sixe and twentieth of March _1602_, ♦_March_♦ being Friday, we went
from _Falmouth_, being in all, two & thirtie persons, in a small
barke of _Dartmouth_, called The _Concord_, holding a course for the
North part of Virginia: and although by chance the winde fauoured
vs not at first as we wished, but inforced vs so farre to the
Southward, as we fell with _S. Marie_, one of the islands of the
_Açores_ (which was not much out of our way) yet holding our course
directly from thence, we made our iourney shorter (than hitherto
accustomed) by the better part of a thousand leagues, yet were wee
longer in our passage than we expected; which happened, for that our
barke being weake, we were loth to presse her with much saile; also,
our sailers being few, and they none of the best, we bare (except in
faire weather) but low saile; besides, our going vpon an vnknowen
coast, made vs not ouer-bolde to stand in with the shore, but in open
weather; which caused vs to be certeine daies in sounding, before we
discouered the coast, the weather being by chance, somewhat foggie.
♦_May_♦ But on Friday the foureteenth of May, early in the morning,
we made the land, being full of faire trees, the land somewhat low,
certeine hummocks or hilles lying into the land, the shore ful of
white sand, but very stony or rocky. And standing faire alongst by
the shore, about twelue of the clocke the same day, we came to an
anker, ♦_Cape Neddock Maine_♦ where sixe Indians, in a Baske-shallop
with mast and saile, an iron grapple, and a kettle of copper, came
boldly aboord vs, one of them apparelled with a wastcoat and breeches
of blacke serdge, made after our sea-fashion, hose and shoes on his
feet; all the rest (sauing one that had a paire of breeches of blue
cloth) were all naked. These people are of tall stature, broad and
grim visage, of a blacke swart complexion, their eie-browes painted
white; their weapons are bowes and arrowes: it seemed by some words
and signes they made, that some Basks or of _S. Iohn de Luz_, haue
fished or traded in this place, being in the latitude of 43 degrees.
But riding heere, in no very good harbour, and withall, doubting the
weather, about three of the clocke the same day in the afternoone
we weighed, & standing Southerly off into sea the rest of that day
and the night following, with a fresh gale of winde, in the morning
we found ourselues embayed with a mightie headland; but comming to
an anker about nine of the clocke the same day, within a league of
the shore, ♦_Cape Cod_♦ we hoised out the one halfe of our shallop,
and captaine _Bartholomew Gosnold_, my selfe, and three others, went
ashore, being a white sandie and very bolde shore; and marching
all that afternoon with our muskets on our necks, on the highest
hilles which we saw (the weather very hot) at length we perceiued
this headland to be parcell of the maine, and sundrie Islands
lying almost round about it: so returning (towards euening) to our
shallop (for by that time, the other part was brought ashore and set
together) we espied an Indian, a yong man, of proper stature, and
of a pleasing countenance; and after some familiaritie with him,
we left him at the sea side, and returned to our ship, where, in
fiue or sixe houres absence, we had pestered our ship so with Cod
fish, that we threw numbers of them ouer-boord againe: and surely,
I am persuaded that in the moneths of March, April, and May, there
is vpon this coast, better fishing, and in as great plentie, as in
_Newfoundland_: for the sculles of Mackerell, herrings, Cod, and
other fish, that we dayly saw as we went and came from the shore,
were wonderfull; and besides, the places where we tooke these Cods
(and might in a few daies haue laden our ship) were but in seuen
faddome water, and within lesse than a league of the shore; where,
in _Newfound-land_ they fish in fortie or fiftie fadome water, and
farre off. From this place, we sailed round about this headland,
almost all the points of the compasse, the shore very bolde: but as
no coast is free from dangers, so I am persuaded, this is as free
as any; the land somewhat lowe, full of goodly woods, but in some
places plaine: at length we were come amongst many faire Islands,
which we had partly discerned at our first landing; ♦_Nantucket_♦ all
lying within a league or two one of another, and the outermost not
aboue sixe or seuen leagues from the maine: ♦_Martha’s Vineyard_♦
but comming to an anker vnder one of them, which was about three
or foure leagues from the maine, captaine _Gosnold_, my selfe, and
some others, went ashore, & going round about it, we found it to
be foure English miles in compasse, without house or inhabitant,
