Indians quickly spread themselves over the deserted English fields,
gleaning what they could find. Some picked up ears of wheat that
were crickled down, some found ears of Indian corn, some found
ground-nuts,[12] and others sheaves of wheat that were frozen together
in the shock, and went to threshing of them out. Myself got two ears of
Indian corn, and, whilst I did but turn my back, one of them was stole
from me, which much troubled me.
[11] Or Squakeag, now Northfield.
[12] _Apios tuberosa._ The Pilgrims, during their first
winter, lived chiefly on these roots. The tubers vary from
the size of a cherry to that of a hen's egg, and grow in
strings of perhaps forty together.
There came an Indian to them at that time with a basket of horse-liver.
I asked him to give me a piece. "What," says he, "can you eat
horse-liver?" I told him I would try, if he would give me a piece,
which he did; and I laid it on the coals to roast; but, before it was
half ready, they got half of it away from me; so that I was forced to
take the rest and eat it as it was, with the blood about my mouth, and
yet a savory bit it was to me; for to the hungry soul every bitter
thing was sweet. A solemn sight methought it was to see whole fields of
wheat and Indian corn forsaken and spoiled, and the remainder of them
to be food for our merciless enemies. That night we had a mess of wheat
for our supper.
THE EIGHTH REMOVE.--On the morrow morning we must go over Connecticut
River to meet with King Philip. Two canoes full they had carried over.
The next turn myself was to go; but, as my foot was upon the canoe to
step in, there was a sudden outcry among them, and I must step back;
and instead of going over the river, I must go four or five miles up
the river farther northward. Some of the Indians ran one way, and some
another. The cause of this route was, as I thought, their espying some
English scouts, who were thereabouts. In this travel up the river,
about noon the company made a stop and sat down, some to eat and others
to rest them. As I sat amongst them, musing on things past, my son
Joseph unexpectedly came to me....
We travelled on till night, and in the morning we must go over the
river to Philip's crew. When I was in the canoe I could not but be
amazed at the numerous crew of pagans that were on the bank on the
other side. When I came ashore they gathered all about me, I sitting
alone in the midst. I observed they asked one another questions, and
laughed, and rejoiced over their gains and victories.
Then my heart began to fail, and I fell a-weeping; which was the first
time, to my remembrance, that I wept before them. There one of them
asked me why I wept. I could hardly tell what to say; yet I answered,
they would kill me. "No," said he, "none will hurt you." Then came one
of them and gave me two spoonfuls of meal to comfort me, and another
gave me half a pint of peas, which was worth more than many bushels at
another time.
Then I went to see King Philip. He bade me come in and sit down, and
asked me whether I would smoke--a usual compliment nowadays among the
saints and sinners; but this noway suited me; for though I had formerly
used tobacco, yet I had left it ever since I was first taken. It seems
to be a bait the devil lays to make men lose their precious time. I
remember with shame how, formerly, when I had taken two or three pipes,
I was presently ready for another, such a bewitching thing it is; but I
thank God He has now given me power over it. Surely there are many who
may be better employed than to sit sucking a stinking tobacco pipe.
Now the Indians gathered their forces to go against Northampton. Over
night one went about yelling and hooting to give notice of the design.
Whereupon they went to boiling of ground-nuts and parching corn--as
many as had it--for their provision; and in the morning away they went.
During my abode in this place Philip spake to me to make a shirt for
his boy, which I did; for which he gave me a shilling. I offered the
money to my mistress, but she bid me keep it, and with it I bought a
piece of horse-flesh.
Afterwards he asked me to make a cap for his boy, for which he invited
me to dinner. I went, and he gave me a pancake about as big as two
fingers; it was made of parched wheat, beaten and fried in bear's
grease, but I thought I never tasted pleasanter meat in my life. There
was a squaw who spake to me to make a shirt for her sannup; for which
she gave me a piece of beef. Another asked me to knit a pair of
stockings, for which she gave me a quart of peas. I boiled my peas and
beef together, and invited my master and mistress to dinner; but the
proud gossip, because I served them both in one dish, would eat
nothing, except one bit that he gave her upon the point of his knife.
