CHAP. XXIII.

Of Marriage.


Wuskéne,	A young man.
Keegsquaw,	A Virgin or Maide.
Segaúo,	A widdower.
Segoúsquaw,	A widdow.
Wusséntam,	He goes a wooing.
Nosénemuck,	He is my sonne in Law.
Wussenetûock,	They make a match.
Awetawátuock,

Obs: Single fornication they count no sin, but after Marriage (which they solemnize by consent of Parents and publique approbation publiquely) then they count it hainous for either of them to be false.


Mammaûsu,	An Adulterer.
Nummammógwunewò,	He hath wronged my bed.
Pallé nochisquaûaw,	He or she hath committed adultery.

Obs: In this case the wronged party may put away or keepe the party offending: commonly, if the woman be false, the offended Husband will be solemnly revenged upon the offender, before many witnesses, by many blowes and wounds, and if it be to Death, yet the guilty resists not, nor is his Death revenged.


Nquittócaw,	He hath one Wife.
Neesócaw,	He hath two Wives.
Sshócowaw,	He hath three.
Yocowaw,	Foure wives &c.

Their Number is not stinted, yet the chiefe Nation in the Countrey, the Narrigansets (generally) have but one Wife.

Two causes they generally alledge for their many wives.

First desire of Riches, because the Women bring in all the increase of the Field, &c. the Husband onely fisheth, hunteth &c.

Secondly, their long sequestring themselves from their wives after conception, until the child be weaned, which with some is long after a yeare old, generally they keep their children long at the breast.


Commíttamus, Cowéewo,	Your wife.
Tahanawatu? ta shincommaúgemus,	How much gave you for her.
Napannetashom paûgatash,	Five fathome of their Money.
Qutta-énada shoasuck ta shompaugatash,	Six or seven or eight fathome.

If some great Mans daghter, Piuckquompaúgatash, ten fathome.

Obs: Generally the Husband gives these payments for a Dowrie, (as it was in Israell) to the Father or Mother, or guardian of the Maide. To this purpose if the Man be poore, his Friends and Neighbours doe pummenumminteáuguash, that is contribute Money toward the Dowrie.


Nummíttamus Nullógana,	My Wife.
Waumaûsu,	Loving.
Wunnêkesu,	Proper.
Maânsu,	Sober and chast.
Muchickéhea,	Fruitfull.
Cutchashekeâmis?	How many children have you had.
Nquittékea,	I have had one.
Neesékea,	Two &c.

Obs: They commonly abound with children, and increase mightily; except the plague fall amongst them, or other lesser sicknesses, and then having no meanes of recovery, they perish wonderfully.


Katoû eneéchaw,	She in falling into Travell.
Néechaw,	She is in Travell.
Paugcót che nechaúwaw,	She is already delivered.
Kitummâyi-mes-néchaw,	She was just now delivered.

Obs: It hath pleased God in wonderfull manner to moderate that curse of the sorrowes of child bearing to these poore Indian women: So that ordinarily they have a wonderfull more speedy and easie Travell, and delivery than the women of Europe: not that I think God is more gracious to them above other women, but that it followes, First from the hardnesse of their constitution, in which respect they beare their sorrowes the easier. Secondly from their extraordinary great labour (even above the labour of men) as in the field, they sustaine the labour of it, in carrying of mighty Burthens, in digging clammes and getting other Shelfish from the Sea, in beating all their Corne in Morters, &c. Most of them count it a shame for women in Travell to make complaint, and many of them are scarcely heard to groane. I have often knowne in one Quarter of an houre a Woman merry in the House, and delivered and merry againe, and within two dayes abroad, and after foure or five dayes at worke, &c.


Noosâwwaw,	A Nurse.
Nòonsu Nonânnis,	A sucking Child.
Wunnunògan,	A Breast.
Wunnunnóganash,	Breasts.
Munnúnnug,	Milke.
Aumaúneman,	To take from the breast, or weane.

Obs: they put away (as in Israell) frequently for other occasions besides adultery, yet I know many Couples that have lived twenty, thirty, forty yeares together.


Npakétam,	I will put her away.
Npakénaqnn,	I am put away.
Aquiepakétash,	Doe not put away.
Aquèipokesháttous	Doe not break the knot of Marriage.
Awetawátuonck,
Tackquiúwock,	Twins.
Towiû ûwock,	Orphans.
Ntouwiû,	I am an Orphane.
Wáuchaûnat,	A Guardian.
Wauchaúamachick,	Guardians.
Nullóquaso,	My charge or Pupill, or Ward.
Peewaûqun,	Looke well to him, &c.

Generall Observation of their Marriage.

God hath planted in the Hearts of the Wildest of the sonnes of Men, an High and Honourable esteeme of the Marriage bed, insomuch that they universally submit unto it, and hold the Violation of that Bed, Abominable, and accordingly reape the Fruit thereof in the abundance of posterity.

More particular.

When Indians heare that some there are,

(That Men the Papists call)

Forbidding Marriage Bed and yet,

To thousand Whoredomes fall:

They aske if such doe goe in cloathes,

And whether God they know?

And when they heare they’re richly clad,

Know God, yet practice so,

No sure they’re Beasts not men (say they)

Men’s shame and joule disgrace,

Or men have mixt with Beasts and so,

Brought forth that monstrous Race.