USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 7
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This work was printed at Oxford, in 1612, and it is some- times called the Oxford tract, but it is rather a book than a tract. In 1625 an abridgment of the first part was published in Samuel Purchas, His Pilgrimes, Vol. II. In 1884 it was in- cluded by Edward Arber in his collection of John Smith's Works.
L. G. T.
75
A MAP OF VIRGINIA :
With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Gov- ernment and Religion. Written by Captaine Smith, sometimes Governour of the Countrey.
Whereunto is annexed the proceedings of those Colonies, since their first departure from England, with the discourses, Orations, and relations of the Salvages, and the accidents that befell them in all their Journies and discoveries. Taken faithfully as they were written out of the writings of
Doctor Russell, Tho. Studley,
Anas Todkill,
Jeffra Abot,
Richard Wiefin, Will. Phettiplace, Nathaniel Powell, Richard Pots,
And the relations of divers other diligent observers there present then, and now many of them in England. By W. S.
At Oxford, Printed by Joseph Barnes. 1612.1
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE S. EDWARD SEMER KNIGHT, BARON BEAUCHAMP, AND EARLE OF HARTFORD,
LIEUTENANT TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE, IN THE COUNTIES OF SOMERSET AND WILTSHIRE, MY HONOURABLE GOOD LORD AND MAISTER.2
My Honourable Lord :
If Vertue be the soule of true Nobilitie as wise men say, then blessed is your Lordship, that is every way noble, as well in vertue,
1 This italic heading is copied from the title-page of the original. The map implied in the title and published in the pamphlet is reproduced in this volume; see the general editor's prefatory note. "W. S." is Dr. William Simmonds.
2 This dedication, for a copy of which we are indebted to Mr. Victor H. Paltsits of the Lenox Library, apparently occurs only in a copy of Smith's Map of Virginia possessed by that library, a copy bound in vellum, with the arms of Lord Hertford on both sides, in gold. The dedication has never before been reprinted. Its inconsistency with the language of that which follows, " To the Hand," found in most copies, is obvious.
76
141
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1593 Signification ofttele markes, To the creffes bath hin die vuiraty what bound is br relation Kings howfes 2 ... Ordinary howfes 2.
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----
A MAP OF VIRGINIA :
With a Description of the Countrey, the Commodities, People, Gov- ernment and Religion. Written by Captaine Smith, sometimes Governour of the Countrey.
Whereunto is annexed the proceedings of those Colonies, since their first departure from England, with the discourses, Orations, and relations of the Salvages, and the accidents that befell them in all their Journies and discoveries. Taken faithfully as they were written out of the writings of
Doctor Russell, Tho. Studley,
Richard Wiefin, Will. Phettiplace,
Anas Todkill,
Jeffra Abot,
Nathaniel Powell, Richard Pots,
And the relations of divers other diligent observers there present then, and now many of them in England. By W. S.
At Oxford, Printed by Joseph Barnes. 1612.1
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE S'. EDWARD SEMER KNIGHT, BARON BEAUCHAMP, AND EARLE OF HARTFORD,
LIEUTENANT TO HIS MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTIE, IN THE COUNTIES OF SOMERSET AND WILTSHIRE, MY HONOURABLE GOOD LORD AND MAISTER. 2
My Honourable Lord :
If Vertue be the soule of true Nobilitie as wise men say, then blessed is your Lordship, that is every way noble, as well in vertue,
1 This italic heading is copied from the title-page of the original. The map implied in the title and published in the pamphlet is reproduced in this volume; see the general editor's prefatory note. "W. S." is Dr. William ,Simmonds.
2 This dedication, for a copy of which we are indebted to Mr. Victor H. Paltsits of the Lenox Library, apparently occurs only in a copy of Smith's Map of Virginia possessed by that library, a copy bound in vellum, with the arms of Lord Hertford on both sides, in gold. The dedication has never before been reprinted. Its inconsistency with the language of that which follows, " To the Hand," found in most copies, is obvious.
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CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH'S MAP OF VIRGINIA
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
1612]
as birth, and riches. Though riches now, be the chiefest greatnes of the great : when great and little are born, and dye, there is no difference : Virtue onely makes men more then men: Vice, worse then brutes. And those are distinguished by deedes, not words; though both be good, deedes are best, and of all evils, ingratitude the worst. Therefore I beseech you, that not to seeme ungratefull, I may present your Honour with this rude discourse, of a new old subject. It is the best gift I can give to the best friend I have. It is the best service I ever did to serve so good a worke: Wherin having beene discouraged for doing any more, I have writ this little : yet my hands hath been my lands this fifteene yeares in Europ, Asia, Afric, or America.
