It was fortunate for the Pilgrims to have been treated kindly when they first arrived in the New World:
"An ambassador and interpreter, Samoset (c. 1590–c. 1653) of the Abenaki people was the first Native American to greet the English Pilgrims at Plymouth and to introduce them to the Wampanoag chief Massasoit.
The Abenaki chief Samoset from what is today Maine learned to speak English from fishermen who visited his coastal territory. So it was a surprise to the Pilgrims of Plymouth Plantation when he entered their settlement and announced, "Welcome, Englishmen!" The first Indian to greet the Pilgrims, Samoset fostered goodwill and trade with the Europeans.
He introduced the white men to Squanto, an emissary of the great Wampanoag chief, Massasoit, who facilitated the long-term peace between the Pilgrims and Indians. In later years, Samoset signed the first land sale transaction to the colonists.
Samoset explained that the region the Pilgrims had settled in originally belonged to the Patuxet, who, along with some neighboring tribes, fell victim to a terrible plague four years earlier that ravaged the region, leaving no one alive. To a degree, the Pilgrims accepted the fate of the Patuxet as divine providence that they should take over the territory. Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers , records "There is neither man, woman, nor child remaining, as indeed we have found none; so as there is none to hinder our possession, or to lay claim unto it."Samoset had mentioned that one of the few Patuxet left, who was not present during the plague, was an Indian by the name of Squanto, who had a better command of English. Samoset said that he would arrange a meeting between Squanto and the Pilgrims. Samoset also talked about Massasoit, the great chief of the Wampanoag tribe, who was currently in the area with the 300-strong Nemasket people.
On the next day, Thursday, March 22, 1621, Samoset returned to the colonists with a special companion, Squanto. Also known as Tisquantum and considered the last surviving member of the Patuxet, he had been kidnapped by Europeans and brought to Spain and to England, where he learned to speak English quite well. He had been returned to America before the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth.
Samoset and Squanto conducted some business with the Pilgrims, offering dried herring. But the real reason for Squanto's visit was to inform the colonists that the great sachem, or king, of the Wampanoag named Massasoit was waiting nearby with the Nemasket and wanted to meet with the Pilgrims.
Later that day, Massasoit did appear, with his brother Quadequina and 60 of his men, at the top of the hill overlooking the colonists. Although there was some initial reluctance on the part of both parties to send emissaries, they eventually met and exchanged gifts and entertainment.
The meeting was the beginning of Massasoit's long-term friendship and defense pact with the Pilgrims.
Read more:
http://www.notablebiographies.com/supp/Supplement-Mi-So/Samoset.html#ixzz2DrMog1Rn