Part 23 (2/2)
MONDAY, Mar. 12/22 At anchorage. Easterly weather.
TUESDAY, Mar. 13/23 At anchorage. The sickness and mortality on s.h.i.+p and on sh.o.r.e continue.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 14/24 At anchorage. Same.
THURSDAY, Mar. 15/25 At anchorage. Same.
FRIDAY, Mar. 16/26 At anchorage. A fair, warm day, towards noon. The Master and others went ash.o.r.e to the general meeting. The plantation was startled this morning by a visit from an Indian who spoke some English and bade ”Welcome.” He is from Monhiggon, an island to the eastward some days' sail, near where Sir Ferdinando Gorges had a settlement. He was friendly, and having had much intercourse with Englishmen who came to fish in those parts, very comfortable with them. He saw the s.h.i.+p in the harbor from a distance and supposed her to be a fis.h.i.+ng vessel. He told the Governor that the plantation was formerly called ”Patuxet”
[or Apaum], and that all its inhabitants had been carried off by a plague about four years ago. All the afternoon was spent in communication with him. The Governor purposed sending him aboard the s.h.i.+p at night, and he was well content to go and went aboard the shallop to come to the s.h.i.+p, but the wind was high and water scant [low], so that the shallop could not go to the s.h.i.+p. The Governor sent him to Master Hopkins's house and set a watch over him.
SAt.u.r.dAY, Mar. 17/27 At anchor in harbor. The Master and others came off to the s.h.i.+p. Samoset the Indian went away back to the Ma.s.sasoits whence he came. A reasonably fair day. Fetched wood and water.
SUNDAY, Mar. 18/28 At anchor in Plymouth harbor. The fourteenth Sunday the s.h.i.+p has lain at this anchorage. A fair day. The sickness stayed a little. Many went on sh.o.r.e to the meeting in the common-house. Samoset the savage came again, and brought five others with him.
[This Sunday visit was doubtless very much to the dislike of the good brethren, or at least of the leaders, but policy dictated every possible forbearance. Their consciences drew the line at trade, however, and they got rid of their untimely visitors as soon as possible without giving offense. Ma.s.sasoit's men seem to have shown, by leaving their peltry with them, a confidence in their new white neighbors that is remarkable in view of the brevity of their friends.h.i.+p.]
They left their bows and arrows a quarter of a mile from the town, as instructed.
The Planters gave them entertainment, but would not truck with them.
[”Truck--to trade.” All early and modern lexicographers give the word, which, though now obsolete, was in common use in parts of New England fifty years ago.]
They sang and danced after their manner, and made semblance of amity and friends.h.i.+p.
They drank tobacco and carried pounded corn to eat. Their faces were painted. They brought a few skins which they left with the Planters, and returned the tools which Captain Standish and Francis Cooke left in the woods. The Planters dismissed them with a few trifles as soon as they could, it being Sunday, and they promised soon to return and trade. Samoset would not go with them, feigning sick, and stayed.
Those on sh.o.r.e from the s.h.i.+p came off to her at night.
MONDAY, Mar. 19/29 At anchorage. A fair day. The Planters digging and sowing seeds.
TUESDAY, Mar. 20/30 At anchorage. A fine day. Digging and planting of gardens on sh.o.r.e. Those sick of the crew mending.
WEDNESDAY, Mar. 21/31 At anchorage. A fine warm day. Beginning to put s.h.i.+p in trim for return voyage.
Bringing ballast, etc. Some, including the Masters-mates, went on sh.o.r.e, who on return reported that the Planters sent the Indian Samoset away. A general meeting of the Planters was held at the common-house, to conclude laws and orders, and to confirm the military orders formerly proposed, and twice broken off by the savages coming, as happened again. After the meeting had held an hour or so, two or three savages appeared on the hill over against the town, and made semblance of daring the Planters.
Captain Standish and another, with their muskets, went over to them, with the two Masters-mates of the s.h.i.+p, who were ash.o.r.e, also armed with muskets. The savages made show of defiance, but as our men drew near they ran away. This day the carpenter, who has long been ill of scurvy, fitted the shallop to carry all the goods and furniture aboard the s.h.i.+p, on sh.o.r.e.
THURSDAY, Mar. 22/Apr. 1 At anchorage. A very fair, warm day.
At work on s.h.i.+p getting ready for sea, bringing ballast aboard, etc. Another general meeting of the Planters which all able attended. They had scarce been an hour together when Samoset the Indian came again with one Squanto, the only native of Patuxet (where the Planters now inhabit) surviving, who was one of the twenty captives carried away from this place by Captain Hunt, to England. He could speak a little English.
They brought three other Indians with them.
They signified that their great Sagamore, Masasoyt, was hard by, with Quadequina his brother, and all their men. They could not well express what they would in English, but after an hour the king came to the top of the hill, over against the plantation, with his train of about sixty men. Squanto went to him and brought a message that one should be sent to parley with him, and Master Edward Winslow went, to know hisnmind, and signify the wish of the Governor to have trading and peace with him, the Governor sending presents to the king and his brother, with something to eat and drink.
[Edward Winslow gives us here another proof of that rare self-sacrifice, that entire devotion to his work, and that splendid intrepidity which so signally characterized his whole career. At this most critical moment, the fate of the little colony trembling in the balance, when there was evident fear of treachery and surprise on the part of both the English and the savages; though the wife of his youth lay at the point of death (which came but two days later), and his heart was heavy with grief; forgetting all but the welfare of his little band of brethren, he goes forward alone, his life in his hand, to meet the great sachem surrounded by his whole tribe, as the calm, adroit diplomatist, upon whom all must depend; and as the fearless hostage, to put himself in p.a.w.n for the savage chief.]
The king, leaving Master Winslow with brother, came over the brook, with some twenty of his men, leaving their bows and arrows behind them, and giving some six or seven of their men as hostages for Master Winslow. Captain Standish, with Master Williamson, the s.h.i.+p's-merchant, as interpreter,
[It would seem from the frequent mention of the presence of some of the s.h.i.+p's company, Master Jones, the ”Masters-mates,” and now the ”s.h.i.+p's-merchant,” that the s.h.i.+p was daily well represented in the little settlement on sh.o.r.e. The presence of Master Williamson on this occasion is perhaps readily accounted for. Every other meeting with the Indians had been unexpected, the present one was antic.i.p.ated, and somewhat eagerly, for upon its successful issue almost everything depended. By this time Standish had probably become aware that Tisquantum's command of English was very limited, and he desired all the aid the s.h.i.+p's interpreter could give. By some means, the sachem and the colonists succeeded in establis.h.i.+ng on this day a very good and lasting understanding.]
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