While not a history buff, Pocahontas is one of my favorite pieces of history. I will admit that I prefer the happily ever after story that Disney portrays (the first one, with the open end that implies John Smith might have / probably came back after he was healed to be with Pocahontas). Despite this, I still think this story is an important one and I am glad it is not lost and forgotten about. While the chapter in my middle school history book was short, this book taught me a number of facts I did not know before, so it was definitely worth reading.
"Nothing at all is known about Pocahontas' mother. Usually, following tribal tradition, when the great chief Powhatan chose a woman to marry, her royal status was only temporary. Once she gave birth to her first child, Powhatan usually had nothing more to do with her and moved on to his next choice of spouse. While Pocahontas probably spent her very earliest years with her mother, tradition held that by no later than age three or four, she would have been taken away and brought to live in Powhatan's household."
"Each canoe was made from a single tree - usually cypress, but pine and chestnut were also used depending on availability and access. After a tree was selected in the forest, a fire was built at its base. Alternately burning and chipping away at the charred wood eventually felled the tree. Once it was on the ground, small fires and red-hot stones were used to burn down the wood along the center line."
"Clothing for the members of the Tidewater tribes was simple, and little was worn except in the colder months. Deerskin was used to make leather robes, moccasins, and leggings that provided added warmth in the winter. In addition, turkey feathers were sewn together to make mantles, or short capes, that also offered protection from colder temperatures. During the rest of the year, most men and women wore a basic breechcloth - a piece of clothing resembling an apron that hung from around the waist - though some women wore a type of fringed skirt as well.
"Hair styles varied according to social status, gender, and age. The youngest girls wore their hair cut very short on the sides and in the front, but long in the back. A married woman's hair was worn long and kept braided. Men kept their hair long and uncut on one side, but was trimmed very close or shaved. This prevented their hair from getting tangled in their bowstrings when hunting. No elaborate head gear was worn - such as the enormous feathered bonnets donned by Plains Indians - but hair ornaments might include feathers or rattlesnake's rattle. Both men and women hung chains, beads, or other objects from holes in their ears. One Jamestown colonist wrote of natives who sported rats skins and live snakes attached to their earlobes. Intricate tattoos and painted designs were common body ornaments. Colorful depictions ... were created by mixing tinted powders with oil. Bloodroot - a plant which produces a deep red shade - was a popular choice."
"...the Powhatan people had little metal, but they were quick to put locally found resources to use for a variety of functions. Tools such as knives, axes, drills, and arrows were made with wood and stone, while antlers and large bones from deer and other wild game were formed into needles, primitive drills, fish hooks, and other useful items. Clay, bark, animal skin, and turtle shells were made into cups, bowls, or storage containers for food."
"...items such as pearls, copper, certain types of shells or beads, and any other luxury goods could only be obtained via trade. An extensive network of commerce extended as far away as the Great Lakes region."
"Powhatan had sent Newport twenty wild turkeys requesting twenty swords in exchange. Despite John Smith's protests, Newport agreed to the trade. When Powhatan made a similar offer to Smith after Newport's departure, it was refused. There would be no further arms supplied to the natives if Smith had any say in the matter."
"While traveling to Powhatan's new encampment with her family members, Pocahontas heard of her father's true plans. The offer of supper the next day actually concealed a plot to kill John Smith and his men. ...
"Much later that evening, as Smith and his men were relaxing in anticipation of the next day's feast, they were startled by the appearance of Pocahontas. ... Her warning was simple. If they wanted to live, they should all leave soon. ...
"Thinking how brave her actions were, Smith probably wanted to give Pocahontas some sort of present to thank her for her efforts, and he brought out several blue glass beads. Seeing the trinkets in Smith's hand, Pocahontas reacted - according to reports by others in the party - with tears streaming. Didn't Smith realize that, if she took the beads, Pocahontas would have to explain how she got them? Didn't he also realize how great the chance was that she took in coming to warm him of the plot? Did he really value their friendship so little that he would simply pay her with a few beads as he would any local guide?"
"...the winter of 1609-1610 was probably the worst Jamestown colonists experienced. With stored corn long gone, the English resorted to eating whatever they could find - mice, rats, dogs, cats, and even poisonous snakes. Boiling shirts and cuffs produced edible starch that was made into a kind of porridge, and even belts, book covers, and leather door hinges were cooked and consumed. Reports of cannibalism remain unconfirmed."
Wow! I have little knowledge of the real Pocahontas and this tribe! Very interesting!
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