A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia
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Thomas Hariot >> A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land Of Virginia
'Okindgier', called by vs 'Beanes', 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.
'Wickonzówr', 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 soddeu, they bruse or pound them in a morter, & thereof
make loaues or lumps of dowishe bread, which they vse to eat for
varietie.
'Macócqwer', 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 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 aforesaid commodities for victuall are set or sowed, sometimes
in groundes a part and seuerally by themselues; but for the most part
together in one ground mixtly: the manner thereof with the dressing and
preparing of the groûd, 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 followeth. 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] 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 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 rãkes,
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 'Macócqwer', '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 ofcome of corne, beanes, and
peaze, at the least two hûdred London bushelles: besides the 'Macócqwer,
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 husbane so much grounde (hauing once borne corne before) with lesse
thê foure and twentie houres labour, as shall yeelde him victuall in a
large proportiõ for a twelue mõeth, if hee haue nothing else, but that
which the same groûd will yeelde, and of that kinde onelie which I haue
before spoken of: the saide groûd 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 ofcomes; for they sowe or set and may at anie time when they thinke
good from the middest of March vntill the ende of Iune: 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, 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 [b 4] 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 Vppówoc: 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 obstructiõs; 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.
The Vppówoc us of so precious estimation amongest then, 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 pacifie 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 rhe heauens, vttering therewithal
and chattering strange words & noises.
We ourselues 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 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
fastnened 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] 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.
'Kaishúcpenauk' 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 inhabitãts notwithstanding 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 cõtrary 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 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 vfe as is
aforesaide: 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.
'Coscúshaw', 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 soure, and then being well
pounded againe, bread, or sponemeate 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' differeing 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 Fruites.'
CHESTNVTS, there are in diuers places great store: some they vse to eate
rawe, some they stampe and boile to make spoonemeate, and with some
being sodden they make such a manner of dowebread as they vfe 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 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 differêt: 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 Metaquesúnnauk 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
cõmodities.
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 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]
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 fruite or berrie in the forme of
Acornes.'
There is a kind of berrie or acorne, of which there are fiue sorts that
grow on seuerall kinds of trees; the one is called 'Sagatémener', the
second 'Osámener', the third 'Pummuckóner'. 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 'Sapúmmener' 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 'Mangúmmenauk', 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 thêselues, either for variety or for want of bread, doe eate them
with their fish or flesh.
'Of Beastes.'
'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 feed they are
greater: they differ from ours onely in this, their tailes are longer
and the snags of their hornes looke backward.
'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.
'Saquenúckot' & 'Maquówoc'; two kindes of small beastes greater then
conies which are very good meat. We neuer tooke any of them our selves,
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 use to take & eate maie;
so also somtime did wee. They are taken comonlie in this sort. In some
Ilands 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
bekilled; 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 those that be good meat we know only them before
mentioned. The inhabitãts 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 vnderstand 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 been experimented in both.
'Of Foule.'
'Turkie cockes' and 'Turkie 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
fourescore and sixe of which number besides those that be named, 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 kindes 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 monthes 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, twentie 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 make sharpe at one end,
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]
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 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 kind 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 many 'Tortoyses' 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 members 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.
THE THIRD AND
LAST PART,
OF SVCH OTHER
THINGES AS IS BE HOO-
full for those which shall plant and inhabit to
know of; with a description of the nature
and manners of the people of
the countrey.
'Of commodities for building and other
necessary uses.'
THose other things which I am more to make rehearsall of, are such as
concerne building, and other mechanicall 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 faire, 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 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.
['Rakíock',]
'Rakíock', 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, harchets 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 'Ashe', 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 relatiõ:
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.
Now for Stone, Bricke and Lime, thus it is. Neere vnto the Sea coast
where wee dwelt, there are no kind 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
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.