In the first Pocahontas is not mentioned; in the second, he tells a
long story to the effect that she saved his life. The first account was
written shortly after the gallant Captain returned to England in the
year following; the second, sixteen years later, and after he had had
time to reflect and to color his narrative in proper contemplation and
leisure. Doubt has, therefore, been cast upon the second story, but I
shall give you them both and allow you to select your own conclusion.
In the first narrative the Captain says that, "Powhatan kindly welcomed
me with good words and great platters of sundry victuals, assuring me
of his friendship and my liberty within four days. He promised to give
me corn, venison, or what I wanted to feed us. Hatchets and copper we
should make for him, and none were to disturb us. This I promised to
perform, and thus having, with all the kindness he could devise, sought
to content me, he sent me home."
In the second account, the valiant Smith states that, "Having feasted
him (Smith) after the best barbarous manner they could, a long
consultation was held, but the conclusion was, two great stones were
brought before Powhatan; then as many as could lay hands on him dragged
him to them and thereon laid his head, and, being ready with the clubs
to beat out his brains, Pocahontas--the King's dearest daughter--when
no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms and laid her own
against his to save him from death; whereat the Emperor was contented
that he should live in order to make him hatchets, and her, bells,
beads, and copper, for they thought him as well capable of all
occupations as themselves." This version has usually been accepted by
historians.
When Powhatan asked Smith why the English had come, the keen-witted
Captain was very careful to let him know that they had not arrived to
settle in the country, but stated that there had been a fight with
the Spaniards and that the English had been forced to retreat in
their vessels; that finally adverse weather had driven them ashore
in Virginia, and here they were only to remain until an opportunity
presented itself for a safe return. Smith was a ready talker, but there
is no evidence that Powhatan believed him.
Two days after the trial for his life, Powhatan had the captive removed
to one of his arbor-like dwellings in the woods and there left him
alone upon a skin in front of the fire. The house was curtained off in
the centre with a thick mat, and soon a doleful noise came from behind
it, and Powhatan, disguised in a strange manner and painted black,
entered the room with two hundred Indians, likewise painted with this
color. After dancing around the amused Captain for a while, Powhatan
told Smith that they were friends, and that he would presently send him
home, but that he must promise him that after he arrived in Jamestown
he would send him two great guns and also a grindstone. In return for
this he was promised the country of Capahowosick, and he was told that
he would be considered Powhatan's son. The Captain promised to deliver
the requested supplies, and consequently he was sent to Jamestown with
twelve guides, who delayed on the way, although the distance was short,
so that Smith feared every hour that he would be put to death. But,
at last, he was conducted to the fort, where he treated the savage
guides with great hospitality, and gave to Rawhunt (a trusty servant
of Powhatan) two cannon carrying nine-pound shot, and a mill-stone, to
present to the chief. For their benefit the Captain had the guns loaded
with stones and fired at some trees whose boughs were covered with
icicles. The crash and fall of stones and ice so frightened the savages
that they fled into the forest and it was several hours before they
could be induced to return. At last, their spirits became reassured,
presents of beads and trinkets were given them for Powhatan and his
family, and they started back to the great chief, well satisfied.
The conditions at Jamestown were appalling, for a number of men were
about to desert, seize the smallest vessel, and make off for England.
But Smith was equal to the occasion, forced the mutineers to remain at
home at the mouth of a cannon, and, although he himself was tried for
the death of Robinson and Emry--the two men who had been killed in the
expedition up the Chickahominy--he was set free by the intercession of
Captain Newport, who soon whipped the squabbling colonists into some
sort of order. Meanwhile their despairing spirits were buoyed up by
accounts of Powhatan's bounty and treasure, while every four or five
days little Pocahontas with her attendants would cross the river and
come to the fort with provisions of bread and corn. This was all that
stood between the wrangling "gentlemen" and starvation.
Powhatan, meanwhile, seems to have regarded the English with no
particular suspicion or hatred. When Newport and Smith visited him
during the winter, he exerted himself to the utmost to give them a
royal entertainment. The Indians shouted with joy when next they saw
Smith; orations were addressed to him and a bounteous repast of roasted
corn, bread, and venison was spread before the company. Powhatan,
himself, received the Englishmen, reclining upon a bed of mats, dressed
in a handsome fur robe, and leaning upon a pillow embossed with
brilliant embroidery of shells and beads. The chief men of the village
were assembled before him and four or five hundred of the tribe stood
on guard behind them. A proclamation was made to the effect that upon
pain of death no Indian should offer any discourtesy to either of the
whites, while Powhatan renewed his acquaintance with Smith with much
show of apparent affection. An English boy, named Savage, was given
to the Indian Emperor at his request, and he returned the favor by
presenting to Captain Newport an Indian youth called Nomontack, who
was one of his most trusted servants, and who was told to spy upon all
methods and customs of the English. Three or four days were passed in
feasting, dancing, and trading, in which the old Sachem exhibited so
much dignity and discretion that his guests had a high admiration for
his talents. His shrewdness was well exhibited when Newport endeavored
to barter with him for some corn.
