NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OR NEW CANAAN Containing an Abstract of New England Composed in three Bookes The first Booke setting forth the originall of the Natives their Manners and Customes together with their tractable Nature and Love towards the English The second Booke setting forth the naturall Indowments of the Countrie and what staple Commodities it yeeldeth The third Booke setting forth what people are planted there their prosperity what remarkable accidents have happened since the first planting of it together with their Tenents and practise of their Church Written by THOMAS MORTON of Cliffords Inne Gent upon ten yeeres knowledge and experiment of the Countrie Printed for Charles Greene and are sold in Pauls Church-yard To the right honorable the Lords and others of his Majesties most honorable privy Councell Commissioners for the Government of all his Majesties forraigne Provinces Right honourable THe zeale which I beare to the advauncement of the glory of God the honor of his Majesty and the good of the weale publike hath incouraged mee to compose this abstract being the modell of a Rich hopefull and very beautifull Country worthy the Title of Natures Master-peece and may be lost by too much sufferance It is but a widowes mite yet all that wrong and rapine hath left mee to bring from thence where I have indevoured my best bound by my allegeance to doe his Majesty service This in all humility I present as an offering wherewith I prostrate my selfe at your honorable footstoole If you please to vouchsafe it may receave a blessing from the Luster of your gracious Beames you shall make your vassaile happy in that hee yet doth live to shew how ready hee is and alwayes hath bin to sacrifice his dearest blood as becometh a loyall subject for the honor of his native Country Being your honors humble vassaile THOMAS MORTON The Epistle to the Reader GENTLE READER I Present to the publike view an abstract of new England which I have undertaken to compose by the incouragment of such genious spirits as have been studious of the inlargment of his Majesties Territories being not formerly satisfied by the relations of such as through haste have taken but a superficiall survey thereof which thing time hath enabled mee to performe more punctually to the life and to give a more exact accompt of what hath been required I have therefore beene willing to doe my indevoure to communicat the knowledge which I have gained and collected together by mine owne observation in the time of my many yeares residence in those parts to my loving Country men For the better information of all such as are desirous to be made partakers of the blessings of God in that fertile Soyle as well as those that out of Curiosity onely have bin inquisitive after nouelties And the rather for that I have observed how divers persons not so well affected to the weale publike in mine opinion out of respect to their owne private ends have laboured to keepe both the practise of the people there and the Reall worth of that eminent Country concealed from publike knowledge both which I have abundantly in this discourse layd open yet if it be well accepted I shall esteeme my selfe sufficiently rewardded for my undertaking and rest Your Wellwisher THOMAS MORTON In laudem Authoris T ' Excuse the Author ere the worke be shewne Is accusation in it selfe alone And to commend him might seeme oversight So divers are th' opinions of this age So quick and apt to taxe the moderne stage That hard his taske is that must please in all Example have wee from great Caesars fall But is the sonne to be dislik'd and blam'd Because the mole is of his face asham'd The fault is in the beast not in the sonne Give sicke mouthes sweete meates fy they relish none But to the sound in censure he commends His love unto his Country his true ends To modell out a Land of so much worth As untill now noe traveller seth forth Faire Canaans second selfe second to none Natures rich Magazine till now unknowne Then here survay what nature hath in store And graunt him love for this he craves no more R. O. Gen. Sir Christoffer Gardiner Knight In laudem Authoris THis worke a matchles mirror is that shewes The Humors of the seperatiste and those So truely personated by thy pen I was amaz'd to see 't herein all men May plainely see as in an inter-lude Each actor figure and the scaene well view'd In Connick Tragick and in a pastorall stife For tyth of muit and Cummin shewes their life Nothing but opposition gainst the right Of sacred Majestie men full of spight Goodnes abuseing turning vertue out Of Dores to whipping stocking and full bent To plotting mischiefe gainst the innocent Burning their houses as if ordained by fate In spight of Lawe to be made ruinate This taske is well perform'd and patience be Thy present comfort and thy constancy Thine honor and this glasse where it shall come Shall sing thy praises till the day of doome Sir C. G. In laudem Authoris BVt that I rather pitty I confesse The practise of their Church I could expresse My selfe a Satyrist whose smarting fanges Should strike it with a palsy and the panges Beget a feare to tempt the Majesty Of those or mortall Gods will they defie The Thundering Jove like children they desire Such is their zeale to sport themselves with fire So have I seene an angry Fly presume To strike a burning taper and consume His feeble wings why in an aire so milde And they so monstrous growne up and so vilde That Salvages can of themselves espy Their errors brand their names with infamy What is their zeale for blood like Cyrus thirst Will they be over head and eares a curst A cruell way to found a Church on noe T' is not their zeale but fury blinds them soe And pricks their malice on like fier to joyne And offer up the sacrifice of Kain Jonas thou hast done well to call these men Home to repentance with thy painefull pen. F. C. Armiger NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OR NEW CANAAN The Authors Prologue IF art industry should doe as much As Nature hath for Canaan not such Another place for benefit and rest In all the universe can be possest The more we proove it by discovery The more delight each object to the eye Procures as if the elements had here Bin reconcil'd and pleas'd it should appeare Like a faire virgin longing to be sped And meete her lover in a Nuptiall bed Deck'd in rich ornaments t' advaunce he state And excellence being most fortunate When most enjoy'd so would our Canaan bâ— womb If well imploy'd by art industry Whose ofspring now shewes that her fruitfuâ— Not being enjoy'd is like a glorious tombe Admired things producing which there dyâ— And ly fast bound in darck obscurity The worth of which in each particuler Who lift to know this abstract will declare NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OR NEW CANAAN
meane most apt and fit for habitation and generation being placed by Allmighty God the great Creator under that Zone called Zona temperata and is therefore most fitt for the generation and habitation of our English nation of all other who are more neere neighbours to the Northerne Pole whose Land lyeth betweene 50. and 54. Degrees of the selfesame latitude now this new â—ngland though it be nearer to the line then that old England by 10. Degrees of latitude yet doth not this exceede that other in heate or cold by reason of the cituation of it for as the Coast lyeth being circularly Northeast and Southwest opposite towards the Sunnes risinge which makes his course over the Ocean it can have litle or no reflecting heat of the Sun-beames by reason of the continuall motion of the waters makinge the aire there the cooler and the constanter so that for the temperature of the Climent sweetnesse of the aire fertility of the Soile and small number of the Salvages which might seeme a rubb in the way off an effeminate minde this Country of new England is by all judicious men accounted the principall part of all America for habitation and the commodiousnesse of the Sea Ships there not being subject to wormes as in Virginea and other places and not to be paraleld in all Christendome The Massachussets being the middell part thereof is a very beautifull Land not mountany nor inclininge to mountany lyeth in 42. Degrees and 30. minutes and hath as yet the greatest number of inhabitants and hath a very large bay to it divided by Islands into 4. great bayes where shippinge may safely ride all windes and weathers the windes in those partes being not so violent as in England by many Degrees foe there are no shrubbs seene to leane from the windes as by the Sea Coast of England I have seene them leane and the groundage is a sandy sleech free from rockes to gaule Cables but is good for anchorage the rest of the Planters are disperst among the Coasts betweene 41. and 44. Degrees of Latitude and as yet have very little way into the iland the riches of which Country I have set forth in this abstract as in a Landskipp for the better information of the Travellers which hee may peruse and plainely perceave by the demonstration of it that it is nothing inferior to Canaan of Israel but a kind of paralell to it in all points CHAP. II. Of the originall of the Natives IN the yeare since the incarnation of Christ 1622. it was my chance to be landed in the parts of New England where I found two sortes of people the one Christians the other Infidels these I found most full of humanity and more friendly then the other as shall hereafter be made apparant in Dew-Course by their severall actions from time to time whilest I lived among them After my arrivall in those partes I endeavoured by all the wayes and meanes that I could to find out from what people or nation the Natives of New England might be conjectured originlly to proceede by continuance conversation