which the _New Canaan_ abounds, are obviously due to the fact that
it was printed in Amsterdam. The original manuscript it would seem
was no more legible than the manuscript of that period, as it has
come down to us, is usually found to be. At best it was not easy to
decipher. The copy of the _New Canaan_ was then put in the hands of a
compositor imperfectly, if at all, acquainted with English; and, if
the proof-sheets were ever corrected by any one, they certainly were
not corrected by the author or by a proof-reader really familiar with
his writing, or even with the tongue in which he wrote. Accordingly
pen flourishes were mistaken for punctuation marks, and these were
inserted without any regard to the context; familiar words appeared in
unintelligible shapes;[194] small letters were mistaken for capitals,
and capitals for small letters, and one letter was confounded with
another. In addition to these numerous mistakes in deciphering and
following the manuscript, ordinary typographical errors are not
uncommon; though in this respect the _New Canaan_ is less marked by
blemishes than under the circumstances would naturally be supposed.
Neither is this explanation of the curiously bad press-work of the
_New Canaan_ a mere conjecture. One other composition of Morton’s has
come down to us in the letter to Jeffreys, preserved by Winthrop.[195]
Let any one compare this letter with a chapter from the _New
Canaan_, and he will see at once that, while both are manifestly
productions from the same pen, they have been preserved under wholly
different circumstances. Take, for instance, the following identical
passages,--the one from the _New Canaan_ and the other from the letter
to Jeffreys, and they will sufficiently illustrate this point.
NEW CANAAN.
BOOK III. CHAPTER 31.
And now mine Host being merrily disposed, haveing past many
perillous adventures in that desperat Whales belly, beganne in a
posture like Ionas, and cryed Repent you cruell Seperatists repent,
there are as yet but 40. dayes if Iove vouchsafe to thunder,
Charter and the Kingdome of the Seperatists will fall a sunder:
Repent you cruell Schismaticks repent.
LETTER TO JEFFREYS.
SAVAGE’S WINTHROP, VOL. II. p. *190.
So that now Jonas being set ashore may safely cry, repent you cruel
separatists, repent, there are as yet but forty days. If Jove
vouchsafe to thunder, the charter and kingdom of the separatists
will fall asunder. Repent you cruel schismatics, repent.
The letter to Jeffreys is curiously characteristic of Morton. It
is written in the same inflated, metaphorical, enigmatic style as
the _New Canaan_. It is, however, perfectly intelligible and even
energetic. The reason is obvious. It was correctly copied by a man who
understood what the writer was saying. Accordingly it is as clear as
Winthrop’s own text. The _New Canaan_ would have been equally clear had
it been deciphered at the compositor’s form by a man with Winthrop’s
familiarity with English.
* * * * *
There is some reason to think that the fancy for exact reproduction in
typography has of late years been carried to an extreme. Not only have
peculiarities of spelling, capitalization and type, which were really
characteristic of the past, been carefully followed, but abbreviations
and figures have been reproduced in type, which formerly were confined
to manuscripts, and are certainly never found in the better printed
books of the same period. It is certainly desirable in reprinting
quaint works, which it is not supposed will ever pass into the hands of
general readers, to have them appear in the dress of the time to which
they belong. Indeed they cannot be modernized in spelling, the use of
capitals, or even, altogether, in punctuation, without losing something
of their flavor. Yet, this notwithstanding, there is no good reason why
gross and manifest blunders, due to the ignorance of compositors and
the carelessness of proof-readers, should be jealously perpetuated as
if they were sacred things. This assuredly is carrying the spirit of
faithful reproduction to fanaticism. It is Chinese.
The rule followed, therefore, in the present edition has been to
reproduce the _New Canaan_ as it appeared in the Amsterdam edition of
1637, correcting only the punctuation, and such errors of the press as
are manifest and unmistakable. Very few changes have been made in the
use of capitals, and those only where it is obvious that a letter of
one kind in the copy was mistaken by the compositor for a letter of
another kind. An example of this is found at the top of page *14, where
“Captaine Davis’ fate,” in the author’s manuscript, is made to appear
as “Captain Davis Fate,” in the original text. The compositor evidently
mistook the small _f_, written with the old-fashioned flourish, for
an initial capital. The spelling has in no case been changed except
where the error, as in the case already cited of “muit” for “mint,” is
manifestly due to printers’ blunders. Mistakes of the press, such as
“legg” for “logg” (p. *77) and “vies” for “eies” (p. *152), have been
made right wherever they could be certainly detected.
No conjectural readings whatever have been inserted in the text. The
few passages, not more than four or five in number, in which, owing
probably to the failure of the compositor to decipher manuscript,
the meaning of the original is not clear, are reproduced exactly.
No liberties whatever have been taken with the original edition in
these cases, and all guesses which are indulged in as to the author’s
meaning, whether by the editor or others, are confined to the notes. In
a few places the text is obviously deficient. Words necessary to the
meaning are omitted in printing. Wherever these have been conjecturally
inserted, the inserted words are in brackets. In a very few cases,
words, which could clearly have found their way into the original only
through inadvertence, have been omitted. Attention is called in the
notes to every such omission.
The effort in the present edition has, in short, been to make it a
reproduction of the _New Canaan_; but the reproduction was to be an
intelligent, and not a servile one.
[Illustration]
NEW ENGLISH CANAAN
_OR_
NEW CANAAN.
Containing an Abstract of New England,
_Composed in three Bookes_.
The first Booke setting forth the originall of the Natives, their
Manners and Customes, together with their tractable Nature and Love
towards the English.
The second Booke setting forth the naturall Indowments of the Country,
and what staple Commodities it yealdeth.
The third Booke setting forth, what people are planted there, their
prosperity, what remarkable accidents have happened since the first
planting of it, together with their Tenents and practise of their
Church.
_Written by_ Thomas Morton of Cliffords Inne gent, _upon tenne yeares
knowledge and experiment of the Country_.
[Illustration]
Printed at AMSTERDAM,
_By JACOB FREDERICK STAM.
In the Yeare 1637_.
To the right honorable, the Lords and others of his Majesties most
honorable privy Councell, Commissioners, for the Government of all his
Majesties forraigne Provinces.[196]
_Right honorable_,
The zeale which I beare to the advauncement of the glory of God, the
honor of his Majesty, and the good of the weale publike hath incouraged
mee to compose this abstract, being the modell of a Rich, hopefull and
very beautifull Country worthy the Title of Natures Masterpeece, and
may be lost by too much sufferance. It is but a widowes mite, yet {4}
all that wrong and rapine hath left mee to bring from thence, where I
have indevoured my best, bound by my allegeance, to doe his Majesty
service. This in all humility I present as an offering, wherewith I
prostrate my selfe at your honorable footstoole. If you please to
vouchsafe it may receave a blessing from the Luster of your gracious
Beames, you shall make your vassaile happy, in that hee yet doth live
to shew how ready hee is, and alwayes hath bin, to sacrifice his
dearest blood, as becometh a loyall subject, for the honor of his
native Country. Being
_your humors humble vassaile_
THOMAS MORTON.
The Epistle to the Reader.
_GENTLE READER_,
I present to the publike view an abstract of New England, which I have
undertaken to compose by the incouragment of such genious spirits as
have been studious of the inlargment of his Majesties Territories;
being not formerly satisfied by the relations of such as, through
haste, have taken but a superficiall survey thereof: which thing time
hath enabled mee to performe more punctually to the life, and to give a
more exact accompt of what hath been required. I have therefore beene
willing to doe my indevoure to communicat the knowledge which I have
gained and collected together, by mine owne observation in the time of
my many yeares residence in those parts, to my loving Country men: For
the better information of all such as are desirous to be made partakers
of the blessings of God in that fertile Soyle, as well as those {8}
that, out of Curiosity onely, have bin inquisitive after nouelties.
And the rather for that I have observed how divers persons (not so
well affected to the weale publike in mine opinion), out of respect to
their owne private ends, have laboured to keepe both the practise of
the people there, and the Reall worth of that eminent Country concealed
from publike knowledge; both which I have abundantly in this discourse
layd open: yet if it be well accepted, I shall esteeme my selfe
sufficiently rewardded for my undertaking, and rest,
_Your Wellwisher_.
THOMAS MORTON.
In laudem Authoris.
T’ Excuse the Author ere the worke be shewne
Is accusation in it selfe alone;
And to commend him might seeme oversight;
So divers are th’ opinions of this age,
So quick and apt, to taxe the moderne stage,
That hard his taske is that must please in all:
Example have wee from great Cæsars fall.
But is the sonne to be dislik’d and blam’d,
Because the mole is of his face asham’d?
The fault is in the beast, not in the sonne;
Give sicke mouthes sweete meates, fy! they relish none.
But to the sound in censure, he commends
His love unto his Country; his true ends,
To modell out a Land of so much worth
As untill now noe traveller setteth[197] forth;
Faire Canaans second selfe, second to none,
Natures rich Magazine till now unknowne.
Then here survay what nature hath in store,
And graunt him love for this. He craves no more.
R. O. Gen.
Sir Christoffer Gardiner, Knight.[198]
In laudem Authoris.
_This worke a matchles mirror is, that shewes
The Humors of the seperatiste, and those
So truely personated by thy pen.
I was amaz’d to see’t; herein all men
May plainely see, as in an inter-lude,
Each actor figure; and the scæne well view’d
In Comick,[199] Tragick, and in a pastorall strife,[200]
For tyth of mint[201] and Cummin, shewes their life
Nothing but opposition gainst the right
Of sacred Majestie: men full of spight,
Goodnes abuseing, turning vertue out
Of Dores, to whipping, stocking, and full bent
To plotting mischeife gainst the innocent,
Burning their houses, as if ordained by fate,
In spight of Lawe, to be made ruinate.
This taske is well perform’d, and patience be
Thy present comfort, and thy constancy
Thine honor; and this glasse, where it shall come,
Shall sing thy praises till the day of doome._
Sir C. G.
In laudem Authoris.
_Bvt that I rather pitty, I confesse,
The practise of their Church, I could expresse
Myselfe a Satyrist, whose smarting fanges
Should strike it with a palsy, and the panges
Beget a feare to tempt the Majesty
Of those, or mortall Gods. Will they defie
The Thundring Jove? Like children they desire,
Such is their zeale, to sport themselves with fire:
So have I seene an angry Fly presume
To strike a burning taper, and consume
His feeble wings. Why, in an aire so milde,
Are they so monstrous growne up, and so vilde,
That Salvages can of themselves espy
Their errors, brand their names with infamy?
What! is their zeale for blood like Cyrus thirst?
Will they be over head and eares a curst?
A cruell way to found a Church on! noe,
T’is not their zeale but fury blinds them soe,
And pricks their malice on like fier to joyne,
And offer up the sacrifice of Kain.
Jonas, thou hast done well to call these men
Home to repentance, with thy painefull pen._
F. C. Armiger.
NEW ENGLISH CANAAN,
_OR_
NEW CANAAN.
_The Author’s Prologue._
If art and industry should doe as much
As Nature hath for Canaan, not such
Another place, for benefit and rest,
In all the universe can be possest.
The more we proove it by discovery,
The more delight each object to the eye
Procures; as if the elements had here
Bin reconcil’d, and pleas’d it should appeare
Like a faire virgin, longing to be sped
And meete her lover in a Nuptiall bed,
Deck’d in rich ornaments t’ advaunce her state
And excellence, being most fortunate
When most enjoy’d: so would our Canaan be
If well imploy’d by art and industry;
Whose offspring now, shewes that her fruitfull wombe,
Not being enjoy’d, is like a glorious tombe,
Admired things producing which there dye,
And ly fast bound in darck obscurity:
The worth of which, in each particuler,
Who list to know, this abstract will declare.
[Illustration]
NEW ENGLISH CANAAN,
OR
NEW CANAAN.
_The first Booke._
Containing the originall of the Natives, their manners & Customes,
with their tractable nature and love towards the English.
CHAP. I.
_Prooving New England the principall part of all America, and most
commodious and fitt for habitation._
~_Vse of vegetatives._~
~_Fish poysonous about the Isle of Sall._~
The wise Creator of the universall Globe hath placed a golden meane
betwixt two extreames; I meane the temperate Zones, betwixt the hote
and cold; and every Creature, that participates of Heavens blessings
with in the Compasse of that golden meane, is made most {12} apt and
fit for man to use, who likewise by that wisedome is ordained to be
the Lord of all. This globe may be his glasse, to teach him how to use
moderation and discretion, both in his actions and intentions. The
wise man sayes, give mee neither riches nor poverty; why? Riches might
make him proud like Nebuchadnezar, and poverty despaire like Iobs wife;
but a meane betweene both. So it is likewise in the use of Vegetatives,
that which hath too much Heate or too much Colde, is said to be
venenum: so in the use of sensitives, all those Animals, of what genus
or species soever they be, if they participate of heate or cold in the
superlative are said to be _Inimica naturæ_, as in some Fishes about
the Isle of Sall, and those Ilandes adjoyninge between the Tropickes;
their participatinge of heate and cold, in the superlative, is made
most manifest, one of which poysoned a whole Ships company that eate of
it.[202] And so it is in Vipers, Toades, and Snakes, that have heate or
cold in the superlative degree.
