More and more white settlers came to Jamestown. Jamestown was part
of the Virginia Colony. Chief Powhatan was angry. He declared war on the
little colony. There was a lot of fighting.
Pocahontas was 17 years old. Powhatan wanted to protect his favorite
daughter. He sent her to live with the Potomac tribe.
The Potomac Indians were friends of the white people. Pocahontas was
safe with them.
Powhatan said to Pocahontas, "You must stay with the Potomac
Indians.You must not go to Jamestown. We are at war with Jamestown."
"Yes father."
Pocahontas liked her life with the Potomacs. Chief Japazaws was the head
of the Potomac tribe. His wife was Pocahontas' friend, Chief Japazaws and
his wife were friends of Captain Samuel Argall. Captain Argall was an
English explorer. He lived in Jamestown.
One day Captain Argall went to visit Chief Japazaws. When he saw
Pocahontas he said to the chief, "Come to see my ship! I want to show
you a lot of interesting things. We can eat on the ship."
'You are very kind," said Pocahontas. "I want to see an English ship."
Chief Japazaws and his wife wanted to see the ship too.Captain Argall
took Pocahontas, Chief Japazaws and his wife to the big sailing ship. They
looked around the big ship. They saw the tall masts and the white sails.
Then they ate delicious food.
Pocahontas was very happy and said, "Thank you for a wonderful day,
Captain Argall."
At sunset Chief Japazaws and his wife left the ship in a canoe. But
Pocahontas did not leave. She was Captain Argall's prisoner! He trickedher!
"Why can't I go with my friends?" asked Pocahontas. She looked at the
canoe and saw her friends. Chief Japazaws' wife had a new copper
kettle and a basket full of colored beads. Chief Japazaws and his wife
helped Captain Argall capture Pocahontas. The copper kettle and the
colored beads were their payment.
Pocahontas cried. She had no true friends. She asked, "What is happening?
Why am I a prisoner?" Captain Argall said, "I don't want to hurt you,
Pocahontas. I want to take you to Jamestown and keep you there. When
your father returns the weapons he took from us, I can free you. Then you
can return home. Your father loves you. He must return the weapons."
Pocahontas was a prisoner but she was not afraid of Captain Argall. She
was not afraid of the white people.
Captain Argall took her to Jamestown. Everyone in Jamestown liked
Pocahontas. They remembered that she saved Captain Smith's life twice.
They also remembered that she brought them food during the long
winter. Everyone in Jamestown was kind and friendly. The women gave
her English clothes to wear. Pocahontas was a beautiful young woman.
She learned English manners and customs. She made many friends.
Pocahontas became a Christian and her Christian name was Rebecca.
Powhatan did not return the weapons. He sent some corn and some broken
weapons. The war continued. Captain Argall was furious because his plan
did not work. He kept Pocahontas in Jamestown. She was his prisoner,
but she was not unhappy. She liked Jamestown because she learned new
things every day.