Virginia

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

VIRGINIA AND FLORIDA. (Book Virginia)

• 1.1VIRGINIA and Florida doe follow in our method. Virginia as some suppose was so called from the Earle Viguinus, but hee that sett forth a Journall or Commentary of Sir Francis Drakes Voyage in the West-Indies in the yeere 1584. saith that it was so called from Elizabeth Queene of England. The Inhabitants doe call it Wingandocoa. It is very fruitfull,* 1.2 and beareth plentifully whatsoever is necessary for the sustation and delectation of mans life: as Wine, Oyle, Beanes, which the Inhabitants call Okindgere, and Pease, which they call Wickanzenr, also Pompions and Melons, which they call Macocquer: also divers Hearbes besides Chesnuts, Walnuts, Straberies, and other excellent Fruits: also Allome, Pitch and Tarre, Turpentine, Iron, Copper, Silke, Flaxe, Cotton, Pearles, and many other things. But especially it hath great store of Virginy Wheate, which the Inhabitants doe call Pagatowr, and the West-Indians Maiz: which is to bee wondred at because they use a meane kinde of Husbandry. For they know neither Plough nor Harrow, neither doe they make Furrow or plough the ground, nor breake the clods after they have sowne the seed as we doe, but they turne up the earth with a woodden Shovell or Spade, and so in the little Furrowes they set the Graine with a setting sticke as we doe Beanes, which being coverd with earth will sprout forth wonderfully. In some parts it hath divers kindes of Beasts, as Beares, Lions, Wolves, Conies, and those which the Inhabitants call Saquenuckot, Maquowoc, and Squirrels. It hath moreover divers Birds, as Indian Cocks and Hens, Doves, Partridges, Cranes, Swans, Geese, Parrots, Falkons, and Hawkes. The Townes here are very small, containing onely 10. or 12. Houses, they build them round with Stakes and Poles set in the Earth, with a narrow comming in, Princes, and Noblemens Houses have a Court-yard and some few Houses round about them. The Citties by the Shore side are these: Pyshokonnock, or the Womens Citty, also Chipanum, Weopomiock, Muscamunge, and Mattaquen, and Oanoke, which the English call'd the blind Citty, also Pemeoke, Phycoake a great Citty, Chowanaoke, Sequotam, and others. The Rivers which water it are Occam, Cipo, Nomopano, Neus, and others. In foure Moneths of the yeere, February, March, Aprill, and May, here is good fishing for Sturgeons, and Herrings. Here are also good Trouts, Scate, Mullets, and Plaise, and many other kindes of Fish. It hath also Woods which are full of Connies, Hares, and Fowle. But the Woods are not such as be in Bohemia, Moscovy, or Hyrcania, which are barren and doe yeeld nothing, but they are full of high tall Cedars, Pines, Cypresse Trees, Mastick Trees, and many other odoriferous Trees. The Inhabitants are of a middle stature, just in their dealing, they beleeve the Immortality of the Soule, but they delight in dancing, and immoderate drinking, as the other Americans doe, but yet they abstaine from mans flesh. They doe hunt wilde beasts every day. And their Armes are Bowes and Arrowes. They beleeve that there are many Gods whom they call Mant•a•, but of divers kindes and degrees, and that there is onely one chiefe God that was before all ages, who they say, when he purposed to create the whole world, did first create the other speciall Gods, that he might use them as assistants, and helpers both in creating and governing the whole World. And then hee made the Sunne, the Moone, and the Statres, as the lesser Gods to be assisting to the chiefe Cods. They say the waters were first created, out of which the Gods did create all kindes of creatures visible and invisible. Concerning mankinde, they affirme that the woman was first created, which by the helpe of one of the Gods did conceive and bring forth children, and this they say was the first originall of all mankinde. But concerning the manners and nature of the Inhabitants and the other commodities and wonders of Virginia, you may see more which Iohn Wytts Description, and Thomas Harriotts Relation, Theodore Brius hath written of them in a particular Booke, and hath cut them forth in Brasse Figures.

