Whence denominated.
Norumbegua, lying between Nova Scotia Northward, and New England Southward, is so utterly not taken notice of by many as a distinct Province, that it might seem to be swallow’d up and lost in the two Countreys between which it lies, or at least to be thought a part of Virginia or New England (for Virginia largely taken is said to contain New England, Novum Belgium, and Virginia, especially so call’d) and that so much the rather, because the Bessabees, accounted by Sanson d’Abbeville an ancient People of New England, are written to have liv’d near the River Penobscot, which is reckon’d to be the same with Pemtegovet, or (as some will have it) Norumbegua, from which, or from a certain great City of that Name, the Country for fancy’s sake must needs be denominated; but since most commonly we find it nam’d and treated of apart, it will not be improper to follow that method, carrying the Bounds of New England no farther Northward than the River Quinnebequi or Sagadahoc, and so determining the main part of this Countrey to that space between the aforesaid River and Pemtegovet, excepting a small Southerly portion upon the Banks of the River Chovacovet; so that it appears chiefly situate under the forty third Degree of Northern Latitude.
Towns and Cities not certainly known.
As for the Towns or Cities of this Province, there is but a very uncertain account to be given, forasmuch as the pretended great City Norumbegua, from whence the Province should take its Appellation, is not acknowledg’d by any of the most authentick modern Writers, nor in any late Voyage or Discovery any mention made either of that or any other considerable Town or City. Dr. Heylin supposeth it to be no other than Agguncia, a poor little Village, that seems compos’d of a company of Hutts or Sheaves, cover’d with the Skins of Beasts, or the Barks of Trees. But the most favourable conjecture is, that it might haply be the Ruines of an ancient Town, which the Natives call’d Arambeck, and had probably deserted it long before the arrival of the Europeans in those parts; however, it is not very probable that the Name of the Countrey should be deriv’d from this City, if ever there were any such, or from the River, which appears to have been term’d Norumbegua on purpose to make way for this derivation, whereas Pemtegovet is the ancient Appellation that properly belongs to it; nor hath any modern one been apply’d to it but that of Rio Grande, by Buno in his Comment upon Philip Cluverius, upon what ground is hard to tell, since it is observ’d by Heylin and others, to be neither large, nor otherwise much to be commended, being Navigable not above twenty or thirty Miles, in respect of its many great Cataracts and Falls of Water, an Inconvenience with which many other Rivers of America are prejudic’d, and rendred impassable.
Before and about the Mouth of this River, which is judg’d to be about eight or nine Miles broad, lie many small Islands, or rather Hills, inviron’d with Water, the chiefest of which is by the French call’d La Haute Isle, from the high and Mountainous appearance of it to those that see it from afar off at Sea.
The aforemention’d Buno, though he names, as belonging to Norumbega, these several places, viz. Porto del Refugio, Porto Reale, Paradiso, Flora, and Angolema, from some obscure French testimonies, without particularising any Author, yet he afterwards confesses, that the Names given by the French, and those apply’d by the Spaniards, are so various and disagreeing, and breed such a confusion, that no Charts or Descriptions had concluded upon either.
As for those who will have Norumbega deriv’d from Norwegia, in respect of a Colony brought thither from Norwey, if the Etymologie be not a little too much forc’d, the Invention may pass well enough till a better be found out.
The temperature and nature of its Soil.
In this Countrey the temperature of the Air is not bad, nor the Soil unfruitful, if it were well cultivated, chiefly towards the Rivers, and where it is not either overgrown with Woods, or craggy with Hills and mountainous Rocks: neither are the Woods unprofitable, for they afford good Timber, and all kind of necessary and useful Wood, especially Beeches, Fir-trees, Wallnut-trees, and other Nuts: The Plains are very pleasant, and yield good Pasturage, onely the Maritime Coasts are so shallow and full of Sands, that the Sailing near them is accounted somewhat dangerous; and this may be imagin’d to be the reason that no Authors have yet met with any Ports or Havens belonging to this Countrey, which they have thought worthy their notice.
