| POLITICS
AND COEXISTENCE
The weakened group of colonists worked hard to build houses and gather food. While they occasionally saw Native People from a distance, it was not until March 1 of 1621 that an Abenaki named Samoset entered the little village of Plymouth, "saluted us in English and bade us ‘Welcome!’ for he had learned some broken English among the Englishmen that came to fish at Monhegan [Maine]. " Samoset brought Tisquantum (Squanto) to meet the colonists. Squanto, a Wampanoag native of Patuxet, was kidnapped by an English sea captain in 1614, returning to his homeland with an English explorer in 1619. Massasoit, a sachem of the Wampanoag, then came to Plymouth.
The two groups approached each other
cautiously, exchanging
hostages. The Wampanoag sought to balance the dominance of the
powerful Narragansett. The colonists sought to ensure security for
their fledgling settlement. On April 1, 1621, they agreed upon an
alliance of mutual support. Click HERE for the text
of the Treaty with Massasoit.
|
 |
 |
Updated 18 May, 2005
