36 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [BULL. 69 
of the year 1608, was located on the left bank of the York, evidently 
at ‘‘Rosewell,’’, near White Marsh, Gloucester County. Here the 
lawn is washed by the tide, revealing implements of stone, broken 
pottery, masses of oyster shells, charcoal, and other traces of Indian 
occupancy. Smith has left an interesting description of the appear- 
ance of the great chief and his surroundings at that time (Smith, 
(1), pp. 18-19): 
“ Arriving at Weramocomoco their Emperour proudly lying uppon a 
Bedstead a foote high, upon tenne or twelve Mattes, richly hung with 
manie Chaynes of great Pearles about his necke, and covered with a 
great Covering of Rahaughcums. At [his] heade sat a woman, at 
his feete another; on each side sitting uppon a Matte uppon the 
ground, were ranged his chiefe men on each side the fire, tenne 
in a ranke, and behinde them as many yong women, each [with] a 
great Chaine of white Beads over their shoulders, their heades 
painted in redde: and [Powhatan] with such a grave and Majesticall 
countenance, as drave me into admiration to see such state in a naked 
Salvage.”’ 
Such was the barbaric splendor surrounding the ruling chief of the 
confederacy at the time of the settlement of Virginia. At that time, 
according to the map prepared by Capt. Smith, there were some 200 
native villages within the region, more than three-quarters of which 
were known by name. Many were designated ‘‘ Kings howses,”’ 
others as ‘Ordinary howses,”’ the former referring to the larger towns 
where there was probably a recognized chief or headman, the latter 
being less important or mere temporary camps. 
A manuscript in the British Museum throws light on the dis- 
tribution of the native villages along the principal water courses, and 
describes the position of the country occupied by the colony. This 
quaintly worded document is signed “Tho. Martin” and bears the 
date ‘(15th of Dec. 1622,” that being the year of the great massacre. 
Part of the account reads (Ms. vol. 12496, fol. 456): 
“That parte of Virginia w in w® we are seated and fitt to bee 
settled on for many hundred yards[?]. It is within y® Territories of 
Opiehakano, it lyeth on the west side of Chesapiocke baye, which 
comandeth from the southermost parte of y® fourth river called 
Potomeck w lyeth north next hand to y® River some 50 leagues in 
Latitude. In longitude it extendeth to the Monakins countrie next 
hand west and west and by North of equall length with the latitude. 
his owne principall state is in y® seacond River called Pamunkey in 
the heart of his own inhabited territories. This revolted Indian 
King with his squaw comaundeth 32 Kingdomes under him. Everye 
Kingdome contayneinge y® quantitie of one of y® shires here in 
England. Eavery such Kingdome hath one speciall Towne seated 
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