They carried back with them three things which did not grow in England. These were Indian corn, white potatoes, and tobacco.
Sir Walter Raleigh planted the potatoes at his home in Ireland. The people there liked them so much that potatoes were soon growing in every part of the country. That is why they were afterwards called "Irish potatoes."
As for the tobacco, Sir Walter became so fond of smoking it that he was often seen with a pipe in his mouth. Of course, this was then a strange sight in Europe. The first time the knight's servant saw his master smoking, he was frightened. He thought Raleigh was on fire. He rushed forward with a pitcher of water and dashed it over his head. The sudden bath must have been a surprise, but it probably made the good knight laugh heartily.
Though the first settlers came back from America, Raleigh thought:
"I will not give up so easily. Virginia is a beautiful country. It will make a good home. I will try again to make a settlement there."
The very next year he sent out a still larger number of people. There were men, women and children. When they reached the island where the first settlers had lived, they found the English fort had been destroyed. Deer were roaming freely through the deserted village.
They did not lose heart. They set to work and new houses were soon built. They tried to make friends with the Indians.
At this time a dear little baby was born. She was named Virginia in honor of the queen and of her parents' new home. She was the first white child of English people born in this great land of America.
Poor little Virginia Dare! You shall now hear her sad story. Her grandfather was the governor of the English settlement. After a while he said to his people:
"I will sail back to England to get help, for the Indians are not friendly to us."