University of Virginia Library

March ye 10th.

I have been now for manie days afflicted with a
great cold and pleurisie, although, by God's blessing
on the means used, I am well nigh free from pain, and
much relieved, also, from a tedious cough. In this

Sickness I have not missed the company and kind
ministering of my dear Cousin Rebecca, which was
indeed a great comfort. She tells me to-day that the
time hath been fixed upon for her Marriage with Sir
Thomas, which did not a little rejoice me, as I am to
goe back to mine own Countrie in their companie. I
long exceedingly to see once again the dear Friends
from whom I have been separated by manie Months of
time and a great Ocean.

Cousin Torrey, of Weymouth, coming in yesterday,
brought with her a very bright and pretty Indian girl,
one of Mr. Eliot's flock, of the Natick people. She
was apparelled after the English manner, save that she
wore leggings, called Moccasins, in the stead of Shoes,
wrought over daintilie with the quills of an animal
called a Porcupine, and hung about with small black
and white Shells. Her Haire, which was exceeding
long and black, hung straight down her Back, and was
parted from her Forehead, and held fast by means of
a strip of Birch bark, wrought with quills and feathers,
which did encircle her Head. She speaks the English
well, and can write somewhat, as well as read.
Rebecca, for my amusement, did query much with her
regarding the Praying Indians; and on her desiring to
know whether they did in no wise return to their old
practices and worships, Wauwoonemeen (for soe she

was called by her people) told us that they did still
hold their Keutikaw, or Dance for the Dead; and that
the Ministers, although they did not fail to discourage
it, had not forbidden it altogether, inasmuch as it was
but a Civil Custom of the people, and not a Religious
Rite. This Dance did usually take place at the end
of twelve Moons after the death of one of their
number, and finished the mourning. The Guests invited
bring presents to the bereaved Family, of wampum,
beaver skins, corn, and groundnuts, and venison.
These presents are delivered to a Speaker, appointed
for the purpose, who takes them, one by one, and
hands them over to the mourners, with a Speech
entreating them to be consoled by these tokens of the
Love of their neighbors, and to forget their Sorrows.
After which, they sit down to eat, and are merry
together.

Now it had so chanced that at a Keutikaw held the
present Winter, two men had been taken ill, and had
died the next day; and although Mr. Eliot, when he
was told of it, laid the blame thereof upon their hard
dancing until they were in a great Heat, and then
running out into the Snow and sharp Aire to cool
themselves, it was thought by manie that they were
foully dealt with and poysoned. Soe two noted old
Powahs from Wauhktukook, on the great river Connechticut,

were sent for to discover the murderers.
Then these poor Heathen got together in a great Wigwam,
where the old Wizards undertook, by their
Spells and Incantations, to consult the Invisible Powers
in the matter. I asked Wauwoonemeen if she knew
how they did practice on the occasion; whereupon she
said that none but men were allowed to be in the Wigwam,
but that she could hear the beating of Sticks on
the ground, and the groans and howlings and dismal
mutterings of the Powahs, and that she, with another
young Woman, venturing to peep through a hole in
the back of the Wigwam, saw a great manie people
sitting on the ground, and the two Powahs before the
Fire, jumping and smiting their Breasts, and rolling
their eyes verie frightfullie.

“But what came of it?” asked Rebecca. “Did the
Evil Spirit whom they thus called upon testify against
himself, by telling who were his instruments in mischief?”

The Girl said she had never heard of any discoverie
of the poisoners, if indeed there were such. She told
us, moreover, that manie of the best people in the
Tribe would have no part in the business, counting it
sinful; and that the chief actors were much censured
by the Ministers, and soe ashamed of it that they drove
the Powahs out of the village, the Women and Boys

chasing them and beating them with sticks and frozen
snow, soe that they had to take to the Woods in a sorry
plight.

We gave the Girl some small trinkets and a fair
piece of Cloth for an Apron, whereat she was greatlie
pleased. We were all charmed with her good parts,
sweetness of countenance and discourse, and readie
wit, being satisfied thereby that Nature knoweth no
difference between Europe and America in blood,
birth, and bodies, as we read in Acts 17 that God hath
made of one blood all Mankind. I was specially
minded of a saying of that ingenious but schismatic
man, Mr. Roger Williams, in the little book which he
put forth in England on the Indian tongue: