A Book Of American Explorers - free ebook by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

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A Book Of American Explorers

Thomas Wentworth Higginson

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A BOOK OF AMERICAN EXPLORERS

A BOOK OF AMERICAN EXPLORERS

Transcriber’s Notes The cover image was provided by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain. Punctuation has been standardized. Most abbreviations have been expanded in tool-tips for screen-readers and may be seen by hovering the mouse over the abbreviation. This book has drop-caps at the start of each chapter. These drop-caps may adversely affect the pronunciation of the word with screen-readers. This book was written in a period when many words had not become standardized in their s

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PREFACE.

PREFACE.

I T has always seemed to me that the narratives of the early discoverers and explorers of the American coast were as interesting as “Robinson Crusoe,” and were, indeed, very much like it. This has led me to make a series of extracts from these narratives, selecting what appeared to me the most interesting parts, and altering only the spelling. The grammar is not always correct; but it would be impossible to alter that without changing the style of writing too much: so it has not been changed at

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I.—How the Northmen discovered North America.

I.—How the Northmen discovered North America.

Yet they bore out to sea as soon as they were bound, 3 and sailed three days, till the land was sunk. 4 Then the fair wind fell off, and there arose north winds and fogs, and they knew not whither they fared; and so it went for many days. After that, they saw the sun, and could then get their bearings. Then they hoisted sail, and sailed that day before they saw land; and they counselled with themselves what land that might be. But Biarni said he thought it could not be Greenland. They asked him

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II.—The Voyage of Leif the Lucky.

II.—The Voyage of Leif the Lucky.

Afterwards they took counsel to stay there that winter, and made there great houses. There was no scarcity of salmon in the rivers and lakes, and larger salmon than they had before seen. There was the land so good, as it seemed to them, that no cattle would want fodder for the winter. There came no frost in the winter, and little did the grass fall off there. Day and night were more equal there than in Greenland or Iceland.… But when they had ended their house-building, then said Leif to his com

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III.—Leif finds Vines, and goes back to Greenland.

III.—Leif finds Vines, and goes back to Greenland.

Now Thorvald made ready for this voyage with thirty men, with the counsel thereon of Leif, his brother. Then they fitted out their ship, and bore out to sea (A.D. 1002): and there is nothing told of their voyage before they came to Vinland, to Leif’s booths; and they laid up their ship, and dwelt in peace there that winter, and caught fish for their meat. But in the spring, Thorvald said they would get ready their ship, and send their long-boat, and some men with it, along to the westward of the

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IV.—Thorvald, Leif’s Brother, goes to Vinland.

IV.—Thorvald, Leif’s Brother, goes to Vinland.

Now Thorvald died; but they did every thing according as he had said, and then went and found their companions, and told each other the news they had to tell, and lived there that winter, and gathered grapes and vines for loading the ship. Then in the spring they made ready to sail for Greenland, and came with their ship to Eireksfirth, and had great tidings to tell to Leif. [Karlsefni, a rich Norwegian, came to Greenland, staid at Leif’s house, married a wife, and was finally persuaded to bring

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V.—Karlsefni’s Adventures.

V.—Karlsefni’s Adventures.

There was one large and handsome man among the Skraelings; and Karlsefni thought he might be their leader. Now one of the Skraelings had taken up an axe, and looked at it a while, and struck at one of his fellows, and hit him, whereupon he fell dead; then the large man took the axe, and looked at it a while, and threw it into the sea as far as he could. But after that they fled to the wood, each as fast as he could; and thus ended the strife. Karlsefni and his companions were there all that wint

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I.—The First Letter from Columbus.

I.—The First Letter from Columbus.

All these islands are very beautiful, and distinguished by a diversity of scenery. They are filled with a great variety of trees of immense height, and which I believe to retain their foliage in all seasons; for when I saw them they were as verdant and luxuriant as they usually are in Spain in the month of May,—some of them were blossoming, some bearing fruit, and all flourishing in the greatest perfection, according to their respective stages of growth, and the nature and quality of each: yet t

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II.—Second Voyage of Columbus.

II.—Second Voyage of Columbus.

When the Caribbees saw that all attempt at flight was useless, they most courageously took to their bows, both women and men: I say most courageously, because they were only four men and two women, and our people were twenty-five in number. Two of our men were wounded by the Indians, one with two arrow-shots in his breast, and another with one in his side; and if it had not happened that they carried shields and wooden bucklers, and that they got near them with the barge, and upset their canoe,

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III.—Columbus reaches the Mainland.

III.—Columbus reaches the Mainland.

When I reached the Point of Arenal, I found that the Island of Trinidad formed with the land of Gracia, 53 a strait of two leagues width from east to west; and, as we had to pass through it to go to the north, we found some strong currents which crossed the strait, and which made a great roaring, so that I concluded there must be a reef of sand or rocks, which would preclude our entrance: and behind this current was another and another, all making a roaring noise like the sound of breakers again

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IV.—Columbus at the Mouth of the Orinoco.

