sum of the wrong done by our gentlemen who stole
rather than worked with their hands. The savages, grown bold now that
they had firearms and knew how to use them, no longer had the same fear
of white people as when Captain Smith, single handed, was able to hold
two hundred in check, and strove to kill us of Jamestown whenever they
found opportunity.

On four different times did they plot to murder my master, believing
that when he had been done to death, it would be more easy for them
to kill off all in our town; but on each occasion, so keen was his
watchfulness, he outwitted them all.

The putting of a crown on Powhatan's head, and bowing before him as if
he had been a real king, also did much mischief. It caused that brown
savage to believe we feared him, which was much the same as inviting him
to be less of a friend, until on a certain day he boldly declared that
one basket of his corn was worth more than all our copper and beads,
because he could eat his corn, while our trinkets gave a hungry man no
satisfaction.

And thus, by the wicked and unwise acts of our own people, did we
prepare the way for another time of famine and sickness.

FEAR OF FAMINE IN A LAND OF PLENTY

However, I must set this much down as counting in our favor: when we
landed in this country we had three pigs, and a cock and six hens, all
of which we turned loose in the wilderness to shift for themselves,
giving shelter to such as came back to us when winter was near at hand.

Within two years we had of pigs more than sixty, in addition to many
which were yet running wild in the forest. Of hens and cocks we had
upward of five hundred, the greater number being kept in pens to the end
that we might profit by their eggs.

I have heard Master Hunt declare more than once, that had we followed
Captain Smith's advice, giving all our labor to the raising of crops,
our storehouse would have been too small for the food on hand, and we
might have held ourselves free from the whims of the savages, having
corn to sell, rather than spending near to half our time trying to buy.

As Master Hunt said again and again when talking over the situation
with Captain Smith, it seemed strange even to us who were there, that
we could be looking forward to a famine, when in the sea and on the land
was food in abundance to feed half the people in all this wide world.

To show how readily one might get himself a dinner, if so be his taste
were not too nice