第 45 节
作者:
津夏 更新:2021-02-24 22:21 字数:9322
h his sword to have slaine me; but being by my guard intercepted; with a bowe and arrow he offred to have effected his purpose: the cause I knew not; till the King understanding thereof came and told me of a man a dying wounded with my pistoll: he tould me also of another I had slayne; yet the most concealed they had any hurte: this was the father of him I had slayne; whose fury to prevent; the King presently conducted me to another kingdome; upon the top of the next northerly river; called Youghtanan; having feasted me; he further led me to another branch of the river called Mattapament; to two other hunting townes they led me; and to each of these Countries; a house of the great Emperor of Pewhakan; whom as yet I supposed to be at the Fals; to him I tolde him I must goe; and so returne to Paspahegh; after this foure or five dayes march we returned to Rasawrack; the first towne they brought me too; where binding the mats in bundles; they marched two dayes journey and crossed the River of Youghtanan; where it was as broad as Thames: so conducting me too a place called Menapacute in Pamunke; where ye King inhabited; the next day another King of that nation called Kekataugh; having received some kindness of me at the Fort; kindly invited me to feast at his house; the people from all places flocked to see me; each shewing to content me。 By this the great King hath foure or five houses; each containing fourscore or an hundred foote in length; pleasantly seated upon an high sandy hill; from whence you may see westerly a goodly low country; the river before the which his crooked course causeth many great Marshes of exceeding good ground。 An hundred houses; and many large plaines are here together inhabited; more abundance of fish and fowle; and a pleasanter seat cannot be imagined: the King with fortie bowmen to guard me; intreated me to discharge my Pistoll; which they there presented me with a mark at six score to strike therewith but to spoil the practice I broke the cocke; whereat they were much discontented though a chaunce supposed。 From hence this kind King conducted me to a place called Topahanocke; a kingdome upon another river northward; the cause of this was; that the yeare before; a shippe had beene in the River of Pamunke; who having been kindly entertained by Powhatan their Emperour; they returned thence; and discovered the River of Topahanocke; where being received with like kindnesse; yet he slue the King; and tooke of his people; and they supposed I were bee; but the people reported him a great man that was Captaine; and using mee kindly; the next day we departed。 This River of Topahanock; seemeth in breadth not much lesse than that we dwell upon。 At the mouth of the River is a Countrey called Cuttata women; upwards is Marraugh tacum Tapohanock; Apparnatuck; and Nantaugs tacum; at Topmanahocks; the head issuing from many Mountains; the next night I lodged at a hunting town of Powhatam's; and the next day arrived at Waranacomoco upon the river of Parnauncke; where the great king is resident: by the way we passed by the top of another little river; which is betwixt the two called Payankatank。 The most of this country though Desert; yet exceeding fertil; good timber; most hils and in dales; in each valley a cristall spring。
〃Arriving at Weramacomoco; their Emperour; proudly lying upon a Bedstead a foote high upon tenne or twelve Mattes; richly hung with manie Chaynes of great Pearles about his necke; and covered with a great covering of Rahaughcums: At heade sat a woman; at his feete another; on each side sitting upon a Matte upon the ground were raunged his chiefe men on each side the fire; tenne in a ranke and behinde them as many yong women; each a great Chaine of white Beades over their shoulders: their heades painted in redde and with such a grave and Majeslicall countenance; as drove me into admiration to see such state in a naked Salvage; bee kindlv welcomed me with good wordes; and great Platters of sundrie victuals; asiuring mee his friendship and my libertie within foure dayes; bee much delighted in Opechan Conough's relation of what I had described to him; and oft examined me upon the same。 Hee asked me the cause of our comming; I tolde him being in fight with the Spaniards our enemie; being over powred; neare put to retreat; and by extreme weather put to this shore; where landing at Chesipiack; the people shot us; but at Kequoughtan they kindly used us; wee by signes demaunded fresh water; they described us up the River was all fresh water; at Paspahegh; also they kindly used us; our Pinnasse being leake wee were inforced to stay to mend her; till Captain Newport my father came to conduct us away。 