Chapter IV: Part 4

The Pismire or Ant must not be forgotten, accounted the least Creature, and by _Salomon_ commended for its wisdom, Prov. 30. 24, 25. _Quatuor ista parva sunt humilia, tamen sunt sapientia, apprime sapientia: formicæ populus infirmus, quæ comparant æstate cibum suum_, &c. There are two sorts, red Ants and black Ants, both of them are many times found winged; not long since they were poured upon the Sands out of the clouds in a storm betwixt _Black-point_ and _Saco_, where the passenger might have walkt up to the Ankles in them.

The Grashopper is innumerable and bigger by much than ours in _England_, having Tinsel-wings, with help whereof they will flye and skip a great way. Next to these in number are your Crickets, a man can walk no where in the summer but he shall tread upon them; The _Italian_ who hath them cryed up and down the streets (_Grille che cantelo_) and buyeth them to put into his Gardens, if he were in _New-England_ would gladly be rid of them, they make such a dinn in an Evening. I could never discover the Organ of their voice, they have a little clift in their Crown which opens, and at the same instant they shake their wings.

[p. 119.] The Eft or Swift in _New-England_ is a most beautiful Creature to look upon, being larger than ours, and painted with glorious colours; but I lik’d him never the better for it.

Frogs too there are in ponds and upon dry land, they chirp like Birds in the spring, and latter end of summer croak like Toads. It is admirable to consider the generating of these Creatures, first they lay their gelly on the water in ponds and still waters, which comes in time to be full of black spots as broad as the head of a Ten-penny nail, and round, these separate themselves from the gleir, and after a while thrust out a tail, then their head comes forth, after their head springs out their fore-legs, and then their hinder-legs, then their tail drops off, and growes to have a head and four legs too, the first proves a frog, the latter a water nuet. The Herbalist useth to say by way of admiration, _quælibet herba deum &c._ So God is seen in the production of these small Creatures which are a part of the Creation; _Laudate Jehovam cælites, laudate eum in excelsis_, &c. _Laudent nomen Jehovæ quæ ipso præcipiente illico creata sunt_ &c. _ipsæ bestiæ & omnes jumenta, reptilia & aves alatæ_, Psal. 148.

The Toad is of two sorts, one that is [p. 120.] speckled with white, and another of a dark earthy colour; there is of them that will climb up into Trees and sit croaking there; but whether it be of a third sort, or one of the other, or both, I am not able to affirm; but this I can testifie that there be Toads of the dark coloured kind that are as big as a groat loaf. Which report will not swell into the belief of my sceptique Sirs; nor that there is a Hell, being like _Salomon’s_ fool, Prov. 26. 22. _Sed si contunderes stultum in mortario cum mola pistillo, non recederet ab eo stultitia ejus._

Now before I proceed any further, I must (to prevent misconstructions) tell you that these following Creatures, though they be not properly accounted Serpents, yet they are venomous and pestilent Creatures. As, first the Rat, but he hath been brought in since the _English_ came thither, but the Mouse is a Native, of which there are several kinds not material to be described; the Bat or flitter mouse is bigger abundance than any in _England_ and swarm, which brings me to the insects or cut-wasted Creatures again, as first the honey-Bee, which are carried over by the _English_ and thrive there exceedingly, in time they may be produced from Bullocks when the wild Beasts are destroyed. But the wasp is [p. 121.] common, and they have a sort of wild humble-Bee that breed in little holes in the earth. Near upon twenty years since there lived an old planter at _Black-point_, who on a Sun-shine day about one of the clock lying upon a green bank not far from his house, charged his Son, a lad of 12 years of age to awaken him when he had slept two hours, the old man falls asleep and lying upon his back gaped with his mouth wide enough for a Hawke to shit into it; after a little while the lad sitting by spied a humble-Bee creeping out of his Fathers mouth, which taking wing flew quite out of sight, the hour as the lad ghest being come to awaken his Father he jogg’d him and called aloud Father, Father, it is two a clock, but all would not rouse him, at last he sees the humble-Bee returning, who lighted upon the sleepers lip and walked down as the lad conceived into his belly, and presently he awaked.

The Countrey is strangely incommodated with flyes, which the _English_ call Musketaes, they are like our gnats, they will sting so fiercely in summer as to make the faces of the _English_ swell’d and scabby, as if the small pox for the first year. Likewise there is a small black fly no bigger than a flea, so numerous up in the Countrey, [p. 122.] that a man cannot draw his breath, but he will suck of them in: they continue about Thirty dayes say some, but I say three moneths, and are not only a pesterment but a plague to the Countrey. There is another sort of fly called a Gurnipper that are like our horse-flyes, and will bite desperately, making the bloud to spurt out in great quantity; these trouble our _English_ Cattle very much, raising swellings as big as an egg in their hides. The Butterfly is of several sorts and larger than ours; So are their Dragon-flyes. Glow-worms have here wings, there are multitudes of them insomuch that in the dark evening when I first went into the Countrey I thought the whole Heavens had been on fire, seeing so many sparkles flying in the air: about _Mount-Carmel_, and the valley of _Acree_ in the _Holy-land_ there be abundance of them.

These are taken for _Cantharides_. _Cantharides_ are green flyes by day, in the night they pass about like a flying Glow-worm with fire in their tails.

I have finished now my relation of plants, _&c._ I have taken some pains in recollecting of them to memory, and setting of them down for their benefit from whom I may expect thanks; but I believe my [p. 123.] reward will be according to _Ben Johnsons_ proverbs, Whistle to a Jade and he will pay you with a fart, Claw a churl by the britch and he will shit in your fist.

