Captain John Smith and his men were happy to be in Chesapeake
Bay.They wanted to establish a small settlement there.Captain Smith
called the big river the James River, after King James I of Britain. On May
13, 1607, he established the small settlement called Jamestown.
Jamestown was on the James River. In Jamestown the settlers built some
huts, a storehouse and a church.
There were about 100 men in Jamestown in 1607. Most of them were
English gentlemen. They came to the New World to find gold and
riches.They did not want to be farmers. John Smith was angry with them.
He said,"You must all plant crops, hunt and fish. You must not be lazy!"
In Jamestown there was little food. One day Captain Smith and his men
went into the forest to look for food. They walked for a long time. Then
they met a big group of Indians. The Indians attacked them with their
bows and arrows. They killed one of Smith's men. John Smith and his men
killed two Indians. Then the Indians captured John Smith and took him away.
After a long walk, John Smith stood in front of Chief Powhatan and his
tribe. Everyone was silent. Pocahontas stood next to her father. She
looked at John Smith. He was very tall. She looked at his red hair, his blue
eyes and his white skin. He was very different from the Indian men. John
Smith spoke to the Indians in sign language and a few Indian words.
"Great chief, I am a friend. My men and I want to live in peace with
you."Powhatan and his medicine men did not like him.John Smith gave a
compass to the great chief. Powhatan looked at it. He turned it around
in his hand. Why did the needle always point in the same direction? He
tried to touch the needle but a piece of ice was in front of it! The ice
wasn't cold. It didn't melt! Powhatan thought it was magic. All the Indians
of the tribe looked at the compass. They were surprised at the white man's
magic.Pocahontas liked John Smith and his magic, but her father didn't like him.
That afternoon John Smith and his men killed two Indians. Chief
Powhatan and his tribe were very angry. Now John Smith must die!
Two Indian warriors pushed Captain Smith to the ground. They put his
head on a very big stone. Then the Indians picked up another big
stone.They wanted to kill John Smith! When Pocahontas saw this, she said,
"No,father. Please don't kill him. He isn't a bad man."
Powhatan said, "No! He and his men killed two Indians. He must die."
The two Indians were ready to kill Captain Smith. One Indian raised his hand.
"No!" said Pocahontas. She jumped forward and put her head above
Captain Smith's head. "Please father, he must not die! Save him!" said
Pocahontas.Powhatan looked at his favorite daughter. He immediately told the two
Indians to stop. Everyone was surprised at Pocahontas' courage.
Pocahontas saved John Smith's life.
After this Pocahontas and John Smith became great friends. John Smith
taught her English and she taught him the Indian language. He gave her
beautiful beads and trinkets. He told her about London and its enormous
buildings. Pocahontas listened to Smith's stories.
"The King of England is called King James I. He lives in a beautiful palace
in London," said John Smith.
"Is he your chief?" asked Pocahontas. "Yes, he's our leader," said John Smith.
"What do the English ladies wear?" asked Pocahontas.
"They wear long, colorful dresses, shoes and hats. They also wear jewels."
"Are the English ladies beautiful?" Pocahontas asked.
"Some are beautiful and some aren't!" said John Smith.
Pocahontas laughed and listened. She dreamed about London.