horse with three rowes of teeth within his mouth with which he snaps asunder the fishermans lines if he be not very circumspect This fish will leape at a mans hand if it be over board and with his teeth snap off a mans legge or hand if he be a swimming These are often taken being good for nothing but to put on the ground for manuring of land The Sturgions be all over the countrey but the best catching of them be upon the shoales of Cape Codde and in the River of Mirrimacke where much is taken pickled and brought for England some of these be 12.14.18 foote long I set not downe the price of fish there because it is so cheape so that one may have as much for two pence as would give him an angell in England The Sammon is as good as it is in England and in great plenty The Hollibut is not much unlike a pleace or Turbut some being two yards long and one wide and a foot thicke the plenty of better fish makes these of little esteeme except the head and finnes which stewed or baked is very good these Hollibuts be little set by while Basse is in season Thornebacke and Scates is given to the dogges being not counted worth the dressing in many places The Basse is one of the best fishes in the countrey and though men are soone wearied with other fish yet are they never with Basse it is a delicate fine fat fast fish having a bone in his head which containes a sawcerfull of marrow sweet and good pleasant to the pallat and wholsome to the stomack When there be great store of them we onely eate the heads and salt up the bodies for winter which exceedes Ling or Haberdine Of these fishes some be three and some foure foot long some bigger some lesser at some tides a man may catch a dozen or twenty of these in three houres the way to catch them is with hooke and line The Fisherman taking a great Cod-line to which he fastneth a peece of Lobster and throwes it into the Sea the fish biting at it he pulls her to him and knockes her on the head with a sticke These are at one time when Alewives passe up the Rivers to be catched in Rivers in Lobster time at the Rockes in Macrill time in the Bayes at Michelmas in the Seas When they use to tide it in and out to the Rivers and Creekes the English at the top of an high water do crosse the Creekes with long scanes or Basse Netts which stop in the fish and the water ebbing from them they are left on the dry ground sometimes two or three thousand at a set which are salted up against winter or distributed to such as have present occasion either to spend them in their houses or use them for their ground The Herrings be much like them that be caught on the English coasts Alewives be a kind of fish which is much like a Herring which in the latter end of Aprill come up to the fresh Rivers to spawne in such multitudes as is allmost incredible pressing up in such shallow waters as will scarce permit them to swimme having likewise such longing desire after the fresh water ponds that no beatings with poles or forcive agitations by other devices will cause them to returne to the sea till they have cast their Spawne The Shaddes be bigger than the English Shaddes and fatter The Macrells be of two sorts in the beginning of the yeare are great ones which be upon the coast some are 18. inches long In Summer as in May Iune Iuly and August come in a smaller kind of them These Macrills are taken with drailes which is a long small line with a lead and hooke at the end of it being baited with a peece of red cloath this kind of fish is counted a leane fish in England but there it is so fat that it can scarce be saved against winter without reisting There be a great store of Salt water Eeles especially in such places where grasse growes for to take these there be certaine Eele pots made of Osyers which must be baited with a peece of Lobster into which the Eeles entring cannot returne backe againe some take a bushell in a night in this manner eating as many as they have neede of for the present and salt up the rest against winter These Eeles be not of so luscious a tast as they be in England neyther are they so aguish but are both wholesome for the body and delightfull for the taste Lamprons and Lampreyes be not much set by Lobsters be in plenty in most places very large ones some being 20. pound in weight these are taken at a low water amongst the rockes they are very good fish the small ones being the best their plenty makes them little esteemed and seldome eaten The Indians get many of them every day for to baite their hookes withall and to eate when they can get no Basse The Oisters be great ones in forme of a shoo horne some be a foote long these breede on certaine bankes that are bare every spring tide This fish without the shell is so big that it must admit of a devision before you can well get it into your mouth The Perewig is a kind of fish that lyeth in the oaze like a head of haire which being touched conveyes it selfe leaving nothing to bee seene but a small round hole Muscles be in great plenty left onely for the Hogges which if they were in England would be more esteemed of the poorer sort Clamms or Clamps is a shel-fish not much unlike a cockle it lyeth under the sand every six or seaven of them having a round hole to take ayre and receive water at When the tide ebs and flowes a man running over these Clamm bankes will presently be made all wet by their spouting of water out of those small holes These fishes be in great plenty in most places of the countrey which is a great commoditie for the feeding of Swine both in winter and Summer for being once used to those places they will repaire to them as duely every ebbe as if they were driven to them by keepers In some places of the countrey there bee Clamms as bigge as a pennie white loafe which are great dainties amongst the natives and would bee in good esteeme amongst the English were it not for better fish CHAP. X. Of the severall plantations in particular HAving described the situation of the countrey in generall with all his commodities arising from land and Sea it may adde to your content and satisfaction to be informed of the situation of every severall plantation with his conveniences commodities and discommodities c. where first I will begin with the outmost plantation in the patent to the South ward which is called Wessagutus an Indian name this as yet is but a small Village yet it is very pleasant and healthfull very good ground and is well timbred and
