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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

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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.

Name: 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.
Author: Williams, Roger

Williams, Roger

Narragansett Indians; Narragansett language

Ntaûmen,                             I am fishing.

  Kuttaûmen?                           Doe you fish?

  Nnattuckqunnûwem,                    I goe a fishing.

  Aumáchick,                         } Fishes.
  Natuckqunnuwâchick,                }

  Aumaûi,                              He is gone to fish.

  Awácenick kukkattineanaûmen?         What doe you fish for.

  Ashaûnt-teaûg,                       Lobsters.

  Opponenaûhock,                       Oysters.

  Sickíssuog,                          Clams.

Obs: This is a sweet kind of shellfish, which all Indians generally
over the Countrey, Winter and Summer delight in; and at low water the
women dig for them: this fish, and the naturall liquors of it, they
boile, and it makes their broth and their Nasaúmp (which is a kind
of thickened broth) and their bread seasonable and savoury, in stead
of Salt: and for that the English Swine dig and root these Clams
wheresoever they come, and watch the low water (as the Indian women
do) therefore of all the English Cattell, the Swine (as also because
of their filthy disposition) are most hatefull to all Natives, and
they call them filthy cut throats, &c.

  Séqunnock,                         } A Horse fish.
  Poquaûhock,                        }

Obs: This the English call Hens, a little thick shell fish which
the Indians wade deepe and dive for, and after they have eaten the
meat there (in those which are good) they breake out of the shell,
about halfe an inch of a blacke part of it, of which they make their
Suckaúhock, or blackmoney, which is to them pretious.

  Meteaûhock,                          The Periwinkle.

Of which they make their Wómpan or white money, of halfe the value of
their Suckáwhock, or blacke money, of which more in the Chapter of
their Coyne.

  Cumménakiss,                       }
  Cummenakíssamen,                   } Have you taken store?
  Cummuchickinneanâwmen?             }

  Numménakiss,                         I have taken store.

  Nummuchikineanâwmen,                 I have killed many.

  Machàge,                             I have caught none.

  Aúmanep,                             A fishing line.

  Aumanapeash,                         Lines.

The Natives take exceeding great paines in their fishing, especially
in watching their seasons by night; so that frequently they lay their
naked bodies many a cold night on the cold shoare about a fire of
two or three sticks, and oft in the night search their Nets; and
sometimes goe in and stay longer in frozen water.

  Hoquaùn aûnash,                      Hooke, hookes.

  Peewâsicks,                          Little hookes.

  Maúmacocks,                          Great hookes.

  Nponamouôog,                         I set nets for them.

  Npunnouwaûmen,                       I goe to search my nets.

  Mihtúckquashep,                      An Eele-pot.

  Kunnagqunneûteg,                     A greater sort.

  Onawangónnakaun,                     A baite.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

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.

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