The passage you cited is quite typical of New Englander's
concepts of Native Americans whom they considered to be members of the "lost tribe of
Satan." He describes them as being cannibals at times and cruel savages who delight in
torturing their victims by flaying them alive. The attitude expressed was a way of
justifying their belief that God was on their side and that the Indians were wasting the
land which the New Englanders wished to take from
them.
Initially, the Indians had helped the people to
survive by showing them how to plant corn and other crops; however the Europeans
insisted on more and more land. Quite often, they took land the Indians had already
cleared for their own crops. Since the Indians were considered savages and barbarians,
no consideration was given to or of them. If Indians killed a European, regardless of
the circumstances or justification, it was considered an outrage and vengeance was
exacted severely. In one instance, when Indians were accused of murdering a trader who
had cheated them, the whites set fire to an Indian palisade. When the Indians ran out to
escape the flames (many of whom were women and children) they were shot. On other
occasions, when Indians died of smallpox, a disease transmitted to them by the whites,
the whites considered it a sign of God's will that they should take the land. Bradford
himself once called it a "divine harvest," and said the Indians died "like rotton
sheep." In at least one instance, whites gave Indians blankets they knew had been
infested with smallpox.
On one occasion, four hundred
Indian men, women and children died when whites set fire to their palisade. The whites
rejoiced in the event, described by one as follows:
And indeed such a dreadful Terror did the
Almighty let fall upon their Spirits, that they would fly from us and run into the very
Flames, where many of them perished. And when the Fort was thoroughly Fired, Command was
given, that all should fall off and surround the Fort; which was readily attended by
all; only one Arthur Smith being so wounded that he could not move out of the Place, who
was happily espied by Lieutenant Bull, and by him rescued. The Fire was kindled on the
North East Side to windward; which did swiftly over-run the Fort, to the extream
Amazement of the Enemy, and great Rejoycing of our selves. Some of them climbing to the
Top of the Palisade; others of them running into the very Flames; many of them gathering
to windward, lay pelting at us with their Arrows; and we repayed them with our small
shot
The passage which you
cited indicates Bradford's opinion that Indians were little more than vermin and savages
who were best eliminated.
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