sauing a little old house made of boughes, couered with barke, an
olde piece of a weare of the Indians, to catch fish, and one or two
places, where they had made fires. The chiefest trees of this Island,
are Beeches and Cedars; the outward parts all ouergrowen with lowe
bushie trees, three or foure foot in height, which beare some kinde
of fruits, as appeared by their blossomes; Strawberies, red and
white, as sweet and much bigger than ours in _England_, Rasberies,
Gooseberies, Hurtleberies, and such; an incredible store of Vines,
as well in the wooddie part of the Island, where they run upon euery
tree, as on the outward parts, that we could not goe for treading
vpon them: also, many springs of excellent sweet water, and a great
standing lake of fresh water, neere the sea side, an English mile
in compasse, which is mainteined with the springs running exceeding
pleasantly thorow the wooddie grounds which are very rockie. Here
are also in this Island, great store of Deere, which we saw, and
other beasts, as appeared by their tracks; as also diuers fowles,
as Cranes, Hernshawes, Bitters, Geese, Mallards, Teales, and other
fowles, in great plenty; also, great store of Pease, which grow in
certeine plots all the Island ouer. On the North side of this Island
we found many huge bones and ribbes of Whales. This Island, as also
all the rest of these Islands, are full of all sorts of stones fit
for building; the sea sides all couered with stones, many of them
glistering and shining like minerall stones, and very rockie: also,
the rest of these Islands are replenished with these commodities, and
vpon some of them, inhabitants; as vpon an Island to the Northward,
and within two leagues of this; yet wee found no townes, nor many
of their houses, although we saw manie Indians, which are tall big
boned men, all naked, sauing they couer their priuy parts with a
blacke tewed skin, much like a Black-smithes apron, tied about their
middle and betweene their legs behinde: they gaue vs of their fish
readie boiled (which they carried in a basket made of twigges, not
unlike our osier) whereof we did eat, and iudged them to be fresh
water fish: they gaue vs also of their Tabacco, which they drinke
greene, but dried into powder, very strong and pleasant, and much
better than any I haue tasted in _England_: the necks of their pipes
are made of clay hard dried (whereof in that Island is great store
both red and white) the other part, is a piece of hollow copper,
very finely closed and semented together: we gaue vnto them certeine
trifles, as kniues, points, and such like, which they much esteemed.
From hence we went to another Island, to the Northwest of this, and
within a league or two of the maine, which we found to be greater
than before we imagined, being 16 English miles at the least in
compasse; ♦_Cuttyhunk_♦ for it conteineth many pieces or necks of
land, which differ nothing frō seuerall Islands, sauing that certeine
banks of small bredth do like bridges ioyne them to this Island:
on the outsides of this Island are many plaine places of grasse,
abundance of Strawberies & other berries before mentioned: in mid May
we did sowe in this Island (as for a triall) in sundry places, Wheat,
Barley, Oats, and Pease, which in foureteene daies were sprung up
nine inches and more: the soile is fat and lustie; the vpper crust,
of gray colour; but a foot or lesse in depth, of the colour of our
hempe-lands in _England_; and being thus apt for these and the like
graines; the sowing or setting (after the ground is cleansed) is no
greater labour, than if you should set or sowe in one of our best
prepared gardens in England. This Island is full of high timberd
Oaks, their leaues thrise so broad as ours; Cedars, strait and tall;
Beech, Elme, Hollie, Walnut trees in abundance, the fruit as bigge
as ours, as appeared by those we found under the trees, which had
lien all the yeere vngathered; Haslenut trees, Cherry trees, the
leafe, barke and bignesse not differing from ours in _England_, but
the stalke beareth the blossomes or fruit at the end thereof, like
a cluster of Grapes, forty or fifty in a bunch; Sassafras trees
great plentie all the Island ouer, a tree of high price and profit;
also, diuers other fruit trees, some of them with strange barks, of
an Orange colour, in feeling soft and smoothe like veluet: in the
thickest parts of these woods, you may see a furlong or more round
about. On the Northwest side of this Island, neere to the sea side,
is a standing Lake of fresh water, almost three English miles in
compasse, in the middest whereof stands a plot of wooddie ground, an
