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. VI. Of the Family and businesse of the House. (Book 6)

VVEtu	An House.
Wetuômuck	At home.
Nékick	My house.
•…•…ékick	Your house.
•…•…k ick	At his house.
Nickquénum.	I am going home:

Which is a solemne word amongst them; and no man wil offer any hinderance to him, who after some absence is going to visit his Family, and useth this word Nicqu•…•…num (con∣fessing the sweetnesse even of these short tem∣•…•…orall homes.)

•…•…uttuckakàun	A round house.
•…•…uttcukakâunese	A little round house.
•…•…etuomémese	A little house;

which •…•…eir women and maids live apart in, four•…•…,

five, or six dayes, in the time of their moneth∣ly sicknesse, which custome in all parts of the Countrey they strictly observe, and no Ma•…•… may come into that house.

Neés quttow	A longer house wi•…•… two fires.
Shwishcuttow	With three fires.
Abockquósinash	The mats of the house.
Wuttapuissuck	The long poles,

which commonly men get and fix, and then the wo∣men cover the house with mats, and lin•…•… them with embroydered mats which the wo∣men make, and call them Mannotaúbana, o•…•… Hangings, which amongst them make as fair•…•… a show as Hangings with us.

Nòte, or Yote Chickot & Sqútta	Fire.
Notáwese & chickau∣tawese	A little fire.
Púck	Smoke.
Puckissu	Smokie
Nippáckis	Smoke troubleth me.
Wuchickapêuck	Burching barke,

an•…•… Chesout barke which they dresse finely, an•…•… make a Summer-covering for their houses.

Cuppoqui•…•…ttemin.

I will divide house wi•…•… you, or dwell with yo•…•…

Two Families will live comfortably and •…•…vingly in a little round house of some four∣•…•…en or sixteen foot over, and so more and •…•…ore families in proportion.

•…•…uckqusquatch	I am cold.
•…•…uckqusquatchimin
•…•…otouwassiceuck	Let us make a fire.
•…•…udtuckqun	A piece of wood.
•…•…udtuckquanash	Lay on wood.
•…•…namâuta
•…•…wacómwushesh	Cut some wood.
•…•…aumashinnaunam •…•…ûta	Let us make a good fir•…•….
•…•…aacómwushem	I will cut wood.
•…•…éneshesh	Fetch some small sticks,
•…•…onck, & •…•…ónkatack	More.
•…•…onckataganash •…•…àus	Fetch some more
•…•…tashin & newuchá∣•…•…hinea,	There is no more.
•…•…equanántash	A light fire.
•…•…quanantig	A Candle, or Light.
•…•…quanantiganash	Candles.
•…•…kinan	A light fire.
•…•…âuo?	Who is at home?
•…•…t Awawanúnno	There is no body.
•…•…appo Kòsh	Is your father at home?

Túckiu Sáchim	Where is the Sachine?
Ma•…•…apeu	He is not at home
P•…•…yáu	He is come.
Wéche-peyàu keé mat	Your brother is come with him.
Potawash	Make a fire.
Potauntash	Blowe the fire.
Peeyâuog	They are come
Wame paúshe	All-some.
Tawhitch mat peyá yean	Why came, or, come yo•…•… not.
Mesh noónshem pee∣yaun?	I could not come.
Mocenanippeéam	I will come by and by.
Aspeyàu, asquam	He is not come yet.
Yò autant mèsh nip∣peéam	I was here the Sunnes high.

And then th•…•… point with the hand to the Sunne by who•…•… highth they keepe account of the day and b•…•… the Moone and Stars by night, as wee doe b•…•… clocks and dialls, &c.

Wuskont p•…•…yauog	They will come.
Te•…•…qua naúntick ewò	What comes hee for?
Yo •…•…ppitch▪ ewò	Let him sit there.
Unhappò kòsh	Is your father at home
Unnaugh	He is there.
Np•…•…peyup n•…•…wwot	I have long been here.

•…•…awhitch p•…•…yáuyean.	Why doe you come?
•…•…éaguun kunnaúnta∣mun?	What come you for?
•…•…un ewò?	Who is that?
•…•…owéchiume	He is my servant.
•…•…cum, naus	Call fetch.
•…•…titeaùta	Let us goe in.
•…•…oonapummin auta∣shéhettit	There is not roome for so many.
•…•…ubapimmin	Roome enough.
•…•…oonat	Not enough.
•…•…quam	Not yet.
•…•…m, námitch	By and by.
•…•…ce, unu•…•…kquaquêse	Instantly.
•…•…ish, kitumm•…•…y	Iust, even now.
•…•…ckiu, t•…•…yu	Where.
•…•…kkekuttokâwmen	Would you speake with him?
•…•…x	Yea.
•…•…ttammâun tam	He is busie.
•…•…top notammâun	Friend, I am busie.
•…•…am
•…•…tammâuntam	Are you busie?
•…•…tammish	I hinder you.
•…•…ammúmme •…•…tamme	You trouble me.

