(Decorative banner)My Discoueryof diverse Riuers and Harbours, with their names, and which are fit for Plantations, and which not.
(Decorative banner)
My Discoueryof diverse Riuers and Harbours, with their names, and which are fit for Plantations, and which not.
My Discoueryof diverse Riuers and Harbours, with their names, and which are fit for Plantations, and which not.
THE first place I set my foote vpon inNew England,1623was the Isles ofShoulds, being Ilands in the Sea, about two Leagues from the Mayne.
Vpon these Ilands, I neither could see one good timber tree, nor so much good ground as to make a garden.
The place is found to be a good fishing place for 6 Shippes, but more cannot well be there for want of convenient stage-roome, as this yeare’s experience hath proved.
The Harbor is but indifferent good. Vpon these Ilands are no Savages at all.
The next place I came vnto wasPannaway,Piscataqua Riverwhere oneM. Tomsonhath made a Plantation, there I stayed about one Moneth in which time I sent for my men from the East: who came over in diverse Shipps.
At this place I met with the Governour, whocame thither in a Barke which he had from oneM. Westonabout 20 dayes before I arived in the Land.
The Governour then told me that I was joyned with him in Commission as a Counsellor, which being read I found it was so. And he then, in the presence of three more of the Counsell, administered unto me an oath.
After the meeting of my men, I went a coasting in two boats with all my company.
In the time I stayd withM. Tomson, I surveyed as much as possible I could, the wether being vnseasonable, and very much snow.
In those parts I saw much good Timber. But the ground it seemed to me not to be good, being very rockey and full of trees and brush-wood.
There is great store of fowle of diverse sorts, wherof I fed very plentifully.
About two English miles further to the East, I found a great River and a good harbour calledPascattaway. But for the ground I can say nothing, but by the relation of theSagamoreor King of that place, who told me there was much good ground up in the river about seven or eight leagues.
About two leagues further to the East, is another great river calledAquamenticus.York RiverThere I think a good plantation may be settled, for there is a good harbour for ships, good ground, andmuch already cleared, fit for planting of corne and other fruits, having heretofore ben planted by the Salvages who are all dead. There is good timber, and likely to be good fishing, but as yet there hath beene no tryall made that I can heare of.
About 6 leagues further to the East is a harbour calledCape Porpas, the which is indifferent good for 6 shippes, and it is generally thought to be an excellent place for fish, but as yet there hath been no tryall made, but there may be a good plantation seated, for there is good Timber and good ground, but will require some labour and charge.
About foure leagues further East, there is another harbour calledSawco(betweene this place andCape PorpasI lost one of my men) before we could recover the harbour a great fog or mist tooke us that we could not see a hundred yards from us. I perceiving the fog to come upon the Sea, called for a Compasse and set the Cape land, by which wee knew how to steare our course, which was no sooner done but wee lost sight of land, and my other boate, and the winde blew fresh against us, so that we were enforced to strike saile and betake us to our Oares which wee used with all the wit and strength we had, but by no meanes could we recover the shore that night, being imbayed and compassed round with breaches, which roared in a mostfearfull manner on every side us; wee took counsell in this extremity one of another what to doe to save our lives, at length we resolved that to put to sea againe in the night was no fit course, the storme being great, and the winde blowing right of the shore, and to runne our boate on the shore amongst the breaches, (which roared in a most fearefull manner) and cast her away and indanger ourselves we were loath to do, seeing no land nor knowing where we were. At length I caused our Killick (which was all the Anker we had) to be cast forth, and one continually to hold his hand upon the roode or cable, by which we knew whether our ancker held or no: which being done wee commended our selues to God by prayer, & put on a resolution to be as comfortable as we could, and so fell to our victuals. Thus we spent that night, and the next morning, with much adoe we got into Sawco, where I found my other boate.
There I stayed fiue nights, the winde beinge contrary, and the weather very unseasonable, hauing much raine and snow, and continuall foggse.
We built us our Wigwam, or house, in one houres space, it had no frame, but was without forme or fashion, onely a few poles set up together, and couered with our boates sailes which kept forth but a little winde, and lesse raigne and snow.
Our greatest comfort we had, next unto that which was spirituall, was this we had foule enough for killing, wood enough for felling, and good fresh water enough for drinking.