~_Zona temperata, the Golden meane._~
~_Salt aboundeth under the Tropicks._~
~_Raine 40. dayes about August betweene Cancer and the Line._~
Therefore the Creatures that participate of heate and cold in a
meane, are best and holsomest: And so it is in the choyse of love,
the middell Zone betweene the two extreames is best, and it is
therefore called _Zona temperata_, and is in the golden meane; and
all those landes lying under that Zone, most requisite and fitt for
habitation. In Cosmography, the two extreames are called, the one
_Torrida Zona_, lying betweene the Tropickes, the other _Frigida
Zona_, lying neare the poles: all the landes lying under either of
these Zones, by reason they doe participate too {13} much of heate or
cold, are very inconvenient, and are accompanied with many evils. And
allthough I am not of opinion with Aristotle,[203] that the landes
under _Torrida Zona_ are alltogether uninhabited, I my selfe having
beene so neare the equinoctiall line that I have had the Sunn for my
Zenith and seene proofe to the contrary, yet cannot I deny but that
it is accompanied with many inconveniences, as that Fish and Flesh
both will taint in those partes, notwithstanding the use of Salt which
cannot be wanting there, ordained by natures hande-worke; And that is
a great hinderance to the settinge forth and supply of navigation, the
very Sinewes of a florishing Commonwealth. Then barrennesse, caused
through want of raines, for in most of those partes of the world it
is seldome accustomed to raine untill the time of the Tornathees (as
the Portingals[204] phrase is, who lived there) and then it will raine
about 40. dayes together, which moisture serveth to fructify the earth
for all the yeare after, duringe which time is seene no raine at all:
the heate and cold, and length of day and night, being much alike,
with little difference. And these raines are caused by the turning of
the windes, which else betweene the Tropickes doe blow Trade, that
is allwayes one way. For next the Tropicke of Cancer it is constantly
North-East, and next the Tropicke of Capricorne it is Southwest; so
that the windes comming from the Poles, do keepe the aire in those
partes coole, and make it temperate and the partes habitable, were it
not for those and other inconveniences.
~_Capt. Davis froze to death._~
~_Groene Land too cold for habitation._~
{14} This _Torrida Zona_ is good for Grashoppers: and _Zona Temperata_
for the Ant and Bee. But _Frigida Zona_ [is] good for neither, as by
lamentable experience of Captaine Davis fate is manifest, who in his
inquest of the Northwest passage for the East India trade was frozen to
death.[205] And therefore, for _Frigida Zona_, I agree with Aristotle
that it is unfit for habitation:[206] and I know by the Course of
the cælestiall globe that in Groeneland, many Degrees short of the
Pole Articke, the place is too cold, by reason of the Sunns absence
almost six monethes, and the land under the continuall power of the
frost; which thinge many more Navigators have prooved with pittifull
experience of their wintringe there, as appeareth by the history. I
thinke they will not venture to winter there againe for an India mine.
~_Sir Ferdinando Gorges the originall cause of plantinge New
England._~
And as it is found by our Nation under the Pole Articke, so it is
likewise to be found under the Antarticke Pole; yet what hazard will
not an industrious minde and couragious spirit undergoe, according to
that of the Poet: _Impiger extremos currit Mercator ad Indos per mare
pauperiem fugiens, per saxa, per ignes._[207] And all to gett and hord
up like the Ant and the Bee; and yet, as Salomon saith,[208] he cannot
tell whether a foole or a wise man shall enjoy it. Therefore let us
leave these two extreames, with their inconveniences, and indeavour to
finde out this golden meane, so free from any one of them. Behold the
secret wisedome of allmighty God, and love unto our Salomon, to raise
a man of a lardge hart, full of worthy abilities, to be the Index or
Loadstarre, that doth point out {15} unto the English Nation with ease
and comfort how to finde it out. And this the noble minded Gentleman,
Sir Ferdinando Gorges,[209] Knight, zealous for the glory of God, the
honor of his Majesty and the benefit of the weale publicke, hath done
a great worke for the good of his Country.
~_The Salvages dyed of the plague._~
And herein this, the wondrous wisedome and love of God, is shewne,
by sending to the place his Minister, to sweepe away by heapes the
Salvages; and also giving him length of dayes to see the same performed
after his enterprise was begunne, for the propagation of the Church of
Christ.
This judicious Gentleman hath found this goulden meane to be scituated
about the middle of those two extreames, and for directions you may
proove it thus: Counting the space betweene the Line and either of
the Poles, in true proportion, you shall finde it to be 90. Degrees:
then must we finde the meane to be neare unto the Center of 90. and
that is about 45. Degrees, and then incline unto the Sotherne side of
that Center, properly for the benefit of heate, remembringe that _Sol
& Homo generàt hominem_; and then keepe us on that same side, and see
what Land is to be found there, and we shall easily discerne that new
England is on the South side of that Center.
~_New Engl. is placed in the golden meane._~
~_New England 10. Degrees neerer the line then old England._~
~_The Massachussets in the middel of New England._~
~_The Windes not so violent in New England._~
For that Country doth beginne her boundes at 40. Degrees of Northerne
latitude, and endes at 45. Degrees of the same latitude, and doth
participate of heate and cold indifferently, but is oppressed with
neither: and therefore may be truly sayd to be within the compasse of
that golden meane, most apt and fit {16} for habitation and generation,
being placed by Allmighty God, the great Creator, under that Zone
called _Zona temperata_; and is therefore most fitt for the generation
and habitation of our English nation, of all other, who are more neere
neighbours to the Northerne Pole, whose Land lyeth betweene 50. and
54. Degrees of the selfesame latitude: now this new England, though
it be nearer to the line then that old England by 10. Degrees of
latitude, yet doth not this exceede that other in heate or cold, by
reason of the cituation of it; for as the Coast lyeth, being circularly
Northeast and Southwest, opposite towards the Sunnes risinge, which
makes his course over the Ocean, it can have litle or no reflecting
heat of the Sun-beames, by reason of the continuall motion of the
waters makinge the aire there the cooler and the constanter; so that
for the temperature of the Climent, sweetnesse of the aire, fertility
of the Soile, and small number of the Salvages (which might seeme a
rubb in the way off an effeminate minde,) this Country of new England
is by all judicious men accounted the principall part of all America
for habitation and the commodiousnesse of the Sea, Ships there not
being subject to wormes as in Virginea and other places, and not to be
paraleld in all Christendome. The Massachussets, being the middell
part thereof, is a very beautifull Land, not mountany nor inclininge to
mountany, lyeth in 42. Degrees, and 30. minutes, and hath as yet[210]
the greatest number of inhabitants; and hath a very large bay to it
divided by Islands into 4 great bayes,[211] where shippinge may safely
ride, {17} all windes and weathers, the windes in those partes being
not so violent as in England by many Degrees: for there are no shrubbs
seene to leane from the windes, as by the Sea Coast of England I have
seene them leane, and the groundage is a sandy sleech,[212] free from
rockes to gaule Cables, but is good for anchorage: the rest of the
Planters are disperst among the Coasts betweene 41. and 44. Degrees of
Latitude, and as yet, have [made] very little way into the inland.[213]
The riches of which Country I have set forth in this abstract as in a
Landskipp, for the better information of the Travellers; which hee may
peruse and plainely perceave by the demonstration of it, that it is
nothing inferior to Canaan of Israel, but a kind of paralell to it in
all points.
CHAP. II.
_Of the originall of the Natives._
~_The Natives have a mixed language._~
~_Pasco Pan greedy gutt._~
~_Mona an Island._~
In the yeare since the incarnation of Christ, 1622, it was my chance to
be landed in the parts of New England,[214] where I found two sortes
of people, the one Christians, the other Infidels; these I found
most full of humanity, and more friendly then the other: as shall
hereafter be made apparant in Dew-Course by their severall actions
from time to time, whilest I lived among them. After my arrivall in
those partes, I endeavoured by all the wayes and meanes that I could to
find out from what people, or nation, the Natives of {18} New England
might be conjectured originlly to proceede; and by continuance and
conversation amongst them, I attaned to so much of their language, as
by all probable conjecture may make the same manifest: for it hath
been found by divers, and those of good judgement, that the Natives
of this Country doe use very many wordes, both of Greeke and Latine,
to the same signification that the Latins and Greekes have done; as
_en animia_,[215] when an Indian expresseth that hee doth anything
with a good will; and _Pascopan_[216] signifieth gredy gut, this
being the name of an Indian that was so called of a Child, through
the greedinesse of his minde and much eating, for _Pasco_ in Latine
signifieth to feede, and _Pan_ in Greeke signifieth all; and _Pasco
nantum,[217] quasi pasco nondum_, halfe starved, or not eating, as yet;
_Equa coge_,[218] set it upright; _Mona_[219] is an Island in their
language, _quasi Monon_, that is alone, for an Island is a peece or
plott of ground standing alone, and devided from the mane Land by force
of water.
~_Cos a Whetstone._~
~_Pan the Shepheards God._~
_Cos_[220] is a Whetstone with them. _Hame_[221] an instrument to take
fish. Many places doe retaine the name of _Pan_, as Pantneket[222]
and _Matta pan_,[223] so that it may be thought that these people
heretofore have had the name of _Pan_ in great reverence and
estimation, and it may bee have worshipped _Pan_ the great God of the
Heathens: Howsoever they doe use no manner of worship at all now: and
it is most likely that the Natives of this Country are descended from
people bred upon that part of the world which is towardes {19} the
Tropicke of Cancer, for they doe still retaine the memory of some of
the Starres one that part of the Cælestiall Globe, as the North-starre,
which with them is called Maske,[224] for Maske in their Language
signifieth a Beare: and they doe divide the windes into eight partes,
and it seemes originally have had some litterature amongst them, which
time hath Cancelled and worne out of use.
~_Not to proceede from the Tartars._~
~_No part of America knowne to be neare Tartary._~
~_Why Brutus left Latium._~
~_Two nations meetinge make a mixt language._~
And whereas it hath beene the opinion of some men, which shall be
nameles, that the Natives of New-England may proceede from the race
of the Tartars, and come from Tartaria into those partes,[225] over
the frozen Sea, I see no probality for any such Conjecture; for as
much as a people once setled must be remooved by compulsion, or else
tempted thereunto in hope of better fortunes, upon commendations of the
place unto which they should be drawne to remoove: and if it may be
thought that these people came over the frozen Sea, then would it be by
compulsion? if so, then by whome, or when? or what part of this mane
continent may be thought to border upon the Country of the Tartars,
it is yet unknowne: and it is not like, that a people well enough at
ease will of their one accord undertake to travayle over a Sea of
Ice, considering how many difficulties they shall encounter with; as
first, whether there be any Land at the end of their unknowne way, no
Land beinge in view; then want of Food to sustane life in the meane
time upon that Sea of Ice; or {20} how should they doe for Fuell, to
keepe them at night from freezing to death, which will not bee had in
such a place. But it may perhaps be granted that the Natives of this
Country might originally come of the scattred Trojans: For after that
Brutus, who was the forth from Aneas, left Latium upon the conflict
had with the Latines, (where although hee gave them a great overthrow,
to the Slaughter of their grand Captaine and many other of the Heroes
of Latium, yet hee held it more safety to depart unto some other place
and people, then by staying to runne the hazard of an unquiet life or
doubtfull Conquest, which as history maketh mention hee performed,)
this people were dispersed: there is no question but the people that
lived with him, by reason of their conversation with the Græcians and
Latines, had a mixed language that participated of both, whatsoever was
that which was proper to their owne nation at first I know not: for
this is commonly seene where 2. nations traffique together, the one
indevouring to understand the others meaning makes them both many times
speak a mixed language, as is approoved by the Natives of New England,
through the coveteous desire they have to commerce with our nation and
wee with them.
~_Dædalus the first that used Sayles._~
~_Icarus the second that used Sayles._~
~_Troy destroyed about Sauls time._~
~_The Loadstone in Salomons time._~
And when Brutus did depart from Latium, we doe not finde that his whole
number went with him at once, or arrived at one place; and being put to
Sea might encounter with a storme that would carry them out of sight
of Land, and then they might sayle God knoweth whether, and so might
be put upon this {21} Coast, as well as any other. Compasse I beleeve
they had none in those dayes; Sayles they might have, (which Dædalus
the first inventor thereof left to after ages, having taught his Sonne
Icarus the use of it, who to this Cost found how dangerous it is for a
Sonne not to observe the precepts of a wise Father, so that the Icarian
Sea now retaines the memory of it to this day,) and Victuals they might
have good store, and many other things fittinge; oares without all
question they would store themselves with, in such a case; but for the
use of Compasse, there is no mention made of it at that time (which
was much about Sauls time, the first that was made King of Israell.)
