Читать книгу The Belt of Seven Totems - Munroe Kirk - Страница 4

Massasoit Sachem, or Ousamequin (1581–1661), was the sachem or leader of the Wampanoag confederacy. “Massasoit” means “Great Sachem.”

This novel was not intended as a true recreation of Pilgram-era history; instead, it is the author’s attempt to reconcile apparently conflicting historical facts and to explain an otherwise inexplicable situation concerning Native Americans and European settlers. At the time of the Pilgrims, all Native Americans—not excepting those of New England—had suffered repeated outrage at the hands of white men, and in no case had they been given any cause to love the invaders of their country or to welcome their presence. Why, then, did the powerful Massasoit permit a white invasion of his territory that he could so easily have crushed?

Clearly a strong friendship existed from the very first between him and Edward Winslow, and Winslow seems to have exercised a great influence over the New England sachem. What was the origin of this friendship? The Narragansetts, while submitting to Massasoit’s authority, were always in sullen opposition to it. Why? It is to answer these questions that Kirk Monroe constructed this tale, and he advances a convincing theory through it.

A modern reader less familiar with the era should note that many New England natives were kidnapped and taken to Europe. The wampum belt, on which was pictured the distinguishing totems of seven leading New England clans, was worn by both Massasoit and Metacomet (King Philip), his son, and is still in existence. Tasquanto (Squanto) was kidnapped from Cape Cod and taken to England, where he remained for several years. Captain Dermer carried a number of native Americans to London, where he sold them to be exhibited as curiosities. (He finally died of wounds received at the hands of Native Americans in New England.) Champlain did aid a war-party of Hurons to defeat the Iroquois in one instance, and in another was defeated by the same foe. Although there is no record of it, might not Massasoit have been among those taken to Europe?

While this story is admittedly fictional, it does have a substantial historical basis. Interested readers can learn more about Massasoit in Alvin G. Weeks’ book, Massasoit of the Wampanoags as well as other histories of Native American people.

—Karl Wurf

Rockville, Maryland