Quotes from Smith’s Writings

Exploring and Mapmaking

I have drawn a map from point to point, isle to isle, and harbor to harbor, with the soundings, sands, rocks, and landmarks as I passed close aboard the shore. (A Description of New England, p. 5.)

The discovers’ barge … hardly two tons had in it but twelve men to perform this discovery, wherein they lay above the space of twelve weeks upon those great waters in those unknown countries, having nothing but a little meal or oatmeal and water to feed them, and scarce half sufficient of that for half that time, but that by the savages and by the plenty of fish they found … they made themselves provision as opportunity served. Yet had they not a mariner or any that had skill to trim their sails, use their oars, or any business belonging to the barge but two or three, the rest being gentlemen or as ignorant in such toil and labor. Yet necessity in a short time by their captain’s diligence and example taught them to become so perfect. (Map of Virginia, p. 7-8)

Nor had we a mariner nor any had skill to trim the sails but two sailors and myself, the rest being gentlemen or them were as ignorant in such toil and labor. (The Generall Historie, 2, p. 24)

Peruse the Spanish Decades, the relations of Master Hackluit, and tell me how many ever with such small means as a barge of two tons, sometimes with seven, eight, or nine, or but at most, twelve or sixteen men did ever discover so many fair and navigable rivers, subject so many several kings, people, and nations to obedience and contribution with so little bloodshed. (The Generall Historie, 3, p. 82/83)

The contents of the way of my boat protracted by the scale of proportion was about 3000 miles, besides [i.e. comparing it to the length of] the river we dwell upon. (The Generall Historie, 4, p. 163)