IV.—Columbus at the Mouth of the Orinoco.

Hitherto I had held no communication with any of the people of this country, although I very earnestly desired it. I therefore sailed along the coast westwards; and, the farther I advanced, the fresher and more wholesome I found the water; and, when I had proceeded a considerable distance, I reached a spot where the land appeared to be cultivated.… I then anchored at the mouth of a river; and we were soon visited by a great number of the inhabitants, who informed us that the country was called P

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V.—Columbus thinks Himself near the Earthly Paradise.

V.—Columbus thinks Himself near the Earthly Paradise.

[Taken from the last will of Diego Mendez. These adventures happened on the fourth voyage of Columbus, in 1502.] When we were shut in at the mouth of the River Belen, or Yebra, through the violence of the sea, and the winds which drove up the sand, and raised such a mountain of it as to close up the entrance of the port, his lordship 60 being there greatly afflicted, a multitude of Indians collected together on shore to burn the ships, and kill us all, pretending that they were going to make war

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VI.—Daring Deed of Diego Mendez.

VI.—Daring Deed of Diego Mendez.

[Also taken from the last will of Diego Mendez.] On the last day of April, in the year fifteen hundred and three, we left Veragua, with three ships, intending to make our passage homeward to Spain; but, as the ships were all pierced and eaten by the teredo, 62 we could not keep them above water. We abandoned one of them after we had proceeded thirty leagues: the two which remained were even in a worse condition than that; so that all the hands were not sufficient, with the use of pumps and kettl

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VII.—How Diego Mendez got Food for Columbus.

VII.—How Diego Mendez got Food for Columbus.

[From the same narrative.] Ten days after this, the admiral called me aside, and spoke to me of the great peril he was in, addressing me as follows: “Diego Mendez, my son, not one of those whom I have here with me has any idea of the great danger in which we stand, except myself and you; for we are but few in number, and these wild Indians are numerous, and very fickle and capricious; and whenever they may take it into their heads to come and burn us in our two ships, which we have made into str

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VIII.—How Diego Mendez saved Columbus.

VIII.—How Diego Mendez saved Columbus.

When that expedition was finished, I went on foot to San Domingo, a distance of seventy leagues, and waited in expectation of the arrival of ships from Spain, it being now more than a year since any had come. In this interval, it pleased God that three ships arrived, one of which I bought, and loaded it with provisions,—bread, wine, meat, hogs, sheep, and fruit,—and despatched it to the place where the admiral was staying, in order that he might come over in it with all his people to San Domingo

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IX.—Appeal of Columbus in his Old Age.

IX.—Appeal of Columbus in his Old Age.

SHIP OF THE 15TH CENTURY. The first of these extracts in regard to the Cabots may be found in one of the Hakluyt Society’s volumes, entitled “Henry Hudson the Navigator, edited by G. M. Asher,” London, 1860, p. lxix. The extracts which follow are from another volume of the same series, entitled “Hakluyt’s Divers Voyages,” London, 1850, pp. 23 – 26. Verrazzano’s narrative is taken from “Hakluyt’s Divers Voyages,” same edition, pp. 55 – 71. Another translation, by J. G. Cogswell, may be found, w

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I.—First News of John and Sebastian Cabot.

I.—First News of John and Sebastian Cabot.

The discoverer of these places planted on his new-found land a large cross, with one flag of England, and another of St. Mark, by reason of his being a Venetian; so that our banner has floated very far afield. [The following notes, preserved in “Hakluyt’s Voyages,” give the earliest authentic information about Sebastian Cabot.] A note of Sebastian Cabot’s Voyage of Discovery, taken out of an old Chronicle written by Robert Fabian, sometime Alderman of London, which is in the custody of John Sto

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II.—Sebastian Cabot’s Voyage.

II.—Sebastian Cabot’s Voyage.

In the latter part of this volume are put certain relations of John De Verarzana, 69 a Florentine, and of a great captain, a Frenchman, and the two voyages of Jaques Cartier, a Briton, 70 who sailed into the land set in fifty degrees of latitude to the north, which is called New France: and the which lands hitherto it is not thoroughly known whether they do join with the firm land of Florida and Nova Hispania, or whether they be separated and divided all by the Sea as Islands: and whether by tha

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III.—Verrazzano’s Letter to the King.

III.—Verrazzano’s Letter to the King.

I wrote not to your Majesty (most Christian king), since the time we suffered the tempest in the north parts, of the success of the four ships which your Majesty sent forth to discover new lands by the ocean, thinking your Majesty had been already duly informed thereof. Now by these presents I will give your Majesty to understand how, by the violence of the winds, we were forced with the two ships, the “Norman” and the “Dolphin,” in such evil case as they were, to land in Brittany. Where after w

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I.—The Strange Voyage.

