Barlowe, Voyage to Coasts of America (1584)

The account I have chosen to analyse is taken from americanjourneys.org, which hosts a selection of documents written by some of the original European settlers in America. After searching the site I came across a facinating account taken by Arthur Barlowe during the first voyage to the coasts of America in 1584 to Roanoke; under instruction from Sir Walter Raleigh. The reason it caught my eye was because the account gives us an insight into both the settlers reaction to the landscape of America and their reaction to the indigenous peoples.
Barlowe's initial reaction to the coast of America is extremely positive. He explains that 'I thinke in all the world the like abundance is not to be found'; revealing the majesty and utopian nature of the new world. Balowe's description resonates with the common associations we make with America as a new, fresh and overwhelming place. Barlowe goes on to exaplin that 'this island had many goodly woodes full of Deere, Conies, Hares, and Fowle, even in the middest of Summer in incredible abundance. The woodes are not suche as you would finde in Bohemia, Moscovia, or Hercynia, barren and fruitles, but the highest and reddest Cedars of the world'. The fact that this section is purely relating to the natural beauty and bounty of the America landscape reflects the industrial, dull nature of Europe in the late 16th Century, which Barlowe was used to; directly illustrating the appeal of the new world.
For the remainder of the account, Barlowe talks about the native people he and the rest of the crew encounter. He shows how good the relations become between the settlers and the natives when he states how he and the other men 'were entertained with all love and kindnesse, and with as much bountie as they could possibly devise'. He goes on to explain how 'We found the people most gentle, loving and faithfull, voide of all guile and treason, and such as live after the maner of the golden age.' It is clear through Barlowe's description that he is already warming to the natives at this point, and understands the immense dissimilarities between his world in Britain and this idyllic new world.
The vast difference between the two cultures is explored throughout the document. For example, during a meeting with the natives' King, it is revealed that ‘When we shewed him all our packet of merchandise, of all things he sawe, a bright tin dish most pleased him’. The natives were fascinated with the used of metal by the Europeans, although having it is second nature to the settlers. Interestingly though, Barlowe learns a lot from the indigenous people, and somewhat reverses the image of the Europeans being superior; marvelling at their craftmanship and admiring them for there ability to be entirely self-sufficient with very few tools and equipment.
It is evident that Sir Walter Raleigh's mission to Roanoke, led by the likes of Arthur Barlowe, was an overwhelming success. Despite the horrific events that would follow years later between the native Americans and the European settlers, it is clear that the earliest, original experditions saw positive relations develop between the two groups.