Chapter III: The Land of the Powhatans

One of Newport's passengers was Captain John Smith, a young man whose career had been full of adventure 80 Many persons have expressed doubts as to Smith's veracity, but without good reason 81 Early life of John Smith 82 His adventures on the Mediterranean 83 And in Transylvania 84 How he slew and beheaded three Turks 85 For which Prince Sigismund granted him a coat-of-arms which was duly entered in the Heralds' College 86 The incident was first told not by Smith but by Sigismund's secretary Farnese 87 [Pg xiii] Smith tells us much about himself, but is not a braggart 88 How he was sold into slavery beyond the Sea of Azov and cruelly treated 88, 89 How he slew his master and escaped through Russia and Poland 89, 90 The smoke of controversy 90 In the course of Newport's tedious voyage Smith is accused of plotting mutiny and kept in irons 91 Arrival of the colonists in Chesapeake Bay, May 13, 1607 92 Founding of Jamestown; Wingfield chosen president 93 Smith is set free and goes with Newport to explore the James River 93, 94 The Powhatan tribe, confederacy, and head war-chief 94 How danger may lurk in long grass 95 Smith is acquitted of all charges and takes his seat with the council 96 Newport sails for England, June 22, 1607 96 George Percy's account of the sufferings of the colonists from fever and famine 97 Quarrels break out in which President Wingfield is deposed and John Ratcliffe chosen in his place 99 Execution of a member of the council for mutiny 100 Smith goes up the Chickahominy River and is captured by Opekankano 101 Who takes him about the country and finally brings him to Werowocomoco, January, 1608 102 The Indians are about to kill him, but he is rescued by the chief's daughter, Pocahontas 103 Recent attempts to discredit the story 103-108 Flimsiness of these attempts 104 George Percy's pamphlet 105 The printed text of the "True Relation" is incomplete 105, 106 Reason why the Pocahontas incident was omitted in the "True Relation" 106, 107 There is no incongruity between the "True Relation" and the "General History" except this omission 107 But this omission creates a gap in the "True Relation," and the account in the "General History" is the more intrinsically probable 108 The rescue was in strict accordance with Indian usage 109 The ensuing ceremonies indicate that the rescue was an ordinary case of adoption 110 The Powhatan afterward proclaimed Smith a tribal chief 111 [Pg xiv] The rescue of Smith by Pocahontas was an event of real historical importance 111 Captain Newport returns with the First Supply, Jan. 8, 1608 112 Ratcliffe is deposed and Smith chosen president 113 Arrival of the Second Supply, September, 1608 113 Queer instructions brought by Captain Newport from the London Company 113 How Smith and Captain Newport went up to Werowocomoco, and crowned The Powhatan 114 How the Indian girls danced at Werowocomoco 114, 115 Accuracy of Smith's descriptions 116 How Newport tried in vain to search for a salt sea behind the Blue Ridge 116 Anas Todkill's complaint 117 Smith's map of Virginia 118