STEPHEN Bo WEEKS CLASS OF 1886; PH.D. THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF N0M1 CAMJNA THE WEEKS COLLECTION OF CAMINHANA (L^lcy. \ -Sms 2 2*0 - BSK iff AT CHAPEL HILL 00040613942 This book must not be taken from the Library building. im JJTU HAS BEEN Form No. 471 M/CR0R..MED Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill http://archive.org/details/southernexplorerOObanv SOUTHERN EXPLORERS AND COLONISTS, AS ILLUSTRATED IN THE EARLY EVENTS CONNECTED WITH THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT AT FORT CAROLINA, THE SPANISH COLONY AT ST. AUGUSTINE, AND THE ENGLISH PLANTATION AT JAMESTOWN. V C ift- (41 By JOSEPH BANVARD, D.D. BOSTON": PUBLISHED BY P. LOTHROP & CO. COPYRIGHT BY D. LOTHROP & CO. 1880. Press of Rockwell and Churchill, 39 Arch St., Boston. PREFACE. The early colonial history of the Southern States abounds in incidents of a highly roman- tic nature, especially Florida and Virginia. Some of these have found their way into the various Histories of the United States, and others have not. A particular narration of all the events of all the states of the Union would be a work so voluminous as, by its magnitude, to deter many from its perusal. Hence writers on the history of the whole country, from its discovery, are, from the necessity of the case, obliged to condense their accounts, and even reject much that is interesting. In this work an opposite course has been pursued. A limited extent of country and a comparatively short period of time have been embraced, and the interesting incidents which occurred within those limits minutely related. They pass before the eye in their various bril- liant or sombre hues, like a continuous picture ; 1* 6 PREFACE. enabling us to see the trials and struggles of the early settlers as they contended with the climate and the elements, with the savage In- dian, or with famine and disease. This por- traiture of events, in detail, imparts a far more vivid conception of the lights and shadows of colonial life than could be derived from a mere general outline. If this volume should be the means of awakening a deeper interest in the early an- nals of our country, and of producing a higher appreciation of the blessings we now enjoy, by contrast with the trials of the first planters, its object will be gained. Without mentioning all the authorities which have been consulted, it is proper to state that amongst the works from which has been de- rived special assistance were Hakluyt's Col- lection of Early Voyages; The Generall His- toric of Virginia, by Captain John Smith ; Stith's Essay ; Bancroft's History ; and the Life of Captain Smith, by George S. Hillard, in Sparks's valuable series of biographies. List off Illustration* ILLUSTRATED TITLE PAGE. PAGB MAKING A CANOE, 59 PORTRAIT OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH, . .68 SPANISH BULL HUNT, 72 SIR WALTER AND QUEEN ELIZABETH, . . .108 FINDING THE BURIED GOODS 135 COOKING OVER A NATURAL SPRING, . . .147 SMITH AND HIS LIVING SHIELD, . . . .171 INDIAN REVENGE, 178 CAPTAIN SMITH RESCUED BY POCAHONTAS, . . 191 MARRIAGE OF POCAHONTAS, 270 CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. M.G1 Admiral deCoIrgny. — His Expedition. — John Ribatilt. — Discovers the River May. — Reception by the Indians. — Devotional Services. — Ex- change of Presents. — Donation of Fish. — Search for the Jordan. — Rivers with French Names. — Fort Carolina erected. — Ribault re- turns. — The Colonists discontented. — They form a Conspiracy. — They kill their Commandant. — They build a Vessel. — Set out to return. — Horrors of the Passage. — Picked up at Sea. — Coligny not disheartened. — Roman Catholics and the Huguenots. — Religious Persecutions •■ 19 CHAPTER II. Opinions respecting Florida. — Departure of Laudonniere. — Conduct of the Indians. — Dissensions. — Piracy. — Fort Carolina. — Wel- come Visitors. — Kindness of Sir John Hawkins. — Spanish Claims. — Huguenots. — Religious Antipathies. — The Pirate Melendez. — His Agreement with the King. — Sets out in Pursuit of the French. — 10 CONTENTS. Storm at Sea. — Melendez separates from his Company. — Discovers a safe Harbor. — Its Name, and the Reason of it. — Melendez finda the French Fleet. — His cruel Message. — The French flee. — Are pursued unsuccessfully. — The oldest Town in the United States... 29 CHAPTER III. Etibault returns. — Fears. — Divided Counsels. — A great Tempest — Spaniards attack the French. — Scenes of Carnage. — Unnecessary Cruelty. — Religious Ceremonies. — Deceptive Offers. — Captives murdered. — The Catholics spared. — Insulting Sentence. — Justifi- cation. — Royal Indifference. — De Gourgues seeks Revenge. — At- tacks the Spaniards. — Is successful. — Retaliatory Sentence. — The French relinquish Florida CHAPTER IV. Catholic Priests. — Augustin Ruyz. — New Mexico explored. — Sir Humphrey Gilbert. — Visits Newfoundland. — Supposed Discovery of Silver. — Secret mining Operations. — A Vessel lost. — Severe Weath- er. — Sir Humphrey lost in the Squirrel. — Sir Walter Raleigh. — His Perseverance. — Wococon. — Interviews with the Natives. — Gran- ganimeo. — His Court Etiquette. — Visit of L'erainony. — His Wife. — Their Dresses. — The Chief's Monopoly 48 CHAPTER V. Indian Prudence. — Method of making Canoes. — Character of Gran- ganimeo. — Visit to Roanoke. — Indian Hospitality. — Female Kind- ness. — Character and Habits of the Natives. — English Timidity. — Gratitude. — Shipwrecked white Men. — Their fatal Adventure. — CONTENTS. 11 Wonder of the Natives. — Their Weapons and Modes of Warfare. — The Secotanites. — A great Feast. — A dreadful Slaughter. — The English Captains return Home. — They take with them two In- dians 53 CHAPTER VI. Glowing Accounts of the new Countries. — Origin of the Name Vir- ginia. — Sir Walter Raleigh's Privileges. — Greenville's Expedition. — Touch at Porto Eico. — False Promises. — Fiery Retaliation. — Ban- quets. — Bull Hunt. — Bargaining. — Dangerous Sport. — Fine Fish- ing. — A Message to Wingina. — Exploring Expedition. — The stolen Cup. — Severe Revenge. — Granganimeo's last Visit. — Greenville returns. — Comparative Dates 67 CHAPTER VII. Explorations. — Description of the Country. — An intelligent Captive. — Pearls. — Menatonon — Two Companies. — Assignation. — A marvel- lous River. — Pemissapan's Treachery. — Concealment of the In- dians. — Critical Situation. — The Governor's Policy. — Firmness of the Company. — Dog Porridge. — Rumors of Gold. — Mining Opera- tions. — Perseverance of the Company. — Lane's interesting Ac- count. — Attack by the Indians. — They retreat to the Woods. — The perilous Return 76 CHAPTER VIII. New Plots. — The Colony in great Jeopardy. — Indian Funeral Cus- toms. — Murders projected. — The Plot revealed. — The Watch- word. — Pemissapan slain. — The Colony saved — A Fleet. — Pain- 12 CONTENTS. ful Suspense. — Relief. — Sir Francis Drake. — His Kindness. — Great Storm. — Its Effects. — The Colonists disheartened. — Drake takea them on Board. — Character of Lane. — Arrival of Supplies, but no Colony. — Their Return. — Arrival of Sir Richard Greenville. — His Surprise. — His Reiurn. — He leaves fifteen Men. — He destroys Spanish Towns , 89 CHAPTER IX. Indian Clothing. — Their Weapons. — Their Houses. — Mode of War- fare. — Their religious Opinions. — Stories about Resurrection from the Dead — Astonishment at certain English Articles. — Their Opin- ions of the English. — Their religious Instruction. — Their singular Treatment of the Bible. — Requests for Prayers. — Strange Sick- ness. — How it was accounted for. — English thought to be Gods. — Invisible Bullets. — Indian Uses of Tobacco. — Snuff for Fish. — Raleigh's Wager with the Queen. — A Man on Fire. — Permanence of Indian Customs 98 CHAPTER X. A new Colony. — An Obstinate Pilot. — Search for the Fifteen. — Con- dition of Roanoke. — Affecting Scene. — Repairs begun. — The Pi- lot's Designs defeated. — Death of Mr. George Howe by the In- dians. — A welcome Reception. — A Badge of Friendship desired. — A formal Conference. — Fate of the Fifteen. — Attack of the In- dians. — The English defeated. — False Promises. — A Midnight Excursion. — Indians surprised. — A fatal Mistake. — How it oc- curred. — Manteo blames the Indians. — Manteo christened. — First English Child born.— Virginia Dare llfl CONTENTS. 13 CHAPTER XI. Spanish Armada. — All England aroused. — Noble Speech of the Queen. — Splendid Sight. — English Stratagem. — Signal Defeat. — The Armada destroyed. — White's Perseverance. — Success. — Disap- pointment — Great Smoke, but no People. — Fatal Accident. — A musical Call. — No Response. — Significant Letters, Croatan. — Goods dug up. — Water wanted. — Severe Weather. — Victuals scarce. — Strange Decision. — The Colonists abandoned to their Fate. — A subsequent Tradition concerning them. — Its Uncer- tainty. — Present State of Roanoke 121 CHAPTER XII. The two Companies. — The obnoxious Charter. — Divine Providence - controlling Nations. — Rev. Mr. Hunt. — His Troubles and Persever- ance. — The Missionary Spirit. — Hot Springs. — Numerous Birds. — Captain John Smith. — His Popularity. — His Imprisonment. — The two Capes. — The Landing. — Attack of the Savages. — Their Re- pulse. — Oysters. — Flowers. — Strawberries. — Point Comfort. — The Sealed Box. — Anxiety to open it. — Its Contents. — The Officers of the Colony. — Explanations. — A Place for a Settlement 143 CHAPTER XIII. Smith unjustly ejected from the Council. — Building of Jamestown. — Wingfield's Indiscretion. — Romantic Residence of the Indian King.— Powhatan's Conduct. — Attack on Jamestown. — Prowling Indians. — Ambuscades. — Severe Toil. — Attempt to send Smith Home. — Cap- tain Smith's Trial. — His honorable Acquittal. — President Wingfield convicted and sentenced. — Smith's Disinterestedness. — Good Influ- 2 14 CONTENTS. ence of Mr. Hunt. — Smith admitted to the Council Board. — Singu- lar Fact. — Interesting Coincidence MA CHAPTER XIV. Quaint Language The President's Selfishness. — Trials of the Plant- ers. — Frequent Deaths. — The President's Imbecility. — Smith's In- fluence. — His Example of Industry. — Dwellings provided — Pro- visions scarce. — Smith searches the Country for Food. — Insulting Offers of the Savages. — Smith's Treatment of them. — Terrific At- tack. — Peace and Provisions secured. — Bartering. — Smith cen- sured. — Exploring Excursion. — Wastefulness of the Planters. — Wingfield's Plot. — Its Detection and Prevention. — Abundance of Game. — Smith examines the Chickahominy Kiver. — He leaves his Boat, and takes to a Canoe 159 CHAPTER XV. Disobeying Orders. — Its painful Consequence. — Fate of two Canoe Men. — Indian Skill in Trailing. — A live Shield. — An Accident.— Smith captured. — His Policy. — Exhibits a Pocket Compass. — Gives a Lecture. — Great Astonishment. — Smith sentenced to die. — His Reprieve. — Triumphal Procession. — How Smith is fed. — He suffers from Cold. — Gratitude in an Indian. — Revenge. — Reward offered for Treason. — Mysterious Note. — Indians visit Jamestown. — Their Reception. — Effect of the Note. — Finding of Toys. — Srcith pub- licly exhibited 169 CHAPTER XVI. Bingular Costume. — Mysterious Ceremony. — Its Explanation. — Smith favored — Visits Opitchaptm. — Indian Beggars — Apprehensions CONTENTS. 15 of Danger. — Powder planted. — Emperor Powhatan. — Indian Splen- dor. — Guards. — Their severe Discipline. — Subordinate Kings.