang bracelets, or chaines of copper, pearle, and
such like, as they use to weare, their inwards they stuffe with copper
beads, hatchets, and such trash. Then lappe they them very carefully
in white skins, and so rowle them in mats for their winding sheets.
And in the Tombe which is an arch made of mats, they lay them
orderly. What remaineth of this kinde of wealth their Kings have,
they set at their feet in baskets. These Temples and bodies are kept
by their Priests.

For their ordinary burials, they dig a deepe hole in the earth
with sharpe stakes, and the corpse being lapped in skins and mats
with their jewels, they lay them upon stickes in the ground, and so
cover them with earth. The buriall ended, the women being painted
all their faces with blacke cole and oyle, doe sit twenty foure houres
in the houses mourning and lamenting by turnes, with such yelling
and howling, as may expresse their great passions.

In every Territory of a Werowance is a Temple and a Priest,
two or three or more. Their principall Temple or place of superstition
is at Uttamussack at Pamaunkee, neare unto which is a house,
Temple, or place of Powhatans.

Upon the top of certaine red sandy hils in the woods, there are
three great houses filled with images of their Kings, and Devils, and
Tombes of their Predecessors. Those houses are neare sixtie foot in
length built arbour-wise, after their building. This place they count
so holy as that but the Priests and Kings dare come into them;
nor the Salvages dare not goe up the river in boats by it, but they
solemnly cast some peece of copper, white beads, or Pocones into the
river, for feare their Okee should be offended and revenged of them.

Thus,

In this place commonly are resident seaven Priests. The chiefe
differed from the rest in his ornaments, but inferior Priests could
hardly be knowne from the common people, but that they had not

so many holes in their eares to hang their jewels at. The ornaments
of the chiefe Priest were certaine attires for his head made thus.
They tooke a dosen, or 16, or more snakes skins and stuffed them
with mosse, and of Weesels and other Vermines skins a good many.
All these they tie by their tailes, so as all their tailes meete in the
toppe of their head like a great Tassell. Round about this Tassell is
as it were a crowne of feathers, the skins hang round about his head,
necke, and shoulders, and in a manner cover his face. The faces of
all their Priests are painted as ugly as they can devise, in their
hands they had every one his Rattle, some base, some smaller. Their
devotion was most in songs, which the chiefe Priest beginneth and
the rest followed him, sometimes he maketh invocations with
broken sentences by starts and strange passions, and at every pause,
the rest give a short groane.

It could not be perceived that they keepe any day as more
holy then other; But onely in some great distresse of want, feare of
enemies, times of triumph and gathering together their fruits, the
whole Country of men, women, and children come together to
solemnities. The manner of their devotion is, sometimes to make a
great fire, in the house or fields, and all to sing and dance about it
with Rattles and shouts || together, foure or five houres. Sometimes
they set a man in the midst, and about him they dance and sing, he
all the while clapping his hands, as if he would keepe time, and
after their songs and dauncings ended they goe to their Feasts.

They have also divers conjurations, one they made when I
was their prisoner; of which hereafter you shall reade at large.

They have also certaine Altar stones they call Pawcorances, but
these stand from their Temples, some by their houses, others in the
woods and wildernesses, where they have had any extraordinary

accident, or incounter. And as you travell, at those stones they will
tell you the cause why they were there erected, which from age to
age they instruct their children, as their best records of antiquities.
Upon these they offer bloud, Deere suet, and Tobacco. This they
doe when they returne from the Warres, from hunting, and upon
many other occasions. They have also another superstition that they
use in stormes, when the waters are rough in the Rivers and Sea
coasts. Their Conjurers runne to the water sides, or passing in their
boats, after many hellish outcryes and invocations, they cast
Tobacco, Copper, Pocones, or such trash into the water, to pacifie
that God whom they thinke to be very angry in those stormes.
Before their dinners and suppers the better sort will take the first
bit, and cast it in the fire, which is all the grace they are knowne
to use.

