CHAP. XXXI.
Of Sicknesse.
| Nummaúchnem, | I am sick. |
| Mauchinaúi, | He is sick. |
| Yo Wvttunsín, | He keepes his Bed. |
| Achie nummaùchnem, | I am very sick. |
| Nóonshem metesímmin, | I cannot eate. |
| Mach ge nummete símmen, | I eat nothing. |
| Tocketussinámmin? | What think you? |
| Pitch nkéeteem? | Shall I recover? |
| Niskéesaqush máuchinaash, | My eyes faile me. |
| Ncussawóntapam, | My head akes. |
| Npummaumpiteunck, | My teeth ake. |
| Nchesammáttam, | I am in paine. |
| Nchésammam, |
Obs: In these cases their Misery appeares, that that they have not (but what sometimes they get from the English) a raisin or currant or any physick, Fruit or Spice, or any Comfort more than their Corne and Water, &c. In which bleeding case, wanting all Meanes of recovery, or present refreshing I have been constrained and beyond my power, to refresh them, and I believe to save many of them from Death, who I am confident perish many millions of them, (in that mighty continent) for want of meanes.
Obs: Which is onely in all their extremities a little boild water, without the addition of crum or drop of other comfort: O Englands mercies, &c.
| Tahaspunâyi? | What ayles he? |
| Tocketúspanem? | What aile you? |
| Tocketuspunnaúmaqûn? | What hurt hath he done to you? |
| Chassaqunsin? | How long hath he been sick? |
| Nnanowweteem, | I am going to visit. |
Obs: This is all their refreshing, the Visit of Friends, and Neighbours, a poore empty visit and presence, and yet indeed this is very solemne, unlesse it be in infectious diseases, and then all forsake them and flie, that I have often seene a poore House left alone in the wild Woods, all being fled, the living not able to bury the dead, so terrible is the apprehension of an infectious disease, that not onely persons, but the Houses and the whole Towne takes flight.
| Nummòckquese, | I have a swelling. |
| Mocquêsui, | He is swelled. |
| Wàmewuhòck Mockquêsui, | All his body is swelled. |
| Mamaskishaûi, | He hath the Pox. |
| Mamaskishaûonck, | The Pox. |
| Mamaskishaûmitch, | The last pox. |
| Wesauashaûi, | He hath the plague. |
| Wesauashaûonck, | The plague. |
| Wesauashaûmitch, | The great plague. |
Obs: Were it not that they live in sweet Aire, and remove persons and Houses from the infected, in ordinary course of subordinate Causes, would few or any be left alive, and surviving.
Obs: This Hot-house is a kind of little Cell or Cave, six or eight foot over, round, made on the side of a hill (commonly by some Rivulet or Brooke) into this frequently the Men enter after they have exceedingly heated it with store of wood, laid upon an heape of stones in the middle. When they have taken out the fire, the stones keepe still a great heat: Ten, twelve, twenty more or lesse, enter at once starke naked, leaving their Coats, small breeches, (or aprons) at the doore, with one to keepe all: here doe they sit round these hot stones an houre or more, taking tobacco, discoursing and sweating together; which sweating they use for two ends: First, to cleanse their skin: Secondly, to purge their bodies, which doubtlesse is a great meanes of preserving them, and recovering them from diseases, especially from the French disease, which by sweating and some potions, they perfectly and speedily cure: when they come forth (which is matter of admiration) I have seen them runne (Summer and Winter) into the brookes to coole them, without the least hurt.
| Misquineash, | The vaines. |
| Miqui, neépuck, | Blood. |
| Nsauapaushaûmen, | I have the bloody Flixe. |
| Matux puckquatchìck aûwaw, | He cannot goe to stool. |
| Powwaw, | Their Priest. |
| Maunêtu, | A Conjurer. |
| Powwâw nippétea, | The priest is curing him. |
| Yo wutteantawaw, | He is acting his cure. |
Obs: These Priests and Conjurers (like Simon Magus) doe bewitch the People, and not onely take their Money, but doe most certainly (by the helpe of the Divell) worke great Cures, though most certaine it is that the greatest part of their Priests doe merely abuse them and get their Money, in the times of their sicknesse, and to my knowledge long for sick times; and to that end the poore people store up Money, and spend both Money and goods on the Powwâws, or Priests in these times, the poore people commonly dye under their hands, for alas, they administer nothing but howle and roar, and hollow over them, and begin the song to the rest of the people about them, who all joyne (like a Quire) in Prayer to their Gods for them.
| Maskit ponamíin, | Give me a Plaister. |
| Maskit, | Give me some physicke. |
| Cotatamhea, | Drinke. |
Both which they earnestly desire of the English and doe frequently send to myselfe and others for, (having experimentally found some Mercy of that kind (through God’s blessing)) from us.
| Nickeétem, | I am recovered. |
| Kitummâyi nickêekon, | I am just now recovered. |
Generall Observation of their Sicknesse.
It pleaseth the most righteous and yet patient God to warne and Summon, to try and arraigne the universall race of Adams sonnes (commonly) upon Beds of sicknesse before he proceed to execution of Death and Judgment: Blessed those soules which prevent Judgement, Death and Sicknesse too, and before the eivill dayes come, Arraigne, and Judge themselves, and being sick for love to Christ, find him or seek him in his Ordinances below, and get unfained Assurance of Eternall enjoyment of Him when they are here no more.
More particular.
One step twixt Me and Death, (twas Davids speech.)
And true of sick Folks all:
Mans Leafe it fades, his Clay house cracks,
Before its’ dreadfull Fall.
Like Grashopper the Indian leapes,
Till blasts of sicknesse rise:
Nor soule nor Body Physick hath,
Then Soule and Body dies.
O happy English who for both,
Have precious physicks store:
How should (when Christ hath both refresht,)
Thy love and Zeale be more?