A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 3 – Chapter 10

A Key into the Language of America · Chapter 3 – Chapter 10

p. 54CHAP. III. Of Discourse and Newes.

Obs. Their desire of, and delight in newes, is great as the Atkemans, and all men, more or leste; a stranger that can relate newes in their owne language, they will st…le him …, a God.

Obs. … manner is upon any tidings to sit round double or treble or more as their numbers be; I have seene ne…r a thousand in a round, where … could not well neere halfe so many have si…ten: Every man hath his pipe of their Tobacco, and a d…epe silence they make, an… attention give to him that speaketh; and many of them will deliver themselves either in a relation of news, or in a consultation with very emphaticall speech and great action, commonly an houre, and sometimes two houres together.

p. 56Obs. They are impatient (as all men and God himselfe is) when their speech is not attended and listened to.

Obs. This word and and the next are words of great flattery which they use each to other, but constantly to their Princes at their speeches, for which, if they be cloquent, they esteeme them Gods as Heroa among the Iewes.

Obs. As one answered me when I had discoursed about many points of God, of the creation. of the soule, of the danger of it, and the saving of it, he assented; but when I spake o… the rising againe of the body, he cryed out, I shall never believe this.

Obs. Canounicus, the old high Sachim of the Nariganset Bay (a wise and peaceable Prince) …nce in a solemne Oration to my self, in a so…emne assembly, using this word, said, I have p. 58never suffered any wrong to be offered to th… Engl…sh since they landed; nor never will: … often repeated this word, …, Eng▪ lishman; if the Englishman speake true, if h… meane truly, then shall I goe to my grave i… peace, and hope that the Eng…sh and my poste… ritie shall live in love and peace tog…ther. … replied, that he had no cause (as I hoped) t… question Englishmans, … that i… faithfulnesse he having had long experience o… their friendlincsse and trust…nefle. He tooke… sticke, and broke it into ten pieces▪ and relat… ten instances (laying downe a sticke to ever… instance) which gave him cause thus to fear… and say; I satisfied him in some presently, a… presented the rest to the Governours of th… English, who, I hope, will be far from givin… just cause to have … to question thei… Wunnaumwâuanck, or faithfulnesse.

Obs. This word they use just as the Greeke …ngue doth that verbe, foreign: for believing … obeying as it is often used in the new Te…meni, and they say C…annáumatous, I will …ey you.

…his Ablative case absolute they much use, …nd comp ise much in little;

…is they call us, as much as to say, The…e …ngers.

Th…t is▪ Coat-men, or clothed.

Obs. This question they oft put to me: Why …ome the Englishmen hither? and measuring others by themselves; they say, It is because p. 60you want firing: for they, having burnt up the wood in one place, (wanting draughts to bring wood to them) they are faine to follow the wood; and so to remove to a fresh new place for the woods sake.

Obs. If it be in time of warre, he that is a Messenger runs swiftly, and at every towne the Messenger comes, a fresh Messenger is sent: he that is the last, comming within a mile or two of the Court, or chiefe house, he hollowes often and they that heare answer him. untill by mutuall hollowing and answering hee is brought to the place of audience whereby this meanes is gathered a great confluence of people to entertaine the newes.

…hommin, to paint; for, having no letters, …heir painting comes the neerest.

Obs. That they have often desired of me …pon many occasions; for their good and …eace, and the English also, as it hath pleased …od to vouchsafe opportunitie.

The generall Observation from their Discourse and Newes

The whole race of mankind is generally in…cted with an itching desire of hearing Newes.

more particular:

Mans restlesse soule hath restlesse eyes and eares.

…anders in change of sorrows, cares and feares.

p. 62Faine would it (Bee-like) suck by the ears, by the ey…

Something that might his hunger satisfie:

The Gospel, or Glad tidings onelyonly can,

Make glad the English, and the Indian.

CHAP. IX. Of the time of the day.

Obs. THey are punctuall in measuring the… Day by the Sunne, and their Night by the Moon and the Starres, and their lying much abroad in the ayre; and so living in the open fields, occasioneth even the youngest among… them to be very observant of those Heavenly Lights.

Obs. They are punctuall in their promises … keeping time; and sometimes have charged …ee with a lye for not punctually keeping …ime, though hindred.

The generall observation from their time of the day.

The Sunne and Moone, in the observation of all the sonnes of men, even the wildest a… the great Directors of the day and night; as … pleased God to appoint in the first Creation.

More particular.

The Indians find the Sun so sweet,

He is a God they say;

Giving them Light, and Heat, and Fruit,

And Guidance all the day.

They have no helpe of Clock or Watch,

And Sunne they overprize.

Having those artificiall helps, the Sun,

We unthankfully despise. (more bright

God is a Sunne and Shield, a thousand times

Indians, or English, though they see.

Yet how few prise his Light?

p. 65CHAP. X. Of the season of the Yeere.

Obs. They have thirteen Moneths accordi… to the severall Moo…es; and they give to ea… of them significant names: as,

Obs. If the yeere proove drie, they have great and solemne meetings from all parts at one high place, to supplicate their gods, and to beg…aine, and they will continue in this worship ten dayes, a fortnight; yea, three weekes, untill raine come.

Generall Observation from their Seasons of the Yeere.

The Sunne and Moone, and Starres and sea…s of the yeere doe preach a God to all the …onnes of men, that they which know no let…rs, doe yet read an eternall Power and God…ad in these:

More speciall.

The Sun and Moone and Stars doe preach,

…e Dayes and Nights sound out:

p. 68Spring. Summer, Fall, and Winter eke

Each MonethMonth and Yeere about.

2

So that the wildest sonnes of men

Without excuse shall say,

Gods righteous sentence past on us,

(In dreadfull Iudgement day.)

If so, what doome it theirs that see,

Not onelyonly Natures light;

But Sun of Righteousnesse, yet chose

To live in darkest Night?