misse for seeing the fire in the panne they dive under the water before the shot comes to the place where they were they use to roost upon the tops of trees and rockes being a very heavy drowsie creature so that the Indians will goe in their Cannowes in the night and take them from the Rockes as easily as women take a Hen from roost No ducking ponds can affoard more delight than a lame Cormorant and two or three lusty Dogges The Crane although hee bee almost as tall as a man by reason of his long legges and necke yet is his body rounder than other fowles not much unlike the body of a Turkie I have seene many of these fowles yet did I never see one that was far I suppose it is contrary to their nature to grow fat Of these there be many in Summer but none in winter their price is two shilling There be likewise many Swannes which frequent the fresh ponds and rivers seldome consorting themselves with Duckes and Geese these bee very good meate the price of one is six shillings The Geese of the countrey be of three sorts first a brant Goose which is a Goose almost like the wilde Goose in England the price of one of these is six pence The second kind is a white Goose almost as big as an English tame Goose these come in great flockes about Michelmasse sometimes there will be two or three thousand in a flocke these continue six weekes and so flye to the southward returning in March and staying six weekes more returning againe to the Northward the price of one of these is eight pence The third kind of Geese is a great gray Goose with a blacke necke and a blacke and white head strong of flight these bee a great deale bigger than the ordinary Geese of England some very fat and in the Spring so full of Feathers that the shot can scarce peirce them most of these Geese remaine with us from Michelmas to Aprill they feede on the Sea of Fish and in the woods of Acornes having as other Foule have their passe and repasse to the Northward and Southward the accurate marksmen kill of these both flying and sitting the price of a good gray Goose is eighteene pence The Duckes of the countrey be very large ones and in great abundance so is there of Teale likewise the price of a Ducke is six pence of a Teale three pence If I should tell you how some have killed a hundred Geese in a weeke 50. Duckes at a shot 40. Teales at another it may be counted impossible though nothing more certaine The Oldwives be a foule that never leave tatling day or night something bigger than a Ducke The Loone is an ill shap'd thing like a Cormorant but that he can neyther goe nor flye he maketh a noise sometimes like a Sowgelders horne The Humilities or Simplicities as I may rather call them bee of two sorts the biggest being as big as a greene Plover the other as big as birds we call knots in England Such is the simplicity of the smaller sorts of these birds that one may drive them on a heape like so many sheepe and seeing a fit time shoot them the living seeing the dead settle themselves on the same place againe amongst which the Fowler discharges againe I my selfe have killed twelve score at two shootes these bird are to be had upon sandy brakes at the latter end of Summer before the Geese come in Thus much have I shewed you as I know to bee true concerning the Fowle of the countrey But me thinkes I heare some say that this is very good if it could be caught or likely to continue and that much shooting will fright away the fowles True it is that every ones imployment wil not permit him to fowle what then yet those imployments furnish them with silver Guns with which they may have it more easie For the frighting of the fowle true it is that many goe blurting away their pouder and shot that have no more skill to kill or winne a Goose than many in England that have rustie Muskets in their houses knowes what belongs to a Souldier yet are they not much affrighted I have seene more living and dead the last yeare than I have done in former yeares CHAP. IX Of Fish HHving done with these let me leade you from the land to the Sea to view what commodities may come from thence there is no countrey knowne that yeelds more variety of fish winter and summer and that not onely for the present spending and sustentation of the plantations but likewise for trade into other countries so that those which have had stages make fishing voyages into those parts have gained it is thought more than the new found land Iobbers Codfish in these seas are larger than in new found land six or seaven making a quintall whereas there they have fifteene to the same weight and though this they seeme a base and more contemptible commoditie in the judgement of more neate adventurers yet it hath bin the enrichment of other nations and and is likely to prove no small commoditie to the planters and likewise to England if it were thorowly undertaken Salt may be had from the salt Islands and as is supposed may be made in the countrey The chiefe fish for trade is Cod but for the use of the countrey there is all manner of fish as followeth The king of waters the Sea shouldering Whale The snuffing Grampus with the oyly Seale The storme praesaging Porpus Herring-Hogge Line shearing Sharke the Catfish and Sea Dogge The Scale-fenc'd Sturgeon wry mouthd Hollibut The flounsing Sammon Codfish Greedigut Cole Haddocke Hagâ— the Thornebacke and the Scate Whose slimie outside makes him selde in date The stately Basse old Neptunes fleeting post That tides it out and in from Sea to Coast. Consorting Herrings and the bony Shad Big bellied Alewives Machrills richly clad With Rainebow colours th'Frost fish and the Smelt As good as ever lady Gustus felt The spotted Lamprons Eeles the Lamperies That seeke fresh water brookes with Argus eyes These waterie villagers with thousands more Doe passe and repasse neare the verdant shore Kinds of all Shel-fish The luscious Lobster with the Crabfish raw The Brinish Oister Muscle Periwigge And Tortoise sought for by the Indian Squaw Which to the flats daunce many a winters Iigge To dive for Cocles and to digge for Clamms Whereby her lazie husbands guts sâ—ee cramms To omit such of these as are not usefull therefore not to be spoken of and onely to certifie you of such as be usefull First the Seale which is that which is called the Sea Calfe his skinne is good for divers uses his body being betweene fish and flesh it is not very delectable to the pallate or congruent with the stomack his Oyle is very good to burne in Lampes of which he affoards a great deale The Sharke is a kinde of fish as bigge as a man some as bigge as a
hath good store of Hey ground it hath a very spacious harbour for shipping before the towne the salt water being navigable for Boates Pinnaces two leagues Here the inhabitants have good store of fish of all sorts and Swine having Acornes and Clamms at the time of yeare here is likewise an Alewife river Three miles to the North of this is mount Walleston a very fertile soyle and a place very convenient for Farmers houses there being great store of plaine ground without trees This place is called Massachusets fields where the greatest Sagamore in the countrey lived before the Plague who caused it to be cleared for himselfe The greatest inconvenience is that there is not very many Springs as in other places of the countrey yet water may bee had for digging A second inconvenience is that Boates cannot come in at a low water nor ships ride neare the shore Sixe miles further to the North lieth Dorchester which is the greatest Towne in New England well woodded and watered very good arable grounds and Hay-ground faire Corne-fields and pleasanâ— Gardens with Kitchin-gardens In this plantation is a great many Cattle as Kine Goats and Swine This plantation hath a reasonable Harbour for ships Here is no Alewife-river which is a great inconvenience The inhabitants of this towne were the first that set upon the trade of fishing in the Bay who received so much fruite of their labours that they encouraged others to the same undertakings A mile from this Towne lieth Roxberry which is a faire and handsome Countrey-towne the inhabitants of it being all very rich This Towne lieth upon the Maine so that it is well woodded and watered having a cleare and fresh Brooke running through the Towne Vp which although there come no Alewiues yet there is great store of Smelts and therefore it is called Smelt-brooke A quarter of a mile to the North-side of the Towne is another River called Stony-river upon which is built a water-â—â—â—â—ne Here is good ground for Corne and Medow for Cattle Vp westward from the Towne it is something rocky whence it hath the name of Roxberry