Yet it is thought (and that not without good reason for it) that the
use of the Loadstone and Compasse was knowne in Salomons time, for as
much as hee sent Shippes to fetch of the gould of Ophir, to adorne and
bewtify that magnificent Temple of Hierusalem by him built for the
glory of Almighty God, and by his speciall appointment: and it is held
by Cosmographers to be 3. yeares voyage from Hierusalem to Ophir, and
it is conceaved that such a voyage could not have beene performed,
without the helpe of the Loadstone and Compasse.
And why should any man thinke the Natives of New England to be the
gleanings of all Nations, onely because by the pronunciation and
termination their words seeme to trench upon severall languages,
when time hath not furnished him with the interpretation thereof.
The thinge that must induce a man of reasonable capacity to any
maner of conjecture of {22} their originall, must be the sence and
signification of the words, principally to frame this argument by,
when hee shall drawe to any conclusion thereupon: otherwise hee shall
but runne rounde about a maze (as some of the fantasticall tribe use
to do about the tythe of mint[226] and comin.) Therefore, since I have
had the approbation of Sir Christopher Gardiner,[227] Knight, an able
gentl. that lived amongst them, and of David Tompson,[228] a Scottish
gentl. that likewise was conversant with those people, both Scollers
and Travellers that were diligent in taking notice of these things,
as men of good judgement, and that have bin in those parts any time,
besides others of lesse, now I am bold to conclude that the originall
of the Natives of New England may be well conjectured to be from the
scattered Trojans, after such time as Brutus departed from Latium.[229]
CHAP. III.
_Of a great mortality that happened amongst the Natives of New
England, neere about the time that the English came there to plant._
~_Five Frenchmen kept by the Salvages._~
It fortuned some few yeares before the English came to inhabit at
new Plimmouth, in New England, that upon some distast given in the
Massachussets bay by Frenchmen, then trading there with the Natives
for beaver, they set upon the men at such advantage that they killed
manie of them, burned their shipp, {23} then riding at Anchor by an
Island there, now called Peddocks Island,[230] in memory of Leonard
Peddock[231] that landed there, (where many wilde Anckies[232] haunted
that time, which hee thought had bin tame,) distributing them unto 5.
Sachems, which were Lords of the severall territories adjoyninge: they
did keepe them so longe as they lived, onely to sport themselves at
them, and made these five Frenchmen fetch them wood and water, which is
the generall worke that they require of a servant.[233] One of these
five men, out livinge the rest, had learned so much of their language
as to rebuke them for their bloudy deede, saying that God would be
angry with them for it, and that hee would in his displeasure destroy
them; but the Salvages (it seemes boasting of their strenght,) replyed
and sayd, that they were so many that God could not kill them.[234]
~_The Plague fell on the Indians._~
~_The livinge not able to bury the dead._~
But contrary wise, in short time after the hand of God fell heavily
upon them, with such a mortall stroake that they died on heapes as
they lay in their houses; and the living, that were able to shift for
themselves, would runne away and let them dy, and let there Carkases ly
above the ground without buriall. For in a place where many inhabited,
there hath been but one left a live to tell what became of the rest;
the livinge being (as it seemes) not able to bury the dead, they
were left for Crowes, Kites and vermin to pray upon. And the bones
and skulls upon the severall places of their habitations made such a
spectacle after my comming into those partes, that, as I travailed in
that Forrest nere the Massachussets, it seemed to mee a new found
Golgatha.
~_2 Sam. 24._~
{24} But otherwise, it is the custome of those Indian people to bury
their dead ceremoniously and carefully, and then to abandon that
place, because they have no desire the place should put them in minde
of mortality: and this mortality was not ended when the Brownists
of new Plimmouth were setled at Patuxet in New England: and by all
likelyhood the sicknesse that these Indians died of was the Plague,
as by conference with them since my arrivall and habitation in those
partes, I have learned.[235] And by this meanes there is as yet but
a small number of Salvages in New England, to that which hath beene
in former time, and the place is made so much the more fitt for the
English Nation to inhabit in, and erect in it Temples to the glory of
God.
CHAP. IV.
_Of their Houses and Habitations._
The Natives of New England are accustomed to build them houses much
like the wild Irish; they gather Poles in the woodes and put the
great end of them in the ground, placinge them in forme of a circle
or circumference, and, bendinge the topps of them in forme of an
Arch, they bind them together with the Barke of Walnut trees, which
is wondrous tuffe, so that they make the same round on the Topp {25}
for the smooke of their fire to assend and passe through; these they
cover with matts, some made of reeds and some of longe flagges, or
sedge, finely sowed together with needles made of the splinter bones
of a Cranes legge, with threeds made of their Indian hempe, which
their groueth naturally, leaving severall places for dores, which are
covered with mats, which may be rowled up and let downe againe at their
pleasures, making use of the severall dores, according as the winde
sitts.[236] The fire is alwayes made in the middest of the house, with
winde fals commonly: yet some times they fell a tree that groweth neere
the house, and, by drawing in the end thereof, maintaine the fire on
both sids, burning the tree by Degrees shorter and shorter, untill it
be all consumed; for it burneth night and day. Their lodging is made
in three places of the house about the fire; they lye upon plankes,
commonly about a foote or 18. inches aboue the ground, raised upon
railes that are borne up upon forks; they lay mats under them, and
Coats of Deares skinnes, otters, beavers, Racownes, and of Beares
hides, all which they have dressed and converted into good lether,
with the haire on, for their coverings: and in this manner they lye
as warme as they desire.[237] In the night they take their rest; in
the day time, either the kettle is on with fish or flesh, by no
allowance, or else the fire is imployed in roasting of fishes, which
they delight in.[238] The aire doeth beget good stomacks, and they
feede continually, and are no niggards of their vittels; for they are
willing that any one shall eate with them. Nay, if any one that shall
come into their {26} houses and there fall a sleepe, when they see him
disposed to lye downe, they will spreade a matt for him of their owne
accord, and lay a roule of skinnes for a boulster, and let him lye.
If hee sleepe untill their meate be dished up, they will set a wooden
boule of meate by him that sleepeth, and wake him saying, Cattup keene
Meckin[239]: That is, If you be hungry, there is meat for you, where if
you will eate you may. Such is their Humanity.[240]
Likewise, when they are minded to remoove, they carry away the mats
with them; other materiales the place adjoyning will yeald. They use
not to winter and summer in one place, for that would be a reason to
make fuell scarse; but, after the manner of the gentry of Civilized
natives, remoove for their pleasures; some times to their hunting
places, where they remaine keeping good hospitality for that season;
and sometimes to their fishing places, where they abide for that season
likewise: and at the spring, when fish comes in plentifully, they have
meetinges from severall places, where they exercise themselves in
gaminge and playing of juglinge trickes and all manner of Revelles,
which they are deligted in; [so] that it is admirable to behould what
pastime they use of severall kindes, every one striving to surpasse
each other.[241] After this manner they spend their time.
{27} CHAP. V.
_Of their Religion._
It has bin a common receaved opinion from Cicero,[242] that there
is no people so barbarous but have some worshipp or other. In this
particular, I am not of opinion therein with Tully; and, surely, if
hee had bin amongst those people so longe as I have bin, and conversed
so much with them touching this matter of Religion, hee would have
changed his opinion. Neither should we have found this error, amongst
the rest, by the helpe of that wodden prospect,[243] if it had not
been so unadvisedly built upon such highe land as that Coast (all
mens judgements in generall,) doth not yeeld, had hee but taken the
judiciall councell of Sir William Alexander, that setts this thing
forth in an exact and conclusive sentence; if hee be not too obstinate?
hee would graunt that worthy writer, that these people are _sine fide,
sine lege, & sine rege_,[244] and hee hath exemplified this thinge by
a familiar demonstration, which I have by longe experience observed to
be true.
And, me thinks, it is absurd to say they have a kinde of worship, and
not able to demonstrate whome or what it is they are accustomed to
worship. For my part I am more willing to beleeve that the Elephants
(which are reported to be the most intelligible of all beasts) doe
worship the moone, for the reasons {28} given by the author of this
report, as M^r. Thomas May, the minion of the Muses dos recite it in
his continuation of Lucans historicall poem,[245] rather then this man:
to that I must bee constrained, to conclude against him, and Cicero,
that the Natives of New England have no worship nor religion at all;
and I am sure it has been so observed by those that neede not the helpe
of a wodden prospect for the matter.
CHAP. VI.
_Of the Indians apparrell._
The Indians in these parts do make their apparrell of the skinnes of
severall sortes of beastes, and commonly of those that doe frequent
those partes where they doe live; yet some of them, for variety, will
have the skinnes of such beasts that frequent the partes of their
neighbors, which they purchase of them by Commerce and Trade.
~_The Indians make good lether._~
~_Indians ingenious workemen for their garments._~
~_The modesty of the Indian men._~
~_Indians travaile with materials to strike fire at all
times._~
These skinnes they convert into very good lether, making the same
plume and soft. Some of these skinnes they dresse with the haire on,
and some with the haire off; the hairy side in winter time they weare
next their bodies, and in warme weather they weare the haire outwardes:
they make likewise some Coates of the Feathers of Turkies, which they
weave together with twine of their owne makinge, very prittily: these
garments they weare like mantels knit over {29} their shoulders, and
put under their arme: they have likewise another sort of mantels, made
of Mose skinnes, which beast is a great large Deere so bigge as a
horse; these skinnes they commonly dresse bare, and make them wondrous
white, and stripe them with size round about the borders, in forme like
lace set on by a Taylor, and some they stripe with size in workes of
severall fashions very curious, according to the severall fantasies of
the workemen, wherein they strive to excell one another: And Mantels
made of Beares skinnes is an usuall wearinge, among the Natives that
live where the Beares doe haunt: they make shooes of Mose skinnes,
which is the principall leather used to that purpose; and for want
of such lether (which is the strongest) they make shooes of Deeres
skinnes, very handsomly and commodious; and, of such deeres skinnes as
they dresse bare, they make stockinges that comes within their shooes,
like a stirrop stockinge, and is fastned above at their belt, which is
about their middell; Every male, after hee attaines unto the age which
they call Pubes, wereth a belt about his middell, and a broad peece of
lether that goeth betweene his leggs and is tuckt up both before and
behinde under that belt; and this they weare to hide their secreats
of nature, which by no meanes they will suffer to be seene, so much
modesty they use in that particular; those garments they allwayes put
on, when they goe a huntinge, to keepe their skinnes from the brush of
the Shrubbs: and when they have their Apparrell one they looke like
Irish in {30} their trouses, the Stockinges joyne so to their breeches.
A good well growne deere skin is of great account with them, and it
must have the tale on, or else they account it defaced; the tale being
three times as long as the tales of our English Deere, yea foure times
so longe, this when they travell is raped round about their body, and,
with a girdle of their making, bound round about their middles, to
which girdle is fastned a bagg, in which his instruments be with which
hee can strike fire upon any occasion.[246]
Thus with their bow in their left hand, and their quiuer of Arrowes at
their back, hanging one their left shoulder with the lower end of it in
their right hand, they will runne away a dogg trot untill they come to
their journey end; and, in this kinde of ornament, they doe seeme to me
to be hansomer then when they are in English apparrell, their gesture
being answerable to their one habit and not unto ours.
~_The Indians ashamed of their nakednesse._~
Their women have shooes and stockinges to weare likewise when they
please, such as the men have, but the mantle they use to cover their
nakednesse with is much longer then that which the men use; for, as the
men have one Deeres skinn, the women have two soed together at the full
lenght, and it is so lardge that it trailes after them like a great
Ladies trane; and in time I thinke they may have their Pages to beare
them up; and where the men use but one Beares skinn for a Mantle, the
women have two soed together; and if any of their women would at any
time shift one, they take that which they intend to make use of, and
{31} cast it over them round, before they shifte away the other, for
modesty, being unwilling to be seene to discover their nakednesse; and
the one being so cast over, they slip the other from under them in a
decent manner, which is to be noted in people uncivilized; therein they
seeme to have as much modesty as civilized people, and deserve to be
applauded for it.[247]
CHAP. VII.
_Of their Child-bearing, and delivery, and what manner of persons
they are._
~_The women big with child very laborious._~
~_Children bathed to staine the skinne._~
The women of this Country are not suffered to be used for procreation
untill the ripenesse of their age, at which time they weare a redd
cap made of lether, in forme like to our flat caps, and this they
weare for the space of 12 moneths, for all men to take notice of them
that have any minde to a wife; and then it is the custome of some of
their Sachems or Lords of the territories, to have the first say or
maidenhead of the females.[248] Very apt they are to be with childe,
and very laborious when they beare children; yea, when they are as
great as they can be: yet in that case they neither forbeare laboure,
nor travaile; I have seene them in that plight with burthens at their
backs enough to load a horse; yet doe they not miscarry, but have a
faire delivery, and a quick: their women are very good midwifes, and
the women very lusty after {32} delivery, and in a day or two will
travell or trudge about.[249] Their infants are borne with haire on
their heads, and are of complexion white as our nation; but their
mothers in their infancy make a bath of Wallnut leaves, huskes of
Walnuts, and such things as will staine their skinne for ever, wherein
they dip and washe them to make them tawny[250]; the coloure of their
haire is black, and their eyes black. These infants are carried at
their mothers backs by the help of a cradle made of a board forket at
both ends, whereon the childe is fast bound and wrapped in furres;
his knees thrust up towards his bellie, because they may be the more
usefull for them when he sitteth, which is as a dogge does on his
bumme: and this cradle surely preserues them better then the cradles
of our nation, for as much as we finde them well proportioned, not any
of them crooked backed or wry legged: and to give their charracter in
a worde, they are as proper men and women for feature and limbes as
can be found, for flesh and bloud as active: longe handed they are, (I
never sawe a clunchfisted Salvadg amongst them all in my time.)[251]
The colour of their eies being so generally black made a Salvage, that
had a younge infant whose eies were gray, shewed him to us, and said
they were English mens eies; I tould the Father that his sonne was _nan
weeteo_, which is a bastard; hee replied _titta Cheshetue squaa_,[252]
which is, hee could not tell, his wife might play the whore; and this
childe the father desired might have an English name, because of the
litenesse[253] of his eies, which his father had in admiration because
of novelty amongst their nation.
