Existing comment:
John Smith misunderstood and exaggerated what happened to him
Smith was captured in December 1607 by Powhatan's men. Rather than threatening his life, Powhatan may have been making him the focus of a ritual performance, possibly to bring him into his confederacy.
Smith was a boastful explorer who also traveled through Europe and to Africa. He published frequently and so dramatically about his adventures that many were suspicious of his tales. |