Part 4 (2/2)
These are supplied by several lesser Rivers, such as _Chickahommony_ and others, _navigable_ for Vessels of great Burthen.
Into these Rivers run abundance of great _Creeks_ or short Rivers, navigable for _Sloops_, _Shallops_, _Long-Boats_, _Flats_, _Canoes_ and _Periaguas_.
These _Creeks_ are supplied with the _Tide_, (which indeed does not rise so high as in _Europe_, so prevents their making good _Docks_) and also with fresh-Water-runs, replenished with _Branches_ issuing from the _Springs_, and soaking through the _Swamps_; so that no Country is better watered, for the Conveniency of which most Houses are built near some Landing-Place; so that any Thing may be delivered to a Gentleman there from _London_, _Bristol_, &c. with less Trouble and Cost, than to one living five Miles in the _Country in England_; for you pay no Freight for Goods from _London_, and but little from _Bristol_; only the Party to whom the Goods belong, is in Grat.i.tude engaged to freight _Tobacco_ upon the s.h.i.+p consigned to her Owners in _England_.
Because of this Convenience, and for the Goodness of the Land, and for the sake of Fish, Fowl, _&c._ Gentlemen and Planters love to build near the Water; though it be not altogether so healthy as the _Uplands_ and _Barrens_, which serve for _Ranges for Stock_.
In the _Uplands_ near the Ridge generally run the _main Roads_, in a pleasant, dry, sandy Soil, free from Stones and Dirt, and shaded and sheltered chiefly by Trees; in some Places being not unlike the Walks in _Greenwich Park_.
Thus neither the Interest nor Inclinations of the _Virginians_ induce them to cohabit in Towns; so that they are not forward in contributing their a.s.sistance towards the making of particular Places, every Plantation affording the Owner the Provision of a little Market; wherefore they most commonly build upon some convenient Spot or Neck of Land in their own Plantation, though Towns are laid out and establish'd in each County; the best of which (next _Williamsburgh_) are _York_, _Glocester_, _Hampton_, _Elizabeth Town_, and _Urbanna_.
The Colony now is encreased to _twenty nine Counties_, naturally bounded (near as much as may be) one with another about as big as _Kent_; but the frontier Counties are of vast Extent, though not thick seated as yet.
The whole Country is a perfect Forest, except where the Woods are cleared for Plantations, and old Fields, and where have been formerly _Indian Towns_, and _poisoned Fields_ and _Meadows_, where the Timber has been burnt down in Fire-Hunting or otherwise; and about the Creeks and Rivers are large rank _Mora.s.ses_ or _Marshes_, and up the Country are poor _Savannahs_.
The Gentlemen's Seats are of late built for the most Part of good Brick, and many of Timber very handsom, commodious, and capacious; and likewise the common Planters live in pretty Timber Houses, neater than the _Farm Houses_ are generally in _England_: With Timber also are built Houses for the _Overseers_ and _Out-Houses_; among which is the _Kitchen_ apart from the _Dwelling House_, because of the Smell of hot Victuals, offensive in hot Weather.
CHAP. IV.
_Of the_ Negroes, _with the Planting and Management of_ Indian _Corn, Tobacco,_ &c. _and of their Timber, Stock, Fruits, Provision, and Habitations,_ &c.
The _Negroes_ live in small Cottages called _Quarters_, in about six in a _Gang_, under the Direction of an _Overseer_ or _Bailiff_; who takes Care that they _tend_ such Land as the Owner allots and orders, upon which they raise _Hogs_ and _Cattle_, and plant _Indian Corn_ (or _Maize_) and _Tobacco_ for the Use of their Master; out of which the _Overseer_ has a Dividend (or Share) in Proportion to the Number of _Hands_ including himself; this with several Privileges is his Salary, and is an ample Recompence for his Pains, and Encouragement of his industrious Care, as to the Labour, Health, and Provision of the _Negroes_.
The _Negroes_ are very numerous, some Gentlemen having Hundreds of them of all Sorts, to whom they bring great Profit; for the Sake of which they are obliged to keep them well, and not over-work, starve, or famish them, besides other Inducements to favour them; which is done in a _great Degree_, to such especially that are laborious, careful, and honest; tho' indeed some Masters, careless of their own Interest or Reputation, are too cruel and negligent.
The _Negroes_ are not only encreased by fresh Supplies from _Africa_ and the _West India_ Islands, but also are very prolifick among themselves; and they that are born there talk _good English_, and affect our Language, Habits, and Customs; and tho' they be naturally of a barbarous and cruel Temper, yet are they kept under by severe Discipline upon Occasion, and by good Laws are prevented from running away, injuring the _English_, or neglecting their Business.
Their Work (or Chimerical hard Slavery) is not very laborious; their greatest Hards.h.i.+p consisting in that they and their Posterity are not at their own Liberty or Disposal, but are the Property of their Owners; and when they are free, they know not how to provide so well for themselves generally; neither did they live so plentifully nor (many of them) so easily in their own Country, where they are made Slaves to one another, or taken Captive by their Enemies.
The Children belong to the Master of the Woman that bears them; and such as are born of a _Negroe_ and an _European_ are called _Molattoes_; but such as are born of an _Indian_ and _Negroe_ are called _Mustees_.
Their Work is to take Care of the _Stock_, and plant _Corn_, _Tobacco_, _Fruits_, &c. which is not harder than _Thras.h.i.+ng_, _Hedging_, or _Ditching_; besides, tho' they are out in the violent Heat, wherein they delight, yet in wet or cold Weather there is little Occasion for their working in the Fields, in which few will let them be abroad, lest by this means they might get sick or die, which would prove a great Loss to their Owners, a good _Negroe_ being sometimes worth three (nay four) Score Pounds Sterling, if he be a Tradesman; so that upon this (if upon no other Account) they are obliged not to overwork them, but to cloath and feed them sufficiently, and take Care of their Health.
Several of them are taught to be _Sawyers_, _Carpenters_, _Smiths_, _Coopers_, &c. and though for the most Part they be none of the aptest or nicest; yet they are by Nature cut out for hard Labour and Fatigue, and will perform tolerably well; though they fall much short of an _Indian_, that has learn'd and seen the same Things; and _those Negroes_ make the best Servants, that have been _Slaves_ in their _own Country_; for they that have been _Kings_ and _great Men_ there are generally lazy, haughty, and obstinate; whereas the others are sharper, better humoured, and more laborious.
The _Languages_ of the _new Negroes_ are various harsh _Jargons_, and their _Religions_ and _Customs_ such as are best described by Mr.
_Bosman_ in his Book int.i.tled (I think) _A Description of the Coasts of_ Africa.
The _Virginia_ Planters readily learn to become good _Mechanicks_ in Building, wherein most are capable of directing their Servants and Slaves.
As for Timber they abound with excellent good; having about eight Sorts of _Oak_, several Kinds of _Walnut-Tree_, and _Hickory_ and _Pignut_, _Pine_, _Cedar_, and _Cypress_ for _s.h.i.+ngles_; which Covering is lighter than _Tiles_, and being nailed down, are not easily blown off in any Tempest or _Gust_.
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