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JAMES TOWNE In the Words of Contemporaries |
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2. JAMESTOWN ISLAND
IN their first act, the choice of a site for settlement, the colonists violated the helpful instructions which they had brought with them from England. These instructions stressed that they select a healthful location which could be defended easily. Jamestown as a point for settlement proved none too desirable, at least from the standpoint of health, as a later observer noted.
The place, on which the towne is built, is a perfect Peninsula, or tract of land allmost wholly incompast with water. Haveing, on the Sowth side the River (Formerly Powhetan, now called James River) 3 miles brode, incompast on the North, from the East pointe, with a deep creeke, rangeing in a cemicircle, to the west, within 10 paces of the River; and there, by a small Istmos, tack'd to the Continent.
This Iseland (for so it is denominate) hath for Longitude (East and West) nere upon two miles, and for Lattitude about halfe so much, beareing in the wholl[e] compass about 5 miles, litle more or less. It is low ground, full of Marches and Swomps, which makes the Aire, especially in the Sumer, insalubritious and unhelthy: It is not at all replenished with springs of fresh water, and that which they have in their wells, brackish, ill sented, penurious, and not gratefull to the stumack; . . .
Bacon's and Ingram's Proceedings.
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Last Modified: Thurs, Sep 11 2003 10:00:00 pm PST |
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