A DESCRIPTION OF EARLY BOSTON 193 



Coot ' wiis sighted some twenty leagues south of Boston, 



he continues) : On the following day we reached Boston, Boston 



,., . Ti J, -IT- Harbour 



after meeting a multitude ot exceedingly pretty islands in 

 front of Boston, most of them cultivated, and inhabited 

 by peasants, and presenting a very pleasing appearance. 

 Boston is situated within a bay three or four leagues in 

 circumference, and shut in by these islands. Here ships 

 ride in safety, in all kinds of weather. The town is built 

 upon the slope of a little hill, and is about as large as La 

 Rochelle. With the surrounding land it measures not 

 more than three miles around, for it is almost an island. 

 It would only be necessary to cut through the sand about 

 three hundred paces, and in less than twice twenty-four 

 hours Boston would be made an island, with the sea beat- 

 ing upon it on every side. The town consists almost en- a wooden 

 tirely of houses built of wood : but since the ravages made 

 by fires, it is no longer allowed to build of wood, and 

 several very handsome houses of brick are at present go- 

 ing up. . . . There is no other religion here than the 

 Presbyterian, Anglican, the Anabaptist, and our own. varieties of 

 We have no Papists, at least none that are known to us. ^ '^'°" 



"One may bring with him persons bound to service, of 

 whatever calling ; they are indispensable in order to the 

 cultivation of the ground. One may also hold negroes, Negro 



./ o Slavery 



male and female ; there is not a house in Boston, however 

 small the means of the family, that has not one or two. 

 Some have five or six, and all earn well their living. The 

 savages are employed, for the tilling of the lands, at a 

 shilling and a half, or eighteen pence per day, with their 

 board. . . . Negroes cost from twenty to forty pis- 

 toles, according to their skill or vigour. There is no 

 danger that they, or even the bond -servants will leave 

 you, for so soon as one is missing from the town, it is only 

 necessary to give notice of the fact to the savages, and 

 describe the person to them, promising them some re- 

 ward, and the man is soon found. But it seldom hap- 

 pens that they leave you, for they would not know whither 