acre in quantitie or not aboue: this Lake is full of small Tortoises,
and exceedingly frequented with all sorts of fowles before rehearsed,
which breed, some lowe on the banks, and others on lowe trees about
this Lake in great abundance, whose yoong ones of all sorts we tooke
and eat at our pleasure: but all these fowles are much bigger than
ours in _England_. Also, in euery Island, and almost in euery part
of euery Island, are great store of Ground nuts, fortie together
on a string, some of them as bigge as hennes egges; they grow not
two inches vnder ground: the which nuts we found to be as good as
Potatoes. Also, diuers sorts of shell-fish, as Scallops, Muscles,
Cockles, Lobsters, Crabs, Oisters, and Wilks, exceeding good and
very great. But not to cloy you with particular rehearsall of such
things as God & Nature hath bestowed on these places, in comparison
whereof, the most fertil part of al _England_ is (of it selfe) but
barren; we went in our light-horsman frō this Island to the maine,
right against this Island some two leagues off, where comming ashore,
we stood a while like men rauished at the beautie and delicacie of
this sweet soile; ♦_Buzzard’s Bay_♦ for besides diuers cleere Lakes
of fresh water (whereof we saw no end) Medowes very large and full of
greene grasse; euen the most wooddy places (I speake onely of such as
I saw) doe grow so distinct and apart, one tree from another, vpon
greene grassie ground, somewhat higher than the Plaines, as if Nature
would shew herselfe aboue her power, artificiall. Hard by, we espied
seuen Indians; and comming vp to them, at first they expressed some
feare; but being emboldned by our courteous vsage, and some trifles
which we gaue them, they followed vs to a necke of land, which we
imagined had beene seuered from the maine; but finding it otherwise,
we perceiued a broad harbour or riuers mouth, which ranne vp into
the maine: but because the day was farre spent, we were forced to
returne to the Island from whence we came, leauing the discouerie
of this harbour, for a time of better leasure: of the goodnesse of
which harbour, as also of many others thereabouts, there is small
doubt, considering that all the Islands, as also the maine (where we
were) is all rockie grounds and broken lands. Now the next day, we
determined to fortifie our selues in the little plot of ground in
the midst of the Lake aboue mentioned, where we built an house, and
couered it with sedge, which grew about this lake in great abundance;
in building whereof, we spent three weeks and more: but the second
day after our comming from the maine, we espied 9 canowes or boats,
with fiftie Indians in them, comming toward vs from this part of
the maine, where we, two daies before, landed; and being loth they
should discouer our fortification, we went out on the sea side to
meet them; and comming somewhat neere them, they all sat downe upon
the stones, calling aloud to vs (as we rightly ghessed) to doe the
like, a little distance from them: hauing sat a while in this order,
captaine _Gosnold_ willed me to go vnto them, to see what countenance
they would make; but as soone as I came vp vnto them, one of them,
to whom I had giuen a knife two daies before in the maine, knew me
(whom I also very wel remembred) and smiling vpon me, spake somewhat
vnto their lord or captaine, which sat in the midst of them, who
presently rose vp and tooke a large Beauer skin from one that stood
about him, and gaue it vnto me, which I requited for that time the
best I could: but I pointing towards captaine _Gosnold_, made signes
vnto him, that he was our captaine, and desirous to be his friend,
and enter league with him, which (as I perceiued) he vnderstood,
and made signes of ioy: whereupon captaine _Gosnold_ with the rest
of his companie, being twentie in all, came vp vnto them; and after
many signes of gratulations (captain _Gosnold_ presenting their L.
with certeine trifles which they wondred at, and highly esteemed)
we became very great friends, and sent for meat aboord our shallop,
and gaue them such meats as we had then readie dressed, whereof they
misliked nothing but our mustard, whereat they made many a sowre
face. While wee were thus merry, one of them had conueied a target
of ours into one of their canowes, which we suffered, onely to trie
whether they were in subiection to this L. to whom we made signes
(by shewing him another of the same likenesse, and pointing to the
canowe) what one of his companie had done: who suddenly expressed
some feare, and speaking angerly to one about him (as we perceiued
by his countenance) caused it presently to be brought backe againe.
