Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/85

 INTRODUCTION. 55 this, however, he was disappointed. Powhatan chap. n. offered corn and friendship if they would first 1612. restore his daughter, but would come to no terms until that reparation was made for what she marries x. Mr. Rolfe. he resented as an act of unhandsome treachery. During her detention at Jamestown, she made an impression on the heart of Mr. Rolfe, a young gentleman of estimation in the colony, who also succeeded in gaining her affections. They were married with the consent of Pow- hatan, who, by that event, was entirely recon- ciled to the English, and ever after continued to be their sincere friend. This connexion led also to a treaty with tfie Chiccahominies, a brave and daring tribe, who submitted to the English, and became their tributaries.* 1 About the same time, a change took place 1613. in the interior arrangements of the colony, which greatly meliorated its condition, and gave to the colonists general satisfaction. Heretofore, no separate property in lands had been acquired, and no individual laboured for himself. The lands had been held in com- mon, cleared in common, cultivated in com- mon, and their produce carried into a common granary, from which it was distributed to all. This system, which might in some degree be justified by the peculiarities of their situation, was chiefly occasioned by the unwise injunction s RobertsQn.„,Chalmer,.,.Stith,*,.Beverly.