Abriefe and true report J 
 
 of the newfoundland of Virginial 
 
 of the commodities crndof the nature anclmatd 
 ncrs of the natural! inhabitants. Dijcouered hy j 
 the English Colony there jea ted Jy5ir Richard % 
 GrarmCleKmglitZH theyeere nss which Re 
 zineaVndertneaoiiernement <ytwfiue mont 
 At thejpeciatt charae and direction oftheHonott^ 
 rakle 51K WAU ER JRALEIGH Kni(jhtlonlwarden% 
 oftoefiatmcrtes Who therein hatnbeenc~kiiwrecl < 
 
 and her letters patents: . 
 TfiK fotv lookflsmadt m Enaltfh 
 i J s- tV-f f 
 
 By Thomas Hcinotjeaaatt to tbeabottenamaf:; 
 
 Sir WALTER.fl memoercfthe Colony, and the 
 imployed 
 
 CVMCKAnAET PRJVUB3IO GtS.MA TC 5PECIA U 
 
 FRANCOFORTI AD 
 
 TTPIS ICKNNIS WECHELI, SVMTIBVS VERO 
 
 DEBRY ANNO CD D XC. 
 VENAiES REPERIVNTVR Df OTOONA SIGKMVI. rK 
 

TOTHE RIGHT 
 
 WORTHIE AND H O N O V- 
 RABLE, SIR WALTER RALEGH, 
 
 KNIGHT, SENESCHAL OF THE DVCHIES OF 
 
 Cornewall and Exeter, and L. Warden of the 
 
 stannaries in Deuon and Cornewall. 
 
 T.B. wisheth true felictie. 
 
 , seeing that the parte of the Wor/de, which is betwene the 
 FLORIDA and the Cap BRETON nowe nammed VIRGINIA, 
 to the honneur of yours most souueraine Ladye and Queene 
 ELIZABETH, hath ben descouuerd by yours meanes and great 
 chardges. And that your Collonye hath keen theer established to 
 your great honnor and prayse, and noe lesser prqffit vnto the common 
 welth : It ys good raison that euery man euertwe him s elf e for to 
 showe the benefit which they haue receue of yt. Theerfore, for 
 my parte I haue been allwayes Dejirous for to make yow knowe the 
 good will that jf haue to remayne still your most humble seruant. 
 I haue tbincke that J cold faynde noe better occasion to declare yt, 
 then ta\unge the paines to cott in copper (the most diligentlye and 
 well that wear in my possible to doe) the Figures which doe leuelye 
 represent the forme and maner of the ynhabitants of the same 
 
count rye with theirs ceremonies, sollemne feastes, and the manner 
 and situation of their Townes, or Villages. Addinge vnto euery 
 figure a brief declaration of the same, to that ende that euerye man 
 cold the better understand that which is in [it] liuelye represented. 
 Moreouer y haue thincke that the aforesaid figures wear of greater 
 commendation^ Jf somme Histoire which traitinge of the commodites 
 and fertillitye of the said countreye we are loyned with the same, 
 therfore haue I serue miselfe of the rapport which Thomas Harlot 
 hath lattely sett foorth, and haue causse them booth togither to be 
 printed for to dedicate onto you, as a thinge which by reigtte dooth 
 allreadye apparteyne vnto you. Therfore doe I creaue that you 
 will accept this little Booke, and take yt In goode partte. And 
 desiringe that fauor that you will receue me in the nomber of one of 
 ymr most humble seruantz, besechinge the lord to blese and further 
 you in all yours good do mges and actions, and allso to preserue, and 
 keepe you allwayes in good he/the. And soe J comitt you vnto the 
 almyhttie,from Franckfort the first of Apprill 1590. 
 
 Tour most humble seruant, 
 
 THEODORVS de BRY. 
 
TOTHE ADVEN- 
 
 TVRERS, FAVORERS, AND 
 
 VVELVVILLERS OF THE EN 
 TERPRISE FOR THE INHABITTING 
 
 and planting in VIRGINIA. 
 
 SINCE the first vndertaking by Sir Walter Ralegh to deale 
 in the action of discouering of that Countrey which is now 
 called and known by the name of VIRGINIA ; many voyages 
 hailing bin thither made at sundrie times to his great charge, as 
 first in the yeere 1584, and afterwardes in the yeeres 1585, 1586, 
 and now of late this last yeare of 1587. There haue bin diuers 
 and variable reportes with some slaunderous and shamefull 
 speeches bruited abroade by many that returned from thence. 
 Especially of that discouery which was made by the Colony 
 transported by Sir Richard Greinuile in the yeare 1585, being of 
 all the others the most principal and as yet of most effect, the time 
 of their abode in the countrey beeing a whole yeare, when as in 
 the other voyage before they staied but sixe weekes; and the 
 others after were onelie for supply and transportation, nothing 
 more being discouered then had been before. Which reports 
 haue not done a litle wrong to many that otherwise would haue 
 also fauoured & aduentured in the action, to the honour and 
 benefite of our nation, besides the particular profite and credite 
 
io To the Gentle Reader 
 
 which would redound to them selues the dealers therein ; as I 
 hope by the sequele of euents to the shame of those that haue 
 auouched the contrary shalbe manifest : if you the aduenturers, 
 fauourers, and welwillers do but either encrease in number, or in 
 opinion continue, or hauing bin doubtfull renewe your good liking 
 and furtherance to deale therein according to the worthinesse 
 thereof alreadye found and as you shall vnderstand hereafter to be 
 requisite. Touching which woorthines through cause of the 
 diuersitie of relations and reportes, manye of your opinions coulde 
 not bee firme, nor the mindes of some that are well disposed, bee 
 setled in any certaintie. 
 
 I haue therefore thought it good beeing one that haue beene 
 in the discouerie and in dealing with the naturall inhabitantes 
 specially imploied ; and hauing therefore scene and knowne more 
 then the ordinarie : to imparte so much vnto you of the fruites of 
 our labours, as that you may knowe howe iniuriously the enterprise 
 is slaundered. And that in publike manner at this present 
 chiefelie for two respectes. 
 
 First that some of you which are yet ignorant or doubtfull of 
 the state thereof, may see that there is sufficient cause why the 
 cheefe enterpriser with the fauourof her Maiestie, notwithstanding 
 suche reportes ; hath not onelie since continued the action by 
 sending into the countrey againe, and replanting this last yeere a 
 new Colony ; but is also readie, according as the times and meanes 
 will affoorde, to follow and prosecute the same. 
 
 Secondly, that you seeing and knowing the continuance of the 
 action by the view hereof you may generally know & learne what 
 the countrey is, & thervpon consider how your dealing therein if it 
 proceede, may returne you profit and gaine; bee it either by 
 inhabitting & planting or otherwise in furthering thereof. 
 
 And least that the substance of my relation should be doubtful 
 vnto you as of others by reason of their diuersitie : I will first open 
 the cause in a few wordes wherefore they are so different ; referring 
 my selue to your fauourable constructions, and to be adiudged of 
 as by good consideration you shall finde cause. 
 
 Of our companie that returned, some for their misdemenour 
 and ill dealing in the countrey, haue beene there worthily punished; 
 
To the Gentle Reader. u 
 
 who by reason of their badde natures, haue maliciously not onelie 
 spoken ill of their Gouernours ; but for their sakes ilaundered the 
 countrie it selfe. The like also haue those done which were of 
 their consort. 
 
 Some beeing ignorant of the state thereof, notwithstanding 
 since their returne amongest their friendes and acquaintance and 
 also others, especially if they were in companie where they might 
 not be gainesaide ; woulde seeme to knowe so much as no men 
 more ; and make no men so great trauailers as themselues. They 
 stood so much as it maie seeme vppon their credite and reputation 
 that hauing been a twelue moneth in the countrey, it woulde haue 
 beene a great disgrace vnto them as they thought, if they coulde 
 not haue saide much whether it were true or false. Of which some 
 haue spoken of more then euer they saw or otherwise knew to bee 
 there ; othersome haue not bin ashamed to make absolute deniall 
 of that which although not by them, yet by others is most certainely 
 and there plentifully knowne. And othersome make difficulties of 
 those things they haue no skill of. 
 
 The cause of their ignorance was, in that they were of that 
 many that were neuer out of the Hand where wee were seated, or 
 not farre, or at the leastwise in few places els, during the time of 
 our aboade in the countrey ; or of that many that after golde and 
 siluer was not so soone found, as it was by them looked for, had 
 little or no care of any other thing but to pamper their bellies ; or 
 of that many which had little vnderstanding, lesse discretion, and 
 more tongue then was needfull or requisite. 
 
 Some also were of a nice bringing vp, only in cities or townes, 
 or such as neuer (as I may say) had seene the worlde before. 
 Because there were not to bee found any English cities, nor such 
 faire houses, nor at their owne wish any of their olde accustomed 
 daintie food, nor any soft beds of downe or fethers : the countrey 
 was to them miserable, & their reports thereof according. 
 
 Because my purpose was but in briefe to open the cause of 
 the varietie of such speeches ; the particularities of them, and of 
 many enuious, malicious, and slaunderous reports and deuises els, 
 by our owne countrey men besides ; as trifles that are not worthy 
 of wise men to bee thought vpon, I meane not to trouble you 
 
12 To the Gentle Reader. 
 
 withall : but will passe to the commodities, the substance of that 
 which I haue to make relation of vnto you. 
 
 The treatise whereof for your more readie view & easier 
 vnderstanding I will diuide into three speciall parts. In the 
 first I will make declaration of such commodities there alreadie 
 found or to be raised, which will not onely serue the ordinary 
 turnes of you which are and shall bee the planters and inhabitants, 
 but such an ouerplus sufficiently to bee yelded, or by men of skill 
 to bee prouided, as by way of trafficke and exchaunge with our 
 owne nation of England, will enrich your selues the prouiders ; 
 those that shal deal with you ; the enterprisers in general ; and 
 greatly profit our owne countrey men, to supply them with most 
 things which heretofore they haue bene faine to prouide either of 
 strangers or of our enemies : which commodities for distinction 
 sake, I call Merchantable. 
 
 In the second, I will set downe all the comodities which wee 
 know the countrey by our experience doeth yeld of it selfe for 
 victuall, and sustenance of mans life ; such as is vsually fed vpon 
 by the inhabitants of the countrey, as also by vs during the time 
 we were there. 
 
 In the last part I will make mention generally of such other 
 commodities besides, as I am able to remember, and as I shall 
 thinke behooffull for those that shall inhabite, and plant there to 
 knowe of; which specially concerne building, as also some other 
 necessary vses : with a briefe description of the nature and maners 
 of the people of the countrey. 
 
THE FIRST PART, 
 
 OF MARCHAN- 
 
 TABLE COMMO 
 DITIES. 
 
 Silke of grajje or grajje Silke. 
 
 r I ^HERE is a kind of grasse in the countrey vppon the blades 
 where of there groweth very good silke in forme of a thin 
 glittering skin to bee stript of. It groweth two foote and 
 a halfe high or better : the blades are about two foot in length, 
 and half inch broad. The like groweth in Persia, which is in the 
 selfe same climate as Virginia, of which very many of the silke 
 workes that come from thence into Europe are made. Here of if 
 it be planted and ordered as in Persia, it cannot in reason be 
 otherwise, but that there will rise in shorte time great profite to 
 the dealers therein ; seeing there is so great vse and vent thereof 
 as well in our countrey as els where. And by the meanes of sowing 
 & planting in good ground, it will be farre greater, better, and more 
 plentifull then it is. Although notwithstanding there is great store 
 thereof in many places pf the countrey growing naturally and wilde. 
 
14 A briefe and true report, 
 
 Which also by proof here in England, in making a piece of silke 
 Grogran, we found to be excellent good. 
 
 JVorme Silke. 
 
 In manie of our iourneyes we found silke wormes fayre and 
 great ; as bigge as our ordinary walnuttes. Although it hath not 
 beene our happe to haue found such plentie as elsewhere to be in 
 the coutrey we haue heard of; yet seeing that the countrey doth 
 naturally breede and nourish them, there is no doubt but if art 
 be added in planting of mulbery trees and others fitte for them in 
 commodious places, for their feeding and nourishing ; and some 
 of them carefully gathered and husbanded in that fort as by men 
 of skill is knowne to be necessarie : there will rise as great 
 profite in time to the Virginians, as thereof doth now to the 
 Persians, Turkes, Italians and Spaniards. 
 
 Flctxe and Hempe. 
 
 The trueth is that of Hempe and Flaxe there is no great 
 store in any one place together, by reason it is not planted but as 
 the soile doth yeeld it of it selfe ; and howsoeuer the leafe, and 
 stemme or stalke doe differ from ours ; the stuffe by the iudgement 
 of men of skill is altogether as good as ours. And if not, as 
 further proofe should finde otherwise ; we haue that experience 
 of the soile, as that there cannot bee shewed anie reason to the 
 contrary, but that it will grow there excellent well ; and by 
 planting will be yeelded plentifully : seeing there is so much 
 ground whereof some may well be applyed to such purposes. 
 What benefite heereof may growe in cordage and linnens who 
 can not easily understand ? 
 
 Allum. 
 
 There is a veine of earth along the sea coast for the space ot 
 fourtie or fiftie miles, whereof by the iudgement of some that haue 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 15 
 
 made triall heere in England, is made good Allum, of that kinde 
 which is called Roche Allum. The richnesse of such a commo- 
 ditie is so well knowne that I neede not to saye any thing thereof. 
 The same earth doth also yeelde White Copresse, Nitrum, and 
 Alumen Plumeum, but nothing so plentifully as the common 
 Allum ; which be also of price and profitable. 
 
 JVapelh. 
 
 Wapeih, a kinde of earth so called by the naturall inhabitants ; 
 very like to terra sigillata : and hauing beene refined, it hath 
 beene found by some of our Phisitions and Chirurgeons to bee of 
 the same kinde of vertue and more effectuall. The inhabitants vse 
 it very much for the cure of sores and woundes : there is in 
 diuers place s great plentie, and in some places of a blewe sort. 
 
 Pitch , Tarre, Ro%en fj and Turpentine. 
 
 There are those kindes of trees which yeelde them abundantly 
 and great store. In the very same Hand where wee were seated, 
 being fifteene miles of length, and flue or sixe miles in breadth, 
 there are fewe trees els but of the same kind ; the whole Hand 
 being full. 
 
 o rr r 
 
 &a afras. 
 
 UJ J 
 
 Sassafras, called by the inhabitantes Winauk, a kinde of wood 
 of most pleasand and sweete smel, and of most rare vertues in 
 phisick for the cure of many diseases. It is found by experience 
 to bee farre better and of more vses then the wood which is called 
 Guaiacum, or Lignum vita. For the description, the manner of 
 vsing and the manifolde vertues thereof, I referre you to the 
 booke of Monardus, translated and entituled in English, The ioyfull 
 newes from the West Indies. 
 
16 A briefe and true report, 
 
 Cedar. 
 
 Cedar, a very sweet wood and fine timber ; wherof if nests of 
 chests be there made, or timber therof fitted for sweet & fine 
 bedsteads, tables, deskes, lutes, virginalles & many things else, 
 (of which there hath beene proofe made already) to make vp 
 fraite with other principal commodities will yield profite. 
 
 Wine. 
 
