Part 9

Besides, they will say, Wee never heard of this before; and then will relate how they have it from their Fathers, that _Kautántowwit_ made one man and woman of a stone, which disliking, he broke them in pieces, and made another man and woman of a Tree, which were the Fountaines of all mankind.

They apprehending a vast difference of Knowledge betweene the English and themselves, are very observant of the English lives: I have heard them say to an Englishman (who being hindred, broke a promise to them) you know God, will you lie Englishman?

Nétop kíhkita, Hearken to mee.

Englishmánnuck, Englishmen.

Dutchmánnuck, keenouwin Dutch men, and you and all kà wamé mittaukêkukitonck the world when they die. quéhettit,

Mattux swowánna Their soules goe not to kit aûog michichónckquock, the Southwest.

Wàme, ewò pâwsuck, All that know that one God. Manit wáwóntakick,

Ewò manìt waumaûsachick That love and feare Him. kà uckqushánchick,

Keesaqut aùog, They goe up to Heaven.

Michéme weeteantámwock, They ever live in joy.

Naûgom manìt wêkick, In Gods owne House.

Ewo manìt mat wauóntakick, They that know not this God.

Matwaumaûsachick, That love.

Màt ewò uckqushánchick, And feare him not.

Kamóotakick, Thieves.

Puppannouwâchick, Lyers.

Nochisquauónchick, Vnclean persons.

Nanompaníssichick, Idle persons.

Kemineíachick, Murtherers.

Mammaúsachick, Adulterers.

Nanisquégachick, Oppressors or fierce.

Wame naûmakiaûog, They go to Hell or the Deepe.

Michem maûog, They shall ever lament.

Awaum kukkakotemógwunnes? Who told you so?

Manittoowussuckwheke, Gods booke or writing.

Obs: After I had (as farre as my language would reach) discoursed (upon a time) before the chief Sachim or Prince of the Countrey, with his arch priests, and many other in a full assembly; and being night, wearied with travell and discourse I lay down to rest; and before I slept I heard this passage: A Qunnihticut Indian (who had heard our discourse) told the Sachim Miantunnómu that soules went up to Heaven, or downe to Hell; For, saith he, our Fathers have told us, that our soules go to the Southwest. The Sachim answered, But how doe you know yourselfe, that your soules goe to the Southwest; did you ever see a soule goe thither? The Native replied; when did he (naming my selfe) see a soul goe to Heaven or Hell? The Sachim againe replied: He hath books and writings, and one which God himselfe made, concerning mens soules, and therefore may well know more than wee that have none, but take all upon trust from our forefathers.

The said Sachim, and the chiefe of his people, discoursed by themselves, of keeping the Englishmans day of worship, which I could easily have brought the Countrey to, but that I was persuaded, and am, that Gods way is first to turne a soule from its Idolls, both of heart, worship and conversation, before it is capable of worship, to the true and living God, according to 1. Thes. 1. 9. You turned to God from Idolls to serve or worship the living and true God. As also, that the two first Principles and Foundations of true religion or Worship of the true God in Christ, are Repentance from dead workes, and Faith towards God, before the Doctrine of Baptisme or washing and the laying on of hands, which containe the Ordinances and Practises of worship; the want of which, I conceive is the bane of million of soules in England, and all other Nations professing to be Christian Nations, who are brought by publique authority to Baptisime and fellowship with God in Ordinances of worship, before the saving worke of repentance, and a true turning to God, Heb. 6. 2.

Nétop kitonckquêan kunnúppamin Friend when you die you michéme, perish everlastingly.

Michéme cuppauqua neímmin, You are everlastingly undone.

Cummusquauna múckqun manìt, God is angry with you.

Cuppauquanúckqun, He will destroy you.

Wuché cummanittó wockmanâuog, For your many Gods.

Wame pitch chíckauta The whole world shall mittaúke, ere long be burnt.

Obs: Upon the relating that God hath once destroyed the world by water; and that he will visit it the second time with consuming fire: I have been asked this profitable question of some of them, What then will become of us? Where then shall we be?

