A trip to New-England with a character of the country and people, both English and Indians.

A TRIP TO New-England, &c.

BISHOPS, Bailiffs, and Bastards, were the three Terrible Persecu∣tions which chiefly drove our unhappy Brethren to seek their For∣tunes in our Forreign Colonies. One of these Bug-bears, I confess, frighted me from the Blessings of my own dear Native Country; and forc'd me to the Fatigue of a long Voyage, to escape a Scouring.

But whether Zeal, Debt, or the sweet Sin of Procreation, begot in my Conscience those Fears, which hurried me a great many Leages be∣yond my Senses, I am as unwilling to declare to the World, as a Romish Damsel that has lost her Maiden-head, is to confess her Frailty to the Priest.

For many Years my Mind sat as Easie in my Breast, as an Alderman in an Elbow-Chair, till the Devil envying my Felicity, flung so many Crosses and Losses in my way, that every Step I took in my Occupation, I was timorous of Tumbling.

I thought it then high time to seek for Balm, but finding none in Gilead, I was mov'd by the Spirit of Necessity, to forsake Ungodly London, for Religious Boston in New-England; hoping to Purifie my self by the way in an Ocean of Brine, That when I got thither, I might find my Condition, as well as my Conscience, in a tollerable Pickle, fitted for the Con∣versation of the Saints in so Holy a Land.

I pack'd up my Auls in order for my Voyage; and Embarked the Ship the Prudent Sarah, at Gravesend, who was weighing Anchor, with a fair Wind for the Downs, That I had no leasure to step back to Lon∣don to satisfie my Creditors; but, like a Girl that's Ravish'd, was forc'd, with a very good will, to do that which I intended.

To entertain this Merry Town, with an exact Iournal in Tarpaulin Ara∣bick, is like reading the Revelations to an establish'd Atheist, or repeating a Welsh Commedy to a Highlander. I shall therefore omit all such accustomary Fustian, and divert you with some Thoughts of my own in the time of my Passage.

When I first came on Board, I fancy'd a Ship to be like a Country Village with two or three May-poles in't; and the Fellows running about

Deck in Red and White-wastcoats, to be the Young Men of the Town engaged in a match at Foot-ball.

Sometimes I consider'd them as a Pack of Hounds, and the Pilot to be the Hunts-man: For, like Dogs upon a Scent, they keep a heavy Yelping at their Business; but in every interval, were as silent as a Beagle at a Loss.

At other times, I have fancy'd a Ship to be a floating Hive, instead of Bees, posses'd by Drones, who make more T—d than Honey.

A Vessel, whilst the Pilot is on Board, is an Emblem of Feeble Mo∣narchy; where the King has a States-man in his Dominions Greater than himself, That the Prince only bears the Title, but the other the Command.

A Man on Board cannot but be thoughtful on two Destinies, viz. Hanging and Drowning: For withinside you have Rope, and without Water enough to effect either. So that it often put me in mind of the old Proverb, The Sea and the Gallows refuses none.

A Commander when at Sea, is a Marine Deity; his Will is his Law, and the Power of Punishing soly in his own hands. He has a Wooden World at his Mercy, wherein there is no way to be Happy, but by due Obedience: For he that knoweth his Masters Will, and doth it not, shall be beaten with many Stripes.

When out at Sea, I thought the World was Drown'd, because no Land was to be seen. The Captain and his Mess, I compar'd to Noah and his Family; but as for the rest, they were the Beasts of the Ark.

We were very good Christians when we'd nothing else to do: All Hands in a Calme to Pray or Pick Okum; but to work in a Storm, serve God serve Devil.

Brandy and Tobacco are the Soul of a Seaman; he that wants either, is but half himself; and he that has neither, wants every thing that's needful; and must, in his own defence, turn Thief or Beggar.

Mariners, like Parsons, are much given to look Upwards; but never consult Heaven beyond the Pole, or the Pointers. At Sea they are a kind of Persians, trusting to the Sun, Moon and Stars for Bodily Salvation.

They seldom take notice but of one Miracle since Adam, and that is of Noah's guiding the Ark to a safe Harbour, without the help of a Sail, or the use of a Rudder: Which (forgetting Providence) they urge to be Impossible.

A foul Wind makes scanty Messes; for it's a chearful saying among Seamen, Large Wind, Large Allowance: Starving and Drowning being to them equally terrible.

Facetious Ignorance is an excellent Tallent to win the Captains Favour. Reason at Sea, without the Rules of Navigation, is as dangerous to be talk'd as Treason: For nothing galls the Ambition of a Commander more, Than to hear any Body on Board seem Wiser than himself.

They generally bestow their Favours, as Fortune does her Benefits, as if both their Heads were in a Bag; and for want of Sense or Sight, choose Dunces for their Minions, and Fools for their Companions: Dreading Ingenuity, and slighting Merit. Being possitive in Errors, hateful to Instruction, proud of their Ignorance, and Wise in their own conceits.

A Violent Storm at Sea, to me, seem'd the Minute resemblance of a general Conflagration: When Jarring Elements for Power contended; and angry Heavens belch'd out flakes of its consuming Fire on the reflecting Ocean; follow'd with dreadful Claps of rending Thunder, rattling from Cloud to Cloud, thro' Rains and Hurricanes, till the Conquering

Wind had blown his Sable Enemies beneath our Horizon, and clear'd the Skies of his affrightening Rivals.

