Part 7

The Indians of Martins vineyard, at my late being amongst them, report generally, and confidently, of some Islands, which lie off from them to Sea, from whence every Morning early, certaine Fowles come and light amongst them, and returne at Night to lodging, which Island or Islands are not yet discovered, though probably, by other Reasons they give, there is Land, &c.

Taûnek-kaûog, Crane, Cranes.

Wushówunan, The hawke.

Which the Indians keep tame about their houses to keepe the little Birds from their Corne.

_The generall Observation of Fowle._

How sweetly doe all the severall sorts of Heavens Birds, in all Coasts of the World, preach unto men the prayse of their Makers Wisedome, Power, and Goodnesse, who feedes them and their young ones Summer and Winter with their several sorts of Foode: although they neither sow nor reape, nor gather into Barnes?

More particularly:

If Birds that neither sow nor reape Nor store up any food, Constantly find to them and theirs A maker kind and good! If Man provide eke for his Birds, In Yard, in Coops, in Cage. And each Bird spends in songs and Tunes, His little time and Age! What care will Man, what care will God For’s wife and children take? Millions of Birds and Worlds will God Sooner than his, forsake.

CHAP. XVI.

_Of the Earth, and the Fruits thereof, &c._

Aûke, and Earth or Land. Sanaukamuck,

Níttauke, My Land. Nissawnâwkamuck,

Wuskâukamuck, New ground.

Aquegunnítteash, Fields worne out.

Mìntúck-quash, Trees.

Pauchautaqunnêsash, Branch, Branches.

Wunnèpog-guash, Leafe, leaves.

Wattáp, A roote of Tree.

Séip, A River.

Toyùsk, A bridge.

Sepoêse, A little River.

Sepoêmese, A little Rivulet.

Takèkum, A Spring.

Takekummûo? Is there a Spring.

Sepûo, Is there a River.

Toyusquanûo, Is there a Bridge.

Obs: The Natives are very exact and punctuall in the bounds of their Lands, belonging to this or that Prince or People, (even to a River, Brooke,) &c. And I have knowne them make bargaine and sale amongst themselves for a small piece, or quantity of Ground: notwithstanding a sinfull opinion amongst many that Christians have right to Heathens Lands: but of the delusion of that phrase, I have spoke in a discourse concerning the Indians Conversion.

Paugáutemisk, An Oake.

Wómpimish, A Chesnut Tree.

Wómpimineash, Chesnutts.

Obs: The Indians have an Art of drying their chesnuts, and so to preserve them in their barnes for a daintie all the yeare.

Anáuchemineash, Akornes.

These Akornes also they drie, and in case of want of Corne, by much boyling they make a good dish of them: yea sometimes in plentie of Corne doe they eate these Acornes for a novelty.

Wússoquat, A Wallnut Tree.

Wusswaquatómineug, Wallnut.

Of these Wallnuts they make an excellent Oyle good for many uses, but especially for their anoynting of their heads. And of the chips of the Walnut Tree (the barke taken off) some English in the Countrey make excellent Beere both for Tast, strength, colour, and inoffensive opening operation:

Sasaunckpâmuck, The Sassafrasse Tree.

Mishquáwtuck, The Cedar Tree.

Cówaw-ésuck, Pine, young Pine.

Wenomesíppaguash, The Vine-Tree.

Micúckaskeete, A Medow.

Tataggoskìtuash, A fresh Medow.

Maskituash, Grasse or Hay.

Wékinash-quash, Reed, Reeds.

Manìsimmin, To cut or Mow.

Qussuckomineânug, The Cherry Tree.

Wuttáhimneash, Strawberries.

Obs: This Berry is the wonder of all the Fruits growing naturally in those parts: it is of itselfe Excellent: so that one of the chiefest Doctors of England was wont to say, that God could have made, but God never did make a better Berry: In some parts where the Natives have planted, I have many times seen as many as would fill a good ship within a few miles compasse: The Indians bruise them in a Morter, and mixe them with meale and make Strawberry bread.

