NEW ENGLANDS' PROSPECT By William Wood Not for publication; shared with the Spring 2021 Literature and Digital Diversity course New Englands'Prospect A true, lively and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called New England: discovering the state of that Countrie, both as it stands to out new-come English Planters; and to the old Native Inhabitants London 1634 William Wood Of the Pequants Pequots and Naragansets Narrangansetts , Indians inhabiting Southward. The Pequants be a stately warlike people, of whom I neverheard any misdemeanour misdemeanor ; but that they were just and equal in their dealings; not treacherous either to their Country-men, or English: Requiters of courtesies, affable towards the English. Their next neighbours neighbors the Narragansets, be at this present the most numerous people in those parts, the most rich also, and the most industrious; being the store-house storehouse of all such kind of wild Merchandize merchandise as is amongst them. These men are the most curious minters of their Wampomeage wampomeag and Mowhakes mowhacheis , which they forme form out of the inmost wreaths of Periwinkle-shels periwinkle shells . The Northerne northern , Easterne eastern , and Westerne Western Indians fetch all their Coyne coin from these Southerne Mint-masters mintmasters . From hence they have most of their curious Pendants pendants & and Bracelets bracelets ; from hence they have their great stonepipes stone pipes , which will hold a quarter of an ounce of Tobacco tobacco , which they make with steele-drils steel drills and other instruments; such is their ingenuity and dexterity, that they can imitate the English mold so accurately, that were it not for matter and colour color it were hard to distinguish them; they make the them of greene green , & sometimes of blacke black stone; they be much desired of our English tobaconists tobacconists , for their rarity, strength, handsomeness, and coolnesse coolness . Hence likewise our Indians had their pots wherein they used to seeth seethe their victuals before they knew the use of Brasse brass . Since the English came, they have employed most of their time in catching of Beavers beavers , Otters otters , and Musquashes musquashes , which they bring downe down into the Bay, returning backe back loaded with English commodities, of which they make a double profit, by selling them to more remote Indians who are ignorant at what cheape cheap rates they obtaine obtain them, in comparison of what they make them pay, so making their neighbours ignorance their enrichment. Although these be populous, yet I never heard they were desirous to take in hand any martiall martial enterprize enterprise or expose themselves to the uncertain events of warre war : wherefore the Pequants call them Women-like women-like men; but being uncapable of a jeare jeer , they rest secure under the conceit of their popularitie popularity and seeke rather to grow rich by industrie industry , than famous by deeds of Chevalry chivalry . But to leave strangers, and come to declare what is experimentally experimentaly knowne known of the Indians, amongst whom we live: of whom in the next Chapter chapter . Of the Aberginians or Indians Northward. First of their Stature stature , most of them being betweene between five or six foote foot high, straight bodied, strongly composed, smooth skinned smooth-skinned , merry countenanced, of complexion something more swarthy than Spaniards, black hair'd haired , high foreheaded, black ey'd eyed , out-nosed, broad shouldered, brawny arm'd armed , long and slender handed, out brested breasted , small wasted waisted , lanke lank bellied, well thighed, flat kneed, handsome growne grown leggs legs , and small feete feet : In a word, take them when the blood briskes brisks in their veines veins , when the flesh is on their backs, and marrow in their bones, when they frolic in their antique antic deportments and Indian postures; and they are more amiable to behold (though onely only in Adams livery) than many a compounded phantasticke fantastic in the newest fashion. It may puzzle beliefe belief , to conceive how such lustie lusty bodies should have their rise and daily supportment from so slender a fostering; their houses being meane mean , their lodging as homely, commons scant, their drinke drink water, and Nature nature their best cloathing clothing ; In them the old proverbe proverb may well be verified: (Natura paucis contenta) , for though this be their daily portion, they still are healthfull healthful and lusty. I have beene been in many places, yet did I never see one that was borne born either in redundance or defect a monster, or any that sicknesse sickness had deformed, or casulatie casualty made decrepit, saving one that had a bleared eye, and an other another that had a wenne wen on his cheeke cheek . The reason is rendered why they grow so proportionable, and continue so long in their vigor (most of them being 50 before a wrinkled brow or gray haire hair bewray their age) is because they are not brought downe with suppressing labour labor , vexed with annoying cares, or drowned in the excessive abuse of overflowing plenty, which oftentimes kils kills them more than want, as may appeare appear in them. For when they change their bare Indian commons for the plenty of England's fuller diet, it is so contrary to their stomacks stomachs that death or a desperate sicknesse immediately accrues, which makes so few of them desirous to see England. Refers to a tribe of Native Americans located in or around modern day state of Connecticut Refers to the English colonists who settled in America Refers to a tribe of Native Americans located in current day state of Rhode Island Refers to jewlery made from small beads which are made out polished shells Refers to golden jewlery made by the Natives Refers to the general group of Native Americans Refers to someone who deals in tobacco Refers to a muskrat Term used be early settlers to refers to Natives who live north Meaning to admit as acceptable Meaning slender "Nature is satisfied with a few things" Colonies Countries Cities Groups Religious references References to colonialism References to power