Six north country diaries - The MAN & Other Families

101
to an herb that grows thei-e, and which the natives too run too
(sic) when poisoned by them—they twist themselves in a circle with
their head in the middle, and can raise themselves up to the belly
and no higher,—there's an ishmd in Virginia full of 'em, the ground
is like a sieve with their holes—a great one in it on which the rest
attend (say the natives) and in the head of that is the carbuncle.
1717/8. Jan. 20th. The natives of Virginia go naked, only a
cover about middle, one side of their heads shaven, the rest with
figures, serpents cutt on their faces ; they live—in tents made of bark
of trees—on venison and wild beasts. Mr. Dunlap says uncle John
insinuated as much as that uncle Kobert had his assistance in making
tliat sermon that was lately so much applauded.
1717/8. Jan. 21st. Dolphin a swift fish, will go by a ship going
at the rate of 12 mile an hour, as if she stood still—they live upon
a fish that flys about a 100 yards, and then dips their wings and flys
again—Dolphin noble victuals—there are abundance of them in
latitude 36, they come no fm-ther north—they stick something into
them like a pike bearded as they swim by in great shoals.
1717/8. Jan. 22nd. Harponeers find whales asleep near the shoar
—they gett 6 or 8 of them upon the back of it and stick in their
darts or harps—and have their boats ready and fly of—the whale i-uns
into the deep and rises up again, and if she chance to liitt a boat with
a fin or any part, she dashes it all to pieces, throws it into the air
and thus tosses and fumes up water till she be spent and dy, and then
they take her up by peice meal into the ship—tliey have a very
little swallow.
1717/8. Jan. 23rd. Virginia called so from Queen Elizabeth the
Virgin, in whose reign it w^as found—Maryland from Queen Mar}-,
Jamaica from King James. Sharks have five or six little fish attending
on them always, which they say discover their prey—they swim
about the head and it never meddles with them as it does with any
other thing that comes in its way—it is a sluggish fish—has a sett of
teeth growing every year after the 3rd—it will bite a man of by the
middle.
1717/8. Jan. 24:th. The chief rivers in Europe—the Danulie and
the Rhine—in Asia, Ganges and Euphrates, in Africa, Niger and
Nilus, in Amei'ica, Patomeck, Tanais or Orinoque. Sharks turn on
their backs to take their prev, cannot bite as thev swim on their
bellys.
1717/8. Jan. 25th. Uncle has been here 39 years this day—had
fish sent us for 9irf. per score and 3.v. carriage— 12 score upon two
horses—was yesterday with Mr. Park, Dunlap, etc. ; they say they
are resolved to be absent when uncle preaches, once summer comes,
and they know our turns of preacliing.
1717/8. Jan. 26th. Uncle says Mr. Green deals roguishly with
Mrs. Mitford, etc., and I'm sure she has dealt roguishly with her
daughter Isabel—took 7/. for lier board the last year, when she was
for the most part absent, as well as for every year since her father's