Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-11-28
THE TRUE ROMANCE OF POCA.
a. HONTAS.


titled "The Beginning of Nation" in
the November Century, (the first of his
I series OF Illustrated articles on the history
of life In the thirteen colonies a descrip-
ton OF the nrst English se,tlemeu, Is Civ
en, including the following account of the
romantic life of Pocahontas 4
From her first meeting with Smith she
became devotedly attached to the Eng
lish, and rendered the settlers many SER
vices. She often secured supplies for
them, and indeed seems 10 have haunted
the fort, utterly naked as she was, after
the manner of little girls among her peo-
I pie, who wore TO clothes and showed no
modesty until they were twelve or thir-
teen years of age, at which time they put
on deerskin apron, and were very care
tul not to De seen without it. The agile
httle barbarian would persuade the Eng.
llsh lads TO make wheels of themselves
by turning upon their hands and feet,
heryupon she would follow them. wheel
ing as they did. all through the fort.
Her real name was Matoax; but, by
order of Pow ha,sn, this was carefully
concealed from the whites, lest by their
supernatural entertainments they should
work her some harm. When Richard
" vim was sent from Jamestown 10 APP
Prise the endangered Captain Smith, en-
vironed by foes among Powha,ans peo-
pie, OF the death of his deputy. Mr..
Scrivener, and his ten companions, by
drowning, PocahonSas hid him, misdi-
rtcted ;hose who sought him, and by ex-
trsordinary brih, and manGsvres brought
him safely to Smith, after three days
travel in the midst OF extreme peril. So,
also, when Radcliffe was cut of with
thirty men, she saved the lad Spilman,
who was then living with Powhatan, and
sent him 10 the Potomacs. But the |
most touching story of all precedes in
order Of time the othertwo. In the same
difficult adventure among Powhatan's
people, in which Captain Smith was en-
gagged when Scrivener was drowned, the |
,rescherous chief had arranged TO sur
prise Smith al supper, and cut of the |
whole party, when Pccahotas, the dear
est Jewel and daughter" Of the aged chief, |
- in tina, dark night came through the
irksome woods" TO warn the captain Of
Powha,ans design. Captain Smith Of
fered 10 repay her kindness with such |
trinkets as the heart of an Indian maiden |
delights in; but, with the tears run
ming down her cheeks, she said she durs,
not be seen to have any, for If Powhatan
should know il, she were but dead (;
aud 50 she ran away by herself a, she
came
In 1918 Pocahontas was among the
Potomac Indians. Captain Argall. a
man of much shrewdness and executive
force. but Infamous for his dishonest
practices. happened to be trading in the
river at that time. He quickly saw the
advantage the English would gain in ne
,o,ia,ionS with Powhatan for the return
Of the white prisoners held by him, if he
could secure 80 valuable hostage as the
chiefs daughter. With copper kettle
he brioed Japaz4ws, the chief with whom
she Was STAYING. 70 en,ice her on board the
vessel. where he detained her, much to
the sorrow Of the daughter Of the wilder
ness. whose life hitherto had been as free
- ,hs, Of the wild creatures of the woods.
To jamestown, where she bad frolicked
as 4 child. and whittier she had so often
come as a friend with food, she was now
carried IS an enemy and prisoner. She
had refused To enter the town since the
departure of Captain Smith.
This transaction, not very creditable TO
the gratitude of the English. accom-
plish It's purpose in causing Powhatan to
return the white men held in slavery by
him. with the leas, useful of the stolen
arms. But he still contrived TO evade
some of the demands Of the English, who
therefore retained his daughter until the
affair took a new turn. John Role, who
Seems 10 have been a widower, became
enamored Of Pocahontas, now growing to
womarhood, and wrote formal letter to
Sir Thomas Dale, proposing to convert
her to Christianity ana marry her, which
pleased the governor, as tending TO pro-
mote peace with the Indians, and was
likewise acceptable to Powhatan. The
chief sent an old uncle of Pocahontas
and two of her brothers to witness the
marriage.
This marriage brought about peace
during the life of Powhatsn, who, on one
occasion at least, sent present of buck
skins to his daughter and her husband.
A free intermingling of the two races
took place. and Englishmen were accus-
toned to hire Indians to live In their
bouses and hunt for them. This amity