THE DESCRIPTION OF NEVV VIRGINIA· (Book New Virginia)

IT is wonderfull how much this Province and the Colony therein encreased from the time that the Englishmen began first to inhabit it: so that almost all parts of it are found out and discovered. And that these things may appeare more clearely, wee thinke it fit to joyne to this Description Captaine Smiths last Voyage into this Country. These Provinces therefore expressed in this present Card, have on the North a high Mountaine, at the foote whereof there dwell a people called Sasquesahanoug. On the North-west it hath the Massawonecks, on the West the Manahoacks, on the South-west the Monacans, on the South the Mongoags and Chanons, betweene Affrick and the North the Virginian Sea, and on the West certaine high Mountaines doe shew themselves, on which certaine rude barbarous people doe live call'd •uskarawaocks, Tockwoghs, and Aquanachukes. The River Pouhatan watereth this Country, which riseth in the Country of the Monacans, and so running towards Affrick it falleth into the Ocean. Neere the Promontory Wiffins another lesser River doth empty it selfe into the Sea, as also the Rivers Payaunkata, Cappahonock, and Parwomeck, which are full of Fish, and are inhabited round about. There are also other Nations toward the North, but not knowne. These Countries Captaine Smith in the yeere 1608. did discover with one Brigantine or Galloone, who met two Indians, who brought him from Capo Charles to Acc•umack, whence he sayled to the great Bay Chesapeack, about which there dwelt divers people who warred one with another, who entertaind him in severall manners. But his chiefe desire was to finde out the veines of mettall, which he attempted in vaine. Ponuhatan is a little Village consisting of 12. Houses or rather Cottages, being situate on a pleasant Hill, the Lords of which place were called by the same name, as also the neighbour Nation, who entertained him well, without any shew of Hostility. Wherefore when Captaine Newport came thither with a new supply, he would needs goe visit Po•hatan at his house at Weromoco, who being courteously entertain'd he found him sitting on a Straw Mart, and resting his head after his Country manner on a faire Pillow, and Maydes as faire as the place could afford did sitt at his head and feete, and 20. Concubines did watch at each side of the Palace. But hee himselfe having his head and breast painted red, wore a chaire of white Corrall. And when the Captaine had given him one of his Boyes, hee gave him back in exchange one of his Servants call'd Wamotack, with Corall, and some Corne, which served well for the reliefe of his men, and afterward he furnished the Captaine with all things necessary. Hee as also Captaine Smith had a great desire to finde out veines of Gold and Silver, but both he and those that came after him were frustrated in their desire. Yet he sent a Ship loaden with Cedar to England. In the meane time Ponuhatan labourd to get some armes and munition from the English, which the Governours did very much suspect, as if the King with those armes intended to kill the English, or drive them out of the Country. But Captaine Smiths vigilance and watchfulnesse prevented him, so that he could effect nothing, and the English Colonie living here are now in a good estate increased to many thousands,* 1.1 and Kine, and Hogs, and Turkies aboundance, and all things plentifull, and no want but of good women, thick sowne, but thin come up.

