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the story fifteen years afterwards。
But our hero was a born explorer； and could not be content with not examining the strange coast upon which he found himself。 Leaving his sailors to catch cod； he took eight or nine men in a small boat； and cruised along the coast； trading wherever he could for furs； of which he obtained above a thousand beaver skins； but his chance to trade was limited by the French settlements in the east； by the presence of one of Popham's ships opposite Monhegan； on the main； and by a couple of French vessels to the westward。 Having examined the coast from Penobscot to Cape Cod； and gathered a profitable harvest from the sea； Smith returned in his vessel； reaching the Downs within six months after his departure。 This was his whole experience in New England； which ever afterwards he regarded as particularly his discovery； and spoke of as one of his children； Virginia being the other。
With the other vessel Smith had trouble。 He accuses its master； Thomas Hunt； of attempting to rob him of his plots and observations； and to leave him 〃alone on a desolate isle； to the fury of famine； And all other extremities。〃 After Smith's departure the rascally Hunt decoyed twenty…seven unsuspecting savages on board his ship and carried them off to Spain； where he sold them as slaves。 Hunt sold his furs at a great profit。 Smith's cargo also paid well： in his letter to Lord Bacon in 1618 he says that with forty…five men he had cleared L 1；500 in less than three months on a cargo of dried fish and beaver skinsa pound at that date had five times the purchasing power of a pound now。
The explorer first landed on Monhegan； a small island in sight of which in the war of 1812 occurred the lively little seafight of the American Wasp and the British Frolic； in which the Wasp was the victor； but directly after； with her prize； fell into the hands of an English seventy…four。
He made certainly a most remarkable voyage in his open boat。 Between Penobscot and Cape Cod （which he called Cape James） he says he saw forty several habitations； and sounded about twenty…five excellent harbors。 Although Smith accepted the geographical notion of his time； and thought that Florida adjoined India； he declared that Virginia was not an island； but part of a great continent； and he comprehended something of the vastness of the country he was coasting along； 〃dominions which stretch themselves into the main； God doth know how many thousand miles； of which one could no more guess the extent and products than a stranger sailing betwixt England and France could tell what was in Spain； Italy； Germany； Bohemia； Hungary； and the rest。〃 And he had the prophetic vision； which he more than once refers to； of one of the greatest empires of the world that would one day arise here。 Contrary to the opinion that prevailed then and for years after； he declared also that New England was not an island。
Smith describes with considerable particularity the coast； giving the names of the Indian tribes； and cataloguing the native productions； vegetable and animal。 He bestows his favorite names liberally upon points and islandsfew of which were accepted。 Cape Ann he called from his charming Turkish benefactor； 〃Cape Tragabigzanda〃； the three islands in front of it； the 〃Three Turks' Heads〃； and the Isles of Shoals he simply describes： 〃Smyth's Isles are a heape together； none neare them； against Acconimticus。〃 Cape Cod； which appears upon all the maps before Smith's visit as 〃Sandy〃 cape； he says 〃is only a headland of high hills of sand； overgrown with shrubbie pines； hurts ＇whorts； whortleberries＇ and such trash； but an excellent harbor for all weathers。 This Cape is made by the maine Sea on the one side； and a great bay on the other in the form of a sickle。〃
A large portion of this treatise on New England is devoted to an argument to induce the English to found a permanent colony there； of which Smith shows that he would be the proper leader。 The main staple for the present would be fish； and he shows how Holland has become powerful by her fisheries and the training of hardy sailors。 The fishery would support a colony until it had obtained a good foothold； and control of these fisheries would bring more profit to England than any other occupation。 There are other reasons than gain that should induce in England the large ambition of founding a great state； reasons of religion and humanity； erecting towns； peopling countries； informing the ignorant； reforming things unjust； teaching virtue； finding employment for the idle； and giving to the mother country a kingdom to attend her。 But he does not expect the English to indulge in such noble ambitions unless he can show a profit in them。
〃I have not ＇he says＇ been so ill bred but I have tasted of plenty and pleasure； as well as want and misery； nor doth a necessity yet； nor occasion of discontent； force me to these endeavors； nor am I ignorant that small thank I shall have for my pains； or that many would have the world imagine them to be of great judgment； that can but blemish these my designs； by their witty objections and detractions； yet （I hope） my reasons and my deeds will so prevail with some； that I shall not want employment in these affairs to make the most blind see his own senselessness and incredulity； hoping that gain will make them affect that which religion； charity and the common good cannot。。。。 For I am not so simple to think that ever any other motive than wealth will ever erect there a Commonwealth； or draw company from their ease and humours at home； to stay in New England to effect any purpose。〃
But lest the toils of the new settlement should affright his readers； our author draws an idyllic picture of the simple pleasures which nature and liberty afford here freely； but which cost so dearly in England。 Those who seek vain pleasure in England take more pains to enjoy it than they would spend in New England to gain wealth； and yet have not half such sweet content。 What pleasure can be more； he exclaims； when men are tired of planting vines and fruits and ordering gardens； orchards and building to their mind； than 〃to recreate themselves before their owne doore； in their owne boates upon the Sea； where man； woman and child； with a small hooke and line； by angling； may take divers sorts of excellent fish at their pleasures？ And is it not pretty sport； to pull up two pence； six pence； and twelve pence as fast as you can hale and veere a line？。。。 And what sport doth yield more pleasing content； and less hurt or charge than angling with a hooke； and crossing the sweet ayre from Isle to Isle； over the silent streams of a calme Sea？ wherein the most curious may finde pleasure； profit and content。〃
Smith made a most attractive picture of the fertility of the soil and the fruitfulness of the country。 Nothing was too trivial to be mentioned。 〃There are certain red berries called Alkermes which is worth ten shillings a pound； but of these hath been sold for thirty or forty shillings the pound； may yearly be gathered a good quantity。〃 John Josselyn； who was much of the time in New England from 1638 to 1671 and saw more marvels there than anybody else ever imagined； says； 〃