THE SOUTHERN LITERARY MESSENGER. FEBRUARY, 1845. To the Courteous Reader. gie, by shewing the true Author as farre as my selfe could learne, not doubting, but that the wise Courteous, kind and indifferent Readers, whose noting it as an error of ignorance, will passe it ouer willingnesse to reade and heare this following dis-with patience, and if worthy an applauditie, to recourse, doth explaine to the world your hearty af-serue it to the Author, whose pains in my judgment fection to the prosecuting and furtherance of so deserueth commendations; somewhat more was by worthy an action: so it is, that like to an vnskill-him written, which being as I thought (fit to be full actor, who hauing by misconstruction of his right Cue, ouer-slipt himselfe, in beginning of a contrary part, and fearing the hatefulle hisse of the captious multitude, with a modest blush retires himselfe in priuate; as doubting the reprehension of his whole audience in publicke, and yet againe vpon further deliberation, thinking it better to know their censures at the first, and vpon submission to reape pardon, then by seeking to smother it, to incurre the danger of a secret scandall: Imboldening himselfe vpon the courteous kindnesse of the best, and not greatly respecting the worst, comes fourth againe, makes an Apollogie for himselfe, shews the cause of his error, craues pardon for his rashnes, and in fine, receiues a generall applauditie of the whole assemblie: so I gentle Readers, happening upon this Relation by chance, (as I take it, at the second or third hand) induced thereunto by diuers well-willers of the action, and none wishing better towards it then my selfe, so farre foorth as my poore abilitie can or may stretch too, I thought good to publish it but the Author being absent from the presse, it cannot be doubted but that some faults haue escaped in the printing, especially in the names of Countries, Townes, and People, which are somewhat strange vnto us: but most of all, and which is the chiefe error, (for want of knowledge of the Writer) some of the books were printed vnder the name of Thomas Watson, by whose occasion I know not, vnlesse it were the ouer rashnesse, or mistaking of the workemen, but since hauing learned that the saide discourse was written by Captaine Smith, who is one of the Counsell there in Virginia, I thought good to make the like Apolo priuate) I would not aduenture to make it publicke, I. H. True A relation of such Occurrences and accidents of note, as hath hapned in VIR GINIA, since the first planting of that Collon y, which is now resident in the South part thereof, till the last returne. Kinde Sir, commendations remembred, etc. You | places broader and in some narrower, the Counshall understand that after many crosses in the trie (for the most part) on each side plaine high downes by tempests, wee arrived safely uppon the ground, with many fresh Springes, the people in Southwest part of the great Canaries: within all places kindely entreating us, daunsing and feastfoure or fiue daies after we set saile for Dominica, ing vs with Strawberies, Mulberies, Bread, Fish, the 26 of Aprill: the first land we made, wee fell and other their Countrie prouisions, wherof we with Cape Henry, the verie mouth of the Bay of had plenty for which Captain Newport kindly reChissiapiacke, which at that present we little ex-quited their least fauours with Bels, Pinnes, Neepected, hauing by a cruell storme bene put to the Northward anchoring in this Bay twentie or thirtie went ashore with the Captain, and in comming aboard, they were assalted with certaine Indians, which charged them within Pistoll shot, in which conflict, Captaine Archer and Mathew Morton were shot: whereupon, Captaine Newport seconding them, made a shot at them, which the Indians little respected, but having spent their arrowes retyred without harme, and in that place was the Box opened, wherein the Counsell for Vir-giuing us in a guide to go with vs up the Riuer to ginia was nominated:* and arriving at the place wee are now seated, the Counsel was sworn, and the President elected, which for that yeare was Maister Edm. Maria Wingfield, where was made choice for our scituation, a verie fit place for the erecting of a great cittie, about which some contention passed betwixt Captaine Wingfield and Captaine Gosnold, notwithstanding all our prouision was brought a shore, and with as much speede as might bee wee went about our fortification. dles, Beades or Glasses, which so contented them that his liberallitie made them follow vs from place to place, and euer kindely to respect vs. In the midway staying to refresh ourselues in a little