— Indian Toilet. — The Emperor's Court. — The Consultation. — Smith's Sentence. -Wonderful Deliverance. — Pocahontas. — Executioners disappointed Smith a Toy Maker. — " The Chieftain's Daugh- ter." — Female Kindness. — A sympathizing Brother 183 CHAPTER XVII. Smith released. — His Suspicions. — The Cannon and the Grindstone. — Powder frightens. — Plot arrested. — The President imprisoned. — Pocahontas again. — Her timely Supplies. — Smith regarded with Reverence. — His Prediction fulfilled. — Ceremonial Visit. — New- port frightened. — Powhatan's State. — Smith visits him fearlessly. — His Reception. — Newport gathers Courage. — Royal Shrewdness. — Newport cheated. — Smith's Indignation. — His successful Cun- ning. — The Biter bitten 195 CHAPTER XVIII. Value of blue Beads. — A Conflagration. — Mr. Hunt's Trials and Pa- tience. — Gold Fever. — The Phoenix. — Turkeys and Swords. — Weapons stolen. — Smith's Decision. — Powhatan negotiates through Pocahontas. — She is successful. — Unreasonable Complaints. — Ce- dar against Gold. — Chesapeake Bay explored. — A noble Chief. — Places named. — Suffer for Water. — A Storm. — Limbo. — Shirt Sails. — Wild Men. — Stratagem defeated. — Effects of Kindness. — Indian Merchants. — The Party discouraged. — Smith's Persever- ance. — Treachery discovered. — Timely Supplies 208 1 16 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XIX. Another Mineral Fever. — Frying Pan and Fishes. — Accident — Sting- ray. — Smith's Grave dug, but not used. — A disguised Boat — Smith elected President. — Another Expedition. — A successful Ar- tifice — The Tockwoghs. — The acceptable Falsehood. — Great Joy. — A Visit from the Sasquesahanocks. — They worship Smith, and offer him a Chieftaincy. — Treachery of the Rappahanocks. — Todkill's narrow Escape. — A novel Expedient — More Deception. — Indians whipped into Feace. — A Cluster of Evils 221 CHAPTER XX. Smith installed Governor. — Newport returns. — Smith outvoted Pocahontas. — Her Amusements for Smith. — Powhatan's Haughti- ness. — Inappropriate Presents. — A Coronation not understood. — Stingy Reciprocity. — The Manakins found. — Their Exclusiveness. — Seeking Merchandise. — Novel Employment. — A queer Cure for Profanity. — Selfishness fatal to the general Good. — Newport dissat- isfied. — Is glad to return to England. — Probably misrepresents the Colony 239 CHAPTER XXI. Trials. — Powhatan's Invitation. — Smith visits him. — Keeps Christ- mas. — Powhatan's Deception. — A villanous Plot — Pocahontas de- feats it — She declines Rewards. — Distressing Calamity. — A Mes- senger to Smith. — His Life sought. — Pocahontas conceals .and saves him. — A supposed Miracle. — Mysterious Explosion. — Ratcliffe and others slain. — Pocahontas saves a Boy. — Unparalleled Sufferings. — Largo Numbers die. — The Town abandoned. — Lord Delaware CONTENTS. 17 arrives. — The Settlers return. — A Sermon. — Lord Delaware's Promptness and Energy. — The Colony revived 244 CHAPTER XXII. Pocahontas concealed. — Treacherous Japazaws. — His cunning Plot, — Pocahontas betrayed. — She becomes captive to Argall. — Copper Kettle. — Powhatan's Policy. — A Truce. — Pocahontas and her Brothers. — Messengers to Powhatan. — Are unsuccessful. — Pocahon- tas in Love. — She marries an Englishman. — Effects of her Mar- riage. — She is instructed in Religion. — Is converted. — Her differ- ent Names. — Stith's Testimony of her 263 CHAPTER XXIII. Pocahontas visits England. — Smith's Letter to the Queen. — He meets Pocahontas. — Her Coolness and Rebukes. — Smith's Apology. — Re- ply of Pocahontas. — Smith introduces her to the Nobility. — Poc- ahontas visits the King and Queen. — Her graceful Deportment. — She goes to various Places of Amusement. — Her Husband appointed Secretary. — Pocahontas dies. — Sorrow and Joy. — She leaves one Child. — Steukley's Treachery. — Her Child taken to his Uncle's. — The Descendants of Pocahontas. — John Randolph. — Story of Tom- ocomo 273 CHAPTER XXIV. toung Ladies imported. — Interesting Scene. — Long Courtships pre- vented. — Buying Wives. — Their Value in Tobacco. — Wise Ar- rangement. — Its desirable Effects — Slaves introduced. — Increase of Plantations. — Deceptive Peace. — A dark Plot forming. — An 2* 18 CONTENTS. •xtensive Conspiracy. — A dreadful Massacre. — Barbarous Mutila- tions. —Jamestown saved. — Chanco's Disclosure. — Results of the Conspiracy 283 CHAPTER XXV. Effects of the Massacre. — A difficult Question. — Smith's Proposal.—. Indian War. — Stringent Treatment. — A second Massacre. — Ope- chancanough a Prisoner. — He is murdered. — Border War. — The Indians conquered. — Dissolution of the London Company. — Bap- tism enjoined by Law. — Union of Church and State. — Quakers condemned. — How to judge the early Settlers. — Church-Wardens Laws concerning Marriage. — Concerning Shipmasters. — Whipping Posts and Ducking Stools. — The Sabbath. — Fast.— The two Col- lujies. — Closing Remark , SM CHAPTER I. Admiral de Coligny. — His Expedition. — JohD Ribault. — Dis- covers the River May. — Reception by the Indians. — De- votional Services. — Exchange of Presents. — Donation of Fish. — Search for the Jordan. — Rivers with French Names. — Fort Carolina erected. — Ribault returns. — The Colonists dis- contented. — They form a Conspiracy. — They kill their Com- mandant. — They build a Vessel. — Set out to return. — Hor- rors of the Passage. — Picked up at Sea. — Coligny not dis- heartened. — Roman Catholics and the Huguenots. — Religious Persecutions. A name which occupies a conspicuous place in the history of the early settlements of North Amer- ica is that of Admiral de Coligny, a distinguished French Protestant, with whom it had long been a favorite object to establish a colony in America, as a place of safe retreat for the Huguenots, as the French Protestants were then called, where they would be secure from the persecuting edicts of a fanatical government, and of a powerful ecclesias- tical hierarchy. For the accomplishment of this desired object, an expedition was finally planned, the execution of which was committed to a cou- rageous and experienced officer of Dieppe, whose name was John Ribault. Instead of the profligate inmates of prisons, with whom some previous at- tempts at forming settlements in North America had 29 CAPTAIN RIBAULT'S VOYAGE. been unsuccessfully made, he was accompanied by some of the flower of the French nobility, and by soldiers of tried courage and good discipline. Furnished with two ships, he safely crossed what was then the comparatively unknown Atlantic, and arrived upon the coast of America, near the thir- tieth degree of north latitude. Whilst sailing along near the land, carefully observing the inequalities of the shore, he discovered in the month of May, 1562, the mouth of a river, which he called River of May — a name, however, which was not destined to be permanent, as it was afterwards supplanted by the " St. John's," which it still retains. Ribault anchored at the mouth of this river for the purpose of making an examination of it. Early the next morning, a boat, well filled with men, left the ship for that purpose. As it approached the land, the men on board discovered large numbers of Indians of both sexes on the shore, who had come down to give these pale-faced strangers, who had visited them in their floating houses, a friendly reception. When they arrived within hearing, the chief of this people delivered a peaceful oration, and then made presents of chamois skins to the French captain. On the following day, Captain Ribault planted a pillar of hard stone on a little swell of land neai the mouth of the river; and on this pillar he en A WELCOME RECEPTION. 21 graved the arms of France, as evidence that the French had taken possession of this country- After sailing some dis:ance farther up, he landed again, and in the presence of the natives, he caused his men to offer prayers and thanksgiving to Al mighty God for his great kindness in conducting them to this new world without the occurrence of any injury. After these devotional services, the Indians, who had been very attentive observers, rose up, and advanced with their friendly salutations towards Ribault, and offered to introduce him to their chief, who had not arisen with the rest, but remained still sitting upon a seat covered with the leaves of the bay and palm trees. Ribault accepted of their offer, approached the chief, took a seat by his side, and listened impatiently to a long address, not one word of which could he understand. At the close of this incomprehensible speech, the chief pre- sented the French officer with a beautiful fan of heron's feathers, dyed red, a basket ingeniously made of the branches of the palm tree, and a large skin robe elegantly embroidered with the pictures of various kinds of wild beasts, and very likely of those which he had slain in the chase. Ribault, to show that he fully appreciated these acts of cour- tesy, gave him in return some tin bracelets, a look ing glass, a cutting hook, and several knives. 22 DISCOVERY OF PORT ROYAL. When the captain signified his intention to leave, the friendly chief professed much sorrow, and com- manded his men to furnish the strangers with some fish. They immediately entered into their wears, which were enclosures made of reeds, for the taking of fish, and soon loaded the French with trouts, mullets, plaice, turbots, and various other unknown kinds. After leaving these friendly natives, and passing farther along the coast, several other rivers were discovered, each of which received a French appel- lation, and generally after some river in France, as the Seine, the Loire, the Garonne, &c. These names, like the May, were transient. Whilst examining the coast in order to find the Combahee River, which was then called the Jordan, Ribault discovered a noble inlet, which he desig- nated Port Royal — a name which it has never lost. Passing within this inlet, he landed on an island, where, by the formal erection of a monumental stone, on which was sculptured the French coat of arms, and with other appropriate ceremonies, he again took possession of the country in the name of the French king. On this island Ribault set his men to work, who, in the process of time, erected a fort, to which he gave t\ie name of Fort Carolina, in honor of Charles IX. of France, Carolus being the Latin for Charles. This name was afterwards FORT CAROLINA. ,23 extended to the adjacent country, and is still re- tained by two of the states of the American Union, It is a circumstance worthy of special note, that the French succeeded in impressing a permanent name upon this portion of the continent a century prior to its occupation by the English. After the erection of Fort Carolina, it became necessary for Ribault to return to France ; but being desirous to retain possession of the place until his return, he left a colony of twenty-six men for that purpose. Although these colonists were surrounded with groves of venerable trees, inter- mingled with the delicate drapery of the vine, and ornamented with a profusion of variegated flowers ; though Nature presented herself before them ar- rayed in her most attractive garb, filling the groves with the wild melody of unknown birds, and load- ing the air with spicy fragrance; and though the untutored savages — the native lords of the soil — were of a friendly disposition, yet they soon be- came discontented. After the departure of the vessels, and these twenty-six adventurers were left the sole civilized occupants of a vast continent, instead of adopting the policy which their lonely situation required, and merging all minor differ- ences into a union for the general good, they al- lowed dissensions to creep in amongst them. A spirit of insubordination was manifested among the 24 CONSPIRACY AND MURDEll. soldiers, which the commandant endeavored to sup* press by severe measures. The soldiers were in- dignant, and determined to be revenged. They formed a conspiracy, and took the commandant's life. Thus rebellion and murder were prominent characteristics in this early attempt to form a col- ony upon the shores of North America. After the death of their officer, as supplies and reinforcements did not reach them, and their con- dition was daily becoming worse, they concluded to return home. To effect this earnestly-desired object was no easy task. Separated from their country by a wide waste of waters of three thou- sand miles in extent, destitute of vessels and of suitable materials for the construction of one ad- equate to their purpose, — to return must have seemed almost hopeless. But men on the borders of despair can accomplish wonders. Gathering together the best materials they could find, they constructed a rude brigantine, rigged it as well as they were able, put in a few stores, and embarked upon their perilous voyage. In a few hours, they were far out upon the unexplored deep. The land of their unhappy adventures gradually sunk as they receded from it, until it appeared like a long, low, black cloud resting upon the water of the distant horizon. Presently it disappeared entirely. Day after day they slowly ploughed their way across the RETURN OF THE COLONISTS. 