But our beds was the wet ground, and our bedding our wet cloaths. Wee had plenty of Craine, Goose, Duckes and Mallard, with other fowle, both boyled and rosted, but our spits and racks were many times in danger of burning before the meate was ready (being but wooden ones.)
After I had stayed there three daies, and no likelyhood of a good winde to carrie vs further, I tooke with me six of my men, and our Armes, and walked along the shore, to discouer as much by land as I could: after I had travelled about two English miles I met with a riuer which stayed me that I could goe no further by land that day, but returned to our place of habitation where we rested that night (hauing our lodging amended) for the day being dry I caused all my company to accompany mee to a marsh ground, where wee gathered euery man his burthen of long dry grasse, which being spread in our Wigwam or House, I praise God I rested as contentedly as euer I did in all my life. And then came into my minde an old merry saying, which I haue heard of a beggar boy, who said if euer he should attaine to be a King, he would haue a breast of mutton with a pudding in it,and lodge euery night vp to the eares in drye straw; and thus I made myselfe and my company as merry as I could, with this and some other conceits, making this vse of all, that it was much better then wee deserued at Gods hands, if he should deale with vs according to our sinnes.
The next morning I caused 4 of my men to rowe my lesser boate to this riuer, who with much adoe got in myselfe, and 3 more going by land: but by reason of the extremitie of the wether we were enforced to stay there that night, and were constrained to sleepe vpon the riuer banke, being the best place wee could finde, the snowe being very deepe.
The next morning wee were enforced to rise betime, for the tyde came vp so high that it washed away our fire, and would haue serued vs so too if we had not kept watch: So wee went over the riuer in our boate, where I caused some to stay with her, myselfe being desirous to discouer further by land, I tooke with me foure men and walked along the shore about sixe English miles further to the East, where I found another riuer, which staied mee. So we returned backe to Sawco, where the rest of my company and my other boate lay. That night I was exceeding sicke, by reason of the wet and cold and much toyling of my body: but thankes be to God I was indifferent well thenext morning, and the winde being faire we put to sea, and that day came toQuack.
But before I speak of this place I must say something ofSawco,Sacoand the too riuers which I discouered in that bay, which I thinke neuer Englishman saw before.
Sawcois about one league to the North-east of a cape land. And about one English mile from the maine lieth sixe Ilands, which make an indifferent good harbour. And in the maine there is a Coue or gutt, which is about a cables length in bredth, and too cables length long, there two good Ships may ride, being well mored a head and starne; and within the Coue there is a great Marsh, where at a high water a hundredth sayle of Ships may floate, and be free from all winds, but at low water must ly a ground, but being soft oase they can take no hurte.
In this place there is a world of fowle, much good timber, and a great quantetie of cleare ground and good, if it be not a little too sandy. There hath beene more fish taken within too leagues of this place this yeare then in any other in the land.
The riuer next toSawcoeastwards, which I discovered by land, and after brought my boat into, is the strangest river that ever my eyes beheld. It flowes at the least ten foot water upright, and yet the ebbe runs so strong that thetyde doth not stem it. At three quarters floud my men were scarce able with foure Oares to rowe ahead. And more then that, at full Sea I dipped my hand in the water, quite without the mouth of the River, in the very main Ocean, and it was as fresh as though it had been taken from the head of a Spring.
This River, as I am told by theSalvages, commeth from a great mountaine called the Christall hill, being as they say 100 miles in the Country, yet is it to be seene at the sea side, and there is no ship ariues inNew England, either to the West so farre asCape Cod, or to the East so farre asMonhiggen, but they see this Mountaine the first land, if the weather be cleere.
The next river Eastward which I discovered by land, is about sixe miles from the other. About these two riuers I saw much good timber and sandy ground, there is also much fowle, fish and other commodities: but these places are not fit for plantation for the present, because there is no good comming in, either for ship, or boate, by reason of a sandy breach which lyeth alongst the shore, and makes all one breach.
And now in its place I come toQuack, which I haue namedYorke. At this place there fished divers ships ofWaymouththis yeare.
