heat of their parching Summers, and the piercing cold of the icie
Winters, or it may be surmised that these earthly fabricks should be
wasted to nothing by the tempestuous dashings of wind-driven raines,
having neither that which may warme within, or shelter without; yet
these things they looke not after, saving a paire of _Indian_ Breeches
to cover that which modesty commands to be hid, which is but a peece of
cloth a yard and a halfe long, put betweene their groinings, tied with
a snakes skinne about their middles, one end hanging downe with a flap
before, the other like a taile behinde. In the Winter time the more
aged of them weare leather drawers, in forme like _Irish_ trouses,
fastned under their girdle with buttons; they weare shooes likewise of
their owne making cut out of a Mooses hide, many of them weare skinnes
about them, in forme of an _Irish_ mantle, and of these some be Beares
skinnes, Mooses skinnes, and Beaver skinnes sewed together, Otter
skinnes, and Rackoone skinnes; most of them in the Winter having his
deepe furr'd Cat skinne, like a long large muffe, which hee shifts to
that arme which lieth most exposed to the winde; thus clad, hee busles
better through a world of cold in a frost-paved wildernesse, than the
furred Citizen in his warmer Stoave. If their fancie drive them to
trade, they choose rather a good course blanket, thorough which they
cannot see, interposing it betweene the sunne and them; or a piece of
broade cloth, which they use for a double end, making it a coate by
day, and a covering by night; they love not to be imprisoned in our
_English_ fashion: they love their owne dogge fashion better (of
shaking their eares, and being ready in a moment) than to spend time in
dressing them, though they may as well spare it as any men I know,
having little else to doe. But the chiefe reasons they render why they
will not conforme to our _English_ apparell, are, because their women
cannot wash them when they bee soyled, and their meanes will not reach
to buy new when they have done with their old; and they confidently
beleeve, the _English_ will not be so liberall as to furnish them upon
gifture: therefore they had rather goe naked than be lousie, and bring
their bodies out of their old tune, making them more tender by a new
acquired habit, which poverty would constraine them to leave: although
they be thus poore, yet is there in them the sparkes of naturall pride,
which appeares in their longing desire after many kinde of ornaments,
wearing pendants in their eares, as formes of birds, beasts, and
fishes, carved out of bone, shels, and stone, with long bracelets of
their curious wrought wampompeage and mowhackees, which they put about
their necks and loynes; these they count a rare kinde of decking; many
of the better sort bearing upon their cheekes certaine pourtraitures of
beasts, as Beares, Deares, Mooses, Wolves, &c. some of fowls, as of
Eagles, Hawkes, &c. which be not a superficiall painting, but a
certaine incision, or else a raising of their skin by a small sharpe
instrument, under which they conveigh a certain kind of black
unchangeable inke, which makes the desired forme apparent and
permanent. Others have certaine round Impressions downe the outside of
their armes and brests, in forme of mullets or spur-rowels, which they
imprint by searing irons: whether these be foiles to illustrate their
unparalleld beauty (as they deeme it) or Armes to blazon their antique
Gentilitie, I cannot easily determine: but a Sagamore with a Humberd in
his eare for a pendant, a black hawke on his _occiput_ for his plume,
Mowhackees for his gold chaine, good store of Wampompeage begirting his
loynes, his bow in his hand, his quiver at his back with six naked
_Indian_ spatterlashes at his heeles for his guard, thinkes himselfe
little inferiour to the great _Cham_; hee will not stick to say, hee is
all one with King _Charles_. He thinkes hee can blow downe Castles with
his breath, and conquer kingdomes with his conceit. This _Pompey_ can
endure no equall, till one dayes adverse lotterie at their game (called
_Puimme_) metamorphize him into a _Codrus_, robbing him of his
conceited wealth, leaving him in minde and riches equall with his naked
attendants, till a new taxation furnish him with a fresh supplie.
CHAP. VI.
