Part 4 (1/2)

7. Governor Lane, after the admiral's departure, continued his explorations, in order to learn the geography and nature of the country. He ascended the Chowan River to near the mouth of the Nottoway and penetrated the interior as far as the Indian village of Chowanoke. Instead of clearing fields and making provisions for his people; he was laboriously searching for gold mines and jewels. He was told by the chief of the Chowanoke Indians, whom he held as prisoner for two days, that such things abounded along the upper reaches of Roanoke River (then called the ”Moratock”), and that the headwaters of that stream extended to within an arrow's flight of a great ocean to the west, and along the banks of the river lived a very great and wealthy race of people, whose walled cities glittered with pearls and gold.

8. Fired in imagination by this false and wicked Indian story, preparations were made for a journey in boats, longer than had yet been attempted. They found the swift current of the Roanoke difficult to ascend, and their small store of provisions was exhausted by the time they had reached where the town of Williamston now stands. They could procure none from the Tuscaroras, who dwelt upon the banks, and, while in this dilemma, the savages made a night attack upon their camp, and with great difficulty the adventurers succeeded in escaping destruction.

9. Thus perished Governor Lane's dreams of gold. He hurried back to Roanoke and soon found the hostility of the Tuscaroras extending to the tribe under Wingina. Granganimeo was dead, and Manteo was the only Indian of any influence who manifested friends.h.i.+p for the colonists. They had previously brought an abundance of fish, game and fruits; but these supplies now ceased, and Governor Lane realized that he was surrounded by a people who had become his enemies.

1586.

10. By some means he discovered that Wingina was concerting with the Tuscaroras for an attack upon Roanoke Island. Concealing this knowledge, he invited the unsuspecting plotter to come, with certain of his people, to a feast at the City of Raleigh. They accepted the invitation, and Wingina, with eight of his headmen, was put to death. This occurred on the first of June, 1586.

11. This was a stern and b.l.o.o.d.y punishment of their foes, but it gave the white men deliverance from attack until Sir Francis Drake came, with a large fleet, and anch.o.r.ed in Trinity Harbor, finding the colony almost in a peris.h.i.+ng condition.

12. Ralph Lane was not a hero, but Francis Drake was. If the Governor lacked resolution, no man ever supposed the great admiral deficient in this respect. After a long consultation, Drake approved the resolution of the colonists to abandon the settlement, and, on the 19th of June, 1586, taking them aboard his s.h.i.+ps, he steered for England, leaving the City of Raleigh untenanted. Thus failed the first attempt at forming a permanent settlement upon this great territory forming the present limits of the United States.

QUESTIONS.

1. What occurred in England on the return of the s.h.i.+ps? Mention some things exhibited by the mariners.

2. What did Sir Walter Raleigh next do? Who was appointed Governor? Who commanded the expedition?

3. What was the route of the fleet? When and where did they land?

4. How many men were landed upon Roanoke Island? What did they name their city? Describe Roanoke Island.

5. Mention some of Grenville's exploits during his stay.

6. What did the Indians think of this treatment? How did the settlers suffer in consequence?

7. How did Governor Lane occupy himself? What wonderful story was told Lane by the Indians?

8. How did Lane regard this story? Give an account of his expedition up the Roanoke River. Point out Williamston.

9. What did Governor Lane find to be the condition of affairs upon his return to the settlement?

10. What plot was discovered? How did Governor Lane prevent it?

11. What was the effect of this treatment? What help arrived from England?

12. What did the colonists resolve to do? What is said of this attempt to found a colony?

CHAPTER VIII.

GOVERNOR WHITE'S COLONY.

A. D. 1586 TO 1590.

It must have been a sore trial to Sir Walter Raleigh when he learned that his colonists had returned to England. He had sent over a s.h.i.+p with abundant supplies, which reached Roanoke only a few days after Sir Francis Drake sailed away with his fleet.