THoMAs.l OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. 617 



preserveth the body from obstruction, but also (if any be so tbat tbey have not been 

 of too long continuance) in short time brealictli tlicm: whereby their bodies are 

 notably preserved in health, an<l know not many grievous diseases, wherewithal we 

 in England are oftentimes afflicted.' 



This, we must bear in mind, was written in 1587, nearly twenty years 

 before the first permanent Enropeau settlement in Virginia. Another 

 point worthy of notice as indicative of considerable experience in cnl- 

 tivation is that there were in nse in the section visited by Mr. Hariot 

 four varieties of maize. 



Beverly, in lii.s History of Virginia,^ says: 



Besides all these, our natives hlid origin.aily .imongst them, Indian corn. Peas, 

 Beans, Potatoes (.Svyfeet Potatoes) and Tobacco. 



This Indian Corn was the stall' of food upon which the Indians did ever depend; 

 for when sickness, bad weather, war or any other acciilcut kept theui from hunting, 

 lishing and fowling, this, with the addition of some Peas, Beiins and such other 

 fruits of tbe Earth, as were then in season, was the family's dependent'O and the 

 sn]iport of their women and children. 



There are four sorts of Indian Corn, two of which are early ripe, and two late 

 ripe, all growing in the same raaunc^r. Every single grain of this when planted pro- 

 duces a tall up-right .Stalk which has several ears hanging on the sides of it, from 

 six to ten inches long. » » * The late ripe corn is diversify'ed by the shape of 

 the grain only, witlio)it respect to the .accidental dift'erences in colour, some being 

 lilue, some red, some yellow, some white and some streak'd. That therefore which 

 makes the distinction is the plumjmess or shrivelling of the grain ; the one looks as 

 smooth and as full as the early ripe corn and this they call flint corn: the other has 

 a linger grain and looks shrivell'd with a dent on the back of the grain as if it had 

 never come to perfection, and this they call shc-eorn. 



All these sorts arc planted alike in rows, three, four or five grains in a hill, the 

 Larger sort at four or live foot distance, the lesser sort nearer. Tln^ Indians used to 

 give it one or two weedings .and make a hill about it, and so thr. labor was done. 

 Tbey likewise plant a bean in the sanii^ hill with the corn, upon whose stalk it sus- 

 tains itself. 



The Indians sow'd peas sometimes in the intervals of the rows of corn, but more 

 generally in a patch of ground by themselves. * » » 



Their potatoes are either red or white, about as long as a boy's leg, and sometimes 

 as long and big as both the leg and thigh of a young child, and very nuuli resem- 

 bling it in shape. 



How the Indians order'd their tobacco I am not certain, tliey now depending 

 chiefly upon the English for \\ hat they smoak. 



This long- e.\ tract from Beverly has been given, as it furnishes addi- 

 tional evidence of the long cultivation of maize, the varieties being 

 the same now chiefly in use in the South. 



Marijuette, .speaking of the Illinois Indians as seen by him ou his 

 first visit,^ remarlis: 



They live by game, Ti'ISich is abundant in this country, and on Indi.an coin (bled 

 d'inde), of which they .always g.ather a good crop, so that they have never sutfered 

 by famine. They also sow beans and melons, which are excellent, especially those 

 with a red seed. Their sijuashes are not of the best; they dry them in the sun to 

 eat in the winter and spring. 



' Hariot (Thomas)— "A Brief & True Report," etc., of Virginia, Keiirint, N. Y., 1872, pp, K-\ti. 



sSec'onileilD., Lomlou, 1722, p]i, 12:i-128, 



^ Voyages and Di.scov., Eii^lislj traus, Hisl, Coll, La., 1852, vol, iv, ji, Xi. Original French, p. 246, 



