Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/51

] live two dayes." Having been treacherously attacked by the Indians, and having consumed the "dogge's porridge that they had bespoken for themselves," and returned to the river's mouth, and their boats being unable to cross the sound on account of a storm "on Easter Eve, which was fasted very truly," they were reduced to the sassafras without the animal seasoning, "the like whereof," observes Lane, "was never before used for a meate as I thinke." The next morning they arrived at Roanoke famished and dispirited.

Thomas Hariot was undoubtedly the most acute observer in the colony, and his efforts at obtaining a correct knowledge of the country, the people, productions, etc., were unusually successful. He labored especially among the simple natives, and endeavored to lead them to a knowledge of the truths of Christianity. To use his own language, "Most things they saw with us, as mathematicall instruments, sea-compasses, I the vertue of the loadstone, perspective glasses, burning glasses, clocks to goe of themselves, bookes, writing, guns, and such like, so far exceeded their capacities, that they thought they were rather the workes of gods than men, or at least the gods had taught us how to make them, which loved us so much better than them ; and caused many of them to give credit to what we spake concerning our God. In all places where I came, I did my best to make His immortall glory knowne; and I told them, although the Bible I shewed them contained all, yet of itselfe, it was not of any such vertue as I thought they did conceive. Notwithstanding, many would be glad to touch it, to kisse, and embrace it, to hold it to their breasts and heads and stroke all their body over with it."

Unhappily, howevei, the majority of the colonists were less distinguished by marks of piety and prudence than by an eager and vehement desire of gaining sudden and great wealth. Failing in this, and in their vexation dealing harshly with the Indians, the natives sought to rid themselves of their visitors, willing even to abandon their fields without planting, if famine would drive away the English. Lane, apprehensive of a conspiracy to destroy the colony, sought an interview with Wingina, the most active of the chiefs, and treacherously murdered all within his reach. The stock of provisions which they had brought from England was exhausted; and the colony, reduced to very great straits, was about to dissolve; when unexpectedly Sir Francis Drake appeared with his fleet, on his return from a successful expedition against the Spaniards in the West Indies. He supplied to the full the wants of Lane; gave him a bark of seventy tons, with suitable boats, and arranged everything for the prosperous continuance of the colony. A sudden storm, however, destroyed the vessel which Drake had provided; and not only the colonists themselves, but Lane also, in great despondency, begged to be permitted to return with Drake's ships to England. The privilege was freely given, and in June, 1586, the settlement at Roanoke was abandoned.