The English Captain had brought with him a number of trinkets, glass
beads, and pewter spoons which he expected to trade very easily for
corn, and, indeed, the poorer Indians traded very readily with him. But
they dealt upon a very small scale as they had not much to spare, so
Newport became most anxious to drive a trade with the Emperor, himself,
and endeavored to do so.
"Captain Newport," said Powhatan, "it is not agreeable to my greatness
to truck and peddle for trifles. I am a great Werowance and I esteem
you the same; therefore lay all your trading commodities down together
and what I like I will take, and in return you shall receive what I
consider to be a fair value therefore."
As Newport could not speak the Indian tongue, this was interpreted to
him by Smith, who told him, at the same time, that he must be most
careful in trading with the crafty Indian, and should not be too free
in his dealings with him. But Newport was a vain fellow and felt that
he could easily hold his own with the Emperor and gain any request
that he might make, so he placed all of his goods before Powhatan, who
coolly selected those which he liked most, and gave him, in return,
only a few bushels of corn when he had expected to obtain twenty
hogsheads. "At this rate," interposed Captain Smith, "we might have
purchased our corn in Old Spain, but now let me see if I cannot traffic
with his excellency," and, so saying, he took out various trinkets
which he flashed before the eyes of the aged Indian, in the light, so
that they shone with an extraordinary lustre.
Powhatan's eyes rested upon a string of blue beads, and he became
anxious to obtain them.
"These are such as only Kings and Nobles wear in our country," said
Smith, "and of immense value. For a string of beads you must give me
three hundred bushels of corn."
"That I cannot do," answered Powhatan, "but so desirous am I of having
them that I will give you two hundred bushels."
"For two hundred and fifty bushels you can have them," answered Smith.
And so they haggled, until, in the end, the witty Captain Smith
obtained somewhere between two and three hundred bushels of corn for a
small and insignificant string of beads. Shortly afterwards the cunning
Englishman made a similar trade with Opechancanough at Pamunkey,
stating to him that these beads had in them the color of the sky and
that they were composed of a most rare substance. This Indian likewise
fell before the lure of the Captain's plausible and ready speech, and
several hundred bushels of corn were secured for a pound or two of
these beads, which now grew into such estimation among the Indians,
far and near, that none but the great Werowances and their wives and
children dared to be seen wearing them. They were considered to be
imperial symbols and of enormous value.
Although tricked in this transaction, Powhatan was bright enough to see
that the English possessed a vast advantage over his own men whenever
it came to a conflict, for they had swords and muskets, whereas his
savage followers only possessed bows, spears, and arrows. He knew
that if he obtained possession of these he would be able to place
himself upon an equal footing with the Colonists and would also be
able to domineer over the less fortunate Indian tribes of Virginia.
Consequently when he learned that Captain Newport was to leave for
England, he sent him twenty-five turkeys and requested, in return,
the favor of an equal number of swords. Newport was sufficiently
inconsiderate to furnish them to him, but these were not enough for
Powhatan, who, soon afterwards, sent a number of turkeys to Smith. The
Captain was keen enough to see through the trick of the old gentleman,
and, although he thanked him for his kindness with a courteous note, he
sent no swords in return. Powhatan was highly offended at this and told
his followers to steal the Englishmen's swords whenever they could--an
order which they began to obey with such good effect that Smith
ordered every Indian caught stealing to be tied, severely whipped, and
kept captive. The Emperor of the Virginia savages now saw that the game
was a desperate one and so sent Pocahontas into Jamestown with various
presents and kind speeches to excuse himself for the injury done by his
disorderly warriors and to request that those who were captives might
be liberated. Smith took this under consideration and finally granted
the Emperor's request, "for the sake of Pocahontas, his daughter,"
dispatching the captured warriors back to Powhatan's village, where the
Indian counsellors were much offended at what they considered to be the
cruelty of the white man, and adjured Powhatan to seek revenge. The
Emperor affected to be satisfied and would take no action.
Newport had sailed for England, and in September, 1608, arrived with
a second supply for the colony and a paper authorizing him to make
an expedition of exploration for gold among the Monocan Indians, who
resided in the Blue Ridge. For this a barge was brought out from
England which could be separated into five parts and thus carried
around the falls of the Potomac, and thence convey the explorers
(as was supposed in England) to the South Sea. It had been decided
by the London company, in England, to crown Powhatan and present
him with a basin and ewer, a bedstead, bedding, and various other
costly novelties. Captain Smith offered to carry them to Powhatan at
We-ro-woco-moco and to invite him to visit Jamestown, for Newport was
anxious to obtain a quantity of corn in order to feed his followers in
search for the South Sea.
