by John Barth
[The Author here describes, how the party goeth ashore, and is led by their treacherous guide into the hands of the Indians.]
The Salvages then setting upon us, as had been predicted by men wiser then our Capt, we fought them off as best we cd, with small success, for the quarters were close and our attackers virtuallie atop us. Our leader, for his part, shrewdlie pull’d that Ganelon our Guide before him for a shield, and retreated in all haste, exhorting us the while to fight like men. Happilie, he caught his foot upon a root of cypress, and flew backward off the bank into the mud and ice. The Salvages having by this time captur’d us, leapt upon him, and held him fast on his back, and on our informing them, in response to there querie, Who was our leader? that it was he, there Chief, Opecancanough, and his severall lieutenants, pleas’d them selves openlie, and us privilie, by thereupon making water upon him, each in his turn according to rank.
[The prisoners, of wch there are five, are carry’d to a clearing, where they are tied one at a time to a sweetgum tree and shot with arrows, till none but Smith and Burlingame remain.]
…coming then to my Capt, they made as if to lay hold of him, to lead him to the same fate suffer’d by the others. A gentleman to the end [Smith]… modestlie suggested that I precede him. Be’t said, that in matters of this sort my owne generositie is peer to any mans, and had it prov’d necessarie, I shd stoutlie have declin’d my Capts gesture. Howbeit, Opecancanough pay’d no heed, but him selfe taking the Capt by the arme, pull’d him toward the bloodie tree. At this juncture, the Capt (who afterwards confided to me, he was searching for his Africkan good-luck peece) withdrew from his coat a packet of little colour’d cards, the wch, with seeming innocence, he let fall to the grownd. The Salvages at once became arows’d, and scrabl’d one atop the other, to see who shd retrieve the most. Upon examining them, they found the cards to portray, in vivid colours, Ladies and Gentlemen mother-naked, partaking of sundrie amorosities one with another: in parties of two, three, four, and even five, these persons were shown performing licentious feats, the wch to be perform’d in actuall life wd want, in addition to uncommon lubricitie, considerable imagination and no small tallent for gymnastick.
One can fancie with what whoops and howls of glee the Salvages receiv’d these works of the pornographers art, for Salvages are a degenerate race, little rais’d above the beastes they hunt, and as such share with white men of the same stamp a love for all that is filthie and salacious. They at least had in their favour, that they had never before seen a white woman cloth’d, much less uncloth’d, and how much less indulging in such anticks as were now reveal’d to them. They laught and shouted, and snatch’d the cards from one another, to see them all.
[They] ask’d [Smith], Whether he had more [of the cards]? Whereat he took the opportunitie to draw from his pocket a small compasse, the wonder of which (for I had seen it before, to my abashment), that not only did it shew the poynts of the compasse, wch marvell alone wd methinks have suffic’d to awe the Salvages… it also, by virtue of tinie paintings on small peeces of glass mounted inside it, treated the deprav’d eye of him who lookt through little peepholes in the sides, to scenes like those of the cards, but more real, for that there devilish creator had a nice facilitie of giving the scenes a sense of depth, so that one had the feeling (pleasant to degenerates) of peering through a keyhole, to witness gentlemen comporting themselves like stallions, and ladies like mares in rutt…
Howbeit, the damnable device must needs be held in a certain manner, so that its lenses caught the sun at a proper angle. The Salvages, and Opecancanough in especiall, being quite unable to master this simple trick, it was necessarie they preserve the wretch my Capt life, in order, presumablie, that he might serve as operator of there Mayfair show for ever. So arows’d were they over there treasures, that maugre what I took to be suggestions on my Capts part, that only he was needed to perform the miracles of the compasse, the Salvages took both of us along with them to Opecancanoughs town, wch lay, we were told, hard by that of the Emperour… entirelie forgetting, in there vicious delight, to fill my stomache with there arrowes…
[The twain are carried to the town of Opecancanough, and thence to Powhatans town, and at length into the presence of the Emperour himself.]
