William Bradford - of Plymouth Plantation Chapter 10
On November 11, 1620 the pilgrims, aboard the Mayflower ship, dropped anchor at Cape Cod. They wanted to explore the new land with a shallop they brought with them from England, but it suffered damages during the voyage and needed mending. In this situation, while the shallop was being repaired, 16 well armed men, leaded by Captain Standish, were allowed to seek what seemed to be a nearby river. This was unknown land, so they took every precaution available to them.
On the 15th of November they had already marched 1 mile along the seaside and encountered some native inhabitants. The Indians ran towards the woods as soon as they saw the pilgrims, but the English followed them to see where they were going or if they could speak to them. But nightfall came and they had to set camp and continue their pursuit the next day. Following their tracks the next day, they came across a river from which they drank water, “the first New-England water they drunk of”. They continued their search for the Indians and found, over a pond, what seemed to be a former Indian establishment, the remains of a house, baskets filled with corn and, for them, other exotic food, hidden in the sand, graves and also a field of corn. Near this place they found the river they were seeking, a salt creek separated by a cliff of sand. The English set for the ship, taking part of the fruits they found with them, considering that their shallop could manage exploring the river from there after it had been repaired.
When the shallop was ready, they continued to explore the new land and found two more houses, more corn and beans, but no actual Indians.
On the 6th of December, facing harsh weather, they set about in their shallop for further discoveries, going in the deep bay of Cape Cod. At the bottom of the bay, as they approached shore, they saw 10 or 12 Indians. They set ashore near them and as night fell, they had to barricade themselves in case of an attack. In the morning, some of them explored
On the 15th of November they had already marched 1 mile along the seaside and encountered some native inhabitants. The Indians ran towards the woods as soon as they saw the pilgrims, but the English followed them to see where they were going or if they could speak to them. But nightfall came and they had to set camp and continue their pursuit the next day. Following their tracks the next day, they came across a river from which they drank water, “the first New-England water they drunk of”. They continued their search for the Indians and found, over a pond, what seemed to be a former Indian establishment, the remains of a house, baskets filled with corn and, for them, other exotic food, hidden in the sand, graves and also a field of corn. Near this place they found the river they were seeking, a salt creek separated by a cliff of sand. The English set for the ship, taking part of the fruits they found with them, considering that their shallop could manage exploring the river from there after it had been repaired.
When the shallop was ready, they continued to explore the new land and found two more houses, more corn and beans, but no actual Indians.
On the 6th of December, facing harsh weather, they set about in their shallop for further discoveries, going in the deep bay of Cape Cod. At the bottom of the bay, as they approached shore, they saw 10 or 12 Indians. They set ashore near them and as night fell, they had to barricade themselves in case of an attack. In the morning, some of them explored