HISTORICAL SKETCH

EMBRACING AN ACCOUNT OF THE

PROGRESS OF INVESTIGATION CONCERNING THE

PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL

RESOURCES OF MARYLAND.

INFORMATION ACQUIRED DURING COLONIAL DAYS REGARDING THE
PHYSICAL FEATURES AND NATURAL RESOURCES or THE STATE.

The Chesapeake Bay was probably known to some extent to the
Spaniards early in the 16th century, as there is good evidence that a
special expedition was sent to the region many years before the Eng-
lish attempted to establish themselves in any part of the American
continent. An account of this expedition is to be found in a book
published at Madrid in 1723.

Although the Chesapeake Bay was doubtless thus early entered by
Spanish explorers, the first account of the physical characteristics of
the Maryland area was given by Captain John Smith, ² who, in an
open boat with a few companions, began an exploration of the Chesa-
peake Bay and its numerous tributaries in the year 1608. During the
two trips which he made into the upper portion of the Chesapeake
during the summer of that year, the shores of the Bay were surveyed
as far as the Susquehanna river. The harbor of Baltimore was prob-
ably entered and the Potomac river was ascended as far as the falls
above Georgetown. The intervening portions of the country were
also explored, and the map which Captain Smith prepared shows with

remarkable correctness the outlines of the regions which he visited.

¹ Ensayo Cronologrico para la Historia de la Florida por Don Gabreil de Car-

denas y Cano.

² The Generall Historic of Virginia, London, 1624. See Bibliography.