HANGING OUT WITH FRIENDLY INDIANS, Nov. 1621

November, 1621


  Before the feast began I had an opportunity to talk with: Mary Chilton (14), Constance Hopkins (13 or 14), Priscilla Mullins (19), Elizabeth Tilley (14 or15).
Soon they were needed to help the women bring out the food. I noticed that there were many more Wampanoag Indians ...90...than there were Pilgrims...53. Their chief Maisasoit was there also. 

Four Pilgrim men had gone out and killed enough fowl to
last three days.  Turkeys were also caught.The Indians brought deer to add to the feast. It is believed that Maisasoit and the Wampanoage Indians kept the Pilgrims from starving during those early years.

Squanto,  from Patuxet tribe, was most helpful in teaching the Pilgrims after the first winter. He taught the pilgrims to plant corn. 

He had learned English while he was captured one time, but that is another story. 

Priscilla pointed him out sitting with Pilgrims and other Indians waiting to eat. I knew from history that Squanto would die at 37; and it was sad knowing that, as I looked at him.



Although the Indians and Pilgrims couldn't understand each other, it was amazing how well they got along.  



   Happily, nobody seemed to think it was odd that I was there soaking it all in. But this is MY DREAM, after all!!!

 
In the next entry I will share what I remember about the entertainment and the feast.
Til then, love, annie in memphis
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