PICTURE OF EARLY PLANTERS, vel 
that they are not forward in contributing their assistance 
towards the making of particular places, every plantation 
affording the owner the provision of a little market ; where- 
fore they most commonly build upon some convenient spot 
or neck of land in their own plantation, though towns are 
laid out and established in each county. 
“The whole country is a perfect forest, except where the 
woods are cleared for plantations, and old fields, and where 
have been formerly Indian towns, and poisoned fields and 
meadows, where the timber has been burnt down in fire 
hunting and otherwise; and about the creeks and rivers are 
large rank morasses or marshes, and up the country are poor 
savannahs. The gentlemen’s seats are of late built for the 
most part of good brick, and many of timber very handsome, 
commodious, and capacious; and likewise the common 
lanters live in pretty timber houses, neater than the farm 
houses are generally in England: With timber also are 
built houses for the overseers and out-houses; among which 
is the kitchen apart from the dwelling house, because of the 
smell of hot victuals, offensive in hot weather. 
“The habits, life, customs, computations of the Virginians, 
are much the same as about London, which they esteem 
their home; and for the most part have contemptible notions 
of England, and wrong sentiments of Bristol, and the other 
out-posts, which they entertain from seeing and hearing the 
common dealers, sailors, and servants that come from those 
towns, and the country places in England and Scotland, 
whose language and manners are strange to them; for the 
a and even the native negroes generally talk good 
nglish without idiom and tone, and can discourse handsomely 
upon most common subjects: and conversing with persons 
belonging to trade and navigation from London, for the 
most part they are much civilized, and wear the best of 
clothes according to their station ; nay, sometimes too good 
for their circumstances, being for the generality, comely hand- 
some persons of good features and fine complexions (if they 
take care) of good manners and address. 
“They are not very easily persuaded to the improvement 
of useful inventions (except a few, such as sawing mills) 
neither are they great encouragers of manufactures, because 
of the trouble and certain expense in attempts of this kind, 
with uncertain prospect of gain; whereas by their staple 
commodity, tobacco, they are certain to get a plentiful 
provision; nay, often very great estates. Upon this account 
they think it folly to take off their hands ie negroes) and 
