Pocahontas by Joseph Bruchac Page A

calling me back whenever I got ahead of the others. I was so excited that I was as ready to run as a deer caught in a drive by the hunters. It was less than a day's journey. But I was so eager to see these strange men that it seemed as if many days had passed and the lazy sun had become stuck in the sky.
    At last we neared the place. We approached from the land, not from the river side. The grass had been cut down all around
their camp. We could see clearly all the way to the river, where two canoes bigger than any I had ever seen were tied to the big trees. The tide was high, so the canoes rocked with the gentle motions of the river. Big sticks, poles as big as trees, rose up from the two giant canoes. They did not have their white wings opened, but I saw that those tree-sized poles must be used to support their wings.
    Those big canoes were strange and wonderful to see, even from a distance. The strangest thing I saw, though, were the two cornfields. It was not just how badly planned and planted they were. The sod there would never be good for a crop of corn. It was too marshy and salty. What was truly strange was to see men, grown men, working in those fields, trying to hoe and weed as women do. It was such a foolish sight. Of course they were doing it ad wrong. They also were dressed in so much clothing that I could see how uncomfortable they were, especially in the great heat of the sun. It made me want to laugh, but I kept quiet.
    Naukaquawis tapped me on the shoulder and gestured with his chin toward one part of the tall wall of logs built all around the Coatmen's strange camp. There was an opening there. A man stood in front. He was holding the longest spear I had ever seen, guarding the entrance to their town. But he was not a very good guard. He had not seen us at all.
    Two young men from Paspahegh had joined us as we came close to the Coatmen's camp. There are always a few of them keeping watch on the Tassantassuk. Of course, they knew who Naukaquawis and I were. They were treating us with great respect, as they certainly should. But they were also finding it hard to keep from joking about the foolishness of the Coatmen.
    "I do not know why we are crouching down like this," the
first of the Paspahegh men said. "The Coatmen are so blind that they would not see us if we stood up and waved at them."
    "Just be grateful that the wind is blowing away from us," said the second Paspahegh. "Otherwise we would be choking from the scent of those skunks!"
    "It is true," Rawhunt said, "it is true. Wait until the wind changes. Just wait."
    We were so far away from the stockade and the fields that Naukaquawis and I thought those words were only teasing. But then the breeze did shift, as it often does when the tides change. It blew up from the river, bringing us the smell of the salt and the marsh, rotting grass and dead fish. But that was not all we smelled. The rank odor of dirty clothing and men who washed even less than they cleaned their clothes also came to us. It was so strong that it was funny. Choking with laughter, my brother and I turned away from the camp of the Coatmen and followed Rawhunt back up the trail toward home.

14. JOHN SMITH: The Sickness Time
The 3 of July, 7 or 8 Indians presented the president a deer from Pamaonoke, a wyroaunce desiring our friendship. They inquired after our shipping, which the president said was gone to Croatoon. They fear much our ships, and therefore he would have them think it not far from us. Their wyroaunce had a hatchet sent him; they were well contented with trifles.
    A little after this came a deer to the president from the Great Powhatan. He and his messengers were pleased with the like trifles. The president likewise bought divers times deer of the Indians, beavers and other flesh, which he always caused to be equally divided amongst the colony.
    About this time divers of our men fell sick; we missed above forty before September did see us.
    â€”FROM A D ISCOURSE OF V