the inhabitants have faire houses store of Cattle impaled Corne-fields and fruitfull Gardens Here is no Harbour for ships because the Towne is seated in the bottome of a shallow Bay which is made by the necke of land on which Boston is built so that they can transport all their goods from the Ships in Boats from Boston which is the nearest Harbour Boston is two miles North-east from Roxberry His situation is very pleasant being a Peninsula hem'd in on the South-side with the Bay of Roxberry on the North-side with Glaâ—ly-river the Marshes on the backe-side being not halfe a quarter of a mile over so that a little fencing will secure their Cattle from the Woolues Their greatest wants be Wood and Medow-ground which never were in that place being constrayned to fetch their building-timber and fire-wood from the Ilands in Boates and their Hay in Loyters It being a necke and bare of wood they are not troubled with three great annoyances of Woolves Rattle-snakes and Musketoes These that live here upon their Cattle must be constrayned to take Farmes in the Countrey or else they cannot subsist the place being too small to containe many and fittest for such as can Trade into England for such commodities as the Countrey wants being the chiefe place for shipping and Merchandize This Necke of land is not above foure miles in compasse in forme almost squâ—re having on the South-side at one corner a great broad hill whereon is planted a Fort which can command any ship as shee sayâ—es into any Harbour within the still Bay On the North-side is another Hill equall in bignesse whereon stands a Winde-mill To the North-west is a high Mountaine with three little rising Hils on the top of it wherefore it is called the Tramount From the top of this Mountaine a man may over-looke all the Ilands which lie before the Bay and discry such ships as are upon the Sea-coast This Towne although it be neither the greatest nor the richest yet it is the most noted and frâ—quented being the Center of the Plantations where the monthly Courts are kept Here likeâ—â—â—â— dweâ—ls the Governour This place hath very good land affording rich Corne-fields and fruitefull Gardens having likewise sweete and pleasant Springs The inhabitants of this place for their enlargement have taken to themselves Farme-houses in a place called Muddy-river two miles from their Towne where is good ground large timber and store of Marsh-land and Medow In this place they keepe their Swine and other Cattle in the Summer whilst the Corne is on the ground at Boston and bring them to the Towne in Winter On the North-side of Charles River is Charles Towne which is another necke of Land on whose North-side runs Misticke-river This Towne for all things may be well paralel'd with her neighbour Boston being in the same fashion with her bare necke and constrained to borrow conveniences from the Maine and to provide for themselves Farmes in the Countrey for their better subsistance At this Towne there is kept a Ferry-boate to conveigh passengers over Charles River which betweene the two Townes is a quarter of a mile over being a very deepe Channell Here may ride forty ships at a time Vp higher it is a broad Bay being above two miles betweene the shores into which runnes Stony-river and Muddy-river Towards the South-west in the middle of this Bay is a great Oyster-banke Towards the North-west of this Bay is a great Creeke upon whose shore is situated the Village of Medford a very fertile and pleasant place and fit for more inhabitants than are yet in it This Towne is a mile and a halfe from Charles Towne and at the bottome of this Bay the River beginnes to be narrower being but halfe a quarter of a mile broad By the side of this River is built New-towne which is three miles by land from Charles Towne and a league and a halfe by water This place was first intended for a City but upon more serious considerations it was not thought so fit being too farre from the Sea being the greatest inconvenience it hath This is one of the nearest and best compacted Townes in New England having many faire structures with many handsome contrived streets The inhabitants most of them are very rich and well stored with Cattell of all sorts having many hundred Acres of ground paled in with one generall fence which is about a mile and a halfe long which secures all their weaker Cattle from the wilde beasts On the other side of the River lieth all their Medow and Marsh-ground for Hay Halfe a mile Westward of this plantation is Water-towne a place nothing inferiour for land wood medow and water to New-towne Within halfe a mile of this Towne is a great Pond which is divided betweene those two Townes which divides their bounds Northward
A mile and a halfe from this Towne is a fall of fresh waters which conveigh themselves into the Ocean through Charles River A little below this fall of waters the inhabitants of Water-towne have built a Wayre to catch Fish wherein they take great store of Shads and Alewives In two Tydes they have gotten one hundred thousand of those Fishes This is no small benefit to the plantation Ships of small burden may come up to these two Townes but the Oyster-bankes doe barre out the bigger Ships The next Towne is Misticke which is three miles from Charles Towne by land and a league and a halfe by water It is seated by the waters side very pleasantly there be not many houses as yet At the head of this River are great and spacious Ponds whither the Alewives preasse to spawne This being a noted place for that kinde of Fish the English resort thither to take them On the West side of this River the Governour hath a Farme where he keepes most of his Cattle On the East side is Maister Craddockes plantation where he hath impaled a Parke where he keepes his Cattle till he can store it with Deere Here likewise he is at charges of building ships The last yeare one was upon the Stockes of a hundred Tunne that being finished they are to build one twice her burden Ships without either Ballast or loading may floate downe this River otherwise the Oyster-banke would hinder them which crosseth the Channell The last Towne in the still Bay is Winnisimet a very sweet place for situation and stands very commodiously being fit to entertaine more planters than are yet seated it is within a mile of Charles Towne the River onely parting them The chiefe Ilands which keepe out the Winde and the Sea from disturbing the Harbours are first Deare Iland which lies wirhin a flight-shot of Pullin-point This Iland is so called because of the Deare which often swimme thither from the Maine when they are chased by the Woolves Some have killed sixteene Deere in a day upon this Iland The opposite shore is called Pullin-point because that is the usuall Channel Boats use to passe thorow into the Bay and the Tyde being very strong they are constrayned to goe ashore and hale their Boats by the seaâ—ing or roades whereupon it was called Pullin-point The next Iland of note is Long Iland so called from his longitude Divers other Ilands be within these viz. Nodles Ile Round I le the Governours Garden where is planted an Orchard and a Vine-yard with many other conveniences and Slate-Iland Glasse-Iland Bird-Iland c. These Iles bound with Woods and Water and Medow-ground and whatsoever the spacious fertile Maine affords The inhabitants use to put their Cattle in these for safety viz. their Rammes Goates and Swine when their Corne is on the ground Those Townes that lie without the Bay are a great deale nearer the Maine and reape a greater