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The
second of July we found shoal water, which
smelt so sweetly and was so strong a smell
as if we had been in the midst of some delicate
garden abounding with all kind of odoriferous
flowers, by which we were assured that the
land could not be far distant. And keeping
good watch and bearing but slack sail, the
fourth of the same month we arrived upon
the coast, which we supposed to be a continent
and firm land, and we sailed along the same
120 English miles before we could find any
entrance, or river issuing into the sea.
The first that appeared unto us we entered,
though not without some difficulty, and cast
anchor three arquebus-shot
>> note 1 within
the haven's mouth, on the left hand
of the same. And after thanks given to
God for our safe arrival thither, we manned
our boats, and went to view the land next
adjoining and to take possession of the
same in the right of the Queen's most
excellent Majesty, as rightful Queen and
Princess of the same, and after delivered
the same over to your use, according to
her Majesty's grant and letters patents,
>> note 2 under
her Highness's Great Seal. Which being performed, according to the ceremonies
used in such enterprises, we viewed the land about us, being whereas we first
landed very sandy and low towards the waterside, but so full of grapes as
the very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them. Of which we found
such plenty, as well there as in all places else, both on the sand and on
the green soil on the hills, as in the plains, as well on every little shrub,
as also climbing towards the tops of high cedars, that I think in all the
world the like abundance is not to be found. And myself having seen those
parts of Europe that most abound, find such difference as were incredible
to be written.
We passed from the seaside towards the tops
of those hills next adjoining, being but
of mean height, and from thence we beheld
the sea on both sides, to the north and to
the south, finding no end any of both ways.
This land lay stretching itself to the west,
which after we found to be but an island
of twenty leagues long and not above six
miles broad. Under the bank or hill whereon
we stood, we beheld the valleys replenished
with goodly cedar trees, and having discharged
our arquebus-shot, such a flock of cranes
(the most part white) arose under us, with
such a cry redoubled by many echoes, as if
an army of men had shouted all together.
This island had many goodly woods, and full
of deer, coneys,
>> note 3 hares,
and fowl, even in the midst of summer,
in incredible abundance. The woods are
not such as you find in Bohemia, Moscovia,
or Hyrcania,
>> note 4 barren
and fruitless, but the highest and reddest
cedars of the world, far bettering the
cedars of the Azores, of the Indies, or
of Lybanus,
>> note 5 pines,
cypress, sassafras, the lentisk or the
tree that beareth the mastic,
>> note 6 the
tree that beareth the rind of black cinnamon,
of which Master Winter brought from the
Straits of Magellan, and many other of
excellent smell and quality.
>> note 7
We remained by the side of this island two
whole days before we saw any people of the
country. The third day we espied one small
boat rowing towards us, having in it three
persons. This boat came to the land's
side, four arquebus-shot from our ships;
and there two of the people remaining, the
third came along the shore side towards us,
and we being then all within board, he walked
up and down upon the point of the land next
unto us. Then the master and the pilot of
the Admiral, Simon Ferdinando, and the captain,
Philip Amadas, myself, and others, rowed
to the land; whose coming this fellow attended,
never making any show of fear or doubt. And
after he had spoken of many things not understood
by us, we brought him, with his own good
liking, aboard the ships, and gave him a
shirt, a hat, and some other things, and
made him taste of our wine and our meat,
which he liked very well. And after having
viewed both barks he departed and went to
his own boat again, which he had left in
a little cove or creek adjoining. As soon
as he was two bow-shot into the water he
fell to fishing, and in less than half an
hour he had laden his boat as deep as it
could swim, with which he came again to the
point of the land, and there he divided his
fish into two parts, pointing one part to
the ship and the other to the pinnace.
>> note 8 Which,
after he had (as much as he might) requited the former benefits received,
he departed out of our sight.
