DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70300#0063
ISLE OF FINES.
47
suppose) of them which first came hither, and yet being
adorned with flowers, those very rags seemeth beautiful; and
indeed modesty so far prevaileth over all the female sex of
that island, that with the grass and flowers interwoven and
made strong by the peelings of young elms (which grow
there in great plenty,) they do plait together so many of them
as serve to make aprons.
We carried him as a present some few knives, of which
we thought they had great need, an ax or hatchet to fell wood,
which was very acceptable unto him, the old one which was
cast on shore at the first, and the only one they ever had,
being now so quite blunt and dulled, that it would not cut at
all; some few other things we also gave him, which he very
thankfully accepted ; inviting us into his house or palace,
and causing us to sit down with him, where we refreshed
ourselves again, with some more country viands, which were
no other than such we tasted before—prince and peasant
here faring alike; nor is there any difference betwixt their drink,
being only fresh water, which the rivers yield them in great
abundance. After some little pause, our companion (who
could speak English,) by our request, desired to know of him
something concerning their original, and how that people,
speaking the language of such a remote country, should
come to inhabit there, having not, as we could see, any ships
or boats amongst them, the means to bring them thither, and
which was more, altogether ignorant, and mere strangers to
ships or shipping, the main thing conducible to that means,
to which request of ours, the courteous prince thus replyed.
Friends (for so your actions declare you to be, and shall
by ours find no less,) know that we, the inhabitants of this
island, are of no great standing, my grandfather being the first
that ever set foot on this shore, whose native country was a
place called England, far distant from this our land, as he
let us to understand; he came from that place upon the
waters, in a thing called a ship, of which no question, but
you may have heard; several other persons were in his com-
47
suppose) of them which first came hither, and yet being
adorned with flowers, those very rags seemeth beautiful; and
indeed modesty so far prevaileth over all the female sex of
that island, that with the grass and flowers interwoven and
made strong by the peelings of young elms (which grow
there in great plenty,) they do plait together so many of them
as serve to make aprons.
We carried him as a present some few knives, of which
we thought they had great need, an ax or hatchet to fell wood,
which was very acceptable unto him, the old one which was
cast on shore at the first, and the only one they ever had,
being now so quite blunt and dulled, that it would not cut at
all; some few other things we also gave him, which he very
thankfully accepted ; inviting us into his house or palace,
and causing us to sit down with him, where we refreshed
ourselves again, with some more country viands, which were
no other than such we tasted before—prince and peasant
here faring alike; nor is there any difference betwixt their drink,
being only fresh water, which the rivers yield them in great
abundance. After some little pause, our companion (who
could speak English,) by our request, desired to know of him
something concerning their original, and how that people,
speaking the language of such a remote country, should
come to inhabit there, having not, as we could see, any ships
or boats amongst them, the means to bring them thither, and
which was more, altogether ignorant, and mere strangers to
ships or shipping, the main thing conducible to that means,
to which request of ours, the courteous prince thus replyed.
Friends (for so your actions declare you to be, and shall
by ours find no less,) know that we, the inhabitants of this
island, are of no great standing, my grandfather being the first
that ever set foot on this shore, whose native country was a
place called England, far distant from this our land, as he
let us to understand; he came from that place upon the
waters, in a thing called a ship, of which no question, but
you may have heard; several other persons were in his com-