John Smith 

1610

“Now all found the lose of Captain Smith ... as for corn, provision and contribution from the Savages, we had nothing but mortal wounds, with clubs and arrows; as for our Hogs, Hens, Goats, Sheep, Horse, or what lived, our commanders, officers and Savages daily consumed them, some small proportions sometimes we tasted, till all was devoured; then swords, arms, pieces, or any thing, we traded with the Savages, whose cruel fingers were so oft imbrewed in our bloods, that what by their cruelty, our Governors indiscretion, and the lose of our ships, of 500 within 6 months after Captain Smiths departure, there remained not past 60 men, women and children, most miserable and poor creatures; and those preserved for the most part, by roots, herbs, acorns, walnuts, berries, and now and then a little fish; they that had starch in these extremities, made no small use of it; yea, even in the very skins of our horses. Nay, so great was our famine, that a Savage we slew, and buried, the poorer sort took him up again and ate him, and so did divers one another boiled and stewed with roots and herbs. And one amongst the rest did kill his wife, powdered [salted] her, and had eaten part of her before it was known, for which he was executed, as he well deserved; now whether she was better roasted, boiled or carbonadoed [barbequed], I know not, but of such a dish as powdered wife I never heard of. This was that time, which still to this day we call the starving time; it were too vile to say, and scarce to be believed, what we endured: but the occasion was our own, for want of providence, industry and government, and not the barrenness and defect of the Country, as is generally supposed....

General History of Virginia 1624 based on Karen Ordahl Kupperman’s Captain John Smith: A Select Edition of His Writings.