 There are two kinds of grapes that the soile doth yeeld 
 naturally : the one is small and sowre of the ordinarie bignesse 
 as ours in England : the other farre greater & of himselfe lushious 
 sweet. When they are planted and husbanded as they ought, a 
 principall commoditie of wines by them may be raised. 
 
 Oyle. 
 
 There are two sortes of Walnuttes both holding oyle, but the 
 one farre more plentifull then the other. When there are milles 
 & other deuises for the purpose, a commodity of them may be 
 raised because there are infinite store. There are also three 
 seuerall kindes of Berries in the forme of Oke akornes, which also 
 by the experience and vse of the inhabitantes, wee finde to yeelde 
 very good and sweete oyle. Furthermore the Beares of the 
 countrey are commonly very fatte, and in some places there are 
 many : their fatnesse because it is so liquid, may well be termed 
 oyle, and hath many speciall vses. 
 
 Fur res. 
 
 All along the Sea coast there are great store of Otters, which 
 beeyng taken by weares and other engines made for the purpose, 
 will yeelde good profite. Wee hope also of Mart erne furres, and 
 make no doubt by the relation of the people but that in some 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 17 
 
 places of the countrey there are store : although there were but 
 two skinnes that came to our handes. Luzarnes also we haue 
 vnderstading of, although for the time we saw none. 
 
 Deare skinnes. 
 
 Deare skinnes dressed after the manner of Chamoes or vndressed 
 are to be had of the naturall inhabitants thousands yeerely by way 
 of trafficke for trifles : and no more wast or spoile of Deare then 
 is and hath beene ordinarily in time before. 
 
 Ciuet cattes. 
 
 In our trauailes, there was founde one to haue beene killed by 
 a saluage or inhabitant : and in an other place the smell where 
 one or more had lately beene before: whereby we gather besides 
 then by the relation of the people that there are some in the 
 countrey : good profite will rise by them. 
 
 7 
 
 ron. 
 
 In two places of the countrey specially, one about fourescore 
 and the other sixe score miles from the Fort or place where wee 
 dwelt : wee founde neere the water side the ground to be rockie, 
 which by the triall of a minerall man, was founde to holde Iron 
 richly. It is founde in manie places of the countrey else. I knowe 
 nothing to the contrarie, but that it maie bee allowed for a good 
 marchantable commoditie, considering there the small charge for 
 the labour and feeding of men : the infinite store of wood : the 
 want of wood and deerenesse thereof in England : & the necessity 
 of ballasting of shippes. 
 
 Copp 
 
 er. 
 
 A hundred and fiftie miles into the maine in two townes wee 
 founde with the inhabitaunts diuerse small plates of copper, that 
 had beene made as wee vnderstood, by the inhabitantes that dwell 
 
 B 
 
41 
 
 1 8 A briefe and true report, 
 
 farther into the countrey : where as they say are mountaines and 
 Riuers that yeelde also whyte graynes of Mettall, which is to bee 
 deemed Siluer. For confirmation whereof at the time of our first 
 arriuall in the Countrey, I sawe with some others with mee, two 
 small peeces of siluer grosly beaten about the weight of a Testrone, 
 hangyng in the eares of a Wiroans or chiefe Lorde that dwelt about 
 fourescore myles from vs ; of whom thorowe enquiry, by the number 
 of dayes and the way, I learned that it had come to his handes 
 from the same place or neere, where I after vnderstood the copper 
 was made and the white graynes of mettall founde. The aforesaide 
 copper wee also founde by triall to holde siluer. 
 
 Pearle. 
 
 Sometimes in feeding on muscles wee founde some pearle; but 
 it was our hap to meete with ragges, or of a pide colour ; not 
 hauing yet discouered those places where wee hearde of better and 
 more plentie. One of our companie ; a man of skill in such 
 matters, had gathered together from among the sauage people 
 aboute flue thousande : of which number he chose so many as 
 made a fayre chaine, which for their likenesse and vniformitie in 
 roundnesse, orientnesse, and pidenesse of many excellent colours, 
 with equalitie in greatnesse, were verie fayre and rare ; and had 
 therefore beene presented to her Maiestie, had wee not by casualtie 
 and through extremity of a storme, lost them with many things els 
 in comming away from the countrey. 
 
 Sweete Gummes. 
 
 Sweete Gummes of diuers kindes and many other Apothecary 
 drugges of which wee will make speciall mention, when wee shall 
 receiue it from such men of skill in that kynd, that in taking 
 reasonable paines shall discouer them more particularly then wee 
 haue done ; and than now I can make relation of, for want of the 
 examples I had prouided and gathered, and are nowe lost, with 
 other thinges by causualtie before mentioned. 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 19 
 
 Dyes of dluers kindes. 
 
 There is Shoemake well knowen, and vsed in England for 
 blacke ; the feede of an hearbe called Wasewowr : little small 
 rootes called Chappacor ; and the barke of the tree called by the 
 inhabitaunts Tangomockonomindge : which Dies are for diuers 
 sortes of red : their goodnesse for our English clothes remaynes 
 yet to be proued. The inhabitants vse them onely for the dying 
 of hayre ; and colouring of their faces, and Mantles made of Deare 
 skinnes ; and also for the dying of Rushes to make artificiall 
 workes withall in their Mattes and Baskettes; hauing no other 
 thing besides that they account of, apt to vse them for. If they 
 will not proue merchantable there is no doubt but the Planters 
 there shall finde apte vses for them, as also for other colours 
 which wee knowe to be there. 
 
 Oade. 
 
 A thing of so great vent and vse amongst English Diers, which 
 cannot bee yeelded sufficiently in our owne countrey for spare of 
 ground ; may bee planted in Virginia, there being ground enough, 
 The grouth therof need not to be doubted when as in the Ilandes 
 of the Asores it groweth plentifully, which is in the same climate. 
 So likewise of Madder. 
 
 er canes. 
 
 Whe carried thither Suger canes to plant which beeing not so 
 well preserued as was requisit, & besides the time of the yere 
 being past for their setting when we arriued, wee could not make 
 that proofe of them as wee desired. Notwithstanding seeing that 
 they grow in the same climate, in the South part of Spaine and in 
 Barbary, our hope in reason may yet continue. So likewise for 
 Orenges, and Lemmons, there may be planted also Quinses. Wherbi 
 may grow in reasonable time if the action be diligently prosecuted 
 no small commodities in Sugers, Suckets, and Marmalades. 
 
 Many other commodities by planting may there also bee 
 
 B 2 
 
2O A briefe and true report, 
 
 raised, which I leaue to your discret and gentle considerations : 
 and many also may bee there which yet we haue not discouered. 
 Two more commodities of great value one of certaintie, and the 
 other in hope, not to be planted, but there to be raised & in short 
 time to be prouided and prepared, I might haue specified. So 
 likewise of those commodities already set downe I might haue 
 said more ; as of the particular places where they are founde and 
 best to be planted and prepared : by what meanes and in what 
 reasonable space of time they might be raised to profit and in 
 what proportion ; but because others then welwillers might bee 
 therewithall acquainted, not to the good of the action, I haue 
 wittingly omitted them : knowing that to those that are well 
 disposed I haue vttered, according to my promise and purpose, 
 for this part sufficient. 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 
 
 THE SECOND PART, 
 
 OF SVCHE COMMO 
 DITIES AS VIRGINIA IS 
 
 knowne to yeelde for victuall and fuftenace 
 
 of mans life, vfually fed vpon by the 
 
 naturall inhabitants : as alfo by vs 
 
 during the time of our aboad. 
 
 And firft of fuch as are 
 
 fowed and husbanded. 
 
 -/ 
 
 PAGATOWR, a kinde of graine so called by the inhabitants ; 
 the same in the West Indies is called MAYZE : English men 
 call it Guinney wheate or Turkie wheate, according to the 
 names of the countreys from whence the like hath beene brought. 
 The graine is about the bignesse of our ordinary English peaze 
 and not much different in forme and shape: but of diuers colours: 
 some white, some red, some yellow, and some blew. All of them 
 yeelde a very white and sweete flowre : beeing vsed according to 
 his kinde it maketh a very good bread. Wee made of the same 
 in the countrey some mault, whereof was brued as good ale as 
 
22 A briefe and true report, 
 
 was to be desired. So likewise by the help of hops therof may 
 bee made as good Beere. It is a graine of marueilous great 
 increase; of a thousand, fifteene hundred and some two thousand 
 fold. There are three sortes, of which two are ripe in an eleuen 
 and twelue weekes at the most : sometimes in ten, after the time 
 they are set, and are then of height in stalke about sixe or seuen 
 foote. The other sort is ripe in fourteene, and is about ten foote 
 high, of the stalkes some beare foure heads, some three, some 
 one, and two : euery head containing nue, sixe, or seuen hundred 
 graines within a fewe more or lesse. Of these graines besides 
 bread, the inhabitants make victuall eyther by parching them ; or 
 seething them whole vntill they be broken ; or boyling the floure 
 with water into a pappe. / 
 
 Okindgier, called by vs Beams, because in greatnesse & partly 
 in shape they are like to the Beanes in England ; sauing that 
 they are flatter, of more diuers colours, and some pide. The 
 leafe also of the stemme is much different. In taste they are 
 altogether as good as our English peaze. 
 
 Wickonz6wr, called by vs Peaze, in respect of the beanes for 
 distinction sake, because they are much lesse ; although in forme 
 they little differ ; but in goodnesse of tast much, & are far better 
 then our English peaze. Both the beanes and peaze are ripe in 
 tenne weekes after they are set. They make them victuall either 
 by boyling them all to pieces into a broth ; or boiling them whole 
 vntill they bee soft and beginne to breake as is vsed in England, 
 eyther by themselues or mixtly together : Sometime they mingle 
 of the wheate with them. Sometime also beeing whole sodden, 
 they bruse or pound them in a morter, & thereof make loaues 
 or lumps of dowishe bread, which they vse to eat for varietie. 
 
 Macocqwer, according to their seuerall formes called by vs, 
 Pompions, Mellions, and Gourdes, because they are of the like 
 formes as those kindes in England. In Virginia such of seuerall 
 formes are of one taste and very good, and do also spring from 
 one seed. There are of two sorts ; one is ripe in the space of a 
 moneth, and the other in two moneths. 
 
 There is an hearbe which in Dutch is called Melden. Some of 
 those that I describe it vnto, take it to be a kinde of Orage ; it 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 23 
 
 groweth about foure or fiue foote high : of the seede thereof they 
 make a thicke broth, and pottage of a very good taste : of the 
 stalke by burning into ashes they make a kinde of salt earth, 
 wherewithall many vse sometimes to season their brothes ; other 
 salte they knowe not. Wee our selues, vsed the leaues also for 
 pothearbes. 
 
 There is also another great hearbe in forme of a Marigolde, 
 about sixe foote in height ; the head with the floure is a spanne 
 in breadth. Some take it to bee Planta Solis : of the seedes 
 heereof they make both a kinde of bread and broth. 
 
 All the aforesaide commodities for victuall are set or sowed, 
 sometimes in groundes apart and seuerally by themselues ; but 
 for the most part together in one ground mixtly : the manner 
 thereof with the dressing and preparing of the ground, because I 
 will note vnto you the fertilitie of the soile ; I thinke good briefly 
 to describe. 
 
 The ground they neuer fatten with mucke, dounge or any 
 other thing ; neither plow nor digge it as we in England, but 
 onely prepare it in sort as folio weth. A fewe daies before they 
 sowe or set, the men with wooden instruments, made almost in 
 forme of mattockes or hoes with long handles ; the women with 
 short peckers or parers, because they vse them sitting, of a foote 
 long and about fiue inches in breadth : doe onely breake the 
 vpper part of the ground to rayse vp the weedes, grasse, & old 
 stubbes of corne stalkes with their rootes. The which after a 
 day or twoes drying in the Sunne, being scrapte vp into many 
 small heapes, to saue them labour for carrying them away ; they 
 burne into ashes. (And whereas some may thinke that they vse 
 the ashes for to better the grounde ; I say that then they woulde 
 eyther disperse the ashes abroade ; which wee obserued they doe 
 not, except the heapes bee too great : or els would take speciall 
 care to set their corne where the ashes lie, which also wee finde 
 they are carelesse of.) And this is all the husbanding of their 
 ground that they vse. 
 
 Then their setting or sowing is after this maner. First for 
 their corne, beginning in one corner of the plot, with a pecker they 
 make a hole, wherein they put foure graines with that care they 
 
24 A briefe and true report, 
 
 touch not one another, (about an inch asunder) and couer them 
 with the moulde againe : and so through out the whole plot, 
 making such holes and vsing them after such maner : but with 
 this regard that they bee made in rankes, euery ranke differing from 
 other halfe a fadome or a yarde, and the holes also in euery ranke, 
 as much. By this meanes there is a yarde spare ground betwene 
 euery hole : where according to discretion here and there, they 
 set as many Beanes and Peaze : in diuers places also among the 
 seedes of Macocqwer, Melden and Planta Solis. 
 
 The ground being thus set according to the rate by vs 
 experimented, an English Acre conteining fourtie pearches in 
 length, and foure in breadth, doeth there yeeld in croppe or of- 
 come of corne, beanes, and peaze, at the least two hundred London 
 bushelles : besides the Macocqwer, Melden, and Planta Solis : 
 When as in England fourtie bushelles of our wheate yeelded out 
 of such an acre is thought to be much. 
 
 I thought also good to note this vnto you, if you which shall 
 inhabite and plant there, maie know how specially that countrey 
 corne is there to be preferred before ours : Besides the manifold 
 waies in applying it to victuall, the increase is so much that small 
 labour and paines is needful in respect that must be vsed for ours. 
 For this I can assure you that according to the rate we haue made 
 proofe of, one man may prepare and husbande so much grounde 
 (hauing once borne corne before) with lesse then foure and twentie 
 houres labour, as shall yeelde him victuall in a large proportion for 
 a twelue moneth if hee haue nothing else, but that which the same 
 ground will yeelde, and of that kinde onelie which I haue before 
 spoken of: the saide ground being also but of fiue and twentie yards 
 square. And if neede require, but that there is ground enough, 
 there might be raised out of one and the selfsame ground two 
 haruestes or of-comes ; for they sowe or set and may at anie time 
 when they thinke good from the middest of March vntill the ende 
 of lune : so that they also set when they haue eaten of their first 
 croppe. In some places of the countrey notwithstanding they 
 haue two haruests, as we haue heard, out of one and the same 
 ground. 
 
 For English corne neuertheles whether to vse or not to vse it, 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 25 
 
 you that inhabite maie do as you shall haue farther cause to thinke 
 best. Of the grouth you need not to doubt ; for barlie, oates and 
 peaze, we haue seene proof of, not beeing purposely sowen but 
 fallen casually in the worst sort of ground, and yet to be as faire 
 as any we haue euer seene here in England. But of wheat because 
 it was musty and hat taken salt water wee could make no triall : 
 and of rye we had none. Thus much haue I digressed and I hope 
 not vnnecessarily : nowe will I returne againe to my course and 
 intreate of that which yet remaineth appertaining to this Chapter. 
 There is an herbe which is sowed a part by it selfe & is called 
 by the inhabitants Vppowoc : In the West Indies it hath diuers 
 names, according to the seuerall places & countries where it 
 groweth and is vsed : The Spaniardes generally call it Tobacco. 
 The leaues thereof being dried and brought into powder : they vse 
 to take the fume or smoke thereof by sucking it through pipes 
 made of claie into their stomacke and heade ; from whence it 
 purgeth superfluous fleame & other grosse humors, openeth all the 
 pores & passages of the body : by which meanes the vse thereof 
 not only preserueth the body from obstructions ; but also if any be, 
 so that they haue not beene of too long continuance, in short time 
 breaketh them : wherby their bodies are notably preserued in 
 health, & know not many greeuous diseases wherewithall wee in 
 England are oftentimes afflicted. 
 
