Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-11-29

win tear Of sympathy at the wretched fate o'
the - d~indling aborigine," aud smile Of ad'
mira'ion at the daring Of his exploits.
AS specimen of the work, we give the toll
lowing brief account Of the melancholy history OF
Poe ahontas, familiar to most readers. but inter-
esting even in repetitiOn:
He set of again. therefore. in the winter OF
| 16O7.S taking With him crew sufficient 10 ma
mage barge, and smaller boat proper tor the
navigation Of the upper streams. He assembled
the Chickahominy with the barge as far as it could
be forced up by dint of great labor in cutting
awav trees and clearing passage Then leay-
ing Il in broad bay or cove, out OF reach OF the
savages on the banks. Captain Smith. with two
other ahite men. and two friendly Indians. pro-
ceeded higher up in the smaller boat. Those
Who we're left meanwhile in possession OF the
barge, were ordered ON no account to 20 on shore
until his return. The order was disobeyed, Tor
he was scarcely out 0f sight and hearing when
the whole Of the crew went ashore. They were
near orf.itiny their lives fur their rashness The
Indians, to the number Of two or three hundred
Law In wait for them among the woods on the
bank oil the river, under the direction OF Ope
chancanough, Sachem Of the Pamunkes. and re-
puted brother Of Powhatan One George Cas-
sen was taken prisoner. and the savages soon
compelled him to 'ell them which way Smith had
gone They then put him TO death IN most
cruel manner. and continued the pursuit
The captain. meanwhile, little dreaming Of
any accident, had gone twenty miles up the riv-
err, and was now among the marshes at its source.
Here his pursuers came suddenly upon the two
Engiishmen, who had hasled up their boat, and
I,ih IN nv fro ihp lau
(whiie Smith himself went out some distance to
kill game with his musket for supper.) The
unfortunate wretches were shot full Of arrows
and despatched The savages then pressed on
after Smith, and at last overlook him: Finding
himself beset by the multitude. he cody bound
to his arm. with his garters. the young Indian
who had attended him as guide, for buck!er
-(what had become OF the other, does not ap
pearl---and received the enemy's onset 40 briskly
with his firearms, that he soon laid three Of them
dead on the spot, and wounded and CALLED many
others 40 effectuaIly that none appeared anxious
to approach him. He was himself wounded
slightly in the thigh, and had many arrows stick
ing in his clothes; but he still kept the enemy
at bay. His next movement was tn endeavour
to sheer of to MA boat; but. taking mo,e notice
of his foe than his path, as ne weat he suddenly
slipped To- his middle in an o'zy creek. Ham.
pered as he was in this awkward position, no, an
Iodian dared venture near him, until, folding
himself almost dead with cold. he threw away
his arms andsurrendered. Then drawing HIN
out, they carried him TO the fire where his men
had been slam. carefully chaird his benumbed
limbs. and finally restored him to the use of
them"
son his arrival in the village. Smith was de.
tanned uuil the emperor las We shall call him foe
coas e;,,snce) and !,is-train could prepare them
selves to receive their ilustrious captive IN pro-
per state; and meanwhile more than two hun
dred of these grim cnuiers gathered about him,
to satisfy their curiosity With gazing H. was
then introduced to the royal presence. the mui.
ti,udr hail,ng him with tremendous shout, as
he walked in. Powhatan-a majestic aud finely
formed savage, with marked countenance. an
air Of haushtiness sobered down Into gravity bv
life OF sixty years-was seated before fire.
upon seat something like a brdstead. robe Of
RaroccaR skins, with all the tails hanging over
him. On each side sat young wench sixteen
or eighteen years old; and along each wall 81
the house two rows Of women IN the rear. aud
two rows Of men in front. All had their heads
aud shoulders painted red. Many had their hair
decked with the white down OF birds Sumo
wore great chain of white beads about their
necks. But no one was without ornament of
| some kind.
Soon after Smiths entrance, female Of rank,
said to be the queen of App"matuck, was direct
| ed to bring him water TO wash his hands; and
another brought bunch Of feathers, to answer
| the purpose Of towel. Having then feasted him
las he acknowledges, in the best barba,ous mao.
ner they could, a long and solemn consultation
was held to determine hts fate. The decision
was against him. The conclave resumed their
silent gravity; two great stones were brought in
before Po"ha,an; aud Smith was dragged b. fore
them. aud his head laid upon them as a prepare
ton for beating out his brains with clubs. The
fatal weapons were already raised, and the a.
wage muI titude stood silently awaiting the priso
ner's last moment But Smith was not destined
thus to perish. Pocahuntas, the beloved daueh.
ter OF Powhatan. rushed forward and earnest,
entreatsd with tears, that the victim might set
be spared. The royal savage rejected her re-.
quest, and the executiOners stood read, for the
signal OF death. She knelt down. put he, arms
about Smith, aud laid her head over his, declar.
ing she would perish with him or save him.
The heart OF the stern Sachem wa. Al length