THE WHITE DOE

THE FATE OFVIRGINIA DARE

_AN INDIAN LEGEND_

BY

SALLIESOUTHALLCOTTEN

[Illustration]

Printed for the AuthorBY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY, PHILADELPHIA

Copyright, 1901

BY SALLIE SOUTHALL COTTEN

_All rights reserved_

[Illustration:

"While within its bright'ning dimness, With the misty halo 'round her, Stood a beautiful white maiden"

Page 70]

TO

The National SocietyofColonial Dames of America

WHOSE PATRIOTIC WORK HAS STIMULATEDRESEARCH INTO AN IMPORTANT ANDINTERESTING PERIOD OF THE HISTORY OF

OUR BELOVED COUNTRY

FORGOTTEN FACTS AND FANCIESOF AMERICAN HISTORY

AS civilization advances there develops in the heart of man a higherappreciation of the past, and the deeds of preceding generations cometo be viewed with a calm criticism which denudes those deeds of falsesplendor and increases the lustre of real accomplishment. Man cannotsee into the future and acquire the prescience of coming events whichwould make him infallible, but he can remove the veil from the past, contemplate the mistakes and successes of those who have lived beforehim, and who struggled with the same problems which now confront him. The results of their efforts are recorded in history, and inspired byhigh ideals he can study the past, and by feeding his lamp of wisdomwith the oil of their experiences he secures a greater light to guidehis own activities. Man remains a slave to Fate until Knowledge makeshim free, and while all true knowledge comes from experience, it neednot necessarily be _personal_ experience. 

In studying the past, deeds come to be estimated more with reference totheir ultimate results and as factors in universal progress, and lessas personal efforts; just as more and more the personal merges into theuniversal in all lines of endeavor. Viewed in this light of ultimateresults an imperishable and increased lustre envelops the name of SirWalter Raleigh as the pioneer and faithful promoter of Englishcolonization in America. The recognition of his services by the peoplewho reap the reward of his labors has ever been too meagre. A portraithere and there, the name of the capital city in a State, a mentionamong other explorers on a tablet in the National Library, the name ofa battleship, and a few pages in history, help to remind us of hisassociation with this nation. Perhaps a few may recognize his personalcolors--red and white--in the binding in this book, and his Coat ofArms in the heraldic device which ornaments the cover, and which arementioned "lest we forget" one we should honor. 

The present and ever increasing greatness of these United States is dueto the efforts of this remarkable man, who so wondrously combined inone personality the attributes of statesman, courtier, soldier, scientist, poet, explorer, and martyr. Isabella of Spain offered herjewels to aid Columbus, and the deed has been lauded and celebrated asof international value, yet it contained no touch of personalsacrifice. She was never deprived of her jewels, and while her generousoffer proved her faith in the theories and ability of Columbus, itbrought to her no suffering. On the other hand, the efforts of SirWalter Raleigh were at his own expense, and entailed financial disasteron him in the end. That he sought to extend the power of England mustbe admitted by those who correctly estimate his character; yet no onewill deny that he was the most important factor in the colonization ofAmerica by the English. Spain, France, and England contended long forsupremacy in the New World, but France failed to gain any permanentpower, and Spanish dominance, as illustrated in South America andMexico, was followed by slow progress. It was the English race, _led byRaleigh_, which has become the leading power and modern strength ofAmerica. Colony after colony he sent to the new land, and desisted not, even after the death of his half-brother and coadjutor, Sir HumphreyGilbert. Disaster could not daunt so brave a spirit, and withunsurpassed enterprise and perseverance he continued to sendexpeditions year after year to what is now the coast of North Carolina, but which was then called Virginia, and recognized as Raleigh'spossessions. Much money was required, and when his own fortune wasexhausted he transferred to what is known as the London Company hisrights to the land, and _by his advice_ they avoided his mistakes andmade the next settlement at Jamestown instead of Roanoak Island. 

These facts have been temporarily obscured by the moss of neglect, butthey cannot be destroyed. They will ever remain the foundation-stonesof the great structure known and respected among nations as the UnitedStates of America, and were laid by Sir Walter Raleigh at RoanoakIsland, on the coast of North Carolina, which was then called Virginia. The intervening years have brought great results, those early struggleshave ripened into success and greatness beyond Raleigh's most sanguinedreams. A new race has arisen, yet bearing the characteristics of therace from which it sprung. Our English ancestors, our heritage ofEnglish law and custom, of religion and home life, of language andideals, all tempered by the development of new characteristics, bind us_through him_ to England. 

Sir Walter Raleigh was not an ordinary man. He was one of the mostremarkable of a coterie of remarkable men whom a remarkable queen(Elizabeth) gathered around her, and to whom she owed much of thegrandeur of her remarkable reign. Elizabeth's greatest gift was acapacity for discerning and using great minds, and she had the goodfortune to find many around her at that period of time. Raleigh won herfavor, and received from her many benefits, among which was the honorof knighthood with its emoluments, which she conferred. In the end herfavor cost him dear, because his heart had the courage to be true toitself in love. Elizabeth never forgave him for loving, marrying, andbeing true until death to her maid of honor, the beautiful ElizabethThrockmorton. That vain and jealous queen permitted no rivals, and shewished to reign over the heart of this man, who, handsome, brave, gallant, intelligent, and romantic, made an ideal courtier. His life atcourt was brilliant but brief. Love anchored a soul attuned to loftierdeeds, and after his marriage his career as a courtier was eclipsed byhis later exploits as a statesman, warrior, explorer, and author. Heplanned and participated in many expeditions which brought benefit tohis queen and added to his own fortune, yet none of his expeditionshave borne such an ever-increasing harvest of results as those he sentto America. He began that work in 1584, and continued to sendexpeditions in 1585-1586-1587, until the invasion of England by theSpanish Armada forced him to other activities, and even then he senttwo expeditions to the relief of the colonists, which, because of theexigencies of war, failed to reach America. In fact, the attitude ofSpain towards England at that time was the greatest obstacle whichmilitated against the success of his colonies. His ships and his valorwere necessary to suppress and check the insolence and ambition ofSpain, who designed to conquer England and become mistress of theworld. By his valor, loyalty, and wisdom Raleigh was largelyinstrumental in bringing about the failure of those plans and indefeating the Spanish fleet, which had been boastingly named TheInvincible Armada. Again his zeal and cool daring won for England thegreat victory of Cadiz, which has always ranked as the most remarkableachievement in the annals of naval warfare. With only seven ships hedashed in and destroyed a large Spanish fleet (fifty-five ships) in itsown harbor with a dexterity and valor not surpassed even by Dewey atManila nor by Schley at Santiago. 

Spain was always his foe because she feared him, and it seems like theNemesis of fate that three hundred years later the death-blow of Spainas a world power was dealt in Manila Bay by the nation which Raleighstrove so hard to plant, himself all unconscious of what the years wereto bring. On that famous morning when Dewey startled the world andchastised Spain for her insolence and cruelty, the ship which fired thefirst shot in a battle destined to change the rating of two nations, the ship which first replied to the fire of the Spanish forts, as ifanswering the challenge of an old-time foe, --that ship was the_Raleigh_, named in honor of that great man by the nation he hadfostered, and in that battle Raleigh's foe was humbled, Raleigh's fameperpetuated, and Raleigh's death avenged. 

After the death of Elizabeth the star of Raleigh set. He whose mostvaliant work had been the defense of England against the attacks ofSpain was falsely charged with treasonable negotiations with Spain, andafter a farce of a trial was thrown into prison, where he remained morethan twelve years. The only mitigations of the horrors of prison lifewere the presence of his devoted wife and his books. He had always beena student, and he spent the weary hours of his long confinement inthat companionship which is known only to those who really love books, and to such minds they prove a panacea for sorrow and injustice. Duringthat imprisonment he wrote his famous "History of the World, " markingthe eventful epoch by writing a history of the Old World at the sametime that he was opening the gates of the future by planting Englishcolonies in the New World. As soon as he was released from prison hismind returned to schemes of exploration. He made a voyage to SouthAmerica, where new disasters befell him, and where his oldest son waskilled. Shattered by grief and misfortune he returned to England, wherehis enemies had planned his certain downfall. Again he was sent toprison, but not for a long time, for soon his princely head paid thepenalty which true greatness has too often paid to the power of a weakking. As a subject he was loyal and valiant, as a husband faithful anddevoted, as a father affectionate and inspiring, as a scholardistinguished in prose and poetry, as a soldier he won fame andfortune, as a statesman he contributed to the renown of his sovereign'srealm, and as a man he lived and died guided by the highest ideals. This was the man who spent a fortune trying to establish Englishcolonies in North America, and who sent repeated expeditions to theisland of Roanoak, situated where the waters of the Albemarle andPamlico Sounds meet, on the coast of North Carolina, but which was thencalled Virginia. 

The island wears a cluster of historic jewels which should endear it toall patriotic Anglo-Americans. To them it should be the most sacred, the best loved spot in all the United States. There the first Englishsettlements were made which led to English supremacy in the New World. There the first home altar was reared and the first child of Englishparents in the United States was born and baptized. There the blood ofEnglishmen first dyed the sod of North America, and there the firstattempts at English agriculture were made. There was enacted thetragedy of American colonization, the disappearance of Raleigh's LostColony, and there the sacrament of baptism was first administered inthe United States. Roanoak Island is a beautiful place, with fertilesoil and wild luxuriance of vine-covered forests which are enveloped ina deep solitude which has become dignity. Restless waters ebb and flowby its side, restless winds kiss its bare sand dunes, a genial sunbrings to maturity its wealth of tree and vine and shrub. Protectedfrom the storms which ravage the ocean beyond, it sleeps in quietbeauty, content with its heritage of fame as _the first home of theEnglish race in America_. 

Its isolated position, its wild beauty, its tragic associations, itsdignified repose, all seem to have set it aside from the rush of modernprogress that it might become a shrine for the homage of a patrioticpeople. 

The wonderful fertility of the soil of this island seemed a marvel tothe early explorers, all of whom have testified to it. Ralph Lane, governor of the colony of 1585, in writing to Raleigh of the island andthe surrounding country, declared it to be "the goodliest soil underthe cope of heaven, " and that "being inhabited with English no realm inChristendom were comparable to it;" every word of which is true now, provided that the English who inhabit it follow the suggestions ofnature and adopt horticulture as the developing means. The surroundingcountry as well as Roanoak Island has a wealth of climbing vines andclustering grapes which point instinctively to grape culture. Amadasand Barlowe (1584) wrote that they found the land "so full of grapes asthe very beating and surge of the sea overflowed them, of which wefound such plenty, as well there as in all places else, both on thesand and on the green soil, on the hills as on the plains, as well ason every little shrub as also climbing towards the top of high cedars, that I think in all the world the like abundance is not to be found. "

[Illustration: A Scuppernong Vineyard, Roanoak Island]

Surely no other such natural vineyard was ever found outside the fabledGarden of the Gods!

