How the Pilgrims Lived
By Governor Edward Winslow, 1621:
For the temper of the air here, it agrees well with that in England; and if there be any difference at all, this is somewhat hotter in summer. Some think it to be colder in winter; but I cannot out of experience so say. The air is very clear, and not foggy, as has been reported. I never in my life remember a more seasonable year than we have here enjoyed; and if we have once but kine, horses, and sheep, I make no question but men might live as contented here as in any part of the world. For fish and fowl, we have great abundance. Fresh cod in the summer is but coarse meat with us. Our bay is full of lobsters all the summer, and affords a variety of other fish. In September we can take a hogshead of eels in a night, with small labor, and can dig them out of their beds all the winter. We have muscles and othus [others?] at our doors. Oysters we have none near, but we can have them brought by the Indians when we will. All the spring-time the earth sends forth naturally very good salad herbs. Here are grapes, white and red, and very sweet and strong also; strawberries, gooseberries, raspberries, etc.; plums of three sorts, white, black, and red, being almost as good as a damson; abundance of roses, white, red and damask; single, but very sweet indeed. The country wants only industrious men to employ; for it would grieve your hearts if, as I, you had seen so many miles together by goodly rivers uninhabited; and withal, to consider those parts of the world wherein you live to be even greatly burdened with abundance of people. These things I thought good to let you understand, being the truth of things as near as I could experimentally take knowledge of, and that you might on our behalf give God thanks, who hath dealt so favorably with us.
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Jan '11
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
Amen
Jun '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
...and the river beds were full of the gold nuggets they used to pay off their student loans. It sounds like the paradise that the OWS protesters are looking for, except for that God thing....
Oct '11
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
Jun '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
I can't help but wonder how many people today would cringe upon reading the phrase, "The country wants only industrious men to employ...", and would mentally translate it to mean "The country wants only industrous men to eradicate its native population, pillage its bounteous resources, and despoil its natural beauty."
Jun '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
At that point, they were the picture of organic sustainability. They couldn't kill enough animals to threaten extinctions, they couldn't plow fast enough to wear out the soil, they fertilized with manure, and their abandoned buildings just decayed back into the ground.
Jun '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
etoiledunord
At that point, they were the picture of organic sustainability. They couldn't kill enough animals to threaten extinctions, they couldn't plow fast enough to wear out the soil, they fertilized with manure, and their abandoned buildings just decayed back into the ground. · Nov 24 at 6:51am
Life must have been a virtual utopia back then. Except for that 50% attrition every winter. Still, it was a natural attrition.
Dec '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
It is the incapacity of the modern to take any joy from life itself that makes the modern point of view so pathetic. Governer Winslow is most lyrical descibing what is the sustainance of life itself. We can still feel his joy. Too bad the modern invents rational problems that don't exist like man made global warning. Then the modern uses this as an excuse to portray life as a never ending horror.
Even the Atlantic Ocean is quiet and beautiful at times. As placid as a big lake. One can take simple pleasure from simple natural beauty. A little joy.
Lake Atlantic
Dec '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
Yes, I think "others", in the context. I did find an obscure reference to othus in reference to hares or rabbits, but I think that is jarring, betwixt 'muscles' and oysters.
Aug '10
Re: How the Pilgrims Lived
Claire Berlinski, Ed.: By Governor Edward Winslow, 1621:
Yes, American wild plums are delicious. Sometimes I pick 'em along the bike trail. They're small but sweet, and extremely plummy.