Page images
PDF
EPUB

he hung it round his neck, making signs that it would serve as a breastplate to protect him against the arrows of his enemies.

"It was now found that these people were engaged in hostilities with a neighbouring nation, and that the absence of the king was occasioned by severe wounds lately received in battle, of which he lay sick at the chief town, six miles off. His brother, after a few days, again visited the English, attended by his wife and children, coming aboard and partaking of a collation, which they seemed to enjoy. Their manners were remarkable for ease and civility. The lady was a handsome little woman, extremely bashful. She wore a leathern mantle, with the fur next her skin, and her hair, which was long and black, was confined in a band of white coral; strings of pearl, as large as peas, hung from her ears, reaching to her middle. Her children had ear-rings of the same precious material, while those of her attendants were of copper. Granganimeo was dressed much in the same fashion as his wife. On his head he wore a broad plate of metal; but, not being permitted to examine it, they were uncertain whether it was copper or gold.

"A brisk trade now began with the natives; but no one was allowed to engage in it when the king's brother was present, except such chiefs as were distinguished by having plates of copper upon their heads. When this prince intended to visit the ship, he invariably intimated the number of boats which were to accompany him, by lighting on the shore an equal number of beacons. The navigators learned that, about twenty years before their arrival, a vessel belonging to a Christian country had been wrecked on the coast, all hands on board perishing; out of the planks cast ashore, the people had drawn the nails and bolts, with which they had formed some edgetools, not having possessed any previous to this accident; but these were very rude, and their common instruments consisted of shells and sharp flints. Considering such imperfect means, their canoes were admirably made, and large enough to hold twenty men. When they wished to construct one, they either burned down a large tree, or selected such as had been blown down by the wind, and laying a coat of gum and resin on one side, set fire to it, by which it was hollowed out; after which they scraped and polished it with their shells; and if found too shallow, laid on more resin, and burnt it down to the required depth.

"The soil of the country was rich, the air mild and salubrious, and they counted fourteen kinds of sweetsmelling trees, besides an underwood of laurel and box, with oaks whose girth was greater than those of England. The fruits were melons, walnuts, cucumbers, gourds, and esculent roots; and the woods were plentifully stocked with bucks, rabbits, and hares. After a short while, the adventurers, by invitation of the natives, explored the river, on whose banks was their principal town; but the distance to be travelled being twenty miles, they did not see the city. They reached, however, an island called Aonoak, where they found a village of nine houses, built of cedar, the residence of their friend Prince Granganimeo, who was then absent. His wife, with whom they were already acquainted, received them with distinguished hospitality, running out to meet them, giving directions to her servants to pull!

their boats on shore, and to carry the white strangers on their backs to her own house, where she feasted them with fish and venison, and afterward set be-. fore them a dessert of various kinds. These people were gentle and faithful, void of all deceit, and seemed to live after the manner of the golden age. "As the surf beat high on the landing, they got wet, notwithstanding their mode of transport; but this inconvenience was soon remedied; a great fire being kindled, and their clothes washed and dried by the princess' women, while their feet were bathed in warm water. The natives expressed astonishment at the whiteness of their skins, and kindly patted them as they looked wonderingly at each other. During the feast, two men, armed with bows and arrows suddenly entered the gate, when the visiters, in some alarm, took hold of their swords, which lay beside them, to the great annoyance of their hostess, who at once detected their mistrust. She despatched some of her attendants to drive the poor fellows out at the gate, and who, seizing their bows and arrows, broke them in an instant. These arrows were made of small canes, pointed with shell or the sharp tooth of a fish. The swords, breastplates, and warclubs, used by the natives, were formed of hardened wood; to the end of this last weapon, they fastened the horns of a stag or some other beast, and their wars were carried on with much cruelty and loss of life.

"The name of the country where the English landwas called Wingandaeoa, and of the sovereign Wingina; but his kingdom was of moderate extent, and surrounded by states under independent princes, some of them in alliance and others at war with him. Having examined as much of the interiour as their time would permit, our countrymen sailed homeward, accompanied by two of the natives, named Wanchese and Manteo, and arrived in England in the middle of September.