So the rest of the day we spent in trading with them for Furres,
which are Beauers, Luzernes, Marterns, Otters, Wild-cat skinnes very
large and deepe Furre, blacke Foxes, Conie skinnes, of the colour
of our Hares, but somewhat lesse, Deere skinnes very large, Seale
skinnes, and other beasts skinnes, to vs vnknowen. They haue also
great store of Copper, some very redde, and some of a paler colour;
none of them but haue chaines, earrings or collars of this mettall:
they head some of their arrows herewith, much like our broad arrow
heads, very workmanly made. Their chaines are many hollow pieces
semented together, ech piece of the bignesse of one of our reeds, a
finger in length, ten or twelue of them together on a string, which
they weare about their necks: their collars they weare about their
bodies like bandelieres a handfull broad, all hollow pieces, like the
other, but somewhat shorter, foure hundred pieces in a collar, very
fine and euenly set together. Besides these, they haue large drinking
cups, made like sculles, and other thinne plates of Copper, made much
like our boare-speare blades, all which they so little esteeme, as
they offered their fairest collars or chaines, for a knife or such
like trifle, but we seemed little to regard it; yet I was desirous
to vnderstand where they had such store of this mettall, and made
signes to one of them (with whom I was verie familiar) who taking
a piece of Copper in his hand, made a hole with his finger in the
ground, and withall, pointed to the maine from whence they came. They
strike fire in this manner; euery one carrieth about him in a purse
of tewed leather, a Minerall stone (which I take to be their Copper)
and with a flat Emerie stone (wherewith Glasiers cut glasse, and
Cutlers glase blades) tied fast to the end of a little sticke, gently
he striketh vpon the Minerall stone, and within a stroke or two, a
sparke falleth vpon a piece of Touch-wood (much like our Spunge in
_England_) and with the least sparke he maketh a fire presently. We
had also of their Flaxe, wherewith they make many strings and cords,
but it is not so bright of colour as ours in England: I am perswaded
they haue great store growing vpon the maine, as also Vines and many
other rich commodities, which we, wanting both time and meanes, could
not possibly discouer. Thus they continued with vs three daies, euery
night retiring themselues to the furthermost part of our Island two
or three miles from our fort: but the fourth day they returned to the
maine, pointing fiue or six times to the Sun, and once to the maine,
which we vnderstood, that within fiue or six daies they would come
from the maine to vs againe: but being in their canowes a little from
the shore, they made huge cries & shouts of ioy vnto vs; and we with
our trumpet and cornet, and casting vp our cappes into the aire, made
them the best farewell we could: yet sixe or seuen of them remained
with vs behinde, bearing vs company euery day into the woods, and
helpt vs to cut and carie our Sassafras, and some of them lay aboord
our ship. These people, as they are exceeding courteous, gentle of
disposition, and well conditioned, excelling all others that we
haue seene; so for shape of bodie and louely fauour, I thinke they
excell all the people of _America_; of stature much higher than we;
of complexion or colour, much like a darke Oliue; their eie-browes
and haire blacke, which they weare long, tied vp behinde in knots,
whereon they pricke feathers of fowles, in fashion of a crownet:
some of them are blacke thin bearded; they make beards of the haire
of beasts: and one of them offered a beard of their making to one of
our sailers, for his that grew on his face, which because it was of
a red colour, they iudged to be none of his owne. They are quicke
eied, and stedfast in their looks, fearelesse of others harmes, as
intending none themselues; some of the meaner sort giuen to filching,
which the very name of Saluages (not weighing their ignorance in good
or euill) may easily excuse: their garments are of Deere skins, and
some of them weare Furres round and close about their necks. They
pronounce our language with great facilitie; for one of them one day
sitting by me, vpon occasion I spake smiling to him these words:
_How now (sirha) are you so saucie with my Tabacco_: which words
(without any further repetition) he suddenly spake so plaine and
distinctly, as if he had beene a long scholar in the language. Many
other such trials we had, which are heere needlesse to repeat. Their
women (such as we saw) which were but three in all, were but lowe
of stature, their eie-browes, haire, apparell, and maner of wearing,
like to the men, fat, and very well fauoured, and much delighted in
our compane; the men are very dutifull towards them. And truely, the
holsomnesse and temperature of this Climat, doth not onely argue this
people to be answerable to this description, but also of a perfect
constitution of body, actiue, strong, healthfull, and very wittie, as
the sundry toies of theirs cunningly wrought, may easily witnes. For
the agreeing of this Climat with vs (I speake of my selfe, & so I may
iustly do for the rest of our companie) that we found our health &
strength all the while we remained there, so to renew and increase,
as notwithstanding our diet and lodging was none of the best, yet
not one of our company (God be thanked) felt the least grudging or
inclination to any disease or sicknesse, but were much fatter and in
better health than when we went out of _England_. But after our barke
had taken in so much Sassafras, Cedar, Furres, Skinnes, and other
commodities, as were thought conuenient; some of our company that
had promised captaine _Gosnold_ to stay, hauing nothing but a sauing
voyage in their minds, made our company of inhabitants (which was
small enough before) much smaller; so as captaine _Gosnold_ seeing
his whole strength to consist but of twelue men, and they but meanly
prouided, determined to returne for _England_, leauing this Island
(which he called _Elizabeths Island_) with as many true sorrowfull
eies, as were before desirous to see it. So the 18 of June, being
Friday, we weighed, and with indifferent faire winde and weather came
to anker the 23 of July, being also Friday (in all, bare fiue weeks)
before _Exmouth_.
