CHAP. I.] POWHA'I AN-NEWPORT'S FOLLY. II began to show his haughtiness, by demanding five times the value of an article, or his contempt for what was offered. By Newport's imprudence and folly, what had cost Smith so much toil and pains to achieve, was blown away by a single breath of vanity. Nevertheless, his great mind, continually exercised in difficult matters, brought the subtle chief again to his own terms. Himself, with Newport, and about 20 others, went to Powhatan's residence to trade with him. "Wherein Powhatan carried himself so proudly, yet discreetly, (in his salvage manner,) as made us all to admire his natural gifts." He pretended that it was far beneath his dignity to trade as his men did. Thus his craft to obtain from Newport his goods for whatever he pleased to give in return. Smith saw through Powhatan's craft, and told Newport how it would turn out, but being determined to show himself as dignified as the Indian chief, repented of his folly, like too many others, when it was too late. Smith was the interpreter in the business, and Newport the chief. Powhatan made a speech to him, when they were about to enter upon trading. He said, "Captain Newport, it is not agreeable to my greatness, in this peddling manner, to trade for trifles; and I esteem you also a great werowance. Therefore, lay me down all your commodities together; what I like I will take, and in recompense give you what I think fitting their value." Accordingly, Newport gave him all his goods, and received in return only about three bushels of corn; whereas they expected to have obtained twenty hogsheads. This transaction created some hard thoughts between Smith and Newport. If it add to raise Powhatan in our admiration, it can detract nothing from the character of Smith, to say, that he was as wily as the great Indian chief. For, with a few blue beads, which he pretended that he had shown him only by accident, and which he would hardly part with, as he pretended, because they were of great price, and worn only by great kings, he completely got his end, at this time, answered. Tantalization had the desired effect, and Powhatan was so infatuated with the lure, that he was almost beside himself, and was ready to give all he had to possess them. "So that, ere we departed," says my relation, "for a pound or two of blew beades, he brought over my king for 2 or 300 bushells of corne." An English boy was left with Powhatan, by Captain Newport, to learn the language, manners, customs and geography of his country; and, in return, Powhatan gave him Namontack, one of his servants, of a shrewd and subtle capacity, whom he afterwards carried to England. Powhatan became offended with Captain Smith, when Newport left the country, in 1608; at whose departure he sent him 20 turkeys, and demanded, in return, 20 swords, which were granted. Shortly after, he sent the same number to Smith, expecting the like return; but, being disappointed, ordered his men to seize the English wher ever they could find them. This caused difficulty-many of the English being robbed of their swords, in the vicinity of their forts. They continued their depredations until Smith surprised a number of them, from whom he learned that Powhatan was endeavoring to get all the arms in his power, to be able to massacre the English. When he found that his plot was discovered, he sent Pocahontas, with presents, to excuse himself, and pretended that the mischief was done by some of his ungovernable chiefs. He directed her to endeavor to effect the release of his men that were prisoners, which Smith consented to, wholly, as he pretended, on her account; and thus peace was restored, which had been continually interrupted for a considerable time before. On the 10th of September, 1608, Smith was elected governor of Virginia. Newport, going often to England, had a large share in directing the affairs of the colony, from his interest with the proprietors. He arrived about this time, and, among other baubles, brought over a crown for Powhatan, with directions for his coronation; which had the ill effect to make him value himself more than ever. Newport was instructed to discover the country of the Monacans, a nation with whom Powhatan was at war, and whom they would assist him against, if he would, aid in the business. Captain Smith was sent to him to invite him to Jamestown to receive presents, and to trade for corn. On arriving at Werowocomoco, and delivering his message to the old chief, he replied, "If your king have sent me presents, I also am a king, and this is my land. 12 POWHATAN.-ORDERS THE DEATH OF SMITH. [Book IV. Eight days I will stay to receive them. Your father [meaning Newport] is to come to me, not I to him, nor yet to your fort neither will I bite at such & bate. As for the Monacans, I can revenge my own injuries; and as for Atquanachuck, where you say your brother was slain, it is a contrary way from those parts you suppose it; but, for any salt water beyond the mountains, the relations you have had from my people are false." Some of the Indians had made the English believe that the South Sea, now called the Pacific Ocean, was but a short distance back. To show Smith the absurdity of the story, he 'rew a map of the country, upon the ground. Smith returned as wise as he rent. A house was built for Powhatan, about this time, by some Germans, who came over with Newport. These men, thinking that the English could not subsist in the country, wantonly betrayed all the secrets of the English to Powhatan, which was again the source of much trouble. They even urged him to put all the English to death, agreeing to live with him, and assist him in the execution of the horrible project. Powhatan was pleased at the proposition, and thought, by their assistance, to effect what he had formerly hoped to do by engaging Smith in such an enterprise. Their first object was to kill Captain Smith; by which act, the chief obstacle to success would be removed; and, accordingly, they took every means in their power to effect it. In the first place, he invited him to come and trade for corn, hoping an opportunity, in that business, would offer. That his design might not be mistrusted, Powhatan promised to load his ship with corn, if he would bring him a grindstone, 50 swords, some muskets, a cock and a hén, and a quantity of copper and beads. Smith went accordingly, but guarded, as though sure of meeting an enemy. In their way, the English stopped at Warrasqueake, and were informed, by the sachem of that place, of Powhatan's intentions. That sachem kindly entertained them, and, when they departed, furnished them with guides. On account of extreme bad weather, they were obliged to spend near a week at Kicquotan. This obliged them to keep their Christmas among the Indians, and, according to our authorities, a merry Christmas it was; having been never more merry in their lives, lodged by better fires, or fed with greater plenty of good bread, oysters, fish, flesh, and wild fowl." Having arrived at Werowocomoco, after much hardship, they sent to Pow hatan for provisions, being in great want, not having taken but three or four days' supply along with them. The old chief sent them immediately a supply of bread, turkeys, and venison, and soon after made a feast for them, according to custom. # Meanwhile, Powhatan pretended he had not sent for the English; telling them he had no corn, "and his people much less," and, therefore, intimated that he wished they would go off again. But Smith produced the messenger that he had sent, and so confronted him; Powhatan then laughed beartily, and thus it passed for a joke. He then asked for their commodities, “but he liked nothing, except guns and swords, and valued a basket of corn higher than a basket of copper; saying, he could rate his corn, but not the copper." Captain Smith then made a speech to him, in which he endeavored to work upon his feelings and sense of honor; said he had sent his men to build him a house while his own was neglected; that, because of his promising to supply him with corn, he had neglected to supply himself with provisions when he might have done it. Finally, Smith reproached him of divers negligences, deceptions, and prevarications; but the main cause of Powhatan's refusing to trade seems to have been because the English did not bring the articles he most wanted. When Smith had done, Powhatan answered him as follows: We have but little corn, but what we can spare shall be brought two days hence. As to your coming here, I have some doubt about the reason of it. I am told, by my men, that you came, not to trade, but to invade my people, and to possess my country. This makes me les ready to relieve you, and frightens my 2 * The reader may wonder how this could be, but it is so in the old history, by Stith, 86. |