1622
BRADFORD'S AND WINSLOW'S JOURNAL
by William Bradford
Electronically Enhanced Text (c) Copyright 1996, World Library(R)
An Excersion to Cape Cod
MONDAY, the 13th of November, we unshipped our shallop, and
drew her on land, to mend and repair her, having been forced to
cut her down in bestowing her betwixt the decks, and she was much
opened with the people's lying in her; which kept us long there,
for it was sixteen or seventeen days before the carpenter had
finished her. Our people went on shore to refresh themselves, and
our women to wash, as they had great need. But whilst we lay thus
still, hoping our shallop would be ready in five or six days, at
the furthest, (but our carpenter made slow work of it, so that)
some of our people, impatient of delay, desired for our better
furtherance to travel by land into the country, (which was not
without appearance of danger, not having the shallop with them,
nor means to carry provision but on their backs,) to see whether
it might be fit for us to seat in or no; and the rather, because,
as we sailed into the harbour, there seemed to be a river opening
itself into the main land. The willingness of the persons was
liked, but the thing itself, in regard to the danger, was rather
permitted than approved; and so with cautions, directions, and
instructions, sixteen men were set out, with every man his mus-
ket, sword, and corslet, under the conduct of Captain Miles
Standish; unto whom was adjoined, for counsel and advice, William
Bradford, Stephen Hopkins, and Edward Tilley.
Wednesday, the 15th of November, they were set ashore; and
when they had ordered themselves in the order of a single file,
and marched about the space of a mile by the sea, they espied
five or six people, with a dog, coming towards them, who were
savages; who, when they saw them, ran into the wood, and whistled
the dog after them, &c. First they supposed them to be Master
Jones, the master, and some of his men, for they were ashore and
knew of their coming; but after they knew them to be Indians,
they marched after them into the woods, lest other of the Indians
should lie in ambush. But when the Indians saw our men following
them, they ran away with might and main; and our men turned out
of the wood after them, for it was the way they intended to go,
but they could not come near them. They followed them that night
about ten miles by the trace of their footings, and saw how they
had come the same way they went, and at a turning perceived how
they ran up a hill, to see whether they followed them. At length
night came upon them, and they were constrained to take up their
lodging. So they set forth three sentinels; and the rest, some
kindled a fire, and others fetched wood, and there held our
rendezvous that night.
In the morning, so soon as we could see the trace, we
proceeded on our journey, and had the track until we had
compassed the head of a long creek; and there they took into
another wood, and we after them, supposing to find some of their
dwellings. But we marched through boughs and bushes, and under
hills and valleys, which tore our very armor in pieces, and yet
could meet with none of them, nor their houses, nor find any
fresh water, which we greatly desired and stood in need of; for
we brought neither beer nor water with us, and our victuals was
only biscuit and Holland cheese, and a little bottle of
aquavitae, so as we were sore athirst. About ten o'clock we came
into a deep valley, full of brush, wood-gaile, and long grass,
through which we found little paths or tracks; and there we saw a
deer, and found springs of fresh water, of which we were heartily
glad, and set us down and drunk our first New England water, with
as much delight as ever we drunk drink in all our lives.
When we had refreshed ourselves, we directed our course full
south, that we might come to the shore, which within a short
while after we did, and there made a fire, that they in the ship
might see where we were, as we had direction; and so marched on
towards this supposed river. And as we went in another valley, we
found a fine clear pond of fresh water, being about a musket shot
broad, and twice as long. There grew also many small vines, and
fowl and deer haunted there. There grew much sassafras. From
thence we went on, and found much plain ground, about fifty
acres, fit for the plough, and some signs where the Indians had
formerly planted their corn. After this, some thought it best,
for nearness of the river, to go down and travel on the sea
sands, by which means some of our men were tired, and lagged
behind. So we stayed and gathered them up, and struck into the
land again; where we found a little path to certain heaps of
sand, one whereof was covered with old mats, and had a wooden
thing, like a mortar, whelmed on the top of it, and an earthen
pot laid in a little hole at the end thereof. We, musing what it
might be, digged and found a bow, and, as we thought, arrows, but
they were rotten. We supposed there were many other things; but
because we deemed them graves, we put in the bow again, and made
it up as it was, and left the rest untouched, because we thought
it would be odious unto them to ransack their sepulchres.
