A Brief and True
Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, 1588
Thomas Harriot
They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of deer
skins, and aprons of the same round about their middles, all else naked . . .
having no edge tools or weapons of iron or steel to offend us.
If there fall out any wars between us and them, what their
fight is likely to be, we having advantages against them in so many manner of
ways, as by our discipline, our strange weapons and devises, especially
Ordinance great and small, it may easily be imagined: by the experiences we
have had in some places, the turning up of their heels . . . running away was
their best defense
In respect of us, they are but a poor people, and for want
of skill and judgment in the knowledge and use of things, do esteem trifles
before things of greater value.
Most things they saw with us, as Mathematical instruments,
sea Compasses, the virtue of the load-stone [magnet] in drawing iron, a
perspective glass [telescope] whereby was showed many strange sights, burning
glasses [magnifying glass], wild fireworks, guns, books, writing and reading,
spring clocks that seem to go of themselves, and many other things we had that
were so strange unto them, and so far exceeded their capacities to comprehend .
. . that they thought they were the works of gods then men, or at leastwise
they been given and taught us of gods. Which
made many of them to have such opinion of us, as that if they knew not the
truth of God and Religion already, it was rather to be had from us whom God so
specially loved, than from a people that were so simple.
No comments:
Post a Comment