amongst them I attaned to so much of their language as by all probable conjecture may make the same manifest for it hath been found by divers and those of good judgement that the Natives of this Country doe use very many wordes both of Greeke and Latine to the same signification that the Latins and Greekes have done as en animia when an Indian expresseth that hee doth any thing with a good will and Pascopan signifieth gredy gut this being the name of an Indian that was so called of a Child through the greedinesse of his minde and much eating for Pasco in Latine signifieth to feede and Pan in Greeke signifieth all and Pasco nantum quasi pasco nondum halfe starved or not eating as yet Equa coge set it upright Mona is an Island in their language quasi Monon that is alone for an Island is a peece or plott of ground standing alone and devided from the mane Land by force of water Cos is a Whetstone with them Hame an instrument to take Fish many places doe retaine the name of Pan as Pantneket and Matta pan so that it may be thought that these people heretofore have haâ— the name of Pan in great reverence and estimation and it may bee have worshipped Pan the great God oâ— the Heathens Howsoever they doe use no manneâ— of worship at all now and it is most likely that thâ— Natives of this Country are descended from people bred upon that part of the world which is towardeâ— the Tropicke of Cancer for they doe still retaine the memory of some of the Starres one that part of thea Caelestiall Globe as the North-starre which with them is called Maske for Maske in their Language signifieth a Beare and they doe divide the windes into eight partes and it seemes originally have had some litterature amongst them which time hath Cancelled and worne out of use and where as it hath beene the opinion of some men which shall be nameles that the Natives of New-England may proceede from the race of the Tartars and come from Tartaria into those partes over the frozen Sea I see no probality for any such Conjecture for as much as a people once setled must be remooved by compulsion or else tempted thereunto in hope of better fortunes upon commendations of the place unto which they should be drawne to remoove and if it may be thought that these people came over the frozen Sea then would it be by compulsion if so then by whome or when or what part of this mane continent may be thought to border upon the Country of the Tartars it is yet unknowne and it is not like that a people well enough at ease will of their one accord undertake to travayle over a Sea of Ice considering how many difficulties they shall encounter with as first whether there be any Land at the end of their unknowne way no Land beinge in view then want of Food to sustane life in the meane time upon that Sea of Ice or how should they doe for Fuell to keepe them at night from freezing to death which will not bee had in such a place but it may perhaps be granted that the Natives of this Country might originally come of the scattred Trojans For after that Brutus who was the forth from Aneas left Latium upon the conflict had with the Latines where although hee gave them a great overthrow to the Slaughter of their grand Captaine and many other of the Heroes of Latium yet hee held it more safety to depart unto some other place and people then by stayiâ—g to runne the hazard of an unquiet life or doubtfull Conquest which as history maketh mention hee performed this people were dispersed there is no question but the people that lived with him by reason of their conversation with the Graecians
they will pawne their wits to purchase the acquaintance of it yet in al the coÌ„merce that I had with them I never proffered them any such thing nay I would hardly let any of them have a drame unles hee were a Sachem or a Winnaytue that is a rich man or a man of estimation next in degree to a Sachem or Sagamore I alwayes tould them it was amongst us the Sachems drinke But they say if I come to the Northerne parts of the Country I shall have no trade if I will not supply theÌ„ with lusty liquors it is the life of the trade in all those parts for it so happened that thus a Salvage desperately killed himselfe when hee was drunke a gunne being charged and the cock up hee sets the mouth to his brest and putting back the tricker with his foote shot himselfe dead CHAP. XX. That the Salvages live a contended life A Gentleman and a traveller that had bin in the parts of New England for a time when hee retorned againe in his discourse of the Country wondered as hee said that the natives of the land lived so poorely in so rich a Country like to our Beggers in England Surely that Gentleman had not time or leasure whiles hee was there truely to informe himselfe of the state of that Country and the happy life the Salvages would leade weare they once brought to Christianity I must confesse they want the use and benefit of Navigation which is the very sinnus of a flourishing Commonwealth yet are they supplied with all manner of needefull things for the maintenance of life and lifelyhood Foode and rayment are the cheife of all that we make true use of and of these they finde no want but have and may have them in a most plentifull manner If our beggers of England should with so much ease as they furnish themselves with foode at all seasons there would not be so many starved in the streets neither would so many gaoles be stuffed or gallouses furniâ—hed with poore wretches as I have seene them But they of this sort of our owne nation that are fitt to goe to this Canaan are not able to transport themselves and most of them unwilling to goe from the good ale tap which is the very loadstone of the lande by which our English beggers steere theire Course it is the Northpole to which the flowre-deluce of their compasse points the more is the pitty that the Commonalty of oure Land are of such leaden capacities as to neglect so brave a Country that doth so plentifully feede Maine lusty and a brave able men women and children that have not the meanes that a Civilized Nation hath to purchase foode and rayment which that Country with a little industry will yeeld a man in a very comfortable measure without overmuch carking I cannot deny but a civilized Nation hath the preheminence of an uncivilized by meanes of those instruments that are found to be common amongst civile people and the uncivile want the use of to make themselves masters of those ornaments that make such a glorious shew that will give a man occasion to cry sic transit gloria Mundi Now since it is but foode and rayment that men that live needeth though not all alike why should not the Natives of New England be sayd to live richly having no want of either Cloaths are the badge of sinne and the more variety of fashions is but the greater abuse of the Creature the beasts of the forrest there doe serve to furnish them at any time when they please fish and flesh they have in greate abundance which they both roast and boyle They are indeed not served in dishes of plate with variety of Sauces to procure appetite that needs not there The rarity of the aire begot by the medicinable quality of the sweete herbes of the Country alwayes procures good stomakes to the inhabitants I must needs commend them in this particular that though they buy many commodities of our Nation yet they keepe but fewe and those of speciall use They love not to bee cumbered with many utensilles and although every proprietor knowes his owne yet all things so long as they will last are used in common amongst them A bisket cake given to one that one breakes it equally into so many parts as there be persons in his company and distributes it Platoes Commonwealth is so much practised by these people According to humane reason guided onely by the light of nature these people leades the more happy and freer life being voyde of care which torments the mindes of so many Christians They are not delighted in baubles but in usefull things Their naturall drinke is of the Cristall fountaine and this they take up in their hands by joyning them close together They take up a great quantity at a time and drinke at the wrists It was rhe sight of such a feate which made Diogenes hurle away his dishe and like one that would have this principall confirmed Natura paucis contentat used a dish no more I have observed that they will not be troubled with superfluous commodities Such things as they finde they are taught by necessity to make use of they will make choise of and seeke to purchase with industry so that in respect that their life is so voyd of care and they are so loving also that they make use of those things they enjoy the wife onely excepted as common goods and are therein so compassionate that rather than one should starve through want they would starve all thus doe they passe away the time merrily not regarding our pompe whicâ— they see dayly before their faces but are better content with their owne which some men esteeme sâ— meanely of They may be rather accompted to live richly wanting nothing that is needefull and to be commended for leading a contented life the younger beinâ— ruled by the Elder and the Elder ruled by the Powahs and the Powahs are ruled by the Devill and then yoâ— may imagin what good rule is like to be amongst them FINIS NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OR NEW CANAAN The second Booke Containing a description of the bewty of the Country with her naturall indowements both in the Land and Sea with the great Lake of Erocoise CHAP. I. The generall Survey of the Country IN the Moneth of Iune Anno Salutis 1622. It was my chaunce to arrive in the parts of New England with 30. Servants and prâ—vision of all sorts fit for a plantation And whiles our howses were building I did indeavour to take a survey of the Country The more I looked the more I liked it And when I had more seriously considered of the bewty of the place with all her faire indowments I did not thinke that in all the knowne world it could be paralel'd For so many goodly groues of trees dainty fine round rising hillucks delicate faire large plaines sweete cristall fountaines and cleare running streames that