Hearing that my son was come to this place, I went to see him, and
found him lying flat on the ground. I asked him how he could sleep so.
He answered me that he was not asleep, but at prayer, and that he lay
so that they might not observe what he was doing. I pray God he may
remember these things now he is returned in safety.
At this place, the sun now getting higher, what with the beams and heat
of the sun and smoke of the wigwams, I thought I should have been
blinded. I could scarce discern one wigwam from another. There was one
Mary Thurston, of Medfield, who, seeing how it was with me, lent me a
hat to wear; but as soon as I was gone the squaw that owned that Mary
Thurston came running after me and got it away again. Here was a squaw
who gave me a spoonful of meal; I put it in my pocket to keep it safe,
yet notwithstanding somebody stole it, but put five Indian corns in the
room of it; which corns were the greatest provision I had in my travel
for one day.
The Indians, returning from Northampton,[13] brought with them some
horses and sheep and other things which they had taken. I desired them
that they would carry me to Albany upon one of those horses, and sell
me for powder; for so they had sometimes discoursed. I was utterly
helpless of getting home on foot, the way that I came. I could hardly
bear to think of the many weary steps I had taken to this place.
[13] Northampton was attacked March 14, 1676.
THE NINTH REMOVE.--But, instead of either going to Albany or homeward,
we must go five miles up the river, and then go over it. Here we abode
awhile. Here lived a sorry Indian, who spake to me to make him a shirt.
When I had done it he would pay me nothing for it. But he, living by
the river-side, where I often went to fetch water, I would often be
putting him in mind, and calling for my pay; at last he told me if I
would make another shirt for a papoose not yet born he would give me a
knife, which he did when I had done it. I carried the knife in, and my
master asked me to give it him, and I was not a little glad that I had
anything that they would accept of and be pleased with.
My son being now about a mile from me, I asked liberty to go and see
him. They bid me go, and away I went; but quickly lost myself,
travelling over hills and through swamps, and could not find the way to
him. And I cannot but admire at the wonderful power and goodness of God
to me, in that though I was gone from home and met with all sorts of
Indians, and those I had no knowledge of, and there being no Christian
soul near me, yet not one of them offered the least imaginable
miscarriage to me. I turned homeward again, and met with my master, and
he showed me the way to my son. When I came to him I found him not
well; and withal he had a boil on his side, which much troubled him. We
bemoaned one another awhile, as the Lord helped us, and then I returned
again. When I was returned I found myself as unsatisfied as I was
before.
But I was fain to go look after something to satisfy my hunger; and,
going among the wigwams, I went into one, and there found a squaw who
showed herself very kind to me, and gave me a piece of bear. I put it
into my pocket, and came home, but could not find an opportunity to
broil it for fear they should get it from me. And there it lay all the
day and night in my pocket. In the morning I went again to the same
squaw, who had a kettle of ground-nuts boiling. I asked her to let me
boil my piece of bear in the kettle, which she did, and gave me some
ground-nuts to eat with it; and I cannot but think how pleasant it was
to me. I have sometimes seen bear baked handsomely amongst the English,
and some liked it, but the thoughts that it was bear made me tremble.
But now that was savory to me that one would think was enough to turn
the stomach of a brute creature.
One bitter cold day I could find no room to sit down before the fire. I
went out, and could not tell what to do, but I went into another
wigwam, where they were also sitting round the fire; but the squaw laid
a skin for me, and bid me sit down, and gave me some ground-nuts, and
bid me come again, and told me they would buy me if they were able. And
yet these were strangers to me that I never knew before.
THE TENTH REMOVE.--That day a small part of the company removed about
three quarters of a mile, intending farther the next day. When they
came to the place they intended to lodge, and had pitched their
wigwams, being hungry, I went again back to the place we were before at
to get something to eat; being encouraged by the squaw's kindness, who
bid me come again. When I was there, there came an Indian to look after
me; who, when he had found me, kicked me all along. I went home and
found venison roasting that night, but they would not give me one bit
of it. Sometimes I met with favor, and sometimes with nothing but
frowns.
