The colonists still had reasons to fear ambuscades from the savages lurking about in the woods.One day a Paspahean came with a glittering mineral stone, and said he could show them great abundance of it.Smith went to look for this mine, but was led about hither and thither in the woods till he lost his patience and was convinced that the Indian was fooling him, when he gave him twenty lashes with a rope, handed him his bows and arrows, told him to shoot if he dared, and let him go.Smith had a prompt way with the Indians.He always traded "squarely" with them, kept his promises, and never hesitated to attack or punish them when they deserved it.They feared and respected him.
The colony was now in fair condition, in good health, and contented;and it was believed, though the belief was not well founded, that they would have lasting peace with the Indians.Captain Nelson's ship, the Phoenix, was freighted with cedar wood, and was despatched for England June 8, 1608.Captain Martin, "always sickly and unserviceable, and desirous to enjoy the credit of his supposed art of finding the gold mine," took passage.Captain Nelson probably carried Smith's "True Relation."X
DISCOVERY OF THE CHESAPEAKE
On the same, day that Nelson sailed for England, Smith set out to explore the Chesapeake, accompanying the Phoenix as far as Cape Henry, in a barge of about three tons.With him went Dr.Walter Russell, six gentlemen, and seven soldiers.The narrative of the voyage is signed by Dr.Russell, Thomas Momford, gentleman, and Anas Todkill, soldier.Master Scrivener remained at the fort, where his presence was needed to keep in check the prodigal waste of the stores upon his parasites by President Ratcliffe.
The expedition crossed the bay at "Smith's Isles," named after the Captain, touched at Cape Charles, and coasted along the eastern shore.Two stout savages hailed them from Cape Charles, and directed them to Accomack, whose king proved to be the most comely and civil savage they had yet encountered.
He told them of a strange accident that had happened.The parents of two children who had died were moved by some phantasy to revisit their dead carcasses, "whose benumbed bodies reflected to the eyes of the beholders such delightful countenances as though they had regained their vital spirits." This miracle drew a great part of the King's people to behold them, nearly all of whom died shortly afterward.These people spoke the language of Powhatan.Smith explored the bays, isles, and islets, searching for harbors and places of habitation.He was a born explorer and geographer, as his remarkable map of Virginia sufficiently testifies.The company was much tossed about in the rough waves of the bay, and had great difficulty in procuring drinking-water.They entered the Wighcocomoco, on the east side, where the natives first threatened and then received them with songs, dancing, and mirth.A point on the mainland where they found a pond of fresh water they named "Poynt Ployer in honer of the most honorable house of Monsay, in Britaine, that in an extreme extremitie once relieved our Captain." This reference to the Earl of Ployer, who was kind to Smith in his youth, is only an instance of the care with which he edited these narratives of his own exploits, which were nominally written by his companions.
The explorers were now assailed with violent storms, and at last took refuge for two days on some uninhabited islands, which by reason of the ill weather and the hurly-burly of thunder, lightning, wind, and rain, they called "Limbo." Repairing their torn sails with their shirts, they sailed for the mainland on the east, and ran into a river called Cuskarawook (perhaps the present Annomessie), where the inhabitants received them with showers of arrows, ascending the trees and shooting at them.The next day a crowd came dancing to the shore, making friendly signs, but Smith, suspecting villainy, discharged his muskets into them.Landing toward evening, the explorers found many baskets and much blood, but no savages.The following day, savages to the number, the account wildly says, of two or three thousand, came to visit them, and were very friendly.These tribes Smith calls the Sarapinagh, Nause, Arseek, and Nantaquak, and says they are the best merchants of that coast.They told him of a great nation, called the Massawomeks, of whom he set out in search, passing by the Limbo, and coasting the west side of Chesapeake Bay.
The people on the east side he describes as of small stature.
They anchored at night at a place called Richard's Cliffs, north of the Pawtuxet, and from thence went on till they reached the first river navigable for ships, which they named the Bolus, and which by its position on Smith's map may be the Severn or the Patapsco.
The men now, having been kept at the oars ten days, tossed about by storms, and with nothing to eat but bread rotten from the wet, supposed that the Captain would turn about and go home.But he reminded them how the company of Ralph Lane, in like circumstances, importuned him to proceed with the discovery of Moratico, alleging that they had yet a dog that boiled with sassafrks leaves would richly feed them.He could not think of returning yet, for they were scarce able to say where they had been, nor had yet heard of what they were sent to seek.He exhorted them to abandon their childish fear of being lost in these unknown, large waters, but he assured them that return he would not, till he had seen the Massawomeks and found the Patowomek.