10 
THE HISTORY OF 
breadth, but within that compass had levelled all before it. Both trees and 
■houses were laid flat on the ground, and several things hurled to an incredb 
ble distance. It is happy such violent gusts are confined to so narrow a 
channel, because they carry desolation wherever they go. In the evening 
they reached Mr. Godwin’s, on the south branch of Nansemond river, where 
they wmre treated with abundance of primitive hospitality. 
March 1st. This gentleman was so kind as to shorten their journey, by set- ’ 
ting them over the river. They coasted the north-east side of the Dismal for 
several miles together, and found all the grounds bordering upon it very full 
•of sloughs. The trees that grew near it looked very reverend, with the long 
moss that hung dangling from their branches. Both cattle and horses eat 
this moss greedily in wdnter when other provender is scarce, though it is apt 
to scour them at first. In that moist soil too grew abundance of that kind of 
myrtle which bears the candle-berries. There was likewise, here and there, 
a gall bush, which is a beautiful evergreen, and may be cut into any shape. 
It derives its name from its berries turning water black, like the galls of an 
oak. When this shrub is transplanted into gardens, it will not thrive without 
frequent watering. 
The two other commissioners came up with them just at their journey’s 
end, and that evening they arrived all together at Mr. Craford’s, who lives 
on the south branch of Elizabeth river, over against Norfolk. Here the com- 
missioners left the men with all the horses and heavy baggage, and crossed 
the river with their servants only, for fear of making a famine in the town. 
Norfolk has most the air of a town of any in Virginia. There were then 
near 20 brigantines and sloops riding at the wharves, and oftentimes they have 
more. It has all the advantages of situation requisite for trade and navi- 
gation. There is a secure harbour for a good number of ships of any bur- 
then. Their river divides itself into three several branches, which are all 
navigable. The town is so near the sea, that its vessels may sail in and out 
in a few hours. Their trade is chiefly to the West Indies, whither they ex- 
port abundance of beef, pork, flour and lumber. The worst of it is, they 
•contribute much towards debauching the country by importing abundance of 
rum, which, like gin in Great Britain, breaks the constitutions, vitiates the 
morals, and ruins the industry of most of the poor people of this country. 
This place is the mart for most of the commodities produced in the adjacent 
parts of North Carolina. They have a pretty deal of lumber from the bor- 
derers on the Dismal, who make bold with the king’s land thereabouts, with- 
out the least ceremony. They not only maintain their stocks upon it, but 
get boards, shingles and other lumber out of it in great abundance. 
The town is built on a level spot of ground upon Elizabeth river, the banks 
whereof are neither so high as to make the landing of goods troublesome, or 
so low as to be in danger of overflowing. The streets are straight, and 
adorned with several good houses, which increase every day. It is not a 
town of ordinaries and public houses, like most others in this country, but 
the inhabitants consist of merchants, ship-carpenters and other useful artisans, 
with sailors enough to manage their navigation. With all these conveni- 
ences, it lies under the twm great disadvantages that most of the towns in 
Holland do, by having neither good air nor good water. The two cardi- 
nal virtues that make a place thrive, industry and frugality, are seen here in 
perfection; and so long as they can banish luxury and idleness, the town will 
remain in a happy and flourishing condition. 
The method of building wharves here is after the following manner. They 
lay down long pine logs, that reach from the shore to the edge of the channel. 
These are bound fast together by cross pieces notched into them, according 
to the architecture of the log-houses ir> North Carolina. A wharf built thus 
