A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 11 – Chapter 14

A Key into the Language of America · Chapter 11 – Chapter 14

p. 68CHAP. XI. Of Travell.

Obs. It is admirable to see, what paths their naked hardned feet have made in the wildernesse in most stony and rockie places.

Obs. The wildernesse being so vast, it is a mercy, that for a hire a man shall never want guides, who will carry provisions, and such as hire them over the Rivers and Brookes, and find out often times hunting-houses, or other lodgings at night.

Obs. I have heard of many English lost, and have oft been lost my selfe, and my selfe and others have often been found, and succoured by the Indians.

Obs. They are generally quick on foot, …rought up from the breasts to running: their …gs being also from the wombe stretcht and …ound up in a strange way on their Cradle …ackward, as also annointed; yet have they …ome that excell: so that I have knowne many …f them run betweene fourescoure or an hun…red miles in a Summers day, and back with…n two dayes: they doe also practice running …f Races; and commonly in the Summer, …hey delight to goe without shoes, although …hey have them hanging at their backs: they …re so exquisitely skilled in all the body and …owels of the Countrey (by reason of their …untings) that I have often been guided twen…ie, thirtie, sometimes fortie miles through …e woods, a streight course. out of any path.

Obs. Having no Horses, they covet them above other Cattell, rather preferring ease in riding, then their profit and belly, by milk and butter from Cowes and Goats, and they are loth to come to the English price for any.

Obs. These thick Woods and Swamps (like the Boggs to the Irish) are the Refuges for Women and children in Warre, whil'st the p. 73men fight. As the Country is wondrous full of Brookes and Rivers, so doth it also abound with fresh ponds, some of many miles compasse.

Obs. They are joyfull in meeting of any in travell, and will strike fire either with stones or sticks, to take Tobacco, and discourse a little together.

Obs. They use this word properly in wandring toward Winter night, in which case I have been many a night with them, and many times also alone, yet alwayes mercifully preserved.

p. 75Obs. Sometimes a man shall meet a lame man or an old man with a Staffe: but generally a Staffe is a rare sight in the hand of the eldest, their Constitution is so strong, I have upon occasion travelled many a score, yea many a hundreth mile amongst them, without need of stick or staffe for any appearance of danger amongst them: Yet it is a rule amongst them, that it is not g…od for a man to travell without a Weapon nor alone.

Obs. I once travalled with neere 200 who had word of neere 700. Enemies in the way, yet generally they all resolved that it was a shame to feare and goe back.

Obs. If any Robbery fall out in Travell, between Person of diverse States, the offended State sends for Justice, If no Justice bee granted and recompence made, they grant out a kind of Letter of Mart to take satisfaction themselues, yet they are carefull not to exceed in taking from others, beyond the Proportion of their owne losse.

Obs. I could never heare that Murthers or Robberies are comparably so frequent, as in parts of Europe amongst the English, French, &c.

p. 78Generall Observations of their Travell.

As the same Sun shines on the Wildernesse that doth on a Garden! so the same faithfull and all sufficient God, can comfortfeede and safely guide even through a desolate howling Wildernesse.

More particular.

God makes a Path, provides a Guide,

And feeds in Wildernesse!

His glorious Name while breath remaines,

O that I may confesse.

Lost many a time, I have had no Guide,

No House, but hollow Tree!

In stormy VVinter night no Fire,

No Food, no Company:

In him I have found a House, a Bed,

A Table, Company:

No Cup so bitter, but's made sweet,

VVhen Go'd shall Sweetning be.

p. 79CHAP. XII. Concerning the Heavens and Heavenly Lights,

(Obs.) By which they acknowledge the Sun, and adore for a God or divine power.

Obs. And so they use the same rule, and words for the course of the Moone in the Night, as they use for the course of the Sun by Day, which wee mentioned in the Chapter of the …oure, or time of the Day concerning the Sunnes rising, course, or Sunne setting.

Obs. The Moone so old, which they measure by the setting of it, especially when it shines till Wómpan, or day.

Obs. By occasion of their frequent lying in the Fields and Woods, they much observe the Starres, and theirvery children can give Names to many of them, and observe their Motions, and they have the same words for their rising-courses and setting, as for the Sun or Moone, as before.

