A. E. Verrill— The Bermuda Islands. 547 
voyage and the conditions then existing at the islands, but the name 
of the writer is unknown. ‘This narrative, or rather report, concern- 
ing the islands and their productions, was written at Bermuda, in 
1612, just before the return of the “ Plough.” The writer was, in 
my opinion, Governor Moore himself. 
This is indicated by the business-like style of the document itself ; 
by the statement that “Hastie occasione of business doth make mee 
write somewhat hastilie, etc.” ; by the remark that “we sent out for 
Hogges”; and “but our order is not to take Fish or Fowle, but for 
one or two meales, because that by reason of the flies, and heate of 
the countrey they will not keep”; and by the fact that he does not 
in any other way refer to any acts or orders of the governor, nor 
mention him by name or title, as any subordinate person would 
have been sure to have done. : 
He does not say that the governor ordered this or that, in any 
ease. The whole character of the paper indicates that the writer 
was the leader and the one in authority. His lucid descriptions of 
the trees and their timber indicates his expert or professional 
knowledge of such matters, but Governor Moore had been educated 
as a master carpenter. It is apparently the first official report of 
the Governor to the Company, written rather hastily, owing to the 
pressure of numerous official duties, cares, and details incident to 
the first settlement. If my conclusion be true, it will add somewhat 
to the value and importance of this report, for it is one of the most 
detailed of the early accounts, in several respects.* I shall, therefore, 
hereafter speak of it as Governor Moore’s Report of 1612. Gover- 
nor Moore was a very conscientious and reliable man, with more 
education and brains than most of his colleagues, and the character 
of this useful report is in keeping with his personality. 
Governor Butler (1619) said of Governor Moore “although he 
was but a Carpenter, he was an excellent Artist, a good Gunner, 
very witty and industrious; he built and laid the foundations of 
eight or nine Forts, called the Kings Castle, Charles Fort, Pem- 
brookes Fort, Smiths Fort, Warwicks Castle, Saint Katherines Fort, 
&c, mounting in them all the Ordnance he had, preparing the 
ground to build Houses, plant Corne, and such fruits as they had.” 
The “forts” built at that time were of cedar wood, but the rock 
had to be cut away in order to make level places for the gun plat- 
forms. All the labor had to be done by hand, for they had no 
beasts of burden, nor machinery. 
» 
* This report was printed in full by Governor Lefroy, in his Memorials of the 
Bermudas, i, pp. 65-72, 1877, but without suggestions as to the authorship. 