benefit from the Sea in regard of the plenty both of Fish and Fowle which they receive from thence so that they liue more comfortably and at lesse charges than those that are more remote from the Sea in the Land-plantations The next plantation is Saugus sixe miles North-east from Winnesimet This Towne is pleasant for situation seated at the bottome of a Bay which is made on the one side with the surrounding shore and on the other side with a long sandy Beach This sandy Beach is two miles long at the end whereon is a necke of land called Nahant It is sixe miles in circumference well woodded with Oakes Pines and Cedars It is beside well watered having beside the fresh Springs a great Pond in the middle before which is a spacious Marsh. In this necke is store of good ground fit for the Plow but for the present it is onely used for to put young Cattle in and weather-goates and Swine to secure them from the Woolues a few posts and rayles from the low water-markes to the shore keepes out the Woolves and keepes in the Cattle One Blacke William an Indian Duke out of his generosity gave this place in generall to this plantation of Saugus so that no other can appropriate it to himselfe Vpon the South-side of the sandy Beach the Sea beateth which is a true prognostication to presage stormes and foule weather and the breaking up of the Frost For when a storme hath beene or is likely to be it will roare like Thunder being heard sixe miles and after stormes casts up great store of great Clammes which the Indians taking out of their shels carry home in baskets On the North-side of this Bay is two great Marshes which are made two by a pleasant River which runnes betweene them Northward up this River goes great store of Alewives of which they make good Red Herrings in so much that they have beene at charges to make a wayre and a Herringhouse to dry these Herrings in the last yeare were dryed some 4 or 5 Last for an experiment which proved very good this is like to prove a great inrichment to the land being a staple commoditie in other Countries for there be such innumerable companies in every river that I have seene ten thousand taken in two houres by two men without any weire at all saving a few stones to stone their passage up the river There likewise come stoâ—e of Basse which the Indians and English catch with hooke and line some fifty or threescore at a tide At the mouth of this river runnes up a great creeke into that great Marsh which is called Rumny Marsh which is 4 miles long and a miles broad halfe of it being Marsh ground and halfe upland grasse without tree or bush this Marsh is crossed with divers creekes wherein lye great store of Geese and Duckes There be convenient lands for the planting of Duckcoyes Here is likewise belonging to this place divers fresh meddowes which afford good grasse and foure spacious ponds like little lakes wherein is store of fresh fish within a mile of the towne out of which runnes a curious fresh brooke that is seldome frozen by reason of the warmenesse of the water upon this streame is built a water Milne and up this river comes Smelts and frost fish much bigger than a Gudgion For wood there is no want there being store of good Oakes Wallnut Caedar Aspe Elme The ground is very good in many places without trees fit for the plough In this plantation is more English tillage than in all new England and Virginia besides which proved as well as could bee expected the corne being very good especially the Barly Rye and Oates The land affordeth the inhabitants as many ratities as any place else and the sea more the Basse continuing from the middle of Aprill to Michaelmas which stayes not above half that time in the Bay besides here is a great deale of Rockcod and Macrill insomuch that shoales of Basse have driven up
with the Heate Cold Snow Raine and the effects of it FOr that part of the Countrey wherein most of the English have their habitations it is for certaine the best ground and sweetest Climate in all those parts bearing the name of New England agreeing well with the temper of our English bodies being high land and sharpe Ayre and though most of our English Townes border upon the Sea-coast yet are they not often troubled with Mists or unwholesome fogges or cold weather from the Sea which lies East and South from the Land And whereas in England most of the cold windes and weathers come from the Sea and those situations are counted most unwholesome that are neare the Sea-coast in that Countrey it is not so but otherwise for in the extremity of Winter the North-east and South winde comming from the Sea produceth warme weather and bringing in the warme-working waters of the Sea loosneth the frozen Bayes carrying away their Ice with theiâ— Tides melting the Snow and thawing the ground onely the North-west winde comming over the Land is the cause of extreame cold weather being alwaies accompanied with deepe Snowes and bittter Frost so that in two or three dayes the Rivers are passable for horse and man But as it is an Axiome in Nature Nullum violeâ— tum est perpetuum No extreames last long so this cold winde blowes seldome above three dayes together after which the weather is more tollerable the Aire being nothing so sharpe but peradventure in foure or five dayes after this cold mâ—ssenger will blow a fresh commanding every man to his house forbidding any to out-face him without prejudice to their noses but it may be objected that it is too cold a Countrey for our English men who have beene accustomed to a warmer Climate to which it may be answered Igne levatur hyems there is Wood good store and better cheape to build warme houses and make good fires which makes the Winter lesse tedious and moreover the extremity of this cold weather lasteth but for two Moneths or ten weekes beginning in December and breaking up the tenth day of February which hath beene a passage very remarkeable that for ten or a dozen yeares the weather hath held himselfe to his day unlooking his ycie Bayes and Rivers which are never frozen againe the same yeare except there be some small frost untill the middle of March It is observed by the Indians that every tenth yeare thâ—re is little or no Winter which hath beene twice observed of the English the yeare of new Plimouth mens arrivall was no Winter in comparison and in the tenth yeare after likewise when the great company set led themselves in Massachusets Bay was a very milde season little Frost and lesse Snow but cleare serene weather few North-west winds which was a great mercy to the English comming over so rawly and uncomfortably provided wanting all utensils and provisions which belonged to the well being of Planters and whereas many died at the beginning of the plantations it was not because the Country was unhealthfull but because their bodies were corrupted with sea-diet which was naught their Beefe and Porke being tainted their Butter and Cheese corrupted their Fish rotten voyage long by reason of crosse Windes so that winter approaching before they could get warme houses and the searching sharpnes of that purer Climate creeping in at the crannies of their crazed bodies caused death and sicknesse but their harmes having taught future voyagers more wisedome in shipping good provision for Sea and finding warme houses at landing finde health in both It hath bin observed that of five or sixe hundred passengers in one yeare not above three have died at Sea having their health likewise at Land But to returne to the matter in hand dayly observations makes it