I.—The Strange Voyage.

We commenced to build on the 4th , with the one only carpenter in the company; and we proceeded with so great diligence, that, on the twentieth day of September, five boats were finished, of twenty-two cubits in length each, calked with the fibre of the palmetto. We pitched them with a certain resin, which was made from pine-trees, by a Greek named Don Theodoro; and from the same husk of the palmettos, and from the tails and manes of the horses, we made ropes and rigging; and from our shirts, sa

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II.—Cabeza de Vaca Saved by Indians.

II.—Cabeza de Vaca Saved by Indians.

[The eighty men taken by the Indians were soon reduced by death to fifteen. These were made slaves, and were severely treated.] I was obliged to remain with the people of the island more than a year; and because of the hard work they put upon me, and their harsh treatment, I determined to flee from them, and go to those of Charruco, who inhabit the forests and country of the main; for the life I led was insupportable. Beside much other labor, I had to get out roots from below the water, and from

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III.—Cabeza de Vaca’s Captivity.

III.—Cabeza de Vaca’s Captivity.

We desired to be informed of the country ahead, and of the subsistence in it; and they said there was nothing in it to eat, and [it] was thin of people, who suffered of cold, having no skins or other thing to cover them. They told us, also, if we wished to see those three Christians, two days from that time the Indians who had them would come to eat walnuts a league from there, on the margin of that river; and, that we might know what they had told us of the ill usage to be true, they slapped my

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IV.—The Indians of the Gulf of Mexico.

IV.—The Indians of the Gulf of Mexico.

[After getting away from his first captors, he came among Indians who thought that he and his comrades must have come from heaven, because of their superior knowledge. He thus describes them.] We left these, and travelled through so many sorts of people, of such diverse languages, that the memory fails to recall them. They ever plundered each other; and those that lost, like those that gained, were fully content. We drew so many followers after us, that we had not use for their services. While o

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V.—Cabeza de Vaca’s Escape.

V.—Cabeza de Vaca’s Escape.

[Cabeza de Vaca crossed the Mississippi, or passed its mouth, many years before De Soto reached it. Having finally arrived at the city of Mexico, he was sent home to Europe, and reached Lisbon Aug. 15, 1537. His later adventures will be found in Southey’s Hist. of Brazil, chap. V. ] The extracts from Cartier’s narratives are taken from an old translation, to be found in Hakluyt’s “Voyages” (edition of 1810), vol. 3, pp. 250, 257, 259, 266 – 269, 271 – 274. A most interesting description of Ca

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I.—Cartier’s Visit to Bay of Chaleur.

I.—Cartier’s Visit to Bay of Chaleur.

Upon Thursday, being the 8th of the month, 99 because the wind was not good to go out with our ships, we set our boats in a readiness to go and discover the said bay; and that day we went twenty-five leagues within it. The next day, the wind and weather being fair, we sailed until noon, in which time we had notice of a great part of said bay, and how that over the low lands, there were other lands with high mountains: but, seeing that there was no passage at all, we began to turn back again, tak

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II.—Cartier sets up a Cross.

II.—Cartier sets up a Cross.

His talk being ended, we showed him an axe, feigning that we would give it him for his skin, to which he listened, for by little and little he came near our ships. One of our fellows that was in our boat took hold on theirs, and suddenly leaped into it, with two or three more, who enforced them to enter into our ships, whereat they were greatly astonished. But our captain did straightway assure them that they should have no harm, nor any injury offered them at all, and entertained them very frie

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III.—Cartier ascends the St. Lawrence as far as Quebec.

III.—Cartier ascends the St. Lawrence as far as Quebec.

The day following, we brought our two great ships within the river and harbor, where the waters, being at the highest, are three fathoms deep, and, at the lowest, but half a fathom. We left our pinnace 114 without the road, to the end we might bring it to Hochelaga. So soon as we had safely placed our ships, behold! we saw Donnacona, Taignoagny, and Domagaia, with more than five hundred persons, men, women, and children; and the said lord, with ten or twelve of the chiefest of the country, came

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IV.—How the Indians tried to frighten Cartier.

IV.—How the Indians tried to frighten Cartier.

So soon as we were come near to Hochelaga, there came to meet us about a thousand persons, men women, and children, who afterward did as friendly and merrily entertain and receive us as any father would do his child which he had not of long time seen,—the men dancing on one side, the women on another, and likewise the children on another. After that [they] brought us great store of fish, and of their bread made of millet, casting them into our boats so thick, that you would have thought it to fa

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V.—How Cartier reached Hochelaga, now Montreal, at last.

