The Pilgrims of New England | Page 8

neatly plaited baskets, filled with ears of maize, were
placed. These were eagerly seized upon; and a further search being
made, several warlike and agricultural implements were discovered
buried beneath the surface of the earth. It was evident that these
mounds were native graves, and that they had recently been visited by
the tribe to which they belonged, who most probably resided in the
neighborhood. Therefore, to avoid exciting their displeasure and
jealousy, Rodolph caused all the weapons and other tools to be restored
to their places; and, in exchange for the corn, which was too much
needed to be left behind, he put into the baskets several strings of beads,
and other trifles, with which he was provided for the purpose of barter,
or as presents to the natives.
It did not appear either safe or desirable to remain near a spot so sacred
to the Indians; the party therefore moved further into the depth of the
forest, where they erected their tents, which consisted merely of
blankets supported on poles; and, lighting large fires, they slept by
turns, while half their number kept a vigilant watch. Their rest was,
however, undisturbed, either by lurking Indians or by prowling beasts
of prey; and at day-break they resumed their march, in the hope of
discovering the native camp. But their search was in vain; and Rodolph
determined to leave the forest, and return to the settlement along the
shore, hoping there to find some traces of the natives. Before he and his
comrades left the shelter of the wood, they fired their muskets at the
small game which abounded in every direction, partly with a view to
supply themselves with food, and partly to attract the notice of any
straggling Indians who might be wandering near, and who would
conduct them to their wigwams. But the echoes were the only sounds
that answered their reports, and it was clear that no native camp was
within hearing.
The place where Maitland and his little band reached the coast was
nearly twenty leagues from the settlement, towards the north, and has

since been known by the name of Angoum. Here they found two empty
huts, containing all the curiously-worked utensils used by the Indians
of that district—bowls, trays, and dishes, formed of calabashes and
carved wood or bark; and beautiful baskets constructed of crabshells,
ingeniously wrought together, with well-woven mats of grass and
bulrushes, dyed of various brilliant colors. The inhabitants had
probably gone on a fishing expedition, and would return in a few days,
as they had left behind them a considerable quantity of dried acorns,
which, at that period, formed a common article of food with these
children of the forest.
Rodolph suffered nothing to be taken from the huts, but proceeded
along the coast in a southerly direction and, at length, he perceived two
canoes at a considerable distance from the shore, containing several
Indians, who took no notice of the signals they made, but rowed rapidly
away on an opposite course. Finding it useless to linger any longer in
this part of the bay, Maitland led his party back to the settlement at
New Plymouth, taking accurate observations of the line of coast, and
communicated to President Carver all the information that he had been
able to collect. This was not very satisfactory; and the governor
resolved to send out a second party, well armed, who should proceed in
the shallop to the southern part of Cape Cod Bay. This expedition was
placed under the command of Captain Standish, who was regarded as
the military chief of the settlers; and Maitland again formed one of the
number. On this occasion he obtained permission to take Henrich with
him, as he wished the boy to become early inured to the hardships and
privations which it would probably be his lot to bear for many years,
and also to acquire habits of courage and vigilance that might be of
service to him hereafter. Henrich was delighted with this arrangement,
which gratified his desire for adventure, and also proved that his father
now placed some confidence in him, and no longer regarded him as a
mere child. His astonishment was great when first he beheld the whales,
those huge and fearful-looking monsters of the ocean, lifting their
gigantic heads above the waves, and lashing the surface to foam with
their powerful tails; or ejecting vast spouts of water like fountains, from
their upraised heads. These, and many other strange objects, attracted
his attention as the boat moved down the bay; but all were forgotten in
the absorbing interest with which he regarded, for the first time, the

wild red men that met his view as the boat neared the shore, at a spot
about eight leagues from New Plymouth, called by the Pilgrims