Ile foure or fiue sauages came vnto vs, which described vnto vs the course of the Riuer, and after, in our journey, they often met vs, trading with vs for such prouision as wee had, and arriving at Arsatecke, hee whom we supposed to bee the chiefe King of all the rest, most kindely entertained vs, The two and twenty day of Aprill, Captain Newport and myselfe with diuers others, to the number of twenty two persons, set forward to discouer the River, some fiftie or sixtie miles, finding it in some "But their orders for Government were put in a box, not to be opened, nor the governours knowne vntill they arrived in Virginia." * * "That night was the box opened, and the orders read, in which Bartholomew Gosnoll, John Smith, Edward Wing field, Christopher Newport, Iohn Ratliffe, Iohn Martin, and George Kendall, were named to be the Councell, and to choose a President amongst them for a yeare, who with the Councell should governe. Matters of moment were to be examined by a Iury, but determined by the maior part of the Councell, in which the President had two voyces. Vatill the 13 of May, they sought a place to plant in, then the Councell was sworne, Mr. Wingfield was chosen President, and an oration made, why Captaine Smith was not admitted of the Councell as the rest." Smith's Hist. of Va., Vol. I. pp, 150-1. Powhatan, of which place their great Emperour taketh his name, where he that they honored for King vsed vs kindely. But to finish this discoue. rie, we passed on further, where within an Ile we were intercepted with great craggy stones in ye midst of the riuer, where the water falleth so rudely and with such a violence, as not any boat can possibly passe, and so broad disperseth the stream, as there is not past five or sixe foote at a low water, and to the shore scarce passage with a barge, the water floweth foure foote, and the freshes by reason of the Rockes have left markes of the inundations 8. or 9. foote: The South side is plaine low ground, and the North side high mountaines, the rockes being of a grauelly nature, interlaced with many vains of glistering spangles. That night we returned to Powhatan: the next day (being Whitsunday) after dinner we returned to the fals, leaving a mariner in pawn with the Indians for a guide of theirs, hee that they honored for King followed us by the Riuer. That afternoon we trifled in looking upon the Rockes and riuer (further he would not goe,) so there we erected a crosse, and that night taking our man at Powhatan's, Cap. Newport congratulated his kindenes with a Gown and a Hatchet; returning to Arsetecke, and stayed there the next day to observe the height thereof and so with many signes of loue we departed. The next day the Queen of Agamatuck kindly intreated vs, her peo- | Presidencie, and Captaine Ratcliffe according to ple being no lesse contented then the rest, and his course was elected. from thence we went to another place, (the name whereof I do not remember) where the people shewed vs the manner of their diuing for Mussels, in which they finde Pearles. Our prouision being now within twentie dayes spent, the Indians brought vs great store both of Corne and bread ready made: and also there came such abundance of Fowles into the Riuers, as That night passing by Weanock some twentie greatly refreshed our weake estates, whereuppon miles from our Fort, they according to their for- many of our weake men were presently able to goe mer churlish condition, seemed little to affect vs, abroad. As yet we had no houses to couer vs, our but as wee departed and lodged at the point of Tents were rotten, and our Cabbins worse then Weanocke, the people the next morning seemed nought: our best commoditie was Yron which we kindely to content vs, yet we might perceive many made into little chissels, the president and Capt. signes of a more Jealousie in them then before, Martin's sickness constrayned me to be Cape Marand also the Hinde that the King of Arsetecke chant, and yet to spare no pains in making houses had given vs, altered his resolution in going to our for the company, who notwithstanding our misery Fort, and with many kinde circumstances left vs little ceased their mallice, grudging and muttering. there. This gaue vs some occasion to doubt some As at this time were moste of our chiefestmen mischiefe at the Fort, yet Capt. Newport intended either sicke or discontented, the rest being in such to haue visited Paspahegh and Tappahanocke, but dispaire, as they would rather starve and rot with the instant change of the wind being faire for our idlenes, then be perswaded to do anything for their return, we repaired to the fort with all speed, where