[This prospect] appear’d to please my Capt mightilie, for he spoke of naught besides, when indeed he deign’d converse with me at all, but how he had schem’d the most efficacious manner of winning the Emperours favour, as soone as ever he shd be presented to that worthie. I… warn’d him, more, I confess, toward the saving of my owne skinne, wch I car’d not to loose, then the saving of his, that we were, for aught I cd see, still mere prisoners, and not emissaries of the King, and that as such, I, for one, shd be content were I to leave the forthcoming interview with my head yet affix’d to my shoulders, and my bellie free of arrowes, without troubling farther about Emperial favours or bartering agreements. My Capt made me his usuall witless insults for replie…
On being led into the house of this Powhatan, my feares multiply’d, for I sweare he was the evillest-appearing wight I hope to incounter. He seem’d neare sixtie; the browne fleshe of him was dry’d and bewrinkl’d as is the skinne of an apple left overlong in the sunne, and the looke upon his face as sower, as wd be such an apple to the tongue. I sawe in that face no favour… His eyes, more then any thing, held me, for despite a certaine hardnesse in them, like old flint, what mark’d them most, so it seem’d to me, was an antick lecherie, such as one remarketh in the eyes of profligates and other dissolute old persons. My Capt, I might say, hath the beginning of such eyes, and at sixtie, it pleaseth me to think, will quite resemble this Powhatan.
The Emperours surroundings, moreover, did beare out my judgement: in addition to his bodie-guard, a goodlie number of Salvage wenches potter’d about the roome, drest like Ladie Eve, only flaunting a bitt of animal-skinne over that part, wch the Mother of us all was wont to disguise with a peece of foliage. This one fetch’d her Lord a portion of tobacco; that one lean’d over him to light his pipe with a brand; this one rubb’d his backe with the grease of beare, or some such malodourous decoction… and one & all he rewarded with a smart tweake, or like pleasantries, the wch, at his advanc’d age, shd rightlie have been to him no more than a fond memorie. These the wenches forebore without compleynt… in sooth they seem’d to vye for the ancient satyrs attentions, and perform’d there simple duties with all possible voluptuousnesse, as if therebye to rowse there King to acts more fitting a man my age, then a dotard his… My Capt observ’d these maids with wondrous interest, and I sawe in his eye more attention, then wd have been requir’d simplie to transfer the scene to his trumpeting Historie. For my selfe, I was too occupy’d with the mere holding of my water, wch business is chore enough in such a fearsome pass, to care what charmes the heathenish slutts offered there Emperour, or with what lewd behaviour he reply’d…
…I must mention here, that Powhatan was seated on a sort of rais’d bedstead, and on the floor before him sat a reallie striking Salvage maid, of perhaps sixteen yeares, who from the richnesse of her costume and the deference pay’d her by the other Salvages, I took to be the Queene. Throughout the banquet that follow’d our entrie into the house, this young ladie scarce took her eyes from us, and though unlike my Capt, I am a man not given to fooling him selfe as regards his comeliness to the faire sex, I can only say, in sooth, that what was in her eyes exceeded that naturall curiositie, wch one might show on first beholding fair-skinn’d men. Powhatan, I thinke, observ’d this, for his face grew ever more sower as the meale progress’d. For this reason, I avoided the Queenes gaze assiduouslie, so as not farther to prejudice our state. My Capt, for his part… return’d her amourous glances with glances of his owne, of such unmistakeable import, that had I been the Emperour I had struck him dead forthwith. My poore heart trembl’d for the safetie of my head…
[A description followeth of the feast serv’d the two prisoners. It is a Gargantuan affair, but the Author is unable t
o keep a morsel on his stomach. Smith, on the contrary, gorgeth himself very like a swine in the slaughterhouse.]