Even in this generation an old resident of the Banks, an ante-bellumpilot on these waters, has testified that his grandfather couldremember the time "when if a vessel were stranded on any of the beachesthe crew could crawl to land on the grapevines hanging over where nowthere is only a dry sand beach. " Throughout the eastern part of thatState (North Carolina) the grape riots in natural luxuriance and isluscious and fragrant. Many varieties remain wild, while others havebeen improved by cultivation. The three finest native American grapes, the Catawba, the Isabella, and the Scuppernong, are all indigenous tothe soil of North Carolina. The Catawba, native to the banks of theriver Catawba, from which it takes its name, is still found wild inNorth Carolina, while it has become celebrated at the North as atable-grape, and in Ohio as a wine-grape. In its adopted home it hasrevolutionized land values because of the money value of the product. The Isabella grape, so generally cultivated for table use, is thoughtto be a hybrid between the Burgundy and the native fox-grape of theCarolinas. The tradition runs that the Burgundy was brought to SouthCarolina by the Huguenots, and that cuttings from this hybrid werebrought to North Carolina and successfully propagated. Mrs. IsabellaGibbs, for whom this well-known grape was named, carried a vine fromNorth Carolina to Long Island, where it attracted attention because ofits hardiness. 

To the people of the South Atlantic coast the Scuppernong is by far themost important of the native grapes, for while it refuses to flourishaway from its native home, yet its great possibilities as a wine-grapeare beginning to be appreciated. All the early explorers gave itspecial mention. Hariot in his famous Narrative wrote, "There are twokinds of grapes that the soil does yield naturally, the one is smalland sour, of the ordinary bigness of ours in England; the other fargreater and of _himself luscious sweet_. When they are planted andhusbanded as they ought, a principal commodity of wines by them may beraised. " (Hakluyt, 1586. ) Lawson in his history (1714) describesseveral varieties, and dwells on the abundant supply of grapes and thegreat tangles of green vines. He wrote of a native _white_ grape, whichmany in that day thought existed only in his imagination; but it wasa reality and was the now well-known Scuppernong, whose fame historyand tradition both perpetuate, and whose real worth, greater than itslegendary fame, is now being recognized and appreciated. There areseveral varieties of the Scuppernong, all luscious and yielding richjuices, and when ripe they fill the air with a fragrance unknown to anyother grape. 

[Illustration: Old "Mother" Scuppernong Vine. ]

The first Scuppernong vine known to history was found on the mainlandof the North Carolina coast by Amadas and Barlowe on their first voyage(1584). Tradition relates that they transplanted this vine to RoanoakIsland. On this island there still flourishes an old vine, whichdespite its gnarled body and evident age continues to bear fruit. It isclaimed that it is the same vine Amadas and Barlowe planted. Someinsist that it was planted by Sir Walter Raleigh himself, but as thatfamous knight did not realize his wish to visit his new possessions inNorth America, the honor of having planted the vine must revert toAmadas and Barlowe. It seems to be endowed with perennial youth, andthe harvest from its branches is an annual certainty. 

What the early explorers testified as to the abundant supply of grapeson the Carolina coast, and the propitious conditions existing for thepropagation of the vine, is equally true to-day. The manifest destinyof North Carolina as the rival of Southern France in the production ofwines seems to be inevitable. The marvel is how it has been so longdelayed after Hariot's special mention of such possibilities. Hariotwas a close observer with a practical mind, and the presence of anindigenous supply of material to sustain an important industrysuggested to him that the people coming to this grape-laden land mightestablish such an industry to their advantage. The delay of thedevelopment of grape-culture in its native home can only be explainedon the theory that when nature boldly invites, man becomes shy. Thisindifference to grape-culture is peculiar to America, for in Europe allthe aristocracy who are land-owners, where the climate makes itpossible, are cultivators of the grape, take great pride in theirwines, boast of their rare and fine vintages, and hold the making ofwine as one of the fine arts. 

The original Scuppernong has white skin, white pulp, white juice, andmakes a white wine. Other varieties have dark purple skins and yield areddish juice which makes a red wine. The dark varieties are said to be_seedlings_ from the original white variety, and tradition explains themetamorphosis in this way. 

[Illustration: Among the Scuppernongs. --A Modern Vineyard. ]

In the magic spring made famous in the legend of The White Doe, afterthe blood of Virginia Dare had melted from the silver arrow into thewater of the spring, then the water disappeared. As the legend says:

 "Dry became the magic fountain, Leaving bare the silver arrow. "

Then while O-kis-ko looked on in wonderment he saw

 "a tiny shoot with leaflets Pushing upward to the sunlight. "

Tradition says that this "tiny shoot with leaflets" was a youngseedling of the Scuppernong which had sprouted in the edge of thewater, and it was not seen by O-kis-ko until all the water haddisappeared. Then he saw it and immediately associated its appearancewith the magic arrow, and so left it "reaching upward to the sunlight. "After many days he returned to the spot-drawn by an irresistiblelonging, and covered the fatal arrow, which had brought him so muchwoe, with earth and leaves to hide it from his sight. The earth andleaves furnished the necessary nourishment to the tiny vine, whichreached out with strength and vigor, and finding friendly bushes uponwhich to climb, it soon made a sheltering bower above the spot wherehad bubbled the magic spring. This tiny green bower became the favoriteretreat of O-kis-ko, where he would linger to cherish thoughts of hislost love, Virginia Dare, and marvel on the wonders of her death. Thenit came to pass that when fruit came upon this vine, lo! it was purplein hue instead of white like the other grapes, and yielded a _red_juice. Full of superstition, and still credulous of marvels, O-kis-koimagined the change to be due to the magic arrow buried at its root. Hegathered the grapes and pressed the juice from them, and lo! it was_red_--it was the semblance of blood, _Virginia Dare's blood_, absorbedfrom the water (in which it had melted from the arrow) by the vine, andyet potent for good. Surely it held some unseen power, for it combinedin some mystic way through the mysterious earth at his feet all thepower of the magic spring, the power of the silver arrow, and the powerof human blood consecrated through human love. He reverently drank thejuice of this new vine, believing that it would in some way link himwith the spirit of her he had loved and lost. Year after year he drankthis juice and fed his soul on thoughts of love, making unconsciously asacrament, and finding happiness in the thought that the blood of themaiden would feed his spirit and lead him to her at last. To becomegood like her and to go to her became his highest hope. Aspiration hadbeen born in his soul, and quickened by love it could not die, but ledhim blindly to strive to reach her, and such striving is never in vain. 

[Illustration: A "Virginia Dare" Vineyard. ]

Another fact that should be enshrined in the hearts and perpetuated inthe memorials of the nation, is that on Roanoak Island the firstChristian baptism in the United States was administered. By order ofSir Walter Raleigh, Manteo, the friendly Indian chief, was baptizedsoon after the arrival of the colony under Governor White, and thefollowing Sunday Virginia Dare, the granddaughter of Governor White, was baptized, both events being officially reported to Raleigh. In thisday of religious freedom any enforced adoption of religious formsshocks our pious instincts. Yet baptism has always been considered_necessary_ to salvation, and in the past the zeal of Christians forthe salvation of their fellow-men often assumed the form of mild force. We read where the Spaniards, always religious fanatics, administeredthe Holy Sacrament to thousands in Central America and Mexico _at thepoint of the sword_; their zeal misleading them to force upon thoseless enlightened than themselves the hope of that heaven which theybelieved to be accessible only through certain Christian rites. So toorder the baptism of an Indian chief seems a simple, kindly thing, andmost probably Manteo desired it done. The only other Indian whoreceived baptism in those early settlements was Pocahontas, in 1614. She was a captive at the time and held as a hostage to induce Powhatanto comply with certain demands of the colonists at Jamestown. 

Despite the fact that Virginia Dare was baptized twenty-seven yearsearlier than Pocahontas, yet it is the Indian Princess who is figuredin the painting on the walls of the dome of the Capitol at Washingtonas receiving the first baptism in the colonies. Buried in the annals ofthat time lies the fact that twenty-seven years before any colonisteven came to Jamestown, Virginia Dare was born and baptized, as thesequence of Christian birth and as the child of Christian parents. Virginia Dare was not a myth. She was a living, breathing reality, ahuman creature of good English descent, the granddaughter of thegovernor of the colonies, the daughter of the assistant governor, and asharer in the mysterious fate of Raleigh's Lost Colony. The historicalfacts of her life and the legend of her fate and death are contained inthe pages of "The White Doe. "

Her baptism would not have been mentioned in the records if it had notbeen official and proper. In a new land, surrounded by dangers anddifficulties, with strange environment to divert the mind to otherchannels, it would have been easy and natural for her baptism to havebeen delayed if not altogether neglected amid the stress of events. Herprompt baptism and the official report of the event to Sir WalterRaleigh is convincing testimony to the presence of a chaplain atRoanoak. 

THE FIRST BAPTISM IN THE WILDS OF AMERICA!

How naturally the scene rises before us. The young mother, her heartthrilling with the mysteries of love and life, and elated with the joyof motherhood, alert to the dangers of the new land, and suspicious ofthe strange people among whom her blue-eyed treasure must live, yetyielding cheerfully to the busy smiling English women who had crossedthe ocean with her, and now with womanly intuition ministered to herneeds. We can picture them making tidy the confused household, andstilling the cries of the infant as they prepare her to receive thesign of the cross. We can almost picture them deliberating over achoice from among their limited supply of vessels of one worthy tobecome the receptacle of the water to be used. It was on theSabbath-Day, and the dedication to God of the wee creature who had sonewly come among them was a fitting observance of the day. The solemnwords of the ritual of the English Church, never before spoken in thatprimeval forest, must have awakened mysterious vibrations which lingeryet and give to Roanoak Island that atmosphere of perpetual reposewhich envelops it. There must have come to those who witnessed thescene that holy Sabbath-Day, just as it comes now to those who view itfrom afar, a deep realization that the God of the English and the GreatSpirit of the Indian are one and the same, then, now, and evermore. TheOne God to whom in baptism Virginia Dare was brought and in whose nameManteo the savage was signed with the cross and given the promise ofsalvation, and who remains the God of the millions of English-speakingpeople who now worship in the land which was then and there dedicatedto the service of Christ. 

