TriK FLORA OF COLONEAL DAYn. 77 



and divers other wholesome herbs, both for profit and 

 pleasure, with great store of sassafras, sarsaparilla and 

 anise seeds. Thus have I related unto you what I have 

 seen and do know may be had in these parts of New Eng- 

 land where I have been, yet Wiis I never at Massachu- 

 setts, which is counted the paradise of New England, nor 

 at Cape Ann, but I fear there hath been too fair a gloss 

 set on Cape Ann." 



In 1629, Rev. Francis Higginson came to Salem in the 

 ship Talbot, and from the relation of his vo3'age a few 

 passages can be quoted, showing how deeply he was im- 

 pressed by the appearance of the country. 



"June 24. This day we had all a clear and comfortable 

 sight of America and of Cape Sable that was over against 

 us seven or eight leagues northward. Here we saw 

 yellow gilliflowers on ihe sea." These were probably the 

 Alexanders seen by Gosnold on Elizabeth island, TJtas- 

 pium aureum. 



"Friday, 26th. A foggy morning, but after clear and 

 wind calm. The sea was abundantly stored with rock- 

 weed and yellow flowers like gilliflowers. By noon we 

 were within three leagues of Cape Ann, and as we sailed 

 along the coasts we saw every hill and dale and every 

 island full of gay woods and high trees. The nearer we 

 came to the shore the more flowers in abundance, some- 

 limes scattered abroad, sometimes joined in sheets nine 

 or ten yards long, which we supposed to be brought from 

 the low meadows by the tide. Now what with fine woods 

 and green trees by land and yellow flowers painting the 

 sea, made us all desirous to see our new paradise of New 

 England, where we saw such forerunning signals of fer- 

 tility afar off. 



"Saturday, 27th. We hud a westerly wind which 

 brought us between five and six o'clock to a fine and 



KSSKX INST. Bl I.I.KIIN VOF,. XXVII 9* 