My Capt… took it on him selfe then to make a small speech, the gist of wch (for I, too, comprehended somewhat of the heathen gibberish) was, that he had brought with him a singular gifte for the Emperour, but that, unluckilie, it had been remov’d from his person by the Emperours lieutenant (that same infamous Opecancanough, who was the death of our companions earlier). Powhatan forthwith commanded Opecancanough thither, and bade him produce the gifte, if he had it. Albeit he was loath to part with it, Opecancanough flsh’d out the wicked compasse before describ’d, and gave it to his Chief, who thereupon caus’d his lieutenant to be birch’d, for that he had intercepted it. This was, certain, a grosse injustice, inasmuch as Opecancanough had had no knowledge that the compasse was meant for Powhatan, as neither had my Capt, what time to save his skinne he had given the vile machine to Opecancanough. Notwithstanding wch, the Salvage was deliver’d out the room, for birching, and I sawe no future good therein for us…
Next my Capt, to my great astonishment, commenc’d to shew to Powhatan the secrets of the compasse, directing its little lenses at the fyre to light the shamefull scenes within. I was certaine our end was at hand, and ready’d my selfe to dye as befitteth a Gentleman, for surelie no man, not even a Salvage, who hath the qualities to raise him selfe to the post of Prince, even over a nation of benighted heathen, cd but be disgusted by such spectacles, as now lay illumin’d to the Emperours eyes. For the thousandth time, I curs’d my Capt for a black & arrant fool.
Yet here I reckon’d without the degeneracie of the Salvage, whose bestiall fancie ever delighteth in vilest things. So far from taking umbrage, Powhatan had like to split his lecherous sides on beholding the little painting; he slapt his knees, and slaver’d copiouslie over his wrinkl’d lipps. A long time pass’d ere he cd remove his eye from the foul peep-hole, and then only to peer therein againe, and againe, each time hollowing with glee.
At length my Capt made it knowne, the Queene, as well, shd receive a gifte. At this pronouncement, I clos’d my eyes and made my peace with God, for knowing sufficient by this time of the nature of my Capts giftes, and sensing farther the jealousie of the Emperour, I expected momentlie to feel the tomahawke at my neck. The Queene, however, seemed greatlie pleas’d at the prospect. As I might have guess’d, my Capt had reserv’d for her the most impressive gifte of alle. He drew from his inexhaustible pocket a smalle booke of sorts, constructed of a number of little pages bound fast at there tops (this miracle too I had seene at Jamestowne). On everie page a drawing was, of the sort one wd be loath to shew ones wife, each drawing alter’d only by a little from his neighbour, and the whole in a kind of sequence, so that, shd one grasp the lewd booke by the top, and bending it slightlie, allowe the pages to spring rapidlie each after each before the eye, the result was, that the figures thereon assum’d the semblance of life, in that they mov’d to & fro about there sinfull businesse.
Alas! The Queene, it grew cleare, was deprav’d as was her consort. Over & over againe, once having learnt the virtue of the small booke, she set the actors therein to moving, each time laughing alowd at what she sawe…
[More food is serv’d, and a sort of Indian liquor, both of wch Smith takes unto himself in quantity. The Author declines, for the same reasons as before. The Queene appoints herself to wait on Smith personally, laving his hands and fetching bunches of wild-turkey feathers wherewith to dry them.]
The while this second feasting was in progresse, I contriv’d to screwe up sufficient courage to observe Powhatan, hoping to reade in his face prognostication of what was to followe. What I sawe did not refresh my spirits… The Emperour never took his gaze from the Queene, who in turn, never remov’d hers from my Capt, with everie indecent promise in her eyes. She was on everie side of him at once, fetching this & carrying that, all her movements exaggerated, and none befitting any save a Drury Lane vestall. My Capt, whether through his characteristick ignorance, or, what is more likelie, in pursuit of some twisted designe of his owne, reply’d to her coquetries in kind. None of this escap’d the Emperour, who, it seem’d to me, was scarce able to put away his gluttonous repast, for watching them. When then this Powhatan summon’d to his couch three of his evillest-appearing lieutenants, all coal’d & oyl’d & bedaub’d & betassel’d & bedizen’d, and commenc’d with them a long colloquy of heathen grunts & whisperings, the purport whereof was unequivocall, I once againe commended my soule to Gods mercie, for I look’d to met him shortlie face to face. My Capt pay’d no heede, but went on blindlie with his sport.
