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

numerous Likewise the owl and crown the latter alter
ward to become increasingly numerous and troublesome
This description all meagre is only bare suggestion
of the elous land which the Virginia
came and built their homes
The history OF the aboriginal inhabitants this land
is OF very unreliable 1t exceedingly
difficult 10 separate the wheat from the chaff in the
OF the first explorers. 1t that they mistaken
times but that they evidently and frequently made statements
that cNaggerations. Besides, Indians
crafty and deceitul
formation unless they saw chance 20 reap some advantage
lhese facts put together, make 1t exceedingly doubtful
"ehcI any really accurate and satisfactory history can be
of the early Virginia Indian 1t scarcely
be expected OF these first adventures
horent difficulties surrounding them make
very iul or accurate relation OF what they had seen or Oh
the experiences through which they passed Not always
could they understand the Indian when he really
oH me truth and not often could they really discover when
he was telling the truth The things they and heard
utterly and strange that exceedingly diff
scribe Them o others.
three tribes OF Indians living between c James and Potomac
Rivers and these the Indians with whom the early
the head"aters of the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers;
the Monooan Indians occupying the TERRITORY on the banks
practically all OF the portion Of the country known
Underwater Virginia. These The tribes with which the
settlers had do and from they had most troi-
bic and vet indeed from whom they had indispensable
The Po~fatan confcdcracy composed Of thirty tribes
and about twenyfour hundred which mean
population Of about thousand. The largest these
tribes Pamunkcy having about one thousand poula-
ton The Powhatan the head Of this oonederacy OF
The head of the allied tribes Virginia was known as
Powhatan He occupied the relation OF King or Emperor
the ubOrdnatcd conedcracie He
residences The first the north side OF the York
River about three miles from the present Yorktown
called Werowocomoco The capital residence
OTapakes the Chokahominy River, Powhatan
the third place Powhatan the present the
city Of Richmond
Powhatan the time Of the coming OF the English
tiers at jamestown, is described by SracIy, evidently
had his information from Smith. follows:
"A goodly old shrinking, though beaten
with strong and cold winters supposed be little
an eighty years DID, with gray hairs but plain thin upon
his broad shoulders lew hairs upon upper
lip He hath been strong and able savage sincyy and VI
daring spirit vgant and ambitious enlarge his do
minions.'
In POwhaan centred all governmental power The
legislative judicial and executive branches government
seemed all have been lodged him He associated with
himself considerable pomp and parade OF Office power
had royal renue bodyguard, composed
cny OF the stalwar and fearless Indian warriors He
exercised undisputed authority all the allied His
subjects planted all his and gathered
il ripe His house located Orapakc Il
IS said to have been fifty sixty feet long. was the
storehouse only Of his but of his valuable
possessions, such skins paint beads arms
all kinds He had himself the responsibility Of many
wives StraChy said che had a multiplicity OF women" Most
Of these he left home whenever he excursions but
ways carried with him IT wherever he went Mr.
Strachy the authority for the had twenty
and twelve daughters. OF whom Princess
POcahontas When for any he became Of wife
he her away OF his friends token Of his
royal favor.
The er1fr rxV,icb a~,,1oI