owne reliefe without constraint: our victualles bethe first we heard was that 400 Indians the day ing now within eighteen days spent, and the Indians before had assalted the fort and surprised it, had trade decreasing, I was sent to ye mouth of ye not God, (beyond all their expectations) by meanes riuer to Kegquouhtan* an Indian Towne, to trade of the shippes at whom they shot with their Ordi- for Corne, and try the Riuer for Fish, but our fishnances and Muskets, caused them to retire, they ing we could not effect by reason of the stormy had entered the fort with our own men, which weather. The Indians thinking vs neare famished, were then busied in setting Corne, their armes with careles kindeness, offred us little pieces of being then in* [dry fats] and few ready but certaine bread, and small handfulls of beanes or wheat, for Gentlemen of their own, in which conflict, moste of a hatchet or a piece of copper: In the like manner the Counsel was hurt, a boy slaine in the Pinnas, I entertained their kindness, and in like scorne ofand thirteene or fourteene more hurt. With all speede we Pallisadoed our Fort: (each other day) for sixe or seauen daies we had alarums by ambuscadoes and foure or five cruelly wounded by being abroad: the Indians losse we know not, but as they report, three were slaine and divers hurt. Captaine Newport hauing set things in order, set saile for England the 22d of June, leauing prouision for 13. or 14. weeks. The day before the Ships departure, the King of Pamaunke sent the Indian that had met us before in our discouerie, to assure vs peace, our fort being then palisadoed round and all our men in good health and comfort, albeit that through some discontented humors, it did not so long continue, for the President and Captaine Gosnold with the rest of the Counsell, being for the moste part discontented with one another, insomuch that he was deposed from his fered them like commodities, but the Children, or any that shewed extra:ordinary kindenes, I liberally contented with free giftes of such trifles as wel contented them findeing this colde comfort, I anchored before the Towne, and the next day returned to trade, but God (the absolute disposer of all heartes) altered their conceites, for now they were no lesse desirous of our Commodities than we of their Corne: under colour to fetch fresh water, I sent a man to discouer the Towne, their Corne, and force, to try their intent, in that they desired me up to their houses: which well understanding, with foure shot I visited them, with fish, oysters, bread and deere, they kindly traded with me and my men, beeing no lesse in doubt of my intent, then I of theirs, for well I might with twentie men have fraighted a shippe with Corne: The Towne conteineth eighteene houses, pleasantly seated upon three acres of ground, vppon a plaine, halfe inuironed with a great Bay of the great Riuer, the other part with a Baye of the other Riuer falling into the great Baye, with a little Ile fit for a Castle in the mouth thereof, the Towne adjoyning to the maine by a necke of Land of sixtie yardes. With sixteene Bushels of Corne I returned towards our Forte: by the way I encountered with two Canowes of Indians, who came aboord me, being the inhabi * Hampton. : : tants of Waroskoyack, a kingdome on the south y't 100 at least was expecting my comming by the side of the Riuer, which is in breadth 5 miles and riuer with corne, what I liked I bought, and least 20 mile or neare from the mouth with these I they should perceive my too great want I went traded, who hauing but their hunting prouision, re- higher vp the riuer: this place is called Manosquested me to returne to their Towne, where I quosick a quarter of a mile from the riuer, conshould load my boat with corne, and with neare teining thirtie or fortie houses, vppon an exceedthirtie bushells I returned to the Fort, the very ing high land at the foote of the hill towards the name whereof gave great comfort to our despairing riuer, is a plaine wood, watered with many springes, company time thus passing away and hauing not which fall twentie yardes right downe into the above 14 daies victualls left, some motions were riuer: right against ye same is a great marsh, of made about our president's and Capt. Archer's 4. or 5. miles circuit, deuided in 2 Islands, by the going for England to procure a supply, in which parting of the riuer, abounding with fish and foule meane time we had reasonably fitted vs with houses of all sorts: a mile from thence is a towne called and our President and Capt. Martin being able to Oraniooke, I further discouered the Townes of walk abroad, with much ado it