Wuchipoquámeneash, A kind of sharp fruit like a Barbary in tast.

Sasémineash, another excellent sharp cooling Fruit growing in fresh waters all the winter, Excellent in conserve against Feavers.

Wenómeneash, Grapes.

Wuttahimnasíppaguash, Strawberry leaves.

Peshaûiuash, Violet leaves.

Nummoúwinneem, I goe to gather.

Mowinnee-aûog, He or they gather.

Atáuntowash, Clime the Tree.

Ntáuntawem, I clime.

Punnoûwash, Come downe.

Npunnowaûmen, I come downe.

Attitáash, Hurtle-berries,

Of which there are divers sorts sweete like Currants, some opening, some of a binding nature.

Saûtaash are these Currants dried by the Natives, and so preserved all the yeare, which they beat to powder, and mingle it with their parcht meale, and make a delicate dish which they call Sautáuthig; which is as sweet to them as plum or spice cake to the English.

They also make great use of their Strawberries having such abundance of them: making Strawberry bread, and having no other Food for many dayes, but the English have exceeded, and made good Wine both of their Grapes and Strawberries in some places, as I have often tasted.

Ewáchim neash, Corne.

Scannémeneash, Seed Corne.

Wompiscannémeneash, White seed-corne.

Obs: There be diverse sorts of this Corne, and of the colours: yet all of it either boild in milke, or buttered, if the use of it were knowne and received in England (it is the opinion of some skillfull in physic) it might save many thousand lives in England, occasioned by the binding nature of the English wheat, the Indian Corne keeping the body in a constant moderate loosenesse.

Aukeeteaûmen, To plant Corne.

Quttáunemun, To plant Corne.

Anakáusu, A Labourer.

Anakáusichick, Labourers.

Aukeeteaûmitch, Planting time.

Aukeeteáhettit, When they set Corne.

Nummautaukeeteaûmen, I have done planting.

Anaskhómmin, To how or break up.

Obs: The Women set or plant, weede, and hill, and gather and barne all the corne and Fruites of the Field: yet sometimes the man himselfe, (either out of love to his Wife, or care for his Children, or being an old man) will help the Woman which (by the custome of the Countrey) they are not bound to.

When a field is to be broken up, they have a very loving sociable speedy way to dispatch it: All the neighbours men and Women forty, fifty, a hundred, &c. joyne, and come in to helpe freely. With friendly joyning they breake up their fields, build their Forts, hunt the woods, stop and kill fish in the Rivers, it being true with them as in all the World in the Affaires of Earth or Heaven: By concord little things grow great, by discord the greatest come to nothing. _Concordiâ parvæ res crescunt, discordiâ magnæ dilabuntur._

Anáskhig-anash, How, Howes.

Anaskhómwock, They how.

Anaskhommonteâmin, They break for me.

Anaskhomwáutowwin, A breaking up How.

The Indian women to this day (notwithstanding our Howes), doe use their naturall Howes of shells and Wood.

Monaskúnnemun, To weede.

Monaskunnummaûtowwin, A weeding or broad How.

Petascúnnemun, To hill the Corne.

Kepenúmmin, & To gather Corne. Wuttúnnemun,

Núnnowwa, Harvest time.

Anoûant, At harvest.

Wuttùunemitch, When harvest is in. Ewáchim,

Pausinnummin, To dry the corne.

Which they doe carefully upon heaps and Mats many dayes, before they barne it up, covering it up with Mats at night, and open it when the Sun is hot.

Sókenug, A heap of corne.

Obs: The women of the Family will commonly raise two or three heaps of twelve, fifteene, or twentie bushells a heap, which they drie in round broad heaps; and if she have helpe of her children or friends much more.

Pockhómmin, To beat or thrash out.

Npockhómmin, I am threshing.

Cuppockhómmin? Doe you thrash?

Wuskockkamuckómeneash, New ground Corne.

Nquitawánnanash, One basket full.

Munnòte, tash, Basket, Baskets.

Máûseck, A great one.

Peewâsick, A little one.

