Among the leaders, Captain John Smith had emerged as most capable of successfully trading with the Natives. Over the first several months of settlement, the survivors (including Smith) had gained sufficient intelligence of the surrounding tribes to start more focused diplomatic initiatives with Powhatan's enemies. Using the "Discovery", the smallest of the three ships which had been left behind for their use, the colonists explored the surrounding area including the Chesapeake Bay. Smith successfully traded for food with the Indian Nansemonds, who were located along the Nansemond River in the modern-day city of Suffolk, Virginia. He had mixed results dealing with the various other tribes, most of whom were affiliated with the Powhatan Confederacy.