The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-13
The Sunday Times. Dispatch:

have impressed early settlers, and found every
where in great quantities. The eagebac gray and bald
Likewise the owl and crown, the latter after
ward to become increasingly and troublesome to
the colonists.
This description all mcagre, is only bare suggestion
of the marvellous land into which the first Virginia settlers
and built their homes.
The history Of the aboriginal inhabitants of this land
is OF very uncertain and unreliable sort 1t is exceedingly
difficult separate the wheat from the cha in the stories
OF the first explorers 1t is not that they mistaken
tines but that they evidently and frequently made statements
that were exaggeraons. Besides the Indians most
crafty and deceitful and reluctant to furnish in
formation unless they chance to advantage
These facts put together, make it exceedingly doubtful
whether any really accurate and satisfactory history can be
be expected Of these first adventrers OF the in
erent difficulties circumstances surrounding them to make
very full or accurate relation OF what they had Of
the experiences through which they had passed Not always
could they understand the Indian when he really meant to
tell the truth and often could they really discover when
he telling the truth The things they and heard
utterly and strange that exceedingly dill
fcu for them TO understand to be able to accurately de-
scribe them to others.
AT the time of the coming of the first settlers there
three tribes Of Indians living between the James and Potomac
Rivers and these were the indians with whom the early set
tiers first contact The Mannahoac Indians living at
the headwaers OF the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers;
the Monocan Indians occupying the territory the banks
OF the upper James River, and the Powhatans possessing
practically all OF the portion of the country known as
Tidewater Virginia. These the tribes with which the
settlers had do and whom they had
ble and yet indeed from whom they had indispensable
in dire distress.
The Powhaan confcderacy was composed OF thirty tribes
and about twentyfour hundred warriors which would
population of about thousand The largest OF these
tribes the Pamunkey having about thousand popua
ton The Powaan the head of this oonederacy OF
the Pamlnkcy tribe.
The head of the allied tribes in Virginia known as
Powlatan He occupied the relation of King Emperor
the subordinated conedcacies He had three official
residences. The first the north side of the York
River about three miles from the Yorktown and
called Werowocomoco The capital residence
Orapakes, on the Chckahomny River Powhatan and
the third place Powaan, the present site OF the
city of Richmond.
Powhatan the time of the coming OF the English
tiers Jamestown is described by Srachy, who evidently
had his information from Smith as follows:
"A goody old man, not yet shrinking, though well beaten
with strong and cold winters supposed to be little less
than eighty DID, with hairs but plain and thin upon
his broad shoulders hairs his chin and upper
daring spirit; vgant and ambitious subtle enlarge his do
minions." a5e
In Powhatan centred all governmental power. The
legislative, judicial and executive branches of government
seemed all to have been lodged him. He associated with
himself considerable pomp and parade of office and power
had royal renue bodyguard composed Of sixty
cny of the stawart and fearless Indian He
exercised undspued authority all the allied tribes His
subjects planted all his and gathered it for him when
ii ripe His house located Orapakes It
is said to have been fifty sixty feet long and the
storeouse not only Of his but of his other valuable
possessions such skins, paint beads and Of
all kinds He had to himself the responsibility of many
wives Stracfy said c had multiplicity Of women Most
Of these he left home whenever he took excursions
ways carried with him two wherever he went Mr.
Stracy is the authority for the statement that he had twenty
and twelve daughters of whom the Princess
Pocahontas When for he became tired Of wife,
lie her away to OF his friends token OF his
royal favor.
The empire over which he ruled was made Up Of many
subdivisions Each village of tiesa