Obs. They are as full of businesse, and as impatient of hinderance (in their kind) as any Merchant in Europe.

Nqussûtam	I am removing.
Notámmehick ewò	He hinders me.
Maumach•…•…uash	Goods.
Auquiegs	Housholdstuffe.
Tucki•…•…uash	•…•…here be they?
Wenawwètu	Rich.
Machêtu	Poore.
Wenawetuōnckon	Wealth.
Kúphash	Shut the doore.
Kuphommin	To shut the doore.
Yeaush	Shut doore after you.

Obs. Commonly they never shut thei•…•… doores, day nor night; and 'tis rare that an•…•… hurt is done.

Wunègin	Well, or good.
Machit	Naught, or evill.
Cow•…•…am?	Do you understand?
Mach•…•…ug	No, or not.
Wunnaug	A Tray.
Wunnauganash	Trayes.
Kunàm	A Spoone.
Kunnamâuog	Spoones.

Obs. In steed of shelves, they have severa•…•… baskets, wherein they put all their houshold∣stuffe:

they have some great bags or sacks made of Hempe, which will hold five or sixe bushells.

Táckunck, or, Wéskhunck.

Their pounding Mor∣ter.

Obs. Their women constantly beat all their corne with hand: they plant it, dresse it, ga∣ther it, barne it, beat it, and take as much paines as any people in the world which la∣bour is questionlesse one cause of their extra∣ordinary ease of childbirth.

Wunnauganémese	A little Tray.
Téaqua cunnatinne	What doe you looke for?
Natinnehas	Search.
Kekineas	See here.
Machàge cunna mi∣teôuwin?	Doe you find nothing.
Wónckatack	Another.
Tunnati	Where.
Ntauhaunanatinne∣hommin.	I cannot looke or search.
Ntauhaunanamiteoû∣win	I cannot find.
Wiaseck Eiassunck Mocôtick Punnêtunck Chaúqock.	A Knife.

Obs. Whence they call English-men Cháu∣quaquock, that is, Knive-men, stone formerly being to them in stead of Knives, Awle-blades, Hatchets and Howes.

Namacówhe	Lend me your Knife.
Ców•…•…aseck
Wonck Commêsim?	Wil you give it me again?
Mátta nowáuwone	I knew nothing.
Matta nowáhea
Mat meshnowáhea	I was innocent.
Paútous Pautâuog	Bring hither.
Maúchatous	Carry this.
Niâut•…•…sh, & W•…•…awhush.	Take it on your backe.

Obs. It is almost incredible what burthens the poore women carry of Corne, of Fish, of Beanes, of Mats, and a childe besides

Awâùn	There is some body.
Kekineas	Goe and see.
Squauntâumuck	At the doore.
Aw•…•…un ke•…•…n?	Who are you?
Ke•…•…n n•…•…top	Is it you.
Pauquanam•…•…innea	Open me the doore.

Obs. Most commonly their houses are o∣pen, their doore is a hanging Mat, which be∣ing lift up, falls downe of it selfe; yet many of them get English boards and nailes, and make artificiall doores and bolts themselves, and

others make slighter doores of Burch or Ches∣nut barke, which they make fast with a cord in the night time, or when they go out of town, and then the last (that makes fast) goes out at the Chimney which is a large opening in the middle of their house, called:

Wunnauchicómock,	A •…•…himney.
Anúnema	Helpe me.
Neenkuttannūmous.	I will helpe you.
Kuttánnummi?	Will you helpe me?
Shookek•…•…eas	Behola here.
Nummouekékineam	I come to see.
Tou autèg	Know you where it lies?
Tou núckquaque	How much?
Yo naumwâuteg	Thus full.
Aquie	Leave off, or doe not.
Wask•…•…che	On the top.
Naumatuck	In the bottome.
Aûqunnish	Let goe.
Aukeease•…•…u	Downewards.
Keesuckqiu	Vpwards.
Aumàunsh Ausàuonsh Aumáunamòke.	Take away.
Nanóuwetea	A Nurse, or Keeper.
Naunóuwheant
Nanowwūnemum	I looke to, or keepe.

Obs. They nurse all their childrem them∣selves; yet, if she be an high or rich woman, she maintaines a Nurse to tend the childe.

Wauchaunama	Keep this for me.
Cuttatashi•…•…nnas	Lay these up for me.

