Chapter 7: Chief Gilbert
"Fifty skins for the whole lot?". "Seventy skins". "Hmmm, how about we meet half way - sixty skins and it’s a deal". "Deal".
Two years earlier, as Captain Gilbert and his loyalists had struggled through their first Winter, they emerged into the Spring desperate for something to eat other than dried fish and venison. The were running low on food stocks and feared eating any of the wild berries and mushrooms - a young marine by the name of Edwin Richards thought they would be safe enough and unfortunately had fallen severely ill after trying some. After initially showing signs of improvement, his condition quickly deteriorated and it looked like he wouldn't make it past the weeks end.
Almost as if they had heard his prayers, on the horizon heading straight towards their little cove, Captain Gilbert spotted several canoes racing towards them. The Hakawa tribe of a nearby island archipelago had been travelling to New Southland for centuries. They made the long journey every few years during the Spring months to gather deer hide for clothing and blankets, and for further trade with other Pacific islanders. In the past they had settled a small outpost on the South of the island, not far from Camp Gilbert, however the bitterly cold winters were too much for them to bare, and they had abandoned the settlement over a century ago. As they approached landfall, the canoes slowed and the crew appeared to arm themselves with clubs and spears. Captain Gilbert and his men walked down to the shoreline with their hands in the air - hoping they would not be attacked. The Hakawa Chief, seeing no threat in the party of seven unarmed men, raised his left hand and the crew lowered their weapons. The canoes beached on the shore and the Hakawa Chief marched up towards Captain Gilbert with his entourage following closely behind him. Captain Gilbert introduced himself as leader of his men and welcomed the Chief to his small camp, showing him around and offering him some of their dried fish and venison. The Chief showed no interest in the food offerings, however was fixated on the elaborate deerskin coats that Captain Gilbert and his men were wearing. They had made them to keep warm during the Winter, and had almost perfected the art of tailoring - producing not only jackets, but deerskin blankets, hats, pants and boots. Captain Gilbert, seeing an opportunity, took off his coat and offered it to the Chief. The Chief turned around to speak with some of his men, who rushed back to the canoes on the beach. They returned with several bags full of sweet potatoes and root vegetables, spears and hatchets, fishing nets, baskets, and a few caged chickens. The Chief signaled to Captain Gilbert, seemingly offering a trade - one item for one item. Captain Gilbert asked his men to give up all of their coats and placed them on the ground. The Chief nodded and his men took the coats and left their items for Captain Gilbert and his men.
The Chief then ordered his men to set up camp on the shores, not far from Camp Gilbert. The Hakawa remained at their campsite for almost two weeks, sending small hunting groups into the forests every few days, returning with several large bucks each time, which they then skinned and ate at the campsite - sharing some of the meat with Captain Gilbert and his men. During their stay, Captain Gilbert and the Hakawa Chief formed a strong friendship, aided by one of the Hakawa warriors who had learned to speak a little English from European missionaries on another Pacific island, acting as translator between the two. Captain Gilbert and his men learnt which local fruits and berries were edible, and which to avoid, as well as how to make medicine from native plants. With this knowledge, young Edwin had recovered in no time, and the men were able to substantially improve their diet. As the Hakawa were packing up to return home, the Chief made a deal with Captain Gilbert to return the following year to trade for more deerskin. They agreed to bring many more items for trade that would be sure not to disappoint.
Over the course of the next year, Captain Gilbert and his men worked tirelessly hunting wild deer and growing their domestic deer livestock, including constructing several new stone pens, and making deerskin products to trade. The men also worked new fields along the creek where the soil was more fertile, planting the crops they had traded. Fishing was also made much easier with the nets and spears they had received, and the men built a storehouse to store the excess food and deerskins. In little over 12 months, the small camp had turned itself around and had turned into a hugely successful settlement.
However, as the following Spring came and went, the Hakawa were nowhere to be seen. Captain Gilbert and his men, who were relying on the return of the Hakawa, were bitterly disappointed. They had worked so hard over the past year to build up a large stockpile of trading goods, however with nobody to trade with, their efforts appeared to have been wasted. Not ones to give up, they pressed on, hoping for better luck the following Spring.
As the following Winter season waned, and the forest re-emerged from its slumber, Captain Gilbert and his men were constantly on the lookout for any signs of movement on the horizon. Fortunately for them, this year luck was on their side and the Hakawa were once again spotted on the horizon, approaching Camp Gilbert. This time, the fleet seemed much larger than the first encounter, and the Hakawa Chief had brought along some unexpected, but warmly welcomed offerings. Over the past year and a half, the Hakawa had been drawn into a regional conflict with neighbouring tribes - the reason they had not been able to return. After a series of initial setbacks, they had partnered up with an ally and won a significant battle, capturing many prisoners. Some of the prisoners, including several women, were brought along with other items to trade with Captain Gilbert and his men. Negotiations began and a deal was struck - sixty deerskin jackets for all thirty prisoners, ten chickens, seven pigs and five bags of root vegetables. Captain Gilbert and his men thanked the Chief for his trade and once again welcomed the group to set up camp down by the creek. This time, however, a permanent trading post was constructed, and several of the Hakawa remained at Camp Gilbert.
The Hakawa, along with the prisoners, helped Captain Gilbert and his men to clear more land and establish new fields along the creek, build a dock and several small boats for fishing, and build new pens for the growing livestock, whilst Captain Gilbert and his men assisted the Hakawa to build stronger timber dwellings and a large wooden storehouse at their trading post. Camp Gilbert was now a bustling little village, and Captain Gilbert, who had better become known as Chief Gilbert, held the respect of the Hakawa who had permanently settled at the trading post. With greater numbers under his command, Chief Gilbert had come up with a daring plan... "we strike at dawn..."
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