_Of their dyet, cookery, meale-times, and hospitality at
their Kettles._
Having done with their most needfull cloathings and ornamentall
deckings; may it please you to feast your eyes with their
belly-timbers, which I suppose would be but _stibium_ to weake stomacks
as they cooke it, though never so good of it selfe. In Winter-time they
have all manner of fowles of the water and of the land, & beasts of the
land and water, pond-fish, with Catharres and other rootes, _Indian_
beanes and Clamms. In the Summer they have all manner of Sea-fish, with
all sorts of Berries. For the ordering of their victuals, they boile or
roast them, having large Kettles which they traded for with the
_French_ long since, and doe still buy of the _English_ as their neede
requires, before they had substantiall earthen pots of their owne
making. Their spits are no other than cloven sticks sharped at one end
to thrust into the ground; into these cloven sticks they thrust the
flesh or fish they would have rosted, behemming a round fire with a
dozen of spits at a time, turning them as they see occasion. Some of
their scullerie having dressed these homely cates, presents it to his
guests, dishing it up in a rude manner, placing it on the verdent
carpet of the earth which Nature spreads them, without either
trenchers, napkins, or knives, upon which their hunger-sawced stomacks
impatient of delayes, fals aboard without scrupling at unwashed hands,
without bread, salt, or beere: lolling on the Turkish fashion, not
ceasing till their full bellies leave nothing but emptie platters: they
seldome or never make bread of their _Indian_ corne, but seeth it whole
like beanes, eating three or foure cornes with a mouthfull of fish or
flesh, sometimes eating meate first, and cornes after, filling chinkes
with their broth. In Summer, when their corne is spent,
Isquoutersquashes is their best bread, a fruite like a young Pumpion.
To say, and to speake paradoxically, they be great eaters, and yet
little meate-men; when they visit our _English_, being invited to eate,
they are very moderate, whether it be to shew their manners, or for
shamefastnesse, I know not; but at home they will eate till their
bellies stand south, ready to split with fulnesse; it being their
fashion to eate all at some times, and sometimes nothing at all in two
or three dayes, wise Providence being a stranger to their wilder wayes:
they be right Infidels, neither caring for the morrow, or providing for
their owne families; but as all are fellowes at foot-ball, so they all
meete friends at the kettle, saving their Wives, that dance a
Spaniell-like attendance at their backes for their bony fragments. If
their imperious occasions cause them to travell, the best of their
victuals for their journey is _Nocake_, (as they call it) which is
nothing but _Indian_ Corne parched in the hot ashes; the ashes being
sifted from it, it is afterward beaten to powder, and put into a long
leatherne bag, trussed at their backe like a knapsacke; out of which
they take thrice three spoonefulls a day, dividing it into three
meales. If it be in Winter, and Snow be on the ground, they can eate
when they please, stopping Snow after their dusty victuals, which
otherwise would feed them little better than a Tiburne halter. In
Summer they must stay till they meete with a Spring or Brooke, where
they may have water to prevent the imminent danger of choaking. With
this strange _viaticum_ they will travell foure or five daies together,
with loads fitter for Elephants than men. But though they can fare so
hardly abroad, at home their chaps must walke night and day as long as
they have it. They keepe no set meales, their store being spent, they
champe on the bit, till they meete with fresh supplies, either from
their owne endeavours, or their wives industry, who trudge to the
_Clam-bankes_ when all other meanes faile. Though they be sometimes
scanted, yet are they as free as Emperours, both to their Country-men
and _English_, be he stranger, or neare acquaintance; counting it a
great discourtesie, not to eate of their high-conceited delicates, and
sup of their un-oat-meal'd broth, made thicke with Fishes, Fowles, and
Beasts boyled all together; some remaining raw, the rest converted by
over-much seething to a loathed mash, not halfe so good as _Irish
Boniclapper_.
CHAP. VII.
