The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-06
EARLY DAYS ON THE JAMES.
An Account of It's Ascent by One OF
Its Explorers.

'rTom the "Oriolc," of the Bay Line.)
Nearly three hundred years ago the
james river was to the head
OF navigation by white men. Tho colo
hists near Its mouth had heard many
tales from the nd!an of its wild and
picturesque beauty and the fair valleys
ana plains near It, where many a Red
Man made his home, but il was not UNI
III several years after the williamsburg
colony had been located tina the hardy
adVenturer from the old World had The
courage to go up the historic stream and
see FOR themselves the wonders that had
been desc:ibed by the Thei,
iran canoes We're slowly padded up the
stream covering but n few miles daily
tie distance that the swift Virginia %
the Old FAY Lin covers in n few hour.
IN her trips between Baltimore and
Richmond.
The experience of the exploring party
is narrated in the following accoun,
taken f.om a recent ocl Oh Southern
literature. The account Il spelled ami
worded in the quaint and original style
OF seventeenth century,:
d'roin Nerves from Virginia1
THE two and twenty days of April COR
rather May. 1000 Captain Newpor and
myself. with divers others. 10 the mum
be. OF twenty-five persons. set forward
10 discover the river. some liftie or slytie
miles. finding 1t in some places broader.
ana III some narrower; the Countfies flor
the most parO on each s!de-planei Gich
ground: with many fresh springs the
people IN all places kindly intie3ting W..
daunsing ana fcastlng VS. with strspyber-
RES. multefties, bread. fish. ansSothcl
their Countrie provisions. wheteof we
had plenty; for which Captain Newpor:
kinde!y ~rcquitcd their least fav0!s with
pils, pinnes. needles. beads, or glasses,
which 50 ceniented them that lGg llbcr-
ailitie made them follow W from place
to place. and ever kindSly 10 respect KS.
In the midway staying 10 refresh
ourselves In Il little 1sc. foure or five saul
ages came VITO W which descrfBad vntc
v; the course of the River. ahh lf:e:
in our journey, they often mctIys. trad
ing with VS. for such prouisioMa as wee
whom we supposed to bee the ch.efe
i<ing OF all the reste, most kindely en-
tertaincd VS., giving vs., guide to, so with
vs. up the Rive: 80 P~owhatan. Of Which
pace their great Enpa.or talieth his
name. where ne that they hon6red for
King used VS. kindely.
but 10 finish this diacdurr!e,w we pass
ed on further. where within an lie ia
milo we were Intercepted with great
crlSEN stone Ill The midst of the River.
where the water falleth so rudelv. and
with such Il violence. as not any boa
can possibly pasSc. and so broad dispOs-
seth the strame. as there is not past five
or siXe foote al n low water, II to the
shore scarce passage with a barge, the
water noweth foure foote. and the
freshcs flood by reason of The rocks
have left riashes in the foundations s
or . Coote. The south side is piaine low
ground. and The north side Csite of Rich
mond) high mountaincs. the rockes be-
ing OF n gravelly nature. in;er!aced with
many Nains of glistrins spangles.
THE night we returned 10 r%owhatan:
the next day hc!ng Whitsunday after
dinher) we returned 70 the falls, leaving
a mariner in fawn with the Indians for
n guide of theirs. he thai they hon
CURED for King. followed VS. by the river
That aftcrnoone we trifed in looking
upon the Rockies and River Qurthcr he
would not goe) so there we erected n
crosse, and shat night taking cur man
at Powhatan's, Captain Newport con
graduated his kindness With a gun and
a natchct; returned to hrsctecke. and
stayed there the next day to observe
height dat'iude) thereof. and so with
many Eigncs of love we departed"