New-Englands plantation : $b with the sea journal and other writings — John Shaqi
New-Englands plantation : $b with the sea journal and other writingsHigginson, Francis
History
New-Englands plantation : $b with the sea journal and other writings
Higginson, Francis
New England -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
Fowles of the Aire are plentifull here, and of all sorts as we haue
in _England_ as farre as I can learne, and a great many of strange
Fowles which we know not. Whilst I was writing these things, one of
our Men brought home an Eagle which he had killed in the Wood: they
say they are good meat. Also here are many kinds of excellent Hawkes,
both Sea Hawkes and Land Hawkes: and my selfe walking in the Woods
with another in company, sprung a Partridge so bigge that through the
heauinesse of his Body could fly but a little way: they that haue
killed them, say they are as bigge as our Hens. Here are likewise
aboundance of Turkies often killed in the Woods, farre greater then
our English Turkies, and exceeding fat, sweet and fleshy, for here
they haue aboundance of feeding all the yeere long, as Strawberries,
in Summer all places are full of them, and all manner of Berries and
Fruits. In the Winter time I haue seene Flockes of Pidgeons, and
haue eaten of them: they doe flye from Tree to Tree as other Birds
doe, which our Pidgeons will not doe in _England_: they are of all
colours as ours are, but their wings and tayles are farr longer, and
therefore it is likely they fly swifter to escape the terrible Hawkes
in this Countrey. In Winter time this Countrey doth abound with wild
Geese, wild Duckes, and other Sea Fowle, that a great part of winter
the Planters haue eaten nothing but roastmeat of diuers Fowles which
they haue killed.
Thus you haue heard of the Earth, Water and Aire of _New-England_,
now it may be you expect something to be said of the Fire
proportionable to the rest of the Elements.
Indeed I thinke _New England_ may boast of this Element more then
of all the rest: for though it be here somthing cold in the winter,
yet here we haue plentie of Fire to warme vs, and that a great
deale cheaper then they sell Billets and Faggots in _London_:
nay, all _Europe_ is not able to afford to make so great Fires as
_New-England_. A poore Seruant here that is to possesse but 50 Acres
of Land, may afford to giue more wood for Timber and Fire as good
as the world yeelds, then many Noble Men in _England_ can afford
to doe. Here is good liuing for those that loue good Fires. And
although _New-England_ haue no Tallow to make Candles of, yet by the
aboundance of the Fish thereof, it can afford Oyle for Lampes. Yea
our Pine-Trees that are the most plentifull of all wood, doth allow
vs plentie of Candles, which are verie vsefull in a House: and they
are such Candles as the _Indians_ commonly vse, hauing no other, and
they are nothing else but the wood of the Pine Tree clouen in two
little slices something thin, which are so full of the moysture of
Turpentine and Pitch, that they burne as cleere as a Torch. I haue
sent you some of them that you may see the experience of them.
Thus of _New-Englands_ commodities, now I will tell you of some
discommodities that are here to be found.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account