Ma-ma-no-to-wic, I have news for you. The braves, with your
brother O-pe-chan-ca-nough, have taken the pale-face chief in the
Chickahominy swamps and are bringing him to the council-house."
[1] "Great man" or "strong one," a title by which
Wa-bun-so-na-cook, or Powhatan, was frequently addressed.
"Wa," said the old chief, "it is well, we will be ready for him."
At once Ra-bun-ta was surrounded and plied with questions. The
earlier American Indians were always a very inquisitive folk, and
were great gossips. Ra-bun-ta's news would furnish fire-pit talk
for months, so they must know all the particulars. What was this
white cau-co-rouse, (captain or leader) like? What had he on? Did
he use his magic against the braves? Were any of them killed?
For the fame of "the white cau-co-rouse," the "great captain," as
the Indians called the courageous and intrepid little governor of
the Virginia colony, Captain John Smith, had already gone
throughout the confederacy, and his capture was even better than
a victory over their deadliest enemies, the Manna-ho-acks.
Ra-bun-ta was as good a gossip and story-teller as any of his
tribesmen, and as he squatted before the upper fire-pit, and ate
a hearty meal of parched corn, which the little Ma-ta-oka brought
him as a peace-offering, he gave the details of the celebrated
capture.
Pages:
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211