A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth; Mourt's Relation: A Relation or Journal of the English Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, by Certain English adventurers both merchants and others
History
A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth; Mourt's Relation: A Relation or Journal of the English Plantation settled at Plymouth in New England, by Certain English adventurers both merchants and others
Massachusetts -- History -- New Plymouth, 1620-1691; Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony) -- Early works to 1800
When our shallop was fit—indeed, before she was fully fitted, for there
was two days’ work after bestowed on her—there was appointed some
twenty-four men of our own, and armed, then to go and make a more full
discovery of the rivers before mentioned. Master Jones was desirous to
go with us, and we took such of his sailors as he thought useful for us,
so as we were in all about thirty-four men. We made Master Jones our
leader, for we thought it best herein to gratify his kindness and
forwardness. When we were set forth, it proved rough weather and cross
winds, so as we were constrained, some in the shallop, and others in the
long boat, to row to the nearest shore the wind would suffer them to go
unto, and then to wade out above the knees. The wind was so strong as
the shallop could not keep the water, but was forced to harbor there
that night, but we marched six or seven miles further, and appointed the
shallop to come to us as soon as they could. It blowed and did snow all
that day and night, and froze withal; some of our people that are dead
took the original of their death here.
The next day, about eleven o’clock, our shallop came to us and we
shipped ourselves, and the wind being good, we sailed to the river we
formerly discovered, which we named Cold Harbor, to which when we came
we found it not navigable for ships, yet we thought it might be a good
harbor for boats, for it flows there twelve foot at high water. We
landed our men between the two creeks and marched some four or five
miles by the greater of them, and the shallop followed us. At length
night grew on, and our men were tired with marching up and down the
steep hills and deep valleys which lay half a foot thick with snow.
Master Jones, wearied with marching, was desirous we should take up our
lodging, though some of us would have marched further, so we made there
our rendezvous for that night, under a few pine trees. And as it fell
out, we got three fat geese and six ducks to our supper, which we ate
with soldiers’ stomachs, for we had eaten little all that day. Our
resolution was next morning to go up to the head of this river, for we
supposed it would prove fresh water, but in the morning our resolution
held not, because many liked not the hilliness of the soil, and badness
of the harbor. So we turned towards the other creek, that we might go
over and look for the rest of the corn that we left behind when we were
here before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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