Your Lordships to command,
_Iohn Brereton_.
[Illustration: (Decorative separator)]
A briefe Note of such commodities as we saw in the countrey
notwithstanding our small time of stay.
_Trees._
SAssafras trees, the roots whereof at 3. s. the pound are 336. l.
the tunne.
Cedars tall and straight, in great abundance.
Cypres trees.
Oakes.
Walnut trees great store.
Elmes.
Beech.
Hollie.
Haslenut trees.
Cherry trees.
Cotten trees.
Other fruit trees to vs vnknowen.
_Fowles._
EAgles.
Hernshawes.
Cranes.
Bitters.
Mallards.
Teales.
Geese.
Pengwins.
Ospreis and Hawks.
Crowes.
Rauens.
Mewes.
Doues.
Sea-pies.
Blacke-birds with carnation wings.
_The finder of our Sassafras in these parts, was one Master_ Robert
Meriton.
_Beasts._
DEere in great store, very great and large.
Beares.
Luzernes.
Blacke Foxes.
Beavers.
Otters.
Wilde-Cats, verie large and great.
Dogs like Foxes, blacke and sharpe nosed.
Conies.
_Fruits, Plants, and Herbs._
TAbacco, excellent sweet and strong.
Vines in more plenty than in _France_.
Ground-nuts, good meat, & also medicinable.
Strawberries.
Raspeberries.
Gooseberries.
Hurtleberries.
Pease growing naturally.
Flaxe.
Sorrell, & manie other herbs wherewith they made fallets.
_Fishes._
WHales.
Tortoises, both on land and sea.
Seales.
Cods.
Mackerell.
Breames.
Herrings.
Thornbacke.
Hakes.
Rockefish.
Doggefish.
Lobsters.
Crabbes.
Muscles.
Wilks.
Cockles.
Scallops.
Oisters.
SNakes foure foot in length, and sixe inches about, which the
Indians eat for daintie meat, the skinnes whereof they vse for
girdles.
_Mettals and Stones._
COpper in great abundance.
Emerie stones for Glasiers & Cutlers.
Alabaster very white.
Stones glistering and shining like Minerall stones.
Stones of a blue metalline colour, which we take to be Steele oare.
Stones of all sorts for buildings.
Cley, red and white.
Martin Pring
1603
PLYMOUTH HARBOUR
MARTIN PRING, _who became more famous ten years later in the East
India trade, and who rose to the dignity of “Generall to the
Fraternity of the Trinitie House” at Bristol, was selected by
sundry of the chiefest merchants of that town in 1603 to represent
their interests on a voyage to the region where Gosnold and Gilbert
had gathered a profitable cargo of sassafras. He was given the
charge of “a small ship called the Speed-well in burthen about
fiftie tunnes, manning the same with some thirtie men and Boyes ...
with a Barke called the Discoverer, of six and twentie tunnes or
thereabout, being thirteene men and a Boy in all in that Barke.”
