Pocahontas

Smith was then taken to Opechancanough, one of Pocahontas" uncles, where he presented him with an ivory compass hoping to divert the chief and gain his good graces (Woodward, 66). On December 30, 1607, Smith was then taken to Powhatan, then followed a great feast (Lemay, xiv). When the feast ended, the following day, Smith was to be executed on two enormous stones. As the Powhatan warriors were about to club Smith to death, Pocahontas rushed from the crowd and "took Smith's head in her armes and laid her owne upon his to save him from death" (Woodward 71). Powhatan responded to the impulsive action of his favorite daughter and ordered Smith spared, adopting him into the Powhatan fold. Many 20th century anthropologitsts suggest that Powhatan probably ordered a mock execution for Smith as a way of making him an honorary member of the Powhatan tribe (Holler, 54). On January 1, 1607, Powhatan sent Smith back to Jamestown (Lemay, xiv). .
             Since the ceremony, about every four or five days, Pocahontas and her attendants would bring food such as corn and venison as a trade established by her father in exchange for English arms (Holler, 56). This trade is probably what saved Jamestown from the fate of becoming a Lost Colony. .
             On January 12, 1608/9, Smith arrived in Werowocomoco to trade with Powhatan. About ten days later, when Smith was preparing to depart, Pocahontas came to warn him that Powhatan intended to ambush him and his men later that evening (Lemay, xvi). Led by Smith, the colonists strode to the riverbank where they boarded their ships and sailed back to Jamestown (Holler, 15). In early September of 1906, Smith incapacitated by a gunpowder explosion, which caused a severe burn, was shipped back to England by early October and arrived in England by November 30 (Lemay, xvi). After his departure, relations deteriorated between the natives and settlers. .
             On April 13, 1613, Captain Samuel Argall captured Pocahontas and arrived at Jamestown (Lemay, xvii).