Tecoanteper a Country of new Spaine. There raigned in the Citty of Mexico 9. Kings in a 130. yeeres, being 619. yeeres after that the Chichimeicians did possesse the Country of Mexico. The last of these was Motezun•a, who was slaine in a certaine sedition, and in him the family of the Mexican Kings was extinct. Moreover this part is inhabited by the Spaniards, who have many Colonies in it, namely, Comp•stella, Colima, Purificatio, Guadalajara, Mechoaca, Cacatula, Mexico, and others. There are also in New Spaine divers famous Countries, namely new Galitia, Mechawcan, Mexico, and Guastecan. Nova Galitia was first called by the Inhabitants Xalisce, which Nunus Gusmannus first sought out and discoverd,* 1.2 who built some Citties in it, namely, Compostella, where there is a Bishops Seate, and a Royall Counsell: also Spiritus S. Conceptionis, S. Michaels, and Gaudalajara, which is the chiefe Citty of the whole Kingdome. There belongeth to Nova Galitia that Country which is called Culicana from a Citty of that name. It lyeth betweene the River Piasala, and the River S. Sebastian, which runneth under ground, before it discharge it selfe into the Sea. The Metropolis is the Citty Culiacan, where the Spaniards planted the Colony of Michaels House. The Country Methaucan is 40. leagues in compasse, and it is one of the richest and fruitfullest Kingdomes of new Spaine: for it hath ripe Maiz three times a yeere, and also other fruits. This Country doth containe two principall Citties, in which the Spaniards live, call'd Pas•uar and Valadolid, which is a Bishops Seate, besides other Townes of lesse note. The Country of Mexico doth not onely exceed the other Countries of New Spaine, but of all America. It was so named from the Citty Mexico, which is called also Temistitan. It is the Metropolis of the Province of Mexico. It was seated in the middle of a great Lake, before Cortes did possesse it, who remov'd it to the banke of the same Lake, it is now well built, and it is 6. Italian miles in compasse, one part whereof the Spaniards doe inhabit, the other part the Indians. Mexico signifies a Fountaine, and it was so called by the first Founders, in regard of the many Springs and Fountaines which doe encompasse this Citty. This was the fairest and chiefest Citty of the Indies, yea of the whole World, when Ferdinand Cortesius tooke it and wonne it by assault in the yeere 1521. For this being the chiefe Citty of the whole Kingdome of Mexico, contained 70000. Houses. The Kings and Noblemens Houses were very large, and conveniently built, but the Common peoples Houses were meaner and lower. There are in this Citty, a Bishop, a Vice-roy, and the high Tribunall, or Court of New Spaine. There is also a Mount in it for coyning of money. Moreover there are in the Mexican Lakes, and about their bankes 50. Townes, every one of which doth containe about 10000. Houses. Next after Mexico is the Citty Tescura by the banke of the same Lake, which is as bigge as Mexico. There is also in this Province the Citty Angelorum, which was first called V••sita•• that is the Land Serpents, which is famous for dressing of W•o•• which hath Vales and Plaines round about it, in which great Flocks and Heards of Cattell doe graze, and great store of Corne and 〈◊〉 are gotten and gathered here. The Country of Guastecan in Virginia so now flourisheth, that it vittels other parts.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

VIrginia bears this Name in honour of the most Illustrious and Renowned Elizabeth, the Maiden-Queen of England. First some French nested themselves in this Countrey, but the English were too hard and powerful for them, took absolute possession of it, in the Year 1584, and have continued in their settlement there, notwithstanding the loss of five or six Colonies. They have a Governour, an Admiral, and several particular Officers. This Establishment facilitates to them the communication of what they have in New England and Florida. The Air of Virginia which is extreamly healthful, produces several sorts of excellent Fruits. It is somewhat cold, and yet the Inhabitants go naked: the Oyl and the Colours with which they rub themselves, defending them against the injuries of the Weather. From thence is Exported Tobacco and Silk, which is drawn from an Herb wholly peculiar to Virginia. They would make us believe that there is a flying Squirrel, which makes use of its paws as if they were wings.

The Inhabitants of Virginia love to make good Cheer, are Idolaters, and have divers Lords, whom they call Werouns. Their Towns which they surround with Pallisadoes, have only 18 or 20 Houses. Pomeiock and James-Town, are the Principal places of this Region. The Bay of Chesapeack is very considerable, being seventy five Leagues in length, for the most part six or seven broad, and ten or twelve towards its entrance. The Ships sail up above sixty Leagues, for it is often fifteen or sixteen fathom deep, and six or seven where it is most shallow.