The mist of oblivion fades before the light of Truth, and Virginia Darewill be a shining jewel in the Chaplet of Memories which some dayChristian America will place upon the tomb of the Past. 

PREFACE

A familiar knowledge of the history of one's own country increasespatriotism and stimulates valor. For this reason the study of writtenrecords called history should be supplemented by research into myths, folk-lore, and legends. While the value of history lies ever in itstruth, it must yet bear the ideals of the people who participated inthe events narrated. Tradition was the mother of all history, and wasnecessarily robed in the superstitions of the era of which thetradition tells. History writers, jealously guarding the truth, havestriven to banish all traditions which seemed colored by fancy or evenfreighted with a moral lesson. These exiled traditions, bearing theseed-germs of truth, cannot die, but, like wandering spirits, floatdown the centuries enveloped in the mists of superstition, untilfinally, embodied in romance or song, they assume a permanent formcalled legend and become the heritage of a people. Legends are thesatellites of history because they have their origin in the sameevents, and the history of all countries is interspersed with them. 

The legend of The White Doe is probably the oldest and possibly theleast known of all the legends which relate to the history of theUnited States. It is a genuine American legend, and the facts fromwhich it had its origin form the first chapter in the history ofEnglish colonization in North America. Those facts are found in therepeated attempts of Sir Walter Raleigh to establish an English colonyin the New World. The Spaniards were in Florida, the French were inNova Scotia, but England had gained no possessions in North Americawhen Raleigh began his efforts. This fact assumes more importance whenwe remember that civilization has made the greatest progress in thoseparts of America where the English became dominant. In South America, dominated by the Spaniards, civilization has made no strides, while inthe United States a new nation has arisen whose ultimate destiny nonemay limit or foretell. As the gates of a new century open and disclosealmost unlimited fields for human progress, this new nation, with anenthusiasm and courage born of success, has taken her place to lead inthe eternal forward search for better opportunities and higher lifefor the human race. All this grand destiny, all this ripeningopportunity, like a harvest from a few seeds, is traced back, eventafter event, to the early struggles of those who braved the dangers ofsea and forest in the attempts to colonize America. Those pioneerefforts, so generously promoted by Sir Walter Raleigh, though onlypartially successful, were the stepping-stones which later led to thebetter-known settlement of Jamestown, in Virginia. A brief _résumé_ ofthose stepping-stones will make them familiar to all. 

In 1584 Queen Elizabeth made a grant to Raleigh for all the land fromNova Scotia to Florida, which was called Virginia, in honor of theVirgin Queen, as Elizabeth was called. 

The first expedition sent out under this grant was in the same year, 1584, and was entirely at the expense of Sir Walter Raleigh, as wereall of the expeditions up to 1590. It was solely for the purpose ofexploration, and was under the command of Amadas and Barlowe, who, after coasting along the Atlantic shores, entered Pamlico Sound andlanded on the island of Roanoak, on the coast of the present State ofNorth Carolina. They made the acquaintance of the tribes thereresident, explored the country on the coast, and returned to England tobear enthusiastic testimony to the delightsomeness of the country. Theytook with them back to England two native Indian chiefs, Manteo andWanchese, who returned to America on a subsequent voyage, as theofficial records tell. 

The following year, 1585, a colony of one hundred and seven men landedon this same island of Roanoak. They came organized to occupy andpossess the land granted to Raleigh, and to secure such benefitstherefrom as in those days were deemed valuable. They remained oneyear, exploring the country and trying to establish relations with theIndians. They built houses, planted crops, and looked forward to thearrival of more men and food, which had been promised from England. Butno ships came, provisions grew scarce, and before the crops they hadplanted were mature enough to harvest, Sir Francis Drake, the greatsea-rover of that day, appeared off the island with a fleet of vessels. 

Knowing the dangers of that coast, he did not attempt to come to theisland, but sent in to learn of the welfare of the colony, and offeredto supply their immediate needs. They asked, among other things, thattheir sick and weak men be taken back to England, that food for thosewho remained be given them, and for a vessel in which they might returnhome if they so desired, all of which Drake granted. But a dreadfulstorm arose, which lasted three days and drove the promised vessel outto sea, with a goodly number of the colonists and the promised food onboard. Seeing thus a part of their number and their food gone, theremaining colonists became homesick and panic-stricken and begged Draketo take them _all_ to England, which he did. Thus ended the firstattempt at English colonization in North America. 

Fifteen days after their departure Sir Richard Grenville arrived withthree vessels, bringing the promised supplies, but found the men gone. Wishing to hold the country for England until another colony couldarrive, he left fifteen men on the island with provisions for twoyears, and he returned to England. Those fifteen men are supposed tohave been murdered and captured by the Indians, as the next colonyfound only some bones, a ruined fort, and empty houses in which deerwere feeding. 

The leaving of those fifteen men is considered the second attempt atcolonization, and is recognized as a failure. But all success is builtonly by persistent repetition of effort, and so, in 1587, anothercolony came from England to this same island of Roanoak. Among thosecolonists were seventeen women and nine children, thus proving theintention of making permanent homes, and the hope of establishingfamily ties which should for all time unite England and North America. A few days after the arrival of this colony at Roanoak, Virginia Darewas born, --she being the first child born of English parents on thesoil of North America, --and because she was the first child born inVirginia she was called Virginia. Her mother, Eleanor Dare, was thedaughter of John White, the governor of the colony, and the wife of oneof the assistant governors. 

The Sunday following her birth she was baptized, this being anotherfact of official record. 

By Sir Walter Raleigh's command the rite of baptism had beenadministered, a few days earlier, to Manteo, an Indian chief, who hadvisited England with a returning expedition, as previously mentioned. This baptism of the adult Indian and of the white infant were the firstChristian sacraments administered in North America, and are worthy ofcommemoration. 

The colonists soon found that to make possible and permanent their homein a new land many things were needed more than they had provided. Soat their urgent request their leader, Governor White, grandfather ofVirginia Dare, consented to return to England to secure the neededsupplies, with which he was to return to them the following year. WhenWhite reached England he found war going on with Spain, and Englandthreatened with an invasion by the famous Spanish Armada. His queenneeded and demanded his services, and not until 1590--three yearslater--did he succeed in returning to America. When at last he came thecolonists had disappeared, and the only clue to their fate was the word"Croatoan, " which he found carved on a tree; it having been agreedbetween them that if they changed their place of abode in his absencethey would carve on a tree the name of the place to which they hadgone. 

The arrival of those colonists, the birth and baptism of Virginia Dare, the return of White to England, the disappearance of the colony, andthe finding of the word Croatoan, these facts form the record of thatcolony, the disappearance of which is a mystery which history has notsolved. 

But tradition illumines many periods of the past which history leavesin darkness, and tradition tells how this colony found among friendlyIndians a refuge from the dangers of Roanoak Island, and how thisinfant grew into fair maidenhood, and was changed by the sorcery of arejected lover into _a white doe_, which roamed the lonely island andbore a charmed life, and how finally true love triumphed over magic andrestored her to human form, --only to result in the death of the maidenfrom a silver arrow shot by a cruel chieftain. 

This tradition of a white doe and a silver arrow has survived throughthree centuries, and not only lingers where the events occurred, butsome portions of it are found wherever in our land forests abound anddeer abide. From Maine to Florida lumbermen are everywhere familiarwith an old superstition that to see a white doe is an evil omen. Insome localities lumbermen will quit work if a white deer is seen. Thatsuch a creature as a white deer really exists is demonstrated by theircapture and exhibition in menageries, and to-day the rude hunters ofthe Alleghany Mountains believe that only a silver arrow will kill awhite deer. 

The disappearance of this colony has been truly called "the tragedy ofAmerican colonization, " and around it has hung a pathetic interestwhich ever leads to renewed investigation, in the hope of solving themystery. From recent search into the subject by students of history achain of evidence has been woven from which it has come to be believedthat the lost colony, hopeless of succor from England, and deprived ofall other human associations, became a part of a tribe of friendlyCroatoan Indians, shared their wanderings, and intermarried with them, and that their descendants are to be found to-day among the CroatoanIndians of Robeson County, North Carolina. 

(Those who desire to investigate this supposed solution of the mysterycan easily secure the facts and the conclusions formed by those whohave made a careful study of the subject. )

Of course, it can never be known _certainly_ whether Virginia Dare wasor was not of that number, but the full tradition of her life among theIndians is embodied in the legend of The White Doe. 

Much has been written about the Indian princess Pocahontas, and muchsentiment has clustered around her association with the Jamestowncolony, while few have given thought to the young English girl whosebirth, baptism, and mysterious disappearance link her forever with theearlier tragedies of the same era of history. It seems a strangecoincidence that the Indian maiden Pocahontas, friend and companion ofthe _White_ Man, having adopted _his_ people as her own, should sleepin death on English soil, while the English maiden, Virginia Dare, friend and companion of the _Red_ Man, having adopted his people as_her_ own, should sleep in death on American soil, --the two maidensthus exchanging nationality, and linking in life and in death the twocountries whose destinies seem most naturally to intermingle. 

The scattered fragments of this legend have been carefully collectedand woven into symmetry for preservation. Notes from authentic sourceshave been appended for the benefit of searchers into the historicalbasis of the poem, which is offered to the public with the hope that itmay increase interest in the early history of our home land andstrengthen the tie which binds England and the United States. 

 SALLIE SOUTHALL COTTEN. 

CONTENTS

 PAGE

FORGOTTEN FACTS AND FANCIES OF AMERICAN HISTORY i

PREFACE 5

PROLOGUE 19

THE SEEDS OF TRUTH 23

THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE DOE

 I. --THE REFUGEES 31

 II. --THE PALE-FACE MAIDEN 42

III. --SAVAGE SORCERY 46

 IV. --THE COUNTER-CHARM 55

 V. --THE HUNT 63

 VI. --THE SILVER ARROW 72

APPENDIX 81

ILLUSTRATIONS

_1 "While within its bright'ning dimness, With the misty halo 'round her, Stood a beautiful white maiden"_ FRONTISPIECE

_2 A Scuppernong Vineyard, Roanoak Island_ _x_

_3 Old "Mother" Scuppernong Vine_ _xii_

_4 Among the Scuppernongs. --A Modern Vineyard_ _xiv_

_5 A "Virginia Dare" Vineyard_ _xvi_

_6 The Arrival of the Englishmen in Virginia_ _23_

_7 "The Fierce, Brawny Red Man is King of the Wold"_ _24_

_8 The Land-of-Wind-and-Water_ _32_

_9 Man-te-o, a Chiefe Lorde of Roanoak_ _34_

_10 "Then a New Canoe he fashioned"_ _52_

_11 The Magician of Po-mou-ik_ _58_

Frontispiece from an original drawing by May LouiseBarrett. 