25 heaving billows, without apparently making any progress ; for they had no landmarks by which to be made sensible of advance. The same monot- onous scene was around them at night on which they opened their eyes in the morning, whilst in the morning they seemed to be in the same spot where they were when the last rays of the setting sun bade them farewell ; as if they had anchored over night to guard against danger in the dark. They seemed to be in the centre of an immense dome, without the possibility of making any ap- proach towards the circumference. Day after day, and week after week, their eyes were greeted in every direction by the same meeting of sky and water, and at the same distance from them. All this, however, was only in appearance. They were in reality making progress, though not very rapidly. A new calamity presented itself. Either from wrong calculations respecting the length of the voyage, or the amount of food the company would consume per day, or else from necessity, they did not put on board sufficient stores to last them during the voyage. They were obliged to be put upon short allowance, and even then were doomed to see their provisions grow smaller and small- er, until the last portion was consumed. Famine, with its attendant horrors, stared them in the face. In order to continue their existence, they were 3 20 PICKED UP AT SEA. reduced to the terrific necessity of eating the flesh of one of the company ! It was a fearful expedi- ent ; but men reduced to their extremity will resort to any measures to preserve existence. Life is made up of contrasts. Light follows darkness, and smiles banish tears. One day, whilst they were musing upon the perils of their condi- tion, and balancing the probabilities, favorable and unfavorable of their final deliverance, they saw indications of land. At the same time, o small white speck presented itself upon the distant hori- zon. It gradually increased, until they were satis- fied that it was a vessel. It was a welcome sisfht, as it furnished them food for hope. All eyes were strained to watch its course. They steered their own vessel in the proper direction to meet it. For a time they were in suspense whether they were ohserved by the stranger, or whether he would pass on and leave them. Their feelings were intense. To their great joy, they succeeded in arresting his attention, speaking with him, and relating their dis- tress. They were at once taken on board and provided for, and thus, through the intervention of a kind Providence, they were saved from starvation and from a watery grave. This vessel proved to be an English bark. Some of the men who were picked up were taken to England, and others landed in France. Thus terminated the first at- ROMANISTS AND HUGUENOTS. ~fii tempt of the French to establish a colony in wl.at was then called Florida, near the south-eastern corner of the present South Carolina. The Admiral de Coligny, notwithstanding the disastrous close of this attempt, was not disheart- ened. He projected another settlement, which, however, was doomed to experience a dreadful overthrow. Before narrating the particulars of one of the most humiliating and tragic events which occurred in the early history of this country, it is necessary to state that a civil war, with all its attendant bar- barities, had been prevailing in France between the Protestants and the Roman Catholics. In 1563, it was determined by the French government to dis- miss all magistrates from office who were tainted with the heretical opinions of the Huguenots, as the French Protestants were called, and to tolerate no religion but the Catholic. This was a resolu- tion which, as the Huguenots were numerous and powerful, could not be executed without an appeal to the sword. Accordingly, both parties immedi- ately betook themselves to arms. Pope Pius V., the head of the Roman Catholic church, interested himself in the war, and even sent an army from Italy in aid of the French Catholics, to whom he gave the cruel order, as they left him, to slay every Huguenot the} should take, and give no quarter 25 PERMANENT ANTIPATHY. The Huguenots evinced a similar spirit, and also gave no quarter. It was a war in which not only were the natural malevolent passions called into violent exercise, but sectarian bigotry and religious frenzy added fuel to the flames. Each party re- garded themselves as fighting against the enemies of true religion, and as rendering good service to the church in putting them to death. Although in the course of the next year hostil- ities ceased, and peace was professedly established, yet the belligerent parties cherished a burning ha- tred towards each other. This mutual antipathy was not confined to the French. It was diffused wherever these parties existed. Huguenots and Catholics were every where the opponents of each other, whether they belonged to the same or to different nations. This antipathy, as we shall pres- ently see, crossed the Atlantic, and brought forth its dreadful fruits of blood and death upon the shores of the new world. CHAPTEE II. Opinions respecting Florida. — Departure of Laudonniere. — Con duct of the Indians. — Dissensions. — Piracy. — Fort Caro- lina. — Welcome Visitors. — Kindness of Sir John Hawkins. — Spanish Claims. — Huguenots. — Religious Antipathies. — The Pirate Mslendez. — His Agreement with the King. — Sets out in Pursuit of the French. — Storm at Sea Melendez separates from his Company. — Discovers a safe Harbor. — Its Name, and the Reason of it. — Melendez finds the French Fleet.— His cruel Message. — The French flee. — Are pursued unsuc- cessfully. — The oldest Town in the United States. The civil war in France being arrested, the Ad- miral de Coligny resumed his efforts to establish a colony in some part of Florida. In addition to granting his royal permission, the French king fur- nished Coligny three vessels for his service, which were placed under the command of Laudonniere, a man of intelligence and force of character, and who had accompanied Ribault in his previous voyage.* As exaggerated statements had been made respect- ing the salubrious character of the climate of Flor- ida, as it was known to abound luxuriantly in various kinds of vegetable productions, and as it was be- lieved to be rich in the precious ores, it was no wise difficult to obtain emigrants in abundance. Men * Bancroft. 30 laudonniere's expedition. panting for adventures, or thirsting for gold, or de- siring a place of retreat from the liability of religious persecution, cheerfully presented themselves as ready to engage in the promising enterprise. As Coligny desired to obtain accurate information respecting the various objects which might be discovered in the far-off land, he engaged James Le Moyne, a skilful artist, to execute colored pictures of those which might be most deserving of attention. The trio of ships containing the adventurers, with their stores, left France April 22, 1564, and on the 22d of June they arrived on the coast of Florida, having been sixty days upon the voyage. The com- modious harbor of Port Royal being surrounded with too many painful associations to be attractive, Laudonniere passed by it in search of a more pleas- ing location for a settlement. After selecting the [tanks of the River of May, he landed, and, in com- pany with his Huguenot brethren, commenced, with devotional services, the founding of a new colony The Indians, instead of opposing their landing, re ceived them with the cordiality of friends, and ex- tended to them their unrefined but genuine hospi- tality. Notwithstanding the propitious circumstances under which the colony was commenced, it was not long before a dark cloud overshadowed its prospects. Although amongst the emigrants were men of good principles, yet there were others entirely destitute PIRATICAL EXPEDITION. 31 of integrity, who were anxious only for the rapid increase of wealth, irrespective of the means by which it might be obtained. A mutinous disposition was manifested, which the commandant found it difficult to quell. Great wastefulness was practised in the use of food, by which their stores were soon exhausted, and want began to stare them in the face. A party among them, composed of the most insub- ordinate and reckless class, took advantage of this circumstance to oblige Laudonniere to give them a written permit to embark for New Spain ; and then, seizing two vessels, they set sail upon a piratical expedition against the commerce of the Spaniards. Out upon the wide ocean they fell in with two or three vessels. So soon as they discerned their flag, and discovered that they were Spanish, they bore down upon them like an eagle darting upon its prey, and succeeded in making them prizes. They were not permitted, however, to rejoice in their success any great length of time. It was their experience, as it has been that of many others, that the triumphing of the wicked is short. They were themselves cap- tured, when some of them were held as prisoners, others reduced to slavery, and a few, who made a successful attempt to escape, and returned to the colony, were there seized by Laudonniere, and sen- tenced to be executed. On the banks of the May the colonists erected a 32 DISAPPOINTMENTS fort, to which they also gave the name of Fort Car« olina. For a number of weeks they had been ex- pecting supplies from their native land. Every little cloud that appeared upon the distant marine horizon was intensely watched, with the hope that it would enlarge into the beautiful form and proportions of a friendly ship ladened with the necessary stores. But these expectations were doomed to be successively blasted, as these deceptive clouds vanished into thin air, or enlarged and gathered themselves into moun- tainous heaps. After enduring this painful suspense for several months, to such extremities were they reduced for the want of food, that they concluded to abandon the settlement. This determination was strengthened by the unfavorable change which had taken place in the disposition of the Indians, whose original friendship had been converted into decided hostility by the unjust severities of the colonists. As they had no vessels in which it was suitable for them to risk a voyage across the ocean, their plan was to erect some small brigantines for that purpose, when, most opportunely, the fleet of Sir John Haw- kins arrived from the West Indies, where he had recently sold, at an immense profit, a cargo of human beings, whom he had torn from their native homes in Africa. It is an humiliating fact, that among the first marine employments upon the coast of America we find piracy and the slave trade ! CRUELTY AND BENEVOLENCE. 