Plantation between the _Indians_ and the _English_, wherein it would be
endless to recount all the Treacheries and Ambuscades of the Salvages,
some of which had prov’d very pernicious to the Planters, had they not
been betray’d to Captain _Smith_ by _Pocahonta_, King _Powhatan_’s
Daughter, who upon all occasions shew’d her self a great Friend to the
_English_, having sav’d the Captain’s Life, when, being her Father’s
Prisoner, he was just brought to Execution.
This Lady was afterwards brought into _England_, Christned by the Name
of _Rebekah_, and Married to one Mr. _Rolf_, and died at _Gravesend_ in
an intended Voyage back to her own Countrey.
Nor did their Cruelties and Treacheries end when the Plantation came to
be more setled, for on the two and twentieth of _March_ about the Year
1621. in the time of Sir _Francis Wyat_’s Government, they generally
combin’d to destroy all the _English_ there; and carried on this
devilish Design with such dissimulation and dexterity, that in one day
they cut off seven hundred Men, Women, and Children, there being at that
time not above fifteen hundred in the Countrey.
Since which time, in the Year of our Lord 1643. there hapned another
bloody Massacre, wherein near five hundred _English_ were in one Night
miserably butcher’d by those barbarous and perfidious Salvages: whose
Blood the present Governor, Sir _William Berkley_, nobly and justly
reveng’d the Year following, utterly destroying most of them, and taking
Prisoner their chief Emperor, _Opichancono_, who died not long after in
Prison.
Having given but a small hint, in its proper place, of the Story of
Captain _Smith_’s Imprisonment by _Powhatan_, and his deliverance from
Death by _Pocahonta_; we have thought not improper to reserve the Story
of it, being very remarkable for a particular Relation, before we
conclude our Description of _Virginia_, since otherwise we should have
interrupted the Series of our former Discourse.
_The Relation of Captain_ Smith_’s being taken Prisoner by_ Powhatan,
_and of his being deliver’d from Death by his Daughter_ Pocahonta.
The Salvages having drawn from one _George Cassen_, whither Captain
_Smith_ was gone, prosecuting that opportunity, they follow’d him with
three hundred Bowe-Men, conducted by the King of _Pamaunkee_, who in
divisions, searching the turnings of the River, found two of his Men by
the fire side, whom they shot full of Arrows, and flew. Then finding the
Captain, who, as is said, us’d the Salvage that was his Guide as his
Shield, (three of them being slain, and others sore gall’d) the rest
would not come near him: Thinking thus to have return’d to his Boat,
regarding them as he march’d, more than his way, he slipp’d up to the
middle in an Osier-Creek, and his Salvage with him, yet durst they not
come to him, till being near dead with cold, he threw away his Arms:
Then according to their composition, they drew him forth, and led him to
the Fire, where his Men were slain; diligently they chaf’d his benumm’d
Limbs, he demanding for their Captain, they shew’d him _Opechankanough_,
King of _Pamaunkee_, to whom he gave a round Ivory double compass Dyal.
Much they marvel’d at the playing of the Fly and Needle, which they
could see so plainly, and yet not touch it, because of the Glass that
cover’d them; but when he demonstrated by that Globe-like Jewel, the
roundness of the Earth, and Skies; the Sphere of the Sun, Moon, and
Stars, and how the Sun did chase the Night round about the World
continually; the greatness of the Land and Sea; the diversity of
Nations, variety of Complexions, and how we were to them _Antipodes_,
and many other such like matters, they all stood as amaz’d with
admiration: Notwithstanding, within an hour after they ty’d him to a
Tree, and as many as could stand about him prepar’d to shoot him; but
the King holding up the Compass in his Hand, they all laid down their
Bowes and Arrows, and in a triumphant manner led him to _Orapaks_, where
he was after their manner kindly Feasted, and well us’d.
Their order in conducting him was thus; Drawing themselves all in Fyle,
the King in the midst had all their Bowes and Swords borne before him.