feede them how you can I had a Salvage who hath taken out his boy in a morning and thâ—y have brought home their loades about noone I have asked them what number they found in the woods who have answered Neent Metawna which is a thosand that day the plenty of them is such in those parts They are easily killed at rooste because the one being killed the other sit fast neverthelesse and this is no bad commodity There are a kinde of fowles which are commonly called Pheisants but whether they be pheysants or no I will not take upon mee to determine They are in forme like our pheisant henne of England Both the male and the female are alike but they are rough footed and have stareing fethers about the head and neck the body is as bigg as the pheysant henne of England and are excellent white flesh and delicate white meate yet we seldome bestowe a shoot at them Partridges there are much like our Partridges of England they are of the same plumes but bigger in body They have not the signe of the horseshoe on the brest as the Partridges of England nor are they coloured about the heads as those are they sit on the trees For I have seene 40. in one tree at a time yet at night they fall on the ground and sit untill morning so together and are dainty flesh There are quailes also but bigger then the quailes in England They take trees also for I have numbered 60. upon a tree at a time The cocks doe call at the time of the yeare but with a different note from the cock quailes of England The Larkes there are like our Larkes of England in all respects sauing that they doe not use to sing at all There are Owles of divers kindes but I did never heare any of them whop as ours doe There are Crowes kights and rooks that doe differ in some respects from those of England The Crowes which I have much admired what should be the cause both smell and taste of Muske in summer but not in winter There are Hawkes in New England of 5. sorts and these of all other fether fowles I must not omitt to speake of nor neede I to make any Apology for my selfe concerning any trespasse that I am like to make upon my judgement concerning the nature of them having bin bred in so genious a way that I had the common use of them in England and at my first arrivall in those parts practised to take a Lannaret which I reclaimed trained and made flying in a fortnight the same being a passinger at Michuelmas I found that these are most excellent Mettell rank winged well conditioned and not tickleish footed and having whoods bels luers and all things fitting was desirous to make experiment of that kinde of Hawke before any other And I am perswaded that Nature hath ordained them to be of a farre better kinde then any that have bin used in England They have neither dorre nor worme to feed upon as in other parts of the world the Country affording none the use whereof in other parts makes the Lannars there more bussardly then they be in New England There are likewise Fawcons and tassell gentles admirable well shaped birds and they will tower up when they purpose to pray and on a sodaine when they esspie their game they will make such a cancellere that one would admire to behold them Some there are more black then any that have bin used in England The Tassell gent but of the least size is an ornament for a person of estimation among the Indians to weare in the knot of his lock with the traine upright the body dried and stretched out They take a great pride in the wearing of such an ornament and give to one of us that shall kill them one for that purpose so much beaver as is worth three pounds sterling very willingly These doe us but little trespas because they pray on such birds as are by the Sea side and not on our Chickens Goshawkes there are and Tassels The Tassels are short trussed bussards but the Goshawkes are well shaped but they are small some of white male and some redd male I have seene one with 8. barres in the traine These fall on our bigger poultry the lesser chicken I thinke they scorne to make their pray of for commonly the Cocke goes to wrack Of these I have seene many and if they come to trespasse me I lay the law to them with the gunne and take them dammage fesant There are very many Marlins some very small and some so large as is the Barbary Tassell I have often beheld these pretty birds how they have scoured after the black bird which is a small sized Choffe that eateth the Indian maisze Sparhawkes there are also the fairest and best shaped birds that I have ever beheld of that kinde those that are litle no use is made of any of them neither are they regarded I onely tried conclusions with a Lannaret at first comming and when I found what was in that bird I turned him going but for so much as I have observed of those birds they may be a fitt present for a prince and for goodnesse too be preferred before the Barbary or any other used in Christendome and especially the Lannars and Lannarets There is a curious bird to see to called a hunning bird no bigger then a great Beetle that out of question lives upon the Bee which hee eateth and catcheth amongst Flowers For it is his Custome to frequent those places Flowers hee cannot feed upon by reason of his sharp bill which is like the poynt of a Spannish needle but shorte His fethers have a glasse like silke and as hee stirres they shew to be of a chaingable coloure and has bin and is admired for shape coloure and size CHAP. V. Of the Beasts of the forrest NOw that I have made a rehearsall of the birds and fethered Fowles which participate most of aire I will give you a description of the beasts and shew you what beasts are bred in those parts and what my experience hath gathered by observation of their kinde and nature I begin with the most usefull and most beneficiall beast which is bredd in those parts which is the Deare There are in this Country three kindes of Deare of which there are greate plenty and those are very usefull First therefore I will speake of the Elke which the Salvages call a Mose it is a very large Deare with a very faire head and a broade palme like the palme of a fallow Deares horne but much bigger and is 6. footewide betweene the tipps which grow curbing downwards Hee is of the bignesse of a great horse There have bin of them seene that has bin 18. handfulls highe hee hath a bunch of haire under his jawes hee is not swifte but stronge and large in body and
but for Rats the Country by Nature is troubbled with none Lyons there are none in New England it is contrary to the Nature of the beast to frequent places accustomed to snow being like the Catt that will hazard the burning of her tayle rather than abide from the fire CHAP. VI. Of Stones and Minerals NOw for as much as I have in a breife abstract shewed you the Creatures whose specificall Natures doe simpathise with the elements of fire and aire I will come to speake of the Creatures â—hat participate of earth more then the other two which is stones And first of the Marble for building whereof there is much in those parts in so much as there is one â—ay in the land that beareth the name of Marble harâ—er because of the plenty of Marble there and these are usefull for building of Sumpteous Pallaces And because no good building can be made permanent or durable without Lime I will let you understand that there is good Limestone neere to the river of Monatoquinte at uttaquatock to my knowledge and we hope other places too that I have not taken so much notice of may have the like or better and those stones are very convenient for building Chalke stones there are neere Squantos Chappell shewed me by a Salvage There is abundance of excellent Slate in divers places of the Country and the best that ever I beheld for covering of howses and the inhabitanrs have made good use of these materials for building There is a very usefull Stone in the Land and as yet there is found out but one place where they may be had in the whole Country Ould Woodman that was choaked at Plimmouth after hee had played the unhappy Markes man when hee was pursued by a carelesse fellow that was new come into the Land they say laboured ro get a patent of it to himselfe Hee was beloved of many and had many sonnes that had a minde to engrosse that commodity And I cannot spie any mention made of it in the woodden prospect Therefore I begin to suspect his aime that it was for himselfe and therefore will I not discover it it is the Stone so much commended by Ovid because love delighteth to make his habitation in a building of those materials where hee advises Those that seeke for love to doe it Duris in Cotibus illum This Stone the Salvages doe call Cos and of these on the North end of Richmond Iland are store and those are very excellent good for edg'd tooles I envy not his happinesse I have bin there viewed the place liked the commodity but will not plant so Northerly for that nor any other commodity that is there to be had There are Loadestones also in the Northerne parts of the land and those which were found are very good and are a commodity worth the noteing Iron stones there are abundance and severall sorts of them knowne Lead ore is there likewise and hath bin found by the breaking of earth which the Frost hath made mellow Black Leade I have likewise found very good which the Salvages use to paint their faces with Red Leade is there likewise in great abundance There is very excellent Boll Armoniack There is most excellent Vermilion All