In some part of the Country they have yearely a sacrifice of
children. Such a one was at Quiyoughcohanock some ten myles
from James Towne, and thus performed. Fifteene of the properest
young boyes, betweene ten and fifteene yeares of age they painted
white. Having brought them forth, the people spent the forenoone
in dancing and singing about them with Rattles. In the afternoone
they put those children to the roote of a tree. By them all the men
stood in a guard, every one having a Bastinado in his hand, made
of reeds bound together. This made a lane betweene them all along,
through which there were appointed five young men to fetch these
children: so every one of the five went through the guard to fetch
a childe each after other by turnes, the guard fiercely beating them
with their Bastinadoes, and they patiently enduring and receiving
all defending the children with their naked bodies from the unmercifull
blowes, that pay them soundly, though the children escape.
All this while the women weepe and cry out very passionately,
providing mats, skins, mosse, and dry wood, as things fitting their
childrens funerals. After the children were thus passed the guard,
the guard tore down the trees, branches and boughs, with such
violence that they rent the body, and made wreaths for their heads,
or bedecked their hayre with the leaves. What els was done with
the children, was not seene, but they were all cast on a heape, in a
valley as dead, where they made a great feast for all the company.

The Werowance being demanded the meaning of this sacrifice,
answered that the children were not all dead, but that the Okee
or Divell did sucke the bloud from their left breast, who chanced
to be his by lot, till they were dead, but the rest were kept in the
wildernesse by the young men till nine moneths were expired,
during which time they must not converse with any, and of these
were made their Priests and Conjurers. This sacrifice they held to
be so necessary, that if they should omit it, their Okee or Devill, and
all their other Quiyoughcosughes, which are their other Gods, would
let them have no Deere, Turkies, Corne, nor fish, and yet besides,
he would make a great slaughter amongst them.

They thinke that their Werowances and Priests which they also
esteeme Quiyoughcosughes, when they are dead, doe goe beyond the
mountaines towards the setting of the sunne, and ever remaine
there in forme of their Okee, with their heads pain- || ted with oyle
and Pocones, finely trimmed with feathers, and shall have beads,
hatchets, copper, and Tobacco, doing nothing but dance and sing,
with all their Predecessors. But the common people they suppose
shall not live after death, but rot in their graves like dead dogs.

To divert them from this blind Idolatry, we did our best
endevours, chiefly with the Werowance of Quiyoughcohanock,
whose devotion, apprehension, and good disposition, much exceeded
any in those Countries, who although we could not as yet prevaile,
to forsake his false Gods, yet this he did beleeve that our God as
much exceeded theirs, as our Gunnes did their Bowes and Arrowes,
and many times did send to me to James Towne,

intreating me to
pray to my God for raine, for their Gods would not send them any.
And in this lamentable ignorance doe these poore soules sacrifice
themselves to the Devill, not knowing their Creator; and we had
not language sufficient, so plainly to expresse it as make them
understand it; which God grant they may.

For,

Of the manner of the Virginians Government

ALTHOUGH the Country people be very barbarous, yet have they
amongst them such government, as that their Magistrates for

good commanding, and their people for due subjection, and obeying,
excell many places that would be counted very civill. The forme
of their Common-wealth is a Monarchicall government, one as
Emperour ruleth over many Kings or Governours. Their chiefe
ruler is called Powhatan, and taketh his name of his principall place
of dwelling called Powhatan. But his proper name is Wahunsonacock.
Some Countries he hath which have beene his ancestors, and came
unto him by inheritance, as the Country called Powhatan, Arrohateck,
Appamatuck, Pamaunkee, Youghtanund, and Mattapanient.
All the rest of his Territories expressed in the Mappe, they report
have beene his severall Conquests. In all his ancient inheritances, he
hath houses built after their manner like arbours, some 30. some 40.
yards long, and at every house provision for his entertainement
according to the time. At Werowcomoco on the Northside of the
river Pamaunkee, was his residence, when I was delivered him
prisoner, some 14 myles from James Towne, where for the most
part, he was resident, but at last he tooke so little pleasure in our
neare neighbourhood, that he retired himselfe to Orapakes, in the
desert betwixt Chickahamania and Youghtanund. He is of personage
a tall well proportioned man, with a sower looke, his
head somwhat gray, his beard so thinne, that it seemeth none at
all, his age neare sixtie; of a very able and hardy body to endure any
labour. About his person ordinarily attendeth a guard of 40 or 50
of the tallest men his Country doth afford. Every night upon the
foure quarters of his house are foure Sentinels, each from other a
flight shoot, and at every halfe houre one from the Corps du guard
doth hollow, shaking his lips with his finger betweene them; unto
whom every Sentinell doth answer round from his stand: if any
faile, they presently send forth an officer that beateth him extreamely.

