This is the red
man's land. He wishes his hunting grounds, his maize fields, and
his rivers for himself, his women and children. He has no ships in
which to go to another country. When you first came we thought
you were gods; but you have not done like the great white God
who, you say, loves you so. You are wiser and stronger than we,
but your strength and wisdom help us not: they press us down from
men to children; they are weights upon the head and shoulders of a
babe to keep him under stature. Ill gifts have you brought us, evil
have you wrought us" -
"Not to you, Nantauquas!" I cried, stung into speech.
He turned his eyes upon me. "Nantauquas is the war chief of his
tribe. Opechancanough is his king, and he lies upon his bed in his
lodge and says within himself: 'My war chief, the Panther, the son
of Wahunsonacock, who was chief of all the Powhatans, sits now
within his wigwam, sharpening flints for his arrows, making his
tomahawk bright and keen, thinking of a day three suns hence,
when the tribes will shake off forever the hand upon their
shoulder, - the hand so heavy and white that strives always to bend
them to the earth and keep them there.' Tell me, you Englishman
who have led in war, another name for Nantauquas, and ask no
more what evil you have done him."
"I will not call you 'traitor,' Nantauquas," I said, after a pause.
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