A Calm to me was an Effeminate acquiescence of the Elements; and un∣pleasant to a manly disposition: The World look'd as if Nature was a Sleep; and, careless of her charge, had suffer'd (thro' Neglect) the whole Universe to be Idle▪ I could compare our Ship to nothing in so smooth a Sea, but to an Egg upon a Looking-glass.

Idleness at Sea is the worst of Slavery; and he that has nothing to do, is Buried Alive in a Cabbin instead of a Coffin.

With these sort of Cogitations I past away my Time, being tost about by the Waves like a Dog in a Blanket, till we got Sight of the Promis'd Land, and Arriv'd at our desir'd Port, Boston. Of which I shall first pro∣ceed to give you an Account, free from Prejudice or Partiality.

Of Boston, and the Inhabitants.

On the South-west side of Massachusets-Bay, is Boston; whose Name is taken from a Town in Lincoln-shire: And is the Metropolis of all New-England. The Houses in some parts joyn as in London. The Build∣ings, like their Women, being Neat and Handsome. And their Streets, like the Hearts of the Male Inhabitants, are Paved with Pebble.

In the Chief, or high Street, there are stately Edifices, some of which have cost the owners two or three Thousand Pounds the raising; which, I think, plainly proves Two old Adages true, viz. That a Fool and his Money is soon parted; and, set a Beggar on Horse-back he'll Ride to the Devil, for the Fathers of these Men were Tinkers and Peddlers.

To the Glory of Religion, and the Credit of the Town, there are four Churches, Built with Clap-boards and Shingles, after the Fashion of our Meet∣ing-houses; which are supply'd by four Ministers, to whom some, very justly, have apply'd these Epithites, one a Scholar, the Second a Gentleman, the Third a Dunce, and the Fourth a Clown.

Their Churches are Independent, every Congregation, or Assembly, in Eclesiastical Affairs, being distinctly Govern'd by their own Elders and Deacons, who in their Turns set the Psalmes; and the former are as busie on Sundays, to excite the People to a Liberal Contribution, as our Church-Wardens at Easter and Christimas, are with their Dishes, to make a Col∣lection for the Poor.

Every Stranger is unavoidably forc'd to take this Notice, That in Boston, there are more Religious Zealots than Honest-men, more Parsons than Churches, and more Churches than Parishes: For the Town, unlike the People, is subject to no Division.

The Inhabitants seem very Religious, showing many outward and visible Signs of an inward and Spiritual Grace: But tho' they wear in their Faces the Innocence of Doves, you will find them in their Dealings, as Subtile as Serpents. Interest is their Faith, Money their God, and Large Po∣ssessions the only Heaven they covet.

Election, Commencement, and Training-days, are their only Holy-days; they keep no Saints-Days, nor will they allow the Apostles to be Saints, yet they assume that Sacred Dignity to themselves; and say, in the Title Page of their Psalm-Book, Printed for the Edification of the Saints in Old and New-England.

They have been very severe against Adultery, which they Punish'd with Death; yet, notwithstanding the Harshness of their Law, the Women are of such noble Souls, and undaunted Resolutions, that they will run the hazard of being Hang'd, rather than not be reveng'd on Matrimony, or forbear to discover the Corruption of their own Natures.

If you Kiss a Woman in Publick, tho' offer'd as a Curteous Salutation, if any Information is given to the Select Members, both shall be Whip'd or Fin'd. It's an excellent Law to make Lovers in Privat make much of their time, since open Lip-Lechery is so dearly purchas'd. But the good humor'd Lasses, to make you amends, will Kiss the kinder in a Corner.

Publick Kissing, and single Fornication are both of a Price; for which Reason the Women wisely consider▪ the latter may be done with more safty than the former; and if they chance to be Detected, and are forc'd to pay the Fine, they are sure before-hand of something for their Money.

A Captain of a Ship who had been a long Voyage, happen'd to meet his Wife, and kist her in the Street; for which he was fin'd Ten Shillings, and forc'd to pay the Money. What a Happiness, thought I, do we en∣joy in Old-England, that can not only Kiss our own Wives, but other Mens too without the danger of such a penalty.

Another Inhabitant of the Town was fin'd Ten Shillings for Kissing his own wife in his Garden; and obstinatly refusing to pay the Money, en∣dured Twenty Lashes at the Gun: Who, in Revenge of his Punishment, Swore he would never Kiss her again, either in Publick or Private. And at this rate, one of the delightfulest Customs in the World, will in time be quit thrown out of Fashion, to the Old Folks satisfaction, but to the Young ones Lamentation, who love it as well in New-England, as we do in the Old.

A Man and Woman, were sentenc'd to be Whip'd for the like offence▪ he being order'd Thirty Lashes, and she Twenty; but he having extorted the Kiss from her, was so Generous to Sollicit the Select, that he might have the Fifty, and the Woman to be excus'd; which was consented to accordingly.

