518 A. E. Vervill—The Bermuda Islands. 
is also a hint about other frauds connected with it, in speaking of 
Mr. Christopher Carter, the one of the finders who confessed it. 
(See Part ITI, ch. 26, ¢.) 
But although ambergris was repeatedly found there, it was never 
again found in large amounts. This first shipment, however, had 
much to do with the rapid settlement of the islands. 
Cedar lumber, in various forms, was the next article shipped. An 
entire cargo was shipped to London in 1616, and from that time on, 
for more than a hundred years, much of it was constantly exported, 
though during most of that time its exportation was forbidden, 
except in the form of chests to hold tobacco, oranges, ete., unless by 
wu special license. The chests were made very large and of thick 
planks, so that the lumber could be sold in London at a good price, 
for the cedar wood had then a high value for ornamental furniture. 
It cost 28 6" to 3° per foot to saw it into planks by hand in Bermuda, 
which must have made its price high in London, Had the Company 
allowed its shipment in logs or squared timber, no doubt the islands 
would soon have been entirely stripped. (See Part III, ch. 26, 4, 
under Bermuda Cedar.) ’ 
Yellow-wood timber was also shipped, so long as it lasted, but it 
was probably nearly extinct as early as 1650. (See Part III, ch. 26.) 
Cargoes of limestone, to burn for lime, were sometimes shipped to 
Virginia, in early times, and bricks were received in return. 
From about 1622, Indian corn, potatoes, beef, pork, honey, wax, 
and salted fish (mostly groupers) were shipped in considerable quan- 
tities to the West Indies, and sometimes to the American Colonies. 
From 1630, oranges and lemons were also shipped to London, Vir- 
ginia, and New England, more or less. But most of this trade with 
the other colonies was forbidden by the Company and therefore it 
was often done secretly. 
Freedom to trade with other colonies in cattle, hogs, fruit, and 
other provisions was first allowed by the Company in 1644, probably 
in consequence of the Dutch war, and the danger of losing their own 
vessels. But trading in tobacco was again strictly forbidden, under 
all circumstances. 
b.— Tobacco ; Salt. 
During the first seventy years of the colony, tobacco was. the 
principal commodity exported. At first it was very profitable, but 
its price, which was 2° 6° per pound in 1620-25, soon declined to 
such an extent, about 1627, owing partly to the better Virginia 
tobacco competing with it, that it was not remunerative, and often . 
