their enemies in England, and increased their disposition to restrain their liberties. 5. Whole squadrons, ready to sail for America with passengers, were stopped. It is even said that Crom'-well and Hamp'-den, who afterward became so conspicuous in the measures which led to the death of the king, Charles I., were on board of one of the vessels, and would QUESTIONS ON THE MAP.-Direction of the following places from Boston: Cape Cod ? New Haven? Augusta? Montpelier? Hartford? Long Island? New York? Providence? Quebec? In what direction do the following rivers run: the Connecticut? the Kennebec? the Penobscot? the Hudson? etc. have sailed for America had not the king himself prevented it. Little did he know what he was doing. 6. It was impossible, however, to check the tide of emigration, except for a short time. Persecution for religious opinions had awakened a spirit of emigration in Europe which had not been known before. One hundred and ninety-eight ships had already crossed the Atlantic to New England, carrying with them twenty thousand passengers; and the plantations there had cost nearly a million of dollars. 7. It was just at this period of the colonial history, when they were in danger not only from foes at home but from enemies of their liberty abroad, that a union of the colonies, for mutual preservation and defence, began to be discussed. Nor did their victory over the Pequods, nor the temporary suspension of Dutch hostilities, lull them into security. The measure was not only talked of, but at last executed. 8. The articles of confederation were signed May 29, 1643. The union which was formed took the name of "The United Colonies of New England." It embraced Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut and New Haven, and should have included Rhode Island and Provi dence plantations. This colony petitioned for admittance, but was refused, because it would not be merged in the colony of Plymouth. 9. This union continued forty years or more, and was of great service while it lasted. If it did not prevent that foreign interference which was threatened, it defended the colonies at least from the Indians and Dutch, and other enemies at home, both by leading them to feel more strongly the ties of sympathy and brotherhood, and by enabling them to make treaties on a more certain and permanent basis. 5. What of Cromwell and Hampden? 6 Emigration? Persecution? How many ships and passengers had come to America? How much had the plantations cost? 7 What of a union of the colonies? 8. What of the articles of confederation? Why was Rhode 1sland excluded? 9. What of this union? MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS. 91 CHAPTER XXXIX. General Remarks on the Indians.-The Tribes of New England.-Their Manners and Customs. 1. WE have already stated that the Indians of America, though divided into many tribes and na tions, speaking different languages, and having some difference of manners and customs, were all of one race. It is necessary to remark, however, that the people called Esquimaux [es-kemo], living around the Arctic regions, were of a distinct race, being of the same family as the Lap'-land-ers and Sa-moi'-edes of Northern Europe and Asia. 2. With those people, however, the early settlers of the United States had no connection. With the numerous tribes which dwelt in the vast country from the Canadas to the Gulf of Mexico, on the contrary, they were in almost constant contact. The Whites, in fact, occupied the lands which these Indians had held as their patrimony, and the savages were not slow to perceive that their tribes rapidly wasted away before the progress of these strangers. 3. A natural jealousy, therefore, took possession of their minds, which was often inflamed by acts of aggression on the part of the Europeans. Thus wars ensued, which, in point of fact, constitute a large part of the history of the colonies. In order to understand the narratives belonging to this period, it is necessary to take a somewhat closer view of the manners and customs of those people. CHAP. XXXIX.-1. What of the Indians of America? The Esquimaux? 2. What of the Indians from the Canadas to the Gulf of Mexico? 3. Jealousy of the Indians? 4. The tribes in New England were, principally, the Pe-nob'-scots in Maine; the Paw-tuck'-ets between Maine and Salem; the Massachusetts around the Massachusetts Bay; the Po-ka-no'-kets in south-eastern Massachusetts; the Narragansets about Rhode Island; and the Pe’quods in the southern or south-eastern part of Connecticut. 