{33} CHAP. VIII.
_Of their Reverence, and respect to age._
~_Age honoured among the Indians._~
It is a thing to be admired, and indeede made a president, that a
Nation yet uncivilizied should more respect age then some nations
civilized, since there are so many precepts both of divine and
humane writers extant to instruct more Civill Nations: in that
particular, wherein they excell, the younger are allwayes obedient
unto the elder people, and at their commaunds in every respect without
grummbling;[254] in all councels, (as therein they are circumspect
to do their acciones by advise and councell, and not rashly or
inconsiderately,) the younger mens opinion shall be heard, but the old
mens opinion and councell imbraced and followed: besides, as the elder
feede and provide for the younger in infancy, so doe the younger, after
being growne to yeares of manhood, provide for those that be aged:
and in distribution of Acctes the elder men are first served by their
dispensator; and their counsels (especially if they be powahs) are
esteemed as oracles amongst the younger Natives.
The consideration of these things, mee thinkes, should reduce some of
our irregular young people of civilized Nations, when this story shall
come to their knowledge, to better manners, and make them ashamed of
their former error in this kinde, and to {34} become hereafter more
duetyfull; which I, as a friend, (by observation having found,) have
herein recorded for that purpose.
CHAP. IX.
_Of their pretty conjuring tricks._
If we doe not judge amisse of these Salvages in accounting them
witches, yet out of all question we may be bould to conclude them
to be but weake witches, such of them as wee call by the names of
Powahs: some correspondency they have with the Devil out of al doubt,
as by some of their accions, in which they glory, is manifested.
Papasiquineo,[255] that Sachem or Sagamore, is a Powah of greate
estimation amongst all kinde of Salvages there: hee is at their Revels
(which is the time when a great company of Salvages meete from
severall parts of the Country, in amity with their neighbours) hath
advaunced his honor in his feats or jugling tricks (as I may right
tearme them) to the admiration of the spectators, whome hee endevoured
to perswade that he would goe under water to the further side of a
river, to broade for any man to undertake with a breath, which thing
hee performed by swimming over, and deluding the company with casting a
mist before their eies that see him enter in and come out, but no part
of the way hee has bin seene: likewise by our English, in the heat of
all summer to make Ice appeare in a bowle of faire water; first, having
the water set before him, hee hath begunne his incantation according
to their usuall accustome, and before the same has bin ended a thick
Clowde has darkned the {35} aire and, on a sodane, a thunder clap hath
bin heard that has amazed the natives; in an instant hee hath shewed a
firme peece of Ice to flote in the middest of the bowle in the presence
of the vulgar people, which doubtles was done by the agility of Satan,
his consort.
And by meanes of these sleights, and such like trivial things as these,
they gaine such estimation amongst the rest of the Salvages that it is
thought a very impious matter for any man to derogate from the words
of these Powahs. In so much as hee that should slight them, is thought
to commit a crime no lesse hainous amongst them as sacriledge is with
us, as may appeare by this one passage, which I wil set forth for an
instance.
~_A Salvage entertained a factor._~
~_An Englishman cured of a swelling._~
A neighbour of mine that had entertain’d a Salvage into his service, to
be his factor for the beaver trade amongst his countrymen, delivered
unto him divers parcells of commodities fit for them to trade with;
amongst the rest there was one coate of more esteeme then any of the
other, and with this his new entertained marchant man travels amongst
his countrymen to truck them away for beaver: as our custome hath bin,
the Salvage went up into the Country amongst his neighbours for beaver,
and returned with some, but not enough answerable to his Masteers
expectation, but being called to an accompt, and especially for that
one Coate of speciall note, made answer that he had given that coate
to Tantoquineo, a Powah: to which his master in a rage cryed, what
have I to doe with Tantoquineo? The Salvage, very angry at the matter,
cryed, what you speake? you are not a very good man; wil you not give
Tantoq. a coat? whats this? as if he had offered {36} _Tantoquineo_ the
greatest indignity that could be devised: so great is the estimation
and reverence that these people have of these Iugling[256] Powahs,
who are usually sent for when any person is sicke and ill at ease to
recover them, for which they receive rewards as doe our Chirgeons
and Phisitions; and they doe make a trade of it, and boast of their
skill where they come:[257] One amongst the rest did undertake to cure
an Englishman of a swelling of his hand for a parcell of biskett,
which being delivered him hee tooke the party greived into the woods
aside from company, and with the helpe of the devill, (as may be
conjectured,) quickly recovered him of that swelling, and sent him
about his worke againe.
CHAP. X.
_Of their duels, and the honourable estimation of victory obtained
thereby._
~_How the Salvages performe theire duells._~
These Salvages are not apt to quarrell one with another: yet such hath
bin the occasion that a difference hath happened which hath growne to
that height that it has not bin reconciled otherwise then by combat,
which hath bin performed in this manner: the two champions prepared
for the fight, with their bowes in hand and a quiver full of arrowes
at their backs, they have entered into the field; the Challenger
and challenged have chosen two trees, standing within {37} a little
distance of each other; they have cast lotts for the cheife of the
trees, then either champion setting himselfe behinde his tree watches
an advantage to let fly his shafts, and to gall his enemy; there they
continue shooting at each other; if by chaunce they espie any part
open, they endeavour to gall the combatant in that part, and use much
agility in the performance of the taske they have in hand. Resolute
they are in the execution of their vengeance, when once they have
begunne; and will in no wise be daunted, or seeme to shrinck though
they doe catch a clap with an arrow, but fight it out in this manner
untill one or both be slaine.
~_Trees marked where they performe a duell._~
I have bin shewed the places where such duels have bin performed,
and have fuond the trees marked for a memoriall of the Combat, where
that champion hath stood that had the hap to be slaine in the duell:
and they count it the greatest honor that can be to the serviving
Cumbatant, to shew the scares of the wounds received in this kinde of
Conflict, and if it happen to be on the arme, as those parts are most
in danger in these cases, they will alwayes weare a bracelet upon that
place of the arme, as a trophy of honor to their dying day.
{38} CHAP. XI.
_Of the maintaining of their Reputation._
Reputation is such a thing that it keepes many men in awe, even amongst
Civilized nations, and is very much stood upon: it is (as one hath
very well noted) the awe of great men and of Kings. And, since I have
observed it to be maintained amongst Salvage people, I cannot chuse
but give an instance thereof in this treatise, to confirme the common
receaved opinion thereof.
~_A marriage._~
The Sachem or Sagamore of Sagus made choise, when hee came to mans
estate, of a Lady of noble discent, Daughter to Papasiquineo, the
Sachem or Sagamore of the territories neare Merrimack River, a man of
the best note and estimation in all those parts, and (as my Countryman
M^r. Wood declares in his prospect) a great Nigromancer; this Lady the
younge Sachem with the consent and good liking of her father marries,
and takes for his wife.[258] Great entertainement hee and his receaved
in those parts at her fathers hands, where they weare fested in the
best manner that might be expected, according to the Custome of their
nation, with reveling and such other solemnities as is usuall amongst
them. The solemnity being ended, Papasiquineo causes a selected number
of his men to waite upon his Daughter home into those parts that did
properly belong to her Lord and husband; where the attendants had
entertainment by the Sachem of Sagus and his Countrymen: the solemnity
being ended, the attendants were gratified.
~_An ambassage sent from Papasiquineo to his sonne in law, a
Sachem._~
Not long after the new married Lady had a great {39} desire to see her
father and her native country, from whence shee came; her Lord willing
to pleasure her and not deny her request, amongst them thought to be
reasonable, commanded a selected number of his owne men to conduct his
Lady to her Father, wher, with great respect, they brought her; and,
having feasted there a while, returned to their owne country againe,
leaving the Lady to continue there at her owne pleasure, amongst her
friends and old acquaintance; where shee passed away the time for
a while, and in the end desired to returne to her Lord againe. Her
father, the old Papasiquineo, having notice of her intent, sent some of
his men on ambassage to the younge Sachem, his sonne in law, to let him
understand that his daughter was not willing to absent her selfe from
his company any longer, and therfore, as the messengers had in charge,
desired the younge Lord to send a convoy for her; but hee, standing
upon tearmes of honor, and the maintaining of his reputation, returned
to his father in law this answere, that, when she departed from him,
hee caused his men to waite upon her to her fathers territories, as
it did become him; but, now shee had an intent to returne, it did
become her father to send her back with a convoy of his own people; and
that it stood not with his reputation to make himself or his men so
servile, to fetch her againe. The old Sachem Papasiquineo, having this
message returned, was inraged to think that his young son in law did
not esteeme him at a higher rate then to capitulate with him about the
matter, and returne[d] him this sharpe reply; that his daughters bloud
and birth deserved more respect then to be so slighted; and, therefore,
if he would have her company, hee were best to send or come for her.
{40} The younge Sachem, not willing to under value himselfe and being a
man of a stout spirit, did not stick to say that hee should either send
her by his owne Convey, or keepe her; for hee was determined not[259]
to stoope so lowe.
So much these two Sachems stood upon tearmes of reputation with each
other, the one would not send her, and the other would not send for
her, least it should be any diminishing of honor on his part that
should seeme to comply, that the Lady (when I came out of the Country)
remained still with her father; which is a thinge worth the noting,
that Salvage people should seeke to maintaine their reputation so much
as they doe.
CHAP. XII.
_Of their trafficke and trade one with another._
~_Beads instead of Money._~
Although these people have not the use of navigation, whereby they
may trafficke as other nations, that are civilized, use to doe, yet
doe they barter for such commodities as they have, and have a kinde
of beads, insteede of money, to buy withall such things as they
want, which they call Wampampeak: and it is of two sorts, the one is
white, the other is of a violet coloure. These are made of the shells
of fishe. The white with them is as silver with us; the other as
our gould: and for these beads they buy and sell, not onely amongst
themselves, but even with us.
~_The name of their beads Wampampeak._~
{41} We have used to sell them any of our commodities for this
Wampampeak, because we know we can have beaver againe of them for it:
and these beads are currant in all the parts of New England, from one
end of the Coast to the other.
And although some have indevoured by example to have the like made of
the same kinde of shels, yet none hath ever, as yet, attained to any
perfection in the composure of them, but that the Salvages have found
a great difference to be in the one and the other; and have knowne the
counterfett beads from those of their owne making; and have, and doe
slight them.[260]
The skinnes of beasts are sould and bartered, to such people as have
none of the same kinde in the parts where they live.[261]
Likewise they have earthen potts of divers sizes, from a quarte to a
gallon, 2. or 3. to boyle their vitels in; very stronge, though they be
thin like our Iron potts.
They have dainty wooden bowles of maple, of highe price amongst them;
and these are dispersed by bartering one with the other, and are but
in certaine parts of the Country made, where the severall trades are
appropriated to the inhabitants of those parts onely.
So likewise (at the season of the yeare) the Salvages that live by the
Sea side for trade with the inlanders for fresh water, reles curious
silver reles,[262] which are bought up of such as have them not
frequent in other places: chestnuts, and such like usefull {42} things
as one place affordeth, are sould to the inhabitants of another, where
they are a novelty accompted amongst the natives of the land.[263] And
there is no such thing to barter withall, as is their Whampampeake.
CHAP. XIII.
_Of their Magazines or Storehowses._
~_What care they take to lay up corne for winter._~
These people are not without providence, though they be uncivilized,
but are carefull to preserve foede in store against winter; which is
the corne that they laboure and dresse in the summer. And, although
they eate freely of it, whiles it is growinge, yet have they a care
to keepe a convenient portion thereof to releeve them in the dead of
winter, (like to the Ant and the Bee,) which they put under ground.
Their barnes are holes made in the earth, that will hold a Hogshead of
corne a peece in them. In these (when their corne is out of the huske
and well dried) they lay their store in greate baskets (which they make
of Sparke[264]) with matts under, about the sides, and on the top; and
putting it into the place made for it, they cover it with earth: and
in this manner it is preserved from destruction or putrifaction; to be
used in case of necessity, and not else.[265]
{43} And I am perswaded, that if they knew the benefit of Salte[266]
(as they may in time,) and the meanes to make salte meate fresh againe,
they would endeaver to preserve fishe for winter, as well as corne;
and that if any thinge bring them to civility, it will be the use of
Salte, to have foode in store, which is a cheife benefit in a civilized
Commonwealth.