_Of their dispositions and good qualifications, as friendship,
constancy, truth, and affability._
To enter into a serious discourse concerning the naturall conditions of
these _Indians_, might procure admiration from the people of any
civilized Nations, in regard of their civility and good natures. If a
Tree may be judged by his fruite, and dispositions calculated by
exteriour actions; then may it be concluded, that these _Indians_ are
of affable, courteous, and well disposed natures, ready to communicate
the best of their wealth to the mutuall good of one another; and the
lesse abundance they have, to manifest their entire friendship; so much
the more perspicuous is their love, in that they are as willing to part
with their Mite in poverty, as treasure in plenty. As he that kills a
Deere, sends for his friends, and eates it merrily: So he that receives
but a piece of bread from an _English_ hand, parts it equally betweene
himselfe and his comerades, and eates it lovingly. In a word, a friend
can command his friend, his house, and whatsoever is his, (saving his
Wife) and have it freely: And as they are love-linked thus in common
courtesie, so are they no way sooner dis-joynted than by ingratitude;
accounting an ungratefull person a double robber of a man, not onely of
his courtesie, but of his thankes which he might receive of another for
the same proffered, or received kindnesse. Such is their love to one
another, that they cannot endure to see their Countrey-men wronged, but
will stand stiffely in their defence: plead strongly in their behalfe,
and justifie one anothers integrities in any warrantable action. If it
were possible to recount the courtesies they have shewed the _English_,
since their first arrivall in those parts, it would not onely steddy
beleefe, that they are a loving people, but also winne the love of
those that never saw them, and wipe off that needelesse feare that is
too deepely rooted in the conceits of many, who thinke them envious,
and of such rankerous and inhumane dispositions, that they will one day
make an end of their _English_ inmates. The worst indeede may be
surmised, but the _English_ hitherto have had little cause to suspect
them, but rather to be convinced of their trustinesse, seeing they have
as yet beene the disclosers of all such treacheries as have bin
practised by other _Indians_. And whereas once there was a proffer of
an universall League amongst all the _Indians_ in those parts, to the
intent that they might all joyne in one united force, to extirpate the
_English_, our _Indians_ refused the motion, replying, they had rather
be servants to the _English_, of whom they were confident to receive no
harme, and from whom they had received so many favours, and assured
good testimonies of their love, than equals with them, who would cut
their throates upon the least offence, and make them the shambles of
their cruelty. Furthermore, if any roaving ships be upon the coasts,
and chance to harbour either East-ward, North-ward, or South-ward in
any unusuall Port, they will giue us certaine intelligence of her
burthen and forces, describing their men either by language or
features; which is a great priviledge and no small advantage. Many
wayes hath their advice and endeavour beene advantagious unto us; they
being our first instructers for the planting of their _Indian_ Corne,
by teaching us to cull out the finest seede, to observe the fittest
season, to keepe distance for holes, and fit measure for hills, to
worme it, and weede it; to prune it, and dresse it as occasion shall
require.
These _Indians_ be very hospitable, insomuch that when the _English_
have trauelled forty, fifty, or threescore miles into the Countrey,
they have entertained them into their houses, quartered them by
themselves in the best roomes, providing the best victuals they could,
expressing their welcome in as good termes as could be expected from
their slender breeding; shewing more love than complement, not
grumbling for a fortnights or three weekes tarrying; but rather caring
to provide accommodation correspondent to their _English_ custome. The
doubtfull traveller hath oftentimes beene much beholding to them for
their guidance thorow the unbeaten Wildernesse: my selfe in this
particular can doe no lesse in the due acknowledgment of their love,
than speake their commendations, who with two more of my associates
bending our course to new _Plimouth_, lost our way, being deluded by a
misleading path which we still followed, being as we thought too broad
for an _Indian_ path (which seldome is broader than a Cart's rutte) but
that the dayly concourse of _Indians_ from the _Narragansets_ who
traded for shooes, wearing them homewards had made this _Indian_ tract
like an _English_ walke, and had rear'd up great stickes against the
trees, and marked the rest with their hatchets in the _English_
fashion, which begat in us a security of our wrong way to be right,
when indeed there was nothing lesse: The day being gloomy and our
compasses at home, we travelled hard till night to lesse purpose than
if we had sat still, not gaining an inch of our journey for a dayes
travell: but happily wee arrived at an _Indian Wigwamme_, where we were
informed of our misprision, and invited to a homely lodging, feasted
with the haunch of a fat Deere, and the ensuing morning the son of my
naked hoast, for a peece of Tobacco, and a foure penny whittle, tooke
the clew of his traveling experience, conducting us through the strange
labyrinth of unbeaten bushy wayes in the woody wildernesse twentie
miles to our desired harbour.