33 Man is a bundle of inconsistencies. The most opposite traits of character are sometimes exhibited by the same individual, as was the case with this English slave trader. What could have been more cruel than the employment of Sir John Hawkins upon the coast of Africa, when tearing husbands from their wives, and parents from their children, with all the horrid accompaniments, to transport them amid the darkness, the stench, and the noisome- ness of the " middle passage," across the wide At- lantic, in order to reduce them to hopeless bondage in a foreign land ! And yet, when Hawkins found the colony of Laudonniere, on the coast of Florida, in a suffering condition, his compassion was excited ; he supplied them liberally with provisions, and even furnished them with a vessel from his own fleet to convey them back to France. After the preparations were completed, and the colony was on the eve of embarking, another fleet was descried entering the river and sailing towards the new settlement, which entirely changed the plans of the immigrants. These visitors proved to be the long-looked for reinforcements, bringing food, seeds for planting, agricultural implements, and a variety of domestic animals for raising stock. They were under the direction of Ribault, who had come to take the command of the colony. Sadness now gave place to joy. The idea of returning home was 34 JOT SUCCEEDS SADNESS. abandoned, and the whole company went to work as if the point was settled that that was to be their permanent residence. It must be remembered than more than fifty years prior to this settlement of the French, this country was discovered by Ponce de Leon, a Spaniard, in his search after the fabled fountain of perpetual youth, from whom it received the name of Florida, and that upon his discovery was based the Spanish claim to the whole of North America. Fernando de Soto, a few years later, (1539,) also visited the country, and took formal possession of it in the name of the Spanish Emperor Charles V. De Soto ex- plored a large portion of the territory, and during his romantic wanderings, buried a large number of the bravest cavaliers of Spain. These claims the Spanish never relinquished, and, consequently, the French settlement at Fort Carolina was regarded as an encroachment upon the Spanish dominions. This of itself might have been deemed by them a suffi- cient justification of any attempt to drive the French intruders from the soil. In addition to this political reason was another of a religious character. These Huguenots, as we have seen, were Protestants, but the Spanish court, and the nation generally, were Ro- man Catholics. Thus in their religious views and feel- ings they were the antagonists of each other; and any measures, however severe, for the exclusion of these PEDRO MELENDEZ. 35 Huguenot Calvinists from the Spanish domain would be regarded by the bigoted Spaniards as acceptable service to Holy Mother Church. These facts will enable the reader to appreciate the tragic events which we are now about to relate. At the court of Spain there figured a naval officer who had spent many eventful years in his profes- sional pursuits, and who, by a naturally fierce dis- position and his familiarity with scenes of carnage and of death, was well fitted to engage in any work of sanguinary cruelty. His name was Pedro Me- Iendez. With this pirate hunter, who himself had been convicted of crime, Philip II. of Spain entered into an agreement to secure the conquest of Florida. As the conditions of that agreement shed light upon those early periods of our history, it is deemed de- sirable here to insert them. Melendez engaged to invade the country with not less than five hundred men ; to subdue it within three years ; to explore its currents, channels, coasts, and harbors ; to form a settlement c f at least five hundred persons, one fifth of whom should be mar- ried men, and sixteen Roman Catholic ecclesiastics, of whom four were to be Jesuits ; and all this at his own expense. He was also to introduce into the colony a variety of domestic animals ; and, last of all, as sugar was expected to become one of the staple productions of the country, he stipulated to 36 AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE KING AND PEDRO. import five hundred negro slaves into the new country! The king, on his part, appointed Melendez gov- ernor of Florida for life, with the privilege of nomi- nating his successor ; allowed him an annual salary from the colonial revenues ; assigned to him a terri tory of seventy-five square miles in the neighborhood of the settlement, and a fifteenth of all the perqui- sites belonging to the king. The departure of Melendez from Spain was has- tened by the intelligence that the French Protestants had already established themselves in the Spanish dominions in the new world. National antipathy and religious fanaticism, combined, created a high degree of sympathy among the people, in the expe- dition which was in progress ; the result of which was, that above twenty-five hundred persons, embra- cing sailors, soldiers, ecclesiastics, farmers, and me- chanics, among whom were married men and their families, engaged to go ; all of whom were to be sent at the expense of the notorious Melendez. In addition to these were three hundred soldiers, who accompanied the expedition at the expense of the government. All things being ready, the crusaders set sail in the month of July, 1565 ; but they had not been at sea many days before they were overtaken by a vio- lent tempest, which scattered the fleet. Melendez THE SPANIARDS DISCOVER THE FRENCH. 37 kept on his voyage, and arrived at St. John, in the Island of Porto Rico, with only one third of his fleet. Without waiting for the arrival of the rest of his company, he set sail for Florida, and on the 28th of August, being the anniversary of St. Augus- tine, he came in sight of the coast. Not knowing where the French, of whom he was in pursuit, had planted themselves, he sailed along the coast, keep- ing a good lookout landward, with the hope of making a successful descent upon them. Whilst engaged in this search, he discovered a river, .and a convenient, safe harbor, to which he gave the name of St. Augustine, in honor of the saint on whose anniversary he came upon the coast. Having ob- tained what information he could from the Indians relative to the location of the French, he left St. Augustine, and continued his course to the north, and in two or three days had the pleasure of seeing the masts of the French vessels piercing the distant horizon, like the barren tops of the pine, rising above the surface of the water from some sunken island. This was the fleet of Ribault, which had recently arrived with reinforcements to Fort Carolina, op the May. When the French saw the approach of these strangers, they sent to them to inquire who they were and what were their objects. The answer was characteristic of the ferocious Spaniard. He told them that he was Melendez of Spain, and had 4 38 OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES. come at the command of his king to gibbet and be- head all the Protestants that he found in Florida. " The Catholic," said he, " I will spare, but every heretic shall die ! " This reply fell upon their ears like the knell of death. Taken by such sudden sur- prise, they at first knew not what measures to adopt. But a moment's reflection convinced them that it would be foolish temerity to engage in conflict with them ; and as they did not wish to be taken prisoners, nor try the sensations of the threatened gibbet or axe, they slipped their cables and run out to sea. The Spaniards gave chase ; but being unsuccessful in overtaking them, they returned to their newly- discovered harbor of St. Augustine, which they reached September 7, celebrated by the Catholics as the birthday of Mary. About noon, Melendez, with a company of his followers, went on shore, took formal possession of the continent in the name of his king, Philip II. of Spain, and then, in connection with the imposing service of the mass, laid the foun- dation of St. Augustine. This is the oldest town in the United States, it having been established more than forty years before any other. The Pilgrim Fathers did not land upon Plymouth rock till the 21st of December, 1620, fifty-five years after the founding of St. Augustine. CHAPTEE III. Ribault returns. — Fears. — Divided Counsels. — A Great Tem« pest. — Spaniards attack the French. — Scenes of Carnage. — Unnecessary Cruelty. — Religious Ceremonies. — Deceptive Of- fers. — Captives murdered. — The Catholics spared. — Insult- ing Sentence. — Justification. — Royal Indifference. — De Gour- gues seeks Revenge. — Attacks the Spaniards. — Is successful. — Retaliatory Sentence. — The French relinquish Florida. When Ribault, the French commander, saw that the Spanish fleet, under Pedro Melendez, had re- linquished the pursuit of him, he returned to his Huguenot friends at Fort Carolina, whom he found in a state of considerable agitation, lest the unwel- come visits of the Spaniards might be renewed. They were disappointed, perplexed, and provoked. They had fled from persecutors in their own coun- try, in order that amid the solitudes of the new world they might enjoy freedom to worship God ; and before they had become fairly settled in their expected land of rest, their enemies were upon them, thirsting, like so many bloodhounds, for their death. Opinions among the colonists were divided. Some were in favor of strengthening their position, assuming a defensive attitude, and quietly waiting the approach of the enemy. Others thought it wiser policy to pursue them with the ships, and engage in 40 TREMENDOUS STORM. conflict with them upon the ocean. This was the opinion of Ribault, and it prevailed. He accord- ingly sailed with his fleet, and thus withdrew from the colony the protection he might have extended to thers if he had remained. He had not been gone long before the heavens were shrouded in gloom ; the wind blew at a fearful rate ; the waves rolled like mountains ; a terrific tempest came down upon him, scattering his fleet, driving them to the south, and sending every one of them on the rock-bound shore of Florida, a fatal wreck. The Spanish fleet suffered but little. The French at Fort Carolina were expecting the attack of tbe Spaniards from the sea. Instead of this, Melendez landed his troops, and, marching through the dense forests and deceitful everglades which intervened between St. Augustine and the French settlement, he attacked the feeble company from an unexpected quarter, and, after a short engagement, he made himself master of their po- sition. Now followed a scene of carnage in perfect keeping with the ferocious disposition of the suc- cessful Spaniard. Not satisfied with making them prisoners, he gave them up to the sword. Our heart sickens at the description of the horrid scene. Not only the soldiers, but the aged, the sick, help- less women and harmless children, were butchered in cold blood A few succeeded in concealing A TERRIFIC CONFLICT. 