第 7 节
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疯狂热线 更新:2021-12-07 09:33 字数:9321
settlers and a hundred new Virginians! How certain; at any rate; is the
exchange of talk of home and hair…raising stories of this wilderness
between the old colonists and the new! And certain is the relief and the
renewed hopes。 Mourning turns to joy。 Even a conflagration that presently
destroys the major part of the town can not blast that felicity。
Again Newport and Smith and others went out to explore the country。 They
went over to Werowocomoco and talked with Powhatan。 He told them things
which they construed to mean that the South Sea was near at hand; and they
marked this down as good news for the home Councilstill impatient for
gold and Cathay。 On their return to Jamestown they found under way new and
stouter houses。 The Indians were again friendly; they brought venison and
turkeys and corn。 Smith says that every few days came Pocahontas and
attendant women bringing food。
Spring came again with the dogwood and the honeysuckle and the
strawberries; the gay; returning birds; the barred and striped and mottled
serpents。 The colony was one year old。 Back to England sailed the Francis
and John and the Phoenix; carrying home Edward…Maria Wingfield; who has
wearied of Virginia and will return no more。
What rests certain and praiseworthy in Smith is his thoroughness and daring
in exploration。 This summer he went with fourteen others down the river in
an open boat; and so across the great bay; wide as a sea; to what is yet
called the Eastern Shore; the counties now of Accomac and Northampton。
Rounding Cape Charles these indefatigable explorers came upon islets beaten
by the Atlantic surf。 These they named Smith's Islands。 Landing upon the
main shore; they met 〃grimme and stout〃 savages; who took them to the King
of Accomac; and him they found civil enough。 This side of the great bay;
with every creek and inlet; Smith examined and set down upon the map he was
making。 Even if he could find no gold for the Council at home; at least he
would know what places were suited for 〃harbours and habitations。〃 Soon a
great storm came up; and they landed again; met yet other Indians; went
farther; and were in straits for fresh water。 The weather became worse;
they were in danger of shipwreckhad to bail the boat continually。 Indians
gathered upon the shore and discharged flights of arrows; but were
dispersed by a volley from the muskets。 The bread the English had with them
went bad。 Wind and weather were adverse; three or four of the fifteen fell
ill; but recovered。 The weather improved; they came to the seven…mile…wide
mouth of 〃Patawomeck〃the Potomac。 They turned their boat up this vast
stream。 For a long time they saw upon the woody banks no savages。 Then
without warning they came upon ambuscades of great numbers 〃so strangely
painted; grimed and disguised; shouting; yelling and crying; as we rather
supposed them so many divils。〃 Smith; in midstream; ordered musket…fire;
and the balls went grazing over the water; and the terrible sound echoed
through the woods。 The savages threw down their bows and arrows and made
signs of friendliness。 The English went ashore; hostages were exchanged;
and a kind of amicableness ensued。 After such sylvan entertainment Smith
and his men returned to the boat。 The oars dipped and rose; the bright
water broke from them; and these Englishmen in Old Virginia proceeded up
the Potomac。 Could they have seencould they but have seen before them; on
the north bank; rising; like the unsubstantial fabric of a dream; there
above the trees; a vast; white Capitol shining in the sunlight!
Far up the river; they noticed that the sand on the shore gleamed with
yellow spangles。 They looked and saw high rocks; and they thought that from
these the rain had washed the glittering dust。 Gold? Harbors they had
foundbut what of gold? What; even; of Cathay?