A second demonstration of their love in this kind may appeare in a
passage of the same nature. An unexperienced wood man ranging in the
woods for Deere, traveled so farre beyond his knowledge, till he could
not tell how to get out of the wood for trees, but the more he sought
to direct himselfe out, the more he ranne himselfe in, from the home he
most desired; the night came upon him preventing his walking, and the
extremitie of cold seasing upon his right foote for want of warming
motion, deprived him of the use thereof, so that he could not remoove
farther than his snowie bed, but had there ended his dayes, had not
sixe commiserating _Indians_, who heard of his wandering, found him out
by diligent search, being almost dead with despaire and cold: but after
they had conquered his despaire with the assurance of his safe
conduction to his habitation, and expelled the cold by the infusion of
strong waters which they brought for the same purpose; they framed a
thing like a hand barrow and carryed this selfe-helpelesse person on
their bare-shoulders twelve miles to his residence: many other wandring
benighted coasters have beene kindly entertained into their
habitations, where they have rested and reposed themselves more
securely than if they had beene in some blind obscure old _Englands_
Inne, being the next day directed in their right way: many lazie boyes
that have runne away from their masters, have beene brought home by
these ranging foresters, who are as well acquainted with the craggy
mountaines, and the pleasant vales, the stately woods, and swampie
groves, the spacious ponds, and swift running rivers, and can
distinguish them by their names as perfectly, and finde them as
presently, as the experienced Citizen knows how to finde out
Cheape-side crosse, or _London_ stone. Such is the wisedome and
pollicie of these poore men, that they will be sure to keepe
correspondence with our _English_ Magistrates, expressing their love in
the execution of any service they command them, so far as lyes in their
power, as may appeare in this one particular. A certaine man having
layd himselfe open to the Kings lawes, fearing attachment, conviction,
and consequently execution: sequestred himselfe from the honest
societie of his neighbours, betaking himselfe unto the obscure thickets
of the wildernesse, where hee lived for a time undiscovered, till the
_Indians_ who leave no place unsearched for Deere, found out his haunt,
and having taken notice by diverse discourses concerning him, how that
it was the governers desire to know where he was; they thought it a
part of their service to certifie him where he kept his rendevouze, who
thereupon desired if they could to direct men to him for his
attachment, but he had shifted his dwelling, and could not be found for
the present, yet he was after seene by other _Indians_, but being
double pistold, and well sworded, they feared to approach so neere him
as to grapple with him: wherefore they let him alone till his owne
necessary businesse cast him upon them; for having occasion to crosse a
river, he came to the side thereof, where was an _Indian Cannow_, in
which the _Indians_ were to crosse the river themselves, hee vauntingly
commanded wastage; which they willingly graunted, but withall plotting
how they might take him prisoner, which they thus effected; having
placed him in the midship of their ticklish wherrie, they lanched forth
into the deepe, causing the capering _Cannow_ to cast out her
combersome ballast into the liquid water; which swomme like a stone,
and now the water having dank't his pistoles, and lost his _Spanish_
progge in the bottome, the _Indians_ swomme him out by the chinne to
the shore, where having dropt himselfe a little dry, he began to
bluster out a storme of rebellious resistance, till they becalmed his
pelting chafe with their pelting of pibles at him, afterward leading
