642 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



known in the north, but his empire was of very recent growth, and 

 although similar dictatorships probably preceded it, there is no evi- 

 dence that any great continuity existed among any of them. Other- 

 wise the power itself reminds one of parts of the Gulf region, par- 

 ticularly Florida and the lower Mississippi, though the closest 

 analogy is furnished by some eastern Siouan tribes. Stripping away 

 this overgrowth, we probably have in the strictly bounded domin- 

 ion of the werowance a lineal descendant of the hunting territory, 

 perhaps a transition from the hunting territory of the band to the 

 town land of the Gulf region. 



The common Virginian word for "chief" was, as just given, "wero- 

 wance," which Strachey defines as follows : 



The word weroance, which we call and conster for a king, is a common 

 word, whereby they call all comaunders, for they have but fewe words in 

 their language, and but few occasions to use any officers more than one 

 comaunder, which comonly they call weroance. (Strachey, 1849, p. 51.) 



Strachey and Smith both expatiate at length on the power and 

 absolute authority of Powhatan. 



In all his ancyent inheritances [says the former] he hath bowses built 

 after their manner, and at every bowse provision for his entertainment ac- 

 cording to the tyme. About bis person ordinarily attendeth a guard of 

 forty or fifty of the tallest men his country doe affourd. Every night, upon 

 the four quarters of his bowse, are four centinells drawen forth, each stand- 

 ing from other a flight shott; and at every half houre, one from the corps 

 du guard doth hallowe, unto whome every sentinell returnes answere round 

 from bis stand; yf any fayle, an officer is presentlye sent forth that beateth 

 him extreamlye. . . . According to the order and custome of sensuall beatb- 

 enisme, in the allowance of poligamie, he may have as many women as he 

 will, and bath (as is supposed) many more then one hundred, all which he 

 doth not keepe, yet as the Turk, is one seragalia or bowse, but bath an ap- 

 pointed number, which reside still in every their severall places, amongst 

 whome, when he lyeth on bis bedd, one sitteth at bis head and another at 

 his feet ; but when he sitteth at meat, or in presenting himself to any straungers, 

 one sitteth on his right hand, and another on bis leaft. ... It is strange to 

 see with what great feare and adoration all this people doe obey this 

 Powhatan, for at his feete they present whatsoever he comaundeth, and at the 

 least frowne of his brow the greatest will tremble, yt may be, because he is 

 very terrible, and inexorable in punishing such as offend him. (Strachey, 1849, 

 pp. 51-53.) 



Yet most of the chiefs or "kings" do not seem to have gone about 

 ordinarily in much state for Spelman says : 



The King is not know by any difference from other of y* better chefe sort 

 in y* cuntry but only when he cums to any of ther howses they present him 

 with copper Beads or Vitall, and shew much reuerence to him. (Smith, John, 

 Arber ed., 1884, p. cxiii.) 



They were, however, greeted on their arrival and dismissed with a 

 general shout several times repeated (Smith, John, Arber ed., 1884, 

 pp. xliii, xlvii). 



