A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. Of Fish and Fishing.
| NAmaùs,-suck. | Fish, Fishes. |
| Pauganaùt, tamwock. | Cod, |
Which is the first that comes a little be…re the Spring.
| Qunnamáug-suck. | Lampries, |
The first that come in the Spring into the fresh Rivers.
| Aumsûog, & Munnawha…eaûg. | A Fish somewhat like a Herring. |
| Missúck…ke-kéquock. | Basse. |
The Indians (and the English too) make a daintie dish of the Uppaquóntup, or head of this Fish; and well they may, the braines and fat of it being very much, and sweet as marrow.
| Kaúposh-shaûog. | Siurgeon. |
Obs. Divers part of the Countrey abound with this Fish; yet the Natives for the goodnesse and greatnesse of it, much prize it, and will neither furnish the English with so many, nor so cheape, that any great trade is like to be made of it, untill the English themselves are fit to follow the fishing.
The Natives venture one or two in a Canow, and with an harping Iron, or such like Instrument sticke this fish, and so hale it into their Canow; sometimes they take them by their nets, which they make strong of Hemp.
| Ashop. | Their Nets. |
Which they will set thwart some little River or Cov… wherein they kil Basse (at the fall of the water) with their arrows, or sharp sticks, especially if headed with Iron, gotten from the English, &c.
| Aucùp. | A little Cove or Creeke. |
| Aucppâwese. | A very-little one. |
| Wawwhunnekesûog. | Mackrell. |
| Mishquammaūquock. | Red fish, Salmon. |
| O…acóntuck. | A fat sweet fish, something like a Haddock. |
| Mishcùp-paûog, Sequanamauquock. | Breame. |
Obs. Of this fish there is abundance which the Natives drie in the Sunne and smoake; and some English begin to salt, both wayes they keepe all the yeere; and it is hoped it may be as well accepted as Cod at a Market, and better, if once knowne.
| Taut-auog. | Sheeps-heads. |
| Neeshaūog Sassammaūquock Nquittéconna…og▪ | Ecles. |
| Tatackommmâūog. | Porpuses. |
| Pótop-pauog. | Whales: |
Which in some plac…s are often cast up; I have seene some of them, but not above sixtie foot long: The Natives cut them out in severall parcells, and give and send farre and neere for an acceptable present, or dish.
| Mi…sêsu. | The whole. |
| Poquêsu. | The halfe. |
| Waskèke. | The Whalebone. |
| Wussúckqun. | A taile. |
| Aumaūog. | They are fiishing. |
| Ntaûmen. | I am fishing. |
| Kuttaūmen? | Doe you fish? |
| Nnattuckqunnūwem. | I goe a fishing. |
| Aumáchick, Natuckqunnuwâchick. | Fishes. |
| Aumaûi. | He is gone to fish. |
| Awacenick kukkattineanaùmen? | What doe you fish for? |
| Ashaūnt-teaūg. | Lobsters. |
| Opponenaūhock. | O…sters. |
| Sickis…uog. | Clams. |
Obs. This is a sweet kind of shelfish, which all Indians generally over the Countrey, Winter and Summer delight in; and at low wate… the women dig for them: this fish, and th… naturall liquor of it, they boile, and it make… their broth and their Nasaūmp (which is kind of thickned broth) and their bread sea▪ sonable and savory, in stead of Salt: and fo… that the English Swine dig and root thes… Clams wheresoever they come, and watc… the low water (as the Indian women do) therefore of all the English Cattell, the Swine (a… also because of their filthy disposition) ar… most hatefull to all Natives, and they call …em filthy cut throats, &c.
| …équnnock …oquaûhock.. | A Horse-fish. |
Obs. This the English call Hens, a little …ck shel▪ fiish which the Indians wade deepe …d dive for, and after they have eaten the …eat there (in those which are good) they …eake out of the shell, about halfe an inch … a blacke part of it, of which they make …eir Suckaūhock, or black money, which is … them pretious.
| …eteaûhock. | The Periwinckle. |
Of …hich they make their Wómpam, or white mo…y, of halfe the value of their Suckáwhock, or …cke money, of which more in the Chapter … their Coyne.
| …mménakiss, …mmenakissamen …? | Have you taken store? |
| …mménakiss. | I have taken store. |
| …. | I have killed many. |
| …ge. | I have caught none. |
| …manep. | A fishing-line. |
| …manapeash. | Lines. |
The Natives take exceeding great paine… in their fishing, especially in watching thei… seasons by night; so that frequently they lay their naked bodies many a cold night on th… cold shoare about a fire of two or three stick… and oft in the night search their Nets; an… sometimes goe in and stay longer in froze… water.
| Hoquaùn aûnash. | Hooke, hookes. |
| Peewâsicks. | Little hookes. |
| Maúmacocks. | Great hookes. |
| Nponamouôog. | I set nets for them. |
| Npunnouwaùmen. | I goe to search my nets. |
| Mihtúck quashep. | An Eele-pet. |
| Kunnagqunneuteg. | A greater sort. |
| Onawangónnakaun. | A baite. |
| Yo onawangónnatees | Ba…te with this. |
| Moamitteaug. | A little sort of fish, |
halfe as big as Sprats, plentifull in Winter.
| Paponaumsūog. | A winter fish, |
whic… comes up in the brookes and rivulets; so… call them Frost fish, from their comming … from the Sea into fresh Brookes, in times … frost and snow.
| Qunôsuog. | A fresh fish; |
which t… Indians break the Ice in fresh ponds, when th… take also many other sorts: for, to my kno… ledge the Country yeelds many sorts of oth… fish, which I mention not.
The generall Observation of Fish.
How many thousands of Millions of those under water, sea-Inhabitants, in all Coasts of the world preach to the sonnes of men on shore, to adore their glorious Maker, by presenting themselves to Him as themselves (in a manner) present their lives from the wild Ocean, to the very doores of men, their fellow creatures in New England.
More Particular.
What Habacuck once spake, mine eyes
Have often seene most true,
The greater fishes devoure the lesse,
And cruelly pursue.
Forcing them though Coves and Creekes,
To leape on driest sand,
To gaspe on earthie element, or die
By wildest Indians hand.
Christs little ones must hunted be
Devour'd; yet rise as Hee.
And eate up those which now a while
Their fierce devourers be.