Eager to see the new land of promise, a party of the colonists went ashore that day. They wandered through forest and glade, cheered by the genial warmth of the southern clime and delighted with the beautiful scenery and luxuriant vegetation. But before they returned to the ships they were reminded that this natural paradise was in possession of a savage people who could hardly be expected to respect King James’s gift of their land to strangers. As the exploring party made their way back to the shore they fell into an ambush--the first of many which they were destined to experience. They had not seen a human being since landing, and the shower of arrows that proclaimed the presence of the Indians came as a complete surprise. Neither redman nor paleface was quite prepared for intimate acquaintance at this time, and the sound of the muskets sent the former scurrying to the hills whilst the latter hurried to the shelter of the ships, carrying two men who had been severely wounded. Thus the Jamestown colonists came to America. How little they were qualified for the work before them we have already seen. As we progress with our story we shall see how often they brought misfortune upon themselves and how the wisdom and energy of one man saved the undertaking from utter failure. XIV. POWHATAN AND HIS PEOPLE The President and Council are established and a settlement made at Jamestown--Newport and Smith go on an exploring expedition--They meet Powhatan, the great Werowance of the country--They are feasted and fêted by the old Chief--A quick return to Jamestown and a timely arrival--The Indians attack the settlers and take them unawares--Gallant stand made by the gentlemen adventurers--The appearance of Newport and his men prevents a massacre--A fort and stockade are hurriedly erected--Smith is tried on a charge of treason and triumphantly acquitted--Captain Newport returns to England with the two larger ships. It was, indeed, a fair land to which the white men had journeyed from over the seas. Smith says of it: “Heaven and earth never agreed better to frame a place for man’s habitation. Here are mountains, hills, plains, rivers, and brooks, all running most pleasantly into a fair bay, compassed, but for the mouth, with fruitful and delightsome land.” The country was covered, for the most part, with virgin forest. Here and there a small clearing afforded a site for a cluster of wigwams around which lay fields of maize or other cereals. The birds and animals that we prize most highly as table delicacies abounded in the wilds, and the waters swarmed with fish.