EARLY HISTORY OF CAPE MAY COUNTY. 167 



with wild animals, the shores and waters with fowl in every variety, 

 where they had existed unharmed and unmolested through an un- 

 known period of years ; and the magnificent forest, the stately and 

 towering cedar swamp, untouched by the axe of the despoiler, all 

 reveling in the beauties of Nature in her pristine state, the reali- 

 ties of which the imagination, only, can convey an impression, or 

 give a foretaste of the charms and novelties of those primeval 

 times. 



Gabriel Thomas, in his history of West Jersey in 1698, gives us 

 the following particulars, viz : " Prince Maurice River is where the 

 Swedes used to kill the geese in great numbers for their feathers 

 (only), leaving their carcasses behind them. Cohansey River, by 

 which they send great store of cedar to Philadelphia city. Great 

 Egg Harbor (up which a ship of two or three hundred tons may 

 sail), which runs by the back part of the country into the main sea ; 

 I call it back, because the first improvements made by the Christians 

 was Delaware river-side. This place is noted for good store of corn, 

 horses, cows, sheep, hogs ; the lands thereabouts being much im- 

 proved and built upon. Little Egg Harbor Creek, which takes their 

 names from the great abundance of Eggs which the swans, geese, 

 ducks, and other wild fowls of those rivers lay thereabouts. The 

 commodities of Cape May County are oyl and whalebone, of which 

 they make prodigious quantities every year ; having mightily ad- 

 vanced that great fishery, taking great numbers of whales yearly. 

 This county, for the general part of it, is extraordinary good and 

 proper for the raising of all sorts of cattell, very plentiful here, as 

 cows, horses, sheep, and hogs, &c. Likewise, it is well stored with 

 fruits which make very good and pleasant liquors, such as neigh- 

 bouring country before mentioned affords." 



Oldmixon, 1708, says : " The tract of land between this (Cape 

 May) and Little Egg Harbor, which divides East and West New 

 Jersey, goes by the name of Cape May County. Here are several 

 stragling houses on this neck of land, the chief of which is Cox's 



