ffn Bew BnglanD 



Plymouth, where attempts had been made 

 to cultivate the soil for the maintenance 

 of life. 



New England was forest-clad, including 

 the islands in the bays, the only excep- 

 tions to this condition being the salt- 

 marshes, bogs, and the higher ranges of 

 mountains. The Indian tribes found here 

 by the early planters had not materially 

 modified the natural vegetation, although 

 the latter have reported that there was 

 much ground cleared by them. " But, 

 whatever may have been the amount of 

 their planting, if the aborigines had 

 simply abandoned the country, no mark 

 of their occupation would long have re- 

 mained, so far as the vegetable kingdom 

 is concerned." 1 



Even their custom of burning the coun- 

 try in certain districts, twice a year, must 

 have had a comparatively limited effect 

 upon the aspect of the neighboring re- 

 gions. The knowledge of this custom, 



1 A. Gray, Memorial History of Boston^ vol. i., 

 p. 18. 



49 



