The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1898-03-31


inlet, and as they entered an Inlet
distant from Roanoke Island seven
leagues, as Barlowe himself tells US,
the point first seen must haye been
near Cape Lookout. There Is no Inlet
that is exactly seven leagues from
Roanoke island, and the inference Is
conclusive that there must have been
at that time an inlet that Is not now
in existence, as it is certain that there
are some now that were not open then.
Continuing with his narrative. the
same writer tells how they entered the
first inlet seen and cast anchor by the
side of one island that was found to be
twenty miles long and about SIX vide.
This island was some portion OF the
"banks" that skirt our coast, not far
from Nays Head. It is interesting to
note the enthusiastic language he uses
to describe the land as it appeared. 1t
was, he says, ''sandy, but so full OF
grapes, as the very beating and surge OF
the sea overhowed them, OF which we
found such plenty as we'll there as In
all places else, both on the sand and on
the green soil, on the hills as in the
plains, as we'll on every little shrub, as
also climbing towards the tops OF high
cedars, that think in all the world the
like abundance is not to be found and
myself, having seen those parts OF Eu-
rope that most abound, find such dill
ference as were incredible to be writ
ten."
This sounds like an exaggeration,
but it will not be so regarded by any
one who is familiar with the vine as
it grows in Eastern North Carolina.
These Englishmen. coming from
country In high ate Of cultivation
and seeing the new land in the gor
geous summer time, were amazed at
the spectacle before them. No land
ever appeared so beautiful and fruitful.
Neither Burgundy, nor Malaga, nor
Tuscany could compare with North
nor to the native beauty OF plant life.
They remained by the side Of this is
land "two whole days" before any OF
the natives showed themselves. On the
third day, however, small canoe, con-
tanning three persons, was seen approach
| ing the ships. Some distance OFF the
| beat landed on the island side next to
the ships, and one man leaving the boat
walked along the shore to the po,n:
nearest one of the vessels, making signs
as if he wished to speak to those On
board. A boat was sent to land and
drought him, with his own good
liking, aboard the ship, and gave him a
shirt, a hat and some other things, and
made him taste of our wine and our
meat"
! After he had satisfied his curiosity
by going sightseeing, over the boats Of
the Englishmen, both bre and aft, he
took his leaye and went to his own
boat. As soon as he had pulled out in.
to deep water, he commenced fishing
land in less than half an hour, he had
laden his boat as deep as it could swim
with fish. Then he came ashore and
divided his fish into two piles, indicat-
ing that pile of each was intended fol
the ships. That was his simple way OF
indicating his thanks and requiting
the benefits that he had received from
his entertainers. After that he depart
ed.
On the next day chef called Gran
ganimeo, with about fifty men, came tC
that part OF the island near the ships
Some of the Engiishmen went ashore
and exchanged pledges of peace and
good will. From the Indians the voy.
ayers learned that the king of that par,
OF the country was named Wingina
! who had been wounded short time
before In battle with a neighboring
king and was lying in pain at one of the
villages about five days journey away
The natives came aboard the ships and
traded with the sailors, exchanging pro.
testations of friendship and cultivating
feelings of intimacy that was pleasant
and agreeable.
Several days after the first meeting
Granganimeo brought his wife aboard
the ship to see the sights Barlowe
thus describes this rustic hearty of the
forest "His wife was very we'll favor.
ed, of mean statue, and very bash
full. She had on her back a long
cloak Of leather, with the fur side next
her body, and before her a peice OF the
same. About her forehead she had a
band OF white coral, and so had her. bus
band, many times. In her ears she
had bracelets OF pearls, hanging down
to her middle, and those were of the
bigness of good pease." Thus we SET
that the natives of North Carolina wore
clothes and ornaments themselves as
other devotees of fashion do. In an