A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 25 – Chapter 26

A Key into the Language of America · Chapter 25 – Chapter 26

p. 151CHAP. XXV. Of buying and selling.

Obs. Amongst themselves they trade their Corne, skins, Coates, Venison, Fish, &c. and sometimes come ten or twenty in a Company to trade amongst the English.

They have some who follow onelyonly making of Bowes, some Arrowes, some Dishes, and p. 152(the Women make all their earthen Vessells) some follow fishing, some hunting: most on the Sea-side make Money, and store up shells in Summer against Winter whereof to make their money.

Obs. They all generally prize a Mantle of English or Dutch Cloth before their owne wearing of Skins and Furres, because they are warme enough and Lighter.

Which they like not, but desire to have a sad coulour without any whitish haires, suiting with their owne naturall Temper, which inclines to sadnesse.

Cuppáimish I will pay you, which is a word newly made from the English word pay.

Obs. They have great difference of their Coyne. as the English have: some that will not passe without Allowance, and some again made of a Counterfeit shell, and their very p. 154black counterfeited by a Stone and other Materialls: yet I never knew any of them much deceived, for their danger of being deceived (in these things of Earth) makes them cautelous.

Obs. Who ever deale or trade with them, had need of Wisedome, Patience, and Faithfulnesse in dealing: for they frequently say Cuppàmanem, you lye, Cuttassokakómme, you deceive me.

They are are marvailous subtle in their Bargaines to save a penny: And very suspicious that English men labour to deceive …hem: Therefore they will beate all markets …nd try all places, and runne twenty thirty, …ea. forty mile, and more, and lodge in the Woods, to save six pence.

Obs. They will often confesse for their own ends that the English are richer and wiser and valianter then themselves; yet it is for their owne ends, and therefore they adde Nanoūo, give me this or that a disease which they are generally infected with: some more ingenuous, scorne it; but I have often seene an Indian with great quanties of money about him beg a Knife of an English man, who happily hath had never a peny of money.

Obs. It may be wondred what they do with Glasses, having no beautie but a swarfish colour, and no dressing but nakednesse; but pride appeares in any colour, and the meanest dresse: and besides generally the women paint their faces with all sorts of colours.

Generall Observation of Trade.

O the infinite wisedome of the most holy wise God, who hath so advanced Europe above America, that there is not a sorry Howe, Hatchet, Knife, nor a rag of cloth in all America, but what comes over the dreadfull Atlantick Ocean from Europe: and yet that Europe be not proud, nor America discouraged. What treasures are hid in some parts of America, and in our New English parts, how have foule hands (in smoakie houses) the first handling of those Furres which are after worne upon the hands of Queens and heads of Princes?

p. 159More particular:

Oft have I heard these Indians say,

These English will deceive us.

Of all that's ours, our lands and lives.

In th' end they will bereave us.

So say they, whatsoever they buy,

(Though small) which shewes they're shie

Of strangers, fearefull to be catcht

By fraud, deceipt, or lie.

Indians and English feare deceits,

Yet willing both to be

Deceiv'd and couzen'd of precious soule,

Of heaven, Eternitie.

CHAP. XXVI. Of Debts and Trusting.

p. 160Obs. They are very desirous to come into debt, but then he that trusts them, must sustaine a twofold losse:

First, of his Commoditie.

Secondly, of his custome as I have found by deare experience: Some are ingenuous, plaine hearted and honest; but the most never pay unlesse a man follow them to their severall abodes, townes and houses, as I my selfe have been forc'd to doe, which hardship and travells it ha… yet pleased God to sweeten with some experiences and some little gaine of Language.

Obs. This is a common, and as (they think) most satisfying answer, that they have been sick: for in those times they give largely to the Priests, who then sometimes heales them by conjurations; and also they keepe open house for all to come to helpe to pray with them, unto whom also they give money.

Generall Observations of their debts.

It is an universall Disease of folly in men to desire to enter into not onelyonly necessary, but unnecessary and tormenting debts, contrary to the command of the only wise God: Owe …o thing to any man, but that you love each other.

More particular:

I have heard ingenuous Indians say,

In debts, they could not sleepe.

How far worse are such English then,

Who love in debts to keepe?

If debts of pounds cause restlesse nights

In trade with man and man,

How hard's that heart that millions owes

To God, and yet sleepe can?

Debts paid, sleep's sweet, sins paid, death's sweet,

Death's night then's turn'd to light;

Who dies in sinnes unpaid, that soule

His light's eternall night.