~_They begg Salte of the English._~
These people have begunne already to incline to the use of Salte. Many
of them would begge Salte of mee for to carry home with them, that had
frequented our howses and had been acquainted with our Salte meats: and
Salte I willingly gave them, although I sould them all things else,
onely because they should be delighted with the use there of, and
thinke it a commodity of no value in it selfe, allthough the benefit
was great that might be had by the use of it.
CHAP. XIV.
_Of theire Subtilety._
These people are not, as some have thought, a dull, or slender witted
people, but very ingenious, and very subtile. I could give maine
instances to maintaine mine opinion of them in this; but I will onely
relate one, which is a passage worthy to be observed.
{44} In the Massachussets bay lived Cheecatawback,[267] the Sachem or
Sagamore of those territories, who had large dominions which hee did
appropriate to himselfe.
Into those parts came a greate company of Salvages from the territories
of Narohiganset, to the number of 100. persons; and in this Sachems
Dominions they intended to winter.
~_They trade away beavers skinnes for corne._~
~_A beaver skinne with his tayle on of great estimacion._~
When they went a hunting for turkies they spreade over such a greate
scope of ground that a Turkie could hardily escape them: Deare
they killed up in greate abundance, and feasted their bodies very
plentifully: Beavers they killed by no allowance; the skinnes of those
they traded away at Wassaguscus with my neighboures[268] for corne, and
such other commodities as they had neede of; and my neighboures had a
wonderfull great benefit by their being in those parts. Yea, sometimes
(like genious fellowes) they would present their Marchant with a fatt
beaver skinne, alwayes the tayle was not diminished, but presented full
and whole; although the tayle is a present for a Sachem,[269] and is
of such masculaine vertue that if some of our Ladies knew the benefit
thereof they would desire to have ships sent of purpose to trade for
the tayle alone: it is such a rarity, as is not more esteemed of then
reason doth require.
~_A subtile plot of a Sachem._~
But the Sachem Cheecatawbak, (on whose possessions they usurped, and
converted the commodities thereof to their owne use, contrary to his
likeing,) not being of power to resist them, practised to doe it by a
subtile stratagem. And to that end {45} gave it out amongst us, that
the cause why these other Salvages of the Narohigansets came into these
parts, was to see what strength we were of, and to watch an opportunity
to cut us off, and take that which they found in our custody usefull
for them; And added further, they would burne our howses, and that
they had caught one of his men, named Meshebro, and compelled him
to discover to them where their barnes, Magazines, or storehowses
were, and had taken away his corne; and seemed to be in a pittifull
perplexity about the matter.
And, the more to adde reputation to this tale, desires that his wifes
and children might be harbered in one of our howses. This was graunted;
and my neighbours put on corslets, headpeeces, and weapons defensive
and offensive.
This thing being knowne to Cheecatawback, hee caused some of his men to
bring the Narohigansets to trade, that they might see the preparation.
The Salvage, that was a stranger to the plott, simply comming to trade,
and findding his merchants lookes like lobsters, all cladd in harnesse,
was in a maze to thinke what would be the end of it. Haste hee made to
trade away his furres, and tooke anything for them, wishing himselfe
well rid of them and of the company in the howse.
~_A Salvage scared._~
But (as the manner has bin) hee must eate some furmety[270] before hee
goe: downe hee sits and eats, and withall had an eie on every side;
and now and then saw a sword or a dagger layd a thwart a head peece,
which hee wondered at, and asked his {46} giude whether the company
were not angry. The guide, (that was privy to his Lords plot) answered
in his language that hee could not tell. But the harmelesse Salvage,
before hee had halfe filled his belly, started up on a sodayne, and
ranne out of the howse in such hast that hee left his furmety there,
and stayed not to looke behinde him who came after: Glad hee was that
he had escaped so.
The subtile Sachem, hee playd the tragedian, and fained a feare of
being surprised; and sent to see whether the enemies (as the Messenger
termed them) were not in the howse; and comes in a by way with his
wifes and children, and stopps the chinkes of the out howse, for feare
the fire might be seene in the night, and be a meanes to direct his
enemies where to finde them.
~_A Salvage that had lived 12. Moneths in England sent for an
Ambassador._~
And, in the meane time, hee prepared for his Ambassador to his enemies
a Salvage,[271] that had lived 12. moneths in England, to the end it
might adde reputation to his ambassage. This man hee sends to those
intruding Narohigansets, to tell them that they did very great injury
to his Lord, to trench upon his prerogatives: and advised them to put
up their pipes, and begon in time: if they would not, that his Lord
would come upon them, and in his ayd his freinds the English, who were
up in armes already to take his part, and compell them by force to be
gone, if they refused to depart by faire meanes.
~_A good opportunity of traffick lost by the subtility of a
Sachem._~
This message, comming on the neck of that which {47} doubtlesse the
fearefull Salvage had before related of his escape, and what hee had
observed, caused all those hundred Narohigansets (that meant us no
hurt) to be gone with bagg, and baggage. And my neighboures were gulled
by the subtilety of this Sachem, and lost the best trade of beaver that
ever they had for the time; and in the end found theire error in this
kinde of credulity when it was too late.
CHAP. XV.
_Of their admirable perfection, in the use of the sences._
This is a thinge not onely observed by mee and diverse of the Salvages
of New England, but, also, by the French men in Nova Francia, and
therefore I am the more incouraged to publish in this Treatice my
observation of them in the use of theire sences: which is a thinge that
I should not easily have bin induced to beleeve, if I my selfe had not
bin an eie witnesse of what I shall relate.
~_The Salvages have the sence of seeinge better then the
English._~
I have observed that the Salvages have the sence of seeing so farre
beyond any of our Nation, that one would allmost beleeve they had
intelligence of the Devill sometimes, when they have tould us of a
shipp at Sea, which they have seene {48} soener by one hower, yea, two
howers sayle, then any English man that stood by of purpose to looke
out, their sight is so excellent.
Their eies indeede are black as iett; and that coler is accounted the
strongest for sight. And as they excell us in this particular so much
noted, so I thinke they excell us in all the rest.
~_Salvages that will distinguish a Spaniard from a frenchman
by the smell of the hand._~
This I am sure I have well observed, that in the sence of smelling they
have very great perfection; which is confirmed by the opinion of the
French that are planted about Canada, who have made relation that they
are so perfect in the use of that sence, that they will distinguish
between a Spaniard and a Frenchman by the sent of the hand onely.[272]
And I am perswaded that the Author of this Relation has seene very
probable reasons that have induced him to be of that opinion; and I am
the more willing to give credit thereunto, because I have observed in
them so much as that comes to.
~_A Deare pursued by the view of the foote, hee was found and
killed._~
I have seene a Deare passe by me upon a neck of Land, and a Salvage
that has pursued him by the view. I have accompanied him in this
pursuite; and the Salvage, pricking the Deare, comes where hee findes
the view of two deares together, leading several wayes. One, hee was
sure, was fresh, but which (by the sence of seeing) hee could not
judge; therefore, with his knife, hee diggs up the earth of one; and,
by smelling, sayes, that was not of the fresh Deare: then diggs hee up
the other; and viewing and smelling to that, concludes it to be the
view of the fresh Deare, which hee had pursued; and thereby followes
the chase, and killes that {49} Deare, and I did eate part of it with
him: such is their perfection in these two sences.
CHAP. XVI.
_Of their acknowledgment of the Creation, and immortality of the
Soule._
~_The beleefe of the Salvages._~
Although these Salvages are found to be without Religion, Law, and King
(as Sir William Alexander hath well observed,[273]) yet are they not
altogether without the knowledge of God (historically); for they have
it amongst them by tradition that God made one man and one woman, and
bad them live together and get children, kill deare, beasts, birds,
fish and fowle, and what they would at their pleasure; and that their
posterity was full of evill, and made God so angry that hee let in the
Sea upon them, and drowned the greatest part of them, that were naughty
men, (the Lord destroyed so;) and they went to Sanaconquam, who feeds
upon them (pointing to the Center of the Earth, where they imagine is
the habitation of the Devill:) the other, (which were not destroyed,)
increased the world, and when they died (because they were good) went
to the howse of Kytan, pointing to the setting of the sonne;[274] where
they eate all manner of dainties, and never take paines (as now) to
provide it.
~_The Sonne called Kytan._~
Kytan makes provision (they say) and saves them that laboure; and there
they shall live with him forever, {50} voyd of care.[275] And they are
perswaded that Kytan is hee that makes corne growe, trees growe, and
all manner of fruits.
~_A Salvage desired to have his sonn brought up to learne the
booke of common prayer._~
And that wee that use the booke of Common prayer doo it to declare to
them, that cannot reade, what Kytan has commaunded us, and that wee doe
pray to him with the helpe of that booke;[276] and doe make so much
accompt of it, that a Salvage (who had lived in my howse before hee
had taken a wife, by whome hee had children) made this request to mee,
(knowing that I allwayes used him with much more respect than others,)
that I would let his sonne be brought up in my howse, that hee might be
taught to reade in that booke: which request of his I granted; and hee
was a very joyfull man to thinke that his sonne should thereby (as hee
said) become an Englishman; and then hee would be a good man.
I asked him who was a good man; his answere was, hee that would not
lye, nor steale.
These, with them, are all the capitall crimes that can be imagined; all
other are nothing in respect of those;[277] and hee that is free from
these must live with Kytan for ever, in all manner of pleasure.
{51} CHAP. XVII.
_Of their Annals and funerals._
~_Their custom in burryinge._~
~_Their manner of Monuments._~
~_At burrials, they black their faces._~
These people, that have by tradition some touch of the immortality of
the soule, have likewise a custome to make some monuments over the
place where the corps is interred: But they put a greate difference
betwene persons of noble, and of ignoble, or obscure, or inferior
discent. For, indeed, in the grave of the more noble they put a planck
in the bottom for the corps to be layed upon, and on each side a
plancke, and a plancke upon the top in forme of a chest, before they
cover the place with earth. This done, they erect some thing over
the grave in forme of a hearse cloath, as was that of Cheekatawbacks
mother, which the Plimmouth planters defaced because they accounted
it an act of superstition; which did breede a brawle as hath bin
before related;[278] for they hold impious and inhumane to deface the
monuments of the dead. They themselves esteeme of it as piaculum; and
have a custome amongst them to keepe their annals and come at certaine
times to lament and bewaile the losse of their freind; and use to black
their faces, which they so weare, instead of a mourning ornament, for
a longer or a shorter time according to the dignity of the person: so
is their annals kept and observed with their accustomed solemnity.
Afterwards they absolutely abandon the place, because they suppose the
sight thereof will but renew their sorrow.[279]
{52} It was a thing very offensive to them, at our first comming
into those parts, to aske of them for any one that had bin dead; but
of later times it is not so offensively taken to renew the memory of
any deseased person, because by our example (which they are apt to
followe) it is made more familiare unto them; and they marvell to see
no monuments over our dead, and therefore thinke no great Sachem is yet
come into those parts, or not as yet deade; because they see the graves
all alike.
CHAP. XVIII.
_Of their Custome in burning the Country, and the reason thereof._
~_The Salvages fire the Country twice a yeare._~
The Salvages are accustomed to set fire of the Country in all places
where they come, and to burne it twize a yeare, viz: at the Spring,
and the fall of the leafe. The reason that mooves them to doe so, is
because it would other wise be so overgrowne with underweedes that it
would be all a coppice wood, and the people would not be able in any
wise to passe through the Country out of a beaten path.
The meanes that they do it with, is with certaine minerall stones, that
they carry about them in baggs made for that purpose of the skinnes
of little beastes, which they convert into good lether, carrying in
the same a peece of touch wood, very excellent {53} for that purpose,
of their owne making.[280] These minerall stones they have from the
Piquenteenes, (which is to the Southward of all the plantations in New
England,) by trade and trafficke with those people.
The burning of the grasse destroyes the underwoods, and so scorcheth
the elder trees that it shrinkes them, and hinders their grouth very
much: so that hee that will looke to finde large trees and good tymber,
must not depend upon the help of a woodden prospect to finde them on
the upland ground;[281] but must seeke for them, (as I and others
have done,) in the lower grounds, where the grounds are wett, when the
Country is fired, by reason of the snow water that remaines there for a
time, untill the Sunne by continuance of that hath exhaled the vapoures
of the earth, and dried up those places where the fire, (by reason of
the moisture,) can have no power to doe them any hurt: and if he would
endevoure to finde out any goodly Cedars, hee must not seeke for them
on the higher grounds, but make his inquest for them in the vallies,
for the Salvages, by this custome of theirs, have spoiled all the rest:
for this custome hath bin continued from the beginninge.
