A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Of Marriage.
| VVuskéne. | A young man. |
| Keegsquaw. | A Virgin or Maide. |
| Segaûo. | A Widdower. |
| Segousquaw. | A Widdow. |
| Wussénetam. | He goes a wooing. |
| Nosenemuck. | He is my sonne in Law, |
| Wussenetûock, Awetawátuock. | They make a …atch. |
Obs. Single fornication they count no sin… but after Mariage (which they solemnize by consent of Parents and publique approbation publiquely) then they count it hainoufer either of them to befalse.
| Mammaûsu. | An adulterer. |
| Nummam mógwunewò | He hath wronged my bed. |
| Pallè nochisquaûaw. | He or She hath committed adultery. |
Obs. In this case the wronged party ma… put away or keepe the party offending: commonly, if the Woman be false, the offende… Husband will be solemnely revenged upo… the offendor, before many witnesses, by many blowes and wounds, and if it be to Death, yet the guilty resists not, nor is his Death revenged.
| Nquittócaw. | He hath one Wife. |
| Neesocaw. | He hath two Wives. |
| Sshocowaw. | He hath three. |
| Yocowaw. | Foure Wives, &c. |
Their Number is not stinted, yet the chief Nation in the Country, the Narrigansets (generally) have but one Wife.
Two causes they generally alledge for their many Wives.
First desire of Riches, because the Women …ring in all the increase of the …ield, &c. …he Husband onelyonly fisheth, hunteth, &c.
Scecondly, their long sequestring themselves from their wives after conception, un…ill the child be weaned, which with some is …ong after a yeare old, generally they keep …heir children long at the breast:
| Committamus. | Your Wife. |
| Cowéewo. | |
| …ahanawatu? ta shincommaugemus. | How much gave you for her? |
| …apannetashom paûgatash. | Fivefathome of their Money. |
| …utta, énada shoasuck ta shompa… gatash | Six, or seven, or eight Fathome. |
If some great mans Daughter Piuckquom▪ … ten ….
Obs. …nerally the Husband gives these payments for a Dowrie, (as it was in Israell) to the Father or Mother, or guardian of the Maide. To this purpose if the man be poore his Friends and neighbours doe pummenúmm… te áuguash, that is contribute Money towar… the Dowrie.
| Numm ttamus. | My Wife. |
| Nuliogana. | |
| Wauma…su. | Loving. |
| Wunn…kesu. | Proper. |
| Maan…u. | Sober and chast. |
| Muchick…hea. | Fruifull. |
| Cutchashekeamis? | How many children have you had? |
| Nquitt…kea. | I have had one. |
| …. | Two, &c. |
Obs. They commonly ab…und with Children, and increase mightily; except th… plauge fall amongst them or other lesser sicknesses and then having no meanes of recovery, they perish wonderfully.
| …atoû ene…chaw. | She is falling into Travell. |
| Néechaw. | She is in Travell. |
| Paugco…che nechaúwaw. | She is already delivered. |
| Kitummâyi-mes-néchaw. | She was just now delivered. |
Obs. It hath pleased God in wonderfull manner to moderate that curse of the sorrowes of Child-bearing to these poore Indian Women: So that ordinarily they have a wonderfull more speedy and easie Travell, and delivery then the Women of Europe: not that I thinke God is more gracious to them above other Women, but that it followes, First from the hardnesse of their constitution, in which respect they beare their sorrowes the easier.
Secondly from their extraordinary great labour (even above the labour of men) as in the Field, they sustaine the labour of it, in carrying of mighty Burthens, in digging clammes and getting other Shelfish from the Sea, in beating all their corne in Morters: &c. Most of them count it a shame f…r a Woman in Travell to make complaint, and many of them are scarcely heard to groane. I have often knowne in one Quarter of an houre a Woman merry in the House, and delivered and merry againe: and within two dayes abroad, and after foure or five dayes at worke, &c.
| Noosâwwaw. | A Nurse. |
| Noònsu Nonánnis. | A sucking Child: |
| Wunnunògan. | A Breast, |
| Wunnunnoganash. | Breasts. |
| Munnunnug. | Milke. |
| Aumaunemun. | To take from the breast, or Weane. |
Obs. They put away (as in Israell) frequently for other occasions beside Adultery, yet I know many Couples that have lived twenty, thirty, forty yeares together.
| Npakétam. | I will put her away. |
| Npakénaqun. | I am put away. |
| Aquiepakétash. | Doe not put-away. |
| Aquiepokesháttous Awetawátuonck. | Doe not break the knot of Marriage. |
| Tackquiūwock. | Twins. |
| Towiû… ûwock. | Orphans. |
| Ntouwiū. | I am an Orphane. |
| Wáuchaūnat. | A Guardian. |
| Wauchaúamachick. | Guardians. |
| Nullóquaso. | My charge or Pupill, or Ward. |
| Peewaūqun. | Looke well to him &c. |
Generall Observations of their Mariage.
God hath planted in the Hearts of the Wildest of the sonnes of Men, an High and Honourable esteeme of the Mariage bed, in somuch that they universally submit unto it, and hold the Violation of that Bed, Abominable, and accordingly reape the Fruit thereof in the abundant increase of posterity.
More Particular.
When Indians heare that some there are,
(That Men the Papists call)
Forbidding Mariage Bed and yet,
To thousand VVhoredomes fall:
They aske if such doe goe in Cloaths,
And whether God they know?
And when they heare they're richly clad,
know God, yet practice so.
No sure they're Beasts not men (say they,)
Mens shame and foule disgrace,
Or men have mixt with Beasts and so,
brought forth that monstrous Race.