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JAMES TOWNE In the Words of Contemporaries |
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5. EARLY EXPLORATIONS
WRANGLINGS among the leaders of the colonists did not block all worth-while accomplishments. Spurred on by the demands of the London Company for profits, Captain Newport, in the fall of 1608, made an expedition up the James River into the Indian country, hoping to find gold and an access to the western sea.
The ships having disburdened her selfe of 70 persons, with the first gentle woman and woman servant that arrived in our Colony; Captaine Newport with al the Councell, and 120 chosen men, set forward for the discovery of Monacan: leaving the President at the fort with 80. (such as they were) to relade the shippe.
Arriving at the falles, we marched by land some forty myles in 2 daies and a halfe; and so returned downe to the same path we went. Two townes wee discovered of the Monacans, the people neither using us well nor ill: yet for our securitie wee tooke one of their pettie Werowances [chiefs], and lead him bound, to conduct us the way.
And in our returne [we] searched many places wee supposed mynes, about which we spent some time in refining; having one William Callicut a refiner, fitted for that purpose. From that crust of earth wee digged, hee perswaded us to beleeve he extracted some smal quantitie of silver (and not unlikely better stuffe might bee had for the digging). With this poore trial, we were contented to leave this faire, fertill, well watred countrie.
The Proceedings of the English Colonie in Virginia . . . 1606, till this present 1612, . . .
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Last Modified: Thurs, Sep 11 2003 10:00:00 pm PST |