these things the Salvages make some litle use of and doe finde them on the circumference of the Earth Brimstone mines there are likewise Mines of Tinne are likewise knowne to be in those parts which will in short time be made use of and this cannot be accompted a meane commodity Copper mines are there found likewise that will inrich the Inhabitants But untill theire younge Cattell be growne hardy labourers in the yoake that the Plough and the Wheate may be seene more plentifully it is a worke must be forborne They say there is a Silver and a gold mine found by Captaine Littleworth if hee get a patent of it to himselfe hee will surely change his name CHAP. VII Of the Fishes and vvhat Commodity they proove AMong Fishes First I will begin with the Codd because it is the most commodious of all fish as may appeare by the use which is made of them in forraigne parts The Codd fishing is much used in America whereof New England is a part in so much as 300. Sayle of shipps from divers parts have used to be imployed yearely in that trade I have seene in one Harboure next Richmond Iland 15. Sayle of shipps at one time that have taken in them driyed Codds for Spaine and the Straights and it has bin found that the Saylers have made 15.18.20.22 p. share for a common man The Coast aboundeth with such multitudes of Codd that the inhabitants of New England doe dunge their grounds with Codd and it is a commodity better than the golden mines of the Spanish Indies for without dried Codd the Spaniard Portingal and Italian would not be able to vittel of a shipp for the Sea and I am sure at the Canaries it is the principall commodity which place lyeth neere New England yery convenient for the vending of this commodity one hundred of these being at the price of 300. of New found land Codds greate store of traine oyle is mayd of the livers of the Codd and is a commodity that without question will enrich the inhabitants of New England quicly and is therefore a principall commodity The Basse is an excellent Fish both fresh and Salte one hundred whereof salted at a market have yeilded 5. p. They are so large the head of one will give a good eater a dinner and for daintinesse of diet they excell the Marybones of Beefe There are such multitudes that I have seene stopped into the river close adjoyning to my howse with a sand at one tide so many as will loade a ship of a 100. Tonnes Other places have greater quantities in so much as wagers have bin layed that one should not throw a stone in the water but that hee should hit a fish I my selfe at the turning of the tyde have seene such multitudes passe out of a pound that it seemed to mee that one might goe over their backs drishod These follow the bayte up the rivers and sometimes are follwed for bayte and chased into the bayes and shallow waters by the grand pise and these may have also a prime place in the Catalogue of Commodities The Mackarels are the baite for the Basse and these have bin chased into the shallow waters where so many thousands have shott themselves a shore with the surfe of the Seâ— that whole hogges-heads have bin taken up on the Sands and for length they excell any of other parts they have bin measured 18. and 19. inches in length and seaven in breadth and are taken with a drayle as boats use to passe to and froe at Sea on businesse in yery greate quantities all alonge the Coaste The Fish is good
Abrahams and Lots of our times come thether there needs be no contention for wells Besides there are waters of most excellent vertues worthy admiration At Ma-re Mount there was a water by mee discovered that is most excellent for the cure of Melancolly probatum At weenasemute is a water the vertue whereof is to cure barrenesse The place taketh his name of that Fountaine which signifieth quick spring or quickning spring probatum Neere Squantos Chappell a place so by us called is a Fountaine that causeth a dead sleepe for 48. howres to those that drinke 24. ounces at a draught and so proportionably The Salvages that are Powahs at set times use it and reveale strang things to the vulgar people by meanes of it So that in the delicacy of waters and the conveniency of them Canaan came not neere this Country As for the Milke and Hony which that Canaan flowed with it is supplyed by the plenty of birds beasts and Fish whereof Canaan could not boast her selfe Yet never the lesse since the Milke came by the industry of the first Inhabitants let the cattell be chereshed that are at this time in New England and forborne but a litle I will aske no long time no more but untill the Brethren have converted one Salvage and made him a good Christian and I may be bold to say Butter and cheese will be cheaper there then ever it was in Canaan It is cheaper there then in old England at this present for there are store of Cowes considering the people which as my intelligence gives is 12000. persons and in gods name let the people have their desire who wriâ— to their freinds to come out of Sodome to the land of Canaan a land that flowes with Milke and Hony And I appeale to any man of judgement whether it be not a Land that for her excellent indowments of Nature may passe for a plaine paralell to Canaan of Israell being in a more temporat Climat this being in 40. Degrees and that in 30. CHAP. IX A Perspective to vievv the Country by AS for the Soyle I may be bould to commend the fertility thereof and preferre it before the Soyle of England our Native Country and I neede not to produce more then one argument for proffe thereof because it is so infallible Hempe is a thing by Husband men in generall agreed upon to prosper best in the most fertile Soyle and experience hath taught this rule that Hempe-seede prospers so well in New England that it shewteth up to be tenne foote high and tenne foote and a halfe which is twice so high as the ground in old England produceth it which argues New England the more fertile of the two As for the aire I will produce but one proffe for the maintenance of the excellency thereof which is so generall as I assure my selfe it will suffice No man living there was ever knowne to be troubled with a cold a cough or a murre but many men comming sick out of Virginea to New Canaan have instantly recovered with the helpe of the purity of that aire no man ever surfeited himselfe either by eating or drinking As for the plenty of that Land it is well knowne that no part of Asia Affrica or Europe affordeth deare that doe bring forth any more then one single faune and in New Canaan the Deare are accustomed to bring forth 2. and 3 faunes at a time Besides there are such infinite flocks of Fowle and Multitudes of fish both in the fresh waters and also on the Coast that the like hath not else where bin discovered by any traveller The windes there are not so violent as in England which is prooved by the trees that grow in the face of the winde by the Sea Coast for there they doe not leane from the winde as they doe in England as we have heard before The Raine is there more moderate then in England which thing I have noted in all the time of my residence to be so The Coast is low Land and not high Land and hee is of a weake capacity rhat conceaveth otherwise of it because it cannot be denied but that boats may come a ground in all places along the Coast and especially within the Compas of the Massachusets patent where the prospect is fixed The Harboures are not to be bettered for safety and goodnesse of ground for ancorage and which is worthy observation shipping will not there be furred neither are they subject to wormes as in Virginea and other places Let the Scituation also of the Country be considered together with the rest which is discovered in the front of this abstract and then I hope no man will hold this land unworthy to be intituled by the name of the second Canaan And since the Seperatists are desirous to have the denomination thereof I am become an humble Suter on their behalfe for your consents courteous Readers to it before I doe shew you what Revels they have kept in New Canaan CHAP. X. Of the Great Lake of Erocoise in Nevv England and the commodities thereof WEstwards from the Massachussets bay which lyeth in 42. Degrees and 30. Minutes of Northerne latitude is scituated a very spacious Lake called of the Natives the Lake of Erocoise which is farre more excellent then the Lake of Genezereth in the Country of Palestina both in respect of the greatnes and properties thereof and likewise of the manifould commodities it yealdeth the circumference of which Lake is reputed to be 240. miles at the least and it is distant from the Massachussets bay 300. miles or there abouts wherein are very many faire Islands where innumerable flocks of severall sorts of Fowle doe breede Swannes Geese Ducks Widgines Teales and other water Fowle There are also more abundance of Beavers Deare and Turkies breed about the parts of that lake then in any place in all the Country of New England and also such multitudes of fish which is a great part of the foode that the Beavers live upon that it is a thing to be admired at So that about this Lake is the principallst place for a plantation in all New Canaan both for pleasure and proffit Here may very many brave Townes and Citties be erected which may have intercourse one with another by water very commodiously and it is of many men of good judgement accounted the prime seate for the Metropolis of New Canaan From this Lake Northwards is derived the famous River of Canada so named of Monsier de Cane a French Lord that first planted a Colony of French in America there called Nova Francia from whence Captaine Kerke of late by taking that plantation brought home in one shipp as a Seaman of his Company reported in my hearing 25000. Beaver skinnes And from this Lake Southwards trends that goodly River called of the Natives Patomack which dischardgeth herselfe
