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nydus/Notes on the State of VirginiaPublic

Thomas Jefferson compiles these notes in response to inquiries from a foreign official regarding the geography and state of Virginia. The text provides detailed descriptions of the region's boundaries, dimensions, and physical landscape as understood in the late eighteenth century.

Page 122 of 329
Table of Contents

Query IX.

exclufion from fociety, or, where the cafe is ferious, as that of murder, by the individuals whom it con- cerns. Imperfect: as this fpecies of coer- cion may feem, crimes are very rare among them ; infomuch that were it made a queftion, whether no law, as among the favage Americans, or too much law, as among the civilized Europeans, fubmits | man to the greateft evil, one who has feen both conditions of exiflence would r 179 ] iKl "*3i Tuteloes on Meherrin river, who were con i^R pronounce it to be the laft: and that the jfheep are happier of themfelves, than under care of the wolves. It will be faid, that great focieties cannot exift without government, Thefavages there- fore break them into fmall ones.

The territories of the Powhatan confede- racy, fouth of the Patowmac, compre- hended about 8000 fquare miles, 30 tribes, and 2400 warriors. Capt. Smith tells us, that within 60 miles of James Town were 5000 people, of whom 1500 were war- riors. From this we find the proportion of their warriors to their whole inhabitants, was as 3 to 10. The Powhatan confede- racy then would confift of about 8000 in- habitants, which was one for every fquare mile; being about the twentieth part of our prefent population in the fame terri- tory, and the hundredth of that of the Britifh iflands.

Befides thefe, were the NottowajSy living on Nottoway river, the Meherri?is and Tiiteloes on Meherrin river, who were con- MANNAHOACS.

Tribes POWHATANS.

Tribes. Country. Chief Towns.

PiTOWJUiC Whonkencies Tejnicaties Ontponies Tauxitanians HaiT^nuagaes Fauquier Culpepper Orange Fauquier Culpepper Tauxenents Patowomekcs Cuttatawomans Piffafccs Oiiaumaiiicnts R'appahanocs Moraughtacunds Secacaonies Wighcocomicoes Cuttatawomans Fairfax Stafford. King George. King George King

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