Every Tenth Man is chose as one of the Select, who have Power, toge∣ther, to Regulate and Punish all disorders that happen in their several Neighbour-hoods. The Penalty for Drunkenness, is whiping or a Crown; Cursing or Swearing, the same Fine, or to be bor'd thro' the Tongue with a hot Iron: But get your Select Member into your Company and Treat him, and you may do either without offence; and be as safe as a Parish∣oner here in a Tavern in the Church-Wardens Company in Sermon-time.

A couple of Deacons Marching along the Street, espied a Woman in a corner relieving Nature from the uneasiness of a Burthen she could keep no longer, one of them cryed out to tother, pointing to the Stoop∣ing object, Brother, Brother, what a Shameful thing, what a Beastly thing is this? I Vow, Brother, this is a thing that ought to be Peep'd into. The other being a more sensible Man, Prithee Brother (said he) do thou Peep into't then, for I care not to run such a hazard of my Eye-sight. Besides (said he) the thing's to Deep for our inspection; and therefore we shall only be laugh'd at for meddling with the matter.

They are very busie in detecting one anothers failings; and he is ac∣counted, by their Church Governers, a Meritorious Christian, that betrays his Neighbour to a Whipping-Post.

A good Cudgel apply'd in the Dark, is an excellent Medicine for a Malignant Spirit. I knew it once Experienced at Boston, with very good success, upon an Old rigged Precisian, one of their Select, who used to be more then ordinary vigilant in discovering every little Irregularity in the Neighbour-hood; I happening one Night to be pritty Merry with a Friend, opposite to the Zealots dwelling, who got out of his Bed in his Wast-coat and Drawers, to listen at our Window. My Friend having oft been serv'd so, had left unbolted his Cellar Trap-door, as a Pit∣fall for Mr. Busie-Body, who stepping upon it, sunk down with an Out∣cry like a distressed Mariner in a sinking Pinnace. My Friend having planted a Cudgel ready, run down Stairs, crying Thieves, and bela∣bour'd Old Troublesome very sevearly before he would know him. He crying out I am your Neighbour. You Lye, you Lye, you Rogue, says my Friend, my Neighbours are Honest Men, you are some Thief come to Rob my House. By this time I went down with a Candle, my Friend seeming wonder∣fully surpriz'd to see 'twas his Neighbour, and one of the Select too, put on a Counterfeit Countenance, and heartily beg'd his Pardon. Away troop'd the Old Fox, Grumbling and Shruging up his Shoulders; and be∣came afterwards the most Moderate Man in Authority in the whole Town of Boston.

A little Pains sometimes do good To such Cross Knotty Sticks of Wood. Correction is the best Recept, To set a Crooked Temper Streight. If such Old Stubborn Boughs can Bend, And from a just Chastisment mend, Fond Parents pray asign a Reason, Why Youth should want it in due Season?

The Women here, are not at all inferiour in Beauty to the Ladies of London, having rather the Advantage of a better Complexion; but as for the Men, they are generally Meagre; and have got the Hypocritical knack, like our English Iews, of screwing their Faces, into such Puritani∣cal postures that you would think they were always Praying to them selves, or running melancholy Mad about some Mistery in the Revelations: So that 'tis rare to see a handsome Man in the Country, for they have all one Cast, but of what Tribe I know not.

A Woman that has lost her Reputation, hath lost her Portion, her Virgi∣nity is all her Treasure: And yet the Merry Lasses esteem it but a Trifle, for they had rather, by far, loose that then their Teeming-time.

The Gravity and Piety of their looks, are of great Service to these Ameri∣can Christians▪ It makes strangers that come amongst them, give Credit to their Words. And it is a Proverb with those that know them, Who∣soever believes a New-England Saint, shall be sure to be Cheated: And he that knows how to deal with their Traders, may Deal with the Devil and fear no Craft.

I was mightily pleas'd one Morning with a Contention between two Boys at a Pump in Boston, about who should draw their Water first. One Jostled the other from the Handle, and he would fill his Bucket first, because his Master said Prayers and sung Psalms twice a Day in his Family, and the others Master did not. To which the Witty Knave made this

reply, Our House stands backward in a Court: if my Master had a Room next the Street, as your Master has▪ he'd Pray twice to your Masters once, that he wou'd, and therefore I'll fill any Pail first, Marry will I; and did accordingly.

Some Years Ago, when the Factors at Boston were Credited with large Stocks by our English Merchants, and being backward in their Returns, and more in their Books then they were willing to satisfie, contriv'd this Stratagem to out-wit their Correspondents. As 'tis said, They set Fire to their Ware-houses, after the disposal of their Goods, and Burnt them down to the Ground, pretending in their Letters, they were all undone, their Cargos and Books all destroy'd; and so at once Ballanc'd their Accounts, with England.