THE ELEVENTH REMOVE.--The next day, in the morning, they took their
travel, intending a day's journey up the river; I took my load at
my back, and quickly we came to wade over a river, and passed over
tiresome and wearisome hills. One hill was so steep that I was fain to
creep up upon my knees, and to hold by the twigs and bushes to keep
myself from falling backwards. My head, also, was so light that I
usually reeled as I went.
THE TWELFTH REMOVE.--It was upon a Sabbath-day morning that they
prepared for their travel. This morning I asked my master whether he
would sell me to my husband; he answered, _nux_; which did much
rejoice my spirits. My mistress, before we went, was gone to the burial
of a papoose, and returning she found me sitting and reading in my
Bible. She snatched it hastily out of my hand and threw it out of
doors. I ran out and caught it up, and put it in my pocket, and never
let her see it afterwards. Then they packed up their things to be gone,
and gave me my load; I complained it was too heavy, whereupon she gave
me a slap on the face and bid me be gone. I lifted up my heart to God,
hoping that redemption was not far off; and the rather because their
insolence grew worse and worse.
But thoughts of my going homeward, for so we bent our course, much
cheered my spirit, and made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at
all. But, to my amazement and great perplexity, the scale was soon
turned; for when we had got a little way, on a sudden my mistress gave
out she would go no farther, but turn back again, and said I must go
back again with her; and she called her sannup, and would have had him
go back also, but he would not, but said he would go on, and come to us
again in three days. My spirit was upon this, I confess, very
impatient, and almost outrageous. I thought I could as well have died
as went back. Down I sat, with my heart as full as it could hold, and
yet so hungry that I could not sit neither. But going out to see what I
could find, and walking among the trees, I found six acorns and two
chestnuts, which were some refreshment to me.
Towards night I gathered me some sticks for my own comfort, that I
might not lie cold; but when we came to lie down, they bid me go out
and lie somewhere else, for they had company they said come in more
than their own. I told them I could not tell where to go; they bid me
go look; I told them if I went to another wigwam they would be angry
and send me home again. Then one of the company drew his sword and told
me he would run me through if I did not go presently. Then was I fain
to stoop to this rude fellow, and go out in the night I knew not
whither. Mine eyes hath seen that fellow afterwards walking up and down
in Boston, under the appearance of a friendly Indian, and several
others of the like cut.
I went to one wigwam, and they told me they had no room. Then I went to
another, and they said the same. At last, an old Indian bid me come to
him, and his squaw gave me some ground-nuts; she gave me also something
to lay under my head, and a good fire we had. Through the good
providence of God, I had a comfortable lodging that night. In the
morning, another Indian bid me come at night and he would give me six
ground-nuts, which I did. We were at this place and time about two
miles from Connecticut River.
THE THIRTEENTH REMOVE.--Instead of going towards the Bay, which was
what I desired, I must go with them five or six miles down the river,
into a mighty thicket of brush, where we abode almost a fortnight. Here
one asked me to make a shirt for her papoose, for which she gave me a
mess of broth which was thickened with meal made of the bark of a tree;
and to make it better she had put into it about a handful of peas and a
few roasted ground-nuts.
I had not seen my son a pretty while, and here was an Indian of whom I
made inquiry after him, and asked him when he saw him. He answered me,
that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a
piece of him as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat.
But the Lord upheld my spirit under this discouragement; and I
considered their horrible addictedness to lying, and that there is not
one of them that makes the least conscience of speaking the truth.
In this place, one cold night, as I lay by the fire, I removed a stick
which kept the heat from me; a squaw moved it down again, at which I
looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in my eyes. I thought I
should have been quite blinded and never have seen more; but, lying
down, the water ran out of my eyes, and carried the dirt with it, that
by the morning I recovered my sight again.
About this time they came yelping from Hadley, having there killed
three Englishmen, and brought one captive with them, viz., Thomas Reed.