41 themselves in the surrounding woods, but they could not long remain there ; yet, when they gave them- selves up to their conquerors, they were massacred like the rest. Not satisfied with this, the Spaniards wreaked their inordinate vengeance upon the dead, by mutilating their bodies in a barbarous manner. The number slain in this fearful struggle was about two hundred. As this victory was achieved on the festival of St. Matthew, the Spaniards called the River May the St. Mattheo. Both of these names, however, have given place to the St. John's. After this dreadful tragedy was over, the bloodstained mur- derers, in solemn mockery, engaged in religious services. With Romish rites, they planted a cross upon the spot, still wet with the blood of the wor- shippers of the Crucified, observed the idolatrous service of the mass, and even designated a place where these cruelties had been enacted, for a church, to the honor of Him who, both by example and precept, has taught us to pray for our enemies, and bless those who despitefully use us. It was not long before the shipwrecked men of Ribault's fleet were discovered. Having, by their misfortunes, lost all their food and water, and having endured great suffering and fatigue, they were reduced to extreme helplessness. The vic- torious Spaniard invited them to confide in bis 4* 42 MASSACRE AT ST. AUGUSTINE. clemency. It was the tiger offering compassion to the helpless Iamb, for whose blood it was thirsting. Yet what could these famishing mariners do ? Being without ships, they could not escape; being without stores, they could not survive. As the proffered mercy of their enemies afforded them their only gleam of hope, they delivered themselves into their hands. No sooner did Melendez find himself in possession of these hapless mariners, than he bound their arms behind them, and obliged them, in that condition, to march to St. Augustine. As these manacled captives approached the fort which Melendez had there erected, not knowing the fate which awaited them, a fatal signal was given, when the nefarious Spaniards pounced upon their defenceless prisoners, and slew them without mercy, their agonizing shrieks being drowned by the sound of trumpets and the roll of drums. A few among them, who were Catholics, were spared, as Melendez had said. Some mechanics, also, who were qualified to render useful services to the Spaniards, escaped the common doom, and were reduced to slavery among them. All the others were ruthlessly slain. As a slight extenuation of his cruelty, Melendez stated that he killed them " not as Frenchmen, but as Lutherans." He jus- tified it not on national, but religious grounds. The whole number who perished in these two SUPPLICATION TO THE KING. 43 massacres is said by the French to have been nearly a thousand. The widows and children of those who were slain by Melendez, in Florida, addressed a pathetic supplication to the French throne. But as the French court at that time were in sympathy with the Roman Catholic church, they made no response to the appeal. They neither granted relief to the bereaved, nor avenged the death of the slain. It is not always the case that a nation harmonize in their views and feelings with the court. In reli- gious opinions and in measures of state policy they may widely differ. In the present case, many of the French people were deeply grieved for those whose friends had perished through the cruelty of Melendez. Among them was Dominic de Gourgues, who, among various other adventures as a soldier, had been taken prisoner by the Spaniards. Being- glad of any pretence to engage in conflict with his old enemies, and revenge himself for injuries re- ceived, Gourgues offered his services in the present case. By combining his own pecuniary resources with the contributions furnished him by his friends, he succeeded in fitting out three ships, with a com- plement of a hundred and fifty men. With these he set sail for America, in search of those who had, with such savage cruelty, destroyed the French set- tlement on the River May. He directed his course 44 . uOURGUES SEEKS REVENGE. to Fort Carolina, where lie found the Spaniards occupying the place of the colony which they had overthrown. Two forts had been erected near the mouth of the river. These he attacked, and suc- ceeded in taking the more important of them, with a number of prisoners ; but finding it difficult to retain his position, he concluded to abandon it. Previous to this, it became necessary to decide upon the fate of the prisoners. Shall they be liberated 1 shall they be carried captives to France ? or shall they be slain ? Gourgues was not long in coming to a decision. He had crossed the Atlantic for pur- poses of revenge, and was determined not to be disappointed. Besides, as the Spaniards, in the previous massacres, had insultingly declared that they slew their enemies " not as Frenchmen, but as Lutherans," Gourgues was determined to retaliate in the same manner. The prisoners were doomed to death, but were not to be honored with mil- itary execution by powder and ball. They were sentenced to be hung. The trees furnished a con- venient gallows. On their branches the wretched Spaniards were hanged, with the inscription of Gourgues over them : " I do this, not as to Span- iards or seamen, but as to robbers, traitors, and murderers." He then hastily embarked on board his vessels, and returned to France. The French government made no effort to follow up his success, A GREAT LOSS. 45 nor replant a colony in Florida. Indeed, it repu- diated all pretension to the country. It voluntarily relinquished all claim, to the Spaniards, who eagerly seized it as a part of their dominion, to which they were fairly entitled by the right of discovery. If France had pursued an opposite course, — if she had settled colonies here, and strengthened them to sustain their position, — she would have been able to divide the country with Spain, and, in a few years, would have found herself in possession of a vast and important empire. Her government failed to appreciate the value of the possessions which were within reach. In consequence of their want of foresight, their imbecility, and their unwillingness to give offence to a neighboring Catholic power, the French allowed the vast and promising domain of Florida to slip from their possession into the handa of Spain. CHAPTER IV. Catholic Priests. — Aug-ustin Ruyz. — New Mexico explored.— Sir Humphrey Gilbert. — Visits Newfoundland. — Supposed Discovery of Silver. — Secret mining Operations. — A Vessel lost. — Severe Weather. — Sir Humphrey lost in the Squir- rel. — Sir Walter Raleigh. — His Perseverance. — Wococon.— Interviews with the Natives. — Granganimeo. — His Court Et- iquette. — Visit of Ceremony. — His Wife. — Their Dresses.— The Chief's Monopoly. Amongst the earliest explorers of this country, none exhibited more hardihood, patience, self-denial, and perseverance than the Catholic ecclesiastics. Sometimes in company with bands of settlers, and sometimes alone, they penetrated into the interior, and exposed themselves to the diseases of climates to which they were unaccustomed — to the perils of pathless woods, impassable mountains, wild beasts, and savage men. Notwithstanding our aversion to the dogmas, the superstition, and the persecuting bigotry of the Catholic church, we are not disposed to withhold our meed of praise from those of her priests, who, believing that the uncivilized inhabitants of this newly-discovered world were hastening on to the regions of eternal night, cherished a sincere desire to instruct them in the principles of what they believed to be the true religion, and thus to save AUGUSTIN RUYZ. 47 their souls from death. Their examples of zeal, patience, and self-sacrifice are worthy of the im- itation of those who arrogate to themselves a better faith. In 1580, about sixteen years after the settlement of St. Augustine, a Franciscan friar by the name of Augustin Ruyz, having caught the same missionary epirit by which other Spanish ecclesiastics were at that time moved, formed the bold design of pen- etrating far into the interior of the American con- tinent, that he might teach the benighted Indiana the way of life. Leaving Santa Barbara, in Mex- ico, he, in company with two or three others, plunged into the unexplored regions of the north, until he reached the Rio Grande River, which he followed to its upper branches. The next year, Antonio de Espejio followed him. The explorations were finished. The country received the name of New Mexico ; and there, in the midst of a moun- tainous region, near one of the branches of the Rio Grande, was founded Santa Fe, the second town in the United States. Although the continent of North America had been discovered by the English many years before it was visited by the Spaniards or the French, (the Cabots having seen it in 1497,) yet no colonies had been formed, nor any vigorous measures adopted by the English government to enter upon ts possession 48 ENGLISH GRANTS. It was not until 1578 that the English court were aroused to the importance of effort for securing some permanent benefit from their splendid dis- covery. At this time, letters patent were granted to Sir Humphrey Gilbert, conferring upon him very liberal privileges, in case he established a cclony within six years. After he collected a company, he met with perplexing disappointments and provoking delays before he could put to sea. After setting sail, he unfortunately met with several disasters. He first fell in with a Spanish fleet, with which he had an unsuccessful engagement. He was next overtaken by a violent storm, which destroyed one of his vessels, so that he was compelled to return. Being too poor to fit out another enterprise, Gilbert was obliged to content himself, for several years, by making grants to other parties, of lands for them to colonize. These grants, however, pro- duced no permanent results, as the parties receiving them were unable to establish settlements. The time which was allotted to Gilbert, by his patent, to found a colony in the new world, was rapidly drawing to a close, without any thing being accomplished. He was determined to make one effort more prior to its complete expiration. With the assistance of others, he fitted out three ships, set sail, and arrived at Newfoundland, where, in the harbor of St. John's, he found nearly forty SIR HUMPHREY GILBERT. 49 vessels, of various nations. In the presence of their crews he took formal possession of that large island in the name of her majesty, Queen Elizabeth of England. The country was examined, and the explorers thought they discovered silver ore. They were ordered to lock the secret in their cwn breasts. Not being willing to leave all these priceless treas- ures behind them, quantities of the ore were con- veyed on board one of their vessels, but in so secret a manner that the crews of the other vessels in the harbor had no suspicion of what was in progress. After this, Gilbert, with his fleet, coasted south. His mariners proved to be a set of dissatisfied, thievish, and piratical fellows, disposed to molest and rob every vessel that they dared to attack. It was not long before the largest of the fleet, through the inexcusable neglect of those on board, was wrecked, with the loss of all the ore, and about a hundred men. After this mournful event, Gilbert hastened his return to England with his only two remaining vessels — the Squirrel and the Hind. He was in the former, which was a very small frigate, of only ten tons, and unfit to navigate tem- pestuous oceans. On their return, they experienced severe weather. The wind blew violently, and the waves rolled like mountains capped with snow. The vessels were in imminent peril ; yet they kept as near together as was compatible with safety. 