One of their Factors, who had three or four Thousand Pounds worth of an English Merchants Goods in his Hands, sends him an Account of this Lamentable Mischance, to the purpose he was quite Ruin'd, and had lost all but a small Cheese of four Pound Weight, which he sent him for a present. The Merchant having had some Intelligence of the Roguery of his Factor, invites several Eminent Merchants (that dealt to New-England) to Dinner with him, who came accordingly, he having prepar'd an Extraordinary Feast to entertain them. They mightily condol'd his great Loss, (he making slight of it) and blam'd him for the Extrava∣gancy of his Treat, after he had sustain'd so considerable a Misfortune. Ah! Gentlemen, says he, this is nothing to what I have provided you: I have one Dish still to come up, which cost me between three and four Thousand Pounds; and, notwithstanding its costliness, I think it not Good enough for such worthy Company. The Gentlemen look'd one upon another, and thought he was Frenzical. In the interim, up came his New-England Present, under a cover. That's the Dish, says the Master of the Feast, that stood me in so many Thousands. 'Tis but a small Morsel, considering the Price. The Company all wondering of what delicates the Cook must have compos'd this Extravagant Kickshaw, lifted up the Cover, and finding nothing but a Cheese, laugh'd as heartily at their Disapointment, as the Mob in the Fable at the Mountain-mouse. Then he continued their Mirth by unfol∣ding the Riddle: And Swore, if ever he trusted a New-England Saint again for three Pence, the Devil shou'd have a Title to him and his Heirs for half the Money.

The Ground upon which Boston (the Metropolis of New-England) stands, was purchas'd from the Natives, by the first English Proprietors, for a Bushel of Wampum-peag and a Bottle of Rum, being of an inconsider∣able Value. Therefore the Converted Indians, (who have the use of the Scriptures) cannot blame Esau for selling his Birth-right for a mess of Porrage.

The Latitude of Boston is accounted 42 deg. 30 Min. North. Its Longitude 315 deg. And is very commodiously Seated upon a Bay, large enough for the Anchorage of 500 Sail of Ships.

Of the Country in General.

New-England is computed to begin at 40, and end at 46 North Lati∣tude; Running from De-la-Ware-Bay to New-found-Land. The Country is for the most part Wilderness, being generaly Rocky, Woody and Moun∣tainous, very rarely Beautified with Valleys, but those Large and Rich,

wherein are Lakes thirty or forty Miles in compass, from whence their great Rivers have their beginnings, and are chiefly Succour'd.

There are many Plantations by the Sea-side, Situate for the advantage of the East and South Winds, which coming from Sea produceth, warm Weather. The Nor-west blowing over Land, causeth extremity of Cold; and very often strikes both Indian and English Inhabitants with that terrible Distemper, called, the Plague in the Back.

The Country, by its Climate, is always troubled with an Ague and Fever; As soon as ever the Cold fit's over, tis attended with a Hot: And the Natives themselves, whose Bodys are Habituated to the suddain changes, from one Extream to another, cannot but confess, They Freez in Winter and Fry in Summer.

A Ridg of White Mountains run almost thro' the Country, whereon lies a remembrance of the past Winter, in the warmest of their weather, An Indian at the sight of the Snow, lodg'd upon the Shoulders of these Hills, will Quake at Midsummer: For they love Cold like a Cricket. At the Top there is a large Plain, ten or twelve Leages over, yielding nothing but Moss, where a Man may walk with his Mistress, in the height of his Juvenality, and not entertain one Thought of attempting her Chas∣tity, it being fatally Cold, and above the Clouds; and would have been a rare place, for the presumptious Babilonians to have Built their Tower on.

Plymouth Plantation was the first English Colony that settled in New-England, in the Year 1618. Their Habitations, at their going on Shore, being empty Hogs-heads, which they whelm'd over their Heads to defend themselves from the cold Damps and falling Mischiefs of the Night. Each House having but one Window, and that's the Bung-hole, requiring a Cooper instead of a Carpenter to keep their Houses in repair. Their Provision (till better acquainted with the Country) being only Pumkin, which they Cook'd as many several ways, as you may Dress Venison: And is continued to this Day as a great dish amongst the English. Pumpkin Porrage being as much in esteem with New-England Saints, as Ielly Broth with Old-Eng∣land Sinners.

Ten Years expired, before any other Colonies were Planted; since which time the Possessions of the English are so greatly improv'd, That in all their Colonies, they have above a Hundred and Twenty Towns, And is at this Time one of the most Flourishing Plantations belonging to the English Empire.

There is a large Mountain, of a Stupendious height, in an Uninhabita∣ble part of the Country, which is call'd the Shining Mountain, from an amaizing Light appearing on the Top, visible at many Leages distance, but only in the Night.

The English have been very curious in examining the Reason of it; and have, in Bodies, with great Pains and Danger, attempted a ratio∣nal Discovery of this Prodigy to no purpose: For they could not observe any thing upon it to occasion this unusual brightness. It is very terrible to the Indians, who are of a blind Opinion that it contains great Riches, and the Devil lives there; and do assert, That when any of them ascend this place, they are met by something in the figure of an Old Indian, that commands them to return, or if they proceed further they shall Die, which several have found true, by presuming to climb higher, heedless of the caution.

Of the Native English in General.

The Women (like the Men) are excessive Smokers; and have con∣tracted so many ill habits from the Indians, that 'tis difficult to find a Woman cleanly enough for a Cook to a Squemish Lady, or a Man neat enough for a Vallet to Sir Courtly Nice. I am sure a Covent-Garden Beau, or a Bell-fa would appear to them much stranger Monsters, then ever yet were seen in America.

They Smoke in Bed, Smoke as they Nead their Bread, Smoke whilst they'r Cooking their Victuals, Smoke at Prayers, Work, and Exonoration, that their Mouths stink as bad as the Bowl of a Sailers Pipe, which he has funk'd in, without Burning, a whole Voyage to the Indias.

