Natives The of the New World never "whole-heartedly" adapted or accepted the newly discovered English ways. Throughout the stories of the early settlers of Jamestown we hear many backgrounds and stories of the Natives. We also heard the struggles of the English to stay alive and survive in this newly developing country. The English had many difficult tasks to endeavor throughout those fi rst building years. Throughout the readings, we hear of the Natives taking on the English ways, however, were they independently learning or were the Natives pressured. "Her capableness of understanding, her aptness and willingness to receive any good impression, and also spiritual besides her own incitements stir r ing me up hereunto" (John Rolfe). The girl in whom Rolfe is referring too, is the daughter of Powhatan. This is the highest leader of Natives, are we suppose to believe he gave up his daughter willingly to those he was against? H is daughter was willing to learn the English's ways but that, in no means, makes her father follow the English. The Natives were curious to these new "types" of people; they had weapons and objects that they had never seen. Any
human being has that same curiosity, however, we believe in our faith and our community. The Natives do the same, except; the English were demanding them to learn their culture. The English were overbearing and in need of power. They couldn't show their weakness to the Natives because i t would allow the Natives to have full enforcement of the settlers and their campsite. Grant i t, that many of the Natives became fond of those they worked for; they even saved their lives and tu rned against their t r ibes. "For he regarded and loved Mr. Pace as a father while Mr. Pace loved his Indian as a son. Mr. Pace was not slow in heeding the warning" (Anthony Chester). These were the exceptions; everything except was new and interesting to the Natives they easily could be deceived. The Natives were willing to understand the English culture but not adapt i t as their own. The Natives would listen to the English explain their culture and they would explain their own, however, the Indians always had a protective barrier. Once the English crossed over the barrier and started to become over-whelming for the Natives, they knew they had to take action. In order to gain back their authority they decided to attack. Their plan of attack was surprise and the English never saw i t coming. I t was unfortunate that it
had to lead to this but it brought the English into reality. The English finally understood the power of the Natives. The fi rst way the English surpassed the bar rier was settling on Native soil thinking they would rule. The Natives understood they were foreign and could tell they were suffering with the lack of knowledge on the land. "Our destination was Virginia where we hoped to t ransact some profitable business" (John Rolfe). The English had no knowledge, which the Natives did, but they were headstrong and expected to find gold and r iches. If the English had been open and willing, the Natives would have explained the lack of "materialist" r iches they were looking for. The Natives believed the English were going to attack and murder them, of course they would be uneasy and on guard. This would lessen their chances of wanting to accept this invading "t ribes" culture. Did the Natives ever adapt the English culture "whole Heartedly"? I t would have been nice to know more stories about the religious side of the settlement. How religious and how many followers of God were among those who stayed in Jamestown? I t would have been nice to have the Natives side, there are always two sides to every story.