Newbern weekly progress. [volume] (Newbern, N.C.) 1858-1863, 1862-06-14
IFror .nc Coitireli-I Monthly
Roanoke Isl z Z ,
IHE SITE OF THE FIR I ENGiISi! C.'Io>1
IN AMERICA.
[ Conti"usd from last aseeh's paper,


It certainly speaks much for the sdiu-
brity of the climate. as well for the
care of the officers who were IN com
mand. They all arrived safely IN
England, ABOUT the last Of July**
Among the eminent men Who ac-
companied Lane, and passed nearly d
year at Roanoke, was Thomas Harot,
an Oxford scholar aud Il celebrated
mathematician. He went out in the
expedition as historian aud naturalist
to make Typographical and scientific
survey and report OF the country and
it's commodities s, duties. fulfilled by him
in the most faithful manner. His re-
port was published in London, IN 1888,
under the title of 4 Bricf and True
Report Of the Net0,5ouad Luaed IN
Vargi1alG, OF. the Commodities .JOa1nd
2here, etc. 1t was, in 1890. put into
Latin, and published by Theodore de
Brv. at Frankfort, with about thirty
curious engravlngs, from the designs
OF John White, the artist who accom-
panied the expedition. These pictures
are exceedingly well executed. by GU
inent Dutch artists, and a number OF
traits of many of the principal Indians.
with their costumes and habits. as they
were before they were changed by IN
tercourse with the Europeans, sho Aing
US their original condition.
The AborIglHes We're certainly fur
ther advanced in agriculture and civili-
zatlon than has been generally sup
posed, and probably much more than
the tribes Who resided further north.
To ali who are curious in the history
of the early inhabitants Of North
America, this work will be found Of ex-
traordInary interest. 1t may be observed
that the maps OF the coast which it
contains are remarkably correct, and
at the same time Indicate many impor-
tant changes to have since occurred
But its greatest value is its description
of the commodities or valuable pro-
ductlons, of daily use and commercial
value, which were found here. Thus,
under the Indian name of Upp0a00c,
Harriet gives a description of the
tobacco plant,f which had been pre-
vious y known to the Spanlards. This,
however, seems to have been its earIl-
est introduction to the English. and it
was carried home bv them to the no
blitY.' In the account of this plant,
we are told that it is so esteemed by
the Indians that they even think their
gods are delighted with it. Our chron
icler further says We were in the
habit of using this plant for our dIseas
es, as the natives did, and have contin-
nd ho mr.
was only used to smoke the natives
were never guilty of chewing it, Among
the roots, it mentions Ope'a0uk, which
must have been what We cali the pea
nut, which is now largely cultivated
along that coast, and is quite an article
of commerce. They also found here
the sweet potato and various kinds OF
sQuasheS and melons. as well as many
varieties OF beans, some ot winch are
still cultivated extensively IN that re-
gon.
1t also describes root which grows
sometimes as large as a human mead
thus must have been what is now known
as the tanger. But the greatest dis
covery of all was the potato, which has
been Of such inestinable benefit tC
mankind. This, which they carried
After Lane returned home, he obtained som,
celebrity as n soldier, in various wars, and was
knighted. His narrative, addressed to Raleigh
as printed in Hakluyt, would prove him possessed
of much energy. AS the first Governor of al
American colony, his name has been kept II
remembrance Had the supply-ship arrived bn
few weeks sooner, he might have remained
and his colony have been the progenitors of tn
English race on this continent.
A celebrated traveller asserts that tobacco
now extended over bath hemspheres, is an evi
dcuce Of civilization.