Captain _Smith_ was led after him by three great Salvages, holding him
fast by each Arm; and on each side six went in Fyle with their Arrows
nocked. But arriving at the Town (which was but onely thirty or forty
Hunting Houses made of Mats, which they remove as they please, as we our
Tents) all the Women and Children staring and gazing at him, the
Souldiers first all in Fyle wheel’d off to the Rear in good Order; on
each Flank were Officers, like Serjeants to see them keep their
Postures: A good time they continu’d this Exercise, and then cast
themselves in a Ring, Dancing in such several Postures, and singing and
yelling out such hellish Notes and Screeches; being strangely Painted,
every one his Quiver of Arrows, and at his Back a Club; on his Arm a Fox
or an Otters-skin, or some such matter for his vambrace; their Heads and
Shoulders Painted red, with Oyl and _Pocones_ mingled together, which
Scarlet-like colour, made an exceeding handsome show; his Bowe in his
Hand, and the Skin of a Bird with her Wings abroad dry’d, ty’d on his
Head, a piece of Copper, a white Shell, a long Feather, with a small
Rattle growing at the Tails of their Snaks ty’d to it, or some such like
Toy. All this while _Smith_ and the King stood in the midst, guarded, as
before is said, and after three Dances they all departed. _Smith_ they
conducted to a long House, where thirty or forty tall Fellows did guard
him, and e’re long, more Bread and Venison was brought him than would
have serv’d twenty Men, I think his Stomack at that time was not very
good; what he left, they put in Baskets and ty’d over his Head. About
midnight they set the Meat again before him; all this time none of them
would eat a bit with him, till the next Morning they brought him as much
more, and then did they eat all the old, and reserv’d the new as they
had done the other, which made him think they would feed him for
slaughter: Yet in this desperate estate to fend him from the cold, one
_Maocassater_ brought him his Gown, in requital of some Beads and Toys
_Smith_ had given him at his first arrival in _Virginia_.
Two days after a man would have slain him (but that the Guard prevented
it) for the death of his Son, to whom they conducted him to recover the
poor man then breathing his last. _Smith_ told them, that at
_James-Town_ he had a Water would do it, if they would let him fetch it,
but they would not permit that; but made all the preparations they could
to assault _James-Town_, craving his advice, and for recompence he
should have Life, Liberty, Land, and Women. In part of a Tablebook he
writ his mind to them at the Fort, what was intended, how they should
follow that direction to affright the messengers, and without fail send
him such things as he writ for, and an Inventory with them. The
difficulty and danger, he told the Salvages, of the Mines, great Guns,
and other Engines, exceedingly affrighted them, yet according to his
Request they went to _James-Town_, in as bitter weather as could be of
Frost and Snow, and within three days return’d with an Answer.
But when they came to _James-Town_, seeing Men sally out as he had told
them they would, they fled; yet in the night they came again to the same
place where he had told them they should receive answer, and such things
as he had promis’d them, which they found accordingly, and with which
they return’d with no small expedition, to the wonder of them all,
supposing that he could either Divine, or the Paper could speak: then
they led him to the _Youthtanunds_, the _Mattapanients_, the
_Payankatanks_, the _Nantaughtacunds_, and _Onawmanients_ upon the
Rivers of _Rapahanock_, and _Patawomek_, through intricate ways, and
back again by divers other several Nations, to the Kings Habitation at
_Pamaunkee_, where they entertain’d him with most strange and fearful
Conjurations. Not long after, early in the Morning, a great fire was
made in a long House, and a Mat spread on each side thereof; on the one
they caus’d him to sit, and all the Guard went out of the House, and
presently there came skipping in a great grim Fellow, all Painted over
with Coal, mingled with Oyl; and many Snakes and Wesels-skins stuff’d
with Moss, and all their Tails ty’d together, so as they met on the
Crown of his Head in a Tassel; and round about the Tassel was a Coronet
of Feathers, the Skins hanging round about his Head, Back, and
Shoulders, and in a manner cover’d his Face; with a hellish voice, and a
Rattle in his Hand. With most strange gestures and passions he began his
Invocation, and environ’d the fire with a Circle of Meal; which done,
three more such like Devils came rushing in with the like antique
Tricks, Painted half black, half red; but all their Eyes were Painted
white, and some red strokes like _Mutchato_’s, along their Cheeks: round
about him those Fiends Danc’d a pretty while, and then came in three
more as ugly as the rest, with red Eyes, and white strokes over their
black Faces; at last they all sate down right against him, three of them
on the one hand of the chief Priest, and three on the other; then all
with their Rattles began a Song, which ended, the chief Priest laid down
five Wheat Corns, then stretching his Arms and Hands with such violence,
that he sweat, and his Veins swell’d, he began a short Oration: at the
conclusion, they all gave a short groan, and then laid down three Grains
more; after that, began their Song again, and then another Oration, ever
laying down so many Corns as before, till they had twice incircled the
Fire; that done, they took a bunch of little Sticks, prepared for that
purpose, continuing still their Devotion, and at the end of every Song
and Oration, they laid down a Stick between the Divisions of Corn: till
night, neither he nor they did either eat or drink, and then they
feasted merrily, with the best Provisions they could make: Three days
they us’d this Ceremony, the meaning whereof they told him, was to know
if he intended them well, or no. The Circle of Meal signifi’d their
Countrey, the Circles of Corn the bounds of the Sea, and the Sticks his
Countrey. They imagin’d the World to be flat and round, like a Trencher,
and they in the midst. After this they brought him a Bag of Gun-powder,
which they carefully preferv’d till the next Spring, to Plant as they
did their Corn, because they would be acquainted with the nature of that
Seed. _Opitchapam_, the King’s Brother, invited him to his House, where,
with as many Platters of Bread, Fowl, and wild Beasts, as did environ
him, he bid him wellcome, but not any of them would eat a bit with him,
but put up all the remainder in Baskets. At his return to
_Opechancanoughs_, all the Kings Women, and their Children, flock’d
about him for their Parts, as a due by Custom, to be merry with such
Fragments.
