<P> The local Indians were already familiar with the English, who had intermittently visited the area for fishing and trade before Mayflower arrived . In the Cape Cod area, relations were poor following a visit several years earlier by Thomas Hunt . Hunt kidnapped 20 people from Patuxet (the site of Plymouth Colony) and another seven from Nausett, and he attempted to sell them as slaves in Europe . One of the Patuxet abductees was Squanto, who became an ally of the Plymouth Colony . </P> <P> The Pokanokets also lived nearby and had developed a particular dislike for the English after one group came in, captured numerous people, and shot them aboard their ship . By this time, there had already been reciprocal killings at Martha's Vineyard and Cape Cod . But during one of the captures by the English, Squanto escaped to England and there became a Christian . When he came back, he found that most of his tribe had died from plague . </P> <P> Continuing westward, the shallop's mast and rudder were broken by storms and the sail was lost . They rowed for safety, encountering the harbor formed by Duxbury and Plymouth barrier beaches and stumbling on land in the darkness . They remained at this spot for two days to recuperate and repair equipment . They named it Clark's Island for a Mayflower mate who first set foot on it . </P> <P> They resumed exploration on Monday, December 11 / 21 when the party crossed over to the mainland and surveyed the area that ultimately became the settlement . The anniversary of this survey is observed in Massachusetts as Forefathers' Day and is traditionally associated with the Plymouth Rock landing tradition . This land was especially suited to winter building because it had already been cleared, and the tall hills provided a good defensive position . </P>

Who were the separatists and what did they do