Starting for We-ro-woco-moco by boat, Smith landed, and, with four
companions, went through the woods for about twelve miles, until he
arrived at Powhatan's village. He found that the renowned chief was
absent, but he soon returned and listened with great gravity to the
speech of the subtle Englishman, who not only invited him to come to
Newport, but also to join with the whites in a campaign against the
Monocans. To this the King of the Powhatans replied:
"If your King has sent me presents, I also am a King and this is my
land. Here I will stay eight days to receive these gifts. Your Father
must come to me, not I to him, nor yet to your fort. I will not bite
at such a treacherous bait. As for the Monocans, I can avenge my own
injuries. As for Atquanachuck, where you say your brother was slain,
it is a country away from those parts you say it is, and as for salt
water behind the mountains, the stories which my people have told you
to this effect, are false." Whereupon he began to draw the geography of
these regions upon the ground with a stick, and, after further talk,
Smith returned to Jamestown and told Newport to bring the presents to
We-ro-woco-moco.
The various gifts from King James were therefore sent to the Indian
village by water, while the Captain with a guard of fifty men went by
boat. The day following the arrival of the whites was agreed upon for
the coronation and so the presents were brought ashore, the bed and
furniture were set up, and, in spite of his struggles, the scarlet
cloak and other apparel was put upon the unwilling Powhatan. He feared,
indeed, that it would injure him, but his servant Namontack, who had
been to England with Newport, assured him that no harm would come to
him, and so he allowed the clothing to be hung upon his body, although
he absolutely refused to kneel and receive the crown upon his head.
Finally the patience of the Englishmen became exhausted, one leaned
upon his shoulder so as to cause him to stoop a little, and three more
clung to him and pushed him downward, while one had the crown in his
hand. Suddenly it was slapped on his head, a pistol shot rang out,
and, in token of the coronation, the soldiers discharged their muskets
in salute. Immediately Powhatan leaped upright with an expression of
terror and fear upon his countenance, for he believed that an attack
was to be made upon him, but, seeing that all was well, he recovered
his usual composure, generously gave his old shoes and deerskin mantle
to Newport in acknowledgment of appreciation for these presents, and,
turning to him, told him that he absolutely refused to lend him any
of his men, except Namontack, to go against the Monocans. He was most
courteous and civil, and presented Newport with seven or eight bushels
of corn ears in recognition of his kindness and politeness.
Little was now heard of Powhatan, but it became evident that he was not
on friendly terms with the English, as the neighboring tribes refused
to keep up their trade with those at Jamestown, some stating that they
had been so advised by the great Emperor.
This naturally made Smith very angry. At one time he contemplated
falling upon We-ro-woco-moco by surprise and seizing all of the stores
of corn which he would find there, but, feeling that discretion was
the better part of valor, he restrained his wild intentions and in
December, 1608, accepted an invitation of Powhatan's to visit him. The
Emperor had asked him to assist in building a house and requested him
to bring a grindstone, fifty swords, a few muskets, a cock and a hen,
and a quantity of beads and of copper. Forty-six Colonists accompanied
the bold Captain on this expedition, and at the first stopping place,
Werrasqueake, the chief Sachem of the place, endeavored to dissuade the
Englishmen from continuing the trip. "Powhatan will use you kindly, but
he has sent for you only to cut your throat," said he. "Trust him not
and give him no opportunity to seize your arms." In spite of this the
unhesitating Englishmen kept on, and when at length they arrived at
We-ro-woco-moco and asked for provisions, they were promptly supplied
with bread, venison and turkeys, while the Emperor stated, with some
energy, that he and his people had very little corn, though if the
English would present him with forty swords he felt that about forty
baskets could be collected. Smith found that Powhatan would take
nothing but guns and swords in exchange for provisions and that he
valued a basket of corn higher than a basket of copper, and thus became
quite angry when he saw how anxious the savage was to secure possession
of the arms of the whites. "I will spare you what corn I can," said the
Emperor, "and that within two days, but, Captain Smith, I have some
doubts as to your object in this visit. I am informed that you wish to
conquer more than to trade, and, at all events, you must know that my
people must be afraid to come near you with their corn, as long as you
are armed with such a retinue. Lay aside your weapons, then. Here they
are needless. We are friends. All Powhatans."
"You mistake our intentions," said Smith. "We come not to conquer, but
to gain provisions."