The people that inhabited this Countrey are judged to be of the _Tartars_ called _Samonids_ that border upon _Moscovia_, and are divided into Tribes; those to the East and North-east are called _Churchers_ and _Tarentines_, and _Monhegans_. To the South are the _Pequets_ and _Narragansets_. Westward _Connecticuts_ and _Mowhacks_. To the Northward _Aberginians_ which consist of _Mattachusets_, _Wippanaps_ and _Tarrentines_. The _Pocanokets_ live to the West-ward of _Plimouth_. Not long before the _English_ came into the Countrey, happened a great mortality amongst them, especially where the _English_ afterwards planted, the East and Northern parts were sore smitten with the Contagion; first by the plague, afterwards when the _English_ came by the small pox, the three Kingdoms or _Sagamorships_ of the _Mattachusets_ were very populous, having under them seven Dukedoms or petti-_Sagamorships_, but by the plague were brought from 30000 to 300. There are not many now to the Eastward, the _Pequots_ were destroyed by the _English_: the _Mowhacks_ are about five hundred: Their speech a dialect of the _Tartars_, [p. 124.] (as also is the _Turkish_ tongue). There is difference between Tongues and Languages, the division of speech at _Babel_ is most properly called Languages, the rest Tongues.

As for their persons they are tall and handsome timber’d people, out-wristed, pale and lean _Tartarian_ visag’d, black eyed which is accounted the strongest for sight, and generally black hair’d, both smooth and curl’d wearing of it long. No beards, or very rarely, their Teeth are very white, short and even, they account them the most necessary and best parts of man; And as the _Austreans_ are known by their great lips, the _Bavarians_ by their pokes under their chins, the _Jews_ by their goggle eyes, so the _Indians_ by their flat noses, yet are they not so much deprest as they are to the Southward.

The _Indesses_ that are young, are some of them very comely, having good features, their faces plump and round, and generally plump of their Bodies, as are the men likewise, and as soft and smooth as a mole-skin, of reasonable good complexions, but that they dye themselves tawnie, many prettie Brownetto’s and spider finger’d Lasses may be seen amongst them. The _Vetula’s_ or old women are lean and uglie, all of them are of a modest demeanor, considering their [p. 125.] Savage breeding; and indeed do shame our _English_ rusticks whose rudeness in many things exceedeth theirs.

Of disposition very inconstant, crafty, timorous, quick of apprehension, and very ingenious, soon angry, and so malicious that they seldom forget an injury, and barbarously cruel, witness their direful revenges upon one another. Prone to injurious violence and slaughter, by reason of their bloud dryed up with overmuch fire, very lecherous proceeding from choller adust and melancholy, a salt and sharp humour; very fingurative or theevish, and bold importunate beggars, both Men and Women guilty of Misoxenie or hatred to strangers, a quality appropriated to the old Brittains, all of them Cannibals, eaters of humane flesh. And so were formerly the Heathen-_Irish_, who used to feed upon the Buttocks of Boyes and Womens Paps; it seems it is natural to Savage people so to do. I have read in Relations of the _Indians_ amongst the _Spaniards_ that they would not eat a _Spaniard_ till they had kept him two or three dayes to wax tender, because their flesh was hard. At _Martins_ vinyard, an Island that lyes South to _Plimouth_ in the way to _Virginia_, certain _Indians_ (whilst I was in the Countrey) seised upon a Boat that put into [p. 126.] a By-_Cove_, kill’d the men and eat them up in a short time before they were discovered.

Their houses which they call _Wigwams_, are built with Poles pitcht into the ground of a round form for most part, sometimes square, they bind down the tops of their poles, leaving a hole for smoak to go out at, the rest they cover with the bark of Trees, and line the inside of their _Wigwams_ with mats made of Rushes painted with several colours, one good post they set up in the middle that reaches to the hole in the top, with a staff across before it at a convenient height, they knock in a pin on which they hang their Kettle, beneath that they set up a broad stone for a back which keepeth the post from burning; round by the walls they spread their mats and skins where the men sleep whilst their women dress their victuals, they have commonly two doors, one opening to the South, the other to the North, and according as the wind sits, they close up one door with bark and hang a _Dears_ skin or the like before the other. Towns they have none, being alwayes removing from one place to another for conveniency of food, sometimes to those places where one sort of fish is most plentiful, other whiles where others are. I have seen half [p. 127.] a hundred of their _Wigwams_ together in a piece of ground and they shew prettily, within a day or two, or a week they have been all dispersed. They live for the most part by the Sea-side, especially in the spring and summer quarters, in winter they are gone up into the Countrie to hunt _Deer_ and _Beaver_, the younger webbs going with them. Tame Cattle they have none, excepting Lice, and Doggs of a wild breed that they bring up to hunt with.

Wives they have two or three, according to the ability of their bodies and strength of their concupiscence, who have the easiest labours of any women in the world; they will go out when their time is come alone, carrying a board with them two foot long, and a foot and half broad, bor’d full of holes on each side, having a foot beneath like a Jack that we pull Boots off with, on the top of the board a broad strap of leather which they put over their fore-head, the board hanging at their back; when they are come to a Bush or a Tree that they fancy they lay them down and are delivered in a trice, not so much as groaning for it, they wrap the child up in a young _Beaver_-skin with his heels close to his britch, leaving a little hole if it be a Boy for his Cock to peep out at; and lace him down to the [p. 128.] board upon his back, his knees resting upon the foot beneath, then putting the strap of leather upon their fore-head with the infant hanging at their back home they trudge; What other ceremonies they use more than dying of them with a liquor of boiled _Hemlock_-Bark, and their throwing of them into the water if they suspect the Child to be gotten by any other Nation, to see if he will swim, if he swim they acknowledge him for their own, their names they give them when they are men grown, and covet much to be called after our _English_ manner, _Robin_, _Harry_, _Phillip_ and the like, very indulgent they are to their Children, and their children sometimes to their Parents, but if they live so long that they become a burden to them, they will either starve them or bury them alive, as it was supposed an _Indian_ did his Mother at _Casco_ in 1669.