Eating, Drinking, Smoking and Sleeping, takes up four parts in five of their Time; and you may divide the remainder into Religious Excer∣cise, Day Labour, and Evacuation. Four Meals a Day, and a good Knap after Dinner, being the Custom of the Country.

Rum, alias Kill Devil, is as much ador'd by the American English, as a dram of Brandy is by an old Billingsgate. Tis held as the Comforter of their Souls, the Preserver of their Bodys, the Remover of their Cares, and Promoter of their Mirth; and is a Soveraign Remedy against the Grumbling of the Guts, a Kibe-heel, or a Wounded Conscience, which are three Epidemical Distempers that afflict the Country.

Their Industry, as well as their Honesty, deserves equal Observation; for it is practicable amongst them, to go two miles to catch a Horse, and run three Hours after him, to Ride Half a Mile to Work, or a Quarter of a Mile to an Ale-house.

One Husband-man in England, will do more Labour in a Day, then a New-England Planter will be at the pains to do in a Week: For to every Hour he spends in his Grounds, he will be two at an Ordinary.

They have wonderful Appetites, and will Eat like Plough-men; tho very Lazy, and Plough like Gentlemen: It being no rarity there, to see a Man Eat till he Sweats, and Work till he Freezes.

The Women are very Fruitful, which shows the Men are Industrious in Bed, tho' Idle up. Children and Servants are there very Plenty; but Honest-men and Virgins as scarce as in other places.

Provisions being Plenty, their Marriage-Feasts are very Sumptious. They are sure not to want Company to Celebrate their Nuptials; for its Custo∣mary in every Town, for all the Inhabitants to Dine at a Wedding with∣out Invitation: For they value their Pleasure at such a rate, and bear such an affection to Idleness, that they would run the hazard of Death or Ruin, rather then let slip so Merry a Holy-day.

The Women, like Early Fruits, are soon Ripe and soon Rotten. A Girl there at Thirteen, thinks herself as well Quallified for a Husband, as a forward Miss at a Boarding-School, does here at Fifteen for a Gallant.

He that Marrys a New-England Lass at Sixteen, if she prove a Snappish Gentlewoman, her Husband need not fear she will bite his Nose off; for its ten to one but she hath shed her Teeth, and has done Eating of Crust, before she arrives to that Maturity.

It is usual for the Men to be Grey at Thirty; and look as Shrivel'd in the Face, as an old Parchment Indenture pasted upon a Barbers Block.

And are such lovers of Idleness, That they are desirous of being thought Old, to have a better pretence to be Lazy.

The Women have done bearing of Children by that time they are Four and Twenty: And she that lives un-Married till she's Twenty Five, may let all the Young Sports-men in the Town give her Maiden-head chase without the Danger of a Timpany.

Notwithstanding their Sanctity, they are very Prophane in their com∣mon Dialect. They can neither drive a Bargain, nor make a Iest, with∣out a Text of Scripture at the end on't.

An English Inhabitant having sold a Bottle of Rum to an Indian (con∣trary to the Laws of the Country) was detected in it; and order'd to be Lash'd. The Fellow brib'd the Whipster to use him tenderly; but the Flog-master resolving (being a Conscientious Man) to do his Duty Honestly, rather punish'd the Offender with the greater severity, who casting a sorrowful look over his Shoulder, Cry'd out, the Scripture say∣eth, Blessed is the Merciful Man. The Scourgineer replying, and it also says, Cursed is he that doeth the work of the Lord Negligently: And for fear of coming under the Anathema, laid him on like an unmerciful Dog, till he had given him a thorough Fellow-feeling of his Cat of Nine-tailes.

Their Lecture-Days are call'd by some amongst them, Whore Fair, from the Levity and Wanton Frollicks of the Young People, who when their Devotion's over, have recourse to the Ordinaries, where they plentifully wash away the remembrance of their Old Sins, and drink down the fear of a Fine, or the dread of a Whipping-post. Then Vptails-all and the Devils as busie under the Petticoat, as a Iuggler at a Fair, or a Whore at a Carnival.

Husking of Indian-Corn, is as good sport for the Amorous Wag-tailes in New-England, as Maying amongst us is for our forward Youths and Wenches. For 'tis observ'd, there are more Bastards got in that Season, than in all the Year beside; which Occasions some of the looser Saints to call it Rutting Time.

Many of the Leading Puritans may (without Injustice) be thus Cha∣racteris'd. They are Saints without Religion, Traders without Honesty, Christians without Charity, Magistrates without Mercy, Subjects without Loyalty, Neighbours without Amity, Faithless Friends, Implacable Enemys, and Rich Men without Money.

They all pretend to be driven over by Persecution, which their Teachers Roar out against in their Assemblies, with as much bitterness, as a double refin'd Protestant can belch forth against the Whore of Babylon: Yet have they us'd the Quakers with such severity, by Whipping, Hanging, and other Punishments, forcing them to put to Sea in Vessels without Provision, they flying with Gladness to the Merciless Ocean, as their only Refuge under Heaven, left to escape the Savage Fury of their Vnchristian Enemies, till drove by Providence upon Rhoad-Island (so call'd from their accidental discovery of it in their Stroling Adventure) which they found full of Fruits and Flowers, a Fertile Soil, and extreamly Pleasant, being the Garden of America; where they happily Planted themselves, making great improve∣ments: There Live and Flourish, as the Righteous, like a Bay-Tree under the Noses of their Enemies.

