These descriptions of the North American natives were written by a variety of people such as, the discoverer Christopher Columbus, Father Paul Le Juene, a Catholic priest and Captain John Smith, adventurer. The Europeans being a “literate society” of people, which thought themselves so cultured, each gives their own biased opinion of the natives based upon their beliefs and life experiences.

It was amazing to see what each writer had to say about the natives they encountered. Their comments ranged from complimentary to degrading. In some instances they commended their skills and abilities, such as Father Le Juene’s comparison of King Philip’s leadership of his people being equal to that of George Washington leading his troops across the Delaware. Yet in oth

Captain John Smith talks about a group of natives that he encountered in Virginia during the 1600's. While the natives numbered about 5000, they consisted mostly of women and children. These natives were a mixed group of people. Mixed in size and appearance, physical strength and characteristics. Of the men that did exist, there were few men that seemed to be “fit for their warres”. While they were comprised of many skills of endurance, they too had manners and ways far removed from the civilized customs of the Europeans.

Basically the Europeans felt that the natives, as they were, were not a people of the stock and quality as themselves. That there ways and religious practices were not proper in their Lords eyes, and as all had to be done to please the Lord, it was their right to come into the natives land and transform them, willingly or by force, into their liking.

ers they talked about them as “senseless brutes” which were to be taken control of and educated in the Europeans language and Christian ways.

From the

Some topics in this essay:
George Washington, John Smith, Le Jeune, Basically Europeans, , Le Juene, North American, King Philip’s, father le, North America, Le Juene’s, captain john, natives encountered, basically europeans, le juene, sick person, captain john smith, john smith,