The one thing which seemed most surprising to us lads, after Captain
Smith had called it to our notice, was that these people, who knew there
could be no question but that the winter would find them in Jamestown,
when there could be neither roasting ears, peas, beans, nor fowls of the
air to be come at, made no provision for a harvest.
Captain Smith, not being allowed to raise his voice in the Council,
could only speak as one whose words have little weight, since he was not
in authority; but he lost no opportunity of telling these gold seekers
that only those who sowed might reap, and unless seed was put into the
ground, there would be no crops to serve as food during the winter.
Even Master Wingfield, the President of the Council, refused to listen
when my master would have spoken to him as a friend. He gave more heed
to exploring the land, than to what might be our fate in the future.
He would not even allow the gentlemen to make such a fort as might
withstand an assault by the savages, seeming to think it of more
importance to know what was to be found on the banks of this river or of
that, than to guard against those brown people who daily gave token of
being unfriendly.
The serving men and laborers were employed in making clapboards that
we might have a cargo with which to fill one of Captain Newport's ships
when he returned from England, according to the plans of the London
Company. The gentlemen roamed here or there, seeking the yellow metal
which had much the same as caused a madness among them; and, save in the
case of Master Hunt and Captain Smith, none planted even the smallest
garden.