was picked a president of the colony. Smith tried to get friendly along with the Indians, but it wasn't so easy.

One day, while exploring and trading along the Chickahominy River, just west of Jamestown, Smith made his way in a barge, spreading some of his companions around till the Indians ambushed them. The Indian women lured two careless soldiers ashore from the barge to their deaths. After the Indians killed one third of the other Englishmen that were with Smith, he was left alone, and then they carried him back to their powerful chief, Powhatan, the "emperor" of the tidewater tribes at Werowocomoco, which was twelve miles from Jamestown, to decide his fate.

Smith believed that the Indians who ambushed him had been put up to it by Powhatan to gratify and be rid of settlers who blamed Smith for being stuck in Virginia. If it is improbable, it may not have been impossible. This is what came into Smith's mind, and it was not the last time Smith would accuse assistant of trying to undo him. Powhatan welcomed Smith with a feast and seemed to be greatly impressed by Smith's self-confidence and ability to take on adventure. Powhatan's feelings towards Captain Smith were surprising, because one would initially believe that since Smith and Powhatan were on opposing sides, they would be enemies. This just showed that one could find the good in the bad.

Smith was then questioned about his colony by Powhatan and then made to take part in a ritual or trial, after which he was grabbed and forced over two rocks with Indians standing around ready to beat him. Then Pocahontas, which was Powhatan's thirteen-year-old daughter, who found Captain John Smith the most likeable out of all the white men, ended up taking part in the ceremony for Smith's benefit. Pocahontas came in and saved him from death. This was the first time that she saw a white man and became involved with them, and she still took on the courage in saving his life. According to Smith's account, he was set before an altar stone but was spared when Pocahontas threw herself over his body.