PROPOSED EXCURSION AFTER CORN. 299 with, and did supply our wants on that kind compe- CHAP. tently.' XIX. Oct. In the end of September, or beginning of Octo- 1622. ber, Mr. Weston's biggest ship, called the Charity, returned for England, and left their colony sufficiently victualled, as some of most credit amongst them reported. The lesser, called the Swan, remained with his colony, for their further help. At which time they desired to join in partnership with us, to trade for corn; to which our Governor and his Assistant agreed, upon such equal conditions, as were drawn and confirmed between them and us. The chief places aimed at were to the southward of Cape Cod; and the more, because Tisquantum, whose peace before this time was wrought with Massassowat, undertook to discover unto us that supposed, and still hoped, passage within the shoals. Both colonies being thus agreed, and their companies fitted and joined together, we resolved to set forward, but were oft crossed in our purposes. As first Master Richard Greene, brother-in-law to Master Weston, who from him had a charge in the oversight and government of his colony, died suddenly at our Plantation, to whom we gave burial befitting his place, in the best manner we could. Afterward, having further order to proceed by letter from their other Governor at the Massachusets, twice Captain Standish set forth with them, but were driven in again by cross and violent winds; himself the second time being sick "Of her we buy knives and we are fitted to trade both for corn beads, which are now good trade, and beaver." Bradford, in Prince, though at cent. per cent. or more, p. 205, and in Morton's Memorial, and yet pay away coat beaver at p. 83. 3s. a pound, (which a few years after yields 20s.); by which means 2 Isaac Allerton. 300 BRADFORD ENTERS CHATHAM HARBOUR. CHAP. of a violent fever. By reason whereof (our own wants XIX. being like to be now greater than formerly, partly be 1622. cause we were enforced to neglect our corn and spend much time in fortification, but especially because such havock was made of that little we had, through the unjust and dishonest carriage of those people before mentioned, at our first entertainment of them,) our Governor in his own person supplied the Captain's place; and, Nov. in the month of November, again set forth, having Tisquantum for his interpreter and pilot; who affirmed he had twice passed within the shoals of Cape Cod, both with English and French. Nevertheless they went so far with him, as the master of the ship saw no hope of passage; but being, as he thought, in danger, bare up, and according to Tisquantum's directions, made for a harbour not far from them, at a place called Manamoycke ;' which they found, and sounding it with their shallop, found the channel, though but narrow and crooked; where at length they harboured the ship. Here they perceived that the tide set in and out with more violence at some other place more southerly, which they had not seen nor could discover, by reason of the violence of the season all the time of their abode there. Some judged the entrance thereof might be beyond the shoals; but there is no certainty thereof as yet known. 2 That night the Governor, accompanied with others, having Tisquantum for his interpreter, went ashore. At first the inhabitants played least in sight, because none of our people had ever been there before; but understanding the ends of their coming, at length came to them, welcoming our Governor according to their • See note 1 on page 103. ' Chatham. DEATH OF TISQUANTUM. 301 XIX. Nov. savage manner; refreshing them very well with store CHAP. of venison and other victuals, which they brought them in great abundance; promising to trade with them, 1622. with a seeming gladness of the occasion. Yet their joy was mixed with much jealousy, as appeared by their after practices; for at first they were loth their dwellings should be known; but when they saw our Governor's resolution to stay on the shore all night, they brought him to their houses, having first conveyed all their stuff to a remote place, not far from the same; which one of our men, walking forth occasionally, espied. Whereupon, on the sudden, neither it nor they could be found; and so many times after, upon conceived occasions, they would be all gone, bag and baggage. But being afterwards, by Tisquantum's means better persuaded, they left their jealousy, and traded with them; where they got eight hogsheads of corn and beans, though the people were but few. This gave our Governor and the company good encouragement; Tisquantum being still confident in the passage, and the inhabitants affirming they had seen ships of good burthen pass within the shoals aforesaid. But here, though they had determined to make a second essay, yet God had otherways disposed; who struck Tisquantum with sickness, insomuch as he there died; which crossed their southward trading, and the His disorder was a fever, accompanied with "a bleeding at the nose, which the Indians reckon a fatal symptom." Before his death "he desired the Governor (Bradford) to pray that he might go to the Englishman's God in heaven, bequeathing divers of his things to sundry of his English friends, as remembrances of his love; of whom we had great loss." Bradford, in Prince, p. 206, and in Morton, p. 85. 302 CORN PROCURED AT EASTHAM AND YARMOUTH. CHAP. more, because the master's sufficiency was much doubtXIX. ed, and the season very tempestuous, and not fit to go upon discovery, having no guide to direct them. 1622. Nov. From thence they departed; and the wind being fair for the Massachusets, went thither, and the rather, because the savages, upon our motion, had planted much corn for us, which they promised not long before that time. When they came thither, they found a great sickness to be amongst the Indians, not unlike the plague, if not the same. They renewed their complaints to our Governor, against that other plantation seated by them, for their injurious walking. But indeed the trade both for furs and corn was overthrown in that place, they giving as much for a quart of corn as we used to do for a beaver's skin; so that little good could be there done. 2 From thence they returned into the bottom of the bay of Cape Cod, to a place called Nauset; where the sachim' used the Governor very kindly, and where they bought eight or ten hogsheads of corn and beans; also at a place called Mattachiest, where they had like kind entertainment and corn also. During the time of their trade in these places, there were so great and violent storms, as the ship was much endangered, and our shallop cast away; so that they had now no means to carry the corn aboard that they had bought, the ship riding by their report well near two leagues from the same, her own boat being small, and so leaky, (having no carpenter with them,) as they durst scarce fetch wood or water in her. Hereupon the Governor caused the corn to be made in a round stack, and bought mats, 'Aspinet. See page 216. ble and Yarmouth harbours. See note on page 215. BRADFORD RETURNS HOME BY LAND. 303 XIX. Nov. and cut sedge, to cover it; and gave charge to the In- CHAP. dians not to meddle with it, promising him that dwelt next to it a reward, if he would keep vermin also from 1622. it; which he undertook, and the sachim promised to make good. In the mean time, according to the Governor's request, the sachim sent men to seek the shallop; which they found buried almost in sand at a high water mark, having many things remaining in her, but unserviceable for the present; whereof the Governor gave the sachim special charge, that it should not be further broken, promising ere long to fetch both it and the corn; assuring them, if neither were diminished, he would take it as a sign of their honest and true friendship, which they so much made show of; but if they were, they should certainly smart for their unjust and dishonest dealing, and further make good whatsoever they had so taken. So he did likewise at Mattachiest, and took leave of them, being resolved to leave the ship and take his journey home by land with our own company, sending word to the ship that they should take their first opportunity to go for Plymouth, where he determined, by the permission of God, to meet them. And having procured a guide, it being no less than fifty miles to our Plantation,' set forward, receiving all respect that could be from the Indians in his journey; and came safely home, though weary and surbated; whither some three days after the ship also came. The corn being divided, which they had got, Master Weston's company went to their own plantation; it The distance from Eastham to Plymouth by land is about fifty miles. With galled feet. 3 The Swan. See page 299. |