Their Apparel before the _English_ came amongst them, was the skins of wild Beasts with the hair on, Buskins of _Deers_-skin or _Moose_ drest and drawn with lines into several works, the lines being coloured with yellow, blew or red, Pumps too they have, made of tough skins without soles. In the winter when the snow will bear them, they fasten to their feet their snow shooes which are made like a large Racket we play at [p. 129.] _Tennis_ with, lacing them with _Deers_-guts and the like, under their belly they wear a square piece of leather and the like upon their posteriors, both fastened to a string tyed about them to hide their secrets; on their heads they ware nothing: But since they have had to do with the English they purchase of them a sort of Cloth called trading cloth of which they make Mantles, Coats with short sleeves, and caps for their heads which the women use, but the men continue their old fashion going bare-headed, excepting some old men amongst them. They are very proud as appeareth by their setting themselves out with white and blew Beads of their own making, and painting of their faces with the above mentioned colours, they weave sometimes curious Coats with _Turkie_ feathers for their Children.

Their Diet is Fish and Fowl, Bear, Wild-cat, Rattoon and Deer; dry’d Oysters, _Lobsters_ rosted or dryed in the smoak, _Lampres_ and dry’d _Moose_-tongues, which they esteem a dish for a _Sagamor_; hard eggs boiled and made small and dryed to thicken their broth with, salt they have not the use of, nor bread, their _Indian_ Corn and Kidney beans they boil, and sometimes eat their Corn parcht or roasted in the ear against the fire; they feed likewise upon earth-nuts, [p. 130.] or ground-nuts, roots of water-Lillies, Ches-nuts, and divers sorts of Berries. They beat their Corn to powder and put it up into bags, which they make use of when stormie weather or the like will not suffer them to look out for their food. _Pompions_ and water-_Mellons_ too they have good store; they have prodigious stomachs, devouring a cruel deal, meer _voragoes_, never giving over eating as long as they have it, between meals spending their time in sleep till the next kettlefull is boiled, when all is gone they satisfie themselves with a small quantity of the meal, making it serve as the frugal bit amongst the old _Britains_, which taken to the mountenance of a Bean would satisfie both thirst and hunger. If they have none of this, as sometimes it falleth out (being a very careless people not providing against the storms of want and tempest of necessity) they make use of Sir _Francis Drake’s_ remedy for hunger, go to sleep.

They live long, even to an hundred years of age, if they be not cut off by their Children, war, and the plague, which together with the small pox hath taken away abundance of them. _Pliny_ reckons up but 300 Diseases in and about man, latter writers Six thousand, 236 belonging to the eyes. There are not so many Diseases raigning [p. 131.] amongst them as our _Europeans_. The great pox is proper to them, by reason (as some do deem) that they are _Man-eaters_, which disease was brought amongst our _Europeans_ first by the _Spaniards_ that went with _Christopher Columbus_ who brought it to _Naples_ with their _Indian_-women, with whom the _Italians_ and _French_ conversed _Anno Dom._ 1493. _Paracelsus_ saith it happened in the year 1478 and 1480. But all agree that it was not known in _Europe_ before _Columbus_ his voyage to _America_. It hath continued amongst us above two hundred and three score years. There are Diseases that are proper to certain climates, as the Leprosie to _Ægypt_, swelling of the Throat or _Mentegra_ to _Asia_, the sweating sickness to the Inhabitants of the North; to the _Portugals_ the Phthisick, to _Savoy_ the mumps; So to the _West-Indies_ the Pox, but this doth not exclude other Diseases. In _New-England_ the _Indians_ are afflicted with pestilent Feavers, Plague, Black-pox, Consumption of the Lungs, Falling-sickness, Kings-evil, and a Disease called by the _Spaniard_ the Plague in the back, with us _Empyema_, their Physicians are the _Powaws_ or _Indian_ Priests who cure sometimes by charms and medicine, but in a general infection they seldom come amongst them, [p. 132.] therefore they use their own remedies, which is sweating, _&c._ Their manner is when they have plague or small pox amongst them to cover their _Wigwams_ with Bark so close that no Air can enter in, lining them (as I said before) within, and making a great fire they remain there in a stewing heat till they are in a top sweat, and then run out into the Sea or River, and presently after they are come into their Hutts again they either recover or give up the Ghost; they dye patiently both men and women, not knowing of a Hell to scare them, nor a Conscience to terrifie them. In times of general Mortality they omit the Ceremonies of burying, exposing their dead Carkases to the Beasts of prey. But at other times they dig a Pit and set the diseased therein upon his breech upright, and throwing in the earth, cover it with the sods and bind them down with sticks, driving in two stakes at each end; their mournings are somewhat like the howlings of the _Irish_, seldom at the grave but in the _Wigwam_ where the party dyed, blaming the Devil for his hard heartedness, and concluding with rude prayers to him to afflict them no further.

They acknowledge a God who they call _Squantam_, but worship him they do not, [p. 133.] because (they say) he will do them no harm. But _Abbamocho_ or _Cheepie_ many times smites them with incurable Diseases, scares them with his Apparitions and pannick Terrours, by reason whereof they live in a wretched consternation worshipping the Devil for fear. One black _Robin_ an _Indian_ sitting down in the Corn field belonging to the house where I resided, ran out of his _Wigwam_ frighted with the apparition of two infernal spirits in the shape of _Mohawkes_. Another time two _Indians_ and an _Indess_, came running into our house crying out they should all dye, _Cheepie_ was gone over the field gliding in the Air with a long rope hanging from one of his legs: we askt them what he was like, they said all wone _Englishman_, clothed with hat and coat, shooes and stockings, _&c._ They have a remarkable observation of a flame that appears before the death of an _Indian_ or _English_ upon their _Wigwams_ in the dead of the night: The first time that I did see it, I was call’d out by some of them about twelve of the clock, it being a very dark night, I perceived it plainly mounting into the Air over our Church, which was built upon a plain little more than half a quarter of a mile from our dwelling house, on the Northside of the Church: look on [p. 134.] what side of a house it appears, from that Coast respectively you shall hear of a Coarse within two or three days.