They made land on the Maine coast, and after following the northern
shore of Massachusetts Bay for a ways, struck across to the
southwest, hitting upon Plymouth harbour. Here there was abundance
of sassafras, and the ships’ companies made a camp on shore while
they gathered their cargo._
_Pring wrote an account of the voyage for Richard Hakluyt, who
had persuaded the Bristol merchants to make the venture. Samuel
Purchas, who came into possession of Hakluyt’s papers, printed the
narrative at London in 1625, in the fourth volume of “Purchas his
Pilgrimes.”_
[Illustration: _Champlain’s Map of Port St. Louis_ (_Plymouth Bay_)]
[Illustration: (Decorative banner)]
A VOYAGE set out from the Citie of _Bristoll_ at the charge of the
chiefest Merchants and Inhabitants of the said Citie with a small
Ship and a Barke for the discouerie of the North part of _Virginia_.
WE set saile from _Milford Hauen_ ♦_April 1603_♦ (where the winds had
stayed vs a fortnight, in which space we heard of Queen _Elizabeths_
death) the tenth of Aprill 1603. In our course we passed by the
Iles of the _Açores_, had first sight of the _Pike_, and afterward
of the Iland of _Cueruo_ and _Flores_, and after we had runne some
fiue hundred leagues, ♦_June_♦ we fell with a multitude of small
Ilands on the North Coast of _Virginia_, in the latitude of 43.
degrees, the ······· of Iune, which Ilands wee found very pleasant
to behold, adorned with goodly grasse and sundry sorts of Trees, as
Cedars, Spruce, Pines, and Firre-trees. Heere wee found an excellent
fishing for Cods, which are better then those of _New-found-land_,
and withall we saw good and Rockie ground fit to drie them vpon:
also we see no reason to the contrary, but that Salt may bee made
in these parts, a matter of no small importance. We sayled to the
South-west end of these Ilands, and there rode with our ships vnder
one of the greatest. One of them we named _Foxe Iland_, because we
found those kind of beasts thereon. So passing through the rest with
our Boates to the mayne Land, which lieth for a good space North-east
and South-west, we found very safe riding among them, in sixe, seuen,
eight, ten and twelue fathomes. At length comming to the Mayne in
the latitude of 43. degrees and an halfe, we ranged the same to the
South-west. In which course we found foure Inlets, the most Easterly
whereof was barred at the mouth, but hauing passed ouer the barre,
wee ranne vp into it fiue miles, and for a certaine space found very
good depth, and comming out againe, as we sailed South-westward, we
lighted vpon two other Inlets, which vpon our search we found to
pierce not farre into the Land, the fourth and most Westerly was the
best, which we rowed vp ten or twelue miles.
In all these places we found no people, but signes of fires where
they had beene. Howbeit we beheld very goodly Groues and Woods
replenished with tall Okes, Beeches, Pine-trees, Firre-trees,
Hasels, Wich-hasels and Maples. We saw here also sundry sorts of
Beasts, as Stags, Deere, Beares, Wolues, Foxes, Lusernes, and
Dogges with sharpe noses. But meeting with no Sassafras, we left
these places with all the foresaid Ilands, ♦_Cape Neddock Nubble_♦
shaping our course for _Sauage Rocke_ discouered the yeere before
by Captaine _Gosnold_, where going vpon the Mayne we found people,
with whom we had no long conuersation, because here also we could
find no Sassafras. Departing hence we bare into that great Gulfe
which Captaine _Gosnold_ ouer-shot the yeere before, coasting and
finding people on the North side thereof. Not yet satisfied in our
expectation, we left them and sailed ouer, and came to an Anchor on
the South side in the latitude of 41. degrees and odde minute: where
we went on Land in a certaine Bay, ♦_Plymouth Harbour_♦ which we
called _Whitson Bay_, by the name of the Worshipfull Master _Iohn
Whitson_ then Maior of the Citie of _Bristoll_, and one of the chiefe
Aduenturers, and finding a pleasant Hill thereunto adioyning, wee
called it _Mount Aldworth_, for Master _Robert Aldworths_ sake a
chiefe furtherer of the Voyage, as well with his Purse as with his
trauell. Here we had sufficient quantitie of Sassafras.
