【美国人物志】波卡·洪塔斯 (2/10)

英语自学网

波卡·洪塔斯 (Pocahontas) 是波瓦坦 (Powhatan) 之女，波瓦坦是住在维吉尼亚州的亚尔冈京印地安人 (Algonquian Indians：即波瓦坦人)的一位重要酋长。她的真名是“Matoaka”，而波卡·洪塔斯是她的绰号，意为“爱嬉戏的”或“调皮的”。 波卡洪塔斯最著名的事为传闻她救了英国上尉史密斯 (John Smith) 的生命。她的一生短暂(死于22岁)，但她在其他方面却影响深远。波卡洪塔斯试着要促进波瓦坦人及英国殖民间的和平；她甚至改信基督教及嫁给一位詹姆士镇的移民罗尔夫 (John Rolfe) ，一段有助于两边人民融合的婚姻。她在英国的早逝损害了维吉尼亚州内，亚尔冈京人及殖民之间的永续和平机会。
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Powhatan
Algonquian
Jamestown

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The Powhatan Indians lived in the area where the English colonists landed. They were part of a large group of American tribes who spoke the Algonquian language. The Powhatans had lived in the area for almost 1,000 years. They built villages. They grew beans, corn, squash and melons. They created a strong political system, led by powerful chiefs like Powhatan. His power and wealth were evident.
Women of the tribes controlled the houses and the fields. They made clothing of animal skins and containers of clay. Men hunted and fished for food. Both men and women wore earrings and other objects made of shells, pearls and copper.
The young Pocahontas often visited Jamestown during the colony's first months. She was about 12 years old. The colonists knew her well. She became an important link between the colonists and her father, Powhatan.