much unlike Cards and Dice, being no other than Lottery. _Puim_ is fifty
or sixty small Bents of a Foot long, which they divide to the number of
their Gamesters, shuffling them first between the Palms of their Hands;
he that hath more than his Fellow, is so much the forwarder in his Game:
Many other Whimsies be in this Game, which would be too long to commit
to Paper. He that is a noted Gamester hath a Hole in his Ear, wherein he
carries his _Puims_ in defiance of his Antagonists. _Hubbub_ is five
small Bones in a small smooth Tray; the Bones be like a Die, but
something flatter, black on the one side and white on the other, which
they place on the Ground, against which violently thumping the Platter,
the Bones mount, changing colours with the windy whisking of their Hands
to and fro; which action in that sport they much use, smiting themselves
on the Breast and Thighs, crying out _Hub, Hub, Hub_; they may be heard
play at this Game a quarter of a Mile off: The Bones being all black or
white make a double Game; if three of one colour, and two of another,
then they afford but a single Game; four of a colour, and one differing,
is nothing; so long as the Man wins he keeps the Tray, but if he loose
the next Man takes it. They are so bewitch’d with these two Games, that
they will lose sometimes all they have; Beaver, _Moose_-skins, Kettles,
_Wampompeage_, _Mowhacks_, Hatchets, Knives, all is confiscate by these
two Games. For their Sports of action they have commonly but three or
four, as Football, Shooting, Running, and Swimming; when they play
Countrey against Countrey, there are rich Goals, all behung with
_Wampompeage_, _Mowhacks_, Beaver Skins, and black Otter Skins: Their
Goals are a Mile long plac’d on the Sands, which are as even as a Board;
their Ball is no bigger than a Hand-ball, which sometimes they mount in
the Air with their naked Feet, sometimes it is sway’d by the multitude,
sometime also it is two days before they get a Goal, then they mark the
Ground they win, and begin there the next day. Before they come to this
Sport they paint themselves, even as when they go to War, in policy to
prevent future mischief, because no man should know him that mov’d his
patience, or accidentally hurt his Person, taking away the occasion of
studying revenge. Before they begin, their Arms are put off, and hung
upon some neighboring Tree, after which they make a long scrowl on the
Sand, over which they shake Hands, and with loving Hearts scuffle for
Victory. While the Men Play, the Boys Pipe, and the Women Dance and Sing
Trophies of their Husbands Conquests; all being done, a Feast summons
their departure.
Such is their dexterity in Shooting, that they can hit a running Hind,
or flying Pigeon, without a standing pause or left-ey’d blinking; they
draw their Arrows between their Fingers and the Thumb, their Bowes are
quick, but not very strong, not killing at above six or seven score
distance: Shooting at one another, they have a trick with swift
conveyance to shun the Arrow; this they do to make them expert against
time of War. They are train’d up to their Bowes even from their
Childhood; for little Boys with Bowes made of little Sticks, and Arrows
made of great Bents; will hit down a piece of Tobacco-pipe every time a
good way off. As these _Indians_ are good Marks-men, so are they well
experienc’d where the very Life of every Creature lieth, and know where
to smite him to make him die presently. Their Swimming is not after our
_English_ fashion, of spread Arms and Legs, which they hold too tiresom,
but like Dogs, their Arms before them, cutting through the Liquids with
their right Shoulder: In this manner they will Swim very swift and far,
either in rough or smooth Waters, sometimes for their ease lying as
still as a Log; sometimes they will play the Dive-doppers, and come up
in unexpected places.
[Sidenote: Of their Huntings.]