And least their firing of the Country in this manner should be an
occasion of damnifying us, and indaingering our habitations, wee our
selves have used carefully about the same times to observe the winds,
and fire the grounds about our owne habitations; to prevent the Dammage
that might happen by any neglect thereof, if the fire should come neere
those howses in our absence.
{54} For, when the fire is once kindled, it dilates and spreads it
selfe as well against, as with the winde; burning continually night and
day, untill a shower of raine falls to quench it.
And this custome of firing the Country is the meanes to make it
passable; and by that meanes the trees growe here and there as in our
parks: and makes the Country very beautifull and commodious.
CHAP. XIX.
_Of their inclination to Drunkennesse._
Although Drunkennesse be justly termed a vice which the Salvages are
ignorant of, yet the benefit is very great that comes to the planters
by the sale of strong liquor to the Salvages, who are much taken
with the delight of it; for they will pawne their wits, to purchase
the acquaintance of it. Yet in al the commerce that I had with them,
I never proffered them any such thing; nay, I would hardly let any
of them have a drame, unles hee were a Sachem, or a Winnaytue, that
is a rich man, or a man of estimation next in degree to a Sachem or
Sagamore. I alwayes tould them it was amongst us the Sachems drinke.
But they say if I come to the Northerne parts of the Country I shall
have no trade, if I will not supply them with lusty liquors: it is the
life of the trade in all those parts: for it so happened that thus a
Salvage desperately killed himselfe; when hee was drunke, a gunne being
charged and the cock up, hee sets the mouth to his brest, and, putting
back the tricker with his foote, shot himselfe dead.[282]
CHAP. XX. {55}
_That the Salvages live a contended life._
A Gentleman and a traveller, that had bin in the parts of New England
for a time, when hee retorned againe, in his discourse of the Country,
wondered, (as hee said,) that the natives of the land lived so poorely
in so rich a Country, like to our Beggers in England. Surely that
Gentleman had not time or leasure whiles hee was there truely to
informe himselfe of the state of that Country, and the happy life the
Salvages would leade weare they once brought to Christianity.
~_The Salvages want the art of navigation._~
I must confesse they want the use and benefit of Navigation, (which is
the very sinnus of a flourishing Commonwealth,) yet are they supplied
with all manner of needefull things for the maintenance of life and
lifelyhood. Foode and rayment are the cheife of all that we make true
use of; and of these they finde no want, but have, and may have, them
in a most plentifull manner.[283]
If our beggers of England should, with so much ease as they, furnish
themselves with foode at all seasons, there would not be so many
starved in the streets, neither would so many gaoles be stuffed, or
gallouses furnished with poore wretches, as I have seene them.
{56} But they of this sort of our owne nation, that are fitt to goe to
this Canaan, are not able to transport themselves; and most of them
unwilling to goe from the good ale tap, which is the very loadstone of
the lande by which our English beggers steere theire Course; it is the
Northpole to which the flowre-de-luce of their compasse points. The
more is the pitty that the Commonalty of oure Land are of such leaden
capacities as to neglect so brave a Country, that doth so plentifully
feede maine lusty and a brave, able men, women and children, that have
not the meanes that a Civilized Nation hath to purchase foode and
rayment; which that Country with a little industry will yeeld a man in
a very comfortable measure, without overmuch carking.
I cannot deny but a civilized Nation hath the preheminence of an
uncivilized, by meanes of those instruments that are found to be common
amongst civile people, and the uncivile want the use of, to make
themselves masters of those ornaments that make such a glorious shew,
that will give a man occasion to cry, _sic transit gloria Mundi_.
Now since it is but foode and rayment that men that live needeth,
(though not all alike,) why should not the Natives of New England be
sayd to live richly, having no want of either? Cloaths are the badge
of sinne; and the more variety of fashions is but the greater abuse
of the Creature: the beasts of the forrest there doe serve to furnish
them at any time when they please: fish and flesh they have in greate
abundance, which they both roast and boyle.
{57} They are indeed not served in dishes of plate with variety of
Sauces to procure appetite; that needs not there. The rarity of the
aire, begot by the medicinable quality of the sweete herbes of the
Country, alwayes procures good stomakes to the inhabitants.
I must needs commend them in this particular, that, though they buy
many commodities of our Nation, yet they keepe but fewe, and those of
speciall use.
They love not to bee cumbered with many utensilles, and although every
proprietor knowes his owne, yet all things, (so long as they will
last), are used in common amongst them: A bisket cake given to one,
that one breakes it equally into so many parts as there be persons
in his company, and distributes it. Platoes Commonwealth is so much
practised by these people.
~_They leade a happy life, being voyd of care._~
According to humane reason, guided onely by the light of nature, these
people leades the more happy and freer life, being voyde of care, which
torments the mindes of so many Christians: They are not delighted in
baubles, but in usefull things.
Their naturall drinke is of the Cristall fountaine, and this they take
up in their hands, by joyning them close together. They take up a great
quantity at a time, and drinke at the wrists. It was the sight of such
a feate which made Diogenes hurle away his dishe, and, like one that
would have this principall confirmed, _Natura paucis contentat_, used
a dish no more.
~_They make use of ordinary things, one of anothers as
common._~
{58} I have observed that they will not be troubled with superfluous
commodities. Such things as they finde they are taught by necessity
to make use of, they will make choise of, and seeke to purchase with
industry. So that, in respect that their life is so voyd of care,
and they are so loving also that they make use of those things they
enjoy, (the wife onely excepted,) as common goods, and are therein so
compassionate that, rather than one should starve through want, they
would starve all. Thus doe they passe awaye the time merrily, not
regarding our pompe, (which they see dayly before their faces,) but are
better content with their owne, which some men esteeme so meanely of.
They may be rather accompted to live richly, wanting nothing that
is needefull; and to be commended for leading a contented life, the
younger being ruled by the Elder, and the Elder ruled by the Powahs,
and the Powahs are ruled by the Devill;[284] and then you may imagin
what good rule is like to be amongst them.
_FINIS._
[Illustration]
NEW ENGLISH CANAAN, {59}
OR
NEW CANAAN.
_The second Booke._
Containing a description of the bewty of the Country with her
naturall indowements, both in the Land and Sea; with the great Lake
of Erocoise.
CHAP. I.
_The generall Survey of the Country._
~_A famous Country._~
~_Their fountaines are as cleare as Cristall._~
~_Greate store of fowles, fish and turtledoves._~
In the Moneth of Iune, Anno Salutis 1622, it was my chaunce to arrive
in the parts of New England with 30. Servants, and provision of all
sorts fit for a plantation: and whiles our howses were building, I did
indeavour to take a survey of the {60} Country: The more I looked, the
more I liked it. And when I had more seriously considered of the bewty
of the place, with all her faire indowments, I did not thinke that in
all the knowne world it could be paralel’d, for so many goodly groues
of trees, dainty fine round rising hillucks, delicate faire large
plaines, sweete cristall fountaines, and cleare running streames that
twine in fine meanders through the meads, making so sweete a murmering
noise to heare as would even lull the sences with delight a sleepe, so
pleasantly doe they glide upon the pebble stones, jetting most jocundly
where they doe meete and hand in hand runne downe to Neptunes Court,
to pay the yearely tribute which they owe to him as soveraigne Lord of
all the springs. Contained within the volume of the Land, [are] Fowles
in abundance, Fish in multitude; and [I] discovered, besides, Millions
of Turtledoves one the greene boughes, which sate pecking of the full
ripe pleasant grapes that were supported by the lusty trees, whose
fruitfull loade did cause the armes to bend: [among] which here and
there dispersed, you might see Lillies and of the Daphnean-tree: which
made the Land to mee seeme paradice: for in mine eie t’was Natures
Masterpeece; Her cheifest Magazine of all where lives her store: if
this Land be not rich, then is the whole world poore.
What I had resolved on, I have really performed; and I have endeavoured
to use this abstract as an instrument, to bee the meanes to communicate
the knowledge which I have gathered, by my many yeares residence in
those parts, unto my Countrymen: {61} to the end that they may the
better perceive their error, who cannot imagine that there is any
Country in the universall world which may be compared unto our native
soyle. I will now discover unto them a Country whose indowments are
by learned men allowed to stand in a paralell with the Israelites
Canaan, which none will deny to be a land farre more excellent then Old
England, in her proper nature.
This I consider I am bound in duety (as becommeth a Christian man) to
performe for the glory of God, in the first place; next, (according to
Cicero,) to acknowledge that, _Non nobis solum nati sumus, sed partim
patria, partim parentes, partim amici vindicant_.[285]
For which cause I must approove of the indeavoures of my Country men,
that have bin studious to inlarge the territories of his Majesties
empire by planting Colonies in America.
And of all other, I must applaude the judgement of those that have
made choise of this part, (whereof I now treat,) being of all other
most absolute, as I will make it appeare hereafter by way of paralell.
Among those that have setled themselvs in new England, some have gone
for their conscience sake, (as they professe,) and I wish that they
may plant the Gospel of Iesus Christ, as becommeth them, sincerely
and without satisme or faction, whatsoever their former or present
practises are, which I intend not to justifie: howsoever, they have
deserved (in mine opinion) some commendationes, in that they have
furnished the Country so commodiously in so short a time; although
it hath bin but for their owne profit, yet posterity will taste the
sweetnes of it, and that very sodainly.
{62} And since my taske, in this part of mine abstract, is to intreat
of the naturall indowments of the Country, I will make a breife
demonstration of them in order, severally, according to their severall
qualities: and shew you what they are, and what profitable use may be
made of them by industry.
CHAP. II.
_What trees are there and how commodious._[286]
~_1. Oake._~
Oakes are there of two sorts, white and redd;[287] excellent tymber for
the building both of howses and shipping: and they are found to be a
tymber that is more tough then the oak of England. They are excellent
for pipe-staves, and such like vessels; and pipe-staves at the Canary
Ilands are a prime commodity. I have knowne them there at 35. p. the
1000,[288] and will purchase a fraight of wines there before any
commodity in England, their onely wood being pine, of which they are
enforced also to build shippinge; of oackes there is great abundance
in the parts of New England, and they may have a prime place in the
Catalogue of commodities.
~_2. Ashe._~
Ashe[289] there is store, and very good for staves, oares or pikes; and
may have a place in the same Catalogue.
~_3. Elme._~
Elme: of this sort of trees there are some; but there hath not as yet
bin found any quantity to speake of.
~_4. Beech._~
{63} Beech there is of two sorts, redd and white;[290] very excellent
for trenchers or chaires, and also for oares; and may be accompted for
a commodity.
~_5. Walnutt._~
Wallnutt: of this sorte of wood there is infinite store, and there
are 4 sorts:[291] it is an excellent wood, for many uses approoved;
the younger trees are imployed for hoopes, and are the best for that
imployement of all other stuffe whatsoever. The Nutts serve when they
fall to feede our swine, which make them the delicatest bacon of all
other foode: and is therein a cheife commodity.
~_6. Chestnuts._~
Chestnutt: of this sorte there is very greate plenty, the tymber
whereof is excellent for building; and is a very good commodity,
especially in respect of the fruit, both for man and beast.
~_7. Pine._~
Pine: of this sorte there is infinite store in some parts of the
Country.[292] I have travelled 10. miles together where is little or
no other wood growing.[293] And of these may be made rosin, pitch and
tarre, which are such usefull commodities that if wee had them not from
other Countries in Amity with England, our Navigation would decline.
Then how great the commodity of it will be to our Nation, to have it of
our owne, let any man judge.
~_8. Cedar._~
Cedar:[294] of this sorte there is abundaunce; and this wood was such
as Salomon used for the building of that glorious Temple at Hierusalem;
and there are of these Cedars, firre trees and other materialls
necessary for the building of many faire Temples,[295] if there were
any Salomons to be at the Cost of them: and if any man be desirous to
finde out in what part of the {64} Country the best Cedars are, he
must get into the bottom grounds, and in vallies that are wet at the
spring of the yeare, where the moisture preserves them from the fire in
spring time, and not in a woodden prospect.[296] This wood cutts red,
and is good for bedsteads, tables and chests; and may be placed in the
Catalogue of Commodities.
~_9. Cypres._~
Cypres:[297] of this there is great plenty; and vulgarly this tree hath
bin taken for another sort of Cedar; but workemen put a difference
betweene this Cypres, and the Cedar, especially in the colour; for this
is white and that redd white: and likewise in the finenes of the leafe
and the smoothnes of the barque. This wood is also sweeter then Cedar,
and, (as it is in Garrets[298] herball,) a more bewtifull tree; it is
of all other, to my minde, most bewtifull, and cannot be denied to
passe for a commodity.
~_10. Spruce._~
Spruce[299]: of these there are infinite store, especially in the
Northerne parts of the Country; and they have bin approoved by workemen
in England to be more tough then those that they have out of the east
country: from whence wee have them for masts and yards of shippes.
~_The Spruce of this Country are found to be 3. & 4. fadum
aboute._~
The Spruce of this country are found to be 3. and 4. fadum about: and
are reputed able, single, to make masts for the biggest ship that
sayles on the maine Ocean, without peesing; which is more than the East
country can afford.[300] And seeing that Navigation is the very sinneus
of a flourishing Commonwealth, it is fitting to allow the Spruce tree
a principall place in the Catalogue of commodities.