It lyeth about two leagues to the East ofCape Elizabeth. It is a Bay or SoundPortland Harbourbetwixt the Maine and certaine Ilands which lyeth in the sea about one English mile and halfe.
There are foure Ilands which makes one good harbour, there is very good fishing, much fowle and the mayne as good ground as any can desire. There I found one River wherein the Savages say there is muchSalmonand other good fish. In this Bay, there hath ben taken this yeare 4.Sturgions, by fishermen who driue only forHerrings, so that it is likely there may be good store taken if there were men fit for that purpose. This River I made bold to call by my owne nameLevettsriver,Fore Riverbeing the first that discovered it. How farre this river is Navigable I cannot tell, I haue ben but 6. miles up it, but on both sides is goodly ground.
In the same Bay I found another River,Presumpscot Riverup which I went about three miles, and found a great fall, of water much bigger than the fall atLondonbridge, at low water; further a boate cannot goe, but above the fall the River runnes smooth againe.
Iust at this fall of water theSagamoreor King of that place hath a house, where I was one day when there were twoSagamorsmore, their wiues and children, in all about 50. and we were but 7. They bid me welcome and gaue me such victualls as they had, and I gaue them Tobacco and Aqua vitæ.
After I had spent a little time with them I departed & gaue them a small shot, and they gaue me another. And the greatSagamoreof the East country, whom the rest doe acknowledge to be chiefe amongst them, hee gaue unto me a Bevers skin, which I thankfully received, and so in great loue we parted. On both sides this river there is goodly ground.
From this harbour toSagadahock, which is about 8. or 9. leagues, is all broken Ilands in the Sea, which makes many excellent good Harbours, where a thousand saile of Shipps may ride in safety; the sound going up within the Ilands to the Cape ofSagadahock.
In the way betwixtYorkeandSagadahocklyethCascoe,Casco Baya good harbour, good fishing, good ground, and much fowle. And I am perswaded that fromCape ElizabethtoSagadahock, which is aboue 30 leagues to follow the Maine, is all exceeding commodious for Plantations: and that there may be 20 good Townes well seated, to take the benefit both of the sea, and fresh Rivers.
ForSagadahockI need say nothing of it, there hath been heeretofore enough said by others, and I feare me too much. But the place is good, there fished this yeare two ships.
The next place I came to wasCapemanwagan,Boothbaya place where nine ships fished this yeare. But I like it not for a plantation, for I could seelittle good timber & lesse good ground, there I stayed foure nights, in which time, there came many Savages with their wiues and children, and some of good accompt amongst them, asMenarwormeta Sagamore,Cogawescothe Sagamore ofCascoandQuack, now calledYorke,Somerset, a Sagamore, one that hath ben found very faithfull to the English, and hath saved the liues of many of our Nation, some from starving, others from killing.
They entended to haue ben gone presently, but hearing of my being there, they desired to see me, which I understood by one of the Masters of the Ships, who likewise told me that they had some store of Beauer coats and skinnes, and was going toPemaquidto truck with one Mr.Witheridge, a Master of a ship ofBastable, and desired me to use meanes that they should not carry them out of the harbour, I wisht them to bring all their truck to one Mr.Cokesstage, & I would do the best I could to put it away: some of them did accordingly, and I then sent for theSagamores, who came, and after some complements they told me I must be their cozen, and that CaptaineGorgeswas so, (which you may imagine I was not a little proud of, to be adopted cozen to so many great Kings at one instant, but did willingly accept of it) and so passing away a little time very pleasantly, they desired to be gone, whereupon I told them thatI understood they had some coates and Beauers skins which I desired to truck for but they were unwilling, and I seemed carelesse of it (as men must doe if they desire any thing of them.) But at lastSomersetswore that there should be none carryed out of the harbour, but his cozenLevettshould haue all, and then they began to offer me some by way of gift, but I would take none but one paire of sleeues fromCogawesco, but told them it was not the fashion of English Captaines alwaies to be taking, but sometimes to take and giue, and continually to truck was very good. But in fine, we had all except one coate and two skinnes, which they reserved to pay an old debt with, but they staying all that night, had them stole from them.