in the parts of Virginea from whence it is navigable by shipping of great Burthen up to the Falls which lieth in 41. Degrees and a halfe of North latitude and from the Lake downe to the Falls by a faire current This River is navigable for vessels of good Burthen and thus much hath often bin related by the Natives and is of late found to be certaine They have also made description of great heards of well growne beasts that live about the parts of this Lake such as the Christian world untill this discovery hath not bin made acquainted with These beasts are of the bignesse of a Cowe their Flesh being very good foode their hides good lether their fleeces very usefull being a kinde of wolle as fine almost as the wolle of the Beaver and the Salvages doe make garments thereof It is tenne yeares since first the relation of these things came to the eares of the English at which time wee were but slender proficients in the language of the Natives and they which now have attained to more perfection of English could not then make us rightly apprehend their meaninge Wee supposed when they spake of Beasts thereabouts as high as men they have made report of men all over hairy like Beavers in so much as we questioned them whether they eate of the Beavers to which they replyed Matta noe saying they were almost Beavers Brothers This relation at that time wee concluded to be fruitles which since time hath made more apparent About the parts of this Lake may be made a very greate Commodity by the trade of furres to inrich those that shall plant there a more compleat discovery of those parts is to my knowleadge undertaken by Henry Ioseline Esquier sonne of Sir Thomas Ioseline of Kent Knight by the approbation and appointement of that Heroick and very good Common wealths man Captaine Iohn Mason Esquier 〈◊〉 true foster Father and lover of vertue who at his owne chardge hath fitted Master Ioseline and imployed him to that purpose who no doubt will performe as much as is expected if the Dutch by gettinge into those parts before him doe not frustrate his so hopefull and laudable designes It is well knowne they aime at that place and have a possibility to attaine unto the end of their desires therein by meanes if the River of Mohegan which of the English is named Hudsons River where the Dutch have setled to well fortified plantations already If that River be derived from the Lake as our Country man in his prospect affirmes it to be and if they get and fortifie this place also they will gleane away the best of the Beaver both from the French and English who have hitherto lived wholely by it and very many old planters have gained good estates out of small beginnings by meanes thereof And it is well knowne to some of our Nation that have lived in the Dutch plantation that the Dutch have gained by Beaver 20000. pound a yeare The Salvages make report of 3. great Rivers that issue out of this Lake 2. of which are to us knowne the one to be Patomack the other Canada and why may not the third be found there likewise which they describe to trend westward which is conceaved to discharge herselfe into the South Sea The Salvages affirme that they have seene shipps in this Lake with 4. Masts which have taken from thence for their ladinge earth that is conjectured to be some minerall stuffe There is probability enough for this and it may well be thought that so great a confluxe of waters as are there gathered together must be vented by some great Rivers and that if the third River which they have made mention of proove to be true as the other two have done there is no doubt but that the passage to the East India may be obtained without any such daingerous and fruitlesse inquest by the Norwest as hetherto hath bin endeavoured And there is no Traveller of any resonable capacity but will graunt that about this Lake must be innumerable springes and by that meanes many fruitfull and pleasant pastures all about it It hath bin observed that the inland part witnes Neepnet are more pleasant and fertile then the borders of the Sea coaste And the Country about Erocoise is not without good cause compared to Delta the most fertile parte in all Aegypt that aboundeth with Rivers and Rivalets deriveâ— from Nilus fruitfull channell like vaines from the liver so in each respect is this famous Lake of Erocoise Ad therefore it would be adjudged an irreparable oversight to protract time and suffer the Dutch who are but intruders upon his Majesties most hopefull Country of New England to possesse themselves of that so plesant and commodious Country of Erocoise before us being as appeareth the principalâ— part of all New Canaan for plantation and not elsewhere to be paralelld in all the knowne world NEW CANAANS GENIVS EPILOGVS THou that art by Fates degree Or Providence ordain'd to sâ—e Natures wonder her rich store Ne'-r discovered before Th' admired Lake of Erocoise And fertile Borders now rejoyce See what multitudes of Fish Shee presents to fitt thy dish If rich furres thou dost adore And of Beaver Fleeces store See the Lake where they abound And what pleasures els are found There chast Leda free from fire Does enjoy her hearts desire Mongst the flowry bancks at ease Live the sporting Najades Bigg lim'd Druides whose browes Bewtified with greenebowes See the Nimphes how they doe make Fine Meanders from the Lake Twining in and out as they Through the pleasant groves make way Weaving by the shady trees Curious Anastomases Where the harmeles Turtles breede And such usefull Beasts doe feede As no Traveller can tell Els where bow to paralell Colcos golden Fleece reject This deserveth best respect In sweete Peans let thy voyce Sing the praise of Erocoise Peans to advaunce her name New Canaans everlasting fame NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OR NEW CANAAN The Third Booke Containing a description of the People that are planted there what remarkable Accidents have happened there since they were setled what Tenents they hould together with the practise of their Church CHAP. I. Of a great League made vvith the Plimmouth Planters after their arrivall by the Sachem of those Territories THe Sachem of the Territories where the Planters of new England are setled that are the first of the now Inhabitants of New Canaan not knowing what they were or whether they would be freindes or foes and being desirous to purchase their freindship that hee might have the better Assurance of quiet tradinge with them which hee conceived would be very advantagious to him was desirous to prepare an Ambassador with commission to treat on his behalfe to that purpose and having one that had beene in England taken by a worthlesse man out of other partes and after left there by accident this Salvage hee instructed how to be
The first Booke Containing the originall of the Natives their manners Customes with their tractable nature and love towards the English CHAP. I. Prooving Nevv England the principall part of all America and most commodious and fitt for habitation THe wise Creator of the universall Globe hath placed a golden meane betwixt two extreames I meane the temperate Zones betwixt the hote and cold and every Creature that participates of Heavens blessings with in the Compasse of that golden meane is made most apt and fit for man to use who likewise by that wisedome is ordained to be the Lord of all This globe may be his glasse to teach him how to use moderation and discretion both in his actions and intentions The wise man sayes give mee neither riches nor poverty why Riches might make him proud like Nebuchadnezar and poverty despaire like Iobs wife but a meane betweene both So it is likewise in the use of Vegetatives that which hath too much Heate or too much Colde is said to be venenum so in the use of sensitives all those Animals of what genus or species soever they be if they participate of heate or cold in the superlative are said to be Inimica naturae as in some Fishes about the Isle of Sall and those Ilandes adjoyninge betweene the Tropickes their participatinge of heate and cold in the superlative is made most manifest one of which poysoned a whole Ships company that eate of it And so it is in Vipers Toades and Snakes that have heate or cold in the superlative degree Therefore the Creatures that participate of heate and cold in a meane are best and holsomest And so it is in the choyse of love the middell Zone betweene the two extreames is best and it is theâ—efore called Zona Temperata and is in the golden meane and all those Landes lying under that Zone most requisite and fitt for habitation In Cosmography the twâ— extreames are called the one Torrida Zona lying betweene the Tropickes the other Frigida Zona lyinâ— neare the Poles all the landes lying under eitheâ— of these Zones by reason they doe participate to much of heate or cold are very inconvenient and are accompanied with many evils And allthough I am not of opinion with Aristotle that the landes under Torrida Zona are alltogether uninhabited I my selfe having beene so neare the equinoctiall line that I have had the Sunn for my Zenith and seene proofe to the contrary yet cannot I deny but that it is accompanied with many inconveniences as that Fish and Flesh both will taint in those partes notwithstanding the use of Salt which cannot be wanting there ordained by natures hande-worke And that is a great hinderance to the settinge forth and supply of navigation the very Sinewes of a florishing Common-wealth Then barrennesse caused through want of raines for in most of those partes of the world it is seldome accustomed to raine untill the time of the Tornathees as the Portingals phrase is who lived there and then it will raine about 40. dayes together which moisture serveth to fructify the