Maps and remaining illustrations reproduced fromTheodore de Bry's edition of "The True Pictures andFashions of the People in that Parte of America nowcalled Virginia, " 1590. 

PROLOGUE

In the tomb of vanished ages sleep th' ungarnered truths of Time, Where the pall of silence covers deeds of honor and of crime;Deeds of sacrifice and danger, which the careless earth forgets, There, in ever-deep'ning shadows, lie embalmed in mute regrets. Would-be-gleaners of the Present vainly grope amid this gloom;Flowers of Truth to be immortal must be gathered while they bloom, Else they pass into the Silence, man's neglect their only blight, And the Gleaner of the Ages stores them far from human sight. Yet a perfume, sweet and subtle, lingers where each flower grew, Rising from the shattered petals, bathed and freshened by the dew;And this perfume, in the twilight, forms a mist beneath the skies, Out of which, like airy phantoms, legends and traditions rise;For the Seeds of Truth are buried in a legend's inmost heart, To transplant them in the sunlight justifies the poet's art. 

[Illustration: The arrival of the Englishmen in Virginia]

THE SEEDS OF TRUTH

ROANOAK, 1587

Shimmering waters, aweary of tossing, Hopeful of rest, ripple on to the shore;Dimpling with light, as they waver and quiver, Echoing faintly the ocean's wild roar. Locked in the arms of the tremulous watersNestles an island, with beauty abloom, Where the warm kiss of an amorous summerFills all the air with a languid perfume. Windward, the roar of the turbulent breakersWarns of the dangers of rock and of reef;Burdened with mem'ries of sorrowful shipwreck, They break on the sands in torrents of grief. Leeward, the forest, grown giant in greenness, Shelters a land where a fervid sun shines;Wild with the beauty of riotous nature, Thick with the tangles of fruit-laden vines. [A]From fragrant clusters, grown purple with ripeness, Rare, spicy odors float out to the sea, [B]Where the gray gulls flit with restless endeavor, Skimming the waves in their frolicsome glee. 

Out from the shore stalks the stately white heron, Seeking his food from the deep without fear, Gracefully waving wide wings as he risesWhen the canoe of the Indian draws near. Through reedy brake and the tangled sea-grassesWander the stag and the timid-eyed doe[C]Down to the water's edge, watchful and waryFor arrows that fly from the red hunter's bow. Fearless Red Hunter! his birthright the forest, Lithe as the antelope, joyous and free. Trusting his bow for his food and his freedom, Wresting a tribute from forest and sea, No chilling forecast of doom in the futureDaunts his brave spirit, by freedom made bold. Far o'er the wildwood he roams at his pleasure, The fierce, brawny Red Man is king of the wold. 

[Illustration: "The fierce, brawny Red Man is king of the wold"]

 * * * * *

Lo! in the offing the white sails are gleaming, Ships from afar to the land drawing nigh;Laden with men, strong and brave to meet danger, Stalwart of form, fair of skin, blue of eye. Boldly they land where the white man is alien;Women are with them, with hearts true and brave;Sadly they stand where their countrymen perished, [D]Seeking a home where _they_ found but a grave. 

Friendly red hunters greet them with kindness, Tell the sad tale how their countrymen died, [E]Beg for a token of friendship and safety, [F]Promise in love and in peace to abide. Manteo's heart glows with friendly remembrance, He greets them as brothers and offers good cheer;No thrill of welcome is felt by Wanchese, [G]His heart is bitter with malice and fear. Envying men his superiors in wisdom, Fearing a race his superiors in skill;Sullen and silent he watches the strangers, Whom from the first he determines to kill. 

Then the sign of the Cross, on the brow of the Indian, [H]Seals to the savage the promise of life;Sweet symbol of sacrifice, emblem of duty, Standard of Peace, though borne amidst strife:Draped with the sombre, stained banner of Conquest, Dark with the guilt of man's murder and greed, Yet bright with God's message of love and forgivenessUnto a universe welded to creed. 

Gently the morning breeze tosses the tree-tops, Low ebbs the tide on the outlying sand;When a tiny white babe opens eyes to the sunlight, [I]Heaven's sweet pledge for the weal of the land. Babe of the Wilderness! tenderly cherished!Signed with the Cross on the next Sabbath Day;Brave English Mother! through danger and sorrow, For a nation of Christians thou leadest the way. 

Back to the home-land, across the deep water, Goes the wise leader, their needs to abate;[J]Leaving with sorrow the babe and its motherIn a strange land as a hostage to Fate. Many long months pass in busy home-making, Sweet English customs prevail on the isle;Anxious eyes watch for the ship in the offing, Saddened hearts droop, but the lips bravely smile. 

Gone are the sweet dreamy days of the summer, In from the ocean the winter winds shriek;Dangers encompass and enemies threaten, Mother and child other refuge must seek. Mother and child, as in Bethlehem story, Flee from the hate of their blood-thirsty foes;Hopeless of help from their own land and people, They seek friendly tribes to find rest from their woes. 

To the fair borders of Croatoan Island, Over the night-covered waters they flee;Seeking for safety with Manteo's people, Leaving the word "Croatoan" on a tree. [K]Name of the refuge in which they sought shelter, Only the name of a tribe, nothing more;[L]Sign whereby those who would seek them might followTo their new home on the Croatoan's shore. 

Why did they leave the rude fort they had builded?Why did they seek far away a new home?O innocent babe! Roanoak's lost nestling!How shall we learn where thy footsteps did roam?'Mid the rude tribes of the primeval forest, Bearing the signet of Christ on thy brow, Wert thou the teacher and guide of the savage?Who, of thy mission, can aught tell us now?Through the dim ages comes only the perfume, Left where the flowers of Truth fell to earth;With ne'er a gleaner to treasure the blossoms, Save the sweet petals of baptism and birth. Vainly we seek on Time's shore for thy footprints, Hid in a mist of pathos is thy fate;Yet of a life under savage enchantmentQuaint Indian legends do strangely relate. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote A: See Appendix, Note _a_. ]

[Footnote B: See Appendix, Note _b_. ]

[Footnote C: See Appendix, Note _c_. ]

[Footnote D: See Appendix, Note _d_. ]

[Footnote E: See Appendix, Note _e_. ]

[Footnote F: See Appendix, Note _e_. ]

[Footnote G: Pronounced Wan-chess-e. ]

[Footnote H: See Appendix, Note _f_. ]

[Footnote I: See Appendix, Note _g_. ]

[Footnote J: See Appendix, Note _h_. ]

[Footnote K: See Appendix, Note _k_. ]

[Footnote L: See Appendix, Note _k_. ]

THE LEGEND OF THE WHITE DOE

I

THE REFUGEES

In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water, Loud the sea bemoaned its sameness;Dashing shoreward with impatienceTo explore the landward mysteries. On the sand the waves spread boldly, Vainly striving to reach higher;Then abashed by vain ambition, Glided to their ordained duty. There the pine-tree, tall and stately, Whispered low the ocean's murmur;Strove to soothe the restless watersWith its lullaby of sighing. There the tall and dank sea-grasses, From the storm-tide gathered secretsOf the caverns filled with treasures, Milky pearls and tinted coral, Stores of amber and of jacinth, In the caves festooned with sea-weed, Where the Sea-King held his revelsAnd the Naiads danced in beauty. In this Land-of-Wind-and-Water, Dowered with the sunshine's splendor, Juicy grapes grew in profusion, Draping all the trees with greenness, And the maize grew hard and yellow, With the sunshine in its kernels. Through the forest roamed the black bear, And the red deer boldly herded;Through the air flew birds of flavor, And the sea was full of fishes, Till the Red Man knew no hunger, And his wigwam hung with trophies. 

[Illustration: The Land-of-Wind-and-Water]

There brave Man-te-o, the Faithful, Ruled the Cro-a-to-ans with firmness, Dwelt in peace beside the waters, Smoked his pipe beneath the pine-tree, Gazed with pride upon his bear-skinsWhich hung ready for the winter. Told his people all the marvelsOf the Land-of-the-Pale-Faces;Of the ships with wings like sea-birdsWherein he had crossed the water;[M]Of the Pale-Face Weroanza[N]Whom he saw in her own country;Of her robes of silken texture, Of her wisdom and her power;Told them of her warlike peopleAnd their ships which breathed the lightning. How he pledged with them a friendship, Hoping they would come to teach himHow to make his people mighty, How to make them strong in battleSo the other tribes would fear them. And the dream of future greatnessFilled the Cro-a-to-ans with courage;And their hearts grew warm and friendlyTo the race of white-faced strangers. 

When bold white men came among them, To the isle of Ro-a-no-ak, Man-te-o, the friendly Weroance, Faithful proved to all his pledges. Smoked with them the pipe of friendship, Took their God to be his Father;Took upon his swarthy foreheadTheir strange emblem of salvation, [O]Emblem of the One Great Spirit, Father of all tribes and nations. Man-te-o, the friend and brother, Bade them fear the false Wan-ches-e, And the Weroance Win-gin-a, Whose hearts burned with bitter hatredFor the men they feared in combat, For the strangers who defied them. 

[Illustration: Man-te-o, a chiefe lorde of Roanoak]

When the Pale-Face, weak and hungry, Feeble from continued labor, Shivered in the blasts of winterWhich blew cold across the water, Then Wan-ches-e planned their ruin, With Win-gin-a sought to slay them. 

To the isle of Ro-a-no-ak, Where the Pale-Face slept unguarded, Sped the swift canoes of Red Men, Gliding through the silent shadows. As the sky grew red with dawning, [P]While they dreamed of home and kindred, Suddenly with whoop of murderWily Indians swarmed around them. 

Skill of Pale-Face, craft of Red Man, Met in fierce, determined battle;While within the Fort called RaleghMany arrows fell, like raindrops. Arrows tipped with serpent's poison, Arrows tipped with blazing rosin, Winged with savage thirst for murder, Aimed with cruel skill to torture. Threatened by the blazing roof-treeThen the Pale-Face crouched in terror;Saw the folly of resistance, Feared his doom, and fled for safety. 

Man-te-o, alert for danger, From afar saw signs of conflict;Saw the waves of smoke ascendingHeavenward, like prayers for rescue. Swift, with boats and trusty warriors, Crossed he then to Ro-a-no-ak;Strong to help his Pale-Face brothers, Faithful to his friendly pledges. 