For their Hunting, it is to be noted, that they have no swift-footed
Greyhounds to let slip at the sight of the Deer, no deep-mouth’d Hounds,
or scenting Beagles, to find out their desired Prey; themselves are all
this, who in that time of the year when the Deer comes down, having
certain Hunting-houses in such places where they know the Deer doth
usually frequent, in which they keep their Rendezvouz, their Snares, and
all their Accoutrements for that Employment: when they get sight of a
Deer, _Moose_, or Bear, they study how to get the Wind of him, and
approaching within shot, stab their Mark quite through, if the Bones
hinder not. The chief thing they Hunt after is Deer, _Mooses_ and Bears:
It grieves them more to see an _English_-man take one Deer, than a
thousand Acres of Land. They Hunt likewise after Wolves, wild Cats,
_Rackoons_, Otters, Beavers, and _Musquashes_, Trading both their Skins
and Flesh to the _English_. Beside this Artillery they have other
devices to kill their Game, as sometimes Hedges, a Mile or two Miles
long, being a Mile wide at one end, and made narrower and narrower by
degrees, leaving onely a Gap of six Foot long; over against which in the
day-time they lie lurking, to shoot the Deer which come through that
narrow passage; so many as come within the circumference of that Hedge,
seldom return back to leap over, unless they be forc’d by the chasing of
some ravenous Wolf, or sight of some accidental Passenger: In the Night,
at the Gap of this Hedge, they set Deer-traps, which are Springes made
of young Trees, and smooth wrought Cords, so strong, that it will toss a
Horse if he be caught in it.
[Sidenote: Of their Fishings.]
In the Trade of Fishing they are very expert, being experienc’d in the
knowledge of all Baits for several Fishes, and divers Seasons; being not
ignorant likewise of the removal of Fishes, knowing when to Fish in
Rivers, and when at Rocks, when in Bays, and when at Seas: Since the
_English_ came they are furnish’d with _English_ Hooks and Lines, for
before they made them of Hemp, being more curiously wrought, of stronger
Materials than ours, and hook’d with Bone-Hooks; but laziness drives
them to buy, more than profit or commendations wins them to make of
their own. They make likewise very strong Sturgeon-nets, with which they
catch Sturgeons of twelve, fourteen, and sixteen, and some eighteen Foot
long in the day-time, and in the night-time they betake themselves to
their Birchen _Canoos_, in which they carry a forty-fathom Line, with a
sharp-bearded Dart fastned at the end thereof; then lighting a Torch
made of Birchen Rinds, they wave it to and again by their _Canoo_ side,
which the Sturgeon much delighted with, comes to them tumbling and
playing, turning up his white Belly, into which they thrust their Lance,
his Back being impenetrable; which done, they hale to the Shore their
strugling Prize. They have often recourse into the Rocks whereupon the
Sea beats, in warm Weather, to look out for sleepy Seals, whose Oyl they
much esteem, using it for divers things. In Summer they Fish any where,
but in Winter in the fresh Water onely, and Ponds; in frosty Weather
they cut round Holes in the Ice, about which they will sit like so many
Apes with their naked Breeches upon the cold Ice, catching of Pikes,
Pearches, Breams, and other sorts of fresh-Water Fish.
[Sidenote: Of their Arts and Manufactures.]
Their Arts and Manufactures are divers, as first their dressing of all
manner of Skins, which they do by scraping and rubbing, afterwards
painting them with antique Embroiderings in unchangeable Colours;
sometimes they take off the Hair, especially if it be not kill’d in
season. Their Bowes they make of a handsom shape, strung commonly with
the Sinews of _Mooses_; their Arrows of young Elder, feather’d with
Feathers of Eagles Wings and Tails, headed with Brass in shape of a
Heart or Triangle, fastned in a slender piece of Wood six or eight
Inches long, which is fram’d to put loose in the pithy Elder, afterwards
bound fast for riving: Their Arrows are made in this manner, because it
might shake from his Head, and be left behind for their finding, and the
Pile onely remain to gaul the wounded Beast. Their Cordage is so even,
soft, and smooth, that it looks more like Silk than Hemp. Their Sturgeon
Nets are not deep, nor above thirty or forty Foot long, which in ebbing
low Waters they stake fast to the Ground where they are sure the
Sturgeon will come, never looking more at it till the next low Water.
Their _Canoos_ are made either of Pine-trees, which before they were
acquainted with _English_ Tools, they burn’d hollow, scraping them
smooth with Clam-shells and Oyster-shells, cutting their out-sides with
Stone Hatchets. These Boats are not above a Foot and a half, or two Foot
wide, and twenty Foot long. Their other _Canoos_ be made of thin Birch
Rinds, close Ribb’d, and on the in-side with broad thin Hoops, like the
Hoops of a Tub; these are made very light, a Man may carry one of them a
Mile, being made purposely to carry from River to River, and from Bay to
Bay, to shorten Land-passages. In these cockling Fly-boats, wherein an
_English_-man can scarce sit without a fearful tottering, they will
venture to Sea, when an _English_ Shallop dare not bear a Knot of Sail,
scudding over the over-grown Waves as fast as a wind-driven Ship, being
driven by their Paddles, being much like Battle-doors; if a cross Wave
(which is seldom) turn her Keel up-side down, they by swimming free her,
and scramble into her again.