Obs. Many of them begin to be furnished with English Chests; others, when they goe forth of towne, bring their goods (if they live neere) to the English to keepe for them, and their money they hang it about their necks, or lay it under their head when they sleepe.

Peewâuqun	Have a care.
Nnowauchâunum	I will have a care.
Kuttaskwhè	Stay for me.
Kutta•…•…a, & Cowauchaunum?	Have you this or that?
Pokesha, & Pokeshawwa.	It is broke.
Mat Coanichégane	Have you no hands?
Tawhitch?	Why aske you?
Nóonshem Paw•…•…uck∣quámmin.	I cannot reach.
Aquie Pokesháttous.	Doe not breake.
Pokesháttouwin.	To breake.
Assótu, & Assóko.	A foole.

Obs. They have also amongst them natu∣rall fooles, either so borne, or accidentally de∣prived of reason.

Aquie assókish	Be not foolish.
Awanick	Some come.
•…•…autamwock
•…•…uchewannauog	They are loden.
•…•…attapeu & •…•…. shenawsui	A woman keeping alone in her moneth•…•…y sick∣nesse.
Moce ntúnnan	I will tell him by and by.
Cowequetúmmous	I pray or intreat you.
Wunniteóuin	To mend any thing.
Wunniteous, or,	Mend this,
Wússiteous.	Mend this.
Wúskont noche∣muckqun.	I shall be chidden.
Nickúmmat	Easie.
•…•…uckat	Hard.
•…•…ummequâwname?	Do you remember me?
Mequaunamiinnea	Remember me.
Puckquatchick	Without doores.
Nissawhócunck ewò	He puts me out of doores.
Kussawhóki?	Doe you put mee out of doores?
Kussawhocowóog.	Put them forth.
Tawhitch kussawho∣kiêan?	Why doe you put mee out?
S•…•…wwhush,	Goe forth.
S•…•…whèke
Wussauhemútta	Let us goe forth.

Matta nickquéhick	I want it not.
Machag•…•… nickquehic∣kom•…•…a.	I want nothing.

Ob. Many of them naturally Princes, or e•…•… industrious persons, are rich; and the poo•…•… amongst them will say, they want nothing•…•…

Paw•…•…awash.	Drie or ayre this.
Pawsunnúmmin.	To drie this or that.
Cuppausummúnnash	Drie these things.
Ap•…•…summa.	Warme this for me.
Paucótche	Already.
Cutsshitteoùs	Wash this.
Tatágganish	Shake this.
Napònsh	Lay downe.
Wuchè machùg	About nothing.
Puppucksháckhege	A Box.
Paupaqúonteg	A Key.
Mowáshuck	Iron.
Wâuki.	Crooked.
Saûmpi	Strait.
Aumpani•…•…mmin	To undoe a knot.
Aúmpanish	Vntie this.
Paushinûmmin	To divide into two.
Pepênash	Take your choyce.
Nawwuttùnsh	Throw hither.
Pawtáwtees
Negáu•…•…owash	Send for him.
N•…•…gauchhúwash	Send this to him.

Nnegâuchemish	Hee send•…•… to mee.
Noww•…•…ta	No matter.
Mauo.	To cry and bewaile;

•…•…hich bewailing is very solemne amongst •…•…em morning and evening and sometimes in the night they bewaile their lost husbands, wives, children brethren or sisters &c. Some∣times a quarter, halfe, yea, a whole yeere, and longer, if it be for a great Prince.

In this time (unlesse a dispensation be given) they count it a prophane thing either to play (as they much use to doe) or to paint them∣selves, for beauty, but for mourning; or to be angry, and fall out with any, &c.

Machemóqut	It stincks.
Machemóqussu	A vile or slinking person.
Wúnnickshaas	Mingled.
Wúnnickshan	To mi•…•…gle.
•…•…ésick, & nashóqua.	A Combe.
〈◊〉〈◊〉	To fall downe.
Ntetupshem	I fall downe.
Tou anúckquaque?	How big?
Wunnáshpishan	To snatch away.
Tawhitch wunnash∣pisháyean	Why snach you?
Wutrush	Hitherward, & give me.
•…•…nèick. or, áwwusse	Further.
•…•…eickomásu, & aw∣wassése.	A little further.