A myle from Orapakes in a thicket of wood, he hath a house in
which he keepeth his kinde of Treasure, as skinnes, copper, pearle,
and beads, which he storeth up against the time of his death and
buriall. Here also is his store of red paint for oyntment, bowes and
arrowes, Targets and clubs. This house is fiftie or sixtie yards in
length, frequented onely by Priests. At the foure corners of this
house stand foure || Images as Sentinels, one of a Dragon, another
a Beare, the third like a Leopard, and the fourth like a giantlike
man, all made evill favouredly, according to their best workemanship.

He hath as many women as he will, whereof when he lieth on
his bed, one sitteth at his head, and another at his feet, but when he
sitteth, one sitteth on his right hand and another on his left. As he

is weary of his women, he bestoweth them on those that best deserve
them at his hands. When he dineth or suppeth, one of his women
before and after meat, bringeth him water in a wooden platter to
wash his hands. Another waiteth with a bunch of feathers to wipe
them in stead of a Towell, and the feathers when he hath wiped
are dryed againe. His kingdomes descend not to his sonnes nor
children, but first to his brethren, whereof he hath 3. namely,
Opitchapan, Opechancanough, and Catataugh, and after their
decease to his sisters. First to the eldest sister, then to the rest, and
after them to the heires male or female of the eldest sister, but never
to the heires of the males.

He nor any of his people understand any letters, whereby to
write or reade, onely the lawes whereby he ruleth is custome. Yet
when he listeth his will is a law and must be obeyed: not onely as
a King, but as halfe a God they esteeme him. His inferiour Kings
whom they call Werowances, are tyed to rule by customes, and
have power of life and death at their command in that nature. But
this word Werowance, which we call and construe for a King, is a
common word, whereby they call all commanders: for they have
but few words in their language, and but few occasions to use any
officers more then one commander, which commonly they call
Werowance, or Caucorouse, which is Captaine. They all know their
severall lands, and habitations, and limits, to fish, foule, or hunt in,
but they hold all of their great Werowance Powhatan, unto whom
they pay tribute of skinnes, beads, copper, pearle, deere, turkies,
wild beasts, and corne. What he commandeth they dare not disobey
in the least thing. It is strange to see with what great feare and
adoration, all these people doe obey this Powhatan. For at his feet
they present whatsoever he commandeth, and at the least frowne of
his brow, their greatest spirits will tremble with feare: and no
marvell, for he is very terrible and tyrannous in punishing such as
offend him. For example, he caused certaine malefactors to be
bound hand and foot, then having of many fires gathered great
store of burning coales, they rake these coales round in the forme
of a cockpit, and in the midst they cast the offenders to broyle to
death. Sometimes he causeth the heads of them that offend him, to
be laid upon the altar or sacrificing stone, and one with clubbes
beats out their braines. When he would punish any notorious
enemy or malefactor, he causeth him to be tyed to a tree, and with
Mussell shels or reeds, the executioner cutteth off his joynts one
after another, ever casting what they cut of into the fire; then doth
he proceed with shels and reeds to case the skinne from his head
and face; then doe they rip his belly and so burne him with the
tree and all. Thus themselves reported they executed George Cassen.
Their ordinary correction is to beate them with cudgels. We have
seene a man kneeling on his knees, and at Powhatans command,

two men have beate him on the bare skin, till he hath fallen
senselesse in a sound, and yet never cry nor complained. And he
made a woman for playing the whore, sit upon a great stone, on her
bare breech twenty-foure houres, onely with corne and water, every
three dayes, till nine dayes were past, yet he loved her exceedingly:
notwithstanding there are common whores by profession.