apparant that the peircing cold of that Country produceth not so many noysome effects as the raw winters of England In publike assemblies it is strange to heare a man sneeze or cough as ordinarily they doe in old England yet not to smother any thing lest you judge me too partiall in reciting good of the Countrey and not bad true it is that some venturing too nakedly in extreamity of cold being more foole hardy than wise have for a time lost the use of their feete others the use of their fingers but time and Surgery afterwards recovered them Some haue had their over-growne beards so frozen together that they could not get their strong water-bottells into their mouthes I never heard of any that utterly perished at land with cold saving one English man and an Indian who going together a Fowling the morning being faire at their setting out afterward a terrible storme arising they intended to returne home but the storme being in their faces and they not able to with-stand it were frozen to death the Indian having gained three slight-shot more of his journey homewaâ—d was found reared up against a tree with his Aqua-vitae bottle at his 〈◊〉 secoÌ„d passage concerning which many thinke hardly of the â—ountry in regard of his cold was the miscarriage of a boate at sea certaine men having intended a voyage to new Plimouth seâ—â—ing sayle towards night they wanted time to fetch it being constrained to put into another harbour where being negligent of the well mooring of their Boate a strong winde comming from the shore in the night loosned their killocke and drove them to Sea without sight of land before they had awaked out of sleepe but seeing the eminent danger such as were not benummed with cold shipt out their Oares shaping their course for Cape Cod where the Indians met them who buried the dead and carryed the Boate with the living to Plimouth where some of them died and some recovered These things may fright some but being that there hath beene many passages of the like nature in our English Climate it cannot dishearten such as seriously consider it seeing likewise that their owne ruines sprung from their owne negligence The Countrey is not so extreamely cold unlesse it be when the North-west winde is high at other times it is ordinary for Fishermen to goe to Sea in Ianuary and February in which time they get more Fish and better than in Summer onely observing to reach some good Harbours before night where by good fires they sleepe as well and quietly having their mayne sayle tented at their backes to shelter them from the winde as if they were at home To relate how some English bodies have borne out cold will it may be startle beleife of some it being so strange yet not so strange as true A certaine man being something distracted broke away from his Keeper and running into the Wood could not bee found with much seeking after but foure dayes being expired he returned to appearance as well in body as at his egresse and in minde much better for a mad man to hit home through the unbeaten Woods was strange but to live without meate or
that belong to our Wildernesse it remaines in the next place to shew you such kinds of Fowle as the Countrey affoords They are many and we have much variety both at Sea and on Land and such as yeeld us much profit and honest pleasure and are these that follow as The Princely Eagle and the soaring Hawke Whom in their unknowne wayes there 's none can chawke The Humberd for some Queenes rich Cage more fit Than in the vacant Wildernesse to sit The swift wing'd Swallow sweeping to and fro As swift as arrow from Tartarian Bow When as Aurora's infant day new springs There th' morning mounting Larke her sweete layes singâ— The harmonious Thrush swift Pigeon Turtle-dove Who to her mate doth ever constant prove The Turky-Phesant Heathcocke Partridge rare The carrion-tearing Crow and hurtfull Stare The long liv'd Raven th' ominous Screech-Owle Who tells as old wives say disasters foule The drowsie Madge that leaves her day-lov'd nest And loves to roave when day-birds be at rest Th'Eele-murthering Hearne and greedy Cormorant That neare the Creekes in morish Marshes haunt The bellowing Bitterne with the long-leg'd Crane Presaging Winters hard and dearth of graine The Silver Swan that tunes her mournefull breath To sing the dirge of her approaching death The tatling Oldwines and the cackling Geese The fearefull Gull that shunnes the murthering Peece The strong wing'd Mallard with the nimble Teale And ill-shape't Loone who his harsh notes doth squeale There Widgins Sheldrackes and Humiliteers Snites Doppers Sea-Larkes in whole million flees The Eagâ—es of the Countrey be of two sorts one like the Eagles that be in England the other is something bigger with a great white head and white tayle these bee commonly called Gripes these prey upon Duckes and Geese and such Fish as are cast upon the Sea-shore And although an Eagle be counted King of that feathered regiment yet is there a certaine blacke Hawke that beates him so that hee is oonstrayned to soare so high till heate expell his adversary This Hawke is much prized of the Indians being accounted a Sagamoâ—es ransome To speake much of Hawkes were to trespasse upon my owne judgement and bring upon my selfe a deserved censure for abusing the Faulconers termes But by relation from those that have more insight into them than my selfe There be divers kinds of Hawkes their Aieries are easie to come by being in the holes of Rockes neare the shore so that any who are addicted to that sport if he will be but at the charge of finding Poulâ—ry for them may have his desires We could wish them well mew'd in England for they make hauockâ— of Hens Partridges Heathcockes and Duckes often hindering the Fowler of his long look't for shoote The Humbird is one of the wonders of the Countrey being no bigger than a Hornet yet hath all the demensions of a Bird as bill and wings with quills spider-like legges small clawes For colour she is as glorious as the Raiâ—e-bow as she flies she makes a little humming noise like a Humble-bee wherefore shee is called the Humbird The Pigeon of that Countrey is something different from our Dove-house Pigeons in England being more like Turtles of the same colour but they haue long tayles like a Magpie And they seeme not so bigge because they carry not so many feathers on their backes as our English Doves yet are they as bigge in body These Birds come into the Countrey to goe to the North parts in the beginning of our Spring at which time if I may be counted worthy to be beleeved in a thing that is not so strange as true I have seene them fly as if the Ayerie regiment had beene Pigeons seeing neyther beginning nor ending length or breadth of these Millions of Millions The shouting of people the ratling of Gunnes and pelting of small shotte could not drive them out of their course but so they continued for foure or five houres together yet it must not be concluded that it is thus often for it is but at the beginning of the Spring and at Michaelmas when they returne backe to the Southward yet are there some all the yeare long which are easily attayned by such as looke after them Many of them build amongst the Pine-trees thirty miles to the North-east of our plantations joyning nest to nest and tree to tree by their nests so that the Sunne never sees the ground in that place from whence the Indians fetch whole loades of them The Turky is a very large Bird of a blacke colour yet white in flesh much bigger than our English Turky He hath the