Early Jamestown and the PeopleMany stories have been told about Native Americans over the years. Some stories stayed around and were glued by mothers to children. Stories about one of the Native American women have been around since the colonization of America itself. The story of Pocahontas and John Smith is just one of these stories. Pocahontas was born as the Matoaka daughter of Chief Powhatan of the Powhatan Tribe. She was born in 1600 in what is now Jamestown, Virginia. Pocahontas was a nickname that meant "playful girl". His father's name is actually unknown: Powhatan was the very large village he ruled as chief (Paschke). many Native American sources deny that this could have happened. Others say that if it had happened it would have been a traditional "execution and salvation" ritual. The only known source for this story is the writing of John Smith himself. Historians believe that Smith exaggerated many of his exploits. Smith also did not write about his rescue by Pocahontas until seventeen years after it supposedly occurred. Smith and Pocahontas were friends and it is very unlikely that there was a romance between the two of them between the ages of 10 and 12. Smith found her intelligent, witty, and full of wit. Pocahontas was said to have lived up to her nickname as she "moved so alone, naked as she was, on the fort (Paschke)". "after seeing the English boys do the same. Pocahontas was kidnapped and held captive until the Powhatan natives freed the English prisoners they had kidnapped. The ransom for Pocahontas's release also included ammunition and a large quantity of Indian corn. The English they treated her well by teaching her… on paper… but many things are still and may always be unknown. WORKS CITEDPOWELL, ERIC A. “Chilling Discovery At Jamestown.” . 20 April 2014. MACKAY, KATURAH. "The 'Time of Hunger'." National Parks 72.11/12: 40. Premier Academic Research. 20 April 2014. Dan, Vergano, @dvergano and TODAY USA. From the skull of 'Jane' of Jamestown, gruesome clues to cannibalism." USA Today n.d.: Premier Academic Research. Network. 20 April 2014 Paschke, Jean. "Pocahontas: An Indian Princess in the Court of King James." British Heritage 27.4 (2006) : 53-54. Premier of academic research. Network. April 20, 2014Gleach, Frederic W. "The Ritual World of Pocahontas." Natural History 115.9 (2006): 40-46. Premier of academic research. Network. April 20, 2014. Horwitz, Tony. "Engraving of Pocahontas." Smithsonian 41.7 (2013): 91-118. Premier of academic research. Network. April 21. 2014
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