him as they list to the governour. These people be of a kinde and
affable disposition, yet are they very warie with whom they strike
hands in friendshippe: nothing is more hatefull to them than a churlish
disposition, so likewise is dissimulation: he that speakes seldome, and
opportunely, being as good as his word, is the onely man they love. The
_Spaniard_ they say is all one _Aramouse_ (_viz._ all one as a dog) the
_Frenchman_ hath a good tongue, but a false heart: The _English_ man
all one speake, all one heart; wherefore they more approve of them than
of any Nation: garrulitie is much condemned of them, for they utter not
many words, speake seldome, and then with such gravitie as is pleasing
to the eare: such as understand them not, desire yet to heare their
emphaticall expressions, and lively action; such is the milde temper of
their spirits that they cannot endure objurgations, or scoldings. An
_Indian Sagamore_ once hearing an _English_ woman scold with her
husband, her quicke utterance exceeding his apprehension, her active
lungs thundering in his eares, expelled him the house; from whence he
went to the next neighbour, where he related the unseemelinesse of her
behaviour; her language being strange to him, hee expressed it as
strangely, telling them how she cryed Nannana Nannana Nannana Nan,
saying he was a great foole to give her the audience, and no correction
for usurping his charter, and abusing him by her tongue. I have beene
amongst diverse of them, yet did I never see any falling out amongst
them, not so much as crosse words, or reviling speeches, which might
provoke to blowes. And whereas it is the custome of many people in
their games, if they see the dice runne crosse or their cards not
answere their expectations: what cursing and swearing, what
imprecations, and raylings, fightings and stabbings oftentimes proceede
from their testy spleene. How doe their blustering passions, make the
place troublesome to themselves and others? But I have knowne when
foure of these milder spirits have sit downe staking their treasures,
where they have plaied foure and twentie houres, neither eating
drinking or sleeping in the Interim; nay which is most to be wondered
at, not quarreling, but as they came thither in peace so they depart in
peace: when he that had lost all his _wampompeage_, his house, his
kettle, his beaver, his hatchet, his knife, yea all his little all,
having nothing left but his naked selfe, was as merry as they that won
it: so in sports of activitie at footeball though they play never so
fiercely to outward appearance, yet anger-boyling blood never streames
in their cooler veines, if any man be throwne he laughes out his foyle,
there is no seeking of revenge, no quarreling, no bloody noses,
scratched faces, blacke eyes, broken shinnes, no brused members, or
crushed ribs, the lamentable effects of rage; but the goale being
wonne, the goods on the one side lost; friends they were at the
footeball, and friends they must meete at the kettle. I never heard yet
of that _Indian_ that was his neighbours homicide or vexation by his
malepart, saucy, or uncivill tongue: laughter in them is not common,
seldome exceeding a smile, never breaking out into such a lowd
laughter, as doe many of our _English_. Of all things they love not to
be laught at upon any occasion; if a man be in trade with them and the
bargaine be almost strucke, if they perceive you laugh, they will
scarce proceed, supposing you laugh because you have cheated them: the
_Crocodiles_ teares may sooner deceive them, than the _Hienas_ smiles:
although they be not much addicted to laughter, yet are they not of a
dumpish sad nature, but rather naturally chearefull: As I never saw a
gigling _Democrite_, so I never saw a teare dropping _Heraclite_; no
disaster being so prevalent as to open the flood-gate of their eyes,
saving the death of friends, for whom they lament most exceedingly.
CHAP. VIII.
