Next Morning I Caus'd Our
Canoo To Bee Carry'd The Other Side Of The Island, To Have It In Readyness
To Use In Case Of Danger.
I caused a fier to bee made a 100 paces off.
In
the morning wee discovered nyne canoos at the point of the Island coming
towards us, & being within hearing, I demanded who they were; they return'd
a friendly answer. I told them the cause of my coming into their country, &
who I was. One of the eldest of them, armed with his lance, Bow & arrows,
etc., etc., rose up & took an arrow from his Quiver, making a signe from
East to West & from North to South, broke it in 2 peeces, & flung it into
the River, addressing himself to his companions, saying to this purpos:
"Young men, bee not afraid; the Sun is favorable unto us. Our ennemys shall
feare us, for this is the man that we have wished for ever since the dayes
of our fathers." After which they all swimed a shore unto me, & coming out
of their canoos I invited them unto my Fier. My nephew & the other man that
was with him came also within 10 paces of us without any feare, although
they see the Indian well armed. I asked them who was their Chief Commander,
speaking unto him unknownst to me. Hee bowed the head, & another told me it
was hee that I talked unto. Then I took him by the hand, and making him sit
downe, I spoke unto him according to the genius of the Indians, unto whom,
if one will bee esteemed, it is necessary to bragg of one's vallour, of
one's strength and ablnesse to succour & protect them from their Ennemyes.
They must also bee made believe that one is wholy for their Intrest & have
a great complesance for them, espetially in making them presents. This
amongst them is the greatest band of friendshipp. I would at this first
enterview make myself known. The chief of these salvages sitting by me, I
said to him in his Languadge, "I know all the Earth; your friends shall bee
my friends; & I am come hether to bring you arms to destroy your Ennemys.
You nor your wife nor children shall not dye of hunger, for I have brought
Merchandize. Bee of good cheere; I will bee thy sonn, & I have brought thee
a father; hee is yonder below building a fort, where I have 2 great shipps.
You must give me 2 or 3 of your Canoos that your people may go visit your
father."
Hee made a long speech to thank me & to assure me that both himself & all
his nation would venture their Lifes in my servis. I gave them some Tobacco
& Pipes, & seeing one of them used a peece of flat Iron to cut his Tobacco,
I desired to see that peece of Iron & flung it into the fier, wherat they
all wonder'd, for at the same time I seemed to weep; & drying up my tears,
I told them I was very much grieved to see my Brethren so ill provided of
all things, & told them they should want for nothing whilst I was with
them; & I tooke my sword I had by my side & gave it unto him from whom I
took the peece of Iron; also I caus'd some bundles of litle knives to bee
brought from my canoo, which I distributed amongst them.
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