The religion of these Chesapeake Bay Indians, like that of all the other Indians formerly found on the coast, consisted in a belief in a great number of devils, who were to be warded off by powwows and conjurations.  Captain Smith gives an account of a conjuration to which he was subjected at Uttamussick when a captive in December, 1607.  At daybreak they kindled a fire in one of the long houses and by it seated Captain Smith.  Soon the chief priest, hideously painted, bedecked with feathers, and hung with skins of snakes and weasels, came skipping in, followed by six others similarly arrayed.  Rattling gourds and chanting most dismally, they marched about Captain Smith, the chief priest in the lead and trailing a circle of meal, after which they marched about him again and put down at intervals little heaps of corn of five or six grains each.  Next they took some little bunches of sticks and put one between every two heaps of corn.  These proceedings, lasting at intervals for three days, were punctuated with violent gesticulations, grunts, groans, and a great rattling of gourds.[17]

Another custom of the Indians is linked with a romantic incident in Virginia history.  Not infrequently some wretched captive, already bound, to be tortured to death, has owed his life to the interference of some member of the tribe who announced his or her desire to adopt him as a brother or son.  The motives inducing this interference proceeded sometimes from mere business considerations and sometimes from pity, superstition, or admiration.  It was Captain Smith’s fortune during his captivity to have a personal experience of this nature.  After the conjuration at Uttamussick Smith was brought to Werowocomoco and ushered into a long wigwam, where he found Powhatan sitting upon a bench and covered with a great robe of raccoon skins, with the tails hanging down like tassels.  On either side of him sat an Indian girl of sixteen or seventeen years, and along the walls of the room two rows of grim warriors, and back of them two rows of women with faces and shoulders painted red, hair bedecked with the plumage of birds, and necks strung with chains of white beads.

At Smith’s entrance those present gave a great shout, and presently two stones were brought before Powhatan, and on these stones Smith’s head was laid.  Next several warriors with clubs took their stand near him to beat out his brains, whereupon Powhatan’s “dearest daughter,” Pocahontas, a girl of about twelve years old, rushed forward and entreated her father to spare the prisoner.  When Powhatan refused she threw herself upon Smith, got his head in her arms, and laid her own upon his.  This proved too much for Powhatan.  He ordered Smith to be released, and, telling him that henceforth he would regard him as his son, sent him with guides back to Jamestown.[18]