"Raleigh was highly delighted with this new discovery, establishing, in so satisfactory a manner, the results of his previous reasoning, and undertaken at his sole suggestion and expense. His royal mistress, too, was scarcely less gratified; she gave her countenance and support to the schemes for colonization, which he begun to urge at court, and issued her command, that the new country, so full of amenity and beauty, should, in allusion to her state of life, be called Virginia."

Not long after this, Raleigh received the honour of knighthood, a dignity bestowed by Elizabeth with singular frugality and discrimination, and, about the same period, the grant of a patent to license the vending of wines throughout the kingdom; a monopoly extremely lucrative in its returns, and which was probably bestowed by Elizabeth to enable him to carry on his great schemes for the improvement of navigation, and the settlement of a colony in Virginia.

Sir Walter now fitted out a new fleet for America, the command of which he gave to Sir Richard Grenville; the fleet consisted of seven vessels; part of these were fitted out at Sir Walter's expense, the remainder by his companions in the adventure; one of whom was Thomas Candish or Cavendish, afterward so eminent as a navigator, who now served under Grenville.

"On the 19th of April, the mariners reached the

[graphic][merged small]

Canaries, from which they steered to Dominica in and northwest to Chawanook, a large province, unthe West Indies, and landed at Puerto Rico, where der a monarch named Menatonon. These proceedthey constructed a temporary fort. On the 26th ings, however, were soon interrupted, by the threatof June, after some delays at Hispaniola and Flori-ening aspect of affairs at head-quarters. Even da, they proceeded to Wohoken in Virginia; and before the departure of Grenville for England, an having sent notice of their arrival by Manteo, one of accident occurred, in which the conduct of the the two natives who had visited England, they were soon welcomed by their old friend Granganimeo, who displayed much satisfaction at their return. Mr. Ralph Lane, who had been invested with the dignity of chief-governour, now disembarked with one hundred and eight men, having as his deputy Philip Amadas, one of the original discoverers. Grenville does not appear to have been sufficiently impressed with the difficulties attending an infant colony in a new country; and, accordingly, after a short stay, during which was collected a valuable cargo of skins, furs, and pearls, he returned to England, carrying into Plymouth a Spanish prize, which he had captured on the homeward voyage, of three hundred tuns burden, and richly laden.

"The first survey of their new territory delighted the English; and the governour, in a letter to Hakluyt, who appears to have been his intimate friend, informs him that they had discovered the mainland to be the goodliest soil under the cope of heaven; abounding with sweet trees, that bring sundry rich and pleasant gums; * * and, moreover, of huge and unknown greatness: well peopled and towned, though savagely, and the climate so wholesome, that they had not one person sick since their arrival.'

"Lane fixed his abode on the island of Roanoke, and thence extended his researches eighty miles southward to the city of Secotan. He also pushed one hundred and thirty miles north, to the country of the Chesepians, a temperate and fertile region;

VOL. IV.-2

settlers appeared rash and impolitick. A silver cup had been stolen, and a boat was despatched to Aquascogok to reclaim it. Alarmed at this visit, the savages fled into the woods, and the enraged crew demolished the city and destroyed the corn-fields. A revenge so deep for so slight an injury incensed the natives; and although they artfully concealed their resentment, from that moment all cordiality between them and the strangers was at an end.

66

But

Not long after, Menatonon and his son Skycowere seized and thrown into irons; but the monarch was soon liberated, while the youth was retained as a hostage for his fidelity. To all appearance, this precaution had the desired effect. the king, although an untaught savage, proved himself an adept in dissimulation. Working upon the avarice and credulity of the English, he enticed them into the interiour of the country by a flattering report of its extraordinary richness and amenity. He asserted that they would arrive at a region where the robes of the sovereign and his courtiers were embroidered with pearl, and the beds and houses studded with the same precious material. Menatonon described also a remarkably rich mine, called by the natives chaumis temoatan, which was situated in the country of the Mangoaks, and produced a mineral similar to copper, although softer and paler.