5 50 THE SQUIRREL FOUNDERED. At one time, when they were within speaking dis- tance, the commander, who was sitting in the stern of the Squirrel, called out to those in the Hind, " We are as near to heaven by sea as by land." The same midnight, the Squirrel was ingulfed in the mighty waters, and neither vessel nor crew was ever heard of again. Thus unsuccessful was the termination of Sir Humphrey Gilbert's efforts to establish colonies in Ameriea. The next adventurer who appeared upon the stage, and attempted to try his fortunes in the new world, was the celebrated Sir Walter Raleigh, a half brother to Sir Humphrey Gilbert. He had been so far interested in the enterprise of Sir Humphrey, as to furnish and fit out, at his own expense, the largest vessel of his fleet ; and some say that Raleigh entered upon the expedition him- self, and commanded his own ship in person. In a few days, however, the vessel was obliged to put back, in consequence, as was pretended, of a dan- gerous and contagious sickness among her company. Sir Walter was a man of great perseverance, and was not to be disheartened by the unfortunate re- turn of his vessel, nor the sad fate of his half brother. Having received liberal patents from Queen Elizabeth of England, and having induced others to unite with him in the enterprise, Raleigh ISLAND OF WOCOCON. 51 fitted out two small vessels, which he placed under the command of Captains Philip Amidas and Arthur Barlow. On the 27th of April, 1584, these two vessels left the Thames, in England, and after the usual cir- cuitous course generally pursued in those days, touching at the Canaries and the West Indies, they arrived on the 2d of July upon the coast of North Carolina, then called, as was the whole country, Florida. After sailing a hundred and twenty miles along the coast, they entered an inlet, and landed upon the Island of Wococon, which separates Pam- lico Sound from the Atlantic, where religious ser- vices were performed, and the country taken pos- session of in the name of Queen Elizabeth. This being over, they entered upon an examination of the place. They found that the spot where they landed was low and sandy, " but so full of grapes that the very surge of the sea sometimes overflowed them ; of which they found such plenty in all places, both on the sand, the greene soyle, and hils, as in the plaines as well as on euery little shrub, as also climbing towardes the tops of high cedars, that they did thinke in the world were not the like abundance." They soon discovered that what they had supposed was the main land was only an island, about twenty miles long and six broad. Upon discharging their muskets, such an immense number 52 AN INDIAN ADDRESS. of snow-white cranes arose from their concealment, that the noise of their cries was " as if an army of men had shouted altogether." They found that the island was well wooded with various kinds of fra- grant and useful trees, among which were cypress, sassafras, the lentisk, or " the tree that bearelh mastic, and the tree that beareth the rine of blacke sinamon." They remained near this beau- tifully wooded island two days, without seeing any of the inhabitants ; but on the third day, a canoe glided from the shore, containing three half-naked, swarthy savages, who landed on the island, " foure harquebuz-shot from our shippes," two of whom remained with the canoe, as if to guard it, whilst the third came down on a point of land nearer to the vessels, and walked to and fro, as if to attract attention. Some of the officers of the ships immediately put off for the shore, as they desired to open communications with the natives, and obtain all the information in their power. The Indian saw their approach towards him, but without exhibiting the least fear, he raised his voice as soon as they arrived within hearing distance, and deliv- ered a long harangue, not one word of which could they understand. As the English manifested to- wards him a friendly spirit, he did not retreat from their superior numbers, but at their invitation vol- untarily accompanied them on board the ships. CEREMONIAL VISIT. 53 After exhibiting to him all parts of the vesse , they treated him to wine and meat, which he seemed greatly to relish. They also gave him a hat, shirt, and several other articles, after which he left them and returned to his canoe. It seems that this tawny son of the desert felt grateful for the kindness he had received, and was desirous of giving some ex- pression to his feelings. He therefore paddled a short distance from the island, and commenced fishing. In the space of half an hour, he caught as many as his canoe would hold, and then, return- ing to the point of land which was nearest to the vessels, and where he was previously seen walking to and fro, he divided his fish in two piles, and then, by signs, indicated that he gave them to the two vessels, and departed. The next day, the English were honored with visitors of great distinction, who approached them with no little ceremony. A number of canoes were seen gliding over the water, filled with men, who disembarked upon the island, placed all their canoes together, and then came down on the shore opposite the ships. They were closely observed by those on board, who soon discovered that one among them was some honored personage ; for, as he walked along, they noticed that he was followed by forty or fifty others ; and when he arrived at the place over against the ships, where he doubtless 5* 54 GRANGANMEO's WELCOME. expected to have an interview with these white strangers, his attendants spread a long mat upon the ground, on one end of which he took his seat in Indian style, and on the other end four others, who were persons of some distinction, seated them- selves. The rest of his men were arranged around him, at a respectful distance, as a kind of body guard. Some of the English left the vessels in a small boat, and approached towards them with weapons, but without exciting any fears. When they arrived where the Indians were, he who appeared to be the chief among them, and whose name was Grangan- imeo, invited them by signs to take a seat on the mat near himself, which they did ; " and being set, hee made all signes of ioy and welcome, striking on his head and breast, and afterwards on ours, to shew we were all one, smiling and making shewe the best he could of all loue and familiaritie. After he had made a long speed) unto vs, wee presented him with diuers things, which hee received very ioy- fully and thankefully. None of the company durst speake one worde all the time ; only the foure which were at the other ende, spake one in the others eare very softly." * The king, whose name was Wingina, was not present at this interview * Hakluy'.'s Collection of Voyages. INDIAN TASTES 55 being detained at home in consequence of wounds which he had received in a battle with the king of the adjoining country. The country over which Wingina reigned was called Wingandacoa. In addition to the donations given to Granganhneo, they gave several to the four individuals who sat on the other end of the mat ; but in a few min- utes the chief arose, took all these additional gifts, and appropriated them to himself, informing the English, as well as he was able, that all things must be given to him, as the other Indians were merely his followers and servants. A few days after this, they had another interview with this chief, when they engaged in some trading operations for skins. Of all things they exhibited, that with which he was the most pleased was a bright tin dish. He seized it, held it up, examined it, placed it over his heart, as if it were a breast- plate, and afterwards made a hole through the edge of it, and suspended it from his neck, at the same time signifying that it would ward off the arrows of his enemies. So highly did he prize this, that he gave for it twenty skins, worth twenty crowns. For a copper kettle he gave fifty skins, worth fifty crowns. They gave what to us seems a high price for these articles. But we must remember that to them these utensils were great rarities, and might be used for important purposes. They also offered 56 THE CHIEF AND HIS WIFE. good exchange for hatchets, axes, knives, and would have given any thing in their possession for swords; but with these the English would not part. A few days subsequent to this, they succeeded in inducing Granganimeo to go on board the ships, where he had an opportunity of inspecting the wonders of these strange floating houses. He was received with the accustomed hospitality of the English, and furnished with wine, meat, &c, which he relished exceedingly, and with which he became very merry. He also brought his wife, daughter, and two or three children on board. His wife was small, good looking, but very bashful. Over her back was thrown a skin dressed with the fur on. She wore it with the fur side next to her person. In front was another of the same kind. Her fore- head was ornamented with a band of white coral. From her ears a chain of pearls as large as peas was suspended, which reached half way to the ground. Other women of the tribe had copper ornaments dangling from their ears. Some of the children of Granganimeo and some of the chiefs had five or six in each ear. Upon his own head he wore a broad plate of yellow metal ; but whether it was gold or copper, the English could not tell, as it was unpolished, and he would not remove it from his head for their examination. It was adjusted in such a manner upon his head, INDIAN LTIQUETTE. 5? that by " feeling it, it would bow very easily." His dress was of skins, and worn very much in the same manner as his wife's. The women wore their hair long on both sides, and the men but on one. It is generally supposed that the hair of the Arner- icar Indians is uniformly black ; but in the account of this visit by one of the party, it is stated of them, " They are of a color yellowish, and their haire black, for the most part ; and yet we saw children that had very fine aburne and chesnut- colored haire." After this, large numbers of the natives came from all parts of the surrounding country, bringing with them leather, coral, and dye-stuffs, for pur- poses of trade. " Yet such was the peculiar etiquette observed among them, that when Granganimeo was present, he monopolized the whole trade himself. None of his men were allowed to barter in his presence "except such as wear red pieces of ccpper on their heads, like himself; for that is the differ- ence between the noblemen and governors of coun- tries, and the meaner sort." CHAPTER V. Indian Prudence. — Method of making Canoes. — Character of Granganimeo. — Visit to Roanoke. — Indian Hospitality. — Fe* male Kindness. — Character and Habits of the Natives. — Eng- lish Timidity. — Gratitude. — Shipwrecked white Men. — Their fatal Adventure. — Wonder of the Natives. — Their Weapons and Modes of Warfare. — The Secotanites. — A great Feast. — A dreadful Slaughter. — The English Captain's Return Home. — They take with them two Indians. It was usual for Granganimeo, whenever he visited the English, to kindle as many fires on the shore, at a good distance from the vessels, as equalled the number of canoes with which he intended to make his approach, so that those on board might know in what strength he was about to visit them. These canoes " are made of one tree, either of pine or pitch trees ; a wood not commonly known to our people, nor found growing in England." So says the account. " They have no edge tools to make them withal : if they have any, they are very few, and those, it seems, they had twenty years since, which was out of a wreck which happened upon their coast, of some Christian ship being beaten that way by some storm and outrageous weather, whereof none of the people were saved, but only the ship, or some part of her being cast upon the sand, out CANOE MAKING. 