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 ...

AN Helpe to the native Language of that part of America called NEW-ENGLAND. (Book 1)

CHAP. I. Of Salutation. (Book 1)

Observation.

THe Natives are of two sorts, (as the English are.) Some more Rude and Clownish, who are not so apt to Salute, but upon Salutation resalute lovingly. Others, and the generall, are sober and grave, and yet chearfull in a meane, and as ready to begin a Salutation as to Resalute, which yet the English generally begin, out of desire to Civilize them.

What cheare Nétop? is the generall salutatio•…•… of all English toward them, Nétop is friend.

Netompaüog

Friends.

They are exceedingly delighted with Salutations in their own Language.

Neèn, Keèn, Ewò,	I, you, he.
Keén ka neen	You and I.
Asco wequássin
Asco wequassunnúm∣mis	Good morrow.
Askuttaaquompsin?	Hou doe you?
Asnpaumpmaûntam	I am very well.
Taubot paump maúntaman	I am glad you are well.
Cowaúnckamish	My service to you

Observation.

This word upon speciall Salutations the•…•… use, and upon some offence conceived by th•…•… Sachim or Prince against any: I have seen th•…•… party reverently doe obeysance, by stroking the Prince upon both his sholders, and usin•…•… this word,

Cowaúnckamish & Cuckquénamish	I pray your favour.
Cowaúnkamuck	He salutes you.
A spaumpmáuntam sachim	How doth the Prince

Aspaumpmáuntam Committamus?	How doth your Wife?
Aspaumpmaúntam∣wock cummucki∣aûg?	How doth your children?
Konkeeteâug	They are well.
Táu bot ne paump maunthéttit	I am glad they are well.
Túnna Cowâum
Tuckôteshana	Whence come you.
Yò nowaûm	I came that way.
Náwwatuck nôte∣shem	I came from farre.
Mattaâsu nóteshem	I came from hard by.
Wêtu	An House.
Wetuômuck nōte shem	I came from the house.
Acâwmuck notéshem	I came over the water.
Otàn	A Towne.
•…•…tânick notéshem	I came from the Towne.

Observation.

In the Narigánset Countrey (which is the chief people in the Land:) a man shall come to many Townes, some bigger, some lesser, it may be a dozen in 20. miles Travell.

Observation.

Acawmenóakit Old England, which is a•…•… much as from the Land on •…•…'other side: hardl•…•… are they brought to believe that that Wate•…•… is three thousand English mile over, or there abouts.

Tunnock kuttòme	Whither goe you?
Wékick nittóme	To the house.
Nékick	To my house.
Kékick	To your house.
Tuckowekin	Where dwell you?
Tuckutt•…•…in	Where keep you?
Matnowetuómeno	I have no house.

Observation.

As commonly a single person hath n•…•… house, so after the death of a Husband o•…•… Wife, they often break up house, and liv•…•… here and there a while with Friends, to all a•…•… their excessive Sorrowes.

Tou wuttîin?	Where lives he?
Awânick ûchick	Who are these?
Awaùn ewò?	Who is that?
Túnna úmwock?
Tunna Wutshaûock	Whence come they?
Yo nowêkin	I dwell here.
Yo ntîin	I live here.

Eîu or Nnîu?	Is it so?
Nùx	Yea.
Mat nippompitám∣men	I have heard nothing.
Wésuonck	A name.
Tocketussawêitch	What is your name?
Taantússawese?	Doe you aske my name?
Ntússawese	I am called, &c.
Matnowesuonckane	I have no name.

Observation.

Obscure and meane persons amongst them have no Names: Nullius numeri, &c. as the Lord Jesus foretells his followers, that their Names should be cast out, Luk. 6. 22. as not worthy to be named, &c. Againe▪ because they abhorre to name the dead (Death being the King of Terrours to all naturall men: and though the Natives hold the Soule to live ever; yet not holding a Resurrection, they die, and mourn without Hope.) In that respect I say, if any of their Sáchims or neigh∣bours die who were of their names, they lay down those Names as dead.

Now ánnehick now∣ésuonck

I have forgot my Name.

Which is common amongst some of them, this being one Incivilitie amongst the more

rusticall sort, not to call each other by their Names, but Keen, You, Ewò He, &c.

