CANONICUS MAKES TROUBLE
The boy thus introduced was carefully trained for the high position
that he must some time fill. Although from his father he never heard an
impatient or an unkind word, he was taught to respect his elders and to
yield the most implicit obedience to those in authority over him. As
soon as he was old enough to comprehend what he heard and saw he was
permitted to sit beside the Peacemaker and listen to the discussion
of matters affecting the well-being of the tribes. From Longfeather
himself, from the old men of the village, and from the visitors who
journeyed to it Nahma learned the traditions of his people. His father
also taught him to distinguish the totems of tribes or clans, together
with their significance, and illustrated his lessons by means of the
pictured belts that hung in the council-house. From these same teachers
Nahma also learned to believe in witchcraft and magic, by which alone
were they able to account for many natural phenomena. Thus even in the
years of his youth there came to Nahma a wisdom beyond that of all
other lads, and his name became known from one end of the land to the
other.
Nor during this time of mental training was that of his body neglected.
Every day, even in the depth of winter, when ice must be broken before
water could be reached, he was made to plunge into the river or the
sea to toughen him and harden his flesh. He was taught to swim and to
paddle a canoe before he could walk; and often in later years when
trained runners were sent by Longfeather with messages to distant
tribes, the lad was allowed to accompany them, that he might learn the
trails, familiarize himself with remote localities and people, and
acquire the art of traversing great spaces in the shortest possible
time. So fleet of foot and so strong of wind did he thus become that he
at one time covered the distance between the village of Peace and the
sand-dunes of the Nausets on the edge of the great salt water between
two suns, a feat never before accomplished, and at which all men
marvelled.
After this Nahma was frequently chosen to be his father's messenger
on occasions of importance, and very proud was the young warrior of
the trust thus reposed in him. Thus it happened that one day in the
lad's eighteenth year, when a matter of grave import demanded prompt
communication with a distant point in a region of danger, Longfeather
naturally turned to Nahma, his son.
Troublous times had come, and the safety of the region so long ruled
by the Peacemaker was seriously threatened. To consider the situation
Longfeather had assembled a council of the tribes at Montaup, on the
edge of the salt water. This was the great gathering-place of the
Wampanoags, and to it their chieftain with his family was accustomed to
resort during the heated months of each summer. So here the council was
met, and after the calumet had passed entirely around its seated circle
Longfeather addressed the chiefs as follows:
"It is well that we are come together, for the shadow of trouble is
upon us like that of a black cloud hiding the sun. While we be of many
tribes we have until now been of one heart, and even from the days
of Nassaup, my father, have we dwelt at peace one with another. Now,
however, is that peace threatened, and I have summoned you to see what
may be done."
Here the speaker took one from a bundle of small sticks and handed it
to the oldest chief, saying, "Take this peace-stick, my brother, and
remember its meaning." Then to the others he continued,--
"For a long time, from our fathers, and from their fathers before
them, have we heard tales of strange, white-skinned beings armed
with thunderbolts, who have come from the sea. We have listened with
trembling, but have comforted ourselves that these strangers, whom we
took to be gods, appeared not on our shores, but at places far removed.
Also we heard that they tarried not; but always, after a short stay,
departed as they had come. Take this stick, my brother, and regard it
with respect, for it indicates the belief of our fathers."
Thus saying, Longfeather handed a second stick from his bundle to the
aged chief. Then resuming his address, he said,--
"But all our comfort has vanished with the gaining of wisdom. Nearer
and more frequent have come tales of the whiteskins, until now we
know them to be men like unto ourselves, only of a different color
and having hairy faces. They are armed with thunder-sticks that can
kill at three times the flight of our strongest arrows. Also have we
learned that these men are borne to our coast in mighty canoes built
by themselves and driven by the wind. We know that many of these
canoes come for fish to the salt waters of the Tarratines. Not only do
they thus come and go in ever-increasing numbers, but they even visit
the land to care for the fish they have taken. Accept this stick, my
brother, to remind thee of the white-skinned men who fish." With this
Longfeather handed a third stick to the old man.