Going down stream; they sought again those friendly Indians。 Did they know
gold or silver? The Indians looked wise; nodded heads; and took the
visitors up a little tributary river to a rocky hill in which 〃with shells
and hatchets〃 they had opened as it were a mine。 Here they gathered a
mineral which; when powdered; they sprinkled over themselves and their
idols 〃making them;〃 says the relation; 〃like blackamoors dusted over with
silver。〃 The white men filled their boat with as much of this ore as they
could carry。 High were their hopes over it; but when it was subsequently
sent to London and assayed; it was found to be worthless。
The fifteen now started homeward; out of Potomac and down the westward side
of Chesapeake。 In their travels they saw; besides the Indians; all manner
of four…footed Virginians。 Bears rolled their bulk through these forests;
deer went whither they would。 The explorers might meet foxes and
catamounts; otter; beaver and marten; raccoon and opossum; wolf and Indian
dog。 Winged Virginians made the forests vocal。 The owl hooted at night; and
the whippoorwill called in the twilight。 The streams were filled with fish。
Coming to the mouth of the Rappahannock; the travelers' boat grounded upon
sand; with the tide at ebb。 Awaiting the water that should lift them off;
the fifteen began with their swords to spear the fish among the reeds。
Smith had the ill luck to encounter a sting…ray; and received its barbed
weapon through his wrist。 There set in a great swelling and torment which
made him fear that death was at hand。 He ordered his funeral and a grave to
be dug on a neighboring islet。 Yet by degrees he grew better and so out of
torment; and withal so hungry that he longed for supper; whereupon; with a
light heart; he had his late enemy the sting…ray cooked and ate him。 They
then named the place Sting…ray Island and; the tide serving; got off the
sand…bar and down the bay; and so came home to Jamestown; having been gone
seven weeks。
Like Ulysses; Smith refuses to rust in inaction。 A few days; and away he is
again; first up to Rappahannock; and then across the bay。 On this journey
he and his men come up with the giant Susquehannocks; who are not
Algonquins but Iroquois。 After many hazards in which the forest and the
savage play their part; Smith and his band again return to Jamestown。 In
all this adventuring they have gained much knowledge of the country and its
inhabitantsbut yet no gold; and no further news of the South Sea or of
far Cathay。
It was now September and the second summer with its toll of fever victims
was well…nigh over。 Autumn and renewed energy were at hand。 All the land
turned crimson and gold。 At Jamestown building went forward; together with
the gathering of ripened crops; the felling of trees; fishing and fowling;
and trading for Indian corn and turkeys。
One day George Percy; heading a trading party down the river; saw coming
toward him a white sailed ship; the Mary and Margaret…it was Christopher
Newport again; with the second supply。 Seventy colonists came over on the
Mary and Margaret; among them a fair number of men of note。 Here were
Captain Peter Wynne and Richard Waldo; 〃old soldiers and valiant gentlemen;〃
Francis West; young brother of the Lord De La Warr; Rawley Crashaw; John
Codrington; Daniel Tucker; and others。 This is indeed an important ship。 Among
the laborers; the London Council had sent eight Poles and Germans; skilled in
their own country in the production of pitch; tar; glass; and soap…ashes。
Here; then; begin in Virginia other blood strains than the English。 And in the
Mary and Margaret comes with Master Thomas Forest his wife; Mistress Forest;
and her maid; by name Anne Burras。 Apart from those lost ones of Raleigh's
colony at Roanoke; these are the first Englishwomen in Virginia。 There may be
guessed what welcome they got; how much was made of them。
Christopher Newport had from that impatient London Council somewhat strange
orders。 He was not to return without a lump of gold; or a certain discovery
of waters pouring into the South Sea; or some notion gained of the fate of
the lost colony of Roanoke。 He had been given a barge which could be taken
to pieces and so borne around those Falls of the Far West; then put
together; and the voyage to the Pacific resumed。 Moreover; he had for
Powhatan; whom the minds at home figured as a sort of Asiatic Despot; a
gilt crown and a fine ewer and basin; a bedstead; and a gorgeous robe。
The easiest task; that of delivering Powhatan's present and placing an idle
crown upon that Indian's head who; among his own people; was already
sufficiently supreme; might be and was performed。 And Newport with a large
party went again to the Falls of the Far West and miles deep into the
country beyond。 Here they found Indians outside the Powhatan Confederacy;
but no South Sea; nor mines of gold and silver; nor any news of the lost
colony of Roanoke。 In December Newport left Virginia in the Mary and
Margaret; and with him sailed Ratcliffe。 Smith succeeded to the presidency。
About this time John Laydon; a laborer; and Anne Burras; that maid of
Mistress Forest's; fell in love and would marry。 So came about the first
English wedding in Virginia。
Winter followed with snow and ice; nigh two hundred people to feed; and not
overmuch in the larder with which to do it。 Smith