First-Hand Accounts [Virtual Jamestown, University of Virginia]

A briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia of the commodities and of the nature and manners of the naturall inhabitants. Discovered by the English Colony there seated by Sir Richard Greinvlle Knight In the yeer 1585. Which [unclear: Remaiaed] Under the government of twelve monethes, At the special charge and direction of the Honourable SIR WALTER RALEIGH Knight lord Warden of the stanneries. Who therein hath beene favoured and authorised by her MAIESTIE and her letters patents

Thomas Hariot, 1588

THE THIRD AND LAST PART, OF SUCH OTHER THINGES AS IS BEHOOFfull for those which shall plant and inhabit to know of; with a description of the nature and manners of the people of the countrey.

Part II Of the nature and manners of the people.

It rests I speak a word or two of the natural inhabitants, their natures and manners , leaving large discourse thereof until time more convenient hereafter: now only so far forth , as that you may know, how that they in respect of troubling our inhabiting and planting, are not to be feared; but that they shall have cause both to fear and love us that shall inhabit with them.

They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of Deer skins, & aprons of the same round about their middles; all else naked; of such a difference of statures only as we in England; having no edge tools or weapons of iron or steel to offend us withal , neither know they how to make any: those weapons that they have, are only bows made of Witch hazel , & arrows of reeds; flat edged truncheons also of wood about a yard long, neither have they any thing to defend themselves but targets made of bark ; and some armor made of sticks wickered together with thread.

Their towns are but small, & near the sea coast but few, some containing but 10 or 12 houses: some 20. the greatest that we have seen have been but of 30 houses: if they be walled it is only done with barks of trees made fast to stakes, or else with poles only fixed upright and close one by another.

Their houses are made of small poles made fast at the tops in round form after the manner as is used in many arbors in our gardens of England, in most towns covered with bark , and in some with artificial mats made of long rushes; from the tops of the houses down to the ground. The length of them is commonly double to the breadth, in some places they are but 12 and 16 yards long, and in other some we have seen of four and twenty .

In some places of the country one only town belongs to the government of a Wiróans or chief Lord ; in other some two or three, in some six , eight, & more; the greatest Wiroans that yet we had dealing with had but eighteen towns in his government , and able to make not above seven or eight hundred fighting men at the most: The language of every government is different from any other, and the farther they are distant the greater is the difference.

Their manner of wars amongst themselves is either by sudden surprising one an other most commonly about the dawning of the day, or moon light; or else by ambushes, or some subtle devises: Set battles are very rare, except it fall out where there are many trees, where either part may have some hope of defense , after the delivery of every arrow, in leaping behind some or other.

If there fall out any wars between us & them, what their fight is likely to be , we having advantages against them so many manner of ways , as by our discipline, our strange weapons and devices else ; especially by ordinance great and small, it may be easily imagined; by the experience we have had in some places, the turning up of their heels against us in running away was their best defense .

In respect of us they are a people poor , and for want of skill and judgement in the knowledge and use of our things, do esteem our trifles before things of greater value: Notwithstanding in their proper manner considering the want of such means as we have, they seem very ingenious; For although they have no such tools , nor any such crafts , sciences and arts as we ; yet in those things they do , they show excellency of wit. And by how much they upon due consideration shall find our manner of knowledge and crafts to exceed theirs in perfection, and speed for doing or execution, by so much more the more is it probable that they should desire our friendships & love, and have the greater respect for pleasing and obeying us. Whereby may be hoped if means of good government be used, that they may in short time be brought to civility , and the embracing of true religion.

Some religion they have already , which although it be far from the truth, yet being as it is, there is hope it may be the easier and sooner reformed.

They believe that there are many Gods which they call Montóac, but of different sorts and degrees; one only chief and great God, which has been from all eternity . Who as they affirm when he purposed to make the world , made first other gods of a principal order to be as means and instruments to be used in the creation and government to follow; and after the Sun , Moon , and Stars , as petty gods and the instruments of the other order more principal . First they say were made waters, out of which by the gods was made all diversity of creatures that are visible or invisible.

For mankind they say a woman was made first, which by the working of one of the gods , conceived and brought forth children: And in such sort they say they had their beginning.

But how many years or ages have passed since, they say they can make no relation, having no letters nor other such means as we to keep records of the particularities of times past, but only tradition from father to son .