 This Vppowoc is of so precious estimation amongest them, that 
 they thinke their gods are maruelously delighted therwith : 
 Wherupon sometime they make hallowed fires & cast some of the 
 pouder therein for a sacrifice : being in a storme vppon the waters, 
 to pacific their gods, they cast some vp into the aire and into the 
 water: so a weare for fish being newly set vp, they cast some 
 therein and into the aire : also after an escape of danger, they cast 
 some into the aire likewise : but all done with strange gestures, 
 stamping, somtime dauncing, clapping of hands, holding vp of 
 hands, & staring vp into the heauens, vttering therewithal and 
 chattering strange words & noises. 
 
 We our selues during the time we were there vsed to suck it 
 after their maner, as also since our returne, & haue found manie 
 rare and wonderful experiments of the vertues thereof ; of which 
 
26 A briefe and true report, 
 
 the relation woulde require a volume by it selfe : the vse of it by 
 so manie of late, men & women of great calling as else, and some 
 learned Phisitions also, is sufficient witnes. 
 
 And these are all the commodities for sustenance of life that I 
 know and can remember they vse to husband : all else that followe 
 are founde growing naturally or wilde. 
 ? 
 
 Of Rootes. 
 
 OPENAVK are a kind of roots of round forme, some of the 
 bignes of walnuts, some far greater, which are found in moist & 
 marish grounds growing many together one by another in ropes, 
 or as thogh they were fastened with a string. Being boiled or 
 sodden they are very good meate. 
 
 OKEEPENAVK are also of round shape, found in dry grounds : 
 some are of the bignes of a mans head. They are to be eaten as 
 they are taken out of the ground, for by reason of their drinesse 
 they will neither roste nor seeth. Their tast is not so good as of 
 the former rootes, notwithstanding for want of bread & somtimes 
 for varietie the inhabitants vse to eate them with fish or flesh, and 
 in my iudgement they doe as well as the houshold bread made of 
 rie heere in England. 
 
 Kaishcupenauk a white kind of roots about the bignes of hen 
 egs & nere of that forme : their tast was not so good to our 
 seeming as of the other, and therfore their place and manner of 
 growing not so much cared for by vs : the inhabitants notwith 
 standing vsed to boile & eate many. 
 
 Tsinaw a kind of roote much like vnto the which in England is 
 called the China root brought from the East Indies. And we know 
 not anie thing to the cotrary but that it maie be of the same kind. 
 These roots grow manie together in great clusters and doe bring 
 foorth a brier stalke, but the leafe in shape far vnlike ; which 
 beeing supported by the trees it groweth neerest vnto, wil reach 
 or climbe to the top of the highest. From these roots while they 
 be new or fresh beeing chopt into small pieces & stampt, is 
 strained with water a iuice that maketh bread, & also being 
 boiled, a very good spoonemeate in maner of a gelly, and is much 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 27 
 
 better in tast if it bee tempered with oyle. This Tsinaw is not of 
 that sort which by some was caused to be brought into England 
 for the China roote, for it was discouered since, and is in vse as is 
 afore saide : but that which was brought hither is not yet knowne 
 neither by vs nor by the inhabitants to serue for any vse or 
 purpose ; although the rootes in shape are very like. 
 
 Coscushaw, some of our company tooke to bee that kinde of 
 roote which the Spaniards in the West Indies call Cassauy, 
 whereupon also many called it by that name : it groweth in very 
 muddie pooles and moist groundes. Being dressed according to 
 the countrey maner, it maketh a good bread, and also a good 
 sponemeate, and is vsed very much by the inhabitants : The iuice 
 of this root is poison, and therefore heede must be taken before 
 any thing be made therewithal : Either the rootes must bee first 
 sliced and dried in the Sunne, or by the fire, and then being 
 pounded into floure wil make good bread : or els while they are 
 greene they are to bee pared, cut into pieces and stampt ; loues 
 of the same to be laid neere or ouer the fire vntill it be floure, and 
 then being well pounded againe, bread, or spone meate very 
 good in taste, and holsome may be made thereof. 
 
 Habascon is a roote of hoat taste almost of the forme and 
 bignesse of a Parseneepe, of it selfe it is no victuall, but onely a 
 helpe beeing boiled together with other meates. 
 
 There are also Leekes differing little from ours in England that 
 grow in many places of the countrey, of which, when we came in 
 places where, wee gathered and eate many, but the naturall 
 inhabitants neuer. 
 
 Of Frultes. 
 
 CHESTNVTS, there are in diuers places great store : some they 
 vse to eate rawe, some they stampe and boile to make spoone- 
 meate, and with some being sodden they make such a manner of 
 dowe bread as they vse of their beanes before mentioned. 
 
 WALNVTS : There are two kindes of Walnuts, and of then 
 infinit store : In many places where very great woods for many 
 miles together the third part of trees are walnuttrees. The one 
 
28 A briefe and true report, 
 
 kind is of the same taste and forme or litle differing from ours of 
 England, but that they are harder and thicker shelled : the other 
 is greater and hath a verie ragged and harde shell : but the 
 kernell great, verie oylie and sweete. Besides their eating of 
 them after our ordinarie maner, they breake them with stones 
 and pound them in morters with water to make a milk which 
 they vse to put into some sorts of their spoonmeate ; also among 
 their sodde wheat, peaze, beanes and pompions which maketh 
 them haue a farre more pleasant taste. 
 
 MEDLARS a kind of verie good fruit,, so called by vs chieflie for 
 these respectes : first in that they are not good vntill they be 
 rotten : then in that they open at the head as our medlars, and 
 are about the same bignesse : otherwise in taste and colour they 
 are farre different : for they are as red as cheries and very sweet : 
 but whereas the cherie is sharpe sweet, they are lushious sweet. 
 
 METAQVESVNNAVK, a kinde of pleasaunt fruite almost of the 
 shape & bignes of English peares, but that they are of a perfect 
 red colour as well within as without. They grow on a plant 
 whose leaues are verie thicke and full of prickles as sharpe as 
 needles. Some that haue bin in the Indies, where they haue 
 seen that kind of red die of great price which is called Cochinile 
 to grow, doe describe his plant right like vnto this of Metaque- 
 sunnauk but whether it be the true Cochinile or a bastard or 
 wilde kind, it cannot yet be certified ; seeing that also as I heard, 
 Cochinile is not of the fruite but founde on the leaues of the 
 plant ; which leaues for such matter we haue not so specially 
 obserued. 
 
 GRAPES there are of two sorts which I mentioned in the 
 marchantable comodities. 
 
 STRABERIES there are as good & as great as those which we 
 haue in our English gardens. 
 
 MVLBERIES, Applecrabs, Hurts or Hurtleberies, such as wee 
 haue in England. 
 
 SACQVENVMMENER a kinde of berries almost like vnto capres 
 but somewhat greater which grow together in clusters vpon a 
 plant or herb that is found in shalow waters : being boiled eight 
 or nine hours according to their kind are very good meate and 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 29 
 
 holesome, otherwise if they be eaten they will make a man for the 
 time franticke or extremely sicke. 
 
 There is a kind of reed which beareth a seed almost like 
 vnto our rie or wheat, & being boiled is good meate. 
 
 In our trauailes in some places wee founde wilde peaze like vnto 
 ours in England but that they were lesse, which are also good 
 meate. 
 
 Of a kinde of fruit e or her rie in forme of 
 Acornes. 
 
 There is a kind of berrie or acorne, of which there are flue 
 sorts that grow on seuerall kinds of trees ; the one is called 
 Sagatemener, the second Osdmener, the third Pummuckoner. These 
 kind of acorns they vse to drie vpon hurdles made of reeds with 
 fire vnderneath almost. after the maner as we dry malt in England. 
 When they are to be vsed they first water them vntil they be soft 
 & then being sod they make a good victuall, either to eate so 
 simply, or els being also pounded, to make loaues or lumpes of 
 bread. These be also the three kinds of which, I said before, the 
 inhabitants vsed to make sweet oyle. 
 
 An other sort is called Sapummener which being boiled or 
 parched doth eate and taste like vnto chestnuts. They sometime 
 also make bread of this sort. 
 
 The fifth sort is called Mangummenauk, and is the acorne of 
 their kind of oake, the which beeing dried after the maner of the 
 first sortes, and afterward watered they boile them, & their 
 seruants or sometime the chiefe themselues, either for variety or 
 for want of bread, doe eate them with their fish or flesh. 
 
 OfBeaftes. 
 
 Deare, in some places there are great store : neere vnto the sea 
 coast they are of the ordinarie bignes as ours in England, & some 
 lesse : but further vp into the countrey where there is better seed 
 they are greater : they differ from ours onely in this, their tailes 
 are longer and the snags of their homes looke backward. 
 
30 A briefe and true report, 
 
 Conies, Those that we haue seen & al that we can heare of are 
 of a grey colour like vnto hares : in some places there are such 
 plentie that all the people of some townes make them mantles of 
 the furre or flue of the skinnes of those they vsually take. 
 
 Saquenuckot & Maquowoc ; two kindes of small beastes greater 
 then conies which are very good meat. We neuer tooke any of 
 them our selues, but sometime eate of such as the inhabitants had 
 taken & brought vnto vs. 
 
 Squirels which are of a grey colour, we haue taken & eaten. 
 
 Beares which are all of black colour. The beares of this 
 countrey are good meat ; the inhabitants in time of winter do vse 
 to take & eate manie, so also somtime did wee. They are taken 
 commonlie in this sort. In some Hands or places where they are, 
 being hunted for, as soone as they haue spiall of a man they 
 presently run awaie, & then being chased they clime and get vp the 
 next tree they can, from whence with arrowes they are shot downe 
 starke dead, or with those wounds that they may after easily be 
 killed ; we sometime shotte them downe with our caleeuers. 
 
 I haue the names of eight & twenty seuerall sortes of beasts 
 which I haue heard of to be here and there dispersed in the 
 countrie, especially in the maine : of which there are only 
 twelue kinds that we haue yet discouered, & of these that be 
 good meat we know only them before mentioned. The inhabi 
 tants somtime kil the Lyon & eat him : & we somtime as 
 they came to our hands of their Wolues or woluish Dogges, which I 
 haue not set downe for good meat, least that some woulde vnder- 
 stand my iudgement therin to be more simple than needeth, 
 although I could alleage the difference in taste of those kindes 
 from ours, which by some of our company haue beene experi 
 mented in both. 
 
 OfFoule. 
 
 Turkic cockes and Turkic hennes : Stockdoues : Partridges : Cranes : 
 Hernes : & in winter great store of Swannes & Geese. Of al 
 sortes of foule I haue the names in the countrie language of foure- 
 score and sixe of which number besides those that be named, 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 31 
 
 we haue taken, eaten, & haue the pictures as they were there 
 drawne with the names of the inhabitaunts of seuerall strange 
 sortes of water foule eight, and seuenteene kinds more of land 
 foul, although wee haue seen and eaten of many more, which for 
 want of leasure there for the purpose coulde not bee pictured : 
 and after wee are better furnished and stored vpon further 
 discouery, with their strange beastes, fishe, trees, plants, and 
 hearbes, they shall bee also published. 
 
 There are also Parats, Faulcons, & Marlin haukes, which 
 although with vs they bee not vsed for meate, yet for other causes 
 I thought good to mention. 
 
 Of Fishe. 
 
 For foure monethes of the yeere, February, March, Aprill and 
 May, there are plentie of Sturgeons : And also in the same 
 monethes of Herrings, some of the ordinary bignesse as ours in 
 England, but the most part farre greater, of eighteene, tvventie 
 inches, and some two foote in length and better ; both these 
 kindes of fishe in those monethes are most plentifull, and in best 
 season which wee founde to bee most delicate and pleasaunt meate. 
 
 There are also Troutes, Porpoises, Rayes, Oldwiues, Mullets, 
 Plaice, and very many other sortes of excellent good fish, which we 
 haue taken & eaten, whose names I know not but in the countrey 
 language ; wee haue of twelue sorts more the pictures as they 
 were drawn in the countrey with their names. 
 
 The inhabitants vse to take then two maner of wayes, the one 
 is by a kind of wear made of reedes which in that countrey are 
 very strong. The other way which is more strange, is with poles 
 made sharpe at one ende, by shooting them into the fish after the 
 maner as Irishmen cast dartes ; either as they are rowing in their 
 boates or els as they are wading in the shallowes for the purpose. 
 
 There are also in many places plentie of these kindes which 
 follow. 
 
 Sea crabbes, such as we haue in England. 
 
 Oystres, some very great, and some small ; some rounde and 
 some of a long shape : They are founde both in salt water and 
 
32 A briefe and true report, 
 
 brackish, and those that we had out of salt water are far better 
 than the other as in our owne countrey. 
 
 Also Muscles, Scalopes, Periwinkles, and Creuises. 
 
 Seekanauk, a kinde of crustie shell fishe which is good meate, 
 about a foote in breadth, hauing a crustie tayle, many legges like 
 a crab ; and her eyes in her backe. They are founde in shallowes 
 of salt waters ; and sometime on the shoare. 
 
 There are msinyTortqyses both of lande and sea kinde, their backes 
 & bellies are shelled very thicke ; their head, feete, and taile, which 
 are in appearance, seeme ougly as though they were membres of a 
 serpent or venemous : but notwithstanding they are very good 
 meate, as also their egges. Some haue bene founde of a yard in 
 bredth and better. 
 
 And thus haue I made relation of all sortes of victuall that we 
 fed vpon for the time we were in Virginia, as also the inhabitants 
 themselues, as farre foorth as I knowe and can remember or that 
 are specially worthy to bee remembred, 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia, 
 
 33 
 
 THE THIRD AND 
 
 LAST PART, 
 
 OF SVCH OTHER 
 
 THINGES AS IS BEHOOF- 
 
 full for thofe which shall plant and inhabit 
 
 to know of; with a defcription of 
 
 the nature and manners of 
 
 the people of the 
 
 count rey. 
 
 Of commodities for building and other 
 necefsary vfes. 
 
 THOSE other things which I am more to make rehearsall of, 
 are such as concerne building, and other mechanical! 
 necessarie vses ; as diuers sortes of trees for house & ship 
 timber, and other vses els : Also lime, stone, and brick, least that 
 being not mentioned some might haue bene doubted of, or by 
 some that are malicious reported the contrary. 
 
 Okes, there are as fajre, straight, tall, and as good timber as 
 any can be, and also great store, and in some places very great. 
 Walnut trees, as I haue saide before very many, some haue 
 
 C 
 
34 A briefe and true report, 
 
 bene seen excellent faire timber of foure & fiue fadome, & aboue 
 fourescore foot streight without bough. 
 
 Firre trees fit for masts of ships, some very tall & great. 
 