We went on further and found new stubble, of which they had
gotten corn this year, and many walnut trees full of nuts, and
great store of strawberries, and some vines. Passing thus a field
or two, which were not great, we came to another, which had also
been new gotten, and there we found where a house had been, and
four or five old planks laid together. Also we found a great
kettle, which had been some ship's kettle, and brought out of
Europe. There was also a heap of sand, made like the former, but
it was newly done, we might see how they had paddled it with
their hands, which we digged up, and in it we found a little old
basket, full of fair Indian corn; and digged further, and found a
fine great new basket, full of very fair corn of this year, with
some six and thirty goodly ears of corn, some yellow, and some
red, and others mixed with blue, which was a very goodly sight.
The basket was round, and narrow at the top. It held about three
or four bushels, which was as much as two of us could lift up
from the ground, and was very handsomely and cunningly made. But
whilst we were busy about these things, we set our men sentinel
in a round ring, all but two or three, which digged up the corn.
We were in suspense what to do with it and the kettle; and at
length, after much consultation, we concluded to take the kettle,
and as much of the corn as we could carry away with us; and when
our shallop came, if we could find any of the people, and come to
parley with them, we would give them the kettle again, and
satisfy them for their corn. So we took all the ears, and put a
good deal of the loose corn in the kettle, for two men to bring
away on a staff. Besides, they that could put any into their
pockets, filled the same. The rest we buried again; for we were
so laden with armor that we could carry no more.
Not far from this place we found the remainder of an old
fort or palisado, which, as we conceived, had been made by some
Christians. This was also hard by that place which we thought had
been a river; unto which we went, and found it so to be, dividing
itself into two arms by a high bank, standing right by the cut or
mouth, which came from the sea. That which was next unto us was
the less. The other arm was more than twice as big, and not
unlike to be a harbour for ships; but whether it be a fresh
river, or only an indraught of the sea, we had no time to
discover; for we had commandment to be out but two days. Here
also we saw two canoes; the one on the one side, the other on the
other side. We could not believe it was a canoe, till we came
near it. So we returned, leaving the further discovery hereof to
our shallop, and came that night back again to the fresh water
pond; and there we made our rendezvous that night, making a great
fire, and a barricado to windward of us, and kept good watch with
three sentinels all night, every one standing when his turn came,
while five or six inches of match was burning. It proved a very
rainy night.
In the morning, we took our kettle and sunk it in the pond,
and trimmed our muskets, for few of them would go off because of
the wet; and so coasted the wood again to come home, in which we
were shrewdly puzzled, and lost our way. As we wandered we came
to a tree, where a young sprit was bowed down over a bow, and
some acorns strewed underneath. Stephen Hopkins said, it had been
to catch some deer. So as we were looking at it, William Bradford
being in the rear, when he came looked also upon it, and as he
went about, it gave a sudden jerk up, and he was immediately
caught by the leg. It was a very pretty device, made with a rope
of their own making, and having a noose as artificially made as
any roper in England can make, and as like ours as can be; which
we brought away with us. In the end we got out of the wood, and
were fallen about a mile too high above the creek; where we saw
three bucks, but we had rather have had one of them. We also did
spring three couple of partridges; and as we came along by the
creek, we saw great flocks of wild geese and ducks, but they were
very fearful of us. So we marched some while in the woods, some
while on the sands, and other while in the water up to the knees;
till at length we came near the ship; and then we shot off our
pieces, and the long boat came to fetch us. Master Jones and
Master Carver being on the shore, with many of our people, came
to meet us. And thus we came both weary and welcome home; and
delivered in our corn into the store to be kept for seed, for we
knew not how to come by any, and therefore were very glad,
purposing, so soon as we could meet with any of the inhabitants
of that place, to make them large satisfaction. This was our
first discovery, whilst our shallop was in repairing.
Our people did make things as fitting as they could, and
time would, in seeking out wood, and helving of tools, and sawing
of timber, to build a new shallop. But the discommodiousness of
the harbour did much hinder us; for we could neither go to nor
come from the shore but at high water, which was much to our
hindrance and hurt; for oftentimes they waded to the middle of
the thigh, and oft to the knees, to go and come from land. Some
did it necessarily, and some for their own pleasure; but it
brought to the most, if not to all, coughs and colds, (the
weather proving suddenly cold and stormy,) which afterwards
turned to the scurvy, whereof many died.
