The third (which is before describ’d, and usually known by the Name of Rappahanoc) was formerly term’d Toppahanoc.
This we thought fit here to insert, to the end no colour of mistake might remain to after Ages concerning the derivation or original change of such proper Names, especially being Places of great advantage to the Colony.
Several People of the ancient natives of Virginia.
The chiefest of those Tribes or Divisions of People among the Indians, that were by Name known to the English at their first arrival, were upon the River Pouhatan the Kecoughtans, the Paspaheges, (on whose Land is seated James-Town) the Weanocks, the Arrohatocks, the Appametocks, the Nansamunds, the Chesapeacks, &c. On the River Pamaunkee, are the Youngtanunds, the Mattapaments, &c. On the River Toppahanoc, the Manahoacks, the Moraghtacunds, and the Cuttatawomens. On the River Patawomek, the Wighcocomocans, the Onawmanients, and the Moyanances. On the River Pawtuxunt, the Acquintacsuacs, the Pawtuxunts, and the Matapunients. On the River Bolus, the Sasquesahanoes: Southward from the Bay, the Chawonocks, the Mangoacks, the Monacans, the Mannahocks, the Masawomeks, the Atquanahucks, and the Kuscarawaocks, besides a number not material to be nam’d, as having had little of Transaction that we hear of with the Planters.
Number of Inhabitants.
The number of English Inhabitants in this Country are in this present Year 1671. about thirty or forty thousand, who are plentifully stock’d with all sorts of tame Cattel, as Cows, Sheep, Horses, Swine, &c. and all sorts of English Grain; great store of brave Orchards for Fruit, whereof they make great quantities of Cyder and Perry.
They have been much oblig’d by that worthy Gentleman Mr. Edward Digges, Son of Sir Dudley Digges, who was Master of the Rolls, and a Privy Councellor to King Charles the First, of Great Britain, &c. For the said Mr. Digges at his great Charge and Industry, hath very much advanc’d the making of Silk in this Countrey, for which purpose he hath sent for several Persons out of Armenia to teach them that Art, and how to wind it off the Cods of the Silk-worms; and hath made at his own Plantation in this Colony for some years last past, considerable quantities of Silk, which is found to be as good Silk as any is in the World, which hath encourag’d divers others to prosecute that Work.
The Commodities of Virginia.
Though this Countrey be capable of producing many other good Commodities, yet the Planters have hitherto imploy’d themselves for the most part in Planting of Tobacco, as they do in Mary-Land; whereof there are two sorts, one which is call’d Sweet-scented, and the other call’d Oranoack, or Bright and Large, which is much more in quantity, but of lesser price than the former; and the Plantations upon York River are esteem’d to produce the best of that sort of Sweet-scented: There is so much of this Commodity Planted in Virginia, and Imported from thence into England, that the Custom and Excise paid in England for it, yields the King about fifty or threescore thousand Pounds Sterling, per annum: With this Commodity the Planters buy of the Ships that come thither for it (which are above a hundred Sail yearly from England, and other English Plantations) all Necessaries of Clothing, and other Utensils of Houshold-stuff, &c. which they want, though they make some Shoes, and Linnen and Woollen Cloth in some Parts of Virginia, of the growth and Manufacture of the Countrey; and if they would Plant less Tobacco (as it is probable they will e’re long find it convenient for them to do, it being now grown a Drug of very low value, by reason of the vast quantities planted of it) they might in time provide themselves all Necessaries of Livelyhood, and produce richer and more Staple-Commodities for their Advantage.
Their usual way of Trafique in buying and selling is by exchange of one Commodity for another; and Tobacco is the general Standard, by which all other Commodities receive their value; but they have some English and foreign Coyns, which serve them upon many occasions.