 Rakiock, a kind of trees so called that are sweet wood of which 
 the inhabitans that were neere vnto vs doe commonly make their 
 boats or Canoes of the form of trowes ; only with the helpe of fire, 
 hatchets of stones, and shels ; we haue known some so great being 
 made in that sort of one tree that they haue carried well xx. men 
 at once, besides much baggage : the timber being great, tal, streight, 
 soft, light, & yet tough enough I thinke (besides other vses) to be 
 fit also for masts of ships. 
 
 Cedar, a sweet wood good for seelings, Chests, Boxes, 
 Bedsteedes, Lutes, Virginals, and many things els, as I haue also 
 said before. Some of our company which haue wandered in some 
 places where I haue not bene, haue made certaine affirmation of 
 Cyprus which for such and other excellent vses, is also a wood of 
 price and no small estimation. 
 
 Maple, and also Wich-hazle, wherof the inhabitants vse to make 
 their bowes. 
 
 Holly a necessary thing for the making of birdlime. 
 
 Willowes good for the making of weares and weeles to take fish 
 after the English manner, although the inhabitants vse only reedes, 
 which because they are so strong as also flexible, do serue for that 
 turne very well and sufficiently. 
 
 Beech and A she, good for caske hoopes : and if neede require, 
 plow worke, as also for many things els. 
 
 Elme. 
 
 Sassafras trees. 
 
 Ascopo a kinde of tree very like vnto Lawrell, the barke is hoat 
 in tast and spicie, it is very like to that tree which Monardus 
 describeth to bee Cassia Lignea of the West Indies. 
 
 There are many other strange trees whose names I knowe not 
 but in the Virginian language, of which I am not nowe able, neither 
 is it so conuenient for the present to trouble you with particular 
 relation : seeing that for timber and other necessary vses I haue 
 named sufficient : And of many of the rest but that they may be 
 applied to good vse, I know no cause to doubt. 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 35 
 
 Now for Stone, Bricke and Lime, thus it is. Neere vnto the 
 Sea coast where wee dwelt, there are no kinde of stones to bee 
 found (except a fewe small pebbles about foure miles off) but such 
 as haue bene brought from farther out of the maine. In some of 
 our voiages wee haue seene diuers hard raggie stones, great 
 pebbles, and a kinde of grey stone like vnto marble, of which the 
 inhabitants make their hatchets to cleeue wood. Vpon inquirie 
 wee heard that a little further vp into the Countrey were of all 
 sortes verie many, although of Quarries they are ignorant, neither 
 haue they vse of any store whereupon they should haue occasion 
 to seeke any. For if euerie housholde haue one or two to cracke 
 Nuttes, grinde shelles, whet copper, and sometimes other stones 
 for hatchets, they haue enough : neither vse they any digging, but 
 onely for graues about three foote deepe : and therefore no 
 maruaile that they know neither Quarries, nor lime stones, which 
 both may bee in places neerer than they wot of. 
 
 In the meane time vntill there bee discouerie of sufficient 
 store in some place or other conuenient, the want of you which 
 are and shalbe the planters therein may be as well supplied by 
 Bricke : for the making whereof in diuers places of the countrey 
 there is clay both excellent good, and plentie ; and also by lime 
 made of Oister shels, and of others burnt, after the maner as 
 they vse in the lies of Tenet and Shepy, and also in diuers other 
 places of England : Which kinde of lime is well knowne to bee 
 as good as any other. And of Oister shels there is plentie 
 enough : for besides diuers other particular places where are 
 abundance, there is one shallowe sounde along the coast, where 
 for the space of many miles together in length, and two or three 
 miles in breadth, the grounde is nothing els beeing but halfe a 
 foote or a foote vnder water for the most part. 
 
 This much can I say further more of stones, that about 120 
 miles from our fort neere the water in the side of a hill was 
 founde by a Gentleman of our company, a great veine of hard 
 ragge stones, which I thought good to remember vnto you. 
 
 Of the nature and manners of the people. 
 
 It resteth I speake a word or two of the naturall inhabitants, 
 
 C 2 
 
36 A brief e and true report, 
 
 their natures and maners, leaning large discourse thereof vntill 
 time more conuenient hereafter : nowe onely so farre foorth, as that 
 you may know, how that they in respect of troubling our inhabit 
 ing and planting, are not to be feared ; but that they shall haue 
 ause both to feare and loue vs that shall inhabite with them. 
 
 They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of Deere 
 skins, & aprons of the same rounde about their middles ; all els 
 naked ; of such a difference of statures only as wee in England ; 
 hauing no edge tooles or weapons of yron or steele to offend vs 
 withall, neither know they how to make any : those weapons that 
 they haue, are onlie bowes made of Witch hazle, & arrowes of 
 reeds ; flat edged truncheons also of wood about a yard long, 
 neither haue they any thing to defend themselues but targets 
 made of barcks ; and some armours made of stickes wickered 
 together with thread. 
 
 Their townes are but small, & neere the sea coast but few, 
 some containing but 10 or 12 houses : some 20. the greatest that 
 we haue seene haue bene but of 30 houses : if they be walled it is 
 only done with barks of trees made fast to stakes, or els with 
 poles onely fixed vpright and close one by another. 
 
 Their houses are made of small poles made fast at the tops in 
 rounde forme after the maner as is vsed in many arbories in our 
 gardens of England, in most townes couered with barkes, and in 
 some with artificiall mattes made of long rushes ; from the tops of 
 the houses downe to the ground. The length of them is commonly 
 double to the breadth, in some places they are but 12 and 16 
 yardes long, and in other some wee haue seene of foure and 
 twentie. 
 
 In some places of the countrey one onely towne belongeth to 
 the gouernment of a Wiroans or chiefe Lorde ; in other some two 
 or three, in some sixe, eight, & more ; the greatest Wiroans that 
 yet we had dealing with had but eighteene townes in his gouernmet, 
 and able to make not aboue seuen or eight hundred fighting men 
 at the most : The language of euery gouernment is different from 
 any other, and the farther they are distant the greater is the 
 difference. 
 
 Their maner of warres amongst themselues is either by sudden 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 37 
 
 surprising one an other most commonly about the dawning of the 
 day, or moone light ; or els by ambushes, or some suttle deuises : 
 Set battels are very rare, except it fall out where there are many 
 trees, where eyther part may haue some hope of defence, after the 
 deliuerie of euery arrow, in leaping behind some or other. 
 
 If there fall out any warres between vs & them, what their fight 
 is likely to bee, we hauing aduantages against them so many 
 maner of waies, as by our discipline, our strange weapons and 
 deuises els ; especially by ordinance great and small, it may be 
 easily imagined ; by the experience we haue had in some places, 
 the turning vp of their heeles against vs in running away was their 
 best defence. 
 
 In respect of vs they are a people poore, and for want of skill 
 and iudgement in the knowledge and vse of our things, doe esteeme 
 our trifles before thinges of greater value : Notwithstanding in their 
 proper manner considering the want of such meanes as we haue, 
 they seeme very ingenious ; For although they haue no such 
 tooles, nor any such craftes, sciences and artes as wee ; yet in those 
 thinges they doe, they shewe excellencie of wit. And by howe 
 much they vpon due consideration shall finde our manner of 
 knowledges and craftes to exceede theirs in perfection, and speed 
 for doing or execution, by so much the more is it probable that 
 they shoulde desire our friendships & loue, and haue the greater 
 respect for pleasing and obeying vs. Whereby may bee hoped if 
 meanes of good gouernment bee vsed, that they may in short time 
 be brought to ciuilitie, and the imbracing of true religion. 
 
 Some religion they haue alreadie, which although it be farre 
 from the truth, yet beyng as it is, there is hope it may bee the 
 easier and sooner reformed. 
 
 They beleeue that there are many Gods which they call 
 Montoac, but of different sortes and degrees ; one onely chiefe and 
 great God, which hath bene from all eternitie. Who as they 
 affirme when hee purposed to make the worlde, made first other 
 goddes of a principall order to bee as meanes and instruments to 
 bee vsed in the creation and gouernment to follow ; and after the 
 Sunne, Moone, and Starres, as pettie goddes and the instruments 
 of the other order more principall. First they say were made 
 
38 A briefe and true report, 
 
 waters, out of which by the gods was made all diuersitie of 
 creatures that are visible or inuisible. 
 
 For mankind they say a woman was made first, which by the 
 woorking of one of the goddes, conceiued and brought foorth 
 children : And in such sort they say they had their beginning. 
 
 But how manie yeeres or ages haue passed since, they say 
 they can make no relation, hauing no letters nor other such 
 meanes as we to keepe recordes of the particularities of times 
 past, but onelie tradition from father to sonne. 
 - They thinke that all the gods are of human shape, & therfore 
 they represent them by images in the formes of men, which they 
 call Kewasowok, one alone is called Kewds ; Them they place in 
 houses appropriate or temples which they call Mathicomuck ; 
 Where they woorship, praie, sing, and make manie times offerings 
 vnto them. In some Machicomuck we haue seene but one Kewas, 
 in some two, and in other some three ; The common sort thinke 
 them to be also gods. 
 
 They beleeue also the immortalitie of the soule, that after 
 this life as soone as the soule is departed from the bodie according 
 to the workes it hath done, it is eyther carried to heauen the 
 habitacle of gods, there to enioy perpetuall blisse and happinesse, 
 or els to a great pitte or hole, which they thinke to bee in the 
 furthest partes of their part of the worlde towarde the sunne set, 
 there to burne continually : the place they call Popogusso. 
 
 For the confirmation of this opinion, they tolde mee two 
 stories of two men that had been lately dead and reuiued againe, 
 the one happened but few yeres before our comming in the 
 countrey of a wicked man which hauing beene dead and buried, 
 the next day the earth of the graue beeing seene to moue, was 
 taken vp againe ; Who made declaration where his soule had 
 beene, that is to sare very neere entring into Popogusso, had not 
 one of the gods saued him & gaue him leaue to returne againe, 
 and teach his friends what they should doe to auoid that terrible 
 place of torment. 
 
 The other happened in the same yeere wee were there, but in a 
 towne that was threescore miles from vs, and it was tolde mee 
 for straunge newes that one beeing dead, buried and taken vp 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 39 
 
 againe as the first, shewed that although his bodie had lien dead 
 in the graue, yet his soule was aliue, and had trauailed farre in a 
 long broade waie, on both sides whereof grewe most delicate and 
 pleasaunt trees, bearing more rare and excellent fruites then euer 
 hee had scene before or was able to expresse, and at length came 
 to most braue and faire houses, neere which hee met his father, 
 that had beene dead before, who gaue him great charge to goe 
 backe againe and shew his friendes what good they were to doe 
 to enioy the pleasures of that place, which when he had done he 
 should after come againe. 
 
 What subtilty soeuer be in the Wiroances and Priestes, this 
 opinion worketh so much in manie of the common and simple 
 sort of people that it maketh them haue great respect to their 
 Gouernours, and also great care what they do, to auoid torment 
 after death, and to enioy blisse ; althought notwithstanding there 
 is punishment ordained for malefactours, as stealers, whore- 
 moongers, and other sortes of wicked doers ; some punished with 
 death, some with forfeitures, some with beating, according to the 
 greatnes of the factes. 
 
 And this is the summe of their religion, which I learned by 
 hauing special familiarity with some of their priestes. Wherein 
 they were not so sure grounded, nor gaue such credite to their 
 traditions and stories but through conuersing with vs they were 
 brought into great doubts of their owne, and no small admiration 
 of ours, with earnest desire in many, to learne more than we 
 had meanes for want of perfect vtterance in their language to 
 expresse. 
 
 Most thinges they sawe with vs, as Mathematicall instruments, 
 sea compasses, the vertue of the loadstone in drawing yron, a 
 perspectiue glasse whereby was shewed manie strange sightes, 
 burning glasses, wildefire woorkes, gunnes, bookes, writing and 
 reading, spring clocks that seeme to goe of themselues, and manie 
 other thinges that wee had, were so straunge vnto them, and so 
 farre exceeded their capacities to comprehend the reason and 
 meanes how they should be made and done, that they thought 
 they were rather the works of gods then of men, or at the 
 leastwise they had bin giuen and taught vs of the gods. Which 
 
46 A briefe and true report, 
 
 made manie of them to hatie such opinion of vs, as that if they 
 knew not the trueth of god and religion already, it was rather to 
 be had from vs, whom God so specially loued then from a people 
 that were so simple, as they found themselues to be in comparison 
 of vs. Whereupon greater credite was giuen vnto that we spake 
 of concerning such matters. 
 
 Manie times and in euery towne where I came, according as I 
 was able, I made declaration of the contentes of the Bible ; that 
 therein was set foorth the true and onelie GOD, and his mightie 
 woorkes, that therein was contayned the true doctrine of saluation 
 through Christ, with manie particularities of Miracles and chiefe 
 poyntes of religion, as I was able then to vtter, and thought fitte 
 for the time. And although I told them the booke materially & 
 of it self was not of anie such vertue, as I thought they did conceiue, 
 but onely the doctrine therein contained ; yet would many be glad 
 to touch it, to embrace it, to kisse it, to hold it to their brests and 
 heades, and stroke ouer all their bodie with it ; to shewe their 
 hungrie desire of that knowledge which was spoken of. 
 
 The Wiroans with whom we dwelt called Wingina, and many 
 of his people would be glad many times to be with vs at our praiers, 
 and many times call vpon vs both in his owne towne, as also in 
 others whither he sometimes accompanied vs, to pray and sing 
 Psalmes ; hoping thereby to bee partaker of the same effectes 
 which wee by that meanes also expected. 
 
 Twise this Wiroans was so grieuously sicke that he was like to 
 die, and as hee laie languishing, doubting of anie helpe by his owne 
 priestes, and thinking he was in such daunger for offending vs and 
 thereby our god, sent for some of vs to praie and bee a meanes to 
 our God that it would please him either that he might liue or after 
 death dwell with him in blisse, so likewise were the requestes of 
 manie others in the like case. 
 
 On a time also when their corne began to wither by reason of 
 a drouth whicfi happened extraordinarily, fearing that it had come 
 to passe by reason that in some thing they had displeased vs, many 
 woulde come to vs & desire vs to praie to our God of England, 
 that he would preserue their corne, promising that when it was 
 ripe we also should be partakers of the fruite. 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 41 
 
 There could at no time happen any strange sicknesse, losses, 
 hurtes, or any other crosse vnto them, but that they would 
 impute to vs the cause or meanes therof for offending or not 
 pleasing vs. 
 
 One other rare and strange accident, leauing others, will I 
 mention before I ende, which mooued the whole countrey that 
 either knew or hearde of vs, to haue vs in wonderfull admiration. 
 
 There was no towne where we had any subtile deuise practised 
 against vs, we leauing it vnpunished or not reuenged (because 
 wee sought by all meanes possible to win them by gentlenesse) 
 but that within a few dayes after our departure from euerie such 
 towne, the people began to die very fast, and many in short 
 space ; in some townes about twentie, in some fourtie, in some 
 sixtie, & in one sixe score, which in trueth was very manie in 
 respect of their numbers. This happened in no place that wee 
 coulde learne but where wee had bene, where they vsed some 
 practise against vs, and after such time ; The disease also so 
 strange, that they neither knew what it was, nor how to cure it ; 
 the like by report of the oldest men in the countrey neuer happened 
 before, time out of minde. A thing specially obserued by vs as 
 also by the naturall inhabitants themselues. 
 