The Story of the First Encounter
WEDNESDAY, the 6th of December, we set out, being very cold
and hard weather. We were a long while, after we launched from
the ship, before we could get clear of a sandy point, which lay
within less than a furlong of the same. In which time two were
very sick, and Edward Tilley had like to have sounded with cold.
The gunner also was sick unto death, (but hope of trucking made
him to go,) and so remained all that day and the next night. At
length we got clear of the sandy point, and got up our sails, and
within an hour or two we got under the weather shore, and then
had smoother water and better sailing. But it was very cold; for
the water froze on our clothes, and made them many times like
coats of iron.
We sailed six or seven leagues by the shore, but saw neither
river nor creek. At length we met with a tongue of land, being
flat off from the shore, with a sandy point. We bore up to gain
the point, and found there a fair income or road of a bay, being
a league over at the narrowest, and some two or three in length;
but we made right over to the land before us, and left the
discovery of this income till the next day. As we drew near to
the shore, we espied some ten or twelve Indians very busy about a
black thing, what it was we could not tell, till afterwards they
saw us, and ran to and fro, as if they had been carrying
something away. We landed a league or two from them, and had much
ado to put ashore any where, it lay so full of flat sands. When
we came to shore, we made us a barricado, and got firewood, and
set out sentinels, and betook us to our lodging, such as it was.
We saw the smoke of the fire which the savages made that night,
about four or five miles from us.
In the morning we divided our company, some eight in the
shallop, and the rest on the shore went to discover this place.
But we found it only to be a bay, without either river or creek
coming into it. Yet we deemed it to be as good a harbour as Cape
Cod; for they that sounded it found a ship might ride in five
fathom water. We on the land found it to be a level soil, though
none of the fruitfullest. We saw two becks of fresh water, which
were the first running streams that we saw in the country; but
one might stride over them. We found also a great fish, called a
grampus. dead on the sands. They in the shallop found two of them
also in the bottom of the bay, dead in like sort. They were cast
up at high water, and could not get off for the frost and ice.
They were some five or six paces long, and about two inches thick
of fat, and fleshed like a swine. They would have yielded a great
deal of oil, if there had been time and means to have taken it.
So we finding nothing for our turn, both we and our shallop
returned.
We then directed our course along the sea sands to the place
where we first saw the Indians. When we were there, we saw it was
also a grampus which they were cutting up. They cut it into long
rands or pieces, about an ell long and two handfull broad. We
found here and there a piece scattered by the way, as it seemed
for haste. This place the most were minded we should call the
Grampus Bay, because we found so many of them there. We followed
the track of the Indians' bare feet a good way on the sands. At
length we saw where they struck into the woods by the side of a
pond. As we went to view the place, one said he thought he saw an
Indian house among the trees; so went up to see. And here we and
the shallop lost sight one of another till night, it being now
about nine or ten o'clock. So we light on a path, but saw no
house, and followed a great way into the woods. At length we
found where corn had been set, but not that year. Anon, we found
a great burying-place, one part whereof was encompassed with a
large palisado, like a church-yard, with young spires, four or
five yards long, set as close one by another as they could, two
or three foot in the ground. Within it was full of graves, some
bigger and some less. Some were also paled about; and others had
like an Indian house made over them, but not matted. Those graves
were more sumptuous than those at Cornhill; yet we digged none of
them up, but only viewed them and went our way. Without the
palisado were graves also, but not so costly. From this place we
went and found more cornground, but not of this year. As we
ranged, we light on four or five Indian houses, which had been
lately dwelt in; but they were uncovered, and had no mats about
them; else they were like those we found at Cornhill, but had not
been so lately dwelt in. There was nothing left but two or three
pieces of old mats, and a little sedge. Also, a little further,
we found two baskets full of parched acorns hid in the ground,
which we supposed had been corn when we began to dig the same; we
cast earth thereon again, and went our way. All this while we saw
no people.
We went ranging up and down till the sun began to draw low,
and then we hasted out of the woods, that we might come to our
shallop; which, when we were out of the woods, we espied a great
way off, and called them to come unto us; the which they did as
soon as they could, for it was not yet high water. They were
exceeding glad to see us, for they feared because they had not
seen us in so long a time, thinking we would have kept by the
shore side. So being both weary and faint, for we had eaten
nothing all that day, we fell to make our rendezvous and get
firewood, which always costs us a great deal of labor. By that
time we had done, and our shallop come to us, it was within
night; and we fed upon such victuals as we had, and betook us to
our rest, after we had set out our watch. About midnight we heard
a great and hideous cry; and our sentinels called, "Arm! Arm!" So
we bestirred ourselves, and shot off a couple of muskets, and the
noise ceased. We concluded that it was a company of wolves or
foxes; for one told us he had heard such a noise in Newfoundland.
