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. XXXI. Of Sicknesse. (Book 31)

NUmmaūchnem	I am sick.
Mauchinaūi.	He is sick.

Yo Wuttunsin	He keepes his Bed.
Ac•…•…ie nummauch∣nem.	I am very sick.
Noonshem metesim∣min.	I cannot eate.
Mach ge nummete simmin.	I eat nothing.
Tocketu•…•…sinammin?	What think you?
Pitch nkeeteem?	Shall I recover?
Niskée•…•…aqush mau∣chinaash.	My eyes faile me.
Ncussawontapam.	My head akes.
Npummaumpiteunck	My Teeth ake.
Nchesammattam, Nchesammam.	I am in paine.

Obs. In these cases their Misery appeares, that they have not (but what sometimes they get from the English) a raisin or currant or any physick, Fruit or spice, or any Comfort more than their Corne and Water, &c. In which bleeding case wanting all Meanes of recove∣ry, or present refreshing I have been con∣strained to, and beyond my power to refresh them, and I beleeve to save many of them from Death, who I am confident perish many Millions of them (in that mighty continent) for want of Meanes.

Nupaqqóntup Kúspissem.

Bind my head.

Wauaúpunish	Life up my head.
Nip•…•…aquontup.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 nséte.	My Foot is sore.
M•…•…chàge nickow êmen	I sleep not.
Nnanotissu.	I have a Feaver.
Wame kussopita nohock.	My body burnes.
Ntátupe note, or chickot.	I am all on fire.
Yo ntéatchin.	I shake for Cold.
Ntatuppe wunnêpog.	I shake as a leafe.
Puttuckhumma.	Cover me.
Paútous nototam min.	Reach me the drinke.

Obs. Which is onely in all their extremi∣ties, a little boild water, without the additi∣on of crum or drop of other comfort: O Englands mercies, &c.

Tahaspunâyi?	What ayles he?
Tocketúspanem?	What aile you?
Tocketuspunnaú∣maqun?	What hurt hath he done to you?
Chassaqúnsin?	How long hath he been sick?
Nnanowwêteem.	I am going to visit.

Obs. This is all their refreshing, the Visit

of Friends, and Neighbours, a poore empry •…•…isit and presence, and yet indeed this is ve∣ry solemne, unlesse it be in infectious diseases, and then all forsake them and flie, that I have often seene a poore House left alone in the •…•…ld Woods, all being fled, the living not able to bury the dead: so terrible is the ap∣prehension of an infectious disease, that not only persons, but the Houses and the whole Towne takes flight.

Nummockquese.	I have a swelling.
Mocquesui	He is swelled.
Wame wuhòck▪ Mockqu•…•…sui.	All his body is swelled.
Mamaskishaûi.	He hath the Pox.
Mamaskishaûonck.	The Pox.
Mamaskishaûmitch.	The last pox.
Wesauashaûi.	He hath the plague.
Wesauashaûonck.	The plague.
Wesauashaùmitch.	The great plague.

Obs. Were it not that they live in sweet Aire, and remove persons and Houses from the infected, in ordinary course of subordi∣nate Causes, would few or any be left alive, and surviving.

Nmunnadtommin.	I vomit
Nqunnuckquus.	I am lame.
N•…•…psa.	I am d•…•…afe.

Npóckunnum.	I am blind.
Npockquanámmen.	My desease is I know not what.
Pésuponck.	An Hot-house.
Npesuppaûmen.	I goe to sweate.
Pesuppaûog.	They are sweating.

Obs. This Hot-house is a kind of little Cell or Cave, six or eight foot over, round, made on the side of a hill (commonly by some Ri∣vulet or Brooke) into this frequently the men enter after they have exceedingly heated it with store of wood, laid upon an heape of stones in the midle. When they have taken out the fire, the stones keepe still a great heat: Ten, twelve, twenty more or lesse, enter at once starke naked, leaving their coats small breeches (or aprons) at the doore, with one to keepe all: here doe they sit round these hot stones an houre or more, taking Tobacco, dis∣coursing, and sweating together; which swea∣ting they use for two ends: First, to cleanse their skin: Secondly, to purge their bodies, which doubtlesse is a great meanes of preser∣ving them, and recovering them from disea∣ses, especially from the French disease, which by sweating and some potions, they perfectly and speedily cure: wh•…•…n they come forth (which is matter of admiration) I have seene

them runne (Summer and •…•…inter) into the B•…•…ooks to coole them, without the least hurt.

M•…•… qu•…•…eash.	The vaines.
Msq•…•…, neépuck.	Blood
Nsau•…•… paushaumen.	I have th•…•… bloody Flixe.
Matux 〈◊〉〈◊〉 auwaw.	•…•…e cannot goe to stool.
Poww•…•…w.	Their Priest.
Maunêtu.	A Con urer.
Powwaw nippétea.	The priest is curing him.
Yo Wutteantawaw.	He is acting his •…•…ure.

Obs. These Priests and onjurers (like Si∣mon 〈◊〉〈◊〉) doe bewitch the people, and not onely take their Money, but doe most cer∣tainly (by the help of the Divell) worke great Cures though most certaine it is that the greatest part of their Priests doe meerely abuse them and get their Money, in the times of their sicknesse and to my knowledge, long for sick times: and to that end the poore people store up Money, and spend both Mo∣ney and goods on the Powwâws, or Priests in these times, the poore people commonly dye under their hands, for alas, they administer nothing but howle and roare, and hollow over them, and begin the song to the rest of the People about them, who all joyne (like a Quire) in Prayer to their Gods for them.

Maskit ponamiin.	Give me a Plais•…•…er.
Maskit	Give me some physicke
Cotatámhea.	Drinke.

Both which they earnestly desire of the English, and doe frequently send to my selfe, and others for, (having experimentally found some Mercy of that kind (through Gods bles∣sing) from us.

Nickeetem.	I am recovered.
Kitummayi nick êekon.	I am ju•…•… now recovered.

Generall Observation of their sicknesse.

It pleaseth the most righteous, and y•…•…t pa∣tient God to warne and summon, to try and arraigne the universall race of Adams sonnes (commonly) upon Beds of sicknesse before he proceed to execution of Death and Judge∣ment: Blessed those soules which prevent Judgement, Death and sicknesse to, and be∣fore the evill dayes come, Arraigne, and Judge themselves and being sick for Love to Christ, find him or seek him in his Ordi∣nances below, and get unfained Assurance of Fternall enjoyment of Him, when they are here no more.

More particular:

One step twix't Me and Death, (twas Davids speech,) And true of sick Folks all:Line 1 Mans Leafe it fades, his Clay house cracks; Before it's dreadfull Fall.

Like Grashopper the Indian leapes, Till blasts of sicknesse rise:Line 2 Nor soule nor Body Physick hath, Then Soule and Body dies.

O happy English who for both, Have precious physicks store: How should (when Christ hath both refresh't, Thy Love and zeale be more?