The Clergy, tho' they Live upon the Bounty of their Hearers, are as rediculously Proud, as their Communicants are shamefully Ignorant. For tho' they will not suffer their Unmannerly Flock to worship their Crea∣tor

with that Reverence and Humility as they ought to do, but tell them 'tis Popery to uncover their Heads in the House and Presence of the Deity; yet they Oblige every Member to pay an humble respect to the Parsons Box, when they make their offerings every Sunday, and fling their Mites into their Teacher••s Treasury. So that the Haughty Prelate exacts more Homage, as due to his own Transcendency, than he will allow to be paid to Heaven or its place of Worship.

If you are not a Member in full Communion with one of their Assem∣blies, your Progeny is deny'd Baptism, for which reason, there are Hun∣dreds amongst them, at Mans Estate, that were never Christened.

All Handicrafts-Men may live here very well, except a Pick-pocket; of all Artificers he would find the least Encouragement; for the scarcity of Money would baulk his Tallent.

An Eminent Planter came to me for an Ounce of Venice-treacle, which I would have sold him for a Shilling; he protested he had liv'd there Fifty Years, and never see in the whole Term, Ten Pounds in Sil∣ver-Money of his own; and yet was Rated at a Thousand Pounds, and thought the Assessors us'd him kindly▪ But gave me for my Medicine a Bushel of Indian-Corn, vallued at half a Crown, and Vow'd if a Shilling would save his Family from distruction, he knew not how to raise it.

They have a Charter for a Fair at Salem, but it Begins, like Ingerstone Market, half an Hour after Eleven a Clock, and Ends half an Hour be∣fore Twelve: For I never see any thing in it but by great Accident, and those were Pumkins, which were the chief Fruit that supported the English at their first settling in these parts. But now they enjoy plenty of good Provisions, Fish, Flesh and Fowl, and are become as great Epicures, as ever Din'd at Pontack's Ordinary.

Lobsters and Cod-fish are held in such disdain, by reason of their Plenty, 'tis as Scandalous for a poor Man in Boston to carry one through the streets, as 'tis for an Alderman in the City of London, to be seen walking with a Groatsworth of Fresh-Herrings, from Billings-gate to his own House.

There were formerly amongst them (as they themselves Report) abun∣dance of Witches, and indeed I know not, but there may be as many now, for the Men look still as if they were Hag-ridden; and every Stranger; that comes into the Country, shall find they will Deal by him to this Day, as if the Devil were in 'em.

Witchcraft they Punish'd with Death, till they had Hang'd the best Peo∣ple in the Country, and Convicted the Culprit upon a single Evidence: So that any prejudic'd person, who bore Malice against a Neighbour, had an easie method of removing their Adversary. But since, upon better consideration, they have Mitigated the severity of that unreasonable Law, there has not been one accused of Witchcraft, in the whole Country.

Many are the Bug-bear storys reported of these suppos'd Negroman∣cers, but few Believ'd, tho' I presume none True, yet all Collected and already Printed, I shall therefore omit the relating of any.

They have one very wholesome Law, which would do mighty well to be in force in Old-England; which is a Peculiar method they have of Punishing Scolds. If any Turbulent Woman be Troubled with an un∣ruly Member, and uses it to the Defamation of any Body, or disquiet of her Neighbours, upon Complaint, she is order'd to be Gag'd and set at her own Door as many Hours as the Magistrates shall think fit, there

to be gaiz'd at by all Passengers till the time's expired. Which, to me▪ seems the most Equitable Law imaginable to Punish more particularly that Member which committed the Offence.

Whipping is a Punishment so Practicable in this Country, upon every slight Offence, that at a Town upon the Sound, call'd New-Haven, the Peo∣ple do confess, that all the Inhabitants of that Place, above the Age of Fourteen, had been Whip'd for some Misdemeanour or other (except two) the Minister and the Iustice.

Of the Beasts.

They have most sort of Four-footed Beasts that we have here, only something different in either Sise or Colour, but of the same Species. I shall only mention those which are Natives of that Country, and to us uncommon; for to Treat of Creatures dayly to be seen, or heard of in our own Climate, will afford the Reader but little Satisfaction.

First of the Moos-Deer.

Of all the Creatures that inhabit these parts of America, the Moos-deer makes the most Noble figure: He is shap'd like an English Deer, only round Footed; but of a stately Stature, seldom so low as the biggest of our Oxen. His Head fortified with Horns proportionable, whose Palms are very broad, full of indented branches, and are commonly two Fathom distance from Tip to Tip. His Flesh is not dry, like Venison, but moist and Lushious; extreamly palatable, and very wholesome. The flesh of their Fawns, is also delicious Food; highly commended by all such who are more than ordinary Nice in obliging their Voluptuous Appetites. There is much said by the Phisicians of that Country concerning the Ex∣cellent Virtues of the Horn of this Creature: Being look'd upon as an incomparable Restorative against all inward weaknesses; and in all Cases where Harts-honn is prescrib'd, the Moos-horn they look upon to be a far better Medicine; half the Quantity being more powerful in effect.