They worship the Devil (as I said) their Priests are called _Powaws_ and are little better than Witches, for they have familiar conference with him, who makes them invulnerable, that is shot-free and stick-free. Craftie Rogues, abusing the rest at their pleasure, having power over them by reason of their Diabolical Art in curing of Diseases, which is performed with rude Ceremonies; they place the sick upon the ground sitting, and dance in an Antick manner round about him, beating their naked breasts with a strong hand, and making hideous faces, sometimes calling upon the Devil for his help, mingling their prayers with horrid and barbarous charms; if the sick recover they send rich gifts, their Bowes and Arrowes, _Wompompers_, _Mohacks_, _Beaver skins_, or other rich Furs to the Eastward, where there is a vast Rock not far from the shore, having a hole in it of an unsearchable profundity, into which they throw them.

Their Theologie is not much, but questionless they acknowledge a God and a Devil, and some small light they have of the Souls immortality; for ask them [p. 135.] whither they go when they dye, they will tell you pointing with their finger to Heaven beyond the white mountains, and do hint at _Noah’s_ Floud, as may be conceived by a story they have received from Father to Son, time out of mind, that a great while agon their Countrey was drowned, and all the People and other Creatures in it, only one _Powaw_ and his _Webb_ foreseeing the Floud, fled to the white mountains carrying a hare along with them and so escaped; after a while the _Powaw_ sent the _Hare_ away, who not returning emboldned thereby they descended, and lived many years after, and had many Children, from whom the Countrie was filled again with _Indians._ Some of them tell another story of the _Beaver_, saying that he was their Father.

Their learning is very little or none, Poets they are as may be ghessed by their formal speeches, sometimes an hour long, the last word of a line riming with the last word of the following line, and the whole doth _Constare ex pedibus_. Musical too they be, having many pretty odd barbarous tunes which they make use of vocally at marriages and feastings; but Instruments they had none before the _English_ came amongst them, since they have imitated them and will make out Kitts and string them as neatly, [p. 136.] and as Artificially as the best Fiddle-maker amongst us; and will play our plain lessons very exactly: the only Fidler that was in the Province of _Meyn_, when I was there, was an _Indian_ called _Scozway_, whom the Fishermen and planters when they had a mind to be merry made use of.

Arithmetick they skill not, reckoning to ten upon their fingers, and if more doubling of it by holding their fingers up, their age they reckon by Moons, and their actions by sleeps, as, if they go a journie, or are to do any other business they will say, three sleeps me walk, or two or three sleeps me do such a thing, that is in two or three days. Astronomie too they have no knowledge of, seldom or never taking observation of the Stars, Eclipses, or Comets that I could perceive; but they will Prognosticate shrewdly what weather will fall out. They are generally excellent _Zenagogues_ or guides through their Countrie.

Their exercises are hunting and fishing, in both they will take abundance of pains. When the snow will bear them, the young and lustie _Indians_, (leaving their papouses and old people at home) go forth to hunt _Moose_, _Deere_, _Bear_ and _Beaver_, Thirty or forty miles up into the Countrey; when they light upon a _Moose_ they run him down, [p. 137.] which is sometimes in half a day, sometimes a whole day, but never give him over till they have tyred him, the snow being usually four foot deep, and the Beast very heavie he sinks every step, and as he runs sometimes bears down Arms of Trees that hang in his way, with his horns, as big as a mans thigh; other whiles, if any of their dogs (which are but small) come near, yerking out his heels (for he strikes like a horse) if a small Tree be in the way he breaks it quite asunder with one stroak, at last they get up to him on each side and transpierce him with their Lances, which formerly were no other but a staff of a yard and half pointed with a Fishes bone made sharp at the end, but since they put on pieces of sword-blades which they purchase of the _French_, and having a strap of leather fastned to the but end of the staff which they bring down to the midst of it, they dart it into his sides, _hæret latere lethalis arundo_, the poor Creature groans, and walks on heavily, for a space, then sinks and falls down like a ruined building, making the Earth to quake; then presently in come the Victors, who having cut the throat of the slain take off his skin, their young webbs by this time are walking towards them with heavie bags and kettles at their [p. 138.] backs, who laying down their burdens fall to work upon the Carkass, take out the heart, and from that the bone, cut off the left foot behind, draw out the sinews, and cut out his tongue _&c._ and as much of the Venison as will serve to satiate the hungry mawes of the Company; mean while the men pitch upon a place near some spring, and with their snow shoos shovel the snow away to the bare Earth in a circle, making round about a wall of snow; in the midst they make their _Vulcan_ or fire near to a great Tree, upon the snags whereof they hang their kettles fil’d with the Venison; whilst that boils, the men after they have refresht themselves with a pipe of Tobacco dispose themselves to sleep. The women tend the Cookerie, some of them scrape the slime and fat from the skin, cleanse the sinews, and stretch them and the like, when the venison is boiled the men awake, and opening of their bags take out as much _Indian_ meal as will serve their turns for the present; they eat their broth with spoons, and their flesh they divide into gobbets, eating now and then with it as much meal as they can hold betwixt three fingers; their drink they fetch from the spring, and were not acquainted with other, untill the _French_ and _English_ traded with that cursed liquor [p. 139.] called _Rum_, _Rum-bullion_, or kill-Devil, which is stronger than spirit of Wine, and is drawn from the dross of Sugar and Sugar Canes, this they love dearly, and will part with all they have to their bare skins for it, being perpetually drunk with it, as long as it is to be had, it hath killed many of them, especially old women who have dyed when dead drunk. Thus instead of bringing of them to the knowledge of Christianitie, we have taught them to commit the beastly and crying sins of our Nation, for a little profit. When the _Indians_ have stuft their paunches, if it be fair weather and about midday they venture forth again, but if it be foul and far spent, they betake themselves to their field-bed at the sign of the Star, expecting the opening of the Eastern window, which if it promise serenity, they truss up their fardles, and away for another _Moose_, this course they continue for six weeks or two moneths, making their _Webbs_ their _Mules_ to carry their luggage, they do not trouble themselves with the horns of _Moose_ or other _Deer_, unless it be near an _English_ plantation; because they are weighty and cumbersome. If the _English_ could procure them to bring them in, they would be worth the pains and charge, being sold in _England_ after the rate of forty or fifty [p. 140.] pounds a Tun; the red heads of _Deer_ are the fairest and fullest of marrow, and lightest; the black heads are heavie and have less marrow; the white are the worst, and the worst nourished. When the _Indians_ are gone, there gathers to the Carkass of the _Moose_ thousands of _Mattrises_, of which there are but few or none near the Sea-coasts to be seen, these devour the remainder in a quarter of the time that they were hunting of it.

