And moreover they knew that the men that were with him were resolute fellows, some of Philip's chief soldiers; and therefore, feared whether it was practicable to make an attempt upon him with so small a handful of assailants as were now with him. Told him further, that it would be a pity, [-]' after all the great things he had done, [that] he should throw away his life at last. Upon which he replied, that he doubted not. Annawon was a subtle and valiant man; that he had a long time, but in vain, sought for him, and never till now could find his quarters, and he was very loath to miss of the opportunity; and doubted not, [-]2 that if they would cheerfully go with him, the same Almighty Providence that had hitherto protected and befriended them, would do so still, &c.

Upon this with one consent they said, [that] they would go. Captain Church then turned to one Cook of Plymouth, (the only Englishman then with him) and asked him, what he thought of it? [He]3 replied, “Sir, I am never afraid of going any where when you are with me." Then Captain Church asked the old Indian, if he could carry his horse with him? (For he conveyed a horse thus far with him.) He replied that it was impossible for a horse to pass the swamps. Therefore, he sent away his new Indian soldier with his father, and the Captain's horse, to his Lieutenant, and orders for him to move to Taunton with the prisoners, to secure them there, and to come out in the morning in the Rehoboth road, in which he might expect to meet him, if he were alive and had success.

The Captain then asked the old fellow if he would pilot him [to] Annawon? He answered, that he hav3 [who] 4 [unto]

1 [that]

2 [but]

Holmes, I, 208. Prince, 185, &c. Whether he had more than two sons is uncertain; but it seems by a letter to London, written during this war, that there was another. See Hutchinson, I, 265.

ing given him his life, he was obliged to serve him. He bid him move on then, and they followed. The old man would out travel them so far sometimes, that they were almost out of sight; [and] looking over his shoulder, and seeing them behind, he would halt.

Just as the sun was setting, the old man made a full stop and sat down; the company coming up, also sat down, being all weary. Captain Church asked, "What news?" He answered, that about that time in the evening, Captain Annawon sent out his scouts to see if the coast were clear, and as soon as it began to grow dark, the scouts returned; and then (said he)"we may move again securely." When it began to grow dark, the old man stood up again, [and] Captain Church asked him if he would take a gun and fight for him? He bowed very low, and prayed him not to impose such a thing upon him, as to fight against Captain Annawon his old friend. But says he, "I will go along with you, and be helpful to you, and will lay hands on any man that shall offer to hurt you."

It being now pretty dark, they moved close together; anon they heard a noise. The Captain stayed the old man with his hand, and asked his own men what noise they thought it might be? They concluded it to be the pounding of a mortar. old man had given Captain Church a description of the place where Annawon now lay, and of the diffi

*

The

*This solitary retreat is in the southeasterly part of the town of Rehoboth, but being near Taunton line, some, in relating the story, report it to be in this town. It is about 8 miles from Taunton green, and nearly in a direct line to Providence. The northwest corner of Dighton runs up between Taunton and Rehoboth, through which we pass in going from Taunton to ANNAWON'S ROCK. (By this name it is known throughout that part of the country.) It is in a great swamp, called Squannaconk, containing nearly 3000 acres, as I was informed by Mr. A. Bliss, the nearest inhabitant to it. The road passes round the northwesterly part of

culty of getting at him. Being sensible that they were pretty near them, with two of his Indians he creeps to the edge of the rocks, from whence he could see their camps. He saw three companies of Indians at a little distance from each other; being easy to be discovered by the light of their fires. He saw also the great ANNAWON and his company, who had formed his camp or kenneling place by falling a tree under the side of the great cliffs of rocks, and setting a row of birch bushes up against it; where he himself, his son, and some of his chiefs had taken up their lodgings, and made great fires without them, and had their pots and kettles boiling, and spits roasting. Their arms also he discovered, all set together, in a place fitted for the purpose, standing up an end against a stick lodged in two crotches, and a mat placed over them, to keep them from the wet or dew. The old Annawon's feet and his son's head were so near the arms, as almost to touch them. [-]1

The rocks were so steep that it was impossible to get down, [only]2 as they lowered themselves by the 2 [but]

1 [but]

the swamp, and within 6 or 8 rods of the rock. This immense rock extends northeast and southwest 70 or 80 feet, and to this day the camp of Annawon is approached with difficulty. A part of its southeast side hangs over a little, and the other, on the northeast part, seems in no very distant period, to have tumbled down in large clefts. Its height may be 30 feet. It is composed of sand and pebbles. A few scattering maple, beech, birch, &c., grow about it; as also briars and water bushes, so thick as almost to forbid approach. Formerly, it was, no doubt, entirely surrounded by water, as it is to this time in wet seasons. The northwest side of the rock is easily ascended, as it gradually slopes away from its summit to its base, and at an angle, perhaps, not exceeding 35°. Small bushes grow from the seams in its steep side, as in the days of Church. Near the southwest extremity is an opening of an angular form, in which, it is said, Annawon and the other chiefs were encamped. This opening now contains the stump of a large tree, which must have grown since those days, as it nearly fills it up.

boughs, and the bushes that grew in the cracks of the rocks. Captain Church creeping back again to the old man, asked him, if there were no possibility of getting at them some other way? He answered, "No." That he and all that belonged to Annawon, were ordered to come that way, and none could come any other way without difficulty, or danger of being

shot.

Captain Church then ordered the old man and his daughter to go down foremost with their baskets at their backs, that when Annawon saw them with their baskets he should not mistrust the intrigue. Captain Church and his handful of soldiers crept down also, under the shadow of those two and their baskets. The Captain himself crept close behind the old man, with his hatchet in his hand, and stepped over the young man's head to the arms. The young Annawon discovering of him, whipped his blanket over his head, and shrunk up in a heap. The old Captain Annawon started up on his breech, and cried out "Howoh."* And despairing of escape, threw himself back again, and lay silent until Captain Church had secured all the arms, &c. And having secured that company, he sent his Indian soldiers to the other fires and companies, giving them instructions, what to do and say. Accordingly they went into the midst of them. When they [had] discover

*This word according to the tradition of aged people, signified, "I am taken." Dr. Morse has thought fit to alter the spelling of this word to Howah. It is very evident that the writer of this history, intended in the termination of this word to convey the sound of oh, and not ah. Were this not the case, it is certainly better to give it to posterity as we find it. Such alterations, however small and unimportant they may seem to some readers, have a very bad tendency; they tend to cause us to doubt of the authenticity of any accounts that are handed down to us. It may be said that an alteration of this kind is of no consequence, because it does not alter the sense. But it should be recollected, that the authority is as good for any other alteration; for to alter letters is to alter words; to alter words is to change the sense.