"It is said that Alexander the Great left some of his men in each place
that he conquered for the purpose of breeding with the natives,
but the people left on Roanoke were civilians --
men, women and children. If they were purposely abandoned to be captured
and become a part of the Native tribes. Well it was not the fault of the Natives.
They led rich cultural and religious lives
and were themselves the victims of foreign empire building.
But for the colonists, whose culture was quite different,
it might have felt as if they were thrown into an arena.

To look at in another way, the British gain the advantage of an English child,
Virginia Dare, born on American soil. The granddaughter of an artist
who has made some remarkable drawings of Native life.
But as far as is recorded, no one goes back to check on the colony
for three years.

Wouldn't they want to know what happened, given that it could be a factor
in their claims to the New World?"