As the daylight slowly faded, Hopeless of the bloody struggle, Stealthily the Pale-Face warriorsFled with Man-te-o's brave people. Left they then the Fort called Ralegh, Left the dead within its stockade;Sought another island refuge, Hoping there to rest in safety. 

Man-te-o sought for the mother, [Q]She with babe there born and nurtured'Neath the shadow of disaster, In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water. "Come, " said he, "the darkness falleth, All your people must flee henceward;Wan-ches-e will show no mercy, You must not become his captive. Take the papoose from thy bosom, Call the white chief whom thou lovest, Haste with me upon the flood-tideTo my wigwam on Wo-ko-kon. "

Noiseless, she amid the conflictSought her heart's mate to flee with her;Useless all the strife and courage, Useless all the rude home-making;Shrine for worship, fort for safety, Hope of future peace and plenty, All were vain; yet life we cherish, Far above all boons we hold it:So she hastened on her missionFor the life of self and loved ones. 

As they neared the island border, Pale-Face husband, child, and mother, Man-te-o in silence leading, Every sense alive to danger, Suddenly the Pale-Face fatherThought him of the parting cautionGiven by their absent leader:If they fled in search of safetyOn a tree to leave a token, Whereby he might surely find them, In the land which gave them shelter, When he came again to seek them. [R]

By his side a sturdy live-oakSpread its green, protecting branches;Quick he strove to carve the tokenWhich should speak to all who followed. C. R. O. , in bold, plain letters[S]Cut he in the tree's firm body, When a random, poisoned arrowPierced his heart, and he fell lifeless. 

With a smothered cry of horror, In an agony of sorrow, She would fain have lingered near him, But that Man-te-o urged onward. If discovered, flight was futile, Weakness now meant worse disaster;She must save her helpless babyThough her heart be rent with anguish. 

Frantic with love's desolation, Strong with thoughts of home and father, With a woman's wondrous calmnessWhen great peril calls for action, Safe she placed the sleeping infant'Cross the brawny arms of Man-te-o, While with knife drawn from his girdleCarved she on another live-oakPlain, the one word "CROATOAN"[T]As a sign to all her people. Trusting all to savage friendship, Cutting hope with every letter, Praying God to guide her fatherTo the haven she was seeking. 

Trust is woman's strongest bulwark, All true manhood yields unto it. As her sad eyes turned upon himMan-te-o was moved with pityFor the brave and tender woman, Friendless in the land without him. 

On the brow of Pale-Face babyFirst he made the Holy Cross-Sign;Then upon the sad-eyed motherTraced the sign her people taught him;Then again the sacred symbolOutlined on his own dark forehead;And with open hand upliftedSealed his promise of protection;Linking thus his pledge of safetyWith her faith in Unseen Power. 

Mute with grief, she trusted in him;In his boat they crossed the water, While the night fell like a mantleSpread in mercy to help save them. 

When in Cro-a-to-an they landed, There they found the few survivorsOf that day of doom to many, Glad once more to greet each other. Man-te-o within his wigwamFrom the cold wind gave them shelter, Shared with them his furry bear-skins, Made them warm, and warmth gave courageTo meet life's relentless duties. 

Then he summoned all the people, Called the old men and the young men, Bade the squaws to come and listen, Showed the papoose to the women. They gazed on its tender whiteness, Stroked the mother's flaxen tresses;"'Tis a snow-papoose" they whispered, "It will melt when comes the summer. "

Man-te-o said to the warriors:"Ye all know these Pale-Face peopleWhom Wan-ches-e sought to murder, They have often made us welcome. Brave their hearts, but few are living, If left friendless these will perish;We have store of corn and venison, They are hungry, let us feed them;They have lightning for their arrows, Let them teach us how to shoot it. They with us shall search the forest, And our game shall be abundant;Let them teach us their strange wisdomAnd become with us one people. "

And the old men, grave in counsel, And the young men, mute with deference, While the uppowoc[U] was burning, Pondered on his words thus spoken, And to Man-te-o gave answer:"All your words are full of wisdom;We will share with them our venison, They shall be as our own people. "

From the isle of Ro-a-no-akThus the Pale-Face fled for succor, Thus in Cro-a-to-an's fair bordersFound a home with friendly Red Men. Nevermore to see white faces, Nevermore to see their home-land, Yet to all the future agesSending proof of honest daring;Forging thus a link of effortIn the chain of human progress. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote M: See Appendix, Note _l_. ]

[Footnote N: Queen Elizabeth. ]

[Footnote O: See Appendix, Note _f_. ]

[Footnote P: See Appendix, Note _m_. ]

[Footnote Q: Eleanor Dare. ]

[Footnote R: See Appendix, Note _k_. ]

[Footnote S: See Appendix, Note _k_. ]

[Footnote T: See Appendix, Note _k_. ]

[Footnote U: Tobacco. ]

II

THE PALE-FACE MAIDEN

Nature feels no throb of pity, Makes no pause for human heartbreak;Though with agony we quiver, She gives forth no sign of feeling. Waxed and waned the moon, in season, Ebbed and flowed the tides obedient;Summers filled the land with plenty, Winters chilled the summers' ardor. No winged ships gleamed in the offing;No Pale-Faces sought their kindred;In the Land-of-Wind-and-WaterRoamed the Red Man unmolested. 

While the babe of Ro-a-no-akGrew in strength and wondrous beauty;Like a flower of the wildwood, Bloomed beside the Indian maidens. And Wi-no-na Skâ[V] they called her, She of all the maidens fairest. In the tangles of her tressesSunbeams lingered, pale and yellow;In her eyes the limpid bluenessOf the noonday sky was mirrored. And the squaws of darksome featuresSmiled upon her fair young beauty;Felt their woman hearts within themWarming to the Pale-Face maiden. And the braves, who scorned all weakness, Listened to her artless prattle, While their savage natures softened, Of the change themselves unconscious. 

Like the light of summer morningBeaming on a world in slumberWas the face of young Wi-no-naTo the Cro-a-to-ans who loved her. She, whose mind bore in its dawningImpress of developed races, To the rude, untutored savageSeemed divinely 'dowed with reason. She, the heir of civilization, They, the slaves of superstition, Gave to her a silent rev'rence, Growing better with such giving. Oft she told them that the Cross-Sign, Made by Man-te-o before themWhen he talked to his own nation, Was the symbol of a SpiritGreat, and good, and wise, and loving;He who kept the maize-fields fruitful, He who filled the sea with fishes, He who made the sun to warm themAnd sent game to feed His children. 

If, when in their games or councils, They grew quarrelsome and angry, Suddenly among them standingWas a maiden like the sunrise, Making with her taper fingerThis strange sign which they respected;And without a word of pleadingStrife and wrath would no more vex them, While the influence of her presenceLingered 'round them like enchantment. 

Thus the babe of Ro-a-no-akGrew to be the joy and teacherOf a tribe of native heathenIn the land which gave her shelter. And the tide of her affectionsFlowed to those who gave her friendship;Whom alone she knew as human, Whom to her became as kindred. 

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote V: Literally, "first-born white daughter. "]

III

SAVAGE SORCERY

Man-to-ac, the Mighty Father, When he filled the earth with blessings, Deep within the heart of WomanHid the burning Need-of-Loving;Which through her should warm the agesWith a flame of mutual feeling, Throbbing through her sons and daughtersWith a force beyond their power. And this law of human loving, Changeless through unending changes, Fills each living heart with yearningFor another heart to love it;And against this ceaseless cravingCreed, nor clime, nor color standeth;Heart to heart all nature criethThat the earth may thrill with gladness. 

So the young braves of the nation, Thrilled with love for fair Wi-no-na, Made rude ornaments to please her, Laid the red deer at her wigwam. Brought her skins of furry rabbitsSoft and white as her own skin was;Robbed the black bear and the otterThat her bed might soft and warm be. And the children of the forestWere uplifted by such lovingOf a higher type of being, Who yet throbbed with human instincts. 

Brave O-kis-ko loved the maidenWith a love which made him noble;With the love that self-forgettingFills the soul with higher impulse. As the sun with constant fervor, Heat and light to earth bestowing, Seeks for no return of blessing, Feels no loss for all his giving, So O-kis-ko loved Wi-no-na, Gave her all his heart's rude homage, Felt no loss for all his giving, Loved her for the joy of loving. Scorned he all fatigue and dangerWhich would bring her food or pleasure;And each day brought proof of fealty, For his deeds were more than language. 

For her sake he tried to fastenTo his rude canoe white pinionsLike the winged ships of the white man, That with her he might sail boldlyOut towards the rosy sunrise, Seeking for her lost grandsire[W]For whose coming her heart saddened. Though his red companions mocked him, His endeavor pleased the maiden, And her eyes beamed kindly on him, Though no passion stirred her pulses. For sweet maiden hopes and fanciesFilled her life with happy dreamingEre her woman's heart awakenedTo O-kis-ko's patient waiting. Waiting for her eyes to brighten'Neath the ardor of his glances;Waiting for her soul to quickenWith the answer to his longing;Finding sweet content in silence, Glad each day to see and serve her. 

Now old Chi-co, the Magician, Also loved the fair Wi-no-na, All his youth to him returningAs he gazed upon her beauty. In his wigwam pelt of gray wolf, Antlers of the deer and bison, Hung to prove his deeds of valor;And he wooed the gentle maidenWith his cunning tales of prowess. 

She would not rebuke his boasting, Fearful lest her words offend him;For her nature kind and lovingCould not scorn the vaunting Chi-co. 

When he walked among the maidens, Gay with paint and decked with feathers, She would look on him with kindnessThat the others might not scoff him;She would smile upon his weakness, Though she did not wish to wed him. 

Chi-co's love was fierce as fireWhich from flame yields only ashes;Which gives not for joy of giving, But demands unceasing tribute, More and more to feed its craving. He grew eager and impatient, He would share with none her favor;All for him her eyes must brighten, Else his frown would blight her pleasure. 

When the young men played or wrestled, If O-kis-ko came out victor;Or returning with the huntersHe it was who bore the stag home;If with eyes abrim with pleasureSweet Wi-no-na smiled upon him, Or with timid maiden shynessDrooped her eyes beneath his glances, Then old Chi-co's heart would witherWith the fire of jealous fury, Till at length in bitter angerHe determined none should win her, As from him she turned in coldness. 

Wrapped in silence grim and sullen, Much he wandered near the water;With his soul he took dark counsel, Seeking for devices cruelFor the torture of his rivalAnd destruction of the maiden. 

