We were entertained with all love and kindness, and with as much bounty,
after their manner, as they could possibly devise. We found the people
most gentle, loving and faithful, void of all guile and treason, and
such as live after the manner of the golden age. The people only care
how to defend themselves from the cold in their short winter, and to
feed themselves with such meat as the soil affordeth; their meat is very
well sodden, and they make broth very sweet and savory. Their vessels
are earthen pots, very large, white and sweet; their dishes are wooden
platters of sweet timber. Within the place where they feed was their
lodging, and within that their idol, which they worship, of whom they
speak incredible things. While we were at meat, there came in at the
gates two or three men with their bows and arrows from hunting, whom
when we espied we began to look one toward another, and offered to reach
our weapons; but as soon as she espied our mistrust, she was very much
moved, and caused some of her men to run out, and take away their bows
and arrows and break them, and withal beat the poor fellows out of the
gate again.
When we departed in the evening and would not tarry all night, she was
very sorry, and gave us into our boat our supper half-dressed, pots and
all, and brought us to our boat-side, in which we lay all night,
removing the same a pretty distance from the shore. She perceived our
jealousy, was much grieved, and sent divers men and thirty women to sit
all night on the bank-side by us, and sent us into our boats fine mats
to cover us from the rain, using very many words to entreat us to rest
in their houses. But because we were few men, and, if we had miscarried,
the voyage had been in very great danger, we durst not adventure
anything, although there was no cause of doubt; for a more kind and
loving people there cannot be found in the world, as far as we had
hitherto had trial.
Beyond this island there is the mainland, and over against this island
falleth into this spacious water the great river called Occam by the
inhabitants, on which standeth a town called Pomeiock, and six days'
journey from the same is situate their greatest city, called Skicoak,
which this people affirm to be very great; but the savages were never at
it, only they speak of it by the report of their fathers and other men,
whom they have heard affirm it to be above one hour's journey about.
Into this river falleth another great river called Cipo, in which there
is found great store of muscles, in which there are pearls; likewise
there descendeth into this Occam another river called Nomopana, on the
one side whereof standeth a great town called Chawanook, and the lord of
that town and country is called Pooneno. This Pooneno is not subject to
the King of Wingandacoa, but is a free lord.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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