10 I'HE HISTOUy OF 



breadtli, but within that conjpass had levelled all before it. Both trees and 

 houses were laid flat on the ground, and several things hurled to an incredi- 

 ble distance. It is happy such violent gusts are confined to so narrow a 

 channel, because they carry desolation whei'ever they go. In the evening 

 they reached Mr. Godwin's, on the south branch of Nansemond river, where 

 they were treated with abundance of primitive hospitality. 



March 1st. This gentleman was so kind as to shorten their journey, by set- 

 ting them over the river. They coasted the north-east side of the Dismal for 

 several miles together, and found all the grounds bordering upon it very full 

 of sloughs. The trees that grew near it looked very reverend, with the long 

 moss that hung dangling from their branches. Both cattle and horses eat 

 this moss greedily in winter when other provender is scarce, though it is apt 

 to scour them at first. In that moist soil too grew abundance of that kind of 

 myrtle which bears the candle-berries. There was likewise, here and there, 

 a gall bush, which is a beautiful evergreen, and may be cut into any shape. 

 It derives its name from its berries turning water black, like the galls of an 

 oak. When this shrub is transplanted into gardens, it will not thrive without 

 frequent watering. 



The two other commissioners came up with tliem just at their journey's 

 end, and that evening they ai-rived all together at Mr. Craford's, who lives 

 on the south branch of Elizabeth river, over against Norfolk. Here the com- 

 missioners left the men with all the horses and heavy baggage, and crossed 

 the river with their servants only, for fear of making a famine in the town. 



Norfolk has most the air of a town of any in Virginia. There- were then 

 near 20 brigantines and sloops riding at the wharves, and oftentimes they have 

 more. It has all the adv^antages of situation requisite for trade and navi- 

 gation. There is a secure harbour for a good number of ships of any bur- 

 then. Their river divides itself into three several branches, which are all 

 navigable. The town is so near the sea, that its vessels may sail in and out 

 in a few hours. Their trade is chiefly to the West Indies, whither they ex- 

 port abundance of beef, pork, flour and lumber. The worst of it i.s, they 

 contribute much towards debauching the country by importing abundance of 

 rum, which, like gin in Great Britain, breaks the constitutions, vitiates the 

 morals, and ruins the industry of most of the poor people of this country. 

 This place is the mart for most of the commodities produced in the adjacent 

 parts of North Carolina. They have a pretty deal of lumber from the bor- 

 derers on the Dismal, who make bold with the king's land thereabouts, with- 

 out the least ceremony. They not only maintain their stocks upon it, but 

 get boards, shingles and other lumber out of it in great abundance. 



The town is built on a level spot of ground upon Elizabeth river, the banks 

 whereof are neither so higli as to make the landing of goods troublesome, or 

 so low as to be in danger of overflowing. The streets are straight, and 

 adorned with several good houses, which increase every day. It is not a 

 town of ordinaries and public houses, like most others in this country, but 

 the inhabitants consist of merchants, ship-carpenters and other useful artisans, 

 with sailors enough to manage their navigation. With all these conveni- 

 ences, it lies under the two great disadvantages that most of the towns in 

 Holland do, by having neitlier good air nor good water. The two cardi- 

 nal virtues that make a place thrive, industry and frugality, are seen here in 

 perfection; and so lorig as they can banish luxury and idleness, the town will 

 remain in a happy and flourishing condition. 



The method of building wharves here is after the following manner. They 

 lay down long pine logs, that reach from the shore to the edge of the channel. 

 These are bound fast together by cross pieces notched into them, according 

 to the architecture of the log-houses in North Carolina. A wharf built thus 