V.—How Cartier reached Hochelaga, now Montreal, at last.

So soon as we were come near the town, a great number of the inhabitants thereof came to present themselves before us, after their fashion, making very much of us. We were by our guides brought into the midst of the town. They have in the middlemost part of their houses a large square place, being from side to side a good stone’s-cast, whither we were brought, and there with signs were commanded to stay. Then suddenly all the women and maidens of the town gathered themselves together, part of wh

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VI.—The Festivities at Hochelaga.

VI.—The Festivities at Hochelaga.

These extracts are taken from “The Worthy and Famous History of the Travels, Discovery, and Conquest of Terra Florida, accomplished and effected by that worthy General and Captain, Don Ferdinando de Soto, and six hundred Spaniards his followers.” (Reprinted by Hakluyt Society, 1851.) Pages 9 – 16, 27 – 32, 89 – 92, 120 – 122, 125 – 127. This is a translation, made by Hakluyt in 1609, of a narrative by one of the companions of De Soto, first published in 1557. THE ADVENTURES OF DE SOTO. DE SOTO.

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I.—How De Soto set Sail.

I.—How De Soto set Sail.

When Don Ferdinando had obtained the government, there came a gentleman from the Indies to the court, named Cabeza de Vaca, which had been with the governor Pamphilo de Narvaez, which died in Florida,—who reported that Narvaez was cast away at sea, with all the company that went with him, and how he with four more escaped, and arrived in New Spain; and he brought a relation in writing of that which he had seen in Florida, which said in some places, “In such a place I have seen this; and the rest

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II.—De Soto attacks the Indians, and finds a Fellow-Countryman.

II.—De Soto attacks the Indians, and finds a Fellow-Countryman.

John Rodriguez Lobillo returned to the camp with six men wounded, whereof one died, and brought the four Indian women which Baltasar Gallegos had taken in the cabins or cottages. Two leagues from the town, coming into the plain field, he espied ten or eleven Indians, among whom was a Christian, which was naked and scorched with the sun, and had his arms razed, 126 after the manner of the Indians, and differed nothing at all from them. And, as soon as the horsemen saw them, they ran toward them.

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III.—The Story of John Ortiz.

III.—The Story of John Ortiz.

Three years after he fell into his hands, there came another lord, called Mocoço, who dwelleth two days’ journey from the port, and burned his town. Ucita fled to another town that he had in another seaport. Thus John Ortiz lost his office and favor that he had with him. These people, being worshippers of the devil, are wont to offer up unto him the lives and blood of their Indians, or of any other people they can come by; and they report, that, when he will have them do that sacrifice unto him,

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IV.—De Soto discovers the Mississippi.

IV.—De Soto discovers the Mississippi.

In thirty days’ space, while the governor remained there, they made four barges, in three of which he commanded twelve horsemen to enter (in each of them four), in a morning, three hours before day,—men which he trusted would land in despite of the Indians, and make sure the passage, or die; and some footmen, being crossbow-men, went with them, and rowers to set them on the other side. And in the other barge he commanded John de Guzman to pass with the footmen, which was made captain instead of

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V.—De Soto’s vain attempts to reach the Sea.

V.—De Soto’s vain attempts to reach the Sea.

The next day, being the 21st of May, 1542, departed out of this life the valorous, virtuous, and valiant captain, Don Ferdinando de Soto, governor of Cuba, and adelantado of Florida, whom fortune advanced, as it used to do others, that he might have the higher fall. He departed in such a place and at such a time, as [that] in his sickness he had but little comfort; and the danger wherein all his people were of perishing in that country, which appeared before their eyes, was cause sufficient why

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VI.—Death and Burial of De Soto.

VI.—Death and Burial of De Soto.

[After the death of De Soto, his companions descended the Mississippi to its mouth.] INDIANS IN CANOE. Ribaut’s personal narrative is here reprinted from Hakluyt’s “Divers Voyages” (London, Hakluyt Society, 1850), pp. 91 – 115. These extracts from Laudonnière’s narrative are reprinted from Hakluyt’s translation in his “Voyages” (edition of 1810), vol. iii. pp. 371 – 373, 378 – 384, 386, 387, 423 – 427. Parkman tells the story of these adventures in the first half of his “Pioneers of France in

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I.—Jean Ribaut in Florida.

I.—Jean Ribaut in Florida.

After we had tarried in this north side of the river the most part of the day,—which river we have called May, for that we discovered the same the first day of the month,—we congratulated, made alliance, and entered into amity with them, and presented the king and his brethren with gowns of blue cloth garnished with yellow fleur-de-luces. And it seemed that they were sorry for our departure; so that the most part of them entered into the water up to the neck, to set our boats afloat.… Soon after

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II.—Alone in the New World.

II.—Alone in the New World.

