[84]smoked
[85]The adventures of Samoset, Squanto, and other Indians who had been kidnapped and taken to Europe before whites settled in New England are recounted with accuracy and appropriate color by Carolyn T. Foreman, Indians Abroad, 1493-1938 (Norman, 1943).
[86]Presumably a misprint for Williams. There is no other mention of a Williamson in the early Plymouth sources.
[87]This first American mutual security pact remained inviolate throughout Massasoit’s life. He and his eldest son Wamsutta (named “Alexander” by the English) signed such a treaty in Plymouth in 1639, and it was ratified and confirmed by the colonial government. The peace was broken in 1675, for which most historians blame Wamsutta’s brother and successor, Metacom (“King Philip”).
[88]deep
[89]mulberry
[90]The journey to Pokanoket took place in the summer of 1621. During the preceding three months, which are unreported in this journal, Bradford notes that almost half of the settlers died in the “General Sickness.” None abandoned the enterprise, however, and the Mayflower returned empty to England.
[91]The derivation of this name is not clear. Six different spellings occur even within this book: Plimoth, and New Plimoth (both on the title page!), Plimouth, Plimmouth, New Plimmouth, and New Plimmouth. It is true that Plymouth was the town from which the settlers had finally set sail from their native country, “... having been kindly entertained and courteously used by divers friends there dwelling.” Furthermore, the land company which granted their patent had once been called the Plymouth Company. But we need evoke neither sentimentalism nor commercial diplomacy on the part of the Pilgrims to account for the name. In fact, this site was called “Plimouth” on the map which they carried on the Mayflower, from Capt. John Smith’s Description of New England (London, 1616); supposedly it was arbitrarily so designated by Prince Charles when Smith showed him a draft of the map.
[92]Now, Middleborough, Massachusetts.
[93]Now, the Mount Hope area of Bristol, Rhode Island.