In the yeare 1608, he surprised the people of Payankatank
his neare neighbours and subjects. The occasion was to us unknowne,
but the manner was thus. First he sent divers of his men as to lodge
amongst them that night, then the Ambuscadoes environed all their
houses, and at the houre appointed, they all fell to the spoyle,
twenty-foure men they slew, the long haire of the one side of their
heads, with the skinne cased off with shels or reeds, they brought
away. They surprised also the women, and the children, and the
Werowance. All these they presented to Powhatan. The Werowance,
women and children became his prisoners, and doe him service.
|| The lockes of haire with their skinnes he hanged on a line betwixt
two trees. And thus he made ostentation of his triumph at Werowocomoco,
where he intended to have done as much to mee and
my company.

And this is as much as my memory can call to minde worthy of
note; which I have purposely collected, to satisfie my friends of the
true worth and qualitie of Virginia. Yet some bad natures will
not sticke to slander the Countrey, that will slovenly spit at all
things, especially in company where they can finde none to contradict
them. Who though they were scarce ever ten myles from
James Towne, or at the most but at the falles; yet holding it a
great disgrace that amongst so much action, their actions were
nothing, exclaime of all things, though they never adventured to
know any thing; nor ever did any thing but devoure the fruits of
other mens labours. Being for most part of such tender educations,
and small experience in Martiall accidents, because they found not
English Cities, nor such faire houses, nor at their owne wishes any
of their accustomed dainties, with feather beds and downe pillowes,
Tavernes and Alehouses in every breathing place, neither such
plentie of gold and silver and dissolute libertie, as they expected,
had little or no care of any thing, but to pamper their bellies, to
fly away with our Pinnaces, or procure their meanes to returne for
England. For the Country was to them a misery, a ruine, a death,
a hell, and their reports here, and their actions there according.

Some other there were that had yearely stipends to passe to

and againe for transportation: who to keepe the mysterie of the
businesse in themselves, though they had neither time nor meanes
to know much of themselves; yet all mens actions or relations they
so formally tuned to the temporizing times simplicitie, as they
could make their ignorances seeme much more, then all the true
actors could by their experience. And those with their great words
deluded the world with such strange promises, as abused the
businesse much worse then the rest. For the businesse being builded
upon the foundation of their fained experience, the planters, the
money and meanes have still miscarried: yet they ever returning,
and the planters so farre absent, who could contradict their excuses?
which, still to maintaine their vaine glory and estimation, from
time to time have used such diligence as made them passe for truths,
though nothing more false. And that the adventurers might be thus
abused, let no man wonder; for the wisest living is soonest abused
by him that hath a faire tongue and a dissembling heart.

There were many in Virginia meerely projecting, verball, and
idle contemplators, and those so devoted to pure idlenesse, that
though they had lived two or three yeares in Virginia, lordly,
necessitie it selfe could not compell them to passe the Peninsula, or
Pallisadoes of James Towne, and those witty spirits, what would
they not affirme in the behalfe of our transporters, to get victuall
from their ships, or obtaine their good words in England, to get
their passes. Thus from the clamors, and the ignorance of false
informers, are sprung those disasters that sprung in Virginia: and
our ingenious verbalists were no lesse plague to us in Virginia, then
the Locusts to the Egyptians. For the labour of twentie or thirtie of
the best onely preserved in Christianitie by their industry, the idle
livers of neare two hundred of the rest: who living neere ten moneths
of such naturall meanes, as the Country naturally of it selfe afforded,
notwithstanding all this, and the worst fury of the Salvages, the
extremitie of sicknesse, mutinies, faction, ignorances, and want of
victuall; in all that time I lost but seaven or eight men, yet subjected
the salvages to our desired obedience, and received contribution
from thirtie five of their Kings, to protect and assist them against
any that should assault them, in which order they continued true
and faithfull, and as subjects to his Majestie, so long after as I did
governe there, untill I left the Countrey: since, how they have
revolted, the Countrie lost, and againe replanted, and the businesses
hath succeded from time to time, I referre you to the relations of
them returned from Virginia, that have beene more diligent in
such Observations.

