11. The Ship and the Indians
BY EDWARD JOHNSTON (1628)
THE whole Indian nation of Massachusetts was frightened at a ship
that arrived in the bay, for they had never seen one
before.[66] They themselves report that when some Indians
saw a great thing moving toward them upon the waters, wondering what
creature it could be, they ran with their light canoes from
place to place, and stirred up all their countrymen to come forth and
behold this monstrous thing. At this sudden news the shores for many
miles were filled with the people of this unclothed nation. They gazed at
this wonder till some of the bravest among them manned their
canoes.
[67]
Armed with bows and arrows, they approached within bow shot
of the ship, and let fly their long arrows at her. These were headed with
bone and some stuck fast in the wood. Others dropped into the water.
The Indians wondered that the ship did not cry out, but kept moving
quietly on toward them,
and that its passengers made no defence. All of a sudden the
master caused a cannon to be fired. This struck such fear
into the poor Indians that they hurried to shore, and their
wonder was greatly increased.
Once again the great crowd of Indians waited with
amazement to see the outcome. The seamen furled up their
sails and came to anchor, then manned their long boat, and
went ashore. At their approach most of the Indians fled, but
some saw that the newcomers were men, who made signs to
stop their flight, in order that they might trade with the
natives. For that purpose the newcomers had brought some
copper kettles, and the Indians by degrees made their
approach nearer and nearer.
Then they saw clearly the kettles which had been set forth
before them. The Indians knocked on them and were much
delighted with the sound. They were much more astonished
to see that they would not break, although they were so thin.
To obtain those kettles the Indians brought the white men
many beaver skins. They loaded the strangers richly
according to their wishes.
[[66]]
The Massachusetts settlement was made by a rich
corporation, which could send over hundreds of people at a time.
[[67]]
Birch bark canoes, fastened together with the
roots of white cedar trees.
