Riddle colony Croatan

More than 400 years in the history of America there is unsolved mystery - the mystery Wraiths of Roanoke. Large numbers of people have disappeared from the island, leaving things, food, jewelry. Where did they go - do not know to this day.





The story began with Sir Walter Rowley, a noble English gentleman. At the request of Queen Elizabeth I, he attempted to establish a colony in North America. It was a new English region, named Virginia in honor of the Virgin Queen Elizabeth I (in English "virgin» - «virgin»). The vast territory stretched from modern Virginia Pennsylvania to Carolina.
The Queen wishes to extend to the land authority and power of England, and in 1584 Sir Rowley sent an expedition there, on the island of Roanoke, to study future space colonies. The expedition consisted of two Indians - Manteo and Vanches.



Roanoke Island was located close to the mainland and bathed bay. Report on new land has been positive, and April 9, 1585 108 people, including artist John White, went to America.
Colonists who settled on the island, had to go through a difficult time in a new, unfamiliar world for them: the winter was harsh, food reserves were depleted.
In addition, the settlers were surrounded by hostile Indians, constantly reflecting their attack. People have lived on the island of winter and spring, and decided to return to England. In June 1586 the colonists left Roanoke on the ship of Captain Sir Francis Drake, who was passing by the island, returning from the West Indies. So at that time was called the Caribbean.

A few weeks after the departure of colonists landed on Roanoke Island brave new group of fifteen people, strongly supports the idea of ​​spreading the power of England in the New World.
In 1587, Sir Rowley made another attempt to colonize the New World, by sending a second group of settlers in America. Led a group of John White, who had already visited the island of Roanoke. He was instructed to transfer from the island of Roanoke settlement on the Bay of Chesapeake. But the sailors refused to take people further than the island of Roanoke, and June 22, 1587 150 colonists, including 11 children, have landed on the island. Roanoke met them with silence. 15 people left the island a year ago, have disappeared.



27 days after the landing of colonists on the island had a girl named Virginia Dyer, granddaughter of John White. It was the first English child born on American soil.

Located at the new location, the settlers found a distinct lack of tools, food and other vital things. John White has agreed to return to England for the necessary equipment colonists left the island in a week. He was able to return to Roanoke only after 4 years.

The island appeared deserted. White only found carved on a tree the word & quot; Croatoan & quot; - The name of a nearby island. 150 man and his granddaughter disappeared without a trace.



Three years ago, before leaving the island, John White had arranged with the colonists, that if they have to leave Roanoke, they will leave pa conspicuous place a sign saying where they went.
If they would be in danger, or have to leave the island to escape, then in addition to the tree called the new location of the colony, they cut out the cross.
Cross under the carved inscription was not.
This could only mean one thing: the settlers left the island voluntarily.
But what does the word "Croatan»?
Croatan - the island, located 80 kilometers south of the town and the Indians.
Perhaps, the settlers were there?
White immediately wanted to go there, but the weather turned bad. Ship "Hopewell" fell off the anchors, and began the demolition of the open sea. Because of this, White has not overcome the short distance to Croatan. He headed for England and 24 October he returned to Plymouth.
But this does not mean that the settlers abandoned to their fate.
Later, the British ships have visited Roanoke Island and explore the surrounding islands, as well as land on the mainland, trying to find traces of the colonists. But found nothing they could.
Total in 1590, the North American Roanoke Island was directed four exploratory expedition, headed by Commissioner pslednyuyu Queen Elizabeth I, Walter Raleigh.
Was not found even a drop of blood, strands of hair or flap of torn clothing that would indicate to attack enemies!
It is interesting that with people and pets are gone - the soldiers did not find any dog ​​or chicken.
The surrounding forests are scrutinized in search of fresh graves, but no corpse was never found. Tribe local Croatan Indians good to white, but just in case, and searched their village on a nearby island.
It is to no avail.
As a result, the Queen sent a telegram: "They could not disappear just like that, that do not have even a trace. They took away the devil. "
Later Reilly is already on its own initiative sought settlers dug all the land on the site of the village and only 14 years later stopped fruitless search.
None of the 117 men, women and children left in 1587 on the island of Roanoke, no one has never seen.



It is curious that the Indians worshiped the god Kroatanu - from this comes the name and tribe and neighboring Roanoke Island, where they lived. The very same name translates as "Soul Reaper". It was believed, he always lived among them, but was invisible at will, and could become implanted in any body. Indians told that God were going on a sacrificial altar: the priests sit in a circle and watched as the food slowly disappeared in the air. Kroatanu annually sent "helper" - a strong warrior: he was placed in a locked hut with an altar, but in the morning the warrior disappeared.
Is it possible that on the island there was a case of mass hallucination that gave the shaman Indian tribe, and then sacrifice the white settlers God Kroatanu?

There are many theories about the fate of the missing colonists, but none of them documented.

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