CHAPTER VI.

POCAHONTAS, THE HEROINE OF JAMESTOWN.

If John Smith, in the story of the Jamestown settlement, is the hero, Pocahontas, the daughter of Powhatan, is entitled to be called the heroine. In the study of the life of Captain Smith, we have already been introduced to the wilderness princess. So far as history reports, the English at Jamestown did not know of this Indian maiden until she rescued the life of John Smith in the winter of 1607-'08. She was then a mere child of some eleven or twelve years. Her regard for Smith and her generous spirit were the means of establishing amicable relations between her people and the little band of Englishmen.

We next hear of Pocahontas, in this same winter of trial, leading, at frequent intervals, a trail of Indians into the colony bearing supplies for the starving people. The weather being exceedingly cold, such excursions must have been attended with great discomfort, it not absolute suffering, to this child of the forests. Marion Harland describes this princess of the wilderness, leading her savage followers into the English settlement, as "a little girl wrapped in a robe of doeskin, lined and edged with pigeon down," with "a white heron's feather in her black hair," indicating her rank as a King's daughter. Her visits must have been very frequent, for it is said, “Ever once in four days this wild train visited the settlement until the peril of famine was passed." It is evident that the Indian maiden was very much at home among the English settlers.

Mr. Strachey tells that the before remembered Pocahontas, Powhatan's daughter, continues resorting to our fort. Of the age then of eleven or twelve years, would get the boys forth with her into the market places and make them wheel, falling on their hands and turning their heels upward, whom she would follow and wheel so herself all the fort over." This exploit seems to give some ground for the interpretation that is sometimes given to the name of Pocahontas. It is said. that on account of these boyish pranks her father called her Pocahontas, which means "tom-boy." It is generally believed, however, that the word means "bright stream between two hills."

We next hear of Pocahontas in the summer of 1608, at which time she visited Jamestown to beg for the release of some Indians who were detained in prison. Her request was granted, and Smith sent her away with presents.

A few months later we again hear of Pocahontas at the time Smith had gone amongst her father's people to announce that the King of England had sent to Powhatan, in token of his high regard, certain presents, and desired that Powhatan come to Jamestown to receive these presents and to submit to the ceremonies of coronation. On Smith's arrival at Werowocomoco, Powhatan was absent, and while Smith waited for the return of the agei chief, he and his companions were entertained by Pocahontas and her maidens. Smith and his companions were seated in an open field before a fire when they heard a great noise and shrieking. They seized their arms, thinking that Powhatan had treacherously planned to surprise them; but presently Pocahontas came and assured Smith that no harm was meant, and that she would suffer death herself before any hurt should befall him. Then came thirty young women from the woods, their bodies painted with many colors, but each one in a different fashion. Poca

hontas, their leader, had a pair of buck's horns on her head, an otter's skin at her girdle, and a bow and arrow in her hand. The Indian maidens rushed from the woods with great shouts, and forming a ring they executed a peculiar wild dance around Smith and his companions.

The next day Powhatan arrived. He received the message from Newport, after which, drawing himself up like a great monarch, he said: "If your King has sent me presents, I also am a King, and this is my land. Eight days I will stay to receive them. Your father is to come to me, not I to him." Thus Powhatan refused to go to Jamestown to be crowned, and Captain Newport therefore came to Powhatan's home on York River with the presents from King James. After much persuasion old Powhatan put on the scarlet robe, but when he was ordered to kneel to receive the crown, he positively refused to bend his knee. "At last, by leaning hard on his shoulders, he a little stooped, and Newport put the crown on his head." The English then fired a salute in honor of Powhatan, the King, who started up with great fear until he saw that no harm was meant.

In the winter of 1608 the colony was in great distress from lack of provisions. Powhatan knew of its condition and invited Smith to make him a visit at Werowocomoco, with the request that Smith should build him a house, give him a grindstone, fifty swords, some firearms, a hen and rooster, and much beads and copper. In return for these Powhatan promised large supplies cf corn. Smith was only too glad to accept the invitation, for he had come to believe that the old chief had made up his mind to starve the colony by withholding all supplies of corn and refusing all efforts at any trade for the same. Already he had determined upon extreme and desperate measures, nothing less than the capture of Powhatan himself and the holding of him as a ransom for food.

It seems that Powhatan had been doing some thinking and planning himself. He had about come to the conclusion that unless something was done to the Englishmen they would eventually drive him and his people further inward, and he in turn was planning to capture Smith; hence his very gracious good cheer to the storm-bound group far away from the blessings of their English homes. Yet even at such a time, and upon in the effort to entertain his brave followers and to bring invitation.

The weather was exceedingly cold, and Smith and his party made slow headway in sailing. On account of stormy weather, they were compelled to stop at the village of Kecoughtan and to spend a week. It was Christmas time. Here they were feasted on oysters, venison and wild fowl. We are told, also, that Smith and two of his companions amused themselves by hunting, and killed one hundred and fortyeight wild fowl in three shots. One can imagine how these Englishmen on Christmas eve gathered close around the fire in one of the rude Indian huts, and how their thoughts must have crossed over the seas to their old homes and firesides in England. Men less brave and determined, under such a spell, would have quailed before the dangers and uncertainties of the journey upon which they had come. The marvelous resource of their brave captain must have been mightily drawn. under such unpropitious circumstances, the brave, good nature of the sturdy Englishman undoubtedly asserted itself, and before the evening was far spent many a shout of laughter might have been heard by any eavesdropping Indian. One wonders if the Christmas-tide softened in any way their feeling towards the Indians, and if, yielding to its gracious spell, they took up their journey less intent upon doing violent harm or hurt because of the lonely Christmas eve they had spent together around the fire in the rude cabin planted in the midst of an untamed wilderness.

After the week had expired they took up their journey, and finally reached Werowocomoco on the 12th of January The ice covered the York River from shore to shore, leaving only the narrowest channel in the middle of the river. After coming ashore through the frozen marshlands, the Englishmen found shelter for themselves in the nearest cabins. Smith sent a message to Powhatan announcing that he was in the neighborhood, and asking that he furnish them with provisions. The chief answered in his usual generous way, sending great quantities of bread, venison and turkeys. The next day he perpetrated a piece of grim sarcasm by sending a very polite request to know when they were going to move on. He added that, if they had come for corn they would be disappointed, because he himself had no corn and that his people had less than he had, but if they wanted corn very much, he might be able to get them a little in exchange for swords. Smith complained that this treatment was unjust, as he had come by invitation. Powhatan treated the matter as though it was a great joke, and asked the Englishmen to proceed to show their goods, insisting, however, that he had no corn to exchange except for swords and guns. Smith gave him to understand, as plainly as possible, that any exchange of swords or guns was absolutely impossible, and then followed a long and skilful parley. Greek met Greek; it was give and take through the livelong day between two smart masters of diplomacy, each looking for the cpportunity to have the other in his power. Smith requested that the savages break the ice. from the river bank so that his boat might come to the shore and take himself and the corn aboard. He was not feeling altogether comfortable with the bulk of his men so far removed from him, and he thought that if these men could be brought ashore he might be able to surprise the old chief. While they were waiting for the Indians to break away the