Linda
07-25-2001, 11:35 PM
William Byrd, the rich Virginian who headed the expedition to draw the boundaries between North Carolina and Virginia was quite a saucy fellow and remarkably candid.
He's speaking of the first colonists at Roanoke and reporting on what lazy ne'er do wells they were who managed somehow to survive the first few years.
They had now made peace with the Indians, but there was one thing wanting to make that peace lasting. The Natives could, by no means, perswade themselves that the English were heartily their Friends, so long as they disdained to intermarry with them. And, in earnest, had the English consulted their own Security and the good of the Colony -- Had they intended either to Civilize or Convert these Gentiles, they would have brought their Stomachs to embrace this prudent Alliance.
The Indians are generally tall and well-proportion'd, which may make full Amends for the Darkness of their Complexions. Add to this, that they are healthy & Strong, with Constitutions untainted by Lewdness, and not enfeebled by Luxury. Besides, Morals and all considered, I cant think the Indians were much greater Heathens than the first Adventurers [at Roanoke], who, had they been good Christians, would have had the Charity to take this only method of converting the Natives to Christianity. For, after all that can be said, a sprightly Lover is the most prevailing Missionary that can be sent amonst these, or any other Infidels.
Besides, the poor Indians would have had less reason to Complain that the English took away their Land, if they had received it by way of Portion with their Daughters. Had such Affinities been contracted in the Beginning, how much Bloodshed had been prevented, and how populous would the Country have been, and consequently how considerable? Nor wou'd the Shade of the Skin have been any reporach at this day; for if a Moor may be washt white in 3 Generations, Sure an Indian might been blancht in two.
The French, for their Parts, have not been so Squeamish in Canada, who upon Trial find abundance of Attraction in the Indians. Their late Grand Monarch thought it not below even the Dignity of a Frenchman to become one flesh with this People, and therefore Order 100 Libres for any of his Subject, Man or Woman, that would intermarry with a Native.
By this piece of Policy we find the French Interest very much Strengthen'd amongst the Savages, and their Religion, such as it is, propagated just as far as their Love. And I heartily wish this well-concerted Scheme don't hereafter give the French and Advantage over his Majesty's good Subject on the Northern Continent of America.
Blunt language, eh? I guess we don't need to say anymore that we suspected this was the mindset.
[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 07-25-2001).]
He's speaking of the first colonists at Roanoke and reporting on what lazy ne'er do wells they were who managed somehow to survive the first few years.
They had now made peace with the Indians, but there was one thing wanting to make that peace lasting. The Natives could, by no means, perswade themselves that the English were heartily their Friends, so long as they disdained to intermarry with them. And, in earnest, had the English consulted their own Security and the good of the Colony -- Had they intended either to Civilize or Convert these Gentiles, they would have brought their Stomachs to embrace this prudent Alliance.
The Indians are generally tall and well-proportion'd, which may make full Amends for the Darkness of their Complexions. Add to this, that they are healthy & Strong, with Constitutions untainted by Lewdness, and not enfeebled by Luxury. Besides, Morals and all considered, I cant think the Indians were much greater Heathens than the first Adventurers [at Roanoke], who, had they been good Christians, would have had the Charity to take this only method of converting the Natives to Christianity. For, after all that can be said, a sprightly Lover is the most prevailing Missionary that can be sent amonst these, or any other Infidels.
Besides, the poor Indians would have had less reason to Complain that the English took away their Land, if they had received it by way of Portion with their Daughters. Had such Affinities been contracted in the Beginning, how much Bloodshed had been prevented, and how populous would the Country have been, and consequently how considerable? Nor wou'd the Shade of the Skin have been any reporach at this day; for if a Moor may be washt white in 3 Generations, Sure an Indian might been blancht in two.
The French, for their Parts, have not been so Squeamish in Canada, who upon Trial find abundance of Attraction in the Indians. Their late Grand Monarch thought it not below even the Dignity of a Frenchman to become one flesh with this People, and therefore Order 100 Libres for any of his Subject, Man or Woman, that would intermarry with a Native.
By this piece of Policy we find the French Interest very much Strengthen'd amongst the Savages, and their Religion, such as it is, propagated just as far as their Love. And I heartily wish this well-concerted Scheme don't hereafter give the French and Advantage over his Majesty's good Subject on the Northern Continent of America.
Blunt language, eh? I guess we don't need to say anymore that we suspected this was the mindset.
[This message has been edited by Linda (edited 07-25-2001).]