CHAPTER III

THE LAND OF THE POWHATANS

One of Newport's passengers was Captain John Smith, a young man whose career had been full of adventure 80

Many persons have expressed doubts as to Smith's veracity, but without good reason 81

Early life of John Smith 82

His adventures on the Mediterranean 83

And in Transylvania 84

How he slew and beheaded three Turks 85

For which Prince Sigismund granted him a coat-of-arms which was duly entered in the Heralds' College 86

The incident was first told not by Smith but by Sigismund's secretary Farnese 87

Smith tells us much about himself, but is not a braggart 88

How he was sold into slavery beyond the Sea of Azov and cruelly treated 88, 89

How he slew his master and escaped through Russia and Poland 89, 90

The smoke of controversy 90

In the course of Newport's tedious voyage Smith is accused of plotting mutiny and kept in irons 91

Arrival of the colonists in Chesapeake Bay, May 13, 1607 92

Founding of Jamestown; Wingfield chosen president 93

Smith is set free and goes with Newport to explore the James River 93, 94

The Powhatan tribe, confederacy, and head war-chief 94

How danger may lurk in long grass 95

Smith is acquitted of all charges and takes his seat with the council 96

Newport sails for England, June 22, 1607 96

George Percy's account of the sufferings of the colonists from fever and famine 97

Quarrels break out in which President Wingfield is deposed and John Ratcliffe chosen in his place 99

Execution of a member of the council for mutiny 100

Smith goes up the Chickahominy River and is captured by Opekankano 101

Who takes him about the country and finally brings him to Werowocomoco, January, 1608 102

The Indians are about to kill him, but he is rescued by the chief's daughter, Pocahontas 103

Recent attempts to discredit the story 103-108

Flimsiness of these attempts 104

George Percy's pamphlet 105

The printed text of the "True Relation" is incomplete 105, 106

Reason why the Pocahontas incident was omitted in the "True Relation" 106, 107

There is no incongruity between the "True Relation" and the "General History" except this omission 107

But this omission creates a gap in the "True Relation," and the account in the "General History" is the more intrinsically probable 108

The rescue was in strict accordance with Indian usage 109

The ensuing ceremonies indicate that the rescue was an ordinary case of adoption 110

The Powhatan afterward proclaimed Smith a tribal chief 111

The rescue of Smith by Pocahontas was an event of real historical importance 111

Captain Newport returns with the First Supply, Jan. 8, 1608 112

Ratcliffe is deposed and Smith chosen president 113

Arrival of the Second Supply, September, 1608 113

Queer instructions brought by Captain Newport from the London Company 113

How Smith and Captain Newport went up to Werowocomoco, and crowned The Powhatan 114

How the Indian girls danced at Werowocomoco 114, 115

Accuracy of Smith's descriptions 116

How Newport tried in vain to search for a salt sea behind the Blue Ridge 116

Anas Todkill's complaint 117

Smith's map of Virginia 118