 Insomuch that when some of the inhabitants which were our 
 friends & especially the Wiroans Wingina had obserued such 
 effects in foure or fiue towns to follow their wicked practises, 
 they were perswaded that it was the worke of our God through 
 our meanes, and that wee by him might kil and slai whom wee 
 would without weapons and not come neere them. 
 
 And thereupon when it had happened that they had vnder- 
 standing that any of their enemies had abused vs in our iourneyes, 
 hearing that wee had wrought no reuenge with our weapons, & 
 fearing vpon some cause the matter should so rest : did come and 
 intreate vs that we woulde bee a meanes to our God that they as 
 others that had dealt ill with vs might in like sort die ; alleaging 
 howe much it would be for our credite and profite, as also theirs ; 
 and hoping furthermore that we would do so much at their 
 requests in respect of the friendship we professe them. 
 
 Whose entreaties although wee shewed that they were 
 
42 A briefe and true report, 
 
 vngodlie, affirming that our God would not subiect him selfe to 
 anie such praiers and requestes of men : that in deede all thinges 
 haue beene and were to be done according to his good pleasure as 
 he had ordained : and that we to shew our selues his true seruants 
 ought rather to make petition for the contrarie, that they with 
 them might Hue together with vs, bee made partakers of his truth 
 & serue him in righteousnes ; but notwithstanding in such sort, 
 that wee referre that as all other thinges, to bee done according 
 to his diuine will & pleasure, and as by his wisedome he had 
 ordained to be best. 
 
 Yet because the effect fell out so sodainly and shortly after 
 according to their desires, they thought neuerthelesse it came to 
 passe by our meanes, and that we in vsing such speeches vnto 
 them did but dissemble the matter, and therefore came vnto vs to 
 giue vs thankes in their manner that although wee satisfied them 
 not in promise, yet in deedes and effect we had fulfilled their desires. 
 
 This maruelous accident in all the countrie wrought so strange 
 opinions of vs, that some people could not tel whether to think vs 
 gods or men, and the rather because that all the space of their 
 sicknesse, there was no man of ours knowne to die, or that was 
 specially sicke : they noted also that we had no women amongst 
 vs, neither that we did care for any of theirs. 
 
 Some therefore were of opinion that wee were not borne of 
 women, and therefore not mortall, but that wee were men of an 
 old generation many yeeres past then risen againe to immortalitie. 
 
 Some woulde likewise seeme to prophesie that there were more 
 of our generation yet to come, to kill theirs and take their places, 
 as some thought the purpose was by that which was already done. 
 
 Those that were immediately to come after vs they imagined to 
 be in the aire, yet inuisible & without bodies, & that they by our 
 intreaty & for the loue of vs did make the people to die in that 
 sort as they did by shooting inuisible bullets into them. 
 
 To confirme this opinion their phisitions to excuse their 
 ignorance in curing the disease, would not be ashamed to say, but 
 earnestly make the simple people beleue, that the strings of blood 
 that they sucked out of the sicke bodies, were the strings where 
 withal the inuisible bullets were tied and cast. 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 43 
 
 Some also thought that we shot them our selues out of our 
 pieces from the place where we dwelt, and killed the people in any 
 such towne that had offended vs as we listed, how farre distant 
 from vs soeuer it were. 
 
 And other some saide that it was the speciall woorke of God 
 for our sakes, as wee our selues haue cause in some sorte to thinke 
 no lesse, whatsoeuer some doe or maie imagine to the contrarie, 
 specially some Astrologers knowing of the Eclipse of the Sunne 
 which wee saw the same yeere before in our voyage thytherward, 
 which vnto them appeared very terrible. And also of a Comet 
 which beganne to appeare but a few daies before the beginning of 
 the said sicknesse. But to exclude them from being the speciall 
 an accident, there are farther reasons then I thinke fit at this 
 present to bee alleadged. 
 
 These their opinions I haue set downe the more at large that 
 it may appeare vnto you that there is good hope they may be 
 brought through discreet dealing and gouernement to the 
 imbracing of the trueth, and consequently to honour, obey, feare 
 and loue vs. 
 
 And although some of our companie towardes the ende of the 
 yeare, shewed themselues too fierce, in slaying some of the 
 people, in some towns, vpon causes that on our part, might easily 
 enough haue been borne withall : yet notwithstanding because 
 it was on their part iustly deserued, the alteration of their 
 opinions generally & for the most part concerning vs is the lesse 
 to bee doubted. And whatsoeuer els they may be, by carefulnesse 
 of our selues neede nothing at all to be feared. 
 
 The best neuerthelesse in this as in all actions besides is to be 
 endeuoured and hoped, & of the worst that may happen notice to 
 bee taken with consideration, and as much as may be eschewed. 
 
44 A briefe and true report, 
 
 The Conclusion. 
 
 Now I haue as I hope made relation not of so fewe and smal 
 things but that the countrey of men that are indifferent & wel 
 disposed maie be sufficiently liked. If there were no more knowen 
 then I haue mentioned, which doubtlesse and in great reason is 
 nothing to that which remaineth to bee discouered, neither the 
 soile, nor commodities. As we haue reason so to gather by the 
 difference we found in our trauails : for although all which I haue 
 before spoken of, haue bin discouered & experimented not far from 
 the sea coast where was our abode & most of our trauailing : yet 
 somtimes as we made our iourneies farther into the maine and 
 countrey ; we found the soyle to bee fatter ; the trees greater and 
 to growe thinner ; the grounde more firme and deeper mould ; 
 more and larger champions ; finer grasse and as good as euer we 
 saw any in England ; in some places rockie and farre more high 
 and hillie ground ; more plentie of their fruites ; more abondance 
 of beastes ; the more inhabited with people, and of greater pollicie 
 & larger dominions, with greater townes and houses. 
 
 Why may wee not then looke for in good hope from the inner 
 parts of more and greater plentie, as well of other things, as of 
 those which wee haue alreadie discouered ? Vnto the Spaniardes 
 happened the like in discouering the maine of the West Indies. 
 The maine also of this countrey of Virginia, extending some wayes 
 so many hundreds of leagues, as otherwise then by the relation of 
 the inhabitants wee haue most certaine knowledge of, where yet 
 no Christian Prince hath any possession or dealing, cannot but 
 yeeld many kinds of excellent commodities, which we in our 
 discouerie haue not yet seene. 
 
 What hope there is els to be gathered of the nature of the 
 climate, being answerable to the Hand of lapan, the land of China, 
 Persia, Jury, the Ilandes of Cyprus and Candy, the South parts of 
 Greece, Italy, and Spaine, and of many other notable and famous 
 countreis, because I meane not to be tedious, I leaue to your 
 owne consideration. 
 
 Whereby also the excellent temperature of the ayre there at all 
 seasons, much warmer then in England, and neuer so violently 
 
Of the new found land of Virginia. 45 
 
 hot, as sometimes is vnder & between the Tropikes, or nere them ; 
 cannot bee vnknowne vnto you without farther relation. 
 
 For the holsomnesse thereof I neede to say but thus much : 
 that for all the want of prouision, as first of English victuall ; 
 excepting for twentie daies, wee liued only by drinking water and 
 by the victuall of the countrey, of which some sorts were very 
 straunge vnto vs, and might haue bene thought to haue altered 
 our temperatures in such sort as to haue brought vs into some 
 greeuous and dangerous diseases : secondly the want of English 
 meanes, for the taking of beastes, fishe, an4 foule, which by the 
 helpe only of the inhabitants and their meanes, coulde not bee so 
 suddenly and easily prouided for vs, nor in so great numbers & 
 quantities, nor of that choise as otherwise might haue bene to our 
 better satisfaction and contentment. Some want also wee had of 
 clothes. Furthermore, in all our trauailes which were most 
 speciall and often in the time of winter, our lodging was in the 
 open aire vpon the grounde. And yet I say for all this, there 
 were but foure of our whole company (being one hundred and 
 eight) that died all the yeere and that but at the latter ende 
 thereof and vpon none of the aforesaide causes. For all foure 
 especially three were feeble, weake, and sickly persons before euer 
 they came thither, and those that knewe them much marueyled that 
 they liued so long beeing in that case, or had aduentured to trauaile. 
 
 Seing therefore the ayre there is so temperate and holsome, 
 the soyle so fertile and yeelding such commodities as I haue 
 before mentioned, the voyage also thither to and fro beeing 
 sufficiently experimented, to bee perfourmed thrise a yeere with 
 ease and at any season thereof: And the dealing of Sir Walter 
 Raleigh so liberall in large giuing and granting lande there, as is 
 alreadie knowen, with many helpes and furtherances els : (The 
 least that hee hath graunted hath beene fiue hundred acres to a 
 man onely for the aduenture of his person :) I hope there remaine 
 no cause wherby the action should be misliked. 
 
 If that those which shall thither trauaile to inhabite and plant 
 bee but reasonably prouided for the first yere as those are which 
 were transported the last, and beeing there doe vse but that 
 diligence and care as is requisite, and as they may with eese : 
 There is no doubt but for the time following they may haue 
 
46 A briefe and true report. 
 
 victuals that is excellent good and plentie enough; some more 
 Englishe sortes of cattaile also hereafter, as some haue bene 
 before, and are there yet remaining, may and shall bee God 
 willing thither transported : So likewise our kinde of fruites, 
 rootes, and hearbes may bee there planted and sowed, as some 
 haue bene alreadie, and proue wel : And in short time also they 
 may raise of those sortes of commodities which I haue spoken of 
 as shall both enrich them selues, as also others that shall deale 
 with them. 
 
 And this is all the fruites of our labours, that I haue thought 
 necessary to aduertise you of at this present : what els concerneth 
 the nature and manners of the inhabitants of Virginia : The number 
 with the particularities of the voyages thither made ; and of the 
 actions of such that haue bene by Sir Walter Raleigh therein and 
 there imployed, many worthy to bee remembred ; as of the first 
 discouerers of the Countrey : of our generall for the time Sir 
 Richard Greinuile ; and after his departure, of our Gouernour there 
 Master Rafe Lane ; with diuers other directed and imployed vnder 
 theyr gouernement : Of the Captaynes and Masters of the voyages 
 made since for transportation ; of the Gouernour and assistants of 
 those alredie transported, as of many persons, accidents, and thinges 
 els, I haue ready in a discourse by it self in maner of a Chronicle 
 according to the course of times, and when time shall bee thought 
 conuenient shall be also published. 
 
 Thus referring my relation to your fauourable constructions, 
 expecting good successe of the action, from him which is to be 
 acknowledged the authour and gouernour not onlyof this but of all 
 things els, I take my leaue of you, this moneth of Februarii, 1588. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
THE TRVE PICTVRES 
 
 AND FASHIONS OF 
 
 THE PEOPLE IN THAT PAR- 
 
 TE OF AMERICA NOW CAL 
 LED VIRGINIA, DISCOVVRED BY ENGLISHMEN 
 
 sent thither in the years of our Lorde 1585. att the speciall charge 
 
 and direction of the Honourable SIR WALTER RALEGH Knight 
 
 Lord. Warden of the stannaries in the duchies of 
 
 Corenwal and Oxford who therin hath bynne 
 
 fauored and auctorifed by her MAAIESTIE 
 
 and her letters patents 
 
 Translated out of Latin into English by 
 RICHAR.D HACKLVIT. 
 
 DILIGENTLTE COLLECTED AND DRAW- 
 
 ne by IHON WHITE who was sent thither speciallye and for the 
 
 same purpose by the said SIR WALTER RALEGH the 
 
 year abouesaid 1585. and also the year 1588. 
 
 now cutt in copper and first published 
 
 by THEODORE de BRY att his 
 
 owne chardges, 
 
THE TABLE 
 
 OF ALL THE PICTV- 
 
 RES CONTAINED IN 
 
 this Booke of Virginia. 
 
 I. The carte of all the coast of Virginia. 
 
 II. The arriuall of the Englishemen in Virginia. 
 
 III. A Weroan or great Lorde of Virginia. 
 Ill I. One of the chieff Ladyes of Secota. 
 
 V. One of the Religeous men in the towne of Secota. 
 
 VI. A younge gentill woeman doughter of Secota. 
 
 VII. A chieff Lorde of Roanoac. 
 
 VIII. A chieff Ladye of Pomeiooc. 
 
 IX. An aged manne in his winter garment. 
 
 X. Their manner of careynge ther Childern and 
 
 atyere of the chieffe Ladyes of the towne of 
 Dasamonquepeuc. 
 
 XI. The Coniuerer. 
 
 XII. Their manner of makinge their Boates. 
 
 XIII. Their manner of fishynge in Virginia. 
 XIIII. The browyllinge of their fishe ouer the flame. 
 
 D 
 
XV. Their seetheynge of their meate in earthen 
 
 pottes. 
 
 XVI. Their Sitting at meate. 
 
 XVII. Their manner of prayinge with their Rattels 
 
 abowt the fyer. 
 
 XVIII. Their danses whych they vse at their hyghe 
 
 feastes. 
 
 XIX. The towne of Pomeiooc. 
 
 XX. The towne of Secota. 
 
 XXI. Their Idol Kiwasa. 
 
 XXII. The Tombe of their Werowans or chieff Lordes. 
 
 XXIII. The marckes of sundrye of the chiefe mene of 
 
 Virginia. 
 
To the gentle Reader. 
 
 \ LTHOUGH (frendlye Reader) man by his disobedience, 
 weare depriued of those good Gifts wher with he was 
 indued in his creation, yet he was not berefte of wit to 
 prouyde for hym selfe, nor discretion to deuise things necessarie 
 for his vse, except suche as appartayne to his soules healthe, as 
 may be gathered by this sauage nations, of whome this present 
 worke intreateth. For although they haue noe true knoledge of 
 God nor of his holye worde and are destituted of all lerninge, 
 Yet they passe vs in many thinges, as in Sober feedinge and 
 Dexteritye of witte, in makinge without any instrument of mettall 
 thinges so neate and so fine, as a man would scarselye beleue the 
 same, Vnless the Englishemen Had made proofe Therof by their 
 trauailes into the contrye. Consideringe, Therfore that yt was a 
 thinge w 7 orthie of admiration, I was verye willinge to offer vnto 
 you the true Pictures of those people wich by the helpe of Maister 
 Richard Hakluyt of Oxford Minister of Gods Word, who first 
 Incouraged me to publish the Worke, I creaued out of the verye 
 original of Maister Ihon White an Englisch paynter who was 
 sent into the contrye by the queenes Maiestye, onlye to draw the 
 description of the place, lyuely to describe the shapes of the 
 Inhabitants their apparell, manners of Liuinge, and fashions, att 
 the speciall Charges of the worthy knighte, Sir WALTER 
 RALEGH, who bestowed noe Small Sume of monnye in the 
 serche and Discouerye of that countrye, From the yeere, 1584, to 
 the ende of The yeare 1588. Morouer this booke which intreateth 
 
 D 2 
 
52 To the gentle Reader. 
 
 of that parte of the new World which the Englishemen call by 
 the name of Virginia I heer sett out in the first place, beinge 
 therunto requested of my Frends, by Reason of the memorye of 
 the fresh and late performance therof, albeyt I haue in hand the 
 Historye of Florida wich should bee first sett foorthe because yt 
 was discouured by the Frencheman longe befor the discouerye of 
 Virginia, yet I hope shortlye also to publish the same, A Victorye, 
 doubtless so Rare, as I thinke the like hath not ben heard nor 
 seene. I craeued both of them at London, and brought Them 
 hither to Franckfurt, wher I and my sonnes hauen taken ernest 
 paynes in grauinge the pictures ther of in Copper, seeing yt is a 
 matter of noe small importance. Touchinge the stile of both the 
 Discourses, I haue caused yt to bee Reduced into verye Good 
 Frenche and Latin by the aide of verye worshipfull frend of 
 myne. Finallye I hartlye Request thee, that yf any seeke to 
 Contrefaict thes my bookx, (for in this dayes many are so 
 malicious that they seeke to gayne by other men labours) thow 
 wouldest giue noe credit vnto suche conterfaited Drawghte. For 
 dyuers secret marks lye hiddin in my pictures, which wil breede 
 Confusion vnless they bee well obserued. 
 

