Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-04-06
THRPRINCESSPOCAHONTAS.

she saved Captain Smiths life when
he was captured by the Indians"
mot so fast, Master Ned" said
voice behind them, and Aunt Marion
came into the circle around the fire.
light"
40, Aunt Marion" cIamored all the
children, "tell US story"
Every well. 1 will tell you about
this same Pocahontas, about whom
Mabel knows nothing, and Ned moth
ing definitely.
"Pocahontas was an Indian girl.
Now, We speak of all red men as 'In-
dians, but the Indian race is divided
Ito many tribes, by reason of blood
relationships and difference in dialects
Pocahontas belonged TO one of the
largest divisions, the Algonquin
tribe.
"At the time of Captain John Smiths
episode with Pocahontas certain of
these Algonquin tribes of Virginia,
were joined together in a sort of In
dian republic, composed of thirty
tribes, scattered through central aud
eastern Virginia, and known to their
neighbors as the ConfederacY of the
POwhatans.
This name was taken from the tribe
that was strongest and most energetic
IN this tribal union and that had its
villages along the broad river known
to Indians as the Powhatan, and to us
as the James.
"The principal chief of the Powha-
tsns was Wabunsonacook,c called by the
white men Powhatan
HE lived in the Powhatan village
of Wero Wocomoco, and into this
village came an Indian runner one day
With important news.
GAS be came in his headlong race
down between the two rows of bark
houses in y hich the Indians lived, he
saw around the many camp fires built
between the rows of houses groups of
Indians lolling, and between the fires
Indian children turning somersaults.
"On he went, lodging past them !
until at last by one of the fires he saw
sitting the chief Wabunsonacook. 1t |
was to him that the me- sage was to be |
delivered, but before Rabunta, the run |
ner, could stop in his wild fight, one
of the youthful gymnasts came whirl- |
ing down the path toward him in a sue
cession of dizzy handsprings.
There was a sudden collision The |
stout little feet of the tumbler came |
plump against Rahuuta's breast, and so |
unexpected was the shock that runner
and gymnast tumbled over together in
a writhing heap on the edge of the fire.
''There was a great burst of laughter |
as the Indians shouted: 'Twa, wa,
Rabuntal Knocked over by girl
"Rabunta, picking himself up, dis
covered 1t was Mataoka, the daughter !
OF the old chief, who had collided with |
him.
.GA.I Al. III ol;of Ill L.If zII-
half-tenderly, My daughter you have
well-nigh killed our brother, R4bunta,
with your foolery. That is scarce girls |
play. Why will you be such II Poca-
huntasP
''This is the Algonquin term for a
little 'tom-boy.'
"But Mataoka, then a ten-year-old !
maid, laughed and nimbly lodged out |
OF reach of both her father and Ra-
bunta.
"Then Rabunta delivered his mes
sage. Capt. John Smith had been cap |
tured and was even then being brought !
TO the council house.
"This indeed was important news,
and preparations were at once made to |
receive him when he arrived. He was !
greeted with the customary Indian yell, |
and then q bountIful feast was spread |
before him.
"The Indians seldom killed prison
ers and this pale faced waySior was too !
important parsonage to be other than
well treated.
"Wabunsonacook, the old chief, re-
ceived him as an honored guest, kept :
him in his own house and adopted him
as his own son. After two days he re-
turned him, we'll escorted by Indian
guides, back to the English colony at ,
jamestown.
"Smlth's own wordsare: 'Hee kindly |
welcomed me with good wordes, as
suring me his friendship and my hbcr-
tie /
"This rather destroys the old famil-
lar romance which Ned quoted about
the captain being saved by the kings .
own daughter. but it is the only true
version of the story, based on Smiths
own report.
"But altl ough sho did not rescue him,
nevertheless his attention was drawn
to this agile, clever little Mataoka,
whom her father called his 'tomboy' or
Poe ihuntas /
"Sm1th made much of her, gave her
some trifiiDg presents and asked her
name.
"Now it WAS one of the singular cus-
{ m of the American Indians never to
tell their own Dames or allow them to
be spoken 10 strangers. The reason
for this Law in tie superstition which
held that the speaking of one'sreal name
gave to the stranger to whom it was
spoken a magical and harmful influence
over the person.
$50 when Smith asked the old chief
known TO the colonis's by the name
of his tribe, Powhatan, rather than his
own name, Nabunsonacook-f this
very reason he hesitated and then gave
in reply he nickname by which he so
often called her. Pocahuntas the lit
tie tomboy.'
"Thns it is that you have always
neard of Pocahontas, instead of Matao-
ka, and of Powhatan instead of Wabun-
sonacook.
"Well, Pccaho atas and Capt. Smith
became good friends, and this friend
ship stood in good stead in the days to
come.
"Mstaoka used to go often to James
town, and I'm afraid she fully deserved
her pet name Of Little Tombov,' for
We are told by one Master William
Stracley, SEQ starry OF the colony, that
the before remembered Pocahontas,