Page:Good Newes from New England.djvu/78

 Leagues, and for want of meanes (as I heare) left it vndiſcovered. For confirmation of this, their opinion is thus much; Though Virginia be not aboue an hundred and fiftie Leagues from vs, yet they neuer heard of Powhatan, or knew that any Engliſh were planted in his Countrey, ſaue onely by vs and Tiſquantum, who went in an Engliſh Ship thither: And therefore it is the more probable, becauſe the water is not paſſable for them, who are very adventurous in their Boates.

Then for the temperature of the ayre, in almoſt three yeares experience, I can ſcarce diſtinguiſh New-England from Old England, in reſpect of heate, and cold, froſt, ſnow, raine, winds, &c. Some obiect, becauſe our Plantation lieth in the latitude of 42. it muſt needs be much hotter. I confeſſe, I cannot giue the reaſon of the contrary; onely experience teacheth vs, that if it doe exceed England, it is ſo little as muſt require better iudgements to diſcerne it. And for the Winter, I rather thinke (if there be difference) it is both ſharper and longer in New England then Old; and yet the want of thoſe comforts in the one which I have enioyed in the other, may deceiue my iudgment alſo. But in my beſt obſeruation, comparing our owne condition with the Relations of other parts of America, I cannot conceiue of any to agree better with the conſtitution of the Engliſh, not being oppreſſed with extremitie of heate, nor nipped with biting cold, by which meanes, bleſſed be God, we enioy our health, notwithſtanding, thoſe difficulties we haue vnder-gone, in ſuch a meaſure as would haue beene admired, if wee had liued in England with the like meanes.

The day is two houres longer then here when it is at the ſhorteſt, and as much ſhorter there, when it is at the longeſt.

The ſoile is variable, in ſome places mould, in ſome clay, others, a mixed ſand, &c. The chiefeſt graine is the Indian Mays, or Ginny-Wheate; the ſeed-time beginneth in midſt of Aprill, and continueth good till the midſt of