How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 59: Gift Economy (1)

...Phew.

"Good work."

"Mr. Nemo? You worked hard."

"Not at all."

I burned through it.

Something ended like a storm.

In the meeting hall where all kinds of discussions took place, everyone was exhausted from conversations going back and forth in at least three languages.

No... I was planning to stay one step away from the law-making process. I knew it would be tiring.

But they all gathered because of me. It would be strange if I just abandoned everything and played games by myself.

Anyway, a significant portion of the problems have been solved now. Issues like land ownership, differences in tribal customs, and other complex matters have been somewhat sorted out.

It wasn't complete chaos though.

I thought it would be chaotic with dozens of people from various tribes and different denominations gathering, but surprisingly, the atmosphere in the meeting hall was orderly.

When people like Eleanor spoke up, dozens who had been chattering enthusiastically just moments before would suddenly fall silent. Thinking about what the criteria might be...

They're all people who have been with me for a long time.

Eleanor Dare, Thomas Hewet, Manteo, Vicente González, John White, Walter Raleigh.

I saw a religious authority surrounding them like an aura.

Hmm... looking back, the meeting process showed who would become the center of our settlement in the future. I should keep that in mind.

Anyway, that's how it was.

We've mostly finished the difficult issues today, so the rest should be fine!

All we need to solve are issues of sectarian autonomy and precedent, the issue of natives who continue to believe in spirit worship, the tax issue, and concerns about conflicts with nearby native tribes, especially the Powhatan tribe!

It's a problem that will be resolved after dozens of people debate for half a day without breaks, so there's nothing to worry about! Ha, haha! Hahahaha...

'...The conversation just keeps going around in circles.'

The starting point was the tax section.

"Once the government is established, everyone will pay a little tax..."

"Hmm? Then what does this 'government' give back to us?"

"What? Give back?"

"So it just takes without giving anything back?"

There was no scenario like in some isekai hero story where everyone does somersaults while accepting explanations like 'This is [tax]. It's used to handle public affairs.'

The natives were in an uproar because they couldn't understand the concept of 'giving something to this [government].'

'Don't you all already offer labor or goods to Mr. Nemo?'

'That's different from this!'

...I don't know what's different either.

It reached its climax especially during the discussion about the Powhatan tribe.

When the natives brought up something complex and confusing, mixing Algonquian and English, the English and Spanish people got dizzy and interrupted the meeting...

Should we accept the Powhatan tribe as allies? Should we be hostile to them? It was something like that, but it was difficult for me and the Europeans to understand.

"Wait, if the Powhatan tribe gives a gift... we shouldn't accept it?"

"No. You must accept it. You must accept it, but after accepting it, you must return several times the amount."

"What? But they're saying not to accept it."

"They're saying the wrong thing, so don't listen to them."

"...???"

The hardest thing to understand was 'gifts.'

Wait, weren't we talking about an alliance? Why does the conversation keep revolving around gifts?

And each tribe was saying something different. So I asked Manteo.

"Should we be hostile to the Powhatan tribe?"

"Then you must reject the gifts they send."

"...If they sent gifts, doesn't that mean they've submitted? Shouldn't we accept the gifts then?"

"No. Then we would have to return the gifts several times over."

"...What?"

That's how it was.

I couldn't understand.

"Manteo."

So I asked Manteo separately during a meal.

"What's going on here? Why is everyone saying different things?"

Those gathered at the meal were the so-called 'apostles.' A little distance away, Bacon and Harriot were debating some mathematical topic.

Just looking at those gathered here, you could tell who was leading this colony.

Those who have maintained connections with me for the longest time.

The 30 people from Croatan, Manteo's tribe members, and the Spanish sailors.

They are the leaders of this settlement.

In addition, a few brains brought from England assist my rule.

Anyway. Manteo, who somehow became the representative of the native world, glanced around before turning to me and saying:

"As I said earlier... whether it's the Powhatan tribe or others, if you are hostile to 'natives,' you should not exchange gifts."

I nodded roughly at Manteo's words. Then Manteo continued:

"If they first send a lavish gift, you must either firmly reject it, or if you accept it, you must repay it several times over."

"Hmm..."

As the conversation between Manteo and me began, others also quietly turned their ears toward us. Seeing that I still had a puzzled expression, Manteo tilted his head.

"You still don't understand... the concept of gifts among us?"

"Yes. Honestly, it's difficult. You call it a gift, but if they sent something first, isn't it a tribute of surrender? Shouldn't we just accept it?"

"No. Then the enraged Powhatan tribe will wage war against us."

"What? Even after receiving the gift?"

"They wage war because the gift was received. No, this is..."

Manteo, hearing my words, seemed to be struggling with where to begin explaining... then snapped his fingers.

"Ah. Then Mr. Nemo still doesn't understand why you are our Great Chief?"

"What? Isn't it because I'm the wealthiest?"

"No. It's because you sent gifts to others."

"...What?"

I briefly trace my memories.

I had excess Shine Muscat grapes, so I bartered with Manteo.

Manteo distributed the Shine Muscat he received from us to surrounding tribes, and in return gave us various food and luxury items he received.

I thought that was the end of it... but later, Oitotan started revering me, saying I was the wealthiest person, the Great Chief, and so on. So I thought that's how it happened.

"No."

"...Isn't that right?"

"The barter part is wrong. We never bartered."

"...What?"

"Think about it. Is it really barter to send jewels, food, and fur pelts for one bunch of grapes? Were the tribes around Pamlico Sound crazy about grapes?"

"..."

Manteo said:

"A gift, that is, in the words of Mr. Nemo and Europeans, is a kind of display. It's also a show of friendliness. But before that, it's a display."

"..."

"..."

"..."

It was something I'd never heard before.

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Manteo continued his explanation:

"Why do people worship the sun? Because the sun continuously gifts them with light.

So people return offerings to the sun, but it still can't compare to the power and vitality the sun brings. That's how powerful the sun is. That's why people worship the sun.

Did people barter offerings for sunlight here? No. Isn't it repaying the gift of sunlight that the sun has given?"

"..."

"Do you understand?"

"I... think I'm starting to."

"Giving a gift is a display of 'I am this wealthy,' and therefore a friendly gesture saying 'enter my sphere of influence.'

Rejecting it means you're hostile to the other party. It means you don't respect their power."

"And accepting it?"

"It means you respect the other party's power. So we must return gifts to show our power too."

"..."

"If we are wealthier than the other party and can return something greater than what they gave, then they must acknowledge our power.

But if we are poorer than the other party and can only return relatively modest gifts... we're acknowledging their power."

"When does the gift exchange end?"

"It never ends. It just continues forever. As long as we are alive."

Giving a gift, before expressing friendliness to the other party, is displaying one's wealth and power.

Just as I gave Shine Muscat to Manteo's tribe.

It was a precious fruit that couldn't be obtained anywhere else. I showed Manteo my power.

Manteo then distributed that to surrounding tribes, and the surrounding tribes returned fur, jewels, and food to me. Because it was their obligation.

But they were all less precious than Shine Muscat. They probably couldn't find anything more precious.

Therefore, they acknowledged my superiority, and I became their Great Chief.

Without my knowledge.

Now I think I roughly understand.