Captives among the Indians : $b first-hand narratives of Indian wars, customs, tortures, and habits of life in colonial timesRowlandson, Mary White
History
Captives among the Indians : $b first-hand narratives of Indian wars, customs, tortures, and habits of life in colonial times
Rowlandson, Mary White
Indian captivities -- Northeastern States
As we went along, they killed a deer, with a young one in her. They
gave me a piece of the fawn, and it was so young and tender that one
might eat the bones as well as the flesh, and yet I thought it very
good. When night came on we sat down. It rained, but they quickly got
up a bark wigwam, where I lay dry that night. I looked out in the
morning, and many of them had lain in the rain all night, I knew by
their reeking. Thus the Lord dealt mercifully with me many times, and I
fared better than many of them.
In the morning they took the blood of the deer, and put it into the
paunch, and so boiled it. I could eat nothing of that, though they eat
it sweetly. And yet they were so nice in other things, that when I had
fetched water, and had put the dish I dipped the water with into the
kettle of water which I brought, they would say they would knock me
down, for they said it was a sluttish trick.
THE FIFTEENTH REMOVE.--We went on our travel. I having got a handful of
ground-nuts for my support that day, they gave me my load, and I went
on cheerfully, with the thoughts of going homeward, having my burthen
more upon my back than my spirit. We came to Baquaug River again that
day, near which we abode a few days. Sometimes one of them would give
me a pipe, another a little tobacco, another a little salt, which I
would change for victuals. I cannot but think what a wolfish appetite
persons have in a starving condition; for many times, when they gave me
that which was hot, I was so greedy, that I should burn my mouth, that
it would trouble me many hours after, and yet I should quickly do the
like again. And after I was thoroughly hungry, I was never again
satisfied; for though it sometimes fell out that I had got enough, and
did eat till I could eat no more, yet I was as unsatisfied as I was
when I began.
THE SIXTEENTH REMOVE.--We began this remove with wading over Baquaug
River. The water was up to our knees, and the stream very swift, and
so cold that I thought it would have cut me in sunder. I was so weak
and feeble that I reeled as I went along, and thought there I must
end my days at last, after my bearing and getting through so many
difficulties. The Indians stood laughing to see me staggering along,
but in my distress the Lord gave me experience of the truth and
goodness of that promise, Isa. xliii., 2--"When thou passeth through
the waters I will be with thee, and through the rivers, they shall not
overflow thee." Then I sat down to put on my stockings and shoes, with
the tears running down my eyes, and many sorrowful thoughts in my
heart. But I got up to go along with them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account