Ten American Girls From History | Page 7

were all stained with
puccoon and painted with gay colors, while such garments as they wore
were made of brilliant green leaves. "Pocahontas, as leader, wore a
head-dress of buck's horns and girdle of otter-skin; across her shoulder
was slung a quiver filled with arrows, and she carried a bow. Her
companions all carried rattles made of dried gourds, or clubs, or
wooden swords as they rushed out of the forest yelling and swaying to
weird music while they formed a ring around the fire. There they joined
hands and kept on dancing and singing in a weird, fantastic way for an
hour, when at a whoop from their leader they all ran into the forest, but
soon came back in their ordinary Indian dress, to spread a feast before
the white men and spend the remainder of the evening in dancing and

revels, after which, by the light of flaming torches, they escorted their
guests to their tents for the night."
The next morning Powhatan came back, and was told Captain Smith's
errand. He had come to invite the old Werowance to visit Jamestown,
to receive gifts which Captain Newport, a colonist who had just come
back from England, had brought from King James. The King had been
much interested in what Newport told him about the Indian ruler, and
thought it would be a fine idea to send him back some presents, also a
crown, which he suggested might be placed on the savage's head with
the ceremonies of a coronation, and the robe thrown over his shoulders,
while he was proclaimed Emperor of his own domains. This ceremony,
King James thought, might bring about a warmer friendship between
the red men and the colonists,--a result much to be desired. And so
Captain Smith gave the invitation while Pocahontas, never far away
when her Caucarouse was at Werewocomoco, listened eagerly for her
father's reply.
Powhatan received the invitation in silence and smoked a long time
before answering. Then he said:
"If your King has sent me presents, I also am a King, and this is my
land. Eight days will I stay to receive them. Your father (Newport) is to
come to me, not I to him, nor yet to your fort."
Wily Powhatan! He had no intention of visiting the white men's
stronghold, when by so doing he might walk into some trap they had
laid for him!
And so Pocahontas was disappointed in her eager hope of going with
her father to the settlement where her white friends lived, and where
she could see her wonderful Captain daily. But there was no help for it.
Powhatan resisted both her pleading and the arguments of the Captain,
who was obliged to carry back the old Werowance's refusal to Captain
Newport.
"Then we will take the gifts to him!" said Newport, stoutly. "The King
would never forgive me if I did not carry out his wish."

And so to Werewocomoco went the two Captains together, bearing
their offerings to Powhatan, who received them with dignity, and
showed a mild interest when presented with a bedstead and a basin and
pitcher such as the English used. But when Captain Smith tried to
throw the coronation robe over his shoulders he drew away haughtily,
wrapped his own mantle around him, and refused to listen to argument
or entreaty. Namontack hastily assured him that the garments were like
those worn by the English and would do him no harm, and Pocahontas,
seeing the Captain's eagerness to accomplish his end, and also keenly
interested in this new game, begged her father to accept the beautiful
gifts. Her words influenced the old ruler, and, standing as stiff and
straight as a wooden image, he let himself be dressed up in the garb of
English royalty. Then he was told to kneel while the crown was placed
on his head, but this was too much for even Pocahontas to expect of
him. He folded his arms and stood like a pine-tree. In vain Pocahontas
urged, in vain the two white men bent and bowed and knelt before him
to show him what he ought to do.
At last Captain Smith grew impatient and laid a powerful hand on the
Werowance's broad shoulders; unconsciously he stooped. The crown
was hurriedly placed on his head, and a volley of shots was fired to
show that the ceremony was over. At the shots Powhatan sprang free
like a wild creature, sure that he had been trapped, and Captain Smith
appealed to Pocahontas to explain to her terrified father that the firing
was only part of the program. Meanwhile both Captains bowed
ceremoniously before the savage ruler, calling him by his new
title--Emperor--and finally soothed and reassured, he stood as erect and
dignified as of old, and beckoning majestically to