They think that all the gods are of human shape, & therefore they represent them by images in the forms of men, which they call Kewasowok, one alone is called Kewás; Them they place in houses appropriate or temples which they call Mathicómuck; Where they worship , pray , sing, and make many times offerings unto them. In some Machicomuck we have seen but one Kewas, in some two, and in other some three; The common sort think them to be also gods.

They believe also the immortality of the soul , that after this life as soon as the soul is departed from the body according to the works it has done, it is either carried to heaven the habitat of gods, there to enjoy perpetual bliss and happiness , or else to a great pit or hole, which they think to be in the furthest parts of their part of the world toward the sun set, there to burn continually: the place they call Popogusso.

For the confirmation of this opinion, they told me two stories of two men who had been lately dead and revived again , the one happened but few years before our coming in the country of a wicked man which having been dead and buried, the next day the earth of the grave being seen to move, was taken up again ; Who made declaration where his soul had been , that is to say very near entering into Popogusso, had not one of the gods saved him & gave him leave to return again , and teach his friends what they should do to avoid that terrible place of torment.

The other happened in the same year we were there, but in a town that was threescore miles from us, and it was told me for strange news that one being dead, buried and taken up again as the first, showed that although his body had lain dead in the grave, yet his soul was alive, and had traveled far in a long broad way , on both sides whereof grew most delicate and pleasant trees, bearing more rare and excellent fruits than ever he had seen before or was able to express , and at length came to most brave and fair houses, near which he met his father, that had been dead before, who gave him great charge to go back again and show his friends what good they were to do to enjoy the pleasures of that place, which when he had done he should after come again .

What subtlety soever be in the Wiroances and Priests , this opinion works so much in many of the common and simple sort of people that it makes them have great respect to their Governors , and also great care what they do, to avoid torment after death, and to enjoy bliss ; although notwithstanding there is punishment ordained for malefactors , as stealers, whoremongers , and other sorts of wicked doers; some punished with death, some with forfeitures, some with beating, according to the greatness of the facts .

And this is the sum of their religion, which I learned by having special familiarity with some of their priests . Wherein they were not so sure grounded, nor gave such credit to their traditions and stories but through conversing with us they were brought into great doubts of their own , and no small admiration of ours, with earnest desire in many, to learn more than we had means for want of perfect utterance in their language to express .

Most things they saw with us, as Mathematical instruments, sea compasses, the virtue of the loadstone in drawing iron , a perspective glass whereby was showed many strange sights , burning glasses, wildfire works , guns , books , writing and reading, spring clocks that seem to go of themselves, and many other things that we had, were so strange unto them, and so far exceeded their capacities to comprehend the reason and means how they should be made and done, that they thought they were rather the works of gods than of men, or at the leastwise they had been given and taught us of the gods. Which made many of them to have such opinion of us, as that if they knew not the truth of god and religion already, it was rather to be had from us, whom God so specially loved then from a people that were so simple, as they found themselves to be in comparison of us. Whereupon greater credit was given unto that we spake of concerning such matters.

many times and in every town where I came, according as I was able, I made declaration of the contents of the Bible; that therein was set forth the true and only God, and his mighty works , that therein was contained the true doctrine of salvation through Christ, with many particularities of Miracles and chief points of religion, as I was able then to utter, and thought fit for the time. And although I told them the book materially & of it self was not of any such virtue , as I thought they did conceive, but only the doctrine therein contained; yet would many be glad to touch it, to embrace it, to kiss it, to hold it to their breasts and heads , and stroke over all their body with it; to show their hungry desire of that knowledge which was spoken of.

The Wiroans with whom we dwelt called Wingina, and many of his people would be glad many times to be with us at our prayers , and many times call upon us both in his own town , as also in others whither he sometimes accompanied us, to pray and sing Psalms ; hoping thereby to be partaker of the same effects which we by that means also expected.

Twice this Wiroans was so grievously sick that he was like to die, and as he lay languishing, doubting of any help by his own priests , and thinking he was in such danger for offending us and thereby our god, sent for some of us to pray and be a means to our God that it would please him either that he might live or after death dwell with him in bliss , so likewise were the requests of many others in the like case.

On a time also when their corn began to wither by reason of a drought which happened extraordinarily, fearing that it had come to pass by reason that in some thing they had displeased us, many would come to us & desire us to pray to our God of England, that he would preserve their corn , promising that when it was ripe we also should be partakers of the fruit .