Wussaumepewâsick, Too little.

Pokowánnanash, Halfe a basket full.

Neesowannanash, Two baskets full.

Shéanash, Three.

Yowanannash, Foure, &c.

Aníttash, Rotten corne.

Wawéekanash, Sweet corne.

Tawhìtch quitchemáuntamen? Why doe you smell to it?

Auqúnnash, Barnes.

Necawnáuquanash, Old barnes.

Askútasquash, their Vine apple.--Which the English from them call Squashes about the bignesse of Apples of severall colours, a sweet, light, wholesome refreshing.

Uippakumíneash, The seed of them.

_The Observation generall of the Fruits of the Earth._

God hath not left himselfe without wit in all parts and coasts of the world; the raines and fruitfull seasons, the Earth, Trees, Plants, &c. filling mans heart with food and gladnesse, witnesseth against and condemneth man for his unthankfullnesse and unfruitfullnesse towards his Maker.

More particular.

Yeeres thousands since, God gave command (As we in Scripture find) That Earth, and Trees and Plants should bring Forth fruit each in his kind. The wildernesse remembers this The wild and howling land Answers the toyling labour of, The wildest Indians hand. But Man forgets his Maker, who, Fram’d him in Righteousnesse. A paradise in Paradise, now worse Than Indian wildernesse.

CHAP. XVII.

_Of Beasts, &c._

Penashímwock, Beasts.

Netasûog, Cattell.

Obs: This name the Indians give to tame Beasts, yea, and birds also which they keepe tame about their houses.

Muckquashím-wock, Wolves.

Moattôqus, A blacke Wolfe.

Tummòckquaûog, } Beaver, Beavers. Nóosuppaûog, }

Súmhuppaûog, Beaver, Beavers.

Obs: This is a beast of wonder; for cutting and drawing of great pieces of trees with his teeth, with which and sticks and earth I have often seen, fair streams and rivers damm’d and stopt up by them: upon these streames thus damm’d up, he builds his house with stories, wherein he sits drie in his chambers, or goes into the water at his pleasure.

Mishquáshim, A red Fox.

Pequawus, A gray Fox.

Obs: The Indians say they have black Foxes which they have often seen, but never could take any of them: they say they are Manittóoes, that is, Gods; Spirits or Divine powers, as they say of every thing which they cannot comprehend.

Aûsup-pánuog, Racoone, Racoones.

Nkéke, nkéquock, Otter, Otters.

Pussoúgh, The wildcat.

Ockqutchaun-nug, A wild beast of a reddish haire about the bignesse of a Pig, and rooting like a Pig; from whence they give this name to all our Swine.

Mishánneke-quock, Squirrell, Squirrils.

Anéqusanéquussuck, A little coloured Squirril

Waûtuiiques, The Conck.

Obs: They have a reverend esteeme of this Creature, and conceive there is some Deitie in it.

Attuck, quock, } Deere. Nóonatch noónatchaug, }

Moósquin, A Fawn.

Wawwúnnes, A young Bucke.

Kuttíomp & Paucottâuwaw, A great Bucke.

Aunàn-quunèke, A Doe.

Qunnequáwese, A little young Doe.

Naynayoûmewot, A Horse.

Côwsnuck, Cowes.

Gôatesuck, Goates.

Hógsuck, Pìgsuck, Swine.

Obs: This Termination _suck_, is common in their language and therefore they adde it to our English Cattell, not else knowing what names to give them;

Anùm, A Dog.

Yet the varietie of their Dialects and proper speech within thirtie or fortie miles each of other, is very great, as appears in that word.

Anùm, The Cowweset. } Ayím, The Narriganset. } Dialect. Arúm, The Qunnippiuck. } Alùm, The Neepmuck. }

So that although some pronounce not L, nor R, yet it is the most proper Dialect of other places, contrary to many reports.

Enewáshim, A Male.

Squáshim, A Female.

Moòs-sóog, The great Oxe, or rather a red Deere.

Askùg, A Snake.

Móaskug, Black Snake.

Sések, Rattle Snake.

