act, others would surely do so. Gabriell Archer had brought to us a paper-book loaded full of articles against the president. No man or boy, it seemed, was without his just complaint. Even my friend Percy, who is honest yet also thick like unto a post, voiced his agreement. Therefore
we drew up certain articles in writing and took our oaths upon the Evangelists to observe them.
On the tenth of September, we went to the president's tent.
"We have here a warrant to depose the president," we told him. "He has proven himself unworthy to be either president or of the council. Therefore we discharge him of both and appoint John Ratliffe the new president."
Again that look of low cunning came over the face of Wingfield as he stood before us. It seemed he had expected this, for he held the charter in his hands.
"You would ease me," he said, "of a great deal of care and trouble. Yet the president may not be removed, as appeareth in Our Majesty's instructions for our government, except by the greater number of the voices of twelve councilors. You are but three. Thus I may not give up my office."
I shook my head. "If we do you wrong," I said, "then we must answer for it. You are president no longer."
With a readiness that was itself suspicious, Wingfield spread wide his hands.
"I am at your pleasure," he said, a serpent's smile upon his thick lips. "Dispose of me as you will without further garboil."
17. POCAHONTAS: Punishment
It is the job of our warriors to protect the people. We remember it at this time of the year whenever we look up into the sky. There we see in the stars the shape of Manguahaian, the Great Bear.
Long ago, they say, Manguahaian lived and walked upon the earth. Great Bear was so large that he could swallow a lodge with one gulp. He was a great danger to the people, who feared that he would destroy us all. Among us in those days there were four warriors who were great hunters. In the season of Taquitock, when the leaves fall, they promised that they would punish Great Bear, kill or drive him away so that the people would be safe. The
quiyoughsokuk
made circles of cornmeal and sprinkled grains of corn to see what Okeus would tell them. They read the message that these four warriors would be successful as long as they never gave up but always continued on until they had succeeded.
So those men sprinkled tobacco on the
pawcorance,
the sacred stone at the edge of their village. They washed themselves in the river as the sun rose and set out. Soon they found the giant footprints of the Great Bear. Seeing them coming, Great Bear became afraid and began to run, and the four warriors followed.
Great Bear ran upriver to the place where the land rises and becomes rocky. The four warriors stayed close behind Great Bear reached the mountains and began to climb, hoping to lose the hunters. But they continued on.
The day ended, but they ran on by the light of the moon. They climbed higher, where flakes of snow sparkled on the dark mountain. At last, Great Bear began to tire. The hunters came close enough to throw their spears and killed him.
Then one of them looked around. The lights of many fires sparkled all around them. Far below them was the earth. They had chased Great Bear up into the Sky Land, among the stars.
"
Look," one of the hunters shouted, "Manguahaian is alive again.
"
They turned and saw that Great Bear had risen to his feet and was running. The four hunters took up the pursuit once more. To this day, if you look up into the night sky you will see them. At Taquitock they strike Great Bear with their spears. He falls on his back, and his blood colors the leaves. But every year he rises again and runs, and faithful to their promise, the four warriors follow.
TAQUITOCK
TIME OF HARVEST
EARLY SEPTEMBER
I T IS IMPORTANT for us to keep our promises. It has always been that way among our people. One of my father's hard jobs is to punish those who do not keep their promises. Because he has the power to
we drew up certain articles in writing and took our oaths upon the Evangelists to observe them.
On the tenth of September, we went to the president's tent.
"We have here a warrant to depose the president," we told him. "He has proven himself unworthy to be either president or of the council. Therefore we discharge him of both and appoint John Ratliffe the new president."
Again that look of low cunning came over the face of Wingfield as he stood before us. It seemed he had expected this, for he held the charter in his hands.
"You would ease me," he said, "of a great deal of care and trouble. Yet the president may not be removed, as appeareth in Our Majesty's instructions for our government, except by the greater number of the voices of twelve councilors. You are but three. Thus I may not give up my office."
I shook my head. "If we do you wrong," I said, "then we must answer for it. You are president no longer."
With a readiness that was itself suspicious, Wingfield spread wide his hands.
"I am at your pleasure," he said, a serpent's smile upon his thick lips. "Dispose of me as you will without further garboil."
17. POCAHONTAS: Punishment
It is the job of our warriors to protect the people. We remember it at this time of the year whenever we look up into the sky. There we see in the stars the shape of Manguahaian, the Great Bear.
Long ago, they say, Manguahaian lived and walked upon the earth. Great Bear was so large that he could swallow a lodge with one gulp. He was a great danger to the people, who feared that he would destroy us all. Among us in those days there were four warriors who were great hunters. In the season of Taquitock, when the leaves fall, they promised that they would punish Great Bear, kill or drive him away so that the people would be safe. The
quiyoughsokuk
made circles of cornmeal and sprinkled grains of corn to see what Okeus would tell them. They read the message that these four warriors would be successful as long as they never gave up but always continued on until they had succeeded.
So those men sprinkled tobacco on the
pawcorance,
the sacred stone at the edge of their village. They washed themselves in the river as the sun rose and set out. Soon they found the giant footprints of the Great Bear. Seeing them coming, Great Bear became afraid and began to run, and the four warriors followed.
Great Bear ran upriver to the place where the land rises and becomes rocky. The four warriors stayed close behind Great Bear reached the mountains and began to climb, hoping to lose the hunters. But they continued on.
The day ended, but they ran on by the light of the moon. They climbed higher, where flakes of snow sparkled on the dark mountain. At last, Great Bear began to tire. The hunters came close enough to throw their spears and killed him.
Then one of them looked around. The lights of many fires sparkled all around them. Far below them was the earth. They had chased Great Bear up into the Sky Land, among the stars.
"
Look," one of the hunters shouted, "Manguahaian is alive again.
"
They turned and saw that Great Bear had risen to his feet and was running. The four hunters took up the pursuit once more. To this day, if you look up into the night sky you will see them. At Taquitock they strike Great Bear with their spears. He falls on his back, and his blood colors the leaves. But every year he rises again and runs, and faithful to their promise, the four warriors follow.
TAQUITOCK
TIME OF HARVEST
EARLY SEPTEMBER
I T IS IMPORTANT for us to keep our promises. It has always been that way among our people. One of my father's hard jobs is to punish those who do not keep their promises. Because he has the power to
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