5. There were indeed other tribes and divisions of tribes, such as the Mo-he'-gans, the Nipmucks, the Wam-pa-no'-ags, &c.; but they were not numerous, and were generally tributary to the larger tribes. Nor were the larger tribes so numerous as some have hastily supposed. Judicious authors on the subject have estimated the whole number at only one hundred and fifty or two hundred thousand for the eastern, middle, and southern states. 6. The Indians had no houses, but lived chiefly in rude huts, or, as they were called, wigwams. These were built of sticks, leaves, bark, and sometimes of skins, in the shape of tents. They were usually arranged in small clusters, or villages; one wigwam often serving for several families. Like the wandering Tartars, they often removed their villages. A village contained, usually, from fifty to two hundred inhabitants. 7. They knew little of agriculture, though in some places they raised corn and beans, and a few peas, melons, &c. The employments of the men were chiefly hunting, fishing, and war. Of arts and manufactures they barely knew enough to make their wigwams, weapons of war, hunting and fishing, articles of dress and ornaments, wampum, and a few domestic utensils and agricultural implements. 8. Their food was simple, coarse, plainly cooked, and, from their natural indolence, sometimes scanty. At times they subsisted chiefly on flesh-raw, roasted, or boiled, according to convenience. At other times, when not too indolent to procure it, they subsisted on parched corn, hominy, or a mixture of corn and beans, which they called succotash. The females usually prepared the food and cultivated the vegetables. 9. Their dress, except in winter, consisted chiefly of a slight covering about the waist, with ornaments for the face, wrists, or ankles. In winter they dressed in untanned skins and in furs. They were little affected by external beauty, even personal beauty, notwithstanding their fondness for ornament. In war, and on occasions of ceremony, they painted their faces with various bright colors, giving them a hideous appearance. For amusements, they danced around a fire, or sang songs, or recited stories of their victories. Though in general the Indians had a moody and melancholy look, they sometimes indulged in hearty mirth. 4. What of the tribes of Indians in New England? 5 Other tribes? 6. Indian dwellings? Villages? 7. Agriculture? Employments of the men? Arts and manufactures? 8. Food? The women? 9. Dress? Amusements ? MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE INDIANS. 93 10. Their hatchets, knives, and other implements, were chiefly shells or sharp stones; more frequently the latter. The bow and arrow and tomahawk, as we have already stated, were their chief weapons of war. They pounded their corn in large stones, scooped or hollowed out. The ground served them instead of chairs, tables, and beds. Their thread for nets, etc., was made of the tendons of animals, and their fish-hooks of bones. For money, they used wampum, or beads made of the shells of clams strung together in chains, or fastened to belts. 11. The Indians had no books, or schools, or churches. They had, it is true, some ideas of good and evil spirits; their principal deity was called Manitou. They appear to have had a belief in a future existence beyond the grave; but their notions on this subject were very crude and confused; and their religion and religious worship, when they had any, exerted but little influence on their general conduct. 12. Polygamy was allowed among them; and though they could hardly be said to be distinguished for licentiousness, there was not among them that tender and respectful regard for the female sex which is not only a principal element of human happiness, but one of the strongest bonds of society. Their government and customs of war will be seen in the progress of our history. 13. Diseases among the savages of America were fewer in number than in civilized society; but they were sometimes very fatal, as in the case of the smallpox. Their medical treatment was simple, consisting, for the most part, of a little herb tea, and warm or cold bathing; sometimes, however, they resorted to pow wows or sorcerers, who pretended to charm away diseases. 14. When an Indian died, the survivors dug a hole in the ground, and having wrapped the corpse in skins and mats, laid it therein. Whatever was deemed most useful to the individual while living, as his implements of war or hunting, were buried with him; probably in the vague belief that they might be useful to him in a future state. Some corpses were buried sitting, with their faces to the east. 10. Utensils? Weapons of war? How did they pound their corn? What served them for chairs, tables, etc.? Nets? Hooks? Money? 11. Books? Schools? Churches? Religious notions? 12. Polygamy? Respect for the female sex? 13. Diseases? Medical treatment? Powwows? 14. Burial ceremonies? |