About five o'clock in the morning we began to be stirring;
and two or three, which doubted whether their pieces would go off
or no, made trial of them and shot them off, but thought nothing
at all. After prayer we prepared ourselves for breakfast, and for
a journey; and it being now the twilight in the morning, it was
thought meet to carry the things down to the shallop. Some said,
it was not best to carry the armor down. Others said, they would
be readier. Two or three said, they would not carry theirs till
they went themselves, but mistrusting nothing at all. As it fell
out, the water not being high enough, they laid the things down
upon the shore, and came up to breakfast. Anon, all upon a
sudden, we heard a great and strange cry, which we knew to be the
same voiees, though they varied their notes. One of our company,
being abroad, came running in, and cried, "'They are men!
Indians! Indians!" and withal their arrows came flying amongst
us. Our men ran out with all speed to recover their arms; as by
the good providence of God they did. In the mean time, Captain
Miles Standish, having a snaphance ready, made a shot; and after
him another. After they two had shot, other two of us were ready;
but he wished us not to shoot till we could take aim, for we knew
not what need we should have; and there were four only of us
which had their arms there ready, and stood before the open side
of our barricado, which was first assaulted. They thought it best
to defend it, lest the enemy should take it and our stuff; and so
have the more vantage against us. Our care was no less for the
shallop; but we hoped all the rest would defend it. We called
unto them to know how it was with them; and they answered "Well!
Well!" every one, and "Be of good courage!" We heard three of
their pieces go off, and the rest called for a firebrand to light
their matches. One took a log out of the fire on his shoulder and
went and carried it unto them; which was thought did not a little
discourage our enemies. The cry of our enemies was dreadful,
especially when our men ran out to recover their arms. Their note
was after this manner, Woach, woach, ha ha hach woach." Our men
were no sooner come to their arms, but the enemy was ready to
assault them.
There was a lusty man, and no whit less valiant, who was
thought to be their captain, stood behind a tree within half a
musket shot of us, and there let his arrows fly at us. He was
seen to shoot three arrows, which were all avoided; for he at
whom the first arrow was aimed, saw it, and stooped down, and it
flew over him. The rest were avoided also. He stood three shots
of a musket. At length, one took, as he said, full aim at him;
after which he gave an extraordinary cry, and away they went all.
We followed them about a quarter of a mile; but we left six to
keep our shallop, for we were very careful of our business. Then
we shouted all together two several times, and shot off a couple
of muskets, and so returned. This we did that they might see we
were not afraid of them, nor discouraged.
Thus it pleased God to vanquish our enemies and give us
deliverance. By their noise we could not guess that they were
less than thirty or forty, though some thought that they were
many more. Yet, in the dark of the morning, we could not so well
discern them among the trees, as they could see us by our fire-
side. We took up eighteen of their arrows, which we have sent to
England by Master Jones; some whereof was headed with brass,
others with harts' horn, and others with eagles' claws. Many more
no doubt were shot, for these we found were almost covered with
leaves; yet, by the especial providence of God, none of them
either hit or hurt us, though many came close by us and on every
side of us, and some coats which hung up in our barricado were
shot through and through.
So after we had given God thanks for our deliverance, we
took our shallop and went on our journey, and called this place
The First Encounter.
The Landing of the Pilgrims and Their Settlement at Plymouth
HAVING the wind good, we sailed all that day along the coast
about fifteen leagues; but saw neither river nor creek to put
into. After we had sailed an hour or two, it began to snow and
rain, and to be bad weather. About the midst of the afternoon the
wind increased, and the seas began to be very rough; and the
hinges of the rudder broke, so that we could steer no longer with
it, but two men, with much ado, were fain to serve with a couple
of oars. The seas were grown so great that we were much troubled
and in great danger; and night grew on-. Anon, Master Coppin bade
us be of good cheer; he saw the harbour. As we drew near, the
gale being stiff, and we bearing great sail to get in, split our
mast in three pieces, and were like to have cast away our
shallop. Yet, by God's mercy, recovering ourselves, we had the
flood with us, and struck into the harbour.
