The Lincoln County herald., 1870-04-21
THE TRUE STORY OF POCAHONTAs.

Farewell, our childhood's Pocahontas.
Dusky maiden. heroine of Captain John
Smiths romantic story, farewell for ever !
lt is strange we should have believed
this pleasing fiction so long; for the
other incredible tales of the same author
ought to have put US upon eur guard.
He describes Powhatsn. for example. as
living in great state, like an "emperor,"
who gave audience to Captain Newport,
with twenty women on each side OF the
room, aud guard of four or 6se hundred
men around the house; while on each
side Of the door stood forty platters Of
"6ne bread" John Smith knew the
Indians better than that. He knew very
we'll that people without cattle, hosses,
sheep or swine, with little cleared land,
and only two or three rode Implements,
could never maintain an imperial court
aud retinae in that style.
Il seems to have been . habit of this
adveDturer to attribute his deliverance
from peril to the friendship aud interccs.
sion OF beautiful dansels. In Turkey he
won the tender love of the lovely Trsga.
bgzanda, who gave him substantial aid
in his time of trouble At another place
it was the noble Lady Callamata who
"iargely supplied his wants" But le,
him speak for himself. In tho dedication
Of bis History Of Virginia to the Duchess
Of Richmond, he holds the following Lao
guage:
MY comfort is, that heretofore honor
able aud vistuoos ladies, aud comparable
but amongst them elves, have offered nc
rescue and protection in my greatest dan.
gers. Even in foreign parts have felt
relief from that SIX. The beautcous lady
Tragabigzanda, when was slave to the
Turks, did all she could to se,sre me.
" len I overcame the bsshaw Of MAI
brits In Tastaris, the charitable lady
Callamata supplied my necessities, Iu
the utmost OF many cxtremeties, that
blessed focahontas, the kings daughter
of Virginia, oft saved my life. Wnss l
escaped the cruelties Of pirates aud most
furious storms, . long time alone in q
small boat at sea, and driven ashore in
France, the good lady, Madame Chsooyss,
beautifully assisted me And 90 verify
these my adventures have tasted the same
influence from your gracious ham,"
Then he mover tells bis story twice
alike. 10 one Of his versions, Pocahoutas
IL spoken Of "as . child Of ten )" 10 an
other, - . maiden Of twelve or thirteen
ssd iO . psssage just quoted, he goes be
yond previous statements 10 saying thsl
9she OF saved his life. But the most
remarkable discrepancy. and the one ths,
led to the detection OF the brsggsrt. 70
mains to b told. In the year 1908. Z
few weeks after his return 70 Jamestowu
from bis residence With Powhstan, HI
wrote . long letter heme, 10 which be
gave au account Of the manner 10 which
be was taken prisoner, and Of What trans
pirsd during the month Of bis detentior
among the Indians. In this letter there
10 NO allusion 70 Pocahontss; he dos'
not mention her name nor does be relate
any story st all resembling the one with
which We are oil 90 familiar On the
contrary hs assures 10 that Powhatar
treated him With the most bounteous gen
e!osity, and he speaks Of him % "thi'
kind king"
Wiug6eld. President Of the colony, va
in the habit Of recording in his disry
Everything Of interest that occurred il
virRinis. He mentions the fact o
Smiths imprisonment and safe return
but says nothing Of an Indian msideI
havisg saved his life. 10 short, Of th'
events which occurred 10 Virginia, dur
ing the 6rst ten years Of the colony's OK
istence, We have seven distinct sources o