VIRGINIA is a Country in America that lyeth betweene the degrees of 34 and 44 of the north latitude . The 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 vnknowne . 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. And this is vnder the degrees 37. 38. and 39. The temperature of this countrie doth agree well with English constitutions being once seasoned to the country . Which appeared by this , that though by many occasions our people fell sicke ; yet did they recover by very small meanes & continued in health , though there were other great causes , not only to haue made them sicke , but even to end their daies , &c.

The sommer is hot as in Spaine ; the winter colde as in The temperature . Fraunce or England . The heat of sommer is in Iune , Iulie , and August , but commonly the coole Breefes asswage the vehemencie of the heat . The chiefe of winter is halfe December , Ianuary ; 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 Uirginia . 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 The windes . lightning to purifie the aire , I haue seldome either seene or heard in Europe . From the Southwest came the greatest gustes with thunder and heat . The Northwest winde is commonly coole and bringeth faire weather with it . From the North 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 The entrances . 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 Ccpe Henry in honour of our most noble Cape Henry . Prince . The shew of the land there is a white hilly sand like vnto the Downes , and along the shores great plentie of Pines and Firres .

The north Cape is called Cape Charles in honour of the Cape Charles . worthy Duke of Yorke . Within is a country that may haue the prerogatiue over the most pleasant places of Europe , Asia , Africa , or America , for large and pleasant navigable rivers , heaven & 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 , hils , plaines , valleyes , rivers and brookes , all The country . 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 & 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 , & so in a manner from thence by a Southwest line ; So that the more Southward , the farther of from the Bay are those mounetaines . From which fall certaine brookes which after come to fiue principall navigable rivers . These 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 another .

The mountaines are of diverse natures for at the head of The mountaines . the Bay the rockes are of a composition like milnstones . 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 , & 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 iudgements then ours might haue beene perswaded , they contained more then probabilities . The vesture of the earth in most places doeth manifestly proue the nature of the soile to be lusty and very rich . The colour of the earth we found The soile . in diverse places , resembleth bole Armoniac , 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 gravelli . But the best 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 The vallyes . pleasant plaine hils & 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 Plaines . 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 delightfull 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 accorto The river Powhatan . the name of a principall country that lieth vpon 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 Sacre 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 smal rundles and pleasant springs that disperse themselues for best service , as doe the vaines of a mans body . From the South there fals into this river . First The branches . the pleasant river of Apamatuck . next more to the East are the two rivers of Quiyoughcohanocke . A little farther is a Bay wherein falleth 3 or 4 prettie brookes & creekes that halfe intrench the Inhabitants of Warraskoyac then the river of Nandsamund , and lastly the brooke of Chisapeack . From the North side is the river of Chickahamania , the backe river of Iames Towne ; another by the Cedar Isle , where we lived 10 weekes vpon oisters , then a convenient harbour 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 cornefields 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 haue also in every of those places some Gouernour , as their king , which they call Werowances . In a Peninsula on the North side of this Iames Towne . river are the English planted in a place by them called Iames Towne , in honour of the Kings most excellent Maiestie , vpon which side are also many places vnder the Werowances .

The first and next the rivers mouth are the Kecoughtans , The severall inhabitants . who besides their women and children , haue not past 20. fighting men . The Paspaheghes on whose land is seated the English Colony , some 40. miles from the Bay haue not past 40. The river called Chickahamania neere 200. The Weanocks 100. The Arrowhatocks 30. The place called Powhatan , some 40. On the South side this river the Appamatucks haue 60 fighting men . The Quiyougcohanocks , 25. The Warraskoyacks 40. The Nandsamunds 200. The Chesapeacks are able to make 100. Of this last place the Bay beareth 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 Elders called Caw-cawwassoughes . In somer no place affordeth more plentie of Sturgeon , nor in winter more abundance of 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 Iune 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 .

Foureteene miles Northward from the river Powhatan , R. Pamavnke . is the river Pamavnke , 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 . On the South side inhabit the people of Youghtanund , who haue about 60 men for The inhabitants . warres . On the North branch Mattapament , who haue 30 men . Where this river is divided the Country is called Pamavuke , and nourisheth neere 300 able men . About 25 miles lower on the North side of this river is Werawocomoco , where their great King inhabited when Captain Smith was deliuered him prisoner ; yet there are not past 40 able men . But now he hath abandoned that , and liueth at Orapakes by Youghtanund 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 Powhatan , 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 Payankatank . R mountaines , there is another river ( some 30 myles navigable ) that commeth from the Inland , the river is called Payankatanke , the Inhabitants are about some 40 serviceable men .

The third navigable riuer is called Toppahanock . ( This Toppahanock . R is navigable some 130 myles ) At the top of it inhabit the people called Mannahoackes amongst the mountaines , but they are aboue the place we describe . Vpon this river on the North side are seated a people called Cuttatawomen , The inhabitants with 30 fighting men . Higher on the riuer are the Moraughtacunds , with 80 able men . Beyond them Toppahanock with 100 men . Far aboue is another Cuttatawomen with 20 men . On the South , far within the river is Nautaughtacund hauing 150 men . This river also as the two former , is replenished with fish and foule .

The fourth river is called Patawomeke & is 6 or 7 miles in breadth . It is navigable 140 miles , & fed as the rest with Patawomek , R. many sweet rivers and springs , which fall from the bordering 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 & hath some 130 men , beyond them Sekacawone with 30. The Onawmanient with 100. Then Patawomeke The inhabitants with 160 able men . Here doth the river divide it selfe in to 3 or 4 convenient rivers ; The greatest of the least is called Quiyough treadeth 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 Moy owances with 100. And lastly Nacotchtanke with 80 able men . The river 10 miles aboue this place maketh his passage downe a low pleasant vally overshaddowed in manie places with high rocky mountaines ; from whence distill innumerable sweet and pleasant springs ,

The fifth river is called Pawtuxunt , and is of a lesse proportion Pawtuxunt , R. then the rest ; but the channell is 16 or 18 fadome deepe in some places . Here are infinit skuls of divers kinds of fish more then elsewhere . Vpon this river dwell the people called Acquintanacksuak , Pawtuxunt and Mattapanient . 200 men was the greatest strength that could bee there perceived . But they inhabit togither , and not so dispersed as the rest . These of al other were found the most civill to giue intertainement .