Manít ánawat Cuppittakûnnamun God commandth, that all wèpe wáme, Men now repent.

_The generall Observation of Religion, &c._

The wandring Generations of Adams lost posteritie, having lost the true and living God, their Maker, have created out of the Nothing of their own inventions many false and fained Gods and Creators.

More particular.

Two sorts of Men shall naked stand, Before the burning ire Of him, that shortly shall appeare, In dreadfull flaming fire. First, Millions know not God, nor for His knowledge care to seeke: Millions have knowledge store, but, in Obedience, are not meeke. If woe to Indians, where shall Turk, Where shall appeare the Jew? O, where shall stand the Christian false? O blessed then the true.

CHAP. XXII.

_Of their Government and Justice._

Sâchim-maûog, King, Kings.

Sachimáûonck, A kingdome or Monarchie.

Obs: Their Government is Monarchicall, yet at present the chiefest government in the countrey is divided betweene a younger Sachim, Miantunnnômu, and an elder Sachim, Caunoúnicus, of about fourscore yeeres old, this young Mans uncle; and their agreement in the Government is remarkable. The old Sachim will not be offended at what the young Sachim doth; and the young Sachim will not doe what hee conceives will displease his Uncle.

Saunks, The Queen, or Sachims Wife.

Sauncksquûaog, Queenes.

Otàn,-nash, The towne, townes.

Otanick, To the towne.

Sachimmaacommock, A Princes house, which according to their condition is farre different from the other house, both in capacity or receit, and also the finenesse and quality of their Mats.

Ataúskawaw-wauog, Lord, Lords.

Wauóntam, A Wise man or Counsellour.

Wauóntakick, Wise men.

Enàtch or eàtch Keèn anawáyean, Your will shall be law.

Enatch neèn ánowa, Let my word stand.

Ntínnume, He is my man.

Ntacquêtunck ewò, He is my subject.

Kuttackquêtous, I will subject to you.

Obs: Beside their generall subjection to the highest Sachims to whom they carry presents: They have also particular Protectors, under Sachims, to whom they also carry presents and upon any injury received, and complaint made, these Protectors will revenge it.

Ntannôtam, I will revenge it.

Kuttannótous, I will revenge you.

Miâwene, A Court or meeting.

Wépe cummiâwene, Come to the meeting.

Miawêtuck, Let us meet.

Wauwhàutowash, Call a meeting.

Miawêmucks, At a meeting.

Miawéhettit, When they meet.

Obs: The Sachims, although they have an absolute Monarchie over the people: yet they will not conclude of ought that concernes all, either Lawes, or Subsidies, or warres, unto which the People are averse, and by gentle perswasion cannot be brought.

Peyaùtch naûgum, Let himselfe come here.

Pétiteatch, Let him come.

Mishaúntowash, Speake out.

Nanántowash, Speake plaine.

Kunnadsíttamenwèpe, You must inquire after this.

Wunnadsittamútta, Let us search into it.

Neen pitch-nnadsittamen, I will inquire into it.

Machíssu ewò, He is naught.

Cuttiantacompáwwem, You are a lying fellow.

Cuttiantakiskquâwquaw, You are a lying woman.

Wèpe cukkúmmoot, You have stole.

Mat méshnawmônash, I did not see those things.

Màt mèshnummanmenash, I did not take them.

Wèpekunnishquêko cummiskissawwaw, You are fierce and quarrelsome.

Obs: I could never discerne that excesse of scandalous sins amongst them, which Europe aboundeth with. Drunkennesse and gluttony, generally they know not what sinnes they be; and although they have not so much to restraine them (both in respect of knowledge of God and Lawes of Men) as the English have, yet a man shall never heare of such crimes amongst them of robberies, murthers, adulteries, &c. as amongst the English: I conceive that the glorious Sunne of so much truth as shines in England, hardens our English hearts; for what the Sunne softeneth not, it hardens.

Tawhìtch yó enêan? Why doe you so?

Tawhìtch cummootóan? Why doe you steale?

Tawhìtch nanompaniêan? Why are you thus idle or base?

Wewhepapúnnoke, Bind him.