In the harbour of your Lo: 1 favour, I hope I ever shall rest secure, notwithstanding all weathers; lamenting others, that they fall into such miseries, as I foreseeing have foretold, but could not prevent. No more : but dedicating my best abilities to the honour and service of your renowned Vertues, I ever rest
Your Lordships true and faithfull Servant,
JOHN SMITH.
TO THE HAND
LEAST I should wrong any in dedicating this Booke to one : I have concluded it shal be particular to none. I found it only dedicated to a Hand, and to that hand I addresse it. Now for that this businesse is common to the world, this booke may best satisfie the world, because it was penned in the Land it treateth of. If it bee disliked of men, then I would recommend it to women, for being dearely bought, and farre sought, it should be good for Ladies. When all men rejected Christopher Collumbus, that ever renowned Queene Izabell of Spaine, could pawne her Jewels to supply his wants; whom all the wise men (as they thought themselves) of that age contemned. I need not say what was his worthinesse, her noblenesse, and their ignorance, that so scornefully did spit at his wants, seeing
1 Lordship's.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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the whole world is enriched with his golden fortunes. Cannot this successfull example move the incredulous of this time to consider, to conceave, and apprehend Virginia, which might be, or breed us a second India ? hath not England an Izabell, as well as Spaine, nor yet a Collumbus as well as Genua ? yes surely it hath, whose desires are no lesse then was worthy Collumbus, their certainties more, their experiences no way wanting, only there wants but an Izabell, so it were not from Spaine.
T. A.
Because many doe desire to knowe the maner of their language, I have inserted these few words.
Ka ka torawincs yowo. What call you this.
Pawpecones. Pipes. Mattassin. Copper.
Nemarough. a man.
Crenepo. a woman.
Ussawassin. Iron, Brasse, Sil- ver, or any white metal.
Marowanchesso. a boy.
Musses. Woods.
Yehawkans. Houses.
Matchcores.1 Skins, or garments.
Mockasins. Shooes.
Chepsin. Land.
Pokatawer. Fire.
Wepenter. a cookold.
Attawp. A bowe.
Suckahanna. Water.
Attonce. Arrowes.
Noughmass. Fish.
Monacookes. Swords.
Copotone. Sturgion.
Aumoughhowgh. A Target. Pawcussacks. Gunnes.
Sawwehone. Bloud.
Tomahacks. Axes.
Netoppew. Friends.
Tockahacks. Pickaxes.
Marrapough. Enimies.
Pamesacks. Knives.
Maskapow. The worst of the enimies.
Accowprets. Sheares.
Attasskuss. Leaves, weeds, or grasse.
Tussan. Beds.
Shacquohocan. A stone.
Weghshaughes. Flesh.
1 This word, by Volksetymologie, the white men made into "match- coats."
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
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Mawchick chammay. The best of friends.
Casacunnakack, peya quagh acquintan uttasantasough. In how many daies will there come hether any more English ships ?
Their numbers.
Necut. 1.
Comotinch. 6.
Ningh. 2.
Toppawoss. 7. Nusswash. 8.
Nuss. 3.
Yowgh. 4.
Kekatawgh. 9.
Paranske. 5.
Kaskeke. [10.]
They count no more but by tennes as followeth.
Case, how many.
Keskowghes. Sunnes.
Ninghsapooeksku. 20.
Toppquough. Nights.
Nussapooeksku. 30.
Nepawweshowghs. Moones.
Yowghapooeksku. 40.
Pawpaxsoughes. Yeares. Pummahumps. Starres. Osies. Heavens.
Parankestassapooeksku. 50.
Comatinchtassapooeksku. 60.
Toppawousstassapooeksku. 70. Nussswashtassapooeksku. 80.
Okes. Gods.
Kekataughtassapooeksku. 90.
Quiyoughcosucks. Pettie Gods, and their affinities.
Righcomoughes. Deaths.
Kekughes. Lives.
Mowchick woyawgh tawgh noeragh kaquere mecher. I am verie hungrie ? what shall I eate ?
Tawnor nehiegh Powhatan. where dwels Powwhatan.
Mache, nehiegh yowrowgh, orapaks. Now he dwels a great way hence at orapaks.
Uttapitchewayne anpechitchs nehawper werowacomoco. You lie, he staide ever at werowocomoco.
Kator nehiegh mattagh neer uttapitchewayne. Truely he is there I do not lie.
