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Not for publication; shared with the Spring 2021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