Behold, therefore, how our men behaved themselves very well hitherto, although they had endured many great mishaps. But misfortune, or, rather, the just judgment of God, would have it, that those which could not be overcome by fire nor water should be undone by their own selves.… They entered, therefore, into partialities and dissensions, which began about a soldier named Guernache, which was a drummer of the French bands, which, as it was told me, was very cruelly hanged by his own captain, 161

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III.—Laudonnière’s Search for the Colonists.

III.—Laudonnière’s Search for the Colonists.

Having yielded unto him, and being come to the place where it was set up, we found the same crowned with crowns of bay, and at the foot thereof many little baskets full of mill, 169 which they call in their language tapaga tapola . Then, when they came thither, they kissed the same with great reverence, and besought us to do the like, which we would not deny them, to the end we might draw them to be more in friendship with us. This done, the paracoussey took me by the hand, as if he had desire t

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IV.—The Capture of Fort Caroline by the Spaniards.

IV.—The Capture of Fort Caroline by the Spaniards.

Perceiving myself in such extremity, I took a muster of the men which Captain Ribaut had left me, to see if there were any that wanted weapon. I found nine or ten of them, whereof not past two or three had ever drawn sword out of a scabbard, as I think. Let them which have been bold to say that I had men enough left me, so that I had means to defend myself, give ear a little now unto me, and, if they have eyes in their heads, let them see what men I had. Of the nine, there were four but young st

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The Death of Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

The Death of Sir Humphrey Gilbert.

The former reasons having also moved the general to have compassion of his poor men, in whom he saw no want of good-will, but of means fit to perform the action they came for, [he] resolved upon retire; 186 and, calling the captain and master of the “Hind,” he yielded them many reasons enforcing this unexpected return, withal protesting himself greatly satisfied with that he had seen and knew already. Reiterating these words, “Be content: we have seen enough, and take no care of expense past. I

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I.—The First Voyage to Virginia.

I.—The First Voyage to Virginia.

We remained by the side of this island two whole days before we saw any people of the country. The third day we espied one small boat rowing towards us, having in it three persons. This boat came to the island side, four arquebuse-shot from our ships; and there, two of the people remaining, the third came along the shore-side toward us; and we, being then all within board, 193 he walked up and down upon the point of land next unto us. Then the master and pilot of the admiral, 194 Simon Ferdinand

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II.—Visit to an Indian Princess.

II.—Visit to an Indian Princess.

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 frumenty, 202 sodden 203 venison and roasted, fish sodden, boiled, and roasted, melons raw and sodden, roots of divers kinds, and divers fruits. Their drink is commonly 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 somet

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III.—Adventures of the First Virginia Colony.

III.—Adventures of the First Virginia Colony.

In the year of our Lord 1587, Sir Walter Raleigh, intending to persevere in the planting of his country of Virginia, prepared a new colony of one hundred and fifty men to be sent thither, under the charge of John White, whom he appointed governor; and also appointed under him twelve assistants, unto whom he gave a charter, and incorporated them by the name of Governor and Assistants of the City of Raleigh in Virginia. Our fleet—being in number three sail, viz. , the admiral, 211 a ship of one hu

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IV.—The Second English Colony in Virginia.

IV.—The Second English Colony in Virginia.

The same day, order was given that every man should be employed for the repairing of those houses which we found standing, and also to make other new cottages for such as should need. The 25th , our flyboat and the rest of our planters arrived all safe at Hatorask, to the great joy and comfort of the whole company. But the master of our admiral, 215 Ferdinando, grieved greatly at their safe coming; for he purposely left them in the Bay of Portugal, and stole away from them in the night, hoping t

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V.—Search for the Lost Colony.

V.—Search for the Lost Colony.

From thence we went along by the water-side, toward the point of the creek, to see if we could find any of their boats or pinnace; but we could perceive no sign of them, nor any of the last falcons 225 and small ordnance which were left with them at my departure from them. At our return from the creek, some of our sailors, meeting us, told us they had found where divers chests had been hidden, and long since digged up again, and broken up, and much of the goods in them spoiled and scattered abou

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I.—Gosnold’s Fort at Cuttyhunk.

I.—Gosnold’s Fort at Cuttyhunk.

But riding here, in no very good harbor, and withal doubting the weather, about three of the clock the same day, in the afternoon, we weighed, and standing southerly off into sea the rest of that day and the night following, with a fresh gale of wind, in the morning we found ourselves embayed with a mighty headland. 231 But coming to an anchor about nine of the clock the same day, within a league of the shore, we hoisted out the one-half of our shallop; and Captain Bartholomew Gosnold, myself, a

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II.—Captain Waymouth captures Indians, and explores the Penobscot river.

II.—Captain Waymouth captures Indians, and explores the Penobscot river.