Of the Bear.

The Bears that Inhabit this part of America, are generally of a blackish Colour during the Winter season, which is much colder than in England. They defend themselves from the hardship of the weather, by retiring into Caves, where they continue for about four Months; in which time their Snows are pretty well dissolv'd, and the severity of their Frost over. They are commonly very Fat in the fall of the Leaf, by feeding upon Acorns, at which time the Indians destroy a great many; looking upon 'em then to be incomparable Venison: But the Head, I believe, is but a sorry dish, because they hold the Brains to be Venomous. They are very fierce in Rutting-time; and then walk the Country round, thirty or forty in a Company, making a hedious roaring, which may be heard a Mile or two before they come near enough to endanger a Traveller. They will never injure a Man at any other time of the Year, except you attempt to hurt them first; But if you Shoot at one, and miss him, he will cer∣tainly destroy you; which makes the Indians sure of their Mark be∣fore ever they discharge their Piece. Their Skins they sell to the Eng∣lish,

but the Flesh they Cook sundry ways, Salting and Drying some, of which they make extraordinary Bacon, no Hogs-flesh in the world being more pleasant to the Eye, grateful to the Tast, or agreeable to the Appetite.

Of the Raccoon.

It is a Creature about the bigness of a Cat, but of a different Species. Its Furr is of a dark colour, and in good esteem, tho' something course. He is of an Owlish disposition; and chooses for his Mansion-house a Hollow-Tree. They are meer Gluttons at Indian-Corn; and feed themselves in Autumn very fat. Their flesh is dark, like Venison; and accounted good Food Roasted.

Of the Wild-Cat,

Which the Indians call the Ounce. Tis as tall as an English Bull-dog; and as fierce. Their manner of Preying, is to climb a Tree, and drop from the Branches upon the Back of Horse, Cow, Deer, or any Creature that is feeding under it; clinging close with their Tallons, knawing a great hole between the Shoulders of the Beast, who runs full speed till he drops down Dead, and becomes a prey to his subtile Enemy. Their Flesh Roasted, is as good as Lamb, and as white.

Of the Porcupine.

This is a very peevish, also a dangerous Creature; being the height of an ordinary Mungril, but in shape like an Hedge-hog, arm'd all over with mischievous Darts, as a Hemp-dressers Comb with Teeth; which he exer∣cises with as much Art as an old Soldier does his Pike, charging them according as you Attack him, to the Right, Left, Front, or Rear, which they will Shoot at their Enemies a considerable distance; and wherever they Stick in the Flesh, if you pluck them not out presently, they will work thro'. The Indians use these Quills to adorn their Birchen Dishes. The Flesh they do not Eat.

Of the Beaver.

This is an Amphibeous Creature, rather larger than an Otter, Hairy all over but his Tail, which is Scaly like a Fish; and is of an admirable Instinct, as is observ'd by their artificial Dam-heads, by which, in dry Seasons, they raise the Water to their Houses, when the Pond, upon whose brinks they dwell, is sunk from it's usual Edges. Their Nests or Burrow which they make, are three Stories high, that in case excessive Rains should over-flow their first and second Floor, they may mount into their Garrets, there Sleep in a dry Skin till the Floods abated. They have two pair of Testacles, one soft and Oily; and the other pair hard or solid. The Women dry the latter, and grate them into Wine, to further Generation, remove the causes of Barrenness, prevent Miscarriages, and to strengthen Nature against, and also moderate the Pains of Delivery. They Eat no part of this Creature but the Tail, which they flea and boil, accounting it rare Victuals. It's very Fat, and Eats like Marrow, being an excel∣lent Supper for a Bride-groom, or good Food for that unhappy Man who has Marry'd a Wife much Younger than himself: Of their Furr, mix'd with Coney-wooll, they make your Beaver-hats.

Of the Jackall.

These are very numerous in New-England. They are the colour of a Grey Rabbit; something less than a Fox, having much the same Scent, but not so strong. This is the Creature reported to hunt the Lyons prey, which make some suspect there are Lyons, but there never was but one seen as we have any account of; and that was shot by an Indian, with Bow and Arrow, Sixty Years ago, as he lay Dormant upon the Body of an Oak, by a Hurricane blown up by the Roots. The Iackall is sometimes Eaten by the Indians.

Wolves there are abundance, of two sorts, one like a Mungril, which kills Goats, Sheep, &c. And the other shap'd like a Grey-hound, which preys upon Deer. They are very shy and difficult to be Shot or Trap'd. Their manner of distroying them, being by four Maycril-hooks, which they bind together, with their Beards revers'd, then hide them with a Ball of Tallow, and tie it to the Carkass of any thing they have just kill'd, from which you have scar'd them, and when he comes to make up his Meale, being a lover of Fat, he certainly takes your Bait, and becomes your Prisoner.

Besides what I have above mentioned, they have a great deal of good Provisions, as Beef, Mutton, Kid, Swines-Flesh, &c. Also great Plenty both of Fish and Fowl; the Particulars being too large to Treat of in so Brief an Account.

