Indian Languages Database
Record Details
The first booke of the historie of trauaile into Virginia Britania expressing the cosmographie & com[m]odities of the country, together with the manners and customs of the people: : gathered & observed as well by those who went first thither as collected by William Strachey gent. 3 yeares thither imployed secretarie of state, and of counsaile with the right honourable the Lord La-warre His Ma[jes]ties Lord Gouernor and capt[ain] generall of the colony
[London]: , [1829]
Physical Description: 247, [2], 248-321 p. ; 33 cm. (fol.)
Call number: 1-SIZE Codex / Eng / 105
Accession number: 0603-1
Notes: Ms. codex. Title from caption on p. 1. Author identified as "John Rolf" from indentification of British Museum shelfmark at head of caption title on p. 1. Transcription of Ms. Sloan 1622 in the British Museum written in one hand on paper watermarked J. Green & Son, 1829. The original manusript "The first booke of the historie of trauaille into Virginia Britania expressing the cosmography & com[m]odities of the country, together with the manners and customs of the people" was written in 1612. "The second book of the first decade of the historie of travaile into Virginia Britannia entreating of the first discoverers of the country, and of the first colonie transported by S[i]r. Richard Greenvile knight upon the island of Roanoak at the expence and charge of S[i] Walter Ralieigh knight": p. 248-321, has separate caption title. Text primarily in English with some sections in Latin and small examples of the Powhatan language. Includes two sections of words in the Powhatan language: p. 101 gives the names of twelve women who are consorts of the chief of the Powhatan tribe; p. 150 gives four verses of a song in the Powhatan language without music. John Carter Brown Library copy bound as 1st item of 4 with: A true relation of ye state of Virginia by John Rolfe, an 1829 transcription of Ms. Royal 18 A.XI in the British Museum, written in Virginia, 1616. John Carter Brown Library copy half bound in red morocco with marbled boards. Provenance of the John Carter Brown Library copy: Harold Brown: bookplate on front pastedown.
Languages: Powhatan
Genre: Specimen
Region: North America