Now he that thought that had been the place, was deceived,
it being a place where not any of us had been before; and coming
into the harbour, he that was our pilot, did bear up northward,
which if we had continued, we had been cast away. Yet still the
Lord kept us, and we bare up for an island before us; and
recovering of that island, being compassed about with many rocks,
and dark night growing upon us, it pleased the Divine Providence
that we fell upon a place of sandy ground, where our shallop did
ride safe and secure all that night; and coming upon a strange
island, kept our watch all night in the rain upon that island.
And in the morning we marched about it, and found no inhabitants
at all; and here we made our rendezvous all that day, being
Saturday, 10th of December. On the Sabbath day we rested; and on
Monday we sounded the harbour, and found it a very good harbour
for our shipping. We marched also into the land, and found divers
cornfields, and little running brooks, a place very good for
situation. So we returned to our ship again with good news to the
rest of our people, which did much comfort their hearts.
Some of us, having a good mind, for safety, to plant in the
greater isle, we crossed the bay, which is there five or six
miles over, and found the isle about a mile and a half or two
miles about, all wooded, and no fresh water but two or three
pits, that we doubted of fresh water in summer, and so full of
wood as we could hardly clear so much as to serve us for corn.
Besides, we judged it cold for our corn, and some part very
rocky; yet divers thought of it as a place defensible, and of
great security. That night we returned again a shipboard, with
resolution the next morning to settle on some of those places.
So in the morning, after we had called on God for direction,
we came to this resolution, to go presently ashore again, and to
take a better view of two places which we thought most fitting
for us; for we could not now take time for further search or
consideration, our victuals being much spent, especially our
beer, and it being now the 19th of December. After our landing
and viewing of the places, so well as we could, we came to a
conclusion, by most voices, to set on the main land, on the first
place, on a high ground, where there is a great deal of land
cleared, and hath been planted with corn three or four years ago;
and there is a very sweet brook runs under the hill side, and
many delicate springs of as good water as can be drunk, and where
we may harbour our shallops and boats exceeding well; and in this
brook much good fish in their seasons; on the further side of the
river also much corn-ground cleared. In one field is a great
hill, on which we point to make a platform, and plant our
ordnance, which will command all round about. From thence we may
see into the bay, and far into the sea; and we may see thence
Cape Cod. Our greatest labor will be fetching of our wood, which
is half a quarter of an English mile; but there is enough so far
off. What people inhabit here we yet know not, for as yet we have
seen none. So there we made our rendezvous, and a place for some
of our people, about twenty, resolving in the morning to come all
ashore and to build houses.
But the next morning, being Thursday, the 21st of December,
it was stormy and wet, that we could not go ashore; and those
that remained there all night could do nothing, but were wet, not
having daylight enough to make them a sufficient court of guard,
to keep them dry. All that night it blew and rained extremely. It
was so tempestuous that the shallop could not go on land so soon
as was meet, for they had no victuals on land. About eleven
o'clock the shallop went off with much ado with provision, but
could not return, it blew so strong; and was such foul weather
that we were forced to let fall our anchor, and ride with three
anchors ahead.
Friday, the 22d, the storm still continued, that we could
not get a land, nor they come to us aboard....
Saturday, the 23d, so many of us as could went on shore,
felled and carried timber, to provide themselves stuff for
building.
Sunday, the 24th, our people on shore heard a cry of some
savages, as they thought, which caused an alarm and to stand on
their guard, expecting an assault; but all was quiet.
Monday, the 25th day, we went on shore, some to fell timber,
some to saw, some to rive, and some to carry; so no man rested
all that day. But, towards night, some, as they were at work,
heard a noise of some Indians, which caused us all to go to our
muskets; but we heard no further. So we came aboard again and
left some twenty to keep the court of guard. That night we had a
sore storm of wind and rain.
Monday, the 25th, being Christmas day, we began to drink
water aboard. But at night the master caused us to have some
beer; and so on board we had divers times now and then some beer,
but on shore none at all....