[Sidenote: Of their Language.]
Their Language, is onely peculiar to themselves, not inclining to any of
the more refined Tongues. Some have thought they might be of the
dispersed _Jews_, because some of their words are near unto the
_Hebrew_; but by the same rule they may conclude them to be some of the
gleanings of all Nations, because they have words which sound after the
_Greek_, _Latine_, _French_, and other Tongues. Their Language is hard
to learn, few of the _English_ being able to speak any of it, or capable
of the right pronunciation, which is the chief grace of their Tongue:
They pronounce much after the Diphthongs, excluding _L_ and _R_ which in
our _English_ Tongue they pronounce with as much difficulty, as most of
the _Dutch_ do _T_ and _H_, calling a Lobster a _Nobstann_. Every
Countrey doth something differ in their Speech, even as our Northern
People do from the Southern, and Western from them; especially the
_Tarrentine_, whose Tongue runs so much upon _R_ that they wharle much
in pronunciation. When any Ships come near the Shore, they demand
whether they are King _Charles’s Torries_, with such a rumbling sound,
as if one were beating on an unbrac’d Drum. In serious Discourse our
Southern _Indians_ use seldom any short Colloquies, but speak their
minds at large, without any interjected Discourses from any, the rest
giving diligent audience to his utterance; which done, some or other
returns him as long an Answer: They love not to speak _multa, sed
multum_; seldom are their words and their deeds strangers. According to
the matter of their discourse, so are their acting Gestures in their
Expressions.
[Sidenote: Of their Deaths, Burials and Mourning.]
The _Indians_ are of lusty and healthful Bodies, not experimentally
knowing those Diseases which are incident to other Countreys, as
Feavers, Pleurisies, Calentures, Agues, Consumptions, Convulsions,
Apoplexies, Dropsies, Gouts, Pox, Measles, or the like, but spin out the
thred of their Days to a fair length, numbering sixty, eighty, some a
hundred years: But when any one lies a dying, the doleful cries, and
throbbing sighs of the Friends and Relations, express unspeakable
sorrow; and when the Party is dead and laid in the Ground, they not
onely weep and howl for a good space over the Grave, but also keep
Annual Solemnities of Mourning, rubbing their Faces with black Lead all
about the Eye-brows, and part of their Cheeks; yet do they hold the
Immortality of the Soul, in which their _Indian_ Faith jumps much with
the _Turkish Alchoran_, dreaming of a certain Paradise, or South-West
_Elysium_, wherein they shall everlastingly abide, solacing themselves
in odoriferous Gardens, fruitful Corn-fields, green Meadows, bathing
their tawny Hides in the cool Streams of pleasant Rivers, and sheltering
themselves from Heat and Cold in the sumptuous Palaces fram’d by Nature,
concluding, that neither care nor pain shall molest them, but that
Natures bounty will administer all things with a voluntary contribution
from the Store-house of their _Elysium_; at the Portal whereof, they
say, lies a great Dog, whose churlish snarlings deny admission to
unworthy Intruders: wherefore it is their custom to bury with them their
Bowes and Arrows, and good store of their _Wampompeage_ and _Mowhacks_,
the one to affright that affronting _Cerberus_, the other to purchase
more immense Prerogatives in their Paradise. For their Enemies and loose
Livers, whom they account unworthy of this imaginary Happiness, they say
that they pass to the infernal Dwellings of _Abamocho_, to be tortur’d
according to the Fictions of the ancient _Heathen_.
[Sidenote: Dispositions, Employments, Usage by their Husbands, Apparel,
and Modesty of the Women.]
