Since the English never made long journeys of exploration into the interior, as the Spanish and French did in the earliest days of their occupation of America, their use of Indian slaves as hunters, fishermen and guides was relatively limited. With the forming of settlements and the growth of institutional life this use became more prominent. In Carolina it appears that the Indian slaves were occupied chiefly in hunting and fishing for their masters, whereas the greater part of the harder field work was left to the negroes[876]. The Indians were expert hunters, and as the woods abounded in game, such a hunter “was of great service in a plantation, and could furnish a family with more provisions than they could consume”.[877] In New England, also, there is occasional mention of Indian slaves used as guides.[878] It seems probable, however, that this service was more largely confined to the south where Indian slaves were less expensive and more easily procured than in the north, for such an occupation offered more opportunity for escape than any other. In New England the Indians retained in the colonies as slaves after the Pequot and King Philip Wars were chiefly women and children. In the early history of Massachusetts some of the leading families in wealth and importance unable to obtain other help, employed Indians as cooks.[879] After the wars in question the Indian slaves were put to the same use by both Massachusetts and Connecticut.[880] The colonial newspapers of New England attribute much domestic ability to the Indian slaves advertised in their columns: “An Indian woman who is a very good cook, and can wash, iron and sew”;[881] “A likely Indian wench about nineteen years of age fit for any business in town or country”;[882] “An Indian woman ... fit for all manner of household work either in town or country, can sew, wash, brew, bake, spin and milk cows”;[883] “A lusty Carolina Indian woman fit for any daily service”.[884] The newspapers of the middle colonies furnish a similar record: “A young Spanish Indian woman, fit for all manner of household business”;[885] “An Indian woman and her child ... she washes, irons and starches very well, and is a good cook”.[886]