A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia | Page 7

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 vitæ. 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 plãted 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 vnderstãding 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. It is founde in manie places of the countrey else. I knowe nothing to the contrarie,
but that it maie bee allowed for a good marchantable commoditie, considering there the
small charge for the labour and feeding of men: the infinite store of wood: the want of
wood and deerenesse thereof in England: & the necessity of ballasting of shippes.
'Copper.'
A hundred and fiftie miles into the maine in two townes wee founde with the inhabitaunts
diuerse small plates of copper, that had beene made as wee vnderstood, by the
inhabitantes that dwell farther into the countrey: where as they say are mountaines and
Riuers that yeelde also whyte graynes of Mettall, which is to bee deemed Siluer. For
confirmation whereof at the time of our first arriuall in the Countrey, I sawe with some
others with mee, two small peeces of siluer grosly beaten about the weight of a Testrone,
hangyng in the eares of a Wiroans or chiefe Lorde that dwelt about fourescore myles
from vs; of whom thorowe enquiry, by the number of dayes and the way, I learned that it
had come to his handes from the same place or neere, where I after vnderstood