~_11. Alder._~
{65} Alder: of this sorte there is plenty by rivers sides, good for
turners.
~_12. Birch._~
Birch: of this there is plenty in divers parts of the Country. Of the
barck of these the Salvages of the Northerne parts make them delicate
Canowes, so light that two men will transport one of them over Land
whither[301] they list; and yet one of them will transporte tenne or
twelffe Salvages by water at a time.
~_13. Maple._~
Mayple:[302] of those trees there is greate abundance; and these are
very excellent for bowles. The Indians use of it to that purpose; and
is to be accompted a good commodity.
~_14. Elderne._~
Elderne:[303] there is plenty in that Country; of this the Salvages
make their Arrowes, and it hath no strong unsavery sent like our Eldern
in England.
~_15. Hawthorne._~
Hawthorne: of this there is two sorts, one of which beares a well
tasting berry as bigg as ones thumbe, and lookes like little Queene
apples.
~_16. Vines._~
Vines: of this kinde of trees there are that beare grapes of three
colours: that is to say, white, black and red.[304]
The Country is so apt for vines, that, but for the fire at the spring
of the yeare, the vines would so over spreade the land that one should
not be able to passe for them;[305] the fruit is as bigg, of some, as
a musket bullet, and is excellent in taste.
~_17. Plummes._~
Plumtrees:[306] of this kinde there are many; some that beare fruit as
bigg as our ordinary bullis: others there be that doe beare fruite much
bigger than peare plummes; their colour redd, and their stones flat;
very delitious in taste.
~_18. Cherries._~
{66} Cheritrees there are abundance; but the fruit is as small as our
sloes; but if any of them were replanted and grafted, in an orchard,
they would soone be raised by meanes of such; and the like fruits.
~_19. Roses._~
There is greate abundance of Muske Roses in divers places: the water
distilled excelleth our Rosewater of England.
~_20. Sassafras and 21. Sarsaperilla._~
There is abundance of Sassafras[307] and Sarsaperilla,[308] growing in
divers places of the land; whose budds at the spring doe perfume the
aire.
Other trees there are not greatly materiall to be recited in this
abstract, as goose berries, rasberies, and other beries.
There is Hempe[309] that naturally groweth, finer then our Hempe of
England.
CHAP. III.
_Potthearbes and other herbes for Sallets._
~_Potmarioram, Tyme, Alexander, Angellica, Pursland, Violets,
and Anniseeds._~
The Country there naturally affordeth very good pot-herbes and sallet
herbes, and those of a more maskuline vertue then any of the same
species in England; as Potmarioram, Tyme, Alexander, Angellica,
Pursland, Violets, and Anniseeds, in very great abundance: and for the
pott I gathered in summer, dried and crumbled into a bagg to preserve
for winter store.
~_Hunnisuckles and Balme._~
{67} Hunnisuckles, balme, and divers other good herbes are there, that
grow without the industry of man, that are used when occasion serveth
very commodiously.[310]
CHAP. IV.
_Of Birds, and fethered fowles._[311]
Now that I have breifly shewed the Commodity of the trees, herbes, and
fruits, I will shew you a description of the fowles of the aire; as
most proper in ordinary course.
~_Swannes._~
And first of the Swanne,[312] because shee is the biggest of all the
fowles of that Country. There are of them in Merrimack River, and in
other parts of the country, greate store at the seasons of the yeare.
The flesh is not much desired of the inhabitants, but the skinnes may
be accompted a commodity fitt for divers uses, both for fethers and
quiles.
~_Geese, pide, white, and gray._~
~_Fethers pay for powther and shott._~
There are Geese of three sorts, vize: brant Geese[313] which are pide,
and white Geese[314] which are bigger, and gray Geese[315] which are
as bigg and bigger then the tame Geese of England, with black legges,
black bills, heads and necks black; the flesh farre more excellent then
the Geese of England, wild or tame; yet the purity of the aire is such
that the biggest is accompted but an indifferent meale for a couple of
men. There is of them great abundance. I have had often 1000. before
the mouth of my gunne. I never saw any in {68} England, for my part, so
fatt as I have killed there in those parts; the fethers of them makes
a bedd softer then any down bed that I have lyen on, and is there a
very good commodity; the fethers of the Geese, that I have killed in a
short time, have paid for all the powther and shott I have spent in a
yeare, and I have fed my doggs with as fatt Geese there as I have euer
fed upon my selfe in England.
~_Ducks pide, gray, & black._~
Ducks there are of three kindes, pide Ducks, gray Ducks, and black
Ducks in greate abundance: the most about my habitation were black
Ducks:[316] and it was a noted Custome at my howse, to have every mans
Duck upon a trencher; and then you will thinke a man was not hardly
used: they are bigger boddied then the tame Ducks of England: very fatt
and dainty flesh.
The common doggs fees were the gibletts, unlesse they were boyled now
and than for to make broath.
~_Teales, greene and blew._~
Teales there are of two sorts, greene winged, and blew winged:[317] but
a dainty bird. I have bin much delighted with a rost of these for a
second course. I had plenty in the rivers and ponds about my howse.
~_Widggens._~
Widggens[318] there are, and abundance of other water foule, some such
as I have seene, and [some] such as I have not seene else where before
I came into those parts, which are little regarded.
~_Simpes._~
Simpes[319] there are like our Simpes in all respects, with very litle
difference. I have shot at them onely to see what difference I could
finde betweene them and those of my native Country, and more I did not
regard them.
~_Sanderlings._~
{69} Sanderlings[320] are a dainty bird, more full boddied than a
Snipe; and I was much delighted to feede on them because they were fatt
and easie to come by, because I went but a stepp or to for them: and I
have killed betweene foure and five dozen at a shoot, which would loade
me home.
Their foode is at ebbing water on the sands, of small seeds that grows
on weeds there, and are very good pastime in August.
~_Cranes._~
Cranes[321] there are greate store, that ever more came there at S.
Davids day, and not before: that day they never would misse.
These sometimes eate our corne, and doe pay for their presumption
well enough; and serveth there in powther, with turnips, to supply
the place of powthered beefe, and is a goodly bird in a dishe, and no
discommodity.
~_Turkies._~
Turkies[322] there are, which divers times in great flocks have sallied
by our doores; and then a gunne, being commonly in a redinesse, salutes
them with such a courtesie, as makes them take a turne in the Cooke
roome. They daunce by the doore so well.
Of these there hath bin killed that have weighed forty eight pound a
peece.[323]
They are by mainy degrees sweeter then the tame Turkies of England,
feede them how you can.
I had a Salvage who hath taken out his boy in a morning, and they have
brought home their loades about noone.
{70} I have asked them what number they found in the woods, who have
answered Neent Metawna,[324] which is a thosand that day; the plenty of
them is such in those parts. They are easily killed at rooste, because,
the one being killed, the other sit fast neverthelesse; and this is no
bad commodity.
~_Pheisants._~
There are a kinde of fowles which are commonly called Pheisants,[325]
but whether they be pheysants or no, I will not take upon mee to
determine. They are in forme like our pheisant henne of England. Both
the male and the female are alike; but they are rough footed, and have
stareing fethers about the head and neck; the body is as bigg as the
pheysant henne of England; and are excellent white flesh, and delicate
white meate, yet we seldome bestowe a shoote at them.
~_Partridges bigger in body as those of England._~
Partridges[326] there are, much like our Partridges of England; they
are of the same plumes, but bigger in body. They have not the signe
of the horseshoe on the brest, as the Partridges of England; nor are
they coloured about the heads as those are. They sit on the trees, for
I have seene 40. in one tree at a time: yet at night they fall on the
ground, and sit untill morning so together; and are dainty flesh.
~_Quailes bigger in body as those in England._~
There are quailes[327] also, but bigger then the quailes in England.
They take trees also: for I have numbered 60. upon a tree at a time.
The cocks doe call at the time of the yeare, but with a different note
from the cock quailes of England.
~_The Larkes sing not._~
The Larkes[328] there are like our Larkes of England in all respects:
sauing that they do not use to sing at all.
~_Owles._~
{71} There are Owles of divers kindes: but I did never heare any of
them whop as ours doe.
~_The Crowes smell & tast of Muske in summer, but not in
winter._~
There are Crowes,[329] kights and rooks that doe differ in some
respects from those of England. The Crowes, which I have much admired
what should be the cause, both smell and taste of Muske in summer, but
not in winter.
~_Hawkes of five sorts._~
~_A Lannaret._~
There are Hawkes in New England of 5. sorts;[330] and these of all
other fether fowles I must not omitt to speake of, nor neede I to make
any Apology for my selfe concerning any trespasse that I am like to
make upon my judgement, concerning the nature of them, having bin bred
in so genious a way that I had the common use of them in England: and
at my first arrivall in those parts practised to take a Lannaret,[331]
which I reclaimed, trained and made flying in a fortnight, the same
being a passenger at Michuelmas. I found that these are most excellent
Mettell, rank winged, well conditioned, and not tickleish footed; and,
having whoods, bels, luers, and all things fitting, was desirous to
make experiment of that kinde of Hawke before any other.
And I am perswaded that Nature hath ordained them to be of a farre
better kinde then any that have bin used in England.[332] They have
neither dorre[333] nor worm to feed upon, (as in other parts of the
world,) the Country affording none; the use whereof in other parts
makes the Lannars there more bussardly[334] then they be in New England.
~_Fawcons._~
There are likewise Fawcons[335] and tassell gentles,[336] admirable
well shaped birds; and they will tower up {72} when they purpose to
pray, and, on a sodaine when they esspie their game, they will make
such a cancellere that one would admire to behold them. Some there are
more black then any that have bin used in England.
The Tassell gent, (but of the least size,[337]) is an ornament for
a person of estimation among the Indians to weare in the knot of his
lock, with the traine upright, the body dried and stretched out. They
take a great pride in the wearing of such an ornament, and give to one
of us, that shall kill them one for that purpose, so much beaver as is
worth three pounds sterling, very willingly.
These doe us but little trespas, because they pray on such birds as
are by the Sea side, and not on our Chickens. Goshawkes there are, and
Tassels.
~_Goshawkes well shaped._~
The Tassels are short trussed bussards;[338] but the Goshawkes[339]
are well shaped, but they are small; some of white male, and some redd
male, I have seene one with 8. barres in the traine. These fall on our
bigger poultry: the lesser chicken, I thinke they scorne to make their
pray of; for commonly the Cocke goes to wrack. Of these I have seene
many; and if they come to trespasse me, I lay the law to them with the
gunne, and take them dammage fesant.
~_Marlins small and greate._~
There are very many Marlins;[340] some very small, and some so large as
is the Barbary Tassell.
I have often beheld these pretty birds, how they have scoured after the
black bird, which is a small sized Choffe[341] that eateth the Indian
maisze.
~_Sparhawkes._~
Sparhawkes[342] there are also, the fairest and {73} best shaped
birds that I have ever beheld of that kinde those that are litle, no
use is made of any of them, neither are they regarded. I onely tried
conclusions with a Lannaret at first comming; and, when I found what
was in that bird, I turned him going; but, for so much as I have
observed of those birds, they may be a fitt present for a prince, and
for goodnesse too be preferred before the Barbary, or any other used in
Christendome; and especially the Lannars and Lannarets.
~_A Hunning bird, is as small as a Beetle. His bill as sharp
as a needle point, and his fethers like silke._~
There is a curious bird to see to, called a hunning bird,[343] no
bigger then a great Beetle; that out of question lives upon the Bee,
which hee eateth and catcheth amongst Flowers: For it is his Custome to
frequent those places. Flowers hee cannot feed upon by reason of his
sharp bill, which is like the poynt of a Spannish needle, but shorte.
His fethers have a glosse like silke, and, as hee stirres, they shew
to be of a chaingable coloure: and has bin, and is, admired for shape,
coloure and size.
CHAP. V.
_Of the Beasts of the forrest._[344]
Now that I have made a rehearsall of the birds and fethered Fowles,
which participate most of aire, I will give you a description of the
beasts; and shew you what beasts are bred in those parts, and what my
experience hath gathered by observation of {74} their kinde and nature.
I begin with the most usefull and most beneficiall beast which is bredd
in those parts, which is the Deare.
~_Deare of 3. kindes._~
There are in this Country three kindes of Deare, of which there are
greate plenty, and those are very usefull.
~_Mose or red deare._~
First, therefore, I will speake of the Elke, which the Salvages call
a Mose:[345] it is a very large Deare, with a very faire head, and a
broade palme, like the palme of a fallow Deares horne, but much bigger,
and is 6. footewide betweene the tipps, which grow curbing downwards:
Hee is of the bignesse of a great horse.
~_Mose or deare greater than a horse, the height of them 18.
hand fulles._~
There have bin of them seene that has bin 18. handfulls highe: hee hath
a bunch of haire under his jawes: hee is not swifte, but stronge and
large in body, and longe legged; in somuch that hee doth use to kneele,
when hee feedeth on grasse.