earth for all the yeare after duringe which time is seene no raine at all the heate and cold and length of day and night being much alike with little difference And these raines are caused by the turning of the windes which else betweene the Tropickes doe blow Trade that is allwayes one way For next the Tropicke of Cancer it is constantly North-â—ast and next the Tropicke of Capricorne it is Southwest so that the windes comming from the Poles do keepe the aire in those partes coole and make it temperate and the partes habitable were it not for those and other inconvâ—niences This Torrida Zona is good for Grashoppers and Zona Temperata for the Ant and Bee But Frigida Zona good for neither as by lamentable experience of Captaine Davis Fate is manifest who in his inquest of the Nortwest passage for the East India trade was frozen to death And thefore for Frigida Zona I agree with Aristotle that it is unfit for habitation and I know by the Course of the caelestiall globe that in Groeneland many Degrees short of the Pole Articke the place is too cold by reason of the Sunns absence almost six monethes and the land under the continuall power of the frost which thinge many more Navigators have prooved with pittifull experience of their wintringe there as appeareth by the history I thinke they will not venture to winter there againe for an India mine And as it is found by our Nation under the Pole Articke so it is likewise to be found under the Antarticke Pole yet what hazard will not an industrious minde and couragious spirit undergoe according to that of the PoeÌ„t Impiger extremos currit Mercator ad Indos per mare pauperiem fugiens per saxa per ignes And all to gett and hord up like the Ant and the Bee and yet as Salomon saith hee cannot tell whether a foole or a wise man shall enjoy it Therefore let us leave these two extreames with their inconveniences and indeavour to finde out this golden meane so free from any one of them Behold the secret wisedome of allmighty God and love unto our Salomon to raise a man of a lardge hart full of worthy abilities to be the Index or Loadstarre that doth point out unto the English Nation with ease and comfort how to finde it out And this the noble minded Gentleman Sir Ferdinando Gorges Knight zealous for the glory of God the honor of his Majesty and the benefit of the weale publicke hath done a great worke for the good of his Country And herein this the wondrous wisedome and love of God is shewne by sending to the place his Minister to sweepe away by heapes the Salvages and also giving him length of dayes to see the same performed after his enterprise was begunne for the propagation of the Church of Christ. This judicious Gentleman hath found this goulden meane to be scituated about the middle of those two extreames and for directions you may proove it thus Counting the space betweene the Line and either of the Poles in true proportion you shall finde it to be 90. Degrees then must we finde the meane to be neare unto the Center of 90. and that is about 45. Degrees and then incline unto the Sotherne side of that Center properly for the benefit of heate remembringe that Sol Homo generat hominem and then keepe us on that same side and see what Land is to be found there and we shall easily discerne that new England is on the South side of that Center For that Country doth beginne her boundes at 40. Degrees of Northerne latitude and endes at 45. Degrees of the same latitude and doth participate of heate and cold indifferently but is oppressed with neither and therefore may be truly sayd to be within the compasse of that golden
twine in fine meanders through the meads making so sweete a murmering noise to heare as would even lull the sences with delight a sleepe so pleasantly doe they glide upon the pebble stones jetting most jocundly where they doe meete and hand in hand runne downe to Neptunes Court to pay the yearely tribute which they owe to him as soveraigne Lord of all the springs Contained within the volume of the Land Fowles in abundance Fish in multitude and discovered besides Millions of Turtledoves one the greene boughes which sate pecking of the full ripe pleasant grapes that were supported by the lusty trees whose fruitfull loade did cause the armes to bend which here and there dispersed you might see Lillies and of the Daphnean-tree which made the Land to mee seeme paradice for in mine eie t' was Natures Master-peece Her cheifest Magazine of all where lives her store if this Land be not rich then is the whole world poore What I had resolved on I have really performed and I have endeavoured to use this abstract as an instrument to bee the meanes to communicate the knowledge which I have gathered by my many yeares residence in those parts unto my Countrymen to the end that they may the better perceive their error who cannot imagine that there is any Country in the universall world which may be compared unto our native soyle I will now discover unto them a Country whose indowments are by learned men allowed to stand in a paralell with the Israelites Canaan which none will deny to be a land farre more excellent then Old England in her proper nature This I consider I am bound in duety as becommeth a Christian man to performe for the glory of God in the first place next according to Cicero to acknowledge that Non nobis solum nati sumus sed partim patria partim parentes partim amici vindicant For which cause I must approove of the indeavoures of my Country men that have bin studious to inlarge the territories of his Majesties empire by planting Coloines in America And of all other I must applaude the judgement of those that have made choise of this part whereof I now treat being of all other most absolute as I will make it appeare hereafter by way of paralell among those that have setled themselvs in new England some have gone for their conscience sake as they professe I wish that they may plant the Gospel of Iesus Christ as becommeth them sincerely and without satisme or faction whatsoever their former or present practises are which I intend not to justifie howsoever they have deserved in mine opinion some commendationes in that they have furnished the Country so commodiously in so short a time although it hath bin but for their owne profit yet posterity will taste the sweetnes of it and that very sodainly And since my taske in this part of mine abstract is to intreat of the naturall indowments of the Country I will make a bâ—eife demonstration of them in order severally according to their severall qualities and shew you what they are and what profitable use may be made of them by industry CHAP. II. vvhat trees are there and hovv commodious OAkes are there of two sorts white and redd excellent tymber for the building both of howses and shipping and they are found to be a tymber that is more tough then the oak of England They are excellent for pipe-staves and such like vessels and pipe-staves at the Canary Ilands are a prime commodity I have knowne them there at 35. p. the 1000. and will purchase a fraight of wines there before any commodity in England their onely wood being pine of which they are enforced also to build shippinge of oackes there is great abundance in the parts of New England and they may have a prime place in the Catalogue of commodities Ashe there is store and very good for staves oares or pikes and may have a place in the same Catâ—logue Elme of this sort of trees there are some but there hath not as yet bin found any quantity to speake of Beech there is of two sorts redd and white very excellent for trenchers or chaires and also for oares and may be accompted for a commodity Wallnut of this sorte of wood there is infinite store and there are 4. sorts it is an excellent wood for many uses approoved the younger trees are imployed for hoopes and are the best for that imployement of all other stuffe whatsoever the Nutts serve when they fall to feede our swine which make them the delicatest bacon of all other foode and is therein a cheife commodity Chestnutt of this sorte there is very greate plenty the tymber whereof is excellent for building and is a very good commodity especially in respect of the fruit both for man and beast Pine of this sorte there is infinite store in some parts of the Country I have travelled 10. miles together where is little or no other wood growing And of these may be made rosin pitch and tarre which are such usefull commodities that if wee had them not from other Countries in Amity with England our Navigation would decline Then how great the commodity of it will be to our Nation to have it of our owne let any man judge Cedar of this sorte there is abundaunce and this wood was such as Salomon used for the building of that glorious Temple at Hierusalem and there are of these Cedars firre trees and other materialls necessary for the building of many faire Temples if there were any Salomons to be at the Cost of them and if any man be desirous to finde out in what part of the Country the best Cedars are he must get into the bottom grounds and in vallies that are wet at the spring of the yeare where the moisture preserves them from the fire in spring time and not in a woodden prospect This wood cutts red and is good for bedsteads tables and chests and may be placed in the Catalogue of Commodities Cypres of this there is great plenty and vulgarly this tree hath bin taken for another sort of Cedar but workemen put a difference betweene this Cypres and the Cedar especially in the colour for this is white and that redd white and likewise in the finenes of the leafe and the smoothnes of the barque This wood is also sweeter then Cedar and as it is in Garrets herball a more bewtifull tree it is of all other to my minde most bewtifull and cannot be denied to passe for a commodity Spruce of these there are infinite store especially in the Northerne parts of the Country and they have bin approoved by workemen in England to be more tough then those that they have out of the east country from whence wee have them for masts and yards of shipppes The Spruce of this country are found to be 3. and 4. fadum about and are reputed able single
