(627) 
Ufierriy which caufed fome to think that fome Sfdmrds are featcd 
near upon the back of the Mountains. 
Having hitherto difcourfed of the Bay, Rivers , and Mountains, 
I fliall now make fome entrance into the Land ; and firft of the fho- 
res, which all along the Bay and Rivers are for the moft pare fandy, 
but only io fome points there is fome ft ingle caft up; but theEanh 
aflordeth very few Stones, and thofe that are there, are almoft all of 
them hard & tranfparent» I have taken up feveral ftones,that would 
cut glafs as well as any Diamond, Sr. Hemj^ Chichely had a ftone, 
that was taken up by the Rivers fide, which he put into a Ring, for 
which Ring he hath been proferr'd fifteen pounds ; and I do verily 
think , that there are fome ftones gathered there that do abate the 
price of Diamonds; for 1 havefeen feveral Rings of Virghiailoms, 
which in my judgment have equalled Diamonds in luflre. 
The Chiefs of all the Rivers are full of great veins of Iron mit$e^ 
and in fome places of the Countrey I have fcen Rocks of (he fame to 
lye a foot above tbeEarch ; and generally all the high Lands under 
the mould are a meer Rock of Iron ; the confideraiion whereof to- 
gether with the infinite plenty of wood did cauieme with admira-? 
tion to enquire , why they did not endeavour the improvement of 
that advantage which God and Nature had put into their hands,bv 
running of this Mineral ^ but ] wasanfwer'd , That an Iron- work 
would coft three thoufand pounds, and the Countrey being gener 
rally poor , were difcoaraged from the attempt by reafon of the 
charge. I believe the true reafjn is, their being fo intent on their Tc- 
Aacco' Plantations ihat they negleft all other more Noble and advanta- 
geous improvements, whereof the Countrey is capabl?,which with** 
out doubt are many. For in their planting Tobacco they find great- 
eft encouragement from England]^ by reafon of th6 vaft revenue it - 
brings into the Excheqmr. 
They diftinguift their foil into three forts , t//-s. High , low and^ 
marfliy Land ; all which have fome fand mix*d in them, that makes 
their Land warmer than ours is in England. Their high Lands are 
moft fandy , but do notwichftanding bear very good Crops of To- 
b'acco^only it does not holds its fkrength fo long as the low ground^ 
which is very rich, being a b^ackifli mould about a foot deep 5 or 
fomewhat more^ and will hold its ftrength for feven or eight Crops 
fucceffively without manuring. Their Marftlands bear fedges and 
ruflies after the manner of ours ; and of thefe they have not endea- 
voured any improvement as yer. Their Land in general is as good 
and fertile as the Land of £^^/^W ; when the ftrength of their 
ground 
