A Key into the Language of America, Chapter 3 – Chapter 4
CHAP. III. Concerning Sleepe and Lodging.
| NSowwushkâwmen | I am weary. |
| Nkàtaquaum. | I am sleepie. |
| …ukkovetoùs. | Shall I lodge here? |
| …o nickowémen? | Shall I sleepe here? |
| …ukkowéti. | Will you sleepe here? |
| Wunnég…n, cówish. | Welcome, sleepe here. |
| …ummouaquômen. | I will lodge abroad. |
| Puckquátchick nickouemen. | I will sleepe without th… the doores, |
Which have knowne them contentedly doe, by a fi… under a tree, when sometimes some Engli… have (for want of familiaritie and languag… with them) been fearefull to entertaine the…
In Summer-time I have knowne them ly… abroad often themselves, to make roome f… strangers, English, or others.
| Mouaquómitea. | Let us lye abroad. |
| Cowwêtuck. | Let us sleepe. |
| Kukkouene? | Sleepe you? |
| Cowwêke. | Sleepe, sleepe. |
| Cowwêwi. | He is a sleepe. |
| Cowwêwock. | They sleepe. |
| Askukkówene? | Sleepe you yet? |
| Takitippocat. | It is a cold night. |
| Wekit…ppocat. | It is a warme night. |
| Wauwháutowaw ánawat, & Wawhautowâvog. | Ther is an alarme, o… there is a great shou… ing: |
Howling an… shouting is their Alarme; they having n… Drums nor Trumpets: but whether an en… mie approach, or fire breake out, this Alarm… passeth from house to house; yea, commo… ly, if any English or Dutch come amongst the… they give notice of strangers by this signe; y… I have knowne them buy and use a Dut… Trumpet, and knowne a Native make a good Drum in imitation of the English.
| Matannauke, or Mattannàukanash | A finer sort of mats to sleep on. |
| Mask tuash | Straw to ly on. |
| Wudd…úckqunash ponamauta | Let us lay on wood. |
This they doe plentifully when they lie down to sleep winter and summer, abundance they have and abundance they lay on: their Fire is instead of our bedcloaths. And so, themselves and any that have occasion to lodge with them, must be content to turne often to the Fire, if the night be cold, and they who first wake must repaire the Fire.
| Mauataúnamoke | Mend the fire. |
| Mauataunamútta | Let us mend the fire. |
| Tokêtuck | Let us wake. |
| As kuttokēmis | Are you not awake yet |
| Tókish, Tókeke | Wake wake |
| Tókinish | Wake him. |
| Kitumyái tokéan | As soone as I wake. |
| Ntunnaquôm…n | I have had a good dream |
| Nummattaquômen | I have had a bad dream. |
When they have a bad Dreame, which they conceive to be a threatning from God, they fall to prayer at all times of the night, especially early before day: So Davids z…alous heart to the true and living God: At midnight wil… …rise &c. I prevented the dawning of the day, &c. Psal. 119. &c.
| Wunnak ukkussa quaum | You sleep much. |
| Peeyanntam | He prayes. |
| Peeyauntamwock | The… pray. |
| Tunna kukkowemis | …here s…pt you? |
| Awa…n w…ck kukkouēmis | At whose house did you sleep? |
I once travailed to an Iland of the wildest i… our parts, where in the night an Indian (as he said) had a vision or dream of the Sun (whom they worship for a God) darting a Beam… into his Breast which he conceived to be the Messenger or his Death: this poore Native call'd his Friends and neighbours▪ and prepared some little refreshing for them, but himselfe was kept waking and Fasting in grea… H…miliations and Invocations for 10. daye… and nights: I was alone (having travailed from my Barke the wind being contrary) and little could I speake to them to their understandings especially because of the change of ther Dialect or manner of Speech from our neighbours: yet so much (through the help of God… I did speake of the True and living only Wis… God▪ of the Crcation: of Man, and his fal… from God, &c. that at parting many burst forth, Oh when will you come againe, to bring us some more newes of this God?
From their Sleeping: The Observation generall.
Sweet rest is not confind to soft Beds, for, not only God gives his beloved sleep on hard lodgings: but also Nature and Custome gives sound sleep to these Americans on the Earth, on a Boord or Mat. Yet how is Europe bound to God for better lodging, &c.
More particular.
God gives them sleep on Ground, on Straw,
on Sedg…e Mats or B…ord:
When English softest Beds of Downe,
sometimes no sleep affoord.
I have knowne them leave their House and Mat
to lodge a Friend or stranger,
When Iewes and Christians oft have sent
Christ Jesus to the Manger.