Thursday, the 28th of December, so many as could went to
work on the hill, where we purposed to build our platform for our
ordinance, and which doth command all the plain and the bay, and
from whence we may see far into the sea, and might be easier
impaled, having two rows of houses and a fair street. So in the
afternoon we went to measure out the grounds, and first we took
notice how many families there were, willing all single men that
had no wives to join with some family, as they thought fit, that
so we might build fewer houses; which was done, and we reduced
them to nineteen families. To greater families we allotted larger
plots; to every person half a pole in breadth, and three in
length; and so lots were cast where every man should lie; which
was done and staked out. We thought this proportion was large
enough at the first, for houses and gardens to impale them round,
considering the weakness of our people, many of them growing ill
with colds; for our former discoveries in frost and storms, and
the wading at Cape Cod had brought much weakness amongst us,
which increased so every day more and more, and after was the
cause of many of their deaths....
Monday, the 8th of January, was a very fair day, and we went
betimes to work. Master Jones sent the shallop, as he had
formerly done, to see where fish could be got. They had a great
storm at sea, and were in some danger. At night they returned
with three great seals, and an excellent good cod, which did
assure us that we should have plenty of fish shortly.
This day Francis Billington, having the week before seen
from the top of a tree on a high hill a great sea, as he thought,
went with one of the master's mates to see it. They went three
miles and then came to a great water, divided into two great
lakes; the bigger of them five or six miles in circuit, and in it
an isle of a cable length square; the other three miles in
compass, in their estimation. They are fine fresh water, full of
fish and fowl. A brook issues from it; it will be an excellent
place for us in time. They found seven or eight Indian houses,
but not lately inhabited. When they saw the houses, they were in
some fear; for they were but two persons, and one piece.
Tuesday, the 9th of January, was a reasonable fair day; and
we went to labor that day in the building of our town, in two
rows of houses, for more safety. We divided by lot the plot of
ground whereon to build our town, after the proportion formerly
allotted. We agreed that every man should build his own house.
thinking by that course men would make more haste than working in
common. The common house, in which for the first we made our
rendezvous, being near finished, wanted only covering, it being
about twenty foot square. Some should make mortar, and some
gather thatch; so that in four days half of it was thatched.
Frost and foul weather hindered us much. This time of the year
seldom could we work half the week....
Saturday, the 17th day, in the morning, we called a meeting
for the establishing of military orders among ourselves; and we
chose Miles Standish our captain, and gave him authority of
command in affairs. And as we were in consultation hereabouts,
two savages presented themselves upon the top of a hill, over
against our plantation, about a quarter of a mile and less, and
made signs unto us to come unto them; we likewise made signs unto
them to come to us. Whereupon we armed ourselves and stood ready,
and sent two over the brook towards them, to wit, Captain
Standish and Steven Hopkins, who went towards them. Only one of
them had a musket, which they laid down on the ground in their
sight, in sign of peace, and to parley with them. But the savages
would not tarry their coming. A noise of a great many more was
heard behind the hill; but no more came in sight. This caused us
to plant our great ordnances in places most convenient....
Saturday, the 3d of March, the wind was south, the morning
misty, but towards noon warm and fair weather. The birds sang in
the woods most pleasantly. At one of the clock it thundered,
which was the first we heard in that country. It was strong and
great claps, but short; but after an hour it rained very sadly
till midnight.
Wednesday, the 7th of March, the wind was full east, cold,
but fair. That day Master Carver, with five others, went to the
great ponds, which seem to be excellent fishing places. All the
way they went they found it exceedingly beaten, and haunted with
deer; but they saw none. Amongst other fowl they saw one, a milk-
white fowl, with a very black head. This day some garden seeds
were sown.
