Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
The map is drawn as though approaching the coast from the Atlantic, with the North Caro-
lina Outer Banks along the lower edge. A note by the gap between the first two islands on
the left shows 'where we arivid first'; here the party sailed to shelter inside the Banks. Above
that is Pamlico Sound, with Albemarle Sound to the right in which lies King's (now Roan-
oke) Island, where the colony was set up. Other islands and the names of native villages are
marked, along with places where useful plants grew: oak galls for making ink, 'the roots that
dieth red' (madder), and 'the grase that berithe the silke' (a forage crop). This was all valu-
able information for the prospective coloniser.
This map was probably sent to London with a letter dated 8 September 1585 from the new
colony's governor, Ralph Lane. The settlers had arrived in late summer, which was grape har-
vest time - also the season when the glowing report of the previous year was written. The en-
ticement of plentiful delicious food was not available all year round, and the colonists would
find the living much less easy in winter. They had lost most of their provisions on the jour-
ney, and had arrived too late in the year to plant crops. They lacked nets to take advantage of
the 'great store of fishe' shown below the grapes on the map, so they had to live off the land
- and off the generosity of the native people already dwelling there.
Lane's letter was addressed to Sir Francis Walsingham, Queen Elizabeth's spymaster.
Manuscript maps such as this one were a way for the English queen to control knowledge of
new overseas lands, since they had limited circulation among her close advisers. In parallel
Spain, which acquired a large gold-bearing empire in South America, kept its master map
of discoveries, the padrón
Real
, in great secrecy. 'A description of the land of Virginia' is
written on the back of this map; Raleigh had agreed to name the first new settlement thus, in
honour of the Virgin Queen. This first attempt failed, but the name lived on nearby, in what
became the first successful colony, Virginia.