use of his long legs so ready that he can runne as fast as a Dogge and flye as well as a Goose of these sometimes there will be forty threescore and a hundred of a flocke sometâ—mes more and sometimes lesse their feeding is Acornes Hawes and Berries some of them get a haunt to frequent our English corne In winter when the Snow covers the ground they resort to the Sea shore to look for Shrimps such smal Fishes at low tide Such as love Turkie hunting must follow it in winter after a new falne Snow when hee may follow them by their tracts some have killed ten or a dozen in halfe a day if they can be found towards an evening and watched where they peirch if one come about ten or eleaven of the clocke he may shoote as often as he will they will sit unlesse they be slenderly wounded These Turkies remaine all the yeare long the price of a good Turkie cocke is foure shillings and he is well worth it for he may be in weight forty pound a Hen two shillings Pheasons bee very rare but Heathcockes and Partridges be common he that is a husband and will be stirring betime may kill halfe a dozen in a morning The Partridges be bigger than they be in England the flesh of the Heathcockes is red and the flesh of a Partridge white their price is foure pence a peece The Ravens and the Crowes be much like them of other countries There are no Magpies Iackedawes Coockooes Iayes Sparrows c. The Stares be bigger than those in England as blacke as Crowes being the most troublesome and injurious bird of all others pulling up the cornes by the roots when it is young so that those who plant by reedy and seggy places where they frequent are much annoyed with them they being so audacious that they feare not Guns or their fellowes hung upon poles but the Corne having a weeke or nine dayes growth is past their spoyling The Owles be of two sorts the one being small speckled like a Partridge with eaâ—es the other being a great Owle almost as big as an Eagle his body beeing as good meate as a Partridge Cormorants bee as common as other fowles which destroy abundance of small fish these are not worth the shooting because they are the worst of fowles for meate tasting ranke and fishy againe one may shoot twenty times and
their custome to bury with them their Bows and Arrows and good store of their Wampompeage and Mowhackies the one to affright that affrâ—nting Câ—rberus the other to purchase more immense prerogatiues in their Paradise For their enemies and loose livers whoÌ„ they account unworthy of this imaginary happines they say that they passe to the infernall dwellings of Abamocho to be tortured according to the fictions of the ancient Heathen CHAP. XIX Of their women their dispositions employments usage by their husbands their apparell and modesty TO satisfie the curious eye of women-readers who otherwise might thinke their sex forgotten or not worthy a record let them peruse these few lines wherein they may see their owne happinesse if weighed in the womans ballance of these ruder Indians who scorne the tuterings of their wives or to admit them as their equals though their qualities and industrious deservings may justly claime the preheminence and command better usage and more conjugall esteeme their persons and features being every way correspondent their qualifications more excellent being more loving pittifull and modest milde provident and laborious than their lazie husbands Their employments be many First their building of houses whose frames are formed like our garden-arbours something more round very strong and handsome covered with close-wrought mats of their owne weaving which deny entrance to any drop of raine though it come both fierce and long neither can the piercing North winde finde a crannie through which he can conveigh his cooling breath they be warmer than our English houses at the top is a square hole for the smoakes evacuation which in rainy weather is covered with a pluver these bee such smoakie dwellings that when there is good fires they are not able to stand upright but lie all along under the smoake never using any stooles or chaires it being as rare to see an Indian sit on a stoole at home as it is strange to see an English man sit on his heeles abroad Their houses are smaller in the Summer when their families be dispersed by reason of heate and occasions In Winter they make some fiftie or threescore foote long fortie or fiftie men being inmates under one roofe and as is their husbands occasion these poore tectonists are often troubled like snailes to carrie their houses on their backs sometime to fishing-places other times to hunting-places after that to a planting place where it abides the longest an other work is their planting of come wherein they exceede our English husband-men keeping it so cleare with their Clamme shell-hooes as if it were a garden rather than a corne-field not suffering a choaking weede to advance his audacious head above their infant corne or an undermining worme to spoile his spurnes Their corne being ripe they gather it and drying it hard in the Sunne conveigh it to their barnes which be great holes digged in the ground in forme of a brasse pot seeled with rinds of trees wherein they put their corne covering it from the inquisitive search of their gurmandizing husbands who would eate up both their allowed portion and reserved seede if they knew where to finde it But our hogges having found a way to unhindge their barne doores and robbe their garners they are glad to implore their husbands helpe to roule the bodies of trees over their holes to prevent those pioners whose theeverie they as much hate as their flesh An other of their employments is their Summer processions to get Lobsters for their husbands wherewith they baite their hookes when they goe a fishing for Basse or Cod-fish This is an every dayes walke be the weather cold or hot the waters rough or calme they must dive sometimes over head and eares for a Lobster which often shakes them by their hands with a churlish nippe and bids them adiew The tide being spent they trudge home two or three miles with a hundred weight of Lobsters at their backs and if none a hundred scoules meete them at home and a hungry belly for two dayes after Their husbands having caught any fish they bring it in their boates as farre as they can by water and there leave it as it was their care to catch it so it must be their wives paines to fetch it home or fast which done they must dresse it and cooke it dish it and present it see it eaten over their shoulders and their loggerships having filled their paunches their sweete lullabies scramble for their scrappes In the Summer these Indian women when Lobsters be in their plenty and prime they drie them to keepe for Winter erecting scaffolds in the hot sun-shine making fires likewise underneath them by whose smoake the flies are expelled till the substance remain hard and drie In this manner they drie Basse and other fishes without salt cutting them very thinne to dry suddainely before the flies spoile them or the raine moist them having a speciall care to hang them in their smoakie houses in the night and dankish weather In Summer they gather flagges of which they make Matts for houses and Hempe and Rushes with dying stuffe of which they make curious baskets with intermixed colours and portractures of antique Imagerie these baskets be of all sizes from a quart to a quarter in which they carry their luggage In winter time they are their hubands Caterers trudging to the Clamm bankes for their belly timber