Although it hath not beene our happe to
haue found such plentie as elsew here to be in the coutrey we haue heard
of; yet seeing that the countrey doth naturally breede and nourish them,
there is no doubt but if art be added in plantig of mulbery trees and
others fitte for them in commodious places, for their feeding and
nourishing; and some of them carefully gathered and husbanded in that
sort as by men of skill is knowne to be necessarie: there will rise as
great profite in time to the Virginians, as there of doth now to the
Persians, Turkes, Italians, and Spaniards.
'Flaxe and Hempe.'
The trueth is that of Hempe and Flaxe there is no greate store in any
one place together, by reason it is not planted but as the soile doth
yeeld it of it selfe; and howsoeuer the leafe, and stemme or stalke doe
differ from ours; the stuffe by the iudgemet of men of skill is
altogether as good as ours. And if not, as further proofe should finde
otherwise; we haue that experience of the soile, as thas there canno bee
shewed anie reason to the contrary, but that it will grow there
excellent well; and by planting will be yeelded plentifully: seeing
there is so much ground whereof some may well be applyed to such
purposes. What benefite heereof may growe in cordage and linnens who can
not easily vnderstand?
'Allum.'
There is a veine of earth along the sea coast for the space of fourtie
or fiftie miles, whereof by the iudgement of some that have made triall
heere in England, is made good Allum, of that kinde which is called
Roche Allum. The richnesse of such a commoditie is so well knowne that I
neede not to saye any thing thereof. The same earth doth also yeelde
White Copresse, Nitrum, and Alumen Plumeum, but nothing so plentifully
as the common Allum; which be also of price and profitable.
'Wapeih:'
Wapeih, a kinde of earth so called by the naturall inhabitants; very
like to terra sigillata: and hauing beene refined, it hath beene found
by some of our Phisitios and Chirurgeons to bee of the same kinde of
vertue and more effectuall. The inhabitats vfe it very much for the cure
of sores and woundes: there is in diuers places great plentie, and in
some places of a blewe sort.
'Pitch, Tarre, Rozen, and Turpentine.'
There are those kindes of trees which yeelde them abundantly and great
store. In the very same Iland where wee were seated, being fifteene
miles of length, and fiue or sixe miles in breadth, there are fewe trees
els but of the same kind; the whole Iland being full. [Sassafras.]
'Sassafras.'
Sassafras, called by the inhabitantes Winauk, a kinde of wood of most
pleasand and sweete smel; and of most rare vertues in phisick for the
cure of many diseases. It is found by experience to bee farre better and
of more vses then the wood which is called Guaiacum, or Lignum vita. For
the description, the manner of vsing and the manifolde vertues thereof,
I referre you to the booke of Monardus, translated and entituled in
English, The ioyfull newes from the West Indies.
'Cedar.'
Cedar, a very sweet wood & fine timber; whereof if nests of chests be
there made, or timber therof fitted for sweet & fine bedsteads, tables,
or deskes, lutes, virginalles & many things else, (of which there hath
beene proofe made already) to make vp fraite with other principal
commodities will yeeld profite.
'Wine.'
There are two kinds of grapes that the soile doth yeeld naturally: the
one is small and sowre of the ordinarie bignesse as ours in England: the
other farre greater & of himselfe iushious sweet. When they are plated
and husbandeg as they ought, a principall commoditie of wines by them
may be raised.
'Oyle.'
There are two sortes of Walnuttes both holding oyle, but the one farre
more plentifull then the other. When there are milles & other deuises
for the purpose, a commodity of them may be raised because there are
infinite store. There are also three seuerall kindes of Berries in the
forme of Oke akornes, which also by the experience and vse of the
inhabitantes, wee finde to yeelde very good and sweete oyle. Furthermore
the Beares of the countrey are commonly very fatte, and in some places
there are many: their fatnesse because it is so liquid, may well be
termed oyle, and hath many speciall vses.
'Furres:'
All along the Sea coast there are great store of Otters, which beeying
taken by weares and other engines made for the purpose, will yeelde good
profite. Wee hope also of Marterne furres, and make no doubt by the
relation of the people but that in some places of the countrey there are
store: although there were but two skinnes that came to our handes.
Luzarnes also we haue vnderstading of. although for the time we saw
none.
'Deare skinnes.'
Deare skinnes dressed after the manner of Chamoes or vndressed are to be
had of the naturall inhabitants thousands yeerely by way of trifficke
for trifles: and no more wast or spoile of Deare then is and hath beene
ordinarily in time before.
'Ciuet cattes.'
In our trauailes, there was founde one to haue beene killed by a saluage
or inhabitant: and in an other place the smell where one or more had
lately beene before: whereby we gather besides then by the relation of
the people that there are some in the countrey: good profite will rise
by them.
'Iron.'
In two places of the countrey specially, one about fourescore and the
other sixe score miles from the Fort or place where wee dwelt: wee
founde neere the water side the ground to be rockie, which by the triall
of a minerall man, was founde to holde Iron richly.
