the complete writings-3-第49部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


he　causes　that　have　kept　us　in　Virginia　from　laying　such　a　foundation　that　ere　this　might　have　given　much　better　content　and　satisfaction；　but　as　yet　you　must　not　look　for　any　profitable　returning。　　So　I　humbly　rest。

After　the　departure　of　Newport；　Smith；　with　his　accustomed　resolution；　set　to　work　to　gather　supplies　for　the　winter。　　Corn　had　to　be　extorted　from　the　Indians　by　force。　　In　one　expedition　to　Nansemond；　when　the　Indians　refused　to　trade；　Smith　fired　upon　them；　and　then　landed　and　burned　one　of　their　houses；　whereupon　they　submitted　and　loaded　his　three　boats　with　corn。　　The　ground　was　covered　with　ice　and　snow；　and　the　nights　were　bitterly　cold。　　The　device　for　sleeping　warm　in　the　open　air　was　to　sweep　the　snow　away　from　the　ground　and　build　a　fire；　the　fire　was　then　raked　off　from　the　heated　earth　and　a　mat　spread；　upon　which　the　whites　lay　warm；　sheltered　by　a　mat　hung　up　on　the　windward　side；　until　the　ground　got　cold；　when　they　builded　a　fire　on　another　place。　　Many　a　cold　winter　night　did　the　explorers　endure　this　hardship；　yet　grew　fat　and　lusty　under　it。

About　this　time　was　solemnized　the　marriage　of　John　Laydon　and　Anne　Burrows；　the　first　in　Virginia。　　Anne　was　the　maid　of　Mistress　Forrest；　who　had　just　come　out　to　grow　up　with　the　country；　and　John　was　a　laborer　who　came　with　the　first　colony　in　1607。　　This　was　actually　the　〃First　Family　of　Virginia；〃　about　which　so　much　has　been　eloquently　said。

Provisions　were　still　wanting。　　Mr。　Scrivener　and　Mr。　Percy　returned　from　an　expedition　with　nothing。　　Smith　proposed　to　surprise　Powhatan；　and　seize　his　store　of　corn；　but　he　says　he　was　hindered　in　this　project　by　Captain　Winne　and　Mr。　Scrivener　（who　had　heretofore　been　considered　one　of　Smith's　friends）；　whom　he　now　suspected　of　plotting　his　ruin　in　England。

Powhatan　on　his　part　sent　word　to　Smith　to　visit　him；　to　send　him　men　to　build　a　house；　give　him　a　grindstone；　fifty　swords；　some　big　guns；　a　cock　and　a　hen；　much　copper　and　beads；　in　return　for　which　he　would　load　his　ship　with　corn。　　Without　any　confidence　in　the　crafty　savage；　Smith　humored　him　by　sending　several　workmen；　including　four　Dutchmen；　to　build　him　a　house。　　Meantime　with　two　barges　and　the　pinnace　and　forty…six　men；　including　Lieutenant　Percy；　Captain　Wirt；　and　Captain　William　Phittiplace；　on　the　29th　of　December　he　set　out　on　a　journey　to　the　Pamaunky；　or　York；　River。

The　first　night　was　spent　at　〃　Warraskogack；〃　the　king　of　which　warned　Smith　that　while　Powhatan　would　receive　him　kindly　he　was　only　seeking　an　opportunity　to　cut　their　throats　and　seize　their　arms。　Christmas　was　kept　with　extreme　winds；　rain；　frost　and　snow　among　the　savages　at　Kecoughton；　where　before　roaring　fires　they　made　merry　with　plenty　of　oysters；　fish；　flesh；　wild　fowls　and　good　bread。　　The　President　and　two　others　went　gunning　for　birds；　and　brought　down　one　hundred　and　forty…eight　fowls　with　three　shots。

Ascending　the　river；　on　the　12th　of　January　they　reached　Werowocomoco。　　The　river　was　frozen　half　a　mile　from　the　shore；　and　when　the　barge　could　not　come　to　land　by　reason　of　the　ice　and　muddy　shallows；　they　effected　a　landing　by　wading。　　Powhatan　at　their　request　sent　them　venison；　turkeys；　and　bread；　the　next　day　he　feasted　them；　and　then　inquired　when　they　were　going；　ignoring　his　invitation　to　them　to　come。　　Hereupon　followed　a　long　game　of　fence　between　Powhatan　and　Captain　Smith；　each　trying　to　overreach　the　other；　and　each　indulging　profusely　in　lies　and　pledges。　　Each　professed　the　utmost　love　for　the　other。