'Fore day they invocate their Gods,
though Many, False and New:
O how should that God worshipt be,
who is but One and True?
CHAP. IIII. Of their Names.
| NQuit | One |
| Neèsse | 2. |
| Nish | 3. |
| Yoh | 4. |
| Napànna | 5. |
| Qut…a | 6. |
| énada | 7. |
| Shwósuck | 8. |
| Paskúgit | 9. |
| Piuck | 10. |
| Piuck nabna quit | 11. |
| Piucknab nèese | 12, |
| Piucknab nish | 13, |
| Piucknab yòh | 14, |
| Piucknab napànna | 15, |
| Piucknab naqútta | 16; |
| Piucknab énada | 17, |
| Piuck nabna shwósuck | 18, |
| Piucknab napaskugit | 19. |
| Neesneēchick | 20, |
| Neesneēchick nab naquit, &c. | 21, |
| Shwinckeck | 30, &c. |
| Swincheck nab naquit, &c. | 31, &c. |
| Yowinicheck | 40. |
| Yówinicheck nabna qit, &c. | 41, &c. |
| Napannetashincheck | 50, |
| Napannetashinchek nabna quit | 51, &c. |
| Quttatashincheck | 60, |
| Quttatashincheck nab na quit | 61, &c. |
| Enadatashincheck | 70, |
| Enadatashincheck nabna quit | 71, &c. |
| Swoasuck ta shin check | 80, |
| Shwoasuck ta shincheck nebna quit | 81, &c. |
| Paskugit tashincheck, &c. | 90, |
| Paskugit tashin check nabna quit, &c. | 91, &c. |
| Nquit pâwsuck | 100. |
| Nees pâwsuck | 200. |
| Shweepâwsuck | 300. |
| Yówe pâwsuck | 400, |
| Napannetashe pâwsuck | 500, |
| Quttatashe pâwsuck | 600, |
| …nadatashepawsuck | 700, |
| Shoasucktashe pawsuck | 800, |
| Paskugit tashepâwsuck | 900, |
| Nquittemittànnug | 1000, |
| Neese mitt…nnug | 2000, |
| Nishwe mitt…nnug | 3000, |
| Yowe mittànnug | 4000, |
| Napannetashemit tannug | 5000, |
| Quttatashe mit tànnug | 6000, |
| Enadatashemit tànnug | 7000, |
| Shoasuck ta she mittánnug | 8000, |
| Paskugittashemit tánnug | 9000, |
| Piuckque mittánnug | 10000, |
| Neesneecheck tashe mittànnug | 20000, |
| Shwinchecktashe mittánnug | 30000, |
| Yowincheck tashemittánnug | 40000, |
| Napannetashincheck tashemittánnug | 50000. |
| Quttatashincheck tashemittànnug | 60000. |
| Enadatashincheck tashe mittánnuck | 70000. |
| Shoasuck tashincheck tashe mittannug | 80000. |
| Pàskugit tashincheck tashe mittannug | 90000. |
| Nquit pausuckoemit tànnug, &c. | 100000. |
Having no Letters nor Arts, 'cis admirable how quick they are in casting up great numbers, with the helpe of grames of Corne, instead of Europes pens or counters.
Numbers of the masculine gender.
| Pâwsuck | 1. |
| Neéswock | 2. Skeetomp a Man. |
| …huog | 3. |
| Yówock | 4. |
| Napannetasúog | 5. as, Skeetom Paúog, Men. |
| Quttasúog | 6. |
| …nada tasúog | 7. |
| …hoasuck tasúog | 8. |
| Paskugit tasúog | 9. |
| Prucksúog | 10. |
| Prucksúog nabnaquit | 11. |
Of the Feminine Gender.
| Pâwsuck | 1 |
| N énash | 2 |
| Swinash | 3 |
| Yowúnnash | 4 |
| Napannetashinash | 5 as, Wauchò H…ll. Wauchóas… H…lls. |
| Quttatshinash | 6 |
| Enadtashinash | 7 |
| Shoasucktashinash | 8 |
| Paskugittashinash | 9 |
| Piúckquatash | 10 |
| Piúckquatash nabnaquit. | 11 |
From their Numbers, Observation Generall.
Let it be considered, whether Tradition of ancient Forefathers, or Nature hath taught them Europes Arithmaticke.
Mor particular:
Their Braines are quick, their hands,
Their feet, their tongues, their eyes:
God may fit objects in has time,
To those quicke faculties.
Objects of higher nature make them tell,
The holy number of his Sons Gospel:
Make them and us to tell what told may be;
But stand amazed at Eternitie.