In the morning theSagamorescame to mee with a grieuous complaint, I vsed the best language I could to giue them content, and went with them to some Stages which they most suspected, and seached both Cabins and Chests, but found none. They seeing my willingnesse to finde the theefe out, gaue mee thankes, and wished me to forbeare saying the Rogues had carried them into the woods where I could not find them.
When they were ready to depart they asked mee where I meant to settle my plantation. I told them I had seene many places to the west, and intended to goe farther to the eastbefore I could resolue, they sayed there was no good place, and I had heard, thatPemoquidandCapmanwagan, andMonhiggonwere granted to others, & the best time for fishing was then at hand, which made me the more willing to retire, and the rather becauseCogawesco, theSagamoreofCascoandQuacke, told me if that I would sit downe at either of those two places, I should be very welcome, and that he and his wife would goe along with me in my boate to see them, which curtesy I had no reason to refuse, because, I had set vp my resolution before to settle my plantation atQuacke, which I namedYorke, and was glad of this oppertunity, that I had obtained the consent of them who as I conceiue hath a naturall right of inheritance, as they are the sonnes of Noah, and therefore doe thinke it fit to carry things very fairely without compulsion, (if it be posible) for avoyding of treacherie.
The next day the winde came faire, and I sayled toQuackeorYorke, with the King, Queene, and Prince, bowe and arrowes, dogge and kettell in my boate, his noble attendance rowing by vs in their Cannow.
When we came toYorkethe Masters of the Shippes came to bid me welcome, and asked what Sauages those were, I told them, and I thanked them, they vsed them kindly, & gaue them meate, drinke and tobacco. The womanor reputed Queene, asked me if those men were my friends, I told her they were; then she dranke to them, and told them, they were welcome to her Countrey, and so should all my friends be at any time, she dranke also to her husband, and bid him welcome to her Countrey too, for you must vnderstand that her father was theSagamoreof this place, and left it to her at his death hauing no more Children.
And thus after many dangers, much labour and great charge, I haue obtained a place of habitation inNew-England, where I haue built a house, and fortified it in a reasonable good fashion, strong enough against such enemies as are those Sauage people.
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How the Sauages carried themselues vnto me continually, and of my going to their Kings Houses: and their comming to mine.
WHILEST I staied in this place I had some little trucke, but not much, by reason of an euill member in the Harbour, who being couetous of trucke vsed the matter so, that he got the Sauages away from me.
And it is no wonder that he should abuseme in this sort, for he hath not spared your Lordshipps and all the Counsell forNew-England.
He said vnto the Gouernour that the Lords had sent men ouer into that Countrey with Commissions, to make a prey of others. And yet for my owne part I neuer demanded or tooke from any man in that Countrey, the value of a denier neither had I so much helpe, from any Shippe or Shippes companie as one mans labour the space of an houre, nor, had I any prouision or victuall vpon any tearmes whatsoeuer, saue onely 1000. of bread, and 22. bushells of pease, which was offered vnto mee and not by me requested, for which I gaue present satisfaction inBeuerskines: and also one Rownlet ofAqua vitæ, which was brought to me 16 Leagues vnexpected, which good manners bid me buy. Much more provision was offered to me by many Masters of Ships, but I had no need thereof, so I gaue them thanks for their kindnesse, and refused all.
Nay, it is well knowne, that I was so farre from doing wrong to any: that I suffered the Land which was granted to me by Pattent and made choyce of before any other man came there, to be used, and my timber to be cut downe & spoyled, without taking or asking any satisfaction for the same. And I doubt not but all others to whom you gaue authoritie,will sufficiently cleare themselues of all such imputations.
He said also he cared not for any authoritie in that place and though he was forbid to trucke yet would he haue all he could get: in despite of who should say to the contrary, having a great Ship with 17. peeces of Ordinance and 50. men.
And indeed his practise was according to his words, for every Sunday or once in the weeke, he went himselfe or sent a boate up the river and got all the trucke before they could come downe to the Harbour. And so many Savages as he could get to his stage, hee would enforce them to leaue their goods behind them. One instance a mongst many I will giue you.
