the complete writings-3-第44节
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There is no doubt that Smith was its author。 He was still in Virginia when it was printed； and the printers made sad work of parts of his manuscript。 The question has been raised； in view of the entire omission of the name of Pocahontas in connection with this voyage and captivity； whether the manuscript was not cut by those who published it。 The reason given for excision is that the promoters of the Virginia scheme were anxious that nothing should appear to discourage capitalists； or to deter emigrants； and that this story of the hostility and cruelty of Powhatan； only averted by the tender mercy of his daughter； would have an unfortunate effect。 The answer to this is that the hostility was exhibited by the captivity and the intimation that Smith was being fatted to be eaten； and this was permitted to stand。 It is wholly improbable that an incident so romantic； so appealing to the imagination； in an age when wonder… tales were eagerly welcomed； and which exhibited such tender pity in the breast of a savage maiden； and such paternal clemency in a savage chief； would have been omitted。 It was calculated to lend a lively interest to the narration； and would be invaluable as an advertisement of the adventure。
＇For a full bibliographical discussion of this point the reader is referred to the reprint of 〃The True Relation；〃 by Charles Deane； Esq。； Boston； 1864； the preface and notes to which are a masterpiece of critical analysis。＇
That some portions of 〃The True Relation 〃 were omitted is possible。 There is internal evidence of this in the abrupt manner in which it opens； and in the absence of allusions to the discords during the voyage and on the arrival。 Captain Smith was not the man to pass over such questions in silence； as his subsequent caustic letter sent home to the Governor and Council of Virginia shows。 And it is probable enough that the London promoters would cut out from the 〃Relation〃 complaints and evidence of the seditions and helpless state of the colony。 The narration of the captivity is consistent as it stands； and wholly inconsistent with the Pocahontas episode。
We extract from the narrative after Smith's departure from Apocant； the highest town inhabited； between thirty and forty miles up the river； and below Orapaks； one of Powhatan's seats； which also appears on his map。 He writes：
〃Ten miles higher I discovered with the barge； in the midway a great tree hindered my passage； which I cut in two： heere the river became narrower； 8； 9 or 10 foote at a high water； and 6 or 7 at a lowe： the stream exceeding swift； and the bottom hard channell； the ground most part a low plaine； sandy soyle； this occasioned me to suppose it might issue from some lake or some broad ford； for it could not be far to the head； but rather then I would endanger the barge； yet to have beene able to resolve this doubt； and to discharge the imputating malicious tungs； that halfe suspected I durst not for so long delaying； some of the company； as desirous as myself； we resolved to hier a canow； and returne with the barge to Apocant； there to leave the barge secure； and put ourselves upon the adventure： the country onely a vast and wilde wilderness； and but only that Towne： within three or foure mile we hired a canow； and 2 Indians to row us ye next day a fowling： having made such provision for the barge as was needfull； I left her there to ride； with expresse charge not any to go ashore til my returne。 Though some wise men may condemn this too bould attempt of too much indiscretion； yet if they well consider the friendship of the Indians； in conducting me； the desolatenes of the country； the probabilitie of some lacke； and the malicious judges of my actions at home； as also to have some matters of worth to incourage our adventurers in england； might well have caused any honest minde to have done the like； as wel for his own discharge as for the publike good： having 2 Indians for my guide and 2 of our own company； I set forward； leaving 7 in the barge； having discovered 20 miles further in this desart； the river stil kept his depth and bredth； but much more combred with trees； here we went ashore （being some 12 miles higher than ye barge had bene） to refresh our selves； during the boyling of our vituals： one of the Indians I tooke with me； to see the nature of the soile； and to cross the boughts of the river； the other Indian I left with M。 Robbinson and Thomas Emry； with their matches light and order to discharge a peece； for my retreat at the first sight of any Indian； but within a quarter of an houre I heard a loud cry； and a hollowing of Indians； but no warning peece； supposing them surprised； and that the Indians had betraid us； presently I seazed him and bound his arme fast to my hand in a garter； with my pistoll ready bent to be revenged on him： he advised me to fly and seemed ignorant of what was done； but as we went discoursing； I was struck with an arrow on the right thigh； but without harme： upon this occasion I espied 2 Indians drawing their bowes； which I prevented in discharging a french pistoll： by that I had charged again 3 or 4 more did the 'like； for the first fell downe and fled： at my discharge they did the like； my hinde I made my barricade； who offered not to strive； 20 or 30 arrowes were shot at me but short； 3 or 4 times I had discharged my pistoll ere the king of Pamauck called Opeckakenough with 200 men； environed me； each drawing their bowe； which done they laid them upon the ground； yet without shot； my hinde treated betwixt them and me of conditions of peace； he discovered me to be the captaine； my request was to retire to ye boate； they demanded my armes； the rest they saide were slaine； onely me they would reserve： the Indian importuned me not to shoot。 In retiring being in the midst of a low quagmire； and minding them more than my steps； I stept fast into the quagmire； and also the Indian in drawing me forth： thus surprised； I resolved to trie their mercies； my armes I caste from me； till which none durst approch me： being ceazed on me； they drew me out and led me to the King； I presented him with a compasse diall； describing by my best meanes the use thereof； whereat he so amazedly admired； as he suffered me to proceed in a discourse of the roundnes of the earth； the course of the sunne； moone； starres and plannets； with kinde speeches and bread he requited me； conducting me where the canow lay and John Robinson slaine； with 20 or 30 arrowes in him。 Emry I saw not； I perceived by the abundance of fires all over the woods； at each place I expected when they would execute me； yet they used me with what kindnes they could： approaching their Towne which was within 6 miles where I was taken； onely made as arbors and covered with mats； which they remove as occasion requires： all the women and children； being advertised of this accident came forth to meet； the King well guarded with 20 bow men 5 flanck and rear and each flanck before him a sword and a peece； and after him the like； then a bowman； then I on each hand a boweman； the rest in file in the reare； which reare led forth amongst the trees in a bishion； eache his bowe and a handfull of arrowes； a quiver at his back grimly painted： on eache flanck a sargeant； the one running alwaiss towards the front the other towards the reare； each a true pace and in exceeding good order； this being a good time continued； they caste themselves in a ring with a daunce； and so eache man departed to his lodging； the captain conducting me to his lodging； a quarter of Venison and some ten pound of bread I had for supper； what I left was reserved for me； and sent with me to my lodging： each morning three women presented me three great platters of fine bread； more venison than ten men could devour I had； my gowne； points and garters； my compas and a tablet they gave me again； though 8 ordinarily guarded me； I wanted not what they could devise to content me： and still our longer acquaintance increased our better affection： much they threatened to assault our forte as they were solicited by the King of Paspahegh； who shewed at our fort great signs of sorrow for this mischance： the King took great delight in understanding the manner of our ships and sayling the seas； the earth and skies and of our God： what he knew of the dominions he spared not to acquaint me with； as of certaine men cloathed at a place called Ocanahonun； cloathed like me； the course of our river； and that within 4 or 5 daies journey of the falles； was a great turning of salt water： I desired he would send a messenger to Paspahegh； with a letter I would write； by which they should understand； how kindly they used me； and that I was well； lest they should revenge my death； this he granted and sent three men； in such weather； as in reason were unpossible； by any naked to be indured： their cruell mindes towards the fort I had deverted； in describing the ordinance and the mines in the fields； as also the revenge Captain Newport would take of them at his returne； their intent； I incerted the fort； the people of Ocanahomm and the back sea； this report they after found divers Indians that confirmed： the next day after my letter； came a salvage to my lodging； with his sword to have slaine me； but being by m
