Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/275

 privileges were granted to Mr. Gookin for transporting cows and female goats to Virginia. Under ordinary circumstances, any one who conveyed cattle thither and exchanged them for the commodities of the country had to accept these commodities at the rates which the Company prescribed; Mr. Gookin was exempted from the operation of this regulation, being permitted to barter at such prices as were satisfactory to himself. As soon as the Company were informed that his first cargo of live stock had arrived in safety, they addressed him a letter in which they offered one hundred pounds of tobacco for every head of cattle that any person should import into the Colony.

The successful contract with Mr. Gookin seems to have been the beginning of an important trade in cattle between Ireland and Virginia. country.