Though he rarely used his power, Chi-co was a great magician. He knew all the spells of starlightAnd the link 'tween moon and water;Knew the language of lost spiritsAnd the secret of their power;Knew the magic words and symbolsWhereby man may conquer nature. 

Long he plotted, --much he brooded, While he gathered from the waterMussel-pearls all streaked and piedèd, [X]All with rays like purple halos. 

Such pearls are the souls of NaiadsWho have disobeyed the Sea-King, And in mussel-shells are prisonedFor this taint of human frailty. When by man released from duranceThese souls, grateful for their freedom, Are his slaves, and ever renderGood or evil at his bidding. 

Chi-co steeped each one he gatheredIn a bath of mystic brewing;Told each purple, piedèd pearl-dropWhat the evil was he plotted. Never once his purpose wavered, Never once his fury lessened;Nursing vengeance as a guerdonWhile the mussel-pearls he polished. 

Then a new canoe he fashioned, Safe, and strong, and deep he made it;[Y]And then sought to work his magicOn the innocent Wi-no-na;Asked the maiden to go with himIn his boat across the water. "Come, " said he, "to Ro-a-no-ak, Where the waves are white with blossoms, Where the grapes hang ripe in clusters, Come with me and drink their juices. "

[Illustration: "Then a new canoe he fashioned"]

And the innocent Wi-no-naListened to his artful pleading;Went with him in search of pleasure, Glad to show him friendly feeling. 

While with idle stroke they floatedTo the fragrant lily-blossoms, He a string of pearls gave to her, Smooth and polished, pied and purple. 'Round her snowy neck she placed themWith no thought of harm or cunning;And with simple, maiden speechesFilled the time as they sped onward. 

To each pearl had Chi-co chanted, Each had bathed in mystic water, Each held fast the same weird power, Till the time grew ripe for evil. On the waves they could not harm her, There the Sea-King ruled them ever;But when on the shore she landedThey would work their evil mission. 

On the shore of Ro-a-no-akChi-co sent his boat with vigor. Lithe and happy she sprang shoreward, When, --from where her foot first lightlyPressed the sand with human imprint, --On--away--towards the thicket, Sprang _a White Doe_, fleet and graceful. 

His revenge thus wrought in safety, Drifting seaward Chi-co chanted:"Go, White Doe, hide in the forest, Feed upon the sweet wild-grasses;No winged arrow e'er shall harm you, No Red Hunter e'er shall win you;Roam forever, fleet and fearless, Living free and yet in fetters. "

O fair maiden! born and nurtured'Neath the shadow of disaster!Isle of Fate was Ro-a-no-ak, In the Land-of-Wind-and-Water. Nevermore to fill with gladnessThe sad heart of stricken mother;Nevermore to hear the wooingOf the brave and true O-kis-ko. Gone thy charm of youthful beauty, Gone thy sway o'er savage natures;Doomed to flee before the hunter, Doomed to roam the lonely island, Doomed to bondage e'en in freedom. Is the seal of doom eternal?Hath the mussel-pearl all power?Cannot _love_ thy fetters loosen?

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote W: Governor White, of the lost colony. ]

[Footnote X: See Appendix, Note _n_. ]

[Footnote Y: See Appendix, Note _o_. ]

IV

THE COUNTER-CHARM

Man-te-o and all his warriorsLong and far sought for Wi-no-na;Sought to find the sky-eyed maidenSent by Man-to-ac, the Mighty, To the Cro-a-to-ans to bless them, And to make them wise and happy. As a being more than mortal, As a deity they held her;And when no more seen among themLamentations filled the island. Through Wo-ko-kon's sandy stretches, Through the bog-lands of Po-mou-ik, Even unto Das-a-mon-que-peu, Hunted they the missing maiden;If perchance some other nation, Envious of their peace and plenty, Had the maiden boldly captured, For themselves to win her power. Louder grew their lamentationsWhen they found no trail to follow;Wilder grew their threats of vengeance'Gainst the tribe which held her captive. 

While they wailed the Pale-Face Mother, She who once was brave for love's sake, Weak from hardships new and wearing, Utterly bereft of kindred, Her heart's comfort thus torn from her, Died beneath her weight of sorrow. And a pity, soft and human, Though he knew no name to call it, Thrilled the Red Man as he laid her'Neath the forest leaves to slumber. 

But the wary, wily Chi-coTold his secret unto no one, While he listened to the stories, Strange and true, told by the huntersOf a fleet and graceful White DoeOn the banks of Ro-a-no-ak. And the hunters said, no arrowHowsoever aimed could reach her;Said the deer herd round her gathered, And where e'er she led they followed. 

The old women of the nationHeard the tales about this White Doe. Children they of superstition, With their faith firm in enchantment, Linked the _going_ of the maidenWith the _coming_ of the White Doe. They believed in magic powers, They knew Chi-co's hopeless passion, So they shook their heads and whispered, Looked mysterious at each other, "Ho, " they whispered to each other, "Chi-co is a great Magician, Chi-co should go hunt this White Doe;He is not too old for loving;Love keeps step with Youth and Courage;Old age should not make him tremble. Timid is a doe, and gentleLike a maiden, --like Wi-no-na. Oho! Oho!" and they chuckled, Casting dark looks at old Chi-co, "He, " said they, "has 'witched our maiden. "

When O-kis-ko heard the whispersOf the garrulous old women, Glad belief he gave unto themThat the Doe on Ro-a-no-akWas in truth the Pale-Face MaidenWrung from him by cruel magic. He was not a gabbling boaster, He could think and act in silence;And alone he roamed the islandSeeking this White Doe to capture, So that he might tame and keep herNear him to assuage his sorrow. 

All in vain, --no hand could touch her. All in vain, --no hunter won her. Up the dunes of Ro-a-no-akStill she led the herd of wild deer. 

Then O-kis-ko sought We-nau-don, The Magician of Po-mou-ik. [Z]Gave him store of skins and wampum, Promised all his greed demanded, If he would restore the maiden, Break the spell which held her spirit. 

[Illustration: The magician of Po-mou-ik]

In his heart We-nau-don cherishedHatred for his rival Chi-coFor some boyhood's cause of anger, For defeat in public wrestling;And because of this he welcomedNow the time to vent his malice. So he promised from enchantmentTo release the captive maiden. 

In the days of pristine nature, In the dells of Ro-a-no-ak, Bubbling from the earth's dark caverns, Was a spring of magic water. There the Naiads held their revels, There in secret met their lovers;And they laid a spell upon itWhich should make true lovers happy;For to them true love was precious. 

He who drank of it at midnightWhen the Harvest Moon was brightest, Using as a drinking-vesselSkull-bowl of his greatest rivalKilled in open, honest combat, And by summer sunshine whitened, He gained youth perennial from itAnd the heart he wished to love him. 

He who bathed within its waters, Having killed a dove while moaning, And had killed no other creatureSince three crescent moons had rounded;Vowing to be kind and helpfulTo the sad and weary-hearted:He received the magic powerTo undo all spells of evilWhich divided faithful lovers. 

In this spring had bathed We-nau-don, And he held its secrets sacred;But a feeling ever moved himTo make glad the heavy-hearted. So he showed unto O-kis-koWhere to find the magic water;With this counter-charm, he told himHow to free the charmed Wi-no-na:

"In a shark's tooth, long and narrowIn a closely wrought triangle, Set three mussel-pearls of purple, Smooth and polished with much rubbing. To an arrow of witch-hazel, New, and fashioned very slender, Set the shark's tooth, long and narrow, With its pearl-inlaid triangle. From the wing of living heronPluck one feather, white and trusty;With this feather wing the arrow, That it swerve not as it flyeth. Fashioned thus with care and caution, Let no mortal eye gaze on it;Tell no mortal of your purpose;Secretly at sunset place itIn the spring of magic water. Let it rest there through three sunsets, Then when sunrise gilds the tree-topsTake it dripping from the water, At the rising sun straight point it, While three times these words repeating:_Mussel-pearl arrow, to her heart go;Loosen the fetters which bind the White Doe;Bring the lost maiden back to O-kis-ko. _With this arrow hunt the White Doe, Have no timid fear of wounding;When her heart it enters boldlyChi-co's charm will melt before it. "

Every word O-kis-ko heeded, Hope, once dead, now cheered his spirit. From the sea three pearls he gathered;From the thicket brought witch-hazelFor the making of the arrow;From the heron's wing a featherPlucked to true its speed in flying. Patiently he cut and labored, As for love's sake man will labor;Shaped the arrow, new and slender, Set the pearls into the shark's tooth, Fastened firm the heron's feather, With a faith which mastered reason. In the magic spring he steeped it, Watching lest some eye should see it;Through three sunsets steeped and watched it;Three times o'er the charm repeatedWhile the sunrise touched the tree-tops;Then prepared to test its power. 

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote Z: See Appendix, Note _s_. ]

V

THE HUNT

In the Land-of-Wind-and-WaterLong the Summer-Glory lingered, Loath to yield its ripened beautyTo the cold embrace of Winter. And the greenness of the forestGave no sign of coming treason, Till the White Frost without warningHung his banners from the tree-tops. Then a blush of brilliant colorDecked each shrub with tinted beauty;Gold, and brown, and scarlet mingledTill no color seemed triumphant;And the Summer doomed to exileFled before the chilling Autumn. 

While the glow of colors deepened, The proud Weroance Win-gin-a, Chief of Das-a-mon-gue-pue land, Made a feast for all his people;Called them forth with bow and arrowTo a test of skill and valor. He was weary of the mysteriesWhispered of the famous White Doe, Whose strange courage feared no hunter, For no arrow ever reached her. "Ha!" said he, "a skilful hunterIs not daunted by a white doe;Craven hearts make trembling fingers, Arrows fail when shot by cowards. _I_ will shoot this doe so fearless, Her white skin shall be my mantle, [AA]Her white meat shall serve for feasting, And my braves shall cease from fearing. From the fields the maize invites us, Sturgeons have been fat and plenty. We are weary of fish-eating, We will feast on meat of white deer. "

Messengers of invitationSent he to the other nations, Saying, "Come and hunt the White Doe, Bring your surest, fleetest arrows;We will eat the meat of white deer, We will drink the purple grape-juice, Burn the uppowoc in pipe-bowls, While we shame the trembling hunters. "

But the Cro-a-to-ans kept silence, Sent no answer to his greeting. They believed the charmèd White DoeWas Wi-no-na Skâ's pure spirit, Who in freedom still was happy, And they would not wound or harm her, They would shoot no arrows at her, Nor help feast upon her body. 