The drudgery of all laborious sorts of Work, and the management of all
domestick Affairs, lies wholly upon the _Indian_ Women, who are made
meer Slaves by their Husbands; they build the Houses, sowe and reap the
Corn, provide Lobsters for their Husbands to bait their Hooks when they
go a Fishing for _Basse_ or Cod; and for these Lobsters they are many
times forc’d to dive in the extreamest Weather, then lug home a great
weight of them upon their Backs, as also all the Fish which their
Husbands catch for pleasure, from the places where they were caught:
They dress all the Meat, serve it up to their Husbands, and waiting till
they have fill’d their Bellies, are glad of their leavings. In Summer
they gather Flags, of which they make Mats for Houses, and Hemp and
Rushes, with Dying Stuff, of which they make curious Baskets, with
intermixed Colours and Pourtraictures of antique Imagery. These Baskets
are of all sizes from a Quart to a Quarter, in which they carry their
Luggage. In Winter they are their Husbands Caterers, trudging to the
Clam-banks for their Belly-timber, and their Porters to lug it home.
They likewise sew their Husbands Shoes, and weave Coats of _Turky_
Feathers, besides all their ordinary Houshold drudgery which daily lies
upon them, insomuch that a great Belly hinders no business, nor doth a
Child-birth take much time, but the young Infant being greas’d and
footed, wrapp’d in a Beavers Skin, bound with his Feet up to his Bum,
upon a Board two Foot long and one Foot broad, and his Face expos’d to
all nipping Weather, this little _Pappouse_ travels about with his
bare-footed Mother to paddle in the Icy Clam-banks, after three or four
days of Age have confirm’d her recovery. For their Carriage, it is very
civil, Smiles being the greatest grace of their Mirth. Their Musick is
Lullabies in Rocking their Children, who generally are as quiet as if
they had neither Spleen or Lungs. Their Voices are generally both sweet
and well order’d, so far as pure Nature teacheth them. Their Modesty
drives them to wear more Clothes than the Men, having always a Coat of
Cloth or Skins, wrapp’d like a Blanket about their Loyns, reaching down
to their Hams, which they never put off in Company.
[Sidenote: Towns built by the _English_ in _New England_.]
There are to be reckon’d up forty five chief Towns, besides what others
there may be of less note, built or made habitable by the _English_
since their first arrival in _New England_, till about the Year 1650.
[Sidenote: _St. Georges Fort._]
First, _St. Georges Fort_, where the first Plantation was setled, at the
Mouth of the River _Sagadebock_, in a kind of _Peninsula_, or half
Island.
[Sidenote: _New Plymouth._]
The second, _New Plymouth_, seated no less commodiously upon a large
Bay, call’d by the Natives _Pautuxed_; where they first setled that went
over out of dissatisfaction to the Church-Government of _England_.
[Sidenote: _Salem._]
The third, _Salem_, call’d by the _Indians_, _Mahumbeak_; which stands
on the middle of a Neck of Land very pleasantly, having a South River on
the one side, and a North River on the other side. This Town seems to
have been built in the Year 1628. by a part of that Company, who, being
sent over by the _Merchant-Adventurers_, setled themselves in this Cape.
[Sidenote: _Charles-town._]
The fourth _Mashawmut_, or _Charles-town_, situate on a Neck of Land on
the Northside of the River _Charles_. The form of this Town, in the
Frontispiece of it, resembleth the Head, Neck, and Shoulders of a Man;
through the right Shoulder whereof runs the Navigable River _Mistick_,
which by its near approach to _Charles_ River in one place, makes the
chief part of the Town a _Peninsula_: It consists of a hundred and fifty
Dwelling-houses, many of them beautifi’d with pleasant Gardens and
Orchards: Near the Water-side is a large Market-place, forth of which
issue two fair Streets; and in it stands a large and well built Church.
[Sidenote: _Dorchester._]
The fifth, _Matapan_, or _Dorchester_, a Fronteer Town, standing over
against the Island near the Sea-side: It is water’d with two small
Rivers, and is built in the form of a Serpent turning its Head
Northward; it hath Orchards and Gardens full of Fruit-trees.
[Sidenote: _Boston._]
The sixth is _Boston_, anciently _Accomonticus_, the Center and
Metropolis of the rest, built in the form of a Heart, and fortifi’d with
two Hills on the Front-part thereof, the one having great store of
Artillery mounted thereon, the other having a strong Battery, built of
whole Timber, and fill’d with Earth: At the Descent of the Hill lies a
large Cave or Bay, on which the chief part of this Town is built,
over-topp’d with a third Hill, all three like over-topping Towers,
keeping a constant Watch to foresee the approach of foreign Dangers. The
chiefest part of this City-like Town is crowded upon the Sea Banks, and
wharf’d out with great Industry and Cost, the Edifices large and
beautiful, whose continual enlargement presageth some sumptuous City.