Their fishing followes in the spring, summer and fall of the leaf. First for _Lobsters_, _Clams_, _Flouke_, _Lumps_ or _Podles_, and _Alewives_; afterwards for _Bass_, _Cod_, _Rock_, _Blew-fish_, _Salmon_, and _Lampres_, &c.

The _Lobsters_ they take in large Bayes when it is low water, the wind still, going out in their _Birchen-Canows_ with a staff two or three yards long, made small and sharpen’d at one end, and nick’d with deep nicks to take hold. When they spye the _Lobster_ crawling upon the Sand in two fathom water, more or less, they stick him towards the head and bring him up. I have known thirty _Lobsters_ taken by an _Indian_ lad in an hour and a half, thus they take _Flouke_ and _Lumps_; _Clams_ they dig out of the _Clam-banks_ upon the flats and in creeks when it is low water, where they are bedded [p. 141.] sometimes a yard deep one upon another, the beds a quarter of a mile in length, and less, the _Alewives_ they take with Nets like a pursenet put upon a round hoop’d stick with a handle in fresh ponds where they come to spawn. The _Bass_ and _Blew-fish_ they take in harbours, and at the mouth of barr’d Rivers being in their _Canows_, striking them with a fisgig, a kind of dart or staff, to the lower end whereof they fasten a sharp jagged bone (since they make them of Iron) with a string fastened to it, as soon as the fish is struck they pull away the staff, leaving the bony head in the fishes body and fasten the other end of the string to the _Canow_: Thus they will hale after them to shore half a dozen or half a score great fishes: this way they take _Sturgeon_; and in dark evenings when they are upon the fishing ground near a Bar of Sand (where the _Sturgeon_ feeds upon small fishes (like _Eals_) that are called Lances sucking them out of the Sands where they lye hid, with their hollow Trunks, for other mouth they have none) the _Indian_ lights a piece of dry _Birch-Bark_ which breaks out into a flame & holds it over the side of his _Canow_, the _Sturgeon_ seeing this glaring light mounts to the Surface of the water where he is slain and taken with a fisgig. _Salmons_ and _Lampres_ [p. 142.] are catch’d at the falls of Rivers. All the Rivers of note in the Countrey have two or three desperate falls distant one from another for some miles, for it being rising ground from the Sea and mountainous within land, the Rivers having their Originals from great lakes, and hastning to the Sea, in their passage meeting with Rocks that are not so easily worn away, as the loose earthie mould beneath the Rock, makes a fall of the water in some Rivers as high as a house: you would think it strange to see, yea admire if you saw the bold _Barbarians_ in their light _Canows_ rush down the swift and headlong stream with desperate speed, but with excellent dexterity, guiding his _Canow_ that seldom or never it shoots under water, or overturns, if it do they can swim naturally, striking their pawes under their throat like a dog, and not spreading their Arms as we do; they turn their _Canow_ again and go into it in the water.

Their Merchandize are their beads, which are their money, of these there are two sorts blew Beads and white Beads, the first is their Gold, the last their Silver, these they work out of certain shells so cunningly that neither _Jew_ nor Devil can counterfeit, they dril them and string them, and make many curious works with them to [p. 143.] adorn the persons of their _Sagamours_ and principal men and young women, as Belts, Girdles, Tablets, Borders for their womens hair, Bracelets, Necklaces, and links to hang in their ears. Prince _Phillip_ a little before I came for _England_ coming to _Boston_ had a Coat on and Buskins set thick with these Beads in pleasant wild works and a broad Belt of the same, his Accoutrements were valued at Twenty pounds. The _English_ Merchant giveth them ten shillings a fathom for their white, and as much more or near upon for their blew Beads. Delicate sweet dishes too they make of _Birch-Bark_ sowed with threads drawn from _Spruse_ or white _Cedar-Roots_, and garnished on the out-side with flourisht works, and on the brims with glistering quills taken from the _Porcupine_, and dyed, some black, others red, the white are natural, these they make of all sizes from a dram cup to a dish containing a pottle, likewise Buckets to carry water or the like, large Boxes too of the same materials, dishes, spoons and trayes wrought very smooth and neatly out of the knots of wood, baskets, bags, and matts woven with _Sparke_, bark of the _Line-Tree_ and _Rushes_ of several kinds, dyed as before, some black, blew, red, yellow, bags of _Porcupine_ quills woven and dyed also; Coats woven of [p. 144.] _Turkie_-feathers for their Children, Tobacco pipes of stone with Imagerie upon them, Kettles of _Birchen-bark_ which they used before they traded with the _French_ for Copper Kettles, by all which you may apparently see that necessity was at first the mother of all inventions. The women are the workers of most of these, and are now, here and there one excellent needle woman, and will milk a Cow neatly, their richest trade are Furs of divers sorts, Black _Fox_, _Beaver_, _Otter_, _Bear_, _Sables_, _Mattrices_, _Fox_, _Wild-Cat_, _Rattoons_, _Martins_, _Musquash_, _Moose-skins_.