II. 
 
 The arriual of the Englifhemen 
 
 in Virginia. 
 
 THE sea coasts of Virginia arre full of Hands, wher by the 
 entrance into the mayne lad is hard to finde. For 
 although they bee separated with diuers and sundrie large 
 Diuision, which seeme to yeeld conuenient entrance, yet to our 
 great perill we proued that they wear shallowe, and full of 
 dangerous flatts, and could neuer perce opp into the mayne land, 
 vntill wee made trialls in many places with or small pinness. At 
 lengthe wee fownd an entrance vppon our mens diligent serche 
 therof. Affter that wee had passed opp, and sayled ther in for 
 a short space we discouered a mightye riuer fallinge downe in to 
 the sownde ouer against those Hands, which neuertheless wee 
 could not saile opp any thinge far by Reason of the shallewnes, 
 the mouth ther of beinge annoyed with sands driuen in with the 
 tyde therfore saylinge further, wee came vnto a Good bigg yland, 
 the Inhabitants therof as soone as they saw vs began to make a 
 great and horrible crye, as people which neuer befoer had seene 
 men apparelled like vs, and camme a way makinge out crys like 
 wild beasts or men out of their wyts. But beenge gentlye called 
 backe, wee offred them of our wares, as glasses, kniues, babies,"* and 
 other trifles, which wee thougt they deligted in. Soe they stood 
 still, and perceuinge our Good will and courtesie came fawninge 
 vppon vs, and bade us welcome. Then they brougt vs to their 
 village in the iland called, Roanoac, and vnto their Weroans or 
 Prince, which entertained vs with Reasonable curtesie, althoug they 
 wear amased at the first sight of vs. Suche was our arriuall into 
 the parte of the world, which we call Virginia, the stature of bodye 
 of wich people, theyr attire, and maneer of lyuinge, their feasts, 
 and banketts, I will particullerlye declare vnto yow. 
 
 * Babies or babes, /.<?. dolls. 
 
II. 
 
 The arriual of the Englifhemen 
 
 in Virginia. 
 
 THE sea coasts of Virginia arre full of Hands, wher by the 
 entrance into the mayne lad is hard to finde. For 
 although they bee separated with diuers and sundrie large 
 Diuision, which seeme to yeeld conuenient entrance, yet to our 
 great perill we proued that they wear shallowe, and full of 
 dangerous flatts, and could neuer perce opp into the mayne land, 
 vntill wee made trialls in many places with or small pinness. At 
 lengthe wee fownd an entrance vppon our mens diligent serche 
 therof. Affter that wee had passed opp, and sayled ther in for 
 a short space we discouered a mightye riuer fallinge downe in to 
 the sownde ouer against those Hands, which neuertheless wee 
 could not saile opp any thinge far by Reason of the shallewnes, 
 the mouth ther of beinge annoyed with sands driuen in with the 
 tyde therfore saylinge further, wee came vnto a Good bigg yland, 
 the Inhabitants therof as soone as they saw vs began to make a 
 great and horrible crye, as people which neuer befoer had seene 
 men apparelled like vs, and camme a way makinge out crys like 
 wild beasts or men out of their wyts. But beenge gentlye called 
 backe,wee offred them of our wares, as glasses, kniues, babies,* and 
 other trifles, which wee thougt they deligted in. Soe they stood 
 still, and perceuinge our Good will and courtesie came fawninge 
 vppon vs, and bade us welcome. Then they brougt vs to their 
 village in the iland called, Roanoac, and vnto their Weroans or 
 Prince, which entertained vs with Reasonable curtesie, althoug they 
 wear amased at the first sight of vs. Suche was our arriuall into 
 the parte of the world, which we call Virginia, the stature of bodye 
 of wich people, theyr attire, and maneer of lyuinge, their feasts, 
 and banketts, I will particullerlye declare vnto yow. 
 
 Babies or babes, i.e. dolls. 
 
cj 
 
 a 
 
 1 
 
 I-J 
 
 2 
 
 <U 
 
Ill 
 
 A weroan or great Lorde of Virginia. 
 
 THE Princes of Virginia are attyred in suche manner as is 
 expressed in this figure. They weare the haire of their 
 heades long and bynde opp the ende of the same in a knot 
 vnder their eares. Yet they cutt the topp of their heades from the 
 forehead to the nape of the necke in manner of a cokscombe, 
 stickinge a faier longe fether of some herd att theBegininge of the 
 creste vppon their foreheads, and another short one on bothe seides 
 about their eares. They hange at their eares ether thicke pearles, 
 or somwhat els, as the clawe of some great birde, as cometh in to 
 their fansye. Moreouer They ether pownes, or paynt their fore 
 head, cheeks, chynne, bodye, armes, and leggs, yet in another sorte 
 then the inhabitants of Florida. They weare a chaine about their 
 necks of pearles or beades of copper, wich they muche esteeme, 
 and ther of wear they also braselets on their armes. Vnder their 
 brests about their bellyes appeir certayne spotts, whear they vse 
 to lett them selues bloode, when they are sicke. They hange 
 before them the skinne of some beaste verye feinelye dresset in 
 suche sorte, that the tayle hangeth downe behynde. They carye a 
 quiuer made of small rushes holding their bowe readie bent in one 
 hand, and an arrowe in the other, redie to defend themselues. 
 In this manner they goe to warr, or to their solemne feasts and 
 banquetts. They take muche pleasure in huntinge of deer wher 
 of ther is great store in the contrye, for yt is fruitfull, pleasant, 
 and full of Goodly woods. Yt hathe also store of riuers full of 
 diuers sorts of fishe. When they go to battel they paynt their 
 bodyes in the most terible manner that thei can deuise. 
 
o 
 
nil. 
 
 One of the chieff Ladyes of Secota. 
 
 ^ 1 ""HE woemen of Secotam are of Reasonable good proportion. 
 In their goinge they carrye their hands danglinge downe, 
 and air dadil in a deer skinne verye excelletlye wel dressed, 
 hanginge downe fro their nauell vnto the mydds of their thighes, 
 which also couereth their hynder parts. The reste of their bodies 
 are all bare. The forr parte of their haire is cutt shorte, the rest 
 is not ouer Longe, thinne, and softe, and falling downe about 
 their shoulders : They weare a Wreath about their heads. Their 
 foreheads, cheeks, chynne, armes and leggs are pownced. About 
 their necks they wear a chaine, ether pricked or paynted. They 
 haue small eyes, plaine and flatt noses, narrow foreheads, and 
 broade mowths. For the most parte they hange at their eares 
 chaynes of longe Pearles, and of some smootht bones. Yet their 
 nayles are not longe, as the woemen of Florida. They are also 
 delighted with walkinge in to the fields, and beside the riuers, to 
 see the huntinge of deers and catchinge of fische. 
 
4ir . ? 
 
V. 
 
 One of the Religeous men in the 
 
 towne of Secota. 
 
 THE Priests of the aforesaid Towne of Secota are well stricken 
 in yeers, and as yt seemeth of more experience then the 
 comon sorte. They weare their heare cutt like a creste, 
 on the topps of thier heades as other doe, but the rest are cutt 
 shorte, sauinge those which growe aboue their foreheads in manner 
 of a perriwigge. They also haue somwhat hanginge in their ears. 
 They weare a shorte clocke made of fine hares skinnes quilted with 
 the hayre outwarde. The rest of their bodie is naked. They are 
 notable enchaunters, and for their pleasure they frequent the 
 riuers, to kill with their bowes, and catche wilde ducks, swannes, 
 and other fowles. 
 
H 
 
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VI. 
 
 A younge gentill woeman doughter 
 
 of Secota. 
 
 VIRGINS of good parentage are apparelled altogether like 
 the woemen of Secota aboue mentionned, sailing that they 
 weare hanginge abowt their necks in steede of a chaine 
 certaine thicke, and rownde pearles, with little beades of copper, 
 or polished bones betweene them. They pounce their foreheads, 
 cheeckes, armes and legs. Their haire is cutt with two ridges 
 aboue their foreheads, the rest is trussed opp on a knott behinde, 
 they haue broade mowthes, reasonable fair black eyes : they lay 
 their hands often vppon their Shoulders, and couer their brests in 
 token of maydenlike modestye. The rest of their bodyes are 
 naked, as in the picture is to bee seene. They deligt also in 
 seeinge fishe taken in the riuers. 
 
G 
 
 8 
 
 O 
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 -6 
 
VII. 
 A cheiff Lorde of Roanoac. 
 
 HE cheefe men of the yland and towne of Roanoac weare the 
 haire of their crounes of theyr heades cutt like a cokes 
 combe, as the others doe. The rest they wear longe as 
 woemen and truss them opp in a knott in the nape of their necks. 
 They hange pearles stringe vppon a threed att their eares, and 
 weare bracelets on their armes of pearles, or small beades of copper 
 or of smoothe bone called minsal, nether paintinge nor powncinge 
 of them selues, but in token of authoritye, and honor, they wear a 
 chaine of great pearles, or copper beades or smoothe bones abowt 
 their necks, and a plate of copper hinge vppon a stringe, from the 
 nauel vnto the midds of their thighes. They couer themselues 
 before and behynde as the woemen doe with a deers skynne hand- 
 somley dressed, and fringed. More ouer they fold their armes 
 together as they walke, or as they talke one with another in signe 
 of wisdome. The yle of Roanoac is verye pleisant, and hath 
 plaintie of fishe by reason of the Water that enuironeth the 
 same. 
 
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VIII. 
 
 A cheiff Ladye of Pomeiooc. 
 
 ABOUT 20. milles from that Hand, neere the lake of 
 Paquippe, ther is another towne called Pomeioock hard 
 by the sea. The apparell of the cheefe ladyes of that 
 towne differeth but litle from the attyre of those which lyue in 
 Roanoac. For they weare their haire trussed opp in a knott, as 
 the maiden doe which we spake of before, and haue their skinnes 
 pownced in the same manner, yet they wear a chaine of great 
 pearles, or beades of copper, or smoothe bones 5. or 6. fold about 
 their necks, bearinge one arme in the same, in the other hand 
 they carye a gourde full of some kinde of pleasant liquor. They 
 tye deers skinne doubled about them crochinge hygher about 
 their breasts, which hange downe before almost to their knees, 
 and are almost altogither naked behinde. Commonlye their 
 yonge daugters of 7. or 8. yeares olde do wait vpon them 
 wearinge abowt them a girdle of skinne, which hangeth 
 downe behinde, and is drawen vnder neath betwene their thighes, 
 and bownde aboue their nauel with mosse of trees betwene that 
 and their skinnes to couer their priuities withall. After they be 
 once past 10. yeares of age, they wear deer skinnes as the older 
 sorte do. They are greatlye Diligted with puppetts, and babes 
 which wear brought oute of England. 
 
o 
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IX. 
 
 An aged manne in his winter garment. 
 
 r T ^HE aged men of Pommeioocke are couered with a large 
 skinne which is tyed vppon their shoulders on one side and 
 hangeth downe beneath their knees wearinge their other 
 arme naked out of the skinne, that they maye bee at more libertie. 
 Those skynnes are Dressed with the hair on, and lyned with other 
 furred skinnes. The yonnge men suffer noe hairr at all to growe 
 vppon their faces but assoone as they growe they put them away, 
 but when they are come to yeeres they suffer them to growe 
 although to say truthe they come opp very thinne. They also 
 weare their haire bownde op behynde, and, haue a creste on their 
 heads like the others. The contrye abowt this plase is soe fruit 
 full and good, that England is not to bee compared to yt. 
 
 E 2 
 
X. 
 
 Their manner of careynge ther Childern 
 
 and atyere of the cheiffe Ladyes of the 
 towne of Dafamonquepeuc. 
 
 IN the towne of Dasemonquepeuc distant from Roanoac 4. or 
 5. milles, the woemen are attired, and pownced, in suche 
 sorte as the woemen of Roanoac are, yet they weare noe 
 wreathes vppon their heads, nether haue they their thighes 
 painted with small pricks. They haue a strange manner of 
 bearing their children, and quite contrarie to ours. For our 
 woemen carrie their children in their armes before their brests, 
 but they taking their sonne by the right hand, bear him on their 
 backs, holdinge the left thighe in their lefte arme after a strange, 
 and conuesnall* fashion, as in the picture is to bee scene. 
 
 * Probably a typographical error for " vnuseuall." 
 
r -, 
 
 X 
 
 
 
 D 
 
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 G 
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 O 
 
XI. 
 
 The Coniuerer. 
 
 THEY haue comonlye coniurers or iuglers which vse strange 
 gestures, and often contrarie to nature in their enchant 
 ments: For they be verye familiar with deuils, of whome 
 they enquier what their enemys doe, or other suche thinges. They 
 shaue all their heads sauinge their creste which they weare as 
 other doe, and fasten a small black birde aboue one of their ears 
 as a badge of their office. They weare nothinge but a skinne which 
 hangeth downe from their gyrdle, and couereth their priuityes. 
 They weare a bagg by their side as is expressed in the figure. The 
 Inhabitants giue great credit vnto their speeche, which oftentymes 
 they finde to bee true. 
 
XII. 
 
 The manner of makinge their boates. 
 
 THE manner of makinge their boates in Virginia is verye 
 wonderfull. For wheras they want Instruments of yron, 
 or other like vnto ours, yet they knowe howe to make them 
 as handsomelye, to saile with whear they liste in their Riuers, and 
 to fishe withall, as ours. First they choose some longe, and 
 thicke tree, accordinge to the bignes of the boate which they would 
 frame, and make a fyre on the grownd abowt the Roote therof, 
 kindlinge the same by little, and little with drie mosse of trees, 
 and chipps *of woode that the flame should not mounte opp to 
 highe, and burne to muche of the lengte of the tree. When yt is 
 almost burnt thorough, and readye to fall they make a new fyre, 
 which they suffer to burne vntill the tree fall of yts owne accord. 
 Then burninge of the topp, and bowghs of the tree in suche wyse 
 that the bodie of the same may Retayne his iust lengthe, they raise 
 yt vppon potes laid ouer cross wise vppon forked posts, at suche 
 a reasonable heighte as they may handsomlye worke vppon yt. 
 Then take they of the barke with certayne shells : they reserue the 
 innermost parte of the lennke,* for the nethermost parte of the 
 boate. On the other side they make a fyre accordinge to the 
 lengthe of the bodye of the tree, sauinge at both the endes. That 
 which they thinke is sufncientlye burned they quenche and scrape 
 away with shells, and makinge a new fyre they burne yt agayne, 
 and soe they cqntinne sointymes burninge and sometymes scrap- 
 inge, vntill the boate haue sufficient bothowmes. Thus God 
 indueth thise sauage people with sufficient reason to make 
 thinges necessarie to serue their turnes. 
 
