_The Narraganset hatchet stained with gore-- Miantonomi lifts it o’er his head, Gives the loud battle yell, and names our valiant dead._ To name the dead was considered a great indignity, and, among chiefs, a sufficient cause for war. Philip pursued one who had thus offended to Nantucket. The life of the offender was saved only by the interference of the whites. To avoid uttering the names of the dead they used circumlocutions, such as _Sachem-aupan_, _Nes-mat-aupan_; the sachem that was here, our brother that was here. STANZA XI. _And Annawan, who saw in after times Brave Metacom, and all of kindred blood, Slain, or enslaved and sold to foreign climes._ Metacom was the original name of Philip. Anawan was the last of Philip’s captains that fell into the hands of the English. He was with Philip at the time he was surprised and slain. Church, giving an account of the battle, says, “By this time the enemy perceived they were waylaid on the east of the swamp, and tacked short about. One of the enemy, who seemed to be a great surly old fellow, hallooed with a loud voice, and often called out, ‘Iootash! Iootash!’ Captain Church called to his Indian, Peter, and asked who that was that called so. He answered that it was Annawan, Philip’s great captain, calling to his soldiers to stand to it, and fight stoutly.” STANZA XIX. _Scarce do they leave a scant and narrow place, Where we may spread the blanket of our race._ “We have not room to spread our blankets,” was a phrase by which the Indians signified that they were straightened in their possessions.--_See Heckewelder_. STANZA XXII. _“’Tis not the peag,” said the Sagamore, “Nor knives, nor guns, nor garments red as blood, That buy the lands I hold dominion o’er-- Lands that were fashioned by the red man’s God; But to my friend I give.”_ Williams says the Indians were very shy and jealous of selling their lands to any, and chose rather to make a grant of them to such as they affected; but at the same time expected such gratuities and rewards as made an Indian gift often times a very dear bargain. Of Peag there were two sorts--the white and black. The former was called Wampom or Wampum, the latter Suckauhock. The first was wrought from the white, the last from the black or purple part of a shell. STANZA LXI. _Westward till now his course did Waban draw; He shunned Weybosset, the accustomed ford._ I am informed that Weybosset, in the Indian language, signified a ford, or crossing place. It is now the name of a street in Providence, extending southwesterly from the place in the river so designated by the Indians. STANZA LXII. _And fast doth Indian town to town succeed, Some large, some small, in populous array._ “In the Narraganset country (which is the chief people in the land) a man shall come to many townes, some bigger, some lesser, it may be a dozen in 20 miles travell.”--_Williams’ Key._ STANZA LXIV.