Examples Of Cannibalism In Jamestown Dbq

“ ‘And now famine beginning to look ghastly and pale in every face that nothing was spared to maintain life and to do those things which seem incredible, as to dig up dead corpse out of graves and to eat them, and some have licked up the blood which hath fallen from their weak fellows’ “, reads a firsthand account from George Percy who was an eyewitness of cannibalism in Jamestown, during the “Starving Time” in 1609-1610. In the spring of May 1607, three English ships carried about 110 Englishmen who sailed to the mouth of a substantial bay on the coast of Virginia known as the Chesapeake Bay. Additionally, this was the first permanent English colony/settlement in the New World, United States. However, little did they know that the first year

As an example, Document B illustrates, “by examining tree-ring patterns in old cypress trees growing near Jamestown. Every year leaves a growth ring inside the trunk of a tree. A wider ring indicates plenty of rainfall and good growth. A narrow ring usually means less rain”. In addition, “ ‘some harshe and [cruel] deannge by cutting of towe [two] of the Salvages heads and other extremetyes’ “ (Document D). In other words, the patterns in the old cypress trees growing close to Jamestown showed a lack of rainfall, drought, in the area. Here it affected the crops especially grain, since they were unable to grow sufficiently for the groups living in this region, including the “Salvages” who were the Powhatans. From this, we can infer that both groups had limited food supplies, due to the drought which lead to extreme fights. Consequently, two natives were killed/wounded by Francis West and his men when desperately attempting to get

Nevertheless, one that caught my attention was the fact that Indian attacks increased throughout the years 1607 through 1610. According to Document E, “6 ships bring some 250 people (3rd Supply) Of 120 men stationed near the falls, the Indians kill ‘neere halfe’ “. Basically, the relation between the colonists and Indians declined during the “Starving Time”. For this reason, the settlers were heavily starving and wanted lots of food from the Natives, in order to feed everybody, so the population would avoid reducing. I interpret this to mean both groups went through harsh circumstances, but didn’t have compassion for one another, because they were violent. As a result, the colonists did not receive