PICTURE OF EARLY PLANTERS. 71 



that they are not forward in contributing their assistance 

 towards the making of particular places, every plantation 

 affording the owner the provision of a little market ; where- 

 fore they most commonly build upon some convenient spot 

 or neck of land in their own plantation, though towns are 

 laid out and established in each county. 



" 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 and otherwise; and about the creeks and rivers are 

 large rank morasses 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 handsome, 

 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. 



" The habits, life, customs, computations of the Yirginians, 

 are much the same as about London, which they esteem 

 their home; and for the most part have contemptible notions 

 of England, and wrong sentiments of Bristol, and the other 

 out-posts, which they entertain from seeing and hearing the 

 common dealers, sailors, and servants that come from those 

 towns, and the country places in England and Scotland, 

 whose language and manners are strange to them ; for the 

 planters and even the native negroes generally talk good 

 English without idiom and tone, and can discourse handsomely 

 upon most common subjects : and conversing with persons 

 belonging to trade and navigation from London, for the 

 most part they are much civilized, and wear the best of 

 clothes according to their station ; nay, sometimes too good 

 for their circumstances, being for the generality, comely hand- 

 some persons of good features and fine complexions (if they 

 take care) of good manners arid address. 



" They are not very easily persuaded to the improvement 

 of useful inventions (except a few, such as sawing mills) 

 neither are they great ericouragers of manufactures, because 

 of the trouble and certain expense in attempts of this kind, 

 with uncertain prospect of gain ; whereas by their staple 

 commodity, tobacco, they are certain to get a plentiful 

 provision ; nay, often very great estates. Upon this account 

 they think it folly to take off their hands (or negroes) and 



