Dealing With Native Americans In William Bradford's Of Plymouth Plantation

In William Bradford’s “Of Plymouth Plantation” he spoke about his encounters with the native Americans. The passage “Dealing With The Natives” is specifically interesting because in primary schools students are taught about the Mayflower coming to America. However, in the school taught version the pilgrims and Indians happily share a Thanksgiving feast together. Many can imagine the Mayflower pulling up to Plymouth and the Indians welcoming them like they were old friends. Showing the English how to fish, farm and harvest the land. However, that was not the case at all. In fact, when the Indians first saw the pilgrims they ran as fast as they could. Reading on with the story, I was quite surprised, but also understanding that the Indians had come to attack the English early in the morning. I was quite pleased to know that either party was injured.
He spoke broken English, however, the pilgrims could understand him well and were marveled. “At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts where some English ships came to fish, with whom he was acquainted, and could name sundry of them by their names, amongst whom he had got his language. He became profitable to them in acquainting them with many things concerning the state of the country in the east parts where he lived, which was afterwards profitable unto them; as also of the people here, of their names, number, strength; of their situation and distance from this place, and who was chief amongst them.” (Bradford 83) It was a significant and brave act for Samoset to come forward and speak for his tribe. In this moment the pilgrims had to understand, that these strange people were not the wild savages that they described them