At last, they brought him to _Meronocomoco_, where was _Powhatan_ their
Emperor. Here more than two hundred of those grim Courtiers stood
wondering at him, as he had been a Monster; till _Powhatan_ and his
Train had put themselves in their greatest Braveries. Before a Fire,
upon a seat like a Bedsted, he sat cover’d with a great Robe, made of
_Rarowcun_-Skins, and all the Tails hanging by. On either hand did sit a
young Maid, of sixteen or eighteen years of Age, and along on each side
the House, two rows of Men, and behind them as many Women, with all
their Heads and Shoulders Painted red; many of their Heads bedeck’d with
the white Doun of Birds, but every one with something, and a great Chain
of white Beads about their Necks. At his entrance before the Emperor,
all the People gave a great shout. The Queen of _Appamatuck_ was
appointed to bring him Water to wash his Hands, and another brought him
a bunch of Feathers, in stead of a Towel to dry them: Having Feasted him
after their barbarous manner as well as they could, a long consultation
was held, but in conclusion, two great Stones being brought before
_Powhatan_, as many as could, laid Hands on him, dragg’d him to them,
and thereon laid his Head, when being ready with their Clubs, to beat
out his Brains, _Pocahontas_, the Emperors dearest Daughter, seeing no
intreaty could prevail, got his Head in her Arms, and laid her own upon
his to save him from death; whereat, the Emperor was contented he should
live to make him Hatchets, and her Bells, Beads, and Copper; for they
thought him a Man of all Occupations like themselves; for the King
himself will make his own Robes, Shoes, Bowes, Arrows, Pots, Plant,
Hunt, or do any thing as well as the rest.
[Illustration: A New _DISCRIPTION OF_ CAROLINA _By Order of the_ Lords
Proprietors]
Two days after, _Powhatan_ having disguis’d himself in the most fearful
manner he could, caus’d Captain _Smith_ to be brought forth to a great
House in the Woods, and there upon a Mat by the Fire to be left alone.
Not long after, from behind a Mat that divided the House, was made the
most doleful noise he ever heard; then _Powhatan_, more like a Devil
than a Man, with about two hundred more as black as himself, came unto
him, and told him, That now they were Friends, and presently he should
go to _James-Town_, to send him two great Guns and a Grindstone, for
which he would give him the Countrey of _Capahowosick_, and for ever
esteem him as his Son _Nantaquoud_. So to _James-Town_ with twelve
Guides _Powhatan_ sent him. That Night they Quarter’d in the Woods, he
still expecting (as he had done all this long time of his Imprisonment)
every hour to be put to one Death or other, for all their Feasting: but
Almighty God (by his Divine Providence) had mollifi’d the Hearts of
those stern _Barbarians_ with compassion. The next Morning betimes they
came to the Fort, where _Smith_ having us’d the Salvages with what
kindness he could, he shew’d _Rawhunt_, _Powhatan_’s trusty Servant, two
Demi-Culverins and a Milstone, to carry to _Powhatan_: they found them
somewhat too heavy; but when they saw him Discharge them, they being
loaded with Stones, amongst the Boughs of a great Tree loaded with
Isickles, the Ice and Branches came so tumbling down, that the poor
Salvages ran away half dead with Fear. But at last we regain’d some
Conference with them, and gave them some Toys, and sent to _Powhatan_’s
Women and Children such Presents, as gave them in general, full content.
