78 Singing Valleys 



the site of Richmond, and along the York. Wooden block- 

 houses were set here and there between the corn and tobacco 

 fields to which the settlers could repair in case of attack by 

 Indians. They had need of such precautions. The Indians who 

 remained in the region were bitterly antagonistic to the whites' 

 advance. In 1623 young Henry Spelman, the author of one of 

 the most valuable records of the colony from 1609 onwards, a 

 friend and "blood brother" of the Powhatan, and who had 

 been for a while Pocahontas' companion, was on a corn-trad- 

 ing expedition, and had gone ashore leaving part of his crew 

 in the pinnace. Indians put out from the bank, but were 

 frightened off by the crew firing a small cannon. Spelman's 

 mates were congratulating themselves on their cleverness 

 when something came hurtling through the air from the river 

 bank, and landed on the deck in a smear of blood. It was 

 Spelman's head. 



But even with the constant menace of Indian raids, the 

 plantations bordered the river on either side. The houses were 

 set close to the bank, with gardens running down to the con- 

 venient wharves. The houses were wood, of logs and clap- 

 boards; each with its generous outside chimney from which at 

 all seasons and all hours rose a lazy curl of sweet-smelling 

 hickory smoke. In the fireplace below hung the big iron or 

 brass pots, and it was seldom that the warm ashes did not hold 

 one or two "pones" wrapped up in husks, on the chance of a 

 traveler coming by. Those who came had no road but the river. 

 But they beached their canoes or skiffs, and walked con- 

 fidently over the grass to ask a meal or a night's hospitality. 

 It was corn hospitality; and none of it was overfine. 



For planters' tables, you must know, 



Are free for all that come and go. 



While pone and milk, with mush well stear'd 



In wooden dishes graced the board, 



With hominie and cider-pap, 



(Which scarce a hungry dog would lap), 



Well stuffed with fat from bacon fry'd, 



Or with molasses dulcify'd. 