Spaughtynere keragh werowance mawmarinough kekaten wawgh
Necuttoughtysinough. 100. Necuttweunquaough. 1000. Rawcosowghs. Daies.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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peyaquaugh. Run you then to the king mawmarynough and bid him come hither.
Utteke, e peya weyack wighwhip. Get you gone, and come againe quickly.
Kekaten pokahontas patiaquagh niugh tanks manotyens neer mowchick rawrenock audowgh. Bid Pokahontas bring hither two little Baskets, and I wil give her white beads to make her a chaine.
THE DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA BY CAPTAINE SMITH
VIRGINIA is a Country in America, that lyeth betweene the degrees of 34 and 441 of the north latitude. The bounds thereof on the East side are the great Ocean. On the South lyeth Florida : on the North nova Francia. As for the West thereof, the limits are unknowne. Of all this country wee purpose not to speake, but only of that part which was planted by the English men in the yeare of our Lord, 1606.2 And this is under the degrees 37. 38. and 39. The temperature of this countrie doth agree well with English constitutions being once seasoned 3 to the country. Which appeared by this, that though by many occasions our people fell sicke; yet did they recover by very small meanes and continued in health, though there were other great causes, not only to have made them sicke, but even to end their daies, etc.
The sommer is hot as in Spaine; the winter colde as in Fraunce or England. The heat of sommer is in June, Julie, and
In the charter granted April 10, 1606, Virginia is defined to be the country between 34 and 45 degrees north latitude.
2 The ships left London, December 20, 1606.
3 "Seasoned" was a term current in Virginia for one hundred years later. All who came soon fell sick of the malaria of the rivers and creeks, and such as survived were called "seasoned" inhabitants. The mortality of these early days fell especially upon the servants exposed in the tobacco fields, of whom four out of five perished during the first year after their arrival, and this continued to be the case down to Sir William Berkeley's day. The opening of the fields, and the use of Peruvian bark, introduced much healthier conditions.
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
1612]
August, but commonly the coole Breeses asswage the vehemencie of the heat. The chiefe of winter is halfe December, January, February, and halfe March. The colde is extreame sharpe, but here the proverbe is true that no extreame long continueth.
In the yeare 1607. was an extraordinary frost in most of Europe, and this frost was founde as extreame in Virginia. But the next yeare for 8. or 10. daies of ill weather, other 14 daies would be as Sommer.
The windes here are variable, but the like thunder and lightning to purifie the aire, I have seldome either seene or heard in Europe. From the Southwest came the greatest gustes with thunder and heat. The Northwest winde is com- monly coole, and bringeth faire weather with it. From the Northe is the greatest cold, and from the East and South-East as from the Barmadas, fogs and raines.
Some times there are great droughts, other times much raine, yet great necessity of neither, by reason we see not but that all the variety of needfull fruits in Europe may be there in great plenty by the industry of men, as appeareth by those we there planted.
There is but one entraunce by sea into this country, and that is at the mouth of a very goodly Bay, the widenesse whereof is neare 18. or 20. miles. The cape on the South side is called Cape Henry 1 in honour of our most noble Prince. The shew of the land there, is a white hilly sand like unto the Downes, and along the shores great plentie of Pines and Firres.
The north Cape is called Cape Charles in honour of the worthy Duke of Yorke.2 Within is a country that may have the prerogative over the most pleasant places of Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, for large and pleasant navigable rivers : heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for mans habitation being of our constitutions, were it fully manured and inhabited by industrious people. Here are mountaines,
1 Henry, eldest son of James I., was born in 1594. He was a promising and amiable youth, but died in 1612 in the eighteenth year of his age.
2 Prince Charles, afterwards King Charles I.
G
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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hils, plaines, valleyes, rivers and brookes all running most pleasantly into a faire Bay compassed but for the mouth with fruitfull and delightsome land. In the Bay and rivers are many Isles both great and small, some woody, some plaine, most of them low and not inhabited. This Bay lieth North and South in which the water floweth neare 200 miles and hath a channell for 140 miles, of depth betwixt 7 and 15 fadome, holding in breadth for the most part 10 or 14 miles. From the head of the Bay at the north, the land is mountanous, and so in a manner from thence by a Southwest line; So that the more Southward, the farther of[f] from the Bay are those mounetaines. From which, fall certaine brookes, which after come to five principall navigable rivers. Thèse run from the Northwest into the South east, and so into the west side of the Bay, where the fall of every River is within 20 or 15 miles one of an other.
