A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia by Thomas Hariot
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Thomas Hariot >> A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia
Produced by Norman M. Wolcott.
[Redactor's comments: This is the 7-bit ASCII version. The Report is the
1590 de Brys edition in the Library of Congress. Italics are indicated by
bracketed 'quotes'.]
A Briefe and True Report ... by Thomas Hariot
A briefe and true report
of the new found land of Virginia,
'of the commodities and of the nature and man
ners of the naturall inhabitants: Discouered by
the English Colony there seated by' Sir Richard
Greinuile Knight' 'In the yeere 1585. Which rema
=ined vnder the gouernment of twelue monethes,
At the speciall charge and direction of the Honou=
rable' SIR WALTER RALEIGH Knight, 'lord Warden
of the stanneries Who therein hath beene fauoured
and authorised by her' MAIESTIE
':and her letters patents:
This fore booke Is made in English
By Thomas Hariot; seruant to the abouenamed
Sir' WALTER, 'a member of the Colony, and there
imployed in discouering.'
CVM GRATIA ET PRIVILEGIO CAES.MATIS SPECIALD
FRANCOFORTI AD MOENVM
TYPIS IOANNIS WECHELI, SVMTIBVS VERO THEODORI
DE BRY ANNO CD D XC.
VENALES REPERIVNTVR IN OFFICINA SIGISMVNDI FEIRABENDII
TO THE RIGHT
WORTHIE AND HONOV-
RABLE, SIR VVALTER RALEGH,
KNIGHT, SENESCHAL OF THE DVCHIES OF
Cornewall and Exeter, and L. Warden of the stannaries in Deuon
and Cornewall, T.B. wisheth true felicitie.
'SIR, seeing that the parte of the Worlde, which is betwene the FLORIDA
and the Cap BRETON nowe nammed VIRGINIA, to the honneur of yours most
souueraine Layde and Queene ELIZABETZ, hath ben descouuerd by yours
meanes. And great chardges. And that your Collonye hath been theer
established to your great honnor and prayse, and noelesser proffit vnto
the common welth: Yt ys good raison that euery man euertwe
him selfe for to showe the benefit which they haue receue of yt.
Theerfore, for my parte I haue been allwayes Desirous for to make yow
knowe the good will that I haue to remayne still your most humble
saruant. I haue thincke that I cold faynde noe better occasion to
declare yt, then takinge the paines to cott in copper (the most diligent
ye and well that wear in my possible to doe) the Figures which doe
leuelye represent the forme aud maner of the Inhabitants of the sane
countrye with theirs ceremonies, sollemne,, feastes, and the manner and
situation of their Townes of Villages. Addinge vnto euery figure a brief
declaration of the same, to that ende that cuerye man cold the better
vnderstand that which is in liuely represented. Moreouer I haue thincke
that the aforesaid figures wear of greater commendation, If somme
Histoire which traitinge of the commodites and fertillitye of the
rapport which Thomas Hariot hath lattely sett foorth, and haue causse
them booth togither to be printed for to dedicated vnto you, as a thiuge
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 desiring that fauor that you will receue me in the nomber of
one of your most humble seruantz, besechinge the lord to blese and
further you in all yours good doinges and actions, and allso to
preserue, and keepe you allwayes in good helthe. And so I comitt you
unto the almyhttie, from Franckfort the first of Apprill 1590.'
'Your most humble seruant,'
THEODORVS de BRY.
TO THE 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 hauing bin thiter 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
have also fauoured & aduentured in the action, to the honour and
benefite of our nation, besides the particular profite and credite 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 natuall inhabitantes specially
imploied; and hauing therefore seene and knowne more then the ordinaire:
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 sufficiet cause why the cheefe
enterpriser with the fauour of 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; &
therevpon cosider 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 [a 3] 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; who by reason of
their badde natures, haue maliciously not onelie spoken ill of their
Gouernours; but for their sakes slaundered the countrie it selfe. The
like also haue those done which were of their confort.
Some beeing ignorant of the state thereof, nothwithstanding 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 know 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 wheter 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 the, yet by others is most
certainely ad there pletifully 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 Iland 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 world before. Because there were
not to bee found any English cities, norsuch 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 slauderous 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 withall: but will passe to the
commodities, the substance of that which I haue to make relation of vnto
you.
The treatise where of 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 platers 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 its 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 comodities
besides, as I am able to remember, and as I shall thinke behoofull 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 grasse or grasse Silke.'
THere 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 & plating
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 of the countrey growing naturally and wilde. Which also by
proof here in England, in making a piece of silke Grogran, we found to
be excellent good.
'Worme 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 elsew here 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 plantig 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
sort as by men of skill is knowne to be necessarie: there will rise as
great profite in time to the Virginians, as there of doth now to the
Persians, Turkes, Italians, and Spaniards.
'Flaxe and Hempe.'
The trueth is that of Hempe and Flaxe there is no greate 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 iudgemet 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 thas there canno 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 vnderstand?
'Allum.'
There is a veine of earth along the sea coast for the space of fourtie
or fiftie miles, whereof by the iudgement of some that have made triall
heere in England, is made good Allum, of that kinde which is called
Roche Allum. The richnesse of such a commoditie 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.
'Wapeih:'
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 Phisitios and Chirurgeons to bee of the same kinde of
vertue and more effectuall. The inhabitats vfe it very much for the cure
of sores and woundes: there is in diuers places great plentie, and in
some places of a blewe sort.
'Pitch, Tarre, Rozen, and Turpentine.'
There are those kindes of trees which yeelde them abundantly and great
store. In the very same Iland where wee were seated, being fifteene
miles of length, and fiue or sixe miles in breadth, there are fewe trees
els but of the same kind; the whole Iland being full. [Sassafras.]
'Sassafras.'
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.
'Cedar.'
Cedar, a very sweet wood & fine timber; whereof if nests of chests be
there made, or timber therof fitted for sweet & fine bedsteads, tables,
or deskes, lutes, virginalles & many things else, (of which there hath
beene proofe made already) to make vp fraite with other principal
commodities will yeeld 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 iushious sweet. When they are plated
and husbandeg 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.
'Furres:'
All along the Sea coast there are great store of Otters, which beeying
taken by weares and other engines made for the purpose, will yeelde good
profite. Wee hope also of Marterne furres, and make no doubt by the
relation of the people but that in some 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 trifficke
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.
'Iron.'
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.
'Copper.'
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 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] places where wee hearde of better and more plentie. One
of our companie; a man of skill in such matters, had gathered to gether
from among the sauage people aboute fiue 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 may excellent
colours, with equalitie in greatnesse, were verie fayer 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
makc relation of, for want of the examples I had prouited and gathered,
and are nowe lost. with other thinges by causualtie before mentioned.
'Dyes of diuers kindes.'
There is Shoemake well knowen, and vsed in England for blacke; the seede
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 remayne yet to be proued. The inhabitants vse them onely for the
dying of hayre; and colouring of their faces, aud 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 thesame climate. So likewise of Madder.
'Suger 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. Notwithstading, 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. Wherebi 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 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
have 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. [THE]
THE SECOND PART,
OF SVCHE COMMO--
DITIES AS VIRGINIA IS
knowne to yeelde for victuall and sustenace of mans
life, vsually fed vpon by the naturall inhabitants:
as also by vs during the time of our aboad.
And first of such as are sowed
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 was to bee 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 cotaining fiue, sixe, or seue 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.