My… feares, it was soon prov’d, were justify’d. The Emperour made a signall, and the three great Salvages lay’d hold of my Capt. Despite his protestations, the wch were lowd enow, he was carry’d up to Powhatans couch, and there forc’d to his knees. The Salvages lay’d his head upon a paire of greate stones, put there for the purpose, and catching up there uglie war-clubbs, had beate out what smalle braines my Capt might make claim to, were it not that at this juncture, the Queene her selfe, to my astonishment, interceded. Running to the altar, she flung her selfe bodilie upon my Capt, and declar’d to Powhatan, that rather wd she loose her owne head, then that they shd dash in his. Were I the Emperour, I owne I shd have done the twain to death, for that so cleare an alliance cd lead but to adulterie ere long. But Powhatan stay’d his bullies; the assemblie was dismist, saving only the Emperour, his Queene, my Capt, & my selfe (who all seem’d to have forgot, thank God), and for the nonce, it appear’d, my heart wd go on beating in my breast…
[There follow’d] a speech by the Emperour, wch, as best I grasp’d it, was unusuall as it was improper. Some I grant escap’d me, for that Powhatan spake with great rapiditie and chew’d his wordes withal. But the summe of what I gather’d was, that the Queene was not his Queene at all, neither one amongst his concubines, but his daughter, her name being Pocahontas. By this name is signify’d, in there tongue, the smalle one, or she of the smallnesse and impenetrabilitie, and this, it seem’d, referr’d not to the maidens stature, wch was in sooth but slight, nor to her mind, wch one cd penetrate with passing ease. Rather it reflected, albeit grosslie, a singular physickal short-coming in the childe, to witt: her privitie was that nice, and the tympanum therein so surpassing stowt, as to render it infrangible. This fact greatlie disturb’d the Emperour, for that in his nation the barbarous custom was practic’d, that whensoever a maid be affianc’d, the Salvage, who wisheth to wed her, must needs first fracture that same membrane, whereupon the suitor is adjudg’d a man worthie of his betrothed, and the nuptialls followe. Now Powhatan, we were told, had on sundrie occasions chosen warriors of his people to wedd this Pocahontas, but in everie instance the ceremonie had to be foregone, seeing that labour as they might, none had been able to deflowr her, and in sooth the most had done them selves hurt withal, in there efforts; whereas, the proper thing was, to injure the young lasse, and that as grievouslie as possible, the degree of injurie being reck’d a measure of the mans virilitie. Inasmuch as the Salvages are wont to marrie off there daughters neare twelve yeares of age, it was deem’d a disgracefull thing, the Emperour shd have a daughter sixteene, who was yet a maide.
Continuing this discourse, [Powhatan] said, that whereas his daughter had seen fitt, to save my Capts life, what time it had been the Emperours pleasure to dashe out his braines, then my Capt must needs regard him selfe affianc’d to her, and submit him selfe to that same labour (to witt, essaying the gate to Venus grottoe) as her former suitors. But… with this difference, that where, having fail’d, her Salvage beaux had merelie been disgrac’d, and taunted as olde women, my Capt, shd he prove no better, his head wd be lay’d againe upon the stones, and the clubbing of his braines proceed without quarter or respite.
All this Pocahontas heard with greate joye, maugre its nature, Wch wd have mortify’d an English ladie; and my Capt, too, accepted readilie (in sooth he had no option in the matter). For my part, I was plea
s’d to gaine reprieve once more from the butchers block, albeit a briefe one, for I could not see, since that the Salvages were of large stature, and my Capt so slight of build, how that he shd triumph where they had fail’d, unlesse there were some wondrous disproportion, in both cases, betwixt the size of what in each was visible, and what conceal’d, to the casuall eye. My fate, it seem’d, hung on my Capts, and for that I bade him Godspeed, preferring to heare for ever his endlesse boasting (wch wd surelie followe his successe), then to wett with my braines the Salvage clubbs, wch fate awaited me upon his failure. The carnall joust was set for sunup, in the publick yard of sorts, that fronted the Emperours house, and the entire towne was order’d to be present. This alone, I wot, wd have suffic’d to unstarch an ordinarie man, my selfe included, who am wont to worshipp Venus (after my fashion) in the privacie of darken’d couches; but my Capt appear’d not a whitt ruffl’d, and in sooth seem’d eager to make his essaye publicklie. This, I take it, is apt measure of his swinishnesse, for that whenas a gentleman is forc’d, against his will, to some abominable worke, he will dispatch it with as much expedition, and as little notice, as he can, whereas the rake & foole will noise the matter about, drawing the eyes of the world to his follie & license, and is never more content, then when he hath an audience to his mischief…