these foure yeares, and intend God willing to returne shortly againe; but my conscience is to me a thousand witnesses, that what I speake is the very truth, and this will informe thee almost as fully concerning it, as if thou wentest over to see it. Now whereas I have written the latter part of this relation concerning the _Indians_, in a more light and facetious stile, than the former; because their carriage and behaviour hath afforded more matter of mirth, and laughter, than gravity and wisedome; and therefore I have inserted many passages of mirth concerning them, to spice the rest of my more serious discourse, and to make it more pleasant. Thus thou mayest in two or three houres travaile over a few leaves, see and know that, which cost him that writ it, yeares and travaile, over Sea and Land before he knew it; and therefore I hope thou wilt accept it; which shall be my full reward, as it was my whole ambition, and so I rest,_ Thine bound in what I may, _W. W._ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration] To the Author, his singular good Friend, M^r. _William Wood_. _Thanks to thy travell, and thy selfe, who hast Much knowledge in so small roome, comptly plac't, And thine experience thus a Mount do'st make, From whence we may _New Englands Prospect_ take, Though many thousands distant: wherefore thou Thy selfe shalt sit upon mount _Praise_ her brow. For if the man that shall the short cut find Vnto the _Indies_, shall for that be shrin'd; Sure thou deservest then no small prayse, who, So short cut to _New England_ here dost show; And if then this small thankes, thou getst no more, Of thankes I then will say the world's growne poore._ S. W. The Table. Part. 1. _Page._ _Chap._ 1. Of the Situation, Bayes, 1 Havens, and Inlets. _Chap._ 2. Of the seasons of the yeare, 3 Winter and Summer, together with the heat, cold, snow, raine, and the effects of it. _Chap._ 3. Of the Climate, length, and 8 shortnesse of day and night, with the suiteablenesse of it to English bodies for health and sicknesse. _Chap._ 4. Of the nature of the Soyle. 10 _Chap._ 5. Of the Hearbs, Fruits, Woods, 13 Waters, and Minerals. _Chap._ 6. Of the Beasts that live on 18 the land. _Chap._ 7. Beasts living in the water. 24