CHAP. XIX.
Of Fish and Fishing.
| Namaùus,-suck, | Fish, Fishes. |
| } | Cod, Which is the first that comes a little before the Spring. |
| Pauganaùt, tamwock, } | |
| } | |
| } | Lampries, The first that come in the Spring into the fresh Rivers. |
| Qunnamáug-suck, } | |
| } | |
| Aumsûog, & Munnaw-hatteaûg, | A Fish somewhat like a Herring. |
| Missúckeke-kéquock, | Basse. |
The Indians (and the English too) make a daintie dish of the Uppaquontup, or head of this Fish; and well they may, the braines and fat of it being very much, and sweet as marrow.
| Kaúposh-shaûoog, | Sturgeon. |
Obs: Divers part of the Countrey abound with this Fish; yet the Natives for the goodnesse and greatnesse of it, much prize it, and will neither furnish the English with so many, nor so cheape, that any great trade is like to be made of it, untill the English themselves are fit to follow the fishing.
The Natives venture one or two in a Canow, and with an harping Iron, or such like Instrument sticke this fish, and so hale it into their Canow; sometimes they take them by their nets, which they make strong of Hemp.
Ashòp, their nets. Which they will set thwart some little River or Cove wherein they kill Basse (at the fall of the water) with their arrows, or sharp sticks, especially if headed with Iron, gotten from the English, &c.
Obs: Of this Fish there is abundance, which the Natives drie in the Sunne and smoake; and some English begin to salt, both wayes they keepe all the yeere; and it is hoped it may be as well accepted as Cod at a Market, and better, if once knowne.
| Taut-aúog, | Sheeps-heads. |
| Neeshaúog, } | |
| Sassammaúquock, } | Eeles. |
| Nquittéconnaúog, } | |
| Tatackommmâúog, | Porpuses. |
| Pútop-paúog, | Whales. |
Which in some places are often cast up; I have seene some of them, but not above sixtie foot long: The Natives cut them out in severall parcells, and give and send farre and neere for an acceptable present, or dish.
| Missêsu, | The whole. |
| Poquêsu, | The halfe. |
| Waskèke, | The Whalebone. |
| Wussúckqun, | A taile. |
| Aumaûog, | They are fishing. |
| Ntaûmen, | I am fishing. |
| Kuttaûmen? | Doe you fish? |
| Nnattuckqunnûwem, | I goe a fishing. |
| Aumáchick, } | Fishes. |
| Natuckqunnuwâchick, } | |
| Aumaûi, | He is gone to fish. |
| Awácenick kukkattineanaûmen? | What doe you fish for. |
| Ashaûnt-teaûg, | Lobsters. |
| Opponenaûhock, | Oysters. |
| Sickíssuog, | Clams. |
Obs: This is a sweet kind of shellfish, which all Indians generally over the Countrey, Winter and Summer delight in; and at low water the women dig for them: this fish, and the naturall liquors of it, they boile, and it makes their broth and their Nasaúmp (which is a kind of thickened broth) and their bread seasonable and savoury, in stead of Salt: and for that the English Swine dig and root these Clams wheresoever they come, and watch the low water (as the Indian women do) therefore of all the English Cattell, the Swine (as also because of their filthy disposition) are most hatefull to all Natives, and they call them filthy cut throats, &c.
| Séqunnock, } | A Horse fish. |
| Poquaûhock, } |
Obs: This the English call Hens, a little thick shell fish which the Indians wade deepe and dive for, and after they have eaten the meat there (in those which are good) they breake out of the shell, about halfe an inch of a blacke part of it, of which they make their Suckaúhock, or blackmoney, which is to them pretious.
| Meteaûhock, | The Periwinkle. |
Of which they make their Wómpan or white money, of halfe the value of their Suckáwhock, or blacke money, of which more in the Chapter of their Coyne.
| Cumménakiss, } | |
| Cummenakíssamen, } | Have you taken store? |
| Cummuchickinneanâwmen? } | |
| Numménakiss, | I have taken store. |
| Nummuchikineanâwmen, | I have killed many. |
| Machàge, | I have caught none. |
| Aúmanep, | A fishing line. |
| Aumanapeash, | Lines. |
The Natives take exceeding great paines in their fishing, especially in watching their seasons by night; so that frequently they lay their naked bodies many a cold night on the cold shoare about a fire of two or three sticks, and oft in the night search their Nets; and sometimes goe in and stay longer in frozen water.
some call them Frost fish, from their comming up from the Sea into fresh Brookes, in times of frost and snow.
| Qunôsuog, | A fresh fish, |
which the Indians break the ice in fresh ponds, when they take also many other sorts: for, to my knowledge the Country yeelds many sorts of other fish, which I mention not.
The generall Observation of Fish.
How many thousands of Millions of those under water, sea inhabitants, in all Coasts of the world, preach to the sonnes of men on shore, to adore their glorious Maker, by presenting themselves to Him as themselves (in a manner) present their lives from the wild Ocean, to the very doores of men, their fellow creatures in New-England.
More particular.
What Habacuck once spake, mine eyes
Have often seene most true,
The greater Fishes devoure the lesse,
And cruelly pursue.
Forcing them through coves and creekes
To leape on driest sand,
To gaspe on earthie element, or die
By wildest Indians hand.
Christs little ones must hunted be
Devour’d; yet rise as Hee.
And eate up those which now a while
Their fierce devourers be.