He demaunded why we went further with our Boate; I tolde him; in that I would have occasion to talke of the backe Sea; that on the other side the maine; where was salt water; my father had a childe slaine; which we supposed Monocan his enemie; whose death we intended to revenge。 After good deliberation; hee began to describe me the countreys beyond the Falles; wiih many of the rest; confirming what not only Opechancanoyes; and an Indian which had been prisoner to Pewhatan had before tolde mee; but some called it five days; some sixe; some eight; where the sayde water dashed amongst many stones and rocks; each storme which caused oft tymes the heade of the River to bee brackish: Anchanachuck he described to bee the people that had slaine my brother; whose death hee would revenge。 Hee described also upon the same Sea; a mighty nation called Pocoughtronack; a fierce nation that did eate men and warred with the people of Moyaoncer; and Pataromerke; Nations upon the toppe of the heade of the Bay; under his territories; where the yeare before they had slain an hundred; he signified their crownes were shaven; long haire in the necke; tied on a knot; Swords like Pollaxes。
〃 Beyond them he described people with short Coates; and Sleeves to the Elbowes; that passed that way in Shippes like ours。 Many Kingdomes hee described mee to the heade of the Bay; which seemed to bee a mightie River; issuing from mightie mountaines; betwixt the two seas; the people clothed at Ocamahowan。 He also confirmed; and the Southerly Countries also; as the rest; that reported us to be within a day and a halfe of Mangoge; two dayes of Chawwonock; 6 from Roonock; to the South part of the backe sea: he described a countrie called Anone; where they have abundance of Brasse; and houses walled as ours。 I requited his discourse; seeing what pride he had in his great and spacious Dominions; seeing that all hee knewe were under his Territories。
〃 In describing to him the territories of Europe which was subject to our great King whose subject I was; the innumerable multitude of his ships; I gave him to understand the noyse of Trumpets and terrible manner of fighting were under Captain Newport my father; whom I intituled the Meworames which they call King of all the waters; at his greatnesse bee admired and not a little feared; he desired mee to forsake Paspahegh; and to live with him upon his River; a countrie called Capa Howasicke; he promised to give me corne; venison; or what I wanted to feede us; Hatchets and Copper wee should make him; and none should disturbe us。 This request I promised to performe: and thus having with all the kindnes hee could devise; sought to content me; he sent me home with 4 men; one that usually carried my Gonne and Knapsacke after me; two other loded with bread; and one to accompanie me。〃
The next extract in regard to this voyage is from President Wingfield's 〃Discourse of Virginia;〃 which appears partly in the form of a diary; but was probably drawn up or at least finished shortly after Wingfield's return to London in May; 1608。 He was in Jamestown when Smith returned from his captivity; and would be likely to allude to the romantic story of Pocahontas if Smith had told it on his escape。 We quote:
〃Decem。 The 10th of December; Mr。 Smyth went up the ryver of the Chechohomynies to trade for corne; he was desirous to see the heade of that river; and; when it was not passible with the shallop; he hired a cannow and an Indian to carry him up further。 The river the higher grew worse and worse。 Then hee went on shoare with his guide; and left Robinson and Emmery; and twoe of our Men; in the cannow; which were presently slayne by the Indians; Pamaonke's men; and hee himself taken prysoner; and; by the means of his guide; his lief was saved; and Pamaonche; haveing him prisoner; carryed him to his neybors wyroances; to see if any of them knew him for one of those which had bene; some two or three eeres before us; in a river amongst them Northward; and taken awaie some Indians from them by force。 At last he brought him to the great Powaton (of whome before wee had no knowledg); who sent him home to our towne the 8th of January。〃
The next contemporary document to which we have occasion to refer is Smith's Letter to the Treasurer and Council of Virginia in England; written in Virginia after the arrival of Newport there in September; 1608; and probably sent home by him near the close of that year。 In this there is no occasion for a reference to Powhatan or his daughter; but he says in it: 〃I have sent you this