 * Probably a typographical error for " barke." 
 
XIII 
 
 Their manner of fishynge in 
 
 Virgin! 
 
XIII. 
 
 Their manner of fishynge in Virginia. 
 
 THEY haue likewise a notable way to catche fishe in their 
 Riuers, for whear as they lacke both yron, and steele, they 
 fasten vnto their Reedes or longeRodds, the hollowe tayle of 
 a certaine fishe like to a sea crabb in steede of a poynte, wherwith 
 by nighte or day they stricke fishes, and take them opp into their 
 boates. They also know how to vse the prickles, and pricks of 
 other fishes. They also make weares, with settinge opp reedes 
 or twigges in the water, which they soe plant one with another, 
 that they growe still narrower, and narrower, as appeareth by 
 this figure. Ther was neuer seene amonge vs soe cunninge a 
 way to take fish withall, wherof sondrie sortes as they fownde in 
 their Riuers vnlike vnto ours, which are also of a verye good 
 taste. Dowbtless yt is a pleasant sighte to see the people, 
 somtymes wadinge, and goinge somtymes sailinge in those 
 Riuers, which are shallowe and not deepe, free from all care of 
 heapinge opp Riches for their posterite, content with their state, 
 and liuinge frendlye together of those thinges which god of his 
 bountye hath giuen vnto them, yet without giuinge hym any 
 thankes according to his desarte. 
 
 So sauage is this people, and depriued of the true knowledge 
 of god. For they haue none other then is mentionned before in 
 this worke. 
 
<u 
 
 s 
 
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 H 
 
XIIIL 
 
 The brovvyllinge of their fifhe ouer 
 
 the flame. 
 
 AFTER they haue taken store of fishe, they gett them vnto a 
 place fitt to dress yt. Ther they sticke vpp in the grownde 
 4. stakes in a square roome, and lay 4 potes vppon them, 
 and others ouer thwart the same like vnto an hurdle, of sufficient 
 heigthe, and layinge their fishe vppon this hurdle, they make a 
 fyre vnderneathe to broile the same, not after the manner of the 
 people of Florida, which doe but schorte,* and harden their meate 
 in the smoke onlye to Reserue the same duringe all the winter. 
 For this people reseruinge nothinge for store, thei do broile, and 
 spend away all att once and when they haue further neede, they 
 roste or seethe fresh, as wee shall see heraffter. And when as the 
 hurdle can not holde all the fishes, they hange the Rest by the 
 fyrres on sticks sett vpp in the grounde a gainst the fyre, and than 
 they finishe the rest of their cookerye. They take good heede that 
 they bee not burntt. When the first are broyled they lay others 
 on, that weare newlye broughte, continuinge the dressinge of their 
 meate in this sorte, vntill they thincke they haue sufficient. 
 
 *Scorche? 
 
XV. 
 
 Their feetheynge of their meate in 
 
 earthen pottes. 
 
 THEIR woemen know how to make earthen vessells with 
 special Cunninge and that so large and fine, that our 
 potters with Ihoye* wheles can make noe better : ant then 
 Remoue them from place to place as easelye as we can doe our 
 brassen kettles. After they haue set them vppon an heape of 
 erthe to stay them from fallinge, they putt wood vnder which 
 being kyndled one of them taketh great care that the fyre burne 
 equallye Rounde abowt. They or their woemen fill the vessel with 
 water, and then putt they in fruite, flesh, and fish, and lett all 
 boyle together like a galliemaufrye, which the Spaniarde call, olla 
 podrida. Then they putte yt out into disches, and sett before the 
 companye, and then they make good cheere together. Yet are 
 they moderate in their eatinge wherby they auoide sicknes. I 
 would to god wee would followe their exemple. For wee should 
 bee free from many kyndes of diseasyes which wee fall into by 
 sumptwous and vnseasonable banketts, continuallye deuisinge 
 new sawces, and prouocation of gluttonnye to satisfie our vnsatiable 
 appetite. 
 
 theyr ? 
 
> 
 
 X 
 
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 a 
 
 J 
 
 H 
 
XVI. 
 
 Their fitting at meate. 
 
 r ~T^HEIR manner of feeding is in this wise. They lay a matt 
 
 made of bents one the grownde and sett their meate on 
 
 the mids therof, and then sit downe Rownde, the men 
 
 vppon one side, and the woemen on the other. Their meate is 
 
 Mayz sodden, in suche sorte as I described yt in the former treatise 
 
 of verye good taste, deers flesche, or of some other beaste, and 
 
 fishe. They are verye sober in their eatinge, and drinkinge, and 
 
 consequentlye verye longe liued because they doe not oppress 
 
 nature. 
 
TI - 
 
 1 neirmanner of prainge with Rat 
 
 telsabowttcfycr. 
 
XVII. 
 
 Their manner of prainge with Rattels 
 
 abowt the fyer. 
 
 VVHEN they haue escaped any great danger by sea or lande, 
 or be returned from the warr in token of loye they make 
 a great fyer abowt which the men, and woemen sitt 
 together, holdinge a certaine fruite in their hands like vnto a rownde 
 pompion or a gourde, which after they haue taken out the fruits, 
 and the seedes, then fill with small stons or certayne bigg kernells 
 to make the more noise, and fasten that vppon a sticke, and 
 singinge after their manner, they make merrie : as my selfe 
 obserued and noted downe at my beinge amonge them. For it 
 is a strange custome, and worth the obseruation. 
 
 F 2 
 
XVIII. 
 Theirdanies whick 
 
 they vfeatt their hjghefeaftes. 
 
XVIII. 
 
 Their danfes which they vfe att their 
 
 hyghe feaftes. 
 
 AT a Certayne tyme of the yere they make a great, and 
 solemne feaste wherunto their neighbours of the townes 
 adioininge repayre from all parts, euery man attyred in 
 the most strange fashion they can deuise hauinge certayne marks 
 on the backs to declare of what place they bee. The place where 
 they meet is a broade playne, abowt the which are planted in the 
 grownde certayne posts carued with heads like to the faces of 
 Nonnes couered with theyr vayles. Then beeing sett in order 
 they dance, singe, and vse the strangest gestures that they can 
 possiblye deuise. Three of the fayrest Virgins, of the companie 
 are in the mydds, which imbrassinge one another doe as yt wear 
 turne abowt in their dancinge. All this is donne after the sunne 
 is sett for auoydinge of heate. When they are weerye of danc 
 inge. they goe oute of the circle, and come in vntill their dances 
 be ended, and they goe to make merrye as is expressed in the 
 16. figure. 
 
XIX 
 
 The Towne of Potneiooc. 
 
XIX. 
 
 The Tovvne of Pomeiooc. 
 
 THE townes of this contrie are in a maner like vnto those 
 which are in Florida, yet are they not soe stronge nor yet 
 presented with soe great care. They are compassed abowt 
 with poles starcke faste in the grownd, but they are not verye 
 stronge. The entrance is verye narrowe as may be seene by this 
 picture, which is made accordinge to the forme of the towne of 
 Pomeiooc. Ther are but few howses therin, saue those which 
 belonge to the kinge and his nobles. On the one side is their 
 tempel separated from the other howses, and marked with the 
 letter A. yt is builded rownde, and couered with skynne matts, and 
 as yt wear compassed abowt with cortynes without windowes, 
 and hath noe lighte but by the doore. On the other side is the 
 kings lodginge marked with the letter B. Their dwellinges are 
 builded with certaine potes fastened together, and couered with 
 matts which they turne op as high as they thinke good, and soe 
 receue in the lighte and other. Some are also couered with 
 boughes of trees, as euery man lusteth or liketh best. They keepe 
 their feasts and make good cheer together in the midds of the 
 towne as yt is described in the 17. Figure. When the towne 
 standeth fare from the water they digg a great ponde rioted with 
 the letter C wherhence they fetche as muche water as they neede. 
 
XX. 
 The Towne of Secota. 
 
XX. 
 
 The Tovvne of Secota. 
 
 HEIR townes that are not inclosed with poles are commonlye 
 fayrer then suche as are inclosed, as appereth in this 
 figure which liuelye expresseth the towne of Secotam. 
 For the howses are Scattered heer and ther, and they haue gardein 
 expressed by the letter E. wherin groweth Tobacco which the 
 inhabitants call Vppowoc. They haue also groaues wherin thei 
 take deer, and fields wherin they sowe their corne. In their corne 
 fields they builde as yt weare a scaffolde wher on they sett a 
 cottage like to a rownde chaire, signified by F. wherin they place 
 one to watche, for there are suche nomber of fowles, and beasts, 
 that vnless they keepe the better watche, they would soone 
 deuoure all their corne. For which cause the watcheman maketh 
 continual cryes and noyse. They sowe their corne with a certaine 
 distance noted by H. other wise one stalke would choke the growthe 
 of another and the corne would not come vnto his rypenes G. 
 For the leaves therof are large, like vnto the leaues of great reedes. 
 They haue also a seuerall broade plotte C. whear they meete with 
 their neighbours, to celebrate their cheefe solemne feastes as the 
 18. picture doth declare : and a place D. whear after they haue 
 ended their feaste they make merrie togither. Ouer against this 
 place they haue a rownd plott B. wher they assemble themselues 
 to make their solemne prayers. Not far from which place ther is 
 a lardge buildinge A. wherin are the tombes of their kings and 
 princes, as will appere by the 22. figure likewise they haue garden 
 netted bey the letter I. wherin they vse to sowe pompions. Also 
 a place marked with K. wherin the make a fyre att their solemne 
 feasts, and hard without the towne a riuer L. from whence they 
 fetche their water. This people therfore voyde of all couetousnes 
 lyue cherfullye and att their harts ease. Butt they solemnise their 
 feasts in the night, and therfore they keepe verye great fyres to 
 auoyde darkenes, and to testifie their loye. 
 
X 
 X 
 
 J 
 
 H 
 
XXL 
 
 Ther Idol Kivvafa. 
 
 THE people of this cuntrie haue an Idol, which they call 
 KIWASA : yt is carued of woode in lengthe 4. foote whose 
 heade is like the heades of the people of Florida, the face 
 is of a flesh colour, the brest white, the rest is all blacke, the 
 thighes are also spottet with whitte. He hath a chayne abowt 
 his necke of white beades, betweene which are other Rownde 
 beades of copper which they esteeme more then golde or siluer. 
 This Idol is placed in the temple of the towne of Secotam, as the 
 keper of the kings dead corpses. Somtyme they haue two of 
 thes idoles in theyr churches, and somtine 3. but neuer aboue, 
 which they place in a darke corner wher they shew terrible. 
 Thes poore soules haue none other knowledge of god although 
 I thinke them verye Desirous to know the truthe. For when as 
 wee kneeled downe on our knees to make our prayers vnto god, 
 they went abowt to imitate vs, and when they saw we moued 
 our lipps, they also dyd the like. Wherfore that is verye like 
 that they might easelye be brougt to the knowledge of the gospel. 
 God of his mercie grant them this grace. 
 
Tlie Tombe of their Werowans 
 
 orCheiffLoTdes. XXII. 
 
XXII. 
 
 The Tombe of their Werovvans or 
 
 Cheiff Lordes. 
 
 THEY builde a Scaffolde 9. or 10. foote highe as is expressed 
 in this figure vnder the tombs of their Weroans, or cheefe 
 lordes which they couer with matts, and lai the dead 
 corpses of their weroans theruppon in manner followinge. first 
 the bowells are taken forthe. Then layinge downe the skinne, 
 they cutt all the flesh cleane from the bones, which they drye in 
 the sonne, and well dryed they inclose in Matts, and place at their 
 feete. Then their bones (remaininge still fastened together with 
 the ligaments whole and vncorrupted) are couered agayne with 
 leather, and their carcase fashioned as yf their flesh wear not 
 taken away. They lapp eache corps in his owne skinne after the 
 same is thus handled, and lay yt in his order by the corpses 
 of the other cheef lordes. By the dead bodies they sett their 
 Idol Kiwasa, wherof we spake in the former chapiter : For they 
 are persuaded that the same doth kepe the dead bodyes of their 
 cheefe lordes that nothinge may hurt them. Moreouer vnder the 
 foresaid scaffolde some one of their preists hath his lodginge, 
 which Mumbleth his prayers nighte and day, and hath charge of 
 the corpses. For his bedd he hath two deares skinnes spredd on 
 the grownde, yf the wether bee cold hee maketh a fyre to warme 
 by withall. Thes poore soules are thus instructed by nature to 
 reuerence their princes euen after their death. 
 
XXIII. 
 
 The Marckes of fundrye of the Cheif mene 
 
 of Virginia. 
 
 THE inhabitants of all the cuntrie for the most parte haue 
 marks rased on their backs, wherby yt may be knowen 
 what Princes subiects they bee, or of what place they haue 
 their originall. For which cause we haue set downe those marks 
 in this figure, and haue annexed the names of the places, that they 
 might more easelye be discerned. Which industrie hath god 
 indued them withal although they be verye simple, and rude. And 
 to confesse a truthe, I cannot remember that euer I saw a better 
 or quietter people then they. 
 
 The marks which I obserued amonge them, are heere put 
 downe in order folowinge. 
 
 The marke which is expressed by A. belongeth to Wingino, 
 the cheefe lorde of Roanoac. 
 
 That which hath B. is the marke of Wingino his sisters 
 husbande. 
 
 Those which be noted with the letters, of C. and D. belonge 
 vnto diverse chefe lordes in Secotam. 
 
 Those which haue the letters E. F. G. are certaine cheefe men 
 of Pomeiooc, and Aquascogoc. 
 
SOM PICTVRES 
 
 OF THE PICTES 
 
 WHICH IN THE OLDE 
 
 tyme dyd habite one part of the 
 great Bretainne. 
 
 THE PAINTER OF WHOM J HAVE 
 
 had the frst of the Inhabitants of Virginia, gave me allso thees 
 
 5. Figures following, fownd as he did assure me in a oolld English 
 
 cronicle, the which I wold well sett to the ende of 
 
 thees first Figures, for to showe how that the 
 
 Inhabitants of the great Bretannie haue 
 
 bin in times past as sauuage as 
 
 those of Virginia. 
 
 G 
 
The trwe pidure of one 
 Pia e I. 
 
 
The trvve picture of one 
 
 Picte I. 
 
 IN tymes past the Pictes, habitans of one part of great Bretainne, 
 which is nowe nammed England, wear sauuages, and did 
 paint all their bodye after the maner followinge. They did lett 
 their haire growe as fare as their Shoulders, sauinge those which 
 hange vppon their forehead, the which they did cutt. They shaue 
 all their berde except the mustaches, vppon their breast wear 
 painted the head of som birde, and about the pappes as yt weare 
 beames of the sune, vppon the bellye sum feerefull and monstrous 
 face, spreedinge the beames verye fare vppon the thighes. Vppon 
 the two knees som faces of lion, and vppon their leggs as yt had 
 been shelles of fish. Vppon their Shoulders griffones heades, and 
 then they had serpents abowt their armes : They caried abowt 
 their necks one ayerne ringe, and another abowt the midds of their 
 bodye, abowt the bellye, and the saids* hange on a chaine a cime- 
 terre or turkie soorde, they did carye in one arme a target made of 
 wode, and in the other hande a picke, of which the ayerne was 
 after the manner of a Lick, with tassels on, and the other ende 
 with a Rounde boule. And when they had ouercomme some of 
 their ennemis, they did neuer felle to carye awey their heads with 
 them. 
 
