A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI. Of the Earth, and the Fruits thereof, &c.
| Aûke, & Sanaukamuck. | Earth or Land. |
| Nittauke Nissa wnâwkamuck. | My Land. |
| Wuskaukamuck. | New ground. |
| Aquegunnitteash. | Fields worne out. |
| Mihtúck-quash. | Trees. |
| Pauchautaqunnêsash. | Branch, Branches. |
| Wunnèpog-guash. | Leafe, leaves. |
| Wattap. | A root of Tree, |
| Séip. | A River. |
| Toyùsk. | A bridge. |
| Sepoêse. | A little River. |
| Sepoêmese. | A little Rivelet. |
| Takêkum. | A Spring. |
| Takekummûo? | Is there a Spring. |
| Sepûo? | Is there a River? |
| Toyusquanûo. | Is there a Bridge. |
Obs. The Natives are very exact and punctuall in the bounds of their Lands, belonging to this or that Prince or People, (even to a River, Brooke) &c. And I have knowne them make bargaine and sale amongst themselves for a small piece, or quantity of Ground: notwithstanding a sinfull opinion amongst many that Christians have right to Heathens Lands: but of the delusion of that phrase, I have spoke in a discourse concerning the Indians Conversion.
| Paugautemisk. | An Oake. |
| Wómpimish. | A Chesnut Tree. |
| Wómpimineash. | Chesnutts. |
Obs. The Indians have an Art of drying their Chesnuts, and so to preserve them in their barnes for a daintie all the yeare.
| Anáuchemineash. | Akornes. |
These Akornes also they drie, and in case of want of Corne, by much boyling they make a good dish of them: yea some times in plentie of Corne doe they eate these Acornes for a Novelty.
| Wússoquat. | A Wallnut Tree. |
| Wusswaquatómineug. | Wallnut. |
Of these Wallnuts they make an excellent Oyle good for many uses, but especially for their annoynting of their heads. And of the chips of the Walnut-Tree (the barke taken off) some English in the Countrey make excellent Beere both for Tast, strength, colour, and in offensive opening operation:
| Sasaunckapâmuck. | The Sassafrasse Tree. |
| Mishquáwtuck. | The Cedar tree. |
| Cówaw-ésuck. | Pine-young Pine. |
| Wenomesippaguash. | The Vine-Tree. |
| Micúckaskeete. | A Medow. |
| Tataggoskituash. | A fresh Medow. |
| Maskituash. | Grasse or Hay. |
| Wékinash-quash. | Reed, Reedes. |
| Manisimmin. | To cut or mow. |
| Qussuckomineânug. | The Cherry Tree. |
| Wuttáhimneash. | Strawberries. |
Obs. This Berry is the wonder of all the Fruits growing naturally in those parts: It is of it selfe Excellent: …o that one of the chiefest Doctors of England was wont to say, that God could have made, but God never did make a better Berry: In some parts where the Natives have planted, I have many times seen as many as would filla good ship within few miles compasse: the Indians bruise them in a Morter, and mixe them with meale and make Strawberry bread.
| Wuchipoquámeneash. | A kind of sharp Fruit like a Barbary in tast. |
Sasemineash another sharp cooling Fruit growing in fresh Waters all the Winter, Excellent in conserve against Feavers.
| Wenomeneash. | Grapes. |
| Wuttahimnasippaguash. | Strawberry leaves. |
| Peshaûiuash. | Violet leaves. |
| Nummoúwinneem. | I goe to gather. |
| Mowinne-aûog. | He or they gather. |
| Atauntowash. | Clime the Tree. |
| Ntáuntawem. | I clime. |
| Punnoûwash. | Come downe. |
| Npunnowaumen. | I come downe. |
| Attitaash. | Hur…le-berries. |
Of which there are divers sorts sweete like Currants, some opening, some of a binding nature.
Saūtaash are these Currants dried by the Natives, and so preserved all the yeare, whi…h they beat to powder, and mingle it with their parcht meale, and make a delicate dish which they cal Sautáuthig; which is as sweet to them as plum or spice cake to the English.
