74

The English in Virginia, April 1607*

They landed and could
    see nothing but
    meadows and tall
    trees—
cypress, nearly three
    fathoms about at the
    roots,
rising straight for
    sixty or eighty feet
    without a branch.
In the woods were
    cedars, oaks, and
    walnut trees;
some beech, some elm,
    black walnut, ash,
    and sassafras; mul-
    berry trees in
    groves;
honey-suckle and
    other vines hanging
    in clusters on
    many trees.
They stepped on
    violets and other
    sweet flowers,
many kinds in many
    colors; straw-
    berries and rasp-
    berries were on
    the ground.
Blackbirds with red
    shoulders were 
    flying about
and many small birds,
    some red, some blue;
the woods were full of deer;
and running
    everywhere
    fresh water—
    brooks, rundles,
    springs and creeks.
In the twilight,
    through the thickets
    and tall grass,
creeping upon all
    fours—the
    savages, their 
    bows in their
    mouths.

Based upon the Works of Captain John Smith, edited by Edward Aber