 * "And the saids " probably a typographical error for "at the side." 
 few lines lower down, " picke " and " lick " are apparently pike and lance. 
 
 G 2 
 
T B 
 
 TKe trwe idture of a women 
 
 
 IL 
 
The trvve picture of a women 
 Picte II. 
 
 I^HE woemen of the pictes aboue said wear noe worser for 
 the wanes then the men. Arid wear paynted after the 
 manner followinge, hauinge their heads bear, did lett 
 their hairre flyinge abowt . their Showlders wear painted with 
 griffon heades, the lowe parts and thighes with lion faces, or 
 some other beaste as yt commeth best into their fansye, their 
 brest hath a maner of a half moone, with a great starre, and fowre 
 lesser in booth the sides, their pappes painted in maner of beames 
 of the sonne, and among all this a great litteninge starre vppon 
 their brests. The saids of som pointes or beames, and the 
 hoolle bellye as a sonne, the armes, thighes, and leggs well 
 painted, of diuerses Figures : They dyd also carye abowt theyr 
 necks an ayern Ringe, as the men did, and suche a girdle with 
 the soorde hainginge, hauinge a Picke or a lance in one hande, 
 and twoe dardz in the other. 
 
The trwe pidure of a yonge 
 
 dowgterof thePi&es III 
 
 
 
 ~ , * * 
 
The trvve picture of a yonge dowgter of the 
 
 Pictes III. 
 
 THE yong dougters of the pictes, did also lett their haire 
 flyinge, and wear also painted ouer all the body, so much 
 that noe men could not faynde any different, yf they had 
 not vse of another fashion of paintinge, for they did paint them- 
 selues of sondrye kinds of flours, and of the fairest that they 
 cowld feynde. being fournished for the rest of such kinds of 
 weappon as the woemen wear as you may see by this present 
 picture a thinge trewlly worthie of admiration. 
 
The trvve pidure of a man of na 
 
 tion neigbour vnto the Pi6be 1 1 1 1. 
 
The trvve picture of a man of nation 
 
 neigbour vnto the Picte IIII. 
 
 ^ I "HER WAS in the said great Bretainne yet another nation 
 
 nigbour vnto the Pictes, which did apparell them selfues 
 
 with a kind of cassake other cloath lerkin, the rest of the 
 
 bodye wear naked. They did also wear longe heares, and their 
 
 moustaches, butt the chin wear also shaued as the other before. 
 
 They dyd were alardge girdle abowt them, in which hange a croket 
 
 foorde, with the target, and did carye the picke or the lance in 
 
 their hande, which hath at the lowe end a rownde bowlle, as you 
 
 may see by this picture. 
 
The trwe picture of a women 
 
 nigbour of tte Ft ctes V. 
 
The trvve picture of a women 
 
 nigbour of the Pictes V. 
 
 R woemen wear apparelled after this manner, butt that 
 their apparell was opne before the brest, and did fastene 
 with a little lesse, as our woemen doe fasten their peticott. 
 They lett hange their brests outt, as for the rest they dyd carye 
 suche weappens as the men did, and wear as good as the men for 
 the warre. 
 
A TABLE 
 
 OF THE PRINCI 
 
 PALL THINGES THAT 
 
 are contained in this Hiftorie, 
 
 after the order of the 
 
 Alphabet. 
 
 Allum 
 Applecrabs 
 Ashe 
 Ascopo 
 
 Beares 
 Beech 
 
 Cedar 
 Chestnuts 
 Ciuet Cattes 
 Conies 
 Coscuhaw 
 
 B. 
 
 28 
 
 34 
 34 
 
 30 
 34 
 
 34 
 
 27 
 
 30 
 
 27 
 
 Copper 
 Cranes 
 Creuises 
 
 D, 
 
 Deare 
 
 Deare skinnes 
 
 Dyes of diuers kindes 
 
 E. 
 Elme 
 
 F. 
 
 Faulcons 
 
 Flaxe and Hempe 
 Firre trees 
 Furres 
 
 30 
 32 
 
 29 
 *7 
 19 
 
 34 
 
 14 
 34 
 16 
 
I IO 
 
 Geese 
 Grappes 
 
 G. 
 
 H. 
 
 30 
 
 28 
 
 Habascon 
 
 How theybwild their houses 36 
 
 Haukes 
 
 Hernes 
 
 Herrings 
 
 Holly 
 
 Hurleberies 
 
 I. 
 
 Iron 
 
 K. 
 
 Kaishucpenauk 
 
 Kewasowok 
 
 Kewas 
 
 Leekes 
 Lions 
 
 M. 
 
 Macocqwer 
 
 Mangummenauk 
 
 Maple 
 
 Maqwowoc 
 
 Marlin 
 
 Machicomuck 
 
 Medlars 
 
 Melden 
 
 Metaquesunnauk 
 
 Mulberies 
 
 Mullets 
 
 Muscles 
 
 N. 
 Nature of the Virginiens 35 
 
 O. 
 
 27 
 
 Oade 
 
 19 
 
 36 
 
 Of beastes 
 
 29 
 
 3 1 
 
 Of foule 
 
 30 
 
 30 
 
 Of fruites 
 
 27 
 
 
 Of the Vengeance 
 
 43 
 
 34 
 
 Okindgier 
 
 22 
 
 28 
 
 Oldwiues 
 
 31 
 
 
 Oyle 
 
 16 
 
 
 Openauk 
 
 26 
 
 i7 
 
 Orepenauk 
 
 26 
 
 
 Oystres 
 
 3i 
 
 26 
 
 P. 
 
 
 38 
 
 
 
 36 
 
 Pagatowr 
 
 21 
 
 
 Parats 
 
 31 
 
 
 Partridges 
 
 30 
 
 27 
 
 Pearle 
 
 18 
 
 30 
 
 Periwinckles 
 
 32 
 
 
 Pitch 
 
 15 
 
 
 Plaice 
 
 31 
 
 22 
 
 Planta Solis 
 
 24 
 
 29 
 
 Popogusso 
 
 38 
 
 34 
 
 Porpoises 
 
 3 1 
 
 30 
 
 
 
 38 
 
 R. 
 
 
 28 
 
 Rayes 
 
 3 1 
 
 24 
 
 Rakiock 
 
 34 
 
 28 
 
 Rafe Lane 
 
 46 
 
 28 
 
 Richard Greinuile 
 
 9, 46 
 
 3 I 
 
 Roanoack 
 
 15 
 
 32 
 
 Rozen 
 
 15 
 
II I 
 
 s. 
 
 Sacquenummener 28 
 Sagatamenerandallhis kinds 29 
 
 Sapummener 29 
 
 Saquenuckot 30 
 
 Sassafras 15 
 
 Sassafras trees 34 
 
 Scalopes 32 
 
 Seekanauck 32 
 
 Sea crabbes 31 
 Silke of grasse or grasse Silke 13 
 
 Squirels 30 
 
 Stockdoues 30 
 
 Straberies 28 
 
 Sturgeons 31 
 
 Suger Cannes 19 
 
 Swannes 30 
 
 Sweete gummes 18 
 
 Stones 35 
 
 T. 
 
 Tarre 15 
 Their manner of fishinge 31 
 
 Their manner of makinge 
 
 boates 
 
 The soyle better 
 The strange oppinion 
 
 haue of englishemen 
 The climat of Virginia 
 Their Relligion 
 Tsinaw 
 
 they 
 
 34 
 
 44 
 
 r 
 
 41 
 44 
 37 
 26 
 
 Troutes 
 Tortoyses 
 Turpentine 
 Turkic cockes 
 Turkic hennes 
 
 32 
 15 
 30 
 30 
 
 V. 
 
 Virginiens willinge to make 
 themselues Christiens 37 
 
 Virginiens doe estime the 
 
 things of Europe 39 
 
 Vnknowne sicknes 41 
 
 Vppowoc 25 
 
 W. 
 
 Walnuts 27 
 
 Walnut trees 33 
 
 Wapeih 15 
 
 Wasewowr 19 
 Weapons of the Virginiens 36 
 
 Wich hazle 36 
 
 Wickenzowr 22 
 
 Wilde peaze 29 
 
 Willowes 34 
 
 W 7 inauck 15 
 
 Wine 16 
 
 Wiroans Wingina 40 
 
 Wiroances 39 
 
 Wolues 30 
 
 Worme Silke 14 
 
 FINIS. 
 
AT FRANCKFORT, 
 INPRINTED BY IHON WE 
 
 chel, at Theodore de Bry, owne 
 coaft and chardges. 
 
 M D X C. 
 
NARRATIVE 
 
 OF THE FIRST 
 
 ENGLISH PLANTATION 
 
 OF 
 
 VIRGINIA 
 
 BY THOMAS HARIOT 
 
 First printed at London in 1588 
 
 now reproduced after De Bry s illustrated edition 
 
 printed at Frankfort in 1590 
 
 the illustrations having 
 
 been designed in Virginia in 1585 
 
 by 
 
 JOHN WHITE 
 
 London 
 BERNARD QUARITCH, 15 Piccadilly, W. 
 
 MDCCCXCIII. 
 
%on&on : 
 
 <B. IPlorman ant> Son, printers, Ibart Street, 
 (tovcnt (Bar&cn. 
 
Preface. 
 
 |HE history of the first English settlement in the 
 United States, and of its failure, is well known. 
 But the text of the actual narrative from which 
 all the writers upon the subject have, either directly 
 or at second-hand, derived their facts, is not familiar 
 to any save professed students. It is rare in any form, and the 
 present reproduction will serve a useful purpose in making known to 
 thousands who would otherwise never have a chance of learning it, 
 the story as told by a prominent man among the original colonists. 
 When it entered into the ingenious and adventurous head of 
 Sir Walter Ralegh to seek for lands in the New World lying 
 sufficiently northward of the Spanish possessions to render a 
 settlement feasible and legitimate, sufficiently southward of 
 Cabot s British explorations on the Labrador coast to be useful 
 and profitable, Queen Elizabeth granted him a patent, in virtue 
 of which he sent out two barques on a preliminary expedition in 
 1584, in which possession was formally taken of the island of 
 Wokokan, off the coast of Florida. The second and more 
 substantial expedition to the same regions was made in 1585. 
 Sir Richard Grenville, acting as General in the name of Ralegh, 
 started from Plymouth on April gth in that year, in the command 
 of seven ships, manned with soldiers, sailors, and a number of 
 adventurous Englishmen who were to make their homes in 
 Virginia a name bestowed on the country north of Florida in 
 
 A 2 
 
iv Preface, 
 
 honour of the Virgin Queen of England. Their course was not 
 directly to the shore they aimed at ; it bore them first to Puerto 
 Rico, and then to Hispaniola, in which Spanish settlements the 
 English ships succeeded in obtaining stores, although their 
 welcome from King Philip s officers and colonists was naturally 
 not too cordial. Thence making their way northwards, they 
 reached the island of Roanoke and founded a settlement. 
 Grenville and his officers remained for a couple of months to 
 see things satisfactorily arranged ; he appointed Ralph Lane 
 governor of the new colony, and left with him a hundred and 
 seven men whose names are recorded by Hakluyt as the first 
 settlers in Virginia. Thomas Hariot was one of these ; and to 
 him we owe the narrative which is now reprinted. Another was 
 John White, the draughtsman whose designs illustrating the 
 manners and ways of the natives, and the Fauna and Flora of the 
 new land, were carried to Europe a year later and, by Richard 
 Hakluyt s interposition, entrusted for engraving to the hands of 
 the famous artist Theodore de Bry, of Frankfort. Hakluyt s list 
 does not give the name of John White exactly as we know it it 
 appears in manuscript on the original leaves of the drawings (now 
 preserved in the British Museum) as " John White " and "John 
 With." There are, however, two names amongst those detailed 
 by Hakluyt either of which may be taken to represent the man 
 "John Wright" and "John Twyt." There is a "John White" 
 mentioned several times by Hakluyt, but he was apparently a 
 seaman of higher rank than any of those settlers who remained 
 with Lane. He made several voyages and held nautical com 
 mand in 1587 and 1590 that of 1590 being his fifth expedition. 
 Whoever the draughtsman was, his pictures shew that he was an 
 artist of considerable merit, and the original drawings in the 
 British Museum prove that De Bry was not, as he is frequently 
 supposed to have been, an inventive illustrator of the books in 
 his compilation, but a faithful engraver of authentic designs. 
 
 The non-arrival of supplies from England began to daunt the 
 colonists, while the relations between them and the Indians grew 
 so embarrassing that, under the existing conditions, the colony 
 was doomed to failure, and its abandonment for the time was 
 
Preface. 
 
 resolved upon. Sir Francis Drake visited Roanoke on June loth, 
 1856, and Lane asked him to convey them back to England. He 
 agreed to do so, and desired the settlers to make ready for sailing 
 in August with Abraham Kendall and Griffith Herne, whom he 
 appointed to the command of two vessels for that purpose ; but he 
 soon changed his mind. With characteristic rapidity of decision, 
 Drake distributed the hundred and four men among his various 
 ships and set out with them on June igth. They reached 
 Portsmouth on July ayth, and so ended the first English attempt 
 to colonize the New World. The attempt was, however, renewed 
 the following year successfully, as will be found recorded in divers 
 histories. 
 
 Hariot wrote his book for the information of Ralegh, and 
 was perhaps himself not the real transmitter of the story to the 
 press. It was printed in London in 1588 without any illustrations. 
 That first edition is now so rare that only four copies are known 
 to be extant. If one turned up for sale at the present time, or at 
 any time within the next twenty years, it would probably bring a 
 price of not less than two thousand five hundred dollars. The 
 second . edition (which is here reproduced) is more valuable 
 because it was illustrated by De Bry, who in the meanwhile 
 had visited London and obtained the privilege of engraving John 
 White s beautiful designs. The statement, on the title-page of the 
 plates, that Hakluyt had translated the letterpress accompanying 
 those designs from Latin into English, may simply mean that he 
 had De Bry s work in manuscript before him ; or it may be taken 
 to show that the Latin edition of De Bry s first part was already 
 in type. It matters little either way. The descriptions annexed 
 to the plates were perhaps taken down by De Bry in Latin from 
 John White s oral explanations, and were therefore the only 
 original which Hakluyt could follow. The illustrations are of 
 distinct anthropological importance and exactness, and convey a 
 clearer notion of the ways and manners of the Red Indians at the 
 time of the English plantation than any narrative could express. 
 De Bry s edition was first printed in English as soon as the 
 engravings were ready; and then translated into Latin and 
 German in order to serve as the first fasciculus of his great 
 
VI 
 
 Prefc 
 
 ace. 
 
 Collection of Voyages. The English volume, printed at Frank 
 fort, is excessively rare, although not so rare as the little quarto 
 printed at London two years before. A copy, if it were sold 
 to-day, would probably bring a thousand dollars at the least. 
 
 A few slight obvious misprints are corrected in this re- 
 impression. 
 
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