The Islands of Barmudas, or Summer Isles, are under the same Crown, and almost in the same Parallel with Virginia, distant above three hundred Leagues from the Continent of America. They are several in number around the principal one, and almost all invironed with Rocks, and sufficiently known for the Shipwracks that happen there. The Merchants bring thence Cocheneal, Tobacco, Pearls, and Amber; there are found Tortoises of an excessive bigness, and Spiders without venom, extraordinary large, of a streak'd colour, which spin Webs capable of holding little Birds. In the Year 1516. five men being imbarked at the Barmudas in a little Pinnace, traversed above twelve hundred Leagues at Sea, and by a singular happiness arrived in Ireland. In the Year 1525. a Portuguez who was in the East Indies, being desirous to do a notable piece of service to his Prince, undertook a Voyage which was no less perilous; for with a small Gally, but sixteen foot long, and six-broad, he departed from Cochim, and having traversed the Occan, and all its particular Seas, at last he arrived at Lisbon, where he brought the King of Portugal the news of the building a Cittadel at Diu; a piece of news which was agreeably received in that Court.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

VIRGINIA, so call'd in Honour of Queen Elizabeth, that Virgin Princess, was first discover'd by John Veruzzan, under the Name of Apelchen, and afterward by Sir Walter Raleigh, A. D. 1584. by whose Direction Queen Elizabeth sent a Colony thither, under Mr. Philip Amadas and Arthur Barlow, who took possession of it for her Majesty, and chang'd its Name into Virginia. This Country, lying between the 33d Degree 40 Minutes, and the 42d Degree of Northern Latitude, is bounded on the North by Maryland, on the East by the Atlantick• Ocean, on the South by Carolina, and on the West by the Eriechronons, an Indian Nation. The extent of it from South to North is about 150 Leagues, and 80 from East to West, being distant 1000 Leagues from the Coasts of England.

The Air and Temperature of the Seasons is much govern'd by the Winds, as to Heat and Cold, or Driness and Moisture. The North and North-west Winds are very cold and piercing, and bring very sharp Frosts, which freeze over the biggest Rivers, from 3 to 9 miles wide, tho' they are not of long Continuance, as neither the somewhat deep Snows that come along with them: The South and South-east Winds bring Heat in the Summer Months; and cease in July and August, when the Air grows extremely Hot and troublesome. The Weather breaks suddainly in September, and turns into great Rains, which causeth an epidemical Sickness among the People commonly call'd Seasoning, with Cachexies, Fluxes, Gripes, Scorbutick Dropsies and the like. The Thunder is often attended with Fatal Circumstances, killing many Persons and overthrowing their Houses: One thing is very observable, That it generally does most hurt nearest the Fire, and often come down the Chimneys, especially if they have any Fire in them. It beats down great Trees, and twists others like a Withe, leaving a Sulphurous Smell in the Air when 'tis over. There are also frequent little sorts of Whirl-Winds, which whisking round in a Circle, carry up the Leaves into the Air, that fall again in calm days, some time after, in great Showers.

The Country lies low, and has but few Stones, the Earth in some Places being mixt for several miles together with Oister-Shels, so thick that they are equal to the other Mold, and so continue for some Yards under Ground. These Oyster-Shells in some Places lye in Mines, united as hard as Rocks, 3 or 4 Yards thick, and the Inhabitants make Lime of them. In the loose Banks of Shells have been found Teeth 2 or 3 Inches long, together with the Back and Ribs of a Whale. The Country is also overspread with Woods, and seems to be, as it were, one entire Forest, consisting of large Trees of several sorts of Oak, Hickery, Poplar, Pine, Cedar, Dogwood, Elm, &c. yet free from Thickets or Underwood, the small Shrubs growing only on Lands that have been clear'd, or Swamps; and thus it is for several hundreds of miles. The Soil is generally sandy, and even more fertile for Corn than England, yielding for the most part between 25 and 30 fold. There are few or no Meadows, by reason that the Natives have not learn'd the manner of Drayning their boggy Marshes or Swamps, which would make excellent Pasture-ground; so that they are extremely put to it for Fodder for their Cattle in the Winter, and lose many. The Uplands are weak, and will not bear above 3 Years good Tobacco, because they have no way to mend them, but folding Cows therein as we do Sheep in England, though they have good Marle and Stitch, the use of which is unknown to them. They have likewise Clay very good for Pipes and Pots; Talk, of which they make a delicate White-wash, and Black Lead, besides some Mines of Iron-Oar. As for Fruits, there are abundance of divers sorts, as Apples, Pears, Quinces, Apricocks, Plums, Pears, Mulberries, Cherries, Vines, Chesnuts, Walnuts, Chinco-Pines, and all kinds of Garden-Herbs; with many Physical Plants, as Radix Serpentaria, Dittany, Turbith, Mechoachan, Ague-root, &c. Among these grows a certain Herb call'd Silk-grass, of which Silk is made, it having a thin fibrous Bark.