They also make great use of their Strawberries having such abundance of them, making Strawberry bread, and having no other Food for many dayes, but the English have exceeded, and make good Wine both of their Grapes and Strawberries also in some places as I have often tasted.
| Ewáchim-neash. | Corne. |
| Scannémeneash. | Seed-Corne. |
| Wompiscannémeneash. | White seed-corne. |
Obs. There be diverse sorts of this Corne and of the Colours: yet all of it either boil… in milke, or buttered, if the use of it wer… knowne and received in England (it is the opinion of some skillfull in physick) it migh… save many thousand lives in England, occasioned by the binding nature of English wheat the Indian Corne keeping the body in a constant moderate loosenesse.
| Aukeeteaûmen. | To plant Corne. |
| Outtáunemun. | To plant Corne. |
| Anakáusu. | A Labourer. |
| Anakáusichick. | Labourers. |
| Aukeeteaûmitch. | Planting time. |
| Aukeeteáhettit. | When they set Corne. |
| Nummautaukeeteaûmen. | I have done planting. |
| Anaskhómmin. | To how or break up. |
Obs. The Women set or plant, weede, and hill, and gather and barne all the corne, and Fruites of the field: Yet sometimes … …an himselfe, (either out of love to h… … … care for his Children, or being an … …an) will help the Woman which (by the …ustome of the Countrey) they are n… …ound to.
When a field is to be broken up▪ they … …very loving sociable speedy way to disp… …: All the neighbours men and Women … …, fifty, a hundred &c, joyne, and come in to …elp freely.
With friendly joyning they breake up th…ir …elds, build their Forts, hunt the …, …op and kill fish in th… Rivers, it being true …ith them as in all the World in the Affaires … Earth or Heaven: By concord little …hings grow great, by discord the greatest …ome to nothing Concordiâ parvae res crescunt, …iscordiâ magnae dilabuntur.
| …naskhig-anash. | How, Howes. |
| …naskhómwock. | They how. |
| …naskhommonteâ…min. | They break for me. |
| …naskhomwáutow…win. | A breaking up How. |
The Indian Women to this day (notwith…anding our Howes, doe use their naturall …owes of shells and Wood.
| Monaskúnnemun. | To weede. |
| Monaskunnummaùtowwin. | A weeding or broad How. |
| Petascunnemun, | To hill the Corne. |
| Kepenú…min & Wu…tunnemun. | To gather Corne. |
| Núnnowwa. | Harvest time. |
| Anoùant. | At harvest. |
| Wuttúnnemitch-Ewáchim. | When harvest is in. |
| Paufinnummin. | To dry the corne. |
Which they doe carefully upon heapes and Mats many dayes, before they barne it upcovering it up with Ma…at night, and opening when the Sun is hot.
| Sokenug. | A heap of corne. |
Obs. The woman of the family will commonly raise two or three heaps of twelve fifteene, or twentie bushells a heap, which they drie inround broad heaps; and if she hav… helpe of her children or friends much more…
| Pockhómmin. | To beat or thrash out. |
| Npockhómmin. | I am threshing. |
| Cuppockhómmin? | Doe you thrash? |
| Wuskokkamuckómeneash. | New ground Corne. |
| Nquitawánnanash. | One basket fulll. |
| Munnote,-tash. | Basket, Baskets. |
| Máûseck. | A great one |
| Peewâsick. | A little one. |
| Wus…aumepewâsick. | Too little. |
| Pokowánnanash | Halfe a basket full. |
| Necsow…manash. | Two baskets full. |
| Shóanash. | Three. |
| Yowanannash. | Foure, &c. |
| Ani…ash. | Rotton corne. |
| Wawéekanash. | Sweet corne. |
| Tawhitch quitche máuntamen? | Why doe you smell to it? |
| Auqúnnash. | Barnes. |
| Necawnaúquanash. | Old barnes. |
Askútasquash, their Vine aples, which the English from them call Squashe… about the bignesse of Apples of severall colours, a sweet, light wholesome refreshing.
| Uppakumineash. | The seed of them. |
The Observation generall of the Fruits of the Earth.
God hath not left himselfe without witin all parts and coasts of the world; the raines and fruitfull seasons, the Earth, Trees, Plants, &c. filling mans heart with food and gladnesse, witnesseth against, and condemneth man for his unthankfulnesse and unfruitfulnesse towards his Maker.
More particular:
…s thousands since, God gaue command
(as we in Scripture find)
… Earth and Trees & Plants should bring
Forth fruits each in his kind.
…he Wildernesse remembers this,
The wild and howling land
…rs the toyling labour of,
The wil…est Indians hand.
…an forgets his Maker, who,
am'd him in Righteousnesse.
…adise in Paradise, now worse
…hen Indian Wildernesse…