They all gathered about the poor man, asking him many questions. I
desired also to go and see him; and when I came, he was crying
bitterly, supposing they would quickly kill him. Whereupon I asked one
of them whether they intended to kill him; he answered me they would
not. He being a little cheered with that, I asked him about the welfare
of my husband; he told me he saw him such a time in the Bay, and he was
well, but very melancholy. By which I certainly understood, though I
suspected it before, that whatsoever the Indians told me respecting him
was vanity and lies. Some of them told me he was dead, and they had
killed him; some said he was married again, and that the governor
wished him to marry, and told him that he should have his choice; and
that all persuaded him that I was dead. So like were these barbarous
creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning.
As I was sitting once in the wigwam here, Philip's maid came with the
child in her arms, and asked me to give her a piece of my apron to make
a flap for it. I told her I would not; then my mistress bid me give it,
but I still said no. The maid told me if I would not give her a piece,
she would tear a piece off it. I told her I would tear her coat then.
With that my mistress rises up, and takes up a stick big enough to have
killed me, and struck at me with it, but I stepped out, and she struck
the stick into the mat of the wigwam. But while she was pulling it out,
I ran to the maid, and gave her all my apron, and so that storm went
over.
Hearing that my son was come to this place, I went to see him, and told
him his father was well, but very melancholy. He told me he was as much
grieved for his father as for himself. I wondered at his speech, for I
thought I had enough upon my spirit, in reference to myself, to make me
mindless of my husband and every one else, they being safe among their
friends. He told me also, that a while before, his master, together
with other Indians, were going to the French for powder; but by the way
the Mohawks met with them, and killed four of their company, which made
the rest turn back again. For which I desire that myself and he may
ever bless the Lord; for it might have been worse with him had he been
sold to the French, than it proved to be in his remaining with the
Indians.
I asked his master to let him stay awhile with me, that I might comb
his head and look over him, for he was almost overcome with lice. He
told me when I had done that he was very hungry, but I had nothing to
relieve him, but bid him go into the wigwams as he went along, and see
if he could get anything among them; which he did, and, it seems,
tarried a little too long, for his master was angry with him, and beat
him, and then sold him. Then he came running to tell me he had a new
master, and that he had given him some ground-nuts already. Then I went
along with him to his new master, who told me he loved him, and he
should not want. So his master carried him away, and I never saw him
afterwards till I saw him at Piscataqua, in Portsmouth.
That night they bid me go out of the wigwam again; my mistress's
papoose was sick, and it died that night; and there was one benefit in
it, that there was more room. I went to a wigwam and they bid me come
in, and gave me a skin to lie upon, and a mess of venison and
ground-nuts, which was a choice dish among them. On the morrow they
buried the papoose; and afterwards, both morning and evening, there
came a company to mourn and howl with her; though I confess I could not
much condole with them.
THE FOURTEENTH REMOVE.--Now must we pack up and be gone from this
thicket, bending our course towards the Bay towns; I having nothing to
eat by the way this day but a few crumbs of cake that an Indian gave my
girl the same day we were taken. She gave it me, and I put it in my
pocket. There it lay till it was so mouldy, for want of good baking,
that one could not tell what it was made of. It fell all into crumbs,
and grew so dry and hard that it was like little flints; and this
refreshed me many times when I was ready to faint. It was in my
thoughts when I put it to my mouth that, if ever I returned, I would
tell the world what a blessing the Lord gave to such mean food.
As we went along, they killed a deer, with a young one in her. They
gave me a piece of the fawn, and it was so young and tender that one
might eat the bones as well as the flesh, and yet I thought it very
good. When night came on we sat down. It rained, but they quickly got
up a bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. I looked out in the
morning, and many of them had lain in the rain all night, I knew by
their reeking. Thus the Lord dealt mercifully with me many times, and I
fared better than many of them.
In the morning they took the blood of the deer, and put it into the
paunch, and so boiled it. I could eat nothing of that, though they eat
it sweetly. And yet they were so nice in other things, that when I had
fetched water, and had put the dish I dipped the water with into the
kettle of water which I brought, they would say they would knock me
down, for they said it was a sluttish trick.
