Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/396

 would lay aside all thought of producing silk if there was the smallest reason for anticipating a narrow margin of profit in the cultivation of tobacco. The quality was not a ground for discouragement. While it was never likely to be equal to the expectations of the Ferrers, it was nevertheless so excellent in its texture as to call forth, in 1662, from King Charles the Second, no mean judge of articles of comfort and luxury, the encomium that he had found the Virginian product to be as fine as any of which he had ever made trial.

It is an evidence of the abundance of cattle in the Colony at this time, that a cow was given to every chief, the members of whose tribe had brought to the proper authorities the heads of eight wolves. It was solemnly stated in the text of this regulation, that its principal object was to civilize and Christianize the aborigines. The cow has performed both a conspicuous and a useful part in the history of the human race, but probably never before or since has so high a compliment been paid to her capacity for accomplishing good, as in this expression of confidence in her power to change even the wild nature of the Indian by the softening influence of her presence. A more notable instance of benignant faith is not recorded in the annals of the Colony. The notion which our legislators had in mind was probably that the Indians might be induced to become herdsmen, and in this peaceful occupation some of their savage instincts would be substantially modified. If the testimony of a later witness can be relied on, they did not attach special importance to