Natúppwock, They feed.

Téaqua natuphéttit? What shall they eat?

Natuphéttitch yo sanaukamick, Let them feed on this ground.

_The generall Observation of the Beasts._

The Wildernesse, is a cleere resemblance of the world, where gredie and furious men persecute and devoure the harmlesse and innocent as the wilde beasts pursue and devoure the Hinds and Roes.

More particular.

1. The Indians, Wolves, yea, Dogs and Swine I have knowne the Deere devoure, Gods children are sweet prey to all; But yet the end proves sowre.

2. For though Gods children lose their lives, They shall not loose an haire; But shall arise, and judge all those, That now their Judges are.

3. New-England’s wilde beasts are not fierce As other wild beasts are: Some men are not so fierce, and yet From mildnesse are they farre.

CHAP. XVIII.

_Of the Sea._

Wechêkum, } The Sea. Kítthan, }

Paumpágussit, the Sea-God, or that name which they give that Deitie or Godhead which they conceive to be in the Sea.

Obs: Mishoòn, an Indian Boat, or Canow made of a Pine or Oake, or Chesnut-tree: I have seene a Native goe into the woods with his hatchet carrying onely a Basket of Corne with him, and stones to strike fire when he had felled his tree (being a Chesnut) he made him a little House or shed of the bark of it, he puts fire and followes the burning of it with fire, in the midst in many places: his corne he boyles and hath the Brook by him, and sometimes angles for a little fish: but so hee continues burning and hewing untill he hath within ten or twelve dayes (lying there at his worke alone) finished, and (getting hands,) lanched his Boate; with which afterward hee ventures out to fish in the Ocean.

Mishoonémese, A little Canow.

Some of them will not well carry above three or foure: but some of them twenty, thirty, forty men.

Wunnauanoûnuck, A shallop.

Wunnauanounuckquèse, A skiffe.

Obs: Although themselves have neither, yet they give them such names, which in their Language signifieth carrying Vessells.

Kitônuck, A Ship.

Kitónuckquese, A little Ship.

Mishíttouwand, A great Canow.

Peeswàsu, A little one.

Paugautemissaûnd, An Oake Canow

Kowawwawaûnd, A pine Canow.

Wompmissaûnd, A chesnut Canow.

Ogwhan, A boat adrift.

Wuskon-tógwhan, It will goe adrift.

Cuttunnamíinnea, Help me to Launch.

Cuttunnummútta, Let us launch.

Cuttúnnamoke, Launch.

Cuttánnummous, I will help you.

Wútkunck, A paddle or Oare.

Namacóuche cómishoon, Lend me your Boate.

Paûtousnenótehunck, Bring hither my paddle.

Comishoónhom? Goe you by water?

Chémosh-chémeck, Paddle or row.

Maumínikish and Pull up, or row lustily. Maumanetepweéas,

Sepâkehig, A Sayle.

Sepagehommaûta, Let us saile.

Wunnâgehan, We have a faire wind.

Obs: Their owne reason hath taught them, to pull off a Coat or two and set it up on a small pole, with which they will saile before a wind ten, or twenty mile &c.

Wauaúpunish, Hoyse up.

Wuttáutnish, Pull to you.

Nókanish, Take it downe.

Pakétenish, Let goe or let flie.

Nikkoshkowwaûmen, We shall be drown’d.

Nquawu pshâwmen, We overset.

Wussaûme pechepaûsha, The sea comes in too fast upon us.

Maumaneeteántass, Be of good courage.

Obs: It is wonderfull to see how they will venture in those Canoes, and how (being oft overset as I have myselfe been with them) they will swim a mile, yea two or more safe to Land: I having been necessitated to passe Waters diverse times: with them, it hath pleased God to make them many times the instruments of my preservation; and when sometimes in great danger I have questioned safety, they have said to me: Feare not, if we be overset I will carry you safe to Land.

Paupaútuckquash, Hold water.

Kínnequass, Steere.

Tiáckomme kínniquass, Steere right.