~_They bringe forth three faunes at one time._~
Hee bringeth forth three faunes, or younge ones, at a time; and, being
made tame, would be good for draught, and more usefull (by reason of
their strength) then the Elke of Raushea.[346] These are found very
frequent in the northerne parts of New England: their flesh is very
good foode, and much better then our redd Deare of England.
~_They make good lether of the hides of Deare._~
Their hids are by the Salvages converted into very good lether, and
dressed as white as milke.
Of this lether the Salvages make the best shooes; and use to barter
away the skinnes to other Salvages that have none of that kinde of
bests in the parts where they live. Very good buffe may be made of the
{75} hids. I have seene a hide as large as any horse hide that can be
found. There is such abundance of them that the Salvages, at hunting
time, have killed of them so many, that they have bestowed six or
seaven at a time upon one English man whome they have borne affection
to.
~_The midling Deare or fallow Deare._~
There is a second sort of Deare[347] (lesse then the redd Deare of
England, but much bigger then the English fallow Deare) swift of foote,
but of a more darke coloure; with some griseld heares, when his coate
is full growne in the summer season; his hornes grow curving, with a
croked beame, resembling our redd Deare, not with a palme like the
fallow Deare.
These bringe 3. fawnes at a time,[348] spotted like our fallow Deares
fawnes; the Salvages say, foure; I speake of what I know to be true,
for I have killed in February a doe with three fawnes in her belly, all
heared, and ready to fall; for these Deare fall their fawnes 2. moneths
sooner then the fallow Deare of England. There is such abundance of
them that an hundred have bin found at the spring of the yeare, within
the compasse of a mile.
~_Trappes to catch the Deare._~
The Salvages take these in trappes made of their naturall Hempe, which
they place in the earth where they fell a tree for browse; and when
hee rounds the tree for the browse, if hee tread on the trapp hee is
horsed up by the legg, by meanes of a pole that starts up and catcheth
him.[349]
Their hides the Saluages use for cloathing, and will give for one hide
killed in season, 2. 3. or 4. beaver skinnes, which will yeild pounds a
peece in that Coun{76}try: so much is the Deares hide prised with them
above the beaver. I have made good merchandize of these. The flesh is
farre sweeter then the venison of England: and hee feedeth fatt and
leane together, as a swine or mutton, where as our Deare of England
feede fatt on the out side: they doe not croake at rutting time, nor
spendle shafte, nor is their flesh discoloured at rutting. Hee, that
will impale ground fitting, may be brought once in the yeare where
with bats and men hee may take so many to put into that parke, as the
hides will pay the chardge of impaleinge. If all these things be well
considered, the Deare, as well as the Mose, may have a principall place
in the catalogue of commodities.
~_The Humbles was the doggs fee._~
I for my part may be bould to tell you, that my howse was not without
the flesh of this sort of Deare winter nor summer: the humbles was ever
my dogges fee, which by the wesell[350] was hanged on the barre in the
chimney, for his diet only: for hee has brought to my stand a brace in
a morning, one after the other before sunne rising, which I have killed.
~_Roe bucks or Rayne Deare._~
There is likewise a third sorte of deare,[351] lesse then the other,
(which are a kinde of rayne deare,) to the southward of all the English
plantations: they are excellent good flesh. And these also bring three
fawnes at a time; and in this particular the Deare of those parts
excell all the knowne Deare of the whole world.
~_Wolfes pray upon Deare._~
On all these the Wolfes doe pray continually. The best meanes they
have to escape the wolfes is by swimming to Islands,[352] or necks
of land, whereby {77} they escape: for the wolfe will not presume to
follow them untill they see them over a river; then, being landed,
(they wayting on the shore,) undertake the water, and so follow with
fresh suite.
~_Beaver._~
The next in mine opinion fit to be spoaken of, is the Beaver;[353]
which is a Beast ordained for land and water both, and hath fore feete
like a cunny, her hinder feete like a goese, mouthed like a cunny, but
short eared like a Serat. [He feeds on] fishe in summer, and wood in
winter; which hee conveyes to his howse built on the water, wherein hee
sitts with his tayle hanging in the water, which else would over heate
and rot off.
~_The Beavers cut downe trees, with his fore teeth._~
Hee cuts the bodies of trees downe with his fore-teeth, which are so
long as a boares tuskes, and with the help of other beavers, (which
hold by each others tayles like a teeme of horses, the hindmost with
the logg on his shoulder stayed by one of his fore feete against his
head,) they draw the logg to the habitation appoynted, placing the
loggs in a square; and so, by pyling one uppon another, they build up
a howse, which with boghes is covered very strongly, and placed in
some pond, to which they make a damme of brush wood, like a hedge,
so stronge that I have gone on the top of it crosse the current of
that pond. The flesh of this beast is excellent foode. The fleece is
a very choise furre, which, (before the Salvages had commerce with
Christians,) they burned of the tayle: this beast is of a masculine
vertue for the advancement of Priapus,[354] and is preserved for a dish
for the Sachems, or Sagamores; who are the princes of the people, but
not Kings, (as is fondly supposed.)
~_Beaver at 10. shil. a pound._~
{78} The skinnes are the best marchantable commodity that can be found,
to cause ready money to be brought into the land, now that they are
raised to 10. shillings a pound.[355]
~_In 5 yeares one man gott together 1000 p. in good gold._~
A servant of mine in 5. yeares was thought to have a 1000. p. in ready
gold gotten by beaver when hee dyed;[356] whatsoever became of it. And
this beast may challenge preheminence in the Catalogue.
~_The Otter in winter hath a furre as black as Iett._~
The Otter[357] of those parts, in winter season, hath a furre so black
as jett; and is a furre of very highe price: a good black skinne is
worth 3. or 4. Angels of gold. The Flesh is eaten by the Salvages: but
how good it is I cannot shew, because it is not eaten by our Nation.
Yet is this a beast that ought to be placed in the number amongst the
Commodities of the Country.
~_The Luseran as bigg as a hound._~
The Luseran, or Luseret,[358] is a beast like a Catt, but so bigg
as a great hound: with a tayle shorter then a Catt. His clawes are
like a Catts. Hee will make a pray of the Deare. His Flesh is dainty
meat, like a lambe: his hide is a choise furre, and accompted a good
commodity.
~_The Martin is about the bignesse of a Fox._~
The Martin[359] is a beast about the bignes of a Foxe. His furre is
chestnutt coloure: and of those there are greate store in the Northerne
parts of the Country, and is a good commodity.
~_Racowne._~
The Racowne[360] is a beast as bigg, full out, as a Foxe, with a
Bushtayle. His Flesh excellent foode: his oyle precious for the
Syattica:[361] his furre course, but the skinnes serve the Salvages
for coats, and is with those people of more esteeme then a coate of
beaver, {79} because of the tayles that (hanging round in their order)
doe adorne the garment, and is therefore so much esteemed of them. His
fore feete are like the feete of an ape; and by the print thereof, in
the time of snow, he is followed to his hole, which is commonly in a
hollow tree; from whence hee is fiered out, and so taken.
~_The Foxes red and gray._~
The Foxes are of two coloures; the one redd, the other gray:[362] these
feede on fish, and are good furre:[363] they doe not stinke, as the
Foxes of England, but their condition for their pray is as the Foxes of
England.
~_The Wolfes of diverse coloures._~
The Wolfes are of divers coloures;[364] some sandy coloured, some
griselled, and some black: their foode is fish, which they catch when
they passe up the rivers into the ponds to spawne, at the spring time.
The Deare are also their pray, and at summer, when they have whelpes,
the bitch will fetch a puppy dogg from our dores to feede their whelpes
with. They are fearefull Curres, and will runne away from a man, (that
meeteth them by chaunce at a banke end,) as fast as any fearefull
dogge.[365] These pray upon the Deare very much. The skinnes are used
by the Salvages, especially the skinne of the black wolfe, which is
esteemed a present for a prince there.
~_The skin of a black wolfe a present for a prince._~
When there ariseth any difference betweene prince and prince, the
prince that desires to be reconciled to his neighboring prince does
endeavour to purchase it by sending him a black wolfes skinne for
a present, and the acceptance of such a present is an assurance of
reconciliation betweene them; and the {80} Salvages will willingly
give 40. beaver skinnes for the purchase of one of these black Wolfes
skinnes:[366] and allthough the beast himselfe be a discommodity, which
other Countries of Christendome are subject unto, yet is the skinne of
the black wolfe worthy the title of a commodity, in that respect that
hath bin declared.
~_The Beares afraid of a man._~
If I should not speake something of the beare,[367] I might happily
leave a scruple in the mindes of some effeminate persone who conceaved
of more dainger in them then there is cause. Therefore, to incourage
them against all Feare and Fortifie their mindes against needles
danger, I will relate what experience hath taught mee concerning them:
they are beasts that doe no harme in those parts; they feede upon
Hurtleburies, Nuts and Fish, especially shell-fish.
The Beare is a tyrant at a Lobster, and at low water will downe to the
Rocks and groape after them with great diligence.
~_The Salvages seeing a beare chase him like a dogg and kill
him._~
Hee will runne away from a man as fast as a litle dogge. If a couple of
Salvages chaunce to espie him at his banquet, his running away will
not serve his turne, for they will coate him, and chase him betweene
them home to theire howses, where they kill him, to save a laboure in
carrying him farre. His Flesh is esteemed venison, and of a better
taste then beefe.[368]
His hide is used by the Salvages for garments, and is more commodious
then discommodious; and may passe, (with some allowance,) with the rest.
~_Muskewashe._~
The Muskewashe[369] is a beast that frequenteth the ponds. What hee
eats I cannot finde. Hee is {81} but a small beast, lesse then a Cunny,
and is indeede in those parts no other then a water Ratte; for I have
seene the suckers of them digged out of a banke, and at that age they
neither differed in shape, coloure, nor size, from one of our greate
Ratts. When hee is ould, hee is of the Beavers coloure; and hath passed
in waite with our Chapmen for Beaver.
The Male of them have stones, which the Salvages, in uncaseing of
them, leave to the skinne, which is a most delicate perfume, and may
compare with any perfume that I know for goodnesse: Then may not this
be excluded the Catalogue.
~_Porcupines._~
This Country, in the North parts thereof, hath many Porcupines,[370]
but I doe not finde the beast any way usefull or hurtfull.
~_Hedghoggs._~
There are in those Northerne parts many Hedgehoggs, of the like nature
to our English Hedghoggs.[371]
~_Conyes of severall sorts._~
Here are greate store of Conyes[372] in those parts, of divers
coloures; some white, some black, and some gray. Those towards the
Southerne parts are very small, but those to the North are as bigg
as the English Cony: their eares are very short. For meate the small
rabbit is as good as any that I have eaten of else where.
~_Squirils of three sorts._~
There are Squirils of three sorts,[373] very different in shape and
condition; one[374] is gray, and hee is as bigg as the lesser Cony, and
keepeth the woods, feeding upon nutts.
Another is red, and hee haunts our howses and will rob us of our Corne;
but the Catt many times payes him the price of his presumption.
~_A Flying Squirill._~
{82} The third is a little flying Squirill, with batlike winges, which
hee spreads when hee jumpes from tree to tree, and does no harme.
~_Snakes._~
Now because I am upon a treaty of the beasts, I will place this
creature, the snake, amongst the beasts, having my warrant from the
holy Bible; who, (though his posture in his passage be so different
from all other, being of a more subtile and aidry nature, that hee can
make his way without feete, and lifte himselfe above the superficies
of the earth, as hee glids along,) yet may hee not bee ranked with any
but the beasts, notwithstanding hee frequents the water, as well as the
land.
There are of Snakes divers and of severall kindes, as be with us in
England; but that Country hath not so many as in England have bin
knowne.[375]
The generall Salvage name of them is Ascowke.[376]
~_The rattle Snakes._~
There is one creeping beast or longe creeple, (as the name is in
Devonshire,) that hath a rattle at his tayle that does discover his
age; for so many yeares as hee hath lived, so many joynts are in that
rattle, which soundeth (when it is in motion,) like pease in a bladder;
and this beast is called a rattle Snake; but the Salvages give him the
name of Sesick,[377] which some take to be the Adder; and it may well
be so, for the Salvages are significiant in their denomination of any
thing, and [it] is no lesse hurtfull than the Adder of England, nor no
more. I have had my dogge venomed with troubling one of these, and so
swelled that I had thought it would have bin his death: but with one
Saucer of Salet oyle powred downe his throate he {83} has recovered,
and the swelling asswaged by the next day. The like experiment hath bin
made upon a boy that hath by chaunce troad upon one of these, and the
boy never the worse. Therefore it is simplicity in any one that shall
tell a bugbeare tale of horrible, or terrible Serpents, that are in
that land.[378]
~_Mise._~
Mise there are good store, and my Lady Woodbees black gray-malkin may
have pastime enough there: but for Rats, the Country by Nature is
troubled with none.[379]
~_Lyons alwaies in hot Clymats, not in cold._~