On a certaine day there came two Savages to his place, who were under the command ofSomersetorConway, I know not whether, at which time they were both with me at my house, but the other two who went to him, knew not so much, but afterwards they understanding of it, came presently over, but left their Cotts andBeauerskins behind them, whereatSomersetandConwaywere exceeding angrie and were ready to beate the poore fellows, but I would not suffer them so to doe. They presently went over the Harbor themselues in theirCannowto fetch their goods, but this man would let them haue none, but wished them to truck with him, they told him they would not, but would carry themto CaptaineLevett, he saidLevettwas no captaine, but aIacknape, a poore fellow, &c. They told him againe that he was aRoague, with some other speeches, whereupon he and his company fell upon them & beate them both, in so much that they came to me in a great rage against him, and said they would be revenged on his Fishermen at sea, and much adoe I had to diswade one of them for going intoEnglandto tell KingJamesof it, as he said; when they came to me in this rage, there was two or three Masters of Shippes by, and heard every word.
But all this did me no hurt, (saue the losse of the trucke, which by divers was thought to be worth above 50. li.) for the twoSagamoreswhom he inticed from me, and incensed against me, at length used meanes to be freinds with me, sending one who asked me, if I were angrie with them, I told them no, I was not angrie with them for any such matter as lowsie Cotts and skinnes, but if they wereMatchett, that is, naughtie men, and rebellious, then I would beMouchick Hoggery, that is very angry, and wouldCram, that is, kill them all.
When they came them selues to me to seeke peace, they brought me aBeauerCoate, and twoOtterskines, which they would have let me had for nothing, but I would not take them so, but gaue them more then vsually I did by way of Trucke, I then told them likewise that if at anytime they did Trucke with mee, they should haue many good things in leiu of their Beauer: and if they did not Trucke it was no matter, I would be good friends with them, at which they smiled and talked one to the other, saying the other man was a Iacknape, and that I had the right fashion of theAberieney Sagamores, then they began to applaude or rather flatter me, saying I was so bigge aSagamore, yea foure fathom, which were the best words they could vse to expresse their minds: I replied that I was a poore man as he had reported of mee. They said againe it was no matter what I said, or that Iacknape (which is the most disgracefull word that may be in their conceite,) for all theSagamoresin the Country loued pooreLevettand was Muchicke sorrie that he would be gon, and indeed I cannot tell what I should thinke of them, for euer after they would bring mee any thing they thought would giue mee content, as Egges and the whole bodyes ofBeauer, which in my concite eate likeLambe, and is not inferiour to it: yea the very coats of Beauer &Otter-skinnesfrom off their backes, which though I many time refused, yet not allwaies, but I neuer tooke any such courtesie from them, but I requited them answerably, chusing rather to neglect the present profit, then the hopes I haue to bring them to better things, which I hope will be for a publicke good, and which I amperswaded were a greeuous sinne, to neglect for any sinister end.
And a little before my departure there came theseSagamoresto see mee,Sadamoyt, the greatSagamoreof the East Countrey,Manawormet,Opparunwit,Skedraguscett,Cogawesco,Somersett,Conwayand others.
They asked me why I would be gone out of their Countrey, I was glad to tell them my wife would not come thither except I did fetch her, they bid a pox on her hounds, (a phrase they have learned and doe vse when they doe curse) and wished me to beate her. I told them no, for then our God would bee angrie. Then they runne out vpon her in euil tearmes, and wished me to let her alone and take another, I told them our God would be more angrie for that. Againe they bid me beate her, beate her, repeating it often, and very angerly, but I answered no, that was not the English fashion, and besides, she was a good wife and I had children by her, and I loued her well, so I satisfied them. Then they told me that I and my wife and Children, with all my friends, should bee hartily welcome into that Countrey at any time, yea a hundreth thousand times, yeaMouchicke,Mouchicke, which is a word of waight.
AndSomersetttould that his Sonne (who was borne, whilst I was in the Countrey, and whom hee would needs haue to Name) and mine shouldbe Brothers and that there should be muchicke legamatch, (that is friendship) betwixt them, untillTantocarried them to his wigwam, (that is vntill that they died.)
