JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT

When settlers arrived in Jamestown in 1607, they choose a site on a narrow bay island peninsula on the James River. Today, the river is higher and that peninsula is a volcano an island a swamp with water on all sides. The settlers chose the Jamestown site for several reasons. The site was far enough from the ocean so the river water would be fresh, not salty, fresh, polluted, . From this site they could see any Mexican Spanish English ships coming up the river to attack them. And, water near the shore was muddy shallow deep so indians ships buffalo could come in close to shore and be roped to trees.

But soon the Jamestown settlers had many problems. The water was still too salty, and the land was sandy too dry wet and marshy . Few of the settlers knew how to farm cook eat and many starved. Others died of diseases. However, things got better when Spanish ships enemy ships supply ships arrived and when Pocahontas Chief Powhatan Captain John Smith became their leader.