I return now to our savages, who, according to their appointment, about one o’clock, came with four canoes to the shore of the island right over against us, where they had lodged the last night, and sent one canoe to us with two of those savages who had been aboard, and another who then seemed to have command of them; for though we perceived their willingness, yet he would not permit them to come aboard; but he, having viewed us and our ship, signed that he would go to the rest of the company, a

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III.—The Popham Colony on the Kennebec.

III.—The Popham Colony on the Kennebec.

They all went ashore, and there made choice of a place for their plantation, 259 at the mouth or entry of the river on the west side,—for the river bendeth itself towards the nor’-east, and by east,—being almost an island, of a good bigness, being in a province called by the Indians Sabino, so called of a sagamo, or chief commander, under the grand Bassaba. 260 As they were ashore, three canoes full of Indians came to them, but would not come near, but rowed away up the river. They all went asho

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IV.—Captain Gilbert’s Adventure with the Indians.

IV.—Captain Gilbert’s Adventure with the Indians.

The first four of the following extracts are from Smith’s “Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles” (edition of 1626), pp. 39 – 49. The next four are from the “Historie of Travaile into Virginia Britannia,” by William Strachey, secretary of the Virginia Colony. Reprinted by the Hakluyt Society (1849), pp. 49 – 52, 57, 58, 80, 81, 110, 111. The ninth is from the “Generall Historie,” p. 219. The tenth is from “A Description of New England, by Captain John Smith,” printe

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I.—Captain John Smith in Virginia.

I.—Captain John Smith in Virginia.

The first land they made they called Cape Henry, where thirty of them, recreating themselves on shore, were assaulted by five savages, who hurt two of the English very dangerously. That night was the box opened, and the orders read, in which Bartholomew Gosnoll, John Smith, Edward Wingfield, Christopher Newport, John Ratliffe, John Martin, and George Kendall, were named to be the council, and to choose a president among them for a year, who, with the council, should govern. Matters of moment wer

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II.—The Virginia Colonists.

II.—The Virginia Colonists.

And now the winter approaching, the rivers became so covered with swans, geese, ducks, and cranes, that we daily feasted with good bread, Virginia peas, pumpkins and putchamins, 288 fish, fowl, and divers sorts of wild beasts as fat as we could eat them: so that none of our tuftaffatty humorists 289 desired to go for England. But our comedies never endured long without a tragedy; some idle exceptions being muttered against Captain Smith for not discovering the head of Chickahamania 290 River, an

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III.—Smith captured by the Indians.

III.—Smith captured by the Indians.

The savages having drawn from George Cassen whither Capt. Smith was gone, prosecuting that opportunity, they followed him with three hundred bowmen, conducted by the King of Pamaunkee, who in divisions, searching the turnings of the river, found Robinson and Emry by the fireside: those they shot full of arrows, and slew. Then finding the captain, as is said, that used the savage that was his guide as his shield,—three of them being slain, and divers others so galled,—all the rest would not come

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IV.—Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.

IV.—Captain John Smith and Pocahontas.

At last they brought him to Meronocomoco, 301 where was Powhatan, their emperor. Here more than two hundred of those grim courtiers stood wondering at him, as he had been a monster, till Powhatan and his train had put themselves in their greatest braveries. 302 Before a fire, upon a seat like a bedstead, he sat, covered with a great robe made of raccoon-skins, and all the tails hanging by. On either hand did sit a young wench of sixteen or eighteen years, and along on each side the house two row

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V.—King Powhatan.

V.—King Powhatan.

Nor is [she] so handsome a savage woman as I have seen amongst them, yet with a kind of pride can take upon her a show of greatness; for we have seen her forbear to come out of her quintan , or boat, through the water, as the other, both maids and married women, usually do, unless she were carried forth between two of her servants. I was once early at her house—it being summer time—when she was laid without doors, under the shadow of a broad-leaved tree, upon a pallet of osiers, spread over with

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VI.—A Virginia Princess.

VI.—A Virginia Princess.

INDIAN DANCE. As for their dancing, the sport seems unto them, and the use, almost as frequent and necessary as their meat and drink, in which they consume much time, and for which they appoint many and often meetings, and have therefore, as it were, set orgies 315 or festivals for the same pastime, as have yet at this day the merry Greeks.… At our colony’s first sitting down amongst them, when any of our people repaired 316 to their towns, the Indians would not think they had expressed their we

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VII.—An Indian Dance in Virginia.

VII.—An Indian Dance in Virginia.

To make the children hardy, in the coldest mornings they wash them in the rivers, and by paintings and ointments so tan their skins, that, after a year or two, no weather will hurt them. As also, to practise their children in the use of their bows and arrows, the mothers do not give them their breakfast in a morning before they have hit a mark which she appoints them to shoot at; and commonly, so cunning they will have them, as throwing up in the air a piece of moss, or some such light thing, th

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VIII.—Indian Children in Virginia.