Ships they have none, but do prettily imitate ours in their _Birchen-pinnaces_, their _Canows_ are made of _Birch_, they shape them with flat Ribbs of white _Cedar_, and cover them with large sheets of _Birch-bark_, sowing them through with strong threds of _Spruse-Roots_ or white _Cedar_, and pitch them with a mixture of _Turpentine_ and the hard rosen that is dryed with the Air on the out-side of the Bark of _Firr-Trees_. These will carry half a dozen or three or four men and a considerable fraight, in these they swim to Sea twenty, nay forty miles, keeping from the shore a league or two, sometimes to shorten their voyage when they are to double a Cape they will put to shore, and [p. 145.] two of them taking up the _Canow_ carry it cross the Cape or neck of land to the other side, and to Sea again; they will indure an incredible great Sea, mounting upon the working billowes like a piece of Corke; but they require skilful hands to guide them in rough weather, none but the _Indians_ scarce dare to undertake it, such like Vessels the Ancient _Brittains_ used, as _Lucan_ relates.

_Primum cana salix, madefacto vimine, parvam
Texitur in puppim, cæsoque induta juvenco,
Vectoris patiens tumidum super emicat amnem.
Sic Venetus stagnante Pado, fusoque Britanus
Navigat oceano----_

_When_ Sicoris _to his own banks restor’d
Had left the field, of twigs, and willow boord
They made small Boats, cover’d with Bullocks hide,
In which they reacht the Rivers further side.
So sail the Veneti if_ Padus _flow,
The Brittains sail on their calm ocean so:
So the Ægyptians sail with woven Boats
Of paper rushes in their_ Nilus _floats._

[p. 146.] Their Government is monarchical, the Patrueius or they that descend from the eldest proceeding from his loyns, is the Roytelet of the Tribe, and if he have Daughters, his Son dying without a Son, the Government descends to his Daughters Son: after the same manner, their lands descend. _Cheetadaback_ was the chief _Sachem_ or _Roytelet_ of the _Massachusets_, when the _English_ first set down there. _Massasoit_, the great _Sachem_ of the _Plimouth Indians_, his dwelling was at a place called _Sowans_, about four miles distant from _New-Plimouth_. _Sasasacus_ was the chief _Sachem_ of the _Pequots_, and _Mientoniack_ of the _Narragansets_. The chief _Roytelet_ amongst the _Mohawks_ now living, is a _Dutchmans_ Bastard, and the _Roytelet_ now of the _Pocanakets_, that is the _Plimouth-Indians_, is Prince _Philip_ alias _Metacon_, the Grandson of _Massasoit_. Amongst the Eastern _Indians_, _Summersant_ formerly was a famous _Sachem_. The now living _Sachems_ of note are _Sabaccaman_, _Terrumkin_ and _Robinhood_.

Their Wars are with Neighbouring Tribes, but the _Mowhawks_ are enemies to all the other _Indians_, their weapons of Defence and Offence are Bowes and Arrowes, of late he is a poor _Indian_ that is not [p. 147.] master of two Guns, which they purchase of the _French_, and powder and shot, they are generally excellent marks men; their other weapons are _Tamahawks_ which are staves two foot and a half long with a knob at the end as round as a bowl, and as big as that we call the Jack or Mistriss. Lances too they have made (as I have said before) with broken sword blades, likewise they have Hatchets and knives; but these are weapons of a latter date. They colour their faces red all over, supposing that it makes them the more terrible, they are lusty Souldiers to see to and very strong, meer _Hercules Rusticuses_, their fights are by Ambushments and Surprises, coming upon one another unawares. They will march a hundred miles through thick woods and swamps to the _Mowhawks_ Countrey, and the _Mowhawks_ into their Countrey, meeting sometimes in the woods, or when they come into an _Enemies_ Countrey build a rude fort with _Pallizadoes_, having loop-holes out of which they shoot their Arrowes, and fire their Guns, pelting at one another a week or moneth together; If any of them step out of the Fort they are in danger to be taken prisoners by the one side or the other; that side that gets the victory excoriats the hair-scalp of the principal slain Enemies which [p. 148.] they bear away in Triumph, their prisoners they bring home, the old men and women they knock in the head, the young women they keep, and the men of war they torture to death as the Eastern _Indians_ did two _Mowhawks_ whilst I was there, they bind him to a Tree and make a great fire before him, then with sharp knives they cut off the first joynts of his fingers and toes, then clap upon them hot Embers to sear the vains; so they cut him a pieces joynt after joynt, still applying hot Embers to the place to stanch the bloud, making the poor wretch to sing all the while: when Arms and Legs are gone, they flay off the skin of their Heads, and presently put on a Cap of burning Embers, then they open his breast and take out his heart, which while it is yet living in a manner they give to their old Squaes, who are every one to have a bite at it. These Barbarous Customs were used amongst them more frequently before the _English_ came; but since by the great mercy of the Almighty they are in a way to be Civilized and converted to Christianity; there being three Churches of _Indians_ gathered together by the pains of Mr. _John Eliot_ and his Son, who Preaches to them in their Native language, and hath rendered the Bible in that Language for the benefit of [p. 149.] the _Indians_. These go clothed like the _English_, live in framed houses, have stocks of Corn and Cattle about them, which when they are fat they bring to the _English_ Markets, the Hogs that they rear are counted the best in _New-England_. Some of their Sons have been brought up Scholars in _Harvard_ Colledge, and I was told that there was but two Fellowes in that Colledge, and one of them was an _Indian_; some few of these Christian _Indians_ have of late Apostatized and fallen back to their old Superstition and course of life.