The next day there came unto us divers boats,
and in one of them the king's brother,
accompanied with forty or fifty men, very
handsome and goodly people, and in their
behavior as mannerly and civil as any of
Europe. His name was Granganimeo, and the
king is called Wingina; the country, Wingandacoa
(and now, by her Majesty, Virginia). The
manner of his coming was in this sort: he
left his boats all together, as the first
man did, a little from the ships by the shore,
and came along to the place over against
the ships, followed with forty men. When
he came to the place, his servants spread
a long mat upon the ground, on which he sat
down, and at the other end of the mat four
others of his company did the like. The rest
of his men stood round about him somewhat
afar off. When we came to the shore to him,
with our weapons, he never moved from his
place, nor any of the other four, nor never
mistrusted any harm to be offered from us;
but, sitting still, he beckoned us to come
and sit by him, which we performed. And,
being set, he made all signs of joy and welcome,
striking on his head and his breast and afterwards
on ours, to show we were all one, smiling
and making show the best he could of all
love and familiarity. After he had made a
long speech unto us we presented him with
divers things, which he received very joyfully
and thankfully. None of his company durst
speak one word all the time; only the four
which were at the other end spake one in
the other's ear very softly.
The king is greatly obeyed, and his brothers
and children reverenced. The king himself
in person was at our being there sore wounded
in a fight which he had with the king of
the next country, called Wingiana, and was
shot in two places through the body, and
once clean through the thigh, but yet he
recovered. By reason whereof, and for that
he lay at the chief town of the country,
being six days' journey off, we saw him
not at all.
After we had presented this his brother
with such things as we thought he liked,
we likewise gave somewhat to the other that
sat with him on the mat. But presently he
arose and took all from them and put it into
his own basket, making signs and tokens that
all things ought to be delivered unto him,
and the rest were but his servants and followers.
A day or two after this we fell to trading
with them, exchanging some things that we
had for chamois, buff, and deer skins. When
we showed him all our packet of merchandise,
of all things that he saw a bright tin dish
most pleased him, which he presently took
up and clapt it before his breast, and after
made a hole in the brim thereof and hung
it about his neck, making signs that it would
defend him against his enemies' arrows.
For those people maintain a deadly and terrible
war with the people and king adjoining. We
exchanged our tin dish for twenty skins,
worth twenty crowns or twenty nobles; and
a copper kettle for fifty skins, worth fifty
crowns. They offered us good exchange for
our hatchets and axes, and for knives, and
would have given anything for swords; but
we would not depart with any.
We found the people most gentle, loving,
and faithful, void of guile and treason,
and such as live after the manner of the
golden age.
>> note 9 The
people only care how to defend themselves
from the cold in their short winter, and
to feed themselves with such meat as the
soil affordeth; their meat is very well
asodden,
>> note 10 and
they make broth very sweet and savoury.
Their vessels are earthen pots, very large,
white, and sweet; their dishes are wooden
platters of sweet timber. Within the place
where they feed was their lodging, and
within that their idol, which they worship,
of which they speak incredible things.
While we were at meat, there came in at
the gates two or three men with their bows
and arrows from hunting, whom when we espied
we began to look one towards another, and
offered to reach our weapons. But as soon
as she
>> note 11 espied
our mistrust, she was very much moved,
and caused some of her men to run out,
and take away their bows and arrows and
break them, and withal beat the poor fellows
out of the gate again. When we departed
in the evening and would not tarry all
night, she was very sorry, and gave us
into our boat our supper half-dressed,
pots and all, and brought us to our boat's
side, in which we lay all night, removing
the same a pretty distance from the shore.
She perceiving our jealousy
>> note 12 was
much grieved, and sent divers men and thirty women to sit all night on the
bank's side by us, and sent us into our boats fine mats to cover us from
the rain, using very many words to entreat us to rest in their houses. But
because we were few men, and if we had miscarried the voyage had been in
very great danger, we durst not adventure anything, although there was no
cause of doubt. For a more kind and loving people there cannot be found in
the world, as far as we have hitherto had trial.
We brought home also two of the savages,
being lusty
>> note 13 men,
whose names were Wanchese and Manteo.