Wèpe kunnishaûmis, You kild him.

Wépe kukkemineantín, You are the murtherer.

Sasaumitaúwhitch, Let him be whipt.

Upponckquittaúwhitch, Let him be imprisoned.

Níppitch ewó, Let him die.

Niphéttitch, Let them die.

Niss-Nìssoke, Kill him.

Púm-púmmoke, Shoot him.

Obs: The most usuall Custome amongst them in executing punishments, is for the Sachim either to beate, or whip, or put to death with his owne hand, to which the common sort most quietly submit: Though sometimes the Sachim sends a secret executioner one of his chiefest Warriours to fetch off a head, by some sudden unexpected blow of a Hatchet, when they have feared Mutiny by publike execution.

Kukkeechequaûbenitch, You shall be hanged.

Níppansínnea, I am innocent.

Uppansínea-ewo, He is innocent.

Matmeshnowaûwon, I knew nothing of it.

Nnowaúntum, I am sorry.

Nummachiemè, I have done ill.

Aumaúnemoke, Let it passe, or take away this accusation.

Konkeeteatch Ewo, Let him live.

Konkeeteáhetti, Let them live.

_Observation generall, of their Government._

The wildest of the Sonnes of Men have ever found a necessity, (for preservation of themselves, their Families and Properties) to cast themselves into some Mould or forme of Government.

More particular.

Adulteries, Murthers, Robberies, Thefts, Wild Indians punish these! And hold the scales of justice so, That no man farthing leese. When Indians heare the horrid filths, Of Irish, English Men The Horrid Oaths and Murthers late, Thus say these Indians then, We weare no Cloaths, have many Gods, And yet our sinnes are lesse. You are Barbarians, Pagans wild, Your land’s the wildernesse.

CHAP. XXIII.

_Of Marriage._

Wuskéne, A young man.

Keegsquaw, A Virgin or Maide.

Segaúo, A widdower.

Segoúsquaw, A widdow.

Wusséntam, He goes a wooing.

Nosénemuck, He is my sonne in Law.

Wussenetûock, They make a match. Awetawátuock,

Obs: Single fornication they count no sin, but after Marriage (which they solemnize by consent of Parents and publique approbation publiquely) then they count it hainous for either of them to be false.

Mammaûsu, An Adulterer.

Nummammógwunewò, He hath wronged my bed.

Pallé nochisquaûaw, He or she hath committed adultery.

Obs: In this case the wronged party may put away or keepe the party offending: commonly, if the woman be false, the offended Husband will be solemnly revenged upon the offender, before many witnesses, by many blowes and wounds, and if it be to Death, yet the guilty resists not, nor is his Death revenged.

Nquittócaw, He hath one Wife.

Neesócaw, He hath two Wives.

Sshócowaw, He hath three.

Yocowaw, Foure wives &c.

Their Number is not stinted, yet the chiefe Nation in the Countrey, the Narrigansets (generally) have but one Wife.

Two causes they generally alledge for their many wives.

First desire of Riches, because the Women bring in all the increase of the Field, &c. the Husband onely fisheth, hunteth &c.

Secondly, their long sequestring themselves from their wives after conception, until the child be weaned, which with some is long after a yeare old, generally they keep their children long at the breast.

Commíttamus, Cowéewo, Your wife.

Tahanawatu? ta shincommaúgemus, How much gave you for her.

Napannetashom paûgatash, Five fathome of their Money.

Qutta-énada shoasuck ta Six or seven or eight fathome. shompaugatash,

If some great Mans daghter, Piuckquompaúgatash, ten fathome.

Obs: Generally the Husband gives these payments for a Dowrie, (as it was in Israell) to the Father or Mother, or guardian of the Maide. To this purpose if the Man be poore, his Friends and Neighbours doe pummenumminteáuguash, that is contribute Money toward the Dowrie.

Nummíttamus Nullógana, My Wife.

Waumaûsu, Loving.

Wunnêkesu, Proper.

Maânsu, Sober and chast.

Muchickéhea, Fruitfull.

Cutchashekeâmis? How many children have you had.