and their Porters to lugge home their Venison which their lazinesse exposes to the Woolves till they impose it upon their wives shoulders They likewise sew their husbands shooes and weave coates of Turkie feathers besides all their ordinary household drudgerie which daily lies upon them so that a bigge bellie hinders no businesse nor a childebirth takes much time but the young Infant being greased and sooted wrapt in a Beaver skin bound to his good behaviour with his feete up to his bumme upon a board two foote long and one foot broade his face exposed to all nipping weather this little Pappouse travells about with his bare footed mother to paddle in the Icie Clammbankes after three or foure dayes of age have sealed his passâ—board and his mothers recoverie For their carriage it is very civill smiles being the greatest grace of their mirth their musick is lullabies to quiet their children who generally are as quiet as if they had neither spleene or lungs To heare one of these Indians unseene a good care might easily mistake their untaught voyce for the warbling of a well tuned instrument Such command have they of their voices These womens modesty drives them to weare more cloathes than their men having alwayes a coate of cloath or skinnes wrapt like a blanket about their loynes reaching downe to their hammes which they never put off in company If a husband have a minde to sell his wives Beaver petticote as sometimes he doth shee will not put it off untill shee have another to put on commendable is their milde carriage and obedience to their husbands
notwithstanding all this their customarie churlishnesse and salvage inhumanitie not seeming to delight in frownes or offering to word it with their lords not presuming to proclaime their female superiority to the usurping of the least title of their husbands charter but rest themselves content under their helplesse condition counting it the womans portion since the English arrivall comparison hath made them miserable for seeing the kind usage of the English to their wives they doe as much condemne their husbands for unkindnesse and commend the English for their love As their husbands commending themselves for their wit in keeping their wives industrious doe condemne the English for their folly in spoyling good working creatures These women resort often to the English houses where pares cum paribus congregatae in Sex I meane they do somewhat ease their miserie by complaining and seldome part without a releefe If her husband come to seeke for his Squaw and beginne to bluster the English woman betakes her to her armes which are the warlike Ladle and the scalding liquors threatning blistering to the naked runnaway who is soone expelled by such liquid comminations In a word to conclude this womans historie their love to the English hath deserved no small esteeme ever presenting them some thing that is either rare or desired as Strawberries Hurtleberries Rasberries Gooseberries Cherries Plummes Fish and other such gifts as their poore treasury yeelds them But now it may be that this relation of the churlish and inhumane behaviour of these ruder Indians towards their patient wives may confirme some in the beliefe of an aspersion which I have often heard men cast upon the English there as if they should learne of the Indians to use their wives in the like manner and to bring them to the same subjection as to sit on the lower hand and to carrie water and the like drudgerie but if my owne experience may out-ballance an ill-grounded scandalous rumour I doe assure you upon my credit and reputation that there is no such matter but the women finde there as much love respect and ease as here in old England I will not deny but that some poore people may carrie their owne water and doe not the poorer sort in England doe the same witnesse your London Tankerd-bearers and your countrie-cottagers But this may well be knowne to be nothing but the rancerous venome of some that beare no good will to the plantation For what neede they carrie water seeing every one hath a Spring at his doore or the Sea by his house Thus much for the satisfaction of women touching this entrenchment upon their prerogative as also concerning the relation of these Indian Squawes Because many have desired to heare some of the Natives Language I have here inserted a small Nomenclator with the Names of their chiefe Kings Rivers Moneths and dayes whereby such as have in-sight into the Tongues may know to what Language it is most inclining and such as desire it as an unknowne Language onely may reape delight if they can get no profit A Aberginian an Indian Abbamocho the divell Aunum a dogge Ausupp a Rackoone Au so hau naut hoc Lobstar Assawog will you play A saw upp to morrow Ascoscâ—i greene Ausomma petuc quanocke give me some bread Appepes naw aug when I see it I will tell you my minde Anno ke â—â—gge a sieve An nu ocke a bed Autchu wompocke to day Appause the morne Ascom quom pauputchim thankes be given to God B Boquoquo the head Bisquant the shoulderbones C Chesco kean you lye Commouton kean you steale Cram to kill Chicka chava osculari podicem Cowimmâ— sleepes Cocum the navell Cos the nailes Conomma a spoone Cossaquot bow and arrowes Cone the Sunne Cotattup I drinke to you Coetop will you drinke Tobaco Connucke sommona It is almost night Connu good night to you Cowâ—mpaum siâ— God morrow Coepot ice D Dottaguck the backe bone Docke taugh he necke what is your name E Et châ—ssucke a knife Eat chumnis Indian corne Eans causuacke 4 fathomes Easu tommâ—c quocke halfe a skin of Beaver Epimetsis much good may your meate doe you F is not used G Gettoquaset the great toe Genehuncke the fore finger Gettoquacke the knees Gettoquun the knuckles Gettoquan the thumb Gegnewaw og let me see H Haha yes Hoc the body Hamucke almost Hub hub hub come come come Haddo quo duâ—na moquonash where did you buy that Haddogoe weage who lives here I Isattonaneise the bread Icattop faint with hunger Icatto quam very sleepie K Kean I Keisseanchacke backe of the hand Ksittâ— it hurts me Kawkenâ—g wampompeage let me see money Kagmatcheâ— will you eate meate Ketottâ—g a whet stone Kenie very sharpe Kettoâ—aâ—ese lend me monie Kekechoi much paine L is not used M Matchet It is nought Matâ—amoi to die Mitchin meat Misquanium very angrie Mauncheake be gonne Matta no Meseig haire Mamanock the eye brees Matchanne the nose Mattone the lippes Mepeiteis the teeth Mattickeis the shoulders Mettosowset the little toe Metosaunige the little finger Misquâ—sh the veines Mohoc the wast Menisowhock the genitals Mocossa the black of the naile Matchanni very sicke Monacus bowes and arrowes Manehops sit downe Monakinne a coate Mawcus sinnus a paire of shooes Matchemauquot it stinketh Muskana a bone Menota a basket Meatchis be merrie Mawpaw it snowes Mawnaucoi very strong Mutchecu a very poore man Monosketenog what 's this Mouskett the breech Matchet wequon very blunt Maâ—â—a ka tau caushana will you not trade Mowhacheiâ— Indian gold N 〈◊〉 a boy Nicke squaw a maide Nean you Nippe water Nasamp pottadge Noâ—a sixe Nisquan the elbow Noenaset the third toe Nahenan a blacke bird Naw naunidge the middle finger Napet the arme Nitchicke the hand Nottoquap the skinne Nogcuâ— the heart Nobpaw nocke the breast bone Nequaw the thighes Netop a friend Nenmia give me Noeicantop how doe you Nâ—whaw nissis farewell Noei pauketan by and by kill Nenelah ha I le fight with you Noei comquocke a codfish Nepaupe stand by No otâ—ut a great journie Necautauh han no such matter Noewamma he laugheth Noeshow a father Nitka a mother Netchaw a brother Notâ—nquous a kinseman Nenomous a kinswoman Nau maeu nais my sonne Taunais my daughter No einshom give me corne Nemnis take it Nenimma nequitta ta auchu give me a span of any thing Neâ—â— nis ca su acke 2 fathome Notanumoi a little strong Negacâ—wgh-hi lend me Nâ—bâ—ks quam adiew Nâ—â— wiâ—yan come in Nauâ— seam much wearie Noe wammaw â—use I love you Net noe whaw missu a man of a middle stature O Ottucke a Deere Occone a Deere skinne Oquan the heele Ottump a bow Ottommaocke Tobacco Ottannapeake the chinne Occotâ—â—ke the throate Occasu halfe a quarter Vnquagh saw au you are cunning Ontoquos a Wolfe P Pow-wow a conjurer or wizard Petta sinna give me a pipe of Tobaco Peoke Colts-foote Pappouse a child Petucquanocke bread Picke a pipe Ponesanto make a fire Papowne
