A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.Williams, Roger
History
A Key Into the Language of America, or an Help to the Language of the Natives in That Part of America Called New-England: Together with Briefe Observations of the Customes, Manners, and Worships, &c. of the Aforesaid Natives, etc.
Williams, Roger
Narragansett Indians; Narragansett language
Mattanowawwâuon, matta I know nothing of it.
nowáhea,
Pitchnowáuwon, I shall know the truth.
Wunnaumwâuonck,
Wunnaumwáyean, If he say true.
Obs: Canounicus, the old high Sachim of the Nariganset Bay (a wise
and peaceable Prince) once in a solemne oration to myself, in a
solemne assembly, using this word, said, I have never suffered any
wrong to be offered to the English since they landed: nor never
will: he often repeated this word, Wunnaunewayeán, Englishman; if
the Englishman speake true, if hee meane truly, then shall I goe
to my grave in peace, and hope that the English and my posteritie
shall live in love and peace together. I replied, that he had no
cause (as I hoped) to question Englishmen’s Wunnaumwaúonck, that is,
faithfulnesse, he having had long experience of their friendlinesse
and trustinesse. He tooke a stick and broke it into ten pieces,
and related ten instances (laying downe a stick to every instance)
which gave him cause thus to feare and say; I satisfied him in some
presently, and presented the rest to the Governours of the English,
who, I hope, will be far from giving just cause to have Barbarians to
question their Wunnaumwâuonck, or faithfulnesse.
Tocketannántum, }
Pocketunáname, } What doe you thinke?
Pocketeántam? }
Ntunnántum, I thinke.
Neántum,
Nanick nteeâtum, I thinke so too.
Nteatammowonck, That is my thought, or opinion.
Matntunnantámmen, I thinke not so.
Matnteeantámmen,
Nowecóntam, I am glad.
Noweeteántam,
Coanáumatous, I believe you.
Obs: This word they use just as the Greeke tongue doth that verbe,
πιςέυειν: for believing or obeying, as it is often used in the new
Testament, and they say Coannáumatous, I will obey you.
Yo aphéttit, When they are here.
Yo peyáhettit. When they are com. This Ablative case absolute
they much use, and comprise much in little; Awaunagress, suck.
English-man, men. This they call us, as much as to say, These
strangers. Waútacone-nûaog Englishman, men. That is, coat-men, or
clothed.
Cháuquaqock, English-men, properly sword-men.
Wautacónisk, An English woman.
Wautaconémese, An English youth.
Wáske peyáeyan, When you came first.
Wáske peyáhetit, When Englishmen came first.
Wautaconâuog,
Táwhitch peyáhettit, Why come they hither?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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