There could at no time happen any strange sickness , losses, hurts , or any other cross unto them, but that they would impute to us the cause or means thereof for offending or not pleasing us.

One other rare and strange accident, leaving others, will I mention before I end , which moved the whole country that either knew or heard of us, to have us in wonderful admiration.

There was no town where we had any subtle device practised against us, we leaving it unpunished or not revenged (because we sought by all means possible to win them by gentleness ) but that within a few days after our departure from every such town , the people began to die very fast, and many in short space; in some towns about twenty , in some forty , in some sixty , and in one six score, which in truth was very many in respect of their numbers. This happened in no place that we could learn but where we had been , where they used some practice against us, and after such time; The disease also so strange, that they neither knew what it was, nor how to cure it; the like by report of the oldest men in the country never happened before, time out of mind . A thing specially observed by us as also by the natural inhabitants themselves.

Insomuch that when some of the inhabitants which were our friends & especially the Wiroans Wingina had observed such effects in four or five towns to follow their wicked practices , they were persuaded that it was the work of our God through our means , and that we by him might kill and slay whom we would without weapons and not come near them.

And thereupon when it had happened that they had understanding that any of their enemies had abused us in our journeys , hearing that we had wrought no revenge with our weapons, & fearing upon some cause the matter should so rest: did come and entreat us that we would be a means to our God that they as others that had dealt ill with us might in like sort die; alleging how much it would be for our credit and profit , as also theirs; and hoping furthermore that we would do so much at their requests in respect of the friendship we profess them.

Whose entreaties although we showed that they were ungodly , affirming that our God would not subject him self to any such prayers and requests of men: that indeed all things have been and were to be done according to his good pleasure as he had ordained: and that we to show our selves his true servants ought rather to make petition for the contrary , that they with them might live together with us, be made partakers of his truth & serve him in righteousness ; but notwithstanding in such sort, that we refer that as all other things , to be done according to his divine will & pleasure, and as by his wisdom he had ordained to be best.

Yet because the effect fell out so suddenly and shortly after according to their desires, they thought nevertheless it came to pass by our means , and that we in using such speeches unto them did but dissemble the matter, and therefore came unto us to give us thanks in their manner that although we satisfied them not in promise, yet in deeds and effect we had fulfilled their desires.

This marvelous accident in all the country wrought so strange opinions of us, that some people could not tell whether to think us gods or men, and the rather because that all the space of their sickness , there was no man of ours known to die, or that was specially sick : they noted also that we had no women amongst us, neither that we did care for any of theirs.

Some therefore were of opinion that we were not born of women, and therefore not mortal , but that we were men of an old generation many years past then risen again to immortality .

Some would likewise seem to prophecy that there were more of our generation yet to come, to kill theirs and take their places, as some thought the purpose was by that which was already done.

Those that were immediately to come after us they imagined to be in the air , yet invisible & without bodies, & that they by our intreaty & for the love of us did make the people to die in that sort as they did by shooting invisible bullets into them.

To confirm this opinion their physicians to excuse their ignorance in curing the disease, would not be ashamed to say, but earnestly make the simple people believe , that the strings of blood that they sucked out of the sick bodies, were the strings wherewithal the invisible bullets were tied and cast.

Some also thought that we shot them our selves out of our pieces from the place where we dwelt, and killed the people in any such town that had offended us as we listed, how far distant from us soever it were.

And other some said that it was the special work of God for our sakes, as we our selves have cause in some sort to think no less , whatsoever some do or may imagine to the contrary , specially some Astrologers knowing of the Eclipse of the Sun which we saw the same year before in our voyage thitherward , which unto them appeared very terrible. And also of a Comet which began to appear but a few days before the beginnning of the said sickness . But to exclude them from being the special an accident there are farther reasons then I think fit at this present to be alleged .

These their opinions I have set down the more at large that it may appear unto you that there is good hope they may be brought through discreet dealing and government to the embracing of the truth , and consequently to honor , obey, fear and love us.

And although some of our company towards the end of the year , showed themselves too fierce, in slaying some of the people, in some towns, upon causes that on our part, might easily enough have been borne withal : yet notwithstanding because it was on their part justly deserved, the alteration of their opinions generally & for the most part concerning us is the less to be doubted. And whatsoever else they may be, by carefulness of our selves need nothing at all to be feared.