99 



tilitie afarre ofF."^ On Mondaj^ June 29, 1629, he writes : 

 "we passed the curious and difficult entrance into the 

 Lirge and spacious harbour of Naimkecke, and as we 

 passed along it was wonderful to ])ehould so many islands 

 replenished with thicke wood and high trees and many 

 fa}' re green pastures."^ 



Tlie appearance of this shore, so pleasantly described 

 by Mr. Higginson, has undergone great changes since his 

 day, and more especially during the past thirty or forty 

 years. It is now included within the limits of Beverly, 

 INIanchester, and Gloucester, and is a much frequented and 

 very delightful sununer resort, many of the wealthiest 

 and most prominent families of the country, including 

 merchants, bankers, artists, professional men and persons 

 of leisure from the great cities, making this their summer 

 home. 



The fragrant pine woods, the oaks, the birches, and the 

 green tields come down even to the beaches, to the rocks, 

 and to the seaweed, and mingle the freshness of the coiui- 

 try with the ocean breezes. The elegant villas, with their 

 quaint architecture, dot the coast, and enliven the dark 

 green of the woods with their red roofs. Every secluded 

 cove has its favorite ^^aclit ; the beaches are hard and 

 smooth, and the shouts and laughter of the bathers mingle 

 harmoniously with the rote of the surf, and the hoary 

 cliifs of primitive rock extend into the sea, scarred, 

 wrinkled and worn. 



The belt of woods extending parallel to the coast, diver- 

 sitied with ponds, rivulets, rocky hills and meadows, the 



1 Mr. Higiiinson an-ived near midsummer; at this period of the year, great num- 

 bers of jelly-fishes (the Cyanea arctica, Aurelia flavidula. and other species) are 

 observed on the surface of tlie water near the coast. Possibly specimens of the^e 

 an'm;ils, some having the resemblance of flowers, may have attracted the notice 

 of the voyager, and have thus been mentioned in his journal. 



2 .See Ilutchiut-on's Collection of Papers, pages 41 and il. 



