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Soon after their landing they were visited by several of the natives, and among others by the king's brother, whose name was Granganameo. This chief discovered no apprehensions from the intrusion of the strangers, but invited them to sit down on his mat with him and his attendants.

After this first interview frequent visits were made by the natives, chiefly for the purpose of trading in skins, corals, and other articles.

The village where Granganameo resided was situated on the island of Roanoke, about twenty miles from the place of their first landing. Thither captain Amydas, with seven of his companions, went on a visit, and were hospitably entertained by the wife of that chief, who was himself absent.

The town consisted of eight or nine houses, built of cedar, and enclosed by a slender palisade. The attention of the wife of Granganameo

ed by a passage in one of Barlow's letters to sir Walter Raleigh, preserved by Hackluyt, and also by the accounts of subsequent voyages.

to the English is worthy of remark. It shows, that hospitality is not confined to civilized nations, and that the rudeness of the savage may be mingled with the noblest traits of humanity. She ordered the boat of the English to be drawn on shore that it might not be injured by the surge. When dinner was ready she invited her guests into a room, where they were presented with venison, fish and homony or boiled corn.* How fearless soever the natives might be of the designs of the English, all suspicion was not yet removed from the breasts of the latter. Observing some of the Indians

* Hominy or homoni, as the word is spelt by Stith and others, is too generally known in Virginia to need a description; but the origin of the word is involved in obscurity. Whether it be an Indian word or a corruption in civilized language I am unable to decide, nor shall I trouble myself much to inquire. Bozman derives it from the French omelet, as he writes it; but there is no such word in the French language. The orthography being omelette at once destroys the resemblance of sound which in omelet or omelé as it is pronounced, would warrant his conclusion.

approach with their bows and arrows, they seized their arms and put themselves in a posture of defence. The wife of Granganameo on this occasion endeavoured to remove their fears by commanding those implements of war to be taken from the Indians, whose vain or thoughtless parade had excited alarm. In the evening they returned to their boat, and lay at some distance from the shore, for fear of some hostility from the natives during the night.

The discoveries of the English during their stay on these coasts were very limited. They penetrated but a few leagues from the place of their first landing, and gained from the natives but little information respecting their country. No trace of this coast having ever been visited by any civilized people was discovered. Nothing but a confused account of a vessel having been wrecked on their shores about thirty years before, was obtained from the natives.

About the middle of September our adventurers returned to England, carrying with them two of the natives, Manteo and Wanchese, who

showed a willingness to visit the land of the English.

This discovery produced so much satisfaction to queen Elizabeth, that she named the country Virginia, in honour, as has been supposed, of her own virginity.*

Sir Richard Grenville with seven ships sailed from Plymouth in the following year (1585), for Virginia. With him returned Manteo, whose knowledge of his native country and the language of the Indians, rendered him of singular service to the English both as a guide and interpreter. Under his guidance they visited sevéral towns and made various excursions through the country. During their stay at one of the

* Others say the name was given by sir Walter Raleigh himself. « A cause de la repugnance que la reine avoit pour le marriage, il (Raleigh) l'appela en şon honneur, Virginia.

Recher, sur les Etats Unis.

The errors of this author however, are too numerous to allow much weight to his authority. The above sentence was founded on the mistaken opinion, that sir Walter Raleigh visited Virginia in person.

towns called Akascogock,* an Indian stole from the company a silver cup. This trivial offence brought destruction on their town, which was reduced to ashes by their merciless invaders.

Grenville after this sailed for Hatteras, leaving about a hundred men at Roanoke under the command of Ralph Lane. During his stay at Hatteras he received a visit from Granganameo, whose friendship and services the English had much cause to remember. He soon after sailed for England, where he arrived on the 18th of September, with a Spanish prize, taken on his way.†

* Called by some Scroton. See Bozman's Maryland, P. 75.

+ Burk's Virginia.

B

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