Nquittékea, I have had one.

Neesékea, Two &c.

Obs: They commonly abound with children, and increase mightily; except the plague fall amongst them, or other lesser sicknesses, and then having no meanes of recovery, they perish wonderfully.

Katoû eneéchaw, She in falling into Travell.

Néechaw, She is in Travell.

Paugcót che nechaúwaw, She is already delivered.

Kitummâyi-mes-néchaw, She was just now delivered.

Obs: It hath pleased God in wonderfull manner to moderate that curse of the sorrowes of child bearing to these poore Indian women: So that ordinarily they have a wonderfull more speedy and easie Travell, and delivery than the women of Europe: not that I think God is more gracious to them above other women, but that it followes, First from the hardnesse of their constitution, in which respect they beare their sorrowes the easier. Secondly from their extraordinary great labour (even above the labour of men) as in the field, they sustaine the labour of it, in carrying of mighty Burthens, in digging clammes and getting other Shelfish from the Sea, in beating all their Corne in Morters, &c. Most of them count it a shame for women in Travell to make complaint, and many of them are scarcely heard to groane. I have often knowne in one Quarter of an houre a Woman merry in the House, and delivered and merry againe, and within two dayes abroad, and after foure or five dayes at worke, &c.

Noosâwwaw, A Nurse.

Nòonsu Nonânnis, A sucking Child.

Wunnunògan, A Breast.

Wunnunnóganash, Breasts.

Munnúnnug, Milke.

Aumaúneman, To take from the breast, or weane.

Obs: they put away (as in Israell) frequently for other occasions besides adultery, yet I know many Couples that have lived twenty, thirty, forty yeares together.

Npakétam, I will put her away.

Npakénaqnn, I am put away.

Aquiepakétash, Doe not put away.

Aquèipokesháttous Doe not break the knot Awetawátuonck, of Marriage.

Tackquiúwock, Twins.

Towiû ûwock, Orphans.

Ntouwiû, I am an Orphane.

Wáuchaûnat, A Guardian.

Wauchaúamachick, Guardians.

Nullóquaso, My charge or Pupill, or Ward.

Peewaûqun, Looke well to him, &c.

_Generall Observation of their Marriage._

God hath planted in the Hearts of the Wildest of the sonnes of Men, an High and Honourable esteeme of the Marriage bed, insomuch that they universally submit unto it, and hold the Violation of that Bed, Abominable, and accordingly reape the Fruit thereof in the abundance of posterity.

More particular.

When Indians heare that some there are, (That Men the Papists call) Forbidding Marriage Bed and yet, To thousand Whoredomes fall: They aske if such doe goe in cloathes, And whether God they know? And when they heare they’re richly clad, Know God, yet practice so, No sure they’re Beasts not men (say they) Men’s shame and joule disgrace, Or men have mixt with Beasts and so, Brought forth that monstrous Race.

CHAP. XXIV.

_Concerning their Coyne._

The Indians are ignorant of Europes Coyne; yet they have given a name to ours, and call it Monèash from the English money.

Their owne is of two sorts; one white, which they make of the stem or stocke of the Periwincle, which they call, Meteaûhock, when all the shell is broken off: and of this sort six of their small Beads (which they make with holes to string the bracelets) are currant with the English for a Peny.

The second is black, inclining to blew, which is made of the shell of a fish, which some English call Hens, Poquaûhock, and of this sort three make an English peny.

They that live upon the Sea side generally make of it, and as many make as will.

The Indians bring downe all their sorts of Furs, which they take in the countrey, both to the Indians and to the English for this Indian Money: this Money the English, French and Dutch, trade to the Indians, six hundred miles in severall parts (North and South from New-England) for their Furres, and whatsoever they stand in need of from them: as Corne, Venison, &c.

Nquittómpscat, 1 peny.

Neesaúmscat, 2 pence.

Shwaúmscat, 3 pence.

Yowómscat, 4 pence.

Napannetashaúmscat, 5 pence.

Quttatashaúmscat, or quttauatu, 6 pence.

Enadatashaúmscat, 7 pence.