"By these artful representations, Lane was persuaded to undertake an expedition by water, with two wherries and forty men. Instead, however, of

was now long past the time when supplies had been expected from England, and Drake generously offered every sort of provisions. Lane, however, only requested a vessel and some smaller craft to carry them home, which was immediately granted; but before they could get on board, a dreadful tempest, which continued for four days, dashed the barks intended for the colonists, to pieces, and might have driven on shore the whole fleet, unless, to use the language of the old despatch, 'the Lord had held his holy hand over them.' Deprived in this way of all other prospect of return, they embarked in Sir Francis' fleet, and arrived in England on the 27th of July, 1586.

"Scarcely, however, had they sailed, when the fol

the promised relays of provisions, they found the towns deserted, and the whole country laid waste. Their boats glided along silent and solitary banks; and after three days, during which they had not seen a human being, their last morsel of food was exhausted, and the governour, now aware of the treachery of Menatonon, proposed to return. His men, however, entreated him to proceed, still haunted by dreams of the inexhaustible riches of the Mangaoaks' country, and declaring they could not starve as long as they had two mastiffs, which they might kill, and make into soup. Overcome by such arguments, Lane continued the voyage; but for two days longer no living thing appeared. At night, indeed, lights were seen moving on the banks, demonstrating that their progress was not unknown, though the observ-ly of their precipitate conclusion, that Raleigh had ers were invisible. At last, on the third day, a loud voice from the woods suddenly called out the name of Manteo, who was now with the expedition. As the voice was followed by a song, Lane imagined it a pacifick salutation; but the Indian seized his gun, and had scarcely time to warn them that they were about to be attacked, when a volley of arrows was discharged into the boats. The travellers now landed, and assaulted the savages, who fell back into the depths of the wood, and escaped with little injury; upon which it was resolved to return to the settlement. On their homeward-bound voyage, which, owing to their descending with the current, was performed with great rapidity, they had recourse to the mastiff broth, or, as the governour terms it, 'dog's porridge,' and arrived at Roanoke in time to defeat a formidable conspiracy.

"The author of the plot was Wingina, who, since the death of his brother Granganimeo, had taken the name of Pemisapan. His associates were Skyco and Menatonon; and these two chiefs, pretending friendship, but concealing under its mask the most deadly enmity, had organized the plan of a general massacre of the colony. The design, however, was betrayed to Lane by Skyco, who had become attached to the English; and, aware of the necessity of taking immediate measures before Pemisapan could muster his forces, the governour gave instructions to seize any canoes which might offer to depart from the island. In executing this order, two natives were slain, and their enraged countrymen rose in a body, and attempted to overpower the colonists, but were instantly dispersed. Not aware, however, that his secret was discovered, and affecting to consider it as an accident, Pemisapan admitted Lane and his officers to an interview, which proved fatal to him. The Virginian monarch was seated in state, surrounded by seven or eight of his principal weroanees, or high chiefs; and after a brief debate, upon a signal given, the Europeans attacked the royal circle, and put them all to death.

"This alarming conspiracy had scarcely been put down, when the natives made a second attempt to get rid of the strangers, by neglecting to sow the adjacent lands, hoping, in this manner, to compel them to leave the country. At this decisive moment, a fleet of twenty-three vessels came in sight, which turned out to be the squadron of Sir Francis Drake, who had fortunately determined to visit the colony of his friend Sir Walter, and carry home news of their condition, on his return from an expedition against the settlements in the Spanish Main. It

forgotten or neglected them, was manifested by the arrival, at Roanoke of a vessel of one hundred tuns, amply stored with every supply. Deeply disappointed at finding no appearance of the colony, they sailed along the coast, and explored the interiour.But all their search was in vain, and they were compelled to take their departure for Europe. This, however, was not all. Within a fortnight after they weighed anchor, Sir Richard Grenville, with three well-appointed vessels, fitted out principally by Raleigh, appeared off Virginia, where, on landing, he found, to his astonishment, every thing deserted and in ruins. Having made an unsuccessful effort to procure intelligence of his countrymen, it became necessary to return home. But, unwilling to abandon so promising a discovery, he left behind him fifteen men, with provisions for two years, and, after some exploits against the Spaniards and the Azores, arrived in England.

