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.
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.
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.