THE FIFTEENTH REMOVE.--We went on our travel. I having got a handful of
ground-nuts for my support that day, they gave me my load, and I went
on cheerfully, with the thoughts of going homeward, having my burthen
more upon my back than my spirit. We came to Baquaug River again that
day, near which we abode a few days. Sometimes one of them would give
me a pipe, another a little tobacco, another a little salt, which I
would change for victuals. I cannot but think what a wolfish appetite
persons have in a starving condition; for many times, when they gave me
that which was hot, I was so greedy, that I should burn my mouth, that
it would trouble me many hours after, and yet I should quickly do the
like again. And after I was thoroughly hungry, I was never again
satisfied; for though it sometimes fell out that I had got enough, and
did eat till I could eat no more, yet I was as unsatisfied as I was
when I began.
THE SIXTEENTH REMOVE.--We began this remove with wading over Baquaug
River. The water was up to our knees, and the stream very swift, and
so cold that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak
and feeble that I reeled as I went along, and thought there I must
end my days at last, after my bearing and getting through so many
difficulties. The Indians stood laughing to see me staggering along,
but in my distress the Lord gave me experience of the truth and
goodness of that promise, Isa. xliii., 2--"When thou passeth through
the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee." Then I sat down to put on my stockings and shoes, with
the tears running down my eyes, and many sorrowful thoughts in my
heart. But I got up to go along with them.
Quickly there came up to us an Indian who informed them that I must go
to Wachusett[14] to my master, for there was a letter come from the
council to the sagamores about redeeming the captives, and that there
would be another in fourteen days, and that I must be there ready. My
heart was so heavy before that I could scarce speak or go in the path,
and yet now so light that I could run. My strength seemed to come
again, and to recruit my feeble knees and aching heart; yet it pleased
them to go but one mile that night, and there we staid two days.
[14] Princeton. The mountain in this town still retains the
name of Wachusett.
In that time came a company of Indians to us, near thirty, all on
horseback. My heart skipped within me, thinking they had been
Englishmen, at the first sight of them; for they were dressed in
English apparel, with hats, white neckcloths, and sashes about their
waists, and ribbons upon their shoulders. But when they came near there
was a vast difference between the lovely faces of Christians and the
foul looks of those heathen, which much damped my spirits again.
THE SEVENTEENTH REMOVE.--A comfortable remove it was to me, because
of my hopes. They gave me my pack and along we went cheerfully. But
quickly my will proved more than my strength; having little or no
refreshment my strength failed, and my spirits were almost quite gone.
At night we came to an Indian town, and the Indians sat down by a
wigwam discoursing, but I was almost spent and could scarce speak. I
laid down my load and went into the wigwam, and there sat an Indian
boiling of horse-feet, they being wont to eat the flesh first, and when
the feet were old and dried, and they had nothing else, they would cut
off the feet and use them. I asked him to give me a little of his
broth, or water they were boiling it in. He took a dish and gave me one
spoonful of samp, and bid me take as much of the broth as I would. Then
I put some of the hot water to the samp, and drank it up, and my
spirits came again.
THE EIGHTEENTH REMOVE.--We took up our packs, and along we went; but
a wearisome day I had of it. As we went along I saw an Englishman
stripped naked and lying dead upon the ground, but knew not who he was.
Then we came to another Indian town where we staid all night. In this
town there were four English children captives, and one of them my own
sister's. I went to see how she did, and she was well, considering her
captive condition. I would have tarried that night with her, but they
that owned her would not suffer it. Then I went to another wigwam,
where they were boiling corn and beans, which was a lovely sight to
see, but I could not get a taste thereof. Then I went home to my
mistress's wigwam, and they told me I disgraced my master with begging,
and if I did so any more they would knock me on the head. I told them
they had as good do that as starve me to death.
THE NINETEENTH REMOVE.--They said when we went out that we must travel
to Wachusett this day. But a bitter weary day I had of it, travelling
now three days together, without resting any day between. Going along,
having indeed my life, but little spirit, Philip, who was in the
company, came up, and took me by the hand, and said, "Two weeks more
and you shall be mistress again." I asked him if he spoke true. He
said, "Yes, and quickly you shall come to your master again;" who had
been gone from us three weeks.