In May, 1605, Captain Weymouth is said to have “become entangled among the Nantucket Shoals”[4], and in 1620 Captain Dermer certainly visited the island. [4] Drake’s =Nooks and Corners of New England=, p. 324. In approaching the consideration of the =Nantucket= Indians, the following beautiful legend[5] cannot be passed over in silence, as it reveals the fact that self-sacrifice and the tender passion are not limited in their influence to any race or color, but are the hallowed heritage of mankind. Such a record deserves a foremost place in any associated local history. The incident referred to is supposed to have occurred about 1630, or, as Dr. Ewer suggested, about thirty years before the arrival of the white men. [5] A worthy poetic setting of this legend was published by “The Inquirer and Mirror” nearly forty years ago, from the pen of Miss Charlotte P. Baxter. It was republished in the “Inquirer” of January 21st, 1911, and the poetic quotations in this preface have been taken from it. Wauwinet was the sage and beloved Sachem of the Northeastern section of the Island. He had one daughter, Wonoma,— “The loveliest and the gentlest,” and they were devoted to each other. “Well she knew the art of healing; Skilled was she in all the uses Of the herbs that grew around them. And whenever from the waters Spoke the voice of the Great Spirit, She could tell unto her people What the words were, and the meaning.” Fever had broken out among the natives of the south-western section of the island, which was under the dominance of the Chief Autopscot, and he feared that his people would be swept away by the rapid spread of the pestilence. In his extremity he thought of the fair and graceful Wonoma, Wauwinet’s daughter, and knowing she possessed the knowledge of a great medicine-man, he despatched one of his maidens, named Wosoka, to speed to Wonoma,— “Praying her to come and save them, From the cruel, blasting Fever.” Wonoma, always delighting to do good, accompanied the little maid back to her stricken people, and, in a little time, the plague was stayed, and she healed and comforted those who would have died but for her skilful and kindly help. By her skill, her winsomeness and her sympathy she won the hearts of all the natives, and, when the time of her departure came, they begged her to remain with them, so that they might show their gratitude. “For the boon of Life She gave them.” Then the brave Autopscot pleaded, not only for his people, but for himself, that she should not go from them, and he ended by eloquently and fervently declaring his love for her; and Wonoma, deeply touched, smilingly replied:— “That because She loved his people But more truly loved their leader, She would come again among them,— Come again to go not from them.”