VIII.—Indian Children in Virginia.

There are who delight extremely in vain pleasure, that take much more pains in England to enjoy it than I should do here to gain wealth sufficient: and yet I think they should not have half such sweet content; for our pleasure here is still gain, in England charges and loss. Here nature and liberty afford us that freely which in England we want, or it costeth us dearly. What pleasure can be more than being tired with any occasion ashore, in planting vines, fruits, or herbs; in contriving their o

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IX.—“The Planter’s Pleasure and Profit.”

IX.—“The Planter’s Pleasure and Profit.”

COD-FISHING. The main staple from hence to be extracted, for the present, to produce the rest, is fish; which, however it may seem a mean and base commodity, yet who will but truly take the pains, and consider the sequel, I think will allow it well worth the labor. It is strange to see what great adventures the hopes of setting forth men-of-war to rob the industrious innocent would procure.… But who doth not know that the poor Hollanders, chiefly by fishing, at a great charge and labor, in all w

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X.—The Glories of Fishing.

X.—The Glories of Fishing.

During this time, the Lady Rebecca, alias Pocahontas, daughter to Powhatan, by the diligent care of Master John Rolfe, her husband, and his friends, was taught to speak such English as might well be understood, well instructed in Christianity, and was become very formal and civil after our English manner. She had also, by him, a child, which she loved most dearly; and the treasurer and company took order, both for the maintenance of her and it. Besides, there were divers persons of great rank an

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XI.—Visit of Pocahantas to London in 1617.

XI.—Visit of Pocahantas to London in 1617.

And this relief, most gracious Queen, was commonly brought us by this lady, Pocahontas. Notwithstanding all these passages, when inconstant fortune turned our peace to war, this tender virgin would still not spare to dare to visit us, and by her our jars have been oft appeased, and our wants still supplied. Were it the policy of her father thus to employ her, or the ordinance of God thus to make her his instrument, or her extraordinary affection to our nation, I know not. But of this I am sure;

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XII.—First Buildings of the Virginia Colonists.

XII.—First Buildings of the Virginia Colonists.

[Also written in the last year of his life,—1631.] The wars in Europe, Asia, and Africa, taught me how to subdue the wild savages in Virginia and New England in America.… Having been a slave to the Turks, prisoner amongst the most barbarous savages; after my deliverance commonly discovering and ranging those large rivers and unknown nations, with such a handful of ignorant companions, that the wiser sort often gave me for lost; always in mutinies, wants, and miseries; blown up with gunpowder; a

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XIII.—Captain John Smith’s Recollections of his own Life.

XIII.—Captain John Smith’s Recollections of his own Life.

This passage is taken from “Voyages de la Nouvelle France, par le Sieur de Champlain,” Paris, 1632, as translated in O’Callaghan’s “Documentary History of the State of New York,” vol. iii. p. 3. Parkman gives a full account of Champlain’s adventures, in the latter half of his “Pioneers of France in the New World,” from p. 165 onward. CHAMPLAIN ON THE WAR-PATH. [This narrative is of great interest, as showing the mode of early Indian warfare, and the way in which the French at once modified it

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Champlain on the War-Path.

Champlain on the War-Path.

Forthwith some began to cut down timber, others to pull off bark to cover lodges to shelter them, others to fell large trees with which to barricade their lodges on the shore. They know so well how to construct these barricades, that five hundred of their enemies would find considerable difficulty in forcing them, in less than two hours, without great loss. They do not fortify the side of the river along which their canoes are ranged, so as to be able to embark, should occasion require. After th

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I.—Discovery of the Hudson River.

I.—Discovery of the Hudson River.

At three of the clock in the afternoon we came to three great rivers. So we stood along to the northernmost, thinking to have gone into it; but we found it to have a very shoal bar before it, for we had but ten foot water. Then we cast about to the southward, and found two fathoms, three fathoms, and three and a quarter, till we came to the souther side of them; then we had five and six fathoms, and anchored. So we sent in our boat to sound; and they found no less water than four, five, six, and

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II.—Indian Traditions of Henry Hudson’s Arrival.

II.—Indian Traditions of Henry Hudson’s Arrival.

He then took the glass, and, bidding the assembly farewell, drank it off. Every eye was fixed on their resolute companion, to see what an effect this would have upon him; and he soon beginning to stagger about, and at last dropping to the ground, they bemoan him. He falls into a sleep, and they view him as expiring. He awakes again, jumps up, and declares that he never felt himself before so happy as after he had drank the cup; wishes for more. His wish is granted; and the whole assembly soon jo

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III.—The Last Voyage of Henry Hudson, and how he was set adrift in the Ice by his Men.

III.—The Last Voyage of Henry Hudson, and how he was set adrift in the Ice by his Men.

