Colonial Children :: :: University of Virginia Library

I have given your lordship an account of my intention to meet and treat with the Tuscarora Indians for securing the peace of this colony and punishing the Indians who had part in the recent savage massacre.

My messenger is returned. He brought with him five of the chief men of that nation to represent the rest. These chiefs came at a very good time, just as I had brought into view a body of militia consisting of about sixteen hundred men. So great an appearance of armed men in such good order very much surprised them.

It gave them a better opinion of the strength of this government than they before had. I thought this a good time to let them know what I expected of their nation if they wished to keep our friendship.

I told them that either they must themselves carry on a war with our Indian foes or help us to destroy them. And that we might be the better assured of their friendship I proposed that two of the sons of the chief men in each of their towns should be educated at our college. These sons were to be sent to our government as hostages.

The king of the Nausemonds has sent his son and cousin. The Nottaways and Meherrins have each

217

sent two of their chief men's sons to the college. They have consented for them to be brought up in the Christian religion.

To encourage them I have taken care to have them well clothed and kindly treated. The queen of Pamunkey, upon seeing their good treatment has also promised that her son and one of the sons of a chief in her nation, shall soon be sent. I expect one from the Chickahominys.

That they shall no longer pay tribute of skins is one of the conditions upon which they send their children to the college. It was as much with an intention to bring the Indians to accept Christianity, as to secure their friendship to the government, that I proposed to have their children here.

There are now about twenty-five Indian children at the college. They have a master to teach them, and are decently clothed and cared for; so that they seem very well pleased. So also are their parents, and others of their nations, who come often to see them.

These Indians express much satisfaction at the treatment which is given to their children. They often grieve that they were not so fortunate as to have such advantages in their young days.

Among the Indian children now at the college there are several that can read and write quite well. They can repeat the church catechism and know how to take part in the service at church. Both the boys and the parents show a great desire that they should receive baptism.

218