Wuttushenaquáish	Looke hither.
Yo anaquayean.	Looke about.
Mauks maugoke	Give this.
Yo comméish	I will give you this.
Qussucqun-náukon	Heavie, light.
Kuckqússaqun	You are heavie.
Kunnauki	You are light.
Niekattash, singular.	Leave, or depart.
Nickattammoke, plur.
Nickattamútta.	Let us depart.
Yówa.	Thus.
Ntowwaukâumen.	Iuseis.
Awawkāwni.	It is used.
Yo awautees.	Vse this.
Yo wéque.	Thus farre.
Yo meshnowékeshem	I went thus farre.
Ayatche, & Conkitchea.	as Often.
Ayatche nippéeam.	I am often here.
Pakêtash.	Fling it away.
Npaketamúnnash.	I will east him away.
Wut•…•…ámmasim.	Give me Tobaco.
Mat nowewuttámmo	I take none.

Obs. Which some doe not but they are ra•…•… Birds; for generally all the men throughou•…•… the Countrey have a Tobacco-bag, with a pip•…•… in it hanging at their back: sometimes the•…•… make such great pipes, both of wood and ston•…•…

•…•…at they are two foot long, with men or •…•…asts carved so big or mafsie, that a man •…•…ay be hurt mortally by one of them; but •…•…ese comonly come from the Mauquáuwogs, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Men eaters, three or foure hundred •…•…les from us: They have an exc•…•…llent Art 〈◊〉〈◊〉 cast our Pewter and Brasse into very neate •…•…nd artificiall Pipes: They take their Wuttam∣•…•…uog (tkat is, a weake Tobacco) which the men •…•…ant themselves, very frequently; yet I ne∣•…•…r see any take so excessively, as I have seene •…•…en in Europe; and yet excesse were more •…•…lerable in them, because they want the re∣•…•…eshing of Beare and Wine, which God hath •…•…uchsafed Europe.

•…•…uttámmagon.	A Pipe.
•…•…opuònck.	A Pipe.
•…•…hicks.	A Cocke, or Hen:

A •…•…ame taken from the English Chicke, because •…•…ey have no Hens before the English came.

Chicks anawat.	The Cocke crowes.
Neesquttónckqussu.	Ababler, or prater.
Cunneesquttonck∣qussimmin.	You prate.

Obs. Which they figuratively transferre •…•…rom the frequent troublesome clamour of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cocke.

Nanótateem.	I keepe house alone.
Aquie kuttúnnan.	Doe not tell
Aquie mooshkishát∣tous.	Doe not disclose.
Teàg yo augwháttick?	What hangs there?
Yo augwhattous.	Hang it there.
Pemisquai	Crooked, or winding.
Penâyi.	Crooked.
N•…•…ussútam.	I remove house:

Whic•…•… they doe upon these occasions: From thic•…•… warme vallies. where they winter, they re•…•… move a little neerer to their Summer fields 〈◊〉〈◊〉 when 'tis warme Spring, then they remove t•…•… their fields where they plant Corne.

In middle of Summer because of the abun•…•… dance of Fleas, which the dust of the house breeds. they will flie and remove on a sudde•…•… from one part of their field to a fresh place 〈◊〉〈◊〉 And sometimes having fi•…•…lds a mile or two•…•… or many miles asunder. when the worke of•…•… one field is over, they remove house to the•…•… other: If death fall in amongst them, they pr•…•…sently remove to a fresh place: If an ene∣mie approach, they remove into a Thicket, or Swampe. unlesse they have some Fort to re∣move unto.

Sometimes they remove to a hunting house in the end of the yeere, and forsake it not un-

Snow lie thick, and then will travel home, •…•…n, women and children, thorow the snow, •…•…rtie, yea, fiftie or sixtie miles; but their •…•…at remove is from their Summer fields to •…•…rme and thicke woodie bottomes where •…•…y winter: They are quicke; in halfe a day, 〈◊〉〈◊〉, sometimes at few houres warning to be •…•…he and the house up elsewhere. especially, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they have stakes readie pitcht for their •…•…ats.

I once in travel lodged at a house, at which •…•…my returne I hoped to h•…•…ve lodged againe •…•…re the nex night, but the house was gone •…•…that interim, and I was glad to lodge un∣•…•… a tree:

The men make the poles or stakes, but the •…•…men make and set up, take downe▪ order, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 carry the Mats and housholdstuffe.

Observation in generall.

The sociablenesse of the nature of man ap∣•…•…ares in the wildest of them, who love so∣•…•…tit; Families, cohabitation, and consocia∣•…•… of houses and townes together.

More particular:

How busie are the sonnes of men?Line 1 How full their heads and hands? What noyse and tumults in our owne, And eke in Pagan lands?

Yet I have found lesse noyse, more peaceLine 2 In wilde America, Where women quickly build the house, And quickly move away. English and Indians busie are, In parts of their abode: Yet both stand idle, till God's call Set them to worke for God. * 1.1

Notes

• * 1.1

  Mat. 20. 7.