the complete writings-3-第50章
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or the first fell downe and fled: at my discharge they did the like; my hinde I made my barricade; who offered not to strive; 20 or 30 arrowes were shot at me but short; 3 or 4 times I had discharged my pistoll ere the king of Pamauck called Opeckakenough with 200 men; environed me; each drawing their bowe; which done they laid them upon the ground; yet without shot; my hinde treated betwixt them and me of conditions of peace; he discovered me to be the captaine; my request was to retire to ye boate; they demanded my armes; the rest they saide were slaine; onely me they would reserve: the Indian importuned me not to shoot。 In retiring being in the midst of a low quagmire; and minding them more than my steps; I stept fast into the quagmire; and also the Indian in drawing me forth: thus surprised; I resolved to trie their mercies; my armes I caste from me; till which none durst approch me: being ceazed on me; they drew me out and led me to the King; I presented him with a compasse diall; describing by my best meanes the use thereof; whereat he so amazedly admired; as he suffered me to proceed in a discourse of the roundnes of the earth; the course of the sunne; moone; starres and plannets; with kinde speeches and bread he requited me; conducting me where the canow lay and John Robinson slaine; with 20 or 30 arrowes in him。 Emry I saw not; I perceived by the abundance of fires all over the woods; at each place I expected when they would execute me; yet they used me with what kindnes they could: approaching their Towne which was within 6 miles where I was taken; onely made as arbors and covered with mats; which they remove as occasion requires: all the women and children; being advertised of this accident came forth to meet; the King well guarded with 20 bow men 5 flanck and rear and each flanck before him a sword and a peece; and after him the like; then a bowman; then I on each hand a boweman; the rest in file in the reare; which reare led forth amongst the trees in a bishion; eache his bowe and a handfull of arrowes; a quiver at his back grimly painted: on eache flanck a sargeant; the one running alwaiss towards the front the other towards the reare; each a true pace and in exceeding good order; this being a good time continued; they caste themselves in a ring with a daunce; and so eache man departed to his lodging; the captain conducting me to his lodging; a quarter of Venison and some ten pound of bread I had for supper; what I left was reserved for me; and sent with me to my lodging: each morning three women presented me three great platters of fine bread; more venison than ten men could devour I had; my gowne; points and garters; my compas and a tablet they gave me again; though 8 ordinarily guarded me; I wanted not what they could devise to content me: and still our longer acquaintance increased our better affection: much they threatened to assault our forte as they were solicited by the King of Paspahegh; who shewed at our fort great signs of sorrow for this mischance: the King took great delight in understanding the manner of our ships and sayling the seas; the earth and skies and of our God: what he knew of the dominions he spared not to acquaint me with; as of certaine men cloathed at a place called Ocanahonun; cloathed like me; the course of our river; and that within 4 or 5 daies journey of the falles; was a great turning of salt water: I desired he would send a messenger to Paspahegh; with a letter I would write; by which they should understand; how kindly they used me; and that I was well; lest they should revenge my death; this he granted and sent three men; in such weather; as in reason were unpossible; by any naked to be indured: their cruell mindes towards the fort I had deverted; in describing the ordinance and the mines in the fields; as also the revenge Captain Newport would take of them at his returne; their intent; I incerted the fort; the people of Ocanahomm and the back sea; this report they after found divers Indians that confirmed: the next day after my letter; came a salvage to my lodging; with his sword to have slaine me; but being by my guard intercepted; with a bowe and arrow he offred to have effected his purpose: the cause I knew not; till the King understanding thereof came and told me of a man a dying wounded with my pistoll: he tould me also of another I had slayne; yet the most concealed they had any hurte: this was the father of him I had slayne; whose fury to prevent; the King presently conducted me to another kingdome; upon the top of the next northerly river; called Youghtanan; having feasted me; he further led me to another branch of the river called Mattapament; to two other hunting townes they led me; and to each of these Countries; a house of the great Emperor of Pewhakan; whom as yet I supposed to be at the Fals; to him I tolde him I must goe; and so returne to Paspahegh; after this foure or five dayes march we returned to Rasawrack; the first towne they brought me too; where binding the mats in bundles; they marched two dayes journey and crossed the River of Youghtanan; where it was as broad as Thames: so conducting me too a place called Menapacute in Pamunke; where ye King inhabited; the next day another King of that nation called Kekataugh; having received some kindness of me at the Fort; kindly invited me to feast at his house; the people from all places flocked to see me; each shewing to content me。 By this the great King hath foure or five houses; each containing fourscore or an hundred foote in length; pleasantly seated upon an high sandy hill; from whence you may see westerly a goodly low country; the river before the which his crooked course causeth many great Marshes of exceeding good ground。 An hundred houses; and many large plaines are here together inhabited; more abundance of fish and fowle; and a pleasanter seat cannot be imagined: the King with fortie bowmen to guard me; intreated me to discharge my Pistoll; which they there presented me with a mark at six score to strike therewith but to spoil the practice I broke the cocke; whereat they were much discontented though a chaunce supposed。 From hence this kind King conducted me to a place called Topahanocke; a kingdome upon another river northward; the cause of this was; that the yeare before; a shippe had beene in the River of Pamunke; who having been kindly entertained by Powhatan their Emperour; they returned thence; and discovered the River of Topahanocke; where being received with like kindnesse; yet he slue the King; and tooke of his people; and they supposed I were bee; but the people reported him a great man that was Captaine; and using mee kindly; the next day we departed。 This River of Topahanock; seemeth in breadth not much lesse than that we dwell upon。 At the mouth of the River is a Countrey called Cuttata women; upwards is Marraugh tacum Tapohanock; Apparnatuck; and Nantaugs tacum; at Topmanahocks; the head issuing from many Mountains; the next night I lodged at a hunting town of Powhatam's; and the next day arrived at Waranacomoco upon the river of Parnauncke; where the great king is resident: by the way we passed by the top of another little river; which is betwixt the two called Payankatank。 The most of this country though Desert; yet exceeding fertil; good timber; most hils and in dales; in each valley a cristall spring。
〃Arriving at Weramacomoco; their Emperour; proudly lying upon a Bedstead a foote high upon tenne or twelve Mattes; richly hung with manie Chaynes of great Pearles about his necke; and covered with a great covering of Rahaughcums: At heade sat a woman; at his feete another; on each side sitting upon a Matte upon the ground were raunged his chiefe men on each side the fire; tenne in a ranke and behinde them as many yong women; each a great Chaine of white Beades over their shoulders: their heades painted in redde and with such a grave and Majeslicall countenance; as drove me into admiration to see such state in a naked Salvage; bee kindlv welcomed me with good wordes; and great Platters of sundrie victuals; asiuring mee his friendship and my libertie within foure dayes; bee much delighted in Opechan Conough's relation of what I had described to him; and oft examined me upon the same。