was concluded, that Mansa, Apahaocke, Werawahone, and Mamanahut, the pinnace and barge should go towards Powhatan, at eche place kindly used, especially at the last, to trade for corne. Lotts were cast who should go being the hart of the Country, where were assemin her, the chance was mine and while she was a bled 200 people with such abundance of corne, as rigging, I made a voiage to Topohanack, where hauing laded our barge, as also I might have laded arriving, there was but certain women and children | a ship: I returned to Paspahegh, and considering who fled from their houses, yet at last I drew them ye want of Corne at our Fort, it being night, with to draw neere, truck they durst not, corne they ye ebb, by midnight I arriued at our Fort, where I had plenty, and to spoil I had no comission: In my found our Pinnis run aground; the next morning I returne to Paspahegh, I traded with that churlish returned againe the second day I ariued at Maand trecherous nation: hauing loaded 10 or 12 manahut, where ye people, hauing heard of my bushells of corne, they offred to take our pieces coming were ready with 3 or 400. baskets little and swords, yet by stelth, but seeming to dislike it, and great, of which hauing laded my barge, with they were ready to assault vs, yet standing upon many signes of great kindness I returned at my our guard in coasting the shore, diuers out of the departure they requested me to hear our pieces, woods would meet with vs with corne and trade, being in the midst of the riuer, which in regard of but least we should be constrained, either to indure ye eccho seemed a peale of ordnance, many birds overmuch wrong or directly fal to revenge, seeing and fowles they see us dayly kill that much feared them dog vs from place to place, it being night, and them, so desirous of trade were they y't they would our necessitie not fitt for warres, wee tooke occa- follow me with their canowes, and for anything sion to returne with 10 bushells of corne: Cap. give it me, rather then returne it back so I unMartin after made 2 iournies to that nation of Pas- laded againe my 7. or 8. hogsheds at our Fort. pahegh but eache time returned with 8 or 10 bush- Hauing thus by God's assistance gotten good store ells. All things being now ready for my iourney of corne, notwithstanding some bad spirits not conto Powhatan, for the performance thereof, I had 8 tent with God's prouidence, still grew mutinous, in men and myselfe for the barge, as well for discoue- so much, that our president hauing ocasion to chide rie, as trading, the Pinnace, 5 Marriners, and 2 the smith for his misdeamenor, he not only gaue landmen to take in our ladings at conuenient places. him bad language, but also offered to strike him with The 9 of November I set forward for the discoue- some of his tooles, for which rebellious act, the rye of the country of Chikhamania, leaving the smith was by a jury condemned to be hanged, but pinnace the next tide to followe and stay for my uppon the ladder continuing verry obstinate, as comming at Point Weanock, 20 miles from our hoping upon a rescue: when he saw no other way fort: the mouth of this riuer falleth into the great but death with him, he became penitent and declarriver at Paspahegh, 8 miles above our fort: that ed a dangerous conspiracy, for which Captain Kenafternoon I stayed the eb, in the bay of Paspahegh dall as principal, was by a Jury condêned and shot with the Indians: towards the euening certaine In- to death. This conspiracy appeased, I set forward dians hailed me, one of them being of Chickaha- for the discouery of the Riuer of Checka Hamania: mania, offered to coduct me to his country, the this third time I discouered ye Townes of MataPaspahegheans grudged thereat: along we went by pamient, Morinogh, Ascacap, Moysenock, Righkamoonlight, at midnight he brought us before his hanck, Nechanidock, Martalut, Attamuspincke, and Towne, desiring one of our men to go up with him, diuers others, their plenty of corne I found dewhom he kindly entertained, and returned back to creased yet lading the barge, I returned to our fort: the barge the next morning I went up to the towne our store being now indifferently wel prouided with and shewed them what copper and hatchets they corne, there was much adoe for to haue the pinace should have for corne, each familie seeking to give goe for England, against which Captaine Martin me most content: so long they caused me to stay and myselfe, standing chiefly against it, and in fine, after many debatings, pro & contra, it was resolued the publike good. hauing 2 Indians for my guide and 2 of our own company, I set forward, leauing |