On the 22d, he again came, bringing with him Squanto, the only surviving native of Patuxet (the country about Plymouth). This Indian was one of those who had been kidnapped by "that wicked varlet, Hunt;" he had lived in London, and had acquired a good deal of English. From these visitors, the whites learned that the great sachem, Massasoit, and many of his people, were close at hand.

With sixty men, he appeared on the hill above Plymouth, and Edward Winslow was dispatched to him, with the interpreters. "We sent to the king," says the narrative, “a pair of knives, with a copper chain and a jewel at it. To Quadequina" (his brother) "we sent likewise a knife, and a jewel to hang in his ear, and withal a pot of strong water" (liquor). A friendly message was explained to him, and, leaving Winslow as a hostage with his people, the chief, followed by twenty men, came down and entered one of the houses, where a green rug and some cushions were provided for his honorable reception. The governor, with drum and trumpet, also came in. "After salutations, our governor kissing his hand, the king kissed him, and so they sat down. The governor called for some strong water and drunk to him; and he drunk a great draught, that made him sweat all the while after." Refreshments being partaken of, a treaty of amity and mutual alliance was made a treaty faithfully observed by both parties for more than half a century. At the same time, (perhaps a little too much softened by the genial draught which he had so vig. orously imbibed,) the sachem, it is said, "acknowledged himself content to become the subject of our sovereign lord, the king aforesaid, his heirs and successors; and gave unto them all the lands adjacent, to them and to their heirs for ever."

"All which," says a spectator, "the king seemed to like well, and it was applauded of his followers. All the while he sat by the governor, he trembled with fear" (perhaps agitation or surprise). "In his person, he is a very lusty man, in his best years, an able body, grave of countenance, and spare of speech; in his attire, little or nothing differing from the rest

of his followers, only in a great chain of white bone beads about his neck; and at it, behind his neck, hangs a little bag of tobacco, which he drank, and gave us to drink" (i. e. smoke). "His face was painted of a sad red like murrey, and oiled, both head and face, that he looked greasily. All his followers were likewise in their faces, in part or whole, painted; some black, some yellow, some red, and some white; some with crosses, and other antic works; some had skins on them, and some naked; all tall strong men in appearance."

The Indians retired with much appearance of friendship and good-will, while Squanto and Samoset remained to instruct the English in fishing and in the agriculture of the country. Twenty acres of corn were planted. During March, thirteen more of the colonists died, leaving but little more than half of the original number surviving. Half of the crew of the May-Flower were also dead; and, with the remainder, on the 5th of April, she sailed for England. The next day died the good governor, who, it would seem, had met with a stroke of the sun, while working in the fields at noon-day, a little time before. His loss occasioned the death of his wife, and left the colonists overwhelmed with grief. "His care and pains were so great for the common good, as therewith, it is thought, he oppressed himself, and shortened his days." Could a more honorable epitaph be written!

William Bradford, a man only thirty-two years of age, but one of the most ardent and zealous upholders of the settlement, was elected in his place. Under the new governor took place the first punishment inflicted in New England. The crime, according to the record, (June 18th,) was "a challenge at single combat, with sword and dagger, between Edward Doty and Edward Leister, servants of Mr. Hopkins. Both being wounded, the one in the hand, the other in the thigh, they are adjudged by the whole company to have their head and feet tied together, and so to lie for twenty-four hours, without meat or drink; which is begun to be inflicted, but within an hour, because of their great pains, at their own and their master's

humble request, upon promise of better carriage, they are released by the governor."