Friday, the 16th, a fair warm day towards. This morning we
determined to conclude of the military orders, which we had begun
to consider of before, but were interrupted by the savages, as we
mentioned formerly. And whilst we were busied hereabout, we were
interrupted again; for there presented himself a savage, which
caused an alarm. He very boldly came all alone, and along the
houses, straight to the rendezvous; where we intercepted him, not
suffering him to go in, as undoubtedly he would out of his
boldness. He saluted us in English, and bade us "Welcome!" for he
had learned some broken English among the Englishmen that came to
fish at Monhiggon, and knew by name the most of the captains,
commanders and masters, that usually come. He was a man free in
speech, so far as he could express his mind, and of a seemly
carriage. We questioned him of many things; he was the first
savage we could meet withal. He said he was not of these parts,
but of Morattiggon, and one of the sagamores or lords thereof;
and had been eight months in these parts, it lying hence a day's
sail with a great wind, and five days by land. He discoursed of
the whole country, and of every province, and of their sagamores,
and their number of men and strength. The wind beginning to rise
a little, we cast a horseman's coat about him; for he was stark
naked, only a leather about his waist, with a fringe about a span
long or little more. He had a bow and two arrows, the one headed,
and the other unheaded. He was a tall, straight man, the hair of
his head black, long behind, only short before, none on his face
at all. He asked some beer, but we gave him strong water, and
biscuit, and butter, and cheese, and pudding, and a piece of
mallard; all which he liked well, and had been acquainted with
such amongst the English. He told us the place where we now live
is called Patuxet, and that about four years ago all the
inhabitants died of an extraordinary plague, and there is neither
man, woman, nor child remaining, as indeed we have found none; so
as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto
it. All the afternoon we spent in communication with him. We
would gladly have been rid of him at night, but he was not
willing to go this night. Then we thought to carry him on
shipboard, wherewith he was well content, and went into the
shallop; but the wind was high and the water scant, that it could
not return back. We lodged him that night at Steven Hopkins
house, and watched him.
The next day he went away back to the Masasoits, from whence
he said he came, who are our next bordering neighbours. They are
sixty strong, as he saith. The Nausites are as near, southeast of
them, and are a hundred strong; and those were they of whom our
people were encountered, as we before related. They are much
incensed and provoked against the English; and about eight months
ago slew three Englishmen, and two more hardly escaped by flight
to Monhiggon. They were Sir Ferdinando Gorge's men, as this
savage told us; as he did likewise of the huggery, that is,
fight, that our discoverers had with the Nausites, and of our
tools that were taken out of the woods, which we willed him,
should be brought again; otherwise we would right ourselves.
These people are ill affected towards the English by reason of
one Hunt, a master of a ship, who deceived the people and got
them, under color of trucking with them, twenty out of this very
place where we inhabit, and seven men from the Nausites, and
carried them away, and sold them for slaves, like a wretehed man
(for twenty pound a man,) that cares not what misehief he doth
for his profit.
Saturday, in the morning, we dismissed the salvage, and gave
him a knife, a bracelet, and a ring. He promised within a night
or two to come again and to bring with him some of the
Massasoyts, our neighbours, with such beavers' skins as they had
to truck with us.
Saturday and Sunday reasonable fair days. On this day came
again the savage, and brought with him five other tall, proper
men. They had every man a deer's skin on him, and the principal
of them had a wild cat's skin, or such like, on the one arm. They
had most of them long hosen up to their groins, close made, and
above their groins to their waist another leather; they were
altogether like the Irish trousers. They are of complexion like
our English gipseys; no hair or very little on their faces; on
their heads long hair to their shoulders, only cut before; some
trussed up before with a feather, broad-wise, like a fan; another
a fox tail, hanging out. These left (according to our charge
given him before) their bows and arrows a quarter of a mile from
our town. We gave them entertainment as we thought was fitting
them. They did eat liberally of our English victuals. They made
semblance unto us of friendship and amity. They sang and danced
after their manner, like antics. They brought with them in a
thing like a bow-case (which the principal of them had about his
waist,) a little of their corn pounded to powder, which, put to a
little water, they eat. He had a little tobacco in a bag; but
none of them drank but when he liked. Some of them had their
faces painted black, from the forehead to the chin, four or five
fingers broad; others after other fashions, as they liked. They
brought three or four skins; but we would not truck with them at
all that day, but wished them to bring more, and we would truck
for all; which they promised within a night or two, and would
leave these behind them, though we were not willing they should;
and they brought us all our tools again, which were taken in the
woods, in our men's absence. So, because of the day, we dismissed
them so soon as we could. But Samoset, our first acquaintance,
either was sick or feigned himself so, and would not go with
them, and stayed with us till Wednesday morning. Then we sent him
to them to know the reason they came not according to their
words; and we gave him a hat, a pair of stockings and shoes, a
shirt, and a piece of cloth to tie about his waist.
The Sabbath day, when we sent them from us, we gave every
one of them some trifles, especially the principal of them. We
carried them, along with our arms, to the place where they left
their bows and arrows; whereat they were amazed, and two of them
began to slink away, but that the other called them. When they
took their arrows we bade them farewell, and they were glad; and
so, with many thanks given us, they departed, with promise they
would come again.
The End
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