Before the coming of the English, there was neither Horse, Bull, Cow, nor Swine, whereof they have now much plenty, except Sheep, which they are discourag'd from keeping, because the Wolves devour them so fast. In the Woods are many Elks, red Deer, Rackoons, (which are a species of Monkies) Hairs, Squirrels, Musk-rats, so call'd from their sweet smell like Musk, Wild-cats, Pole-cats, Bears, Wolves and Foxes, besides great store of land and water Tortoises, Frogs of several sorts, of which one is eight or ten times as big as any in England, and make a noise like the bellowing of a Bull, Lizards, and several kinds of Snakes, of which the most remarkable are, 1. The Rattle-snake, that have a Rattle in their Tails, made of Bones enclos'd in a dry Husk; their Bite is deadly, yet they never meddle with any thing unless provoked. 2. The Blowing-snake, a kind of Viper so nam'd, in regard that it blows and swells the Head very much e'er it bites, which is accompanied with fatal Consequences. Moreover, the bite of the Red-snake and Horn-snake is Mortal; but the Black, Corn and Water-snakes are not so Venomous. Virginia affords great variety of Birds, as three sorts of Eagles, viz. The Gray, Bald and Black; the last of which is usually very destructive to young Lambs, Pigs, &c. Some species of Hawks, as the Fishing-hawk, Goss-hawk, Falcon and Stannel. There is an Owl as big as a Goose, that kills the Poultry in the Night, a delicate feather'd Bird milk-white, and tipp'd with a Punctal of Jet black. The Wood-peckers are many of them lovely to behold, being variegated with Green, Yellow, Black and White, and having a large scarlet Tuft on their Crown. The Turkeys are here very large, some weighing between 50 and 60 Pounds. There are also Cocks and Hens without Tails or Rumps, Partridges, Turtle-Doves, Thrushes; the Mocking-bird, which imitates the notes of all Birds it hears, and is accounted the finest Singing-bird in the World: The Virginia Nightingale, of a pure scarlet Colour, with a Tuft on the Head; Black-birds very voracious of Corn; Larks, Swallows, Martins, Blew-birds of a curious azure Colour; Gold-finches that are very beautiful, with red, orange and yellow Feathers; Sparrows, Snow-birds, Humming-birds, Herons, of which there is one kind Milk white; Bitterns, Curlews, Sandippers, Snipes, Tewits, Swans, Wild-geese, Wild-ducks, Teal, &c.

No Country is better Water'd with many large and swift Rivers, the chief of which are York River, Rapahanock, Potomack, Potaxen and Choptauk, that all run into the Chesopeak, which divides the Country into two unequal Parts, and gives entrance for Shipping into it, being 6 or 7 Leagues wide, and as many Fathom deep. James River is Navigable for 50 leagues up the Continent. York River is likewise large, and carries Vessels 20 leagues. Rapahanock will allow a passage for Ships 40 leagues; but Potomach is the biggest River, being 9 miles over in many places. They all Ebb and Flow; but when the Wind is at North-west, their course is scarce discernable; at other times they rise at high Tide about two Foot. These Rivers abound with variety of Fish, as Sturgeon, Perch, Crokers, Taylers, Eels, Oysters, Cockles, Sheep-heads, Drums, Sting-rays, &c. Besides the Rivers, in Virginia are found many Springs of good Water, and among others, one call'd Green-Spring, so very cold, that it is dangerous drinking there in Summer-time, it having prov'd Mortal to several Persons. Some of the Spring-waters are of a Petrifying nature, and others partake of Alum and Vitriol. It is also reported that there are poysonous Waters in those parts about Potomack.