In July, 1621, Winslow and Hopkins went on a visit of observation to Massasoit. They passed through many lands cleared and well adapted to cultivation, but devoid of inhabitants. These places, they were told, had been depopulated by the pestilence-an account confirmed by the sight of numerous skeletons yet bleaching on the ground. They found the chief and his people friendly and amiable, but ill-prepared to entertain any visitors-two fish, caught by his majesty's own hands, being the only refreshment he could offer them. Fresh agreements for friendship and traffic were made, and the king, turning to his subjects, made a long speech, "the meaning whereof," says Winslow, "was, as far as we could learn, thus: 'Was not he, Massasoyt, commander of the country about them? Was not such a town his, and the people of it? And should they not bring their skins unto us?' To which they answered, they were his, and would be at peace with us, and bring their skins unto us. After this manner he named at least thirty places, and their answer was as aforesaid to every one; so that as it was delightful, it was tedious unto us.

"This being ended, he lighted tobacco for us, and fell to discoursing of England, and of the King's Majesty, marvelling that he would live without a wife." The ambassadors, after an absence of some days, returned to Plymouth, their friendly host "being both grieved and ashamed that he could no better entertain them."

On another excursion, by water, in search of a boy who had been lost, the English put into Cummaquid, (Barnstable,) where they found the Sachem Iyanough, "a man not exceed ing twenty-six years of age, but very personable, gentle, courteous, and fair-conditioned; indeed, not like a savage, saving for his attire. His entertainment was answerable to his parts, and his cheer plentiful and various.

"One thing," proceeds the narrative, "was very grievous to us at this place. There was an old woman, whom we judged

to be no less than a hundred years old, which came to see us, because she never saw English; yet could not behold us without breaking forth into great passion," (emotion) "weeping and crying excessively. We demanding the reason of it, they told us she had three sons, who, when Master Hunt was in these parts, went aboard his ship to trade with him, and he carried them captives into Spain, (for Tisquantum" (Squanto) "was at that time carried away also), by which means she was deprived of the comfort of her children in her old age. We told them we were sorry that any Englishman should give them that offence, that Hunt was a bad man, and that all the English that heard it condemned him for the same; but for us, we would not offer them any such injury, though it would gain us all the skins in the country. So we gave her some small trifles, which somewhat appeased her."

The boy who had been lost was found by the savages, and was delivered to his friends, plentifully "behung with beads."

Not long after, Hobbamock, one of the chief panieses, or warriors of Massasoit, came to live with the English; and, during the remainder of his life, remained faithfully devoted to their service.

Some troubles, excited among the Indians by an unfriendly sachem, were repressed by the courage and promptness of Standish, and quite a number of petty chieftains subscribed their marks to an acknowledgment of allegiance to the British sovereign. Canonicus himself, the great Narragansett sachem, sent a messenger to the colony with friendly overtures.

On the 9th of November, 1621, a small vessel, called the Fortune, bringing thirty-five additional colonists, arrived at Plymouth. She brought, however, neither arms nor provi sion, and Canonicus, from some unknown reason, now changed his policy, and assumed a hostile attitude. He dispatched to the town a messenger, who, without any explanation, delivered "a bundle of new arrows, lapped in a rattlesnake's skin." The English were at a loss to imagine the meaning of this odd present, until Squanto informed them that it was a challenge,

and imported enmity, "Hereupon, after some deliberation, the Governor stuffed the skin with powder and shot, and sent it back," adding a haughty message of defiance. This bold attitude, or the mysterious contents of the skin, seem to have deeply wrought on the fears or the superstition of the chief"insomuch as he would not once touch the powder and shot, or suffer it to stay in his house or country. Whereupon, the messenger refusing it, another took it up; and having been posted from place to place a long time, at length came whole back again."

Notwithstanding this peaceable result, the settlers lost no time in securing their town by a fortification, and, under the direction of Standish, strict rules for vigilance and discipline were enforced. Squanto also wrought upon the fears of the surrounding Indians, by informing them that the English had the plague buried in their store-house, and could destroy the whole country, if they had a mind. The same astute politician, by his falsehoods and treachery, had so enraged Massasoit, that he sent his own knife, with executioners, to cut off the head and hands of his traducer. The governor, with too little scruple, was about to deliver the offender up to them, when an accidental interruption preserved his life. The executioners, "mad with rage, and impatient at delay, departed in great heat."