Obs: Canounicus, the old high Sachim of the Nariganset Bay (a wise and peaceable Prince) once in a solemne oration to myself, in a solemne assembly, using this word, said, I have never suffered any wrong to be offered to the English since they landed: nor never will: he often repeated this word, Wunnaunewayeán, Englishman; if the Englishman speake true, if hee meane truly, then shall I goe to my grave in peace, and hope that the English and my posteritie shall live in love and peace together. I replied, that he had no cause (as I hoped) to question Englishmen’s Wunnaumwaúonck, that is, faithfulnesse, he having had long experience of their friendlinesse and trustinesse. He tooke a stick and broke it into ten pieces, and related ten instances (laying downe a stick to every instance) which gave him cause thus to feare and say; I satisfied him in some presently, and presented the rest to the Governours of the English, who, I hope, will be far from giving just cause to have Barbarians to question their Wunnaumwâuonck, or faithfulnesse.
Obs: This word they use just as the Greeke tongue doth that verbe, πιςέυειν: for believing or obeying, as it is often used in the new Testament, and they say Coannáumatous, I will obey you.
| Yo aphéttit, | When they are here. |
Yo peyáhettit. When they are com. This Ablative case absolute they much use, and comprise much in little; Awaunagress, suck. English-man, men. This they call us, as much as to say, These strangers. Waútacone-nûaog Englishman, men. That is, coat-men, or clothed.
| Cháuquaqock, | English-men, properly sword-men. |
| Wautacónisk, | An English woman. |
| Wautaconémese, | An English youth. |
| Wáske peyáeyan, | When you came first. |
| Wáske peyáhetit, | When Englishmen came first. |
| Wautaconâuog, | |
| Táwhitch peyáhettit, | Why come they hither? |
Obs: This question they oft put to me: Why come the Englishmen hither? and measuring others by themselves; they say, it is because you want firing; for they, having burnt up the wood in one place, (wanting draughts to bring wood to them) they are faine to follow the wood; and so, to remove to a fresh new place for the woods sake.
Obs: If it be in time of warre, he that is a Messenger runs swiftly, and at every towne the Messenger comes, a fresh Messenger is sent: he that is the last, comming within a mile or two of the Court, or chiefe house, he hollowes often, and they that heare, answer him: untill by mutuall hollowing and answering hee is brought to the place of audience, whereby this meanes is gathered a great confluence of people to entertaine the newes.
| Wussuckwhèke, | A letter, which they so call |
| Wussúckwhonck, | from Wussuck-whómmen, To paint; |
| for, having no letters, their | |
| painting comes the neerest. | |
| Wussúckquash, | Write a Letter. |
| Wussúckwheke, yimmi, | Make me a letter. |