The Native Indians are somewhat Tall, yet not Corpulent, their Hair black and Skin tawny. They wear Deer-skins for Cloathing and Shoes, paint their Faces, and suffer their Hair to grow to an extraordinary length. They dwell in Cabbins made of Poles cover'd with the Barks of Trees, lying on Matts and sitting on banks of Earth, their Food being Venison, Turkies, Fish, &c. Their Women are very agreeable, only they have small Eyes, broad Noses and wide Mouths: They sit on the Ground to eat their Meals, the Women on one side and the Men on the other, and burn the Bodies of the Dead. Their Traffick consists in the skins of Deer, Bevers and other Wild-beasts; which they exchange with the English for Guns, Powder, Shot, small Iron-tools and Brandy: Their Arms are Bows, Arrows, and Clubs with two Knobs at the end: They fight only upon Surprize, but are very Revengeful, and will vindicate the death of a Person upon the Family of the Murderer two or three Generations after. These Indians are Idolaters, believing that there are several Gods of different Orders, who are subject to one eternal Being. They hold, that the Sun, Moon and Stars, are Demi-Gods, calling their Temples Machicomuk; their Priests Viroances; the chief of their Gods Keuras, and their inferior, Keurasavoeh: But they have a particular veneration for a certain God call'd Okee, who (as they say) often appears to them and discovers his Will, answering Questions put to them about Hunting, Journeying, or the like. They offer to him the first Fruits of all things every year, maintaining they can't expect good luck without so doing. They account the God of the English better than theirs, because he often Beats them. Their Priests are generally thought Conjurers, for in the time of a Drought, they will by their Pawawing bring abundance of Rain. But the English by the direction and encouragement of their Governors, keep themselves to the forms of divine Worship which are establish'd in the Church of England.

The Indians have a King almost to every Town, and wear certain Marks on their Backs, shewing to what Kings or Lords they belong, whom they call Weraans; but there are no Courts of Judicature, nor any Justice done among them, but what particular Persons do themselves, by revenging their own or their Friends Quarrels. They live in continual Wars one with another, and by that means are in a great measure Consum'd. The supreme Magistrate of the English Colonies, is a Deputy sent over by the King of Great Britain, who governs the Country with Laws agreeable to those of England, for the decision of all Causes both Civil and Criminal, which are made by the Governor with the consent of the General Assembly, consisting of his Council and Burgesses chosen by the Free-holders. These Laws are put in Execution by the Sheriffs and Justices in every County; and Causes are decided by the Monthly Courts, from whence there may be an Appeal to the Quarter-Court of James Town. The English have divided that part of the Country which they possess into 19 Counties, for the better convenience of Governing it.

Besides the Indian Towns, which are but little knots of Hurts and Cabbins, not worthy of that name, the English have built some considerable Towns since their Settlement, which are for the most part seated upon or near the Rivers, both for the advantage of Trade, and the goodness of the Soil. The chief of these are 1. James Town, or rather James City; so nam'd by James I. and commodiously situatd on James River, on the South-side of the Bay of Chesopeak. It was first Founded in the Year 1606. but has been since fortified with some Bulwarks, and adorn'd with many fair Brick Houses. It is the capital Town of the Country; so that the Courts of Judi•ature and publick Offices are kept therein. 2. Elizabeth-Town, a well-built Town on the same River. 3. Henry's-Town; so call'd in honour of Prince Henry, eldest Son of King James I. by whom its Foundation was laid in a convenient part of the Country, about 18 miles from James-Town. 4. Dale's-Gift, built and Planted by Sir Thomas Dale, A. D. 1610. 5. Bermuda. 6. Wicomeco. 7. Ketonghtan, a Sea-port Town, much frequented by the English, on the Bay of Chesopeak, &c.