The towns of this country are in a manner like unto those which are in Florida, yet are not so strong nor yet preserved with such great care. They are compassed about with poles stuck fast in the ground, but they are not very strong. The entrance is very narrow as may be seen by this picture, which is made according to the form of the town of Pomeiooc. There are but few houses therein, save those which belong to the king and his nobles. On the one side is their temple, separated from the other houses, and marked with the letter A. It is built round, and covered with skin mats, and as it were compassed about with curtains without windows, and hath no light bet by the door. On the other side is the king's lodging marked with the letter B. Their dwellings are build with certain posts fastened together, and covered with mats which they turn up as high as they think good, and so receive in the light and air. Some are also covered with boughs of trees, as every man lusteth or liketh best. They keep their feasts and make good cheer together in the midst of the town as it is described in the picture of Secota. When the town standeth far from the water they dig a great pond, noted with the letter C, whence they fetch as much water as they need.

Source:
Theodor de Bry, Admiranda narratio fida tamen, de commodis et incolarum ritibus Virginiae. Frankfurt: 1585 - 1588, from a drawing by John White. Service historique de la Marine (The Navy Service), Paris.

Harriot, Thomas. A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia. London, 1588.

On Carolina bays and inlets, lodgings consisted of mat-covered "long-houses." Although the Algonquin cultivated fields of corn, beans, and squash, their lives depended more upon hunting, fishing, and gathering. Their economy allowed for some leisure and for the formation of loose intertribal confederations. Warfare existed more for the glorification of the warrior than for loot or territory. (Photo courtesy of the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum)