[Grammar] What is "them" referring to in this passage?

[Yonsu99]

The first successful British colon, at Jamestown on Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, was not founded until 1607. The first settlers relied on suppliers from England and depended on the Indians to teach them how to survive. Not until they began cultivating tobacco for sale abroad could they finance their activities and develop their country.

I'm not sure about what the undelined "them" is indicating.

 

[MikeNewYork]

The underlined "them" refers to "settlers".

In your first sentence "colon" should be "colony".

 

[emsr2d2]

I have a feeling it should be "supplies ", not "suppliers". The latter is not grammatically incorrect. It just seems more natural with "supplies ".

 

[MikeNewYork]

I agree, but "suppliers" are people/companies who send supplies.

 

[emsr2d2]

H​ence my saying that it's grammatically correct. I just think it's more likely that the original used "supplies".

 

[Yonsu99]

The underlined "them" refers to "settlers".

In your first sentence "colon" should be "colony".

Sorry colon was mistypo. If antecedent of them is settlers, shoudn't it be "themselves"? Or am I missing(mistaking?
) something?

 

[emsr2d2]

No, you are mistaken.

They had to rely on the Indians to teach them how to survive.
I had to rely on my friend to teach me how to make tea.
We had to rely on our parents to teach us how to cross the road.

 

[bhaisahab]

Sorry colon was mistypo. If antecedent of them is settlers, shoudn't it be "themselves"? Or am I missing(mistaking?
) something?

No, "themselves" would be wrong. The "Indians" taught them, they didn't teach themselves. "themselves" would refer to the "Indians".

 

[MikeNewYork]

No. "Themselves" doesn't work there. One should not use a reflexive pronoun in places in which a regular pronoun will work.

 

[Yonsu99]

Thank you, Mike, emsr, bhaisahab.

 

[Rover_KE]

Your appreciation is welcome, Yonsu, but there is no need to write a new post to say Thank you. Simply click the Thank button on any posts you find helpful. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question. It saves everybody's time.