“[By September], most of our men [were] sick, the rest being so miserable that they would rather starve and rot [sitting around with nothing to do] than be persuaded to do anything for their own relief. Our [food supplies] now [being eighteen days away from completely gone], and the Indian trade decreasing, I was sent to the mouth of the river to an Indian town, to trade for corn and try the river for fish, but [because of] stormy weather [we could not catch any fish]. The Indians, thinking us nearly [starved], with kindness offered us little pieces of bread and small handfuls of beans or wheat [in exchange] for a hatchet or piece of copper. I [appreciated] their kindness and… offered them [similar items as gifts]…” Source: John Smith, English explorer, speaking of events in the Virginia colony, 1608.

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