Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-02-02


public-Record Office.
This is the earliest description of vir-
rinis. and was probably the first sent to
England, as it is dated June LIST, and it is
known from other sources that the ship
Phoenix (the earliest to return to Englan6
was of the Capes on her homeward voyage
on June I'd. The exploration of James
river. on which this description was based,
was commenced few days after tho arrival
of the settlers at jamestown and lasted
until May 2Ith:
COLONIAL PAPERS. VOL. I. ISL.
The Description Of NE No,c- DISCOVERED Rtrer
ard Country Of Virginia, ,cih tie Liklyhood
Of Ensuing Riches, by EnglanGs Ayd and
| Ind,tsf'p.
This river we have named or Kings river
extends it self l60 myles into the Maype
| land between two fertile and fragrant
banks, two miles. a mile. and where il is
least quarter OF myle broad. navigable
| for Shipping quarter of myle broad,
navigable for shipping of 800 tunn $50
miles the rest deep enough for small YES
sells OF six foot drought it GIBBS and fowes
4 foote, even 10 the skirt of an OVERALL,
where the water falls down from huge
great Rocks: making in the fall five
or six SEVERAL lsletts. very fit for
| the buylding of water mines thereon,
| beyond this not two dayes journey, it
| hath two branches w'ch come through
high stoney countrey from certaine huge
mountaines called Quirank. beyond w'ch
needs no relac'o (this from the overfall
was the report and description of o faith
| frl fellow. who dare we'll trust upon good
reasons) from these mountaines Quirank
| came two Jesse rivers w'ch rum into this
great one. but whether deep enough for
| n al - tlxar
| be many small Rivers of brooks w'ch
| unlade themselves into this mayne river at
several mouthes, w'ch veynes divide the
salvage Kingdoms in many places, and
yeeld pleasant seates, IN all the country
over by moystering the frutefull mould.
The maype river abounds with sturgeon
very large ard excellent good; having also
at the mouth of every brook and in
every creek both store and exceeding
good fish of divers kinds, in We
large sounds neere the sea are null
titudes of fish. banks of oysters. and
many great crabbs rather better, III fact,
than then cures, are able to suffice 4 men,
and within SIGHT of land into the sea we
expec. at tyme of yeare to have good
fishing for codd. as both at or entring we
might pceive by palpable conjecture see
ing the codd follow the shipp yea bite at
the Iblauk in the MSS. Us also ont OF my
ward. the fishing found In my first Voy-
age to Virginia.
This land lyeth low at the mouth of the
river & is sandy ground, all over besett
with fayre pyne trees. but little up the
river il is reasonable high. and the fur
ther we 60 (till we came 20 the overall 1T
still ryseth increasing, II is generally re-
plenishh with wood % all kinds and that
the fayrest yea aud the best that any OF us
4.
fit for use whatsoever, as ships, howseS,
plauks. poles, boordes waynescott. ciapp-
board. for pixies or elsewhat.
The sovle is moro fertili then can be vel
exprest it is altogether aromaticall giving
q spicy taste to the rootes OF all trees
plants and hearbs: of 1t self black fatt
sand mould somewhat slymv in touch and
sweet in SAVIOR: under web about yard Is
in most places O redd clay fit for brlcE, IN
other marie. in some sienificatiou On myp-
nerall. in other graveil stones and roc Ks, 1t
hath in diverse places fullers earth. and
such rs comes out of Turky called terra
sigglllata. 1t p'duceth OK one come of that
country wheate sometimes two or three
stems or stalks on w'ch grow cares above
spaun lopge besett with cornes at the least
300 upon an eqe for the most part 8, 6, ~
700. the beanes aud peaz OF this country
have a great a great increase also LII
yeelds two crops yeare. Being tenn
p(er)ed and tymo taken J. hold II natures
nurse to all Vegetables for / assure myself
no knoune continent brings forth any ven
dlble necessaTyes VIII this by planting Will
not afford for testimony in part. this we
fynd by proof: from the west Indies we
brought a certaine delicious truite called
pima, w'ch the Spanyard by all art possible
could never p'cure to grow in any place.
but in his natural site. this we rudely and
carelessly sett in or mould, well fostereth
il and keepes it greene. and to what Issue
it may come l know not. our. west Indy
plants of orenges IL cotton trees thrive
well. likewise the potatoes pumpions *
millions: All or garden seeds. that were
carefully soune p[rOlsper well, yet we only
digged the ground half deep
throw IN the seeds at randome carelessly,
and scarce rakt it. II naturally Yields
mulberry trees cherry trees, vines aboun-
dance, goosberyes, strawberyes, hurtle
berryes, Responses, ground NUTS, scarretts,
the roote called sigilla christi, certaine
sweet thym. shelled NUTS, certaine ground
aples. pleasant fruite any III Many other
unknown. So the thing we crave is some
skillful man to husband, sett. plant, and
dresse vynes, suger canes, olives ropes
hemp fax, lyceris pruvnes, curr3nts, ray
sons. and all such things. as the north
Tropick of the world offords: also saffran
woad hopes and such Ike.
The comodityes of the country, what
they are in else. is not much to be regard
ed, the inhabitants having no concerDe
with any nation, no respect of plrolhtt,
neither is there scarce that we call meun ct
tOun,, among them save onely the Kings ,
know their owne TERRITORIES, X the people |
their SEVERAL gardens yet this for the pres
ent by the consent Of all or seamen, meer- ]
ly or FISHING for sturgeon cannot be Jesse ]
worth then 1000 yeare, leaving herring +
and codd as possibi!itys.
Our ciapboard and waynscott Of ships |
will but fetch III we may make as much as |
England can vent: We can send Of we be
trends with the salyages or be able to force
them) 2, 3. 4, or 5.O0ef yeare of the earth |
called terra sigqiilntd. Saxafroge what |
store we pleast. Tobacco after yeare or |
two $1,000 year. We have Gas we |
supposed ritch dyes. if they p[rolve |
vendible, worth more then yet is |
nominated; We have excellsnt furrs, in |
some places of the country great store; |
We can make pitch Rozen and Turpen- |
tyne; there Is gume w'ch bleedeth from q |
kind of maple Che bark being cutD nos |
much unlike Balsome both in sent and |
vertue. Hepothicary Drugs of diverse |
sorts, some knowne to be OF good estima- |
con, some strange of whose vertue the sal |
wages report wonders We can 10y or in- |
dussry and plantacon Of comodious mar |
cnanulsze make OyJee WyneS sOapt hsHeS,
wood ashes extract from mineral earth |
Iron copper etc; We have good fishing |
for musles. w'ch resemble mother OF |
pearie. a. il the pearle we have scene in the |
Kings cares d about their necks come from |
these shells we know the banks. To con-
clude / know not what can be expected
from comon wealth that either this
land affords not or may soone yeeld.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TIE PEOPLE.
There is a King in this land called great
Powhatan. under whose dominion are at
least 2Oty SEVERAL Kingdoms. yet each King
potent as q prince in his own territory.
These have their subjects at so quick COM
mand. as a beck brings obedience, ev en- to
the restitucon of stolen goods wen by
their natural inclinacon they are both to
leave. They goe almost naked, yet in coo,e
weather they wears deare skinns, with the
hayre on loose: some have leather stock
ings up to their thighs Il sandals on
their feet, their hayre is black generally,
w'ch they weare long on their left side,
tyed up on knott about w'ch knott
the kings and best among them have a
lind of c0ronatt Of dea-ps hayra colorad |