LAWSON'S HISTORY 27 



was thus, as a trader amongst them informed me : 

 They seeing several ships coming in, to bring the 

 English supplies from Old England, one chief part 

 of their cargo being for a trade with the Indians, 

 some of the craftiest of them had observed that 

 the ships came always in at one place, which 

 made them very confident that way was the exact 

 road to England ; and seeing so many ships come 

 thence, they believed it could not be far thither, 

 esteeming the English that were among them, no 

 better than cheats, and thought, if they could car- 

 ry the skins and furs they got, themselves to Eng- 

 land, which were inhabited with a better sort of 

 people than those sent amongst them, that then 

 they should purchase twenty times the value for 

 every pelt they sold abroad, in consideration of what 

 rates they sold for at home. The intened barter 

 was exceeding well approved of, and after a gen- 

 eral consultation of the ablest heads amongst them 

 it was nemine contradicente agreed upon, immediate- 

 ly to make an addition of their fleet, by building 

 more canoes, and those to be of the best sort 

 and bigest size, as fit for their intended discovery. 

 Some Indians were employed about making the 

 canoes, others to hunting, every one to the post 

 he was most fit for, all endeavors tending towards 

 an able fleet and cargo for Europe. The affair 

 was carried on with a great deal of secrecy and ex- 

 pedition, so as in a small time they had gotten a na- 

 vy, loading, provisions, and hands, ready to set sail 

 leaving only the old, impotent and minors at home, 



