The early English settlers of Roanoke Island in the New World established homes and lives alongside indigenous populations, but then they vanished completely, leaving behind a coded message for other colonists. When he finally returned to Roanoke Island in 1590, the English colony had vanished, and it is said that White found only the words 'CRO' and 'CROATOAN' carved on two trees. When White saw these words, he inferred that the settlers had sought the help of the Croatan Indians on the nearby Hatteras Island. The Croatans had been friendly towards the settlers, as the English were able to establish good relations with them when they founded their colony in 1587. One of the theories regarding the disappearance of the English settlers of Roanoke