Thirty leagues Northward is a river not inhabited , yet navigable ; Bolus , R. for the red earth or clay resembling bole Armoniack the English called it Bolus . At the end of the Bay where The head of the Bay. it is 6 or 7 miles in breadth , there fall into it 4 small rivers , 3 of them issuing from diverse bogges invironed with high mountaines . There is one that commeth du north 3 or 4. daies iourny from the head of the Bay and fals from rocks & mountaines , vpon this riuer inhabit a people called Sasquesahanock . They are seated 2 daies higher then was passage Sasquesahanock . for the discoverers Barge , which was hardly 2 toons , and had in it but 12 men to perform this discouery , wherein they lay aboue the space of 12 weekes vpon those great waters in those vnknowne Countries , hauing nothing but a little meale or oatmeale and water to feed them ; & scarse halfe sufficient of that for halfe that time , but that by the Savages and by the plentie of fish they found in all places , they made themselues provision as opportunitie served ; yet had they not a marriner or any that had skill to trim their sayles , vse their oares , or any businesse belonging to the Barge , but 2 or 3. The rest being Gentlemen or as ignorant in such toyle and labour , yet necessitie in a short time by their Captaines diligence and example , taught them to become so perfect , that what they did by such small meanes , I leaue to the censure of the Reader to iudge by this discourse and the annexed Map. But to proceed , 60 of those Sasquesahanocks , came to the discouerers with skins , Bowes , Arrowes , Targets , Beads , Swords , and Tobacco pipes for presents . Such great and well proportioned men , are seldome seene , for they seemed like Giants to the English , yea and to the neighbours , yet seemed of an honest & simple disposition , with much adoe restrained from adoring the discoverers as Gods. Those are the most strange people of all those Countries , both in language and attire ; for their language it may well beseeme their proportions , sounding from them , as it were a great voice in a vault , or caue , as an Eccho . Their attire is the skinnes of Beares , and The description of a Sasquesa hanough . Woolues , some haue Cassacks made of Beares heades and skinnes that a mans necke goes through the skinnes neck , and the eares of the beare fastned to his shoulders behind , the nose and teeth hanging downe his breast , and at the end of the nose hung a Beares Pawe , the halfe sleeues comming to the elbowes were the neckes of Beares and the armes through the mouth with pawes hanging at their noses . One had the head of a Woolfe hanging in a chaine for a Iewell , his Tobacco pipe 3 quarters of a yard long , prettily carued with a Bird , a Beare , a Deare , or some such devise at the great end , sufficient to beat out the braines of a man , with bowes , and arrowes , and clubs , sutable to their greatnesse and conditions . These are scarse knowne to Powhatan . They can make neere 600 able and mighty men and are pallisadoed in their Townes to defend them from the Massawomekes their mortall enimies . 5 of their chiefe Werowances came aboard the discoverers and crossed the Bay in their Barge . The picture of the greatest of them is signified in the Mappe . The calfe of whose leg was 3 quarters of a yard about , and all the rest of his limbes so answerable to that proportion , that he seemed the goodliest man that euer we beheld . His haire , the one side was long , the other shore close with a ridge over his crown like a cocks combe . His arrowes were fiue quarters long , headed with flints or splinters of stones , in forme like a heart , an inch broad , and an inch and a halfe or more long . These hee wore in a woolues skinne at his backe for his quiver , his bow in the one hand and his clubbe in the other , as is described .

On the East side the Bay is the river of Tockwhogh , & Tockwhagh . R. vpon it a people that can make 100 men , seated some 7 miles within the river : where they haue a Fort very wel pallisadoed and mantelled with the barke of trees . Next to them is Ozinies with 60 men . More to the South of that East side of the Bay , the river of Rapahanock , neere vnto Rapahanock . R. Kuskarawaock . R. Wighcocomoco . R. which is the river of Kuskarawaock . Vpon which is seated a people with 200 men . After that is the river of Tants Wighcocomoco , and on it a people with 100 men . The people of those rivers are of little stature , of another language from the rest , and very rude . But they on the river of Acohanock with 40 men , and they of Accomack 80 men doth Accomack . R. equalize any of the Territories of Powhatan & speake his language , who over all those doth rule as king .

Southward they went to some parts of Chawonock and Chawonock . the Mangoags to search them there left by Sr Walter Raleigh ; for those parts to the Towne of Chisapeack hath formerly been discovered by Mr Heriots and Sr Raph Layne . Amongst those people are thus many severall nations of sundry languages , that environ Powhatans Territories . The seueral languages . The Chawonokes , the Mangoags , the Monacans , the Mannahokes , the Masawomekes , the Powhatans , the Sasquesahanocks , the Atquanachukes , the Tockwoghes , and the Kuscarawaokes . Al those not any one vnderstandeth another but by Interpreters . Their severall habitations are more plainly described by this annexed Mappe , which will present to the eie , the way of the mountaines and current of the riuers , with their seuerall turnings , bayes , shoules , Isles , Inlets , and creekes , the breadth of the waters , the distances of places and such like . In which Mappe obserue this , that as far as you see the little Crosses on riuers , mountaines , or other places haue beene discovered ; the rest was had by information of the Savages , and are set downe , according to their instructions .