Then O-kis-ko answered boldly;"I will go and hunt this White Doe, I will shoot from my own ambush, I will take my fleetest arrow. "And the men and women wondered, For they knew his former loving. 

But O-kis-ko kept his secret, Showed no one his new-made arrow;'Round his shoulders threw a mantleMade of skins of many sea-gulls, So that he could hide his arrow, And no mortal eye could see itTill he sent it on its missionWinged with magic, fraught with mercy. 

Thus he went to Ro-a-no-ak, Love, and hope, and faith impelling, Conscious of his aim unerring, Trusting in the arrow's power. 

From Po-mou-ik came Wan-ches-e, For the hunt and feast impatient, Boasting of his skill and valor, Saying in his loud vainglory:"I will teach the braves to shoot deer, Young men now are not great hunters, Hearts like squaws they have within them, Nothing fears them but a papoose. "

Wan-ches-e had crossed the water[AB]In the ships with wings like sea-birds, And the Pale-Face Weroanza, Whom he saw in her own country, Him to please and show her friendship, Gave an arrow-head of silverTo him as a mark of favor. 

This he now brought proudly with him, As of all his arrows fleetest;Bearing in its lustrous metal, As he thought, some gift of powerFrom the mighty WeroanzaWhich would bring success unto him;And the warriors all would praise himAs around the feast they gathered, Saying as he walked among them:"There is none like brave Wan-ches-e, He can bend the bow with firmness, He has arrow-points of silver, And the White Doe falls before him. "And he polished well the arrowWhich he thought would bring him praises. 

Where the deer were wont to wanderAll the hunters took their stations, While the stalkers sought the forest, From its depths to start the deer-herd. 

Near the shore Win-gin-a lingeredThat he first might shoot his arrow, And thus have the certain gloryOf the White Doe's death upon him. 

By a pine-tree stood Wan-ches-eWith his silver arrow ready;While O-kis-ko, unseen, waitedNear by in his chosen ambush, Where he oft had watched the White Doe, Where he knew she always lingered. 

Soon the stalkers with great shoutingStarted up the frightened red deer;On they came through brake and thicket, In the front the White Doe leading, With fleet foot and head uplifted, Daring all the herd to follow. 

Easy seemed the task of killing, So Win-gin-a twanged his bow-string, But his arrow fell beside herAs she sprang away from danger. 

Through the tanglewood, still onward, Head uplifted, her feet scorningAll the wealth of bright-hued foliageWhich lay scattered in her pathway. Up the high sand-dunes she bounded, In her wake the whole herd followed, While the arrows aimed from ambushFell around her ever harmless. 

On she sped, towards the water, Nostrils spread to sniff the sea-breeze;Through the air a whizzing arrowFlew, but did not touch the White Doe;But a stag beside her boundingWounded fell among the bushes, And the herd fled in confusion, Waiting now not for the leader. 

On again, with leaping footsteps, Tossing head turned to the sea-shore;For one fatal minute standingWhere the White Man's Fort had once stood;In her eyes came wistful gleamingsLike a lost hope's fleeting shadow. 

While with graceful poise she lingered, Swift, Wan-ches-e shot his arrowAimed with cruel thought to kill her;While from near and secret ambush, With unerring aim, O-kis-koForward sent his magic arrow, Aimed with thought of love and mercy. 

To her heart straight went _both_ arrows, And with leap of pain she boundedFrom the earth, and then fell forward, Prone, amidst the forest splendor. O-kis-ko, with fond heart swelling, Wan-ches-e, with pride exultant, To the Doe both sprang to claim it, Each surprised to see the other. 

Suddenly, within the forest, Spread a gleaming mist around them, Like a dense white fog in summer, So they scarce could grope their pathway. Slowly, as if warmed by sunbeams, From one spot the soft mist melted, While within its bright'ning dimness, With the misty halo 'round her, Stood a beautiful white maiden, --_Stood the gentle, lost Wi-no-na_. 

Through her heart two arrows crosswisePierced the flesh with cruel wounding;Downward flowed the crimson blood-tide, Staining red the snow-white doe-skinWhich with grace her form enveloped, While her arms with pleading gestureTo O-kis-ko were outstretching. 

As they gazed upon the vision, All their souls with wonder filling;While the white mist slowly melted, _Prostrate fell the wounded maiden_. 

Then revealed was all the myst'ry, Then they saw what had befallen. To her heart the magic arrowFirst had pierced, and lo! Wi-no-naOnce more breathed in form of maiden. 

But while yet the charm was passingCame the arrow of Wan-ches-e;To her heart it pierced unerring, Pierced the pearl-inlaid triangle, Struck and broke the shark's tooth narrow, _Charm and counter-charm undoing_;Leaving but a mortal maidenWounded past the hope of healing. 

Woe to love, and hope, and magic!Woe to hearts whom death divideth!While upon her bleeding bosomFatal arrows made the Cross-Sign, Wistful eyes she turned to Heaven;"O forget not your Wi-no-na, "Whispered she unto O-kis-ko, As her soul passed to the silence. 

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote AA: See Appendix, Note _p_. ]

[Footnote AB: See Appendix, Note _l_. ]

VI

THE SILVER ARROW

Fear seized on the bold Wan-ches-eWhen he saw the Pale-Face maidenStanding where had poised the White Doe, Where the White Man's Fort had once stood. He knew naught of magic arrows, Nor O-kis-ko's secret mission;He saw only his own arrowPiercing through her tender bosom, Never doubting but the wonderWhich his awe-struck eyes had witnessedHad been wrought by his own arrow, Silver arrow from a far land, Fashioned by the skill of Pale-Face, Gift of Pale-Face WeroanzaTo a race she willed to conquer. 

All his hatred of the Pale-Face, Fed by fear and superstition, To him made this sudden visionSeem an omen of the future, When the Red Man, like the White Doe, Should give place unto the Pale-Face, And the Indian, like the white mist, Fade from out his native forest. All his courage seemed to weakenWith the dread of dark disaster;And with instincts strong for safetyFled he from the place in terror. 

Love hath not the fear of danger, And O-kis-ko's faith in magicKept him brave to meet the changesWhich had each so quickly followed. For he saw the human maidenWhere had stood the living White Doe;And he knew his hazel arrow, Charmed with all We-nau-don's magic, Had restored the lost Wi-no-naTo reward his patient loving. 

But the conflict of _two_ arrows, Bringing death unto the maiden, Was a deep and darksome myst'ryWhich his ignorance could not fathom. All the cause of his undoingSaw he in the silver arrow;So with true love's tireless effort, Quick he strove to break its power. 

From her heart he plucked the arrow, Hastened to the magic water, Hoping to destroy the evilWhich had stilled the maiden's pulses. In the sparkling spring he laid itSo no spot was left uncovered, So the full charm of the waterMight act on the blood-stained arrow. 

As the blood-stains from it melted, Blood of Pale-Face shed by Red Man, Slowly, while he watched and waited, _All the sparkling water vanished;_Dry became the magic fountain, Leaving bare the silver arrow. 

Was it thus the spell would weakenWhich had wrought his love such evil?Would she be again awakenedWhen he sought her in the thicket?Must he shoot this arrow at herTo restore her throbbing pulses?Must he seek again We-nau-donTo make warm her icy beauty?

While he of himself sought guidance, Sought to know the hidden meaningOf the mysteries he witnessed;Lo! another mystic wonderMet his eyes as he sat musing. 

From the arrow made by Pale-Face, As th' enchanted water left it, Sprang a tiny shoot with leafletsPushing upward to the sunlight. 

Did the arrow dry the fountainWith the blight of death it carried?Or in going, had the waterLeft a charm upon the arrow?Did the heart-blood of the Pale-FaceFrom the arrow in the waterCause the coming of the green shoot, Which reached upward to the sunlight?

All O-kis-ko's love and courageCould not give him greater knowledge. Savage mind could not unravelAll the meaning of this marvel. Fear forbade him touch the arrowLest he should destroy the green shoot;So he left the tender leafletsReaching upward to the sunlight, Sought again the lifeless maidenFor whose love his soul had hungered;Knelt beside her in the forest, With the awe of death upon him, Which in heathen as in ChristianMoves the human soul to worship. 

All his faith in savage magicTurned to frenzy at his failure;And the helplessness of mortalsPressed upon him like a burden;While a mighty longing seized himFor a knowledge of the Unknown, For a light to pierce the SilenceInto which none enter living. And unconsciously his spiritRose in quest of Might Supernal, Which should rule both dead and living, Leaving naught to chance or magic;Which should seize the throbbing pulsesEbbing from a dying mortal, And create a higher beingFree from thrall of earthly nature;Almost grasping in his yearningKnowledge of the God Eternal, In whose hand the earth lies helpless, In whose heart all souls find refuge. 

But no light came to O-kis-ko;Still the burden pressed upon him, And a pall of hopeless yearningWrapped his soul in voiceless sorrowAs he gazed upon the maidenWith death's mysteries enfolded. Then he made upon her bosomThe strange Cross-Sign she had taught him;From his shoulders took the mantleMade of skins of many sea-gulls, Gently wrapped the maiden in it, Heaped the tinted leaves about her;Leaving all his own life's brightnessWith her where the shadows darkened. 

 * * * * *

Thus the ancient legend runneth, with its plaint of hopeless doom, Bearing in its heart the fragrance of the Truth's enduring bloom, Standing in the light of knowledge, where developed ages meet, We can read the mystic omens which O-kis-ko's eyes did greet. And to us they seem the symbols of what coming ages brought, Realization gives the answer, which in vain the Savage sought. For we know the silver arrow, fatal to all sorcery, Was the gleaming light of Progress speeding from across the sea, Before which the Red Man vanished, shrinking from its silvery lightAs the magic waters yielded to the silver arrow's blight. And the tiny shoot with leaflets, by the sunlight warmed to life, Was the Vine of Civilization in the wilderness of strife;With no friendly hand to tend it, yet it grew midst slight and wrong, Taking root in other places, [AC]--growing green, and broad, and strong, Till its vigor knew no weakness, with its branches flower-fraught, Till a prosp'rous land it sheltered where th' oppressed a refuge sought, Till its fruit made all who labored 'neath its shade both bold and free, Till a people dwelt beneath it strong to meet their destiny. 

Now beneath its spreading branches dwells a nation brave and free, Raising glad, triumphant pæans for the boon of Liberty;Holding fast the Holy Cross-Sign, --Heirs of Duty and of Light, --Still they speed the arrow, Progress, on its civilizing flight;Keeping bright the Fires of Freedom, where Man, Brotherhood may know, For God's breath upon the altar keeps the sacred flame aglow. 

