In the upper parts of the Countrey are Buffeloes, Elks, Tygers, Bears, Wolves, and great store of Deer; as also Beavers, Foxes, Otters, Flying-Squirils, Racoons, and many other sorts of Beasts.
Of Birds, there is the Eagle, Goshawk, Falcon, Lanner, Sparrow-hawk, and Marlin; also wild Turkies in great abundance, whereof many weigh fifty Pounds in weight and upwards, and of Partridge great plenty: There are likewise sundry sorts of singing Birds, whereof one is call’d a Mock-Bird, because it imitates all other Birds; some are red, which sing like Nightingales, but much louder; others black and yellow, which last sort excels more in Beauty than tune, and is by the English there call’d the Baltemore-Bird, because the Colours of his Lordships Coat of Arms are black and yellow: Others there are that resemble most of the Birds in England, but not of the same kind, for which we have no names: In Winter there are great plenty of Swans, Cranes, Geese, Herons, Duck, Teal, Widgeons, Brants, and Pidgeons, with other sorts, whereof there are none in England.
The Sea, the Bays of Chesapeack and Delaware, and generally all the Rivers, do abound with Fish of several sorts; as Whales, Sturgeon, Thorn-back, Grampuses, Porpuses, Mullets, Trouts, Soules, Plaice, Mackrel, Perch, Eels, Roach, Shadd, Herrings, Crabs, Oysters, Cockles, Mussels, &c. but above all these, the Fish whereof there are none in England, as Drums, Sheeps-head, Cat-fish, &c. are best, except Sturgeon, which are there found in great abundance, not inferior to any in Europe for largeness and goodness.
The Minerals may in time prove of very great consequence, though no rich Mines are yet discover’d there; but there is Oar of several sorts, viz. of Tin, Iron, and Copper, whereof several trials have been made by curious Persons there with good success.
The Soyl is generally very rich, the Mould in many places black and rank, insomuch, that it is necessary to Plant it first with Indian Corn, Tobacco, or Hemp, before it is fit for English Grain; under that is found good Loam, whereof has been made as good Brick as any in Europe: There are store of Marsh-grounds for Meadows; great plenty of Marle, both blue and white; excellent Clay for Pots and Tiles: To conclude, there is nothing that can be reasonably expected, in a place lying in the same Latitude with this, but what is either there found naturally, or may be procur’d by Industry, as Oranges, Lemons, and Olives, &c.
Commodities which are, or may be procur’d by industry.
We need not here mention Indian Corn, (call’d Mayz) Pease and Beans of several sorts, being the peculiar products Planted by the Indians of that part of America.
All sorts of English Grain are now common there, and yield a great encrease; as Wheat, Rye, Barley, Oats, Pease, Beans, &c. good Beer of Wheat or Barley Malt, after the English Mode, is made, even in the meanest Families there; Some drink Beer of Indian Corn, others of the Stalks thereof, or of the Chipps of the Pockykerry-Tree, all which make a sort of fresh and pleasant Drink; but the general Diet of the Country is now English, as most agreeable to their Constitutions.
There are few able Planters there at present, but what are plentifully supply’d with all sorts of Summer and Winter Fruits; as also of Roots and Herbs, of all sorts out of their Gardens and Orchards, which they have Planted for their Profit as well as Pleasure: They have Pears, Apples, Plumbs, Peaches, &c. in great abundance, and as good as those of Italy; so are their Mellons, Pumpions, Apricocks, Cherries, Figgs, Pomegranates, &c. In fine, there is scarce any Fruit or Root that grows in England, France, Spain, or Italy, but hath been try’d there, and prospers well.
You may have there also Hemp, Flax, Pitch, and Tar, with little labor; the Soyl is apt for Hops, Rape-seed, Annice-seed, Woad, Madder, Saffron, &c. there may be had Silk-worms, the Country being stor’d with Mulberry-trees, and the superfluity of the Wood will produce Pot-ashes.