According to historian, Alan Taylor, the discovery of a new and fertile land, named “Carolina” in honor of King Charles the II, created a great buzz of excitement as well as curiosity that spread throughout England. The discovery of this seemingly abundant land in 1670 was something Taylor denotes to the West Indian planters. These planters were branching out of their overcrowded Barbados territory. The English aristocrats who heard of the newly discovered Carolina desired the wealth that they heard it contained. However, not wanting to brave the dangers that accompany travel and new found territory, they turned to ambitious and willing explorers and early colonizers. Men from Barbados who had previous experience with colonization became the Lord’s Proprietors and took on the role of developing the gained territory on behalf of England. Taylor states, that for the colonizers coming from Barbados that the land seemed so, “immense and alluring after the experience of the crowded Barbados. The high praises of such a fruitful land by these colonist spread throughout England and was something the royals saw opportunity in but wanted confirmation of. This led to the journey of Thomas Ashe, who was sent to the Carolinas in 1680 on behalf of King Henry the Seventh, who wanted to be restfully assured that the land’s potential lived up to its reputation. Through his 2 year journey, he gave a detailed and riveting account of his experience and surroundings. After reading his descriptive narrative in relation to Alan Taylor’s historical account of the Carolina’s colonization, it is clear Ashe’s report was geared greatly towards English men capable of attaining new land and wealth in the name of their country. These dazzling reports of the Royals Proprietor’s estate were necessary in increasing the English’s world power against rivals such as the Spanish.
Ashe goes in great detail about the land and its positive attributes. This includes its weather, animals, vegetation and occupants. The weather is described to be mild, predictable and more than suitable for the people that occupied it. In compliance to the nourishing weather is an environment that homed countless animals, plants and marine life that all aid in the elongated and healthy lives of the persons who live there. He goes into great detail of the trees, elaborating on their comforting smells, medicinal qualities, unique drinks, lasting wood for shelter, and nourishing fruits. Through his descriptions, the animals seem to be in vast qualities of all different kinds. At one point in his narrative, he states: “Deer, of which there is such infinite Herds, that the whole Country seems but one continued park”. This observation leads to the idea that hunger would never at any point be a concern with such a large supply readily available.
Along with animals and their use to the people that live there, Ashe describes animals that aid in giving the newly discovered land a feeling of magic and wonder. For example, he describes the fireflies as floating “candles”. Imagery such as this draws the reader in not only to the narrative, but to the land the narrative is portraying as well.
The English that already occupied the land are described to be in good health and happy spirits. Paralleling with them in terms of good health and spirit is the Native Indians. He accounts for their clothes, face painting and even their spiritual connection to the moon. His description and observations of the Natives reveal how great of use they have been to the colonizers. He reveals how the Indians use their surroundings to create medicine and healing practices, preserve food, and create clothing and leather from animal skin. He claims the relation between the Indians and the English is amicable and that they are more than willing to help and accommodate the new comers with whatever they need.
Ashe wraps up his descriptive narrative by discussing the most developed area, Charles Town. The town is very established containing buildings, streets, churches and other public structures. The growth of the city is mentioned by Ashe in an urgent tone, saying that number is increasing daily: “At our being there was judged in the Country a 1000 or 1200 Souls; but the great number of from England, Ireland, Berbadoes, Jamaica, and the Caribees, which daily transport themselves thither, have more than doubled in number.” This urgent tone expresses to the reader that this opportunity is not only sought after but likely running out. It is followed by even more incentive as the huge variety of trade items are mentioned along with revealing the Lord’s Proprietors offer of free land and servants to people that migrate there.
Ashe, who is writing with the intention of migrating English men to the Lords Proprietors real estate, left out many mentionable things that might detour migrators. Alan Taylor’s historical accounts of the Carolinas provide a strong backdrop that supplies what Ashe omitted. The weather for example, while beautiful, is an environment Taylor claims fosters an immense amount of sand flies and mosquitoes. He also mentions it is an area that is very humid with no shortage of thunder and lightning storms. That being said, there is no denying the land is very fertile and has great economic potential. Because of that, it is a characteristic that Ashe zooms in on.
In terms of the interactions between the Indians and the English men, a lot of concern and exploitations on the Indian’s behalf is left out. There is no mentioning of the Natives resistance to the invaders nor is there any revealing of the manipulative tactics the colonizers impose on the Indians in order to keep the upper hand. For example, Taylor States: “The Carolinas feared that their African slaves might combine with defiant Indians to merge slave rebellion with frontier war-a combination almost certainly fatal to the new colony.” This fear of being overthrown is something that Ashe’s narrative omitted. Taylor elaborates on how the colorizers dealt with that fear, saying they offered the Indians awards for capturing runaway slaves. They did so with the knowledge that if the Indians and African American’s banned together, they could easily overthrow the English colonies. The amount of thought and effort the English men had to put into not being overthrown was not mentioned or even brought to light in terms of it being an issue.
It was very enlightening to read the narrative of Ashe parallel with the reading of Alan Taylor’s historical as well as factual backdrop of Carolina. My immediate reaction when I first read the Narrative was that Thomas Ashe was generally fascinated with the utopia like land. However, after reading the historical account of the colonization of Carolina, it was clear to see his writing was funneled through a promotional intention. This promotional intent shines brightly through his in-depth descriptions of the Carolinas commodities, and absent mentions of the hardships that might arise while acquiring them.
Can you more explicitly weave Taylor’s history in–perhaps offering a quotation or two along the way? It’s important to note where the paraphrased history is coming from. Also, if you can incorporate links (to Ashe’s bio, for example), or other relevant key terms) and an image or two, that will help boost your grade a bit. You might also reference the preface to the narrative.