After a winter of terrible hardship, only 50 of the original 101 English had survived. In the spring the Indians taught them what to plant. The harvest of 1621 was very good. The following is part of a letter that Edward Winslow sent to a "loving and old friend" in England on December 11, 1621:
After we got in our harvest, our governor sent four men bird-hunting so that we might in a special way rejoice together after we had gathered in the fruit of our labors. The four of them in one day killed enough birds to serve the company almost a week. At that time we had a parade and other recreations.
Many of the Indians joined us, including their greatest king, Massasoyt, and some ninety others. For three days we feasted and entertained them. They went out and killed five deer, which they brought to the plantation and gave to our governor and the captain and others. And, although it is not always so plentiful as it was at this time for us, yet by the goodness of God we are so far from need, that we often wish that you could share our plenty.
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