A key into the language of America, or, An help to the language of the natives in that part of America called New-England together with briefe observations of the customes, manners and worships, &c. of the aforesaid natives, in peace and warre, in life and death : on all which are added spirituall observations, generall and particular, by the authour ... / by Roger Williams ...

CHAP. XX. Of their nakednesse and clothing. (Book 20)

PAūskesu.	Naked.
Pauskesitchick	Naked men and women.
Nipposkiss.	I am naked.

They have a two-fold nakednesse:

First ordinary and constant, when although they have a Beasts skin or an English mantle on, yet that covers ordinarily but their hin∣der parts and all the foreparts from top to toe, (excep their secret parts, covered with a little Apron, after the patterne of their and our first Parents) I say all else open and naked.

Their male children goe starke naked, and have no Apron untill they come to ten or twelve yeeres of age; their Female they, in a modest blush cover with a little Apron of an hand breadth from their very birth.

Their second nakednesse is when their men often abroad and both men and women with∣in doores, leave off their beasts skin, or Eng∣lish cloth and so (excepting their little Apron) are wholly naked; yet but few of the women but will keepe their skin or cloth (though

loose) or neare to them ready to gather it up about them.

Custome hath used their minds and bodies to it, and in such a freedom from any wan∣tonnesse, that I have never seen that wanton∣nesse amongst them as, (with griefe) I have heard of in Europe.

Nipposkenitch.	I am rob'd of my coat.
Nipposkenick ewò.	He takes away my Coat.
Acoh.	Their Deere skin.
Tummóckquashunck.	A Beavers coat.
Nkéquashunck.	An Otters coat.
Mohéwonck.	A Rakoone-skin coat.
Natóquashunck.	A Wolues-skin coat.
Mishannéquashunck.	A Squirrill-skin coat.
Neyhommaûashunck	A Coat or Manlte

cu∣riously made of the fairest feathers of their Neyhommaūog, or Turkies, which common∣ly their old men make; and is with them as Velvet with us.

Maūnek: nquittiashi∣agat.	An English Coat or Man∣tell.
Caudnish.	Put off.
Ocquash.	Put on.
Neesashiagat.	Two coats.
Shwishiagat.	Three coats.
Piuckquashiagat.	Ten coats, &c.

Obs. Within their skin or coat they creepe

contentedly, by day or night, in house or in the woods, and sleep soundly counting it a fe∣licitie, (as indeed an earthly one it is; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pe•…•…liculam quemque 〈◊〉〈◊〉. That every man be content with his skin.

Squaus auhaqut.	a Womans Mantle.
Mucki is auhaqut.	A childs Mantle.
Pétacaus.	an English Wastecoat.
Petacawsunnèse.	a little wastecoat.
Aūtah & aútawhun.	Their apron.
Caukóanash.	Stockins.
Nquittetiagáttash.	a paire of stockins.
Mocússinass, & Mockuss•…•…nchass.	Shooes.

Obs. Both these, Shoes and Stockins they make of their Deerc skin worne out, which yet being excellently tann'd by them is ex∣cellent for to travell in wet and snow; for it is so well tempered with oyle that the water cleane wrings out; and being hang'd up in their chimney, th•…•…y presently drie without hurt as my selfe hath often proved.

Noonac•…•…minash.	Too little.
〈◊〉〈◊〉.	Big enough.
Saunketippo, or, Ash naquo.	a Hat or Cap.
Moôse.	The skin of a great Beast

as •…•…ig as an Ox some call it a red Deere.

Wussuckhósu.

Painted.

They also commonly paint these Moose and Deere-skins for their Summer wearing, with varietie of formes and colours.

Petouwá•…•…sinug.

Their Tobacco-bag,

which hangs at their necke▪ or sticks at their girdle, which is to them in stead of an Eng∣lish pocket.

Obs. Our English clothes are so strange un∣to them, and their bodies inured so to indure the weather, that when (upon gift &c.) some of them have had English cloathes, yet in a showre of raine, I have seen them rather ex∣pose their skins to the wet then their cloaths, and therefore pull them off, and keep them drie.

Obs. While they are amongst the English they keep on the English apparell, but pull of all, as soone as they come againe into their owne Houses, and Company.

Generall Observations of their Garments.

How deep are the purposes and Councells, of God? what should bee the reason of this mighty difference of One mans children that all the Sonnes of men on this side the way (in Europe, Asia and Africa should have such plenteous clothing for Body for Soule! and the rest of Adams sonnes and Daughters on

the other side, or America (some thinke as big as the other three,) should neither have nor desire clothing for their naked Soules, or Bodies.

More particular:

O what a Tyrant's Custome long, How doe men make a tush, At what's in use, though ne're so fowle: Without once shame or blush?

Many thousand proper Men and Women, I have seen met in one place: Almost all naked, yet not one, Thought want of clothes disgrace.

Israell was naked, wearing cloathes! The best clad English-man, * 1.1 Not cloth'd with Christ, more naked is: Then naked Indian.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Exod. 32.