In Camilla Townsend's novel Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma, what was Powhatan's dilemma? Who held the balance of power for the first 15 years of...

As
Townsend makes clear right throughout the book, the Powhatan were constantly faced with a
serious dilemma. They knew that the English settlers wanted their land but at the same time
couldn't be too aggressive towards them, as they knew that the English had superior
firepower.

That being the case, they had no choice but to adopt a very subtle
strategy which involved a fair amount of compromise, but not so much that it would weaken the
Powhatan's already weak bargaining position. So for instance, the Powhatan would warn the
colonists not to display the use of their weapons as they, the Powhatan, would steal them and
use them against the English. As this was the last thing the English wanted, they wisely heeded
the warning.

The English undoubtedly held the balance of power during the
early years of the Jamestown settlement. However, through the kind of compromise and expert
negotiation that we've just examined, the Powhatan were able to ensure that the colonists didn't
always get their own way.