Smith　upbraided　him　with　neglect　of　his　promise　to　supply　them　with　corn；　and　told　him；　in　reply　to　his　demand　for　weapons；　that　he　had　no　arms　to　spare。　　Powhatan　asked　him；　if　he　came　on　a　peaceful　errand；　to　lay　aside　his　weapons；　for　he　had　heard　that　the　English　came　not　so　much　for　trade　as　to　invade　his　people　and　possess　his　country；　and　the　people　did　not　dare　to　bring　in　their　corn　while　the　English　were　around。

Powhatan　seemed　indifferent　about　the　building。　　The　Dutchmen　who　had　come　to　build　Powhatan　a　house　liked　the　Indian　plenty　better　than　the　risk　of　starvation　with　the　colony；　revealed　to　Powhatan　the　poverty　of　the　whites；　and　plotted　to　betray　them；　of　which　plot　Smith　was　not　certain　till　six　months　later。　　Powhatan　discoursed　eloquently　on　the　advantage　of　peace　over　war：　〃I　have　seen　the　death　of　all　my　people　thrice；〃　he　said；　〃and　not　any　one　living　of　those　three　generations　but　myself；　I　know　the　difference　of　peace　and　war　better　than　any　in　my　country。　　But　I　am　now　old　and　ere　long　must　die。〃　　He　wanted　to　leave　his　brothers　and　sisters　in　peace。　　He　heard　that　Smith　came　to　destroy　his　country。　　He　asked　him　what　good　it　would　do　to　destroy　them　that　provided　his　food；　to　drive　them　into　the　woods　where　they　must　feed　on　roots　and　acorns；　〃and　be　so　hunted　by　you　that　I　can　neither　rest；　eat　nor　sleep；　but　my　tired　men　must　watch；　and　if　a　twig　but　break　every　one　crieth；　there　cometh　Captain　Smith！〃　　They　might　live　in　peace；　and　trade；　if　Smith　would　only　lay　aside　his　arms。　　Smith；　in　return；　boasted　of　his　power　to　get　provisions；　and　said　that　he　had　only　been　restrained　from　violence　by　his　love　for　Powhatan；　that　the　Indians　came　armed　to　Jamestown；　and　it　was　the　habit　of　the　whites　to　wear　their　arms。　Powhatan　then　contrasted　the　liberality　of　Newport；　and　told　Smith　that　while　he　had　used　him　more　kindly　than　any　other　chief；　he　had　received　from　him　（Smith）　the　least　kindness　of　any。

Believing　that　the　palaver　was　only　to　get　an　opportunity　to　cut　his　throat；　Smith　got　the　savages　to　break　the　ice　in　order　to　bring　up　the　barge　and　load　it　with　corn；　and　gave　orders　for　his　soldiers　to　land　and　surprise　Powhatan；　meantime；　to　allay　his　suspicions；　telling　him　the　lie　that　next　day　he　would　lay　aside　his　arms　and　trust　Powhatan's　promises。　　But　Powhatan　was　not　to　be　caught　with　such　chaff。　　Leaving　two　or　three　women　to　talk　with　the　Captain　he　secretly　fled　away　with　his　women；　children；　and　luggage。　　When　Smith　perceived　this　treachery　he　fired　into　the　〃naked　devils〃　who　were　in　sight。　　The　next　day　Powhatan　sent　to　excuse　his　flight；　and　presented　him　a　bracelet　and　chain　of　pearl　and　vowed　eternal　friendship。

With　matchlocks　lighted；　Smith　forced　the　Indians　to　load　the　boats；　but　as　they　were　aground；　and　could　not　be　got　off　till　high　water；　he　was　compelled　to　spend　the　night　on　shore。　　Powhatan　and　the　treacherous　Dutchmen　are　represented　as　plotting　to　kill　Smith　that　night。　　Provisions　were　to　be　brought　him　with　professions　of　friendship；　and　Smith　was　to　be　attacked　while　at　supper。　　The　Indians；　with　all　the　merry　sports　they　could　devise；　spent　the　time　till　night；　and　then　returned　to　Powhatan。