Tahéna	What is his name?
Tahossowêtam	What is the name of it
Tahéttamen	What call you this?
Teaqua	What is this?
Yò néepoush	Stay or stand here.
Mattapsh	Sit down.
Noonshem
Non ânum	I cannot.
Tawhitch kuppee yaúmen	What come you for?
Téaqua kunnaūnta men	What doe you fetch?
Chenock cuppeeyâu mis?	When came you?
Maish-kitummâyi	Iust even now.
Kitummâyi nippeé∣am	I came just now.
Yò Committamus?	Is this your Wife?
Yo cuppáppoos	Is this your Child?
Yô cummuckqua∣chucks	Is this your Son?
Yò cuttaûnis	Is this your Daughter?
Wunnêtu	It is a fine Child.
Tawhich neepou∣weéye an	Why stand you?
Pucqúatchick?	Without do•…•…s.

Tawhitch mat pe ti∣teayean?

Why come you not in?

Observ.

In this respect they are remarkably free and courteous, to invite all Strangers in; and if any come to them upon any occasion, they request them to come in, if they come not in of themselves.

Awássish	Warme you.
Máttapsh yóteg	Sit by the fire.
Tocketúnnawem	What say you?
Keén nétop?	Is it you friend.
Peeyàush nétop	Come hither friend.
Pétitees	Come in.
Kunnúnni	Have you seene me?
Kunnúnnous	I have seen you.
Taubot mequaun namêan	I thank you for your kind remembrance.
Taûbotneanawáyean	I thank you.
Taûbotne aunana∣mêan	I thank you for your love.

Observ.

I have acknowledged amongst them an heart sensible of kindnesses, and have reaped kindnesse again from many, seaven yeares af∣ter, when I my selfe had forgotten, &c. hence

the Lord Jesus exhorts his followers to do•…•… good for evill: for otherwise, sinners will do good for good, kindnesse for kindnesse, &c.

Cowàmmaunsh	I love you.
Cowammaûnuck	He loves you.
Cowámmaus	You are loving.
Cowâutam?	Vnderstand you?
Nowaûtam	I understand.
Cowâwtam tawhit∣che nippeeyaûmen	Doe you know why I come.
Cowannantam	Have you forgotten?
Awanagusàntowosh	Speake English.
Een•…•…ntowash	Speake Indian.
Cut•…•…hanshishaùmo	How many were you in Company?
Kúnnishishem?	Are you alone?
Nnishishem	I am alone.
Naneeshâumo	There be 2. of us.
Nanshwi•…•…hâwmen	We are 4.
Npiuckshâwmen	We are 10.
Neesneechecktashaû∣men	We are 20. &c.
Nquitpausuckowash∣âwmen	We are an 100.
Comishoonhómmis	Did you come by boate?
Kuttiakewushaùmis	Came you by land?
Mesh nomishoon hómmin	I came by boat.

Meshntiauké wushem	I came by land.
Nippenowàntawem	I am of another language
Penowantowawhet∣tûock	They are of a divers language.
Mat nowawtau hetté mina	We understand not each other.
Nummaúchenèm?	I am sicke.
Cummaúchenem?	Are you sicke?
Tashúckqunne cum mauchenaùmis	How long have you been sicke?
Nummauchêmin or Ntannetéimmin	I will be going.
Saûop Cummauchê∣min	You shall goe to morrow.
Maúchish or ànakish	Be going.
Kuttannáwshesh	Depart.
Mauchéi or anittui	He is gone.
Kautanaûshant	He being gone.
Mauchéhettit or Kautanawshawhettit	When they are gone.
Kukkowêtous	I will lodge with you.
Yò Cówish	Do, lodge here.
Hawúnshech	Farewell.
Chénock wonck cup peeyeâumen?	When will you be here againe?
Nétop tattà	My friend I can not tell.

From these courteous Salutations Observe in generall: There is a savour of civility and

courtesie even amongst these wild Americans, both amongst themselves and towards stran∣gers.

More particular:

The Courteous Pagan shall condemneLine 1 Uncourteous Englishmen, Who live like Foxes, Beares and Wolves, Or Lyon in his Den.

Let none sing blessings to their soules,Line 2 For that they Courteous are: The wild Barbarians with no more Then Nature, goe so farre:

If Natures Sons both wild and tame.Line 3 Humane and Courteous be: How ill becomes it Sonnes of God To want Humanity?