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Updated: June 22, 2025
There has been recently found in the British Museum a print of a portrait of Pocahontas, with a legend round it in Latin, which is translated: " Matoaka, alias Rebecka, Daughter of Prince Powhatan, Emperor of Virginia; converted to Christianity, married Mr. Rolff; died on shipboard at Gravesend 1617.
He knew the danger she ran if Powhatan should learn of what she had done. "Matoaka," he cried, clasping her hand, "thou hast this night put all England in thy debt. As long as this Virginia is a name men remember, so long will men recall how thou didst save her from destruction. In truth, thy father had lulled my suspicions to sleep, and hadst thou not come to warn us we had surely perished.
There was silence, and those at the back of the lodge crowded forward in order not to miss what was to come. Then Powhatan spoke: "Rise, Matoaka! and dare not to interfere with my justice!" "Nay, father," cried Pocahontas, lifting her head while her arms still lay protectingly about Smith's neck, "I claim this man from thee.
And then the world we shorten with our feet That wake no echoes, but the hornèd owl Sigheth to think that thus our wingless speed All but outdoes that of the tree-dwellers. When she had finished she threw herself down at his feet, asking: "Dost thou like my song, my brother?" "Yes, it is a new song, Matoaka, and some day thou must sing it for our father.
We have no occasion to follow further the fortunes of the Virginia colony, except to relate the story of Pocahontas under her different names of Amonate, Matoaka, Mrs. Rolfe, and Lady Rebecca. Captain John Smith returned to England in the autumn of 1609, wounded in body and loaded with accusations of misconduct, concocted by his factious companions in Virginia.
Perhaps, he had said one day, marriages between the English and the Indians might cement this friendship. "Perhaps thou thyself, Matoaka," he had begun, and then had ceased. Now she wondered again, as she had wondered then, if he had perhaps meant himself.
Governor Dale kept steadily in view the conversion of the Indians to Christianity, and the success of John Rolfe with Matoaka inspired him with a desire to convert another daughter of Powhatan, of whose exquisite perfections he had heard. This visit Hamor relates with great naivete.
"And enemies," she continued, "would not venture so near the village of the mighty Powhatan." "I heard thee singing, little White Feather; what was thy song?" "I made it many moons ago," she answered, "and I sing it always when I dance here at night. Listen then, thou shalt hear the song Matoaka, daughter of Powhatan, made to sing in the woods by Werowocomoco."
I have been happy here in thy land, but I am now suffering from an illness they tell me is called homesickness." "That is an illness which may be easily remedied, Matoaka. But when thou art come again to Wingandacoa forget not the England and the friends which can never forget thee."
The portrait inserted in the edition of 1624 has this inscription: Round the portrait: "Matoaka als Rebecca Filia Potentiss Princ: Pohatani Imp: Virginim."
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