552 A. E. Verrill — The Bermuda Islands. 



One of his measures was to burn over large districts, and some- 

 times whole islands, thus destroying all tbe trees and other vegeta- 

 tion, as well as the rats. (See below, cb. 26, b.) Fortunately, in the 

 winter of 1618-19, the rats suddenly died, all within a few days, as 

 the Rev. Mr. Huo-hes stated. Tbis averted a " general burninge " 

 of all tbe Main Island, that Governor Tucker bad decided to order. 

 In the meantime tbe people had become much impoverished and 

 bread had sometimes been lacking for many months at a time. 



Governor Butler,* 1619 to 1622, who was an able man and also a 

 discreet governor, tried to restrain tbe reckless cutting of the trees, 

 which had eVen then become a great evil, and the wanton destruc- 

 tion of the birds and sea-turtles, but with no great success. He also 

 greatly enlarged and improved the fortifications, and built cedar 

 bridges between tbe islands, which were much needed. Even in bis 

 time, most of tbe land on St. George's Island had been stripped of 

 its trees and become barren. 



d. — The Fatal Famine of 1674-15 ; the " Feauges:'' 



In the winter of 1614-1615 there was a peculiar fatal famine or 

 disease, apparently due to the lack of bread-stuffs and other ordinary 



* Most that is known of the history of the islands, from 1612 to 1622, is 

 derived from his MSS "Historye of the Bermudaes" printed by the Hakluyt 

 Society, London, 1882, edited by Governor Lefroy. The editor, when it was 

 pnblished, supposed that it was written by Capt. John Smith, but it has since 

 been proved that it was written by Governor Butler (see " The Academy,"' Dec, 

 24, 1892, p. 891). 



The earlier part, from internal evidence, was written in 1619 ; the last parts, 

 perhaps as late as 1624 or 25. Governor Butler's accounts are confirmed by 

 those of the Rev. Mr. Hughes (1621), who lived in Bermuda at the same period. 



Capt. John Smith, in his General History of Virginia, etc., 1624, made copious 

 and often verbatim extracts from Governor Butler's Historye, without giving 

 any credit for this information, nor in any way referring to its source. 



As this was done during the life of Governor Butler, it is probable that it was 

 with his knowledge and most likely in accordance with his wishes, for it would 

 appear that at that time he had private reasons for not wishing to be known as 

 the author of this work, which was left unfinished at his death. 



Many of the persons that he exposed and censured were still living and in 

 influential positions. Governor Butler, like Governor Moore, never got much 

 praise or thanks for all his good efforts in Bermuda, but was blamed for obeying 

 his orders and doing his duty, and falsely accused of many things that he did 

 not do. He certainly did not enrich himself, but was much in debt on his return. 

 Governor Lefroy states that he was subsequently made Governor of [Old] Provi- 

 dence, about 1638. 



