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._