59 of whose sides they drew the nails and the spikes, and with those they made their best instruments. The manner of making their boats is this : They burn down some great tree, or take such as are windfallen, and putting gum and rosin upon one side thereof, they set fire into it, and when it hath burnt it hollow, they cut out the coal with their Making a Canoe. shells ; and ever where they would burn it deeper or wider, they lay on gums, which burn away the tim her ; and by this means they fashion very fine boats, and such as will transport twenty men. Their oars are like scoops, and many times they set witli long joles, as the depth serveth." GO VISIT TO KOANOKE. When the wife of Granganimec visited them, which she did many times, she was accompanied by forty or fifty women ; all of whom, with two or three exceptions, she made remain on the shore whilst she went on board the vessel. Granganimeo was a fine specimen of a chief. He was faithful to his promises ; for many times the English let him have articles of merchandise on credit to take away, but always, when the day on which he promised to pay for them arrived, he was on hand, ready to keep his word. Every day he sent them a brace of fat bucks, conies, hares, and fish. He also furnished them with various kinds of fruits, such as melons, cucumbers, gourds, walnuts, peas, and different kinds of roots, which were very palatable to the taste. The soil was extremely fer- tile. Peas which the English planted were, in ten days, fourteen inches high. Beans of various col- ors, with wheat, oats, and corn, abounded among them. After the Indians had been aboard the vessels a number of times, it was considered desirable to re- turn their visits. Accordingly, the captain of one of the vessels and seven of the men went up a river, which the Indians called Occam, and which is be- lieved to be Pamlico Sound, until they reached an island, then as now called Roanoke. On the north end of this island they found a village of nine houses, INDIAN HOSPITALITY. 61 Duilt of cedar, and fortified with a stockade of trees, as a protection against enemies. The entrance to it was made like a turnpike, very artificially. As the English approached it, the wife of Granganimeo, the king's brother, came running out to meet them in the most cheerful and friendly manner. Her husband was then absent. The account of this visit, as given by the parties, is so interesting that wo shall use their own language in describing it. " Some of her people she commanded to draw our boat on the shore for the beating of the billow ; others she appointed to carry us on their backs to the dry ground, and others to bring our oars into the house for fear of stealing. When we were come into the utter room, having five rooms in her house, she caused us to sit down by a great fire, and after took off our clothes, and washed them and dried them again. Some of the women plucked off our stock- ings, and washed them ; some washed our feet in warm water; and she herself took great pains to see all things ordered in the best manner she could, making great haste to dress some meat for us to eat. "After we had thus dried ourselves, she brought us into the inner room, where she set on the board standing along the house some wheat-like furrnentie, sodden venison, and roasted, fish sodden, boiled and roasted ; melons, raw and sodden, roots of divers kinds, and divers fruits. Their drink is commonly 6 62 INDIAN CHARACTER. water, but while the grape lasteth they drink wine, and for want of casks to keep it, all the year after they drink water, but it is sodden with ginger in it, and black cinnamon, and sometimes sassafras and divers others wholesome and medicinalle herbs and trees. We were entertained with all love and kind- ness, and with as much bounty, after their manner, as they could possibly devise. We found the people most gentle, loving, and faithful, void of all guile and treason, and such as live after the manner of the golden age. The people only care how to de- fend themselves from the cold in their short winter, and to feed themselves with such meat as the soil afFordeth. Their meat is very well sodden, and they make broth very sweet and savory. Their vessels are earthen pots, very large, white, and sweet ; their dishes are wooden platters of sweet timber. Within the place where they feed was their lodging, and within that their idol, which they worship, of whom T hey speak incredible things. While we were at meat there came in at the gates two or three men with their bows and arrows from hunting, whom when we espied, we began to look one towards another, and offered to reach our weapons ; but as soon as she espied our mistrust, she was very much moved, and caused some of her men to run out and take away their bows and arrows and break them, and withal beat the poor fellows out of the gute ENGLISH PRUDENCE. 63 again. When we departed in the evening, and would not tarry all night, she was very sorry, and gave us into our boat our supper half dressed, pots and all, and brought us to our boat side, in which we lay all night, removing the same a pretty distance from the shore. She, perceiving our jealousy, was much grieved, and sent divers men and thirty women to sit all night on the bank side by us, and sent us inti our boats five mats to cover us from the rain, using very many words to entreat us to rest in their houses ; but because we were few, and if we had miscarried, the voyage had been in very great danger, we durst not adventure any thing, although there was no cause of doubt ; for a more kind and loving people there cannot be found in the world, as far as we have hitherto had trial." This Indian squaw had herself, as we have seen, been on board the vessels of the English, where both she and her husband had been treated with kindness. She seems to have been impelled by a sense of grat- itude to reciprocate their kindness, and was grieved that her visitors did not have as much confidence in her friendliness as she and her distinguished husband had manifested in theirs. Her hospitality seems to have been munificent, and nothing was left undone which was necessary for the safety or the comfort of her guests. On this visit the English gained some vague in- G4 A HAREBRAINED ADVENTURE. formation respecting other white persons who had visited this coast. They were informed that four days' journey to the south-west was a city called Secotan, and that twenty-six years before, a ship was there cast away, some of the crew of which were white, and were successful in escaping from the wreck. After remaining three weeks upon an unin- habited island, they, wit' the assistance of some of the inhabitants of Secotan who had found them out, fastened two Indian canoes together, erected masts, took off their shirts and converted them into sails, and then boldly put out to sea. It was a hare- brained adventure, and none but men on the verge of desperation would have engaged in it. A few days after, their crazy vessel was found cast ashore upon another island, from which it was evident that they had been cast away. These individuals were seen only by the inhabitants of Secctan. Yet when they saw these others, the account states, " they wondered marvellously at the whiteness of our skins, even coveting to touch our breasts, and to view the same. Besides, they had our ships in marvellous admiration, and all tilings else were so strange unto them, as it appeared that none of them had ever seen the like. When we discharged any piece, were it but an arquebus, they would tremble thereat for very fear, and for the strangeness of the same ; for the weapons which themselves use are bows and arrows. INDIAN CUSTOMS. 65 The arrows are bits of small canes, headed with a sharp shell, or tooth of a fish, sufficient enough to kill a naked man. Their swords be of wood hard- ened ; likewise they use wooden breastplates for their defence. They have beside a kind of club, in the end whereof they fasten the sharp horns of a stag or other beast. When they go to wars, they carry about with them their idol, of whom they ask coun- sel, as the Romans were wont of the oracle of Apollo. They sing songs as they march towards the battle, instead of drums and trumpets; their wars are very cruel and bloody, by reason whereof, and of then* civil dissensions, which have happened of late years among them, the people are marvellously wasted, and in some places the country left desolate." Adjoining the Secotanites was a tribe of Indians, the name of whose king was Piamacum, between whom and the people of Secotan there had been violent and sanguinary wars. Although peace had been arranged between them, yet there were acts of perfidy which the Secotanites could not forget, and which they were anxious to avenge. On one occa- sion, a great feast was appointed, to which many men and women of the other tribe were invited, and when they were all together, indulging in promiscuous mer- riment, and worshipping their idol without the least fear of being betrayed, the chief of the town where the feast was held came suddenly upon them with a 6* 6fi FATAL FEAST. band of his deceitful warriors, and slew every one of the men. The women and children he preserved, perhaps to reduce them to bondage, as that was commonly the way in which they disposed of their prisoners. After Captains Amidas and Barlow had made all the examination and obtained all the information in their power, they sailed for England, where they arrived about the middle of September. They took with them to England two of the natives, whose names were Wanchese and Manteo. CHAPTER VI. Glowing Accounts of the new Countries. — Origin of the Name Virginia. — Sir Walter Raleigh's Privileges. — Greenville's Ex- pedition. — Touch at Porto Rico. — False Promises. — Fiery Retaliation. — Banquets. — Bull Hunt. — Bargaining. — Dan- gerous Sport. — Fine Fishing. — A Message to Wingina. — Exploring Expedition. — The stolen Cup. — Severe Revenge. — Granganimeo's last Visit. — Greenville returns. — Comparative Dates. When Captains Amidas and Barlow returned to England, they gave such glowing and exaggerated accounts of the beauty of the country, the fertility of the soil, and the gentle disposition of the natives, as greatly pleased the English, and induced Queen Elizabeth, in commemoration of her own unmarried state, " or as some have been pleased to gloss and interpret it, because it still seemed to retain the virgin purity and plenty of the first creation, and the people their primitive innocency of life and man- ners," to call it Virginia. Soon after their return, Sir Walter Raleigh was elected to Parliament, and received also the honor of knighthood. His patent for prosecuting discov eries in foreign lands was confirmed, and that he might have an enlarged income to assist in defraying the expenses of his colonial enterprises, there was granted to him the monopoly of trade in sweet wines, 68 A NEW EXPEDITION. from which it was expected he would receive a hand- some revenue. Encouraged by the flattering reports of his re- turned officers, Raleigh lost no time in making ar- rangements for another expedition. This beautiful Portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh. paradise which had been discovered, where, from the accounts of its visitors, it seemed as though earth and sea, atmosphere and sun, its inhabitants and its natural productions, had all combined to render it the most delightful residence in the world, was to be colonized immediately. ARRIVAL AT PORTO RICO. 69 The new expedition consisted of seven vessels and one hundred and eight colonists, under the com- mand of Sir Richard Greenville. Upon their arrival on the shores of the new world, the colony was to be governed by Mr. Ralph Lane. Among other distinguished persons who went out with this com- pany was a skilful artist, by the name of With, who had been employed to make sketches of the personal appearance and the singular customs of the natives. On the 9th day of April, 1585, the expedition set sail from Plymouth, in England. On the 12th of May, they reached the Island of St. John, of Porto Rico.