"It is asserted by Camden, that tobacco was now, for the first time, brought into England by these settlers, and there can be little doubt that Lane had been directed to import it by his master, who must have seen it used in France, during his residence there. There is a well-known tradition, that Sir Walter first began to smoke privately in his study, and the servant coming in with his tankard of ale and nutmeg, as he was intent upon his book, seeing the smoke issuing from his mouth, threw all the liquor in his face by way of extinguishing the fire, and running down stairs, alarmed the family with piercing cries, that his master, before they could get up, would be burnt to ashes. 'And this,' continued Oldys, 'has nothing in it more surprising than the mistake of those Virginians themselves, who, the first time they seized upon a quantity of gunpowder, which belonged to the English colony, sowed it for grain, or the seed of some strange vegetable in the earth, with full expectation of reaping a plentiful crop of combustion by the next harvest, to scatter their enemies.'

"On another occasion, it is said that Raleigh, conversing with his royal mistress upon the singular properties of this new and extraordinary herb, assured her that he had so well experienced the nature of it that he could tell her the exact weight of the smoke in any quantity proposed to be consumed. Her majesty immediately fixed her thoughts upon the most impracticable part of the experiment, that of bounding the smoke in a balance; suspecting that he was playing the traveller with her, and laying a wager that he could not solve the doubt. Upon this,

Raleigh selected the quantity agreed on, and having in the dark upon the natives as they sat round a fire, thoroughly smoked it, set himself to weighing-but shot some of them dead upon the spot, while others

it was of the ashes; and in conclusion, demonstrating to the queen the difference between this and the weight of the tobacco, her majesty could not deny that this must be the weight of what was evaporated in smoke. Upon this, Elizabeth, paying down the money, remarked, that she had heard of many labourers in the fire who had turned their gold into smoke, but that Raleigh was certainly the first who had turned his smoke into gold."

fled shrieking into a thicket, and one savage, who knew Stafford, rushed up, calling out his name and embracing his knees. To the grief and horror of the governour, it was then discovered that they had attacked a party of friends instead of enemies.

home; others violently opposed this; and at last, after stating a variety of projects, all joined in requesting the governour to sail for England, and return with a supply of every thing requisite for the establishment of the colony. To this he reluctantly consented; and departing from Roanoke on the 27th of August, 1587, where he left eighty-nine men, seventeen women, and eleven children, he arrived in England on the 5th of November.

Soon after, Manteo, in obedience to Raleigh's directions, was christened, and created Lord of Roanoke and Dasamonwepuk; while Mrs. Eleanor Dare, the wife of one of the assistants, having given birth Raleigh, however, was by no means discouraged to a daughter, the infant was named Virginia, being by the unfortunate results of these expeditions; but the first Christian born in that country. again turned his attention to his Virginian colony, White was now anxious to fulfil Sir Walter's inthe failure of which was rather owing to the precip-structions; but disputes arose with renewed bitteritate desertion of Lane, than to any fault in the ness among the settlers. Though they were not original plan; and he determined to make a new in want of stores, many demanded permission to go attempt for the settlement of a country which held out so many encouragements from its salubrious climate and fertile soil. Hariot, who accompanied Lane, had by this time published his "True Report of the New found Land of Virginia," which created much speculation; so that he experienced little difficulty in procuring one hundred and fifty settlers. He appointed as governor, Mr. John White, with twelve assistants, to whom he gave a charter, incorporating them by the name of the "Governour and Assistants of the City of Raleigh in Virginia." These, in three vessels, furnished principally at his own expense, sailed from Portsmouth on the 26th of April, 1587, and on the 22d of July, anchored in Hatorask harbour. White, with forty men, proceeded in the pinnace to Roanoke to confer with the fifteen colonists, left by Sir Richard Grenville; but to his dismay found the place deserted, and human bones scattered on the beech; the remains, as was afterward discovered, of their countrymen, all of whom the savages had slain. A party then hastened to the fort on the north side of the island. But here the prospect was equally discouraging. No trace of a human being was to be seen; the building was razed to the ground, and the wild-deer were couching in the ruined houses, and feeding on the herbage and melons which had overgrown the floor and crept up the walls.