Then they must know of mee how long I would be wanting, I told them so many Months, at which they seemed to be well pleased, but wisht me to take heede I proued notChechaskein that (that is, a lier.) They asked me what I would doe with my house, I told them I would leaue 10. of my men there vntill I came againe, and that they should kill all theTarrantensthey should see (being enimies to them) and with whom the English haue no commarsse. At which they reioyced exceedingly, and then agreed amongst themselues that when the time should be expired, which I spoke of for my returne, euery one at the place where he liued would looke to the Sea, and when they did see a Ship they wold send to all theSagamoresin the Countrey, and tell them that pooreLevettwas come againe. And thus insteed of doing me hurt, I thinke that either he or I haue done good to all Planters, by winning their affections, (which may bee made vse of without trusting of them.)
But if your Lordship should put up this wrong done unto you, and the Authority which you gaue them, never expect to be obeyed in those parts, either by Planters or Fishermen;for some haue not stucke to say, that if such a man, contemning authority, and abusing one of the counsell, and drawing his knife upon him at his own house, which he did, should goe unpunished, then would not they care what they did heereafter.
And truely let me tell your Lordships, that if euer you intend to punish any for disobedience, or contempt of authority, this man is a fit instrument to make a president of, for he is rich, and this yeare will gaine the best part of 500 pounds by that Countrie, and he hath nether wife nor childe, for whose sakes he should be spared.
And if he goe free, as hee has domineered over vs, to whom your Lordships gaue authority, but no power to put it in execution, so will he grow unmannerly too with your Lordships, as hee hath already begunne.
And it will discourage men hereafter to take any authority upon them, or to goe about to reforme any abuses in those parts, and also it will hinder Planters for going over, if Fishermen be suffered not onely to take away their truck, but also to animate the Sauages against them, for this is the way to cause all Planters to haue their throats cut.
But I leaue these things to your Lo. consideration, who haue as well power as authority to punish such rebellious persons.
Thus hauing acquainted you with what Ihaue done, seen and heard; now giue me leaue to tell you what I thinke of the Savages, the inhabitants of that country: as also to iustifie the innocent, I meane the Countrie ofNew-England, against the slanderous reports of this man, and some others which I haue heard, and likewise to deliver my opinion, what courses I conceiue to be most convenient to be taken, for bringing most glorie to God, comfort, honor and benefit to our King, and our owne Natiue Nation.
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The nature and disposition of the Savages, and of their severall Gods, Squanto and Tanto.
I HAUE had much conference with the Savages, about our only true God, and haue done my best to bring them to know and acknowledge him, but I feare me all the labour that way, will be lost, and no good will be done, except it be among the younger sort.
I find they haue two Gods, on they love: and the other they hate: the god they loue, they callSquanto, and to him they ascribe all their good fortunes.
The god they hate they callTanto, and to him they ascribe all their euill fortunes, as thus,when any is killed, hurt or sicke, or when it is evill wether, then they sayTantoishoggry, that is angry. When any dyes, they sayTantocarries them to hiswigwam, that is his house, and they never see them more.
I haue asked them whereSquantodwells, they say they cannot tell but up on high, and will poynt upwards. And forTanto, they say farre west, but they know not where.
I haue asked them if at any time they haue seeneSquanto, orTanto, they say no, there is none sees them, but theirPawwawes, nor they neither, but when they dreame.
TheirPawwawesare their Phisitians and Surgions, and as I verely beleeue they are all Witches, for they foretell of ill wether, and many strange things, everySagamorehath one of them belongs to his company, and they are altogether directed by them.
On a time I was at aSagamoreshouse and saw aMartinsskin, and asked if he would trucke it, theSagamoretold me no, thePawwaweused to lay that under his head when he dreamed, and if he wanted that, he could doe nothing, thus we may perceiue how the devill deludes those poore people and keep them in blindnesse.
I find them generally to be marvellous quicke of apprehension, and full of subteltie, they will quickely find any man’s disposition, and flatter & humour him strangely, if they hope to getanything of him. And yet will they count him a foole if he doe not shew a dislike of it, and will say on to another, that such a man is aMechecome.
They are slow of speech, and if they heare a man speake much they will laugh at him, and say he is aMechecum, that is a foole.
If men of place be to familiar with them, they will not respect them: therefore it is to be wished that all such persons should be wise in their Carriage.
TheSagamoreswill scarce speake to an ordinary man, but will point to their men, and saySanops, must speake toSanops, andSagamorstoSagamors.