* They here spent a number of days in build- ing a pinnace, the timber for which they had to draw three miles. The island belonged to the Span- iards, who were not on friendly terms with the Eng- lish. A number of them made their appearance on various occasions, but did not dare to attack these unwelcome visitors. On the 23d of May, they fin ished and launched their pinnace. The Spaniards, in an interview which they had with some of the English, having ascertained that they did not intend to remain there, but were merely huilding a small vessel with which they would soon all depart, prom- ised to furnish them with supplies of food. But after waiting some time and not receiving the prom- * Greenville, in Hakluyt. 70 RICH PRIZES. ised supplies, the English were indignant, and *o revenge themselves they set the woods on fire, uid also the fort where they had built their pinnace. This did no good ; it brought no victuals, and in- stead of allaying the animosity of the Spaniards, it must have greatly increased it. Greenville and his company were anxious to leave St. Johns, for though the Spaniards did not attack them, there was another enemy, of great courage and of indomitable perseverance, whose vigilance was ever awake, and whose weapons were always ready, and from whom retreat or concealment was impossible. These were the clouds of bloodthirsty mosquitoes which infested the island, and which were a constant annoyance to the English. They left St. Johns on the 29th, and the same night they fell in with a Spanish frigate. As soon as the Spaniards saw the English fleet bearing down upon them, they took to their small boats and fled, leaving their vessel a prey to the enemy. Early the next morning they made a prize of another Spanish frigate, with rich freight and various Spaniards of distinction on board. These latter were afterwards ransomed at high rates. On the 30th thev arrived at the Island of Hispaniola, where they were re- ceived with great courtesy. They here honored the Spaniards with a banquet, who reciprocated it with u bull hunt. The account of that interview, as given COURTESIES BETWEEN ENEMIES. 71 cn the journal of the voyage, is as follows : " The 5th of June, the governor of Isabella, (a town on the north side of Hispaniola,) accompanied with a lustie friar and twenty other Spaniards, with their servants and negroes, came down to the seaside, where our ships rode at anchor, who being seen, our general manned immediately the most part of his boats with the chief men of our fleet, every man appointed and furnished in the best sort. At the landing of our general, the Spanish governor re- ceived him very courteously, and the Spanish gen- tlemen saluted our English gentlemen, and their inferior sort did also salute our soldiers and seamen, liking our men and likewise their qualities, although at the first they seemed to stand in fear of us, and of so many of our boats, whereof they desired that all might not land their men ; yet in the end the cour- tesies which passed on both sides were so great that all fear and inistiust on the Spaniards' part was abandoned. " In the mean time, while our English general and the Spanish governor discoursed betwixt them of divers matters, as of the state of the country, the multitude of the towns and people, and the com- modities of the island, our men provided two ban- queting houses, covered with green boughs, the one for the gentlemen, the other for the servants ; and a sumptuous banquet was brought in, served by us all 4 A* SPANISH BULL HUNT. n plate, with the sound of trumpets and concert of music, wherewith the Spaniards were more than delighted. Which banquet being ended, the Span- iards, in recompence of our courtesie, caused a great herd of white bulls and kine to be brought together from the mountains, and appointed for every gentle- 5UiE«-Jl«U» man and captain that would ride, a horse ready saddled, and then singled out three of the best of them, to be hunted by horsemen after their manner, so that the pastime grew very pleasant for the space of three hours, wherein all three of the beasts were killed, whereof one took the sea, and there was slain FRIENDLY RELATIONS. 73 with a musket. After this sport, many rare pres- ents and gifts were given and bestowed on both parts ; and the next day we played the merchants in bargaining with them by way of truck and exchange of divers of their commodities, as horses, mares, kine, bulls, goats, swine, sheep, bull hides, sugar, ginger, pearl, tobacco, and such like commodities of the island." The courtesy of the Spanish on this occasion was, by the English, attributed to fear rather than to kindness. The banquet, bull hunt, and bartering having ter- minated to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, on June 7th the English fleet bade farewell to their friendly foes, and went to sea. The next clay they arrived at a small island, which they had been in- formed was a place of great resort for seals. As the general desired to enjoy the sport of taking some, the fleet came to anchor, and he, with a num- ber of others, went in the pinnace in pursuit of them. The chase like to have had a fatal termination for the whole party, as the pinnace came very near being wrecked. But by divine interposition they finally escaped, and reached their vessel in safety. On the 29th they arrived upon the coast of Florida, and three days after they narrowly escaped wrecking on a point which, in consequence of its dangerous character, was called Cape Fear. The next day 7 74 THEFT AND ITS PUNISHMENT. thty anchored in a harbor, and in one tide they caught as many fish as would, in London market, have sold for a hundred dollars. On the 26th they came to anchor at Wococon. From here they sent word toWingina, of Roanoke, of their arrival. On the 6th of July, Mr. John Arundel was sent to the main land, accompanied by Manteo, one of the sav- ages who had been taken to England, and who had now returned with them. He proved to be very useful to the English all the time that they remained there. On the same day, Captains Aubrey and Bon- iten were sent to Croatan, an Indian town, where they found thirty or more of their men, who had been left there a number of days before. On the 11th of July, the general, accompanied by quite a large party of the English, set out on- an exploring expedition, with the tilt boat, the pinnace, and two ship boats laden with a stock of provisions sufficient to last eight days. They directed their course towards the main land, and during their absence they discov- ered the towns of Pomeiok, Aquascogok, Secotan, and a great lake called Paquique. At Aquascogok a sil- ver cup was stolen from them by an Indian, which so offended the English, that, in revenue for the larceny, they burned down the town and destroyed all their corn. This destruction of the homes and the food of the Indians, for so trifling; an offence, many of whom had no hand in it, only served to Greenville's returns 75 exasperate them, and to convert them into more de- termined and implacable foes. It was seed from which in future the English were to reap bitter fruit- On the 18th of July they returned from their expedition to the fleet, which was still riding* at Wococon, and two days after they set sail for Ha- torask, where they arrived on the 27th. On the 29th they received their last visit from the generous and honorable Granganimeo, as, shortly after, he died. He had proved himself to be a sincere friend of the English. On the 25th of August, General Greenville set sail on his return to England, leaving in the new world one hundred and eight persons to found a colony. This was in 1585, and as the Pilgrims did not land in Massachusetts Bay till 1629, this first attempt of the English at colonizing in Virginia occurred thirty-five years before the settle- ment of Plymouth. CHAPTER VII. • Explorations. — Description of the Country. — An intelligent Cap- tive. — Pearls. — Menatonon. — Two Companies. — Assigna- tion. — A marvellous River. — Pemissapan's Treachery. — Con- cealment of the Indians. — Critical Situation. — The Governor's Policy. — Firmness of the Company. — Dog Porridge. — Ru- mors of Gold. — Mining Operations. — Perseverance of the Company. — Lane's interesting Account. — Attack by the In- dians. — They retreat to the Woods. — The perilous Return. The colony which Sir Richard Greenville left in the country to undertake the laborious and respon- sible work of its settlement, was placed under the government of Mr. Ralph Lane, wlio had accom- panied them from England for that purpose. After the departure of Greenville, arrangements were made by the colonists to enter upon various exploring expeditions, in order to ascertain the geography and nature of the country, in respect to its soil and its mineral, vegetable, and animal pro- ductions; and, also, .to form an acquaintance and establish friendly, relations with the natives. Not much, however, was accomplished by these expe- ditions. To the southward, they proceeded as far as Secotan, an Indian town, which they estimated was about eighty miles distant from Roanoke, "in the present county of Gamy, between the Pamlico £/AW^ lane's description of the country. 77 and the Neuse." They made the passage with difficulty, through a broad sound full of dangerous flats and shoals, in a boat with four oars, and carry- ing fifteen men, with their provisions and baggage. To the north, they went as far as to the Ches- pians — about a hundred and thirty miles. They regarded the expedition as perilous, because the water was shallow, the bay wide, and in case any accident happened, it would have been very, difficult to obtain help. Mr. Bancroft fixes the extent of their northern exploration at the small river Eliz- abeth, which falls into the Chesapeake Bay, just below Norfolk. They penetrated into the interior some distance beyond the junction of the Meherrin and the Nottaway, to Chawanook. In Governor Lane's own account of these explorations, he says, " The territory and soil of the Chespians (being distant fifteen miles from the shore) was for pleas- antness of seat, for temperature of climate, for fertility of soil, and for the commodity of the sea, besides multitude of bears, (being an excellent good victual,) with great woods of sassafras and walnut trees, is not to be excelled by any other whatsoever." He states, after mentioning the unpronounceable names of several Indian towns which they passed on the rivers, that Chawanook is the largest, and capable of sending seven hundred warriors into the 7 * 78 AN INTELLIGENT INDIAN. field. The king of this province was named Men atonon, " a man impotent in his limbs, but other- wise, for a savage, a very grave and wise man, and of a very singular good discourse in matters concerning the state, not only of his own country, and the disposition of his own men, but also of his neighbors round about him, as well far as near, and of the commodities that each country yield- eth." * The governor took him prisoner, and kept him for two days ; and from him he received more valuable information than he had derived from all the other savages together. Among other tilings, he told him that by going three days' journey up his river Chawanook, he would be within four or five days' journey of another kingdom, bordering upon the sea, but having, as its place of greatest strength, an island, situated in a bay, and surround- ed by very deep water. From this bay the king of that country obtains so great a quantity of pearls, that not only are the robes of himself and followers abundantly ornamented with them, but also his beds and houses, so that it is a curiosity to see him. He showed the governor some of these pearls, which he had purchased of the king about two years before ; and though they were black, he paid a dear price for them. Some of these he