_Of their hardinesse._
For their hardinesse it may procure admiration, no ordinary paines
making them so much as alter their countenance; beate them, whip them,
pinch them, punch them, if they resolve not to whinch for it, they will
not; whether it be their benummed insensiblenesse of smart, or their
hardie resolutions, I cannot tell; It might be, a _Perillus_ his Bull,
or the disjoynting racke might force a roare from them, but a Turkish
drubbing would not much molest them, and although they be naturally
much affraid of death, yet the unexpected approach of a mortall wound
by a Bullet, Arrow, or Sword, strikes no more terrour, causes no more
exclamation, no more complaint, or whinching, than if it had beene a
shot into the body of a tree: such wounds as would be suddaine death to
an _English_ man, would be nothing to them. Some of them having beene
shot in at the mouth, and out under the eare, some shot in the breast,
some runne thorough the flankes with Darts, and other many desperate
wounds which eyther by their rare skill in the use of vegitatives, or
diabolicall charmes they cure in short time. Although their hardinesse
beare them out in such things wherein they are sure death will not
ensue, yet can it not expell the feare of death, the very name and
thoughts of it is so hideous to them, or any thing that presents it, or
threatens it, so terrible; insomuch that a hundred of them will runne
from two or three Guns, though they know they can but dispatch two or
three at a discharge, yet every man fearing it may be his lot to meete
with his last, will not come neare that in good earnest, which he dare
play withall in jest. To make this good by a passage of Experience.
Three men having occasion of trade amongst the Westerne _Indians_, went
up with some such commodities as they thought most fit for trade; to
secure their person they tooke a Carbine, two Pistoles and a sword,
which in outward shew was not great resistance to a hundred well
skilled bow men: The _Indians_ hearing their gunnes making a thundring
noyse, desired to finger one of them, & see it discharged into a tree,
wondring much at the percussion of the bullet; but they abiding two or
three dayes, the gunnes were forgotten, and they began to looke at the
oddes being a hundred to three, whereupon they were animated to worke
treason against the lives of these men, and to take away their goods
from them by force; but one of the _English_ understanding their
language, smelt out their treachery, and being more fully informed of
their intent by the _Indian_ women, who had more pitty, hee steps to
their King, and hailing him by the long haire from the rest of his
councell, commanded him either to goe before him and guide him home, or
else he would there kill him. The Sagamore seeing him so rough, had not
the courage to resist him, but went with him two miles; but being
exasperated by his men who followed him along, to resist, and goe no
further; in the end hee would not, neither for faire promises nor
fierce threatnings, so that they were constrained there to kill him,
which struck such an amazement and daunting into the rest of that naked
crew, with the sight of the guns, that though they might easily have
killed them, yet had they not the power to shoot an arrow, but followed
them, yelling and howling for the death of their King forty miles; his
goods being left among them, he sent word by other _Indians_, that
unlesse they sent him his goods againe, which hee there left, hee would
serve them as hee served their King, whereupon they returned him his
commodities, with intreaty of peace, and promises of fairer trade if he
came again. If these heartlesse _Indians_ were so cowed with so slender
an onset on their owne dunghill, when there were scarce six families of
ours in the Countrie, what need wee now feare them being growne into
thousands, and having knowledge of martiall discipline? In the night
they neede not to be feared, for they will not budge from their owne
dwellings for feare of their _Abamacho_ (the Devill) whom they much
feare, specially in evill enterprizes, they will rather lye by an
_English_ fire than goe a quarter of a mile in the darke to their owne
dwellings: but they are well freed from this scarecrow since the
comming of the _English_, and lesse care for his delusions; and whereas
it hath beene reported, that there are such horrible apparitions,
fearefull roarings, thundering and lightning raised by the Devill, to
discourage the _English_ in their settling, I for mine owne part never
saw or heard of any of these things in the Countrie: nor have I heard
of any _Indians_ that have lately beene put in feare, saving two or
three, and they worse scar'd than hurt, who seeing a Black-more in the
top of a tree, looking out for his way which he had lost, surmised he
was _Abamacho_ or the Devill, deeming all Devils that are blacker than
themselves; and being neare to the plantation, they posted to the
_English_, intreated their aide to conjure this Devill to his owne
place, who finding him to be a poore wandring Black-more, conducted him
to his Master.
CHAP. IX.
_Of their wondering at the first view of any strange
invention._