Shwoasuck tashaúmscat, 8 pence.

Paskugittashaúmscat, 9 pence.

Piuckquaúmscat, 10 pence.

Piuckquaúmscatnabnaqùit, 11 pence.

Piuck quamúscat nabnées, &c. 12 pence.

Obs: This they call Neén, which is two of their Quáttuatues, or six pence.

Piuckquaúmscat nabnashoàsuck, 18d. 3 quttáuatues. which they call Shwìn.

Neesneecheckaúmscat nab yòh, or, 2s. 4 quttáuatues. yowin,

Shwinchékaúmscat, or napannetashin, 2s. 6d. 5 quttáuatues.

Shwinchekaúmscat, 2s. 6d. 6 quttáuatues.

Yow innchekaúmscat nab neèse, 3s. 6d. 7 quttáuatues.

Yowinncheckaúmscat nabnashòasuck, 4s. 8 quttáuatues.

Napannetashwincheckáumscat nab yòh, 4s. 6d. 9 quttáuatues.

Quttatashincheck aumscat, or more 5s. 10 quttáuatues commonly used Puickquat, or 10 six pences.

Obs: This Piúckquat being sixtie pence, they call Nquittómpeg, or Nquitnishcaûsu, that is, one fathom, 5 shillings.

This one fathom of this their stringed money, now worth of the English but five shillings (sometimes more) some few yeeres since was worth nine, and sometimes ten shillings per Fathome: the fall is occasioned by the fall of Beaver in England. The Natives are very impatient, when for English commodities they pay so much more of their money, and not understanding the cause of it; and many say the English cheat and deceive them, though I have laboured to make them understand the reason of it.

Neesaumpaúgatuck, 10 shil. 2 Fathom.

Shwaumpáugatuck, 15 shil. 3 Fathom.

Yowompáugatuck, &c. 20 shil. 4 Fathom

Piuckquampáugatuck, or, 50 shil. 10 Fathom. Nquit pàusck,

Neespausuckquompáugatuck, 5 lib’ 20 Fathome.

Shwepaûsuck, Yowe paûsuck, &c. 30 Fathome.

Nquittemittannauganompáugatuck, 40 Fathome, or, 10 pounds.

Tashincheckompaúgatuck? How many Fathom?

Obs: Their white they call Wompam (which signifies white): their black Suckauhock (Sácki signifying blacke.)

Both amongst themselves, as also the English and Dutch, the blacke peny is two pence white; the blacke fathom double, or, two fathom of white.

Wepekuttassamompatimmin, Change my money.

Suckaúhock nausakésachick, The blacke money.

Wauômpeg, or Wauompésichick-mèsim, Give me white.

Assawompatittea, Come, let us change.

Anâwsuck, Shells.

Meteaûhock, The Periwinckle.

Suckauanaûsuck, The blacke shells.

Suckauaskéesaquash, The blacke eyes, or,

that part of the shel-fish called Poquaûhock (or Hens) broken out neere the eyes, of which they make the blacke.

Puchwhéganash and Múcksuck, Awle blades.

Papuckakiuash, Brittle or breaking, which they desire to be hardened to a brittle temper.

Obs: Before ever they had awle blades from Europe, they made shift to bore this their shell money with stones, and to fell their trees with stone set in a wooden staff, and used wooden howes; which some old and poore women (fearfull to leave the old tradition) use to this day.

Natouwúmpitea, A Coyner or Minter.

Nnanatouwúmpiteem, I cannot coyne.

Natouwómpitees, Make money or Coyne.

Puckhûmmin, To bore through.

Puckwhegonnaûtick, The awle blade sticks.

Tutteputch anâwsin, To smooth them, which they doe on stones.

Qussûck-anash, Stone, stones.

Cauómpsk, A whetstone.

Nickáutick, A kind of wooden Pincers or Vice.

Enomphómmin, To thread or string.

Aconaqúnnaûog, Thread the Beads.

Enomphómmin, Thread, or string these.

Enomphósachick, Strung ones.

Sawhoog & Sawhósachick, Loose Beads.

Naumpacoûin, To hang about the necke.