Mosk or Paukúnawaw the great Beare, or Charles Waine, which words Mosk or Paukúnnawwaw signifies a Beare, which is so much the more observable, because, in most Languages that signe or Constellation is called the Beare.

Generall Observations of the Heauenly Bodies.

The wildest sons of Men heare the preaching p. 81of the Heavens, the Sun, Moone, and Starres, yet not seeking after God the Maker are justly condemned, though they never have nor despise other preaching, as the civiliz'd World hath done.

More particular.

When Sun doth rise the Starres doe set,

Yet there's no need of Light,

God shines a Sunne most glorious,

When Creatures all are Night.

The very Indian Boyes can give,

To many Starres their name,

And know their Course and therein doe,

Excell the English tame.

English and Indians none enquire,

Whose hand these Candles hold:

Who gives these Stars their NamesIob. 35.Job 35

More bright'ten thousand fold. (himself

p. 82CHAP. XIII. Of the Weather.

Obs. It may bee wondred why since New-England is about 12. degrees neerer to the Sun yet some part of Winter it is there ordinarily more cold then here in England: the reason is plaine: All Ilands are warmer then maine Lands and Continents, England being an Iland, Englands winds are Sea winds, which are commonly more thick and vapoury, and warmer winds: The Nor-West wind (which occcasioneth New-England cold) comes over the cold frozen Land, and over many millions of Loads of Snow: and yet the pure wholsomnesse of the Aire is wonderfull, and the warmth of the Sunne, such in the sharp▪ est weather, that I have often seen the Natives Children runne about starke naked in p. 83the coldest dayes, and the Indians Men and Women lye by a Fire, in the Woods in the …oldest nights, and I have been often out my …elfe such nights without fire, mercifully, and …onderfully preserved.

Obs. From this the Natives conceiving … consimilitude between our Guns and Thunder, they call a Gunne Péskunck, and to discharge Peskhommin that is to thunder.

Observation generall of the VVeather.

That Judgement which the Lord Jesu… pronounced against the Weather-wise (bu… ignorant of the God of the weather) will fal… most justly upon those Natives, and all me… who are wise in Naturall things, but willingly blind in spirituall.

English and Indians spie a Storme.

and seeke a hiding place:

O hearts of stone that thinke and dreame.

Th'everlasting stormes t'out-face.

Proud filthy Sodome saw the Sunne,

Shine … her head most bright.

p. 85The very day that turn'd she was

To stincking heaps, 'fore night.

How many millions now alive,

VVithin few yeeres shall rot?

O blest that Soule, whose portion is,

That Rocke that changeth not.

CHAP. XIV. Of the Winds.

Obs. Some of them account of seven, some …ight, or nine; and in truth, they doe upon …he matter reckon and observe not onelyonly the …oure, but the eight Cardinall winds, although …hey come not to the accurate division of …he 32. upon the 32. points of the compasse, as we doe.

Obs. This is the pleasingest, warmest wind in the Climate, most desired of the Indians, making faire weather ordinarily; and therefore they have a Tradition, that to the Southwest, which they call Sowwaniu, the gods chiefly dwell; and hither the soules of all their Great and Good men and women goe.

This Southwest wind is called by the New-English, the Sea turne, which comes from the Sunne in the morning, about nine or ten of the clock Southeast, and about South, and then strongest Southwest in the after-noone, and towards night, when it dies away.

It is rightly called the Sea turne, because the wind commonly all the Summer, comes p. 87off from the North and Northwest in the …ight, and then turnes againe about from the South in the day: as Salomon speaks of the va…itie of the Winds in their changes, Eccles. 1. 6.

Generall Observations of the Winds.

God is wonderfully glorious in bringing the Winds out of his Treasure, and riding upon the wings of those Winds in the eyes of all the sonnes of men in all Coasts of the world.

More particular:

English and Indian both observe,

The various blasts of wind:

p. 88And both I have heard in dreadfull stormes

Cry out aloud, I have sinn'd.

But when the stormes are turn'd to calmes,

And seas grow smooth and still:

Both turne (like Swine) to wallow in,

The filth of former will.

'Tis not a storme on sea, or shore,

'Tis not the VVord that can;

But 'tis the Spirit or Breath of God

That must renèw the man.