Evening star., 1942-12-06

western side of the Atlantic. Later
North American coast and find the:
best place for settlement. The
sailors landed on an island near
the State we now call North Caro-
lima. 1t was a good-sized island,
and the explorers stayed there for
some time.
The woods seemed full of deer,
but several days passed before any
natives were seen. Then three In
dians padded toward the island in
a dugout canoe. One of them
Jumped out and waded to shore.
He did not seem afraid when white
men came toward him, and began
talking to them in his own Ian
guage.
The sailors could not tell what
he was saying, but they gave him
a hat and shirt. of which he was
very proud. After being taken
aboard the ships and shown around,
he was rowed back to his canoe
and went away.
Welcomed by Chief.
Half an hour later the Indian
returned with a boatload Of fish,
which he gave to the white men.
Next day many more canoes were
padded to the island. In one OF
them was an Indian chief, who
stepped ashore and took seat
on a mat Then he made signs
for the strangers to come near.
After passing his hand over his
head and chest, he touched the
heads and chests Of the visitors, as
a sign of friendship.
The chief was given some small
trinkets, which he must have liked,
since he came back again in day
or two. This time, he brought load
of deerskins.
On another day he brought his
wife and children to visit the white
men.
Before long the white men sailed
to the island where the chief ana
his wife lived 1t was called Roa-
noke. Everything the Indians could
Go was done for the visitors When
they went back to England the visl-
tors reported that more kind and
loving people cannot be-
After the two ships sent out by
Raleigh returned to England. the
new country was named Virginia.
Explore Mainland.
Raleigh soon sent more ships TO
Virginia with enough persons
aboard, as he thought, to start
colony. From Roanoke Island some
of the men went to explore the
mainland.
After learning a number OF things
about the country and its people,
the party returned to the island. 1t
was their belief that it would be best
to obtain more supplies from Eng
land before trying to make a settle
ment anywhere except on the island.
Months passed, but the new sup
plies did not arrive. At last, during
the next summer, fleet Of English
Warships entered the harbor. They
had been fighting Spanish SHIPS IN
the West Indies region. and now
we're on the return journey to
England. .
Giving up hope of keeping the
colony alive, the settlers boarded
the warships and were taken back
to England. If they had waited
little longer, they would have been
rejoiced by the arrival OF a vessel
loaded with food.
Raleigh still believed that a sue
cessful colony could be started IN
Virginia. More ships were sent
across the Atlantic, and men set to
work once more to make homes for
themselves on Roanoke Island.
Settlers Leave Island.
An interesting event now took
place. The first English child was
born on American soil. The infant
was named Virginia Dare.
Unhappily, the settlers were left
too long without help from England.
They decided to leave the island
and go to the mainland. When two
more ships arrived at Roanoke
Island they found no one there.
On tree was carved the word
"Croatan." This, was the name OF
a place known to the English and
was believed to mean that the
colonists had gone there.
An effort was made to reach
Croatan, but troubles arose. One OF
the vessels lost two of its anchors,
and the captain feared to go farther
along the coast with only one anchor
left. The food supply Of the rescue
ships also ran short and they sailed
back to England.
Other vessels would surely have
been sent to Virginia had not Eng
land and Spain come to open war
fare, People In England almost for.