CHAP. XXIV.
Concerning their Coyne.
The Indians are ignorant of Europes Coyne; yet they have given a name to ours, and call it Monèash from the English money.
Their owne is of two sorts; one white, which they make of the stem or stocke of the Periwincle, which they call, Meteaûhock, when all the shell is broken off: and of this sort six of their small Beads (which they make with holes to string the bracelets) are currant with the English for a Peny.
The second is black, inclining to blew, which is made of the shell of a fish, which some English call Hens, Poquaûhock, and of this sort three make an English peny.
They that live upon the Sea side generally make of it, and as many make as will.
The Indians bring downe all their sorts of Furs, which they take in the countrey, both to the Indians and to the English for this Indian Money: this Money the English, French and Dutch, trade to the Indians, six hundred miles in severall parts (North and South from New-England) for their Furres, and whatsoever they stand in need of from them: as Corne, Venison, &c.
Obs: This they call Neén, which is two of their Quáttuatues, or six pence.
| Piuckquaúmscat nabnashoàsuck, which they call Shwìn. | 18d. 3 quttáuatues. |
| Neesneecheckaúmscat nab yòh, or, yowin, | 2s. 4 quttáuatues. |
| Shwinchékaúmscat, or napannetashin, | 2s. 6d. 5 quttáuatues. |
| Shwinchekaúmscat, | 2s. 6d. 6 quttáuatues. |
| Yow innchekaúmscat nab neèse, | 3s. 6d. 7 quttáuatues. |
| Yowinncheckaúmscat nabnashòasuck, | 4s. 8 quttáuatues. |
| Napannetashwincheckáumscat nab yòh, | 4s. 6d. 9 quttáuatues. |
| Quttatashincheck aumscat, or more commonly used Puickquat, | 5s. 10 quttáuatues or 10 six pences. |
Obs: This Piúckquat being sixtie pence, they call Nquittómpeg, or Nquitnishcaûsu, that is, one fathom, 5 shillings.
This one fathom of this their stringed money, now worth of the English but five shillings (sometimes more) some few yeeres since was worth nine, and sometimes ten shillings per Fathome: the fall is occasioned by the fall of Beaver in England. The Natives are very impatient, when for English commodities they pay so much more of their money, and not understanding the cause of it; and many say the English cheat and deceive them, though I have laboured to make them understand the reason of it.
Obs: Their white they call Wompam (which signifies white): their black Suckauhock (Sácki signifying blacke.)
Both amongst themselves, as also the English and Dutch, the blacke peny is two pence white; the blacke fathom double, or, two fathom of white.
| Wepekuttassamompatimmin, | Change my money. |
| Suckaúhock nausakésachick, | The blacke money. |
| Wauômpeg, or Wauompésichick-mèsim, | Give me white. |
| Assawompatittea, | Come, let us change. |
| Anâwsuck, | Shells. |
| Meteaûhock, | The Periwinckle. |
| Suckauanaûsuck, | The blacke shells. |
| Suckauaskéesaquash, | The blacke eyes, or, |
that part of the shel-fish called Poquaûhock (or Hens) broken out neere the eyes, of which they make the blacke.
| Puchwhéganash and Múcksuck, | Awle blades. |
| Papuckakiuash, | Brittle or breaking, |
which they desire to be hardened to a brittle temper.
Obs: Before ever they had awle blades from Europe, they made shift to bore this their shell money with stones, and to fell their trees with stone set in a wooden staff, and used wooden howes; which some old and poore women (fearfull to leave the old tradition) use to this day.
Obs: They hang these strings of money about their necks and wrists; as also upon the necks and wrists of their wives and children.
Máchequoce, a Girdle; which they make curiously of one, two, three, foure and five inches thicknesse and more, of this money which (sometimes to the value of ten pounds and more) they weare about their middle and as a scarfe about their shoulders and breasts.
Yea, the Princes make rich Caps and Aprons (or small breeches) of these Beads thus curiously strung into many formes and figures: their blacke and white finely mixt together.
Observations generall of their Coyne.
The sonnes of men having lost their Maker, the true and onely Treasure, dig downe to the bowels of the earth for gold and silver; yea, to the bottome of the sea, for shells of fishes, to make up a Treasure, which can never truly enrich nor satisfie.
More particular.
The Indians prize not English gold,
Nor English, Indians shell:
Each in his place shall passe for ought.
What ere Men buy or sell.
English and Indians all passe hence,
To an eternall place,
Where shels nor finest golds’ worth ought,
Where noughts’ worth ought but Grace.
This Coyne the Indians know not of,
Who knowes how soone they may?
The English knowing, prize it not,
But fling’t like drosse away.