"The way they build their boats in Virginia," wrote Thomas Harriot in 
his report of the new land, "is very wonderful." Without metal tools, 
the Indians of Virginia used fire and clam shells to make canoes. A 
fire was kindle at the roots of a tall tree and carefully tended until 
the tree fell. Then the leaves and branches were burned off. Small 
fires were carefully lit along the length of the trunk to hollow it out. 
Finally, t he charred wood was cleared away with sharpened shells. 
The result was a boat that was "seaworthy enough to take them 
sailing or fishing or anywhere they wanted to go."