A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 17
CHAP. XVII. Of Beasts, &c.
| …nashimwock. | Beasts. |
| …tasuog. | Catt…ll. |
This name the Indians give to tame … yea, and Birds also which they keepe … …bout their houses:
| Muckquashim-wock. | Wolves. |
| Moattôqus. | A blacke Wolfe. |
| Tummòck quaûog Nóosup Súmhup. paûog. | Beaver,-Beavers. |
Obs. This is a Beast of wonder; for cutting and drawing of great pieces of trees with his teeth, with which, and sticks and earth I have often seen, faire streames and rivers damm'd and stopt up by them: upon these streames thus damm'd up, he builds his house with stories, wherein he sits drie in his chambers, or goes into the water at his pleasure.
| Mishquashim. | A red Fox. |
| P…quawus. | A gray Fox. |
Obs. The Indians say they have black Foxes; which they have often seene, but never could take any of them: they say they are Manittóoes, that is, Gods Spirits or Divine powers, as they say of every thing which they cannot comprehend.
| Aûsup-pannog. | Racoone, Racoones |
| Nkèke, nkéquock. | Otter, Otters. |
| Pussoûgh. | The wildcat. |
Ockqutchaun-n…g. A wild beast of a reddish haire about the bignesse of a Pig, and rooting like a Pig; from whence they give this name to all our Swine.
| Mishánneke-quock. | Squirrill, quirrils. |
| Anéqus anéquussuck. | A litle coloured Squirril… |
| Waûtuckques. | The Conie. |
Obs. They have a reverend esteeme of this Creature, and conceive there is some Deitie in it.
| Attuck, quock | Deere. |
| Noonatch noónatchaug. | |
| Moosqu…n. | A Fawn. |
| Wawwunnes. | A young Bucke. |
| Kutt omp & Paucotta…waw. | A great Bucke. |
| Aunan quunèke. | A D…. |
| Q…nneq …wese. | A little young D…. |
| Naynayoûmewot. | A Horse. |
| Cowsnuck. | Cowes. |
| …. | Goats. |
| Hégsuck. | Swine. |
| Pigsuck. |
Obs. This Termination suck, is common in their language; and therefore they adde it to our English Cattell, not else knowing what names to give them;
| Anùm. | A D…g. |
Y…t the varietie of their Dialects …nd proper speech within thirtie or fort… … each of other, is very great, as appeares in that word,
| Anùm, | The Cowwese… Dialect. |
| Ayim, | The Narriganset Dialect. |
| Arúm. | The Qunnippinck Dialect. |
| Alùm. | The Neepmuck Dialect. |
So that although some pronounce not L, nor R. yet it is the most proper Dialect of other places, contrary to many reports.
| Enewashim. | A Male. |
| Squáshim. | A Female. |
| Moos-sóog. | The great Oxe, or rather a red Deere. |
| Askùg. | A Snake. |
| Móaskug. | Black Snake. |
| Sések. | Ratile Snake. |
| Natúppw…ck. | …hey feed. |
| Téaqua natuphéttit? | Wha… shall they eat? |
| Natuphéttitch yo san…ukamick. | Let them feed on this ground. |
The generall Observation of the Beasts.
The Wildernesse is a cleere resemblance of the world, where greedie and furious men persecute and devoure the harmlesse and innocent as the wilde beasts pursue and devoure the Hinds and Roes.
More particular.
The Indians, Wolves, yea, Dogs and Swine,
I have knowne the Deere devoure,
Gods children are sweet prey to all;
But yet the end proves sowre.
For though Gods children lose their lives,
They shall not loose an haire;
But shall arise, and judge all those,
That now thier Iudges are.
New-England's wilde beasts are not fierce,
As other wild beasts are:
Some men are not so fierce, and yet
From mildnesse are they farre.