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
Obs: By this Feasting and Gifts, the Divell drives on their worships
pleasantly (as he doth all false worships, by such plausible earthly
Arguments of uniformities, universalities, antiquities, immunities,
Dignities, Rewards unto Submitters, and the contrary to Refusers) so
that they run farre and neere and aske
Awaun Nákommit, Who makes a feast?
Nkekinneawaûmen, I goe to the Feast.
Kekineawûi, He is gone to the Feast.
They have a modest Religious perswasion not to disturb any man,
either themselves English, Dutch, or any in their conscience, and
worship, and therefore say:
Aquiewopwaûwash, Peace, hold your peace.
Aquiewopwaûwock,
Peeyaûntam, He is at Prayer.
Peeyaúntamwock, They are praying.
Cowwéwonck, The Soule,
derived from Cowwene, to sleep, because say they, it works and
operates when the Body sleepes. Michachunck, the soule, in a higher
notion which is of affinity, with a word signifying a looking glasse,
or cleere resemblance, so that it hath its name from a cleere sight
or discerning, which indeed seemes very well to suit with the nature
of it.
Wuhóck, The Body.
Nohòck, cohòck, My body, your body.
Awaunkeesitteoûwincohòck, Who made you?
Tunna-awwa Whether goes your soule
commitchichunckkitonckquéan? when you die?
Anan sowanakitaûwaw, It goes to the South West.
Obs: They believe that the soules of Men and Women goe to the
South-west, their great and good Men and Women to Cautantouwit his
house, where they have hopes (as the Turkes have of carnall Joyes):
Murtherers, thieves and Lyers, their soules (say they) wander
restlesse abroad.
Now because this Book (by Gods good Providence) may come into the
hand of many fearing God, who may also have many an opportunity of
occasionall discourse with some of these their wild Brethren and
Sisters, and may speake a word for their and our glorious Maker,
which may also prove some preparatory Mercy to their Soules: I shall
propose some proper expressions concerning the Creation of the world,
and mans Estate and in particular theirs also, which from myselfe
many hundredths of times, great numbers of them have heard with
great delight, and great convictions: which who knowes (in Gods holy
season) may rise to the exalting of the Lord Jesus Christ in their
conversion and salvation?
Nétop Kunnatótemous, Friend, I will aske you a
Question.
Nntótema, Speake on.
Tocketunnántum? What thinke you?
Awaun Keesiteoûwin Kéesuck? Who made the Heavens?
Aûke Wechêkom? The Earth, the Sea.
Mittauke, The World.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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