The　plot　was　frustrated　in　the　providence　of　God　by　a　strange　means。　〃For　Pocahuntas　his　dearest　jewele　and　daughter　in　that　dark　night　came　through　the　irksome　woods；　and　told　our　Captaine　good　cheer　should　be　sent　us　by　and　by；　but　Powhatan　and　all　the　power　he　could　make　would　after　come　and　kill　us　all；　if　they　that　brought　it　could　not　kill　us　with　our　own　weapons　when　we　were　at　supper。　　Therefore　if　we　would　live　she　wished　us　presently　to　be　gone。　　Such　things　as　she　delighted　in　he　would　have　given　her；　but　with　the　tears　rolling　down　her　cheeks　she　said　she　durst　not　to　be　seen　to　have　any；　for　if　Powhatan　should　know　it；　she　were　but　dead；　and　so　she　ran　away　by　herself　as　she　came。〃

＇This　instance　of　female　devotion　is　exactly　paralleled　in　D'Albertis's　〃New　Guinea。〃　　Abia；　a　pretty　Biota　girl　of　seventeen；　made　her　way　to　his　solitary　habitation　at　the　peril　of　her　life；　to　inform　him　that　the　men　of　Rapa　would　shortly　bring　him　insects　and　other　presents；　in　order　to　get　near　him　without　suspicion；　and　then　kill　him。　　He　tried　to　reward　the　brave　girl　by　hanging　a　gold　chain　about　her　neck；　but　she　refused　it；　saying　it　would　betray　her。　　He　could　only　reward　her　with　a　fervent　kiss；　upon　which　she　fled。　Smith　omits　that　part　of　the　incident。＇


In　less　than　an　hour　ten　burly　fellows　arrived　with　great　platters　of　victuals；　and　begged　Smith　to　put　out　the　matches　（the　smoke　of　which　made　them　sick）　and　sit　down　and　eat。　　Smith；　on　his　guard；　compelled　them　to　taste　each　dish；　and　then　sent　them　back　to　Powhatan。　　All　night　the　whites　watched；　but　though　the　savages　lurked　about；　no　attack　was　made。　　Leaving　the　four　Dutchmen　to　build　Powhatan's　house；　and　an　Englishman　to　shoot　game　for　him；　Smith　next　evening　departed　for　Pamaunky。

No　sooner　had　he　gone　than　two　of　the　Dutchmen　made　their　way　overland　to　Jamestown；　and；　pretending　Smith　had　sent　them；　procured　arms；　tools；　and　clothing。　　They　induced　also　half　a　dozen　sailors；　〃expert　thieves；〃　to　accompany　them　to　live　with　Powhatan；　and　altogether　they　stole；　besides　powder　and　shot；　fifty　swords；　eight　pieces；　eight　pistols；　and　three　hundred　hatchets。　　Edward　Boynton　and　Richard　Savage；　who　had　been　left　with　Powhatan；　seeing　the　treachery；　endeavored　to　escape；　but　were　apprehended　by　the　Indians。

At　Pamaunky　there　was　the　same　sort　of　palaver　with　Opechancanough；　the　king；　to　whom　Smith　the　year　before　had　expounded　the　mysteries　of　history；　geography；　and　astronomy。　　After　much　fencing　in　talk；　Smith；　with　fifteen　companions；　went　up　to　the　King's　house；　where　presently　he　found　himself　betrayed　and　surrounded　by　seven　hundred　armed　savages；　seeking　his　life。　　His　company　being　dismayed；　Smith　restored　their　courage　by　a　speech；　and　then；　boldly　charging　the　King　with　intent　to　murder　him；　he　challenged　him　to　a　single　combat　on　an　island　in　the　river；　each　to　use　his　own　arms；　but　Smith　to　be　as　naked　as　the　King。　　The　King　still　professed　friendship；　and　laid　a　great　present　at　the　door；　about　which　the　Indians　lay　in　ambush　to　kill　Smith。　　But　this　hero；　according　to　his　own　account；　took　prompt　measures。　　He　marched　out　to　the　King　where　he　stood　guarded　by　fifty　of　his　chiefs；　seized　him　by　his　long　hair　in　the　midst　of　his　men；　and　pointing　a　pistol　at　his　breast　led；　him　trembling　and　near　dead　with　fear　amongst　all　his　people。　　The　King　gave　up　his　arms；　and　the　savages；　astonished　that　any　man　dare　treat　their　king　thus；　threw　down　their　bows。　　Smith；　still　holding　the　King　by　the　hair；　made　t