Evening star., 1938-12-18

Indian town of PataWomeck. scene
of the kidnapping of Pocahontas by
the English in 1910. now are being
carried on by the Smithsonian IN
stitution.
1t is on the Virginia bank of the
Potomac, in Stafford County, about
10 miles from the present county
seat and on almost the exact site
Of the old Colonial town of Marl-
boro, all traces of which long since
have disappeared. The site has been
identified from a map made by
Capt. John Smith. who first visited
the Indian settlement in 1903.
Smith described the place as con-
tanning from 160 to 200 able bodied
men. This means that it must have
had a population of about 1000. 1t
was one of the towns which paid
tribute to Powhatan, who, at the
time of the English settlement at
jamestown, was building up in Vir-
ginia something roughly approxi-
mating an empire.
After the departure of John Smith
from Jamestown, relations between
Powhatan and the colonists soon be-
came strained. Both the English
and her father recognized that the
lovely Pocahontas was a valuable
hostage She was hidden away at
Patawomeck. In 1910, through the
treachery of an Indian, she was kid
naped by Capt. Samuel Argal and
taken to Jamestown, where she was
held captive while negotiations were
conducted with her father for the
return of English prisoners. During
her captivity, she and John Rolfe
fell in love, and good relations be-
tween the Indians and the whites
were restored temporarily by their
marriage.
Work Begun Four Years Ago.
The site of Patawomeck, on neck
of land between Aqua and Potomac
Greeks. has long been known to
archeologists as the site of a large
Indian settlement. A comparison
with Smiths maps now leaves no
doubt Of its identity. Excavations
were first started about four years
ago by the late Judge Graham of
the United States Court of Customs
Appeals and have been continued
by the Smithsonian since his death.
About year ago. before the iden-
tiflcation with Patawomeck was
made, the site came into consider
able prominence when Judge Gra-
ham found there the largest human
skull yet known. 1t was an entirely.
normal skull. The owner, who may
have been potentially one of the
greatest intellects the world has
known, may well have been living
there at the time the place was
the retreat of Pocahontas.
Otherwise Patawomeck presum-
ably ran true to the pattern of
Virginia Indian towns, stockaded
and consisting of flimsily con-
structed log huts covered with bark
All remains of its buildings long
since have disappeared. The Smith
sonian archeologists, however, have
been able to outline its stockade by
the imprints of the postholes.
Essentially parallel to the stockade
they have found evidences of a
shallow trench, the purpose of which
is not known. A large amount of
skeletal material has been found
and is now being studied.
Smith Tells Story.
The story of Pocahontas' kidnap-
ing is thus told in compilation of
the works and travels of John
Smith:
But to conclude our peace, thus
it happened. Captaine Argall, hav-
ing entered into great acquaintance
with Iapazaws. an old friend of
Captaine Smiths, and so to all our
nation ever since hee discovered the
countrie; heard by him there was
Pocahontas won Captaine Smiths
Relations intituleth the Numparell
of Virginia. and though she had
beene many times a preserver of
him and the whole colonie. yet till
this accident shee was never seen at
James towne since his departure.
Being at Patawomeke, as 1t
scenes, thinking her selfe unknowne,
was easily by her friend Iapazaws
persuaded to goe abroad with him
and his wife to see the ship; for
Captaine Argall had promised him
a Copper Kettle to bring her but to
him, promising no way to hurt her,
but keepe her till they could con-
clude a peace with her father. The
salvage for this Copper Kettle
would have done anything, 1t seemed
by the Relation.
"For though si7s had seen and