New Englands Prospect: A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called New England: discovering the state of that Countrie, both as it stands to our new-come English Planters; and to the old Native InhabitantsWood, William, active 1629-1635
History
New Englands Prospect: A true, lively, and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called New England: discovering the state of that Countrie, both as it stands to our new-come English Planters; and to the old Native Inhabitants
Wood, William, active 1629-1635
Indians of North America -- Massachusetts -- Early works to 1800; Massachuset language -- Glossaries, vocabularies, etc. -- Early works to 1800; Massachusetts -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Massachusetts -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
This wood is more desired for ornament
than substance, being of colour red and white like Eugh, smelling as
sweete as Iuniper; it is commonly used for seeling of houses, and
making of Chests, Boxes, and staves. The Firre and Pine bee trees that
grow in many places, shooting up exceeding high, especially the Pine:
they doe afford good masts, good board, Rozin and Turpentine. Out of
these Pines is gotten the candlewood that is so much spoken of, which
may serve for a shift amongst poore folkes; but I cannot commend it for
singular good, because it is something sluttish, dropping a pitchie
kinde of substance where it stands. Here no doubt might be good done
with saw mils; for I have seene of these stately highgrowne trees, ten
miles together close by the River side, from whence by shipping they
might be conveyed to any desired Port. Likewise it is not improbable
that Pitch and Tarre may be forced from these trees, which beare no
other kinde of fruite. For that countrey Ash, it is much different from
the Ash of _England_, being brittle and good for little, so that
Wallnut is used for it. The Horne-bound tree is a tough kind of Wood,
that requires so much paines in riving as is almost incredible, being
the best for to make bolles and dishes, not being subject to cracke or
leake. This tree growing with broad spread Armes, the vines winde their
curling branches about them; which vines affoard great store of grapes,
which are very big both for the grape and Cluster, sweet and good:
These be of two sorts, red and white, there is likewise a smaller kind
of grape, which groweth in the Islands which is sooner ripe and more
delectable; so that there is no knowne reason why as good wine may not
be made in those parts, as well as in _Burdeuax_ in _France_; being
under the same degree. It is great pittie no man sets upon such a
venture, whereby he might in small time inrich himselfe, and benefit
the Countrie; I know nothing which doth hinder but want of skilfull men
to manage such an imployment: For the countrey is hot enough, the
ground good enough, and many convenient hills which lye toward the
south Sunne, as if they were there placed for the purpose. The Cherrie
trees yeeld great store of Cherries, which grow on clusters like
grapes; they be much smaller than our _English_ Cherrie, nothing neare
so good if they be not very ripe: they so furre the mouth that the
tongue will cleave to the roofe, and the throate wax horse with
swallowing those red Bullies (as I may call them,) being little better
in taste. _English_ ordering may bring them to be an _English_ Cherrie,
but yet they are as wilde as the _Indians_. The Plummes of the Countrey
be better for Plummes than the Cherries be for Cherries, they be blacke
and yellow about the bignesse of a Damson, of a reasonable good taste.
The white thorne affords hawes as bigge as an _English_ Cherrie, which
is esteemed above a Cherrie for his goodnesse and pleasantnesse to the
taste.
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