How to Survive in the Roanoke Colony-Chapter 67: Growing Pains (3)

It became December 1594.

"Another... three or four tribes have pledged allegiance."

Wow, a population growth rate of 100%!

Ueda City where I lived had a negative population growth rate! Now I have more people under me than the mayor of Ueda! My power surpasses the mayor of Ueda!

And the various problems occurring in the settlement have also increased by 100%!

"Good heavens! Shamans are approaching the church and causing trouble!"

"That's... not causing trouble, they're offering sacrifices."

"Isn't that the same thing! Manteo, isn't there some solution?"

Since they're all flooding in without converting, it's becoming a headache for Harriot, who was enthusiastically evangelizing.

Moreover, as natives who don't speak Algonquian languages are gradually flooding in, problems are increasing even more.

"I, I, without the angel present, we can't communicate!"

"Good heavens... how does he speak multiple languages simultaneously...!"

"...Everyone, gather around first."

With natives who don't speak the same language crowding into the trading posts and settlements, the Europeans are having serious communication problems. The cultural and linguistic barriers have created daily frustrations and misunderstandings that slow everything down.

Even if the natives who have impressively mastered five or six different tribal languages among themselves are managing just fine, the European traders and settlers who have only recently struggled to learn basic Algonquian phrases now suddenly have to contend with some strange new language from tribes further west. Their exasperation is visible in every interaction.

Fortunately, a simplified version of English had gradually spread as a practical trade language among many of the native groups in this particular region. The pidgin version lacks complexity but serves its essential purpose in commerce. If that linguistic bridge hadn't developed naturally over the past few years, my work as an intermediary would have multiplied several times over, becoming nearly impossible to manage alone.

...Still, it didn't change the fact that I ended up taking on interpretation duties that weren't in my job description.

The workload is insane! Christmas is approaching, but it looks like we won't be able to prepare anything this time!

"I've returned! If you tell me to set sail again, I absolutely..."

"Walter, thank you for coming back. Here, take this tablet first."

"...What?"

"First, let's tour the western inland area together to check on the newly settled tribes. Countless Excel files have piled up for us to organize together."

Unfortunately, I had to put Walter Raleigh to work as soon as he returned from his voyage. In a situation where most English people can't read, how could I let someone who knows how to handle Excel files idle away?

"Huff... huff... I don't know how many villages we've toured..."

"...Walter."

"Yes, Mr. Nemo, please wait a moment. This is..."

"...Get in."

"..."

"I... have to work through the night too."

So we drove around in the Hijet, shedding tears.

From Chesapeake Bay southwest further inland, we moved with excavators, Hijets, and all kinds of equipment.

We had to clear new land in that area.

==

"This? This rod? Gift. Man called Raleigh, gift."

"Com...pass? This object, don't know name. But know. Came from south."

"Raleigh...? Given by a man with that name. Great Chief's... gift."

The more south you go, the more fluent the natives' English becomes.

Also, the more south you go, the more specific the natives' stories become.

Especially, mentions of 'Great Chief,' 'Raleigh,' and 'Nemo' increase.

"Nemo... meaning 'nobody'? A curious name."

"So are we heading further south from here?"

"No. From here on is the territory of the Occohanock tribe. It's only a few dozen kilometers from the Virginia colony. If we go by ship from here, it could be considered an invasion of foreign territory."

François Gravé Du Pont shakes his head in response to Samuel's question.

"So we'll dock the ship here and split the party. I and a couple of explorers will approach Raleigh's Virginia colony somehow from this area, whether by land route or whatever. The rest will wait at the docked ship."

François's plan was simple.

From here, take a boat to cruise around Chesapeake Bay looking for sources of aluminum and fur. While doing so, check the rumors about the 'native emperor' and their truth.

If they happen to reach the Virginia colony, immediately examine the colony carefully and leave.

But...

"Where is everyone moving to?"

"To the Great Chief's land. Everyone is starving. And there is food there."

"C-can we go together?"

"...If you can paddle an oar."

Things accelerated several times faster.

After meeting and trading with someone who seemed to be a tribal chief, François immediately boarded a canoe with his men. As François jumped up and down with excitement, Samuel asked:

"Captain, does, truly, a savage emperor actually exist? Everyone's talking about the Great Chief, and now we even see crowds moving toward that Great Chief, don't we?"

To his nephew Samuel's foolish words, François just smiled and replied.

No. Rather, more things became certain.

"Don't be stupid, Samuel. We haven't seen any traces of advanced civilization, but the name of the Great Chief is widely spread? Doesn't it seem like the English are playing some nasty trick?"

Yes. That must be it.

What did the English say? Didn't they boast that a great savage empire, as advanced as Europe or even more so in some aspects, had become their ally?

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But we haven't found any trace of civilization, let alone a great civilization more advanced than Europe, except for a few 'gifts.' Even after coming right up to the Virginia colony.

"It's definitely the English setting up a chief in this area and showing off! I'm finally going to catch them in the act!"

"...Is that so? Then why are hundreds of people moving that way?"

"Don't you understand? They already know! That we've come!"

"..."

As Samuel tilted his head, seemingly unconvinced, François said:

"Since they know we've come, they're desperately gathering people around to at least make a show of a 'great empire'? Trying to hide their vices from the Christian world somehow?

Are you afraid of me, François Gravé Du Pont, England? Walter Raleigh? Huh? Hahahaha!"

"..."

"That's why they're all moving so urgently! Right! Now we've caught England's tail! From now on, once we find a tribe to trade aluminum and fur with and establish a trading post, we too can plant the French flag in this America!"