SWANTON] INDIANS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES 643 



On the return from their first expedition, Newport's party had 

 the following encounter with a Virginia chief tainess : 



Assending a pretty Hill, we sawe the Queene of the Country comminge in 

 selfe same fashion of state as Paivatah or Arahatec; yea rather with more 

 maiesty: she had an vsher before her who brought her to the matt prepared 

 vnder a faire mulbery tree, where she satt her Downe by her selfe with a 

 stayed Countenance. She would permitt none to stand or sitt neere her: 

 she is a fatt lustie manly woman : she had much Copper about her neck, a 

 Crownet of Copper upon her hed : she had long black haire, which hanged loose 

 downe her back to her myddle, which only part was Covered with a Deares 

 skyn, and ells all naked. She had her woemen attending on her adorned much 

 like her selfe (save they wanted y® Copper). (Smith, John, Arber ed., 1884, 

 pp. xlix-1.) 



The power of Powhatan is witnessed in a number of ways. On one 

 occasion he showed Smith his canoes and "described unto me how 

 hee sent them over the Baye, for tribute Beades: and also what 

 Countries paid him Beads, Copper, or Skins" (Smith, John, Tyler 

 ed., 1907, p. 56) . It is shown also by his depositaries of goods scattered 

 in various places. (See quotations from Strachey above and Smith 

 below.) 



To one accustomed to think of absolutism in government as some- 

 thing quite foreign to the American Indians, much of the above and 

 what Smith says about Powhatan and his subject werowances will 

 come as a shock : 



Although the countrie people be very barbarous ; yet have they amongst them 

 such governement, as that their Magistrats for good commanding, and their 

 people for du[e] subiection and obeying, excell many places that would be 

 counted very civill. 



The forme of their Common wealth is a monarchical! governement. One as 

 Emperour ruleth over many kings or governours. Their chiefe ruler is called 

 Powhatan, and taketh his name of the principall place of dwelling called 

 Powhatan. But his proper name is Wahunsonacock. Some countries he hath, 

 which have been his ancestors, and came unto him by inheritance, as the 

 countrie called Powhatan, Arrohateck, Appamatuke, Pamaunke, Youghtanud, 

 and Mattapanient. All the rest of his Territories expressed in the Map, they 

 report have beene his severall conquests. In all his ancient inheritances, hee 

 hath houses built after their manner like arbours, some 30, some 40 yardes 

 long, and at every house, provision for his entertainement, according to the 

 time. At Werowocomoco, he was seated upon the North side of the river 

 Pamaunke, some 14 miles from James Towne, where for the most part, hee was 

 resident, but he tooke so little pleasure in our neare neighbourhood, that were 

 able to visit him against his will in 6 or 7 houres, that he retired himself to a 

 place in the deserts at the top of the river Chickahamania betweene Yought- 

 anund and Powhatan. His habitation there is called Orapacks, where he 

 ordinarily now resideth. He is of parsonage a tall well proportioned man, 

 with a sower looke, his head somwhat gray, his beard so thinne that it seemeth 

 none at al. His age neare 60; of a very able and hardy body to endure any 

 labour. About his person ordinarily attendeth a guard of 40 or 50 of the 

 tallest men his Country doth afford. Every night upon the 4 quarters of his 



