A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 18
CHAP. XVIII. Of the Sea.
| VVEchêkum Kitthan. | The Sea. |
| Paumpágussit. | The Sea-God, |
or, that name which they give that Deitie or Godhead which they conceive to be in the Sea.
Obs. Mishoòn an Indian Boat, or Canow made of a Pine or Oake, or Chesnut-tree: I have seene a Native goe into the woods with his hatchet carrying onelyonly a Basket of Corne with him, & stones to strike fire when he had feld his tree (being a chesnut) he made him a little House or shed of the bark of it, he puts fire and followes the burning of it with fire, in the midst in many places: his corne he boyles and hath the Brook by him, and sometimes angles for a little fish: but so hee continues burning and hewing untill he hath within ten or twelve dayes (lying there at his worke alone) finished, and (getting hands,) lanched his Boate; with which afterward hee ventures out to fish in the Ocean.
| Mishoonémese. | A little Canow. |
Some of them will not well carry above three or foure: but some of them twenty, thirty, forty men.
| Wunnauanoûnuck. | A Shall…p. |
| Wunnauanounuckquèse. | A Skiffe. |
Obs. Although themselves have neither, yet they give them such names, which in their Language signifieth carrying Vessells.
| Kitônuck. | A Ship. |
| Kitónuckquese. | A little ship. |
| Mishittouwand. | A great Canow. |
| Peewà…u. | A little one. |
| Paugautemissaûnd. | An Oake Canow. |
| Kowawwaûnd. | A pine Canow. |
| Wompmissaûnd. | A chesnut Canow. |
| Ogwhan. | A boat adrift. |
| Wuskon-tógwhan. | It will goe a drift. |
| Cuttunnamiinnea. | Help me to launch. |
| Cuttunnummútta. | Let us launch. |
| Cuttúnnamoke. | Launch. |
| Cuttannummous. | I will help you. |
| Wutkunck. | A paddle or Oare. |
| Namacóuhe cómishoon. | Lend me your Boate. |
| Paûtousnenótehunck | Bring hither my paddle. |
| Comishoónhom? | Goe you by water? |
| Chémosh-chémeck. | Paddle or row. |
| Mauminikish & Maumanetepweéas. | Pull up, or row lustily. |
| Sepākehig. | A Sayle. |
| Sepagehommaûta. | Let us saile. |
| Wunnâgehan. | We have a faire wind. |
Obs. Their owne reason hath taught them, to pull of a Coat or two and set it up on a small …ole, with which they will saile before a wind ten, or twenty mile, &c.
| Wauaúpunish. | Hoyse up. |
| Wuttáutnish. | Pull to you. |
| Nókanish. | Take it downe. |
| Pakétenish. | Let goe or let slie. |
| Nikkoshkowwaûmen | We shall be drown'd. |
| Nquawu pshâwmen. | We overset. |
| Wussaûme pechepaûsha. | The Sea comes in too fast upon us. |
| Maumaneeteántass. | Be of good courage. |
Obs. It is wonderfull to see how they will venture in those Canoes, and how (being oft overset as I have my …elfe been with them) they will swim a mile, yea two or more safe to Land: I having been necessitated to passe waters diverse times with them, it hath pleased God to make them many times the instruments of my preservation: and when sometimes in great danger I have questioned safety, they have said to me: Feare not, if we be overset I will carry you safe to Land.
| Paupautuckquash. | Hold water. |
| Kinnequass. | Steere. |
| Tiáckomme kinniquass. | Steere right. |
| Kunnosnep. | A Killick, or Anchor. |
| Chowwophómmin. | To cast over-boord. |
| Chouwóphash. | Cast over-board. |
| Touwopskhómmke. | Cast anchor. |
| Mishitt…shin. | It is a storme. |
| Awêpesha. | It caulmes. |
| Awêpu. | A calme. |
| Nanouwashin. | A great caulme, |
| Tamóccon. | Floud. duplicate page duplicate page |
| Nanashowetamóccon | Halfe Floud. |
| Keesaqúshin. | High water. |
| Taumacoks. | VponUpon the Floud. |
| Mishittommóckon. | A great Floud. |
| Maūchetan & skàt. | Ebb. |
| Mittâeskat. | A low Ebb. |
| Awánick Paûdhuck? | Who comes there? |
Obs. I have knowne thirty or forty of their Canowes fill'd with men, and neere as many more of their enemies in a Sea-fight.
| Caupaūshess.▪ | Goe ashoare. |
| Caupaushâuta. | Let us goe ashoare. |
| Wusséheposh. | Heave out the water. |
| Asképunish. | Make fast the Boat. |
| Kspúnsh & Kspunemoke. | Tie it fast. |
| Mauminikish. | Tie it hard. |
| Neene Cuthómwock. | Now they goe off. |
| Kekuthomwushánnick. | They are gone already. |
Generall Observations of the Sea.
How unsearchable are the d…th of the Wisedome and Power of God in separating from Europe, Asia and … such a mightie vast continent as America i… and that for so many ages? as also, by such a Westerne Ocean of about three thousand of English miles breadth in passage over?
More particular:
They see Gods wonders that are call'd
Through dreadfull Seas to passe,
In tearing winds and roaring seas,
And clames as smooth as glasse.
I have in Europes ships, oft been
In King of terrours hand;
When all have cri'd, Now, now we sinck,
Yet God brought safe to land.
Alone 'mongst Indians in Canoes,
Sometime o…re-turn'd, I have been
Halfe inch from death, in Ocean deepe,
Gods wonders I have seene.