Amador weekly ledger., 1858-03-20
duce her patriotism

The affrightened Indians kept themselves
concealed from the view Of the newcomers,
upon whom they looked with superstitious
awe, while the English, fearing armed assail-
ants remained on board, or kept within sight
of their ships The goodly land before them
covered with luxurious vines seemed to have
bloomed among its existence, unenjoyed by
man; but on the third day they discovered
that it was inhabited
Manteo, who had first discovered the visi-
tors, advised his fellow warriors not to flee
from them.
If they are sent by the Great Spirit on
an errand of mercy" said he, 1--WE should not
avoid them: if sent as ministers of wrath,
why seek to escape our doom? But if they
are men, let us go to them with the calumet
Of peace The Roanokes have never harm
ed any other tribe-why should we then
fear?"
These remarks were received with grunts
Of appreciation, which became louder as the
grand sachem appointed Manteo their am
bassador There was only one of the tribe
who was not delighted, and this was Netaw-
is, daughter of the head man of what is
now Albemarle. Already had Manteo brot
rich gifts to her father, in order to concilate
his approval of the alliance; and if the Gus
toms of the Roanokes forbade any express
sion of preference on her part she had new
ertheless become deeply enamored with her
tawny wooer Nor had he ever looked bra
yer or nobler than when he started on his
mission, painted in bright war colors and
wearing the plumes of the gay scarlet fam
lingo in his raven locks.
No sooner did the English see Manteo ap-
proach in his canoe, than Captain Armadas
ordered boat to be manned, in which he
went to meet him. There was an interchange
of pantomime, during which Manteo signifed
his willingness to visit Que of the vessels, and
was accordingly taken on board Examin-
ing everything in the ship with great curiosi-
ty, and accepting several presents after he
had eaten dinner with his hosts, he returned
to tie island There he was soon surround
ed by an admirng circle, who listened for
hours to his wonderful narration about the
pale faces, and when he handed string of
gay glass beads to the father of Netawis, he
was looked upon with that reverence with
which the Romans gazed upon the young
knight who made the famed leap for their
welfare. The next day. dozen canoes were
alongside each vessel, and before night trade
| had commenced.
The English now landed, and whilst some
opened a station for the barter of knives and
toys, for furs, pearls and dry-woods, others
explored the surrounding inlets in small boats.
They saw, with curious gaze, plantations of
Indian corn, of potatoes and of tobacco, all
of which they tested with approval. Nor
could they but admire the wigwams neatly
/ IF har ri GoI
by palisades without, and comfortably fitted
up with fur couches. The sachems, on state
occasions, wore short black fur cloaks, and
had their heads shaven, with the exception of
an erect crest of hair along the top of the
skull, like what is called a "hogged' name.
The wife of one Of them was also clad in
black fur cloak, with branch of white coral
on her forehead, and long strings of pearls
hanging from her ears, or entwined with her
long, flowing raven tresses.
On one occasion, the savage belle had pre-
pared for her guests, in the words of Captain
Barlowe, "a solemn banquet" wherewithal
to refresh them; and as soon as they had
dried themselves and re-assumed their outer
garments, they were ushered into an inner
room to enjoy the feast. The tables were
set all around against the walls of the house,
and on them were placed some wheat like fur
mentie; venison, sodden and roasted; fish,
sodden; roots of divers kinds, and divers
fruits. Their drinks were wine, made of the
grapes of the island, and gnger-cinnamon
and sassafras-water. Captain Barlowe ex-
claims: "We were entertained with all love
and kindness, and with as much bounty, of
ter their manner, as they could possibly de-
wise. We found the people most gentle, low
ing and faithful, and such as live after the
manner of the golden age"
But this could not always last, and soon
the vessels sailed for London, richly laden
with furs and other valuable productions
Nor did they content themselves with these,
for they persuaded Manteo to accompany
them, that the queen might see one of her
new subjects. He, unsuspecting and frank,
willingly consented to go, although his heart
beat high when he took leave of Netawis.-
Often, too, did he think Of his love, as the
small vessel on which he embarked staggered
across the Atlantic, under small sails closely
furled. Instead of cleaving the white waves
the rude craft plunged her bows into them
like spaniel, but unlike that animal, never
stopped to shake off the water, which kept
her decks flooded even in a moderate breeze
Right glau was he when the chalky cliffs Of
Old England came in sight.
The palace at Windsor is justly pronounc-
ed peerless among palaces. Its gothic fame,
its broad terraces, its silver betting river, its
sylvan groves, and its massive circumference
/ of towerS render If a fit homa for Enrla %