Page:Massasoit's town Sowams in Pokanoket, its history, legends and traditions (IA massasoitstownso00bake).pdf/20

14 gathered a handful and put them in the pot with the corn with a slice of "saxifrax root" to give the mixture a "good relish." When this gruel was sufficiently boiled, he strained it through his handkerchief and gave Massasoit "at least a pint, which he drank and liked it very well." After this the sachem's sight "mended more and more," indeed, so rapid was his improvement that, says Winslow, "we with admiration blessed God for giving His blessing to such raw and ignorant means, * * * himself and all of them acknowledging us the instruments of his preservation."

assasoit finding himself so far recovered, now besought Winslow to visit all that were ill in the town and to give them the same treatment that had proved so beneficial in his own case, saying that his people were "good folk." Winslow acceeded to the sachem's request though it was "much offensive to him," he "not being accustomed to such poisonous savours." An entire morning was spent in going from wigwam to wigwam, and one can imagine the commingled awe and gratitude with which the simple children of nature regarded the man who, to them, must have seemed gifted with divine powers. Doubtless that wondrous season of healing was long remembered in Sowarns, and doubtless the name of Winslow continued to remain a household word in the Indian village many years after its owner lay slumbering in his grave.

In the afternoon, Winslow again sallied forth, gun in hand, to gratify the desire of the king for more "pottage" of fowl. He shot an "extraordinary fat" duck and with it prepared a broth of which Massasoit, despite all warnings, "ate as much as would well have satisfied a man in health." The result of this "gross meal" was a relapse so severe that even the Englishmen doubted their patients recovery. For the space of four hours the sick man bled profusely at the nose; but, at last, the bleeding ceased and he fell into a profound