第 47 节
作者:
津夏 更新:2021-02-24 22:21 字数:9322
t ensued。 Sixe or seven weekes those Barbarians kept him prisoner; many strange triumphes and conjurations they made of him; yet hee so demeaned himselfe amongst them; as he not onely diverted them from surprising the Fort; but procured his owne libertie; and got himself and his company such estimation amongst them; that those Salvages admired him more than their owne Quiyouckosucks。 The manner how they used and delivered him; is as followeth。
〃The Salvages having drawne from George Cassen whether Captaine Smith was gone; prosecuting that opportunity they followed him with 300 bowmen; conducted by the King of Pamaunkee; who in divisions searching the turnings of the river; found Robinson and Entry by the fireside; those they shot full of arrowes and slew。 Then finding the Captaine as is said; that used the Salvage that was his guide as his shield (three of them being slaine and divers others so gauld) all the rest would not come neere him。 Thinking thus to have returned to his boat; regarding them; as he marched; more then his way; slipped up to the middle in an oasie creeke and his Salvage with him; yet durst they not come to him till being neere dead with cold; he threw away his armes。 Then according to their composition they drew him forth and led him to the fire; where his men were slaine。 Diligently they chafed his benumbed limbs。 He demanding for their Captaine; they shewed him Opechankanough; King of Pamaunkee; to whom he gave a round Ivory double compass Dyall。 Much they marvailed at the playing of the Fly and Needle; which they could see so plainly; and yet not touch it; because of the glass that covered them。 But when he demonstrated by that Globe…like Jewell; the roundnesse of the earth and skies; the spheare of the Sunne; Moone; and Starres; and how the Sunne did chase the night round about the world continually: the greatnesse of the Land and Sea; the diversitie of Nations; varietie of Complexions; and how we were to them Antipodes; and many other such like matters; they all stood as amazed with admiration。 Notwithstanding within an houre after they tyed him to a tree; and as many as could stand about him prepared to shoot him; but the King holding up the Compass in his hand; they all laid downe their Bowes and Arrowes; and in a triumphant manner led him to Orapaks; where he was after their manner kindly feasted and well used。
〃Their order in conducting him was thus: Drawing themselves all in fyle; the King in the middest had all their Peeces and Swords borne before him。 Captaine Smith was led after him by three great Salvages; holding him fast by each arme: and on each side six went in fyle with their arrowes nocked。 But arriving at the Towne (which was but onely thirtie or fortie hunting houses made of Mats; which they remove as they please; as we our tents) all the women and children staring to behold him; the souldiers first all in file performe the forme of a Bissom so well as could be: and on each flanke; officers as Serieants to see them keepe their orders。 A good time they continued this exercise; and then cast themselves in a ring; dauncing in such severall Postures; and singing and yelling out such hellish notes and screeches: being strangely painted; every one his quiver of arrowes; and at his backe a club: on his arme a Fox or an Otters skinne; or some such matter for his vambrace: their heads and shoulders painted red; with oyle and Pocones mingled together; which Scarlet like colour made an exceeding handsome shew; his Bow in his hand; and the skinne of a Bird with her wings abroad dryed; tyed on his head; a peece of copper; a white shell; a long feather; with a small rattle growing at the tayles of their snaks tyed to it; or some such like toy。 All this time Smith and the King stood in the middest guarded; as before is said; and after three dances they all departed。 Smith they conducted to a long house; where thirtie or fortie talI fellowes did guard him; and ere long more bread and venison were brought him then would have served twentie men。 I thinke his stomacke at that time was not very good; what he left they put in baskets and tyed over his head。 About midnight they set the meat again before him; all this time not one of them would eat a bit with him; till the next morning they brought him as much more; and then did they eate all the old; and reserved the new as they had done the other; which made him think they would fat him to eat him。 Yet in this desperate estate to defend him from the cold; one Maocassater brought him his gowne; in requitall of some beads and toyes Smith had given him at his first arrival' in Firginia。
〃Two days a man would have slaine him (but that the guard prevented it) for the death of his sonne; to whom they conducted him to recover the poore man then breathing his last。 Smith told them that at James towne he had a water would doe it if they would let him fetch it; but they would not permit that: but made all the preparations they could to assault James towne; craving his advice; and for recompence he should have life; libertie; land; and women。 In part of a Table booke he writ his mind to them at the Fort; what was intended; how they should follow that direction to affright the messengers; and without fayle send him such things as he writ for。 And an Inventory with them。 The difficultie and danger he told the Salvaves; of the Mines; great gunnes; and other Engins; exceedingly affrighted them; yet according to his request they went to James towne in as bitter weather as could be of frost and snow; and within three days returned with an answer。
〃But when they came to James towne; seeing men sally out as he had told them they would; they fled: yet in the night they came again to the same place where he had told them they should receive an answer; and such things as he had promised them; which they found accordingly; and with which they returned with no small expedition; to the wonder of them all that heard it; that he could either divine or the paper could speake。 Then they led him to the Youthtanunds; the Mattapanients; the Payankatanks; the Nantaughtacunds and Onawmanients; upon the rivers of Rapahanock and Patawomek; over all those rivers and backe againe by divers other severall Nations; to the King's habitation at Pamaunkee; where they entertained him with most strange and fearefull conjurations;
'As if neare led to hell; Amongst the Devils to dwell。'
Not long after; early in a morning; a great fire was made in a long house; and a mat spread on the one side as on the other; on the one they caused him to sit; and all the guard went out of the house; and presently came skipping in a great grim fellow; all painted over with coale mingled with oyle; and many Snakes and Wesels skins stuffed with mosse; and all their tayles tyed together; so as they met on the crowne of his head in a tassell; and round about the tassell was a Coronet of feathers; the skins hanging round about his head; backe; and shoulders; and in a manner covered his face; with a hellish voyce and a rattle in his hand。 With most strange gestures and passions he began his invocation; and environed the fire with a circle of meale; which done three more such like devils came rushing in with the like antique tricks; painted halfe blacke; halfe red: but all their eyes were painted white; and some red stroakes like Mutchato's along their cheekes: round about him those fiends daunced a pretty while; and then came in three more as ugly as the rest; with red eyes and stroakes over their blacke faces; at last they all sat downe right against him; three of them on the one hand of the chiefe Priest; and three on the other。 Then all with their rattles began a song; which ended; the chiefe Priest layd downe five wheat cornes: then strayning his arms and hands with such violence that he sweat; and his veynes swelled; he began a short Oration: at the conclusion they all gave a short groane; and then layd downe three graines more。 After that began their song againe; and then another Oration; ever laying down so many cornes as before; til they had twice incirculed the fire; that done they tooke a bunch of little stickes prepared for that purpose; continuing still their devotion; and at the end of every song and Oration they layd downe a sticke betwixt the divisions of Corne。 Til night; neither he nor they did either eate or drinke; and then they feasted merrily; and with the best provisions they could make。 Three dayes they used this Ceremony: the meaning whereof they told him was to know if he intended them well or no。 The circle of meale signified their Country; the circles of corne the bounds of the Sea; and the stickes his Country。 They imagined the world to be flat and round; like a trencher; and they in the middest。 After this they brought him a bagge of gunpowder; which they carefully preserved till the next spring; to plant as they did their corne; because they would be acquainted with the nature of that seede。 Opitchapam; the King's brother; invited him to his house; where with many platters of bread; foule; and wild beasts; as did environ him; he bid him wellcome: but not any of them would eate a bit with him; but put up all the remainder in Baskets。 At hi