Because many doe desire to know the manner
of their Language, I have inserted these few words.

• Ka ka torawincs yowo. What call you this.
• Nemarough, a man.
• Crenepo, a woman.
• Marowanchesso, a boy.
• Yehawkans, Houses.
• Matchcores, Skins, or garments.
• Mockasins, Shooes.
• Tussan, Beds.
• Pokatawer, Fire.
• Attawp, A bow.
• Attonce, Arrowes.
• Monacookes, Swords.
• Aumouhhowgh, A Target.
• Pawcussacks, Gunnes.
• Tomahacks, Axes.
• Tockahacks, Pickaxes.
• Pamesacks, Knives.
• Accowprets, Sheares.
• Pawpecones, Pipes.
• Mattassin, Copper
• Ussawassin, Iron, Brasse, Silver, or any white mettall.
• Musses, Woods.
• Attasskuss, Leaves, weeds, or grasse.
• Chepsin, Land.
• Shacquohocan. A stone.
• Wepenter, A cookold.
• Suckahanna, Water.
• Noughmass, Fish.
• Copotone, Sturgeon.
• Weghshaughes, Flesh.
• Sawwehone, Bloud.
• Netoppew, Friends.
• Marrapough, Enemies.
• Maskapow, the worst of enemies.
• Mawchick chammay, The best of friends
• Casacunnakackw, peya quagh acquintan uttasantasough, In how many daies
  will there come hither any more English Ships.

Their Numbers.

• Necut, 1.
• Ningh, 2.
• Nuss, 3.

---

131



• Yowgh, 4.
• Paranske, 5.
• Comotinch, 6.
• Toppawoss, 7.
• Nusswash, 8.
• Kekatawgh, 9.
• Kaskeke, 10.

They count no more but by tennes as followeth.

• Case, how many.
• Ninghsapooeksku, 20.
• Nussapooeksku, 30.
• Yowghapooeksku, 40.
• Parankestassapooeksku, 50.
  [_]

  1
• Comatinchtassapooeksku, 60.
  [_]

  2
• Nussswashtassapooeksku, 80.
• Kekataughtassapooeksku, 90.
• Necuttoughtysinough, 100.
• Necuttweunquaough, 1000.
• Rawcosowghs, Dayes.
• Keshowghes, Sunnes.
• Toppquough, Nights.
• Nepawweshowghs, Moones.
• Pawpaxsoughes, Yeares.
• Pummahumps, Starres.
• Osies, Heavens.
• Okees, Gods.
• Quiyoughcosoughs, Pettie Gods, and their affinities.
• Righcomoughes, Deaths.
• Kekughes, Lives.
• Mowchick woyawgh tawgh noeragh kaquere mecher, I am very hungry?
  what shall I eate?
• Tawnor nehiegh Powhatan, Where dwels Powhatan.
• Mache, nehiegh yourowgh, Orapaks. Now he dwels a great way hence
  at Orapaks.
• Uttapitchewayne anpechitchs nehawper Werowacomoco, You lie, he staid
  ever at Werowacomoco.
• Kator nehiegh mattagh neer uttapitchewayne, Truely he is there I doe not
  lie.
• Spaughtynere keragh werowance mawmarinough kekaten wawgh peyaquaugh.
  Run you then to the King Mawmarynough and bid him come
  hither.

---

132



• Utteke, e peya weyack wighwhip, Get you gone, and come againe
  quickly.
• Kekaten Pokahontas patiaquagh niugh tanks manotyens neer mowchick
  rawrenock audowgh, Bid Pokahontas bring hither two little Baskets,
  and I will give her white Beads to make her a Chaine.

FINIS.