1607] CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 29 no doubt all have perished, had they not at this crisis placed Captain John Smith at their head. 10. Smith was a brave and wise man. He soon had things in a better state. He made the idle work, and prevented the timid from sailing away, as they had intended to do. He explored the surrounding country, and kept in check the natives, who were becoming suspicious and unfriendly. T LESSON IX. CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. 1. Captain Smith's early life was full of adventures. Running away from home in his youth, he helped the Dutch fight for their freedom. But he soon became tired of this, and one dark night he deserted, and made his way to France. Then he went to Egypt. Wherever there was anything wonderful to see, he wandered. itix 2. On one of his voyages, he acted rudely towards some of his fellow-passengers, and they threw him overboard. He came near drowning; but saved himself by swimming to a rocky island, where he stayed until a passing vessel took him off. Next we find him in Hungary, fighting the Turks hand to hand, like the knights of old. At last, being wounded in a skirmish, he was taken prisoner and sold as a slave. 3. Smith was now carried off hundreds of miles into a dreary » country. He was loaded with chains and treated harshly. So he resolved to escape. Seizing his chance, he rose against his oppressor, and, mounting a horse, fled through pathless forests to Russia. Hence, after some further adventures, he made his way back to England, in time to join Newport's party. 4. While out on one of his exploring expeditions in Virginia, What saved the colony?-10. What kind of a man was Captain Smith? What measures did he take? 1. Relate some of Captain Smith's early adventures.-2. What took place on one of his voyages? What do we next find him doing?-3. How was Smith treated during his captivity? Give an account of his escape.-4. What befell' ༣ ་་ སྙ... Smith was suddenly attacked by Indians. He had ordered his men to stay by the boat while he went out to reconnoitre; pocket, he showed them how the needle always points north, and told them about the shape of the Earth and the heavenly-bodies. t. 5. To increase the wonder of the savages, Smith told them that the next day they would find some articles that he named, in a certain place in the forest. He then wrote to his countrymen at Jamestown to put the articles there. They did so; and when the Indians, who did not understand his writing, saw every thing turn out as he had said, they began to look on him as more than man. They carried him around to their different villages in triumph, and at last brought him to their chief, Powhatan. 6. Here a solemn council was held, and it was determined Smith, while out on one of his exploring expeditions? How did he save himself from immediate death?-5. How did Captain Smith increase the wonder of the savages? What did they do with him?-6. What took place when they 1608] SMITH'S CAPTIVITY. 31 that Smith should be put to death. His head was laid on a large stone, to receive the fatal blow. A fierce savage stood beside him, war-club in hand. Just as he was about to strike, Po-cahon'-tas, a gentle Indian girl of twelve years, ran forward, threw her arms about the prisoner, and with tears besought the savages to spare his life. She was the daughter of Powhatan, and the favorite of the whole tribe. Smith had amused her during his captivity, by making her toys, and telling her about the wonders of nature. (She had become fond of the stranger, and now tried to save him. 7. Moved by the tears of Pocahontas, the Indians spared reached Powhatan's village? How was Smith saved?-7. After sparing his Captain Smith. They even treated him kindly, and let him go back to Jamestown with promises of friendship. Pocahontas continued the firm friend of the English. She often visited them, bringing baskets of corn to relieve their wants. Once, when the Indians had formed a plot to surprise and murder all the whites, she came through the woods by night at the risk of her own life, and warned them to be on their guard. 8. On his return to Jamestown, Smith found the colonists reduced to forty men, and these were on the point of leaving in despair. He made them remain, and soon after Newport arrived with fresh settlers and supplies. Some of the new comers were goldsmiths; and, seeing some glittering sand near the town, they fancied it must be gold dust. Newport was foolish enough to load his vessel with this worthless sand, and carry it to England. In 1608, he set out on a 1. Smith could not remain idle. voyage of discovery in an open boat. Bay, and several large rivers that flow into it. He traded with the Indians, and made a map of the whole region he visited. Soon after his return, Newport again arrived with more settlers. But they were not used to hard work. So they did the colony. very little good. ནས) } дня 2. Soon after this, Lord Delaware was appointed governor of Virginia, and nine vessels were sent out with supplies and men. Most of the ships arrived safe at Jamestown; but the one life, how did the Indians treat Captain Smith? What services did Pocahontas render the English ?-8. In what condition did Smith find affairs at Jamestown? Who soon after arrived? What mistake did some of the new comers fall into? 1. What did Captain Smith do in 1608? What took place shortly after his return?-2. Who was soon afterwards appointed governor? How many vessels were sent out? What happened to one of these? Who managed affairs till 1609] THE STARVING TIME. 33 that contained the leaders of the party was wrecked, and it was months before they reached the colony. Meanwhile Smith had hard work to manage affairs. Those who had arrived last were idle and quarrelsome, and said he had no right to order them about. 3. There was danger, too, of starving. Powhatan, alarmed by the increasing numbers of the English, said he had no corn to spare, and would neither give nor sell them any. But Smith knew better than this. So, taking some large blue beads with him, he went to see Powhatan. Showing them as if by accident, he told the chief that in his country none but kings were allowed to wear such ornaments. When Powhatan heard this, he gladly gave several hundred bushels of corn for a few of the beads. Another time, he gave nearly a hundred bushels of corn for a little copper kettle. Do you think it was right for Smith to impose on the simple Indian in this way, even to save the lives of his countrymen? 4. In spite of all these difficulties, Captain Smith managed the colony well, till he was injured by an explosion of gunpowder. Then he had to return to England. No sooner was he gone than every thing went wrong. The colonists would not work any more, but called on the Indians to keep them supplied with corn. The Indians refused, and plotted together to destroythe whites. Several small parties were cut off. Some of the colonists seized a vessel and sailed away. The rest almost died of famine. Long was this period remembered as the starving time. 5. The arrival of Lord Delaware himself, with men and provisions, alone saved the colony. Under Delaware and his successors, Virginia flourished. Cattle and hogs were introduced from Europe. Tobacco was cultivated and exported to England. As coin was scarce, tobacco passed for money. ༣། the leaders of the party arrived? What difficulties did he labor under?-3. What other danger was there? How did Smith manage to get some corn from Powhatan ?-4. What obliged Captain Smith to return to England? What was the consequence of his return? What was this period called?-5. What saved the colony? What was the state of affairs under Delaware? What passed for |