Perhaps no bay of the world has such diversified scenery.

Among the rivers which enter the bay from the west, four--the Potomac, Rappahannock, York, and James--are particularly large and imposing.

They divide what is called tide-water Virginia into long and narrow peninsulas, which are themselves furrowed by deep creeks making numerous necks or minor peninsulas of land.

Up these rivers and creeks the tide ebbs and flows for many miles.

In 1607, before the English arrived, the whole of this tide-water region, except here and there where the Indians had a cornfield, was covered with primeval forests, so free from undergrowth that a coach with four horses could be driven through the thickest groups of trees.
The numerous tribes of Indians who inhabited this region belonged to the Algonquin race, and at the time Captain Newport set sail from England they were members of a confederacy, of which Powhatan was head war chief or werowance.