Do you remember the Disney cartoon about the beautiful Pocahontas, who fell in love with the Englishman John Smith, saved him from death, and then the Indians and the British became friends? In general, we have bad news for you. The Indians and the British did not become friends, and in the story of the exotic princess there were many more dark episodes than in the cartoon. And she didn't have a tame raccoon.
It is difficult to say what year Princess Pocahontas was born, whose real name was Matoaka. Historians name the interval between 1595 and 1596. She was indeed the daughter of a powerful chieftain of the Pohatan tribe. "Pocahontas" simply means "spoiled" - probably so affectionately called the girl's parents.
She also looked completely different from her Disney image. The girls of her tribe wore almost no clothes and shaved off the hair on their heads, leaving a small lock of hair that was braided. In the winter she wore a deerskin cape - she was from a noble family, so she could afford such a luxury. We do not know anything about Pocahontas' mother - most likely, she died during childbirth. Otherwise, the custom would dictate her to leave the tribe with her newborn daughter and go to live in another village.
Pocahontas was trained in all the female work she would have to do when she grew up. She knew how to build houses, pulling the skin of animals on a wooden base, knew how to grow food, cook and collect firewood. She also knew how to weave baskets, sculpt pots, carve spoons from wood, and much more.
All this she knew at the age of thirteen.
Captain John Smith
The British landed on the lands of the Indians in May 1607 - Pocahontas was then about 11 years old. It was then that she saw for the first time the "pale-faced" Captain John Smith, who was captured by brother Pocahontas. When John Smith was taken to the chief, this famous scene happened.
Promotional video:
Chief Powhatan ordered two large stones to be brought and placed on the ground. An Englishman's head was laid on these stones. When the weapon was already brought over him, Pocahontas rushed forward and covered his head with her. Historians have argued for centuries whether this episode was real or was invented later. Some believe that the life of John Smith was never in danger at all. Although it is unlikely that when a hammer is brought over your head, you believe in it. The leader not only took pity on the prisoner, but also announced that from that day on, he was part of the tribe. When John Smith returned to Jamestown, the chief sent gifts to the starving British. Pocahontas went with them as a symbol of reconciliation between the British and the Indians. And the shaky world really didn't last long thanks to the efforts of Pocahontas.
The chief wanted to trade with the British, but as more settlers arrived, more food was needed. The British attacked the villages of the Indians and burned them, taking away all the provisions that they could find.
John Smith and the chief several times tried to negotiate the exchange of weapons for corn, but to no avail. In the end, the leader even set up a trap for John Smith to kill him, but that night, the brave girl saved her hero. Pocahontas and her father were told that John Smith had suffered a serious wound from a gunshot and died on the way back to England.
Abduction and marriage
In 1610, Pocahontas turned 14 years old, and she began to decorate herself, as befits an adult woman. She wore dresses and deer skins and covered her skin with tattoos. Her hair has grown back.
The Indian Kokum, who also appears in the cartoon, if you remember, drew attention to her. They merried. Apparently, by mutual sympathy, because the women of that tribe could choose a groom to their liking.
A few years later, the British kidnapped Pocahontas. The girl was kept there for ransom - everyone knew that her father was a representative of the local nobility. The father, who loved his daughter with all his heart, agreed to any concessions. Apparently, it took time, because Pocahontas managed to learn English, get acquainted with the local religion and traditions. Some things she already knew, others were new to her. In the settlement, she met the widower John Rolf and fell in love with him. When she sent word to her father that she would like to marry another person, Kokum realized that divorce (the Pokhatans had an analogue) was inevitable.
She was only 17 years old or so. Soon Pocahontas converted to Christianity, at baptism she became Rebecca. It was a big step for both sides, everyone believed that now peace would come between the Indians and the British.
Unexpected meeting
From time to time, John Rolf and his wife traveled to England on business. They stopped at Brentford, where Pocahontas was expected to meet unexpectedly. It turned out that John Smith did not die at all and did not forget his savior. Later he wrote that the girl could not cope with emotions - she did not say a word during their meeting. True, their feelings were probably of a different nature. She reminded him how her father accepted Smith as a son, wanted to call John "father", but he forbade her. Then she got angry and said that he dared to threaten almost all members of her tribe, except her.
It is unknown what would have happened between John Smith and Pocahontas next, but it was time for Rolf to return to Virginia. On the way, Pocahontas became very ill and died.
The life of her people was never the same again.