Henry Greene went his way; and presently came Juet, 367 who, because he was an ancient man, I hoped to have found some reason in him. But he was worse than Henry Greene; for he sware plainly that he would justify this deed when he came home. After him came John Thomas and Michael Perce, as birds of one feather; but, because they are not living, I will let them go, as then I did. Then came Moter and Bennet, of whom I demanded if they were well advised what they had taken in hand. They answered th

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IV.—The Dutch Settlement of the New Netherlands.

IV.—The Dutch Settlement of the New Netherlands.

[1626.] In our preceding treatise, we made mention of New Netherland and its colony, planted by the West India Company, situate in Virginia on the river, called by the French Montagne, and by us Mauritius, and that some families were sent thither, which now increased to two hundred souls; and afterwards some ships,—one with horses, the other with cows, and the third hay. Two months afterwards, a fleet was equipped carrying sheep, hogs, wagons, ploughs, and all other implements of husbandry. Thes

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I.—The Sailing of the Pilgrims.

I.—The Sailing of the Pilgrims.

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 384 in or no; and the rather, because, as we sailed into the harbor, there seemed to be a river 385 opening itself into the mainland. The willingness of the persons was liked; but the thing itself, in regard to the d

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II.—Miles Standish at Cape Cod.

II.—Miles Standish at Cape Cod.

Wednesday, the 15th of November, they were set ashore. 388 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, &amp;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 the

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III.—The First Encounter.

III.—The First Encounter.

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. 406 We bore up to gain the point, and found there a fair income 407 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, 408 we espied some ten or twelve Indians

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IV.—The Landing on Plymouth Rock.

IV.—The Landing on Plymouth Rock.

On the sabbath day we rested; and on Monday we sounded the harbor, and found it a very good harbor for our shipping. We marched also into the land, 422 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....

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V.—Plymouth Village founded.

V.—Plymouth Village founded.

[The expedition having returned to the ship, the “Mayflower” came to Plymouth harbor, and landed the colonists.] 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 o

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VI.—“Welcome, Englishmen!”

VI.—“Welcome, Englishmen!”

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

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I.—The Voyage of the Massachusetts Colonists.

I.—The Voyage of the Massachusetts Colonists.

Thirdly, our passage was also healthful to our passengers, being freed from the great contagion of the scurvy and other maledictions, 443 which in other passages to other places had taken away the lives of many. And yet we were, in all reason, in wonderful danger all the way, our ship being greatly crowded with passengers; but, through God’s great goodness, we had none that died of the pox, but that wicked fellow that scorned at fasting and prayer. There were, indeed, two little children,—one of

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II.—The Massachusetts Bay Colonists in Salem Harbor.

II.—The Massachusetts Bay Colonists in Salem Harbor.

Saturday a foggy morning, but, after eight o’clock in the morning, very clear. The wind being somewhat contrary at south and by west, we tacked to and again with getting little, but with much ado. About four o’clock in the afternoon, having with much pain compassed the harbor, and being ready to enter the same, (see how things may suddenly change!) there came a fearful gust of wind and rain, and thunder and lightning, whereby we were borne with no little terror and trouble to our mariners, havin

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III.—Fire, Air, Earth, and Water in New England.

III.—Fire, Air, Earth, and Water in New England.

The form of the earth here, in the superficies of it, is neither too flat in the plainness, nor too high in hills, but partakes of both in a mediocrity, and fit for pasture, or for plough or meadow ground, as men please to employ it. Though all the country be, as it were, a thick wood for the general, yet in divers places there is much ground cleared by the Indians, and especially about the plantation; and I am told, that, about three miles from us, a man may stand on a little hilly place, and s

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IV.—A Sea-Adventure of the Puritan Colonists.

IV.—A Sea-Adventure of the Puritan Colonists.

GOVERNOR WINTHROP. GOVERNOR WINTHROP. The governor, being at his farm-house at Mistick, 457 walked out after supper, and took a piece 458 in his hand, supposing he might see a wolf; for they came daily about the house, and killed swine and calves, &amp;c. And, being about half a mile off, it grew suddenly dark, so as in coming home he mistook his path, and went till he came to a little house of Sagamore John, 459 which stood empty. There he staid; and, having a piece of match in his pocket,

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V.—Governor Winthrop’s Night out of Doors.

V.—Governor Winthrop’s Night out of Doors.

Now coming into this country, I found it a vacant wilderness in respect of English. There were, indeed, some English at Plymouth and Salem, and some few at Charlestown, who were very destitute when we came ashore; and, planting-time being past shortly after, provision was not to be had for money. I wrote to my friends, namely, to my dear father, to send me some provision; which accordingly he did, and also gave order to one of his neighbors to supply me with what I needed, he being a seaman, who

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