The mountaines are of diverse natures, for at the head of the Bay the rockes are of a composition like miln-stones. Some of marble, &c. And many peeces of christall we found as throwne downe by water from the mountaines. For in winter these mountaines are covered with much snow, and when it dissolveth the waters fall with such violence, that it causeth great inundations in the narrow valleyes which yet is scarce perceived being once in the rivers. These waters wash from the rocks such glistering tinctures that the ground in some places seemeth as guilded, where both the rocks and the earth are so splendent to behold, that better judgements then ours might have beene perswaded, they contained more then probabilities.1 The vesture of the earth in most places doeth manifestly prove the nature of the soile to be lusty and very rich. The coulor of the earth we found in diverse places, resembleth bole Ar- moniac, terra sigillata ad lemnia, Fullers earth, marle, and divers other such appearances. But generally for the most part the earth is a black sandy mould, in some places a fat slimy clay, in other places a very barren gravell. But the best
1 The "glistening tinctures" were, however, only particles of mica.
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
1612]
ground is knowne by the vesture it beareth, as by the greatnesse of trees or abundance of weedes, &c.
The country is not mountanous nor yet low but such pleas- ant plaine hils and fertle valleyes, one prettily crossing an other, and watered so conveniently with their sweete brookes and christall springs, as if art it selfe had devised them. By the rivers are many plaine marishes containing some 20, some 100, some 200 Acres, some more, some lesse. Other plaines there are fewe, but only where the Savages inhabit: but all overgrowne with trees and weedes being a plaine wildernes as God first made it.
On the west side of the Bay, wee said were 5. faire and de- lightfull navigable rivers, of which wee will nowe proceed to report. The first of those rivers and the next to the mouth of the Bay, hath his course from the West and by North. The name of this river they call Powhatan accor[ding] to the name of a principall country that lieth upon it. The mouth of this river is neere three miles in breadth, yet doe the shoules force the Channell so neere the land that a Sacre1 will overshoot it at point blanck. This river is navigable 100 miles, the shouldes and soundings are here needlesse to bee expressed. It falleth from Rockes farre west in a country inhabited by a nation that they call Monacan. But where it commeth into our discoverie it is Powhatan. In the farthest place that was diligently observed, are falles, rockes, showles, &c., which makes it past navigation any higher. Thence in the running downeward, the river is enriched with many goodly brookes, which are maintained by an infinit number of small rundles and pleasant springs that disperse themselves for best service, as doe the vaines of a mans body. From the South there fals into this river, First the pleasant river of Apamatuck : next more to the East are the two rivers of Quiyoughcohanocke.2 A little farther is a Bay wherein falleth 3 or 4 prettie brookes and creekes that halfe intrench the Inhabitants of Warraskoyac ;
1 A sacre, more often saker, was a small piece of artillery.
2 Upper and Lower Chippokes Creeks in Prince George and Surry counties.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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then the river of Nandsamund, and lastly the brooke of Chisa- peack.1 From the North side is the river of Chickahamania, the backe river2 of James Towne; another by the Cedar Isle where we lived 10 weekes upon oisters, then a convenient har- bour for fisher boats or smal boats at Kecoughtan, that so conveniently turneth it selfe into Bayes and Creeks that make that place very pleasant to inhabit, their corne-fields being girded therein in a manner as Peninsulaes. The most of these rivers are inhabited by severall nations, or rather families, of the name of the rivers. They have also in every of those places some Governour, as their king, which they call Wero- wances. In a Peninsula on the North side of this river are the English planted in a place by them called James Towne, in honour of the Kings most excellent Majestie : upon which side are also many places under the Werowances.
The first and next the rivers mouth, are the Kecoughtans, who besides their women and children, have not past 20. fighting men. The Paspaheghes, on whose land is seated the English Colony, some 40. miles from the Bay, have not passed 40. The river called Chickahamania neere 200. The Wea- nocks 100. The Arrowhatocks 30. The place called Pow- hatan, some 40. On the South side this river, the Appama- tucks have 60 fighting men. The Quiyougcohanocks, 25. The Warraskoyacks 40. The Nandsamunds 200. The Chesa- peacks are able to make 100. Of this last place the Bay bear- eth the name. In all these places is a severall commander, which they call Werowance, except the Chickhamanians, who are governed by the Priestes and their Assistants of their El- ders called Caw-cawwassoughes.3 In somer no place affordeth more plentie of Sturgeon, nor in winter more abundance of
1 Elizabeth River, on which Norfolk and Portsmouth are now situated.
2 Powhatan Creek came out of the woods at the head of Jamestown Penin- sula, where, hindered from entering the main river by the neck of land connecting the peninsula with the mainland, it made a detour on the north of the island till it flowed into the river at the east end. That part of the creek bounding the island was called the "Back River."