to get Geese for being much of the colour of a Goose he will place himselfe close by the water holding us his bob taile which is like a Goose necke the Geese seeing this counterfet Goose approach nigh to visit him who with a suddaine jerke apprehends his mistrustlesse prey The English kill many of these accounting them very good meate Their skinnes be a very deepe kind of Furre spotted white and black on the belly The Woolves bee in some respect different from them of other countries it was never knowne yet that a Woolfe ever set upon a man or woman Neyther do they trouble horses or cowes but swine goates and red calves which they take for Deare be often destroyed by them so that a red calfe is cheaper than a blacke one in that regard in Autumne and the beginning of the Spring these ravenous rangers doe most frequent our English habitations following the Deare which come downe at that time to those parts They be made much like a Mungrell being big boned laâ—ke paunched deepe breasted having a thicke necke and head pricke eares and long snoute with dangerous teeth long staring haire and a great bush taile it is thought of many that our English Mastiffes might be too hard for them but it is no such matter for they care no more for an ordinary Mastiffe than an ordinary Mastiffe cares for a Câ—â—re many good Dogges have beene spoyled with them Once a faire Grayhound hearing them at their howlings run out to chide them who was torne in peeces before he could be rescued One of them makes no more bones to runne away with a Pigge than a Dogge to runne away with a Marrow â—â—ne it is observed that they have no joynts from the head to the tayle which prevents them from leaping or suddaine turning as may appeare by what I shall shew you A certaine man having shot an Woolfe as he was feeding upon a Swine breaking his legge onely hee knew not how to devâ—se his death on a suddaine the Woolfe being a blacke one he was loath to spoyle his furre with a second shot his skinne being worth five or sixe pound Sterling wherefore hee resolved to get him by the tayle and thrust him into a River that was hard by which effected the Woolfe being not able to turne his joyntlesse body to bite him was taken That they cannot leape may appeare by this Woolfe whose mouth watering at a few poore impaled Kiddes would needes leape over a five-foote pale to be at them but his foote slipping in the rise he fell a little short of his desire and being hung in the Carpenters stockes howled so loud that he frighted away the Kids and called the English who killed him These be killed dayly in some place or other either by the English or Indian who have a certaine rate for every head Yet is there little hope of their utter destruction the Countrey being so spacious and they so numerous travelling in the Swamps by Kennels sometimes ten or twelve are of a company Late at night and early in the morning they set up their howlings and call their companies together at night to hunt at morning to sleepe in a word they be the greatest inconveniency the Countrey hath both for matter of dammage to private men in particular and the whole Countrey in generall CHAP. VII Beasts living in the water FOr all creatures that liv'd both by Land and Water they be first Otters which be most of them blacke whose furre is much used for Muffes and are held almost as deare as Beaver The flâ—sh of them is none of the best meate but their Oyle is of rare use for many things Secondly Martins a good furre for their bignesse Thirdly Musquashes which be much like a Beaver for shape but nothing neare so bigge the Male hath two stones which smell as sweete as Muske and being killed in Winter never lose their sweete smell These skinnes are no bigger than a Coney-skinne yet are sold for five shillings a peice being sent for Tokens into England One good skinne will perfume a whole house-full of cloathes if it be right and good Fourthly the Beaver concerning whom if I should at large discourse according to knowledge or information I might make a Volumne The wisedome and understanding of this Beast will almost conclude him a reasonable creature His shape is thicke and short having likewise short legs feete like a Mole before and behinde like a Gooâ—â— a broad tayle in forme like a shooe-soale very tough and strong his head is something like an Otters head saving that his teeth before be placed like the teeth of a Rabbet two above and two beneath sharpe and broad with which he cuts downe Trees as thicke as a mans thigh afterwards diuiding them into lengths according to the use they are appointed for If one Bever be too weake to carry the logge then another helpes him if they two be too weake then Multorum manibus grande levatur onus foure more adding their helpe being placed three to three which set their teeth in one anothers tough tayles and laying the loade on the two hindermost they draw the logge to the desired place That this may not seeme altogether incredible remember that the like almost may be seene in our Ants which will joyne sometimes seaven or eight together in the carrying of a burthen These Creatures build themselves houses of wood and clay close by the Ponds sides and knowing the Seasons build them answerable houses having them three stories high so that as land-floods are raised by great Raines as the waters arise they mount higher in their houses as they asswage they descend lower againe These houses are so strong that no creature saving an industrious man with his penetrating tooles can prejudice them their ingresse and egresse being vnder water These make likewise very good Ponds knowing whence a streame runnes from betweene two rising Hils they will there pitch downe piles of Wood placing smaller rubbish before it with clay and sods not leaving till by their Art and Industry they have made a firme and curious damme-head which may draw admiration from wise understanding men These creatures keepe themselves to their owne families never parting so long as they are able to keepe house together And it is commonly sayd if any Beaver accidentally light into a strange place he is made a drudge so long as he lives there to carry at the greater end of the logge unlesse he creepe away by stealth Their wisedome secures them from the English who seldome or neuer kills any of them being not patient to lay a long siege or to be so often deceived by their cunning evasions so that all the Beaver which the English have comes first from the Indians whose time and experience fits them for that imployment CHAP. VIII Of the Birds and Fowles both of Land and Water HAving shewed you the most desireable usefull and beneficiall creatures with the most offensive carrions