to make masts for the biggest ship that sayles on the maine Ocean without peesing which is more than the East country can afford And seeing that Navigation is the very sinneus of a flourishing Common-wealth it is fitting to allow the Spruce tree a principall place in the Catalogue of commodities Alder of ths sorte there is plenty by rivers sides good for turners Birch of this there is plenty in divers parts of the Country Of the barck of these the Salvages of the Northerne parts make them delicate Canowes so light that two men will transport one of them over Land whether they list and yet one of them will transporte tenne or twelffe Salvages by water at a time Mayple of those trees there is greate abundance and these are very excellent for bowles The Indians use of it to that purpose and is to be accompted a good commodity Elderne there is plenty in that Country of this The Salvages make their Arrowes and it hath no strong unsavery sent like our Eldern in England Hawthorne of this there is two sorts one of which beares a well tasting berry as bigg as ones thumbe and lookes like little Queene apples Vines of this kinde of trees there are that beare grapes of three colours that is to say white black and red The Country is so apt for vines that but for the fire at the spring of the yeare the vines would so over spreade the land that one should not be able to passe for them the fruit is as bigg of some as a musket bullet and is excellent in taste Plumtrees of this kinde there are many some that beare fruit as bigg as our ordinary bullis others there be that doe beare fruite much bigger than peare plummes their colour redd and their stones flat very delitious in taste Cheritrees there are abundance but the fruit is as small as our sloes but if any of them were replanted grafted in an orchard they would soone be raised by meanes of such and the like fruits There is greate abundance of Muske Roses in divers places the water distilled excelleth our Rosewater of England There is abundance af Sassafras and Sarsaperilla growing in divers places of the land whose budds at the spring doe perfume the aire Other trees there are not greatly materiall to be recited in this abstract as goose berries rasberies and other beries There is Hempe that naturally groweth finer then our Hempe of England CHAP. III. Potthearbes and other herbes for Sallets THe Country there naturally affordeth very good potherbes and fallet herbes and those of a more maskuline vertue then any of the same species in England as Potmarioram Tyme Alexander Angellica Pursland Violets and Anniseeds in very great abundance and forthe pott I gathered in summer dried and crumbled into a bagg to preserve for winter store Hunnisuckles balme and divers other good herbes are there that grow without the industry of man that are used when occasion serveth very commodiously CHAP. IV. Of Birds and fethered fovvles NOw that I have breifly shewed the Commodity of the trees herbes and fruits I will shew you a description of the fowles of the aire as most proper in ordinary course And first of the Swanne because shee is the biggest of all the fowles of that Country There are of them in Merrimack River and in other parts of the country greate store at the seasons of the yeare The flesh is not much desired of the inhabitants but the skinnes may be accompted a commodity fitt for divers uses both for fethers and quiles There are Geese of three sorts vize brant Geese which are pide and white Geese which are bigger and gray Geese which are as bigg and bigger then the tame Geese of England with black legges black bills heads and necks black the flesh farre more excellent then the Geese of England wilde or tame yet the purity of the aire is such that the biggest is accompted but an indifferent meale for a couple of men There is of them great abundance I have had often 1000. before the mouth of my gunne I never saw any in England for my part so fatt as I have killed there in those parts the fethers of them makes a bedd softer then any down bed that I have lyen on and is there a very good commodity the fethers of the Geese that I have killed in a short time have paid for all the powther and shott I have spent in a yeare and I have fed my doggs with as fatt Geese there as I have euer fed upon my selfe in England Ducks there are of three kindes pide Ducks gray Ducks and black Ducks in greate abundance the most about my habitation were black Ducks and it was a noted Custome at my howse to have every mans Duck upon a trencher and then you will thinke a man was not hardly used they are bigger boddied then the tame Ducks of England very fatt and dainty flesh The common doggs fees were the gibletts unlesse they were boyled now and than for to make broath Teales there are of two sorts greene winged and blew winged but a dainty bird I have bin much delighted with a rost of these for a second course I had plenty in the rivers and ponds about my howse Widggens there are and abundance of otheâ— water foule some such as I have seene and such aâ— I have not seene else where before I came into those parts which are little regarded Simpes there are like our Simpes in all respects with very litle difference I have shot at them onely to see what difference I could finde betweene them and and those of my native Country and more I did noâ— regard them Sanderlings are a dainty bird more full boddied than a Snipe and I was much delighted to feede on them because they were fatt and easie to come by because I went but a stepp or to for them and I have killed betweene foure and five dozen at a shoot which would loade me home Their foode is at ebbing water on the sands of small seeds that grows on weeds there and are very good pastime in August Cranes there are greate store that ever more came there at S. Davids day and not before that day they never would misse These sometimes eate our corne and doe pay for their presumption well enough and serveth there in powther with turnips to supply the place of powthered beefe and is a goodly bird in a dishe and no discommodity Turkies there are which divers times in great flocks have sallied by our doores and then a gunne being commonly in a redinesse salutes them with such a courtesie as makes them take a turne in the Cooke roome They daunce by the doore so well Of these there hath bin killed that have weighed forty eight pound a peece They are by mainy degrees sweeter then the tame Turkies of England
longe legged in somuch that hee doth use to kneele when hee feedeth on grasse Hee bringeth forth three faunes or younge ones at a time and being made tame would be good for draught and more usefull by reason of their strength then the Elke of Raushea These are found very frequent in the northerne parts of New England their fleâ—h is very good foode and much better then our redd Deare of England Their hids are by the Salyages converted into very good lether and dressed as white as milke Of this lether the Salvages make the best shooes and use to barter away the skinnes to other Salvages that have none of that kinde of bests in the parts where they live Very good buffe may be made of the hids I have seene a hide as large as any horse hide that can be found There is such abundance of them that the Salvages at hunting time have killed of them so many that they have bestowed six or seaven at a time upon one English man whome they have borne affection to There is a second sort of Deare lesse then the redd Deare of England but much bigger then the English fallow Deare swift of foote but of a more darke coloure with some griseld heares When his coate is full growne in the summer season his hornes grow curving with a croked beame resembling our redd Deare not with a palme like the fallow Deare These bringe 3. fawnes at a time spotted like our fallow Deares fawnes the Salvages say foure I speake of what I know to be true for I have killed in February a doe with three fawnes in her belly all heared and ready to fall for these Deare fall their fawnes 2. moneths sooner then the fallow Deare of England There is such abundance of them that an hundred have bin found at the spring of the yeare within the compasse of a mile The Salvages take these in trappes made of their naturall Hempe which they place in the earth where they fell a tree for browse and when hee rounds the tree for the browse if hee tread on the trapp hee is horsed up by the legg by meanes of a pole that starts up and catcheth him Their hides the Saluages use for cloathing and will give for one hide killed in season 2.3 or 4. beaver skinnes which will yeild pounds a peece in that Country so much is the Deares hide prised with them above the beaver I have made good merchandize of these the flesh is farre sweeter then the venison of England and hee feedeth fatt and leane together as a swine or mutton where as our Deare of England feede fatt on the out side they doe not croake at rutting time nor spendle shafte nor is their flesh discolored at rutting Hee that will impale ground fitting may be brought once in the yeare wherewith bats and men hee may take so many to put into that parke as the hides will pay the chardge of impalcinge If all these things be well considered the Deare as well as the Mose may have a principall place in the catalogue of commodities I for my part may be bould to tell you that my howse was not without the flesh of this sort of Deare winter nor summer the humbles was ever my dogges fee