Page:Massasoit's town Sowams in Pokanoket, its history, legends and traditions (IA massasoitstownso00bake).pdf/19

Rh year and, finding its way to the surface, trickles into the river. The water, which never fails, is of excellent quality and even in warm weather remains pure and cold.

When the Englishmen entered the royal wigwam, they found a great crowd of people assembled about the bed of the chief. "There they were," narrates Winslow, "in the midst of their charms for him making such a hellish noise, as it distempered us that were well, and therefore unlike to ease him that was sick." Massasoit, whose sight was gone, greeted Winslow with these mournful words, "Oh Winslow I shall never see thee again!" Winslow answered that Governor Bradford had sent from Plymouth certain things deemed by the English good in illness and, "having a confection of many comfortable conserves etc.," on the point of his penknife, gave the sachem some, the juice of which he swallowed." Whereat those that were about him much rejoiced; saying "he had not swallowed anything in ten days before." Winslow then washed the sick man's mouth and gave him more of the confection dissolved in water and, within half an hour, this treatment "wrought a great alteration in him in the eyes of all that beheld him." His sight began to return which gave both him and his white friends "good encouragement." Winslow then hastily addressed a letter to Governor Bradford describing the "good success" of the expedition, and requesting that some chickens for broth, medicine, and other things might be sent him; and, with this letter, a messenger started for Plymouth at two o'clock in the morning

Massasoit, having expressed a wish for some "English pottage," Winslow, though "unaccustomed and unacquainted in such business," undertook its preparation. He "caused a woman to bruise some corn" which he placed in a pipkin and, as soon as the day broke, he sallied forth with Hamden in search of herbs; and, finding nothing but strawberry leaves