Summary: Edward Winslow begins his journal about traveling to Pokanoket by describing Massasoit as the “greatest commander amongst the savages” and by mentioning that the Governor of the Pilgrims, William Bradford, wanted to send men to Massasoit in order to learn “where to find [the Natives]…see their strength, discover the country, prevent abuses in their disorderly coming into us, make satisfaction for some conceived injuries…and to continue the league of peace” between the Pilgrims and Native Americans (1). Governor Bradford chooses the party of Edward Winslow and Stephen Hopkins along with Squanto as a guide to go meet Massasoit. Bradford wants the party to deliver to Massasoit a coat, which represented a desire of peace between the …show more content…
The party is “accompanied with some six savages,” which is what Edward Winslow termed the Native Americans. Two Natives, who Winslow describes as “aged…with shrill voices and great courage,” meet them while they were crossing a low point in the river and drew their bows, supposing the party to be enemies(2). However, once it is established that everyone was friendly the two men welcomed the party with food. The Pilgrims “bestowed a small bracelet of beads” on the two Native Americans after they were accepted as friends by the men. The journey includes hot weather, but “the country [is] so well watered that a man could scarce be dry” (2). Winslow recorded details on another piece of land that the party passed and described it as having clear ground with no weeds and an abundance of timber. They also came across another group of Native Americans. Winslow details that the Natives in the party “would not trust [the Narragansett tribesmen]” (3). However, the group they came across were friendly, and shared crab fish and shell fish with the Pilgrims and savages that joined them. The Pilgrims gave the women of the group they encountered a string of beads before departing. Once the party arrives to Pokanoket Massasoit is not home, so