"Still," he continued, "the white fish-catchers do not attempt to
remain with us, nor have they thus far given us cause to fear them.
Some of their lesser canoes, small when compared with those in which
they come and go, but large by the side of ours, even as the eagle is
larger than the hawk, have drifted empty to our shores, and our young
men have made use of them. Also at times the great winged canoes of the
white men have been seen to pass our coast, but never until the season
of last corn-planting have they tarried. Then came one to the country
of the Narragansetts, where it remained for the space of three moons.
This stick, my brother, will refresh thy memory concerning the coming
and tarrying of the great white canoe." With this the speaker passed a
fourth stick to the old chief. Then deliberately and with emphasis he
resumed his speech, saying,--
"On an island that they occupied the strangers who came in this canoe
erected a lodge. Many of you have seen it and them. They roamed through
the forest making thunder and killing beasts with their fire-sticks.
Above all, they traded with the Narragansetts, giving them knives and
hatchets made of an unknown metal, strong and sharp, kettles that fire
may not harm, and many other things in exchange for skins of the
beaver. Only with their thunder-sticks they would not part. By many
it was feared that they would remain and attempt to possess the land
that is our land. But after a time they departed, and the heart of
Longfeather was glad when he knew they were gone. At the same moment
his heart was again made heavy, for they gave out that they would come
again, bringing great wealth to exchange for beaver. Take this stick,
my brother, to remind thee that the white men will come again.
"Now, my friends, what has happened? It is this. The Narragansetts are
puffed up with pride because they are possessed of knives and hatchets
better and more deadly than any ever before seen in all the world.
Also, they desire to obtain more of such things and to learn the secret
of the thunder-sticks that kill as far as one may see. Therefore did
Canonicus, head sachem of the Narragansetts, propose secretly to me
that when the great canoe came again I should order the white men to
be killed, that he and I might possess ourselves of their wealth, and
so become as gods, all-powerful in the land. This stick, my brother,
marks the proposition of Canonicus.
"To the evil words of the Narragansett I refused to listen, saying to
him that to do what he had in his mind would surely bring upon our
heads the wrath of the Great Spirit. Furthermore, I bade Canonicus
put such evil thoughts far behind him and consider them no more. This
stick, my brother, is Longfeather's answer to Canonicus.
"Again, my friends, what has happened? The Narragansett promised to
open wide his ears that the words of Longfeather might sink into his
heart. Did he do this? No. He closed tight his ears that they might not
hear, and began to look for others who would aid him in his wickedness.
So far did his eyes travel that they came even to the land of the
Maquas [Mohawks], who from the days of the first men have been our
enemies. To them is he preparing to send messengers with presents and
a promise of great wealth, together with power over all the tribes,
if they will join him in destroying the next white men who may come.
Canonicus was bidden to this council, but I cannot see him. This
stick, my brother, will tell thee of his black heart. I have finished."
So long did the council discuss this situation and so many were the
speeches to be delivered on the subject, that a decision was not
reached until late on the second day of meeting. Then it was ordered
that Canonicus should be summoned to report in person to the assembled
chiefs, who for two days longer would await his coming. If at the end
of that time he had not appeared, a war-party of the allied tribes
should be sent to fetch him. In the mean time Longfeather would send
a delegation to the Maquas bearing presents, and offering, on behalf
of the combined New England tribes, a treaty that should secure to all
equal benefits from whatever trade might be had with the white-skinned
strangers. It was furthermore agreed that so long as the white men
proved themselves friendly they should be treated as friends. "For,"
said the Peacemaker, "they are few and we are many, they are weak while
we are strong, therefore let us live at peace with them, if indeed they
come to us again, a thing that I trust may not happen. So shall we
please the Great Spirit who made them, doubtless for some good reason,
even as he made the red man and gave him control over the earth."
So it was done even as the council had ordered, and a runner was
despatched to Canonicus with a summons for him to appear at Montaup,
and forbidding him to treat with the Maquas. Also active preparations
were made for sending an embassy to that powerful people on behalf
of the allied New England tribes, and to his joy Nahma was chosen to
accompany it as his father's representative.