which by the wesell was hanged on the barre in in the Chimny for his diet only for hee has brought to my stand a brace in a morning one after the other before sunne rising which I have killed There is likewise a third sorte of deare lesse then the other which are a kinde of rayne deare to the southward of all the English plantations they are excellenâ— good flesh And these also bring three fawnes at a time and in this particular the Deare of thosâ— parts excell all the knowne Deare of the wholâ— world On all these the Wolfes doe pray continually the best meanes they have to escape the wolfes is bâ— swimming to Islands or necks of land wherebâ— they escape for the wolfe will not presume to follow them untill they see them over a river then being landed they wayting on the shore undertake the water and so follow with fresh suite The next in mine opinion fit to be spoaken of is the Beaver which is a Beast ordained for land and water both and hath fore feete like a cunny her hinder feete like a goese mouthed like a cunny but short eared like a Serat fishe in summer and wood in winter which hee conveyes to his howse built on the water wherein hee sitts with his tayle hanging in the water which else would over heate and rot off Hee cuts the bodies of trees downe with his fore-teeth which are so long as a boares tuskes with the help of other beavers which held by each others tayles like a teeme of horses the hind most with the legg on his shoulder stayed by one of his fore feete against his head they draw the logg to the habitation appoynted placing the loggs in a â—quare and so by pyling one uppon another they build up a howse which with boghes is covered very strongly and placed in some pond to which they make a damme of brush wood like a hedge so stronge that I have gone on the top of it crosse the current of that pond The flesh of this beast is excellent foode The fleece is a very choise furre which before the Salvages had commerce with Christians they burned of the tayle this beast is of a masculine vertue for the advancement of Priapus and is preserved for a dish for the Sachems or Sagamores who are the princâ—s of the people but not Kings as is fondly supposed The skinnes are the best marchantable commodity that can be found to cause ready mony to be brought into the land now that they are raised to 10. shillâ—ngs a pound A servant of mine in 5. yeares was thought to have a 1000. p. in ready gold gotten by beaver when hee dyed whatsoever became of it And this beast may challenge preheminence in the Catalogue The Otter of those parts in winter season hath a furre so black as jett and is a furre of very highe price a good black skinne is worth 3. or 4. Angels of gold The Flesh is eaten by the Salvages but how good it is I cannot shew because it is not eaten by our Nation Yet is this a beast that ought to be placed in the number amongst the Commodities of the Country The Luseran or Luseret is a beast like a Catt but so bigg as a great hound with a tayle shorter then a Catt His clawes are like a Catts Hee will make a pray of the Deare His Flesh is dainty meat like a lambe his hide is a choise furre and accompted a good commodity The Martin is a beast about the bignes of a Foxe His furre is chestnutt coloure and of those there are greate store in the Northerne parts of the Country and is a good
commodity The Racowne is a beast as bigg full out as a Foxe with a Bushtayle His Flesh excellent foode his oyle precious for the Syattica his furre course but the skinnes serve the Salvages for coats and is with those people of more esteeme then a coate of beaver because of the tayles that hanging round in their order doe adorne the garment and is therefore so much esteemed of them His fore feete are like the feete of an ape and by the print thereof in the time of snow he is followed to his hole which is commonly in a hollow tree from whence hee is fiered out and saotken The Foxes are of two coloures the one redd the other gray these feede on fish and are good furre they doe not stinke as the Foxes of England but their condition for their pray is as the Foxes of England The Wolfes are of divers coloures some sandy coloured some griselled and some black their foode is fish which they catch when they passe up the rivers into the ponds to spawne at the spring time The Deare are also their pray and at summer when they have whelpes the bitch will fetch a puppy dogg from our dores to feede their whelpes with They are fearefull Curres and will runne away from a man that meeteth them by chaunce at a banke end as fast as any fearefull dogge These pray upon the Deare very much The skinnes are used by the Salvages especially the skinne of the black wolfe which is esteemed a present for a prince there When there ariseth any difference betweene prince and prince the prince that desires to be reconciled to his neighbouring prince does endeavour to purchase it by sending him a black wolfes skinne for a present and the acceptance of such a present is an assurance of reconciliation betweene them and the Salvages will willingly give 40. beaver skinnes for the purchase of one of these black Wolfes skinnes and allthough the beast himselfe be a discommodity which other Countries of Christendome are subject unto yet is the skinne of the black wolfe worthy the title of a commodity in that respect that hath bin declared If I should not speake something of the beare I might happily leave a scruple in the mindes of some effeminate persone who conceaved of more dainger in them then there is cause Therefore to incourage them against all Feare and Fortifie their mindes against needles danger I will relate what experience hath taught mee concerning them they are beasts that doe no harme in those parts they feede upon Hurtle buries Nuts and Fish especially shellfish The Beare is a tyrant at a Lobster and at low water will downe to the Rocks and groape after them with great diligence Hee will runne away from a man as fast as a litle dogge If a couple of Salvages chaunce to espie him at his banquet his running a way will not serve his turne for they will coate him and chase him betweene them home to theire howses where they kill him to save a laboure in carrying him farre His Flesh is esteemed venison and of a better taste then beefe His hide is used by the Salvages for garments and is more commodious than discommodious and may passe with some allowance with the rest The Muske washe is a beast that frequenteth the ponds What hee eats I cannot finde Hee is but a small beast lesse then a Cunny and is indeede in those parts no other then a water Ratte for I have seene the suckers of them digged out of a banke and at that age they neither differed in shape coloure nor size from one of our greate Ratts When hee is ould hee is of the Beavers coloure and hath passed in waite with our Chapmen for Beaver The Male of them have stones which the Salvages in un caseing of them leave to the skinne which is a most delicate perfume and may compare with any perfume that I know for goodnesse Then may not this be excluded the Catalogue This Country in the North parts thereof hath many Porcupines but I doe not finde the beast any way usefull or hurtfull There are in those Northerne parts many Hedge-hoggs of the like nature to our Eâ—glish Hedghoggs Here are greate store of Coâ—yes in thâ—se parts of divers coloures some white some black and some gray Those towards the Southerne parts are very small but those to the North are as bigg as the English Cony their eares are very short For meate the small rabbit is as good as any that I have eaten of else where There are Squirils of three sorts very different â—n shape and condition and is gray and hee is as bigg as the lesser Cony and keepeth the woods feeding upon nutts Another is red and hee haunts our howses and will rob us of our Corne but the Catt many times payes him the price of his presumption The third is a little flying Squirill with bat like winges which hee spreads when hee jumpes from tree to tree and does no harme Now because I am upon a treaty of the beasts I will place this creature the snake amongst the beasts having my warrant from the holy Bible who though his posture in his passage be so different from all other being of a more subtile and aidry nature that hee can make his way without feete and lifte himselfe above the superficies of the earth as hee glids along Yet may he not bee ranked with any but the beasts noâ—â—ithstanding hee frequents the water as well as the land There are of Snakes divers and of severall kindes as be with us in England but that Country hath not so many as in England have bin knowne The generall Salvage name of them is Ascowke There is one creeping beast or longe creeple aâ—â— the name is in Devonshire that hath a rattle at hiâ— tayle that does discover his age for so many yeares aâ— hee hath lived so many joynts are in that rattle which soundeth when it is in motion like pease in a bladder and this beast is called a rattle Snake but the Salvages give him the name of Sesick which some takâ— to be the Adder and it may well be so for the Salvages are significiant in their denomination of anâ— thing and is no lesse hurtfull than the Adder of England nor no more I have had my dogge venome with troubling one of these and so swelled that had thought it would have bin his death but witâ— one Saucer of Salet oyle powred downe his throate hâ— has recovered and the swelling asswaged by the next day The like experiment hath bin made upon a boy that hath by chaunce troad upon one of these and the boy never the worse Therefore it is simplicity in any one that shall tell a bugbeare tale of horrible or terrible Serpents that are in that land Mise there are good store and my Lady Wood-bees black gray malkin may have pastime enough there