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
1. God makes a path, provides a Guide,
And feeds in Wildernesse!
His glorious name while breath remaines,
O that I may confesse.
2. Lost many a time, I have had no Guide;
No house, but hollow tree!
In stormy winter night no Fire,
No Food, no Company.
3. In him I have found a House, a Bed,
A Table, Company;
No cup so bitter, buts’ made sweet,
When God shall sweetning be.
CHAP. XII.
_Concerning the Heavens and Heavenly Lights._
Kéesuck, The Heavens.
Keesucquíu, Heavenward.
Aúke, Aukeaseíu, Downwards.
Nippâwus, The Sun.
Keesuckquànd, A name of the Sun.
(Obs:) By which they acknowledge the Sun, and adore for a God or
divine power.
Munnánnock, A name of the Sun.
Nanepaùshat, and } The Moone.
Munnànnock, }
Wequáshim, A light Moone.
Pashpíshea, The Moone is up.
Yo wuttúttan, So high.
Obs: And so they use the same rule, and words for the course of the
Moone in the _Night_, as they use for the course of the Sun by _Day_,
which wee mentioned in the Chapter of the Houre, or time of the Day
concerning the Sunnes rising, course, or Sunne setting.
Yò Ockquitteunk, A new Moone.
Paushésui,
Yo wompanámmit, Halfe Moone.
Obs: The Moone so old, which they measure by the setting of it,
especially when it shines till
Wómpan, or day.
Anóckqus, anócksuck, A starre, starres.
Obs: By occasion of their frequent lying in the Fields and Woods,
they much observe the Starres, and their very children can give Names
to many of them, and observe their Motions, and they have the same
words for their rising, courses and setting, as for the Sunne or
Moone, as before.
Mosk or Paukúnawaw the great Beare, or Charles Waine, which words
Mosk or Paukúnnawwaw signifies a Beare, which is so much the more
observable, because, in most Languages that signe or Constellation is
called the Beare.
Shwishcuttowwáuog, The Golden Metewand.
Mishánnock, The morning Starre.
Chippápuock, The Brood-hen, &c.
_Generall Observations of the Heavenly Bodies._
The Wildest sons of Men heare the preaching of the Heavens, the Sun,
Moone, and Starres, yet not seeking after God the Maker are justly
condemned, though they never have nor despise other preaching, as the
civiliz’d World hath done.
More particular:
1. When Sun doth rise, the Starres doe set,
Yet there’s no need of light,
God shines a Sunne most glorious,
When creatures all are Night.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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