At our going on shore, vpon view of the people and sight of the
place, wee thought it conuenient to make a small baricado to keepe
diligent watch and ward in, for the aduertizement and succour of our
men, while they should worke in the Woods. During our abode on shore,
the people of the Countrey came to our men sometimes ten, twentie,
fortie or threescore, and at one time one hundred and twentie at
once. We vsed them kindly, and gaue them diuers sorts of our meanest
Merchandize. They did eat Pease and Beanes with our men. Their owne
victuals were most of fish.
We had a youth in our company that could play vpon a Gitterne, in
whose homely Musicke they tooke great delight, and would giue him
many things, as Tobacco, Tobacco-pipes, Snakes skinnes of sixe foot
long, which they vse for Girdles, Fawnes skinnes, and such like, and
danced twentie in a Ring, and the Gitterne in the middest of them,
vsing many Sauage gestures, singing _lo, la, lo, la, la, lo_: him
that first brake the ring, the rest would knocke and cry out vpon.
Some few of them had plates of Brasse a foot long, and halfe a foote
broad before their breasts. Their weapons are Bowes of fiue or sixe
foot long of Wich-hasell, painted blacke and yellow, the strings of
three twists of sinewes, bigger then our Bow-strings. Their Arrowes
are of a yard and an handfull long not made of Reeds, but of a fine
light wood very smooth and round with three long and deepe blacke
feathers of some Eagle, Vulture, or Kite, as closely fastened with
some binding matter, as any Fletcher of ours can glue them on. Their
Quiuers are full a yard long, made of long dried Rushes wrought about
two handfuls broad aboue, and one handfull beneath with prettie
workes and compartiments, Diamant wise of red and other colours.
We carried with vs from _Bristoll_ two excellent Mastiues, of whom
the _Indians_ were more afraid, then of twentie of our men. One
of these Mastiues would carrie a halfe Pike in his mouth. And one
Master _Thomas Bridges_ a Gentleman of our company accompanied only
with one of these Dogs, and passed sixe miles alone in the Countrey
hauing lost his fellowes, and returned safely. And when we would be
rid of the Sauages company wee would let loose the Mastiues, and
suddenly with out-cryes they would flee away. These people in colour
are inclined to a swart, tawnie, or Chestnut colour, not by nature
but accidentally, and doe weare their haire brayded in foure parts,
and trussed vp about their heads with a small knot behind: in which
haire of theirs they sticke many feathers and toyes for brauerie and
pleasure. They couer their priuities only with a piece of leather
drawne betwixt their twists and fastened to their Girdles behind and
before: whereunto they hang their bags of Tobacco. They seeme to bee
somewhat iealous of their women, for we saw not past two of them,
who weare Aprons of Leather skins before them downe to the knees,
and a Beares skinne like an _Irish_ Mantle ouer one shoulder. The
men are of stature somewhat taller then our ordinary people, strong,
swift, well proportioned, and giuen to treacherie, as in the end we
perceiued.
Their Boats, whereof we brought one to _Bristoll_, were in proportion
like a Wherrie of the Riuer of _Thames_, seuenteene foot long and
foure foot broad, made of the Barke of a Birch-tree, farre exceeding
in bignesse those of _England_: it was sowed together with strong
and tough Oziers or twigs, and the seames couered ouer with Rozen
or Turpentine little inferiour in sweetnesse to Frankincense, as we
made triall by burning a little thereof on the coales at sundry times
after our coming home: it was also open like a Wherrie, and sharpe at
both ends, sauing that the beake was a little bending roundly vpward.
And though it carried nine men standing vpright, yet it weighed not
at the most aboue sixtie pounds in weight, a thing almost incredible
in regard of the largenesse and capacitie thereof. Their Oares were
flat at the end like an Ouen peele, made of Ash or Maple very light
and strong, about two yards long, wherewith they row very swiftly:
Passing vp a Riuer we saw certaine Cottages together, abandoned by
the Sauages, and not farre off we beheld their Gardens and one among
the rest of an Acre of ground, and in the same was sowne Tobacco,
Pompions, Cowcumbers and such like; and some of the people had Maiz
or _Indian_ Wheate among them. In the fields we found wild Pease,
Strawberries very faire and bigge, Gooseberries, Raspices, Hurts, and
other wild fruits.