304 XIX. STANDISH GOES TO EASTHAM. CHAP. being further agreed, that they should return with all convenient speed, and bring their carpenter, that they might fetch the rest of the corn, and save the shallop. 1623. At their return, Captain Standish, being recovered Jan. and in health, took another shallop, and went with them to the corn, which they found in safety as they left it. Also they mended the other shallop, and got all their corn aboard the ship. This was in January, as I take it, it being very cold and stormy; insomuch as, (the harbour being none of the best,) they were constrained to cut both the shallops from the ship's stern; and so lost them both a second time. But the storm being over, and seeking out, they found them both, not having received any great hurt. Whilst they were at Nauset, having occasion to lie on the shore, laying their shallop in a creek1 not far from them, an Indian came into the same, and stole certain beads, scissors, and other trifles out of the same; which, when the Captain missed, he took certain of his company with him, and went to the sachim, telling him what had happened, and requiring the same again, or the party that stole them, (who was known to certain of the Indians,) or else he would revenge it on them before his departure; and so took leave for that night, being late, refusing whatsoever kindness they offered. On the morrow the sachim came to their rendezvous, accompanied with many men, in a stately manner, who saluted the Captain in this wise. He thrust out his tongue, that one might see the root thereof, and therewith licked his hand Nauset, or Eastham, abounds with creeks. See note on page 156, and Mass. Hist. Coll. viii. 155. 188. ? In the original saluting; probably a typographical error. BRADFORD AT MIDDLEBOROUGH AND SANDWICH. 305 XIX. Jan. from the wrist to the finger's end, withal bowing the CHAP. knee, striving to imitate the English gesture, being instructed therein formerly by Tisquantum. His men 1623. did the like, but in so rude and savage a manner, as our men could scarce forbear to break out in open laughter. After salutation, he delivered the beads and other things to the Captain, saying he had much beaten the party for doing it; causing the women to make bread, and bring them, according to their desire; seeming to be very sorry for the fact, but glad to be reconciled. So they departed, and came home in safety; where the corn was equally divided, as before. After this the Governor went to two other inland towns, with another company, and bought corn likewise of them. The one is called Namasket, the other Manomet.1 That from Namasket was brought home partly by Indian women; but a great sickness arising amongst them, our own men were enforced to fetch home the rest. That at Manomet the Governor left in the sachim's custody. This town lieth from us south, well near twenty miles, and stands upon a fresh river, which runneth into the bay of Nanohigganset, and cannot be less than sixty miles from thence. It will bear a boat of The part of Sandwich, which lies on Manomet river. F. 2 "It is almost incredible," says Roger Williams, "what burthens the poor women carry of corn, of fish, of beans, of mats, and a child besides." Gookin says, "In their removals from place to place, for their fishing and hunting, the women carry the greatest burthen." And Wood says, "In the summer they trudge home two or three miles with a hundred weight of See lobsters at their backs; in winter 3 This is called Manomet or 306 BUZZARD'S BAY. CHAP. eight or ten tons to this place. Hither the Dutch or XIX. French, or both, use to come. It is from hence to the 1623. bay of Cape Cod about eight miles; out of which Jan. bay it floweth into a creek some six miles, almost direct towards the town. The heads of the river and this creek are not far distant. This river yieldeth, thus high, oysters, muscles, clams,3 and other shell-fish ; one in shape like a bean, another like a clam; both good meat, and great abundance at all times; besides it aboundeth with divers sorts of fresh fish in their seasons.5 1 "This creek runs out easterly into Cape Cod bay at Scussett harbour; and this river runs out westerly into Manomet bay. The distance over land from bay to bay is but six miles. The creek and river nearly meet in a low ground; and this is the place, through which there has been a talk of making a canal, this forty years; which would be a vast advantage to all these countries, by saving the long and dangerous navigation round the Cape, and through the shoals adjoining." Prince, p. 208, (A. D. 1736.) Mass. Hist. Coll. viii. 122. 2 Oysters are still found in great excellence and plenty in Sandwich, on the shores of Buzzard's bay. See Mass. Hist. Coll. viii. 122. 