When the European settlers and explorers first arrived they were amazed by the people they found. These articles written hundreds of years ago by the Europeans gives an interesting description of their thoughts and feelings regarding the natives of North America. .
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 others 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 writings it seems that most of the Europeans had little regard for these natives ways and religious beliefs. They spoke of them as a unmannered people that were to be educated basically for the Europeans benefit.
Columbus, being an explorer working with the money of others, was eager to discover new worlds and find something of value to return to his benefactors. This was necessary in order to prove his trip worthwhile and be able to secure funding for future voyages. .
Throughout his travels he discovered many islands which he described as being inhabited with "numberless populations". They were people of many superstitions and believed Columbus and his men to have come from the sky. In many of the islands the natives went about naked, just as their mothers brought them forth.