Thus much shall suffice concerning _New-England_, as it was when the _Indians_ solely possest it. I will now proceed to give you an accompt of it, as it is under the management of the _English_; but methinks I hear my sceptick Readers muttering out of their scuttle mouths, what will accrew to us by this rambling _Logodiarce_? you do but bring straw into _Egypt_, a Countrey abounding with Corn. Thus by these _Famacides_ who are so minutely curious, I am dejected from my hope, whilst they challenge the freedom of _David’s_ Ruffins, Our Tongues are our own, who-shall controll us. I have done what I can to please you, I have piped and you will not dance. I have told you as strange things as ever you or your Fathers [p. 150.] have heard. The _Italian_ saith _Chi vide un miraculo facilmente ne crede un altro_, he that hath seen one miracle will easilie believe another, _miranda canunt sed non credenda poetæ_. Oh I see the pad, you never heard nor saw the like, therefore you do not believe me; well Sirs I shall not strain your belief any further, the following Relation I hope will be more tolerable, yet I could (it is possible) insert as wonderful things as any my pen hath yet gone over, and may, but it must be upon condition you will not put me to the proof of it. _Nemo tenetur ad impossibilia_, no man is obliged to do more than is in his power, is a rule in law. To be short; if you cannot with the _Bee_ gather the honey, with the Spider suck out the poyson, as Sir _John Davis_ hath it.

_The Bee and Spider by a divers power
Suck honey and poyson from the self-same flower._

I am confident you will get but little poyson here, no ’tis the poyson of _Asps_ under your tongue that swells you: truly, I do take you rather to be Spider catchers than Spiders, such as will not laudably imploy themselves, nor suffer others; you may well say _non amo hominem, sed non possum_ [p. 151.] _dicere quare_, unless it be because I am a Veronessa, no Romancer. To conclude; if with your mother wit, you can mend the matter, take pen in hand and fall to work, do your Countrey some service as I have done according to my Talent. Henceforth you are to expect no more Relations from me. I am now return’d into my Native Countrey, and by the providence of the Almighty, and the bounty of my Royal Soveraigness am disposed to a holy quiet of study and meditation for the good of my soul; and being blessed with a transmentitation or change of mind, and weaned from the world, may take up for my word, _non est mortale quod opto_. If what I have done is thought uprears for the approvement of those to whom it is intended, I shall be more than meanly contented.

_New-England_ was first discovered by _John Cabota_ and his Son _Sebastian_ in _Anno Dom._ 1514. A further discovery afterwards was made by the honourable Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ Knight in _Anno_ 1584. when as _Virginia_ was discovered, which together with _Mary-land_, _New-England_, _Nova Scotia_ was known by one common name to the _Indians_, _Wingandicoa_, and by Sir _Walter Rawleigh_ in honour of our Virgin Queen, in whose name he took possession of it, _Virginia_. In [p. 152.] King _James_ his Reign it was divided into Provinces as is before named. In 1602. these north parts were further discovered by Capt. _Bartholomew Gosnold_. The first _English_ that planted there, set down not far from the _Narragansets-Bay_, and called their Colony _Plimouth_, since old _Plimouth_, _An. Dom._ 1602. Sir _John Popham_ Lord chief Justice authorized by his Majesty, King _James_, sent a Colony of _English_ to _Sagadehock_, _An._ 1606. _Newfound-land_ was discovered by one _Andrew Thorn_ an English man in _Anno_ 1527. Sir _Humphrey Gilbert_ a west Countrey Knight took possession of it in the Queens name, _Anno_ 1582. The two first Colonies in _New-England_ failing, there was a fresh supply of _English_ who set down in other parts of the Countrey, and have continued in a flourishing condition to this day.

The whole Countrey now is divided into Colonies, and for your better understanding observe, a Colony is a sort of people that come to inhabit a place before not inhabited, or _Colonus quasi_, because they should be Tillers of the Earth. From hence by an usual figure the Countrey where they sit down, is called a Colony or Plantation.

The first of these that I shall relate of, though last in possession of the _English_, is now our most Southerly Colony, and next [p. 153.] adjoyning to _Mary-land_, _scil._ the _Manadaes_ or _Manahanent_ lying upon the great River _Mohegan_, which was first discovered by Mr. _Hudson_, and sold presently by him to the _Dutch_ without Authority from his Soveraign the King of _England_, _Anno_ 1608. The _Dutch_ in 1614 began to plant there, and call’d it _New-Netherlands_, but Sir _Samuel Argal_ Governour of _Virginia_ routed them, the _Dutch_ after this got leave of King _James_ to put in there for fresh water in their passage to _Brasile_, and did not offer to plant until a good while after the _English_ were settled in the Countrey. In _Anno_ 1664 his Majestie _Charles_ the Second sent over four worthie Gentlemen Commissioners to reduce the Colonies into their bounds, who had before incroached upon one another, who marching with Three hundred red-Coats to _Manadaes_ or _Manhataes_ took from the _Dutch_ their chief town then called _New-Amsterdam_, now _New York_; the Twenty ninth of _August_ turn’d out their Governour with a silver leg, and all but those that were willing to acknowledge subjection to the King of _England_, suffering them to enjoy their houses and estates as before. Thirteen days after Sir _Robert Carr_ took the Fort and Town of _Aurania_ now called _Albany_; and Twelve days after that, the Fort and Town [p. 154.] of _Awsapha_, then _De-la-ware_ Castle, man’d with _Dutch_ and _Sweeds_. So now the _English_ are masters of three handsome Towns, three strong Forts and a Castle, not losing one man. The first Governour of these parts for the King of _England_ was Colonel _Nicols_, a noble Gentleman, and one of his Majesties Commissioners, who coming for _England_ in _Anno Dom._ 1668 as I take it, surrendered the Government to Colonel _Lovelace_.