3 Kakärusu, " he speaks repeatedly." The white men often transmuted the word into cockarouse.
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
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fowle, especially in the time of frost. There was once taken 52 Sturgeons at a draught, at another draught 68. From the later end of May till the end of June are taken few, but yong Sturgeons of 2 foot or a yard long. From thence till the midst of September, them of 2 or three yards long and fewe others. And in 4 or 5 houres with one nette were ordinarily taken 7 or 8: often more, seldome lesse. In the small rivers all the yeare there is good plentie of small fish, so that with hookes those that would take paines had sufficient.
Fourteene miles Northward from the river Powhatan, is the river Pamaunke, which is navigable 60 or 70 myles, but with Catches and small Barkes 30 or 40 myles farther. At the ordinary flowing of the salt water, it divideth it selfe into two gallant branches.1 On the South side inhabit the people of Youghtanund, who have about 60 men for warres. On the North branch Mattapament, who have 30 men. Where this river is divided, the Country is called Pamaunke, and nourisheth neere 300 able men. About 25 miles 2 lower on the North side of this river is Werawocomoco, where their great King inhabited when Captain Smith was delivered him prisoner; yet there are not past 40 able men. But now he hath abandoned that, and liveth at Orapakes 3 by Yough- tanund in the wildernesse. 10 or 12 myles lower, on the South side of this river is Chiskiack, which hath some 40 or 50 men. These, as also Apamatuck, Irrohatock, and Pow- hatan, are their great kings chiefe alliance and inhabitance. The rest (as they report) his Conquests.
Before we come to the third river that falleth from the mountaines, there is another river (some 30 myles navigable) that commeth from the Inland: the river is called Payan- katanke, the Inhabitants are about some 40 serviceable men.
1 Youghtamund (now called Pamunkey) and Mattapanient (Mattapony).
2 This is a mistake. Werowocomoco was about fourteen miles from West Point. In the True Relation, Smith represents the distance from the parting of the river at West Point as twenty miles.
3 Orapakes is believed to have been situated in White Oak Swamp. The word was a combination of oro, "solitary," and paks (peaks), "a little water place."
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The third navigable river is called Toppahanock.1 (This is navigable some 130 myles.) At the top of it inhabit the people called Mannahoackes amongst the mountaines, but they are above the place we describe.
Upon this river on the North side are seated a people called Cuttatawomen, with 30 fighting men. Higher on the river are the Moraughtacunds, with 80 able men. Beyond them Toppahanock with 100 men. Far above is another Cuttatawomen with 20 men. On the South, far within the river is Nautaughtacund having 150 men. This river also, as the two former, is replenished with fish and foule.
The fourth river is called Patawomeke and is 6 or 7 miles in breadth. It is navigable 140 miles, and fed as the rest with many sweet rivers and springs, which fall from the bor- dering hils. These hils many of them are planted, and yeelde no lesse plenty and variety of fruit then the river exceedeth with abundance of fish. This river is inhabited on both sides. First on the South side at the very entrance is Wighcocomoco and hath some 130 men: beyond them Sekacawone 2 with 30. The Onawmanient with 100. Then Patawomeke with 160 able men. Here doth the river divide it selfe into 3 or 4 con- venient rivers; The greatest of the least is called Quiyough 3 [and] treadeth 4 north west, but the river it selfe turneth North east and is stil a navigable streame. On the westerne side of this bought is Tauxenent with 40 men. On the north of this river is Secowocomoco with 40 men. Some what further Potapaco with 20. In the East part of the bought of the river is Pamacacack with 60 men. After, Moyowances with 100. And lastly, Nacotchtanke with 80 able men. The river 10 miles above this place maketh his passage downe a low pleasant vally
1 Rappahannock.
2 Otherwise Chicacoan. A river in Northumberland County is still known as Coan.
3 Quia or Aquia Creek. As the charter for Maryland, in 1632, declared that the southern boundary of Maryland should begin at the westernmost fountain of the Potomac River, Lord Baltimore first claimed this creek as his southern boundary, believing it to go farther westward, -a claim which, if acquiesced in, would have much curtailed the limits of Maryland. 4 Trendeth.
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SMITH'S DESCRIPTION OF VIRGINIA
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overshaddowed in manie places with high rocky mountaines ; from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant springs.
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