3 The common clam, (mya are- Rarities, p. 96, speaks of "clam, or clamp, a kind of shell-fish, a white muscle." Wood says, ch. ix. "clams or clamps is a shellfish not much unlike a cockle; it lieth under the sand. These fishes be in great plenty. In some places of the country there be clams as big as a penny white-loaf." See Mass. Hist. Col. iii. 224, viii. 193, xiii. 125, xxvi. 121, and Dr. Gould's Report on the Mollusca of Mass. pp. 40-42, and 85, 86. • The razor-shell, (solen,) which very much resembles a bean pod, or the haft of a razor, both in size and shape. See Mass. Hist Coll. viii. 192. Josselyn calls them "sheath fish, which are very plentiful, a delicate fish, as good as a prawn, covered with a thin shell like the sheath of a knife, and of the color of a muscle." And Morton says, "razor fishes there are." "The animal is cylindrical, and is often used as an article of food under the name of long-clam, razorfish, knife-handle, &c." See Dr. Gould's Report on the Mollusca of Massachusetts, p. 29. 5 In Manomet river, as well as in Buzzard's and Buttermilk bays, are found fish of various kinds, such as bass, sheep's head, tautaug, scuppaug, &c. See Mass. Hist. Coll. viii. 122. XIX. Jan. The governor, or sachim, of this place was called CHAP. Canacum; who had formerly, as well as many others, yea all with whom as yet we had to do, acknowledged 1623. themselves the subjects of our sovereign lord, the King. This sachim used the Governor very kindly; and it seemed was of good respect and authority amongst the Indians. For whilst the Governor was there, within night, in bitter weather, came two men from Manamoick, before spoken of; and having set aside their bows and quivers, according to their manner, sat down by the fire, and took a pipe of tobacco, not using any words in that time, nor any other to them, but all remained silent, expecting when they would speak. At length they looked toward Canacum; and one of them made a short speech, and delivered a present to him from his sachim, which was a basket of tobacco and many beads, which the other received thankfully. After which he made a long speech to him; the contents hereof was related to us by Hobbamock (who then accompanied the Governor for his guide,) to be as followeth. It happened that two of their men fell out, as they were in game (for they use gaming as much as any where, and will play away all, even their skin from their backs, yea their wives' skins also, though it may be they are many miles distant from them, as myself have seen,) and growing to great heat, the one killed 3 'He was the same as Cawnacome, mentioned in note 3 on page 232. 66 "In their gamings," says Roger Williams, they will sometimes stake and lose their money, clothes, house, corn, and themselves, if sin gle persons." Gookin says "They are addicted to gaming, and will, in that vein, play away all they have." And Wood adds, "They 308 Jan. STANDISH AT YARMOUTH. CHAP. the other. The actor of this fact was a powah,1 one XIX. of special note amongst them, and such an one as they 1623. could not well miss; yet another people greater than themselves threatened them with war, if they would not put him to death. The party offending was in hold; neither would their sachim do one way or other till their return, resting upon him for advice and furtherance in so weighty a matter. After this there was silence a short time. At length, men gave their judgment what they thought best. Amongst others, he asked Hobbamock what he thought. Who answered, He was but a stranger to them; but thought it was better that one should die than many, since he had deserved it, and the rest were innocent. Whereupon he passed the sentence of death upon him. Feb. Not long after, having no great quantity of corn left, Captain Standish went again with a shallop to Mattachiest, meeting also with the like extremity of weather, both of wind, snow, and frost; insomuch as they were frozen in the harbour, the first night they entered the same. Here they pretended their wonted love, and spared them a good quantity of corn to confirm the same. Strangers also came to this place, pretending only to see him and his company, whom they never saw before that time, but intending to join with the rest to kill them, as after appeared. But being forced through extremity to lodge in their houses, which they much pressed, God possessed the heart of the Captain with just jealousy, giving strait command, that as one part of his company slept, the rest should wake, declaring some things to them which he understood, whereof he could make no good construction. 1 Powow, a priest and medicine man. |