of a convenient place for settlement. They saw five Indians whom they followed all day, but could not overtake them. The next day they discovered several Indian graves; one of which they opened, and found some rude implements of war; a mortar, and an earthen pot; all which they took care to replace; being unwilling to disturb the sepulchres of the dead. They found under a small mound of earth, a cellar curiously lined with bark, in which was stored a quantity of Indian corn.* Of this they took as much as they could carry, and returned to the ship.

Soon after, twentyfour others made the like excursion, and obtained a considerable quantity of corn, which, with that obtained before, was about ten bushels.† Some beans were also found.‡ This discovery gave them great encouragement, and perhaps prevented their further removal; it also saved them from famine.

After considerable discussion, concerning a place for settlement, in which some were for going to Agawam, and some not so far, it was concluded to send out a shallop, to make further discovery in the bay. Accordingly, Governour Carver, with eighteen or twenty men, set out on the sixth of December, to explore the deep bay of Cape Cod. The weather was very cold, and the spray of the sea lighting on them, they were soon covered with ice, as it were, like coats of mail. At night having got to the bottom of the bay, they discovered ten or twelve Indians, about a league off, cutting up a grampus; who, on "Of divers colours which seemed to them a very goodly sight, having seen none before." Morton, 18.

† Holmes' Annals, I, 201.

This was not hardly right, perhaps, but Morton, N. E, Memoral, 19, says, that in "About six months after they gave them full satisfaction to their content."

§ Ipswich is supposed to have been meant, as it was known by that name in a former voyage.

discovering the English, ran away with what of the fish they had cut off. With some difficulty from shoals, they landed, and erected a hut, and passed the first night. In the morning they divided their company, some went by land, and others in the vessel, to make further discovery of the bay, to which they gave the name of Grampus, because that fish was found there. They met again at night, and some lodged on board the shallop, and the rest as before.*

The next morning, December the eighth, as they were about to embark, they were furiously beset by Indians. Some of the company having carried their guns down to the boat, the others discharged upon them, as fast as they could; but the Indians shouted, and rushed on, until those had regained their arms, and then they were put to flight. One, however, more courageous than the rest, took a position behind a tree, and withstood several volleys of shot, discharging arrows himself at the same time. At length a shot glancing upon the side of the tree, hurled the bark so about his head that he thought it time to escape. Eighteen arrows were picked up by the English, after the battle, which they sent to their friends in England, as curiosities. Some were headed with brass, and others with horn and bone. The place where this happened, was on this account, called the First Encounter.+

The company, after leaving this place, narrowly escaped being cast away; but they got safe on an uninhabited island, where they passed the night.

• Morton and Belknap.

Ib. 21.

† Morton, 22. It was before called Namskeket. Dr. Belknap, Biog. II, 202, says, "A creek which now bears the name of Skakit, lies between Eastham and Harwich; distant about 3 or 4 miles westward from Nauset; the seat of a tribe of Indians, who (as they afterwards learned) made this attack."

This they called "Clark's Island; because Mr. Clark, the master's mate, first stepped ashore thereon." Morton, 24.

The next day, December the ninth, they dried their clothes, and repaired their vessel, which had lost her mast, and met with other damage. The next day they rested, it being Sunday. The day following, they found a place, which they judged fit for settlement; and, after going on shore,* and discovering good water, and where there had been cornfields, returned to the ship. This was on the Eleventh of December, 1620, and is the day celebrated as the FOREFATHERS' DAY.

On the fifteenth, the ship came into the new harbour. The two following days, the people went on shore, but returned at night to the ship.

On the twentythird, timber was begun to be prepared for building a common store house. The next day, the cry of Indians was heard, but none appeared. On the twentyfifth, the first house was begun. A fort was built on the hill, soon after, (where the burying ground now is) which commanded the town and harbour; and, they were diligently employed, until a town was laid out; to which they gave the name Plymouth, on account of the kind treatment they received from the people of Plymouth in

* A large rock near the water, said to be the place where they first stepped ashore, is shown with a degree of veneration by the inhabitants of Plymouth. It is a granite of a redish cast, and has long since been nearly levelled with the surface of the ground. A large fragment has been placed near the head of the main street, where it is made a rendezvous for boys in pleasant evenings. This, as well as the part from which it was taken, suffers occasionally under the force of a dull axe, to add to the entertainment of the story of the traveller.

In the engraving of "The Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth," accompanying this edition, the celebrated ROCK is intended to be represented.

Their provisions and goods were held in common by the company, at first, but it was soon found by the wise leaders, that this method was not practicable, and it was soon dropped. Perhaps the chief mover of this wise measure was Gov. Bradford, as it was adopted in his administration. See Belknap, Biog. II, 232, 3.