[Illustration]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote AC: Jamestown and Plymouth Rock. ]

APPENDIX

NOTE _a_. --"We viewed the land about us, being where we first landedvery sandy and low towards the water side, but so full of grapes as thevery beating and surge of the sea overflowed them, of which we foundsuch plenty, as well there as in all places else, both on the sand andon the green soil, on the hills as in the plains, as well on everylittle shrub, as also climbing towards the tops of high cedars, that Ithink in all the world the like abundance is not to be found. "--_Firstvoyage of Amadas and Barlowe, 1584. From Hakluyt. _

NOTE _b_. --"The second of July we found shoal water, where we smelledso sweet and so strong a smell as if we had been in the midst of somedelicate garden abounding with all kinds of odoriferous flowers, bywhich we were assured that the land could not be far distant. "--_Firstvoyage of Amadas and Barlowe, 1584. _

NOTE _c_. --"Deer, in some places there are great store: near unto theseacoast they are of the ordinary bigness of ours in England, and someless: but further up into the country where there is better feed, theyare greater. "--_Harriot's Report. _

NOTE _d_. --"The Governor (John White) with divers of his company, walked to the north end of the island, where Master Ralph Lane had hisfort, with sundry necessary and decent dwelling houses, made by his menabout it, the year before, where we hoped to find some signs, orcertain knowledge of our fifteen men. When we came thither we found thefort razed down, but all the houses standing unhurt, saving that theneather rooms of them, and also of the fort, were overgrown with melonsof divers sorts, and deer within them, feeding on those melons; so wereturned to our company, without hope of ever seeing any of the fifteenalive. "--_Hakluyt. _

NOTE _e_. --"At our first landing they seemed as though they would fightwith us, but perceiving us begin to march with our shot towards them, they turned their backs and fled. Then Manteo, their countryman, calledto them in their own language, whom, as soon as they heard, theyreturned, and threw away their bows and arrows, and some of them cameunto us embracing and entertaining us friendly, desiring us not togather or spoil any of their corn, for that they had but little. Weanswered them that neither their corn nor any other thing of theirsshould be diminished by any of us, and that our coming was only torenew the old love, that was between us and them at the first, and tolive with them as brethren and friends; which answer seemed to pleasethem well, wherefore they requested us to walk up to their town, whothere feasted us after their manner, and desired us earnestly _thatthere might be some token or badge given them of us_, whereby we mightknow them to be our friends, " etc. 

"And also we understood by them of Croatoan, how that the fifteenEnglishmen left at Roanoak the year before, by Sir Richard Grenville, were suddenly set upon by thirty of the men of Secota, Aquoscogoc, andDasamonguepeuc, in manner following. They conveyed themselves secretlybehind the trees, near the houses where our men carelessly lived, andhaving perceived that of those fifteen they could see but eleven only, two of those savages appeared to the eleven Englishmen, calling to themby friendly signs that but two of their chief men should come unarmedto speak with those two savages, who seemed also to be unarmed. Wherefore two of the chiefest of our Englishmen went gladly to them;but whilst one of those savages traitorously embraced one of our men, the other with his sword of wood, which he had secretly hidden underhis mantle, struck him on the head and slew him, and presently theother eight and twenty savages shewed themselves; the other Englishmanperceiving this, fled to his company, whom the savages pursued withtheir bows and arrows so fast that the Englishmen were forced to takethe house, wherein all their victuals and weapons were; but the savagesforthwith set the same on fire, by means whereof our men were forced totake up such weapons as came first to hand, and without order to runforth among the savages, with whom they skirmished above an hour. Inthis skirmish another of our men was shot into the mouth with anarrow, where he died; and also one of the savages was shot into theside by one of our men, with a wild fire arrow, whereof he diedpresently. The place where they fought was of great advantage to thesavages, by means of the thick trees, behind which the savages throughtheir nimbleness defended themselves, and so offended our men withtheir arrows, that our men, being some of them hurt, retired fightingto the water side where their boat lay, with which they fled towardsHatorask. By that time they had rowed but a quarter of a mile, theyespied their four fellows coming from a creek thereby, where they hadbeen to fetch oysters; these four they received into their boat, leaving Roanoak, and landed on a little island on the right hand of ourentrance into the harbor of Hatorask, where they remained awhile, butafterwards departed, whither as yet we know not. "--_Hakluyt. _

NOTE _f_. --"The thirteenth of August, our savage, Manteo, by thecommandment of Sir Walter Raleigh, was christened in Roanoak, andcalled Lord thereof, and of Dasamonguepeuc, in reward of his faithfulservices. "--_Hakluyt. _

NOTE _g_. --"The eighteenth, Eleanor, daughter to the Governor, and wifeto Ananias Dare, one of the assistants, was delivered of a daughter, inRoanoak, and the same was christened there the Sunday following, andbecause this child was the first Christian born in Virginia, she wasnamed Virginia. "--_Hakluyt. _

NOTE _h_. --"The twenty-second of August, the whole company, both of theassistants and planters, came to the Governor, and with one voicerequested him to return himself into England, for the better and soonerobtaining of supplies and other necessaries for them; but he refusedit, and alleged many sufficient causes why he would not.... The nextday, not only the assistants, but divers others, as well women as men, began to renew their requests to the Governor again, to take upon himto return into England for the supplies and dispatch of all such thingsas there were to be done.... The Governor being at the last, throughtheir extreme entreating, constrained to return into England, havingthen but half a day's respite to prepare himself for the same, departedfrom Roanoak the seven and twentieth of August in the morning, and thesame day about midnight came aboard the Fly-boat who already hadweighed anchor, and rode without the bar, the admiral riding by them, who but the same morning was newly come thither again. The same dayboth the ships weighed anchor and set sail for England. "--_Hakluyt. _

NOTE _k_. --"Our boats and all things filled again, we put off fromHatorask, being the number of nineteen persons in both boats; butbefore we could get to the place where our planters were left, it wasso exceeding dark, that we overshot the place a quarter of a mile, where we espied towards the North end of the island the light of agreat fire through the woods to the which we presently rowed: when wecame right over against it we let fall our grapnel near the shore, andsounded with a trumpet a call, and afterwards many familiar Englishtunes of songs, and called to them friendly; but we had no answer, wetherefore landed at daybreak, and coming to the fire we found the grassand sundry rotten trees burning about the place. From hence we wentthrough the woods to that part of the island directly over againstDasamonguepeuc, and from thence we returned by the water side roundabout the north point of the island, until we came to the place where Ileft our colony in the year 1586. In all this way we saw in the sandthe print of the savages' feet of two or three sorts trodden in thenight; and as we entered up the sandy bank, upon a tree, in the verybrow thereof, were curiously carved these fair Roman letters C. R. O. , which letters presently we knew to signify the place where I shouldfind the planters seated, according to a secret token agreed uponbetween them and me at my last departure from them; which was, that inany way they should not fail to write or carve on the trees or posts ofthe doors the name of the place where they should be seated; for at mycoming away they were prepared to remove from Roanoak fifty miles intothe main. Therefore at my departure from them in An. 1587, I willedthem that if they should happen to be distressed in any of thoseplaces, that then they should carve over the letters or name, a cross †in this form; but we found no such sign of distress.... And having wellconsidered of this, we passed towards the place where they were left insundry houses, but we found the houses taken down, and the place verystrongly enclosed with a high palisade of great trees, with curtainsand flankers, very fort-like, and one of the chief trees or posts atthe right side of the entrance had the bark taken off, and five feetfrom the ground in fair capital letters was graven CROATOAN without anycross or sign of distress.... I greatly joyed that I had safely found acertain token of their safe being at Croatoan, which is the place whereManteo was born, and the savages of the island our friends. "--_FromGovernor White's account of his voyage in search of the colonists, after the defeat of the Spanish Armada. Hakluyt, Vol. III. _

NOTE _l_. --"We brought home also two of the savages, being lusty men, whose names were Wan-ches-e and Man-te-o. "--_First voyage by Amadas andBarlowe. _

NOTE _m_. --All authorities agree in the statement that the favoritetime among the Indians for an attack on an enemy was at, or about, daybreak. 

NOTE _n_. --"Into this river falls another great river called Cipo inwhich there is found great store of mussels in which there arepearls. "--_Voyage of Amadas and Barlowe. _

"In her ears she had bracelets of pearls, hanging down to her middle, and these were of the bigness of good pease. "--_Voyage of Amadas andBarlowe. _

"Sometimes feeding on mussels, we found some pearle, but it was our hapto meet with ragges, or of a pied colour; not having yet discoveredthose places where we heard of better and more plenty. "--_Harriot'sReport. _

NOTE _o_. --"The manner of making their boats in Virginia is verywonderful. For whereas they want instruments of iron or others likeunto ours, yet they know how to make them as handsomely, to sail withwhere they list in their rivers, and to fish withal, as ours. Firstthey choose some long and thick tree, according to the bigness of theboat which they would frame, and make a fire on the ground about theroots thereof, kindling the same by little and little with dry moss oftrees, and chips of wood that the flame should not mount up too high, and burn too much of the length of the tree. When it is almost burntthrough, and ready to fall they make a new fire which they suffer toburn until the tree falls of its own accord. Then burning off the topand boughs of the tree in such wise that the body of the same mayretain his just length, they raise it upon poles laid over cross wiseupon forked posts at such a reasonable height as they may handsomelywork upon it. Then take they off the bark with certain shells; theyreserve the innermost part of the bark for the nethermost part of theboat. On the other side they make a fire according to the length of thebody of the tree saving at both the ends. That which they think issufficiently burned, they quench and scrape away with shells, andmaking a new fire they burn it again and so they continue, sometimesburning and sometimes scraping until the boat have sufficientbottoms. "--_Harriot's Report. _

NOTE _p_. --"They are a people clothed with loose mantles made of deerskin, and aprons of the same round about their middles. "--_Harriot'sReport. _

NOTE _s_. --"They have commonly conjurers or jugglers, which use strangegestures, and often contrary to nature in their enchantments: For theybe very familiar with devils of whom they inquire what their enemiesdo, or other such things. "--_Harriot's Report. _

 * * * * *

Transcriber's Notes

Page xiii: Changed thay to that (Tradition relates thay they transplanted this vine). 

Spelling variations:

Page 55: Das-a-mon-que-peuPage 63: Das-a-mon-gue-puePages 83, 84, 86: Dasamonguepeuc

Pages xii, xiv: HariotAppendix Notes: Harriot