Kunnósnep, A Killick, or Anchor.

Chowwophómmin, To cast over-board.

Chouwóphash, Cast over-board.

Touwopskhómmke, Cast anchor.

Mishittashin, It is a storme.

Awêpesha, It caulmes.

Awêpu, A calme.

Nanoúwashin, A great caulme.

Tamóccon, Floud.

Nanashowetamóccon, Halfe Floud.

Keesaqúshin, High water.

Taumacoks, Upon the Floud.

Mishittommóckon, A great Floud.

Maùchetan and skàt, Ebb.

Mittâeskat, A low Ebb.

Awánick Paûdhuck? Who comes there?

Obs: I have knowne thirty or forty of their Canowes fill’d with Men, and neere as many more of their enemies in a Sea fight.

Caupaûshess, Goe ashoare.

Caupaushâuta, Let us goe ashoare.

Wusséheposh, Heave out the water.

Asképunish, Make fast the Boat.

Kspúnsh & Kspúnemoke, Tie it fast.

Maumínikish, Tie it hard.

Neene Cuthómwock, Now they goe off.

Kekuthomwushánnick, They are gone already.

_Generall Observations of the Sea._

How unsearchable are the depths of the Wisedome and Power of God in separating from Europe, Asia and Africa such a mightie vast continent as America is? and that for so many ages? as also, by such a Westerne Ocean of about three thousand of English miles breadth in passage over?

More particular:

They see God’s wonders that are call’d Through dreadfull Seas to passe, In tearing winds, and roaring seas, And calmes as smooth as glasse.

I have in Europes ships, oft been In King of terrours hand; When all have cri’d, Now, now we sinck, Yet God brought safe to land.

Alone ’mongst Indians in Canoes, Sometime o’return’d, I have been Halfe inch from death, in Ocean deepe, Gods wonders I have seene.

CHAP. XIX.

_Of Fish and Fishing._

Namaùus,-suck, Fish, Fishes.

} Cod, Which is the first Pauganaùt, tamwock, } that comes a little before } the Spring.

} Lampries, The first that Qunnamáug-suck, } come in the Spring into } the fresh Rivers.

Aumsûog, & Munnaw-hatteaûg, A Fish somewhat like a Herring.

Missúckeke-kéquock, Basse.

The Indians (and the English too) make a daintie dish of the Uppaquontup, or head of this Fish; and well they may, the braines and fat of it being very much, and sweet as marrow.

Kaúposh-shaûoog, Sturgeon.

Obs: Divers part of the Countrey abound with this Fish; yet the Natives for the goodnesse and greatnesse of it, much prize it, and will neither furnish the English with so many, nor so cheape, that any great trade is like to be made of it, untill the English themselves are fit to follow the fishing.

The Natives venture one or two in a Canow, and with an harping Iron, or such like Instrument sticke this fish, and so hale it into their Canow; sometimes they take them by their nets, which they make strong of Hemp.

Ashòp, their nets. Which they will set thwart some little River or Cove wherein they kill Basse (at the fall of the water) with their arrows, or sharp sticks, especially if headed with Iron, gotten from the English, &c.

Aucùp, A little Cove or Creeke.

Aucppâwese, A very little one.

Wawwhunnekesûog, Mackrell.

Mishquammaùquock, Red fish, Salmon.

Osacóntuck, A fat sweet fish, something like a Haddock.

Mishcùp-paûog, Breame. Sequanamáuquock,

Obs: Of this Fish there is abundance, which the Natives drie in the Sunne and smoake; and some _English_ begin to salt, both wayes they keepe all the yeere; and it is hoped it may be as well accepted as Cod at a Market, and better, if once knowne.

Taut-aúog, Sheeps-heads.

Neeshaúog, } Sassammaúquock, } Eeles. Nquittéconnaúog, }

Tatackommmâúog, Porpuses.

Pútop-paúog, Whales.

Which in some places are often cast up; I have seene some of them, but not above sixtie foot long: The Natives cut them out in severall parcells, and give and send farre and neere for an acceptable present, or dish.