[Sidenote: _Roxbury._]
The seventh, _Roxbury_, situated between _Boston_ and _Dorchester_,
water’d with cool and pleasant Springs issuing from the Rocky Hills, and
with small Freshets watering the Valleys of this fertile Town: The form
of it resembleth a Wedge double pointed, entring between the two
above-mention’d Towns; and in the room of those Swamps, or tearing
Bushes which were there before, they have now goodly Fruit-trees,
fruitful Fields and Gardens.
[Sidenote: _Lynne._]
The eighth is _Lynne_, or (according to the _Indian_ Name, _Saugus_)
situated between _Salem_ and _Charles-town_, near a River, whose strong
Freshet at the end of Winter fills all her Banks, and with a violent
Torrent vents it self into the Sea. This Town is almost square,
consisting many years ago of above a hundred Dwelling-houses, having
also an Iron Mill in constant use. The Church being on a level Land,
undefended from the North-West Wind, is made with Steps descending into
the Earth.
[Sidenote: _Water-town._]
The ninth is call’d _Water-town_, anciently _Pigsgusset_, situated upon
one of the Branches of _Charles_-River, water’d with many pleasant
Springs and small Rivulets, running like Veins throughout her Body. This
Town began by occasion of Sir _Richard Saltingstall_, who arriving with
store of Cattel and Servants, Winter’d in these Parts.
[Sidenote: _New-town._]
[Sidenote: _Harverd Colledge._]
In the Year 1633. there was erected between _Charles-town_ and
_Water-town_, a Place call’d _New-town_, and by the _Indians_,
_Amongcangen_, since nam’d _Cambridge_, being the tenth in order: It is
in form like a List of Broad-cloth, reaching to the most Southerly part
of _Merrimeck_ River; it hath comely and well order’d Streets, and two
fair Colledges; the first call’d _Harverd Colledge_, from Mr. _John
Harverd_, who at his Death gave a thousand Pounds to it; to the other
Mr. _John Harnes_ was the chief Benefactor. This Town was appointed to
be the Seat of the Government, but it continu’d not long.
[Sidenote: _Ipswich._]
The eleventh call’d _Ipswich_, or _Sawacatuc_ by the _Indians_, is
situated on a fair and delightful River, issuing forth from a very
pleasant Pond, and afterwards breaking its Course through a hideous
Swamp of large extent; it lies in the _Sagamoreship_, or Earldom of
_Aggawan_, now by the _English_ call’d _Essex_.
[Sidenote: _Newbury._]
Twelve Miles from _Ipswich_, near upon the Streams of _Merrimeck_ River,
is situated the twelfth, call’d _Newbury_.
[Sidenote: _Hartford._]
The People of _New-town_, or _Cambridge_, upon their removal of the
Plantation of _Canectico_, passing up the River, built a Town, which
they call’d _Hartford_, the thirteenth in number, divers others coming
in the room of those that departed from _Cambridge_.
[Sidenote: _Concord._]
The fourteenth, seated upon a fair fresh River (whose Rivulets are
fill’d with fresh Marsh, and her Streams with Fish, it being a Branch of
that large River of _Merrimeck Allwives_) is built in the Inland
Countrey, and call’d _Concord_: It consisted at first of above fifty
Families: Their Buildings are for the most part conveniently plac’d on
one streight Stream under a Sunny Bank, in a low Level. The People that
first set forth to build this Town, sustain’d great hardship and misery,
by reason of the uncouth Ways, and extremity of the Weather, it being
the first Inland Town that was built.
[Sidenote: _Hingham._]
South-East of _Charles_-River, upon the Sea-Coast, is situated the
fifteenth Town _Hingham_; the form whereof is somewhat intricate to
describe, by reason of the Seawasting Crooks, where it beats upon a
moultring Shore; yet in some places the Streets are compleat: It
consisted at first of about sixty Families.
[Sidenote: _Dukesbury_, or _Sandwich_.]
The sixteenth is in _Plymouth_ Government, situate upon the Sea-Coast,
first nam’d _Dukes-bury_, afterwards _Sandwich_.
