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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
pe both of man and beast in those ancient commonwealths； which many an hundred years have used it； yet thousands of those poor people can scarce get necessaries to live； but from hand to mouth； and though your factors there can buy as much in a week as will fraught you a ship； or as much as you please； you must not expect from us any such matter； which are but as many of ignorant； miserable soules； that are scarce able to get wherewith to live； and defend ourselves against the inconstant Salvages： finding but here and there a tree fit for the purpose； and want all things else the Russians have。 For the Coronation of Powhattan； by whose advice you sent him such presents； I know not； but this give me leave to tell you； I feare they will be the confusion of us all ere we heare from you again。 At your ships arrivall； the Salvages harvest was newly gathered； and we going to buy it； our owne not being halve sufficient for so great a number。 As for the two ships loading of corne Newport promised to provide us from Powhattan； he brought us but fourteen bushels； and from the Monacans nothing； but the most of the men sicke and neare famished。 From your ship we had not provision in victuals worth twenty pound； and we are more than two hundred to live upon this； the one halfe sicke； the other little better。 For the saylers （I confesse）； they daily make good cheare； but our dyet is a little meale and water； and not sufficient of that。 Though there be fish in the Sea； fowles in the ayre； and beasts in the woods； their bounds are so large； they so wilde； and we so weake and ignorant； we cannot much trouble them。 Captaine Newport we much suspect to be the Author of these inventions。 Now that you should know； I have made you as great a discovery as he； for less charge than he spendeth you every meale； I had sent you this mappe of the Countries and Nations that inhabit them； as you may see at large。 Also two barrels of stones； and such as I take to be good。 Iron ore at the least； so divided； as by their notes you may see in what places I found them。 The souldiers say many of your officers maintaine their families out of that you sent us； and that Newport hath an hundred pounds a year for carrying newes。 For every master you have yet sent can find the way as well as he； so that an hundred pounds might be spared； which is more than we have all； that helps to pay him wages。 Cap。 Ratliffe is now called Sicklemore； a poore counterfeited Imposture。 I have sent you him home least the Company should cut his throat。 What he is； now every one can tell you： if he and Archer returne againe； they are sufficient to keep us always in factions。 When you send againe I entreat you rather send but thirty carpenters； husbandmen； gardiners； fishermen； blacksmiths； masons； and diggers up of trees roots； well provided； then a thousand of such as we have； for except wee be able both to lodge them； and feed them； the most will consume with want of necessaries before they can be made good for anything。 Thus if you please to consider this account； and the unnecessary wages to Captaine Newport； or his ships so long lingering and staying here （for notwithstanding his boasting to leave us victuals for 12 months； though we had 89 by this discovery lame and sicke； and but a pinte of corne a day for a man； we were constrained to give him three hogsheads of that to victuall him homeward）； or yet to send into Germany or Poleland for glassemen and the rest； till we be able to sustaine ourselves； and releeve them when they come。 It were better to give five hundred pound a ton for those grosse Commodities in Denmarke； then send for them hither； till more necessary things be provided。 For in over…toyling our weake and unskilfull bodies； to satisfy this desire of present profit； we can scarce ever recover ourselves from one supply to another。 And I humbly intreat you hereafter； let us have what we should receive； and not stand to the Saylers courtesie to leave us what they please； els you may charge us what you will； but we not you with anything。 These are the 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 wa