They are very bloudy minded and full of Tracherie amongst themselues, one will kill another for their wiues, and he that hath the most wiues is the brauest fellow: therefore I would wish no man to trust them, what euer they say or doe; but alwaies to keepe a strickt hand ouer them, and yet to vse them kindly, and deale vprightly with them; so shall they please God, keepe their reputation amongst them, and be free from danger.
TheirSagamorsare no Kings, as I verilie beleeue, for I can see no Government or Law amongst them but Club Law: and they call all Masters of ShippesSagamore, or any other man, that they see have a commaund of men.
Their wiues are their slaves, and doe all their worke the men will doe nothing but kill Beasts, Fish, &c.
On a time reasoning with one of theirSagamorsabout their hauing so many wiues, I tould him it was no good fashion, he then asked mee how many wiues KingJameshad, I told him he neuer had but one, and shee was dead, at which he wondred, and asked mee who then did all the Kings worke. You may Imagin he thought their fashion was vniuersal and that no King had any to worke for them but their wiufs.
They haue no apparrell but skinnes, except they haue it from theEnglish, orFrench, in winter they weare the haire side inwards, in summer outwards. They haue a peece of a skinne about their loines like a girdle and between their legges goes another, made fast to the girdles before and behind, which serues to couer their nakednesse, they are all thus apparrelled, going bare headed with long haire, sometimes you shall not know the men from women but by their breasts, the men having no haire on their faces.
When their Children are borne they bind them on a peece of board, and sets it vpright, either against a tree or any other place. They keep them thus bound vntill they be three months old, and after they are continuall naked vntill they be about fiue or sixe yeares.
Yee shall haue them many times take their Children & bury them in the snow all but their faces for a time, to make them the better to endure cold, and when they are not aboue 2. yeares old, they will take them and cast them into the Sea, like a little dogge or Cat, to learne them to swimme.
Their weapons are bowes and arrowes, I never saw more then two fowling peeces, one pistall, about foure Halfe-pikes, and three CurtlacesCutlassesamongst them, so that we neede not to feare them much, if wee auoid their Treacherie.
Their houses are built in halfe an houres space being onely a few powles or boughes stucke in the ground and couered with the barkes of trees.
Their Language differs asEnglish & Welch. On a time the Gouernour was at my house, and brought with him aSalvage, who liued not aboue 70. miles from the place which I haue made choise of, who talking with another Sauage, they were glad to vse brokenEnglishto expresse their mind each to other, not being able to vnderstand one another in their Language.
And to say something of the Countrey: I will not doe therein as some haue done, to my knowledge speak more then is true: I will not tell you that you may smell the corne fields before you see the Land, neither must men thinkethat corne doth growe naturally (or on trees,) nor will theDearecome when they are called, or stand still and looke one a man, untill he shute him, not knowing a man from a beast, nor the fish leape into the kettle, nor on the drie Land, neither are they so plentifull, that you may dipp them up in baskets, nor takeCoddin netts to make a voyage, which is no truer: then that the fowles will present themselues, to you with spitts through them.
But certainely there is fowle,Deare, and Fish enough for the taking if men be diligent, there be also Vines, Plume trees, Cherry trees, Strawberies, Gooseberies, and Raspes, Walnutts, chesnut, and small nuts, of each great plenty; there is also great store of parsley, and divers other holesome Earbes, both for profit and pleasure, with great store of Saxifrage, Cersa-perilla, and Anni-seeds.
And for the ground there is large & goodly Marsh to make meddow, higher land for pasture and corne.
There be these severall sorts of earth, which I haue seene, as,Clay,Sand,Grauill, yea and as blacke fatt earth, as ever I sawe inEnglandin all my life.
There are likewise these helpes for ground, as Seasand,OreworthorWracke,Marleblew and white, and some men say there isLime, but I must confesse I neuer saw anyLime-stone: butI haue tried the Shels of Fish, and I find them to be goodLime.
Now let any husbandman tell mee, whither there be any feare of hauing any kind of Corne, hauing these seuerall kinds of Earth with these helpes, the Climat being full as good if not better thanEngland.