The Countrey here is bless’d with the richest soil in all _New-England_, I have heard it reported from men of Judgement and Integrity, that one Bushel of _European-Wheat_ hath yielded a hundred in one year. Their other Commodities are Furs, and the like.

_New-York_ is situated at the mouth of the great River _Mohegan_, and is built with _Dutch_ Brick _alla-moderna_, the meanest house therein being valued at One hundred pounds, to the Landward it is compassed with a Wall of good thickness; at the entrance of the River is an Island well fortified, and hath command of any Ship that shall attempt to pass without their leave.

_Albany_ is situated upon the same River on the West-side, and is due North from _New-York_ somewhat above Fifty miles.

[p. 155.] Along the Sea-side Eastward are many _English_-Towns, as first _Westchester_, a Sea-Town about Twenty miles from _New-York_; to the Eastward of this is _Greenwich_, another Sea-Town much about the same distance; then _Chichester_, _Fairfield_, _Stratford_, _Milford_, all Sea-Towns twenty and thirty mile distant from one another, twenty miles Eastward of _Milford_ is _Newhaven_ the Metropolis of the Colony begun in 1637. One Mr. _Eaton_ being there Governour: it is near to the shoals of _Cape Cod_, and is one of the four united Colonies.

The next Sea-Town Eastward of _Newhaven_ is called _Guilford_ about ten mile, and I think belonging to that Colony.

From _Guilford_ to _Connecticut_-River, is near upon twenty miles, the fresh River _Connecticut_ bears the name of another Colony begun in the year 1636 and is also one of the four united Colonies. Upon this River are situated 13 Towns, within two, three & four miles off one another. At the mouth of the River, on the West-side is the _Lord-Say_, and _Brooks fort_, called _Saybrook-fort_. Beyond this Northward is the Town of _Windsor_, then _Northampton_, then _Pinsers-house_. On the Eastside of the River, _Hartford_, about it low land well stored with meadow and very fertile. _Wethersfield_ is [p. 156.] also situated upon _Connecticut_-River and _Springfield_; but this Town although here seated is in the jurisdiction of the _Mattachusets_, and hath been infamous by reason of Witches therein. _Hadley_ lyes to the Northward of _Springfield_. _New-London_ which I take to be in the jurisdiction of this Coloney is situated to the Eastward of _Connecticut_-River by a small River, and is not far from the Sea. From _Connecticut_-River _long-Island_ stretcheth it self to _Mohegan_ one hundred and twenty miles, but it is but narrow and about sixteen miles from the main; the considerablest Town upon it is _Southampton_ built on the Southside of the Island towards the Eastern end; opposite to this on the Northernside is _Feversham_, Westward is _Ashford_, _Huntingdon_, &c. The Island is well stored with Sheep and other Cattle, and Corn, and is reasonable populous. Between this Island and the mouth of _Connecticut_-River lyeth three small Islands, _Shelter-Island_, _Fishers-Island_, and the Isle of _Wight_. Over against _New-London_ full South lyeth _Block Island_.

The next place of note on the Main is _Narragansets-Bay_, within which Bay is _Rhode Island_ a Harbour for the _Shunamitish_ Brethren, as the Saints Errant, the Quakers who are rather to be esteemed Vagabonds, than Religious persons, _&c._

[p. 157.] At the further end of the _Bay_ by the mouth of _Narragansets_-River, on the South-side thereof was old _Plimouth_ plantation _Anno_ 1602. Twenty mile out to Sea, South of _Rhode-Island_, lyeth _Martins_ vineyard in the way to _Virginia_, this Island is governed by a discreet Gentleman Mr. _Mayhew_ by name. To the Eastward of _Martin’s_ vinyard lyeth _Nantocket-Island_, and further Eastward _Elizabeths-Island_, these Islands are twenty or thirty mile asunder, and now we are come to _Cape-Cod_.

_Cape-Cod_ was so called at the first by Captain _Gosnold_ and his Company _Anno Dom._ 1602, because they took much of that fish there; and afterward was called _Cape-James_ by Captain _Smith_: the point of the _Cape_ is called _Point-Cave_ and _Tuckers_ Terror, and by the _French_ and _Dutch_ _Mallacar_, by reason of the perillous shoals. The first place to be taken notice of on the South-side of the _Cape_ is _Wests_-Harbour, the first Sea-Town _Sandwich_ formerly called _Duxbury_ in the Jurisdiction of _New-Plimouth_. Doubling the _Cape_ we come into the great _Bay_, on the West whereof is _New-Plimouth-Bay_, on the South-west-end of this _Bay_ is situated _New Plimouth_, the first _English_-Colony that took firm possession in this Countrey, which was in 1620, and the first Town built [p. 158.] therein, whose longitude is 315 degrees, in latitude 41 degrees and 37 minutes, it was built nine years before any other Town, from the beginning of it to 1669 is just forty years, in which time there hath been an increasing of forty Churches in this Colony (but many more in the rest,) and Towns in all _New-England_ one hundred and twenty, for the most part along the Sea-Coasts, (as being wholsomest) for somewhat more than two hundred miles: onely on _Connecticut_-River (as I have said) is thirteen Towns not far off one another.

The other Towns of note in this Colony are _Green-Harbour_ to the Eastward of _Plimouth_ towards the point of the _Cape_, & therefore somewhat unaccessible by land, here is excellent Timber for shipping; then _Marshfield_, _Yarmouth_, _Rehoboth_, _Bridgwater_, _Warwick_, _Taunton_, _Eastham_, by the _Indians_ called _Namset_.