Of the Indians, and first of the Men.

They are generally of a comely Stature, grave Disposition, deliberate in their Talk, and courteous in their Carriage, quick of Apprehension, very Ingenious, Subtile, Proud and Lazy.

There is nothing they Value so much as Liberty and Ease. They will not become Servil upon any Terms whatsoever, or abridge their Na∣tive Freedom, with either Work or Confinement, to gain the Universe: For they neither covet Riches, or dread Poverty: But all seem Content with their own Conditions, which are in a manner Equal.

For these four Virtues they are very Eminent, viz. Loyal to their Kings, Constant to their Wives, Indulgent to their Children, and Faithful to their Trust.

For nothing will tempt them to offer Violence to their Sagamore, to abuse their Squawes, use Soverity with their Papooses, or betray a Secret; rather chusing to die then do either.

They call themselves Hunters; and are very dexterous at the use of either Gun or Bow, by the excercise of which; they maintain themselves and Families.

They acknowledge a God, whom they Worship for his Benefits. They believe a Devil, whom they Adore thro' Fear. And have a Blind Notion of Futurity, which appears by their manner of Interring their Dead, with whom they bury his Bow, Gun, with Provisions for his Journy into a better Country; but where or what it is they know not.

Upon the breaking out of a War, or such extraordinary Occasions, as the old Romans consulted their Oracles, so do the Indians their Pawaws, which are a kind of Wizards: And at a General Pawawing, the Country a Hundred Miles round assemble themselves in a Body; and when they are thus met, they kindle a large Fire, round which the Pawaw walks, and beats himself upon his Breast, muttering out a strange sort of intricate Jargon, till he has Elivated himself into so great an Agony, that he

falls down by the Fire in a Trance; during which time, the Sagamores ask him what they have a mind to know: After which, he is convey'd thro' the Fire, in the same posture that he lies, by a Power invisible, in the sight of the Spectators; then awakes, and Answers the several Questions ask'd by their Kings or Sachems.

The chiefest Vice amongst them is Drunkenness, which (to the Reputation of Christianity) they learn'd of the English: And are so greedy of being Drunk, when they have purchas'd any Rum, that if they have not enough to Fuddle their whole Society, they draw Cuts who shall Drink, till it falls into the hands of so few, they may be sure to have their Bellies full. When they get Drunk they are very Mischievous one to another: But are never known to offer any Indignity to their Kings, who are Hail Fellow well met with his Subjects.

Their Garments are Mantles, about the bigness of a Cradle-Rug, made of course Eng∣lish Cloth, which they call a Coat. They also have a piece of the same Cloth, about six Inches wide, between their Legs, tuck'd under a Deer's-Skin Belt, to hide their Privi∣ties, by them call'd Breeches. Adorning themselves with Beads of several Colours, of their own making. Their Heads, Breast, Legs and Thighs being bare. Sometimes, for their Children, they Weave Coates of Turky Feathers.

Their Houses they call Wigwams; and are built with bended Poles, after the fa∣shion of our Arbours, cover'd with Bark of Trees, and lin'd with Mats they make of Rushes, leaving a hole at top for a Smoke-vent, kindling their Fires in the middle of their Wigwams. Their Lodging is upon Hurdles, rais'd from the Ground with Wooden Stumps.

Of their Women.

Their Squaws when Young, are generally round Visage'd, well Feitur'd, Plump, and Handsome; black-Eyed, with Alabaster Teeth, a Satin Skin, and of excellent pro∣portion; with tolerable Complections, which they injure much with Red-lead and Bears-grease, being so silly to believe it gives an advantage to their Beauty.

They are extreamly Modest when Virgins; very Continent when Wives, Obedient to their Husbands, and tender Mothers to their Children. From whom our English Ladies might learn those Virtues, which would heighthen their Charms, and Illusterate their Perfection beyound the Advantages of gaudy Dresses.

They are much in the Condition of our first Parents; having a little more than a Fig-leaf to hide their Nakedness: Yet the modestty of their deportment, makes it not look like Impudence but Necessity.

They carry their Children at their Backs, lac'd to a Board in the form of a Boot-jack: which is said to be the reason their Children are never Rickety, or shall you ever see a Bandy-leg'd or Crooked Indian.

Of their Food.

Their Diet is Fish, Fowl, Bear, Wild-cat, Raccoon, Deer, Oysters, Lobsters roasted or dry'd in Smoke, Lampres, Moot-tongues dry'd, which they esteem a dish for a Sagamore. With hard Eggs Pulveriz'd, they thicken their Broth; Indian-Corn and Kidney-Beans boil'd, Earth-Nuts, Chest-Nuts, Lilly-Roots, Pumpkins, Milions, and di∣vers sorts of Berries; Cook'd after various manners.

Their Distempers are,

Quinsies, Pleurisies, Sciatica, Head-Ach, Palsey, Dropsie, Worms, Cancer, Pestilent Fever and Scurvy; For all which Diseases, the Indians are Incomparable Physicians: Being well skill'd in the Nature of Herbs and Plants of that Country. But the Eng∣lish will not make use of them, because their Ministers have infus'd this Notion into 'em, That what they do, is by the Power of the Devil.

FINIS.