P

ocahontas

Pocahontas

P

ocahontas Pocahontas

Pocahontas

Written by

Ewa Wolańska and Adam Wolański

With illustrations by

Michał Dąbrowski

Translation by

Jerzy Chyb

Warsaw 2005

Reviewer:

Dariusz Kętla

Copy editor:

Natica Schmeder

Production editor:

Barbara Gluza

Cover designer:

Michał Dąbrowski

DTP:

Krzysztof Świstak

Text and illustrations copyright by FELBERG SJA
Publishing House, 2005

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be repro-
duced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any
form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission
of the Publisher.

Printed in Poland

ISBN 83-88667-47-5

3

Prologue

T

his is a true story. It took place in the early

17th century. In April 1607, the English ship

Susan Constant arrived in North America. The ship

brought a group of colonists led by Captain John

Smith. They settled in Virginia, near the James

River, and named the place Jamestown. It was

the first place in the New World where English

settlers decided to stay for good.

The peaceful tribes of Red Indians often

visited the colonists at Jamestown to trade with

them. In exchange for glass beads, they gave the

Englishmen meat and grain. However, some other,

hostile Indian tribes used to attack the settlers

whenever they tried to leave their settlement. In time,

the attacks became so frequent that the colonists ran

out of food supplies and began to starve.

One day Captain Smith, together with two armed

colonists and two guides from a friendly tribe, went

hunting in a nearby forest. They were attacked by

a group of Indian warriors from the Algonquian

tribe. Smith’s companions were killed but the captain

himself was saved. He owed this to one of the Indian

guides, who shouted before death that John was an

important leader of the white people. Smith was taken

captive and brought to the village of Chief Powhatan at

Werowocomoco, which was 12 miles from Jamestown.

4

I

n Werowocomoco, John Smith was welcomed

by the great Algonquian leader. Chief Powhatan

sat by his wigwam surrounded by several warriors.

There was only one girl present—his 12-year-old

daughter Pocahontas, whose name meant “little

playful girl.”

Powhatan gestured for Smith to come closer.

Then he asked the captain what the colonists

wanted and whether they intended to stay for

long.

“We have nowhere to find food. Hunger and

fear may force us to leave soon,” answered John

proudly.

The chief didn’t believe the white man. He

called him a liar and sentenced Smith to death. The

Englishman was tied up. The warriors approached him

slowly, raising their spears. But John showed no fear.

When the warriors were about to kill Smith, suddenly

Pocahontas dashed forward and protected him with

her own body. Powhatan stopped the warriors.

“Untie the man,” ordered the

chief and said to Captain Smith:

“Pocahontas has just saved your

life. It’s an ancient Indian

custom. You are one of us

now.”