I dare be bold to say also, there may be Shippes as conueniently built there as in any place of the world, where, I haue beene, and better cheape. As for Plancke, crooked Timber, and all other sorts what so euer can be desired for such purpose, the world cannot afford better. Masts and Yeards of all sises, there be allso Trees growing, whereof Pitch and Tarre is made.
And for Sailes and all sorts of Cordish you neede not to want, if you will but sowe Hempe and Flaxseede, and after worke it. Now there wants nothing but Iron, and truely I thinke I haue seene Iron-stones there, but I must acknowledge I haue no great iudgement in Mineralls, yet I haue seene the Iron-workes inEngland, and this Stone is like ours. But howsoever if the Countrie will not afford Iron, yet it may be easilie brought, for it is good Ballast for Shippes.
There is also much excellent Timber for Ioyners and Coopers: howsoeuer a worthy Noble man hath beene abused, who sent ouer someto make Pippe-staues, who either for want of skill or industrie, did no good. Yet I dare say no place inEnglandcan afford better Timber for Pippe-staues, then foure seuerall places which I haue seene in that Countrey.
Thus haue I relaited vnto you what I haue seene, and doe know may be had in those parts ofNew-Englandwhere I haue beene, yet was I neuer at the Mesachusett, which is counted the Paradise ofNew-England, nor atCape Ann. But I feare there hath been too faire a glosse set onCape Ann. I am told there is a good Harbour which makes a faire Inuitation, but when they are in, their entertainement is not answerable, for there is little good ground, and the Shippes which fished there this yeare, their boats went twenty miles to take their Fish, and yet they were in great feare of making their Voyages, as one of the Masters confessed vnto me who was at my house.
Neither was I atNew-Plimoth, but I feare that place is not so good as many other, for if it were in my conceite they would content themselues with it and not seeke for any other hauing ten times so much ground as would serue ten times so many people as they haue now amongst them. But it seemes they haue no Fish to make benifit of, for this yeare they had one Shippe Fisht atPemoquid, and an other atCape Ann, where they haue begun a newPlantation, but how long it will continew I know not.
Neither was I ever farther to the West then the Iles ofShoulds.
Thus have I done with my commendations of the Countrie. I will now speake the worst I know by it.
About the middle of May you shall haue little Flies, calledMusketoes, which are like Gnatts, they continue as I am told, vntill the last of July. These are very troublesome for the time, for they sting exceedingly both night and day. But I found by experience that bootes or thicke stockings would saue the legges, gloues the hands, and tiffeney or some such things which will not much hinder the sight will saue the face, and at night any smoake will secure a man.
The reason of the aboundance of these creatures, I take to be the woods which hinders the aire, for I haue obserued allwaies when the winde did blow but a little, we were not much troubled with them.
And I verily thinke that if there were a good number of people planted together, and that the woods were cut downe, the earth were tilled, and the rubbish which lieth on the ground wherein they breed were burnt, and that there were many chimneyes smoaking, such small creatures would doe but little hurt.
Another euill or inconuenience I see there, the snow in winter did lie very long vpon the ground.
But I understand that all the parts of Christendome, were troubled with a cold winter so well as wee. Yet would I aske any man what hurt snow doeth? The husbandman will say that Corne is the better for it. And I hope Cattell may bee as well fed in the house there as inEngland,Scotland, and other Countries, and he is but an ill husband that cannot find imployments for his seruants within doores for that time. As for Wiues and Children if they bee wise they will keepe themselues close by a good fire, and for men they will haue no occasion to ride to Faires or Markets,Syssesor Sessions, only Hawkes and Hounds will not then be vsefull.
Yet let me tell you that it is still almost Christmas before there be any winter there, so that the cold time doth not continue long.
And by all reason that Countrey should be hotter then England, being many Degrees farther from the North Pole.
And thus according to my poore understanding I haue given you the best information I can of the people and Country, commodities and discommodities. Now giue mee leaue to oppose myselfe against the man beforementioned, and others, who speaks against the Country, andplantations in those parts, and to set down such obiections as I haue heard them make, and my answers, and afterward let wisedome iudge: for my desire is, that the saddle may be set on the right horse, and the Asse may be rid, and the knaue punished, either for discouraging or incouraging too much, whosoeuer he be.
(ship at sea)