Journal of the Beginning of the English Plantation at Plymouth, Part 2
A VOYAGE MADE BY TEN of our Men to the Kingdome of NAVSET, to seeke a Boy that had lost himselfe in the WOODS; With such Accidents as befell vsus in that VOYAGE.
THe 11th of Iune we set forth, the weather being very faire: but ere we had bin long at Sea, there arose a storme of wind and raine, with much lightning and thunder, in so much that a spout arose not far from vsus: but God be praysed, it dured not long, and we put in that night for Harbour at a place, called Cummaquid, where wee had some hope to finde the Boy. Two Savages were in the Boat with vsus, the one was Tisquantum our Interpreter, the other Tokamahamon, a speciall friend. It being night before we came in, we Anchored in the middest of the Bay, where we were drie at a low water. In the morning we espied Savages seeking Lobsters, and sent our two Interpreters to speake with them, the channell being betweene them; where they told them what we were, and for what we were come, willing them not at all to feare vsus, for we would not hurt them. Their answere was, that the Boy was well, but he was at Nauset; yet since wee were there they desired vsus to come ashore & eate with them: which as soone as our Boat floated we did: and went sixe ashore, having foure pledges for them in the Boate. They brought vsus to their Sachim or Gouernour, whom they call Iyanough, a man not exceeding twentie-six yeeres of age, but very personable, gentle, courteous, and fayre conditioned, indeed not like a Savage, saue for his attyre; his entertainement was answerable to his parts, and his cheare plentifull and various.
One thing was very grieuous vntounto vsus at this place; There was an old woman, whom we iudged to be no lesse then an hundred yeeres old, which came to see vsus because shee neuer saw English, yet could not behold vsus without breaking forth into great passion, weeping and crying excessiuely. We demaunding the reason of it, they told vsus, she had three sons, who when master Hunt was in these parts went aboord his Ship to trade with him, and he carried them Captiues into Spaine (for Tisquantum at that time was carried away also) by which meanes shee was depriued of the comfort of her children in her old age. We told them we were sorry that any English man should giuegive them that offence, that Hunt was a bad man, and that all the English that heard of it condemned him for the same: but for vsus we would not offer them any such iniury, though it would gaine vsus all the skins in the Countrey. So we gaue her some small trifles, which somewhat appeased her.
After dinner we tooke Boat for Nauset, Iyanough and two of his men accompanying vsus. Ere we came to Nauset, the day and tyde were almost spent, in so much as we could not goe in with our Shallop: but the Sachim or Governour of Comm…quid went a shore and his men with him, we also sent Tisquantum to tell Aspinet the Sachim of Nauset wherefore we came. The Sauages here came very thicke amongst vsus, and were earnest with vsus to bring in our Boate. But we neither well could, nor yet desired to doe it, because we had lest cause to trust them, being they onelyonly had formerly made an Assault vponupon vsus in the same place, in time of our Winter Discouery for Habitation. And indeed it was no maruayle they did so, for howsoeuer through snow or otherwise wee saw no houses, yet wee were in the middest of them.
When our boat was a ground they came very thicke, but wee stood therein vponupon our guard, not suffering any to enter except two: the one being of Maramoick and one of those, whose Corne we had formerly found, we promised him restitution, & desired him either to come to Patuxet for satisfaction, or else we would bring them so much corne againe, hee promised to come, wee vsed him very kindely for the present. Some few skins we gate there but not many.
After Sun-set, Aspinet came with a great traine, & brought the boy with him, one bearing him through the water: hee had not lesse then an hundred with him, the halfe whereof came to the Shallop side vnarmed with him, the other stood aloofe with their bow and arrowes. There he delivered vsus the boy, behung with beades, and made peace with vsus, wee bestowing a knife on him, and likewise on another that first entertained the Boy and brought him thither. So they departed from vsus.
Here we vnderstood, that the Narrohigansets had spoyled some of Massasoyts men, and taken him. This strucke some feare in vsus, because the Colony was so weakely guarded, the strength thereof being abroad: But we set foorth with resolution to make the best hast home wee could; yet the winde being contrary, having scarce any fresh water least, and at least 16. leagues home, we put in againe for the shore. There we met againe with Iyanough the Sachim of Cūmaquid, and the most of his Towne, both men women & children with him. Hee being still willing to gratifie vsus, tooke a runlet and led our men in the darke a great way for water, but could finde none good: yet brought such as there was on his necke with them. In the meane time the women ioyned hand in hand, singing and dancing before the Shallop, the men also shewing all the kindnes they could, Iyanough himselfe taking a bracelet from about his necke, and hanging it vponupon one of vsus.
Againe we set out but to small purpose: for wee gat but little homeward; Our water also was very brackish, and not to be drunke.
The next morning, Iyanough espied vsus againe and ran after vsus; we being resolved to goe to Cummaquid againe to water, tooke him into the Shallop, whose entertainement was not inferiour vntounto the former.
The soyle at Nauset and here is alike, even and sandy, not so good for corne as where wee are; Shipps may safely ride in eyther harbour. In the Summer, they abound with fish. Being now watered, we put forth againe, and by Gods providence, came safely home that night.