Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-18
The Saga,laliOc Colony,

The fourth volume of The Georges So
ciety publications which has ust been
issued, contains the "Relstion Of Aoy-
age into New England from the Lam
beth Place library, London, and edited
with al Introduction atd notes by Rev.
Henry 0. Thayer of Limington. This
work Is a most important contribution
to Maine history and Mr.. ThaYer may
well be proud to have this handsome
volume appear under bis name, as an ev-
dence Of his diligence and ability as a
historical 4. student The author of
the narration is not known
hut Mr.. Thayer Ia probably correct in
ascribing it to James Davies the pilot of
the expedition, The narration itself
covers the time from the commencement
OF the voyage, June | 1907 until Sept. -
| CT the same year, and is supplemented
by Strachey's History which gives the
history Of the colony until its return to
England in the autumn of zoos The
manuscript is in the Lambeth Library in
London, and copy of 1t was obtained
by Mr.. James T. Bs ter president of
the Maine Historical Society, when in
| England. The main points OF interest
in it are first colony actually settled In
Maine for year at So early date, thir
cen years before the Plymouth colony,
and second, the actual site of their set
tlement.
The discovery in ~pain of the original
plan OF the fort seems to establish the
latter point under the careful explana
tions OF Mr., Thayer, who has himself
lived twenty years in the vicinity and
given much time to the subject There
has been much difference OF opinion and
discussion about this, but Mr. Thayer
considers every argument and brings a
wealth of es idence to meet it. He quotes
all the literature upon the SagadaboC
colony and gives sketch OF the Popham
family, Apart from the interest OF the
subjects discussed the old narrative itself
has much of interest. describing our
coasts IS they appeared almost three
| hundred years age. For instance, it
says So the boat went presently from
the ship unto point of an island, and
| there. at low water, in one hour killed
near fifty great Holsters. You shall see
| them where they lie in shosl water not
past yard deep. and with great hook
made fast to staff you shall hitch them
up There are great store Of them; you
may near lade ship with them. And
they are of great bigness. 1 have not
seen the like in England
Think of that original plenty at this
day when they cost double the price OF
beef and we are destroying the last re-
mains of them by shipping the little in
pocents OF to Boston when they are no
bigger than crabs. Imagine the diction-
airy of A. d. 5000 saying The lobster
was crustaceous fish once found on the
coast Of Maine, &c" We read also
about the Kennebec We found great
| stores OF grapes exceeding good and
sweet. of two sorts, both red, but the
one Of them is marvellous deep red.
By both the sides OF this river the grapes
grow in abundance" This agrees with
the experience Of the Mortimer further
/ southwest, aud does not demonstrate
any change Of climate, but indicates that
the native grapes were good, and ripened
early. 1t is q pity that we cannot get
| cuttings Of that marvellous deep red va
riety.