SECT. V.
Carolina.
[Sidenote: Situation and Description of _Carolina_.]
_Carolina_ is that part of _Florida_ which lies between twenty nine and
thirty six Degrees and thirty Minutes of Northern Latitude: It is wash’d
on the East and South, with the _Atlantick_ Ocean; on the West with
_Mare Pacificum_, or the South Sea; and on the North, bounds on
_Virginia_. A Countrey wherein Nature shews how bountiful she can be
without the assistance of Art, the Inhabitants (excepting a little
_Maiz_ which their old Men and Women Plant) depending meerly on the
natural and spontaneous Growth of the Soil for their Provisions, the
Woods furnishing them with store of Fruit and Venison, and the Rivers
with plenty of several sorts of wholsom and savory Fish.
This Maintenance, which without forecast or toil they receive from the
natural fruitfulness of the Countrey, will, if we consider either the
largeness of their Growth, or the duration of their Lives, be thought
neither scanty nor unhealthy, their Stature being of a larger size than
that of _English_-men, their Make strong and well proportion’d, a
crooked or mis-shapen Person being not to be found in the whole
Countrey; and (where the chance of War, which they are almost
continually engag’d in one against another in their little Governments,
spares any of them) they live to an incredible old age; so that when the
_English_ came there, they found some of their Kings, who saw descend
from them the sixth Generation.
[Sidenote: Productions of the Soil.]
The Soil is very rich and fertile, producing naturally Walnuts, Grapes
(of which the _English_ who are there Planted have made very good Wine)
Apricocks, Bullys, with a multitude of others; besides the Woods also
are full of very good Peaches, and all the Season of the Year strew’d
all over with Strawberries. Mulberry-Trees are the common growth of the
Woods; and to assure you they are the natural Offspring of the Place,
and grow to an incredible bigness, one whereof the _English_ (who are
new Planted at _Albemarle Point_ on _Ashley_ River) made use to fasten
the Gate of their Pallisado to, was so large, that all who came from
thence say, they never saw any Oak in _England_ bigger, which is but the
ordinary size of the Mulberry-Trees of this Countrey, which is so sure
an Argument of the richness of the Soil, that the Inhabitants of
_Virginia_ enquiring of the Seamen who came from thence, concerning the
Quality and Product of the Countrey, when they were inform’d of the
large Mulberry-Trees it produc’d, were so well satisfi’d with it, that
they made no farther Enquiry. There are also other Trees, as Ash,
Poplar, and Bay, with several sorts unknown to us of _Europe_; but those
which make it almost all one general Forrest of large Timber-Trees, are
Oak, both red and white, and Cedar. There are also here and there large
Groves of Pine-Trees, some a hundred Foot high, which afford a better
sort of Mast than are to be had either in _Mary-Land_ or _Norway_. These
larger Trees weaving their luxuriant Branches into a close Shade, suffer
no Under-wood to grow between them, either by their Droppings, or else
the Heads of Deer which loosening all the tender Shoots, quite destroy
it; so that a great part of the Countrey is as it were a vast Forrest of
fine Walks, free from the heat of the Sun, or the incumbrance of Shrubs
and Bushes, and so clear and open, that a Man may easily ride a Hunting
amongst the Trees, yielding a Prospect very pleasant and surpassing. On
the Skirts of these Woods grow lesser Trees and Shrubs of several sorts;
amongst them are sundry Dying Materials, which how well the Inhabitants
know how to make use of, appears in the Deer-Skins that the chief of
them wear, which are Painted, or rather Dy’d, with several lively
Colours. But amongst their Shrubs, one of most note and use is that
whose Leaves make their _Casini_, a Drink they frequently use, and
affirm to be very advantageous for the preservation of Health; which, by
the description our _English_ give of the size, colour, and shape of the
Leaf, the sort of Tree it grows on, and the taste, colour, and effects
of the Drink, which is nothing but the Decoction of the Leaf, seems to
be the very same with the _East-India TEE_, and by those who have seen
and tasted both, affirm’d to be no other, and may very probably be a
spontaneous and native Plant of this Place, since those who give us an
account of it, tell us, that this so much valu’d Leaf grows most
plentifully in _Nanking_, a Province in _China_ under the very same
Latitude, and very much agreeing in Soil and Situation with this of
_Carolina_.
