I
THE CROWNING OF POWHATAN
Adventures in Early Indian History
The first European visitors to the shores of North America met with amost friendly reception from the natives. Powhatan, the Indian Emperorof Virginia, who ruled in savage state over twenty-six Indian nations,on more than one occasion kept the Virginia colonists from starvation bysending them corn when they were almost famished. To retain hisgood-will a crown was sent over from England, and the Indian monarch wascrowned with as much ceremony as possible. A present from King James ofa basin and ewer, a bed, and some clothes was also brought to Jamestown,but Powhatan refused to go there to receive it.
"I also am a King, and gifts should be brought to me," said the proudmonarch of the Virginia woods. They were accordingly taken to him by thecolonists.
The coronation was "a sad trouble," wrote Captain John Smith, but it hadits laughable side also, as we shall see. Custom required that theIndian ruler should kneel. Only by bearing their whole weight upon hisshoulders could the English upon whom this duty devolved bring the chieffrom an up-right position into one suitable to the occasion. By mainforce he was made to kneel.
The firing of a pistol as a signal for a volley from the boats in honorof the event startled his copper-colored Majesty. Supposing himselfbetrayed, Powhatan at once struck a defensive attitude, but was soonreassured. The absurdity of the whole affair reached its climax whenPowhatan gave to the representatives of his royal brother in Englandhis old moccasins, the deer-skin he used as a blanket, and a few bushelsof corn in the ear.
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On the New England coast the anger of the natives had been aroused bythe conduct of visiting sailors, who would persuade them to come onboard their ships, and then carry them off and sell them into slavery.
One of these natives, named Epanow, "an Indian of goodly stature,strong, and well proportioned," after being exhibited in London as acuriosity, came into the service of Sir Ferdinand Gorges, Governor ofPlymouth. This gentleman was much interested in New England, and wasabout fitting out a ship for a voyage to this country.
The Indian soon found out that gold was the great object of theEnglishman's worship, and he was cunning enough to take advantage of thefact. He assured Sir Ferdinand that in a certain place in his owncountry gold was to be had in abundance. The Englishman believed him,and Epanow sailed in Gorges's vessel to point out the whereabouts ofthe supposed gold-mine.
When the ship entered the harbor many of the natives came on board.Epanow arranged with them a plan of escape, which was successfullycarried out the next morning.
At the appointed time twenty canoes full of armed Indians came to withina short distance of the ship. The captain invited them to come on board.Epanow had been clothed in long garments, that he might the more easilybe laid hold of in case he attempted to escape, and he was also closelyguarded by three of Gorges's kinsmen.
The critical moment arrived. Epanow suddenly freed himself from hisguards, and springing over the vessel's side, succeeded in reaching hiscountrymen in safety, though many shots were fired after him by theEnglish.
In this affair the European was completely outwitted by the ignorantsavage. Gorges was bitterly disappointed. Writing of it he says, "Andthus were my hopes of that particular voyage made void and frustrate."And thus, we may add, the first gold-hunting expedition to the coast ofMaine "ended in smoke"--from the Englishmen's guns.
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For many years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth therelations of the English with the Massachusetts Indians were peaceful.Only once was there any attempt to disturb them. To try the mettle ofthe colonists, Canonicus, the powerful Narragansett chief, sent them bya messenger a bundle of arrows wrapped in the skin of a snake--achallenge to fight. Governor Bradford returned the skin filled withpowder and shot, with the message that if they had rather have war thanpeace they might begin when they pleased, he was ready for them. Thisprompt defiance impressed the chief. He would not receive the skin, andwisely concluded to keep the peace.
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What is known as King Philip's War broke out in 1675. Though it lastedbut little over a year, it was terribly destructive, and it carriedmisery to many a hearth-stone.
Philip of Pokanoket, the chief of the Wampanoags, had for years beensuspected of plotting against the English. He had resisted all theirefforts to convert his people to Christianity, and had told thevenerable apostle Eliot himself that he cared no more for the whiteman's religion than for the buttons on his (Eliot's) coat. On anotheroccasion he refused to make a treaty with the Governor of Massachusetts,sending him this answer:
"Your Governor is but a subject of King Charles of England. I shall nottreat with a subject. I shall treat of peace only with the King, mybrother. When he comes, I am ready."
On the morning of April 10, 1671, the meeting-house on Taunton Greenpresented a scene of extraordinary interest. Seated on the benches uponone side of the house were Philip and his warriors, and on the otherside were the white men. Both parties were equipped for battle. TheIndians looked as formidable as possible in their war-paint, their hair"trimmed up in comb fashion," with their long bows and quivers ofarrows, and here and there a gun in the hands of those best skilled inits use. The English wore the costume of Cromwell, with broad-brimmedhats, cuirasses, long swords, and unwieldly guns. Each party looked atthe other with unconcealed hatred.
The result of this conference was that the Indians agreed to give up alltheir guns, and Philip, upon his part, also promised to send a yearlytribute of five wolves' heads--"If he could get them."
As the Indians had almost forgotten how to use their old weapons, thetaking of their fire-arms away was a serious grievance. Other causes ofenmity arose, and at last the war begun, which in its course caused thedestruction of thirteen towns and hundreds of valuable lives.
Philip was joined by the Nipmucks, as the Indians of the interior werecalled, and by the Narragansetts, whose stronghold was captured in thewinter of 1675-76. Here seven hundred of this hapless tribe perished byfire or the sword. The death of Philip, in August, 1676, ended the war.Many of the Indians fled to the west, and a large number died in slaveryin the West Indies. The power of the Indians of southern New England wasbroken forever.
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Captain Benjamin Church, a prominent actor in this war, was the mostcelebrated Indian fighter of his day. One of his most remarkable featswas the capture of Annawan, Philip's chief captain. Annawan often saidthat he would never be taken by the English.
Informed by a captured Indian where Annawan lay, Church, with only oneother Englishman and a few friendly Indians, succeeded in gaining therear of the Indian camp.
The approach to this secluded spot was extremely difficult. It wasnearly dark when they reached it, and the Indians were preparing theirevening meal. A little apart from the others, and within easy reach ofthe guns of the party, the chief and his son were reclining on theground. An old squaw was pounding corn in a mortar, the noise of whichprevented the discovery of Church's approach, as he and his companionscautiously lowered themselves from rock to rock. They were preceded byan old Indian and his daughter, whom they had captured, and who, withtheir baskets at their backs, aided in concealing their approach.
By these skilful tactics Church succeeded in placing himself between thechief and the guns, seeing which, Annawan suddenly started up with thecry, "Howoh!" ("I am taken.") Perceiving that he was surrounded, he madeno attempt to escape.
After securing the arms, Church sent his Indian scouts among Annawan'smen to tell them that their chief was captured, and that Church with hisgreat army had entrapped them, and would cut them to pieces unless theysurrendered. This they accordingly did, and, on the promise of kindtreatment, gave up all their arms. This well-executed surprise was theclosing event of King Philip's War.