CHAPTER VII.

GOVERNOR LANE'S COLONY.

A. D. 1585 TO 1586.

We cannot easily realize, in our day, what excitement and
enthusiasm were felt in England when the two ships returned and
exhibited the Indians, the potatoes, the tobacco and other new
and strange productions that had been gathered by Amadas and
Barlowe, to prove the value and fertility of the newly discovered
land. It is strange, but true, that more value was set upon the
discovery of the sassafras tree than upon anything else, and
wonderful things were expected of its virtues as a tea, a
medicine and for the manufacture of perfume.

[NOTE--Sir Walter Raleigh planted some of the potatoes upon his
own estate, and found them very palatable. Other people
afterwards obtained seed from him, and now the potato forms a
principal part of the food of Ireland. Raleigh was also the
first Englishman who ever used tobacco. An amusing incident is
related of his using it. His servant entered the room one day,
bringing a mug of ale, while Raleigh was enjoying his pipe and
tobacco, and the smoke was issuing from his mouth and filling the
room. The servant, thinking, that his master was on fire,
immediately dashed the ale in his face and ran out, crying for
help, for his master "would be burnt to ashes."]