Rating |
|
Title |
Native American Charnel House |
Title Note |
Title supplied by repository. |
Alternative Title |
XXII. The Tombe of their Werowans or Cheiff Lordes [Caption accompanying this engraving in the English translation of this text.] |
Creator |
Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598. |
Contributor |
White, John, fl. 1585-1593. |
Date |
1590 |
Creation Date |
1590 |
Description |
This image depicts a Native American charnel house. Nine bodies are shown laid side by side on a large wooden platform. A person in the foreground is tending a fire. Note: These DeBry engravings do not accurately reflect the inhabitants of North Carolina in the late sixteenth century nor are they accurate reproductions of John White’s drawings. The colorist for this volume has contributed to the distortion of the original images by adding a pale skin tone and blonde hair to some of the people and decorating much of the vegetation in colors that are unlike anything that occurs naturally in this part of the world. |
Subject |
Indians of North America Dead persons |
Subject Name |
Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598. White, John, fl. 1585-1593. |
Subject Topical |
Indians of North America--North Carolina. Roanoke Colony. |
Location |
Roanoke Island (N.C.); Outer Banks (N.C.); Great Britain -- Colonies |
Geographic Location |
Roanoke Island, North Carolina, United States |
Notes |
In the English translation of this text, Thomas Hariot describes this image: "XXII. The Tombe of their Werovvans or Cheiff Lordes. THe builde a Scaffolde 9. or 10. foote hihe as is expressed in this figure vnder the tobs of theit Weroans, or cheefe lordes which they couer with matts, and lai the dead corpses of their weroans theruppon in manner followinge. first the bowells are taken forthe. The layinge downe the skinne, they cutt all the flesh cleane from the bones, which the drye in the sonne, and well dryed the inclose in Matts, and place at their feete. Then their bones (remaininge still fastened together with the ligaments whole and vncorrupted) are couered a gayne with leather, and their carcase fashioned as yf their flesh wear not taken away. They lapp eache corps in his owne skinne after thesame in thus handled, and lay yt in his order by the corpses of the other cheef lordes. By the dead bodies they sett their Idol Kiwasa, wher of we spake in the former chapiter: For they are persuaded that thesame doth kepe the dead bodyes of their cheefe lordes that nothinge may hurt them. Moreouer vnder the foresaid scaffolde some on of their preists hath his lodginge, which Mumbleth his prayers nighte and day, and hath charge of the corpses. For his bedd he hath two deares skinnes spredd on the grownde, yf the wether bee cold hee maketh a fyre to warme by withall. Thes poore soules are thus instructed by natute to reuerence their princes euen after their death." Source: Thomas Hariot, "A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia." Frankfort: Theodore De Bry, 1590. |
Original Form |
Books |
Resource Type |
Image |
Physical Description of Original |
30.5 cm H x 21 cm W |
Medium of Original |
Paper |
Collection in Repository |
North Carolina Collection |
Is Part Of |
[America. pt. 1. German] Wunderbarliche, doch warhafftige Erklärung, von der Gelegenheit vnd Sitten der Wilden in Virginia ... Erstlich in engelländischer Sprach beschrieben durch Thomam Hariot, vnd newlich durch Christ. P. in Teutsch gebracht. Franckfort am Mayn, Gedruckt bey J. Wechel, in Verlegung D. Bry, 1590. North Carolina Collection call number FVCC970.1 H28w. |
Digital Collection |
DeBry Engravings |
Repository |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. North Carolina Collection. |
Host |
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
path |
\ncc\debry\ |
Local Identifier |
FVCC970.1 H28w |
Citation |
In "Wunderbarliche, doch warhafftige Erklärung, von der Gelegenheit vnd Sitten der Wilden in Virginia . . ." [America, pt. 1, German], Frankfort: Theodore De Bry, 1590, p. 87. North Carolina Collection, Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. |
Related Resource |
The full text of Thomas Hariot's "A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia" is available online through Documenting the American South at http://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/hariot/menu.html |
Copyright |
Public Domain |