What Herbs else the Countrey produces, the _English_ Enquirers (who by
minding their Plantations and Settlement there, have been taken off from
such unprofitable Actions) give us but little account, onely they say,
that those Plats of Ground which have been formerly clear’d off by the
_Indians_ for the Planting their Corn, they found thick cover’d with
three-leav’d Grass and Dazies, which the fertility of the Soil thrusts
forth, whenever the Natives remove their Tillage to some other place,
and leave the Earth to its own production; and in other parts they found
plenty of Garden Herbs growing wild. The low and Moorish Grounds are for
the most part overgrown with Sedge and Reeds, and such other Trash,
which usually incumbers rich and uncultivated Lands; those they call
_Swamsas_, which with a little Husbandry would prove very good Meadows.
There are also some large and pleasant _Savanas_, or grassy Plains.
These are a part of the Trees and Plants best known to us, that Nature
of her self produces, in a Soil which contrives and nourishes any thing.
The _English_ who are now Planted in the most Northern parts of it, at
_Albemarle_, bordering on _Virginia_, have Apples, Pears, Cherries,
Apricocks, Plumbs, and Water-Melons, equalling, and if you will believe
the Inhabitants, both in largeness of size and goodness of taste,
exceeding any in _Europe_. And they who are Setled farther South on
_Ashley_ River, have found that the Oranges, Lemmons, Pomegranates,
Limes, Pomecitrons, _&c._ which they Planted there, have thriven beyond
expectation; and there is nothing which they have put into the Earth,
that through any defect in the Soil, hath fail’d to prosper.
[Sidenote: Commodities of the Countrey.]
Besides those things which do serve to satisfie Hunger, or provoke it,
the Land doth with great return produce Indigo, Ginger, Tobacco, Cotton,
and other Commodities fit to send abroad and furnish foreign Markets;
and when a little time shall have brought those kind of Plants to
maturity, and given the Inhabitants leisure to furnish themselves with
Conveniences for ordering those things aright, the Trials that they have
already made of the Soil and its fitness for such Plantations, assure
you, that besides Silk, enough to store _Europe_, and a great many other
considerable Commodities, they shall have as great plenty of good Wine
and Oyl, as any part of the World.
The Mould is generally black, mellow, and upon handling feels soft, and
(to use their Expression who have been there) soapy, and is generally
all over the Countrey just like the fine Mould of our well order’d
Gardens. Under this black Earth, which is of a good thickness in most
places that they have try’d, there lies a Bed of Marle, and in some
parts Clay.
[Sidenote: Fish and Water-Fowl.]
The Rivers are stor’d with plenty of excellent Fish of several sorts,
which are taken with great ease in abundance, and are one great part of
the Natives Provision, who are never like to want this Recruit, in a
Countrey so abounding in large Rivers, there being in that one small
Tract between _Port Rasal_ and _Cape Carteret_, which are not one Degree
distant, five or six great Navigable Rivers, that empty themselves into
the Sea. These Rivers are also cover’d with Flocks of Ducks and Mallard,
whereof millions are seen together, besides Cranes, Herons, Geese,
Curlews, and other Water-Fowl, who are so easie to be kill’d, that onely
rising at the discharge and noise of a Gun, they instantly light again
in the same place, and presently offer a fresh Mark to the Fowler. At
the Mouths of the Rivers, and along the Sea-Coast, are Beds of Oysters,
which are of a longer Make than those in _Europe_, but very well tasted,
wherein are often found good large Pearls, which though the unskilful
_Indians_ by washing the Oysters do commonly discolour, and spoil their
lustre, yet ’tis not to be doubted, but if rightly order’d, there will
be found many of value, and the Fishing for them turn to some account.
Besides the easie Provisions which the Rivers and Sea afford, their
Woods are well stock’d with Deer, Rabbets, Hares, Turtle-Doves,
Phesants, Partridges, and an infinite number of Wood-Pigeons and wild
Turkies, which are the ordinary Dishes of the _Indians_, whose
House-keeping depends on their Fishing and Hunting, and who have found
it no ill way of Living in so fertile a Countrey, to trust themselves
without any labor or forecast, to the Supplies which are there provided
to their hands, without the continual trouble of Tillage and Husbandry.
Besides, these Woods are fill’d with innumerable variety of smaller
Birds, as different in their Notes as Kinds.
[Sidenote: Temperature of the Climate.]