Our limits do not allow us to follow Sir Walter in his discovery of Guiana, and voyage up the Oronoko, and in his brave exploits against the fleets of Philip of Spain, nor in the vicissitudes which he experienced at the court of Elizabeth; at one time we find him enjoying her utmost confidence, exerting his influence in the cause of benevolence; and it is reported, that Elizabeth, somewhat irritated by his applications for the unfortunate, on his telling her one day he had a favour to ask, impatiently exclaimed, "When, Sir Walter, will you cease to be a beggar?" To which he made the noted answer, "When your gracious majesty ceases to be a benefactor."

Soon after, he was committed to the tower for presuming to marry without the queen's consent: he, however, was again restored to favour, and continued to aid the state by his services and counsel, till the death of Elizabeth, in 1602.

On the accession of James to the throne, Sir Walter was not only treated with coolness and neglect, but became the victim of a conspiracy; was tried for treason against the crown, found guilty, and condemned to death. Having been warned to prepare for execution, he sent a manly and affecting letter to his wife, from which the following is an extract :

Although the governour held Raleigh's written orders to make the settlement on the bay of Chesepiock, he was obliged to abandon that plan, and commenced repairing the buildings at Roanoke. But disaster attended all their proceedings. Dissensions broke out among them; and White, either from want of firmness, or not being intrusted with sufficient authority, found it impossible to carry on his operations with success. The natives of Croatoan were friendly; those of Secota and Aquascogok, who had murdered the former colonists, completely hostile; but all were clothed alike; and before going to war, the Crotoans anxiously begged for some badge by which they might be recognised. In the confusion, this was neglected, and it led to unhappy consequences. Howe, an English sailor, while engaged in fishing, was slain by the savages, being pierced with sixteen arrows; and White, having in vain attempted to open a pacifick communication with child for his father's sake, who chose you and the weroansees, or chief men of Secota, and Pome- loved you in his happiest time. Get those letters, iock, determined not to delay his revenge. Guided, if it be possible, which I writ to the lords, wherein therefore, by Manteo, he set out at midnight, with I sued for my life. God is my witness it was for Captain Stafford and twenty-four men, and stealing you and yours that I desired life. But it is true that

"When I am gone, no doubt you shall be sought to by many, for the world thinks that I was very rich. But take heed of the pretences of men, and their affections; for they last not but in honest and worthy men, and no greater misery can befall you in this life than to become a prey, and afterwards to be despised. I speak not this, God knows, to dissuade you from marriage; for it will be best for you, both in respect of the world and of God. As for me, I am no more yours, nor you mine. Death has cut us asunder, and God hath divided me from the world, and you from me. Remember your poor

I disdain myself for begging it; for know it, dear wife, that your son is the son of a true man, and one who, in his own respect, despiseth death in all his mishapen and ugly forms. I cannot write much. God he knoweth how hardly I steal this time while others sleep; and it is also high time that I should separate my thoughts from the world. Beg my dead body, which, living, was denied thee, and either leave it at Sherborne, if the land continue, or in Exeter church, by my father and mother. I can say no more, time and death call me away.

while, during which it was observed, by the motion of his lips and hands, that he was occupied in prayer, he gave the signal; but whether from awkwardness or agitation, the executioner delayed; upon which, after waiting for a short time, he partially raised his head, and said aloud, “What dost thou fear? strike, man!" The axe then descended, and at two strokes the head was severed from the body, which never shrunk or altered its position, while the extraordinary effusion of blood evinced an unusual strength and vigour of constitution, though when he suffered, Sir Walter was in his sixty-sixth year. The head, after being, as usual, held up to the view of the people on either side of the scaffold, was put into a red bag, over which his velvet nightried to a mourning-coach which was waiting, and conveyed to Lady Raleigh. This faithful and affectionate woman, who never married again, though she survived him twenty-nine years, had it embalmed and preserved in a case, which she kept with pious solicitude till her death.

