Tobacco is the only solid Staple Commodity of this Province: The use of it was first found out by the _Indians_ many Ages agoe, and transferr’d into Christendom by that great Discoverer of _America Columbus_. It’s generally made by all the Inhabitants of this Province, and between the months of _March_ and _April_ they sow the seed (which is much smaller then Mustard-seed) in small beds and patches digg’d up and made so by art, and about _May_ the Plants commonly appear green in those beds: In _June_ they are transplanted from their beds, and set in little hillocks in distant rowes, dug up for the same purpose; some twice or thrice they are weeded, and succoured from their illegitimate Leaves that would be peeping out from the body of the Stalk. They top the several Plants as they find occasion in their predominating rankness: About the middle of _September_ they cut the Tobacco down, and carry it into houses, (made for that purpose) to bring it to its purity: And after it has attained, by a convenient attendance upon time, to its perfection, it is then tyed up in bundles, and packt into Hogs-heads, and then laid by for the Trade. Between _November_ and _January_ there arrives in this Province Shipping to the number of twenty sail and upwards (see note No. 43), all Merchant-men loaden with Commodities to Trafique and dispose of, {68} trucking with the Planter for Silks, Hollands, Serges, and Broad-clothes, with other necessary Goods, priz’d at such and such rates as shall be judg’d on is fair and legal, for Tobacco at so much the pound, and advantage on both sides considered; the Planter for his work, and the Merchant for adventuring himself and his Commodity into so far a Country: Thus is the Trade on both sides drove on with a fair and honest _Decorum_. The Inhabitants of this Province are seldom or never put to the affrightment of being robb’d of their money, nor to dirty their Fingers by telling of vast sums: They have more bags to carry Corn, then Coyn; and though they want, but why should I call that a want which is only a necessary miss? the very effects of the dirt of this Province affords as great a profit to the general Inhabitant, as the Gold of _Peru_ doth to the straight-breecht Commonalty of the _Spaniard_. Our Shops and Exchanges of _Mary-Land_, are the Merchants Store-houses, where with few words and protestations Goods are bought and delivered; not like those Shop-keepers Boys in _London_, that continually cry, _What do ye lack Sir? What d’ye buy?_ yelping with so wide a mouth, as if some Apothecary had hired their mouths to stand open to catch Gnats and Vagabond Flyes in.