[Sidenote: _Newhaven._]
About the year 1617. a new Supply coming over into these Parts, and not
finding in the _Mattachusets_ Government any commodious place to settle
in, they after much search took up a place somewhat more Southerly, near
the _Shalles_ of _Capecod_, where they found a commodious Harbor for
Shipping, and a fit place to erect a Town in, which they built in a
short time, with very fair Houses and compleat Streets; and shortly
after several others: Amongst which they erected a new Government, which
from their first Fronteer Town, being the seventeenth, was call’d
_Newhaven_.
[Sidenote: _Dedham._]
The eighteenth is in the Government of the _Mattachusets_, and call’d
_Dedham_, being an Inland Town, situate about ten Miles from _Boston_ in
the County of _Suffolk_, well water’d with many pleasant Streams, and
abounding with Gardens and Fruit-Trees: It consisted at first of about a
hundred Families, being generally given to Husbandry.
[Sidenote: _Weymouth._]
The nineteenth being also in this Government is call’d _Weymouth_,
batter’d on the East with the Sea Waves; on the South-West Rocks and
Swamps make it delightful to the Deer, as the ploughable Meadow-Lands to
the Inhabitants.
About the Year 1638. _Printing_ was brought over into _New England_.
[Sidenote: _Rowly._]
About six Miles from _Ipswich_, North-Eastward, was erected another Town
call’d _Rowly_, being the twentieth.
[Sidenote: _Hampton._]
About the Year 1639. began the one and twentieth Town _Hampton_, in the
County of _Norfolk_, to be built: It is situate near the Sea-Coast, not
far from the River of _Merrimeck_: The great store of salt Marsh did
entice the People to set down their Habitations there.
[Sidenote: _Salisbury._]
Not far from this Town of _Hampton_, was erected the two and twentieth,
call’d _Salisbury_, seated upon the broad swift Torrent of
_Merrimeck_-River: It lieth on the Northern side, over against the Town
of _Newbury_, the River between them being about half a Mile broad, but
hath an Island in the midst thereof, which makes it the more easily
passable. The situation of this Town is very pleasant, the Skirts
thereof abounding in fair and goodly Meadows, with good store of stately
Timber in many places upon the Uplands.
[Sidenote: _Long-Island, Southampton._]
About the Year 1640. by a fresh Supply of People that setled in
_Long-Island_, was there erected the twenty third Town, call’d
_Southampton_; by the Indians, _Agawom_.
[Sidenote: _Sudbury._]
The same Year also the Town of _Sudbury_, being the twenty fourth, began
to be built in the Inland Countrey: It is furnish’d with great store of
fresh Marsh, but lying very low, it is much endammag’d with Land-floods.
[Sidenote: _Braintree._]
About this time there was built at Mount _Wollestone_, by some old
Planters and certain Farmers of the great Town of _Boston_, a Town nam’d
_Braintree_, being the twenty fifth, within the _Mattachusets_
Government: It is well peopled, and hath great store of Land in Tillage.
[Sidenote: _Gloucester._]
In the Year 1641. Mr. _Richard Blindman_ coming from _Green Harbour_, a
Place in _Plymouth_ Patent, with some few People of his acquaintance,
setled in _Cape Anne_, where they built the twenty sixth Town, and nam’d
it _Gloucester_.
[Sidenote: _Dover._]
There is also situate upon _Puscataque_ River, to the North-East of
_Boston_, a Town call’d _Dover_, being the twenty seventh, the People by
voluntary resignation being under the _Mattachusets_ Government.
[Sidenote: _Wooburn._]
In the Year 1642. was erected the eight and twentieth Town, call’d
_Wooburn_.
[Sidenote: _Reading._]
In the Year 1644. _Reading_ the nine and twentieth Town was built, being
in the Government of the _Mattachusets_; it is well water’d and situated
about a great Pond, having two Mills, a Saw-Mill, and a Corn-Mill, which
stand upon two several Streams.
[Sidenote: _Wenham._]
A little after was built the thirtieth Town in this Colony, call’d
_Wenham_, situate between _Salem_ and _Ipswich_; it is very well
water’d, as most Inland Towns are, and the People live altogether on
Husbandry.
[Sidenote: _Spring-field._]