"The everlasting, powerful, infinite, and omnipotent God, who is goodness itself, the true life and true light, keep thee and thine, have mercy on me, and teach me to forgive my persecutors and accusers, and send us to meet in his glorious king-gown was thrown, and the whole immediately cardom. My dear wife, farewell! Bless my poor boy; pray for me, and let my good God hold you both in his arms! Written with the dying hand of some time thy husband, but now, alas! overthrown. Yours that was, but now not my own, RALEIGH."

[ocr errors]

The body was buried privately near the high altar of St. Margaret's church in Westminster, but no stone marks the spot.

SALMON OF THE COLUMBIA RIVER.

[ocr errors]

Sir Walter, however, was reprieved at this time, but was confined in the tower for many years after, during which his history of the world was composed. On regaining his liberty, in 1615, a new expedition to Guiana was projected, of which Raleigh took command, but it was unsuccessful; and on his return to England, he was again arrested, imprisoned, DR. GARDINER, says: "I have ascertained aland executed. His conduct, while on the scaffold, ready the existence of six distinct species of salmon was extremely firm. The morning being sharp, the in this river-five of which I have seen and presheriff offered to bring him down off the scaffold to served. The period of spawning of each is differwarm himself by the fire before he should say his ent. From what information I have collected reprayers; "No, good Mr. sheriff," said he, "let us garding their habits, this is the country to study despatch, for within this quarter of an hour my ague this singular fish. It is found at the very sources of will come upon me, and if I be not dead before that, the Columbia, notwithstanding the innumerable mine enemies will say I quake for fear.' He then, rapids and cataracts which must be passed. Almost to use the words of a contemporary and eyewitness, every where the natives assert that the fish which made a most divine and admirable prayer; after ascend the stream never return to the sea, nor were which, rising up, and clasping his hands together, he the young salmon ever seen to descend to the ocean. exclaimed, "Now I am going to God!" The scaffold The last is certainly incorrect, and must arise from was soon cleared; and having thrown off his gown the fry being still so small as to elude observation. and doublet, he bid the executioner show him the The former is not unlikely, from the circumstance axe, which not being done immediately, he was ur- of the salmon, in the months of November and Degent in his request. "I prithee," said he, "let me cember, being found at the heads of all the streams, see it. Dost thou think I am afraid of it?" Taking dying by thousands, and completely choaking up the it in his hand, he kissed the blade, and passing his current with their dead bodies. They have often finger slightly along the edge, observed to the sher-been seen with their noses fairly worn down to the iff, ""Tis a sharp medicine, but a sound cure for all bone, and in the last stage of emaciation; yet still, diseases." He then walked to the corner of the by some unaccountable impulse, striving to ascend scaffold, and kneeling down, requested the people the stream to the very last gasp. It is singular that to pray for him, and for a considerable time remained the salmon pass by some of the tributary streams in on his knees engaged in silent devotion; after which their passage upwards, and prefer some of them to he rose, and carefully examined the block, laying him- others. Few or none, for instance, are ever got in self down to fit it to his neck, and to choose the easiest the Kowalitit or Deasis rivers. They seem to deand most decent attitude. In all this he would re-light in those streams where their progress is imceive no assistance; and having satisfied himself, he rose and declared he was ready. The executioner now came forward, and kneeling, asked his forgiveness, upon which Raleigh laid his hand smilingly on his shoulder, and bade him be satisfied, for he most cheerfully forgave him, only entreating him not to strike, till he, himself, gave the signal, and then to fear nothing, and strike home. Saying this, he lay down on the block, and on being directed to place himself so that his face should look to the east, he answered, "It mattered little how the head lay, provided the heart was right." After a little

peded by rapids and cascades; and it is remarked that in Frazee's river, no sooner have they emerged from the rapid current of the main stream into the still waters of Stewart's lake and other lakes, than they become flabby and of inferiour flavour. The muscular power of this fish is astonishing, even in a class of the animal kingdom remarkable for the energy of its movements; for they are seen to ascend channels at Kettle's Falls, into which a stone as large as a man's head, when dropped, is born downwards with the swiftness of an arrow, and where it is impossible, by any force, to push a pole even to an inconsiderable depth.

« PreviousContinue »