"I am old, Captain Smith," answered the great chief, "and I know well
the difference between peace and war. I wish to live quietly with you,
and I wish the same for my successors. Now the rumors which reach me on
all sides make me uneasy. What do you expect to gain by destroying us
who provide you with food? And what can you get by war if we escape you
and hide our provisions in the woods? We are unarmed, too, you see. Do
you believe me such a fool as not to prefer eating good meat, sleeping
quietly at home, laughing and making merry with you, having copper and
hatchets and anything else, as your friend, to flying from you as your
enemy, lying cold in the woods, eating acorns and roots and being so
hunted by you meanwhile, that if but a twig break my men will cry out,
'There comes Captain Smith!' Let us be friends then. Do not invade us
with such an armed force. Lay aside these arms!"
But Smith refused to accede to this request, for he feared that he was
about to be attacked by the followers of Powhatan who were clustered
about, and so gave secret orders for hauling his boat ashore through
the ice and landing many of his men who were on board. In the endeavor
to detain Powhatan, he started a vigorous conversation with the old
Sachem. Appreciating Smith's ruse, the witty warrior left two or three
of his women to talk with him while he left the house in which they
were very hurriedly, with all of his attendants. Captain Smith now
found himself completely surrounded by Indians. Fearing an attack, he
drew his sword, and, brandishing it about his head, cut his way through
the crowd of savages, who, as soon as he fired his pistol, fled in all
directions.
In spite of this show of hostility upon the part of Smith, the Indians
again flocked around him, while Powhatan sent a large and handsome
bracelet by the hand of one of his chief orators, who made a long
speech, full of complimentary remarks and excuses for their conduct.
The savages also furnished baskets for carrying the corn, and offered
to guard the Englishmen's firearms, an offer which was of course
declined, as Smith feared they would steal these necessary possessions.
As the fall of the tide made it impossible for them to continue their
journey that night, the English knew that they must remain where they
were. It was true that there was treachery afoot, for Pocahontas
soon came to Smith's quarters in the woods and told him that her
father Powhatan was collecting all of his men to make an assault upon
his force, unless the Indians who would bring in the supper should
themselves be able to kill him.
The Captain was consequently on his guard an hour afterwards, when
ten, strapping, big fellows came into camp bearing great platters of
venison and other victuals. They asked the English to put out the
matches of their muskets, for the smoke of them was most annoying. But
Smith appreciated their ruse, made them taste every dish that had been
brought in, so that if there was any poison inside it would first take
hold of those who brought it, and, telling them to inform Powhatan
that the English were all prepared for him whenever he wished to start
hostilities, he sent them back to the chief of the most powerful tribe
in Virginia. There was no attack, so the English sailed away on their
journey of exploration, leaving behind them one Englishman to kill game
for Powhatan, and two or three Germans to assist him in building a
house.
Today, on a high hill near the spot where once stood the town of
We-ro-woco-moco, is a stone chimney called "Powhatan's Chimney," and,
according to tradition, this is the chimney of the house which the
German artisans erected for the great Virginia Sachem.
The English pushed onward in search of corn, for they were sorely in
need of it for the colony at Jamestown, and at length came to the
lodges of Opechancanough, king of the Pamunkies, and a younger brother
of Powhatan. From him Captain Smith secured a certain amount of
supplies, only after a severe personal scuffle. Thus, after an absence
of six weeks, the Colonists reached Jamestown with a cargo of four
hundred seventy-nine bushels of corn and two hundred pounds of deer
suet, in exchange for which they had given but twenty-five pounds of
copper and fifty pounds of iron and beads.
The Powhatans seemed also to be on fairly good terms with the English
and traded with them most amicably until Smith departed for England.
Then, realizing that their most intelligent adversary had left,
they fell upon the six hundred settlers who remained behind, with
such success, that at the end of six months, only sixty men, women,
and children were alive at Jamestown. These were almost reduced to
starvation and were living on roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, berries
and an occasional fish, when supplied by two ships which arrived at
Jamestown early in 1613 with some food-stuffs for the colony. But what
they brought was insufficient for the needs of the starving people, and
so Captain Argall, who commanded, sailed up the Potomac to trade with
the natives for corn. Powhatan was now extremely hostile to the colony;
his men had captured and stolen many English arms and had secured a
number of white prisoners.
Meanwhile Pocahontas had left her father's home and had gone to reside
temporarily with the Potomacs--a friendly tribe which had its hunting
ground upon the Potomac River. Contemporary historians differ as to
the reason for this; one account being that she had gone there merely
upon a visit among friends; another that she had been sent by Powhatan
to trade with them; and still another that her father did not like her
friendship for the whites and so dispatched her there to get her away
from any possible intimacy with them. At any rate when Captain Argall
had been informed by friendly Indians that Pocahontas was near by, a
plan for making peace with Powhatan immediately suggested itself to his
unscrupulous mind. He, therefore, sent for one of the Indian chiefs and
told him that if he did not give Pocahontas into his hands they would
no longer be "brothers and friends." And when the Potomacs, fearing
war with Powhatan, seemed unwilling to do this, Captain Argall assured
them that he would take their part if any war should occur.